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Hostile Syria border region challenges regime

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Qaeda E Africa chief killed in Mogadishu

US hails death of 1998 embassy blasts suspect Bahrain rally draws 10,000 MANAMA: More than 10,000 demonstrators joined Bahrain’s first public rally in months yesterday as the leader of the Gulf nation’s main Shiite political party urged backers to press ahead with peaceful protests for greater political rights after fierce crackdowns by security forces. The event carried twin messages in a nation wracked by unrest since February when protesters took to the streets, inspired by successful uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

The Sunni monarchy controlling Bahrain allowed the rally in a bid to ease tensions and open dialogue with Shiite-led groups. For opposition forces, the gathering was a chance to voice their demands and show resolve after facing relentless pressure from the Western-backed government, including martial law-style rules removed earlier this month. “With our blood and soul, we sacrifice for Bahrain,” the crowds chanted. They later cried “we are the winners” as security forces stayed back in a mostly Shiite area northwest of the capital, Manama. Police helicopters passed overhead. No clashes were reported.

“We salute every mother who lived through the fear of having the door of her home kicked in by security forces or her children taken away. We salute every father who participated in the peaceful rallies,” said Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the Shiite political party Wefaq.—AP

MOGADISHU: This photo taken June 8, 2011 shows the presumed head of Al-Qaeda in east Africa Fazul Abdullah Muhammad (left) and Kenyan extremist Mohammed Dere lying dead. — AP

Max 44º Min 30º Low Tide 01:38 & 15:05 High Tide 07:57 & 21:25

MOGADISHU: The presumed head of Al-Qaeda in east Africa, Fazul Abdullah Muhammad, wanted for blowing up the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, died this week in a Mogadishu shootout, officials said yesterday. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reacted immediately, saying his death was a major setback for the group and its affiliates. Speaking in Tanzania’s commercial capital during an Africa tour, she called Fazul’s death “a significant blow to Al-Qaeda, its extremist allies and its operations in East Africa”.

The 38-year-old is thought to have planned the massive truck bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam that killed 224 people in 1998 and had a $5 million bounty on his head, making him Africa’s most wanted man. “We have confirmed by DNA tests carried out with our partners that it definitely was Fazul Abdullah,” an official at Somali’s National Security Agency told AFP. A commander of Somalia’s rebel Al-Shebab movement said earlier this week that Fazul was among two men killed near Mogadishu. “He is not dead as thousands like him are still in the fight against the enemy of Allah,” the commander added.

Transitional Federal Government officials said the men were killed at a roadblock on Tuesday night. “Our forces fired on two men who refused to stop at a roadblock. They tried to defend themselves when they were surrounded by our men,” said TFG military commander Abdikarim Yusuf.

“We took their ID documents, one of which was a foreign passport,” he said, adding that an investigation was under way. The incident took place on the northwestern outskirts of the Somali capital, a regional security source said. The two men were driving in a pickup truck full of medicine, laptops and mobile phones. — AFP

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MPs differ over Tweeter’s arrest New grilling against PM to be filed Tuesday KUWAIT: Development and Reform Bloc (DRB) member MP Dr. Faisal Al-Mislem is reportedly set to join fellow members and parliamentarians Musallam Al-Barrak and Khalid Al-Tahous in supporting a grilling motion to be filed by the Popular Action Bloc (PAB) against His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah next Tuesday.

A DRB insider revealed that the filing of the interpellation motion would be delayed if the premier decides to accept the earlier motion filed against him by the bloc, after delaying his final decision over what action to take for

another fortnight.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the DRB insider explained that the new grilling motion addresses the issue of the large quantities of foodstuffs unfit for human consumption recently discovered in Kuwaiti outlets, as well as two other issues, including corruption allegations concerning a state property which was leased to a charity organization.

Another DRB member, MP Walid AlTabtabaie, who filed the initial grilling motion along with fellow bloc members Mohammed Hayef and Mubarak Al-Waalan, suggested that

“there are positive indications” that the premier will indeed face the grilling debate on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, parliamentarians have offered conflicting reactions to the arrest of a Kuwaiti man over derogatory remarks he posted on his Twitter account. Some of the MPs supported the decision, saying that the arrest was a positive step in enforcing anti-slander legislation, whilst others condemned it as a restriction on freedom of expression.

The detained man, who has been named as Nasser Abul, was arrested after posting tweets which insulted the ruling authorities in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, with his comments described by MP Mohammed Hayef as “too heinous.” Hayef further asserted that Abul had “got what he deserved” for making such comments in the public sphere.

Another MP, anti-government campaigner Musallam Al-Barrak, took the opposite stance on Abul’s arrest, however, describing it as a violation of the freedom of expression, and insisting that the jailed Tweeter is being held for a

crime which is not punishable through any existing law. “Abul unarguably made a mistake when he slandered the rulers of Gulf states, but the interior ministry doesn’t have a right to keep him in detention for any period longer than the law allows for such cases,” Al-Barrak insisted.

Other MPs Hussein Al-Qallaf, Yousef AlZalzalah and Hassan Jowhar also condemned the arrest, with Jowhar warning that it could promote sectarian tensions.

Fellow parliamentarian Dr. Walid AlTabtabaie supported the arrest, however, punning that Abul’s message was not a tweet but instead was “more like a malicious owl’s hoot, spreading evil speech.”

Al-Tabtabaie called on people to differentiate between free speech and harming national unity. Fellow MP Mubarak Al-Waalan echoed AlTabtabaie’s his words, asserting that there is a significant difference between exercising one’s freedom of expression and slandering others, and calling for Abul to be referred to the Public Prosecution Service. —Agencies

Zain offers 50% discount on SMS to Philippines KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, has announced that it will offer a 50% percent discount on all SMS messages to Philippines and 20% discount on International calls to Philippines as they celebrate the Independence Day today.

Zain Kuwait Chief Commercial Officer Omar Al Omar, expressed his congratulations on this occasion to the people of Philippines, represented in its leadership, the embassy and all Philippines expatriates’ residing in Kuwait.

Al-Omar stressed that Zain is a global company which is always keen to participate in the celebrations of nations.

He added that the offer is extended to all SMS & International calls sent to Philippines only on Sunday, 12th of June for both postpaid and pre-paid customers.

Local Spotlight

Blogging with care!

Muna Al-Fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net s it considered normal to use blogs and social networking sites like Twitter to vent out frustration and anger against governments? Do you think the Kuwaiti government should launch a crackdown on such form of protest or ignore it because, after all, it is only an expression of his or her own ideas and thoughts?

Last week, heated political discussions hogged most of the media attention, especially concerning MPs who protested against the HH prime minister demanding his immediate resignation. Suddenly, attention was deviated to a sudden act committed by a man who wrote a very personal account of how he feels about governments in the Gulf region on Twitter.

Nasser Abul, a citizen was arrested for tweeting against Al-Khalifa and Al-Saud ruling families and many other personalities and situations. I feel that he only expressed his opinion. If he had to be held accountable for this, legal recourse should have been resorted to. In this manner, the issue would not have been blown out of proportion.

The law should have taken its course. All these questions like why, who and what will create unnecessary fuss and confusion. After all, this man is not the official representative of any country. He will not reform if insults are hurled at him in a public forum.

The Public Prosecution Department is capable of tackling any issue, and to determine the penalties he should receive.

We in Kuwait are lucky to enjoy more freedom of expression when compared to other systems. Many do not appreciate the blessing we enjoy and feel that they can exploit the internet and write all kinds of messages. People are not aware of the boundaries they should not cross, even if it is online.

I do not agree with the idea of cussing against leaders or key religious figures. I think it is outrageous and brings the concept freedom of expression to disrepute.

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Kuwait among countries with highest diabetes rate Dasman Institute conducts seminar

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Kuwait is now ranked among the top five countries in the world with the highest diabetes rate. Owing to a large number of patients in the country, the Dasman Diabetes Institute was established three years ago. It now plans to launch an awareness program in collaboration with education, training, nutrition, public relations and fitness departments.

As part of this program, the Dasman Institute held a seminar titled, ‘Introduction to Diabetes, Taking Control’ on Thursday. This seminar addressed employees of the Ernst and Young Company, “We reach out to companies, schools and host seminars at our premises to increase community awareness. Diabetes cases are on the rise globally and Kuwait is not an exception. Particularly, employees are mostly affected because they lead a sedentary lifestyle.

This was the reason why a seminar was held today,” Hanan Sharaikha, a senior diabetes educator told the Kuwait Times. A two-hour workshop was held as part of the seminar, which is an awareness program designed to help people identify the risks associated with diabetes, prevention, and measures to prevent acute, chronic complications.

Demonstration sessions were held on monitoring blood glucose levels and injecting insulin.

Zahraa Rahme, one of the speakers explained about the types of diabetes, how it occurs, preventive measures, treatment of diabetes, diabetes complications, how to handle diabetes and live with it, and others.

“Modern lifestyle has given rise to many issues that deeply affect public health. The population group that falls into different age groups, perform different functions and are increasingly affected by afflictions, either simple or complicated, acute or chronic health conditions,” Rahme noted.

“In the employees’ category, diabetes is more prevalent

KUWAIT: Hanan Sharaikha addressing the seminar at the Dasman Institute. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

among those who are employed for long hours in sedentary jobs, consume unhealthy food and are more susceptible to obesity. It is then a necessity to know about diseases that are induced by such a stressful and sedentary lifestyle, where diabetes is one of these most important health conditions,” she added.

In response to the rise of diabetes, different awareness programs are being created for people. These have been designed by the Education and Training Department in collaboration with others like physicians, nutritionists, exercise department at the Dasman Diabetes Institute.

Woman wins KD690 alimony case against ex-husband

Attorney Mohammed Kamal

KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti man who accused his brother-in-law of raping his family’s housemaid has been ordered to pay KD690 monthly alimony and other expenses to his wife after she filed for divorce when a court found the accused man not guilty.

Attorney Mohammed Kamal, who defended the accused, a citizen of another GCC country, also represented his sister, the accuser’s wife, in the divorce. At the trial, held in the family court presided over by Judge Ahmad Al-Duba’ei, the judge ruled in the

wife’s favor, also ordering that she be granted full custody of the couple’s five children - three girls and two boys.

The court ordered the woman’s former husband to pay a monthly sum of KD270 in alimony, KD180 in child support for the three daughters, KD130 for the two newborn boys, KD50 for a housemaid and KD60 for a chauffeur.

The man was also ordered to pay his former wife KD2,000 towards the cost of a new car, as well as meeting the trial costs in full.

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Second pensioner found dead in Salwa building Gang brawl inside Jahra Hospital KUWAIT: A murder investigation has been opened after another elderly man was found dead at his home in Salwa, with evidence of foul play found at the scene. The case follows a similar one last week when the body of a Kuwaiti senior citizen was found in his home, with police believing that the man had been murdered. In the latest case, the man’s family returned home to find him dead, with his injuries and bloodstains around the body leading detectives to believe that he had been the victim of foul play. The body was removed for autopsy.

Body found An investigation has been launched after the body of an Asian man was found in a chalet in the Abdullah Port area. Police accompanied by crime scene investigators headed to the scene after the victim’s roommate reported finding his body inside the chalet that they share. The body was removed for autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Child drowns A nine-year-old Kuwaiti boy drowned in a Khaitan chalet’s swimming pool on Friday.

Although emergency personnel rushed to the location, the boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The body was removed for autopsy and an investigation has been opened into the death.

Picnicker dies A 56-year-old Egyptian man who collapsed unconscious in a Farwaniya park was pronounced dead at the scene, with preliminary

investigations suggesting that he died of natural causes. Although paramedics attempted to revive the man, they were unable to do so, and his body was removed for autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Hospital gang brawl Thirteen boys were arrested for brawling inside Jahra Hospital where some of them had been taken for treatment of their injuries following an earlier fight between them. Following the earlier fracas, the youngsters who sustained stab wounds in the fight had been taken to the hospital where they were awaiting treatment when the other five youths turned up and began attacking them again. When medical staff intervened to separate the brawling youths, five of them ran off, with the other eight being kept in the hospital for treatment to their injuries. Police are hunting for the missing boys.

Honest teen An honest teenager reported finding the missing wallet belonging to a middle-aged Kuwaiti man, which contained a cheque for KD50,000, five minutes after the man had reported it lost to the police. The distraught man had told officers at Sharq police station about losing the wallet, containing his ID and credit cards and KD200 in cash, as well as the cheque, the youngster phoned him to report that he had found the wallet lying in the street. He later went to the police station to return it to the grateful owner, explaining that he had found his phone number on a business card inside it.

Rapists, robbers caught

KD30,000 theft An Asian woman is believed to have stolen KD23,000, as well a further 100,000 Saudi Riyals (around KD7,313), in cash from her employers in Oyoun before fleeing the country for her homeland. On discovering that the money was missing from the safe in his home in Oyoun, the employer went to the local police station and reported the theft, as well as the housemaid’s disappearance. Police subsequently discovered that the woman had already taken a flight back to her home country. — Al-Rai, Al-Watan, Al-Anba

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Ahmadi police have arrested the four Pakistani expatriates who broke into an Abu Hlaifa flat occupied by four Asian women and robbing them, as well as abducting and raping one of them. On questioning the men, who were caught three days after this latest crime, detectives discovered that they had reportedly carried out three similar crimes previously, posing as police officers in order to rob and rape female expatriates. They have been referred to the relevant authorities for further action.

Transvestites detained Three gay transvestites were arrested at a location on Gulf Road. The men were referred to the relevant authorities.

Khaitan fire A 12-year-old Egyptian boy was treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in his family’s apartment in Khaitan. Firefighters who rushed to the scene immediately evacuated all the apartment’s occupants before tackling the blaze. An investigation has been opened to determine what started the fire.

13,433 fire incidents recorded in 2010

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

Salwa suicide A 70-year-old Kuwaiti man committed suicide at his family’s home in Salwa. An investigation of the scene revealed that there were no suspicious circumstances.

Drug busts Two Kuwaiti men were arrested by patrol officers after they were discovered to be in possession of 10 grams of an unidentified narcotic substance. The men were caught after they aroused the officers’ suspicions by attempting to avoid a routine police stop-and-search operation. Meanwhile, a male GCC citizen pulled over by police who spotted him driving erratically on Fahaheel Highway was arrested after officers discovered ten narcotic tablets in his possession.

Brig Yousuf Al-Ansari

KUWAIT: Fire fighting centers all over Kuwait play a crucial role in protecting society from disasters and other accidents. A total number of fire accidents that took place in 2010 totaled to 13,433. It dropped by one percent in 2009.

Fires that took place in 2010 were 5,247 in number and reduced to 13 percent during the previous year, Deputy Director of Fire Department Brig Yousuf Al-Ansari said. The most common reasons that triggered fire incidents in 2010 were electric short circuits that caused 1,641 fire cases, up by 31 percentage. The second cause is children playing with fire that caused 1,355 incidents. These cases increased by 25.82 percentage. Lastly, cigarette stub fires caused 561 cases. The percentage stood at 10.69. In terms of rescue cases, the total number stood at 3,450 in 2010 with a 0.5 percentage increase from 2009.

12 arrests, 5,692 citations in weekend traffic crackdown

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KD 500,000 business theft The director of an investment firm in the Capital area has accused the company’s financial manager, an Arab expatriate, of stealing KD500,000 from the company’s offices. In a similar case, the owner of an import firm in Hawally has accused the owner of a textile company in the area of knowingly giving him worthless forged cheques in payment for a total of KD50,000 worth of goods. Investigations are underway in both cases.

KUWAIT: The Traffic Department launched a number of unannounced crackdowns across Kuwait over the weekend, resulting in the arrest of 12 people, the issuing of 5,692 citations and the confiscation of 371 vehicles, including two sand buggies.

The break down as follows: Hawally saw the the largest number of citations issued, 1,300 in all, as well as seeing 57 vehi-

cles impounded. In Jahra, 675 citations were issued, although only one vehicle was confiscated. In Farwaniya, meanwhile, 640 drivers received citations and a further 28 had their vehicles confiscated. Next came Ahmadi, where 331 citations were issued and 32 vehicles impounded, followed by Mubarak Al-Kabeer, with 54 citations handed out to motorists and five vehicles being confiscated. Last came the Capital, with only 12 drivers being issued with citations, although 54 vehicles were impounded.

Divers restore buoys in Um Al-Maradem KUWAIT: The Kuwait Diving Team has installed ten new buoys around coral reefs to the south and west of Um Al-Maradem island.

This method was adopted to protect them from damage.

“The trip is part of an annual mission that has been carried out for the past 15 years in which operations are performed for 70 protection buoys around coral reefs located to the south Kuwait,” said the team’s Operations

Supervisor Faisal Al-Harban.

In a press statement, he noted that the buoys function as floating markets to help boats avoid contact with coral reefs. This can result in damage.

The Um Al-Maradem island is located 25 km east of Al-Khairan’s beach, and is home to one of the most compact coral colonies in Kuwait’s waters. It is the second-most loved marine destination in Kuwait after the Kubbar island.

Private schools union appoints new officials KUWAIT: During its latest meeting, the board of directors of the Kuwait Union of Private Schools and Cultural Institutes renewed its trust in its current Chairman Omar Ibrahim Al-Ghareer and Deputy Chairman Dr. Saad Muneer AlMuhanna. During the meeting, Mohammed Abdulrahman AlShuaibi was elected to the post of Secretary General, whilst Ali AlRashidi was appointed as Treasurer.

Omar Al-Ghareer

Board members Khalida AlMudhaf, Khawla Al-Ateeqi, Raja Al-Mutawa, Talal Al-Jarai and Nuri Al-Dawud were also present at the meeting.

The new board first expressed its gratitude to the General Assembly members for the trust placed in it, as well as hailing the efforts of the previous board, emphasizing that it will continue with the same objective, to achieve the union’s goals through supporting the owners of private schools and cultural institutes in Kuwait, doing its utmost to resolve any problems that they face, protecting their rights and

cooperating with the Ministry of Education, in particular the Assistant Secretary for Private Education, for the interests of the country’s education sector.

Chairman Omar Al-Ghareer said that the new board of directors has already formed a number of committees to help strengthen communications with private school owners and to look into recommendations and seek advice in order to satisfactorily resolve all outstanding issues, especially the matters of school fees and teachers’ living conditions.

Al-Ghareer added that a committee representing the previous school owners’ committee had been formed, consisting of Khalida Al-Mudhaf and Raja AlSaleh. This committee will put forward recommendations on the specifications necessary to devise a strategy to decide suitable annual school fees at those educational establishments using foreign curricula.

Another committee, consisting of Talal Al-Jarai and Ali AlBughaili, will study the issue of school fees for Arab schools, whilst a third committee, consisting of Dr. Al-Muhanna, Ali AlBughaili and Talal Al-Jarai, will look into the subject of setting suitable fees for Pakistani, Indian and Filipino schools.

During the meeting, the board also noted that it will need to hold a meeting with education minister Dr. Ahmad Al-Mulaifi to review a number of outstanding issues.

Lt Gen Abdul Hameed Al-Awadhi

Concerted efforts to nab illegal residents KUWAIT: As the amnesty period granted by the Amir to illegal residents is set to expire on June 30, the Criminal Investigation Department in cooperation with Immigration Department and Police has joined hands to allow residents to either leave immediately, pay fines or legalize their stay by transferring their residence permits with a new sponsor.

Those who are not in possession of a passport or civil Identification will be traced through the Investigation Department located in the Capital governorate. Their personal information can be accessed by referring to fingerprint details. Thereafter, they can obtain travel documents from respective embassies and exit the country without paying penalties before 30 June.

The Ministry of Interiorís Assistant Undersecretary Lt General Abdul Hameed AlAwadhi said that a raid will be conducted in all governorates. More concerted efforts will be made towards the end of amnesty period.

Lists containing the names of violators have been prepared. They will be subjected to thorough interrogation, pay fines and face deportation. Those who leave the country voluntarily will be given an opportunity to return once they fulfill the necessary conditions. Al-Awadhi warned that those who are still at large will meet dire consequences.

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‘Naval activity will be unaffected by port’ Russian National Day celebrated

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of Russia to Kuwait Alexander Kinshchak held an event to celebrate Russia’s National Day. It was attended by public figures including Undersecretary of Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry Khalid Al-Jarallah, as well as diplomats and other dignitaries. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat KUWAIT: Kuwait has reiterated that the yet-to-be constructed Mubarak AlKabeer port at Boubyan Island will not hinder naval activity at Khor Abdullah or encroach into the water body that lies between the country and Iraq.

The assertion was made by Khalid AlJarallah, Undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry. While speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony held by the Russian Embassy to mark Russia’s National Day, “Kuwait has handed over technical specifications to Iraq as per a request put forward by an Iraqi delegation. It was made during a recent visit to Kuwait,” Al-Jarallah said.

Furthermore, the undersecretary noted that Kuwait explained its point of view to the Iraqi team “who is assured that the port will not negatively affect naval activity at the territorial waters [shared between the two countries].” He reasserted that talks between Kuwait and Iraq on the subject is “going on the right track.”

A senior Iraqi official was quoted in a recent news report as saying that the Iraqi government needs to collect more detailed information about the Mubarak

‘MPs intervene to appoint expats in public sector’ KUWAIT: Some lawmakers aggravate long-standing problems with government by interfering with its plans to provide jobs for more citizens in the public sector, by mediating for the appointment of expatriate workers in state departments, that can be filled in by citizens.

In a statement made recently to the press, a government insider slammed MPs who were recently seen at the Civil Service Commission(CSC) pushing transactions for expatriate laborers to be appointed at positions in public facilities. Many citizens are waiting in line for an opportunity to be hired.

“The CSC cannot reject a transaction to appoint a non-Kuwaiti candidate to a public job when it is signed by ministers or undersecretaries and attached to an approval from the ministry where they are to be appointed,” said the official. He further stated that similar actions carried out by MPs ‘stand in the way’ of the government’s plans to replace non-Kuwaiti labor forces in the public sector. It is a process otherwise known as ‘Kuwaitization’ of public sector posts.

According to statistics, the number of Kuwaiti job hopefuls waiting for appointment in the public sector has reached nearly 16,560. The number of expatriate labor forces signed with state department in recent weeks already exceeded 2,000 in number. The official talks about a ‘serious crisis’ that this condition creates. The waiting period is painfully long. Some state departments usually complain that Kuwaiti employees are ‘less tolerant’ to the requirements of certain jobs such as secretaries or representatives. Therefore, they resort to hiring expatriates in posts which demand extra effort occasionally, “Some citizens cannot wait until the end of the day to leave office,” the official admits. — Al-Qabas

Sandstorms to last all summer

Al-Kabeer port so that better understanding of potential effects of performing naval exercises can be gained. The announcement was made by spokesperson of the Iraqi government Ali AlDabbagh.

A briefing was made by the Iraqi team, which contradicts with earlier

statements made by Kuwaiti officials as well as UN officials who observed joint talks. It indicated that the Iraqi team was satisfied by clarifications made by Kuwait. In separate news, the Russian Ambassador Alexander Kinshchak addressed reporters during the event, and was asked about his country’s rejec-

tion of a UN Security Council resolution condemning the violent crackdown on anti-government protestors in Syria, “The events in Syria are matters of internal concern. Any condemnation of Syrian authorities could lead to more violence,” Ambassador Kinshchak said, reported AlQabas.

KUWAIT: The recent sandstorms and dusty conditions across Kuwait are likely to continue throughout June and to affect the country for the rest of the summer, according to local meteorologists.

Friday’s sandstorms saw shipping activity suspended for a time at the country’s three main ports due to low visibility, although aviation traffic was unaffected.

Operations at Shuwaikh, Shuaiba and Doha ports were suspended until visibility improved, with the docking supervisor at Shuwaikh Port, Captain Musa Behbehani, revealing that the departure of one vessel and the arrival of another had been delayed during the period.

Essam Zamel, operations manager with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), said that the sandstorms had not affected air traffic, however.

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Kuwait committed to eradicate HIV/AIDS International community urged to do more UNITED NATIONS: A Kuwaiti Health Ministry official said yesterday that Kuwait was committed to eradicate the HIV/AIDS, and called on the international community to do more to fight the epidemic even though “significant” progress has been achieved to save more lives. Addressing the General Assembly’s High-Level meeting on HIV/AIDS, Dr Hind Abdelaziz Al-Shoumer, the Head of the Office on AIDS, statistics and information at the Kuwaiti Health Ministry, said the international community “should be pleased with the significant progress achieved so far to fight HIV/AIDS, increased treatment access, saving millions of lives of affected people and reducing stigma and discrimination.”

Child died due to MoH negligence: MP KUWAIT: A Lawmaker is blaming negligence on the par t of the Ministr y of Health’s ambulance paramedical department for the death of a Kuwaiti child, who reportedly died in an ambulance whose driver got lost on the way to the hospital, holding Dr. Helal AlSayer personally responsible for the fatal error.

In a press release issued on Friday, MP Mubarak Al-Waalan

explained that an ambulance rushed to a house in Al-Rabiya where a young Kuwaiti girl needed prompt medical attention, but lost its way en route to Al-Farwaniya hospital after the driver accidentally drove into the Ardiya industrial zone and developed a flat tire. The MP indicated that the victim died in the ambulance due to a shortage of oxygen supplies, which was exacerbated by the wait to repair

the burst tire.

“As if bad services in public hospitals and polyclinics weren’t enough, paramedical ser vices which are supposed to tend to critical cases have likewise deteriorated,” said the MP’s statement, claiming that this situation is “a direct result of lack of negligence and lack of regulatory supervision by ministry officials, including the minister himself.” —Al-Rai

DUBAI: Participants of the Wataniya Telecom annual meeting in Dubai.

Wataniya Telecom management meets with dealers in Dubai KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom had recently hosted the Annual Meeting in Dubai, UAE to celebrate the success of its dealers in 2010. Similar to previous years, the Dealers’ Meeting is primarily organized to strengthen the bonds between Wataniya and its dealers. This meeting was a celebrator y platform via which Wataniya recognized and appreciated all those who contributed towards the company ’s success and rewarding results.

The meeting was attended by GM & CEO, Scott Gegenheimer and a number of representatives from Wataniya’s senior management. During the Annual Meeting, dealers together with Wataniya’s management discussed the latest strategy for upcoming quarters and explored new ideas for taking their succes s a n d a ccom p l i shment s to t he nex t l evel.

Wataniya also reviewed its 2012 business strategy with the dealers.

GM & CEO, Scott Gegenheimer expressed gratitude during his speech at the meeting and said: “The dealer network is a very important channel for Wataniya Telecom; we are grateful for the efforts and positive impact they have made in 2010 leading to mutual growth and success. The accomplishments of our dealers have encouraged us to set higher benchmarks as

compared to the market and we look forward to working together and achieving these challenging targets.”

Gegenheimer also added: “Wataniya’s dealers are considered the backbone of the company and are responsible for creating a successful bridge between Wataniya Telecom and its customers. They have helped us in providing service to people across the country whilst maintaining excellent quality and superior products.”

Kuwait Stock Exchange and has operations in 6 countries including Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria and Palestine. Qatar Telecom (Qtel) owns 52.5% of Wataniya Telecom.

Wataniya is a customer-driven company that aims to provide product and service excellence. Over the past 10 years Wataniya has risen to be the second largest operator in one of the most competitive markets, and continues offering a wide range of prepaid and postpaid mobile voice and internet services to both individual and corporate customers.

Wataniya has built its reputation on offering innovative services, maintaining excellent network quality and delivering outstanding customer experience.

These three pillars remain the basis of Wataniya’s strategy as it continues to solidify its strong market position.

EQUATE holds Diabetes awareness campaign KUWAIT: Proceeding with its integrated campaign” Stay Normal”, EQUATE Petrochemical Company held its third open day at Souk Sharq. This was to raise the awareness among community about diabetes “. In cooperation with the Ministry of Health, EQUATE team welcomed the campaign site visitors, providing free tests of blood sugar levels and blood pressure.

EQUATE’s Vice President for Technical Services and head of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Team Mohammed Al-Benali said:

“Through utilizing an integrated media strategy “ Stay Normal” campaign endeavors at delivering its health messages to society in cooperation with a medical team from the Ministry of Health, this is to increase the awareness regarding Diabetes in Kuwait overall” Kuwait Diabetes Society Secretary Dr Thayer Al- Meili stated: “Around 590 cases were examined in Souk Sharq site, wherein 15 cases of blood sugar and 47 cases of blood pressure were monitored for the first time. 42 cases

of regular blood sugar and 38 cases of irregular pressure had also been discovered, and had been dealt with and transferred to health centers. “ Dr Al-Meili proceeded: “The ratio rate of diabetic adults in Kuwait is 14.6% , expected to reach 17%, which is considered as an indicator of serious health issue. Globally classified seventh in diabetes high rate “Type II“ Kuwait must pay more attention towards controlling this dangerous disease.”

“We thank EQUATE Petrochemical Co. for their great efforts, and we are proud to support them and all the companies that support the society.” Dr Al- Meili concluded, “we invite everyone to join Kuwait Diabetes Society to get the membership benefits, such as educational courses and ongoing support for the best services, and we stress the importance of concerted efforts between government ministries , companies and community, to avoid the risk of silent but deadly diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension.“

However, she added, and despite the “substantial progress achieved so far, we have to acknowledge that much remains to be done to reach our objectives,” as stated in the 2001 declaration of commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 political declaration.

The three-day Assembly High-Level meeting opened Wednesday with the participation of 3,000 figures, including 30 heads of State and government, along with senior officials, representatives of international organizations, civil society and people living with HIV, to chart a path for the future of the AIDS response. The Kuwaiti delegation was headed by Kuwaiti Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi. It included Dr Al-Shoumer, Mohammad Faisal AlMutairi, Charge d’Affaires, and Hasan Abulhasan, Third Secretary.

Dr Al-Shoumer told the Assembly “we believe that this High-Level meeting represents a unique opportunity to renew our commitment and sustain our efforts to continue fighting HIV/AIDS to achieve our goals and to reach a world free of HIV infections and free of AIDS related deaths.” She said Kuwait is “committed to fight HIV/AIDS within its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)” to be achieved by 2015.

Since the diagnosis of the first HIV case in Kuwait in 1984, she stated, the Government, keen on the importance of prevention and care of HIV/AIDS cases, formulated, through a ministerial decree, a multi-sectorial high level National AIDS Control Committee which established the national strategic plan focusing on prevention, education and treatment.

“Kuwait is one of the pioneer countries which has a law for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS comprising the legal context for implementation of the national strategy and ensuring the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) regarding work, education and treatment, and protecting the privacy and confidentiality of their information and fighting stigma and discrimination,” she declared.

In Kuwait, she added, couples are bound by law to conduct premarital medical checkups, including HIV testing, for early detection of the virus in order to prevent its transmission, noting that this law does not prevent marriage.

“We have succeeded in preventing mother to child transmission through early treatment for HIV-positive moth-

ers and good follow up,” she said.

She recalled that Kuwait hosted 4 international conferences about HIV/AIDS in the last two decades and published a lot of studies and researches on the subject.

Treatment for HIV/AIDS, she noted, is available in Kuwait and its protocol conforms to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and is available free of charge for all infected people, regardless of nationality or gender.

She noted that Kuwait voluntarily donates annually 500,000 to the global fund “out of our solidarity and support to the international community’s efforts” to fight infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculoses and Malaria, and participates actively with the various international organizations, agencies and programs concerning HIV/AIDS. She recalled that Kuwait submitted to the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in March 2010 its first report reflecting the situation of HIV/AIDS in Kuwait and its vision and plan for future work to update and implement the strategic plan and operational policy.

“We are looking forward to sharing and exchanging information and experiences (with other Member States) to achieve our goals,” she concluded. At the end of the High-Level meeting, the Assembly, deeply concerned that AIDS already had claimed 30 million lives and orphaned 16 million children since the virus HIV was first discovered in 1981, promised to partner with all stakeholders to implement “bold and decisive action” to wipe out what remained of an unprecedented global human tragedy despite significant progress in the past decade to combat the disease.

“We solemnly declare our commitment to end the epidemic with renewed political will and strong, accountable leadership,” the Assembly stated in a 17-page Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, unanimously adopted by the participants with a few reservations from Syria, on behalf of the Arab Group, the Holy See and other delegations.

The Assembly expressed deep concern that many countries had been unable to achieve the goals set forth in its 2001 and 2006 declarations on the subject, and stressed the urgent need to recommit to them, as well as to commit to and fully implement “new, ambitious and achievable targets.” The Assembly also promised to “seize this turning point” and redou-

ble efforts to achieve by 2015 universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, with a view to realizing the sixth Millennium Development Goal of halting the spread of HIV by 2015.

Those efforts included programs for HIV education, particularly among youth, expanded HIV testing and counseling, improved access to condoms and sterile injecting equipment, and stronger health-sector prevention intervention, particularly in remote areas.

Furthermore, the Assembly committed, also by 2015, to halve sexual transmission of HIV and transmission among intravenous drug users, eliminate mother-to-child transmission, significantly reduce AIDS-related maternal deaths, halve tuberculosis deaths in people living with HIV, and put 15 million people living with the disease on antiretroviral drug therapy.

Also the Assembly committed to work to close the 6 billion annual HIV/AIDS resource gap by 2015 through greater strategic investment and funding, and to reach a significant level of annual global expenditures on HIV and AIDS”, which UNAIDS estimated to be between 22 billion to 24 billion in lowand middle-income countries, by increasing national and traditional sources of funding, including official development assistance (ODA).

Speaking on behalf of the Arab group, Bashar Jaafari of Syria said the Assembly should take into account the religious and cultural values of Member States. Despite Syria’s accession to consensus, he reiterated the group’s “complete rejection” of those parts of the text that mentioned certain groups among the list of populations considered to be the most vulnerable, including men having sex with other men, drug users and sex workers.

Reacting to the Declaration, Secretar y-General Ban Ki-moon called on Member States to move quickly to honor their commitments and reach the life-saving goals they have set, and to take all measures to eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015. He urged governments, networks of people living with HIV, civil society organizations, the private sector and international organizations to redouble their efforts, including by making available the necessary funds by 2015 to eradicate the disease. —KUNA

GCC, EU officials meet in Riyadh RIYADH: The third economic dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union concluded here yesterday with an agreement on a joint action plan.

The GCC Secretariat General said in a statement officials from the two sides discussed various issues including developments in the EU countries, such as the sovereign debts question of Greece and impact of this crisis on the single European currency.

The talks also dealt with inter-investments, development aid, the GCC plan for integration of the financial markets of the Gulf and amendments of the EU regulations for coping with the global financial crisis.

Dr Abdul Aziz Al-Uweishek, the director general of the international economic relations at the secretariat, indicated that the conferees concluded that the EU states “have begun recovering from the economic crisis and are posted to realize growth in 2011.” As to the GCC countries, he adds, they are forecast to post eight percent of growth in 2011, the highest on record since flare-up of the global financial crisis in 2008.

Participants in the four days of meetings included GCC representatives from the ministries of finance monetar y institutions, central banks and GCC General Secretariat, as well as a number of experts and senior officials from the EU and European Central Bank. —KUNA

KUWAIT: The beach cleaning operation in progress.

NBK staff, volunteers clean beaches KUWAIT: In its continuous efforts to build awareness on the growing environment challenges being faced by Kuwait, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) recently organized a day long beach cleanup event.

The clean up initiative undertaken by the NBK staff and volunteers was aptly titled ‘Think Twice’. “ The planned environmental campaign is another manifestation of NBK’s deep commitment to the community, which by far, exceeds the role normally expected from a banking institution,” said Yaqoub Al Baqer, NBK Public Relations Officer.

NBK is also steadily moving towards an environment friendly bank . With this campaign, the

bank aims to highlight the need to protect the environment and educate the general public about the benefits of being environmen-

tally-friendly as well as motivate NBK’s clients and staff members to voluntarily par ticipate in such activities.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

Gunships kill 25 Syria protesters Harrowing tales as thousands flee DAMASCUS: Harrowing eyewitness accounts mounted yesterday after Syrian forces backed by helicopter gunships killed at least 25 protesters, prompting the US to toughen its stance on President Bashar Al-Assad. As the turmoil neared the three-month mark, the international outcry grew over Assad’s use of deadly force against his own people, with protests planned in more than a dozen world cities including Montreal, New York and Paris.

An estimated 3,000 mourners yesterday filed through the coastal city of Latakia for the funeral of one of at least nine protesters shot dead by security forces the day before, activists said.

Around the country, 25 people were killed on Friday, including three in the Qabun district of Damascus, after protesters took to the streets after the main weekly Muslim prayers, activists said. Fridays have become a rallying point in the revolt against Assad’s regime, whose backlash on pro-democracy protests that erupted in midMarch has killed more than 1,200 civilians, rights groups say.

The death toll mounted as detailed accounts emerged from

HATAY:A Syrian refugee lies wounded on a hospital bed in Hatay, Turkey, near the Syrian border yesterday. — AP

some of the thousands of refugees who fled to Turkey from bloodshed in the northwestern town of Jisr Al-Shughur. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that helicopters flying over the town of Maaret alNuman, near Jisr al-Shughur, had fired on a police station which protesters had seized. State television reported that “armed terrorists” had opened fire there, killing and wounding members of the police and security forces. The broadcaster said the Jisr Al-Shughur operation had come “at the request of residents” to deal with “armed gangs.” Soldiers had arrested “elements of the armed groups” there, it added.

Rights activists said Jisr al-Shughur was largely deserted after most of its 50,000 inhabitants fled, many to neighboring Turkey, as tanks and troops began converging there midweek. Syrian army deserters who also fled to Turkey have told of atrocities committed by soldiers in suppressing protests, under threat of execution if they disobeyed orders. With a blank stare in his eyes, Tahal al-Lush said the “cleansing” in Ar-Rastan, a town of 50,000 people in Homs province, pushed him to desert. “We were told that people were armed there.

But when we arrived, we saw that they were ordinary civilians.

We were ordered to shoot them,” said Lush, who showed his military passbook and other papers as proof of identity. “When we entered the houses, we opened fire on everyone, the young, the old... Women were raped in front of their husbands and children,” he said. A second conscript, Mohammed Mirwan Khalaf, said he was in a unit stationed in Idlib, near the border. “Just in front of me, a professional soldier pulled out his knife and stabbed a civilian in the head, for no reason,” he said.The turmoil has pushed 4,600 Syrians to seek refuge across the border in Turkey, a government official in Ankara said.

In the Turkish city of Antakya, Nabil, one of the last Syrian aid workers out of Jisr al-Shughur, recalled the roar of helicopters and a “skull split in two” before he collapsed with a bullet in his back. From his hospital bed, the Red Crescent employee recounted his last sights of the town last weekend, where Damascus said 120 police and troops were massacred amid anti-regime protests.”The wounded, yes, I’ve seen hundreds. And dozens of deaths, maybe a hundred,” the 29-year-old said, adding that he also saw victims of torture.

Washington significantly toughened its stance on Syria on Friday, calling for an “immediate end to brutality and violence” and warning Assad was leading his nation on a “dangerous path,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said. The New York-based Human Rights Watch said yesterday that the Security Council should support a resolution demanding an immediate end to the crackdown.

“A veto by Russia and China to protect the Syrian government and block efforts to stop the killings would be a serious betrayal of Syria’s beleaguered citizens,” said Philippe Bolopion, UN director at the rights watchdog. — AFP

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US defense sales to Bahrain ‘rose before crackdown’ WASHINGTON: A government report says the US approved $200 million in military sales from American companies to Bahrain in 2010, months before the pivotal Arabian Gulf ally began a harsh crackdown on protesters. The yearly State Department report provides totals of US-authorized arms sale agreements between US defense companies and foreign governments. The latest tally showed a $112 million rise in licensed defense sales to Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, between the 2009 and 2010 budget years. The US had greenlighted $88 million in military exports to Bahrain in 2009.

Much involved aircraft and military electronics, but the US also licensed $760,000 in exports of rifles, shotguns and assault weapons in 2010. Since midFebruary, the kingdom has confronted demonstrators with cordons of armed military and police firing live ammunition. At least 31 people have died and hundreds more injured in the clashes.

The possibility that American-built weapons might have been used against protesters has raised questions in Congress and led the department to review its defense trade relationships

with several Middle East nations. Some transactions are on hold and the review has broadened into a policy reassessment that could alter US defense trade oversight.

“While the impact on our defense relations and the defense trade is uncertain, changes in the region may lead to changes in policy and therefore changes in how we do business,” Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary of state for political and military affairs, said last month. The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls approved more than $34 billion in total exports from American defense companies to foreign governments in 2010. That compares with $40 billion in 2009. The total details only proposed sales, not actual shipments. It’s a reliable gauge of private sales of everything from bullets to missile systems, but doesn’t include direct defense shipments from the US to its allies.

Bahrain has been a reliable ally in the Arabian Gulf for decades, hosting the 5th Fleet and in recent years providing facilities and some forces for US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Obama administration has criticized the use of

violence against dissenters by police and military units but has not exacted specific repercussions against Bahrain’s government. A militar y attache at the Bahrain Embassy in Washington would not detail the country’s contracts with US defense companies and referred a reporter to the State Department.

Department officials would not discuss specifics of the militar y exports to Bahrain.

Among Bahrain’s recent militar y moves, the Congressional Research Ser vice reported last March, were upgrading its small fleet of F-16 fighter jets and adding to its inventor y of American-made helicopters. A department official said that following recent clashes between Bahrain government forces and pro-democracy crowds, the US would review Bahrain’s use of security and military units against peaceful demonstrators and “will take into account any evidence of gross violations of human rights.” Assistant Secretary of State Miguel Rodriguez told Sen Patrick Leahy, D-Vt, in a letter that the administration would re-evaluate its procedures for reviewing American security assistance and “has specifically included

Bahrain in this reassessment.”

Anthony Cordesman, national security analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a centrist think tank in Washington, said the $760,000 in small arms licensed to Bahrain by the US in 2010 was a pittance compared with what was sold in recent years to Mideast countries by European defense companies. Britain has suspended private contracts from British defense companies that previously exported armored cars, tear gas and other crowd-control equipment to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has sent in forces to quell the disturbances in Bahrain. “Most of the equipment that Bahrain and other Mideast nations buy to deal with internal dissent is bought overseas because of US restraints on its own exports,” Cordesman said.

“It’s a fruitless exercise to concentrate on American exports with all the amount of available small arms floating around the world.” Jeff Abramson, deputy director of the Arms Control Association, countered that the “US needs to be responsible for its own actions first.” He added that the political upheaval across the Mideast “has

brought to light the problems of providing arms to repressive regimes. The hope is we’ll now begin to see a rethinking of the willingness to do that.” The new report showed that licensed US defense sales to other Mideast and North African nations caught up in democracy protests remained mostly unchanged. Approved exports to Egypt dipped slightly, from $101 million in 2009 to $91 million in 2010.

The latest amount included agreements to sell $1 million worth of rifles, shotguns and assault weapons to the Egyptian government headed by Hosni Mubarak in the months before he was unseated after street battles between police and demonstrators. The US also approved $17 million worth of military exports to Muammar Gaddafi’s government in Libya in 2010 before turning on him following his crackdown on opposition forces this February. The proposed sale would have provided at least $6 million for upgrading Libyan armored troop transports. But a full $77 million deal to upgrade the vehicles was killed when the Obama administration suspended all military aid to Gadhafi’s government in March.— AP

Bahrain appoints parliament speaker to lead reform talks Opposition objects, says crown prince should run talks

MISRATA: A rebel rests before attacking Gaddafi troops on the frontline of Dafneya yesterday. — AP

Gaddafi troops surround Zlitan BENGHAZI: Troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi were surrounding the city of Zlitan, just 160 km east of Tripoli yesterday, rebels said, after fighting broke out there that could open up the coastal road to the capital. Sporadic clashes between Gaddafi’s forces and the rebels continued in Zlitan, a rebel spokesman said, after the rebels took control of some parts of it. He said the situation was calmer than on Friday and the toll remained 22 rebels killed.

“Zlitan is still surrounded by Gaddafi troops and they are threatening the residents to surrender or have their women raped by mercenaries,” spokesman Ahmed Bani said. It was not possible to independently verify the rebels’ claim.

There was no immediate comment from Gaddafi’s government. Zlitan is one of three towns that are largely government controlled between the rebel-held Misrata and the capital. Were it to fall, it could allow the anti-Gaddafi uprising to spread from Misrata, the biggest rebel outpost in western Libya, to Gaddafi’s stronghold in Tripoli.

Gaddafi’s forces also shelled for the first time the world heritage-listed city of Gadamis, 600 km southwest of Tripoli on the Tunisia and Algerian border, overnight, opening a new front in the five-month civil war. A Reuters correspondent in Tripoli heard no new NATO bombings yesterday. Rebels in various flashpoints also said there were no new air strikes. World powers have given mixed signals on how the war might play out, with Russia trying to mediate reconciliation. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he had offered a “guarantee” to Gaddafi if he left Libya, but received no reply. With diplomacy stalling, fighting was erupting on new fronts.

OASIS TOWN ATTACKED Rebels said the oasis town of Gadamis with a population of about 7,000 people, mainly Berber, was under attack after an anti-government protest in the old Roman city on Wednesday. “Gadamis is being shelled by Gaddafi forces, according to witnesses in the town,” spokesman Juma Ibrahim said from the rebel-held town of Zintan in the Western Mountains. “This is a retaliation for antiregime protests,” he said.

The old town was de-populated by Gaddafi in the 1990s and its inhabitants

moved into modern buildings. It was not clear if the attack hit the old town, a labyrinth of narrow, underground passages and houses known as the “Pearl of the Desert”.

The accounts from Gadamis could not be independently verified and the government did not comment. In the besieged port city of Misrata, a doctor at the Hekma hospital said 31 people were killed and 110 wounded in shelling by pro-Gaddafi forces on Friday. A rebel said Misrata was quiet yesterday. “Today there is complete quiet in the city after the shelling continued late last night,” a rebel called Reda told Reuters by telephone.

“But we expect bombardment at any time.”

The United States accused some NATO allies on Friday of failing to pull their weight. “The mightiest military alliance in history is only 11 weeks into an operation against a poorly-armed regime in a sparsely-populated countryyet many allies are beginning to run short of munitions, requiring the US, once more, to make up the difference,” US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a valedictory speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Gates’s exasperation has been echoed by rebels, who control the east of Libya and some other areas but do not appear to pose an imminent threat to Gaddafi’s rule.

TURKISH GUARANTEE NATO-member Turkey said on Friday Gaddafi had no way out but to leave Libya and offered him an exit. “We ourselves have offered him this guarantee, via the representatives we’ve sent. We told him we would help him to be sent wherever he wanted to be sent. We would discuss the issue with our allies, according to the response we receive.

Unfortunately, we still haven’t got a response from Gaddafi,” Erdogan told the NTV broadcaster. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday said talks were under way with Gaddafi aides on a “potential” transition, but that “there is not any clear way forward yet”. Under pressure to come up with plans for a transitional government if they succeed in ending Gaddafi’s four-decade rule, the rebels have said the onus is on foreign powers to hasten assistance. Gaddafi has described the rebels as Al-Qaeda terrorists and says foreign intervention is a front to grab the country’s oil. —Reuters

MANAMA: Bahrain appointed its parliament speaker to lead a national dialogue after a crackdown on democracy protests, the state news agency said, but the opposition said the crown prince should lead the reform process.

Khalifa Al-Dhahrani, speaker of the Council of Representatives, said he hoped to bring “all parties concerned with matters of the state” into the dialogue.

He said the talks would “accelerate the pace of reform towards further development in various fields that will meet the expectations of all citizens,” Bahrain News Agency cited him as saying yesterday.

Bahrain’s Sunni rulers crushed weeks of protests demanding democratic reforms in March, saying the demonstrations, led mostly by the kingdom’s Shiite majority, had a sectarian agenda and were aided

by Shiite power Iran. The opposition deny this.

But leading Shiite Muslim opposition group Wefaq objected to the appointment. “The real dialogue that needs to take place must be between the king or the crown prince and the opposition because what we are discussing is a pivotal issue of difference between the ruling family and the people,” said Khalil Al-Marzooq, a Wefaq leader.

“The call for dialogue was meant to complete the one which the crown prince had started previously. It raises a lot of questions about the extent of the seriousness of this dialogue in looking for a political

DIRAZ: Bahraini Shiite Muslims chant slogans to free prisoners during a sermon in Diraz, Bahrain. — AP solution that will meet the demands of the people,” he said.

Marzooq said of Dhahrani’s appointment: “We respect him but he has already taken his position.

He has previously said that he objects to discussion of reforms over elections, constitutional amendments and the issue of discrimination. “We call for the crown prince to lead these talks... to pull this country out of the bottle neck which it is stuck in.” The government imposed emergency law in

March and brought in troops from neighboring Sunni-ruled countries to quash the protests. Thousands of people were detained or dismissed from government jobs for taking part in the protests.

The emergency law has since been revoked and many detainees have been released. On Friday, Bahrain News Agency reported a Labor Ministry order that 571 people who had been sacked had been given their jobs back “for lack of legal foundations justifying their

dismissal”. King Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa announced that a national dialogue would begin on July 1 and would be open to reform in all areas. Opposition groups have complained the lack of parameters made it difficult to know what options for reform were really on the table. Shiites have long complained of discrimination in jobs and housing, as well as over the gerrymandering of district lines for elections in favor of the Sunni population. —Reuters

Yemen troops battle militants; 30 killed

KADUGLI: Residents gather outside the UNMIS sector headquarters after fleeing fighting in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, Sudan.— AP

Sudan hits South targets oilfields JUBA: Sudan’s army has launched repeated air strikes on the southern army in Unity state in a bid to seize oilfields there weeks before the south’s independence, a southern army spokesman said. Philip Aguer, spokesman for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) of the south, said the SPLA was on “maximum alert” and strengthening its defensive positions, fearing the start of an invasion to seize the oilfields. “SAF aircraft bombed the area of Yau, in Unity state, many times on Thursday,” Aguer said, referring to the north’s Sudanese Armed Forces. “This area is deep inside south Sudan and is a move by Khartoum to control the area and create a de facto border to control our oilfields.”

But a UN spokeswoman denied that the northern army had launched air strikes south of the border. “The place that they bombed was an SPLA assembly area, right on the north-south border. This is one of the disputed territories,” Hua Jiang for the UN mission in Sudan said. A Sudanese army spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Heavy clashes between SAF troops and northern members of the former southern

rebel army first erupted in South Kordofan, the adjacent state north of the border, on Sunday. The heavily armed state retains strong links to the south, especially among the indigenous Nuba peoples who fought on the side of the southern rebels, even though their homeland, the Nuba Mountains, is in the north.

Earlier Friday, the governor of South Kordofan, Ahmed Harun, accused two key figures in the northern branch of the SPLM, the southern army’s political wing, of causing this week’s fighting. Abdelaziz al-Hilu and Yasser Arman “bear responsibility for what has happened in the state,” said Harun, a stalwart of President Omar Al-Bashir’s ruling National Congress Party, speaking on the state-owned Sudanese Radio. While the SPLA was in control of certain areas, including Um Dorain and Kauda, 80 percent of the state was unaffected by the fighting, he added. “I do not see the opportunity for dialogue on the horizon,” said Harun. Like Bashir, he is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes committed in Sudan’s western Darfur region. — AFP

SANAA: Yemeni soldiers battled Islamic militants yesterday in an attempt to drive them from several southern towns under the control of hundreds of the fighters. The clashes killed 30 people on both sides, officials said. In an unusual twist, the army commander leading the campaign to drive back the Islamists is among several top military figures who have turned against the country’s president and thrown their support behind the massive protest movement pushing for the autocratic leader’s ouster.

The commanders who abandoned President Ali Abdullah Saleh accuse him of letting the southern towns fall into the hands of Islamic militants in an effort to persuade the US and other Western powers that without him in charge, Al-Qaeda will take control of the country.

Yesterday’s fighting around Lawdar and Zinjibar killed 21 Al-Qaeda militants, the Defense Ministry said. Nine soldiers were also killed, said a local government official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.

The surrounding Abyan province is one of the strongholds of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which the US considers a more immediate threat than the terror network’s central leadership sheltering along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is not clear how closely linked the militants who seized the towns are to Yemen’s Al-Qaeda offshoot. The area is also home to many other Islamist groups. The fight against them is being led by Gen Faisal Ragab, a battalion commander who defected to the opposition in March.

In Lawdar, the Islamic militants attacked a vehicle carrying food supplies for a military camp, killing four soldiers, the local official said. In nearby Zinjibar, which Islamic militants seized at the end of May, a local official said army troops were massing at the southern outskirts of the city in preparation for a push to retake the town.

Battles there killed five soldiers, the official said.

President Saleh has resisted calls to step down by hundreds of thousands of protesters who have filled the streets of major cities in Yemen since early February, but a deadly crackdown has failed to clear them from the streets. Pressure from the United States and Yemen’s neighboring countries has been building on Saleh to step down as part of a negotiated deal with opposition parties that would preserve some measure of order in the fragile nation. The crisis descended into armed street battles two weeks ago between the president’s forces and gunmen loyal to Yemen’s most powerful tribal leader, who has turned against Saleh. — AP

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3 militants killed in Russia’s Dagestan Russia tries to make sense of colonel’s murder ROSTOV-ON-DON: Police in Russia’s restive republic of Dagestan say three suspected militants have been killed in a shootout with officers. Dagestan’s Interior Ministry says police stopped a car for a document check near the village of Manas and that the car’s occupants opened fire. Ministry spokesman Vyacheslav Gasanov also said yesterday all three men in the car were killed. There are frequent attacks in Dagestan and police shootouts involving militants believed to have been inspired by separatist fighters in neighboring Chechnya.

Although the Chechen conflict has died down significantly in recent years, violence is reported almost daily in Dagestan.

Chechnya colonel murder Meanwhile, the brazen killing of a Russian army colonel who murdered a 18-year-old Chechen girl in 2000 prompted a bout of soul-searching yesterday, with some mourning the Caucasus war veteran and others fearing fresh ethnic clashes. Yury Budanov, convicted of the murder of Elza

MADRID: Police grab a demonstrator during a sit-in protest near the town hall in Madrid yesterday. — AP

Spain police disperse anti-crisis protesters MADRID: Scuffles erupted between police and demonstrators outside Madrid’s city hall yesterday as the rightist mayor began a new term in office, in the latest of a wave of protests against the country’ economic crisis and soaring unemployment.

“Get the corrupt out of the city hall,” shouted hundreds of demonstrators who gathered outside a vast police cordon set up around the 17th century Casa de la Villa in the city’s historic centre where Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon was sworn into office. Others cried “Gallardon thief,” “We won’t pay for this crisis,” and “Ali Baba’s Cave,” as they blocked streets, kept at a distance by helmeted riot police. “Gallardon you do not represent us,” read one huge banner. Gallardon, a member of the conservative opposition Popular Party, retained control of Madrid in municipal elections on May 22 which saw a rout for the country’s governing Socialists.

Scuffles broke out when police tried to remove some protesters sitting outside the exit to the garage to clear a passage for official cars leaving the building after the ceremony.

Tinted windows firmly closed, the vehicles were greeted with deafening shouts of “Thieves out”, “Shame”, jeers,

whistles and boos as they drove past.

Some protesters suffered scratches and bruises as police pushed or dragged them away from the exit.

“People were sitting peacefully to prevent them (the officials in the city hall) from leaving, and police moved in,” said Ramon Fernandez, 31. “They did not use batons, but began to grab people who suffered kicks,” said the computer programmer who showed the scratches on his arms and body in the clash.

He said protesters offered “no resistance”, and there were “quite a few” people slightly injured. Another protester, Pablo Ascasibar, 31, said “we were sitting in the street and the police came in to remove us, with verbal violence and with physical violence by dragging us, kicking us and kneeing us.” Demonstrators also carried a black “coffin” through the streets preceded by two men dressed as priests and a drummer beating out a funereal beat. The sign on the coffin read “We don’t want a country for rich people”. Dozens of police vehicles and riot police closed off a huge section of the city centre. “How much protection does Gallardon need?” chanted the crowd. The manager of one local tourist gift shop, Juan Pozos, estimat-

South Africans mourn Sisulu JOHANNESBURG: Children and old women jogged alongside as Albertina Sisulu’s hearse made its way through Soweto’s humble streets to her grand funeral yesterday. Nelson Mandela called Sisulu “one of the greatest South Africans” for her role fighting apartheid and nurturing a new generation of leaders.

She collapsed and died at her Johannesburg home June 2 at the age of 92. During yesterday’s funeral before a crowd ranging from ordinary Sowetans to government leaders from as far away as Egypt, Sisulu’s grandchildren recited the story of her life.

She had not been expected to survive the Spanish influenza that was raging when she was born in 1918.

She lived on to represent the anti-apartheid movement at home and abroad, and to champion the rights of women and children. Mandela’s tribute, read by his wife Graca Machel during the official funeral with military honors, set off a brief, thrilling rally in which the crowd sang Mandela’s name. In his speech, Mandela listed several friends and colleagues he has lost in recent years. He said he felt Sisulu’s loss especially deeply.

“I would have loved to be here today to pay my personal respects but it would be too painful for me to see you go,” said Mandela, who at 92 rarely makes public appearances. The Mandelas yesterday were marking the first anniversary of the death of Mandela’s 13-year-old great-granddaughter Zenani, killed in a car crash on the way home from a soccer World Cup evening concert in Soweto. Crowds of mourners began arriving early for Sisulu’s funeral, eventually filling about a quarter of a 40,000-seat soccer stadium.

Khesani Chauke, a 30-year-old Soweto resident, sat her four-year-old daughter in her lap, saying it was important for little Navelelo to be part of this moment in South African history. “Even if she doesn’t remember, I will tell her she was here,” Chauke said.

Maureen Matlala, 39, boarded a bus Friday night with neighbors from eastern South Africa to get to Soweto. —AP

ed he lost between 700 and 800 euros worth of business due to the security.

“I’m not making any sales, and I will not be compensated,” he complained.

Demonstrations also took place yesterday in other towns and cities where mayors were sworn into office, notably Valencia, Palma de Majorca, Burgos, Alicante, Leon, Vitoria and Zaragoza.

Protests over the economic crisis began in Madrid on May 15 and fanned out to city squares nationwide as word spread by Twitter and Facebook among demonstrators also known as “M-15”, “Spanish Revolution” and “Real Democracy Now”.

Protesters installed in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square for the past month are scheduled today to dismantle their ramshackle encampment, which has become a symbol of the anti-establishment movement. The Spanish economy slumped into recession during the second half of 2008 as the global financial meltdown compounded the collapse of the oncebooming property market. It emerged with meager growth in early 2010. The crisis sent the unemployment rate soaring to more than 21 percent in the first quarter of 2011, the highest in the industrialized world. Among young people it is over 40 percent.— AFP

Kungayeva and stripped of his rank, was shot dead in broad daylight Friday in central Moscow in a contract-style killing.

Even after his death he remains such a polarizing figure that the Kremlin and Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, who has called the former colonel a schizophrenic and “the enemy of the Chechen people,” have remained conspicuously silent. The murder follows unprecedented ethnic riots in Moscow in December and comes as the country gears up to mark the Day of Russia, a state

holiday today. Authorities deployed a reinforced police presence at the scene of December’s riots near the Kremlin even though they denied bracing for fresh unrest.

Budanov’s supporters including army officers and football fans have deposited heaps of flowers at the murder scene since Friday. “We are proud of him. He did not forsake his duty and did not betray his fatherland,” Yana Nikolayeva, holding a picture of Budanov said as her male companion stood nearby clutching red carnations.—Agencies

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Mexican poet’s peace caravan arrives in Juarez CIUDAD JUAREZ: A Mexican poet who has turned his grief over a murdered son into a crusade for peace ended his weeklong “consolation caravan” Friday, demanding the government shift its armed offensive against drug trafficking into an aggressive pursuit of the cartels’ assets. Javier Sicilia, who started the caravan from outside Mexico City last Saturday, had amassed about 1,500 followers, including others who had lost innocent family members and friends to drug violence, by the time he reached Ciudad Juarez, the country’s most violent city. In this city, just across the border from El Paso, Texas, about 20 victims’ relatives gave speeches attacking police for not doing their job.

About 500 people, including Sicilia, signed a pact calling on the government to remove all military forces and to better enforce asset forfeiture laws in order to weaken drug cartels by blocking money laundering activities among other things.

Sicilia visited a park created in the memory of 15 teens slaughtered in 2010 by gang members in what was believed to be a case of mistaken identity, as well as a field where the bodies of eight women were found in 2001. Hundreds of women were murdered in Juarez in the 1990s, the symbol of the city’s violence before a fight among drug cartels heated up, killing at least 3,100 people last year alone. “Do your jobs, stop humiliating the citizens of Juarez, and do justice to so many who have died,” Sicilia called out to state and local officials.

“This is the beginning of a civil resistance movement to transform consciousness, to start a dialogue in the absence of government policies.” The number of homicides has fallen for three straight months in Juarez, though government officials haven’t given a reason for the drop. But the city is emblematic of Mexico’s problem with drug crimes and impunity. At least 95 percent of crimes

Massive wildfire spreads across US SPRINGERVILLE: A massive wildfire in eastern Arizona that has claimed more than 30 homes and cabins and forced nearly 10,000 people to flee was poised to move into New Mexico, threatening more towns and possibly endangering two major power lines that bring electricity from Arizona to West Texas. The fire has burned 639 square miles of forest, an increase of 114 square miles from a day earlier, officials said. “It’s getting very, very close to the New Mexico state line,” Jim Whittington, spokesman for the teams battling the fire, told reporters near Springerville Friday night. “This is really rugged country. There is a lot of potential” for the fire to grow.

Earlier in the day, Whittington said the lighter winds Thursday and Friday helped the 3,000 firefighters on the lines make progress, but critical fire conditions remain. High winds were expected to return with a vengeance Saturday. “We have until then to get as much work as we can done and get to the point where we can sit back and watch the winds come,” Whittington said. Fire crews plan to try to strengthen what lines they’ve been able to establish and continue burning out forested areas in front of the main fire to try to stop its advance.

It was officially just 6 percent contained Friday, but the actual numbers likely are higher, Whittington said.

The advances came on the fire’s north side, near the working-class towns of Springerville and Eagar on the edge of the forest. Nearly 10,000 people have been evacuated from the two towns and from several mountain communities in the forest. On Friday, fire officials gave reporters the first look at two of the mountain communities - Alpine and Nutrioso - in nearly two weeks, driving them through the

deserted resort towns and surrounding areas.

Some stands of trees in the forest were untouched while others looked like blackened matchsticks sticking up through lingering smoke.

Firefighters were working in the area, using drip torches to light fires and burn out undergrowth. Deer and elk grazed in unscorched areas, while wild turkeys walked through tall grass along the road. Two miles south of Alpine, whole hillsides of ponderosa were decimated. The two ArizonaTexas power lines were still in the fire’s path, although Whittington said he was less concerned about them Friday. El Paso Electric has warned its 372,000 customers that they may see rolling blackouts if the lines are cut.

The fire is the second-largest in state history and could eclipse the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski fire in size, although only a fraction of the homes have burned. The Chediski began as a signal fire and merged with the Rodeo, which was intentionally set by a firefighter who needed work.

Together they burned 732 square miles and destroyed 491 buildings.

The current Wallow Fire in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest has destroyed 31 homes or cabins, including 22 in the picturesque mountain community of Greer, Whittington said.

Two dozen outbuildings and a truck also were lost and five homes damaged in Greer when the fire moved in Wednesday night. New Mexico Gov Susana Martinez visited the Reserve area Friday to discuss fire preparations. A day ago, Arizona Gov Jan Brewer flew over burned areas in her state and met with evacuated residents in Lakeside. “ They’re very resilient people up there,” she said Thursday. — AP

CIUDAD JUAREZ: Mexican poet Javier Sicilia (center right) stands with Luz Maria Davila during an event of the “Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity” in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. —AP

Venezuela’s Chavez has surgery in Cuba Operation came at end of Latin American tour CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had a successful operation on Friday in Cuba for an abscess in the pelvis discovered on the last stage of this week’s tour around Latin America, his government said. The usually fit and sports-loving Chavez had been out of the limelight for several weeks, due to a knee injury, before visiting Brazil, Ecuador and Cuba. “With his knee injury almost totally better, President Chavez suffered a new health problem, which was immediately assessed by his medical team,” said a statement by the Venezuelan government read on state TV. Surgery to correct the pelvic problem was carried out in the morning in Havana “with satisfactory results for the health of Commander Hugo Chavez, who is recovering with his family, medical team and part of the government team,” it added.

Chavez, 56, will stay on in Cuba for a few days until he is in a condition to return, the statement said, emphasizing the Venezuelan leader’s gratitude to President Raul Castro, his brother Fidel, and the Cuban health system, for the support. Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro is Chavez’s political mentor, and the Venezuelan leader has frequently visited the island for meetings, rest and inspiration during his 12 years in charge of the South American OPEC member nation. The energetic Chavez loves to pitch at baseball games, but he has slowed down in recent years as age and the pressures of office have taken their toll.

His disappearance from the public eye, during his knee injury, fueled speculation in Venezuelan opposition and media circles that

CARACAS: Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez (left) holds a crutch as he welcomes Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, (not in picture) at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. — AP he may have a worse medical problem, and the operation in Cuba is bound to spur more rumors. Officials scoff at that as wishful and uncharitable thinking by Venezuelans bitter at Chavez’s socialist policies.

“I will happily die in the service of the suffering people,” Chavez was quoted as saying

US foresees $46 billion in 2011 military sales WASHINGTON: The United States plans to export $46.1 billion in weapons this year, nearly doubling its 2010 figures, officials said yesterday. During the fiscal year 2011, which ends September 30, Washington expects the sales of equipment and military services through its Foreign Military Sales process. About 79 percent of these exports are financed by client countries and organizations, with the remainder funded by US aid programs. US military equipment sales, confined to about $10 billion in the early 2000s, tripled to around $30 billion after 2005.

“From 2005 to 2010, we have delivered through the Foreign Military Sales process $96 billion worth of equipment, goods and services to partner countries,” said Defense Security Cooperation Agency Director Vice Admiral William Landay.

Ten years ago, clients were most interested in purchasing material at the lowest cost, even if that meant spacing out deliveries, he explained. But with the war

in Afghanistan and a higher operational tempo for many armed forces, clients are seeking quicker access to purchased progress, which explains the rise in the value of American exports, according to the admiral.

Several nations participating in the NATO-led air campaign on Libya have thus contacted the DSCA to replenish their stocks of ammunition depleted by the operations. Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom are all participating in the attacks on Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

The rise in exports has led the DSCA to revise its procedures to ensure faster deliveries by determining what type of weapons or other military equipment should be delivered to which country before even being contac ted by a client, and purchasing the equipment before it is sold. In all, over 13,000 contracts are currently underway with 165 countries for $327 billion, according to Landay. — AFP

Teenager quizzed over Rep Weiner

ARIZONA: A firefighter sets a backburn to fight the Wallow Fire in Nutrioso, Ariz. A massive wildfire in eastern Arizona that has claimed more than 30 homes and forced nearly 10,000 people to evacuate is likely to spread into New Mexico soon, threatening more towns and possibly endangering two major power lines that bring electricity from Arizona to West Texas. — AP

there are never prosecuted, according to local human rights groups. Several people have been arrested in the March 28 slaying of Sicilia’s son, Juan Francisco Sicilia, a college student who authorities say was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Prosecutors say drug gang members killed him and six others 10 days after a couple of Sicilia’s friends had a chance scuffle with the gangsters. The caravan of about a dozen buses started in Cuernavaca, a central resort and industrial city where Sicilia’s son and the others were slain.

It ended Friday in Ciudad Juarez, but Sicilia will host a press conference in El Paso late yesterday. Since then, Sicilia has led several marches, first in Cuernavaca and then from Cuernavaca to Mexico City. He also has proposed writing the names of the dead on plaques at the spots where they were killed throughout the country so that they won’t just be numbers. — AP

WASHINGTON: Police in Delaware said they interviewed a teenage girl on Friday about whether she had contact with US Representative Anthony Weiner, who is under pressure to resign for sending lewd pictures of himself to women over the Internet and then lying about it. “Detectives were made aware of alleged contact between Congressman Anthony Weiner and an area teen. Detectives have conducted an interview with the teen and she has made no disclosure of criminal activity nor inappropriate contact by the congressman,” Police in Wilmington, Delaware, said in a statement.

The New York Times quoted a Weiner spokeswoman as saying he had exchanged at least five private Twitter messages with a 17-year-old Delaware girl who had heard him speak in Washington.

“According to Congressman Weiner, his communications with this person were neither explicit nor indecent,” spokeswoman Risa Heller told the

Times. Weiner has vowed to remain in office, although at least seven of his fellow House of Representatives Democrats have publicly called on him to resign. Congressional aides say other lawmakers are hoping he quits, but a poll released on Thursday showed 56 percent of adults in his district in New York City believe he should stay.

“I betrayed a lot of people and I know it. I’m trying to get back to work now and try to make amends to my constituents and of course to my family,” he told the New York Post on Thursday. Fellow Democrats in Congress have been distancing themselves from the onetime rising star.

After vehemently denying for more than a week that he sent a picture of his bulging boxer briefs to a woman in Seattle, claiming he was the victim of hacking, Weiner tearfully admitted to lying about the scandal on Monday when he said he had inappropriate exchanges with six women, some after he was married. — Reuters

in Friday’s statement, in his typically melodramatic language.

Chavez has polarized opinion among Venezuelans, with many regarding him as a savior of the poor but others as an autocrat obsessed with staying in power. He plans to run for re-election in 2012. — Reuters

Washington warns Khartoum on ‘reprehensible’ violence WASHINGTON: The White House has urged Sudan to “immediately” halt the escalation of “reprehensible” violence on southern army positions less than a month before the south’s independence. “The United States condemns reported acts of violence in Southern Kordofan that target individuals based on their ethnicity and political affiliation,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said in calling for a ceasefire.

The statement was in response to reports of further attacks by northern forces on the Sudan People’s Liberation Army of the south. President Barack Obama has sought to ensure the implementation of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan and peace in Darfur.

He was instrumental in orchestrating the intense diplomatic effort backing a referendum that ultimately saw voters favor the south splitting from the north. “The government of Sudan must prevent further escalation of this crisis by ceasing immediately its pursuit of a military solution to disarm the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Southern Kordofan and to dissolve the Joint Integrated Units established under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” Carney said in a lengthy statement. “Accounts of security services and military forces detaining, and summarily executing local authorities, political rivals, medical personnel and others are reprehensible and could constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.”

Carney called on the United Nations to investigate the reports. The perpetrators should “immediately halt these actions and be held accountable for their crimes,” he added. Heavy clashes between Sudanese Armed Forces troops and northern members of the former southern rebel army first erupted in South Kordofan today. Carney said the violence threatened efforts to forge a durable peace between the largely Muslim north and the primarily Christian and animist south. The heavily armed state retains strong links to the south, especially among the indigenous Nuba peoples who fought on the side of the southern rebels, even though their homeland, the Nuba Mountains, is in the north.

Obama has signaled to the government in the north, under President Omar Al-Bashir, that it could expect US incentives for choosing the path of peace. That would included the lifting of economic sanctions and a process to remove US curbs imposed because Washington sees Khartoum as a state sponsor of terror. The US president has dispatched a special envoy to Sudan, Princeton Lyman, to help resolve the crisis. Washington is also working with the World Bank on whether to relieve Sudan’s debt, estimated at $38 billion. It is also considering nominating a full ambassador to Khartoum after July 9. — AFP

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Bomber hits Chinese government building ‘Revenge against society’

TOKYO: Anti-nuclear demonstrators shout slogans during a march in Tokyo yesterday. — AP

Anti-nuke protests rock quake-ravaged Japan Radiation amount to about one-sixth of Chernobyl TOKYO: Protesters held mass demonstrations against nuclear power across Japan yesterday, the three-month anniversary of the powerful earthquake and tsunami that killed over 23,000 and triggered one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters. Streets in parts of Tokyo were completely jammed with thousands of chanting protesters, paralyzing sections of the city. Some marchers called for the country’s nuclear plants to be shut down immediately and for stricter radiation tests by the government.

The magnitude-9 earthquake that hit March 11 off Japan’s northeast coast caused a massive tsunami that devastated the coastline. The disasters knocked out power and cooling systems at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, about 140 miles northeast of Tokyo, setting off explosions, fires and large radiation leaks at the facility. Government reports released earlier in the week said the damage and leakage were worse than previously thought, with some of the nuclear fuel in three reactors likely having melted through the main cores and inner containment vessels.

They said the radiation that leaked into the air amounted to about one-sixth of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 - double previous estimates. The disasters have renewed a national debate on nuclear power in Japan, which has few natural resources. Japan relied on nuclear energy for 30 percent of its electricity before the disasters and planned to raise that to 50 percent by 2030, but the government has announced it will abandon that target and promote renewable energy instead.

“Since the earthquake, I’ve realized that nuclear power is just too dangerous for use,” said Takeshi Terada, 32, a shipping worker who marched with 10 friends in Tokyo.

Some nuclear plants across the country remain shut in the wake of the disaster, leading to fears Tokyo and other areas may

not have enough electricity for the peak summer months. Residents of the capital are reducing their use of lights and air conditioning, and some companies are moving crucial operations like computer centers to parts of Japan with more stable power supplies.

At the Fukushima plant, hundreds of workers are still struggling to bring the crippled reactors to a “cold shutdown” by early next year and end the crisis. Radiation fears have forced more than 80,000 people to evacuate from their homes around the plant. Many more people have had to leave their homes along the northeast coast because of tsunami damage. Three months after the disasters, 90,000 are still living in temporary shelters such as school gyms and community centers. Over 23,000 died.

Along the tsunami-ravaged coast yesterday, residents bowed their heads in a moment of silence at 2:46 pm, when the earthquake struck. Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan visited Kamaishi, a hard-hit coastal city. Kan has been under fire for his handling of the disasters and the country’s recovery plans, surviving a noconfidence vote earlier this month by promising to step down once the recovery takes hold.

Speculation about when he will quit has been rampant, with his party and the main opposition hinting at a coalition to speed the recovery. But Kan’s visit yesterday was seen by some as a suggestion he will attempt to prolong his tenure. “It is not just a matter of listening to what people say at the destroyed areas. I want to incorporate what I hear into government measures,” he said. In Tokyo, protesters carried colorful banners and banged drums as they walked in orderly rows past the Economy Ministry and the head offices of Tokyo Electric Power Co, which operates the Fukushima plant. Entire families marched, their toddlers and even dogs wearing clothing with anti-nuclear slogans.— AP

Councilman’s death sparks riot in China BEIJING: Paramilitary police patrolled the streets of a central Chinese city yesterday following a riot over the death of city councilman in police custody, the latest in a string of incidents highlighting government fears of widening social unrest.

Thousands of people laid siege to government offices in Lichuan in Hubei province on Thursday, throwing bottles, eggs and other objects and tussling with police, according to eyewitnesses reached by phone and accounts posted online.

Some in the crowd pushed over the compound’s electric gate, ransacked the office of the city’s Communist Party boss and smashed a large sign reading “Serve the people” - a quotation from the founder of the communist state, Mao Zedong, according to their accounts, which could not be independently verified. The riot prompted police to bring in reinforcements from the paramilitary People’s Armed Police backed by armored vehicles, said residents reached by phone who refused to give their names for fear of reprisals. “There hasn’t been any trouble for the last two days, but the PAP are patrolling regularly outside,” said one woman reached at her home.

A receptionist at a hotel located nearby government headquarters said protesters gathered there from morning to late in the afternoon, with the crowd growing several thousand-strong. She said both police and protesters were injured and more than a dozen people were detained. Staff at government offices referred all questions to the local Communist Party propaganda office, where phones rang unanswered Saturday. An officer at Lichuan’s police headquarters said she would have to get permission from her superiors to answer questions about the incident and did not call back.

There were no official reports of injuries or arrests in the riot, although photos posted to microblogs appeared to show policemen clubbing and kicking people.

Estimates online of the size of the crowd ran from 2,000 to 20,000. Protesters, including family members, were demanding punishment of those involved in the death while undergoing interrogation of local People’s Congress deputy Ran Jianxin on June 4.

While Ran’s death remains officially under investigation, relatives say he was beaten to death and have circulated photos on the Internet purporting to show bruises covering his body. Though technically illegal, beatings and torture are believed to be routinely applied by police and investigators who rely overwhelmingly on confessions to obtain convictions. Ran, 49, had been placed under investigation last November for allegedly taking bribes from construction contractors and was formally arrested and taken into custody on May 26. Ran’s family claim his arrest and subsequent beating was payback for his leveling allegations of corruption against top city officials.

“Ran’s cousin said he found signs of wounds and bruises on Ran’s body at the hospital and believed that they were signs of an ‘unnatural death,”‘ the official Xinhua News Agency said in a brief account of the incident.

In an apparent effort to calm the situation, authorities have suspended Li Wei, the city’s deputy party boss in charge of discipline, and placed under investigation over Ran’s death, according to Xinhua. At least one other official has resigned and three more are under investigation, it said.

Incidents such as the Lichuan riot are a sign of widespread distrust of the authorities and frustration with corruption, favoritism and lack of responsiveness to common grievances such as illegal land grabs. Last month, a man described as upset over a land dispute with the government set off three bombs in the southern city of Fuzhou, killing himself and two others and stirring a public angry at official corruption and indifference.

National leaders obsessed with maintaining stability and the party’s grip on power have ordered local leaders to solve social problems at the grass roots, while at the same time investing heavily in the armed police and monitoring of dissent. A task force from elite Tsinghua University reported last year that spending on internal security nationwide was on par with the official defense budget and was expanding much faster. While the domestic security budget is unpublished, official military spending received a 12.7 percent boost this year, to $91.5 billion. — AP

BEIJING: Two people were injured in a suspected revenge bombing at a government building in China, state media said yesterday, the second such attack attributed to disgruntled locals in recent weeks. The detained suspect, a man surnamed Liu, allegedly set off the explosion in the northern city of Tianjin on Friday out of “revenge against society,” Xinhua news agency reported. Two people were slightly injured in the incident at a municipal government building in the Hexi district of Tianjin, a major city about 100

kilometers southwest of Beijing, the report said.

Calls to the Hexi district government offices went unanswered yesterday. China sees thousands of protests and other public disturbances each year, often linked to anger over official corruption, government abuses and the illegal seizure of land for development. Bomb attacks have been increasingly frequent in recent years and are typically carried out by individuals angr y over perceived injustices, business disputes or other pressures associat-

ed with China’s rapid modernization. In late May, four people were killed and several injured in a series of similar explosions at government buildings in south China’s Jiangxi province. A 52year-old man identified as Qian Mingqi allegedly triggered explosions at the parking garage of the city prosecutor’s office and at two other district government offices in Fuzhou city. In an Internet posting ahead of the bombings, Qian reportedly detailed alleged corruption by local officials in the eviction and demolition of two

properties he owned and vowed revenge.

In another blast Thursday, one policeman was killed and two others injured when an explosion reduced to rubble parts of a multistorey police station in Huangshi township in Hunan province, the China Daily reported. Local officials immediately said the accidental detonation of confiscated explosives was the cause of the blast, but numerous postings on the Internet maintained the explosion was a revenge attack against corrupt police.— AFP

Vietnam’s territorial claims angers China BEIJING: A newspaper published

by China’s ruling Communist Party warned Vietnam yesterday to show restraint or come out the loser in an escalating squabble over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Vietnam on Friday announced a live ammunition drill in an apparent response to China’s demand that it halt all oil exploration in an area of the South China Sea claimed by both sides.

Noting that and other recent statements from Vietnam’s leadership, the Global Times in an editorial accused Hanoi of using the “lowest form of nationalism to create new enmity between the people of the two countries.”

“Hanoi seems to be looking to dissipate domestic pressure and buck up morale at home, while at the same time further drawing in the concern of international society over the South China Sea dispute,” the newspaper said.

It said Vietnam’s tough stance had destroyed goodwill among the Chinese public and threatens to pressure China’s leaders into responding with firmer actions.

“If Vietnam insists on making trouble, thinking that the more trouble it makes, the more benefits it gains, then we truly wish to remind those in Vietnam who determine policy to please read your history,” the editorial concluded. Vietnam announced its

navy will carry out two exercises on Monday in an area off the country ’s central Quang Nam province and warned ships to stay out of the area. It was the first time Vietnam has issued such an alert about maritime drills.

The notice came a day after China and Vietnam traded demands to stay out of waters they claim. The two countries have a long history of maritime scraps in disputed parts of the South China Sea near the Spratly and Paracel islands, but the recent row has sparked an unusually hostile response from Hanoi.

Yesterday’s editorial mixed righteous indignation with patronizing language in a reflection of the

condescension with which Beijing frequently regards its smaller Communist neighbor.

While China assisted Vietnam’s Communists against France and the United States, relations soon soured and China briefly invaded in 1979 in retaliation for Hanoi’s toppling of Beijing’s Khmer Rouge allies in Cambodia.

Despite its size and strength, China has “never sought to politically blackmail smaller countries,” the editorial said. “But when a small country turns that around and tries to blackmail China, the Chinese people will on the one hand feel rather angry, while on the other hand find it quite amusing,” it said. — AP

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Islamabad vows to support Afghanistan peace process Haqqani network may be obstacle to peace ISLAMABAD: Pakistan pledged yesterday to help Afghanistan end a 10-year Taleban insurgency, as their mutual ally the United States prepares to start a gradual troop withdrawal. Pakistan has historically maintained close contacts with the Afghan Taleban and is seen as an important player that can push insurgent groups to the negotiating table. “Our aim is to support the peace process which is Afghan-led and it is (an) Afghan process for reconciliation,” Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani told a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

“Pakistan is ready to support whatever support they want ... it is in the interest of Pakistan to have a stable, peaceful, prosperous, independent and sovereign Afghanistan.” Pakistan has made similar pledges before, but ties between the neighbors have been hampered by mistrust. Both Afghanistan and the United

Taleban by the end of this year if NATO forces in Afghanistan made more military advances and applied pressure on the insurgents.

This summer foreign forces will hand security control in parts of Afghanistan to the national police and army, launching a nearly four-year long process that

is not clear if his death will ease violence in Afghanistan. The Pakistani Taleban, close Al-Qaeda allies, staged a flurry of attacks to avenge his death.

Washington wants Pakistan to go after the Al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network, which operates from safe-havens in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal area and is

ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Hamid Karzai (left) shakes hand with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani prior to their meeting in Islamabad yesterday. —AP States say Pakistan is not doing enough to prevent militants from crossing the border to attack American-led NATO troops and Afghan security forces. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said this month that there could be political talks with the Afghan

Western nations and Karzai hope will ensure the departure of all international combat troops by the end of 2014. Osama bin Laden’s killing in a US raid in Pakistan last month has fuelled calls in the United States for a faster drawdown of troops. But it

one of the United States’ deadliest enemies in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has denied allegations that it supports the pro-Taleban Haqqanis, but analysts say it sees the group as a counterweight to growing Indian influence in Afghanistan. Gilani refused to be

drawn on whether the Haqqani network could be brought to the negotiating table to help end the Afghan conflict. “We have offered whatever the Afghan government wants from the Pakistan side. We are ready to facilitate,” he told the news conference.

Gilani and Karzai chaired the first meeting of a joint commission on reconciliation and peace.

The two sides vowed to continue “close cooperation, consultation and coordination”, said a joint statement. Pakistan, which backed the Taleban government that ruled Afghanistan during the late 1990s, will be crucial to any attempts to stabilize its western neighbor. Its intelligence services are still believed to have close links with many of the insurgent groups they funded and supported during the war against the Soviet Union and beyond, including the Taleban leadership which is based around the Pakistani city of Quetta.

Pakistan has often been accused of playing a “double game,” promising the United States it will go after militants while still supporting some of them, an allegation it denies.

Never theless it is seen as an impor tant ally to the United States and other NATO members as they seek to pacify the Taleban. Pakistan says it is already too stretched fighting Taleban insurgents to take action against the Haqqani network.

But Islamabad may be more inclined to act after the United States, which provides billions of dollars of aid, discovered AlQaeda leader Osama bin Laden living in Pakistan. —Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani (right) and Pakistan’s intelligence chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha attend an inaugural meeting of Pakistan - Afghanistan’s joint peace commission at Prime Minister House in Islamabad, Pakistan yesterday. —AP

Pakistan, US discuss future intelligence sharing framework ISLAMABAD: CIA chief Leon Panetta held talks with top Pakistani military and intelligence officials and discussed ways to strengthen future intelligence sharing, the Pakistani military said. The talks were held Friday amid a crisis in relations after the unilateral US raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

The difficult relationship between the two countries-allies in the “war on terror”-has come under severe strain since US commandos swooped on the Al-Qaeda chief’s compound in the city of Abbottabad, home to a military academy.

Panetta’s visit to Islamabad came as the United States said it had nearly completed a drawdown in military personnel from Pakistan as demanded by Islamabad after relations plummeted over the May 2 killing of bin Laden. Panetta called on army chief General Ashfaq Kayani. “Both sides discussed the framework for future intelligence sharing,” the military said in a statement late on Friday after the meeting. The CIA chief also discussed the security situation with Kayani and Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, the director general of Pakistan’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, according a Pakistani security official.

The official confirmed that issues arising from the bin Laden operation, which was carried out without informing Islamabad, were

News

String of bombings kill at least 21 in Afghanistan KABUL: A string of attacks across Afghanistan, including one carried out by a suicide bomber pushing an ice cream cart, killed at least 21 people yesterday, officials said, while the UN released a report showing May to be the deadliest month for Afghan civilians since 2007. Violence has been on the rise in recent months as the Taleban and other insurgents try to regain territory lost in the fall and winter to the USled coalition in southern Afghanistan. The UN report found that insurgent attacks were to blame for the vast majority of the civilian deaths last month.

One of yesterday’s suicide bombings, in the central province of Ghazni, seemed designed to draw crowds of civilians, especially children, though the insurgency generally focuses its attacks on international and Afghan armed forces. “The suicide attacker was a young man with a thin beard and mustache wearing a scarf,” said a witness who identified himself as Asadullah.

“He was pushing an ice cream cart. I was standing just 20 meters from him and then he exploded.” The blast killed one child and wounded three others, said provincial police chief Mohammad Hussain.

The Taleban began its yearly spring offensive on April 30. The month that followed saw the most civilian deaths of any month since the UN started closely track-

ing casualties in 2007. A United Nations interim report found that 368 civilians were killed in May and 593 were wounded.

Previously, the deadliest month was August 2008, with 341 deaths. The U.N. said insurgents were responsible for 82 percent of those civilian deaths last month, while 12 percent were killed by the international alliance and Afghan forces.

Homemade bombs, such as a roadside device that struck a minibus in Kandahar yesterday, were the leading cause of death, according to the report.

NATO airstrikes, a frequent cause of tension between the Afghan government and the alliance, were responsible for 3 percent of civilian deaths in May, the report found.

Casualty figures blamed on the coalition and Afghan forces have been steadily declining over the past four years - despite a rapid swelling in the number of allied and government forces. A recent UN report found that insurgents were responsible for 2,080 deaths in 2010 compared with 440 for the coalition and Afghan troops.

That report found that deaths due to airstrikes declined by 52 percent last year compared with 2009. The UN, which is preparing a midyear civilian casualty report for 2011, said it decided to release the interim numbers yesterday because of the high rate of civilian killings in May. —AP

Bangladeshi opposition calls new general strike DHAKA: Opposition supporters set fire to six buses on the eve yesterday of a general strike protesting government moves to amend the constitution, in Bangladesh’s second nationwide shutdown this month, police said. No one was hurt in the attacks on the buses, which were parked in central Dhaka awaiting passengers, police officer Krishnapada Roy said.

Roy said security has been tightened to prevent violence during the strike.

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its Islamic fundamentalist ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, said they will enforce a 36-hour strike beginning at dawn today.

The opposition staged a similar shutdown early this month. It says the government wants to repeal a constitutional provision that requires it to hand over power at the end of its term to a nonpartisan administration to conduct new polls. A former chief justice is usually chosen to head the three-month caretaker administra-

tion. The change would mean the next general elections due in 2014 would be overseen by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. That could lead to vote-rigging favoring Hasina’s party, opposition spokesman Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said yesterday.

“The government wants to cling to power. That’s why it wants to amend the constitution,” Alamgir said. The government denies the charge. The move came after the Supreme Court ruled that the provision, included in the constitution in 1996, is undemocratic. Since the provision’s introduction, Bangladesh has held three parliamentary polls supervised by nonpartisan interim governments. In a speech Friday, Hasina urged the opposition to discuss the issue in Parliament. “Politics should be discussed in Parliament, not in the street,” Hasina said. In Bangladesh, opposition groups commonly enforce general strikes to highlight their demands.—AP

also discussed. A spokesman from the US embassy in Islamabad declined to comment.

The raid sent shockwaves through Pakistan’s seemingly powerful security establishment, with its intelligence services widely accused of incompetence or complicity over the presence of bin Laden close to a military academy. Vice Admiral Michael LeFever, US defense representative in Pakistan, made the announcement about the troop drawdown in a statement released by the embassy, but left the door open to future security assistance.

“We recently received a written request from the government of Pakistan to reduce the number of US military personnel here and we have nearly completed that reduction,” said LeFever. The United States confirmed on May 25 that it had begun pulling some American troops out of Pakistan after the Pakistani military asked for a scaling back.

Most of the US personnel are special forces that train and advise Pakistani troops as part of a long-running effort to counter AlQaeda and other Islamist militants, who are concentrated largely in the northwest on the Afghan border. The withdrawal underscored the crisis between Washington and Islamabad in the aftermath of the bin Laden raid, despite US diplomatic efforts to smooth over tensions. —AFP

in brief

Rebels attack Indian police; battle kills 8 NEW DELHI: Suspected Maoist rebels have attacked policemen in central India, sparking a gunbattle that killed three officers and five rebels. Police Deputy Inspector General Vivekanand says the insurgents blasted nearby roads before the attack to prevent police reinforcements from reaching the area in southern Chattisgargh state. Vivekanand says the officers were searching yesterday for rebels after two deadly attacks Friday and Thursday. The militants allegedly blew up an anti-landmine vehicle and killed 10 security personnel Friday and sprayed a police camp with bullets that killed five officers Thursday. Attacks over the past month have killed 35 officers. The rebels fight in several Indian states demanding more land for farmers and jobs for the poor.

KARACHI: Pakistani police officers escort security officials with their faces covered, who were allegedly involved in killing of a boy, at a local court in Karachi. —AP

Police hunt paramilitary officers over park killing KARACHI: Pakistani police yesterday said they were seeking to arrest another four paramilitary personnel over the killing of an unarmed man in a public park that shocked the nation. Two soldiers from the Rangers paramilitary force, Shahid Zafar and Mohammed Afzal, were on Friday remanded into police custody for five days over the killing which was captured on camera and broadcast repeatedly on television. “We have sent a request to Rangers officials to hand over four of the remaining soldiers seen in the video,” said a senior police investigator on condition of anonymity.

Security forces shot dead Sarfaraz Shah, 22, in Karachi on Wednesday, accusing him of robbery, but his family has demanded justice, insisting he was an innocent student passing the time of day. Widely viewed footage showed a clean-shaven man wearing black trousers and a navy shirt crying and pleading for his life as a soldier cocks his rifle at his neck, then shoots him twice in the hand and thigh in a local park. As his blood pours onto the ground, the man begs for help from soldiers-who appear to do nothing but watch-until he falls unconscious.

Police said they had also taken custody of Afsar Khan, a man in plainclothes who dragged the victim over to the paramilitary soldiers and later filed a criminal case, accusing Shah of robbery. Another local police official said taking custody of the four soldiers was essential to an investigation ordered by the government and the Supreme Court. A Rangers spokesman

said he was unaware that police were seeking custody of the other four soldiers who were at the scene. “I don’t know about it, but we’ll hand them over if such a reqest comes our way,” spokesman Bilal Farooq said.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Friday directed the government to remove from their posts Major General Aijaz Chaudhry, head of the paramilitary in Sindh province, and Sindh police chief Fayyaz Leghari. The victim’s brother Salik Shah, a local TV reporter, said the family wanted to see everyone involved face justice. The incident mirrored the killings last month in the southwestern Baluchistan province of five unarmed Chechens, one of them a pregnant woman, that are also under investigation.

Members of local print and electronic media and civil society held a demonstration in front of Karachi press club on Saturday and hanged an effigy in Rangers uniform, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

“We want justice. Hang the killers. We want security and not bullets,” they shouted.

“The incidents like the one we witnessed three days ago in Karachi creates a sense of insecurity among the people,” leading jurist and former supreme court judge Fakhruddin Ebrahim said in his brief address to the 80 or so protestors. He said state institutions should refrain from indulging in acts of violence. “Pakistan is passing through very difficult times and the situation will worsen to a great extent if the government fails to provide security and safety to the people,” he said. —AFP

Gunmen slay Mumbai investigative journalist MUMBAI: Four assailants gunned down a well-known investigative journalist yesterday and then escaped on motorcycles in the Indian commercial capital of Mumbai, police said. Jay Dey was known for his reporting on Mumbai’s underworld and had worked as investigative editor for the city’s Mid-Day newspaper for more than 15 years, the paper said. Dey, 50, was shot five times at point-blank range in Mumbai’s Powai suburb, Mid-Day chief reporter Vinod Kumar Menon said.

Police said they were discussing Dey’s recent work at the newspaper to try to identify suspects and the motive for the attack. They said the four gunmen escaped aboard two motorcycles. “We are in a state of complete shock,” the Press Trust of India quoted editor Sachin Kalbaug as saying. “It is too early to say why this has happened and how it happened. No indications that he was working on a big story now which would have made anyone uncomfortable.” Dey had long worked as a journalist, writing for the Hindustan Times and the Indian Express before joining Mid-Day, where he was seen as a crime-reporting “guru” to younger staffers. “He was a most senior and respected journalist,” Menon said. Dey is survived by a wife and child.

India pushes Lanka on rights of Tamil COLOMBO: India yesterday asked Sri Lanka to address the grievances of the island’s Tamil minority two years after the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels were finally defeated, reports said. Three top Indian officials held closeddoor talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse during an overnight visit to Sri Lanka and urged a renewed effort to heal the island’s deep ethnic divisions, the Press Trust of India reported. “The quicker the Sri Lankan government can come to a political arrangement (with Tamils) the better,” India’s National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon told Colombo-based Indian reporters after the talks. Sri Lankan forces crushed the Tamil Tiger rebels in a massive military offensive that ended in May 2009. The rebels had been fighting for decades for an independent Tamil state, and many Tamils argue that they still face severe discrimination in jobs and education in a country dominated by the Sinhalese. The large Tamil population in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu shares close cultural and religious links with Sri Lankan Tamils.

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OPINION

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issues

Africa faces subsidies vs unrest dilemma

By Richard Valdmanis oaring food and fuel prices have set many African governments a tough choice: to blow their budgets with subsidies or risk street anger. How they navigate the dilemma could play a role in the political survival of leaders facing elections this year, and could impact donor aid flows.

“Many African states are between a rock and a hard place right now as a result of food and fuel inflation,” said Lydie Boka of consultancy Strategico. “For some this is a question of maintaining peace and survival, at the expense of fiscal discipline.”

Food prices have risen almost 30 percent since last year, the World Bank says, a trend that has hit Africa’s urban populations harder than during the last spike in 2008 which triggered street protests.

Oil prices, meanwhile, have climbed more than 55 percent, raising costs for transport and cooking fuels. Seeking to shelter their public finances from the shock, countries like Sierra Leone, Ghana and Niger have rolled back subsidies, in some cases to service donor debt.

But other nations - particularly those with fragile politics and upcoming elections like Cameroon and Congo - may be less willing to expose citizens to higher prices. “When people are hungry and they feel that their governments are sitting pretty, that is when the streets become the theatre for unrest,” said Kissy Agyeman-Togobo of Songhai Advisory.

The resulting higher subsidy costs could lead to broader fiscal deficits and frustrate international donors. “Budget slippages would normally attract more sanctions from Bretton Woods institutions,” said Boka. “But I expect donors including the IMF to show more understanding this year for countries having elections and facing shocks at the same time,” she said.

Anger over food and fuel inflation has already turned violent in Uganda, where security forces crushed recent demonstrations by firing tear gas and live rounds. Uganda - which came through a smooth election in February - is facing budget pressures and has ruled out measures to cushion consumers from rising food and fuel prices. But in places where elections are still on the horizon, governments seeking reelection have appeared more willing to spend cash to appease the street.

In Senegal, where President Abdoulaye Wade is planning to stand in a 2012 poll, authorities cut prices for sugar, rice, soap, tomatoes, oil and milk by 15 percent in February, and also launched agricultural input subsidies in May. The moves come amid rising protests over power cuts as Senegal faces an electricity generation deficit. “With the current tensions ... Wade cannot afford not to subsidize commodity prices,” said Boka.

In Cameroon, similarly, prices for sugar and other basic commodities have long been fixed by government. But while President Paul Biya announced the country will revise its fuel subsidies policy in 2011, experts believe it is unlikely to follow through ahead of elections this year - particularly after its food and fuel riots in 2008.

In one of Africa’s most fractious nations, the Democratic Republic of Congo - also planning elections in the coming months - the IMF said higher food and fuel prices could complicate economic management. IMF mission chief Robert York said last month there was fiscal space to accommodate higher spending to protect the poor from rising prices, but added his team had also discussed with Congo’s government reforms to allow for some pass-through of higher world oil prices to domestic fuel prices.

Congo observers are concerned the poll could touch off violence among a population frustrated by entrenched poverty, instability, and a slow pace of change. Analysts said resource-exporting countries, particularly oil producers, could have an easier time funding higher spending as rising world commodity markets spell more revenues. “Other countries will struggle, but will almost always find a way to pay,” said Chris Melville of Menas Associates.

“The question then is not whether or not they can afford the subsidies, but at what cost to other services.” —Reuters

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

The editor reserves the right to edit any submission as necessary.

Civil war fears rising in Syria

By Mariam Karouny ears that Syria may slide into civil war are growing af ter a week when the government said over 120 servicemen were killed at a town near the Turkish border. As it sent tanks on Friday into Jisr Al-Shughour, a mainly Sunni Muslim town whose 50,000 inhabitants had mostly fled, the cause of last weekend’s bloodshed was still in dispute - state media blamed unidentified gunmen but democracy activists said troops mutinied after refusing to fire on unarmed demonstrators.

Whatever the truth, the killings suggest either cracks within President Bashar Al-Assad’s security forces or the beginnings of an armed revolt - or some combination of the two.

Either way, the scale of the killing in an area prone to tension bet ween Syria’s Sunni majorit y and Assad ’s Alawite sect points to a bloodier turn of events after three months of unrest against 41 years of Alawite-dominated Assad family rule. That in turn would rock the entire Middle East, where Syria, Iran’s main Arab ally, sits at the heart of numerous conflicts. “The country is sliding towards civil war. It is a step towards civil war,” said Syria expert Joshua Landis, associate professor of M iddle East studies at Ok lahoma University.

He noted that the poor area around Jisr Al-Shughour, lying at the foot of the “Alawite Mountain”, the heartland of the dominant minority sect, was home to conservative Sunni Muslims.

Many Syrians who joined the Sunni Islamist insurgency in Iraq against US forces came from that region, he added. “It’s got a history of anti-government agitations,” Landis said. “The Islamic currents are very strong there.”

In 1980, the late Hafez Al-Assad, who preceded his son as president, crushed a Sunni revolt in Jisr Al-Shughour, which lies on a strategically important road bet ween Syria’s second cit y Aleppo and the main Mediterranean port of Latakia. Two years later, Assad’s forces put down an armed uprising in Hama by the Sunni Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, killing many thousands and razing the old town - an event which still resonates for Syrians considering challenging their rulers.

Those who have taken a lead in demonstrating for reforms, inspired by the Tunisian and Egyptian protests which launched the Arab Spring, stress their insistence on non-violent action.

Few are willing to speak publicly about taking up arms. And some dismiss talk of sectarian and ethnic violence as scaremongering by Assad loyalists intent on keeping power. However, in conversations this week with a number of Syrian activists, several said they believed some of Assad’s opponents were already using weapons, including arms smuggled from abroad. “Some people have taken up arms against the security forces in Jisr Al-Shughour. We know that,” said one activist who, like many, would speak on the subject only

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on condition of anonymity. “The question is: Is this limited? Or is it going to spread to other cities?”

After years of repression, it is hard to establish the strength in Syria of organised movements like the Muslim Brotherhood, let alone of other antigovernment groups. As in several other towns, residents in Jisr Al-Shughour have accused Alawite militiamen, known as shabiha and fiercely loyal to the Assads, of helping the security forces. Two activists said armed Sunni men, as well as shabiha groups, had set up rival sets of checkpoints on roads an echo of the kind of sectarian tension familiar from neighbouring Lebanon and Iraq. Guns are widely available

government spokeswoman Reem Haddad told Al Jazeera this week. “It is made of many different sects living together.”

Many in the Christian and Alawite minorities say they support reforms, but fear that calls for the overthrow of Assad could fragment the country of 20 million and hand it over to hardline Sunni Islamists who would persecute other religions. Assad’s initial response to the protests has included steps toward reforms, including granting citizenship to some ethnic Kurds, lifting a draconian state of emergency, freeing hundreds of prisoners and calling for a national dialogue.

Protests, triggered by anger and

allies have voiced concern but show no appetite for Libya-style intervention in Syria. The gravity of the situation particularly alarms some across the border in Lebanon, where officials with ties to Syria privately express concern that some areas may be headed for chaos. A Lebanese analyst, who is close to some opposition figures in Syria, said: “We have been warning our Syrian brothers but they do not want to listen. They think the civil war in Lebanon and in Iraq will not reach them. They are wrong.”

The possibility of splits in the armed forces, where the top command ranks and elite units are largely Alawite while the mass of conscripts are Sunni,

Syrian refugees are seen in a camp set up by the Turkish Red Crescent in Turkish town of Yayladagi in Hatay province, Turkey, Friday. —AP across Syria. “People have taken arms,” Landis at Oklahoma University said.

“Things are about to get a lot worse than we thought.”

Louay Hussein, an ac tivist in Damascus, said he did not know of Sunnis taking up arms in the northwest of the countr y. But he told Reuters from the capital: “We have warned the authorities from the beginning that the excessive use of violence will, in the end, allow armed groups to use violence against them.” Assad has responded to protests, which began in the southern Sunni town of Daraa, by offering discussions on reform but also by sending in security forces to detain and kill demonstrators.

The government insists it is willing to listen but rejects Western pressure for radical changes. It points out Syria has a potentially volatile mix of ethnic and religious communities, including Christians and Kurds, as well as Sunnis and Alawites. “Syria is a mosaic,” Syrian

frustration at corruption, poverty and lack of freedoms, have been mainly peaceful, though rights groups say the death toll among protesters is over 1,100. At least 200 security personnel have also been killed, the government says. Activists say that at least some of the dead soldiers were killed for disobeying orders to stop protests. Syria has expelled Reuters correspondents and barred most foreign media, preventing independent reporting from Syria.

Fayez Sara, an opposition figure who was detained earlier in the uprising, said he still has hopes that a political solution might save the country f rom d e s ce nd i ng i nto c ha os. “ We should try till the last minute because otherwise the price tag will be high,” he told Reuters from Damascus. “When we say the time has ran out for a political solution, this means we are opening the country to civil war.”

We s te r n p owe r s a nd t he i r A ra b

is also a concern. A Damascus based a na l ys t , e c hoi ng m a ny ob s e r ve r s abroad, said Assad and his Alawite allies appeared bent on hanging to power at all costs: “ The regime has essentially vowed to break the country over the people’s heads,” the analyst said. “It will push the country over the cliff unless Syrian society resists its divisive tactics. So the fate of Syria lies not in the hands of the regime, but in that of the people”.

A n a c t i v i s t w ho took p a r t i n a n opposition conference in Turkey last week said he believed that widespread violence was a risk many were willing to take, however, to be rid of Assad.

“Even if there is ... a civil war or anything like that, people are determined to go all the way, to the end, regardless of the cost,” he said. “We want him out and we want to be free of this regime. “ The regime is pushing the country towards civil war and we are heading that way it seems.” —Reuters

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ANALYSIS

In ‘borderless’ cyberspace, nations struggle

By Peter Apps ncreasingly worried about criminal hacking and stateon-state electronic warfare, governments are rushing to come up with cyber security strategies. But with the Internet crossing borders and empowering non-state groups from criminals to activists, nation states appear to be inherently stuck behind the curve. Policymakers acknowledge to a greater degree that existing legal and government structures are struggling to keep up with the information revolution and need more international agreement that also wraps in the private sector.

In recent weeks, a string of major companies including Sony, Google, Nintendo, Lockheed Martin and now Citigroup have come under hacking attacks, some believed to be criminal and others tentatively linked to government intelligence agencies. But since tracing the attacks definitively is all but impossible, framing a policy response is difficult. “The nature of cyberspace is borderless and anonymous,” R Chandrasekhara, secretary of India’s telecommunications department, told a cyber security conference in London last week organised by a US-based think tank, the EastWest Institute. “Governments, countries and law - all are linked to territory. There is a fundamental contradiction.”

Other speakers at the event also agreed their countries were only just beginning to think through the implications. “We are feeling our way in what is largely new and unknown territory,” said Tim Dowse, director of

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cyber policy at Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. So far, the United States, Britain and several other countries have published national strategies on cyber security and are channelling billions of dollars into both offensive and defensive technology. Some experts talk of a cyber arms race that could end with a devastating conflict in which countries attacked each other’s essential systems.

There are a host of complexities. If cyber attacks and hacking attempt to pass through multiple countries - as they almost invariably do, which government and jurisdiction is responsible for investigating, if any?

Private companies - often multinationals over which governments may have particularly limited influence - control most of the systems that run the Internet. They also run much of the critical infrastructure that could be targeted in the sort of cyber sabotage apparently seen against Iran’s nuclear program last year. Many firms complain that current, nationally-based systems are simply not enough.

They want broad global standards to regulate data storage and theft, provide sanction against cyber criminals and perhaps even constrain the activity of states. “The current range of national strategies and policies doesn’t really help international companies,” said Martin Sutherland, CEO of BAe subsidiary Detica. “We want airlinestyle international standards.”

Exactly what an international system might look like is far from clear. Some countries and groups want sweeping international agreements along the lines of nuclear or biological

weapon treaties - but that could take years. The priority, the United States says, is to build some international consensus relatively quickly. That could mean setting down some basic principles, such as that countries are legally responsible for investigating attacks that appear to have come through their territory.

But some believe governments and legal systems them-

selves may be on the brink of losing what limited control they have over information and systems even on their own territor y. Last month, several British celebrities who had taken out expensive London court “super injunctions” to gag media outlets reporting certain aspects of their private lives found themselves identified anyway on Twitter.

Thousands of users were openly flouting the cour t orders, making it impossible to take action against them all.

Meanwhile, file-sharing websites that disseminate free music and videos regardless of copyright undermine intellectual property law. Despite its “great firewall”, China has also struggled to prevent online dissent littering website and message boards. As ousted

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak found to his cost, even shutting down the Internet can be too little, too late - and comes with colossal political, economic and diplomatic costs.

Thrown into the mix are a handful of non-state groups such as Anonymous, which targeted websites such as MasterCard they believed were

implicated in attempts to block WikiLeaks - willing to mount their own c yber attacks.

Analysts say militant groups such as Al-Qaeda may adopt similar tactics. Then there are semi-independent hackers in Russia or China who security experts believe state authorities may ignore, providing they only attack abroad and occasionally help the state obtain information or target adversaries.

The nightmare scenario is that a damaging cyber attack by a non-state actor - for example, one that hit essential systems such as water or air traffic control - might be misidentified as coming from a state and sparks armed conflict. “It gets talked about a lot and in fairness I think it is a risk,” the US State Department coordinator for c yber issues, Christopher Painter, told Reuters last week. “The way to make sure that never happens is to make sure the countries have close relationships and connections in place. I think those structures need to be improved and we are working on that.”

But to really safeguard cyberspace - if such a goal is even feasible, which many doubt - may require going well beyond national agreements. While it might be years or more away, some envisage a truly inclusive “cyber peace treaty”. “We all know if there is another world war it will take place in cyberspace,” said Hamadoun Toure, secretary general of the International Telecommunications Union. “A cyber peace treaty would be one of its kind. It would have to bring governments, the private sector and even individuals.” —Reuters

Pragmatic China wades into Libya conflict

By Pascale Trouillaud fter months of calls for dialogue in Libya, China has waded into the diplomatic fray, but is courting both sides more to safeguard its interests than to bring an end to the conflict, analysts say.

Beijing’s warm welcome to Libya’s foreign minister this week and invitation for the opposition to visit China comes as the West throws its diplomatic and financial support behind the rebels looking to oust Muammar Gaddafi from power. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei has said Beijing is “working along with the international community to resolve the Libyan crisis politically”, but analysts say that its involvement is pragmatic above all.

“What matters for China is not who is in power, but how its economic interests are served and its citizens protected,” Jonathan Holslag, a fellow at the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies, told AFP. “It reckons that new regimes in developing countries usually require more Chinese economic support and thus do not necessarily undermine its presence.”

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In just the past week, Beijing has confirmed two meetings with Mustapha AbdulJalil, the leader of the opposition National Transitional Council (NTC) - one in Doha, and one in the eastern rebel-held Libyan city of Benghazi. A Chinese foreign ministry official then said Thursday that Beijing was ready to receive NTC representatives “in the near future”.

Meanwhile, Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelati Al-Obeidi spent three days in Beijing this week discussing ways to bring an end to the crisis, with Beijing insisting a ceasefire should be the “top priority” of both sides. Holslag said Beijing has often “diversified its political relations” in unstable countries such as Sudan, Myanmar and Pakistan by meeting opposition groups so its economic interests can “better withstand political turmoil”.

China has significant commercial interests in Libya including oil, telecoms and rail projects, and was forced to evacuate more than 35,000 migrant workers from the north African state when unrest broke out in mid-February. Until recently, Beijing had maintained its long-standing policy of non-

interference and public neutrality since the start of the conflict in Libya, calling multiple times for a peaceful end to the popular uprising.

Although it allowed the UN Security Council to green-light international military action against Gaddafi’s regime by abstaining from the vote on the resolution, rather than using its veto, it has criticised NATOled air strikes. “After having without a doubt hoped for the failure of the (NATO-led) intervention, Beijing realised the situation had truly changed, and decided to preserve its interests and its implantation in the zone,” Paris-based China expert Valerie Niquet told AFP. “In the short term, China has made contact with the opposition and will put its pieces on the chess board, economically and no doubt politically,” said Niquet, head of the Asia department at the Foundation for Strategic Research.

For Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, although Beijing - unlike Washington and even Moscow - has yet to call for Gaddafi to step down, it is trying to “prepare for the future by getting closer to the rebels without

backing the West’s position”. In its unfamiliar role as mediator Beijing risked having no more than a limited impact on the conflict itself, he told AFP, but added: “China has a lot of interests in the Middle East and Africa.”

Cabestan explained that as Libya is “at the crossroads of these two regions”, Beijing has had to deal with Tripoli despite “a complicated relationship” with Gaddafi, who has not visited China for nearly 30 years. China also needs to manage its crucial ties within both the African Union and the Arab League, in a political landscape that has been turned upside-down by a spate of popular uprisings that Beijing has watched with mounting concern. “Beijing does not want to cut itself off from a base that allows it to build upon its international clout, especially in relation to the United States,” Niquet said. Washington brushed aside China’s increased involvement, with US State Department spokesman Mark Toner saying: “There is a UN mediator on this issue. And we believe that should be the focus of efforts to mediate the conflict there.” —AFP

Japan revolving door may keep turning

By Linda Sieg nother year, another prime minister.

Ousting leaders has become an annual ritual in Japan and pundits say whoever replaces outgoing Prime Minister Naoto Kan may also be gone before making headway on deep-seated ills, given an immature two-party system and a persistently divided parliament.

Kan’s Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) swept to power two years ago with pledges to change how the country is governed. Instead - like the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) before it - the Democrats have been plagued by feuds, policy flipflops and revolving-door leaders.

Kan, already Japan’s fifth premier in as many years, was unpopular before the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami that also triggered a nuclear crisis. Now he’s on his way out after pledging last week to quit to quell a party rebellion that threatened to push through a noconfidence motion. Experts say the failure of the two main parties to find techniques for keeping wayward members in line and enforcing policy consistency is one big reason for the constant turmoil. “Neither party can control its members. There is no system to do so,” said Nihon University professor Tomoaki Iwai. “The system changed but the political culture hasn’t.”

Formed in 1955 by the merger of two conservative parties, the LDP stayed in power for decades through a mix of spending to woo votes and factions to run the party, sheltering diverse policy views and leaving actual policies to bureaucrats.

That formula’s success, however, was harshly challenged when Japan’s bubble economy burst in the early 1990s, spark-

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ing more competition for increasingly scarce public resources.

The LDP fractured in 1993, briefly losing power to a reformist coalition that changed the electoral system to foster the growth of a second mainstream party that could alternate in power with the long-ruling group. But instead of two rival parties divided by clear policy differences, the LDP and DPJ are now both home to members running the gamut from free-market fans and security hawks to advocates of big government and dovish diplomacy.

That wouldn’t matter so much if party executives were able to keep critics in line, but neither party has come up with a mechanism for doing so, leaving scope for bitter feuds such as the DPJ rebellion that looked set to oust Kan until he agreed to step down to scupper the no-confidence motion. “The falling back to earth of the Japanese economy in the mid1990s was coterminous with electoral reform and the rise of the twoparty system,” said Richard Samuels, director of the MIT-Japan Program at the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology. “It should have split along ideological lines but it didn’t ... One-hundred percent consistency doesn’t exist, but it’s about controlling the competition within each party.”

That might change once the Democrats realise that being in power is its own reward and internal feuds only help the opposition, but changing the political culture will take time.

Analysts also fault a parliamentary system that allows the upper house to block laws other than budgets and treaties despite their approval by the lower house, which selects the prime minister and thus determines who runs the government. A “twisted parliament”, where one bloc controls the lower house and a rival dominates the upper chamber, has long been a feature of Japanese politics, and forced the LDP to tie-up with its erstwhile enemy, the New Komeito party, in 1999.

Since elections

for the two chambers rarely occur in the same year, voters unhappy with the results of one poll often punish the winners in the next, perpetuating the division. Hopes of breaking the logjam are now prompting the Democrats to try for a mammoth coalition with the LDP. But such an unwieldy coalition, even if it occurs, is almost certainly not a long-term solution. “In my opinion, any prime minister will quickly follow suit (in resigning) as long as this (parliamentary) system exists,” said Mieko Nakabayashi, a rookie DPJ lawmaker and former political science professor.

Reducing the clout of the upper house would require amending the constitution, a cumbersome process unlikely to occur any time soon. But reforms could make the system function better by creating mechanisms for compromise, experts say.

Structural factors aside, critics say the LDP’s long reign also contributed to a dearth of political talent that makes it hard to find the strong leaders that Japanese voters say they want and that experts say are needed to bring change.

“The fact that the LDP was in power for too long led to two terrible consequences for Japanese politics,” said Columbia University professor Gerald Curtis. “It led to too many politicians who became politicians not because they had a ... vision for the country but to carry a family obligation,” he said, referring to the large numbers of lawmakers who are second or third generation MPs. “The second consequence is that the opposition was in the opposition for 50 years and (the Democrats) have absolutely zero experience in running a government. They are engaged in on-the-job training, but are proving to be slow learners.” —Reuters

focus

The war on drugs and a milestone critique

By Bernd Debusmann he war on drugs is a waste of time, money and lives. It cannot be won. The world’s drug warriors are out of ideas. Fresh thinking is of the essence. Governments should consider legalizing drugs to take profits out of the criminal trade. Filling prisons with drug users does nothing to curb the billion-dollar illicit business, one of the world’s richest. Drug use is a public health problem, not a crime. Arresting small-time dealers does little but create a market opportunity for other small fry.

Destroy drug crops in one region and cultivation moves to another. Cut a supply route in one place and another one opens up.

By one group or another, each of the above points has been made about long-running drug policies that bring to mind Albert Einstein’s famous definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. But never before has such criticism come from an international panel of establishment figures with such high profiles as the Global Commission on Drug Policy which presented a devastating assessment of the drug war in New York on June 2. Its 19 members include former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, three former Latin American presidents (of Brazil, Mexico and Colombia), former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, Richard Branson, the flamboyant billionaire chairman of the Virgin group, and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.

Other commission members of impeccable mainstream respectability: George Shultz, U.S. Secretary of State during the Reagan administration; Louise Arbour, a former U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and now president of the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank; former Swiss president Ruth Dreifuss; Javier Solana, former European Union foreign affairs chief; Mario Vargas Llosa, the Peruvian Nobel literature laureate, and Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes.

Whether their report will bring about change remains to be seen but it looks like a milestone on a long road toward reforms that some see as inevitable. “Today is the day when we start to end the war on drugs,” Branson said at the commission’s New York news conference. The commission’s report does not mince words: “The global war on drugs has failed. When the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs came into being 50 years ago and when President (Richard) Nixon launched the US government’s war on drugs 40 years ago, policymakers believed that harsh law enforcement action against those involved in drug production, distribution and use would lead to an ever-diminishing market in ... drugs such as heroin, cocaine and cannabis and the eventual achievement of a ‘drug-free world.’”

“In practice, the global scale of illegal drug markets - largely controlled by organized crime - has grown dramatically over this period.” So has bloodshed and violence as government forces and drug trafficking organizations engage in what the report calls “a kind of arms race” - tougher crackdowns prompt criminal mafias to respond with greater force. Exhibit A for this arms race is Mexico, where at least 36,000 people have died since late 2006, when President Felipe Calderon declared war on his country’s drug cartels and unleashed the Mexican army to fight them. The death toll has mounted year by year, the army is not winning, and there is no end in sight.

“Poorly designed drug law enforcement practices can actually increase the level of violence, intimidation and corruption associated with drug markets,” notes the report. It echoes many of the points made in a 2009 by a commission that focused on Latin America but did not go as far as recommending that governments debate and seriously consider “models of legal regulation” of all drugs, not only marijuana.

The driving force in the Global Commission, a private initiative launched in Geneva in January, is former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who also led the 2009 Latin American group together with former Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo and former president Cesar Gaviria of Colombia.

Latin America is the world’s largest exporter of cocaine and marijuana, largely to the insatiable US market, and a major supplier of opium and heroin.

Around the world, drug producing countries are vulnerable to what Moises Naim, a scholar at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former Venezuelan trade minister calls “the politicization of criminals and the criminalization of politicians.” It’s a process that has given birth to “narco states,” a label that has been used for countries as far apart as Venezuela and Afghanistan.

There is reason to be skeptical about the prospect of change within years rather than decades and the commission alluded to it - “a builtin vested interest” in continuing with policies that focus on enforcement, interdiction and eradication.

It is an entrenched anti-drug establishment that provides employment for thousands of people, from narcotics agents and intelligence analysts to prison wardens.

One of the essential elements required to change that system is spelt out in the first of the commission report’s 11 recommendations: “Political leaders and public figures should have the courage to articulate publicly what many of them acknowledge privately: that the evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that repressive strategies will not solve the drug problem and that the war on drugs has not, and cannot, be won.” —Reuters

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Audi leads Le Mans

Wanjiru buried in home town NYAHURURU: Thousands of people attended the funeral of Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru yesterday following weeks of legal wrangling amid an ongoing investigation into his death. Wanjiru’s funeral service was held at a stadium in Nyahururu, in Kenya’s Rift Valley. The first Kenyan to win gold in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Wanjiru was later given a 21-gun salute as his coffin was lowered into a grave at his farm. A court finally ordered this week that Wanjiru could be buried despite the continuing investigation into the mysterious circumstances of his death following a domestic dispute.

The 24-year-old Wanjiru died May 15 after falling from a balcony at his apartment — also in Nyahururu. He had been found by his wife, Triza Njeri, with another woman at their home. His death is still being probed by Kenyan authorities after conflicting police reports over whether it was a suicide or an accident. Wanjiru’s mother obtained an initial court order preventing his burial until the investigation was concluded. She accused his wife of killing the runner to gain control of his property.

The tragedy robbed athletics of one of its brightest young stars. Wanjiru won five of his seven marathons and was the youngest runner to win four “major” marathons. —AP

FRANCE: Audi kept the lead after the first pit stops at the 24 Hours of Le Mans but lost a car when Allan McNish’s Audi No. 3 collided with a Ferrari yesterday afternoon.

McNish, in second place, was attempting to overtake the slower Ferrari No. 58 driven by Anthony Beltoise — who was trailing by two laps — when the Audi No. 3 banged into the Ferrari before crashing against a pile of tires and disintegrating into pieces.

The spectacular crash, barely 50 minutes in, led to the neutralization of the race behind the safety car so that the debris could be cleared.

McNish escaped unhurt and got out

Ann to run 200 at NYC meet

of his cockpit to walk away from the track.

Defending champion Timo Bernhard took advantage of the pit stops to seize the lead in his Audi No. 1. Audi No. 2, driven by pole-sitter Benoit Treluyer, was in second place, followed by three Peugeot cars. A total of 56 cars started the 79th edition of the French endurance race, which will end today afternoon.

The race is won by the team that completes the most laps in 24 hours, alternating up to three drivers. Audi took the top three spots last year. No Peugeot was able to finish the race.—AP

NEW YORK: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce used to think the best way to run a 200 was to pull up at the halfway point. The reigning Olympic and world 100-meter champion doesn’t mince any words: She hated the longer race. But last year, Fraser-Pryce accepted the hard truth about the dreaded 200. Embracing the event would make her better in her specialty. So the Jamaican star happily heads into a high-quality 200 field Saturday at the Adidas Grand Prix, New York City’s Diamond League meet. “I hated it because I wasn’t strong enough to compete in it,” Fraser-Pryce said Friday, “and psychologically I had a block in my mind from when I was in high school.” Fraser-Pryce ran a personal best in the 400 — a race she still despises — this season, proof her strength and endurance are improving.

“When I’d run the first 100, that was it for me,” she recalled with a laugh of her old mindset toward the 200. “I could literally stop at the first 100.” Fraser-Pryce, who returned this season after serving a six-month ban for using oxycodone to treat a toothache, will run the 100 and 200 at the Jamaican championships later this summer. If she wins the 200, she’s not sure yet if she’ll drop the event at August’s world championships, as she has in the past.—AP

Brewers pound Cardinals

SPRINGFIELD: Defending champion Cristie Kerr watches her drive off the first tee during the second round of the LPGA State Farm Classic golf tournament.—AP

Kim maintains LPGA Tour lead SPRINGFIELD: Mindy Kim maintained her two-stroke lead in the LPGA State Farm Classic, following her opening 64 with a 5under 67 on Friday to reach 13 under.

Kim had seven birdies — four in a row on Nos. 12-15 — and two bogeys in the Panther Creek course. Top-ranked Yani Tseng (66) and Shanshan Feng (65) were tied for second.

Kim, winless in two seasons on the LPGA Tour, said has struggled with focus after bad holes, but thinks she’s maturing and managing herself better on the course. The American proved it Friday, quickly rebounding from a bogey on the par-4 10th — her opening hole of the round.

“I would just get angry. I mean if I made a stupid bogey, which, on No. 10, it really was,” Kim said. “Honestly, in the past I just didn’t practice in my offseason. I would just hang out with my friends, and I think I did a little too much of that. This offseason, I cut out a lot of time for golf. I spent a lot of time on the golf course preparing myself mentally with my new coach. “If I make bogey, I can’t go back and make par, right?

Just have to get over it.”

Tseng won the season-opening LPGA Thailand for her sixth tour title in four years.

“I had eight birdies and two bogeys that I don’t think I should make,” Tseng said. “I feel like I lost a little focus. But I had a great round. I’m very happy.” Feng closed strong,

birdieing Nos. 15, 16 and 17.

“I think this course really fits me,” said Feng, who led last year after the first round.

“I’ve had two top 5s here before. I feel really comfortable hitting on the course.” Tseng played the first two rounds with Kim. “She really pushes me hard to play better,” Tseng said. “She would get close and I want to get close,too. I don’t want to hit it out of range if she’s close. It’s very nice to have a player like that to compete with in the same group.” Jiyai Shin had a hole-in-one on the par-3 second hole en route to a 68 to reach 10 under.

She made a 50-foot putt for birdie on No. 2 on Thursday, then had the hole-inone on the 146-yard hole. “It’s my favorite hole,” Shin said. “I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

She used an 8-iron.

“I couldn’t see the hole, but the reaction of the gallery, they were screaming,” said Shin, who has eight lifetime aces.

“Watching the ball flight, I thought it might get close.” Amanda Blumenhurst (67) was 9 under, and Brittany Lincicome, coming off a victory Sunday in New Jersey, had a 69 to join Paula Creamer (68) and Jennifer Johnson (67) at 8 under.

Defending champion Cristie Kerr (67) topped a large group at 7 under. Michelle Wie was eight strokes back at 5 under, following an opening 72 with a 67.—AP

Billingsley for 13 hits. Chacin (7-4) stifled a Dodgers lineup missing slugger Matt Kemp (hamstring), and the Rockies scored five times in the fifth on six straight singles.

The decisive rally was sparked by two uncharacteristic errors by the Dodgers, the best-fielding team in the major leagues. Chacin allowed three harmless singles, struck out nine and walked three, handing over a 6-0 lead to a bullpen that nearly frittered it away. Third baseman Chris Nelson’s throwing error opened the doors for the Dodgers’ big ninth inning. Kemp had a pinch-hit drive for his NL-leading 19th homer and Aaron Miles delivered a two-run single before Huston Street closed out his 19th save in 21 tries.

Braves 11, Astros 4 At Houston, Freddie Freeman and Alex Gonzalez homered on back-toback pitches during Atlanta’s four-run third inning, and the Braves earned their fourth consecutive victory.

Freeman’s two-out, two-run shot off fellow rookie Aneury Rodriguez (04) landed several rows up in the second deck in right field and gave Atlanta a 4-0 lead. Gonzalez sent the next pitch into the Crawford Boxes in left field. Chipper Jones and Eric Hinske also homered for Atlanta, which tied its season high for runs.

Freeman and Gonzalez combined for six RBIs. Matt Downs hit a two-run homer in the ninth for Houston, which has dropped six of seven.

Michael Bourn had a triple and two doubles while tying a career high with four hits.

Mets 8, Pirates 1 At Pittsburgh, Dillon Gee remained undefeated and Jose Reyes homered among his three hits as New York downed Pittsburgh for its fifth win in six games. Gee became the first Mets rookie starter to improve to 7-0, and New York has won all nine of his starts. He allowed one run and eight hits in a career-high eight innings.

Reyes went 3 for 5, Angel Pagan had two hits and scored twice and Josh Thole went 3 for 5 for New York. Each had a hit during the Mets’ five-run fourth inning.

Nationals 2, Padres 1 In San Diego, Jason Marquis

MILWAUKEE: Brewers’ Craig Counsell (left) forces out St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter(19) at second base during a baseball game.—AP pitched six solid innings and Michael Morse hit a two-run homer for Washington. Marquis (7-2) picked up right where he left off last Sunday at Arizona when he shut out the Diamondbacks through 5 1-3 innings before he was ejected for hitting Justin Upton with a pitch. He was suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount. But he appealed, and is able to pitch until there is a decision on his appeal. The right-hander held the Padres without a hit until Ryan Ludwick’s leadoff double in the fifth. He allowed one run and three hits. Morse staked Marquis to a lead with a drive off Mat Latos (4-7) in the second inning for his 10th homer.

Giants 3, Reds 2 At San Francisco, pinch-hitter Nate Schierholtz delivered a game-ending RBI single in the ninth inning to give San Francisco a win over Cincinnati.

Jose Arredondo (0-1) and Logan Ondrusek combined to walk the bases loaded before Schierholtz drove in Andres Torres with a single to left.

Torres, who entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh, started the inning with a walk against Arredondo. After an intentional walk to Miguel Tejada, Bill Bray came on to strike out rookie Brandon Crawford. manager Dusty Baker then brought in Ondrusek, who walked Cody Ross before Schierholtz hit for Brian Wilson (5-1). —AP

Red Sox defeat Blue Jays

Karlsson leads at St Jude MEMPHIS: Robert Karlsson of Sweden is in position for his first PGA Tour victory after a 5-under 65 on Friday gave him a three-shot lead through 36 holes of the St Jude Classic.

Karlsson, who has 11 career European Tour titles but is playing the PGA Tour fulltime this year, lost a four-hole playoff to Lee Westwood at the TPC Southwind a year ago. He is 9 under heading into the weekend — his first 36-hole lead on tour — holding off Americans Keegan Bradley and Colt Knost at six under.

He said it is a bonus he did well here last year, but added: “This is a new year, and even now most likely going to be in the lead after two days makes no difference.

“We’ve come halfway, and who knows? I might finish 55th. You never know. You’ve got to keep going, especially on punishing golf courses like this.”

Bradley is back on his game after needing a few days to deal with the demands of winning his first PGA Tour title. The tour rookie missed the cut a week ago at Memorial days after winning the Byron Nelson Championship. He shot a second straight 3-under 67 on Friday in a bogeyfree round with three birdies.

“Last week was kind of a tough week for me,” Bradley said. “I was so tired. It took me by surprise how many more things I needed to do, but this week I’m back to normal.

Me and my caddie were out there doing what we did at Nelson. We feel good again.”

Bradley won the Byron Nelson for his first professional title just nine days before turning 25.

Now the man who never won on the Nationwide Tour is in position to make a run at a second win in three weeks, which would punch his ticket to the US Open at Congressional. John Merrick (69) was 5 under, and Fredrik Jacobson (65) and Harrison Frazar (65) were another stroke back. Brandt Snedeker, The Heritage winner in April, shot a 66 to top the group at 3 under that included Mathis (72). With 83 making the cut at 2 over, David Toms (5 over) and Sergio Garcia (7 over) were among those who made an early departure

MILWAUKEE: Ryan Braun and Corey Hart homered, and Chris Narveson threw eight innings as the Milwaukee Brewers kept winning at home despite a small fire in the ballpark during an 8-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Narveson (3-4) began his career as a Cardinals draft pick, but he’s played an important role in Milwaukee’s rotation and stymied his former team after losing to St. Louis on May 8.

Braun’s two-run homer made it 4-0 in the fifth and Hart started the sixth with another drive just as smoke started to billow in right field from a concession stand’s malfunctioning popcorn machine.

Tony La Russa managed his 5,000th game for the Cardinals, but there was little he could have liked from this one after St. Louis managed just six hits. The Brewers improved to 23-9 at home.

Phillies 7, Cubs 5 At Philadelphia, Roy Halladay tossed seven masterful innings to become the first nine-game winner in the majors, and Placido Polanco hit a grand slam as Philadelphia beat Chicago. Halladay (9-3) gave up six hits and struck out nine to earn his first win against the Cubs. The Phillies and San Francisco are the only teams he hasn’t beaten. Domonic Brown also homered for the National League East-leading Phillies. Antonio Bastardo got the final out for his second save.

Marlins 6, D’backs 4 At Miami, Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton each hit a two-run homer to help Florida beat Arizona and end an eight-game losing streak.

John Buck also homered and drove two runs for the Marlins, who had seven of their 13 hits go for extra bases. Florida’s 13 hits were its highest total since it had a season-high 14 against the Dodgers on May 28.

Miguel Montero and Xavier Nady hit back-to-back homers for the Diamondbacks, who have lost four of five. Joe Saunders (3-6) gave up five runs and 10 hits in six innings.

Rockies 6, Dodgers 5 At Denver, Jhoulys Chacin pitched eight shutout innings as Colorado pounded Los Angeles’ Chad

for Congressional. The last player to lead by three strokes after 36 holes here was Justin Leonard in 2005. He went on to win the tournament.

Nobody beat Karlsson over 72 holes here in 2010, and he credits the lessons learned on his first practice round here a year ago: avoid hitting into the rough on the 7,239-yard course as much as possible to better set up shots into the greens.

Temperatures in the high 90s the past couple weeks have firmed up the Champion Bermuda greens.

“It can be better to have an 8-iron from the fairway or a 7-iron from the fairway instead of a wedge from the rough,” Karlsson said. “The greens are firm, and the rough is really, really brutal to control the golf ball out of. You can hit it. You can hit it really far, very, very far because you can get some vicious flyers.”

Starting at 4 under and teeing off on No. 10, Karlsson birdied his second hole and finished the back side with birdies on three of the final four holes. He hit an 8-iron to 8 feet on the par-3 11th to set up his first birdie. He saved par on Nos. 12-14 and then hit a wedge from 106 yards to 7 feet to take advantage of a front pin position on the par-4 15th to start his birdie string.

Karlsson found the rough with his tee shot on the par-5 16th but he recovered by hitting a wedge from 124 to 5 feet for a second straight birdie. He stuck a 7-iron from 175 yards to 4 feet on the par-4 18th to reach 8 under.

“I hit a bunch of good iron shots. It was nice obviously to get it going. As you said, it’s not an easy golf course. You just don’t walk out there and shoot 68, 67. It’s always nice to get off to a good start. I played very well on my back nine as well. Gave myself a bunch of chances, and it was good,” Karlsson said.

He made the turn and birdied the par-4 first after hitting his second shot within 4 feet of the pin despite being 124 yards out in the primary rough. When Karlsson rolled in a 14-footer on No. 6 for birdie, he became the first player to reach double digits below par at 10 under. —AP

TORONTO: Clay Buchholz allowed three hits over seven innings, and Jacoby Ellsbury went 3 for 5 with three runs scored as Boston beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 Friday for the Red Sox’s seventh straight win to match their season high.

Buchholz (5-3) struck out six and walked two as he ended a careerlong run of four straight no-decisions. American League RBI leader Adrian Gonzalez drove in a run with a fifth-inning single that gave the Red Sox first baseman seven consecutive games with at least one run driven in.

He drove in another run with a ground-rule double off reliever Shawn Camp in the ninth that made it 5-1. Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia drove in a run each for Boston, which improved its leaguebest record to 37-26.

Yankees 11, Indians 7 At New York, Alex Rodriguez hit a long home run and Curtis Granderson also connected for New York in a game that quickly grew testy. Yankees manager Joe Girardi and Cleveland counterpart Manny Acta got into a face-to-face screaming match when both benches and bullpens emptied after Mark Teixeira was hit by a second-inning fastball from Indians starter Fausto Carmona.

No punches were thrown and there appeared to be little pushing and shoving _ if any. Plate umpire Dale Scott issued warnings to both teams.

Ivan Nova (5-4) pitched seven innings for New York, and Derek Jeter had one hit to move within nine of 3,000. Jorge Posada, breaking out of a season-long slump, added three hits and an RBI. Robinson Cano had three hits and an RBI, and Teixeira stroked a threerun double that made it 10-2 in the seventh. Rodriguez hit his 625th career homer into the second row of bleacher seats in left-center, some 450 feet.

Mariners 3, Tigers 2 At Detroit, Carlos Peguero homered and tripled in place of Ichiro Suzuki in right field as Seattle beat Detroit. The struggling Suzuki, who had played in 255 consecutive games, was given the night off.

Peguero, a rookie playing his 26th major league game, helped Seattle overcome a 2-1 deficit.

He tripled in the fifth and scored the tying run. Then in the seventh, he hit a towering flyball down the rightfield line off Brad Penny (5-5) that stayed a few feet fair as it went over the wall. Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer, one of only five hits for Detroit. Detroit is 9-3 in its last 12 games.

Orioles 7, Rays 0 At Baltimore, Nick Markakis broke a prolonged power slump with a grand slam and a two-run double, and Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth inning as Baltimore blanked

Tampa Bay. J.J. Hardy hit his second leadoff homer for the Orioles, who have won four straight to get within a victory of .500 (31-32). Hardy reached base all five trips to the plate and scored three runs.

Markakis’ third career slam, off rookie Jeremy Hellickson (7-4), put Baltimore up 5-0 in the second inning. Markakis had gone 88 at-bats without an extra-base hit since hitting a home run against Tampa Bay on May 15. He drove in two runs in the eighth to establish a career high with six RBIs. He had six RBIs in his previous 27 games.

Athletics 7, White Sox 5 At Chicago, Scott Sizemore hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the ninth inning to rally Oakland to end a 10-game losing streak.

The A’s won their first game under Bob Melvin. Oakland made the majors’ first managerial change of 2011 by firing Bob Geren after four-

MLB results/standings Major League Baseball results and standings on Friday.

Baltimore 7, Tampa Bay 0; NY Yankees 11, Cleveland 7; Seattle 3, Detroit 2; Philadelphia 7, Chicago Cubs 5; NY Mets 8, Pittsburgh 1; Boston 5, Toronto 1; Florida 6, Arizona 4; Atlanta 11, Houston 4; Milwaukee 8, St Louis 0; Oakland 7, Chicago White Sox 5; Texas 9, Minnesota 3; Colorado 6, LA Dodgers 5; Washington 2, San Diego 1; Kansas City 4, LA Angels 2; San Francisco 3, Cincinnati 2.

American League National League Eastern Division Eastern Division Philadelphia 38 26 .594 W L PCT GB Atlanta 36 28 .563 2 Boston 37 26 .587 Florida 32 30 .516 5 NY Yankees 34 27 .557 2 NY Mets 31 32 .492 6.5 Tampa Bay 33 30 .524 4 Washington 28 36 .438 10 Toronto 32 32 .500 5.5 Central Division Baltimore 30 31 .492 6 St Louis 38 27 .585 Central Division Milwaukee 36 28 .563 1.5 Cleveland 34 27 .557 Cincinnati 33 32 .508 5 Detroit 34 29 .540 1 Pittsburgh 30 32 .484 6.5 Chicago 31 35 .470 5.5 Chicago Cubs 25 37 .403 11.5 Kansas City 28 36 .438 7.5 Houston 24 40 .375 13.5 Minnesota 24 39 .381 11 Western Division Western Division San Francisco 36 28 .563 Texas 36 29 .554 Arizona 34 30 .531 2 Seattle 33 31 .516 2.5 Colorado 31 32 .492 4.5 LA Angels 30 35 .462 6 San Diego 29 36 .446 7.5 Oakland 28 37 .431 8 Dodgers 29 36 .446 7.5

plus seasons Thursday.

Trailing 5-3 in the ninth, White Sox closer Sergio Santos (2-3) retired the first two batters and had Josh Willingham in an 0-2 count before walking him. Hideki Matsui followed with an RBI single to cut the lead to a run. Santos walked Daric Barton and hit Kurt Suzki with a breaking ball to load the bases. Sizemore then split the left-center gap to give the Athletics a 7-5 lead.

Rangers 9, Twins 3 At Minneapolis, Michael Young had three hits and three RBIs, and Adrian Beltre added two hits and drove in two runs for Texas.

The Rangers sent 11 batters to the plate and scored a season-high seven runs in the second inning to snap an eight-game road losing streak against the Twins and win for the first time at Target Field.

Young was 4 for 39 in June before Friday. CJ Wilson (7-3) allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Sal Butera had a career-high three hits and an RBI for Minnesota and Michael Cuddyer had two hits and an RBI. Royals 4, Angels 2 At Anaheim, California, Jeff Francis survived a shaky sixth inning to get his first road victory of the season and left fielder Alex Gordon threw out a runner at home as Kansas City downed Los Angeles.

Melky Cabrera and Billy Butler hit solo homers for the Royals. Former first-round draft pick Mike Moustakas went 1 for 3 in his big league debut.

Francis (3-6) pitched 6 1-3 innings, allowing two runs and eight hits after being staked to a 4-0 lead. The lefthander hadn’t won a road game since beating Florida on July 20, 2010, while pitching for Colorado. The Royals have won consecutive games for the first time since May 19-20, and have clinched a season series from the Angels for only the second time in 15 years. —AP

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Waratahs beat Highlanders

VANCOUVER: Canucks right wing Maxim Lapierre (40) shoots to score against Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas (30) and Boston Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg (44) in the third period during Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals. — AP

Canucks on brink of NHL title VANCOUVER: Maxim Lapierre scored from a rebound off the back boards with 15:25 to play and Roberto Luongo stopped 31 shots as the Vancouver Canucks moved to the brink of their first NHL championship with a 1-0 victory over Boston in Game 5 on Friday The Canucks lead the series 3-2 after Luongo posted his fourth shutout of the playoffs and second of the Stanley Cup finals after giving up 12 goals in less than four periods during two blowout losses in Boston.

“There was something about him before the game,” said Vancouver defenseman Kevin Bieksa, who set up the only goal. “he just seemed so comfortable, so confident. He was vocal, and usually he’s not a vocal guy. We thought it would be something special.” Game 6 is Monday night in Boston, and the Stanley Cup will be there.

The Canucks have scored just six goals in five Stanley Cup finals games against brilliant Boston goalie Tim Thomas, yet they’re one victory away from winning it all. Neither team found an offensive flow in a Game 5 nail-biter, but Luongo kept

Vancouver in it until Lapierre and Bieksa teamed up on a goal that set off a crazy celebration among tens of thousands of fans thronging downtown Vancouver.

Luongo was pulled from Game 4, but coach Alain Vigneault stuck with him for Game 5. The Olympic champion was only occasionally spectacular, but he still narrowly outplayed Thomas, who has received just two goals of support from his teammates in three games in Vancouver. “(Luongo) knows that we believe in him,” Vancouver forward Alex Burrows said.

“He’s unreal. We have so much confidence in him, and he doesn’t listen to what people outside this locker room say. We know he’s the best goalie in the league.” Thomas made 24 saves in Game 5, but lost his shutout streak of 110 minutes, 42 seconds dating to Game 3. With injured forward Nathan Horton’s jersey hanging in the visitors’ locker room, the Bruins’ power play regressed to its previous postseason struggles, going 0 for 4.

After two scoreless periods of stellar goaltending in which Boston went scoreless on four power plays, the Canucks finally connected with a supremely heady play by the veteran Bieksa, who used Thomas’ aggressive style against him.

Bieksa deliberately put a long shot wide of the goal, and when Thomas instinctively moved to his glove side to play it, the puck ricocheted off the back boards straight to Lapierre, who put it behind Thomas for just his second goal of the postseason.

“I hope I was trying to miss the net, because I missed it by about 8 feet,” Bieksa said. “I didn’t have a real good angle to the net, so I just put it up there and got a good bounce.” Lapierre was a late-season acquisition who largely serves as an agitator for the Canucks, not a scorer. He’s never managed more than 15 goals in a season, and he had just six this season while playing for Montreal, Anaheim and Vancouver. The Canucks hung on from there, winning their sixth straight home playoff game since May 7. — AP

SYDNEY: Center Tom Carter scored three tries, contributing to a vital bonus point, as the New South Wales Waratahs beat the Otago Highlanders 33-7 in Super 15 rugby yesterday to revive their playoffs hopes.

The Waratahs last week gave up a season-long foothold among the top six teams that will contest the playoffs, losing a second straight match in South Africa to the Bulls, who supplanted them in sixth place.

Yesterday’s win for the Waratahs — their ninth from 15 matches — restored them to sixth place pending the outcome of the Bulls’ clash with South African conferenceleaders the Stormers later in the round.

Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale had a constructive role in three of the Waratahs’ five tries as they secured a bonus point to lift themselves into fifth place on the championship table, pending matches later on Saturday involving South Africa’s Bulls and Sharks. Carter achieved his first hat trick of tries in Super rugby, touching down twice in the first half and once in the second as the Waratahs posted a comprehensive win in wet and slippery conditions.

Beale made a brilliant elusive run, then kicked towards the left touchline, where Carter gathered the ball to score the Waratahs’ first try after only eight minutes.

The gifted playmaker then ran the ball out of defense to make a try for flanker Dave Dennis in the 15th minute as New South Wales took a 12-0 lead.

The Highlanders hit back with a 28thminute try to hooker Jason Rutledge after a typically painstaking buildup of pick-andruns.

Carter’s second try in the 37th minute allowed the Waratahs to take a commanding 19-7 lead to halftime and put the match beyond the Highlanders’ reach.

New South Wales was held scoreless for 35 minutes in the second half as Otago com-

manded possession and field position.

Carter finally broke the deadlock with his third try in the 75th minute following strong leadup work by the Waratahs forwards.

After drawing in the Highlanders’ defense, scrumhalf Luke Burgess passed quickly to Carter, who crashed over for a bonus point try, marked by a delirious celebration. Replacement Josh Holmes added a fifth try for New South Wales only a minute from fulltime when Beale kicked with superb accuracy to his unguarded left wing.

“Obviously we got stuck a bit after halftime but the guys have just got back from Africa, and to come out and finish the game the way we did was pleasing,” Waratahs captain Phil Waugh said. Waugh, returning from injury, was replaced after 41 minutes.

“We started well in the first 40 but to come back and get that bonus point is going to be pretty impor tant.” The Waratahs held the Highlanders to only one try, though Otago spent long periods in opposition territor y. Though they missed more than 20 tackles, New South Wales’ defense managed to harry the Highlanders sufficiently to force them into errors.

“We probably just didn’t capitalize on a lot of field position,” Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said. “We tried to play tight through the middle but turned over the ball at some fairly critical times. We probably should have gone into halftime with a few more points. When you don’t score points you can’t create pressure.

“Credit to their defense. When we got down there in the second half, they shut us down at lineout time and shut us down around the fringes, which was pretty disappointing on our behalf.”—AP

Reds snatch win over Force

LONDON: In this March 27, 2011 file photo, Crusaders’ Sonny Bill Williams (center) is tackled by Sharks’ Meyer Bosman (second right) during their Super 15 rugby union match at Twickenham, London, England. — AP

Crusaders roll over Blues TIMARU: The Canterbury Crusaders beat Auckland 23-16 in an intense national derby to seize the lead from the Blues in the New Zealand conference of rugby’s Super 15.

All Blacks winger Zac Guildford scored two secondhalf tries as the Crusaders avenged a 24-22 loss to the Blues in the first round of the season 16 weeks ago. The Crusaders rose from fourth to second place on the championship table with their 10th win from 15 matches while the Blues dropped to fourth with their fourth straight loss, conceding the New Zealand conference lead for the first time this season.

Canterbur y holds a one point lead over Auckland in the five-team conference with one regular season round remaining, in which it plays the Wellington Hurricanes and the Blues play the Otago Highlanders. First place in a national conference is a valuable prize under the new Super 15 system, conferring on its holder automatic qualification for the playoffs and the advantage of a home semifinal.

The determination of both teams to secure that prize was evident in yesterday’s match, which was fast-paced and sometimes frantic, though it was played on a waterlogged and almost boggy pitch.

Both teams produced brilliant attacking movements and some moments of outstanding skill, but they were tempered by elementar y errors that detracted from the spectacle for a capacity crowd of 12,000 in this small provincial town.

Guildford scored his tries at

either end of the second half to extend the Crusaders’ advantage after they had taken a brittle 13-11 lead to halftime, giving his team a three tries to two advantage.

All Blacks flyhalf Daniel Carter kicked one conversion more than his potential World Cup understudy, Auckland’s Luke McAlister, though neither produced a clean sheet. Carter finished with a conversion and two penalties or three goals from six attempts and McAlister two penalties or two from four.

Guildford’s first try, only seconds after the second half restart, was critical in giving the Crusaders a defensible lead.

They led 18-11 and though Auckland hit back with a try to prop Charlie Faumuina in the 48th minute, Canterbury never relinquished its advantage.

McAlister missed the conversion of Faumuina’s tr y, which would have tied the scores, and Canterbury clung to its two-point margin for 27 minutes, until Guildford sealed the game with his second try five minutes from fulltime. “It was an outstanding game. It probably wasn’t the prettiest to watch but both teams really flew into the game and the boys just really stuck at it,” Crusaders captain Kieran Read said. “It took an 80-minute performance and I’m really proud of the lads to get over the line.

“Both teams had done a lot of homework on each other and knew each other backwards so it’s probably pretty even.” Canterbury scored two of its tries from moments of opportunism and from lapses of concentration and attention

by Auckland. After the Blues had taken the lead with a 12thminute try to All Blacks winger Rene Ranger, the Crusaders hit back with an audacious try to flanker Matt Todd, who replaced injured All Blacks captain Rchie McCaw. Scrumhalf Andy Ellis stole the ball from the back of the Blues scrum, where it had been left untended, and kicked deep into Auckland territory. He chased his kick and caught Auckland fullback Jared Payne in possession near the goalline.

Canterbur y forced a quick turnover and Todd drove over the line to give the Crusaders their first lead at 10-6.

The advantage endured for the remainder of the match.

Read sparked Guildford’s crucial try immediately after halftime, taking a quick tap from a free kick. Canterbury quickly recycled possession and Carter put a pinpoint kick to Guildford’s wing that the winger controlled near the touchline. He claimed the bounce and scored untouched.

“It was just fortuitous, I think,” Read said. “It can happen and it was just lucky it was on our side.” Auckland competed well, particularly at lineouts, which involved the clash of four All Blacks locks.

Canterbur y ’s scrum was stronger but the margin between the teams was narrow.

“I think both teams played bloody good rugby tonight,” Blues captain Keven Mealamu said. “It was pretty heavy underfoot but I’m happy the boys left it out there. “We had a few mental lapses but the effort was right up there.”—AP

PERTH: The Queensland Reds came from behind to beat a spirited Western Force in their Super 15 clash yesterday. Outplayed for much of the game and missing several players due to injury, the Reds stayed in touch through the brilliance of Quade Cooper and snatched the 2421 victory in the dying seconds.

In a massive boost to their hopes of securing a home semi-final, the Reds scored the winning try in the 79th minute through reserve Dom Shipperley.

The Force led 21-17 after a David Pocock try in the 68th minute, but the Reds mounted one last surge, putting enormous pressure on the Force defence as the clock ticked down.

The home side held firm, until Cooper desperately swung the ball out wide to Shipperley, who dived over in the corner.

Cooper then iced a tough conversion to cap a fine game. It was yet another agonising loss for the Force, beaten in the dying minutes in a host of games this season.

Again, it was a game they could have won, as they had the ladder leader on the back foot for much of the match. Reds captain James Horwill said his side hung tough despite being down on form.

“We lacked a little bit of finish and gave away a lot of penalties,” he said.

“Very happy we got the result in the end.” Pocock said the Force let the victory slip.

“We didn’t convert our pressure in the middle 40 minutes and it came back to bite us in the end,” he said.

Up 16-14 at half-time, the Force should have led by more at the break after a thrilling start full of attacking intent rewarded by a try to Rory Sidey.

James O’Connor missed two conversions as the Force dominated possession, but Cooper stirred a response from his side when he went almost the full length of the field for an intercept try in the 12th minute.

After the Cooper try, Sidey gave his side a 13-7 lead with his second try in the 20th minute, reaching over after 13 phases.

The Force were rocked when captain Nathan Sharpe was helped from the field in the 25th minute, having landed awkwardly on his right ankle.

The Reds again hit back against the run of play in the 29th minute, when Liam Gill kicked the ball across the scrum and Scott Higginbotham gathered and dashed down the side line for an easy try. — AFP

SYDNEY: Aaron Smith (center) from the New Zealand Otago Highlanders clears the ball against the New South Wales Waratahs during their Super 15 rugby match. — AP

Sharks fight back to hold Lions JOHANNESBURG: The Sharks fought back from a 21-point deficit to steal a 30-30 draw with the lowly Lions in a South African derby in Super 15 rugby yesterday. Flyhalf Patrick Lambie inspired the Sharks with 20 points, including the try that began the fightback, and wingers JP Pietersen and Lwazi Mvovo also crossed as the visitors scored the last 21 points at Ellis Park.

The draw was still a blow to the Sharks’ playoff hopes, however. The Durban-based side will travel to defending champions the Bulls in the last round with their hopes of making the six-team finals in the balance.

“I’m glad the boys put the fight in,” said Sharks captain John Smit. “They showed huge character to come back but we gave away some poor tries in the first half and we have left ourselves with a hell of a job at the end of the competition.”

Flanker Cobus Grobbelaar scored two tries and No. 10 Butch James kicked 15 points against his former team to send the Lions into a commanding 30-9 lead after 47 minutes before the Sharks’ late surge. Scrumhalf Jano Vermaak also went over for the Lions.

James turned villain with a 60thminute yellow card for a dangerous, neck-high tackle, allowing Pietersen to score from an overlap on the left wing against the 14-man Lions. Mvovo then grabbed the crucial try with four minutes to go after a clever kick through by the outstanding Lambie. Lambie’s conversion secured the draw. “ We’re disappointed because we were close to winning at the end of the game,” said Sharks replacement and former France international Frederic Michalak. “We started to play too late in the game.” The Lions — who were playing their final game of the 2011 competition — have not won a match at home in two full Super rugby seasons.

The Lions made their surprise firsthalf dominance count through tries by

Grobbelaar and Vermaak after James kicked them 6-3 ahead.

Grobbelaar drove over from a rolling maul in the 28th and James converted for a 13-3 advantage for the revived Lions, whose last home win came over the Otago Highlanders in May 2009.

Lambie cut the lead to four points at 13-9 with penalty goals in the 31st and 37th minutes.

But Vermaak sprinted home in the right corner just before halftime after prop Patric Cilliers provided the defense-splitting pass with his inside ball to fullback Jaco Taute. Even though Taute sent his pass bouncing across the grass, Vermaak scooped up the loose ball and raced in. James, who left the Sharks in 2007 for England’s Bath, added the conversion and a 44thminute penalty to make it 23-9.

With the Lions’ forwards overpowering the Sharks’ Springbok-filled pack, Grobbelaar went over for his second in the 47th after another rolling maul from a lineout. James converted for a perfect six from six attempts at goal and a 30-9 lead.

But boosted by a string of secondhalf substitutions — including Michalak — the desperate Sharks hit back with Lambie’s 54th-minute score.

The young No. 10 sliced through with his angled run following a multiphase attack, and converted his own try to cut the gap to 30-16.

James was then sin-binned for his head-high hit on Sharks flanker Keegan Daniel, reducing the Lions to 14 men for a crucial period midway through the second half. The Sharks used the man advantage to send Pietersen in and Lambie’s conversion from out wide put the playoff-chasing Sharks within seven points, setting up a dramatic final 10 minutes.

Lambie then stabbed through his kick with four minutes remaining — and the Sharks dominant — and the lightning-quick Mvovo pounced for a thrilling draw. — AFP

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Bolt sets season’s best time in 200 meters OSLO: Usain Bolt set the quickest time in the world this season as he eased to victory in the 200 meters at a Diamond League meet on Thursday, while Caster Semenya also set her best time of the year but could only finish third behind Halima Hachlaf in the 800.

The Jamaican world record holder raced through the rain at the Bislett Games to win convincingly in 19.86 seconds. Norwegian Jaysuma Saidy Ndure was second in 20.43, while Mario Forsythe of Jamaica was third in 20.49. Bolt said he was very pleased with a time that went some way to answering his critics as he tunes up his technique ahead of this year’s worlds in South Korea, which run from Aug. 27. “I

was never really out of business,” Bolt said after the race. “Business was just a bit slow.” The world and Olympic champion was unperturbed by the downpour that fell as the race got under way and never looked under any real pressure from the rest of the field.

“I always seem to compete best when it’s raining,” Bolt said. “I’m happy — I’m back to being Usain Bolt. Not perfect, but I think I’m getting there.” In the women’s 800, Hachlaf of Morocco also set a world-leading time to hold off Russia’s Mariya Savinova and Semenya of South Africa.

Hachlaf crossed the finishing line in 1:58.27, with Savinova trailing in 1:58.44, ahead of Semenya with

1:58.61. The 20-year-old Semenya is battling to rediscover her form after having to undergo a gender test following her victory in the 800 at the 2009 worlds. She finished second in last weekend’s Diamond League event at Eugene, Oregon.

The time was her best of the year so far as she strives to reach her peak in time for South Korea. “I’m just three seconds away from my best,” she told The Associated Press after the race. She also revealed that she is preparing to race at Diamond League events in Lausanne and Stockholm later this summer. “I’m happy with the time today,” Semenya said. “Now I just need to go back and work on it more — 1:57

is what I’m planning for the next races.”

It was Norway’s Christina Vukicevic who first lifted the stadium’s spirits as she comfortably held on to an early lead to take the 100-meter hurdles in 12.79.

On the men’s side, Kenyan Paul Kipsiele Koech strode away from his rivals in the 3,000 steeplechase to set the best time of the season in a track record 8:01.83. His countryman Nicholas Kiptanui Kemboi took the 1,500 in 3:37.25, his best time of the season, a feat equaled by Arles Merritt of the United States, who won the 110 hurdles in 13.12. World championship silver medalist Kyriakos Ioannou of Cyprus earned victory in the high jump

with a leap of 2.28, while Olympic champion Gerd Kanter won the discus with a throw of 65.14. In the javelin, Germany’s Matthias De Zordo claimed four diamond league points with a throw of 83.94. South African Godfrey Khotso Mokoena saved the best for last in the long jump with a winning fifth leap of 8.08. Ivet Lalova of Bulgaria excelled in the women’s 100, sprinting first to the line in 11.01, while Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic took the 400 hurdles in 54.38. Amantle Montsho of Botswana claimed her second Diamond League win of the season in the 400, finishing in a season’s best 50.10 to add to her victory in Eugene. — AP

Honduras run riot MIAMI: Carlos Costly struck a hat-trick as Honduras rampaged to a crushing 7-1 win over Grenada on Friday to move close to a place in the last eight of the Gold Cup. It was an emphatic display

an upset could be on the cards when Grenada took the lead, stunning their opponents with a 19th minute goal from Clive Murray at a packed FIU Stadium.

But the goal, Grenada’s first at a Gold Cup, merely served to

Grenada went close to pulling one back when Delroy Facey hit the post but then the ‘Spice Boys’ fell apart. With total breakdown in the Grenadian defense who unwisely sought to push up and play an offside trap, Costly

MIAMI: Grenada’s goalkeeper Shemel Louison tries to block Honduras’ Jerry Bengstson (9) from scoring a goal in the first half of a Concacaf Gold Cup soccer match. —AP from Honduras, seeking their first Gold Cup title and will have gone some way to answering their critics after their opening game draw with Guatemala.

For a brief moment it seemed

spark Honduras into life. The Hondurans led 3-1 at the interval thanks to two goals from the lively Jerry Bengston and one from Costly and they didn’t ease off after the break.

scored two more and then in the final two minutes Walter Mar tinez and Alfredo Mejia added insult to injury with a goal each after they were left totally free.

The score was cruel on the injury-ravaged Grenadians after they had competed well until midway through the second half but it was also a reminder that Honduras, who qualified for last year’s World Cup finals in South Africa, are serious contenders.

“They made things complicated for us with that early goal but then we started creating chances and thankfully we created those chances,” said Honduras’s Colombian coach Luis Fernando Suarez.

Most encouraging of all for Suaraz will be the performances of his two strikers-Costly and Bengston. Bengston said he felt the pairing were starting to build a good understanding.

“In the few games that we have played together I think we’ve done pretty well and every game that we play, the chemistry gets better and better,” he said.

Honduras face Jamaica in their final game in Group B and a draw would be enough to make it into the quarter-final stage.

Grenada’s coach Mike Adams said he would have to be a “good Dad” in the coming days to pick his players up in time for the final group match against Guatemala.

“We’ve already been ravaged by injuries and early on we lost Leon Johnson who was the man to organise our back-line today,” said Adams.

“I told the team it is all about moments-we were in the game at 3-1 when we hit the post but then we were punished for a schoolboy error. “ They are a world class team and they will punish you for your mistakes-and quite rightly,” he said. —Reuters

Opposition leader seeks FIFA bribery probe PORT OF SPAIN: Trinidad and Tobago opposition leader Keith Rowley gave police commissioner Dwayne Gibbs until Tuesday to launch a probe into suspended FIFA executives Mohammed Bin Hammam and compatriot Jack Warner.

The investigation would center upon whether or not the two suspended FIFA executive committee members illegally brought US$1 million into the nation. Warner, who like Rowley is a member of the Trinidad parliament, also serves as Minister of Works and Transport.

Qatari Bin Hammam and Warner are among four people suspended by FIFA for alleged roles in the attempted bribery of 25 Caribbean Football Union associations in the build-up to the FIFA presidential elections.

Bin Hammam challenged FIFA President Sepp Blatter for the top football post but bowed out after being charged. Blatter was re-elected unopposed on June 1. Gibbs, who is Canadian, said on Tuesday that there was “nothing tangible to investigate” regarding the allegations of bribery at a meeting in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain.

But Rowley described the stance of Gibbs as “irresponsible” and “tantamount to a dereliction of duty”. “We believe that he is guided by some misguided approach that he is toeing the line of the political directorate,” Rowley said.

The penalty for the filing of a false declaration under the Customs Act is a fine of three times the value of the item not so declared or a term of imprisonment of eight years. Rowley did not reveal his next move if his deadline elapsed. —AFP

MIAMI: Jamaica’s Dane Richards (left) and Gautemala’s Carlos Castrillo battle for the ball in the second half of a Concacaf Gold Cup soccer match. —AP

Phillips’ double puts Jamaica into last eight MIAMI: Impressive Jamaica qualified for the quarter-finals of the Gold Cup after a brace from Demar Phillips gave the Reggae Boyz a 2-0 win over Guatemala on Friday.

With two wins out of two, the Caribbean side, coached by former player Theodore Whitmore, have made great strides since their group stage elimination two years ago.

“We are getting better and better each game and I am confident after what I have seen in these two games,” said Whitmore, a key member of the team which reached the 1998 World Cup finals in France.

Playing with confidence in midfield and pace down the flanks, Jamaica were on top for most of the first half but Guatemala came close to an opener just before the break with a strike from Carlos Ruiz that flashed just wide.

But the breakthrough came in the 65th minute when Phillips latched on to a neat ball over the top from Keammar Daley in the 65th minute, bursting into the box on the left and firing into the bottom corner.

Guatemala’s task became even tougher

in the 70th minute when they had defender Cristian Noriega dismissed for a second yellow card.

The impressive Dane Richards went close with a close-range header that was well saved by keeper Ricardo Jerez but the second arrived soon after.

Phillips doubled the lead when Richards ran to the byline and pulled the ball back to the midfielder who slotted home.

After winning their opening game against Grenada 4-0, the Jamaicans, with six points, are guaranteed a place in the last eight of the Concacaf tournament and Whitmore senses they could go further.

“We are really reaping the benefit of the nine day camp we had in Brazil where we focused on generating real team unity and spirit,” he said.

“That’s helped us a lot. We are better in possession and in finishing-we are creating goals and scoring goals. Sometimes it is good to aim high,” he said.

Guatemala, who have a point from their two games, still have a chance to progress if they can win their last game against the Grenadians. —Reuters

Mexicans launch doping probe, plead ‘accident’

FRANCE: Colombia’s defender Luciano Ospina Londono (left), midfielder James Rodriguez Rubio (second left), goalkeeper Cristian Bonilla Garzon (second right) and forward Duvan Zapata Banguero, hold their trophy after defeating France, during their final match in the Under-21 Toulon soccer tournament. —AP

Real Madrid appeal Mourinho suspension PARIS: Real Madrid on Friday launched an appeal against the three-match ban handed to coach Jose Mourinho for his comments after the first leg of Real’s Champions League semi-final defeat by Barcelona.

“Real Madrid CF have appealed against the disciplinary verdict handed down to Real Madrid CF coach Jose Mourinho by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body on 6 May, and relating to the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona in Madrid on 27 April,” read a statement on the UEFA website.

“The appeal follows the sending by UEFA of the reasoned decision on 6 June. The date of the hearing will be communicated in due course.” Mourinho has already completed one match of his ban, having watched the second leg of the Barcelona tie in a hotel room.

He was also ordered to pay a 50,000-euro (72,000 dollars) fine by UEFA. European football’s governing body gave a three-match European ban to Mourinho, with one match suspended, after he made allegations of favoritism towards Barcelona.

Barca won the first leg 2-0 at Real’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium before a 1-1 draw in the return leg took them into the final, where they beat Manchester United.

UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body found that a string of comments from Mourinho alleging that Barcelona benefited from decisions in their favour at their rivals’ expense had constituted “inappropriate statements”.

Mourinho unleashed a tirade against Barca after seeing Portuguese defender Pepe sent off during his team’s first-leg defeat on April 27.

“I don’t know if it’s the Unicef (Barca’s sponsor) publicity or the friendship of (Spanish football federation chief Angel) Villar at UEFA, where he is vice-president,” Mourinho said.

“I don’t know if it’s because they are so nice, but they have got great power. The rest of us have no chance.

“They are a great team, so congratulations to them, but they have this power. Pepe sent off and me too. I don’t know why.” —AFP

LOS ANGELES: Five Mexican footballers who were suspended from the Gold Cup for doping after testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol were flown to Los Angeles on Friday for more tests.

Mexico won 5-0 over Cuba on Thursday after opening last Sunday with a 5-0 rout of El Salvador, a result that could be protested in the wake of doping positives revealed Thursday from a May 21 test during Mexico’s training camp.

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, defenders Francisco Rodriguez and Edgar Duenas and midfielders Antonio “Sinha” Naelson and Christian Bermudez tested positive for the banned muscle-building drug.

Naelson, a Brazil-born playmaker whose flew home to his father’s funeral in Sao Paolo before joining Mexico for the Gold Cup, was angry about the positive test.

“Right now, I am angry. The sadness comes later,” he told Concacaf. “You are trying to get up after being knocked down and then you are hit and knocked down again.

That is difficult and even more so knowing that you didn’t do anything.

“I didn’t commit a crime or make any mistakes. My career will not be tainted for something I didn’t do. Everyone knows me.

Fourteen years in Mexican soccer and I’ve never had a problem.”

Ochoa, who has just finished his contract with Mexican side Club America, said on the Concacaf website that he was shocked by the doping positive. “It was surprising to all of us,” Ochoa said. “We don’t have anything to hide. We are here to face the issue. We have a clear conscious because we haven’t done anything that is incorrect.”

The defending champion Mexicans, who complete group play Sunday at Chicago

against Costa Rica, are among 12 Concacaf nations competing for the North American crown and a berth in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Mexican national team director Hector Inarittu brought the players to Los Angeles for further tests at the UCLA doping laboratory even as officials investigate the team’s claims that eating tainted beef and chicken caused the positive tests.

“This is an accident,” Inarittu said in a posting on the Concacaf website. “We will wait for all the results and see what the department of agriculture in Mexico finds in the meat that we used.”

Mexican team doctor Jose Luis Serrano said players were not provided any supplements during the training camp and wondered about so many players testing positive for the same substance at the same time.

“There is no remote absolute possibility that this happened because of a supplement,” Serrano said. “I think there is no literature that has five positive tests with only one substance in one event.”

While US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) reports have shown clenbuterol is used to promote growth in livestock, the drug is illegal in Europe and the United States.

USADA calls the risk of tainted meat causing a positive result remote. The Mexicans have asked Concacaf to allow them to replace the suspended players and the tournament organizing committee was set to meet later Friday to decide about any help for suddenly undermanned Mexico.

Ochoa, 26, would not comment on how the doping positive might impact hopes that a European side might be interested in signing him. —AFP

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Vettel on pole in Canada

LONDON: Australia’s Casey Stoner riding a Repsol Honda Team MotoGP bike takes Club Corner during Qualifying practice at the Silverstone circuit. —AP

Stoner takes Silverstone pole SILVERSTONE: In-form Australian Casey Stoner will start from pole for the fourth time this season after he recorded the fastest time in qualifying for today’s British MotoGp on his Honda yesterday.

The 2007 world champion - winner of three of the five races this season - broke the lap record and was just 0.188sec faster than Italian Marco Simoncelli, also on a Honda, and Spain’s world champion Jorge Lorenzo, on a Yamaha, by 0.217sec.

Lorenzo leads Stoner - who will be riding in his 150th race - by just seven points in this season’s standings. Wet weather is forecast for today’s race but it didn’t faze Stoner.

“Looking at the way we went this weekend, it doesn’t really matter what conditions tomorrow brings,” said the 25year-old, whose form and health dipped in the past two years when he finished fourth both times in the championship.

“I am definitely going to prefer dry...but we feel ready for any conditions.

“I felt we got quite lucky with pole position today, we tried a couple of things with the bike. We changed the front a little bit and on my best lap I lost the front two or three times,” he added.

Simoncelli could only finish sixth last weekend in the Catalunya GP after taking pole. But the Italian, who had to be given a guard after Spanish fans blamed him for an incident in the French MotoGP which saw Spaniard Dani Pedrosa miss the Catalonian race with a broken collarbone, is confident of posing a stronger challenge.

“Here I have a better feeling with the bike than in Barcelona,” said the Italian. “I

am feeling ready to fight for the podium and victory.” Lorenzo’s team-mate, promising American rider Ben Spies was fourth fastest while Czech rider Karel Abraham produced a stunning qualifying session on a Ducati to fill sixth spot on the grid.

However, Italian legend and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi suffered a disappointing session on his Ducati, qualifying in 13th but American Colin Edwards defied a broken collarbone suffered in the Catalunya GP and was eighth.

Home fans were left disappointed as Edwards’s British team-mate Cal Crutchlow was ruled out of Sunday’s race when he broke his collarbone after coming off his Yamaha early in the qualifying session.

“Cal’s injury is a very big disappointment and I feel really sorr y for him because he was desperate to do well in his home race here at Silverstone,” said team manager Herve Poncharal.

“He’s been fast all weekend, so we had high hopes that he could get a good place on the grid and be challenging for the top six in the race.

“But track conditions were quite cold and it was obvious from looking at the TV pictures that the tyre wasn’t up to temperature.

“He is in pain right now but I think he is more upset than anything else because he wanted to put on a good show for the British fans.” Spanish ace Dani Pedrosa is sitting out his second successive race because of a similar injury. —AFP

Kohlschreiber upsets Monfils HALLE: Unseeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber upset third-seeded Gael Monfils of France in straight sets yesterday to reach the final of the Gerry Weber Open.

The 49th-ranked Kohlschreiber returned to the Halle final for the first time since losing to Roger Federer in 2008 by cruising past Monfils 6-3, 6-3 in 1 hour 17 minutes. Monfils, ranked a career-high No. 8 coming into the tournament, had not dropped a single set at the Wimbledon warmup event before running into an in-form Kohlschreiber.

“If there was something missing then it was the first serve,” Kohlschreiber said.

“But again, everything worked really well today. And I’m happy that my tactics worked so well.” It was Kohlschreiber’s first victory over Monfils in four matches but the other three were played on hardcourts. Kohlschreiber broke Monfils in

the first game of the match and failed to convert two break points in the third game. But the German collected a second break to finish off the first match 6-3.

Kohlschreiber went up a break and 20 in Monfils’ first service game in the second frame and then defended the break by winning the third game to love.

Kohlschreiber finished off the Frenchman when he hit a forehand into the net on the first match point.

“The problem was that Philipp was good today and played better than me,” Monfils said.

“I’m happy that I got four matches here. I feel better, I moved better. For sure I am a bit tired.” In today’s final, Kohlschreiber will take on either 2007 Gerry Weber champion Tomas Berdych or fellow unseeded German Philipp Petzschner, who were playing the second semi later yesterday. —AP

MONTREAL: Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel claimed his sixth pole position in seven races this year yesterday when he topped the times in qualifying for today’s Canadian Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old German, in his Red Bull car repaired after a crash into the ‘wall of champions’ on Friday, clocked a best lap of one minute and 13.014 seconds.

This left him out in front ahead of the two Ferraris of Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Brazilian Felipe Massa, the two-time champion just squeezing ahead of his team-mate in the closing seconds.

Australian Mark Webber qualified fourth in the second Red Bull with Briton Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 champion, taking fifth ahead of German Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes.

Vettel’s pole was the 21st of his career and came on a circuit where Red Bull have never won, but where Hamilton claimed his maiden victory and won again last year.

Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate and fellowBriton Jenson Button, champion in 2009, wound up seventh ahead of seven-times champion Michael Schumacher in his Mercedes. Another German Nick Heidfeld was ninth for Renault ahead of his team-mate Vitaly Petrov of Russia.

Meanwhile, Mark Webber warned his Red Bull team that they need to up their performance if they want to secure front row starts in Canadian Grand Prix.

After an eventful opening day on Friday, which saw four big crashes and three red flags, the 34-year-old Australian wound up seventh fastest, almost a second slower than pace-setter Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.

Webber said the red flags had hindered his practice schedule, but admitted he was con-

MONTREAL: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel, of Germany, seen during the afternoon practice session for the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix. —AP cerned about the pace of rivals McLaren and Ferrari. “We did all our fuel loads - so we were pretty compromised with the red flags in the end,” he said. “Not too bad overall, but we need to chip away and get a bit quicker.

“Fernando was quick, but we need to get a bit more pace.” Defending champion and Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel crashed in the morning session, but bounced back with the second fastest time behind Alonso in the afternoon.

The 23-year-old leader of this year’s title race said: “I was a bit quick and lost the rear.

“By the time I hit the wall, it was low speed.

The crash was quite mild and there was not

too much damage to fix.”

He added that he was impressed by the speed of rivals McLaren and Ferrari. “They look strong here,” he said. “But for us, I’m happy with the car’s balance and how it performs, so we will see.

“It’s a special circuit here, it’s quite rough with the kerbs and chicanes, but I like it. “The target is to win, but it’s a long weekend and a lot of things can happen. It’s important to finish and do your best, whatever that is.”

Vettel has never won on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and will be hoping to register his and the team’s first win in Montreal in today’s race. —AFP

Widespread doping probe leads to lifetime ban DENVER: Cyclist Philip Zajicek has been banned for life after admitting to multiple doping violations in a case stemming from an investigation into EPO and human-growth hormone trafficking from China for nearly 200 athletes.

The US Anti-Doping Agency said Friday that Zajicek admitted to a second doping offense for purchasing EPO, a third doping offense for providing false testimony at an arbitration hearing and for encouraging other witnesses to provide false testimony.

About a dozen athletes around the world have been penalized in this case, including American riders Jonathan Chodroff and Duane Dickey.

One of the key figures in the case was cyclist Joe Papp, who served as an intermediary between the athletes and Chinese sellers of the performance-enhancing drugs in 2006 and 2007.

Last year, Papp pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to sell human growth hormone and EPO over the Internet.

Prosecutors said he earned more than $80,000 selling the drugs to 187 customers, including cyclists and other athletes.

Zajicek is a former US junior champion who received a first sanction in 2004 after testing positive for a stimulant. In the current case, he initially was cleared of any wrongdoing, but

USADA appealed and eventually got him to admit to the violations. Zajicek, 32, will pay USADA $5,000 for expenses associated with his conduct.

“He came around and ultimately did the right thing,” USADA CEO Travis Tygart said. “It’s a case that highlights a real ugly part of pro cycling, a culture that encourages athletes to cheat with these dangerous drugs. Then, when confronted with the truth of their cheating, they think it’s acceptable to also attempt to cover it up through the legal process by testifying untruthfully.”

Papp is a former midlevel rider who has been a key USADA informant since admitting in 2006

that he cheated. Papp, who says systematic doping goes on in cycling, was a USADA witness in the 2007 arbitration case that resulted in Floyd Landis having his Tour de France title stripped.

Landis subsequently admitted he doped and has accused Lance Armstrong and others of cheating, as well.

The Landis allegations helped set in motion a federal investigation into cycling, with Armstrong and his teams the focus of the probe.

Though not directly linked, cases stemming from the USADA investigation have been popping up regularly since the federal probe began in earnest last summer. —AP

Rodriguez wins Dauphine stage FRANCE: Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver of Spain won the sixth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine, breaking away on a final ascent as Bradley Wiggins of Britain kept the overall lead yesterday.

Rodriguez, a 32-year-old with Katyusha, pointed skyward as he finished the 192.5-kilometer (120-mile) ride from Les Gets to Le Collet d’Allevard alone — his second stage win this year after one in the Tour of Basque Country.

Robert Gesink of the Netherlands was second, 31 seconds back, and Jurgen Van Den Broeck of Belgium was third, 39 seconds after the Spanish stage winner. Wiggins, of Team Sky, appeared to struggle on the final ascent up the Collet d’Allevard — one of pro cycling’s

toughest climbs. But he managed his effort well and methodically gained time on his closest challengers by placing sixth — 54 seconds back of Rodriguez.

The British former track specialist and Olympic champion has shown considerable improvement in the mountains in recent years, and extended his lead over secondplace Cadel Evans of Australia by 15 seconds in Saturday’s ride along four tough climbs.

With about 20 kilometers left, about a halfdozen cows rambled onto the course route, causing some riders to swerve and crash.

Euskatel’s Mikel Landa was among those who fell, and dropped out of the race due to an injury. Going into Sunday ’s final stage, Wiggins leads Evans, a two-time Tour de

France runner-up, by 86 seconds.

Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan, who placed fifth yesterday, climbed to third overall and was 1:52 back of the Briton. RadioShack rider Janez Brajkovic of Slovenia, the defending champion, tumbled out of contention, losing more than 3 minutes to Wiggins and falling from third to ninth overall — now 4:22 back.

The race ends today with a 117.5-kilometer (73-mile) trek from Pontcharra to La Toussuire, with a ride up the punishing Croix de Fer (Iron Cross) pass and another uphill finish.

The Criterium du Dauphine and the Tour of Switzerland that began on Saturday are the last major stage races before the Tour de France, which starts on July 2 in Brittany. —AP

Westwood among sports stars honored by Queen LONDON: Golfer Lee Westwood, racehorse trainer Henry Cecil and two cricketers from England’s victorious Ashes team are among the sports figures honored by Queen Elizabeth II in her birthday list.

Westwood, who supplanted Tiger Woods as world No. 1 in October and regained the top ranking from Martin Kaymer in April, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Cecil was given a knighthood for more than 40 years of service to horse racing and David Higgins, an Australian who led the construction program for London 2012 as chief executive of the Olympics Delivery Authority, was also handed the top honor available.

England captain Andrew Strauss, who guided his country’s test team to a successful defense of the Ashes on Australian soil, was given an OBE for services to the sport while fellow opening batsman and man-of-theseries Alastair Cook was made a Member of the Order of the British

Empire. England cricket coach Andy Flower also received an OBE as did John Amaechi, who became the first openly gay NBA player after coming out in 2007.

“The thing that was good about playing basketball was not putting a ball in a hole _ it was the access it gave you to do other good things if you chose,” said Amaechi, who was honored for services to sport and to the voluntary sector.

“This, I think, additionally will give me another great access to do good things.” Sebastien Coe, chairman of London 2012’s organizing committee, said Higgins’ honor is “thoroughly deserved.” “David Higgins played a central role in the extraordinar y progress we have made in the delivery of the Olympic Park — both the regeneration and the world-class sports venues,” Coe said.

Jessica Ennis and Phillips Idowu _ two athletes who are hoping to star for Britain during next year’s games — both received MBEs. —AP

FRANCE: Cyclists ride during the sixth stage of the 63rd Criterium du Dauphine cycling race between Les Gets and Le Collet d’Allevard, French Alps. —AP

Phillips’ double puts Jamaica into last eight Page 18 SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

Murray dismantles Roddick at Queen’s

LONDON: US’s Andy Roddick serves to Britain’s Andy Murray during their singles semifinal tennis match at the Queen’s Club grass court championships.—AP

Hantuchova sends Ivanovic packing BIRMINGHAM: Daniela Hantuchova took advantage of a wasteful performance by Ana Ivanovic to win 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-2 yesterday and reach the Aegon Classic final. Ivanovic failed to convert 18 break points and let slip a 5-1 lead in the first set before finally taking in on the tiebreaker. The former-top ranked Serb had two break points in the fifth game of the second set and five more in the seventh before falling away. The fourth-seeded Hantuchova handled the important points better, as well as two rain delays, as she reached her 12th WTA Tour final. “I like playing on grass, and I’ve had a lot of experience on it, and that certainly helps

you to do the right things”, Hantuchova said.

Hantuchova will face Sabine Lisicki of Germany in today’s final, which has been brought forward by three hours to 0900 GMT because of expected rain. Lisicki beat third-seeded Peng Shuai 6-3, 6-1 in the second semifinal. Ivanovic, who clubbed 17 aces as well as hitting some powerful forehands, looked almost too disappointed to contest the final point, and the result is a blow to hopes that she can use the grass-court season to lift her fortunes. The 19th-ranked Ivanovic, who won the 2008 French Open, was looking to reach her first final since October. “I don’t know how many break

points I had, but I still felt positive coming out for the third set,” Ivanovic said. “It was only in the last couple of games that I didn’t have the intensity I had previously. My mind was wandering and things happen very fast on grass.

“But it was the first time I have played four matches in a row for a long time, and that’s something positive I can take into next week.” Lisicki, a 21-year-old German who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals two years ago, outplayed the thirdseeded Peng, ensuring that there will not be a Chinese champion in Birmingham for a second successive year.—AP

LONDON: Andy Murray of Britain overwhelmed Andy Roddick 6-3, 6-1 to reach the final of the Aegon championships at Queen’s Club yesterday. The second seeded Scot, who won the title in 2009, produced a fine all-round display against an error-prone opponent to win their semifinal in just 59 minutes.

He will face fif th seeded Jo Wilfried Tsonga in today’s final. The Frenchman ended unseeded Briton James Ward’s run with a 6-3, 7-6 (7) victory in yesterday’s other semifinal. Murray ser ved 13 aces and ensured Roddick, the third-seeded American, failed in his attempt to become the first player to win five titles at the pre-Wimbledon tournament.

“It was just one of those days,” Murray said. “I hardly missed a ball and that doesn’t happen too often on tour. Everything that touched my racquet was going in and it felt great out there.

“I got off to a good start. Andy’s one of the toughest guys on the tour to break, and I managed to get up an early break in both sets, which helped.” Murray broke for a 20 lead when Roddick netted a backhand slice, and that was enough to decide the outcome of the opening set.

Roddick was then broken at the start of the second set when he netted a forehand volley, and another error at net gave Murray a further break and a commanding 4-1 lead.

Murray closed out the match with a fourth break when Roddick netted a

weak backhand.

“He played great,” Roddick said. “I felt like I hit the ball well. I just thought he played too good today. I mixed it up. I tried going in at different sides. You try different things.

He just played better than I did.

Everything he touched turned to gold.”

Despite the comprehensive defeat, Roddick is not going to panic as he prepares for Wimbledon, which begins June 20. “I think finetuning more so than inventing the wheel next week,” he said.

“Again, I think he did a lot right today. I don’t think I did a whole lot wrong. Maybe just execution on a couple balls, so I feel good going into the off week.” Tsonga, who has won two challenger titles on grass but will be playing his first ATP grass court final, broke to lead 2-0 against No. 216 Ward and then held off two break points at 3-1 to take the opening set. Ward, who took out fourth seed Stanislas Wawrink a and defending champion Sam Querrey on his way to the semifinals, continued to challenge in the second set, breaking to lead 2-0.

But Tsonga broke back on his fourth break point at 4-2 down and took the tiebreaker on his second match point.

“I was a little bit worried in the second set,” Tsonga said. “He had one occasion to break me and I came back. It was fantastic to win in two sets because in the third set, with the crowd with him, it would be difficult.”—AP

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MUMBAI: A worker assembles a kitchen cooking stove at a small-scale stove making factory at Dharavi, one of the world’s largest shantytowns. Even as India’s booming economy overflows with opportunities for the educated and well-connected, minting new millionaires by the dozen, some 800 million people live in poverty.Last month, India’s Planning Commission, which helps sets economic policy, told the Supreme Court that the poverty line for the nation’s cities was 578 rupees ($12.75) per person a month, three times lower than the World Bank global poverty line, and 450 rupees ($9.93) for rural India. — AP

Europe comes out in force for Lagarde Carstens, Lagarde battle over IMF job WASHINGTON: The pullout of two dark-horse candidates left France’s Christine Lagarde and Mexico’s Agustin Carstens the only apparent competitors to head the IMF as nominations closed at midnight Friday. Now the International Monetary Fund’s executive board faces a difficult political, rather than merit-based, decision when it meets Monday to begin hashing out who will become managing director of the world’s crisis lender.

In Lagarde, France’s finance minister, board members would have someone intimately up to speed on Europe’s crisis du jour, the crumbling Greek rescue, as well as a leader in the much-needed reform of the global financial system.

In Carstens, Mexico’s central bank chief, they would have someone who has already served three years as the IMF’s number three and who could satisfy developing country calls to break the Europeans’ 65year lockhold on the job. The pullout of two other potential candidates-Grigor y Marchenko of Kazakhstan and Trevor Manuel of South Africa-underscored the widespread belief that Europe already has a done deal. “It’s more or less obvious that Christine Lagarde is going to be elected,” Marchenko, the Kazakh central bank chief, told CNN. “Quite a few people do have credentials... But again, it’s not about a fair competition, it’s about politics.

And I think there, a political decision has been taken already.”

Manuel, South Africa’s planning minister, praised Lagarde as “very competent” but criticized Europe’s presumption of owning the post. “A lot more should have been done to persuade Europeans that this birthright is not a birthright that should find a resonance in an institution as impor tant as the International Monetary Fund,” he said.

Neither candidate was acting as if it was settled: Lagarde went to Lisbon to woo members of the African Development Bank, while Carstens was in New Delhi pitching for support. The job opened unex-

pectedly after Frenchman Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned on May 18 to fight sexual assault charges in New York. The 24-member executive board, representing all the IMF’s members, has targeted the end of June to reach a consensus on one of the candidates, the way it has decided in the past.

But that process has brought harsh criticism of non-transparency and backroom deals that always favors the Europeans-with IMF

power Washington getting one of its own to head the World Bank in a longstanding trans-Atlantic quid pro quo. Europe has come out in force for Lagarde, as it struggles to keep the IMF-led bailouts of Greece, Ireland and Portgual on the rails.

The United States and Japan, the IMF’s other power brokers, remain publicly uncommitted. Carstens has meanwhile strained to gather endorsements, even in Latin America. An emerging economy bloc has not coalesced. “At this stage, they don’t care enough about this position... to expend the political capital to want to change the status quo,” explained Arvind Subramanian of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Former Western Hemisphere Director at the IMF Claudio Loser said “the Europeans have a unified vision, while the emerging countries still have a nationalist vision.”

Both candidates have wooed Brazil, Russia, India and China-the socalled BRICs-which could expand their shareholding in the Fund under the next director.

After starting in Brazil, Lagarde was in Beijing and then New Delhi this week. Carstens also launched his campaign in Brazil, and was disappointed when he failed to get the endorsement of a fellow Latin American power. After New Delhi, he was to land in Washington on Monday before heading to Beijing.

The BRICs haven’t tipped their hands, but “in private they have already conceded that they are mostly likely to back Lagarde,” said Brookings Institution analyst Domenico Lombardi.

They see her “as an important backstop to the European crisis,” he added. Despite its strength, Lagarde’s candidacy is clouded by a pending investigation in France into her alleged abuse of authority, in a multi-million-euro business dispute. The court will not rule on whether the investigation would go ahead until June 9, after the IMF executive board is to make its decision. Lagarde has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. — AFP

US trade seeks to help Africa’s people: Clinton LUSAKA: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday the United States wants to expand trade with Africa by investing in the continent’s people, in contrast to China’s nostrings trade policies. In Zambia on the first leg of a three-nation African tour, Clinton defended US policies that offer trade benefits to countries that meet standards for democracy and free markets. “Our view is that over the long run, investments in Africa should be sustainable and for the benefit of the African people,” she told South African television.

“It is easy, and we saw that in colonial times, it is easy to come in, take out natural resources, pay off leaders and leave. And when you leave, you don’t leave much behind for the people who are there.” “When people come to Africa to make investments, we want them to do well, but we also want them to do good. We don’t want them to undermine good governance,” she said. “We don’t want them to basically deal with just top elites, and frankly too often pay for their concessions of their opportunities to invest.”

“We don’t want to see a new colonialism in Africa,” she said. “ The United States is investing in the people of Zambia, not just the elites.”

Clinton also said that she thought China’s top-down command economy was not a model for other developing nations. “Young people are not going to accept being told what to do,” she said, noting the uprisings across the Middle East.

Zambia’s experience highlights both the benefits and pitfalls of China’s rapidly growing presence across Africa. Zambia estimated Chinese investment last year at one billion dollars, creating 15,000 jobs. A deal with China’s Zhougui Mining announced in January promises a further five billion dollars in investment in the coming years.

But China’s labour practices have

LUSAKA: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (right) talks with Zambia’s President Rupiah Banda during her visit to the newly opened University Teaching Hospital Pediatric Centre of Excellence yesterday. — AP

sparked protests, with two Chinese mine managers accused of shooting and wounding 11 miners who were protesting in October against poor working conditions at the Collum Coal Mine. Charges were dropped in April, but President Rupiah Banda had to personally sooth the public outrage.

The issue is certain to resurface later this year in national elections, as opposition leader Michael Sata campaigns against China’s rapid expansion here. Clinton’s visit here is the latest sign of growing interest in African economies, which the International Monetary Fund expects to grow faster than the global average in the coming years.

Six of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies were in Africa last year, and the African Development Bank has signalled the rise of a middle class of more than 300 million people on the continent. China has overtaken the United States as Africa’s top trading partner, after

trade soared more than 40 percent last year to $126.9 billion. The United States is believed to remain Africa’s top donor, giving out $7.6 billion in 2009, but comparisons are difficult because China does not give detailed information on its aid programmes.

A US law, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which was the subject of talks Friday in Lusaka, grants 37 African nations duty-free access to the US market. A handful of countries like Sudan and Zimbabwe are excluded because of conflicts, coups or political turmoil. China has come under criticism for its willingness to deal with Khartoum and Harare. Last year, AGOA-eligible countries sent $44 billion worth of exports to the US market, but only $4 billion dollars of that was in non-oil products. One provision of the law, which allows many countries to export clothing made from imported fabrics, has ironically helped the growth of Chinese-owned factories in countries like Swaziland. — AFP

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Multiple banking relationship increases with affluence level Research on popularity of conventional banks and Islamic banks

KUWAIT: As leaders in the banking industry, Al-Rajhi Bank took the initiative of conducting a research study on consumers’ point of views towards the affluent banking proposition in Kuwait amongst leading banks. The study focused on understanding the mindset of the Kuwaiti market in terms of affluent banking services, assessing and analyzing the requirements of the consumer relative to what is being offered, with a view to developing customer centric Sharia compliant banking products and services. With over 50 years of experience in banking and trading activities and as one of the leading Islamic banks worldwide, Al-Rajhi Bank has taken its services to Kuwait to offer its proficiency and expertise to its existing and potential consumers.

Research overview As part of Al-Rajhi Bank’s commitment to understand the requirements of the Kuwait banking sector, Al-Rajhi Bank commissioned TNS to conduct primary research into consumer attitudes towards the affluent banking proposition in Kuwait. The research focused on affluent banking customers banking with leading Kuwaiti banks (both conventional and Islamic).

Affluent banking customer occupation In terms of primary occupation, the vast majority of affluent banking customers were employed in the government sector. In addition to working for a government organisation, 1 in 3 respondents have their own business.

Affluent banking relationship 49 percent of affluent customers report having one banking relationship, while 51 percent say they have multiple banking relationships. The multiple banking relationship increases together with the level of affluence.

Intention to continue with existing bank When asked about overall satisfaction

EXCLUSIVE AL-RAJHI REPORT with their current and main bank, 84 percent of respondents said that they were satisfied overall, with 78 percent of respondents saying they intended to continue with their existing bank, with highest intention amongst Islamic banking customers.

Intention to try a new bank Affluent banking customers seem to be interested in trying the services of a new bank and comparing with their current bank, with 71 percent of respondents saying they might be interested in trying a new bank and comparing to their existing bank. 18 percent of respondents say they are definitely interested in moving to a new bank if their banking needs would be met.

Reasons for choosing a bank (Conventional versus Islamic) When asked about the main reason for using a particular bank, 56 percent of affluent customers mentioned superior customer service, whilst Islamic banking practices ranked highly amongst Islamic Banks. Other important reasons mentioned included: the banks financial strength, large network of branches, professional and knowledgeable relationship managers.

Reasons for choosing a bank (Affluence level) When considering the level of customer affluence, the large network of branches was considered important. Being made to feel special with relationship managers who are knowledgeable and go the extra mile were key factors for all segments, but particularly highly rated by the upper affluent segment.

Affluent proposition and treatment When considering the overall affluent proposition offered by their banks 88 percent

of respondents said they needed advice from their bank on investment products. 78 percent of respondents said they were willing to take a risk to obtain higher financial returns.

Face to face interaction is still an important part of the affluent proposition with 7 out of 10 respondents mentioning face to face interaction, this number varies from 86 percent for entry level customers compared to 62 percent for upper affluent customers. 66 percent of respondents mentioned the need for their bank to make them feel important.

Touch point interaction All respondents mentioned the need for a dedicated teller when visiting their bank branch. An exclusive lounge was mentioned by 79 percent and the need for a relationship manager and investment advisor increases along with the level of affluence.

Product usage Not surprisingly, upper affluent customers have a higher proportion of investment products usage, while entry level affluent customers have a higher usage of loans and financing products.

Expectations and benefits (By grouping) Benefits expected from affluent customers were considered in terms of core or hygiene level benefits, secondary benefits that would be expected and tertiary benefits with selective importance.

Expectations and Benefits (Affluence level) 84 percent of affluent customers expect discounts on money transfers. 74 percent expect discounted travel related benefits.

Advice on investment and financial products was mentioned by two thirds with importance increasing along with affluence level.

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

.2700000 .4460000 .3980000 .3230000 .2770000 .2890000 .0040000 .0020000 .0741310 .7222330 .3810000 .0700000 .7080170 .0040000 .0430000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2720500 .4464750 .3971250 .3240810 .2781270 .0532490 .0438340 .2880600 .0349640 .2209630 .0033960 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0740980 .7218090 .0000000 .0725660 .7068070 .0000000

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

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.439 6.132 3.200 2.502 3.845 221.870 35.270

.2755000 .4570000 .4060000 .3350000 .2860000 .2970000 .0072500 .0035000 .0748760 .7294910 .4010000 .0770000 .7151330 .0072000 .0530000 .2761500 .4532040 .4031100 .3289650 .2823190 .0540520 .0444950 .2924010 .0354910 .2242930 .0034470 .0062060 .0025330 .0032300 .0037570 .0752140 .7326880 .3905940 .0736600 .7174590 .0064220

Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.692 6.346 9.027 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES 73.216 75.440 713.130 729.050 74.746

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 48.600 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.137 Yemen Riyal 1.256 Tunisian Dinar 203.600 Jordanian Dinar 387.720 Lebanese Lira 182.100 Syrian Lier 5.927 Morocco Dirham 36.112 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 274.450 Euro 397.950 Sterling Pound 450.100 Canadian dollar 284.400 Turkish lire 174.700 Swiss Franc 331.460 Australian dollar 290.920 US Dollar Buying 273.250 GOLD 282.500 143.000 74.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

SELL CASH 294.200 732.450 3.970 285.100 541.000 14.100 54.100 167.800 48.440 399.500 36.090 6.340

0.034 0.238 0.241 3.530 389.590 0.186 93.920 47.800 4.320 230.000 1.867 51.400 715.350 3.290 6.570 76.190 73.530 224.230 43.220 2.649 451.200 44.500 330.700 5.800 9.490 198.263 75.090 275.800 1.240

10 Tola

GOLD 1,585.020

Sterling Pound US Dollar

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

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

SELL DRAFT 292.700 732.450 3.705 283.600

224.200 46.406 398.000 35.940 6.155

0.033

389.260 0.185 93.920 3.870 228.500

329.200 5.800 9.260 74.990 275.400

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 449.200 275.400

Selling Rate 274.150 284.930 451.655 404.585 329.240 725.581 74.617 75.280 73.076 387.259 46.167 2.497 6.122

3.199 3.703 6.343 672.461 3.511 9.134 5.980 3.911 90.161

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. 715.170 3.220 6.370 75.760 73.530 224.230 43.220 2.512 449.200

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

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) 274.250 3.215 6.155 2.520 3.710 6.375 74.760 73.325 729.000 46.135 455.400 0.00003280 3.910 1.550 389.600 5.750 406.700 285.300

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) US Dollar 273.850 Euro 403.300 Pound Sterling 452.100 Canadian Dollar 282.000 Japanese Yen 3.430 Indian Rupee 6.138 Egyptian Pound 46.175 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.502 Bangladesh Taka 3.671 Philippines Peso 6.345 Pakistan Rupee 3.204 Bahraini Dinar 729.500 UAE Dirham 74.625 Saudi Riyal 73.150 *Rates are subject to change

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BUSINESS

Mazaya announces profits at AGM Mazaya aims to benefit from Kuwait govt’s development plan: Al-Nafisi

By Nisreen Zahreddine

KUWAIT: EQUATE Petrochemical Company chief is pictured accepting the Arabian Business Best CSR Company Award 2011.

EQUATE wins Arabian Business’ CSR Award KUWAIT: EQUATE Petrochemical Company emerged as the winner of Arabian Business Best CSR Company Award 2011 in Kuwait. On this occasion, EQUATE President & CEO Hamad Al-Terkait said, “Being more than a petrochemical producer, EQUATE pays great attention to overall sustainability within and outside Kuwait in all relevant fields, especially educational, medical and environmental matters.”

Al-Terkait added, “Since establishing EQUATE CSR Program in 2005, EQUATE has launched several world class initiatives, such as the Middle East’s first plant water recycle project, Kuwait’s first CO2 recovery project and Kuwait’s first seawater cooling towers.”

Al-Terkait explained, “In addition, EQUATE has established solid partnerships with several bodies within and outside Kuwait which has resulted in various CSR initiatives, including health awareness campaigns, accords with scientific organizations, relief efforts and other relevant matters.”

“EQUATE is the first Kuwaiti company to receive Responsible Care certification and accreditation which is living proof of our commitment to ensure the wellbeing of all our surroundings” noted AlTerkait.

In recognition of its sustainability achievements, EQUATE has earned several prestigious honors, including His Highness the Amir Award for the Best Plant in Kuwait; the Oil and G as M iddle East Magazine’s CSR Award; the Gold Award in Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) for Gulf private sector companies; the Award for Best Gulf Company in Recruiting Nationals; as well as Kuwait’s CSR Award in the Industrial and Oil Sector. In addition, EQUATE has received the Highly Commended Best Community Program Award during the First Middle East CSR Award Summit.

Established in 1995, EQUATE is an international joint venture between Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) and Qurain Petrochemical I ndustries Company (QPIC ).

Commencing production in 1997, EQUATE is the single operator of a fully integrated world-scale manufacturing facility producing over 5 million tons annually of high-quality petrochemical products which are marketed throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.

KUWAIT: Mazaya Holding held its annual general assembly and announced achieving operational revenues amounting to KD18,646,240 including operational profits amounting to KD4,475,217 in addition to other revenues amounting to KD6,080,388. Board Director of Mazaya Rashid Al-Nafisi said that the company had succeeded in 2010 in moving forward in its plan towards achieving and handing its real estate projects overall, despite all the challenges in the real estate market.

The company’s assets amounted to KD335,256,000 and the shareholders’ bonds amounted to KD115,707,601. The company’s leverages for the banks amounted to KD55,471,120 which is not more than 17 percent of the company’s assets and 48 percent of the shareholders bonds.

Al-Nafisi added that the company had managed during 2010 to re-distribute its assets and to have liquidity of more than KD11 million through “Seven Zones” project. On the other hand, he pointed out that the company had to use provisions because of the bad conditions of the markets in the region in the current period, especially the Dubai market. He justified that the board had recommended not to distribute any shares in the fiscal year 2010. “ The new strategy of Mazaya is to benefit from the development plan of the Kuwaiti government”, said AlNafisi. He considered that 2010 had witnessed the success

KUWAIT: The board members of Mazaya Holding are pictured at the annual general meeting.

— Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat of acquisition of ‘Dubai Al-Oula’ for real estate development to be owned by Mazaya with 93 percent . The company as well had managed to downsize its expenditures by 35 percent compared to 2009. This was done through special

committees subsidized from the board. Al-Nafisi said that the company had managed to achieve progress in “Clover Clinic” project. The percentage reached 100 percent and the operational percentage reached 70 percent in this project.

NBK announces winners of iPad 2 KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) rewards 10 winners with a brand new iPad 2 in the sixth and last raffle of its promotional campaign “Win an iPad 2 every day” that is exclusive to NBK MasterCard credit cardholders. NBK maintains its leadership in the credit cards market by consistently delivering superior value to

Omar Al-Omar

Zain launches iPhone 4 in Kuwait KUWAIT: Zain yesterday announced it has launched iPhone 4 in Kuwait with a range of tariff plans tailored for iPhone customers. iPhone 4 is the most innovative phone in the world, featuring Apple’s stunning retina display, the highest resolution display ever built into a phone resulting in super crisp text, images and video, and FaceTime, which makes video calling a reality. iPhone 4 is powered by Apple’s A4 chip and features a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, HD video recording and a beautiful glass and stainless steel design like no other mobile phone. iPhone 4 comes with iOS 4, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system. The revolutionary App Store provides access to more than 425,000 apps including the iMovie app built just for iPhone 4. “Zain Kuwait is delighted to offer iPhone 4 to our customers across Kuwait,” said Zain Kuwait CCO, Omar Al-Omar. “With the reliability of our recently upgraded mobile data network and packages tailored to the data needs of iPhone users, customers will have the very best iPhone 4 experience.” For pricing and availability, or to register interest please visit www.kw.zain.com. For more information on iPhone 4, please visit: www.apple.com/iphone.

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

its customers. This promotion was exclusive to NBK MasterCard credit cardholders (Classic, Gold, Titanium, Platinum, and World MasterCard). Retail purchases and cash advances on NBK MasterCard credit cards were included in the draws. “Win an iPad 2 every day” campaign gave NBK MasterCard credit cardholders the chance

Winner Names MOHMMED ABDULLA MOHAMMED ALDIHAN FAHAD OBAID FALEH ALJUWAISRI RANA ABDULLA IBRAHIM ALSUBAIEI ADEL YOUSEF MOHD ALSHAMALI YOUSEF KHALED AHMED ALSHALAL JARAH OBAED GEZA ALOSAYMI NOUF ABDUL RAHMAN HAMAD ALSANIE JAMIL ABDULRASOL ISMAIL ABDULRASOUL MOHAMED KHATHEM ABDULLA ALENZI LANCE ANDREW WILLIAM CROCKFORD

Prize iPad 2 iPad 2 iPad 2 iPad 2 iPad 2 iPad 2 iPad 3 iPad 4 iPad 5 iPad 6

to enter weekly draws to win 45 iPads within a 45-day period. Cardholders got a chance to enter a draw for every KD20 spent using their card in Kuwait or abroad. Cardholders got double chances to enter a draw when they spend KD20 using their card at NBK Rewards partner outlets.

KUWAIT: One of the winners receives the prize from NBK PR Officer Talal Al-Turki.

VIVA celebrates Philippine’s National Day with discounts KUWAIT: Kuwait Telecommunications company VIVA, is commemorating the national holidays of other countries, by offering a new prepaid offer for Philippine’s National Day today. The one day promotion for Philippine’s National Day will include a new prepaid special celebration promotion, offering customers the opportunity to call the Philippines for 50 fils per minute, after the third minute on all calls. VIVA’s new promotion will acknowledge the National Holidays of international countries, in persistence to recognize each customer’s needs.

Additionally, VIVA customers are welcomed to explore the existing International Prepaid bundle,

which offers customers international calling minutes as well as SMS text messages at the best prices. Customers can avail of 20 International calling minutes for the low rate of 3KD by sending an SMS text message “1”, to 242.

Customers also have the ability to subscribe to the International SMS Add-On, which consists of 100 SMS Text messages to any international number for 500 Fils, and can subscribe to this offer by SMS Texting the word “On” to 240. To find out more about VIVA’s numerous competitive promotions, products and deals, visit any of the twelve VIVA branches or visit our website at www.viva.com.kw.

Zain Jordan’s services platform wins award LONDON: Zain Group, the leading mobile telecom network provider in the Middle East, has won the 2011 Global Telecoms Business Innovations Award for the successful launch and implementation of its ‘Zain Emal’ service in Jordan, at the annual prizegiving ceremony in London. Zain is the first mobile operator in the Middle East to launch a mobile commerce service on this scale. ‘Zain E-mal’ gives prepaid and postpaid Zain customers in Jordan an unprecedented array of tools and solutions for many financial transactions, making it the most comprehensive and accessible package of Mobile Financial Services currently available anywhere in the world.

On receiving the award, Zain Group COO and Zain Jordan’s CEO, Dr. Abdul Malek AlJaber, said: “The launch of this service in the Middle East is an affirmation of Zain’s brand promise to its customers to create ‘A wonderful world’ by giving them services that improve and facilitate their day-to-day personal and business needs”. He further added, “This vote of confidence and recognition, both at the prestigious Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards, and

previously at the Barcelona GSM World Mobile awards, reflects Zain’s unstinting efforts to deliver innovative products and services beyond its core line of business.

Zain is now planning to deliver world-class mobile commerce solutions to its customers across the Middle East by rolling out the service across its other regional operations throughout 2011 and beyond.”

Zain E-mal provides customers with a virtual mobile wallet, which allows them to use their mobile phone in much the same way as a bank account debit card, managing their money through their handset. It provides customers with increased security and flexibility, reducing the need to carry cash and ensuring payments between friends and family remain secure. Customers also benefit from being able to access the service 24/7 through their handset, allowing them access to their money anytime, anywhere.

The service is supported on all handsets.

In presenting the Award, Alan BurkittGray, editor of Global Telecoms Business, said: “Following on from its ground-breaking One Network platform, Zain has once again demonstrated its innovative attributes

LONDON: Zain Group COO and Zain Jordan’s CEO, Dr Abdul Malek Al-Jaber is pictured with the 2011 Global Telecoms Business Innovations Award.

in launching a unique and dynamic mobile commerce service in an area of the world that can benefit most from such a service.”

The Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards were first presented in 2007. They are organized by Global Telecoms Business magazine (www.globaltelecomsbusiness.com), which is read by telecommunications industry leaders worldwide and is part of the Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC group.

More on the dynamic features of ‘Zain Emal’ Zain E-mal provides the ability to make payments on micro-finance loans in partnership with Tamweelcom, Jordan’s leading micro-finance corporation. This is the first time in the region that a telecoms operator and a micro-finance institution have teamed up to serve such a big segment of Jordanian society.

The simplicity and security of the platform enables customers to use all kinds of mobile handsets to conduct their financial transactions, such as: cash-in and cash-out, money transfer, transferring money from one m-wallet to another m-wallet, bill payments, and airtime top-up. In Jordan, cash in and cash out is available at Zain shops and franchises as well as hundreds of Zain subdealer shops and many merchant outlets such as money exchange offices and supermarket chains and from July it will include Jordan post office outlets.

Also the platform offers customers the option of making payments to merchants at over 6000 outlets across Jordan in partnership with Middle East Payment Systems (MEPS) and MasterCard networks of merchants. This enables m-wallet customers to make payments from their mobile wallets at grocery stores, restaurants and for their cinema tickets. In the near future, the Zain E-mal platform will be further extended allow international remittances and utility bill payments enabling customers to transfer money to their family and friends outside Jordan as well as being able to settle their water and electricity bills with a press of a button.

UAE GDP growth seen at 5% percent in 2011 NBK GCC BRIEF KUWAIT: We have revised up our forecast for the UAE’s non-oil GDP growth this year from 3 percent to 4 percent, close to the economy’s long-run trend. The improvement comes from a combination of higher than expected oil prices, a strong performance from the trade sector, and expectations that faster regional growth will benefit Dubai. In addition, lower than expected inflation will boost the country’s international competitiveness and support real incomes, benefiting consumerfacing sectors. These factors are set against the continued drag on activity from the debt overhang, corporate restructuring, weakness in the construction and property sectors and sluggish bank lending.

Meanwhile, the recent massive upward revisions to the UAE’s population figures - to 8.2 million in 2009 from 5.1 million before - have somewhat strengthened our confidence in the domestic economy’s resilience, as well as the UAE’s

importance for the GCC region as a whole.

Growth in hydrocarbon sector output in 2011 has also been revised up, from 5 percent to 7 percent. Crude oil output increased by more than 150,000 barrels per day, or 7 percent, between November and March, as OPEC responded to higher oil prices and some member countries increased production to compensate for lost Libyan output. So long as oil prices remain high, further - albeit more modest increases in output are seen in 2012. As a result of these changes, overall GDP growth is seen at close to 5 percent this year and next.

Consumer price inflation dropped from a recent peak of 1.8 percent in October to just 1.2 percent in March - the opposite trend to that expected by most analysts. The fall was driven by lower than expected food price inflation, which stood at 5 percent in March. Housing rents are also falling again, perhaps reflecting the addition of new apartment supply to the

market. So long as food price inflation continues to decelerate, inflation is likely to remain very low this year, averaging 2.0 percent. Faster economic growth and the effect of the weak US dollar on import prices could see inflation accelerate next year. But at 3 percent, it will remain amongst the lowest in the GCC. A lack of published data obscures the true picture of the UAE’s fiscal position, but we suspect that the outlook is very comfortable. Spending is seen rising only slowly in 2011, as earlier state support measures for the corporate and banking sectors fade and Dubai endures a further round of budget cuts. Meanwhile, a leap in oil revenues could push the budget surplus back above 15 percent of GDP for the first time since 2008, at least when the government’s off balance sheet revenues - investment income and profits from state oil company, ADNOC - are included.

The current account is likely to see a surplus of a similar size.

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business

Losses drag KSE’s capital value down BAYAN INVESTMENT WEEKLY KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) continued its losses last week, dragging its capital value to further contraction and ending the week in the red zone. The price index ended the week with a decrease amounted to 0.50 percent, while the weighted index grew by 0.08 percent compared to the closings of the week before. Moreover, last week’s average daily turnover decreased by 4.19 percent, compared to the preceding week, whereas trading volume average recorded a growth of 31.18 percent.

KSE weekly negative performance came as a result of the strong selling actions amidst remarkable refrain from trading by dealers, moving the market, in one of its daily sessions, to the lowest level since the beginning of this year. However, the market was able to achieve limited growth to its both indices, especially the weighted index, due to positive speculation.

Furthermore, KSE is witnessing a uniform performance during the current period, whereas speculation is a leader and investment purchases are relatively absent, which came as a reaction to the lack of positive motives to support the market general approach in the upcoming period, in addition to the negative factors affecting the dealers’ decisions. By the end of the week, the price index closed at 6,306.7 points, down by 0.50 percent from the week before closing, whereas the weighted index registered a 0.08 percent weekly gain after closing at 439.47 points.

Sectors’ indices Four of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the green zone, while the other four recorded declines. Last week’s highest gainer was the Food sector, achieving 0.73 percent growth rate as its index closed at 4,321.1 points. Whereas, in the second place, the non-Kuwaiti companies sector ’s index closed at 6,499.5 points recording 0.72 percent increase. The real estate sector came in third as its index achieved 0.33 percent growth, ending the week at 2,172.8 points.

On the other hand, the Services sector headed the losers list as its index declined by 1.10 percent to end the week’s activity at 14,277.0 points. The Banks sector was sec-

ond on the losers’ list, which index declined by 1.06 percent, closing at 11,906.7 points, followed by the Investment sector, as its index closed at 4,085.8 points at a loss of 0.62 percent.

Sectors’ activity The services sector dominated total trade volume during last week with 212.04 million shares changing hands, representing 36.75 percent of the total market trading volume. The real estate sector was second in terms trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 34.38 percent of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of 198.34 million shares. On the other hand, the services sector’s stocks where the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of KD 28.86 million or 37.13 percent of last week’s total market trading value. The banks sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover of KD 19.17 million represented 24.66 percent of the total market trading value.

Market capitalization KSE total market capitalization grew by 0.10 percent during last week to reach KD

Last week

31.02 billion, as six of KSE’s sectors recorded an increase in their respective market capitalization, whereas the other two recorded declines. The food sector headed the growing sectors as its total market capitalization reached KD 733.48 million, increasing by 1.93 percent. The non-Kuwaiti companies sector was the second in terms of recorded growth with 1.10 percent increase after the total value of its listed companies reached KD1.93 billion. The third place was for the real estate sector, which total market capitalization reached KD1.80 billion by the end of the week, recording an increase of 0.73 percent. The Investment sector was the least growing with 0.24 percent recorded growth after its market capitalization amounted to KD2.52 billion. On the other hand, the banks sector headed the decliners list as its total market capitalization decreased by 0.31 percent to reach, by the end of the week, KD13.66 billion. The Industries sector was second on this list, which market value of its listed companies declined by 0.14 percent, reaching KD2.40 billion.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

business

Electric-vehicle technology revs towards tipping point Need for fuel economy grows stronger

SACRAMENTO: Tazia Hansens helps a customer at the Scratchproof booth, which sells protective covers for mobile phones, at the Arden Fair Mall in California. — MCT

Retailers sprinkle pop-up stores across landscape SACRAMENTO: Pop-up stores are making their presence felt in time for the holidays. These short-term outlets - known as specialty retailers in the industry - are not a new concept; holiday mainstay Hickory Farms is one of the oldest examples. But stores large and small are using the approach to pounce on peak holiday traffic, test-drive new locations or audition for a permanent mall storefront without the costs of a long-term commitment. And mall landlords battling high vacancy rates in a shaky economy are happy to oblige, offering short-term leases to fill open storefronts.

Even if the shops are temporary, popups are taking vacant space off the market, said analyst Garrick Brown, research director for northern California at real estate firm Cassidy Turley BT Commercial.

“For gift-oriented stores, it makes perfect sense,” Brown said. “Why carry rent for a whole year?” It made sense for Toys “R” Us. The chain has aggressively seized on the opportunity to open seasonal “outposts,” or test locations. The New Jerseybased company opened 90 Toys “R” Us Express sites nationwide for the holidays in 2009, capitalizing on a market for smaller in-mall toy stores that opened when KB Toys closed shop. Toys “R” Us has traditionally placed its stores in stand-alone buildings.

A bonus for Toys “R” Us and property managers alike: The Express concept had staying power. A full third of the stores were successful enough to outlive their short-term leases and remain open in 2010, said spokeswoman Katie Reczek.

This year, Toys “R” Us will expand the

number of Express locations to 600.

With 587 stand-alone Toys “R” Us locations across the country, the Express locations will double the number of stores during the holiday season to take advantage of seasonal traffic. “We were pleased with the opportunities that were provided to us,” Reczek said.

Plus the temporary locations are job producers. Toys “R” Us will hire 45,000 seasonal workers for the holidays 10,000 will staff pop-ups, Reczek said.

Deborah S Kravitz is a partner at Provenzano Resources Inc., a specialty leasing contractor for clients nationwide, including Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, Calif.

Kravitz said there are fewer national pop-ups now than 10 years ago, but eager property managers are looking to make deals with savvy retailers. “There are not more pop-ups now than before, but since there is more second- and third-generation space available, landlords are allowing deals to be shorter in term,” Kravitz said. Sunrise Mall has signed 25 retailers to specialty leases through the holidays, nearly a quarter of the mall’s tenants. Many are repeat holiday tenants, but the numbers are an increase from last year, said Sunrise Mall marketing director Vickie Sherman.

“Hopefully, that’s another sign that economic recovery is around the corner,” Sherman said via e-mail. “They enhance the merchandise mix we offer during the holidays.” At some malls, specialty leasing has become an important part of the holiday sales mix, boosting occupancy in a challenging retail climate. — MCT

Chevron’s environmental oil case turns into duel LAGO AGRIO: Donald Moncayo walks to the edge of a flat grassy field that once held two large pits that brimmed with a stew of water and crude from an oil-drilling operation. He lifts a heavy auger above his head and prepares to plunge it into the ground.

“They always show you the shirt, the coat and the tie,” he said of the area, called Sacha 53, which is now pastureland and spindly trees. “They never show you the tumor underneath the shirt.”

For almost a decade, celebrities, journalists and shareholders have tromped through Ecuador’s jungles on competing excursions that have become a routine part of what could be the world’s most expensive environmental case. The “Toxic Tour” - led

by Moncayo - is held on behalf of some 30,000 Ecuadorian villagers who claim Chevron’s predecessor poisoned their environment with shoddy environmental practices that included pumping millions of gallons of oiltainted wastewater into creeks and streams.

The other tour is led by Chevron.

The oil giant shows idyllic agrarian landscapes - like Sacha 53 - where Texpet, a subsidiary of Texaco, helped pump crude from the 1960s to 1992 when it was a minority partner of the state-run oil company. When Texaco left Ecuador, it spent $40 million to clean up its share of the operations, and the government absolved it of any further legal responsibilities in 1998. But Ecuador’s courts found that the government deal did not cover third-party claims. So when Chevron and Texaco merged in 2001, Chevron inherited the legal battle.

The company contends it’s the victim of a global shakedown engineered by greedy lawyers, environmental groups and unscrupulous government officials. The case - in one form or another - has dragged on for 18 years, generated more than 200,000 pages of evidence, and chewed through six Ecuadorian judges. In February, the court awarded the plaintiffs $9.5 billion - the largest environmental verdict in history - but far less than the $27 billion they were seeking.

The battle is far from over. The case is under appeal in Ecuador, Chevron

WASHINGTON: When oil hit a record price of $147 a barrel in July 2008, it was a gamechanging moment that sparked a serious push to create electric cars and hybrid electric engines that could help wean Americans off oil. Today, crude is back over $100 a barrel and the payoff is the first generation of mass-produced electric cars rolling off production lines.

Interest in electric vehicles has ebbed and flowed with the price of oil over the past three decades, but something new is clearly afoot.

General Motors and Nissan already have electric cars on the streets of major US cities, and intensified battery research is bringing down costs.

In 2005, there were no makers of lithiumion batteries in the United States. Now, more than half a dozen battery plants are open or near completion, thanks in part to $2.4 billion in co-investment from the federal government. Chevy’s Volt battery costs about $8,000 now, down from $12,000 or more a few years ago. “The question is: Can these guys make a battery that is five times cheaper? I think yes. I think we can do it,” Eric Isaacs, the director of the Argonne National Laboratory, said in an interview. Argonne, outside Chicago, is the Department of Energy’s lead lab for advanced battery research and development. Its 15 years of research into lithium ion batteries resulted in the one that’s now being used in GM’s Chevy Volt.

The Energy Department estimates that there’ll be enough manufacturing capacity for 50,000 electric vehicle batteries by the end of 2011 and 500,000 by the end of 2014. The lab’s goal is to spur US economic competitiveness. In a recent speech, Isaacs said that China had no cost advantage in battery manufacturing. “So with government funding to defray some of the upfront costs of building factories here,” he said, “we can realistically be competitive in a large and growing world market, once we have the technology to challenge the internal combustion engine.”

Isaacs and other experts don’t predict an abrupt end to conventional gasoline-powered cars, but neither do many predict a prolonged return of low oil and gasoline prices. As demand for oil climbs globally in coming years, the need for fuel economy in automobiles will grow only stronger. “We think that increasing electric is inevitable. The speed is variable,” said Genevieve Cullen, the vice president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association, an advocacy group for electric cars.

That’s why a global race is on among the United States, Japan, China and other manufacturing powers not only to develop the next generation of battery and electric-motor technology, but to define what the auto of the future will be. “The days of sub-$100 oil are really behind us,” Mahi Reddy, the CEO of SemaConnect, said during a company tour in Annapolis, Md.

The Nissan Leaf is an electric car that runs on batteries alone. — MCT SemaConnect is one of a handful of US charging-stations) will be purchased and sold start-up companies that are designing charg- in the future similar to how electronics are ing stations for electric cars, and Reddy is sold today.”

When a consumer buys an electric vehicle, buoyed by the flurry of new electric cars comthe car equivalent of Best Buy’s computering out.

“That to me is a signal that a critical mass repair service Geek Squad would do an has been reached,” he said, confident that the assessment of the customer’s needs, then price advantage that conventional cars still send a contracting partner to install the hold will narrow rapidly. SemaConnect recent- charge station. Best Buy would remain the ly installed a charging station outside a point of contact if problems arose. President Safeway grocery store in Westminster, Md. It’s Barack Obama has challenged automakers to preparing to put in 50 more in places such as put 1 million electric cars on the road by 2015. regional airports and rail stations. Federal That would be equal to one out of 12 cars sold stimulus funds totaling almost $400 million last year. Oil-price shocks and concern about have been used to help companies such as climate change help push electric car producSan Francisco-based ECOtality. It manufac- tion, but a third critical push has come from tures its Blink battery-charging stations in breakthroughs in battery technologies, aided Detroit and is deploying stations in 18 large by federal investment.

Battery price is the biggest cost compocities across six states. Installations began in the past several weeks in California, nent in an electric car. For every kilowatt hour of battery power, there’s a driving range of Washington state, Oregon and Arizona.

Rental-car giant Hertz offers electric cars at four miles. Nissan’s Leaf has a 24 kilowatt-hour New York locations and will expand that to battery, or a range of about 96 miles between San Francisco and the nation’s capital in com- charges. The battery costs $12,000, but as it’s ing weeks. “Currently, we have a few dozen mass-produced and demand for electric cars vehicles. By the end of the year we anticipate grows, the cost should come down to $6,000 having hundreds of them available,” spokes- in three years, said Reddy of SemaConnect. woman Paula Rivera said. “We do view this as That will put the cost of an electric car on par the future of transportation, and see adoption with conventional cars. That’s important coming not only from having the cars avail- because Toyota’s pioneering hybrid Prius, able, but the ecosystem to charge them... As which combines gasoline and electric propulthe ecosystem builds out, our fleet will sion, won over many motorists who wanted to be early adopters, but its higher price as a increase.”

That “ecosystem” is exactly what consumer- hybrid was greater than the fuel economy electronics behemoth Best Buy is eyeing. The savings it provided.

Price differential will remain a short-term retailer expects to capitalize on the need to install 220-volt electrical sockets in homes challenge, acknowledged Mary Beth Stanek, a and businesses across America to allow for government affairs director on energy for GM. speedier car charging. “We dedicated a signifi- In a recent speech, she predicted, “We’ll probcant amount of resources to help this technol- ably hit a commercial cost where it makes a ogy come to market,” said Chad Bell, the sen- lot of sense in the next six to 10 years.” GM ior director of Best Buy ’s New Business introduced the Chevrolet Volt in 2010, and it’s Solutions Group. “We think these (home rolling out in force this year. — MCT

Coffee with a conservative kick

ECUADOR: Donald Moncayo shows the oily mess made from mixing dirt and water in an oilfield that was operated by Texaco from 1973 to 1989. — MCT has won temporary injunctions in The Hague and New York to keep the plaintiffs from recovering damages, and the company is pursuing a RICO case against their accusers, saying they engaged in racketeering and extortion. The one thing both agree on is that Ecuador’s landscape tells the story - but what the land is saying is a matter of interpretation.

The Sacha 53 oil field is a case in point. Pushing back brush and stepping over a barbed-wire fence, Moncayo leads the way to a lush clearing a few hundred yards from the wellhead. Completed in 1973, it was wells like Sacha 53 that helped jumpstart the nation’s economy and earn it a place in the Organization of Oil Producing Countries. Texpet operated the well until 1989, when it handed it over to the government. During those years, Sacha 53 produced almost 3 million barrels of oil. In the process, Texpet dug two large pits to hold the drill-bit lubricant, or drilling mud, and to catch the initial spurts of crude that gurgled up during the extraction process.

The pits were among the 162 that company was required to cleanup under the government agreement.

Chevron said the site was typical of its remediation efforts. — MCT

Market sentiment ends on negative note KUWAIT: The KSE weighted index open weak and touched an intraweek at 432 level before closing at 439 level, a gain of 0.1 percent, while the KSE price index lost 0.5 percent or 32 points at 6,306 level compared to previous week. Among the sectoral indices, the banking and the services indices decreased 1.1 percent each followed by the investment and the industrial indices which ended lower 0.6 percent each, while the food, the nonKuwaiti and the real estate indices gained in the range of 0.2 percent to 0.7 percent.

The market sentiment was negative as 60 stocks declined against 40 stocks gained

and 37 stocks closed at same level as the previous week. Among the large caps stocks the major gainers were food +2.7 percent, Zain +2 percent, GBK +1.9 percent, Agility +1.4 percent, NINV +0.9 percent and the looser were NMTC -3.1 percent, Burgan -1.9 percent, while the stocks of NBK, KFH, KPROJ, MABANEE, NIG and BPCC remained unchanged on weekly basis. The KSE weighted index has downside support at 435 levels and upside it may move higher up to 445 to 450 resistance levels. While the KSE price index has upside resistance at 6,350 level and downside support remains at 6,250 level.

CHICAGO: From the moment customers enter the front door, The Conservative Cafe is serving up caffeinated doctrine. Ann Coulter books sit stacked by the fireplace, and a picture of Ronald Reagan hangs on the wall. FOX News plays on all the televisions, and stock market quotes scroll along an electronic ticker above the cash register. Behind the counter, owner Dave Beckham smiles proudly in a khaki T-shirt that reads “Zip It, Hippie.” The shirt is for sale at the Crown Point, Indiana, cafe, along with ones that say “Peace through Superior Firepower.”

“It’s a change from the traditional liberal bastion coffeehouses,” Beckham says. “No one is going to badmouth America in here.” Friends warned Beckham to stay away from the conservative theme before the cafe opened in October 2007. The former art teacher says he came up with the idea about five years ago, after souring on Starbucks and the other higher-end coffee chains.

He didn’t like piped-in folk music, specialty drinks with faux-Italian names or patrons who frittered the hours away on laptops or listening to iPods. The atmosphere, he said, seemed an affront to Midwestern values he learned growing up in Northwest Indiana. “Coffee shouldn’t be about sitting in a cafe for 12 hours,” Beckham says. “Coffee gets us through our workday. It’s what we drink before we make steel for the rest of the country or head out into the fields.”

As his disdain for the coffee chains coincided with his fear of an erosion in national pride, Beckham made plans for The Conservative Cafe, an old-fashioned java joint near the Crown Point town square. There were two Starbucks within three miles of the shop’s location, but Beckham and his wife Jill were convinced his pro-United States decor and Indiana roasted coffee would strike a chord with the community. — MCT

Eurogroup chief backs Greek debt restructure BERLIN: Eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker yesterday backed Germany’s proposal of a “soft restructuring” of Greece’s debt with a voluntary contribution from private-sector creditors. “There will be no total restructuring,” he told a German radio station. “The governments are agreed on that, ECB support for such an option could not be obtained.” “There must be a soft and voluntary restructuring,” the Luxembourg prime minister told RBB radio. “Creditors need to participate ... but that must happen on a voluntary

basis.” Juncker, who serves as president of the group comprising the finance ministers of the 17-state eurozone, added: “You cannot impose participation by private creditors without, and against, the ECB.” The European Central Bank has until the end of the month to decide a second bailout for Greece but remains divided over the role of the private sector.

Germany wants a second rescue package to include contributions by private creditors, banks and investment funds as the price of Berlin’s involvement. — AFP

CHICAGO: Dave Beckham stands outside his Conservative Cafe. Beckham hopes to franchise his cafe across the country, to provide an alternative to Starbucks, which he says is liberal. — MCT

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business

Are you an A Player? Target an A-employer T

he number of employers looking for APlayers is once again on the rise after a worldwide financial crisis which forced many top employers to lay off key staff.

Employers today are demanding top credentials and are well positioned to source top candidates given the number of unemployed and under-employed A-players in the marketplace today. In demand are candidates with outstanding technical skills, excellent education backgrounds, unblemished professional experience histories and admirable personality traits.

You are all of that... and more. Will you simply go with the flow and jump at the first job opportunity that comes your way? Don’t you classify yourself as an A-Player who is entitled to work for an A-Employer? Shouldn’t you look for a company that has what it takes for an A-player such as yourself to want to join its ranks?

Our recommendation is simple: Ask yourself what are you really looking for? What are you worth? What company would satisfy your professional ambitions? The career experts at

Bayt.com, the Middle East’s #1 jobsite, share some insights below regarding what to look for in a potential employer company regardless of its size or capital!

1. A company with a vision: Gone are the days of corporate visions revolving around lofty unachievable dreams, it’s all about visions with an attainable focus today, inspiring but realistic visions that give corporate direction to a company’s founders, executive team, staff and prospective A-players. Target a company which involves its community and staff in its plans, a company you can relate to and where your individual objectives can correlate with the corporate strategic objectives.

2. A company with a healthy and positive corporate culture: Employees spend most of their time in the office. Would you want to spend your day suffering from the repercussions of negative office politics, an unreasonable hierarchy scheme or colleagues you do not relate to in any possible manner? A sense of belonging to the corporate culture- as per 31%

of Middle Eastern professionals who have taken part in a Bayt.com survey- is a key motivation and driver for employees to commit to one specific job or company. Target organizations with a set of lucid corporate norms and sound values that you can personally respect and relate to.

(Not easy to figure this out before joining? It’s always a wise to interact with current employees while you are going through the interview process on the company’s premises. Insider information is priceless!)

3. A company that provides job and financial security: While it is not only about the money, the remuneration package will play a fundamental role when your are comparing offers from potential employers and as an A-player you are inevitably seeking some degree of medium to long term job security, a vital commodity that has escaped many professionals during the recent economic turbulence. Look for fair and compelling total compensation packages comprised of a competitive salary as well as benefits that could include perform-

ance-based bonuses, personal (and family) health insurance, retirement schemes, education allowances and perhaps even children’s education support. Think twice of companies that demonstrate a high degree of volatility in staff turnover and look instead for those that provide a healthy degree of career longevity and sustainability for their staff (again, insider info works wonders here).

4. A company that conducts regular performance reviews: Should you be interested in a company that does not value regular employee job performance appraisals? Probably not as these appraisals will often be your principal means to gauge how well you are faring vis-avis your daily responsibilities and to discuss and set bigger and better job objectives as well as receive assistance with directions to help achieve them. Regular employee job performance appraisals also offer the opportunity to voice any issues or concerns you are faced with and suggest any additional job tasks you would like to undertake. This being said, make it a

point to look for an employer who listens and does not shy away from providing regular constructive feedback, then beefing it up with necessary support!

5. A company that offers opportunities for career development: Does the company you are considering foster regular in-house trainings?

Fund external training programs for current employees? Organize internal job rotation programs? It is vital for you to have an answer to these questions as some companies have halted official employee career development programs as part of their post-crisis restructuring strategies.

Do you really want to be part of their team?

You should be looking for an employer who is willing to invest in you and support you to advance both personally and professionally: 32 percent of professionals surveyed in a recent Bayt.com employee motivation survey have agreed that professional growth opportunities are a prime motivator when it comes to committing to a certain job or company.

Obama to weigh new steps to boost jobs Obama seeks to ease doubts on economic stewardship

CLERMONT: Instructor Chris Grimditch (front) shows Chloe and Mark Vick how to run their ATVs on a safety course. — MCT

Sony executive opens business to indulge off-roading passion CLERMONT: The electronic gaming industry in Europe was thoroughly confused when Kevin Jowett resigned from his job in February 2007. Jowett, commercial director for Sony PlayStation in Europe since 1998, left just five weeks before the launch of PlayStation 3. A Sony news release said Jowett “left to pursue interests outside the games industr y,” but conspiracy theories abounded - who would leave a job like this? Four years later, Kevin Jowett, 56, wearing a T-shirt and white shorts, stands at the edge of the reason that led him to leave a high-paying, high-profile job: The Revolution Off-Road Driving Experience, built on 220 acres in Clermont.

Revolution offers off-road driving instruction and rides for tourists and locals who want to experience anything from basic ATVs to full-scale, high-performance driving in a Subaru-powered dune buggy of the sort that races in international rallies such as the Baja 1000. A large part of Revolution’s business is also corporate-based, offering outings and team-building experiences for either local businesses or companies that come to Orlando for conventions.

Groups as large as 50 aren’t uncommon.

So how did the London-born Jowett and his wife, Audrey, end up in rural south Lake County? Jowett has always been a motorsports fan, and in his younger days, was a well-regarded driver in European rally series, which involves specially prepared cars on tough off-road circuits. “It became too expensive to compete,” Jowett said, “so I joined the

corporate world.”

Eighteen years ago, the Jowetts bought a vacation home in the Orlando area, and like so many Brits, “we just fell in love with the area.” Jowett’s dream had always been to open an off-road driving experience, and one day, a real estate agent friend called and told him about this property that used to be a sand mine, and then a sawmill and then just farmland that had come on the market.

Jowett immediately saw the potential of the land, which is located right in the middle of the Green Swamp. There was plenty of room to build trails and a 65acre lake.

He bought the land, then for several years waded through the rules and regulations required to open such a business.

Three and a half years ago, Revolution Off-Road Experience opened _ to absolutely no fanfare. “We started a new tourist-based business, in rural Florida, on almost the exact day the recession began,” Jowett said, with no trace of bitterness. Now, he figures Revolution has weathered the worst and is beginning to grow. “We are exactly 15 miles due west of Walt Disney World,” he said, “but people who come here can’t believe how scenic and unspoiled this land is.”

Wildlife, from white-tailed deer to wild turkeys to armadillos, abounds - and, of course, an alligator or two, which are especially fascinating to European tourists. Brits Mark and Chloe Vick didn’t see any alligators on their ATV outing at Revolution on Wednesday under the guidance of still another Brit, instructor Chris Grimditch. — MCT

Ethiopia budget to expand by 22% to combat poverty ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia has proposed a record 117.8 billion birr ($6.98 billion) annual budget for next year, aiming to build infrastructure, health and education services in one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. Although still one of the world’s poorest countries, the Horn of Africa nation says its economy has grown by an annual average of 11 percent over the past five years, one of the continent’s highest rates. Ethiopia devalued its currency by 10 percent in 2009 to boost foreign reserves.

The first draft of the 2011/2012 (July 8-July 7) budget shows spending up by 22 percent from the $5.7 billion endorsed in 2010/2011. Domestic revenue accounts for more than 67 percent of the proposed budget, with the rest generated from external loans and grants, the draft says.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his council of ministers passed the proposal late on Friday and it will be presented first to a parliamentary committee, before Meles presents it to parliament for approval in early July, finance ministry spokesman Haji Ibsa told Reuters. Addis Ababa has been

attracting interest from investors, many from China and India, looking to its agriculture, oil and gas exploration and hydropower sectors.

Opposition parties say the ruling party inflates the country’s growth figures to attract investment and that growth has not filtered down to the poor in a country where last year, 13 million out of 80 million people needed foreign food aid. While the government forecasts growth of 11.4 percent this year, the International Monetary Fund says it will be only about 7.5 percent.

The Washington-based body predicts the figure will slow to about 6 percent in the 2011/12 fiscal year, due to high inflation, restrictions on private bank lending and a trickier business environment. Ethiopia’s year-on-year inflation rate surged for a second straight month to 29.5 percent in April, from 25 percent a month earlier. Of the total budget, 48.7 billion birr will be used to improve health, infrastructure and education services, according to the proposal. Ethiopia has spent over $3.6 billion on the construction of roads over the last decade. — Reuters

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama, seeking to ease voters’ concerns about his handling of the US economy, said yesterday a meeting with his jobs council next week would focus on possible further steps to boost hiring in the short term. Obama on Monday will visit a clean-energy plant in North Carolina, a likely battleground state in his 2012 re-election bid, where he will consult with a panel of outside advisers on job creation headed by General Electric chief executive Jeffrey Immelt.

Obama’s effort to reassure Americans of his commitment to reducing unemployment, which edged up to 9.1 percent last month, comes amid signs of a slowing recovery and opinion polls showing increasing public doubts about his economic policies.

Republican critics accuse Obama of wasteful spending and overregulation that they say obstruct economic growth.

“I wish I could tell you there was a quick fix to our economic problems,” Obama said in his

weekly radio address. “But the truth is, we didn’t get into this mess overnight, and we won’t get out of it overnight. It’s going to take time.” Though the White House and Democratic allies in Congress remain locked in tough talks with Republicans over an elusive deficit-reduction deal, Obama sought to make clear that he was not losing sight of the need to put people back to work.

“I’ll travel to North Carolina where I’ll meet with my Jobs Council and talk about additional steps we can take to spur private-sector hiring in the short-term and ensure our workers have the skills and training they need,” he said.

Obama said investing in education and alternative energy would improve the job market but offered no specifics. An administration official said on Thursday the White House was discussing the idea of a temporary cut in payroll taxes that employers pay on wages, among other measures.

Obama on Tuesday expressed interest in seeking an agreement to continue parts of a

tax-cut compromise reached last year. He cited a payroll tax holiday for employees, extended jobless benefits and a research and development tax break as measures that had helped. In the Republican response, US Rep Adam Kinzinger accused Obama of “broken promises” on jobs. “We can’t continue to follow the same failed agenda that has driven job creators further into doubt and uncertainty,” he said.

Kinzinger also said his party had made clear that “under no circumstances will Republicans support irresponsible legislation which increases the federal government’s credit limit without any spending cuts or budgetary reforms.” He said it was time to “draw a hard line” on spending. Outside pressure is growing for a deal that would let Congress raise the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling before an Aug 2 deadline. Republicans say any increase in the debt limit would have to be matched by an equal amount of spending cuts. — Reuters

Tires become dear as prices increase FORT WORTH: Sticker shock has broken out at tire stores, with retailers saying higher wholesale prices combined with tight bank credit and limited supplies are making restocking a challenge. Overall, consumers are paying about 12 percent more for blackwalls than a year ago, said Bonnie Moreland of Texarkana, Texasbased Golden Star Tires, adding that the jump would be even higher if he didn’t absorb some of the waves of price increases imposed by manufacturers.

Dealers who advertised specials like four “economy” tires for $99 three years ago are selling them today at $299 to $340 - if they can find the product, said George Salinas, co-owner of G&M Tires, which has two locations in Fort Worth.

The higher cost makes it harder to stock tires that are available. “I used to carry 300 tires,” Salinas said. “Now I have less than 100 in stock because I can’t afford to have them sitting on the shelf.”

Jim Smith, editor of Tire Review magazine, which covers the retail industry, said: “Dealers are terribly frustrated.

They’ve always complained about prices, but this is different from historical grousing. This is a real-world, dollar-and-cents issue for them right now. They can’t get customers in the door because of the prices.”

Sam Timmons of Fort Worth Tire, which sells used and new tires, says it’s harder finding road-worthy tires for resale because they’re being driven longer and come in bald. “Because of money problems, people are running them until they’re as slick as pavement,” said Timmons, who laid off five employees in February 2009 and hasn’t been able to replace them. “We spend $20,000 a year getting rid of the junk tires. We

just get a trickle (of good used tires), and they’re sold within days.”

A convergence of foreign and domestic factors has created a crunch for tire retailers and wholesalers, who are passing at least some of the pain onto consumers. A year ago, the Obama administration responded to US union complaints by imposing a punishing 35 percent import duty on Chinese tires because of allegedly illegal state subsidies. That compounded the effects of rising rubber prices and sharply crimped production by US tiremakers, which responded to the recession by laying off workers and closing plants. Cooper Tire, for example, shed 1,400 workers by closing a Georgia plant; Goodyear has trimmed its work force by 5,500 the past two years.

While retailers complain mostly about the Chinese tariff, industry analyst Saul Ludwig discounts it as the major reason for the current situation. “Very simply, tire demand is strong, especially (for original equipment tires on) both cars and trucks,” said Ludwig of Northcoast Research in Cleveland, explaining why manufacturers are raising prices. “Raw materials are 25 to 30 percent higher than one year ago, thus the primary need for higher tire prices,” he said by email. “A small amount of the higher tire prices was due to the tariff (on Chinese tires), but that component of the price hike took place in September 2009.”

What’s clear is that tire dealers are facing a double whammy in terms of cost and supply. “This is my 35th year in the tire business, and it’s the worst I’ve ever seen in terms of availability and price increases,” said Moreland, who is both a retailer and wholesaler. — MCT

FORT WORTH: Brad “Bear” Wright (left) and Sam Timmons, who co-own Fort Worth Tire and Service on White Settlement Road, pose. — MCT

NEW YORK: In this photo, trader Gregory Rowe (right) works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. — AP

Troubling signals indicate more losses NEW YORK: Don’t be surprised if Wall Street racks up a seventh consecutive week of losses as the likelihood of more poor economic data and other disconcerting signals outweigh any thoughts that stocks are cheap. After closing at its highest level in nearly three years on April 29, the S&P 500 has tumbled nearly 7 percent on the back of a barrage of soft economic data, sparking the debate over whether the economy is headed for a double-dip, or has merely hit a soft patch in its recovery. The benchmark S&P 500 recorded its sixth straight weekly decline on Friday and volume has picked up, as it typically does, on down days. Another week of selling will mark the longest stretch of weekly losses for the index since 2001.

Red flags, including ugliness in the junk bond market, options activity and the ease with which support levels have been broken suggest more selling ahead. “You have to be realistic. You’ve got to have some sort of correction to go into this marketplace just for the healthiness of the market,” said Cliff Draughn, president and chief investment officer at Excelsia Investment Advisors in Savannah, Georgia. As stocks have declined, both investment-grade and high-yield risk premiums in the bond market have slumped as investors sought safe-haven assets.

That’s troublesome since the stock market often moves in sympathy with the junk bond market because rising borrowing costs crimp corporate profits. The CDX HY16 North America index for high-yield bonds, which conversely falls as risk appetite decreases, closed below par for the first time this year on Wednesday. The CDX IG16 North American investment grade index, which investors use to hedge against bond losses, hit its highest level since Nov. 30, according to Tradeweb. In another signal of skittishness about the market’s footing, Ally Financial, an auto and mortgage lender majority owned by the US government, delayed a $6 billion IPO due to bad market conditions, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Data blitz and quadruple witch Stocks have also been easily passing through technical support levels, with the S&P 500 most recently taking out the April 18th low of 1,294.70, leaving analysts to eye the 1,250 level as the next area of support. And the daily volume put/call ratio for equity options on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) hit an 18-month high on Wednesday, indicating that investors are significantly bearish on the stock market.

On top of all that, data expected for this week, including the Producer Price Index, the Consumer Price Index, May retail sales, manufacturing surveys for New York and Philadelphia as well as the index of leading indicators of economic activity are forecast to mostly show a struggling economy. — Reuters

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TECHNOLOGY

Electronic Arts merging big games, gadgets

JAKARTA: A group of 177 arrested Taiwanese and Chinese nationals are held at the Indonesian immigration building in Jakarta on Thursday as part of a coordinated international crime-fighting operation against syndicate involved in Internet and telephone scams. —AFP

76 China fraud suspects deported from Indonesia Deportees connected to massive online fraud JAKARTA: Indonesia depor ted 76 Chinese nationals yesterday who were among hundreds rounded up across Asia in connection with an alleged massive online fraud, officials said. Seventysix Chinese and 101 Taiwanese nationals were arrested in 15 different sites across the Indonesian capital on Thursday following requests by Chinese and Taiwanese police. “ We have depor ted 76 Chinese nationals with a chartered flight departed at 14.18 (0718 GMT) to Beijing,” an official at Soekarno Hatta international airport Frans Yoseph told AFP. He said that the Taiwanese nationals had not yet been deported. Nearly 600 suspects, including 410 Taiwanese and 181

Chinese nationals, were nabbed in a carefully planned operation spanning six countries for allegedly running Internet and telephone scams mainly targeting mainland Chinese.

They were arrested in Taiwan, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand on Thursday. Details of the scams are sketchy and appeared to have varied from country to country, but police believe thousands of people were taken in. In Indonesia, the suspects rented houses with broadband access and, posing as officials, made phone calls over the Internet to con victims in China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam into giving them money, police said. —AFP

For music industry, iCloud poised to be revolutionary DENVER: Seen through the eyes of a music fan, Apple’s new iCloud feature is hardly a groundbreaking digital music experience. But stared through the eyes of the music industry, it’s revolutionary. The licensing deals that record labels and publishers struck with Apple to initially make music available in iCloud allow them to share in the value of an Apple product or service, beyond the mere purchase of music itself.

Since the dawn of the iPod and iTunes, the music industry profited from those platforms only when someone actually bought music on iTunes. But by Apple’s own admission, only 3 percent of the music stored in the average iTunes user’s digital library was purchased from the Apple music store. The rest came from ripped CDs or was downloaded from peer-to-peer (P2P) services or elsewhere. As such, the industry saw only a fraction of the value in the iTunes/iPod ecosystem-what one music executive called a “tip jar.”

With iCloud, the labels share in it all. Apple will store 5 GB of music bought from iTunes for free in iCloud. It also charges $25 per year to scan and match users’ existing music collections for songs not purchased from the iTunes store against the iTunes library, and then let users redownload up to 25,000 tracks in 256 k bps quality to the same devices. So labels get paid both ways. Buy a song in iTunes, labels get a cut. Store a song not from iTunes in iCloud, labels get a cut too.

“All of the content in Apple’s iCloud is going to be paid for by acquisition, or paid for by consumption,” a source at a major label says.

This is something the music industry has sought ever since it became clear that the revenue gained from buying digital tracks wouldn’t make up for the decline in CD sales.

Universal Music Group tried a version of the idea when it demanded $1 of every Zune device Microsoft sold, in return for licensing the associated music. It’s also what the labels had in mind when they pursued the Comes With Music model with Nokia.

But neither of those ser vices come anywhere near Apple’s influence in the digital music marketwhich, now, is in the early stages of migrating to the cloud. With 225 million iTunes account-holders (125 million of whom, labels estimate, are active music buyers), Apple’s iCloud stands a good chance of

dominating the new cloud format, as it did the digital rights management- and file-based format of the past decade. According to a recent NPD Group study, 46 percent of iTunes users expressed interest in a paid cloud digital music locker.

“If they were to migrate a big chunk of their base to this platform, they could almost double the size of their digital music business,” the major-label source says. “Ultimately, you’re going to see a high degree of adoption.” What’s more, iCloud monetizes piracy, providing the industry with some level of payment for the billions of music files acquired from P2P services through the years. And multiple levels of the industry will benefit.

The $25 annual fee is collected into a pool, from which Apple takes its 30 percent cut. From there, sources say, 58 percent is set aside for labels and 12 percent for publishers. How those portions are distributed within the labels and publishers is entirely based on consumption. Apple monitors which songs users are accessing through iTunes Match, and identifies which rights-holders are then owed what portion of the pool. That same data is provided to the label or publisher to determine what portion of the cut is then owed each individual artist.

Whether this becomes a lasting benefit depends on how well Apple can maintain the iCloud’s relevance.

Both Amazon and Google are expected to sort out their differences with the music industry and offer their own licensed music services before the end of the year. And while Apple will still have the advantage of the dominant iTunes store, it will also need to innovate on new features and functionality for iCloud to compete, since the appeal of simply providing access to multiple devices will only last so long.

New features-such as recommendation, sharing and Internet radio, all of which Apple competitors have already hinted at providing in the near future-will become necessary to keep users engaged and interested in a cloud service. And Apple isn’t exactly known for its prowess in adding social features to iTunes.

(Can you say Ping?) But while all of that gets worked out in the years ahead, the music industry, at least for now, has a share of the cash register-not just the tip jar. —Reuters

LOS ANGELES: US videogame publishing titan Electronic Arts is merging blockbuster titles with social play, popular new gadgets and downloadable content in a changing world of interactive enter tainment.

“Historically, as a publisher, you developed a game, packed it on a disk, shipped it and then started work on your next game,” said EA vice president and managing director of Southern Europe Pascal Brochier.

“The Web has helped us expand with multi-player and downloadable content to extend incredible gaming experiences,” he continued during an inter view at the Electronic Entertainment Expo this week in Los Angeles. “Multi-platform enables us to follow gamers where they want to be.”

Crowds of industry insiders and press jockeyed for behind-closed-doors glimpses at eagerly-awaited EA releases such as “FIFA 12” and “Mass Effect 3.”

Long queues formed for looks at hot shooter title “Battlefield 3” and a new installment to racing franchise “Need for Speed” that for the first time gets virtual drivers out of their cars.

EA is taking the beloved “Star Wars” science fiction saga to a new frontier in the form of a “massively multi-player online” game that people around the world will be able to immerse themselves in using personal computers. More than a million people signed up for a test phase of “Star Wars: Old Republic,” which EA is due to release later this year.

EA has been focusing its resources on fewer, bigger games and working to adapt versions of titles to popular smart gadgets. “I think we are in a very sweet spot in the sense that we embraced multi-platform fairly early on,” Brochier said of EA’s strategy of publishing versions of games for a variety of consoles and other devices. “You can start ‘FIFA’ in the living room on your TV and then engage with it on the go,” he continued. “The iPad, iPhone, social gaming... It’s not the same play, but it is the best football game available.”

EA last week launched an Origin.com online shop for videogame offerings. Origin will have exclusive limited edition copies of hot games, including “Battlefield 3” and “FIFA 12,” as well as upcoming titles such as “Alice: Madness Returns” made by the California company’s partners. Origin will eventually let people see what friends are playing and where, according to EA. “We’re committed to offering consumers direct access to great content and community in a way they have never experienced before,” said EA chief executive John Riccitiello.

Origin will also link to smartphones to let people connect and play games such as “Scrabble” and “Battlefield 3” with friends on the move. “We think the growth of this industry is correlated to the social element of it,” Brochier said. He saw social games as being in their infancy with much potential to grow.

Popular online social games such as “Farmville” or “Words With Friends” tend to be “asynchronous” with friend’s not playing together when moves are made.

LOS ANGELES: A guest reacts as he plays a pre-release version of “BurgerTime World Tour” from Japanese game developer Konami at a Konami Pre-3E press conference in Culver City, California June 2, 2011. —AFP

LOS ANGELES: Guest mash buttons as they control girl fighters in a pre-release version of “Skullgirls” from Japanese game developer Konami at a Konami Pre-3E press conference in Culver City, California June 2, 2011. —AFP Brochier believed social play would become more real-time and personal. For example, EA released a “Need for Speed” title that challenges a player to complete a course and then shows a shadow of that car as a competitor when a friend takes on the same virtual track at another time. “I definitely think elements that allow you to share are the future,” Brochier said. “We are going to start seeing socially relevant experiences.”

In the coming months, EA will launch a

“Sims Social” game on Facebook that lets people play a version of the virtual world game that features friends at the social network and evidently allows for activities such as flirting. EA has reportedly sold about 140 million copies of “Sims” videogames. “It is not just technology, you have to have great content,” Brochier said above the din of the packed EA booth. “A lot of companies have exited the business; it is difficult to have content and technology.”—AFP

No new ‘drunk driving’ apps for Apple WASHINGTON: Apple, in a move hailed by a group of US senators, has agreed not to allow any new iPhone applications in the App Store that identify police drunk-driving checkpoints.

Senators Harry Reid, Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg and Tom Udall urged Apple, Blackberry maker Research In Motion and Google in March to ban smartphone applications that could help intoxicated drivers avoid police. The Canada-based RIM immediately complied but Apple and Google initially refused. Apple, however, changed its App Store guidelines this week to ban future applications that contain information on drunk-driving checkpoints not published by the police. The senators praised the move but expressed disappointment that the California gadget-maker had declined to remove existing

applications from the App Store. “I commend Apple Inc for taking this important first step towards making our roads and neighborhoods safer from drunk drivers,” Reid said. “However, I strongly encourage Apple to take the next responsible step of removing all applications that allow unsafe drivers to evade police checkpoints.”

One popular smartphone program, PhantomAlert, asks potential customers on its website: “Tired of traffic tickets? The embarrassment, the time, the points, the frustration, the money?” “You will be alerted as you approach: Railroad Crossings, Dangerous Intersections, Dangerous Curves, Speed Bumps, Speed Traps, Speed Cameras, Red Light Cameras, School Zones, DUI Checkpoints.” DUI means “driving under the influence,” or intoxicated. —AFP

Hewlett-Packard in talks for building cloud service NEW YORK: While the music industry focuses on Apple, Google and Amazon, Hewlett-Packard is quietly making plans-again-for its own lockerbased service. Multiple sources at the major labels report that the discussions are heating up.

The Palo Alto, Calif-based computer and technology company is engaged in conversations with the majors about building a cloud service that would eventually offer music, movies and TV shows. Those discussions began a few months ago. In April, Precentral.net reported that a marketing presentation for HP’s TouchPad (due July 1) noted that the device would include HP stores for music and movies. “The TouchPad will come with a musicsynching solution built in that utilizes cloud servers to synch and remotely store your music,” the story said. The article also reported that marketing materials stated that the TouchPad would allow users to stream music they don’t yet own.

While that indicates the scope of HP’s ambitions, which music industry executives confirm, it also reveals that the company might’ve been a bit ahead of itself in those marketing materials. Why? Because, music industry sources caution, as recently as this week, that the discussions remain in

the early stages, and that HP has yet to set up parameters for what it wants to do-or even a timeline. “They’re debating doing something like Qriocity for a variety of media, which can be delivered on any HP device,” a major-label executive says. “We don’t know how serious they are.” That’s because HP has been down this path before.

For almost a decade, HP has been studying the music industry trying to find a role for itself. Between 2003 and 2005, it partnered with Starbucks as the back-end of the merchant’s download-and-burn music kiosk effort. But that venture proved unprofitable and was abandoned. Last June, HP announced that it had acquired Melodeo, which through its nuTsie web site allowed users to stream music playlists created by the nuTsie team, or by accessing users’ iTunes libraries to tap stored playlists. The music can be streamed to computers or mobile devices, but the service doesn’t have the necessary licensing for the user to make interactive song selections.

Three years ago, HP sent out an RFP (request for proposal) looking for digital music partners to help it build a music service, sources say. “They haven’t shut the door on partnering,” but that would depend on what services they ultimately decide to include,

one source says. “In their talks with the majors, they’re trying to narrow down what their service will look like.”

Possibilities abound, and aren’t limited to a consumer-based service.

One such example: MPL Music Publishing partnered with HP to build a private cloud that would digitize, organize and catalog all of Paul McCartney’s assets and his vast personal collection, which includes more than 1 million items, such as Linda McCartney’s photo collection, years of video footage from live recordings, thousands of videotapes, rolls of films and reels, and hundreds of musical recordings.

In a statement made in May, HP executive VP of enterprise sales and marketing Jan Zadak said the company’s work with MPL demonstrates how a music organization can achieve an “Instant-On Library to create, manage and distribute engaging content to an increasingly connected world.”

McCartney was scheduled to play HP’s Discover America event in Las Vegas on June 9. While the majors don’t know how serious HP is this time around, no one appears to have doubts about the company’s abilities. “They have the capabilities,” a source says. “The question is, can they build something that is compelling, cool and dynamic that will

appeal to music consumers.” HP, through a representative, declined to comment on speculation.

“In March, HP announced that it plans to offer an expanded portfolio of cloud services for enterprises and consumers,” an HP spokesperson said in a statement to Billboard. “HP sees cloud computing lying at the heart of a connected world.” Meanwhile, sources are unsure about how quickly HP could come to market, with some saying that nothing would be likely for at least six months. Moreover, sources say that HP has been on the back burner for the majors while they place most of their attention on negotiations with Apple, Google and Amazon. But if HP decides to go forward it wouldn’t necessarily be the last to market with a full-blown service, as all three of the aforementioned companies have a way to go to achieve that very goal too.

In addition to discussions about building a music service, HP also is seeking to extend relations with labels in order to have better access to highprofile artists that can help promote their products, sources say. Recently, HP has had high profile commercial endorsement from Alicia Keys talking about how her music sounds like it was meant to on Hewlett-Packard equipment. —Reuters

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health & science

Environmentalists, tuna fishers battle at sea ABOARD THE STEVE IRWIN: Tuna fishermen confronted environmentalists on the Mediterranean yesterday, as activists attempted to disrupt illegal tuna fishing under the no-fly zone north of Libya. The fishermen attacked the Steve Irwin, owned by the US-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, by hurling heavy metal chain links aboard. They also attempted to lay a rope in front of the activists’ boat, hoping to disable it. Environmentalists responded with water from fire hoses and stink bombs.

Several hundred feet above the fray circled a French fighter jet, summoned by the fishermen - who claimed, falsely, that activist divers were trying to cut their net.

The 59.5-meter Steve Irwin, named after the Australian conservationist who died in 2006, left the Sicilian port of Syracuse early Friday, heading for a rendezvous with a smaller, faster sister ship, the Brigitte Bardot, just north of Libyan waters. The Bardot had traversed the area and reported that more than 20 purse seiners were operating there.

Purse seiners are boats that deploy large nets that draw closed like a purse, ensnaring the tuna. The fish are then sometimes put in floating net-cages and slowly towed to port.

Sea Shepherd is on a mission to disrupt boats that are fishing illegally or have exceeded their quotas. The stock of bluefin

tuna, which spawn in the Mediterranean and then swim out to the North Atlantic, has been depleted to the point that some experts fear it will soon collapse. The confrontation began to take shape at first light as the sun lifted and blazed a bright white stripe across the sea.

Ten purse seiners floated several miles from the Steve Irwin in one direction, with five floating in the other. The ship’s crew are true believers in their cause with vegan fare solely served on board. Yet Captain Paul Watson, the Sea Shepherd founder, and other ships officers say they only go after boats that are fishing illegally - if they are not allotted a quota by ICCAT, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, or have exceeded it or their catch includes too many juveniles.

As the Steve Irwin approached the group of five boats to determine their identities and inspect their catch yesterday, high stakes maneuvering began at close quarters. The boats were Tunisian, at least one was not licensed to fish - according to the Irwin’s crew and they did not respond to radio calls.

The Sea Shepherd environmentalists who have no official enforcement powers deployed a small launch to inspect the cage, while the Tunisians suddenly scrambled two, then three small dinghies to pro-

AT SEA: A French military jet encircles the Steve Irwin, a Sea Shepherd Conservation Society boat, as it attempts to disrupt illegal tuna fishing in the Mediterranean yesterday. — AP tect their net. Others tried to cut off the Steve Irwin or chase it away.

Fishermen in the larger boats threw heavy links of chain at the environmentalists - hitting no one, but eventually forcing the dinghies to retreat without being able

to determine if there were tuna in the cage.

A larger Tunisian boat pulled along the port side of the Steve Irwin and the crew pelted the environmentalists with chain links. The crew of the Irwin responded with stink bombs containing, they said, rancid butter.

A Tunisian dinghy also towed a rope in front of the Steve Irwin, hoping it would get tangled in the propeller and disable the ship.

Meanwhile, the cries of the Tunisians could be overheard radioing the French military for help, saying environmentalist divers were in the water trying to cut their nets.

That was not the case.

However, the Sea Shepherd volunteers are prepared to do exactly that to free the tuna, if they determine the fishing to have been illegal and they have done it in the past. The Irwin’s officers deemed sending in divers at this point too dangerous. The Tunisians were aggressive, and they had deployed divers to protect their cage, which could have led, in effect, to hand-to-hand combat in the sea.

A French military jet appeared on the scene in short order and flew over the area at an altitude of a couple of hundred feet as the drama unfolded below. Eventually, the Steve Irwin broke off contact so it could continue to research whether the fishing was illegal. Ships officers said at least one of the boats had no quota assigned. Watson and other officers on the Irwin said they found the Tunisian’s behavior suspicious.

The crew of the environmentalists’ ship was making more inquiries and coordinating with the Brigitte Bardot, and at midday yesterday, the possibility of more confrontation loomed. — AP

Summit overcomes condom resistance ‘Door-to-door distribution’ in India

CALIFORNIA: File photo shows an endangered desert tortoise, sitting in the middle of a road at the proposed location of three BrightSource Energy solar-energy generation complexes in the eastern Mojave Desert near Ivanpah, Calif. — AP

Hundreds of tortoises seized at Thai airport BANGKOK: Thai authorities have found nearly 400 protected tortoises in unclaimed bags at an airport in Bangkok, an official confirmed yesterday. The Indian and Burmese Star tortoises had been in luggage for about 10 days by the time they were found late Friday at Suvarnabhumi airport, said a senior customs official, who declined to be named.

Loading tags suggested they had originally come from Dhaka in Bangladesh, according to the Freeland Foundation, a counter-trafficking organization, before going to Japan via Bangkok and returning to the Thai capital when they were not collected.

The foundation estimated the tortoises could fetch up to $31,000 on the black market. Out of 370 found, four had died during the journey, it said. The star tortoise, which is popular in Asia as an exotic pet, is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered

Species and a permit is required to export them. It is the second large seizure of the creatures in a little over a week and officials believe the same gang was behind both incidents.

“These consecutive seizures highlight the continuing high volume illicit wildlife trade link between South and Southeast Asia... If we can’t stop (smugglers), we’ll lose these species forever,” said Freeland senior program officer Onkuri Majumdar. Last September Thailand-home to some of the world’s largest wildlife trafficking operationsseized more than 1,000 star tortoises that were smuggled into the country on a flight from Bangladesh. “These beautiful animals are destined for Chatuchak market and would have become the pets of well-to-do people,” said the customs official, referring to a huge market in Bangkok notorious for openly selling endangered species. — AFP

US adds formaldehyde to list of carcinogens WASHINGTON: The US government yesterday added formaldehyde, a substance found in plastics and other commonly used products, to a list of known carcinogens and warned that the chemical styrene might cause cancer. In a report prepared for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), scientists warned that people with higher exposure to formaldehyde were more at risk for nasopharyngeal cancer, myeloid leukemia and other cancers.

“There is now sufficient evidence from studies in humans to show that individuals with higher measures of exposure to formaldehyde are at increased risk for certain types of rare cancers ...,” the Report on Carcinogens said. Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical widely used to make resins for household items, such as composite wood products, paper product coatings, plastics, synthetic fibers, and textile finishes. It is also commonly used as a preservative in medical laboratories, mortuaries, and some consumer products, including hair straightening products.

The report, produced by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), also added styrene to the list of substances that were reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens. Styrene is a synthetic chemical used in the manufacture of products such as rubber, plastic, insulation, fiberglass, pipes, automobile parts, food containers, and carpet backing. The greatest exposure to styrene in

the general population is through cigarette smoking, the report said. The American Chemistry Council (ACC), an industry group, lashed out at the report, saying it was concerned that politics may have hijacked the scientific process. “ Today’s report by HHS made unfounded classifications of both formaldehyde and styrene and will unnecessarily alarm consumers,” Cal Dooley, president and CEO of the ACC, said in a statement. Jennifer Sass of the National Resources Defense Council, a US environmental group, praised the government for publishing the report in the face of what she described as pressure by chemical companies to prevent its release. “ The chemical industry fought the truth, the science, and the public-but, in the end our government experts came through for us, giving the public accurate information about the health risks from chemicals that are commonly found in our homes, schools, and workplaces,” Sass wrote in a blog.

The report also listed aristolochic acids, found in some plants, as a known carcinogen and added the fungicide captafol, some inhalable glass wool fibers, cobalt-tungsten carbide, riddelliine and o-Nitrotoluene to the list of substances reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens. It, however, said listing the substances did not in itself mean they would cause cancer. Amount and duration of exposure, and susceptibility to a substance were among the many factors that affected whether a person developed cancer, it said. — Reuters

UNITED NATIONS: A new condom home delivery service in India and the production of billions of extra contraceptives around the world highlight the breakthrough of condoms in helping put a brake on the AIDS pandemic, experts said. An AIDS summit on Friday gave the most explicit UN backing yet to the use of condoms. Negotiators said they had to overcome fierce opposition from the Vatican and conservative Muslim countries to get the final communique to even mention the latex contraceptive.

Instead of talking simply about the importance of abstinence and fidelity, the statement stresses the “correct and consistent use of condoms.” The Vatican led protests at the summit final session. “It is a first at the UN General Assembly,” said a diplomat who took part in two months of hard-fought negotiations on the text. “We are very happy about this. It is very explicit and will definitely help our work to overcome resistance and fears about condoms,” said George Tembo, head of the AIDS/HIV department at the UN Population Fund.

The global need for condoms to combat HIV and for family planning has shot up from an estimated 13 billion in 2004 to about 19 billion in 2010, according to the UN Population Fund. Tembo said the UN agency

gave out about 3.2 billion condoms in target countries in 2010, up from 2.7 billion the year before. India’s Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told the summit about the “door-todoor distribution” of male and female condoms by thousands of social health activists in his country.

The condoms will initially be delivered to homes in 17 Indian provinces covering an approximate population of 200 million people “and will be scaled up to cover the entire country soon,” the minister said. India also has the Red Ribbon Express train crossing the country giving out condoms and advice on preventing AIDS. A similar effort is gathering pace in many countries, especially in Africa which has borne the brunt of the AIDS pandemic that has killed 30 million people since it first appeared 30 years ago.

In Kenya, condom demand has risen from eight million per month in 2005 to 20 million per month in 2011, said Esther Murugi Mathenge, the country’s minister of state for special programs. Cameroon gave out 145 million condoms between 2006 and 2010, said its Health Minister Andre Mama Fouda.

“Major efforts have been made to make condoms available. The number of female condoms has increased sixfold between 2006 and 2010.” It helps, he said, but Cameroon, with a

population of about 19.5 million still has about 560,000 people aged between 15 and 49 carrying the virus.

There were 33,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2010 and 50,000 new infections said Fouda. “ We now have 305,000 children made orphans because of HIV and AIDS.” Tembo at the UNFPA said governments and activists are slowly overcoming religious and social resistance to the use of condoms. “It is not just distributing them, you have to make sure people know about them and know how to use them,” he said. “Otherwise they are just left to melt in the sun.” So the UN Population Fund encourages social workers to get out to markets, pop festivals and sporting events such as last year’s football World Cup in South Africa, to show people how to use prophylactics.

The increased use and other efforts by governments and doctors have been generally hailed at the summit, which has set a target of getting drugs to all AIDS sufferers by 2015.

Is it enough? “We must face the fact that all these efforts have yet to turn the tide of this epidemic. Three decades on, the rates of new infection still outpace treatment intervention, thereby compelling us to do more,” South Africa’s Vice President Kgalema Motlanthe told a UN Security Council debate on the pandemic. — AFP

Chimp attack victim gets face transplant BOSTON: A woman mauled by a chimpanzee gone berserk has received a new face in the third such operation performed in the US and is looking for ward to going out in public again and eating hot dogs and pizza after months of pureed food. Charla Nash underwent a full face and double hand transplant late last month, but the hands failed to thrive as she struggled with pneumonia and were removed, said Dr Bohdan Pomahac, leader of the 30-member surgical team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Overall, her recover y and future look excellent, Pomahac said. “She will eventually be able to eat a hamburger, something she said was very important her, having only had pureed food since her injury, and I think we can all relate to that,” Pomahac said. Nash’s was the third full face transplant in the US Her skin, underlying muscles, blood vessels and nerves were replaced along with her hard palate and teeth. Over the next several months, the 57-year-old woman will develop more control over facial muscles and more feeling, letting her breathe through her nose and develop her sense of smell. She remains blind.

Her brother Steve Nash later said his sister wants to enjoy hot dogs and a slice of pizza from their favorite pizza parlor in Poughkeepsie, New York, where they spent their childhood. While the loss of her transplanted hands was disappointing, Pomahac said she could undergo another hand transplant in the future. He said her left arm was replaced at the mid-forearm. Her right hand was replaced at the wrist, except for the thumb, which was all she had left after the February 2009 attack. The right hand replacement was

STAMFORD: Charla Nash is seen prior to being mauled by a chimpanzee in 2009. (Inset) Charla Nash seen after being mauled by a chimpanzee. — AP “technically challenging,” he said, ent when Briana graduates from can be a challenge,” said Dr. because a partial transplant had college in a few short years.” Steve Joseph Losee of the University of Nash, fighting back tears, called Pittsburgh, which has done three never been done.

Several days after the opera- the operation “miraculous.” “We double and two single hand tion, Nash developed pneumonia are confident Charla will gain her transplants and is preparing to and suffered a drop in blood goal to regain her health and offer face transplants soon.

Dr Warren Breidenbach, who pressure, which compromised independence in the future,” he blood flow to the hands. Doctors said. The name of the donor was led the nation’s first hand transeventually had to remove the not disclosed to maintain her plant, in 1999 at Jewish Hospital and the University of Louisville, transplanted hands. Nash will family’s privacy.

The donor can be as much as said: “It is completely ethical, and also be able to go out in public without feeling self-conscious, 20 years younger or up to 10 the proper thing to do, to do the Pomahac said. She had to skip years older than the recipient and face and the hands at the same her only daughter’s high school must have the same blood type time.” Doing them separately, or graduation last spring because and similar skin color and texture. attempting another hand transshe was concerned that she Experts not connected with the plant for Nash in the future, raises would become the center of Boston case said it was medically the risk of rejection because tisriskier than previous transplants, sue from two different donors attention.

“We know it broke her heart,” but not unethical. “Hand trans- would be involved, said Pomahac said, pausing to control plants and face transplants are Breidenbach, who is now chief of his emotions. “I think her new big operations. When you com- reconstructive and plastic surgery face will allow Charla to be pres- bine the two big operations, it at the University of Arizona.— AP

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H E A LT H

Germany confirms source of E.coli outbreak Bean sprouts behind a deadly bacteria outbreak BERLIN: A German government health institute officially acknowledged yesterday that bean sprouts were the source behind a deadly bacteria outbreak, bringing to a close a frantic two-week long probe. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) confirmed test results announced on Friday that identified bean sprouts in the northern village of Bienenbuettel as carrying the virulent E. coli strain EHEC-0104. The killer bug has claimed at least 33 lives and left some 3,000 ill across 14 countries. Test results on a packet of vegetable sprouts recovered from the rubbish bin of two sick people living in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia provided the first direct trail evidence for the virulent bacteria.

A man notified authorities after suspecting he might be in possession of some of the dangerous sprouts.

The Bienenbuettel farm has since closed down. “These results are an important step in the chain of evidence,” said BfR director Andreas Hensel. The European Commission’s health chief John Dalli welcomed the confirmation.

“The source of contamination is now identified and the epidemiological findings are backed by laboratory results,” he said in a statement.

European Union “consumers and trade partners shall now have full confidence as regards the safety of EU’s vegetables”, he added, as the health scare has cost farmers hundreds of millions of euros in lost sales around the continent.

Pledging to “draw lessons” from one of the world’s biggest bacterial outbreaks, Dalli said investigations would continue until the links between victims, food establishments and the Bienenbuettel farm

were clarified. The probe would also focus on finding how the specific E.coli strain snuck itself into the food chain, he added. Meanwhile the health commissioner voiced hope that Russia would quickly lift its ban on EU vegetable imports following a Russia-EU summit on Friday between Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Thailand finds E. coli in cabbage Thailand said yesterday that it had detected E. coli in cabbage imported from Europe and was check ing whether it was the lethal strain involved in a killer outbreak in northern Germany. The country, which had a false alarm about a shipment of European avocados earlier in the week, has urged the public not to panic, noting that there are several types of E. coli. “We need three to five days to check on the bacteria’s strain,”

said Sathaporn Wongcharoen, director general of the Medical Science Department of the Public Health Ministry.

On Friday Thailand said that E. coli found in avocados a day earlier was not the deadly strain that has swept Europe in recent weeks. German officials have said they are now confident that sprouts grown at a farm in the nor th of the countr y are the source of the highly virulent strain of bacteria that has killed at least 33 and left some 3,000 ill. All confirmed fatalities, three of which were reported Friday, have been in Germany except for one woman who died in Sweden after visiting Germany.

People in at least 14 countries have also been made ill by the outbreak, most of them having recently visited nor thern Germany. Symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever and vomiting.— Agencies

SOFIA: A laboratory technician shows isolated Escherichia coli bacteria at the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency’s micro biological laboratory in Sofia. — AP

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W H AT ’ S O N

Bountiful harvest for UIS Class X

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fter the stupendous results of Class XII, United Indian School’s Class X batch has brought home a bountiful harvest at CBSE’s new scheme of continuous and comprehensive evaluation. With 19 students bagging a perfect 10 point CGPA and 62 scoring 9 points and above, the batch has done the school and themselves proud. The results bear testimony to the sincere and diligent effort of the students and their teachers.

Following are the high achievers.

CGPA of 10 points (95 %+ above) 1. Nicci Jerusha Seqveira 2. Rakhee Menon 3. Alka Renu 4. Jovitha Maria Jacob 5. Martin Varghese Paul 6. Meenu Anna Syriac 7. Sandra Moncy Thomas 8. Anjali Mohandas K 9. Derina Davy 10. Nakiya Khuzema Jhadolwala

11. Jobin Thomas 12. Sharon Sara Joshua 13. Ahkil Mathew Mattathil 14. Akhil Philip Joseph 15. Jerrin Cherian 16. Ruksana Husain 17. Reetu Mariya Jacob 18. Sharun Gee Jacob 19. Insiya Salehhusain

CGPA 9.8 points (93% and above) Maruf Amina Fahad Al Hafiz Jino John Joseph Amirtha Ben M Basil Jose Steven Abraham Joycejoseph Namitha Menon

CGPA 9.6 points (91% and above) Christy John Daniel Jovina Merin Sam Manoj Manohar Jijo Joseph Samuel Murugesh Ramachandran Brian Simon V Anu Susan Mathew Congratulations to all students

Announcements Building self-esteem A mar velous oppor tunit y for all teenagers from the age group 12-18 to discover themselves afresh and polish their skills that are essential for a balanced life and tap the immense storehouse of potential that they have within them!!! Your child will learn The Art of knowing oneself developing manners, attitudes & traits recognise your own individual causes of stress importance of communication with family, friends and teachers balancing your interests with family background, available resources, opportunities and market trends effective speaking importance of intonations, syllable stress, volume and pitch.

Contac t 25618333/25661606 for details. nnnnnnn

Infunity presents summer ‘Blank Camp’

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Members of the voluntary team for social service at Boubyan Bank paid a visit to NBK Hospital for children where a number of recreational activities were organized and gifts distributed and some electronic equipment were supplied to the hospital.

Kuwait National English School shines at Arabic competitions

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he private Ministry of Education of the Arabic Department honored students from Kuwait National English School for winning the first, second and third places and also giving a trophy to the school for winning the first place among all English Schools and Bilingual

Schools in Kuwait. They honored the students from Kuwait National English School with medals and certificates of appreciation to the Arabic department for their special effort.

re you looking to keep your kids busy this summer? The family entertainment center “Infunity” presents its first summer “Blank Camp”, which offers a great experience, fun and adventures for young campers ages 5 to 12 years old. The “Blank Camp” which is managed by Blank Hunts, offers a variety of activities including arts, crafts, reading, theater, sports and treasure hunt. The camp will be running from June 19 to July 14 at “Infunity”, 360 Mall, Level 3 and will be conducted from 9 am to 1:30 pm.

In this camp, kids will have the opportunity to learn new skills, gain knowledge, enhance self-confidence and build character and selfesteem. In addition, build up new friendships and unforget-

table experiences that last a lifetime.

“Infunity” aims through this camp to offer kids the opportunity to express their capabilities, try new things, stimulate challenge, work in teams and improve their skills.

Moreover, all activities are chosen and designed carefully to entrain young campers in a healthy and safe environment.

It is worthy to mention that the family entertainment center “Infunity” is one of the latest entertainment centers in Kuwait and it is the right place for the families who are seeking to spend enjoyable and pleasant times since its games are the most recent in Kuwait and combines education and entertainment. Invest your kid’s time and call on 99091277 to register.

Notice to Filipino citizens

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otice is hereby given that under Republic Act No. 9189, otherwise known as “The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003”, all citizens of the Philippines abroad, not otherwise disqualified by law, at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the election, and who are registered overseas absentee voters with approved applications to vote in absentia, may vote for Senators and Partylist Representatives. For this purpose, all qualified Filipino citizens not registered as voters under Republic Act No. 8189, otherwise known as “The Voters Registration Act of 1996”, (the system of continuing registration) shall file an application for registration while those who are already registered under the said Act shall file an application for certification. For purposes of the May 13, 2013 elections, the filing of applications for registration/certification and transfer of registration records shall be filed at the Post or other designated registration areas from October 31, 2011 to October 31, 2012.

The 30-day voting period is from April 13, 2013 until 3:00 o’ clock in the afternoon (Philippine time) of May 13, 2013 at any Philippine Embassies or Consulates. (The time for voting to be announced later). For details, please contact telephone number: 65184433 (Kuwait)

BAIA Summer Camp now open for registrations 2011 ON STAGE summer camp from 19 June to 06 July. Last year High School Musical, this year Camp Rock, Tangled, Cars...many more! From Page to Stage in just 3 weeks, through costume design, technicals, acting, singing, dance, music, make-up, film and lighting. Create a fabulous performance ON STAGE. Discounts available if registered before 01 June. Call 60052087 or mail administrator@baia.com.k w. Full details of all events and courses are available on www.baia.com.kw nnnnnnn

AWARE Arabic courses highlights: Introductor y to Level 4 Arabic language basics; Ccmbine language learning with cultural insights; taught in multi-nationality group settings; and provides opportunities to interact with Western expatriates and native Kuwaitis/Arabs. For more information and/or registration, call 25335260/80 ex t 105 or 0 or log onto: www.aware.com.kw nnnnnnn

Free summer camp Use this summer vacation to learn dance & music with “Nandhanam”. Free classical dance & music classes for girls. We are conducting a free summer camp at R hythm Communit y Hall, opposite to Atlas Jeweller y in Abbassiya. Kindly inform friends and relatives. The brochure is copied here for your information. Age Level: 5 years to 17 years Location: Rhythm Hall, Opposite to Atlas Jewellery, Abbassiya Days: Sunday to Thursday Time: 9 am till 12:30 pm. Registration form will be available at our website www.nandhanam.net Contac t: 25649543/ 23721934/ 55652550/ 99129611/ 50502740.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net

Fax: 24835619 / 20

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W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy Information

Ms. Rinu Antony

Ms. Farwa Zahid

Ms. Asma

Ms. Rijisha Abdullah

Ms. Sana Ahmed

Mr. Majed

Ms. Mishael

IIS Walks majestically on road of excellence

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IS secured 100 percent results in the Senior Secondary Examinations for the academic year 2010-2011 conducted

by Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi. In the Science stream, school toppers Rinu Antony secured overall percentage of 94.6 marks and Sana secured overall percentage of 94 marks. In the

Commerce stream, Farwa Zahid secured overall percentage of 84.2 marks. In subject toppers, Rinu Antony got 96% in English, 92% in Physics, 95% in Chemistry and 95% in Computer Science. Sana and Asma also secured 95% marks in Chemistry. Sana secured 99% in Maths 95% in Biology. Rijisha Abdullah got 80%

in Economics, 95% in Business Studies and 90% in Informatics. Mishael secured 82% in Accountancy. The Management, Principal and the staff congratulated all the students of Senior Secondary Classes on their success in the Board Examination.

The commendable result is the result of join effort of dedicated teachers, Principal

F M Basheer Ahmed who has always been after the students and the teachers to work for excellence and the Director Moosa Koya who has been supporting and guiding all the teachers to perform well.

Hats off to the team of teachers and the cream of students!

EMBASSY OF ARGENTINA In order to inform that 23rd of October 2011, will be Argentine national election where all Argentinean citizen residents permanently in Kuwait can vote only if they are registered at the Electoral Register of the Argentine Embassy. The procedure of inscription ended on 25 of April 2011. To register it is necessary that Argentinean citizens should come personally at the Argentinean Embassy (Block 6, street 42, villa 57, Mishref) and present the DNI and four personal photos (size 4x4, face should be front on white background). For further information, contact us on 25379211. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Embassy encourages all Australians to register their presence in Kuwait through Smartraveller Online (see link below). Australians who are registered are asked to update their details. The information provided will assist us in contacting you in an emergency. www.smartraveller.gov.au Kuwait citizens can apply for and receive visit visas to Australia online at www.immi.gov.au. This usually takes two working days. All others visa applications are handled by the Australian Visa Application Centre Tel. 22971110.

Witnessing and certifying documents are by appointment only, please contact the Embassy on 2232 2422.

The Australian Embassy is open from 8.00am to 4.00pm, Sunday to Thursday. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF BRITAIN The Visa Application Centre (VAC) will be closed on the same dates above. The opening hours of the Visa Application Centre are 0930 - 1630 Application forms remain available online from the UKBAs’ website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk or from the Visa Application Centre’s website: www.vfs-ukkw.com. And also, from the UK Visa Application Centre located at: 4B, 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 nnnnnnn

DGCA crowned champion of Indians Football Club tourney

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ndians Football Club Kuwait held a 7 a side football tournament open to all nationalities on the 27th May, 2011 at DGCA airport ground Kuwait. It was majorly sponsored by Unique Aviation. Soccer received its sporting response as 24 teams from all over Kuwait took part namely DGCA, Fahaheel Brothers, Sparx, 7 Stars, SKYNET, Kuwait Lanka, Al Otaibi, The Longshots, ISS, Meshal Qabandi, GAC, Canacona Boys, Lebanon 7, Feni 7, Thailand F. C., La Rasta, DHL, TNT, 7-Years, Real Betalbatim FC, Indians F.C, Tango, Gulf Cable and Malappuram Brothers. The draw was openly held on 20th May, 2011 in the presence of each team’s representative at Don Bosco premises, and the teams were divided into eight pools for the league stage.

Chief Guest Meshal Tahani from Directorate General of Civil Aviation - Kuwait, DGCA and Meshal Al Otaibi from National Aviation Services Cargo declared the tournament open. DGCA, Fahaheel Brothers, 7 Stars, Kuwait Lanka, Al Otaibi, ISS, GAC, Canacona Boys, Lebanon 7, Feni 7, DHL, TNT, 7-Years, Real Betalbatim F C, Tango and Gulf Cable made it to the round of 16 knockout stage. From there DGCA, Fahaheel Brothers, Al Otaibi, GAC, Lebanon 7, DHL, Tango and Gulf Cable got through to the quarter finals.

The Indians Football Club Kuwait believes in lifting the football spirits in the young ones for which a children

exhibition match were held soon after the quarter finals two teams were formed namely the blue team and the red team all children that included girls were under 12 years old and they displayed and thrilled the spectators by their skills, speed and great positioning football with good team work. Most of the children were from Don Bosco Salmiya. The blue team score a classic goal against the red team and were declared winners.

The children of the winners team were Sushyanth Sridhar, Gokhul Menon, Adrian Franco, Rueben Cherian, Aaron Reveredo, Suzanna Afonso, Tanishqua Dsouza and Jensen and the runners up were Conan Anthony, Calista Anthony, Loren Crasto, Alistaire Franco, Aaron Franco, Nigel Saldanha, Sejal Baptista, Abner Reveredo and Sam Afonso. Both the winners and runner up were awarded certificates and medals and six most promising players award was awarded to Tanishqua Dsouza, Adrian Franco, Reuben Cherian, Loren Crasto, Sushyanth Sridhar and Conan Anthony.

The first semi final was held between DGCA & Lebanon 7. DGCA took a solitarily lead in the beginning and saw themselves in the finals. On the other hand, Tango scored a lovely goal in the dying minutes against Fahaheel Brothers to reach the finals. The final was evenly contested for the first two minutes of the game with Tango most

of them youngsters were all out to score against the well coordinated DGCA, all their attacks did not find the net as DGCA goalkeeper Waleed Al Otaibi was the last man standing and saving sure goals coming his way and most deservingly walked away with the best goalkeeper of the tournament. The final score was 2-0 in favor of DGCA. Saleem Al Aman from DGCA was awarded the Best Defender, Mohammed Al Otaibi from Al Otaibi team took the Best Midfielder trophy, Ahmed Faheem from Tango was the Top Scorer and Ahmed Hassawi from DGCA was awarded the Man of the Match with a gift voucher from Sport Mania.

The tournament was officiated by Indian Referee Football Association Kuwait IFRA who completed 30 years of officiating football tournaments in Kuwait following the FIFA rules and regulations effectively. The tournament was kept lively by compere Remedious D’souza and Music by DJ Alex and DJ Shaun. In the finale the President of the Indians FC Leslie Dsouza thanked their sponsor Unique Aviation, DGCA, Euro Spare Zone and Sport Mania, the players and officials of all the 24 participating teams, the IFRA officials and all football enthusiasts who made the event a success by their presence.

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca.

Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home. The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca. The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca.

Effective January 15, 2011, the only Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) application form that will be accepted by CIC is the Application for Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada [IMM 5257] form. All previous Temporary Resident Visa application forms will no longer be accepted by CIC and instead will be returned to applicants. Should old applications be submitted prior to January 15, 2011 they will continue to be processed. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF GERMANY The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kuwait wishes to announce that as of 1 May 2011, the external service provider Al Qabas Assurex is operating a Visa Application Centre in support of the German Embassy. Short-term visa applications for travels to Germany (e.g. for tourism, visits, business) are to be submitted to the service provider Al Qabas who for your convenience will ensure that all relevant documents are included in your application. Your personal appearance at the Application Centre is not required. Address of the Visa Application Centre: Al Qabas Assurex Sanabel Tower (Al-Babtain) Mezzanine (M3) opposite Sharq Mall Kuwait 22924444 Fax: 22924442 Further information are available on the following websites: www.kuwait.diplo.de www.qavisa.com nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to request all Kenyans resident in or training through Kuwait to register with the Embassy. We are updating our database. This information is necessary in order to facilitate quick assistance and advise in times of emergency. Kindly visit in person or register through our website www.kenyaembkuwait.com. The Embassy is located in: Surra Area - Block 6 - Street 9 - Villa 3 Tel: 25353362 - 25353314; Fax: 25353316. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has moved its office to Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

A

quapark held its first summer festival in cooperation with Kuwait Television. A large crowd participated in games and contests in the presence of Mohammad Khoursheed, Aquapark General Manager.

The festival will be held for families on Fridays.

EMBASSY OF PERU With the growing interest shown by Kuwaiti citizens and/or foreign residents in Kuwait for going for vacation and tourism to Peru and/or with the purpose of doing business over there, The Embassy of Peru in Kuwait did the effort and obtained as a temporary and immediate solution - till the opening of the consular section of Diplomatic Mission of Peru in Kuwait City - that the consular section of the Embassy of Peru in Qatar will attend those requests of granting such visas. Working hours: 9 am till 2 pm or call +9744491-5944, Fax: +974-4491-5940 E-mail: info@peruembassy.com.qa nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF RUSSIA The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Kuwait will be closed today (12th June, 2011) on the occasion of the National Day of the Russian Federation.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

Years

TV PROGRAMS 23:25 Rhodes Across The Caribbean

00:45 01:40 02:35 03:30 04:25 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:25 08:15 08:40 09:10 10:05 10:30 11:00 11:55 12:50 14:40 15:35 16:30 16:55 17:25 17:50 18:20 19:15 20:10 21:05 22:00 22:55 23:50

Cats 101 Untamed And Uncut Shark After Dark Shark Family After The Attack Animal Cops South Africa America’s Cutest...

Meerkat Manor Michaela’s Animal Road Trip The Really Wild Show Jeff Corwin Unleashed America’s Cutest...

Extraordinary Dogs Project Puppy Cats 101 America’s Cutest...

Mutant Planet My Cat From Hell Dogs vs. Cats Karina: Wild On Safari Karina: Wild On Safari Cheetah Kingdom Cheetah Kingdom Amba The Russian Tiger Speed Of Life Cats 101 Life Of Mammals Life Of Mammals I Was Bitten Penguin Safari

00:15 Robin Hood 01:00 Strictly Come Dancing 03:00 One Foot In The Grave 03:30 Beautiful People 04:00 Green Green Grass 04:35 Fimbles 04:55 Tweenies 05:15 Teletubbies 05:40 Bobinogs 05:55 Fimbles 06:15 Tweenies 06:35 Teletubbies 07:00 Fimbles 07:20 Tweenies 07:40 Teletubbies 08:05 Bobinogs 08:20 Fimbles 08:40 Tweenies 09:00 Teletubbies 09:25 Bobinogs 09:40 One Foot In The Grave 10:10 Green Green Grass 10:40 Robin Hood 11:25 Doctor Who Confidential 11:35 The Weakest Link 12:20 Casualty 13:10 Casualty 14:05 The Weakest Link 14:50 The Weakest Link 15:35 Doctors 18:05 Robin Hood 18:50 Doctor Who Confidential 19:00 One Foot In The Grave 19:30 Green Green Grass 20:00 Ray Mears’ Northern Wilderness 20:50 Monarch Of The Glen 21:40 New Tricks 22:35 Unforgiven 23:20 Desperate Romantics

00:15 Saturday Kitchen 01:15 Design Star 02:45 Come Dine With Me 11:55 New Scandinavian Cooking 12:20 New Scandinavian Cooking 12:45 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 13:10 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 14:25 New Scandinavian Cooking 14:50 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 15:15 New Scandinavian Cooking 18:40 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 19:30 New Scandinavian Cooking 19:50 Come Dine With Me 20:40 Perfect Day 22:40 Rhodes Across The Caribbean

00:00 01:30 02:00 02:10 02:30 03:00 03:10 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:10 10:30 11:00 11:10 11:30 12:00 12:10 12:30 13:00 13:10 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:10 15:30 16:00 16:15 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:15 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:10 23:30

BBC World News Middle East Business Report BBC World News World Features Newsnight BBC World News World Features Spirit Of Yachting BBC World News Dateline London BBC World News Click BBC World News Newsnight BBC World News India Business Report BBC World News Fast Track BBC World News World Features Spirit Of Yachting BBC World News World Features Dateline London BBC World News World Features Horizons BBC World News World Features Third Eye BBC World News Newsnight BBC World News World Features The Bottom Line BBC World News Sport Today Click BBC World News Extra Time BBC World News India Business Report BBC World News Third Eye BBC World News Sport Today Click BBC World News Spirit Of Yachting BBC World News World Features Extra Time

00:00 The Best Of Backstory 00:30 World Sport 01:00 World Report 01:30 Open Court 02:00 World Report 02:30 Inside Africa 03:00 Your $$$$$ 04:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 05:00 The Best Of The Situation Room 06:00 World Sport 06:30 Open Court 07:00 World Report 07:30 The Best Of Backstory 08:00 World Report 08:15 CNN Marketplace Middle East 08:30 News Special 09:00 World Report 09:15 CNN Marketplace Africa 09:30 Cnngo 09:45 Future Cities 10:00 World Sport 10:30 Open Court 11:00 African Voices 11:30 Talk Asia 12:00 World’s Untold Stories 12:30 World View 13:00 World Report 13:30 World Sport 14:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 15:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps 16:00 State Of The Union With Candy Crowley 17:00 International Desk 17:30 Inside Africa 18:00 News Special 18:30 World Sport 19:00 Prism 19:45 CNN Marketplace Middle East 20:00 International Desk

00:00 Travel Notebook 01:00 Working Holiday 02:00 Think Green 03:00 Julian and Camilla’s World Odyssey 04:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 Travel Notebook 06:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Working Holiday 09:00 Glutton For Punishment 09:30 Angry Planet 10:00 Nomad’s Land 11:00 Travel Today 11:30 Essential 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 Essential Specials 14:00 Working Holiday 15:00 Travel Notebook 16:00 Globe Trekker 17:00 Globe Trekker 18:00 Feast India 19:00 Globe Trekker 20:00 Essential Specials 21:00 Distant Shores 21:30 Glutton For Punishment

00:05 Cow And Chicken 00:30 Cramp Twins 00:55 George Of The Jungle 01:20 Adventure Time 01:45 Eliot Kid 02:10 Ed, Edd N Eddy 02:35 Ben 10: Alien Force 03:00 The Powerpuff Girls 03:15 Chowder 03:40 The Secret Saturdays 04:05 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 04:30 Ben 10: Alien Force 04:55 Best Ed 05:20 Skunk Fu! 05:45 Cramp Twins 06:10 Eliot Kid 06:35 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 07:00 Ed, Edd N Eddy 07:25 Chop Socky Chooks 07:50 Chowder 08:15 Ben 10: Alien Force 08:40 Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders 09:05 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 09:30 The Secret Saturdays 09:55 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 10:20 Cartoon Network Dance Club 10:30 Angelo Rules 10:55 Best Ed 11:20 Eliot Kid 11:45 Skunk Fu! 12:10 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes 12:35 Bakugan: New Vestroia 13:00 Ben 10 13:25 Codename: Kids Next Door 13:50 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 14:15 The Life And Times Of Juniper Lee 14:40 George Of The Jungle 15:05 Cartoon Network Dance Club 15:20 Ed, Edd N Eddy 15:35 Chop Socky Chooks 16:00 Robotboy 16:25 Squirrel Boy 16:50 Chowder 17:15 The Secret Saturdays 17:40 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 18:05 Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders 18:30 Angelo Rules 18:55 Best Ed 19:20 Adventure Time 19:45 Cow And Chicken 20:10 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 20:35 Courage The Cowardly Dog 21:00 The Powerpuff Girls 21:25 Ed, Edd N Eddy 21:50 Cartoon Network Dance Club 22:00 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 22:25 Skunk Fu! 22:50 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 23:15 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 23:40 Chowder

PEARL HARBOR ON OSN ACTION HD

00:40 01:35 02:30 03:00 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:40 10:30 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:10 15:05 16:00 16:25 16:55 17:20 18:15 19:10 19:40 20:05 21:00 21:55 22:50 23:45

I’m Alive Behind Bars How Machines Work How It’s Made Extreme Engineering Mighty Ships Huge Moves I’m Alive I’m Alive Gold Rush: Alaska Sarah Palin’s Alaska LA Ink The Next Great Baker Cake Boss Cake Boss Cake Boss Cake Boss Mythbusters Gold Rush: Alaska Danger Coast Danger Coast Swords: Life On The Line Mythbusters Science Of The Movies The Future Of...

Worst-Case Scenario

00:30 Nextworld 01:20 The Gadget Show 02:10 What’s That About?

03:00 Sci-Fi Science 03:50 How Stuff Works 04:45 Engineered 05:40 How Stuff’s Made 06:10 Superships 07:00 How The Universe Works 07:55 Brainiac 08:45 Head Rush 08:48 Sci-Fi Science 09:15 Weird Connections 09:45 Catch It Keep It 10:35 What’s That About?

14:45 The Gadget Show 15:35 Patent Bending 16:00 Head Rush 16:03 Cool Stuff And How It Works 16:30 How Does That Work?

17:00 Bang Goes The Theory 17:50 Nasa’s Greatest Missions 18:40 The Future Of...

19:30 Speed Junkie 20:20 The Gadget Show 20:45 The Gadget Show 21:10 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 22:00 The Future Of...

22:50 Bang Goes The Theory 23:40 Mega World

00:05 Unwrapped 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 01:45 Food Network Challenge 02:35 Chopped 03:25 Ultimate Recipe Showdown 04:15 Good Eats - Special 04:40 Unwrapped 05:05 Ten Dollar Dinners 05:30 Paula’s Best Dishes 05:50 Paula’s Party 06:35 Barefoot Contessa 07:00 Chopped 07:50 Guy’s Big Bite 08:15 Boy Meets Grill 08:40 Good Deal With Dave Lieberman 09:05 Ten Dollar Dinners 09:30 Paula’s Best Dishes 09:55 Barefoot Contessa 10:20 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 10:45 Boy Meets Grill 11:10 Unwrapped 11:35 Paula’s Party 12:25 Good Eats - Special 12:50 Paula’s Best Dishes 13:15 Good Deal With Dave Lieberman 13:40 Ultimate Recipe Showdown 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 14:55 Unwrapped 15:20 Boy Meets Grill 15:45 Chopped 16:35 Guy’s Big Bite 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:25 Good Deal With Dave Lieberman 17:50 Ten Dollar Dinners 18:15 Paula’s Party 19:05 Boy Meets Grill 19:30 Food Network Challenge 20:20 Unwrapped 20:45 Unwrapped 21:10 George Foreman Campus Grill Off 22:00 Barefoot Contessa 23:15 Guy’s Big Bite 23:40 Good Eats - Special

00:20 00:45 01:10 01:30 01:55 02:20 02:45 03:10 03:30 03:55 04:20 04:45 05:10 05:35 06:00 06:25 06:50 07:15 07:40 08:00 08:10 08:20 08:45 08:55 09:20 09:30 09:55 10:15 10:25 11:15 11:35 12:00 12:10 12:25 12:35 13:00 13:25 13:45 14:00

Jungle Junction Special Agent Oso Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’s Circus Jungle Junction Special Agent Oso Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’s Circus Jungle Junction Special Agent Oso Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’s Circus Jungle Junction Special Agent Oso Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Timmy Time Little Einsteins The Hive Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction Special Agent Oso Mickey Mouse Clubhouse The Little Mermaid Handy Manny The Hive Jungle Junction Jake & The Neverland Pirates Imagination Movers Lazytown Handy Manny Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction

14:10 14:20 14:30 14:50 15:15 16:05 16:25 16:50 17:00 17:25 17:45 18:10 18:35 18:45 19:05 19:30 19:45 19:55 20:05 20:50 21:10 21:35 21:45

The Hive Timmy Time Special Agent Oso The Little Mermaid Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Handy Manny Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction Lazytown Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Imagination Movers Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Jake & The Neverland Pirates Handy Manny Timmy Time Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates The Little Mermaid Special Agent Oso The Hive

06:00 Kid vs Kat 06:20 Kick Buttowski 06:40 Iron Man: Armoured Adventures 07:05 Pokemon Dp: Sinnoh League Victors 07:30 Phineas And Ferb 08:20 Suite Life On Deck S3 08:45 Pair Of Kings 09:10 Kick Buttowski 09:30 Rekkit Rabbit 09:50 Zeke And Luther 10:40 I’m In The Band 11:05 The Super Hero Squad Show 11:30 The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody 11:55 Kick Buttowski 12:15 Kid vs Kat 12:35 American Dragon 13:00 Den Brother 14:30 Kick Buttowski 14:55 Pair Of Kings 15:20 Phineas And Ferb 15:50 I’m In The Band 16:15 Rekkit Rabbit 16:40 Zeke And Luther 17:05 The Super Hero Squad Show 17:30 Pokemon Dp: Sinnoh League Victors 17:55 Suite Life On Deck S3 18:45 Phineas And Ferb 19:10 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 20:00 X Men 20:25 Zeke And Luther 20:50 I’m In The Band 21:15 Aaron Stone 21:40 American Dragon 22:00 Kick Buttowski 22:20 I’m In The Band 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am

THE THREE MUSKETEERS ON OSN MOVIES ACTION 19:55 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40 Cases

Real Emergency Calls On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Nightmare Next Door Deadly Women Autopsy: Most Shocking

00:30 Nomads 03:30 Bondi Rescue 04:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 04:30 Bondi Rescue 05:30 Nomads 00:25 Fashion Police 09:30 Bondi Rescue 00:55 Chelsea Lately 10:00 Market Values 01:25 20 Hottest Women Of The Web 10:30 Bondi Rescue 03:15 E! Investigates 11:30 Banged Up Abroad 04:10 Sexiest 12:30 Don’t Tell My Mother 05:05 Reality Hell 13:30 The Frankincense Trail 05:30 Wildest TV Show Moments 14:30 Banged Up Abroad 06:00 THS 15:30 Bondi Rescue 07:50 Behind The Scenes 16:00 Market Values 08:20 E! News 16:30 Bondi Rescue 09:15 Kendra 17:30 Banged Up Abroad 10:15 Married To Rock 18:30 Don’t Tell My Mother 11:10 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane 19:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 12:05 E! News 19:30 The Frankincense Trail 13:05 Fashion Police 20:30 Banged Up Abroad 13:35Kourtney And Kim Take New York 21:30 Bondi Rescue 14:05 THS 22:00 Market Values 15:00Kourtney And Kim Take New York 22:30 Bondi Rescue 15:30 Khloe And Lamar 23:30 Banged Up Abroad 15:55 Kourtney And Kim Take New York 16:55 Behind The Scenes 17:55 E! News 18:55 Holly’s World 00:00 Saw VI-R 19:55 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane 02:00 The Haunting In Connecticut20:55Kourtney And Kim Take New York PG15 21:25 Khloe And Lamar 04:00 King Arthur-PG15 22:25 E! News 06:00 Blue Crush-PG15 23:25 Fashion Police 07:45 Pearl Harbor-PG15 23:55 Chelsea Lately 10:45 Mortal Kombat-PG 12:30 Star Runners-PG15 14:00 Pearl Harbor-PG15 17:00 Inkheart-PG 18:45 Star Runners-PG15 00:15 Aiya TV 20:15 Universal Soldier: 01:30 M1 Selection 2010 02:20 FIA European Drag Racing Regeneration-PG15 22:00 Dark Moon Rising-PG15 2008 04:00 Carpocalypse 04:50 Lucas Oil Ama Motocross Championships...

05:40 Lucas Oil Ama Motocross Championships...

06:30 FIA European Drag Racing 2008 08:00 Quattro Events 2009 09:40 FIM World Motocross MX1/MX2...

11:20 Lucas Oil Ama Motocross Championships...

13:00 LG Action Sports World...

13:50 Dr Danger 14:40 Eds Up 15:05 Fantasy Factory 17:10 I’ll Do Anything 18:00 Dr Danger 18:50 Lucas Oil Ama Motocross Championships...

20:30 LG Action Sports World...

21:20 Fantasy Factory 22:10 Dr Danger 23:00 I’ll Do Anything 23:50 Aiya TV

00:30 01:20 02:10 03:00 04:45 05:15 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:40 14:30 15:20 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30

A Haunting The Haunted Ghost Lab A Haunting Amsterdam Vice On The Case With Paula Zahn Mystery Diagnosis Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Fugitive Strike Force FBI Files On The Case With Paula Zahn Solved Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Fugitive Strike Force Forensic Detectives Murder Shift FBI Files Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 South Park 02:00 Saturday Night Live 03:00 Saturday Night Live 03:00 Til Death 03:30 8 Simple Rules ...

04:00 South Park 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Will And Grace 06:00 According To Jim 06:30 Family Biz 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Melissa And Joey 08:30 Dharma And Greg 09:00 Til Death 09:30 Will And Grace 10:00 According To Jim 10:30 Melissa And Joey 11:00 Family Biz 11:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:30 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 13:00 8 Simple Rules ...

13:30 Will And Grace 14:00 According To Jim 14:30 How I Met Your Mother 15:00 Melissa And Joey 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Family Biz 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Rita Rocks 18:30 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 19:00 Seinfeld 19:30 Sons Of Tucson 20:00 Two And A Half Men 20:30 Cougar Town 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Neighbors From Hell 22:30 That Mitchell And Webb Look 23:00 South Park 23:30 Two And A Half Men

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Goal III-18 King Arthur-PG15 Penny Dreadful-18 House Under Siege-PG15 Shinjuku Incident-PG15 Fast And Furious-PG15 The Three Musketeers-PG15 Shinjuku Incident-PG15 The Fast And The Furious Unbreakable-PG15 Dark Moon Rising-PG15 Lake Placid 3-18

00:00 Dragnet-PG15 02:00 The Out Of Towners-PG15 04:00 Can’t Buy Me Love-PG15 06:00 Revenge Of The Bridesmaids¬†¬†¬†¬†¬†-PG15 08:00 Everybody Wants To Be Italian10:00 Green Card-PG15 12:00 17 Again-PG15 14:00 Saved!-PG15 16:00 Dragnet-PG15 18:00 Head Over Heels-PG15 20:00 That Thing You Do!-PG 22:00 Dance Flick-18

00:45 Jerry Maguire-18 03:00 G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra 05:00 Julie And Julia-PG15 07:00 School Of Rock-PG15 09:00 The Lovely Bones-PG15 11:15 Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian-PG15 13:00 Catch That Kid-PG15 15:00 Enid-PG15 16:45 The Lovely Bones-PG15 19:00 Just Married-PG15 21:00 Cemetery Junction-PG15 23:00 The Reader-18

00:00 Monsters Inc-FAM 02:00 Barney’s Great AdventureFAM 04:00 The Amazing Zorro-PG15 06:00 Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea-FAM 08:00 Free Willy: Escape From Pirate’s Cove-FAM 10:00 Monsters Inc-FAM 12:00 Scooby-Doo Meets The Boo Brothers-FAM 14:00 Aliens In The Attic-FAM 16:00 Delgo-FAM 18:00 Nanny Mcphee And The Big Bang-PG 20:00 Daddy Day Care-PG 22:00 Scooby-Doo Meets The Boo Brothers-FAM

00:00 Long Weekend-PG15 02:00 Nowhere Boy-PG15 04:00 Elle: A Modern Day Cinderella Tale-PG15 06:00 My Dog Tulip-PG 08:00 9-PG 10:00 Oceans - Into The Deep-PG 12:00 Paper Man-PG15 14:00 Coco Before Chanel-PG15 16:00 9-PG 18:00 Tooth Fairy-PG 20:00 Cemetery Junction-PG15

01:00 Super 15 07:00 Live NRL Premiership 09:00 ATP Tennis 11:00 ATP Tennis 13:00 Trans World Sport 14:00 Live European PGA Tour 18:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 19:00 Futbol Mundial 19:30 ATP Tennis 21:30 European PGA Tour

02:00 NRL Premiership 04:00 Futbol Mundial 04:30 ATP Tennis

06:30 07:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 16:30 18:30 19:00 20:00 22:00 22:30

ICC Cricket World Trans World Sports Live NRL Premiership NRL Premiership Super 15 NRL Premiership Futbol Mundial Live ATP Tennis ICC Cricket World Trans World Sport Live Super League Mobil 1 The Grid Futbol Mundial

00:30 01:30 02:30 03:00 04:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 11:30 12:00 13:30 14:30 16:30 17:00 20:00 23:00

UFC 131 Countdown UFC Unleashed UFC All Access Live UFC 131 Prelims Live UFC 131 Live Le Mans 24 Hour Race Le Mans Series Mobil 1 The Grid UAE National Race Day Series Mobil 1 The Grid Live Le Mans 24 Hour Race WWE Bottom Line Live Le Mans 24 Hour Race V8 Supercars Extra Live Masters Football UFC 131 Le Mans 24 Hour Race

00:00 01:00 01:55 02:25 03:20 04:15 05:10 05:35 06:05 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:55 10:20 10:50 11:50 12:50 20:20 20:45 21:15 22:10 23:05

Homes With Style Fashion Avenue Big Boutique How Do I Look?

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Married Away Homes With Style Area Clean House Big Boutique Clean House Top 10 Homes With Style Homes With Style Bridalplasty Bridalplasty Ruby Fashion Police Clean House Comes Clean Giuliana & Bill Ruby Bridalplasty

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Inside The Body Of Henry VIII America: The Story Of The Us Clash Of The Gods Surviving History Inside The Body Of Henry VIII America: The Story Of The Us Clash Of The Gods Surviving History Inside The Body Of Henry VIII America: The Story Of The Us Clash Of The Gods Surviving History Inside The Body Of Henry VIII America: The Story Of The Us Clash Of The Gods Ancient Wonders Egyptian Book Of The Dead

00:15 01:55 03:35 05:35 07:00 08:30 10:30 12:30 14:25 16:15 18:15 20:10 22:00

Elvis: That’s The Way It Is The Liquidator Shoot The Moon Black Legion Never Let Me Go The Yellow Rolls-Royce Never So Few Gigi Young Cassidy A Man For All Seasons Bear Island Travels With My Aunt The Prize

Classifieds SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

Healthy Living

ACCOMMODATION

No: 15117

Lean cookout cuisine

Sharing accommodation available for a Keralite bachelor near Downtown Holiday Inn, Sharq.

Contact: 99387111/ 97929183.

Grilled vegetables can be a healthy, low-fat, tasty addition to any barbecue.

How to grill veggies

One fully furnished room with attached bathroom available for decent bachelor or small family. Two bedroom C-A/C flat in Fintas, near London Hospital close to Fahaheel highway.

Contact: 60020168. (C 3433) 11-6-2011

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Sharing accommodation available for Indian decent Hindu or Catholic bachelors or small family with Mangalorean family two bedrooms, window A/C, opp. Rashid Hospital, Shara Amman, Salmiya. Contact: 55995437. (C 3431)

© 2011 MCT

MATRIMONIAL Keralite Christian Anglo Indian boy B.E, 27 yrs, 175cms, working with MNC Bangalore invites suitable proposals (caste no bar).

Contact Email: shinestoncorreya@gmail.com (C 3432) 11-6-2011

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Airlines

Flt

RJA JZR KAC THY ETH UAE DHX ETD FDB GFA QTR KAC FCX JZR KAC BAW KAC KAC IRA KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE QTR ABY IRA ETD GFA IRC FCX MEA JZR JZR JZR RBG KAC MSR UAL RJA KAC FDB KAC SVA

642 267 1550 772 620 853 370 305 67 211 138 544 201 555 412 157 206 382 615 302 332 53 678 352 284 855 132 125 603 301 213 6801 203 404 165 121 561 3553 672 610 982 640 774 57 562 500

Arrival Flights on Sunday 12/6/2011 Route AMMAN BEIRUT SHARM EL SHEIKH ISTANBUL ADDIS ABABA DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA CAIRO DUBAI ALEXANDRIA MANILA / BANGKOK LONDON ISLAMABAD DELHI SHAHRE KORD MUMBAI TRIVANDRUM DUBAI MUSCAT / DUBAI COCHIN DHAKA DUBAI DOHA SHARJAH SHIRAZ ABU DHABI BAHRAIN AHWAZ DUBAI BEIRUT DUBAI BAHRAIN SOHAG ALEXANDRIA / SOHAG DUBAI CAIRO WASHINGTON DC DULLES AMMAN RIYADH DUBAI AMMAN JEDDAH

Time 0:05 0:35 0:40 1:15 1:45 2:25 2:55 2:55 3:10 3:15 3:20 4:40 5:25 6:10 6:15 6:30 7:15 7:20 7:35 7:50 7:55 7:55 8:00 8:05 8:10 8:25 9:00 9:10 9:25 9:30 9:35 10:15 10:30 10:55 11:10 11:15 12:30 12:55 13:15 13:20 13:30 13:35 13:40 13:50 14:20 14:30

KAC KAC JZR QTR ETD UAE GFA SVA JZR JZR ABY JZR JZR ALK KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JAI SYR FDB OMA VOS MEA KAC KAC DHX UAE KAC GFA QTR AFG UAL AIC JZR JZR JZR MSR DLH AXB JZR KLM BBC JZR PIA

788 746 257 134 303 857 215 510 777 239 127 213 177 227 166 542 618 786 614 674 102 572 341 61 647 81 402 552 512 372 859 172 217 136 405 981 981 135 787 185 612 636 389 539 447 45 481 205

JEDDAH ABU DHABI / DAMMAM BEIRUT DOHA ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH JEDDAH AMMAN SHARJAH DEIREZZOR / ALEPPO DUBAI COLOMBO / DUBAI PARIS / ROME CAIRO DOHA JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI NEW YORK / LONDON MUMBAI DAMASCUS / ALEPPO DUBAI MUSCAT BAGHDAD BEIRUT DAMASCUS TEHRAN BAHRAIN DUBAI FRANKFURT BAHRAIN DOHA KABUL / DUBAI BAHRAIN CHENNAI / AHMEDABAD BAHRAIN RIYADH DUBAI CAIRO FRANKFURT KOZHIKODE / MANGALORE CAIRO AMSTERDAM / BAHRAIN DHAKA / BAHRAIN SABIHA LAHORE

15:00 15:05 15:10 15:15 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:25 17:35 17:40 17:50 18:00 18:00 18:40 18:50 18:55 19:00 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:35 19:55 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:15 20:15 21:00 21:00 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:35 22:00 22:00 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:35 22:50 23:00 23:10 23:30 23:35 23:45 23:50 23:55

Departur AXB DLH AIC THY ETH UAE FDB DHX ETD QTR JZR JZR RJA GFA VOS JZR BAW IRA FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR ETD GFA KAC IRA JZR IRC FCX MEA KAC JZR JZR KAC KAC RBG JZR

Flt 394 637 976 773 620 854 68 371 306 139 560 164 643 212 94 120 156 614 54 171 671 745 117 256 561 787 856 126 133 302 214 773 602 212 6802 204 405 541 776 238 103 785 3554 176

Depurture Flights on Sunday 12/6/2011 Route COCHIN / KOZHIKODE FRANKFURT GOA / CHENNAI ISTANBUL BAHRAIN / ADDIS ABABA DUBAI DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DOHA SOHAG DUBAI AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI / KANDAHAR BAHRAIN LONDON SHAHRE KORD DUBAI FRANKFURT DUBAI DAMMAM / ABU DHABI NEW YORK BEIRUT AMMAN JEDDAH DUBAI SHARJAH DOHA ABU DHABI BAHRAIN RIYADH SHIRAZ DEIREZZOR / ALEPPO AHWAZ DUBAI BEIRUT CAIRO JEDDAH AMMAN LONDON JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA DUBAI

Time 0:15 0:40 0:50 2:15 2:30 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 5:00 5:55 6:55 7:00 7:10 8:00 8:20 8:25 8:35 8:40 8:55 9:00 9:05 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:25 9:40 9:50 10:00 10:15 10:20 10:20 10:25 10:50 11:15 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:00 12:10 12:30 13:30 13:35 13:40

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

MSR RJA FDB UAL KAC KAC KAC SVA JZR QTR KAC KAC JZR ETD UAE GFA ABY JZR SVA JZR JZR ALK JZR KAC KAC JAI FDB SYR KAC KAC OMA MEA KAC DHX UAE GFA FCX QTR KAC KAC JZR JZR JZR KAC UAL KAC MSR

611 641 58 982 551 673 617 503 480 135 613 511 538 304 858 216 128 184 511 786 204 228 134 283 361 571 62 342 343 351 648 403 543 373 860 218 102 137 301 205 502 554 530 411 981 415 613

CAIRO AMMAN DUBAI BAHRAIN DAMASCUS DUBAI DOHA MEDINAH / JEDDAH SABIHA DOHA BAHRAIN TEHRAN CAIRO ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN SHARJAH DUBAI RIYADH RIYADH DAMASCUS DUBAI / COLOMBO BAHRAIN DHAKA COLOMBO MUMBAI DUBAI ALEPPO / DAMASCUS CHENNAI COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT CAIRO BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD LUXOR ALEXANDRIA ASSIUT BANGKOK / MANILA WASHINGTON DC DULLES KUALA LUMPUR / JAKARTA CAIRO

14:20 14:30 14:35 14:45 14:55 15:10 15:35 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:20 16:30 16:40 17:35 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:25 18:35 18:40 18:55 19:10 19:10 20:00 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:55 22:00 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:55 23:05 23:10 23:35 23:40 23:40 23:50 23:50

34

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

s ta rs CROSSWORD 346

CALVIN & HOBBES

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) The world is a sacred place to you and you have an absolute commitment to spiritual ideas. Intuition is a fact of life and you are sensitive, kind and gentle to those close to you. You are a romantic, with a tender heart.

You always work for a real future, doing what has to be done. You love all that is musical and artistic any may enjoy the company of your musical friends this afternoon.

You have a sensitivity to all that is psychic. You have real faith. Your friends, partners and relationships mean a lot to you. They are a primary source of strength and you look to them for support and encouragement. You are indeed a social being and will no doubt weave this fact into your lifestyle. This evening you may have time to work on an important to-do list.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. Extremely pleasing.

4. A person who is very poor.

10. Having undesirable or negative qualities.

13. How long something has existed.

14. Generic term for inflammatory conditions of the skin.

15. The compass point midway between east and southeast.

16. A state of extreme confusion and disorder.

18. Water frozen in the solid state.

20. Covered with paving material.

22. Someone who buys old buildings or ships and breaks them up to recover the materials in them.

24. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

26. An insecticide that is also toxic to animals and humans.

27. An Indian nursemaid who looks after children.

30. In bed.

34. An oleoresin used in varnishes and ointments.

38. One of the most common of the five major classes of immunoglobulins.

39. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

42. A song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person.

44. Extreme mental retardation.

46. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

47. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice.

48. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

55. The capital and largest city of Zimbabwe.

58. (of exocrine glands) Producing a clear aqueous secretion without releasing part of the secreting cell.

59. Blood cells that engulf and digest bacteria and fungi.

60. Any member of Athapaskan tribes that migrated to the southwestern desert (from Arizona to Texas and south into Mexico).

62. Kidney disease characterized by enlarged kidneys containing many cysts.

63. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

64. A young unmarried woman.

65. The organ of sight (`peeper' is an informal term for `eye').

DOWN 1. A piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred.

2. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

3. Massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws.

4. (Judaism) A Jewish festival (traditionally 8 days) celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

5. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

6. A type of submachine gun that is designed and manufactured in Israel.

7. (often followed by `of') A large number or amount or extent.

8. Improved or corrected by critical editing.

9. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

10. A beckoning gesture.

11. United States tennis player who was the first Black to win United States and English singles championships (1943-1993).

12. Distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers.

17. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

19. A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body.

21. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

23. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders.

25. The cry made by sheep.

28. United States baseball player (born 1925).

29. South American armadillo with three bands of bony plates.

31. Disabled in the feet or legs.

32. Small ornamental ladies' bag for small articles.

33. Flat tableland with steep edges.

35. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

36. A small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB gun.

37. (mathematics) Directly proportional.

40. The syllable naming the fourth (subdominant) note of the diatonic scale in solmization.

41. A small stalk bearing a single flower of an inflorescence.

43. An amino acid that is found in the central nervous system.

45. A region in central Italy.

49. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is opened and a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart.

50. Type genus of the family Arcidae.

51. Either of two large muscles of the chest.

52. A tube with a small bowl at one end.

53. Of the color of black ink.

54. Give over.

56. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material.

57. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

61. Before noon.

Yesterday’s Solution

You like your life regular and find little value in new trends and inventions for their own sake. However, today may be a day for change—easy does it. Any sort of change threatens you more than most and you do all you can to ignore it. Every so often, like those earthquake faults, all hell breaks loose and some of this catches up with you. You are not waiting for an earthquake to hit today. However, the changes that are scheduled will be more conducive to home and perhaps, self-improvement. You enjoy searching out and defining points of transformation, areas for growth. Someone may need your advice and encouragement today. You are not afraid to get into the most difficult situations; you always come up with the essence of the matter at hand.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Your dreams and visions are the number-one component for action in your chart. Your imagination and creativeness are crucial to your functioning. This is a time of good fortune when things open up in a very natural way for you. Do not expect to change or accomplish goals overnight.

Concentrate on balance and work at creating a balance one day at a time.

Opportunities abound and you may find yourself wanting and able to do almost everything. Warning here; easy does it. Relationships are very important during this time and can make a positive influence on your career and workplace. You could feel great support from those around you today. Others really want you to be happy.

Enjoy a leisure evening.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

You work with real imagination and understanding in the most personal and private areas of the mind: depth psychology. Religion, politics and philosophy are a natural. You enjoy communication with fair, just, frank and broad-minded persons. You are sociable and sports-minded. You dare to dream big. You like new philosophies, long novels and may find yourself in bookstores this Saturday. You are very imaginative when it comes to your health, the food you eat and how you take care of yourself. Quick to get the picture, you may find yourself helping others see the benefits that proper care can bring. Not everyone needs the same health techniques that you might find beneficial for yourself. Share, but within reason.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

ZITS

Easy does it today. Anytime you make changes—your pattern of living or personality—you could cause others to unconsciously test your sincerity. When your patterns, habits or directions change, some of the people around you will also change. Chin up! You will be able to work through any hot spots that come up at this time. You are brilliant when it comes to insights of the mind, psychology and motivation—yours or others’. Your analytical powers are superb and you enjoy finding new avenues of inner growth. You also enjoy hearing about people from all over the world and a volunteer group brings many opportunities for those spiritual insights you seek. This evening would be a good time for a creative hobby.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) An absorbing project should have your attention much of this morning. Compare, ask questions and use your intuition before plopping down any large sums of money. You really should do quite well with your investment choices for next week, but today you may choose to gain some good recommendations from a family member. The good life and all that is fine and luxurious may be what you aim for now. Others may find you especially witty today. A good sense of humor will lift many spirits. Get out and mingle with friends and neighbors.

The mood is upbeat. This is a nice day that should just flow along. In particular, you will do well in activities that include children, young people and your home and surroundings.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

You could make a career out of group or community work.

Anything involving attempts to bring large-scale and humanitarian dreams and ideas into reality will be easily handled by you. Your ideals and inner vision keep what is best for everyone, ever on your mind. You are charming and always manage to enchant others with your words and manner. You bring a sense of the beyond and mystical to any conversation. You are like a fish in water when people are watching—you have a natural social charm. Political and lucky too! You have a natural sense of what is right. Law or education could be where you will find your enthusiasm the highest. Clear decisions affecting others could be made now. Others show you their appreciation.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You are original when it comes to home and surroundings. This could also manifest in unusual ways of supporting yourself. You may have new ideas about the past, history and young people. You find it easy to create an unusual environment and enjoy surrounding yourself with what is new and different. You are beginning to better understand those around you and to have a special time with someone you love this afternoon. You can appreciate the difficulties of others and you usually are very understanding of their difficulties. You value a giving attitude. Politics would be good for you but so would some sort of volunteer activity with homeless or disadvantaged individuals. Home is your favorite place to be tonight.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Today you find all sorts of fun ways to work with your mind. Your sharp perceptions make finding new solutions easy. You may even be having a little fun with those who do not think you will either find the right answer or create a new solution. You are able to teach or help others to be more original when it comes to the words or thoughts. There are puzzles and games and fun ways to create your own puzzles and games . . . this would be a good challenge for those family members that are bored. You are able to enjoy and value your own life situation and there are notably good feelings toward a friend or loved one now.

Someone is waiting for you to respond to a serious request. Your heart knows the answer . . . share the words gently.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) There is an urge to strike out on your own in a new direction, to take on new challenges no matter what the risks. You can be bold, perhaps headstrong and impatient today. You go where angels fear to tread, perhaps. A short trip or visit with friends may help to bring your Saturday into a better focus.

Hey, why not take a hot air balloon ride? It would certainly quench your thirst for adventure and can be a relatively safe endeavor. You are probably very witty and prefer an unusual method of communicating to others. Your sense of the unity behind things spiritual and psychological is clear and felt by those around you. You are, no doubt, a romantic, at home in the world of dreams and images. You enjoy playing with your friends or family today.

Yesterday’s Solution Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Neighborhood affairs and relationships could come on the scene.

Communication efforts are rewarded and positive strokes from others make this a good day. You may seem wiser than your age and probably treat your elders with great respect. You are disciplined and perhaps too sober. You may find yourself analyzing and psychoanalyzing life’s predicaments. You are very innovative in your approach to home, family, the domestic scene and can really see how to get into traditional values. You have natural insight into sensations, feelings and just living life. You like to relax by gardening, cooking and being with family. You can really enjoy the humdrum of the day. You might enjoy a watermelon party this afternoon. There is plenty of laughter.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

You may find yourself becoming less interested in recognition at this time. You may become more interested in your own inner changes. This is not a time to start any great new projects. You may wish to consolidate what you now have; pull back a bit. There will be an interest in your own psyche, religion and spiritual ideas now. In summary, here is a natural breaking-point in life, a time to let go of what occupied your energies for the last years and create a new attitude. You bring order and organization to areas where new development is taking place. You can teach and help others to do this as well. You have a natural talent for finding your way past the pitfalls of life. You may be setting dates for travel soon— your plans will be successful.

A

y

e niv rsar n

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

Years

i n f o r m at i o n FIRE BRIGADE

STATE ST TATE T OF KUW K KUWAIT WA AIT

Tel.: T el.: 161 e

DIRECTORA DIRECTORATE AT TE GENE GENERAL ERAL OF CIVIL A AVIATION V VIA AT TION METEOROLOGICAL DEP D DEPARTMENT PA ARTMENT

112

DA AY: Y Saturday DAY:

WWW .MET.GOV V..KW W WWW.MET.GOV.KW

11/06/2011 1 1/06/2011

Ministry of Interior

Ext.: 2627 262 27 - 2630

Fax: 24348714

07:00

Time Issue Time

Expected Weather Weather for the Next 24 4 Hours Dusty with moderate to fresh north h westerly wind, with speed of 20 - 45 km/h

BY Y DA DAY: AY:

website: www.moi.gov.kw Dust will light westerly w subside gradually with li ght to moderate north weste rly wind, with speed of 15 - 38 km/h

NIGHT:: BY Y NIGHT

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

dust

WARNING W A ARNING STATION ST TATION T

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

24812000

MAX. EXP EXP. P.

MIN.. REC.

KUW WA AIT CITY KUWAIT

42 °C

33 °C

KUW WA AIT AIRPORT AIRPOR RT KUWAIT

43 °C

29 °C

45 °C C

30 °C C

Amiri Hospital

22450005

NUW WA AISEEB NUWAISEEB

Maternity Hospital

24843100

WAFRA A WAFRA

44 °C

28 °C

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

SALMI

41 °C

26 °C

Chest Hospital

24849400

ABDAL LY ABDALY

43 °C

29 °C

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

ALIY YA AH JAL ALIYAH

42 °C

28 °C

Adan Hospital

23940620

FAILAKA A FAILAKA

43 °C

30 °C

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

POR RT AHMADI PORT

42 °C

34 °C

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

M UMM AL-MARADEM

37 °C

32 °C

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

WARBA A A - BUBYAN BUBY YA AN WARBA

43 °C

29 °C

Clinics Rabiya

4732263

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

SFC. CHAR CHART T

1 1/06/2011 0000 UTC 11/06/2011

Temperatures Temperratures DATE DA AT TE

WEA WEATHER AT THER

Sunday

12/06

Monday

13/06

24849807

T uesday Tuesday

Shamiya

24848913

W eednesday Wednesday

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

MAX.

MIN.

Wind Wind Direction Direction

Wind Wind Speed

hot + raising du ust dust

44 °C

30 °C

NW

25 - 45 km/h

dusty

42 °C

31 °C

NW

25 - 50 km/h

14/06

dusty

41 °C

30 °C

NW

25 - 50 km/h

15/06

dusty

40 °C

31 °C

NW

25 - 45 km/h

PRAYER PR RA AY YER TIMES

RECORDED D YESTERDAY YESTERDA AY AT AT KUW KUWAIT WA AIT T AIRPORT AIRPORT

Fajr

03:13

MAX. MA AX. Temp.

Temp.

43 °C

22526804

Sunrise S i

04:48 04 48

MIN. Temp.

MI IN T IN. emp.

34 °C

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Zuhr

1 1:47 11:47

MAX. RH M

19 %

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Asr

15:21

MIN. RH M

04 %

Dasmah

22532265

Sunset

18:47

MAX. Wind MA AX. W ind

Isha

20:19

TOTAL RAINFALL T OT TA AL L RAI INF FA ALL L IN 24 HR.

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

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

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

POLICE STATION

4 DA DAYS AY YS FORECAST DAY DA AY

Al-Madena

un nless otherwise stated.

All times are local time unless

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

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry

NW W 64 km/h

about the Civil ID card is 1889988

00 mm

11/06/11 03:01 UTC 11/06/11

V1.00

T1.06

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 Jazeera Airways Jet Airways FlyDubai 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 177 22924455 22414400 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 22958787 22453820/1 22404838/9

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

lifestyle G O S S I P

Duchess Catherine ‘loving’ every minute of married life he brunette beauty - who wed Prince William in April - told guests at a recent gala dinner how she was incredibly happy since tying the knot in April even though she sometimes finds her new royal role “surreal”. One guest at the exclusive bash at London’s Kensington Palace told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Kate said she was ‘loving it’ when asked what married life was like. She added that it was surreal sometimes but that’s to be expected. “She said she was total-

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ly and blissfully happy and her eyes lit up whenever William’s name was mentioned.

The pair are clearly so in love.” Catherine was making her first official public appearance with William at the 10th annual Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) Gala Dinner on Thursday and while the bash was completely over-the-top, onlookers say the couple didn’t seem to mind. The onlooker added: “It was the most extravagant, ostentatious, over-thetop bash you can ever imagine with bankers

splashing their cash like there’s no tomorrow.

It was not the sort of occasion you would normally associate with royalty. But Kate and Wills took it in their stride like true professionals.” Earlier in the evening, William addressed the crowd to announce his wife had joined the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry as a patron. He said: “My brother, Catherine and I hope to use our philanthropy as a long-term catalyst for meaningful change.”

he Hollywood heartthrob is currently shooting new film ‘Gravity’ at London’s Shepperton Studios and to make sure he can relax in privacy when he gets time off, he requested a luxury chill-out complex. A source told The Sun newspaper: “George has really brought a bit of California to London.

“His private area is amazing and is better than most people’s houses. “Because he’s such a big star he can request pretty much whatever he wants and he usually gets it.

Scene builders can build anything on a film set - and that goes for facilities for the actors too. It’s quite a sight.” As well as relaxing, George, 50, has also had a basketball court installed so he can get some regular exercise. But it’s not just George who’s allowed in the private complex, his co-star Sandra Bullock and her 16-month-old son Louis are regular visitors. The source added: “George lets Louis play on his decking and has a right laugh with him. He is big mates with Sandra, they’ve known each other for years.”

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Kim having replica of

engagement ring made

he reality TV star - who got engaged to New Jersey Nets basketball player Kris Humphries last month - is having an exact copy created but with a cubic zirconia instead of a diamond, because she is too afraid of damaging the 20.5 carat genuine version. A source told RadarOnline.com: “It’s going to be perfect and really difficult to detect that it’s a fake to the untrained eye. “But, it will be a huge weight off of Kim’s mind. Walking around wearing a ring that’s worth around half the value of her house worries her sick, but at the same time she wants to wear the ring all the time. “Kim is totally in love with it, as she is Kris, and she wants to show it off. This, she believes, is the perfect solution. “She will wear the real thing when she goes to special events or when she feels comfortable, but when she’s just tooling around she can wear her ‘decoy’.” But the ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ star - who is set to tie the knot with Kris in the summer - will still have to take care of the “top notch” replica because it is still an expensive piece of jewellery. The source added: “The decoy is still going to be pretty valuable! Kim has chosen a great jeweller who specialises in costume jewellery and he’s going to make a fantastic replica. “This isn’t going to be some tacky cheap-looking bauble like you would win at an arcade, it’s going to be absolutely classy and top notch - just like Kim!”

T

Clooney

has custom-made beach hut installed on set

Hefner doesn’t believe monogamy is ‘natural’ he 85-year-old media mogul - who is famed for dating multiple women at the same time - is preparing to marry Crystal Harris later this month and insists he is a good husband who intends to remain faithful, though he feels it could be difficult. He said: “I’m totally capable of being a good husband. I can be devoted, sensitive. Faithful? Yes. Absolutely. “I do think that monogamy is possible. I just don’t think it’s the natural way of things.” The Playboy founder - who has been married twice before - admits there is a “student-teacher” aspect to his relationship with 24-year-old Crystal but can’t imagine spending the rest of his life with anyone else.

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Gaga to go on tour again he 25-year-old pop superstar has just completed her ‘Monster Ball Tour’ after first setting out on the road in November 2009, but she intends to start rehearsing for her next run of concerts at the end of the year. When asked what her tour plans are for the future, she said: “I do have plans, it will be at the top of next year but I have to begin rehearsing by the end of this year. That’s what I do.

It’s time for another marathon.” Gaga’s latest album ‘Born This Way’ has topped the charts in over 20 countries but she insists she isn’t worried about peaking too soon in her career. If anything, Gaga says her ambition is to follow it up with an even bigger and better record, because she wants her career to be a “marathon” instead of a sprint. She added to BANG Showbiz: “If you’re running a marathon, and you’re about to cross the finish line, you don’t stop and say, ‘Oh, once I cross it, it’s over.’

You run as fast as you can to get there as quickly as you can. So I guess, for me, it’s about how many marathons can I run? How many dreams can I make true? Now, not for me, but for my fans.”

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Mel C thinks ‘Spice babies’ would make reunion difficult he 37-year-old singer - who was joined in the band by Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton - admitted while she would love the five-piece to get together for a reunion tour there are “babies everywhere”, which could make it “difficult”. Mel - who has two-year-old daughter Scarlett with her partner Thomas Starr - exclusively told BANG Showbiz: “I didn’t think it would happen the first time around and it did, and it was such good fun. I would love to do it but the timing would have to be right and we’ve got to make sure all the other girls are up for it. “It’s difficult with all the Spice babies though, everyone has got so much on their plates right now and of course we’ve got Victoria and Melanie’s babies due to be born in the next few months. “There are literally babies everywhere at the moment - there’s so many of them now, it’s incredible.” Mel B is currently pregnant with her third child, but her first with husband Stephen Belafonte, while Victoria - who already has three sons with her husband David - is due to give birth to a girl on July 4. Emma has two sons, threeyear-old Beau and newborn Tate, with her fiance Jade Jones and Geri has a fiveyear-old daughter Bluebell. The ‘When You’re Gone’ singer admits she still misses her time with the globe-conquering girl group, and would love to “re-live” it again. She added: “We’ve had such great success and we’ve got such great fans out there, it’s really nice to get back together because people want to see it.

“When you’re in something you really take it for granted but then when you step away from the situation you miss it, so it would be nice to re-live it again. It seems like a lifetime ago. I still think, ‘Did that really happen?’ I’ve got so many great memories of that time.”

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Selena Gomez’s mother gives Bieber seal of approval he ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ star has been dating the 17-year-old singer since the beginning of this year, and she has revealed Justin has met her parents, Mandy and Rocardo who divorced when she was five. When Selena was asked by chat show host Jay Leno whether she had introduced the teen singing sensation to her mum, she said: “Yes. He passed the test.”

The 18-year-old beauty who has also previously dated ‘Twilight’ star Taylor Lautner and singer Nick Jonas - also revealed while filming ‘Monte Carlo’ in the Monaco capital recently, she and her cousin landed themselves in trouble at an exclusive hotel for walking around in “bikinis and shorts”. Selena explained: “I stayed in this stunning hotel that was really pretty, that the movie set us up at, and we moved within two days because they frowned upon us. “Well, you’re in Monte Carlo and you want to go the beach, and my cousin had on a bikini and shorts and people are walking around in ballgowns in the lobby, so we got in trouble.”

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

lifestyle Music & Movies

Filipino Junrey Balawing (C), who unofficially measures about 24 1/4 inches (61cm), poses for photographs with his family at a health centre in Sindangan town Zamboanga Del Norte in the southern Philippines yesterday.—AP

Filipino expected to be named world’s shortest man O

fficials say a Filipino about two feet tall is expected to be named the world’s shortest man when he turns 18 today. Lolit Homay, municipal health officer in Zamboanga del Norte province’s Sindangan township, says Junrey Balawing

was measured at about 24 inches (61 centimeters) from head to foot lying down and slightly above 23 inches (58 centimeters) standing up yesterday. A representative of Guinness World Records is to announce the official measurements todaay. Current

record holder Khagendra Thapa Magar of Nepal is 26.4 inches tall. Municipal administrator Allan Selda says the local government is preparing to celebrate the expected Guinness announcement with balloons and a cake for Balawing.—AP

Junrey Balawing poses for a Guinness World Records-hired photographer after a series of measurement conducted by its representative at Sindangan Health Center, Sindangan township, Zamboanga Del Norte province in Southern Philippines yesterday the eve of his 18th birthday which is coincidentally is the Philippines Independence Day. —AP

Philippines’ historic walled city to rise again

A

fter enduring wars, earthquakes, fires and poverty-driven neglect, the walled city of Intramuros that makes up the Philippine capital’s historic centre may rise again as a tourist attraction.

Government planners see the UNESCO World Heritage listed but famously dilapidated site becoming one of Manila’s biggest drawcards, similar to Singapore’s Clarke Quay but with the added colour of centuries of history.

“We’re going to make this the ‘in’ place to be,” said Intramuros Administration chief Jose Capistrano.

“It will be a living Intramuros with tabernas and tapas,” he said, referring to Spanish-style restaurants and their signature finger snacks.

Eventually, the administration hopes to have fireworks displays and light shows projected on the structure’s six-metre (20-foot) high walls at night, Capistrano told reporters. The ambitious project will involve rehabilitating and reconstructing buildings, as well as developing a riverside area called the Maestranza Park into a mall for upmarket restaurants and shops.

But this endeavour will require tens of millions of dollars in investments which the cash-strapped government cannot afford, so it is hoping the private sector will sign up.

Administration officials have been meeting with some of the country’s real estate giants to drum up their interest in investing in the project, and Capistrano said their reactions had been very favorable. “They are interested in the projects. We feel confident that they will be coming in,” he told AFP. Capistrano said that, although a definitive cost estimate for the renovation had not yet been finalised, the potential investors were not intimidated by the large scope of the proj-

ect. “No one said it might cost too much. The reaction when we tell them what these projects are has been very good,” he said, adding he hoped to start a bidding process by the end of the year.

The 64-hectare (158-acre) Intramuros area, whose name literally means ‘within the walls’, served as the heart of Manila’s political, religious and cultural life from its founding by Spanish colonial rulers in 1571. Its 4.2-kilometres (2.6 miles) of walls surrounded most of the government’s offices as well as major churches, schools and trading centres during the three centuries the country was under Spanish rule, which ended in 1898.

It was designed with walls, gates and gun emplacements to protect the Spanish residents from the Filipino masses, as well as guard the mouth of Manila’s main river, the Pasig. Chinatown was also famously placed within cannonball distance of Intramuros so the Spanish could fire down on the Chinese traders whenever they became too troublesome.

But Intramuros started falling into decline after the Spanish left, with most of the damage occuring during World War II when US forces shelled Japanese troops hiding inside the walls.

Many historic buildings, including nine of the 10 churches within Intramuros, were destroyed in the war. Some of these derelict structures are still standing, a reminder of the area’s lost grandeur. Over the centuries, earthquakes and fires have also taken their toll. And while Intramuros’s value is in its history, modern pressures have continued to erode its structures. Parts of Intramuros today include a busy commercial and government district, containing several government offices, four major universities and a

NY tells pet cemeteries to stop taking in humans

A Photo taken on May 19, 2011 shows costruction engineers inspecting a restored section of a damaged wall in the walled city of intramuros, in Manila.

After enduring wars, earthquakes, fires and poverty-driven neglect, the walled city of Intramuros that makes up the Philippine capital’s historic centre may rise again as a tourist attraction. —AFP

variety of businesses. All of this results in congestion, noise, frequent traffic jams and a chronic lack of parking space. The area also houses more than 3,000 families of squatters who often can be seen asking tourists for alms while their shanties and graffiti mar the image of the walled city, according to Capistrano.

He said the administration had limited power to evict the squatters.

Many of them are on private property and are protected by laws designed to help the urban poor. Tourism professionals operating in the area look forward to the upgrade but question whether the government can deliver amid the deterioration, overcrowding and squalor that have become common in parts of Intramuros.

“We need restructuring of the buildings, getting rid of the slumdwellers, beautifying the place. There is so much garbage, there are eyesores,” said Jose Mananzan, head of the Intramuros Tourism Council.

Nevertheless, even without private investors, the government has taken the first step, spending 150 million pesos ($3.5 million) to turn the ruined shell of a church into a museum housing religious artifacts,

Capistrano said.

Portions of the old historic wall in Maestranza that were torn down in the 1900s have also already been reconstructed through a Japanese grant, he said. This time, instead of housing gunpowder and cannon balls, the wall’s vaulted inner chambers will hopefully house cafes and shops. More restoration work is underway at the Intramuros’s garrison of Fort Santiago, where workers trained under a Spanish government grant are pulling down cement walls and replacing them with more authentic adobe and lime.

Under the Spanish program, two masons from Mexico taught the Filipinos how to mix lime and shape stone to recreate the original look of the building, which will become the new Intramuros visitors’ centre. “We replaced the old timber that had rotted but we are bringing it back to its original look,” said the workers’ foreman, Jose de Lara.—AFP

HBO, BBC team up for ‘I, Claudius’ miniseries

H

BO is going back into business with “Rome” duo Jane Tranter and Anne Thomopoulos for a miniseries based on Robert Graves’ “I, Claudius.” The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that the BBC Worldwide Productions duo will executive produce with BBC2. Graves’ novel was first published in 1934 as an autobiography of Roman Emperor Claudius and includes the history of the Roman

Empire from Julius Caesar’s assassination to Caligula’s assassination.

The book-and its sequel, “Claudius the God”-were first adapted as a miniseries by BBC Television in 1976 and broadcast stateside as part of PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre. Starring Derek Jacobi as the Roman emperor, the miniseries picked up three Emmy nominations, including outstanding direction and limited series, winning

for art direction.

The HBO/BBC co-production will be based on both books. The project was first adapted for the big-screen in 1937 with director Josef von Sternberg with Charles Laughton as Claudius.

Relativity Media and writer-director Jim Sheridan also eyed a big-screen remake in 2008. Tranter and Thomopoulos produced HBO’s historical drama “Rome,” which ran for two

seasons on the pay cable network.

HBO also is teaming with the BBC for “Parade’s End,” a five-part miniseries set during World War I being written by “Shakespeare in Love” Oscar winner Tom Stoppard, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall starring.—Reuters

state agency has told New York’s animal cemeteries to stop burying the ashes of pet owners alongside their beloved cats, dogs and parakeets.

The order from New York’s Division of Cemeteries comes as a growing number of Americans are deciding to share their final resting place with their pets. The ruling has blocked at least one burial at the 115-year-old Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, which claims to be the nation’s oldest. And it has upset a woman who had prearranged to have her ashes interred there along with five pets, four of which are already buried. “Suddenly I’m not at peace anymore,” Rhona Levy said Friday. “You want to be with the people you are closest with, your true loved ones. The only loved ones I have in my life right now are my pets, which I consider my children.” Levy, 61, said she has no backup plan and is hoping the state order will be reversed. Taylor York, a law professor, said the state order compounded the grief in her family after the April death of her uncle, Thomas Ryan.

Ryan’s wife, Bunny, and their two dogs, B J I and B J II, are buried at Hartsdale. Ryan had arranged, and prepaid, to join them, York said. There’s also a space for B J III, who’s still alive.

But Ryan’s ashes sit in a wooden box at his sister’s home because the state’s new rule won’t allow him into Hartsdale.

“My mother is completely distraught over this,” York said. “She breaks down in tears again and again, every time it crosses her mind. After watching her brother die, she has to go through this insanity?” Hartsdale was ordered to stop taking in human ashes , it never allowed intact human remains , on Feb 8, three days after it was featured in an Associated Press story about human burials in pet cemeteries.

The order was issued statewide in April, said Lisa MacSpadden, spokeswoman for the New York Department of State, which includes the cemetery division.

She said that remains buried in human cemeteries benefit from state protections more so than if they are buried at pet cemeteries.

For instance, she said human cemeteries qualify for the statemandated permanent maintenance fund, which ensures that lots and cemeteries are maintained. Hartsdale, north of

Manhattan, has an estimated 700 humans interred with about 75,000 animals. It has added 10 or 12 in each of the past few years, compared with three to five before, Ed Martin Jr., the cemetery’s president and director, said in February. The International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories has also noted a recent increase nationwide.

The New York cemetery division said any cemetery providing burial space for humans must be operated as a not-for-profit corporation. And by promoting the human-interment service and charging a fee , $235 to open a grave and add ashes , Hartsdale was violating laws governing notfor-profit corporations, it said.

However, Martin says the pet cemetery is a private, for-profit business. And the Division of Cemeteries’ own website says private cemeteries do not fall under its jurisdiction.

“It seems ridiculous we can’t do it,” Martin said Friday. “As of now, we’ve suspended the human part of it, but it’s our position that they don’t have the authority to do this.”

He said the service was an accommodation for customers and never raised significant revenue. York, who has a law practice in addition to her teaching post, has sent the cemeteries division a legal memo detailing why she believes it cannot prevent human burials in pet cemeteries. “The law is clear,” she said. “There’s no authority for this board to just arbitrarily impose nonprofit corporation law on a privately incorporated for-profit business. ... If I have to file a lawsuit, then I’ll file a lawsuit.” “My uncle wants to be buried beside his wife and what he considered to be his children and I’m not letting anyone stand in the way,” she added.

“His love for those dogs was just as real and just as strong as any parent’s for any child.” The state asked Martin to sign a pledge that Hartsdale had stopped human interments, but he has resisted.

Instead, he asked the state to at least “grandfather” the cases of people who had already arranged to have their ashes buried with their pets. MacSpadden said that request would be discussed at the next Cemetery Board meeting. The state position could disrupt Martin’s own plans. He said earlier this year he hoped his ashes would be added to a family plot , including a dog , at Hartsdale.— AP

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

lifestyle

A Japanese singer, a Ukrainian double bass player and singer John Boyd (R) perform in one of Central Park’s eight “quiet zones” June 9, 2011 in New York. Boyd, a 48-year-old with a powerful, deep voice, pulled eight pink sheets from his pocket — park police summons handed out over the last two weeks for fines ranging from $50 to $350 — after authorities began enforcing a new campaign for eight “quiet zones” in the park including some of the city’s most hallowed busking spots. —AFP

M

Mexican sensation

aria Jose looks for US success

P

op star Maria Jose made a name for herself as a member of Kabah, the boy/girl sextet that was hugely successful in Mexico during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Now, as a solo artist, Maria Jose has become even more successful thanks to two cover albums that have become Mexican hits and yielded five top 20 singles. Replicating that kind of success in the United States won’t be easy, particularly at a time when the traditional Latin pop she’s known for is being played on fewer US radio outlets.

But the bubbly bombshell brings some significant assets to the table, including a riveting stage presence and a repertoire of girl-

power standards. She also has a multi-rights deal with management company/ label Seitrack, which handles Alejandra Guzman and Zoe, among others. The idea of recording covers, following a moderately successful solo debut of new material, stemmed from Maria Jose’s participation in a Mexican TV reality show that featured guests and contestants singing cover songs. Maria Jose and her team mined deep into 1980s reper toire and released “Amante de lo Ajeno” in 2009. The album became a sensation, spending 80 weeks on Mexico’s Amprofon albums chart.

Seitrack quickly followed up with “Amante de lo Bueno,” which includes more of the

same material. The set, released last fall, also topped the Amprofon chart and was certified platinum for shipments of more than 80,000 copies in Mexico alone. That success prompted Seitrack to hatch a plan to break Maria Jose in the United States, according to Luana Pagani, Seitrack ’s US par tner. Seitrack released “Amante de lo Bueno” on May 31 in the states with distribution through Sony. “ We put together a team to work the record in music company fashion,” Pagani says. “We have a radio department, we have a club/and lifestyle marketing team, a publicist, and we have a digital in-house team.” The first single, “La Ocasion Para Amarnos,” is being

Fan pulls Glee’s Darren Criss off stage during DC concert

“G

lee” co-star Darren Criss was pulled offstage by a female fan during a tour stop in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night.

Following a performance of “Somebody to Love,” the actor who plays Warblers singer Blaine on the Fox musical dramedy, was yanked off the front of the stage by a fan before immediately jumping back up and joining the rest of the cast for their closing bow. The singer was a good sport, tweeting after the show to the woman who pulled him from the stage, “To the lady who pulled me off the stage and into the pit tonight: if I ever see you on a stage ... keep your wits about ya.

Love, Darren.” But Criss, who will appear today on Oxygen’s series premiere of “The Glee Project,” added that it was a close call, and he came dangerously close to a gate between the crowd and the stage. “I’m lucky I didn’t hit my head on the gate in front of this lady. Seriously close call tonight ... Like, please don’t kill me. I’m nice.” — Reuters

Journey tries for ‘more stadium rock’ with new ‘Eclipse’ A

clear idea for Journey’s new album, “Eclipse,” led guitarist and co-founder Neal Schon to turn “downright belligerent” in the studio with his bandmates and co-producer Kevin Shirley. “I went in with not only confidence but I was ... hardheaded about making sure I made the record that I wanted to make,” Schon tells Billboard.com about making “Eclipse,” which debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200.

“We fought. Kevin and I went around and around, and I went at it with Jon [Cain] until we got our heads together, and then things finally took their course. But I’m really glad that I just stuck with it, and I felt very strongly about the type of record I felt we should make. “ This was kind of a vision of my record, and I’m grateful to the band for finally letting me do one,” he added.

“Eclipse,” Journey’s second studio album with Filipino lead singer Arnel Pineda, is marked by lengthy, hard-rocking songs that hark back to the band’s first three albums.

Schon calls it “a more stadium rock record, like our 2011 version of (1983’s) ‘Frontiers,’ maybe, a bit more progressive and not afraid to go in some areas we’ve never

been.” Nine of the 12 songs on the WalMart/Sam’s Club exclusive set weigh in at more than five minutes, and there’s markedly more instrumental soloing than on 2008’s “Revelation” and most other Journey albums.

“We have the greatest hits, and all of the newer records that we’ve made, we’ve written songs that sound like our greatest hits,” Schon says. “I felt like there were a lot of grooves that were missing in our set, like funky rock grooves and stuff like that, and I just felt like writing for what I wanted to play on stage and what I felt would work. I felt like we didn’t have enough rocky stuff in our set, so knowing that ... brought me to the conclusion that we needed to make our record like we did.” Schon says Cain and Pineda also “went with” him on the album’s lyrical content. “It’s about love, faith, hope and spiritualism,” he explains. “A lot of our other songs are about hope, but this one is just a bit more mystical, I feel. It’s got a late ‘60s/early ‘70s kind of mystical vibe, which is one of my favorite eras, so I love it.”

“Eclipse” comes out the same year that Journey ’s best-selling album, 1981’s

“Escape”-and its hit “Don’t Stop Believin”“turns 30. But while Schon calls it “my favorite record that we’ve ever done,” he says the group would rather be making new music than necessarily commemorating its past. “I’ve seen what’s been going on with some concerts and with some bands playing the whole record,” he says.

“Surely we could do that at some point, but it’s not happening this year or next year because we’re here to support our new record-and play bits and pieces from ‘Escape’ and all of the other records, too. It’s not just about the one.” Journey is currently on tour in Europe and returns to North America for a summer run that kicks off July 15 at the Rock USA festival in Oshkosh, Wisc., before beginning a run with Foreigner on July 21 in Sandy, Utah.

Schon, meanwhile, has also recorded a pair of solo albums an instrumental set with former Journey drummer Steve Smith and keyboardist Jan Hammer, and a power trio set on which he shares lead vocals with current Journey drummer Dean Castronovo and bassist Marco Mendoza. Titles and release dates are pending for both. — Reuters

worked to radio on the West Coast, in the Southwest and Midwest. Maria Jose is also slated to per form three radio shows in California in June. “I always compare it to a restaurant,” Maria Jose says about her independent status after 11 years with Warner, which released all of Kabah’s albums. “When you’re the owner, you stay until the last client has walked out the door.

“Indeed, one of the factors that’s helped Maria Jose’s rise is her willingness to perform anywhere, anytime. She plays at least 200 shows per year in Mexico, with audiences normally ranging from 500 to 3,000. In May, the efforts culminated with Maria Jose’s first solo

Colin Meloy of the Decemberists performs during the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn., Friday.—AP

concert at the 10,000-seat Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. Now, she’s starting at square one in the United States, with a series of smaller shows, including one at Los Angeles’ Conga Room that’s slated for August. By then, Pagani expects US audiences to be more familiar with Maria Jose, who will appear weekly on the Univision network as a judge on children’s talent show “Pequenos Gigantes.”

“The time is right, because the US is a reflection of Mexico, where it already worked,” Pagani says. “And not just the US -also Central and South America, where they see all the Mexican shows. It’s step by step.” — Reuters

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US, Chinese stars usher in Shanghai Film Festival S

Colin Firth adds honor from Queen to Oscar

usan Sarandon cracked jokes with Chinese actor Zhang Guoli. Matt Dillon tried out his Mandarin and Rupert Murdoch touted the new movie his Chineseborn wife is producing. Hollywood’s elite joined China’s biggest stars at the Shanghai Grand Theater to usher in the 14th edition of the country’s leading international film festival yesterday in a sign of respect for what is fast becoming one of the American movie industry’s key foreign markets.

Chinese box office numbers surged 64 percent to hit $1.5 billion in 2010. And despite import restrictions that effectively limit the country to 20 foreign blockbusters a year, American movies are doing brisk business.

Last year, the James Cameron 3-D sci-fi epic “Avatar” , distributed by the Hollywood studio Fox, a unit of Murdoch’s media company News Corp , brought in $204 million as it became China’s top-grossing release in history. Keen to gain exposure in this blossoming market, American stars were well-represented on the red carpet that kicked off the Shanghai International Film Festival in the eastern financial center.

It was Sarandon’s first visit to China, but she wasted no time in picking up on local cultural cues. After receiving a lifetime achievement award from festival organizers, she jokingly asked veteran actor Zhang to give her acceptance speech on her behalf. Zhang had just finished delivering a lengthy ribbing to Chinese director Feng Xiaogang, who was honored for outstanding achievement to Chinese cinema.

The “Thelma and Louise” star then invited Zhang to a game of table tennis. Sarandon owns several table tennis clubs and bars in the US. “Maybe he’ll play pingpong with me if we open one in Shanghai. And that would be a good excuse to come back to China,” she said.

Zhang stood up and obliged and joked that he was an ace player.

“My acting is much better than my pingpong. Maybe you can wear a blindfold,” Sarandon responded. Sarandon’s appearance is telling because she has been critical of the Chinese government in the past, joining other Hollywood celebrities in signing letters urging Beijing to ease up on film censorship and calling on Washington to scrutinize China’s human rights record. Earlier, Dillon stumbled through the Chinese greeting “Shanghai Film Festival: Here I am” on the red carpet and then thanked fans for braving the heavy rain.

Mischa Barton from the American teen TV drama “The O.C.” also greeted fans.

Barton, Dillon and Sarandon were in Shanghai just to attend the opening ceremony. None of the three is promoting movies at the festival.

Murdoch also attended with his third wife, Wendi Deng Murdoch, and was quick to mention the upcoming film she is producing, Chinese-American director Wayne Wang’s adaptation of the novel “Snow Flower and the

“K

Secret Fan,” which stars Chinese actress Li Bingbing and South Korea’s Jun Ji-hyun.

“I’m very proud of my wife and her film ‘Snow Flower,”‘ Murdoch said. Murdoch and wife and Fox Film Entertainment Chief Executive Jim Gianopulos are also scheduled to speak at a panel discussion on film finance today. An American director is chairing the jury for the Shanghai festival’s Golden Goblet prizes. “Rain Man” director Barry Levinson is leading a seven-person panel that also includes British screenwriter Christopher Hampton, Japanese director Yoichi Sai, French-

Members of the jury US director Barry Levinson (2nd-L), Chinese actress Zhang Jingchu (3rd-L), Japanese film director Yoichi Sai (2nd-R) and British film director Christopher James Hampton (R) pose on the red carpet during the opening ceremony of the Shanghai International Film Festival yesterday. —AFP

Actress Mischa Barton poses on the red carpet prior to the opening ceremony of the Shanghai International Film Festival at Shanghai Grand Theater yesterday. —AP Actor Matt Dillon, center, talks with a host on the red carpet prior to the opening ceremony of the Shanghai International Film Festival at Shanghai Grand Theater yesterday. —AP

Vietnamese filmmaker Tran Anh Hung, Spanish actress Paz Vega, Chinese director Wang Quanan and Chinese actress Zhang Jingchu. A second panel headed by Japanese filmmaker Shunji Iwai will hand out prizes to promising young Asian directors. The Shanghai International Film Festival runs until June 19. — AP

ing’s Speech” actor Colin Firth was awarded an honor by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth yesterday, joining more than 900 people from all walks of British life in the twice-yearly list. Firth, who won a best actor Academy Award for his portrayal of the stammering King George VI, the queen’s father, in the Oscar-winning movie “The King’s Speech” was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

The 50-year-old actor has become an international favorite since playing the aloof but alluring Mr Darcy in a 1995 television adaptation of the Jane Austen novel “Pride and Prejudice.” There were also awards for South African-born actress Janet Suzman, who becomes a “Dame,” and for Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry, who received a CBE. Long-serving British light entertainment star Bruce Forsyth, 83, picked up a knighthood, while comic actors Bernard Cribbins, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden were all made Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

There was also a CBE for lawyer Mark Stephens, currently defending WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange over a Swedish extradition request for alleged sexual misconduct. In the world of sport, England cricket captain Andrew Strauss was awarded an OBE after leading the national side to two Ashes series victories over Australia, home and away.

Fellow England cricketer Alastair Cook, a prolific scorer during the recent series against Australia and in the current series against Sri Lanka, won a lesser award, an MBE, while there was a knighthood for horse trainer Henry Cecil. Golfer Lee Westwood, until last month ranked the world number one, was awarded an OBE.— Reuters

Jeffrey Katzenberg weighs in on 3D’s ‘heartbreaking’ decline T here has been an alarming dip in 3D grosses at the domestic box office this summer. The trouble started with Disney ’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” For the first time, a majority of the audience opted to see a studio 3D picture in 2D. It happened again a week later with DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda 2.”

Without naming names, DWA chief Jeffrey Katzenberg, 60, says too many 3D movies from other companies have been more show than substance, leaving the consumer feeling betrayed. The early ambassador for 3D opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about his concerns, and why he remains committed to the technology.

The Hollywood Reporter: Why do you think the number of moviegoers seeing films in 3D is declining rapidly in the US? Jeffrey Katzenberg: “I think 3D is right smack in the middle of its terrible twos. We have disappointed our audience multiple times now, and because of that I think there is genuine distrust-whereas a year and a half ago, there was genuine excitement, enthusiasm and reward for the first group of 3D films that actually delivered a quality experience.

Now that’s been seriously undermined. “It’s not in any fashion, shape or form the demise of 3D, but until there are 3D experiences that

exceed people’s expectations, it’s going to stay challenged.” He predicts that Michael Bay’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” will do just that. “It’s really heartbreaking to see what has been the single greatest opportunity that has happened to the film business in over a decade being harmed. The audience has spoken, and they have spoken really loudly.”

THR: Do 3D tickets cost too much, especially for families?

Katzenberg: “Here’s the thing: We are giving our audience a choice. We didn’t take a plane and convert it to all first class. To people who say there is price pressure, or price sensitivity, even in the family market, I say, ‘OK, that’s why we have continued to support a 2D format and made sure that the 2D movie we’re delivering today is better than the movie we delivered two years or three years ago.’ “Quite frankly, there’s no industry in the world that doesn’t attempt to move up the customer to a premium experience. I don’t care whether you make shoes or wine or iced tea or cars, everybody tries to create multiple price points. So why shouldn’t we be in the same business of offering our customers a premium experience at a premium price-as long as we deliver them a premium value? If we cheat them, which is what has happened now too many

times, then they’ll walk away from it.”

THR: Does international box office make up for the soft 3D market in the US? Katzenberg: “There is unprecedented growth going on. Here’s a staggering statistic: We opened ‘Kung Fu Panda 2’ in 5,500 theaters, 4,000 of which were 3D. So in China, we had more 3D theaters than we had in North America. In international markets, 65 percent of the gross, or more, is coming from 3D screens.”

THR: Do you have any plans to change your 3D strategy at DreamWorks Animation?

Katzenberg: “We’re not the problem. We have made five films now in 3D and have built this amazing reservoir of knowledge and tools.

Nobody else has made five 3D movies back to back. You can see the quality of the experience increasing with every film. The cost has gone down significantly for us the last three years, and there is still meaningful, incremental profit to us, even though the size of our audience has narrowed. On every account for us, 3D is a win. It’s not nearly as big a win as it should be, and it’s certainly not the win it was headed toward being, and that’s really heartbreaking to me because we have managed to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory as only Hollywood can do. — Reuters

Tracy Morgan apologizes for anti-gay comedy rant

T In this March 26, 2011 file photo, actor and comedian Tracy Morgan appears onstage at the ‘The Comedy Awards’ presented by Comedy Central in New York.

Morgan says he’s sorry for telling an audience that he would “pull out a knife and stab” his son for being gay. —AP

racy Morgan said Friday that he was sorry for telling an audience in Nashville, Tennessee, that if his son were gay, he would “pull out a knife and stab” him. The comedian and “30 Rock” actor apologized to his fans and the gay and lesbian community for what he called “my choice of words” but what was characterized by others as an anti-gay rant during his June 3 appearance at the Ryman Auditorium.

A Facebook account posted by an audience member said Morgan’s stand-up performance was full of homophobic references. The Ryman issued its own apology afterward for Morgan’s behavior. In his statement, Morgan, who has three sons, denied being a hateful person and acknowledged that “even in a comedy club” what he said went too far “and was not funny in any context.” Late Friday, Morgan’s apology was welcomed by Tina Fey, the star and executive producer of NBC’s “30 Rock,” where Morgan is a cast member, and by NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt. —AP

Filipino expected to be named world’s shortest man

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

Guardsmen take part in the Queen’s Birthday Parade, “Trooping the Colour” at Horse Guards Parade in London yesterday. The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. In 1748, it was decided that the parade would be used to mark the official birthday of the Sovereign. More than 600 guardsmen and cavalry make up the parade, a celebration of the Sovereign’s official birthday, although the Queen’s actual birthday is on 21 April. — AFP

Britain’s royals celebrate P

rince William and his wife Catherine took part in the pomp and pageantry yesterday as Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her official birthday. William, her grandson, wore his wedding uniform-this time complete with a bearskin hat for the traditional Trooping the Colour military parade in central London. Dressed in the scarlet tunic of the honorary colonel of the Irish Guards, the Duke of Cambridge rode on horseback as Catherine joined other royals watching from a window.

It was the public’s first chance to see the royal family all together since William and Kate’s wedding on April 29, watched by an estimated two billion people around the world. The event, celebrating the queen’s 85th birthday, took place the day after her husband Prince Philip turned 90. He is the

longest-serving consort in British history.

For the annual pageant, massed ranks of soldiers in the famous red tunics and bearskin hats of the British army march on Horse Guards Parade. The Olympic beach volleyball competition will be held on the historic parade ground during the 2012 Games. The pomp and ceremony of Trooping the Color-a hangover from preparations for battle when colors or flags were “trooped” down the rank so soldiers could recognize them-marks the queen’s official birthday.

Her actual birthday is on April 21 but traditionally the monarch has another in the summer months, because the weather is supposed to be better for open-air celebrations. There were huge cheers from the crowd as the royals left Buckingham Palace.

Queen’s birthday The queen and Prince Philip-also wearing a bearskin-rode in an open phaeton carriage.

As regimental colonels, their eldest children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, rode on horseback alongside William, as did the queen’s cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

Catherine joined other royals including her brother-in-law Prince Harry in watching from a room that was once military hero the Duke of Wellington’s office. After the

ceremony, the royals headed back to Buckingham Palace to gather on the balcony for the first time since William’s wedding. They watched a fly-past of aircraft ranging from World War II Spitfires and Lancasters to modern Typhoon fighters before the Red Arrows aerobatics display team left trails of red, white and blue smoke in the sky.

Thousands of well-wishers gathered outside the palace gates to see the royals.

Prince Philip received a new title for his 90th birthday Friday, as the forthright consort said he would finally scale back his workload. The queen made him Lord High Admiral-the titular head of the British Royal Navy-partly in recognition of the promising seafaring career he gave up to spend a lifetime at her side. He marked his birthday with a characteristic lack of fuss, hosting a charity reception and chairing a military conference. —AFP

Michael Jackson perfume launch causes stink

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he botched launch of a perfume in memory of pop icon Michael Jackson caused a stink last week, as his father distanced himself from a Frenchman behind the deal, and a lawsuit disputed their rights.

Joe Jackson signed a contract with French fragrance entrepreneur Franck Rouas earlier this year to launch eau de parfums “Jackson’s Tribute” for men and “Jackson’s Legend” for women. The scents were due to be presented to the world at a press conference Thursday in a nightclub at the Caesars Palace hotel-casino in Las Vegas, with socialite Paris Hilton and various Jackson family members involved.

But the event descended into chaos when Joe Jackson, backed briefly by his daughter

Julian Rouas poses with a bottle of “Jackson tribute” for men during the launch of the new fragances in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 9, 2011. Joe Jackson partnered with French perfumer Julian Rouas to create a perfume in remembrance of his late son, Pop star, Michael Jackson. (Right) Joe Jackson and his daughter La Toya Jackson pose as they attend the launch of the new fragances, “Jackson tribute” for men and “Jackson Legend” for women, in Las Vegas, Nevada. —AFP

LaToya, made it clear he wanted to avoid any physical contact with Rouas, head of the perfume company Julian Rouas Paris. In addition no release date was announced for the fragrances, presented as inspired by the aromas of plants in the grounds of Neverland, the late pop icon’s ranch home before his shock death in June 2009, aged 50.

“I don’t like the way he does things. But the initiative to create the scents was mine, and that plan goes ahead,” Joe Jackson told AFP, while saying her did not know when the 50 ml bottles would go on sale. The Jackson patriarch played down the legal problems with using his dead son’s name, a moneyspinning brand owned officially by an estate from which he was excluded in the King of Pop’s will.

“They can say whatever they want .. I am the father, he was my son and I can decide what to do on his behalf and in his honor,” said the 82-year-old, clad in a black suit, red necktie, fedora hat and various gold chains.

“There are many interests around the legacy of my son, companies that want everything, but I have a foundation that allows me to launch projects with his name, the name of my son.” The tension between Jackson and Rouas was obvious even before a press conference attended by more unknown models than journalists, and no members of the US media. But more problematic was a lawsuit filed in a Los Angeles court a day before the botched launch, on behalf of Bravado, the company which holds the commercial rights

to sell products under Michael Jackson’s name. The lawsuit said Rouas and Jackson were “unlicensed distributors who have been using the Michael Jackson trademark and/or a mark confusing similar thereto .. in connection with perfume that defendants are attempting to sell.” Bravado seeks a ban on the perfume’s sale, as well as 150,000 dollars in damages and 750 dollars for each time Jackson’s name is wrong used on a product.

“Some people will always try to prevent my efforts because they do not want me and there are some media, like TMZ, that are against me,” Jackson said, referring to the celebrity news website. “But they can’t do anything.” La Toya Jackson gave her backing, albeit briefly, saying: “My family is delighted with this tribute to my brother from my father, the scents are delicious.”

The French perfumer meanwhile said he had known the singer’s father since 2009, when Jackson approached his company “because he wanted to make a perfume as a tribute to the memory of Michael Jackson. “He is a little angry with me now because someone put online, on the Internet, the contract which we made for the perfume, but it wasn’t me who did it,” he added.

“The perfumes will be on sale in the US very soon, and in September in France,” he said, adding that a 50 ml bottle will cost 40 dollars in America and about 40 euros in France.” The investors behind the project are American, and appeared more cautious about the legal challenge. —AFP