06 Jul

ON IP TI SC R SU B

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Iran shows homegrown arms in war games

Srebrenica victims win lawsuit against Dutch

150 FILS

The man who hunted Osama bin Laden

13

9

www.kuwaittimes.net

SHAABAN 5, 1432 AH

Injured Tiger Woods to miss British Open

19

15

40 PAGES

NO: 15141

Bahrain rulers start dialogue with oppn Britain, Saudis discuss Arab hotspots

UK shocked by tabloid’s phone hack LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron led condemnation yesterday of “truly dreadful” allegations that a British tabloid hacked the voicemail of a missing teenage girl who was later found murdered. He said police should pursue their investigation into the claims about the News of the World, Britain’s top-selling Sunday title owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News International, in “the most vigorous way they can”.

However, Cameron made clear that the allegations about Milly Dowler, who disappeared aged 13 in 2002, would not prompt him to intervene in the bid by Murdoch’s News Corp to take full control of satellite broadcaster BSkyB. Milly Dowler News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks said she was “sickened” by the claims and vowed to “vigorously pursue the truth”.

Brooks was editor of the News of the World when Dowler went missing, but she said it was “inconceivable that I knew or worse, sanctioned these appalling allegations”, and rejected calls for her to quit. “I am determined to lead the company to ensure we do the right thing and resolve these serious issues,” she said.

The tabloid has been dogged by claims of phone hacking ever since its royal editor and a private Continued on Page 13

MUSCAT: Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al-Said (right) meets at Al-Baraka House Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah yesterday. During the meeting, Sheikh Nasser conveyed greetings by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti people to the sultan, expressing best wishes and prosperity to the Omani leadership and people. The meeting also highlighted ways of boosting bilateral cooperation in various fields for the benefit of the peoples in both countries. Furthermore, the meeting tackled issues of mutual concern, developments in the region and international arena. — KUNA (See Page 2)

Max 47º Min 28º Low Tide 09:18 & 21:46 High Tide 03:40: 14:40

DUBAI/JEDDAH: A Bahraini opposition figure said reconciliation talks between the Sunni monarchy and the Shiite opposition started yesterday for the first time since anti-government protests erupted in the Gulf kingdom.

Washington has pushed for dialogue in the strategic island nation, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. The protests that began in February - inspired by wider Arab uprisings - have been the gravest challenge to any Gulf ruler in decades. The opposition figure, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, confirmed that the governmentled talks took place behind closed doors in the capital Manama’s convention center.

The talks are scheduled to last until the end of the month, with about 300 delegates from governmentlinked groups and opposition parties meeting three times a week. How the country’s rulers approach the socalled National Dialogue largely depends on how comfortable neighboring Saudi Arabia is with Bahrain’s Sunni leaders making concessions to the country’s Shiite majority, who comprise around 70 percent of the kingdom’s population of some 525,000.

Saudi Arabia does not have a seat at Bahrain’s crisis talks, but it carries a critical voice in everything from the tone of the debate to the eventual offers on the table.

“Saudi Arabia wants dialogue since confrontation is not the Saudi way of dealing with things,” said Marina Ottoway, director of the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She believes that Riyadh is fully behind the reconciliation talks because they are designed by the government and cannot be seen as turning into “negotiations between the monarchy and the people”. Saudi King Abdullah deployed about 1,000 troops to Bahrain, per Manama’s request, during the uprising earlier this year to help quell protests.

For the powerful Saudi royal family and its Gulf partners, any setbacks by Bahrain’s 200-year-old ruling Al Khalifa dynasty is considered a threat to all monarchs Continued on Page 13

11 killed as Syrians resist army in Hama

CAIRO: An Egyptian man walks past a shop selling pulses and grain at a market yesterday. — AP

EU links Egypt seeds to E. coli BRUSSELS: The European Union yesterday banned Egyptian fenugreek seeds linked to E. coli outbreaks in Germany and France and slapped a temporary ban on the import of all seeds and beans from the country. The decision followed a report earlier in the day from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) linking a batch of Egyptian fenugreek seeds to outbreaks in the two countries.

“The report published today leads us to the withdrawing of some Egyptian seeds

from the EU market and to a temporary ban on imports of all seeds and beans originating from that countr y,” said health commissioner John Dalli.

The outbreaks, which has left 49 dead and affected 4,178 people in the EU, Norway and Switzerland, has been blamed on a 15-tonne batch of Egyptian fenugreek seeds imported in 2009 to Germany, and then distributed elsewhere.

Continued on Page 13

DAMASCUS: Security forces killed at least 11 people yesterday in Hama as residents mobilised to keep the Syrian army out of the flashpoint city at the hub of an anti-regime revolt, activists said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, quoting medical sources, said the casualty toll had risen to 11 dead and more than 35 wounded in the city, which has been surrounded by the military. “Heavy gunfire has been heard in several districts” of Hama, it said. The group said the body of one of those killed was dumped in the Orontes river of Hama, which is famous for its ancient watermills.

The activists, contacted by telephone from Nicosia, said a child was among three people shot dead by security forces on Monday on the outskirts of the city, north of Damascus, that is home to 800,000 people. “Tanks are now posted at access routes to the city except for the northern entrance,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Londonbased Syrian Obser vator y. “Residents have mobilised. They’re prepared to die to defend the city if need be rather than allow the army to enter,” he told AFP. “Residents have been sleeping on the streets and put up sand barriers and tyres to block any assault.”

Another activist insisted that Hama, where as many as 500,000 people took to the streets for a demonstration on Friday against President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, was putting up a “100 percent peaceful” resistance. On Monday, more than 20 people were arrested on the fringes of the city, the Continued on Page 13

in the

TAJI, Iraq: People inspect the scene of a bomb attack yesterday. — AP

Twin bombings kill 37 in Iraq BAGHDAD: A car packed with explosives and a roadside bomb went off back-toback outside a municipal building north of Baghdad yesterday, killing 37 people and wounding 54, Iraqi police and a hospital doctor said. The twin blast in Taji, a Sunni-dominated town about 20 km from the Iraqi capital, were the latest in a series of attacks across Iraq. They came at a time of public debate over whether to ask the United States to keep some American troops here past their year-end withdrawal deadline from the country.

“It was awful ... some of the lightly wounded people were running in all directions, either crying or screaming for help,” a policeman who identified himself only by his nickname, Abu Haider, said at the scene. Burned bodies were lying on the ground and about 20 cars were on fire, witnesses said.

The assailants first detonated the car bomb around noon in the parking lot of Taji’s local council building, police said.

When civilians and security forces rushed Continued on Page 13

news

Writer files assault charge against DSK

Aussie police can order niqabs off

Man tries to escape prison in suitcase

PARIS: A young author filed a sex assault complaint against former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn yesterday, opening a new and potentially ugly episode in the legal woes of a man once seen as a top contender for the presidency of France. Tristane Banon, 31, told French news maga- Tristane Banon zine L’Express that she was tired of hearing “lies and rumors” told about the incident. “I can’t take it anymore hearing that I must be lying because I haven’t filed suit,” Banon said. Strauss-Kahn has labeled Banon’s account “imaginary” and has threatened to file a criminal complaint of slander against her. (See Page 9)

SYDNEY: Police in the Australian state of New South Wales are to be allowed to demand the removal of burqas and other face veils so they can identify people. The state government approved the move late Monday after the high-profile recent case of a Muslim woman being acquitted when a judge ruled she could not be positively identified because she was wearing a burqa. “I don’t care whether a person is wearing a motorcycle helmet, a burqa, niqab, face veil or anything else, the police should be allowed to require those people to make their identification clear,” Premier Barry O’Farrell said. Anyone who refuses to show their face could be jailed for up to a year or fined A$5,500 ($5,900). (See Page 12)

CHETUMAL, Mexico: Police said a woman was caught trying to sneak her common-law-husband out of a Mexican prison in a suitcase following a conjugal visit.

A spokesman for police in the Caribbean state of Quintana Roo said staff at the prison in Chetumal noticed that the woman seemed nervous and was pulling a black, wheeled suitcase that looked bulky.

Spokesman Gerardo Campos said yesterday that prison guards checked the bag of 19-year-old Maria del Mar Arjona and found inmate Juan Ramirez Tijerina curled up inside in the fetal position. Ramirez is serving a 20-year sentence for a 2007 conviction for illegal weapons possession. Arjona was arrested and charges are pending.

Prison inmate Juan Ramirez Tijerina is curled inside a suitcase after he tried to escape from prison.— AP

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

local

kuwait digest

Unproductive employees

By Maasouma Ibrahim

A

MAKKAH/MADINAH: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation performing prayers at Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina yesterday.

country earns a renowned status as a result of its citizens’ hard work. Its glory is heavily dependent on the level of the citizens’ productivity.

As we address the need to improve Kuwait’s international image, we must ask ourselves about our true level of productivity, and whether we translate our hopes for better living conditions into actions that help us achieve these goals.

To answer these questions, it is necessary to adopt an employees’ evaluation policy in the public sector, which further boosts citizens’ willingness to give back to their country when the ‘overpaying culture’ dominates.

It is not even parallel with the actual production levels.

Unfortunately, this culture can be found in many state departments. In my opinion, the spread of this ideology came about as a result of the lack of performanceboosting initiatives which should be proposed by undersecretaries.

Unlike ministers who are usually changed every few years, undersecretaries mostly remain at their positions for lengthy periods of times and are more in touch with a ministry’s staff members. These senior officials are the individuals in charge of welcoming new comers and providing support.

Newly-appointed young men and women usually arrive in state departments with a great deal of enthusiasm to contribute and help improve their place’s quality of work. When they find themselves dealing with uncooperative undersecretaries, their eagerness soon turns into frustration. The long tenure of these senior officials turns into an obstacle for employees and their goals.

According to official state reports, administrative and financial corruption, as well as bureaucracy spread in the public sector. The fact that this happens during the tenure of unproductive undersecretaries is not a coincidence. Therefore, I believe that many ministries desperately need to reshuffle their top posts. Let us set standards by which an undersecretary’s term is subjected to performance, and ability to create better work environments for employees. This would help improve productivity levels of state departments, thereby elevating Kuwait’s status. — Al-Qabas

Kuwaiti Premier’s Gulf tour welcomed by host nations

Undersecretary quits post ahead of reshuffle

Focus on regional stability, peace MEDINA: A senior Kuwaiti diplomat in Saudi Arabia yesterday affirmed the success of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah’s visit to the Kingdom.

Speaking after the premier’s departure from Saudi Arabia on the next leg of his two-day tour, Chancellor Theyab Al-Rashidi, the Kuwaiti Charge d’Affaires at the embassy in Riyadh, said that HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed had met during his visit with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, as well as senior Saudi government officials.

HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed and his accompanying delegation were seen off from Madinah Airport at the conclusion of their visit

by Medina’s Amir, Prince Abdulaziz Bin Majid

Bin Abdulaziz. Prior to his departure, the Kuwaiti premier visited and prayed at the Prophet’s Mosque, along with his accompanying delegates. Meanwhile in Bahrain, the Editors-in-Chief of Bahraini newspapers lauded HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed’s visit to the Kingdom, which also took place yesterday. A number of Editors-in-Chief of leading Bahraini dailies stressed the “importance” of the Kuwaiti premier’s visit, especially at a time when they said greater “cooperation and understanding” is required.

HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed’s visit reflected the GCC nations’ interest in ensuring regional “stability and peace,” said the leading media figures, adding that due to their “mutual cooperation and coordination,” Bahrain and

Kuwait had emerged intact from past crises, a reference to both the 1990-91 Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait and the political unrest in Bahrain in the past few months.

The newspaper chiefs also asserted that the Kuwaiti premier’s visit would help to promote more comprehensive GCC integration in all fields, especially economically and militarily, in order to achieve the best interests of all the countries in the Gulf region.

In Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, a senior Kuwaiti diplomat stationed there asserted that HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed’s visit to UAE, scheduled to take place today, comes as a further demonstration of the strong bilateral ties between the two Gulf nations.

Abdulnasser Bukhador, the Acting Charge

d’Affaires at the Kuwaiti Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said that the deep-rooted relations between the two countries mean that the formal and informal bilateral ties between Kuwait and the UAE receive the utmost care and attention of both HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah and the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. The Kuwaiti premier’s current tour of Gulf nations is an embodiment of the noble aspirations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which has gained even more importance in recent times due to the developments in the Gulf region.

Bukhador added that bilateral ties could be even further expanded in the economic and developmental fields to serve the best interests of both the UAE and Kuwait. — KUNA

Users to sue internet providers KUWAIT: Following Monday’s meeting between a number of internet users and the Abdul Mohsen Al-Mazeidi Undersecretary at the Ministry of Communications, officials said that users were determined to move the

court against local internet service providers.

They cited the damage incurred due to the inclusion of ‘Fair Usage Policy,’ that has been criticized as being expensive and inferior, reported Aljarida.

KUWAIT: A top Ministry of Interior official has reportedly chosen to tender his resignation instead of undergoing an impending reshuffle to be carried out by the prime minister.

According to a news report quoting officials, Sheikh Athbi Al-Fahad Al-Sabah tendered his resignation from his post as assistant undersecretary for state security affairs, after Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah, the deputy prime minister and minister of interior asked him to select the senior post he wished for during the reshuffle process. Furthermore, officials who spoke on condition of anonymity as the ministry is yet to make an official announcement indicated that, Maj Gen Abdulhameed Al-Awadhi, the assistant undersecretary for Criminal Investigations Department was selected to replace the outgoing Sheikh Athbi Al-Fahad.

Earlier reports had suggested that Al-Fahad might resign from his post after being informed about the reshuffle during a recent meeting with the interior minister. The new report confirms this news, also indicates that the minister officially approved Al-Fahad’s resignation. It does not give details about the reasons behind Al-Fahad’s decision to quit, reported AlQabas. A member of the ruling family and the brother of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development and Housing Affairs, Sheikh Athbi was first appointed as assistant undersecretary for state security affairs - which entitles its holder to the chairmanship of the State Security Service. He held the post in 2006, but resigned in October of the same year during the tenure of Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah, Minister of Interior and Defense. Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah was appointed as undersecretary to the Crown Prince Diwan where he worked till November 2009. The Interior Ministry reappointed him as assistant undersecretary for state security affairs.

A

y

e niv rsar n

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Years

LOCAL

Cambodia ‘leveling playing fields’ for ‘would-be workers’ in Kuwait Envoy denies dissuading housemaids from working in Kuwait

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Bayan Palace hosted a ceremony yesterday to mark His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah receiving the credentials of Ambassador Rouhullah Qahremani Chabok as the new Iranian envoy to Kuwait. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah AlSabah and Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Acting Foreign Minister Ali Fahad Rashid Al-Rashid, as well as a number of other dignitaries.

Sheikha Fareeha named IIMSAM Goodwill Ambassador KUWAIT: Secretar y-General of the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina against Malnutrition (IIMSAM), Ambassador Remigio Maradona announced naming Sheikha Fareeha Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, Chairperson of the Higher Committee of the Model Mother Award as “Extraordinary Goodwill Ambassador”.

She was named for her vital role and concern in humanitarian voluntary work.

Sheikha Fareeha expressed in a statement released here yesterday, her pride for such international confidence that reflected Kuwait’s position globally.

She affirmed her readiness to exert efforts to serve the humanitarian cause to combat poverty and malnutrition.

She also dedicated this honor to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti people. — KUNA

Govt to double overseas treatment patients’ expenses KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti government is set to double the amount paid in living expenses to Kuwaiti citizens receiving medical treatment overseas.

Health minister Dr. Helal Al-Sayer has been directly instructed by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah to see that the expenses allocated to each patient are doubled, to help those citizens receiving medical treatment abroad to cope with

the increased living costs in those nations. The increase means that, for example, the daily expenses paid to one patient and a travelling companion in the UK will increase from £75 to £150.

Defense minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah is understood to be planning similar increases in the daily living expenses paid to military personnel receiving medical treatment overseas. — Al-Rai

KUWAIT: Abdul Aziz Janahi, delivered a lecture during a recent training course held on journalistic skills. A memorial plaque was awarded to Faisal Al-Qanaei KJA Secretary General for KJA’s efforts to support activities that improve skills.

The course was organized by the Engineering and Petroleum Society of the Kuwait University.

MPs demand probe in LA attache’s case KUWAIT: Two Kuwaiti lawmakers have commented on recent reports about the violations allegedly committed by the cultural attaché at Kuwait’s consulate in Los Angeles, California, with one MP demanding an immediate investigation into the matter and the other urging the government to protect the subjects of allegations until the accusations are verified.

“Minister of Education and Higher Education Ahmad Al-Mulaifi [should] launch an investigation into details of the case”, said MP Nadji Al-Abdulhadi

on the case, in which an attaché official has been accused of sexual harassment. “The case threatens Kuwait’s reputation and thus warrant an immediate investigation.”

MP Dr. Walid Al-Tabtabaei, meanwhile, demanded that the government provide protection to the senior official in question whilst investigations to verify the allegations are ongoing.

“The government must make sure that the official’s career is not jeopardized by a case that eventually might turn out to be false,” he said. — Al-Rai

CSC compels public sector bodies to employ more Kuwaitis KUWAIT: The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has introduced a number of amendments to the current employment laws in order to create public sector job opportunities for Kuwaitis.

One CSC insider said that the commission’s new amendments aim to increase the percentage of Kuwaitis working in the public sector to 90 percent of the total workforce, with only 10 percent of expatriate employees allowed.

The ministerial council has reportedly rejected requests from some public sector bodies with separate budgets to be exempted from the new regulations, adding that all public sector bodies must comply with the rules and regulations on national labor.

The bodies which requested and were denied exemption were named by one

insider as the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), the Kuwait Airways Corporation, the Kuwait Central Bank, the Public Institute For Social Security, Kuwait University and the Public Authority for Investment.

The insider said that all public sector bodies are compelled to employ the individuals put forward by the CSC, saying, “Each [public sector] organization will be obliged to employ the applicants they have requested from the commission.”

The decision to amend the labor regulations was taken in order to increase the range of public sector employment opportunities available to Kuwaiti jobseekers, the insider explained, adding that it would provide better prospects for young Kuwaitis, especially in those state bodies with separate budgets. — Al-Anba

KUWAIT: A Cambodia-based recruitment agency has reportedly opted not to send housemaids to Kuwait following revelations in a recent Human Rights Watch report of abuses committed by employers in the Gulf country.

An Bunhak, the president of a Cambodian recruitment agency who acknowledged that he had not yet sent any maids to Kuwait, was quoted by Reuters as saying, “We have received a report from our embassy about the abuse of maids and also the report from Human Rights Watch.”

Long Kem, the Ambassador of Cambodia to Kuwait, denied having advised anyone in his countr y to stop deploying house maids to Kuwait.

Speaking with the Kuwait Times at the country’s embassy in Surra, Kem insisted that this was a misunderstanding: “In fact we want to send our housemaids to Kuwait, but we are in the process of securing the smooth flow of recruitment from Cambodia,” he said. “We haven’t got any housemaids [in Kuwait] as of now, but both countries already signed a MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] on January 13, 2009.”

Ambassador Kem explained that the memorandum focuses on the exchange of manpower. “If Cambodians want to work in Kuwait, as housemaids or in other jobs, they can freely come and work here,” he stated.

Ambassador Kem, who is also the Cambodian envoy to Qatar, Oman and the UAE, said that the MoU, which took effect immedi-

ately, follows certain guidelines.

“We must meet at first and agree on some measures and provisions. The MoU mentioned the high-level meetings between two ministers of labor of both countries. Those specific provisions of

domestic labor law ’ to be approved before they can continue talking about the MoU. They promised us that it would be approved by January 2011, but I haven’t received any news so far,” he admitted.

KUWAIT: The Cambodian Ambassador to Kuwait Long Kem pictured talking with the Kuwait Times at his office in Surra recently. — Photo by Ben Garcia the MOU have not been met as yet. I told our people back in Cambodia that if they want the MOU to get underway, they should come first and Kuwait will follow. Probably it will happen soon, but on the Kuwaiti side, they already informed us that they are waiting for the ‘new

Asked whether he isn’t reluctant to advise Cambodian domestic workers to take up employment in Kuwait after several cases of abuse documented by local media and international human rights groups, Ambassador Kem said, “It is really an issue of concern. The worker’s problem that

are emerging here in Kuwait aren’t new to us. We also have the share of problems of our workers in other countries. That is why on our side, we also want clear guidelines to be followed from the moment we start sending workers here so as to protect our citizens. Environment-wise Kuwait is okay.”

The ambassador said that at least five recruitment companies have already been endorsed by the Cambodian government, if the “playing field” is ready. “In Kuwait there are local recruitment agencies which have already inquired about our readiness to send our workers; we have at least two agencies, but those are small companies and they want to pay our house maids KD40 [per month]. I told them we cannot accept a monthly salary lower than KD60 [for housemaids]. Plus, we do not want to just focus on domestic helpers, we also want to penetrate other fields in the job market,” he said.

The Embassy of Cambodia to Kuwait opened in November 2008, but since its establishment, the envoy admitted to witnessing very limited progress in terms of the levels of bilateral exchange between the two countries. “We are still new here, barely two-and-a-half years, so we don’t want to rush,” said Ambassador Kem. “What we’re doing right now is introducing our rich cultural heritage to this beautiful country and improving ties at all levels, particularly the political realm and economic and cultural fields.”

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

local

Rising divorce levels adversely affecting society KUWAIT: A recent Social Development Office (SDO) seminar on personal affairs law, part of a project to provide training in basic legal issues for Kuwaiti women, featured a lecture from lawyer Abdullah AlShabani on how the increase in divorces in recent years has adversely affected society.

Married men and women need to really think about the subject of divorce and the adverse effects that it can have for themselves and society, said Al-Shabani, revealing that many of the husbands who had come to him seeking to divorce their wives wished to do so for trivial and foolish reasons; one client wished to divorce his wife for dying her hair without consulting him beforehand, while another wanted to get a divorce because of his wife’s bad breath.

Many women, meanwhile, had visited his office asking that he act for them in divorces due to their suspicions of their husbands’ activities.

On New Year’s Eve, he said, 33 women had come to him demanding divorces from their husbands because they had discovered that they (the husbands) had travelled to Lebanon on holiday rather than visiting Saudi Arabia on the Umrah (minor pilgrimage) trips which they informed their wives they were taking.

On a more serious note, Al-Shabani revealed that divorce rates in Kuwait have risen steadily in recent years, with the average number of divorces annually standing at around 2,000 to 2,500 in the 1990s, but now increasing to around 3,000 per year.

Al-Shabani claimed that often divorces take place between expatriate couples living in the country for different reasons; for example a non-Kuwaiti Arab man may marry a Filipina woman whilst she is living in Kuwait, but if she travels elsewhere the couple will divorce, with the marriage regarded as simply a mutually satisfactory arrangement.

In another case he handled, a 45-year-old woman came to him with her 22-year-old fiance wanting to marry the young man after previously marrying five other husbands.

The lawyer said that it seemed that she and the young man were more interested in obtaining the KD4,000 paid in government grants to every couple who remain married for a year. Sure enough, said AlShabani, just over one year after this marriage the same woman returned to his office with another young man, who appeared to be on heavy drugs, wishing to marry him. She was thwarted in her wish on this occasion, however, when staff there discovered that she was still not officially divorced from her previous husband. — Al-Anba

2 dead, 6 hurt in crashes

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Two men - a 20-year-old Kuwaiti and a 28year-old Saudi - were killed, whilst a 26-year-old Iraqi man suffered a broken left thighbone, in a crash near Kabad police station yesterday. The injured man was taken to hospital whilst the bodies of the two dead men were removed for autopsy.

In a separate incident, a 27-year-old Kuwaiti man was rushed to Farwaniya Hospital after suffering first degree burns when his car burst into flames after being involved in a crash on Miqwa’ Road.

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old Kuwaiti woman was taken to Adan Hospital after suffering spinal injuries in a collision on King Fahad Road.

In another accident, a 15-year-old Kuwaiti boy sustained serious head injuries in a crash on Salmi Road. He was taken to hospital.

In a fifth incident, a 21-year-old Kuwaiti motorcyclist was taken to Amiri Hospital after fracturing his right thighbone in a motorbike accident near the British Embassy on Arabian Gulf Road.

Finally, an 18-year-old Kuwaiti suffered heavy bruising in a crash on the Fifth Ring Road. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah receiving the chairman of the board of the Kuwait Engineers’ Society, Hussam Fawzi Al-Kharafi and recently appointed board members, as well as the director of Kuwait Autism Center and chairman of the GCC Autism Society Dr Samira Al-Saad.

Kuwait govt pledges to expose ‘fake’ bedoons

By A. Saleh KUWAIT: The government body appointed to resolve the problems facing Kuwait’s bedoon (stateless) population has reportedly drawn up a list of the names of those bedoon people who it claims entered Kuwait in the 1970s from other countries and are thus falsely claiming stateless status. The Central System for Remedying the Status of Illegal Residents (CSRSIR) is set to summon those included on the list for interview in order to confront them with original copies of their documents and passports they allegedly used on first entering Kuwait, said a CSRSIR insider. Those included on the list will be removed from the register of bedoon peoples and be compelled to either show their real passports or be prosecuted for forgery and deceiving the authorities, said the insider, adding that the same method will be used with a number of bedoons who entered the country after 1965, with these steps helping to limit the number of bedoons so that those who genuinely deserve citizenship can be accurately assessed.

MP demands trial for former minister The National Action Bloc (NAB) is reportedly planning to submit a request to parliament to refer former interior minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah for trial at the Ministerial Court on suspicion of committing financial violations. An NAB insider said that the violations were cited in the earlier grilling motion against the minister that was withdrawn after he resigned. The insider also said that the bloc is awaiting the results of a parliamentary investigation into the grilling motion before submitting its request.

More headaches for KU? Kuwait University may face more headaches over its recent decision to introduce a cap on new student num-

bers after it was discovered that the number of applicants for available places far exceeds the number of places available. One KU insider insisted that the registration process is going ahead as planned, with the results of recent final exams set to be announced at the end of this month, stressing that all Kuwaiti applicants who meet the academic criteria for their chosen courses will be accepted.

Meanwhile, members of the body representing the university’s teaching faculty recently met with education minister Ahmad Al-Mulaifi to discuss salary and bonus increases for staff. During the meeting, they also discussed KU’s staff promotion policy. On a tangentially related note, construction workers working on the site of the new Kuwait University building in Shadadiya contacted police after discovering munitions believed to have been left there following the 1990-91 Iraqi invasion and occupation. Bomb squad officers were quickly at the scene and the armaments were dealt with accordingly.

Govt officials to hold fortnightly meetings The government has reportedly decided to hold bimonthly meetings for senior ministry officials working on development plan-related projects in order to monitor their implementation and progress and ensure that they are going ahead as planned. A government insider said that the first meeting between the officials would take place later this month, with the officials instructed to focus on removing obstacles impeding progress on the projects and to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic red tape as much as possible. The insider also revealed a number of new projects are set to be put out for tender after Ramadan, including a new housing development.

Dashti slams ‘misleading’ claims on teachers’ pay MP Rola Dashti has condemned all those who have recently suggested that teachers will receive no pay rises because of the parliament’s failure to pass a bill that

MP suspends abusive secretary KUWAIT: MP Dr Waleed AlTabtabae dismissed a secretary employed at his office in the National Assembly over allegedly assaulting a cleaning worker.

In a press release, Al-Tabtabae said that he was ‘very upset’ to learn that one of his secretaries physically

assaulted a worker who could not answer his call when already occupied with another task, “I called the secretary immediately after learning about the incident and demanded that he immediately apologize to the worker.”

While describing his secretary’s

actions as reprehensible, AlTabtabaei indicated that the incident is a serious shortcoming on the part of a staff member for the first time during the span of his 16year political career, reported Al-Rai. The lawmaker added that he made amends with the cleaning worker.

Citizen murdered A citizen in his thirties was found murdered in his family home in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. An official said that the victim succumbed to stab wounds received at a Farwaniya hospital. According to preliminary investigation reports the suspect is a GCC citizen who fled the country.

Body found A citizen’s corpse was found in his car in Hawally.

Security personnel found syringes with heroin residue in them.

Family dispute A citizen filed a complaint with the local police, accusing his son of threatening to kill him by aiming a gun at him following a family dispute.

Kuwait, Mongolia discuss agriculture ULAN BATOR: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Mongolia Mubarak Al-Sehaijan went over bilateral ties with Mongolia’s minister of agriculture and light industries Tunjin Badamjunai, during a meeting the two officials had here yesterday, a statement from the Kuwait embassy here said.

Primary in their talks was means of augmenting current relations in agriculture, industry, and livestock or animal production, with the emphasis on the latter since Mongolia has the distinction of possessing enormous livestock production capacities, said the statement.

That could play well in the Middle East, where there is a perennial lack of animal products, including meat and poultry, which often lead to high prices for these commodities.

The two officials agreed to pursue these and other bilateral issues through exchanges of visits by each nation’s officials.

Mongolia and Kuwait have signed an agreement on animal quarantine and veterinary services during a visit by the Mongolian prime minister to Kuwait last January. — KUNA

CAIRO: Members of the Kuwait Ministry of Education foreign contracting committee, headed

by Mubarak Al-Kabeer educational area director, Badriya Al-Khaldi, conducting tests and interviews for new Egyptian teachers in Cairo yesterday.

Kuwait to supply electricity to Bahrain KUWAIT: Kuwait’s electricity produc tion is expec ted to exceed co nsumpti o n rates s o o n . Th e country is mulling over the possibility of supplying 400 megawatts of electricity to Bahrain.

Officials added that since the Subbiya power plant entered into operation, 900 megawatts were

added to the power distribution network, enabling it to provide an output of 1,320 megawatts mo re t h an t h e l o c al l y- n eeded amount.

Fur thermore, meetings were h el d by o f f ic ial s f ro m Ku wait , Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to coordinate power to make up for its

p ower s h o r t age o f 1 ,4 0 0 megawatts, Aljarida.

Commenting on the news, offic ial s f ro m t h e M in is t r y o f Electricity and Water(MEW) have said that the electricity will be supplied to Bahrain in return for an amount that will be paid at the end of each fiscal year.

would have seen their pay and bonuses increased.

Indicating that the CSC has already approved a pay rise for members of the teaching profession, Dashti warned, “Those spreading lies and misinformation that teachers will get no rises because the salary increase bill wasn’t approved should stop misleading people at once.” In a press release issued yesterday, Dashti pointed out that the CSC approved a pay rise of between 15 and 50 percent depending on rank and experience for teachers in April.

Use recess to improve govt-NA relations, urges MP Parliamentarian Nadji Abdulhadi has urged the government to utilize the summer recess to resolve a number of outstanding problems in the adversarial relationship between government and parliament, as well as to undertake a major survey into salaries. Abdulhadi vowed that MPs would not stop demanding pay rises for Kuwaitis employed in various fields, urging the government to conduct an extensive survey on wages. “Cutting down on expenditure shouldn’t be used as an excuse by the government to reject wage rises,” he asserted.

MP displeased at Haroun’s appointment Lawmaker Abdelrahman Al-Anjari expressed displeasure at the appointment of Abdelwahab Al-Haroun as Minister of Development. He said, “How can we be optimistic about the plan’s implementation when the government tabled the state’s budget before discussing the 2011-2012 annual plan. This is the seventh government and this is the way it runs its affairs.” The Finance Ministry has stated that changing a minister will not alter the already approved budget. Al-Anjari remarked that the proposed laws have been made by MPs to please people, placing an increasing burden on the payment of salaries and wages. “Why is not the prime minister stopping such projects? We only see it when interpellation motions are presented.”

Most KU students still refuse dress code KUWAIT: Despite Kuwait University’s attempts to enforce a controversial recently introduced dress code which bans anything that could be perceived as ‘indecent,’ the vast majority of students continue to oppose restrictions on their sartorial freedom.

Many students indicate that it’s unreasonable to demand that students don clothing covering up their entire bodies during the hottest period of summer, when temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). “What Kuwait University students wear is appropriate generally,” said student Farah AlSalem, protesting that enforcing regulations which restrict basic freedoms due to the actions of a minority of students is wholly unacceptable.

Another student, Rawan Al-Enezi, rejected the idea of introducing a compulsory campus dress code, saying that it would “create more problems than it solves” and suggesting that the tiny number of cases in which students are ‘indecently’ attired could be best handled by referring them to the student council.

The proposed regulations would see male students banned from wearing any sort of shorts and female students banned from wearing short skirts. Students of both sexes would also be banned under the proposed regulations from wearing t-shirts or other clothes bearing offensive or potentially inflammatory slogans, as well as from wearing necklaces or other jewelry.

Although the proposals were approved by the university administration, they could not be implemented due to the strong objection from the student unions and other bodies.

“Students are mature enough to be aware of what clothes are suitable for wearing in our conservative society,” asserted Raghad Al-Oqab, another KU student critical of the proposed restrictions.

Fellow student Nasser Al-Ali agreed with him, condemning the proposals as an attempt to intervene in personal freedoms, and insisting that students are able to distinguish between right and wrong.

There are a few students who support the proposals, however, arguing that the university needs regulations to curb “recklessness” and “disrespect of an academic institution,” and suggesting that they will help to prevent harassment on campus.

“We live in a conservative society ruled by controls based on Islamic regulations,” said student Abdullah AlEnezi, who believes that a restrictive dress code can be effective in protecting female students from harassment.

Al-Enezi also condemned fellow student who he said “disrespect the status of this academic institution with their indecent garb,” and agreed with the suggestion that there should be “deterrent measures” against male and female students who violate the proposed dress code, which he said he strongly supports. — Al-Qabas

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

local

NCCAL plans culture-rich summer around Kuwait Moves to promote culture, heritage

By Hussain Al-Qatari KUWAIT: Traditional musical performances, informative seminars, theater, and cinema will entertain the audience of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) Sixth Annual Cultural Summer festival, a program that aims to promote culture and heritage. The event, which was inaugurated on Monday will be held until July 27. It will be staged across various locations in Kuwait. Acting Secretary General of NCCAL Muteb Al-Muhana said that the idea to distribute activities around Kuwait will ensure wide exposure to these events. “The sixth annual cultural summer season will include a variety of diverse cultural performances, and programs that will appeal to the audience,” said Al-Muhana.

During the opening ceremony held at the Kuwait National Museum on Monday, Al-Muhana presented a memorial award to the maestro of Yemeni folklore band Saeed Al-Tawalah. He led an extraordinary performance of traditional Yemeni songs.

Among the many activities that will be

held during the festival will be exhibitions by museums, fine arts competitions, theater and musical performances, lectures, seminars, poetry recital sessions and the screening of two international movies.

One of the highlights of the festival is a mobile book fair which will be held in four different locations throughout the month, starting with 360 mall until July 8, then moving on to Jahra’s Awtad Mall on the 12th for four days. The Avenues Mall will host the event on the 19th for another four days, and the last will be held at Manshar Mall in Fahaheel on the 25th for three days.

The NCCAL is keen to encourage young people to rediscover reading and make use of their leisure time in the summer vacation to enhance their skills and talents. The books showcased in the event are mainly written by local authors, and cover various subjects like Kuwaiti history, sociology, literary criticism and biography. There are also literary fiction and poetry titles, and a small section dedicated to books, literature written by Kuwaiti authors and translated into English.

HIGHLIGHTS: Thursday, July 7: Joint Azerbaijani Kuwaiti musical performance in Abdulaziz Hussein Theater, Mishref at 8:30 pm.

Sunday, July 10: Seminar discussing the archeological findings in Kuwaiti desert and on Kuwaiti islands. Kuwait National Museum Theater at 7:30 pm.

Wednesday, July 13: Exhibition of Kuwaiti traditional artifacts in Bait AlBader on the Arabian Gulf Street at 7:30 pm.

Thursday, July 14: Arabic music performance by maestro Ahmad Hamdan at the Kuwait National Museum Theater at 8:30 pm.

Monday July 18: Screening of the film ‘Avatar’ at the Kuwait National Museum Theater at 8 pm.

Tuesday, July 19: Screening of the Chinese film ‘Hero’ at the Kuwait National Museum Theater at 8 pm.

Wednesday, July 20: Screening of the film ‘Doctor Zhivago’ at the Kuwait National Museum Theater at 8 pm.

Thursday, July 21: Traditional Kuwaiti musical performance at the Kuwait National Museum Theater at 8:30 pm.

Sunday, July 24: Seminar on environment-friendly houses, in cooperation with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research( KISR) at the Kuwait National Museum Theater at 7 pm.

‘No exceptions to Kuwaitization policy’ KUWAIT: The Civil Service Council(CSC) rejected requests made by eleven state departments to be exempted from the regulation which mandates that 90 percent of employees be Kuwaiti citizens.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, officials said that the Council put forward recommendations to instruct ministries to hire candidates who have been promoted through the Civil Service Commission, instead of selecting candidates. According to official statistics, 19,000 Kuwaiti men and

women have registered their names with the CSC’s employment system, reported Al-Qabas.

Separately, officials revealed that the disagreement over allowances paid to teachers was addressed during the Council’s meeting held on Monday with hope of arriving at a compromise between the general allowance presented by the Kuwait Teachers Society and the one recommended by the government based on a pay for performance system. Officials who also spoke anonymously indicate that should the Council reach a common formu-

la, a recommendation will be made with the Parliament’s educational committee so that it can be discussed when it resumes sessions in late October.

On the other hand, the meeting failed to discuss a pay increase for oil sector employees after they failed to reach a consensus on a study presented by the Supreme Petroleum Council, reported Al-Rai. The Chairman of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s(KPC) labor union Mohammad Al-Hamlan expressed frustration over the issue shortly after the meeting.

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Diving Team is continuing its efforts to release a large ship that remains stranded off the shore in Ushairej, north Kuwait. The divers have been using air bags to keep the ‘Jenan Ship’ afloat, hoping that the vessel can be moved during high tide.

53% of police academy project completed KUWAIT: The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) has completed 53 percent of the work on the construction of the new KD47 million police academy building, with the project set to be completed by August 2012.

In a press release issued on Monday, project director Saied Yousef explained

that the State Audit Bureau (SAB) has agreed to extend the construction firm’s contract for the project for an additional ten months in order to repair damage done by a large fire that broke out at the site earlier this year.

The new academy in the Mubarakiya military zone in Al-Jewan,

will cover a total area of 284,304 square meters. It is designed to accommodate 1,200 cadets and 165 training personnel and other staff. The impressive facility will offer educational and training facilities, as well as a football field, an Olympic swimming pool and a mosque. — Al-Rai

E-books projects to be announced KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education is studying various options to effectively implement the e-books projects announced by minister Ahmad Al-Mulaifi.

The initative will be enforced next month.

The projects aims to provide students with flash memory cards that contain soft copies of their text books, with the aim of reducing load on students who have to carry text books every day.

According to officials, the step will be adopted after schools are provided with lockers where students can place their text books. In practice they will be allowed to use e-books and online versions that are uploaded at the ministry’s website.

The decision is expected to be made official as soon as a draft project is referred to the Fatwa and Legislation Department, reported Al-Rai. In another development, the ministry has warned private schools that legal action will be taken in case tuition fees are hiked, violating the ministry ’s regulations. Fahad Al-Ghais Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education commented on reports which suggested that some Arab schools are planning to increase fees for the 2011/2012 academic year by reiterating that any Arab school which enforces an arbitrary increase will be subject to punitive measures.

KAC attends IATA meeting KUWAIT: The Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) took part in the 67th General Assembly meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It was recently held in Singapore.

Several topics were discussed including efforts made to facilitate travel procedures as well as inhibit greenhouse gas emissions.

The meeting also addressed challenges that international carriers face, such as the abrupt increase in fuel prices and taxes.

Financial difficulties that were incurred as a result of the crisis in Middle East, Japan’s earthquake as well as Iceland’s volcano eruption were discussed.

The next IATA general assembly meeting will take place in Beijing, China between 10 to 12 June next year.

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Airways Corporation delegation attending the 67th General Assembly meeting of the International Air Transport Association.

y

A

6

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

LOCAL Palestinian education official hails Kuwaiti support

kuwait digest

Statement of the National Action Bloc

KUWAIT: The support by Kuwaiti authorities and education bodies and institutions to Palestinian causes is much felt and appreciated, stated Nablus Educational Department Director and Quds Open University Rector Dr Yusef Dheyab yesterday.

The official was speaking after a meeting with Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) Public Relations Director Abderrahman Al-Oun, “The KRCS was and still is a great source of support to our people who are enduring great difficulties.” He also remarked the society was among the first to lend support to the Palestinians. The society and its noble initiatives secured it great international esteem and recognition, he added.

On his visit to the Kuwaiti society, he said the aim is to strengthen coordination on educational projects and initiatives, particularly those affecting Quds Open University.

Opened in 1991, the university currently has 22 centers across the West Bank serving almost 60,000 students.

KRCS’s Al-Oun on his part said the society is eager to continue its support to the Palestinian people and institutions in all fields. The support, which shall be stressed at all regional and international venues, stems from strong belief in the Palestinian cause shared by the government and people of Kuwait, he said. —KUNA

By Waleed Al-Ghanim

T

Three held in Hawally for stealing cars, robberies Taxi driver robbed in Mirqab KUWAIT: Police have arrested three members of a six-man gang responsible for stealing cars and switching their number plates to carry out robberies.

Police patrolling a Hawally street spotted the six in the act of taking the license plates off a vehicle parked there. Although three members of the gang managed to escape on spotting the police approaching, the officers managed to apprehend the other three. On questioning, the detainees told police that they had been responsible for several recent car thefts, changing the license plates on the vehicles before using them to carry out robberies. The apprehended trio gave police the details of their co-felons and police expect to arrest them shortly.

Fatal heart attack A construction worker died at his workplace of a suspected heart attack.

Although an ambulance rushed to the building site in an area beside Kuwait International Airport where construction is underway on further airport facilities, they found that the man had died before their arrival. Preliminary indications suggest that the cause of death was a heart attack and the body was removed for autopsy.

‘Friendly’ stabbing A GCC man fled after stabbing an erstwhile friend in the chest at the victim’s home in Firdous, leaving him in a critical condition. The incident apparently began after the attacker arrived at his erstwhile friend’s house, asking him to step outside to discuss something. Once the two men were outside the house, the discussion quickly escalated to a heated argument, with the assailant pulling out a knife and stabbing his former friend in the chest repeatedly before fleeing.

Paramedics rushed the critically injured man to Farwaniya Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and police are hunting for the attacker.

Mirqab mugging Police are hunting for a group of unidentified men who abducted and robbed a taxi driver in the Mirqab area.

The taxi driver, a Pakistani, told officers at Shaab police station that the men had forced him to pull over to the side of the road before dragging him out of his car and into their own and robbing him of the KD200 in cash which he was carrying, after which they kicked him out of the car and fled. The victim managed to record the license plate details of the attackers’ vehicle and detectives are hunting for the thugs.

Romeo rumbled A teenage boy from another Arab country is facing legal charges after persuading his Kuwaiti girlfriend of the same age to run away with him, possibly by misleading her into believing that he too is Kuwaiti. After her family reported her missing, the girl was discovered at a local shopping mall with her young paramour. On questioning the young lovers, detectives discovered that the couple had been romantically involved for some time, with the 17-year-old boy persuading his girlfriend to elope with him so

he National Action Bloc(NAB) has always rejected allegations of negotiating with the Cabinet on two recently-presented grilling motions. Votes of its members were reportedly bought by suspicious appointments of people close to them in senior posts. However, the recent statement in which they attempted to explain why they opted against voting for a no-confidence motion against the prime minister does not put them in a good stead while defending themselves against allegations.

In their statement, the NAB mentions a series of setbacks which are worthy enough to deem the Cabinet incompetent. They chose not to support the no-confidence motion against the premier. The list of governmental failures mentioned in the statement include the unfortunate selection of ministers that make unfavorable decisions, take to nepotism, public funds squander, deliberate obstruction of parliament sessions, marginalizing the Parliament’s monitory role, restricting citizens’ right to assemble, freedom of expression, and others.

When they accuse the Cabinet of committing all these errors, what have the NAB members done to try to stop them? What use comes from their membership if they cannot act against the government’s restriction to citizens’ rights and MPs; something which they have personally mentioned in their statement?

It is ironic how a statement they released to deny allegations exposed the NAB’s suspicious and weak political stance. —Al-Qabas

they could live together. Questioning also revealed that the girl was under the misapprehension that her boyfriend, who had told her he wanted to marry her, had led her falsely to believe he is a Kuwaiti citizen.

Drunk and dumb A 42-year-old Kuwaiti drunk driver was arrested in Hawally following a brief car chase during which he damaged several other vehicles. The would-be Jensen Button ignored the orders of patrol officers to pull over to the side of Ibn Khaldoun Street, instead driving off and smashing his car into four other vehicles parked in front of an apartment block there as he attempted to escape before being forced to stop. He was taken into custody to sober up and is facing multiple charges.

Caught in the act A divorced woman and her teenage lover were taken into custody after being overcome by passion in his car whilst it was parked near a beachfront shopping mall. Passersby reportedly called the police after spotting the couple heavy petting. On being questioned, the cou-

ple admitted that they are romantically involved.

Assault accusation Police are searching for a joiner who is accused of assaulting a Kuwaiti customer at his home in Farwaniya. The customer told officers at the local police station that when the joiner delivered a consignment of custom-made furniture to his home, he complained that it did not meet his specifications and was shoddily made and refused to pay for it.

At this, the Asian carpenter allegedly lost his temper and hit the customer before fleeing.

Park brawl Six people were arrested following a brawl in an Abu Hlaifa park. The fight began when four members of a family confronted two men who had been harassing their female relatives.

Although people picnicking in the park attempted to calm the situation, they were unable to do so and police had to intervene to separate the brawlers. All the detainees were charged with physical assault.

—Al-Watan, Al-Rai, Al-Qabas

GCC security media panel holds meetings ABU DHABI: Brig Mohammad Saleh Badda, Acting Director of Public Relations Department of UAE’s Ministry of Interior welcomed Monday representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Arab states who take part in third meeting of GCC security media committee.

Badda conveyed to the participants the greetings of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt Gen Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and his best wishes for them to reach constructive recommedations that contribute to achieving a quantum leap that consolidates the security culture in the GCC Arab region for citizens and residents alike.

Badda also asserted that the meeting adds a milestone to the joint GCC security action, and the auspicious journey of GCC Arab states, noting that it comes in completion of the two previous meetings held by GCC security media committee.

He also asserted that multimedia have became one of the main bases in formulating several life trends within any contemporary society, while stressing the importance of tapping into modern technologies to draw up a security media system based on scientific rudiments, and sophisticated methodical frameworks. Badda hoped that such big efforts will bring about successes within the framework of the GCC joint security action, and will help reach constructive recommendations that keep up with the ambitions of the GCC ministers of interior. —KUNA

Fatwa Dept appoints 160 new lawyers

KUALA LUMPUR: Mahmoud Al-Fuzai and other officials at the Kuwaiti center for youth and sport in Thailand.

Kuwaiti youth, sports center in Thailand to support Muslim minority KUALA LUMPUR: A Kuwaiti center for youth and sport in Thailand is one of numerous grants by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah toward supporting Muslim minorities worldwide, a Kuwaiti official said yesterday. Mahmoud Al-Fuzai, member of the committee to follow up the establishment of the center, added that Kuwait is well-known for such projects thanks to the Amir’s ongoing support.

KUWAIT: The Fatwa and Legislation Department approved appointment of 160 lawyers out of 700 who applied, announced Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ali Al-Rashed yesterday.

The minister made the announcement in presence of head of the department, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Salman and deputy chairman Councilor Faisal Al-Sarawi. He said the new employees are to start work in November.

The minister appeased the rest of the applicants, who had resigned from posts in other state institutions in order to apply for a position in the department, saying the Higher Civil Service Council issued a directive indicating all those who resigned from state bodies and failed to secure an appointment with the department are to be allowed to return to their previous jobs without losing any of their benefits and allowances, within a period of three months. —KUNA

KUWAIT: A public relations team from the Commercial Bank of Kuwait visited the Bayt Lothan summer camp for children: an event taking place between June 19 and July 14 featuring participation of children aged from 4 to 12, who take part in programs focusing on improving creative thinking.

Al-Fuzai, also members of the board of trustees of the Social Welfare Society, voiced hope that this center would achieve its goals and serve the Thai society in general, and Muslims in this Asian countr y specifically. Al-Fuzai also thanked Kuwait ’s ambassador in Thailand Abdullatif Al-Mawwash and his staff, as well as high-ranking government officials for their efforts in bringing this project. —KUNA

Call for united stance MANAMA: Bahraini Prime M inister Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, and his Egyptian counterpart Dr Essam Sharaf have stressed here yesterday the importance of synchronizing Arab stances, boosting partnership and Arab convergence, particularly on politics.

Further, the two sides called during a business meeting that was held here today for “attaining a comprehensive Arab integration through employing Arab resources and wealth for the service of Arab industries, to establish a solid Arab economy because Arab wealth should be directed toward the development of Arab peoples.”

The two high-profile officials have also urged on preserving the gains of

bilateral cooperation, which have been achieved over a long history of BahrainiEgyptian ties.

Sharaf arrived in Bahrain earlier yesterday on an official visit. Bahraini Prime Minister hailed during the meeting the stances adopted by the Arab Republic of Egypt, and its historic stances in support of the Kingdom of Bahrain with the aim of consolidating Bahrain’s security and stability, according to Bahrain News Agency.

He also asserted that Bahrain is keen on the stability of Egypt, and boosting the pioneering Egyptian role at the Arab level, noting the importance of restoring such role of Egypt through the intensive exchange of visits, and promoting various aspects of cooperation. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Excavation and unfinished infrastructure work can be seen in different locations around Block Six in Mahboula, with many complaining that the work is causing severe mobility problems and other inconveniences. Local residents are growing frustrated as their calls for a prompt end to the ongoing works remain unanswered. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Fresh rape attempt charge hits Strauss-Kahn

Yemen warplanes bomb southern cities, killing 8 Page 8

BOYNUYOGUN: Syrian refugees are seen in the tent compound in Boynuyogun, Turkey, near the Syrian border yesterday.

According to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry the number of Syrians who fled their country seeking refuge in Turkey climbed to nearly 7,000, prompting Turkish authorities to start building a fourth tent compound in the border area.—AP

Tripoli denies talks on Gaddafi exit TRIPOLI: Muammar Gaddafi is sounding out the possibility of handing over power, a Russian newspaper said yesterday, but the Libyan government denied it was in talks about the veteran leader stepping down. Five months into a conflict that has embroiled NATO and become the bloodiest of the “Arab Spring” uprisings, there has been a flurry of reports about talks on Gaddafi ending his 41 years in power in exchange for security guarantees. Russia’s respected Kommersant newspaper based its story on a high-level source in Moscow.

But the report was denied in Tripoli and Italy said it believed talk of a deal was a ruse by Gaddafi’s administration.

“Information about negotiations about Gaddafi stepping down or seeking a safe refuge inside or outside the country is simply untrue,” Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said.

“Gaddafi is not negotiable, this is our position of principle, and the future of Libya will be decided by Libyans. Gaddafi is a historical symbol, and Libyans will die to defend him,” said Ibrahim. Despite the talk of a peace deal, the fighting between government forces and rebels continues.

A Reuters reporter in Misrata, 200 km east of Tripoli, said rebel positions in the Dafniya district on the city’s western out-

skirts came under heavy artillery fire yesterday. The bodies of five rebel fighters were brought in to Misrata’s Al-Hekma hospital. Medical workers there said 35 fighters had been wounded. Many of them were in critical condition, and some would need to have limbs amputated, staff at the hospital said. Some analysts say that Gaddafi is starting to contemplate an exit plan as shortages of cash and fuel, the NATO bombing campaign and rebel military pressure shorten the odds on him being able to hold on to power. But Western diplomats caution that it is in Gaddafi’s interests to send out conflicting signals about possible deals, in the hope that it will sow confusion among the rebels and the fragile Western alliance trying to push him out.

‘SEEKING GUARANTEES’ Kommersant newspaper reported Western powers, including France, were receptive to a deal with Gaddafi if he agrees to step down. “The colonel (Gaddafi) is sending signals that he is prepared to relinquish power in exchange for security guarantees,” the newspaper quoted what it called a high-level source in the Russian leadership as saying.

The report came a day after Russia

hosted South African President Jacob Zuma-who has tried to broker a peace deal for Libya-and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen for talks which focused on Libya. After his return from Russia, Zuma’s office issued a statement saying he had asked NATO to persuade the rebel National Transitional Council to come to the negotiating table.

“The meeting was very successful, and I am confident that it will contribute significantly to reaching a solution that will bring peace and stability in Libya,” the statement said. On Monday, the Libyan government had said it held talks in Italy, Norway and Egypt with senior figures in the opposition about finding a peaceful way out of the conflict.

DRIVING A WEDGE But the Italian government denied any talks had taken place on its soil and expressed skepticism that Gaddafi’s administration was sincere about talks.

“The aim of Tripoli’s people, Tripoli’s regime is to drive a wedge within the coalition,” said Italian foreign ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari. “So I interpret this false information as ... a demonstration of weakness of Gaddafi’s regime.” —Reuters

Israeli drone kills 2 in Gaza GAZA: An Israeli drone strike killed two Palestinians and wounded another in the central Gaza Strip yesterday, Palestinian medics said. “Two people were killed and one was injured in a drone attack east of the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip,” emergency services spokesman Adham Abu Selmiya said, adding the strike occurred near the border fence with Israel.

Earlier he had said the explosion was a result of artillery shells. The Israeli armed forces had no immediate comment. However, military sources said the army had targeted militants who were trying to fire rockets into Israel. Selmiya identified the two men as Mohammed Said Abu Jazar and Kamal Hamdan Muammar, both aged 28 from Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, he said. On Sunday a rocket fired from Gaza struck open fields in southern Israel causing no damage or injuries.—AFP

Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

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

Sudan division echoes in war-ravaged Darfur Tens of thousands flee violence KERINDING CAMP: For many in Sudan’s war-battered Darfur region, the division of the country on Saturday will not be a cause for celebration.

Southerners see secession as the end of a long march toward freedom, but in Darfur, which borders the South, it means the chance of more fighting between the government and rebels, as well as complications for issues like migration and crossborder animal grazing. “We don’t know what will happen next. There are dangers at every turn,” Hussein Joma, 42, a community leader in the Kerinding camp near the Chadian border, said as women in bright shawls and men in dust-stained shirts and trousers filled plastic cans from a water pump.

“If there is war with the secession, it could affect the living conditions here, the economy-the country as a whole. War increases prices and divisions between people.” War broke out in Darfur in 2003 when mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms against Khartoum, complaining the central government had left them out of the economic and political power structure and was favoring local Arab tribes.

Eight years later, hundreds of thousands of people who fled the fighting still live in vast, dusty camps like Kerinding, many in stick and mud huts reinforced with canvas from food aid delivery bags.

The persistent volatility of the situation is evi-

dent. An Ethiopian peacekeeping soldier was shot dead on the road between the nearby town of El Geneina and the airport a day after a rare visit by foreign journalists last week. Though down from its peak, violence has surged since December, forcing tens of thousands more to flee. Qatar-brokered peace talks have meant little on the ground as Darfur’s main rebel groups pulled out or refused to participate. The war has claimed 300,000 lives, the United Nations says, and complicated Khartoum’s foreign ties after the International Criminal Court indicted President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir on charges of crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Khartoum puts the death toll at 10,000, and refuses to recognize the court. “I don’t think that Doha is going to bring a lasting peace, so the grievances of Darfur are going to persist,” Fouad Hikmat of the International Crisis Group said. “The problems of Darfur are actually the problems of Sudan manifested in Darfur”.

EMBOLDENED REBELS The war in Darfur-a region of seasonal waterways, jutting cliffs and long stretches of desert dotted with trees-is testament to the diversity and complexity of Sudan’s many, often overlapping conflicts.

The country’s rebels span an array of ethnic and tribal loyalties and territories, but are united in their opposition to a central government they say has

concentrated wealth and power in the hands of an exclusive class in the north. Echoing those complaints, the south fought a long and bloody civil war with the north, ending with the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Southerners voted overwhelmingly to secede in a January referendum promised in that pact. But no deal has so far succeeded in putting an end to the war in Darfur, where rebels say their demands have not been addressed and the government has gradually reasserted control over major towns and other formerly rebel-held areas.

Some analysts say the secession could now harden anti-government fighters’ resolve as they see southerners attain their goal of independence and as Khartoum is economically weakened by the loss of the south’s oil fields. “In Darfur we may be seeing the reconsolidation of opposition movements which would mirror the reconsolidation of southern opposition groups before the CPA,” Roger Middleton, a researcher at the Chatham House think tank, said.

Other analysts say the newly independent south could be tempted to back a continued insurgency in Darfur, with which they have shared some ideological and political links.

The northern government says it will not allow other regions to separate. In El Geneina, capital of West Darfur state, deputy governor Abou El-Qassim

Baraka rejected suggestions the south’s separation could inflame further conflict in Darfur. “In Darfur, we are tired of war. There is no going back to war, that is the opinion of the entire community,” he said.

LONG-RUNNING CONFLICT A move by Khartoum to split the region into five states outraged rebels this year who said it was an effort to dilute their influence, echoing the region’s division into three states in the early 1990s that stoked tensions with Khartoum. Darfur was an independent sultanate for hundreds of years. But for now analysts say government troops have the upper hand over insurgents, cutting off some of their previous supply routes and pushing them from several central areas. As the fighting drags on, the camps that started as temporary shelter for people who fled are becoming increasingly more like permanent settlements. Some aid workers say they may soon come to resemble towns. “I’m old and I’m not well. I need to stay here,” one elderly man at Kerinding said as donkeys wandered down the red dirt path behind him and peacekeepers stood watch over the area.

Joma, the tribal sheikh, said the fear of bandits and local Arab tribes still kept many in Kerinding too afraid to attempt a return home. “If there was peace, if their villages were secure, people would return, of course,” he said. “But maybe a kilometer outside of here, the troubles start.” — Reuters

Yemen warplanes bomb south, 8 die Somali pirates using Yemen Island for refueling

JUBA: Southern Sudanese boys take shelter from afternoon rains that disrupted rehearsal for Independence Day celebrations in the capital city of Juba. — AP

Egypt reaches out to S Sudan before secession CAIRO: Egypt will be the second country to recognize South Sudan when it secedes on July 9, the Foreign Ministry said, mindful that the split could heighten instability in region and threaten Egypt’s access to Nile waters. Egypt, Sudan’s northern neighbor, sought for years to defuse tension between Khartoum and southern Sudan that spilled over into a series of wars until 2005 when a peace deal gave southerners the option to form their own country.

Egypt had pressed for its ally Sudan to remain united, with one reason being the hope of preserving 1929 and 1955 Nile Basin treaties which allocated the most of the river’s waters to Egypt and Sudan, rather than other states who want a bigger share.

But when it became clear that southerners were determined to break away, Egypt adopted a more pragmatic approach and offered the south assistance in health, education and irrigation.

It has already developed several electricity generating projects. “Egypt will be the second state in the world to recognize Sudan on Saturday,” the ministry said in a statement published in state AlAhram newspaper yesterday. Khartoum has already said it will recognize the new state.Egypt’s consulate in Juba, capital of South Sudan, will become an embassy

and a new ambassador will be named.

“Egypt’s foreign minister has previously issued a decision to strengthen diplomatic representation in Juba to befit the significance with which Egypt views its ties to brotherly South Sudan,” the statement said.

Egypt was looking forward to cooperation between North and South Sudan and was fully supportive of Khartoum and Juba in resolving outstanding disputes, the statement said.

South Sudan has not declared a position on sharing Nile waters but most analysts believe it is likely to side with its east African allies.

They have signed a new treaty aimed at ensuring what they say would be a more equitable distribution of the water, worrying Egypt which is already threatened by climate change and is struggling to grow food for its burgeoning population. Egypt plans to send a delegation headed by the Foreign Minister Mohammed El-Orabi to participate in South Sudan’s independence ceremony, the statement said. Egypt has said it will give the government of South Sudan a non-refundable grant of $300 million for water and electricity projects. Egyptair, the country’s stateowned flag carrier, now flies twice a week to South Sudan. — Reuters

SANAA: Yemeni warplanes bombed southern cities held by militants yesterday while a top general called in a television interview for foreign intervention to help avert a regional security crisis. Protests demanding an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s three-decade rule continue to paralyze the country. He clings to power despite an assassination attempt that forced him to seek treatment in Saudi Arabia, leaving the country in limbo.

Islamist militants suspected of ties to AlQaeda have seized two cities in the southern province of Abyan, including its capital Zinjibar, forcing tens of thousands of Yemenis to flee.

Western powers and neighboring oil giant Saudi Arabia fear Al-Qaeda is exploiting a growing security vacuum in the country, from which it has already launched failed attacks against the United States and Riyadh. A top general who defected from Saleh and joined protesters in March told broadcaster CNN International that the political standoff in Yemen, a country awash in weapons, put the impoverished country and its oil-rich Gulf neighbors at risk.

“We need the intervention of our friends and quickly because propagandas might take place against the country. It could put the country into a severe security stalemate. The entire region will be affected security-wise,” said General Ali Mohsen. Washington and Riyadh have failed to pressure Saleh into signing a Gulf Arab initiative for a power transfer, which he has backed out of three times at the last minute. Saleh’s opponents have accused him of letting his forces ease up on Islamist militants in the south, where violence is rising, to stoke fears in the international community that only he stands in the way of a militant takeover.

Despite Yemen’s plans last week to step up military operations in the south, it has yet to loosen the militants’ grip on several sites in Abyan. Militants took a makeshift military base last week and have surrounded another base.

Yemen ramped up air raids in Abyan yesterday, killing four gunmen in the militant-held city of Jaar, but local officials complain the raids often

SANAA: Yemeni girls play in front of female anti-government protestors attending noon prayers, during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa, Yemen, yesterday. — AP strike areas with no militant activity. A raid on the house of a top parliamentarian on the outskirts of Zinjibar killed four of his cousins and injured six civilians in what appeared to be a botched operation.

PIRATES EXPLOIT TURMOIL The flight of thousands of people from violence in the south, as well as severe food and water shortages, have raised the specter of a humanitarian crisis in a country already on the verge of collapse. An official told a UN delegation visiting Yemen on Monday that some 54,000 people had fled Abyan to neighboring Aden, near the mouth of a key shipping lane through which around 3 million barrels of oil pass daily.

Underscoring fears that the strategic route could be in jeopardy, maritime sources said yesterday Somali pirates had exploited the country’s politi-

Transfer of Palestinian remains halted

Riots erupt in Egypt as court releases policemen CAIRO: Hundreds of Egyptians attacked a courtroom in Cairo, scuffled with security guards, and blocked a major highway for hours after the court ordered the release of 10 policemen charged with killing protesters during the country’s uprising. Monday’s unrest added to tensions already running high in Egypt over the ruling military council’s failure to hold accountable security forces involved in killing protesters during the uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak. Nearly five months later, only one policeman has been convicted in the deaths of more than 846 people killed in a government crackdown on protesters. He was tried in absentia.

During court proceedings Monday, guards had to intervene to separate relatives of the victims and families of the defendants even before the decision was read. In his initial statement, the judge seemed to suggest he would impose harsh sentences, saying that “the blood of those killed will not be spilled in vain,” according to the Egyptian news agency MENA. However, he then ordered the release of the defendants, setting off a riot. The victims’ families scuffled with the guards and tried to rush toward the defendants who were whisked out of the courtroom. A number of family members of the slain pro-

testers tried to storm the judge’s office in the courthouse, but were blocked by soldiers guarding the building.

Afterward, Egypt’s ProsecutorGeneral Mahmoud Abdel-Meguid ordered the court’s decision overturned in an attempt to defuse anger. But a lawyer for the victims’ families said the move was “illegal” because the prosecutor general has no authority over the court. “They are trying to deceive the people to pacify them,” said the lawyer, Amin Ramez. “The policemen are now at army headquarters seeking protection. If people saw them, they would tear them apart,” Ramez added. Ali el-Ganadi, a father of one of the victims, said he received a promise from the prosecutorgeneral to enforce the annulment of the court’s order and bring the officers back to jail.

Relatives of slain protesters, who were involved in the unrest, blocked traffic for at least six hours on the highway from Cairo to the city of Suez, leaving hundreds of cars lined up. The court case involved protesters killed in Suez. Ramez spoke to The Associated Press by phone from the Cairo-Suez road, about 60 miles outside of Cairo. He said truck drivers and Suez residents poured in and joined the protesters, while military officers tried to negotiate the blockade. —AP

cal turmoil to use the remote island of Socotra as a refueling hub, enabling the seaborne gangs to stay at sea longer.

Somali pirates, making millions of dollars in ship ransoms, have become increasingly violent.

Tens of thousands of protesters have camped out in Yemen’s main cities for six months demanding Saleh’s ouster, but violence has ebbed since Saleh was hospitalized in Riyadh.

General Ali Mohsen, in his CNN interview, said the country was in a deadlock that he feared could tip it into civil war. In a move that could raise tensions with demonstrators, police arrested two opposition leaders at the airport yesterday. One, the head of a Shiite Muslim opposition group, was released but there has been no word on the second, the leader of an influential youth protest movement.— Reuters

CAIRO: An Egyptian soldier secures the road, as police prisoner vehicles transport three Mubarak-era ministers who were acquitted, out of the Supreme State Security Court after attending their trial session yesterday. — AP

Egypt court clears former ministers in graft cases CAIRO: An Egyptian court yesterday cleared three ministers from former President Hosni Mubarak’s administration of graft, the first ruling to exonerate former ministers since Egypt’s popular uprising. Some of the defendants looked surprised when the verdicts were read out in the court room, which was filled mainly with their relatives and friends, and cheers of “long live justice” erupted. The protests that unseated Mubarak were driven by widespread anger at high-level corruption and the trials of his former associates are being seen as a credibility test for the military council that took power after his downfall. Former information minister Anas el-Fekky and former finance minister Youssef Boutros-Ghali were found innocent of charges of graft, specifically squandering

public funds. Boutros-Ghali, who has fled the country, was tried in absentia.

In a separate ruling by the same court, former housing minister Ahmed elMaghrabi and Palm Hills Development Chairman Yasseen Mansour were also acquitted of graft. Fekky, who was close to Mubarak. still faces further charges, and Boutros-Ghali and Maghrabi have been sentenced to terms in prison for other crimes.

The prosecutor indicted Fekky and BoutrosGhali in March on charges of profiteering and wasting public funds after investigations showed Fekky received 36 million Egyptian pounds ($6.04 million) from the Finance Ministry for parliamentary election media campaigns and to promote the ousted ruling party. —Reuters

JERUSALEM: Defense Minister Ehud Barak called off the impending transfer of the remains of 84 Palestinian militants from an Israeli grave site to the West Bank yesterday, just hours after the military confirmed the planned handover. Barak said in statements yesterday that he held up the deal because he didn’t want it to jeopardize efforts to release Israeli Sgt. Gilad Schalit, captured five years ago by militants linked to the Gaza Strip’s militant Hamas rulers.

He did not elaborate. But Israel may be concerned that the handover of the remains could embolden Hamas to raise its price for Schalit’s freedom.

Also, Israeli politicians have criticized the deal on the handover of the remains because it did not ensure that Israel would even receive any information about Schalit in return. On Monday afternoon, the military had said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had approved the transfer of the bodies several months ago. None of the remains had been transferred by the time the decision was overturned.

The Palestinian Civil Affairs Department said the Palestinians were killed in clashes or attacks, including suicide bombings, against Israel. Most died in the second Palestinian uprising during the last decade. Yaakov Amidror, a top Netanyahu aide, confirmed that a decision had been taken in principle to return Palestinian remains.

But he denied media reports that Israeli officials had agreed which bodies would be transferred. He said names listed in the media were of people whose remains the Palestinians had sought, and not of those allegedly selected for return. The Yediot Ahronot newspaper suggested that public outrage over the planned handover led Barak to overturn it. Hussein Sheikh, the Palestinian Authority official who negotiated the transfer of the bodies with Israel, called Barak’s decision unjustified “because we are not the ones who hold Schalit. ... Apparently, Ehud Barak came under internal pressure to cancel the deal.” The Palestinian Authority rules the West Bank and has little influence over Gaza. — AP

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

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

Equatorial Guinea opposition leader scathing after summit MALABO: President Teodoro Obiang Nguema cares nothing for the people of Equatorial Guinea, says main opposition leader Placido Mico after the African Union summit for which the government spent millions of euros. How is Sipopo, the site built for last week’s two-day summit outside the capital Malabo, going to benefit the population, asked the leader of the Convergence for Social Democracy (CPDS) party and only opposition member of parliament.

The government says it spent around 600 million euros on Sipopo, a vast, seaside complex of conference centres, a hotel and villas. Mico said the cost would have been much more. According to the state investment budget of last year, Equatorial Guinea spent 2.7 billion euros more than planned, he said.

But he pointed to lists of projects related to agriculture, health and education that he says have not been completed. On the mainland, there is a similar project to Sipopo: Oyala is the start of a new housing complex. “Projects like Sipopo or Oyala are not helping development. At Oyala, there are only a few boxes

(small houses), no electricity, no school, no hospital.

This project is mad,” he said.

About Brazil’s new capital, he said: “When Brasilia was built, it was to relieve congestion in the capital.

And they already had running water in Rio and Sao Paulo.” “We are a country of 700,000 people. Are we going to move everyone to Oyala?” he asked. About Sipopo and the African Union meeting-for which the government would also have had to buy in fleets of cars, equipment and other material-Mico said: “It is scandalous.” “How can we spend that much money in Equatorial Guinea when 80 percent of people are without power, where at schools children sit on the floor, there is no materials, books?”

Information minister and government spokesman Jeronimo Osa Osa Ecoro said the opposition leader is only “criticizing for the sake of criticizing”. “We have a thought-out investment policy... we have launched dozens of projects to build schools, universities. There is a program to get water to everyone. “In four or five years, everyone will have water and electricity. In four

or five years, Mico will have nothing to say,” he said.

But the opposition leader believes the plan is to fool the international community into thinking that Equatorial Guinea’s oil wealth is going towards building the underdeveloped country. Instead it is enriching the regime faithful who are earning big commissions on the construction projects, he alleged.

“Obiang prefers to keep the population in underdevelopment and misery-that allows him to control them better,” he said. About a constitutional reform process launched in March and meant to limit the number of presidential terms, create a Senate and an audit court, he is suspicious. “Lies,” he said. “There is no freedom of expression or association, no unions. They are creating a Senate to secure votes, give jobs,” he said. Bringing in people is one of Obiang’s ways of keeping them on his side, he said.

“In 1990 there were about 30 members of government. Today there are 69,” he said, adding there were another around 20 advisers.

“An auditing court to ‘fight against corruption’-

there is already the penal code and there have never been any trials,” he said. The information minister dismissed the criticisms. “We are a democracy. The proof is that Mr Mico can say what he told you. As good democrats, we respect his opinion but what he says is wrong,” he said. The opposition leader says the only reason he is not arrested is that the government wants to avoid an international scandal. The state media meanwhile never relays any of speeches in parliament or elsewhere, he said.

Obiang’s other method of ensuring support, of the kind that won him 95 percent of votes in the 2009 election after being in power since his 1979 coup, is “repression and fear,” Mica said. “If you have a friend, a brother, a cousin who belongs to the CPDS, they are going to say-why do you see him? If you do not stop, you are fired,” he said. Again the minister differed. “The truth is that the population supports president Obiang. His accomplishments give them confidence in him. People see that things are changing,” Osa Osa Ekoro said. — AFP

Dutch state responsible for 3 Srebrenica deaths Ruling exposes Dutch to compensation claims

A combination of two images shows (at L) a picture taken in 2011 of former International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn and (at R) a picture taken in 2004 of French journalist and writer Tristane Banon, who will bring legal action this week for attempted rape against former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn. — AFP

Fresh rape attempt charge hits Strauss-Kahn PARIS: A fresh attempted rape suit against former IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn threatened yesterday to wreck his hopes of returning to frontline French politics if acquitted at his New York trial. Tristane Banon, 32, planned to lodge “a complaint for attempted rape” around eight years ago against StraussKahn with French prosecutors yesterday, her lawyer David Koubbi told the news magazine L’Express on its website.

She had already publicly accused Strauss-Kahn of trying to force himself on her “like a rutting chimpanzee” but said she was persuaded at the time that no one would take her word against the powerful politician’s if she sued. StraussKahn was charged in New York in May with trying to rape a hotel maid but a judge freed him from house arrest last week after prosecutors said they had doubts about that accuser’s credibility.

The US case continues, but an acquittal now looks increasingly likely. Banon, a French writer and journalist, told L’Express that “seeing Strauss-Kahn freed then afterwards dining in a fancy restaurant with friends, that makes me sick.”

“I can’t bear hearing that I am liar because I hadn’t lodged a complaint” immediately, Banon told L’Express, saying Strauss-Kahn had “his hands in my pants after he ripped off my jeans and bra.” She added: “Eight years ago when I talked about bringing a complaint, everyone had me believe that it would lead nowhere. In these matters it is one person’s word against another.” The revelations that the New York maid is suspected of lying to police has raised expectations that StraussKahn will be cleared in that case. Some of his allies in the French opposition Socialist Party have suggested he could return to fight Nicolas Sarkozy in next year’s presidential election.

Before the New York scandal he polled

as the person most likely to beat Sarkozy.

Some of Strauss-Kahn’s alleged the arrest was the result of a set-up. Banon’s legal action complicated the prospects of him returning in glory and prompted awkward questions for members of the Socialists, whom Banon says knew about her alleged ordeal at the time. She said former Socialist Party chief Francois Hollande, currently polling as the leading Socialist presidential candidate, was aware of the accusations.

On Monday Hollande declared he had “no detailed knowledge” of the alleged incident, which Koubbi said took place in 2003.

A survey by pollster BVA carried out before Banon’s announcement and published yesterday said 54 percent did not want Strauss-Kahn to return to the election race even if cleared in New York.

Nevertheless, 42 percent of those polled in a separate survey judged he would make a good president. In France, attempted rape is punishable by 15 years in prison. StraussKahn’s lawyers Henri Leclerc and Frederique Baulieu hit back by threatening Banon with a defamation suit, dismissing her claims as “imaginary”. Banon first publicly talked of the encounter in a television broadcast in 2007, saying she had to beat off the politician as he pawed at her like “a rutting chimpanzee.”

Banon’s mother, Socialist politician and blogger Anne Mansouret, confirmed she had advised her daughter at the time not to make a formal complaint for fear of hurting her career in journalism. “Perhaps I underestimated the trauma that could have caused to a very young woman,” Mansouret told RTL radio yesterday, saying she respected Strauss-Kahn’s “intellectual capacities” but thought he should “get treatment”. “I always thought there was something very worrying about his behavior, as someone who has enormous responsibilities... and was setting his sights on even bigger ones.” — AFP

DADAAB: A young Somali girl who fled violence and drought in Somalia stands in line among adults outside a food distribution point in Dadaab refugee camp in northeastern Kenya yesterday. Dadaab, a complex of three settlements, is the world’s largest refugee camp. Built to house 90,000 people and home to more than four times that number, it was already well over its maximum capacity before an influx of 30,000 refugees in the month of June. Upon arrival, the refugees find themselves tackling a chaotic system that sees new arrivals go days, even weeks, without food aid. “It still takes too much time for refugees to get proper assistance,” Antoine Froidevaux, MSF’s field coordinator in Dadaab told AFP. “The answer in terms of humanitarian aid is not satisfactory at all at the moment.” — AFP

AMSTERDAM: The Dutch state is responsible for the deaths of three Muslim men after the fall of Srebrenica during the Bosnian war, a Dutch appeals court ruled yesterday, opening the door to compensation claims. Dutch troops were in charge of the UN-declared ‘safe area’ at Srebrenica in July 1995 when Bosnian Serb forces overran the enclave and killed about 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys.

Relatives of a local electrician who assisted the Dutch but was killed at Srebrenica, and the troops’ local interpreter, whose father and brother are also believed to have died, lodged legal action against the Dutch state seeking damages.

In its ruling, the court said the Dutch state was responsible for the death of these men because the Dutch UN troops, known as Dutchbat, should not have allowed the men to leave the safe area or fall into the hands of the Bosnian Serb forces.

“The Dutchbat had been witness to multiple incidents in which the Bosnian Serbs mistreated or killed male refugees outside the compound.

The Dutch therefore knew that ... the men were at great risk if they were to leave the compound,” the court said in its ruling. The Dutch government, which has faced several lawsuits in recent years over the massacre, has always insisted that its troops were abandoned by the United Nations, which provided them no air support. A case launched by the group Mothers of Srebrenica against the Dutch state is now before the Dutch Supreme Court, where lawyers are seeking a referral of the case to the European Court of Justice to also challenge the immunity of the United Nations.

SREBRENICA: Bosnian women crying at the grave of a relative in the Potocari memorial cemetery near Srebrenica. — AFP In its ruling yesterday, the appeals court said its decision only applied to the specific case of the three Muslim men and no ruling had been made over the situation of the other refugees at Srebrenica. However, the court said that Dutch troops were initially operating under UN orders and that an “exceptional situation” developed after the fall of Srebrenica. Since the Dutch gov-

Johannesburg school gives childhood back to refugees JOHANNESBURG: In the corridors of this Johannesburg school, the children look like ordinary students. But they’re all refugees who have survived war’s horrors, coming to the school as a way back into a normal life. After Sacred Heart College’s regular classes let out, 140 young refugees arrive for three hours of English, math and “life skills” courses from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, hours that inspired the name of the program, “three2six”.

“My parents used to say that they came to South Africa to look for a life, but I came to South Africa to learn and have a good education,” said Ivan Imanalrakoze, a 13-year-old Rwandan refugee. Ivan came from Rwanda in 2007. Like his friends, he has no birth certificate-or money-to enroll in a normal school.

Here he receives a meal every day and gets a basic education that he hopes will allow him to further his studies. He also gets a chance to run in the playground and laugh with friends, to be a normal kid. “One of the things I think this project does, is that it returns childhood to children,” said principal Colin Northmore.

Many of the children have stories like 13-year-old Grace Kashongo, who comes from Kivu, a province in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where fighting between the army and rebels in late 2008 displaced at least 1.5 million people. One day, while she was going to school with her sister, they were stopped by a group of men. “Some people, they stopped us. I asked her, let’s run, she said no, just wait.

When we started running, they shot her behind the back of her head, with a gun. Then, they told me to disappear or they would kill me too,” she said.

She came to South Africa with her family in February 2010, and she’s never looked back. “I think here I am like at home, I feel fine, feel safe. That’s because people are not running, they are not dead, I am happy.” Many of the teachers share stories similar to their students. They are also refugees, often political exiles. “This is to help them integrate into public schools, to get used to the classroom environment and to writing in English. The rest they have to figure out themselves,” said Esther Munonoka, a teacher from Rwanda.

The school does provide them with uniforms, but the students are asked when possible to pay their own transport costs, which run about 75 rand ($11, 7.60 euros) a month. About 70 percent of the children come from French-speaking Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Last year, about 30 students moved on to normal classrooms.

But the transition can be difficult to make, as many schools are reluctant to take children with complicated backgrounds. The program is financed by foreign donors-mainly Germans, Dutch and Americans.—AFP

ernment tried to intervene in the situation, it could be held responsible for the deaths of three men, the court said. The Srebrenica massacre remains a sensitive issue in the Netherlands, where the government fell in 2002 after a damning report by the Dutch Institute for War Documentation into the events surroundings the killings. — Reuters

Dispute emerges over Russia lawyer’s death MOSCOW: Activists planned to present evidence yesterday that a Russian lawyer who accused officials of corruption died after a brutal beating by prison guards, saying investigators’ findings that a lack of medical treatment killed the man fell short of the full truth. Sergei Magnitsky, a 37-year-old lawyer who worked for a large US investment fund, died in prison in November 2009 after the pancreatitis he developed there went untreated.

He had been arrested by Interior Ministry officials after he had accused them of using false tax papers to steal $230 million from the state. Magnitsky’s case is being scrutinized by human rights activists and potential Western investors as a gauge of the Kremlin’s commitment to addressing corruption and allowing an independent legal system. Several prison officials were fired but no one has been charged either for his death or in the alleged tax fraud.

On Monday, the federal Investigative Committee acknowledged for the first time that the lack of medical help was the “direct cause” of Magnitsky’s death. A panel of Russian rights activists that investigated Magnitsky’s death presented their report to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev yesterday. Valery Borshchev, a prominent activist who took part in the independent probe, said the Investigative Committee’s acknowledgment that Magnitsky was denied medical help was a positive sign, but added that the committee kept silent about prison guards beating the lawyer.

He said the panel had found evidence that Magnitsky had died shortly after eight prison guards handcuffed him, took him to a cell and beat him with truncheons. “We have concluded that he died of beating,” Borshchev said. “It was a real torture to beat an ailing man with truncheons.” Borshchev said a prison doctor had claimed that Magnitsky had a nervous breakdown and that she called prison guards to calm him down until an ambulance arrived. The ambulance came quickly but prison officials kept the crew waiting at the prison gates for more than an hour while the guards were beating Magnitsky. “Magnitsky was in a cell with eight guards who were beating him for

more than one hour, and there were no doctors around,” Borshchev said. “Bruises were found on his body and there are pictures of his broken knuckles, testifying that he was beaten.” The ambulance crew said Magnitsky had died 15-30 minutes before their arrival, while the official reports claimed he died an hour later and lied that he died at a prison hospital, Borshchev said. Officials at the Investigative Committee couldn’t be reached for comment on Borshchev’s claim. The Investigative Committee said Magnitsky also had cardiomyopathy, a form of heart disease, and it was the combination of this and his other illness in the absence of medical aid that caused his death.

The agency said it has identified those responsible for Magnitsky’s death but will name them later. Magnitsky had been charged with tax evasion linked to his defense of Hermitage Capital Management, a multibillion-dollar fund headed by US businessman William Browder, who has since been deported from Russia as a national security threat.

Hermitage accused Interior Ministry officers of seizing ownership documents of three of its subsidiaries in 2007, then using those documents to register their own people as owners and directors. The Interior Ministry officials then filed a tax claim, saying they made a much smaller profit than originally described and asked for a tax return, according to Hermitage.

The total return for the three subsidiaries was 5.4 billion rubles ($230 million at the time). Browder says a Moscow tax official who approved the fraudulent tax return bought luxury real estate in Moscow, Dubai and Montenegro and wired $39 million through her husband’s bank accounts.

All that was done on an average annual Russian household income of about $38,000, according to documents released by Browder. Lawmakers in the Netherlands on Monday voted in favor of a resolution demanding the government slap a travel ban on dozens of Russian officials who Browder and his suppor ters consider complicit in Magnitsky’s death. The US Senate is working on similar legislation. — AP

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

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

Chavez receives hero’s welcome Thousands rally to greet post-op Chavez

SAN FELIPE: In this image released by the Mexican Navy on Monday, an injured man who survived after a boat capsized is loaded into an ambulance after being rescued by the Navy. — AP

Mexico searches for 7 missing in boat accident TIJUANA: Mexican rescuers were scouring the Gulf of California for seven Americans whose fishing boat capsized two days ago, saying they were extending their search because the missing tourists could still be alive in the warm, calm waters. One American has been confirmed dead in the accident, which came after a flash storm upended the boat before dawn Sunday, spilling dozens of tourists and crew members into the water. The identity of the dead man was not released. By early Monday, 19 of the tourists and all 16 crew members had been picked up by the navy or other fishing boats after clinging to coolers, rescue rings and life vests for more than 16 hours.

Mexican Navy, army and state officials met late Monday to discuss the search and there were reports they would call off rescue efforts. But instead they announced the search would continue over an extended area. Mexican navy Capt. Benjamin Pineda Gomez said that with the warm weather and water temperature in the Gulf of California, it’s still possible that the missing tourists are alive. “A person who casts away can survive many days. That sea is calm,” he said.

The US Coast Guard offered Mexico help in the search and rescue operation and said it will continue its operations. The 115-foot vessel, the Erik, sank about 60 miles south of the port of San Felipe around 2:30 a.m. local time Sunday, the second day of a weeklong fishing trip the group had organized for several years each Independence Day holiday. The boat capsized less than two miles from shore, but the navy extended its search 60 miles deeper into the gulf later Monday after searching the area by helicopter and airplane and finding nothing, Pineda said.

Most of the 27 men on the fishing excursion are from Northern California and had made the trip before. “I’m beyond concerned,” said Kristina Bronstein, who is engaged to missing tourist Mark Dorland of Twain Harte, California. She heard about the accident Monday morning from a trip organizer’s wife, who told her Dorland, 62,

was one of the first people to fall into the water. He wasn’t wearing a life vest. The couple are to be married next month.

Charles Gibson, a police officer with the Contra Costa Community College District, said people on the boat were awoken by other passengers and the crew as it began to sink.

Most “were in the water for over 16 hours,” said Gibson, who had gone on the fishing trip twice before. “We hope that the information is getting to our families that we are here and that we survived.” Another survivor, Lee Ikegami, called his wife in San Martin, California, and told her he survived by clambering into a life raft when the boat overturned. “There was an angel sitting on his shoulder,” his wife, Murphy Ikegami, said. Murphy Ikegami said the fishermen made the trip every year but previously would only make day trips out to sea to fish and stayed in coastal hotels at night. This year, she said, they decided they wanted to sleep on the boat. Those rescued were in good condition with a few scrapes after bobbing in the intense sun and Gulf waters that were about 77 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Mexican navy. Photos released by the Mexican navy showed several sunburned fishermen in T-shirts and Bermuda shorts waiting to get on a bus.

The Erik has been on the Gulf of California, known in Mexico as the Sea of Cortez, since 1989, according to the website of the company Baja Sportfishing Inc. It was built in Holland and was equipped with stabilizers to handle the turbulent North Sea. The California Secretary of State website says Baja Spor tfishing’s business license has been suspended. It doesn’t state a reason or give a date. “We have been working with Mexican Navy authorities and the US Coast Guard in the search and rescue,” Baja Sportfishing Inc. said in statement e-mailed to The Associated Press. “Right now our main concern is making sure that everyone is accounted for.”

The company would not comment further.

It said on its website Monday that all trips have been canceled. — AP

US terror witness tells of friendship, betrayal ing and torturing Muslims NEW YORK: Betim Kaziu there. ... It’s what ultimateand Sulejah Hadzovic ly made us want to go and grew up across the street fight in jihad.” He also told from each other in jurors he grew to believe Brooklyn, New York. that he could no longer Hadzovic says they bondlive in the United States ed over video games as because “being a Muslim, kids and remained close we’re stereotyped and until discovering a new somebody sees somebody passion as young men: with a beard, they autojihad against fellow matically label him a terAmericans. Their story of rorist.” For years, US friendship, radicalization authorities have warned and betrayal is playing out Betim Kaziu, shown here, that disaffected young in federal court, where has been charged with men influenced by the Kaziu has pleaded not plotting to provide suponline teachings of guilty to charges he plotport to overseas terrorAmerican-born cleric ted with Hadzovic to proists. —AP Anwar al-Awlaki, a leader vide support to overseas of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, and terrorists. Hadzovic testified against him as the government’s star other jihadists are a mounting threat as witness at a trial that is entering its second grave as any from established terrorist week. Kaziu’s attorneys say he was never a groups. The Internet provides “the wandanger. Unlike the cases of Najibullah Zazi, dering mind of the conflicted young mastermind of a foiled suicide attack on Muslim or potential convert with direct New York City subways, or Faisal Shahzad, access to unfiltered radical and extremist the failed Times Square bomber, Kaziu’s ideology,” says a 2007 New York Police suspected exploits have gotten little Department study on the homegrown attention, in part because the plot didn’t threat. The budding terrorists can come get far. But his case carries many of the from good families and never show up on the law enforcement radar. Many make same themes of homegrown terrorism.

When asked by prosecutors to explain pilgrimages to Afghanistan and Pakistan, his motivations, Hadzovic replied, “We where they seek martyrdom by fighting were upset at what was happening in American forces or - as with Zazi and places like Abu Gharaib prison and Shahzad - by returning to US soil to do Guantanamo Bay, how they were humiliat- harm. —AP

CARACAS: President Hugo Chavez received a hero’s welcome as he rallied thousands of supporters upon his return to Venezuela, vowing to beat cancer after undergoing surgery in Cuba. Wearing the combat fatigues and red beret of his army days, Chavez projected strength as he spoke from the balcony of the presidential palace on Monday, waving to the crowd below and raising a fist. The charismatic president, whose three-week absence spurred a flurry of rumors, delivered a signature performance: the booming voice, the socialist-inspired rhetoric as well as the visceral connection with his audience that inspired rock concert-like frenzy. “We will also win this battle for life,” Chavez said. “We will live! We will be victorious!”

Nonetheless, signs of Chavez’s fragile health peeked through the stagecraft. At one point, the 56year-old leader grimaced with apparent discomfort as he struggled to wave his country’s yellow, blue and red flag above his head. The flag ended up awkwardly draping over his scalp, until Chavez emerged with an embarrassed smile from the fabric. About 30 minutes into the speech, one of his daughters stepped up to remind him of doctors’ orders that he not strain himself by speaking at his normal, marathon length. “I shouldn’t be here for too long,” Chavez said. “This recovery process has to be carefully watched to the extreme.” That mixture of bluster and vulnerability made for an attention-grabbing show, even for a president who knows how to command attention.

His surprise return in the wee hours of Monday morning was signature Chavez and sent a powerful message that he remains in control.

While he was away for nearly a month in Cuba, uncertainty swirled in Venezuela, both about how sick he is and what would happen if cancer were to force him from power.

Chavez addressed those doubts head-on, providing more details about his illness as he addressed the crowd that radiated for blocks from the Miraflores Palace. He embraced two of his daughters on the balcony, where he was also joined by two of his grandchildren and his elder brother, Adan.

“Beloved Venezuelan people, I’m sure you understand perfectly the difficulties of this battle,” Chavez told the mass of supporters. “No one should believe that my presence here... means that we’ve won the battle.” “No, we’ve begun to climb the hill,” he continued. “We’ve begun to beat the illness that was incubated inside my body. ... My return has begun!” Chavez revealed that he had been in intensive care for several days after his surgery in Cuba, and he held up a crucifix _ the same one, he said, that he had with

CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gestures to supporters at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on July 4, 2011. Chavez returned to Venezuela Monday after spending three weeks in Cuba, where he had a cancerous tumor extirpated. — AFP him after surviving a 2002 coup.

“Christ is with us,” he said. The crowd below chanted: “Onward, commander!” The long-term political impacts of cancer for a leader who thrives on the spotlight remain unclear. But Chavez will likely play up his plight to rally his movement as he looks ahead to 2012 elections, in which he’ll seek to extend his nearly 13-year-old administration.

His allies say they are convinced he will still be their candidate.

Unanswered questions about Chavez’s health continue to abound, despite the details he offered in Monday’s speech. He told the multitude he underwent surgery in Cuba on June 20 to remove a cancerous tumor, which his foreign minister said was extracted from the same part of the “pelvic region” where Chavez had an abscess removed nine days earlier. Chavez hasn’t said what type of cancer is involved nor whether he is receiving chemotherapy, radiation or other treatments.

Based on Chavez’s account, medical experts said it’s most likely he has colorectal cancer, but Chavez hasn’t confirmed that.

He told the crowd he’s been rising at 5 a.m., exercising and eating healthy foods such as yogurt. He also repeatedly noted that his doctors have told him to limit the length of his speeches. “I’m going to go rest. Two more minutes,” said Chavez, whose speech lasted for more than 30 minutes. Yet, shortly after the event, he reappeared in suit-and-tie on television greeting foreign dignitaries. He told state television that he doesn’t expect to attend celebrations yesterday marking the 200th anniversary of Venezuela’s declaration of independence from Spain. Normally, Chavez would be front and center at the patriotic event, which includes a military parade and began with fireworks exploding over Caracas shortly after midnight. The 56-year-old president stepped off a plane in Caracas early Monday. Smiling, he hugged his vice president and broke into song.

Many Chavez supporters were thrilled to have him back, and hundreds celebrated around noon Monday in the Plaza Bolivar in downtown Caracas, holding pictures

of the president and chanting “Viva Chavez!” and “He’s back!” “If that illness is attacked in time, people get through it,” said Xioraima Garcia, a 56-year-old lawyer who came to the plaza to celebrate with the crowd.

Asked how she thinks the situation will affect Chavez politically, she said: “What he’s going through has strengthened him more.” Vice President Elias Jaua continued the show of confidence that the Chavez government and state TV projected all day long by insisting the president would be staying at his palace and not at a military hospital.

Chavez’s opponents have criticized the lack of details about his illness.

“We don’t know exactly what the president’s illness is, what treatment he needs and what consequences this treatment will bring,” opposition lawmaker Alfonso Marquina told The Associated Press. “What we demand is greater responsibility, not only on the president’s part but by all of those high in the government to inform the Venezuelan people properly about the president’s real situation.” Chavez has been dominant in the oil-exporting country for the nearly 13 years he’s spent in office, and his absence created a void that he clearly wanted to fill.

Jaua, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro and other confidants have stepped up their appearances in Chavez’s absence, insisting they remain unified.

With his return, Chavez has the potential to fill that gap, but political observers will be watching closely to see how often he appears in public, whether he has the stamina to keep up a full schedule, and whether he might be quietly making plans to throw his support behind any of his allies as potential heirs. Adam Isacson, an analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America, a think tank, said Chavez should enjoy a boost for now.

“Hugo Chavez’s illness will generate a lot of sympathy for him,” Isacson said. “It is already moving Venezuela’s political debate away from themes that don’t work to the president’s advantage, like crime, power shortages, the economy, and concentration of power in the presidency.”

“On the other hand, it also moves the debate in directions that Chavez would not want to see it go,” Isacson said. “For the first time in years, Venezuelans are thinking about what a post-Chavez era might look like.

This raises concerns about the lack of an heir-apparent.” Chavez seemed determined to dispel such doubts. Looking down on his supporters outside the palace, Chavez gushed: “My thanks for so much support, so many manifestations of love.” “Love is the best remedy for any illness,” he said. — AP

Casey Anthony jury resumes deliberation ORLANDO: Jurors were to resume deliberations yesterday in the murder trial of Casey Anthony a day after spending about six hours dissecting it following a rebuttal summation by the prosecution. Judge Belvin Perry separated the main jury of seven women and five men from five alternates and sent them into the deliberation room just after noon Monday in a trial that has gripped America. They did not return a verdict by the time the judge released them for the evening just after 6 pm. The alternates are being sequestered in a separate part of the Orlando courthouse.

Prosecutors argued Monday morning the 25-year-old killed her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in June 2008 because the toddler interrupted her carefree partying and love life. The jury received the more than 400 pieces of evidence in the jury room that have been by both sides in the case since the trial began in late May. But jurors will be brought into open court should they request to view any of the video evidence, a court official said. Equipment for video viewing is not available in the deliberation room. The jury has the ability to send questions to Judge Perry via the court deputies, but had yet to do so.

In their rebuttal closing argument, the prosecution said the defense’s assertion that Caylee’s death was an accident made no sense. Anthony’s attorneys say the girl drowned in the family’s pool.

They have said Anthony panicked and that her father, a former police officer, decided to make the death look like a homicide by

placing duct tape over the child’s mouth and dumping the body in some nearby woods. George Anthony has denied that.

Prosecutor Jeff Ashton told the jurors no one makes an innocent accident look like murder. “That’s absurd. Nothing has been presented to you to make that any less absurd,” Ashton said. He also spent significant time reminding jurors about forensic evidence that he said links Anthony to her daughter’s death, including the smell and chemical signature of decomposition in her car.

Anthony is charged with firstdegree murder and six other charges. If convicted of firstdegree murder, she could be sentenced to death or life in prison.

The jury was chosen from the Tampa Bay area because of pretrial media coverage and have been sequestered in an Orlando hotel.

They listened to 33 days of testimony and another two days of closing arguments. Lead prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick followed

Ashton, telling the jurors that prosecutors presented every piece of evidence they promised in May during opening statements.

Without saying it, she was pointing out that defense attorneys never presented direct evidence backing up their contentions that the child drowned.

She then hammered on the lies Anthony, then 22, told from June 16, 2008, when her daughter was last seen, and a month later when sheriff’s investigators were notified. Those include the single mother telling her parents she couldn’t produce Caylee because the girl was with a nanny named Zanny _ a woman who doesn’t exist; that she and her daughter were spending time in Jacksonville, Florida, with a rich boyfriend who doesn’t exist; and that Zanny had been hospitalized after an out-of-town traffic crash and that they were spending time with her. “Responses to grief are as varied as the day is long, but responses to guilt are oh, so pre-

dictable,” Drane Burdick said.

“What do guilty people do? They lie. They avoid. They run. They mislead, not just to their family, but the police. They divert attention away from themselves and they act like nothing is wrong.

That’s why you heard about what happened in those 31 days.”

Burdick concluded the state’s case by showing the jury two side-byside images. One showed Casey Anthony smiling and partying in a nightclub during the month Caylee was missing. The other was of the tattoo _ which meant “beautiful life” _ she got a day before her family and law enforcement first learned of the child’s disappearance. “At the end of this case, all you have to ask yourself is whose life was better without Caylee?” Burdick asked.

“This is your answer” Anthony sat stone faced during much of the prosecutors’ arguments, but occasionally shook her head in disagreement and spoke under her breath. Defense attorneys claimed Anthony’s lies and erratic behavior were brought on by her grief over her dead child and the sexual abuse she suffered as a child from her father. George Anthony has denied that allegation, and the judge said no evidence has been presented to support it. Defense attorney Jose Baez said during his closing argument Sunday that the prosecutors’ case was so weak they tried to portray Anthony as “a lying, nogood slut” and that their forensic evidence was based on a “fantasy.”

He said Caylee’s death was “an accident that snowballed out of control.” —AP

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

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

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Pakistan Taleban leader ‘isolated’, facing splits ISLAMABAD: The chief of the Pakistan Taleban has been isolated from his militant group for more than a year and is rapidly losing control, a newspaper reported yesterday, a day after the military said it had launched an offensive in the northwest.

Associates of Pakistani Taleban leader Hakimullah Mehsud and intelligence officials in Islamabad say Mehsud’s position is tenuous following the defection of one of his top commanders last week, Pakistan’s Express Tribune daily newspaper.

The defecting commander, Fazal Saeed Haqqani, who was the Taleban leader in the Kurram region on the Afghan border, told Reuters in late June that he left over the group’s “brutal” attacks on civilians. Haqqani has pledged to fight against the Pakistani

Mehsud’s position tenuous amid defections Taleban and US troops in Afghanistan. “It looks as though he is just a figurehead now,” the Express Tribune quoted one of Mehsud’s associates as saying of the Pakistani Taleban commander. “He can hardly communicate with his commanders in other parts of the tribal areas ... he is in total isolation. Only a few people within the TTP know where he is.”

The Pakistani Taleban, or Tehreek-iTaleban Pakistan ( T TP), is an umbrella alliance of about 12 militant factions strung out through the northwestern Pashtun lands along the border. It is the biggest

threat to the Pakistani state and is behind many of the suicide bombings and other attacks across the country. Several more Taleban commanders in Kurram, where the army has just launched an offensive, might desert Mehsud soon and the military was seeking to split commanders from him, the paper reported. “You will see more of his boys turning against him and this is exactly what we desired and have been working on,” an official who deals with counter-terrorism operations told the newspaper.

Haqqani’s brother also said there was dissent in the top ranks. “We got some indica-

tion that several commanders are not happy with Hakimullah and they may join us,” Adil Rehman, who acts as a spokesman for his brother’s faction said yesterday. Mehsud attempted but failed to woo Haqqani back to the TTP last week but Mehsud refused to shun violence in Pakistan and Haqqani refused to rejoin, Rehman said. “They were not ready to accept our demand and insisted they would continue their attacks on security forces and civilians.” The army said on Monday it had launched an air and ground offensive in Kurram against Taleban militants, its first major military

operation since the May 2 killing of Osama bin Laden, and coming just days after Haqqani’s desertion.

“The operation has been launched with the aim of clearing the region of militants who have indulged in kidnapping and suicide attacks on security installations and forces there,” army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said on Monday. The United States has been pushing Pakistan to tackle militants along its porous border with Afghanistan. The Pashtun tribal lands along the border have never been under the full control of any government and have become a refuge for Al-Qaeda-linked militants, who plan and carry out attacks against NATO forces fighting the Taleban in Afghanistan. — Reuters

British PM’s Afghan trip marred by soldier death Soldier’s death under investigation

HYDERABAD: Indian students gesture and burn tires as they demonstrated opposite the state assembly in front of policemen at Osmania University campus in Hyderabad yesterday. — AFP

Strike grips India state, piles pressure on government NEW DELHI: A strike aimed at forcing the government to recognize statehood for a southern Indian region shut businesses and disrupted transport yesterday, posing another challenge to floundering Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The strike in the ruling Congress party stronghold of Andhra Pradesh state came as the resignation of one cabinet minister and a diatribe against homosexuals from another further embarrassed the government in a day of turbulence indicative of growing political chaos in Asia’s third largest economy.

On Monday, nine Congress members of parliament from Andhra Pradesh resigned from the federal parliament over the party’s failure to take a stand on the four-decades-old demand to declare Telangana, a northwestern region of the state, a separate state. Activists pushing for Telangana to become India’s 29th state, called the strike and authorities deployed more than 13,000 police and paramilitary troops in Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, in a bid to prevent a repeat of pro-independence protests in March that turned violent.

Sporadic incidents of violence erupted in the city and nine other districts as protesters attacked vehicles, shops and factories, with businesses and educational institutions shut and public road transport suspended. Singh has already been hit by a series of corruption scandals this year and the latest controversies will add to a sense of drift in India, further paralyzing reforms from land acquisition to tax streamlining. Activists want the new state carved out of Andhra Pradesh, one of the country’s biggest states. Its capital, Hyderabad, is home to the Indian headquarters of global firms such as Microsoft and Google .

The resignations - which still need to be accepted by the government - could halve the government’s rough majority of 18 only weeks before a new parliamentary session starts on Aug 1. Media said more MPs had threatened to quit over

Telangana. Just when Telangana came to the boil, two other controversies surfaced.

“TORRID TIME” Corporate Affairs Minister Murli Deora offered to resign, according to government sources, citing personal reasons. He has come under scrutiny after a state auditor criticised the oil ministry - which Deora used to head - for allowing exploration companies to overstate costs. The party had yet to formally discuss the resignation, a Congress spokesperson told reporters. Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad heaped more embarrassment on the government by saying late on Monday, at a conference attended by Singh, that homosexuality was a “a disease which has unfortunately come to our country”.

“Congress is going through a torrid time, of that there is no doubt,” said Vinod Mehta, editor of news magazine Outlook.

“Telangana accentuates and emphasises the kind of turbulence the party is facing all over the country ... At the moment it has many fires to put out. And on top of all this, the PM’s reputation and credibility has been eroded.”

Government survival is so far not under threat. The opposition is weak and does not want a snap general election halfway through Singh’s second term. But Telangana joins a list of issues unresolved by a rudderless Congress that includes archaic taxes and foreign investment rules that have spooked investors.

Singh was reelected in 2009 with a greater majority, but since then his government has faced one storm after another, including India’s worst ever corruption scandal in which up to $39 billion was lost in kickbacks for telecom licenses. The government’s foot-dragging over Telangana-it approved the new state in principle last year, but changed its mind after criticism from the opposition-adds to a slew of corruption scandals and a failure to curb high inflation that forced Singh to refute accusations that he was a lame-duck. — Reuters

US links Pakistan ISI to journalist killing WASHINGTON: US officials believe Pakistan’s spy agency was behind the killing of a Pakistani journalist who reported that Islamist militants had infiltrated the military, the New York Times reported Monday. The newspaper quoted two senior officials as saying that intelligence showed that senior members of Pak istan’s power ful InterSer vices Intelligence (ISI) agenc y ordered the killing of Saleem Shahzad, 40, to muzzle criticism.

The report was likely to further raise tensions between the uneasy allies following the US commando raid north of Islamabad in May that killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and was carried out without Pakistan’s knowledge. One of the US officials quoted by the Times described the actions of the ISI-which has historic ties to Islamist militants in neighboring Afghanistan and disputed Kashmir-as “barbaric and unacceptable.” It quoted another senior official as saying: “Every indication is that this was a deliberate, targeted killing that was most likely meant to send shock waves through Pakistan’s journalist community and civil society.” The ISI has denied as “baseless”

allegations that it was involved in the murder of Shahzad. The reporter, who worked for an Italian news agency and a Hong Kong-registered news site, went missing en route to a television talk show and his body was found last week south of the capital, bearing marks of torture. A senior South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, Ali Dayan Hasan, said that the 40-year-old had recently complained of threats from the ISI, adding: “In the past the ISI has been involved in similar incidents.” Shahzad disappeared two days after writing an investigative report in Asia Times Online saying Al-Qaeda carried out a recent attack on a naval air base to avenge the arrest of naval officials held on suspicion of Al-Qaeda links. An ISI official said last week that Shahzad’s “unfortunate and tragic” death was a “source of concern for the entire nation” but “should not be used to target and malign the country’s security agencies”.

The government has ordered an inquiry into the kidnapping and murder, pledging that the culprits would be brought to justice, but angry journalists say past investigations into killings of journalists have come to nothing. — AFP

CAMP BASTION: British Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to scrap part of a visit to Afghanistan intended to hail improved security after a soldier went missing and was later found dead. The soldier’s mysterious death in Helmand province, for which the Taleban claimed responsibility, overshadowed Cameron’s announcement that security had improved enough for Britain to soon withdraw a small number of troops. Cameron arrived in Helmand on Monday morning on a surprise visit but decided to abandon a planned trip to the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, one of a handful of towns earmarked for an early handover to Afghan forces.

The trooper went missing from a checkpoint in Helmand in the early hours of Monday and the defence ministry in London later announced, after a huge international manhunt, that his body had been found with gunshot wounds. “His exact cause of death and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death are currently under investigation,” Lieutenant Colonel Tim Purbrick, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said in a statement.

There was no immediate reaction from Cameron on the soldier’s death, but he earlier told reporters travelling with him that he had cancelled his trip to Lashkar Gah after hearing of the “very worrying” disappearance of the soldier. “I was just very clear that you’ve got something like that absolutely urgent taking place, where you want to concentrate all the assets and ability that you have to try and find this person and bring it to the right conclusion. “It’s just absolute common sense that the military should concentrate on the most important requirement of all which is to help and find this person rather than to bother flying me around.”

Instead, Cameron met Helmand provincial governor Gulab Mangal and senior British commanders at Camp Bastion, the main British and US base in Helmand, on the first day of a twoday visit to Afghanistan.

Afghan police said the man had been kidnapped in the Gereshk area of Nahri Sarraj district. The Taleban claimed that its fighters had kidnapped and killed a British soldier in Helmand, but there was no independent confirmation and the militia is known to routinely exaggerate its claims. Lashkar Gah was one of seven areas in Afghanistan identified by foreign forces for an initial handover of security ahead of a full transfer of responsibility across the country and the withdrawal of all Western

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai (2nd L) greets British Prime Minister David Cameron (2nd R) as he arrives at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan yesterday. — AFP combat troops by the end of 2014. After years of Taleban violence Lashkar Gah was seen as the most unlikely candidate among those chosen for early transition. But Cameron said the campaign against Taleban militants had entered a “new phase” ahead of the deadline and that Afghanistan’s army and police were “increasingly confident”, including in Lashkar Gah. “As that happens, there will be opportunities to bring British soldiers home, but we are talking relatively small numbers and over a period of time,” Cameron said. Cameron said he would make a full announcement in the British parliament today. Reports at the weekend said he would order the withdrawal of 500-800 troops by the end of 2012. He said Monday that “you’re not going to see a radical change (in numbers) before the next fighting season” next year.

In wide coverage of the story in the British media, some commentators said the death of the soldier undermined Cameron’s claims on the quality and readiness of the Afghan security forces.”The confluence of a visit designed to pave the way for troop withdrawals and the death of the soldier was a dreadful reminder of the lack of progress” in Afghanistan, the Guardian daily said. The Observer noted in a

Canada heads for Afghan exit MA SUM GHAR: After nine years, 157 troop deaths and over US$11 billion spent, Canada’s combat mission in Afghanistan finally comes to an end this week. With popular support for the war sapped at home, some of the nearly 3,000 Canadian troops, based mainly in the dangerous battleground of Kandahar, have already started returning from Afghanistan, and the rest will follow soon. In recent days and weeks they have been completing their final patrols, packing up dusty outposts and gathering at the giant Kandahar airfield military base to debrief before starting to catch their flights home.

The official end of Canada’s hard-fought mission, which began in early 2002, a few months after the US-led invasion of the country, comes tomorrow. Other countries have also announced partial troop withdrawals as Western voters tire of nearly a decade of war, but the Canadians are the first major troop contributor to start sending forces home this year. Canadian troops handed over control of their last district in a flag-lowering ceremony yesterday, a key symbolic step in the drawdown process, although the Americans have already been in place for weeks. The ceremony at Forward Operating Base Ma Sum Ghar, a rocky outpost surrounded by snipers in Kandahar’s Panjwayi district, saw US forces formally take control from Canada’s 1st Battalion Royal 22nd Regiment.

Last month, US President Barack Obama announced that he would withdraw 33,000 US troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012, while France, Belgium and Britain have also said they will soon bring some troops home. All foreign combat forces are due to leave by the end of 2014 and hand security to Afghan forces. Canadian commanders insist they have made strong gains since they moved into Kandahar, the Taleban’s birthplace and one of the war’s

fiercest hotspots. Lieutenant Colonel Michel-Henri St Louis, the battle group commander who represented Canada at the handover ceremony, said the mission began in Kandahar in 2006 with some severe fighting. “Then since those very difficult engagements, this has served as a centre point for command and control and logistics in south Afghanistan,” he said. “Ma Sum Ghar is really symbolic of that effort, it has been at the centre of our deployment.” — AFP

KANDAHAR: This file photo shows soldiers from A Company, 2nd Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. After nine years, 157 troop deaths and more than 11 billion USD spent, Canada’s combat mission in Afghanistan finally comes to an end this week. — AFP

commentary piece that the soldier’s death came after a brazen Taleban raid on a leading Kabul hotel, a bloody attack on a hospital in the east and the assassination of senior officials.”Pulling British forces out at such a fast rate, against the judgment of military commanders, risks undoing some of the progress towards stability which had undoubtedly taken place,” it said.

The British contingent is the second-largest in Afghanistan after the United States.

Cameron’s announcement comes nearly two weeks after US President Barack Obama said he would withdraw 33,000 US “surge” troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012, bringing total US forces there down to 65,000. The speed of that drawdown has been slammed by senior Republican lawmakers and met with a cool reception by US military commanders. France and Belgium have also announced the withdrawal of some troops from the Afghan theatre, while Canada’s roughly 3,000-strong mission is due to end this week.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard also insisted yesterday that progress was being made in Afghanistan despite the death of another Australian soldier Monday in an encounter with insurgents. — AFP

Indian woman strangled for fleeing older husband NEW DELHI: Police in India arrested a man suspected of killing his 20-year-old daughter in an apparent “honor killing” yesterday after she walked out on an arranged marriage with a man 25 years her senior. The young woman named Mukesh had apparently fled her husband’s home in the north Indian state of Haryana and refused to return to him, Nirpijit Singh, deputy superintendent of police in Kaithal district, told AFP. A postmortem on the victim’s body showed signs of strangulation, he said, adding that the father and an uncle were taken into police custody afterwards.

“Mukesh was married off two months ago as part of an exchange deal between her and her husband’s family,” he explained. “Her uncle Inder was meant to marry a girl from her husband’s family, but when she ran away from her husband’s home, all that fell apart, so they killed her,” he said. Marriage deals involving the exchange of women are commonplace among the conservative Jat community, a caste of farmers from north India to which Mukesh belonged, Singh added. So-called “honor killings” are common in India and normally involve young people who break strict social and caste conventions governing marriage and are then murdered by relatives to restore a family’s pride. India’s Supreme Court said in May that the death penalty should be given to those found guilty of so-called honor killings, calling the crime a barbaric “slur” on the nation.

There are no official figures on honor killings, though an independent study last year suggested that as many as 900 were being committed every year in the northern states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Many go unreported, with police and local politicians turning a blind eye to what some see as an acceptable form of traditional justice. — AFP

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

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

Thailand’s first female PM no victory for feminism BANGKOK: Thailand is set to get its first female premier in Yingluck Shinawatra, but observers say her victory as her famous brother’s political proxy cannot be seen as a milestone for women’s rights. Virtually unknown just two months ago, Yingluck led the Puea Thai party to a stunning victory Sunday, but she largely owes her meteoric rise to her fugitive brother, expremier Thaksin Shinawatra, who controls the party from abroad. As a result, Thai feminists are reluctant to claim Yingluck’s poll win as a triumph for equality, saying her victory is less about breaking glass ceilings and more about riding on the coattails of a man.

“How can we be proud? The whole world k nows it ’s about Thaksin,” said Sutada Mekrungruengkul, director of the Gender and Development Research Institute (GDRI) of Thailand. “Compare that to Aung San Suu Kyi who has struggled for 20 years and is still not the prime minister

of Myanmar,” she told AFP, referring to the neighboring country’s democracy icon who is marginalized by the militar y.

Promising to revive the populist policies of her controversial sibling, who was ousted in a coup in 2006, Yingluck appeared to stick closely to Thaksin’s directions, and he even described her as his “clone”. “ There is no doubt that Yingluck Shinawatra won this election because she is Thaksin’s sister,” said Andrew Walker, an expert on Thai politics at the Australian National University Canberra.Yet the 44year-old businesswoman and mother-ofone defied skeptics who thought her novelty value would soon wear off. Warm, charismatic and composed, Yingluck ran a slick, energetic campaign that won over large swathes of the public. Before storming into politics, she was a well-respected businesswoman in a countr y widely praised for having a large number of female executives. Until recently she was

the president of Thai real estate firm SC Asset Corp and she has also held various other positions in Thaksin’s business empire.

Research by business consultant Grant Thornton revealed earlier this year that Thailand boasts the greatest percentage of women in senior management of any country — 45 percent compared with a global average of 20 percent. But female politicians have lagged behind. In the last election in 2007, just 13 percent of seats in Thailand’s lower house went to women, falling behind a 19.5 percent world average and an Asian average of 18.3 percent, according to the global Inter-Parliamentary Union. “ Thailand is a society in which women often play a very active role in the social and economic life of their communities, but political leadership, locally and nationally, has been dominated by men,” said Walker.

“Many women, young and old, will be

delighted and inspired by Yingluck’s dramatic rise to the top.” While blood ties were key to her candidacy, Yingluck is actually following a tried-and-tested formula of combining the political power of her family name with her feminine attributes, said Thailand analyst and author Chris Baker.

Indira Gandhi of India, Benazir Bhutto of Pak istan and Corazon Aquino of the Philippines are just a few examples of the women who have followed in the footsteps of male relatives.” It’s a very, very powerful formula in Asia. We’ve seen it time and time again,” said Baker.

The blueprint may have worked, but activists are already criticizing Yingluck for shying away from women’s issues in the run-up to the ballot, and many doubt whether gender equality will be high on her agenda.

She provided little reassurance to feminists when, announcing her candidacy in May, she said: “I will utilise my femininity to

work fully for our country.” Yingluck “never said a single word about women’s rights promotion during her campaign,” said Sutada of GDRI. ”We have a lot of women’s issues in Thailand, particularly violence against women and discrimination against women,” she said, adding that the vast majority of Thailand’s 32 million women lived in poor or rural areas.” She might have the anatomy of a woman, but she thinks like a man and I don’t think she will do anything extraordinary for women,” said Arpaporn Sumrit, a lecturer at the Women’s Studies Centre at Chiang Mai University.

Sutada hoped Yingluck would be strong enough “to step out of her brother’s shadow and be herself”-a sentiment many curious Thai women will share as the political novice prepares to take on the top job. “I’m kind of a feminist and I want to see what it’s like to have a woman as our prime minister,” said Nattamon Tassanakulpan, a 21year-old who voted for Yingluck. —AFP

Japan reconstruction minister resigns in fresh blow to PM Minister had been blasted over remarks on disaster-hit areas

BAGAN: Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi walks as she visits temples in the country’s ancient temple city of Bagan yesterday. — AFP

Suu Kyi keeps low profile BAGAN: Trailed by undercover police, Myanmar pro-Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi kept a low profile yesterday as she visited pagodas on the second day of a countryside visit that is testing the patience of the military-backed government. The visit to Bagan, an ancient city 690 km north of Yangon known for centuries-old Buddhist temples, is the first time the 66-year-old Nobel laureate has left Yangon since her release from house arrest in November. But she was not rallying big crowds after her National League for Democracy (NLD) urged her followers to stay away, fearing a repeat of a bloody attack on her motorcade in 2003 in which 70 of her supporters were killed. The NLD is banned but remains politically active.

That was the last time she left Yangon, where she subsequently spent seven years in detention until her release last November. She is now allowed to travel where she wants. But the government warned last month of “chaos and riots” if she sought to rally supporters and accused her of trying to exploit the public. The trip by Suu Kyi and her Britishborn son, Kim Aris, was described as a pilgrimage by the NLD. She held no political rallies or high-profile public events during the visit. She visited four pagodas accompanied by plainclothes police and NLD security, appearing calm and relaxed and telling reporters she was enjoying the trip.

She praised the general election in

neighboring Thailand on Sunday as “free and fair” and welcomed its winners, the opposition Puea Thai Party led by businesswoman Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. “I expect the ties between Myanmar and Thailand to get better,” she said. One resident said the authorities had instructed trustees of the pagodas before her arrival “not to give Aung San Suu Kyi any special VIP treatment”. Since her release from house arrest, the daughter of slain independence hero Aung San has been conciliatory in her comments about the country’s rulers and has urged dialogue.

The charismatic figurehead of Myanmar’s fight against five decades of dictatorship has not been troubled by the new civilian government, which is dominated by members of the previous military regime that long sought to undermine her. However, she is still frequently criticized in commentaries carried by state-run newspapers, which act as mouthpieces for the country’s hardline rulers. In February, newspapers accused her of provocative acts that could lead to a “tragic end” for her and the NLD. The government said last Wednesday it was not responsible for ensuring Suu Kyi’s safety, comments that drew sharp rebukes from the United States, Australia and Britain, which said they went against the government’s pledge of reconciliation. — Reuters

Philippines ban top Chinese diplomat MANILA: Philippine officials have banned a senior Chinese diplomat from meetings for alleged rude behavior, in the latest fallout from a feud over the potentially oil-rich Spratly Islands, officials said yesterday.

Department of Foreign Affairs officials said Chinese Embassy First Secretary Li Yongsheng, who heads its political section, raised his voice at a Filipino officer last month while discussing Philippine allegations of Chinese intrusions in Manila-claimed areas in the Spratlys. A memorandum from the department’s Asian and Pacific Affairs office said Li exhibited “conduct unbecoming of a diplomat” and that the embassy had been informed he would not be allowed to attend future meetings at the office.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has been informed about the incident, according to the memo, which was seen by The Associated Press. The memorandum did not provide details of what happened at the meeting, but at least three senior Filipino diplomats said Li raised his voice in an offensive manner during a discussion of Manila’s claims that Chinese forces intruded into Philippine territorial waters in and near the Spratlys. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they lacked authority to talk to reporters. The Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Spratlys, a chain of barren,

largely uninhabited islands, reefs and banks in the South China Sea, are claimed in entirety by China, Taiwan and Vietnam and in part by the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. They are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas and straddle busy sea lanes.

The Philippines has accused Chinese vessels of intruding at least nine times into Philippine waters in recent months, while Vietnam says Chinese vessels have hindered its oil exploration surveys in an area 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) off its central coast that it claims as its economic exclusive zone. China says it has sovereign rights over the entire South China Sea. The reported intrusions have set off anti-China protests.

About a dozen protesters burned two Chinese flags near the US Embassy on Monday. In Vietnam, dozens of people held protests for a fifth straight week in Hanoi on Sunday, waving Vietnamese flags and chanting anti-Chinese slogans. In the latest reported foreign intrusion into Philippine-claimed waters, an unidentified fighter plane buzzed just 20 feet over the tip of an antenna on a boat carrying Filipino fishermen at Dalagang Bukid Shoal near the Spratlys, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said yesterday. The fishermen, shaken but unharmed by the June 4 incident, immediately left the area, about 130 miles off Palawan province’s Balabac Island. — AP

TOKYO: Beleaguered Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan took another blow yesterday when his reconstruction minister resigned after barely a week in the job over criticism for remarks that offended victims of the March earthquake and tsunami. The outcry among opposition parties over Ryu Matsumoto’s comments had threatened to further hinder the unpopular Kan’s efforts to pass key bills in a divided parliament as Japan tries to rebuild from the disasters and end a nuclear crisis.

Analysts said the government probably hoped that Matsumoto’s quick resignation would avoid further deadlock over a $25 billion extra budget to aid disaster-hit areas and a compensation scheme for victims of the nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power’s tsunami-crippled nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan. But the furor over Matsumoto, who was also doubling as environment minister, could put added pressure on the prime minister to step down himself. “Naturally, his responsibility as the person who made that appointment is grave,” Yukio Hatoyama, Kan’s predecessor, told reporters.

Kan, under fire for his handling of the nuclear crisis, last month survived a no-confidence vote by pledging to quit but has since blurred the timing of his resignation. “The (opposition) Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito may be tempted to say that Kan should go right now and until he goes, we’re not doing anything,” said Sophia University professor Koichi Nakano. Kan has said he wants to stay in his post

until three bills are passed: the small extra budget, legislation to allow fresh borrowing to fund about 40 percent of this year’s budget, and measures to promote renewable sources of ener-

gy such as solar and wind power as Japan tries to wean itself from nuclear power.

Opposition parties argue that the premier should keep his promise to quit soon, and are

TOKYO: Japanese Reconstruction Minister Ryu Matsumoto leaves a press conference after announcing his resignation yesterday. — AP

China ‘silencing’ Uighurs BEIJING: China has jailed dozens of ethnic Uighurs in the far western region of Xinjiang for speaking out about riots in the regional capital two years ago, Amnesty International said yesterday, part of a broader campaign against voices of dissent nationwide. In July 2009, the capital city of Urumqi was rocked by violence between majority Han Chinese and minority Uighurs that killed nearly 200 people. Many of the Turkic-speaking Muslim Uighurs, who call Xinjiang home, chafe at Beijing’s rule.

Since then, China has executed nine people it blamed for instigating the riots, detained and prosecuted hundreds of others and ramped up spending on security, according to state media and overseas rights groups. Last month, Kazakhstan extradited a Uighur schoolteacher who had been granted UN refugee status to face charges of terrorism in China, brushing off concerns he could be tortured and that the charges

against him were trumped up. “The government is not only still muzzling people who speak out about July 2009, it is using its influence outside its borders to shut them up,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty’s director for the Asia-Pacific.

“The general trend towards repression that we see all over China is particularly pronounced in Xinjiang, where the Uighur population has become a minority in its own homeland.” China is in the midst of a sweeping campaign against rights activists, following calls on-line for Arab-style “Jasmine protests” in China which have spooked Beijing. Other Uighurs have been jailed for speaking to foreign reporters about the events two years ago, or for discussing the unrest on Uighur websites.

“At t a c k i n g e ve r y U i g h u r w h o speaks freely is no way to resolve the underlying grievances that led to the 2009 protests in the first place,” Zarifi added. — Reuters

BEIJING: An injured Chinese woman waits to be taken to the hospital, at a subway station in Beijing yesterday. A 13-year-old boy was killed and over 20 others injured when an escalator in a Beijing underground station suddenly reversed direction during the busy rush hour, state press said. — AFP

pressing Kan’s ruling Democratic Party to revise costly spending pledges before helping to pass the deficit-bond issuance bill. Kan picked a junior minister, Tatsuo Hirano, to be the new reconstruction minister and take charge of Japan’s biggest reconstruction project since the years after World War Two-a costly effort that will add to a public debt already twice the size of Japan’s $5 trillion economy. Hirano, 57, is from Iwate prefecture, one the areas hardest hit by the March disaster, and is known to be close to ruling party powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa, a heavyweight among rebels within Kan’s own party. Ozawa’s constituency is also Iwate.

Matsumoto, visiting the tsunami-hit regions on Sunday, had told Iwate Prefecture Governor Takuya Tasso that the government would not help communities that failed to come up with ideas themselves. Speaking before TV cameras, Matsumoto also reprimanded Miyagi Prefecture Governor Yoshihiro Murai for keeping him waiting and then ordered journalists not to report the exchange, warning their companies would suffer if they did. “ Minister Matsumoto apologized for hurting the feelings of disaster victims and the government feels sorry as well,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told a regular news conference. “But there are a lot of tasks right in front of us that we have to tackle without even a day’s break. We have to carry on and fulfill that responsibility while taking the criticism seriously.” — Reuters

Australia police authorized to demand burqas removal SYDNEY: Police in the Australian state of New South Wales have been handed broad-based powers to demand the removal of burqas and other face veils so they can identify people suspected of committing a crime. The state government approved the move late Monday after the recent case of a Muslim woman who was acquitted when a judge ruled she could not be positively identified because she was wearing a burqa. “I don’t care whether a person is wearing a motorcycle helmet, a burqa, niqab, face veil or anything else, the police should be allowed to require those people to make their identification clear,” Premier Barry O’Farrell said.

Anyone who refuses to show their face could be jailed for up to a year or fined Aus$5,500 ($5,900). It follows the high-profile case of Carnita Matthews, who in November 2010 was sentenced to six months jail for falsely accusing police of forcibly trying to remove her burqa when she was stopped for a traffic offence. Her sentence was quashed last month when a magistrate said he could not be 100 percent sure it was Matthews who made the complaint because officers were not able to see the face of the accuser.

New South Wales State Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione demanded a clarification of the law and O’Farrell said the new powers should help prevent a recurrence of such cases. “I have every respect for various religions and beliefs but when it comes to enforcing the law the police should be given adequate powers to make a clear identification,” said O’Farrell. Police previously had the power to ask women to remove face veils during the investigation of serious offences, but not on more routine matters.The Islamic Council of New South Wales said it accepted the decision “If you’re asked to do something by a police officer and it’s legitimate, then you do it,” council chairman Khaled Sukkarieh told ABC radio.

The Muslim Women’s Association said it would prefer that a female police officer was on hand when the veils were removed and if that happened then “nobody could really complain”. The Police Association of NSW welcomed the move, saying it was a loophole that had to be closed. — AFP

A

y

e niv rsar n

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Years

ne ws

Tehran showcases homegrown arms Revolutionary Guard.

Iran says it already has missiles with ranges of up to 2,000 km - putting Israel, US bases in the Gulf and parts of Europe within reach. The commander of the Revolutionary Guard aerospace force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, further claimed that Iran “possesses the technology” to make even longer-range missiles, but doesn’t plan the upgrades because the country’s primary potential targets - Israel and US bases in the region - are already in striking distance.

But the biggest potential game changer in the region was the main surprise of the war games so far: State TV showing the first images of underground missile silos. Iran claims the sites can withstand direct attacks and allow for simultaneous mass firings of its Shahab-3 and Sajjil-2 missiles, allegedly capable of hitting Israel and US bases in the region. Iranian officials say the silos, too, were constructed only with Iranian knowhow. This joins a roster of other military advancements Iran claims as its own, including a guided-missile destroyer that began patrolling the Gulf last year and an attack drone that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dubbed the “ambassador of death”.

Yesterday, Iran’s first domestically built submarine returned to port after a mission that included reconnaissance in the Red Sea, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported. “Iran undoubtedly has dedicated significant resources into its own defense industry. That said, however, it’s clear they are not there yet,” said Paul Rogers, who follows international defense affairs at Bradford University in Britain. “Iran still relies on the help of a few friendly countries.” Among them is China, which opened a factory in Iran last year to help produce Iran’s new generation of anti-ship missiles, Nasr-1, according to reports including Jane’s Defense Weekly. The main tactical advantage for Iran is widening its range over the Gulf, including the strategic Strait of Hormuz that is the passageway for 40 percent of the world’s oil tanker traffic. — AP

QOM, Iran: Zelzal missiles are launched by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards during their maneuvers outside this city in this June 28, 2011 photo. — AP

TEHRAN: Iran’s latest war games have featured the predictable blaze of missile tests and an unexpected peek at underground launch silos. There’s one bit of military showmanship, though, that ties it all together: Promoting the Made in Iran label. Boasting about homegrown defense technology is growing louder as Iran claims UN sanctions cannot blunt efforts to keep pace with America’s Gulf allies - led by Saudi Arabia - that are awash in Pentagon weaponry and taking an increasingly tough line against Tehran.

The 10-day military exercises - which wrap up tomorrow also fit into Iran’s narrative of growing self-sufficiency on other fronts including equipment to create nuclear fuel and ambitions to join the club of space-exploring nations. There’s little direct evidence about how much of Iran’s military arsenal is now built at home. But many defense analysts note that Iranian engineers have had decades to copy and modify designs first obtained from abroad, including No-Dong missiles from North Korea and air defense batteries based on Russia’s S-300 system and America’s Hawk missiles purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

“There’s been a long learning curve for Iran,” said Theodore Karasik, a regional affairs expert at the Dubaibased Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis. “But compared with five or 10 years ago, Iran seems to have made significant strides. They probably aren’t fully self-sufficient for defense needs, but they are moving in that direction.”

Iranian officials claim they are already there. Defense Minister Gen Ahmad Vahidi said the current war games highlight the futility of UN sanctions over Iran’s refusal to halt uranium enrichment. “The war games ... show Iran’s great capability in designing, producing and using various kinds of missiles based on domestic knowledge. This showed that the sanctions imposed had no effect on Iran’s missile program,” Vahidi claimed in comments posted Saturday on sepahnews.com, the official website of Iran’s powerful

EU links Egypt seeds to E. coli

11 killed as Syrians resist army in Hama

Continued from Page 1 Withdrawal of the suspect seeds implies not only a ban on their sale but also their destruction. The temporary import ban, to be enforced until Oct 31, hits all Egyptian seeds, fruit and spores used for sowing including soya beans, dried leguminous vegetables and oil seeds.

The EFSA earlier said “that one lot of fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt and used to produce sprouts is the most likely common link between the two outbreaks” in France and Germany. “However, it cannot be excluded that other lots of fenugreek imported from Egypt during the period 2009-2011 may be implicated,” it added. EFSA recommended “that forward tracing be carried out in all countries which may have received seeds from the concerned lots.” It also advised consumers against growing sprouts for their own consumption or eating sprouts or sprouted seeds unless cooked thoroughly.

The EFSA report noted that the contamination probably occurred before the seeds left the importer. “The production or distribution process apparently allowed

contamination with faecal material of human and/or animal origin. Where exactly this contamination occurred is still unknown,” the EU said. Dalli said the commission would continue to monitor the situation very closely and would take additional measures if necessary.

Egypt’s ministry of agriculture last week denied fenugreek seeds sold to Europe had caused the virulent strain of enterohaemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC), with the head of its Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine, Ali Suleiman, dismissing first reports as “completely untrue”. He said the Egyptian company that exported the seeds in 2009 had said it shipped the fenugreek to Holland and not to Germany, Britain or France.

The World Health Organisation has confirmed some 4,050 infections in 14 European countries, the United States and Canada - more than 3,900 of them in Germany. All but two of the fatalities have so far been in Germany, apart from one case in the United States and a woman who died in Sweden shortly after returning from a visit to Germany. Seven people were infected in France with E. coli after eating vegetable sprouts at a leisure centre near Bordeaux. — AFP

Bahrain rulers start dialogue with oppn Continued from Page 1 and sheikhs in the Gulf. “Bahrain is crucial to Saudi national interest and Riyadh will provide it with all they have to show they are committed to preserving the rule of the Khalifas,” said Ayham Kamel, a Middle East analyst at the Eurasia Group in Washington.

To reign in protesters, Bahrain’s government also arrested hundreds of people and temporarily instated an emergency law. At least 32 people were killed in the unrest, according to international rights groups. Many of Bahrain’s Shiites claim they are the target of systematic discrimination, including being blocked from top military and political posts. Gulf leaders have accused Iran of influencing the Shiite -led uprising in Bahrain.

Regional governments were concerned that similar revolts may be copied elsewhere in the region and that Bahrain’s Shiite-led uprising could serve as a possible opening for Iran to make headway among pro-Western Gulf states anchored

by Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain’s opposition leaders repeatedly shot down claims that Iran had any role in the protests.

The Saudi king sent millions of dollars to pull the tiny neighbor’s royals from the brink of bankruptcy.

One of the king’s sons also married a daughter of Bahrain’s monarch.

“It’s a powerful act, the royal wedding,” said Rima Sabban, a Dubaibased sociologist. “It has nothing to do with love or passion. A marriage like that is strictly political.”

For its part, Iran has relentlessly assailed Bahrain’s rulers for crackdowns against the country’s Shiite majority and called the Saudi-led Gulf troop presence an “occupation” army. One of the opposition’s demands was that the Saudi-led force leave the kingdom before any talks with the Sunni monarchy begins.

However, foreign troops remain deployed and talks have begun.

“The presence of foreign troops is part of Bahrain’s problem, not the solution,” said Ali Salman, the leader of Bahrain’s largest Shiite opposition party, Al Wefaq, which reluctantly joined the government-

designed reconciliation talks.

Hundreds of protesters are imprisoned awaiting trial on charges ranging from trying to topple the government to participating in illegal protests. Eight prominent activists are serving life sentences after being convicted of trying to overthrow the state.

Ahead of the reconciliation talks, which opened with a ceremonial session on Saturday, the government made some token concessions, including sanctioning an international investigation that will include probes into the conduct of security forces during the revolt.

Authorities halted trials of opposition supporters in a military-linked tribunal and moved them to civilian courts. “It’s more to defuse criticism of the West than to make concessions to the opposition parties, like Al Wefaq, they already feel they have defeated,” said Ottway of the Carnegie Endowment.

The opposition is demanding that all detainees arrested in relation to the revolt be freed, their charges dropped, and for convictions to be reversed. For now, Shiite leaders taking part in the reconciliation talks appear willing to give Bahrain’s rulers a chance.

“Our demands are clear,” said Salman, Al Wefaq’s leader. “For any talks to be successful, people who ask for democrac y, should be released from prison and people who ask to be free should get a chance to elect their government.”

Separately, British Foreign Secretary William Hague yesterday held talks in Jeddah with his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal on hotspots in the Arab world including Libya and Syria. “At a time of great upheaval and change in the region, our constructive cooperation on regional issues including Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, Iran, and the Middle East peace process, is even more critical,” Hague told a news conference with Prince Saud in the western port city. Uprisings against repressive Middle Eastern governments began in Tunisia, and have spread across the region.

On Syria, where President Bashar Al-Assad is attempting to violently put down an anti-regime

revolt, Hague emphasised “the importance of the Syrian government taking rapid and concrete action to stop the violence and change the situation”. “I made clear my view that President Assad’s proposals for reform need to be implemented quickly and fully if they are to be of any significance,” Hague said. On Yemen, where demonstrators have since January held protests calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to quit, Hague said “we encourage all parties to engage in political dialogue... and for an orderly transfer of power.”

Prince Saud, for his part, said that Saleh, who has been hospitalised in Saudi Arabia for over a month, to recover from wounds from a bomb attack on his palace, said “is in good health, generally speaking”. “We’ve also discussed the situation in Libya,” Hague said, emphasising Britain “will continue to take part in the enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 1973,” which authorised military force to protect civilians.

Hague expressed hope that the dialogue in Bahrain will “mark the start of a successful and inclusive process based on shared commitment to the future of Bahrain, and which brings the reform needed to ensure stability”. Prince Saud said Saudi forces would stay until “the completion of their mission”, and reiterated his country’s rejection of “foreign adventures” in Bahrain, in a reference to Iran.

Hague also referred to the need for a resolution to the long-running conflict between Israel, the Palestinians and various Arab states, saying “Prince Saud and I agree, I think, that the unfolding events in the region show the need for meaningful negotiation”. In remarks before the visit, Hague said Middle Eastern “governments need to respond to legitimate calls for greater freedom with reform and not repression”. Ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia has responded to protests, which have mainly been centred in Eastern Province, where most of Saudi Arabia’s Shiites reside, by cracking down on dissidents, drawing criticism from rights groups and activists. — Agencies

Continued from Page 1 Observatory said, adding angry residents countered by burning tyres and hurling stones. Apart from the three killed including 12-year-old Omar Khalluf, between 20 and 25 other people were shot and wounded during the sweep which rounded up as many as 300 people, according to a resident contacted from Nicosia.

There was no independent confirmation of the reports from activists as Syrian authorities have curbed foreign media coverage.

In the capital, about 70 serving and former MPs held a meeting yesterday to discuss the crisis in Syria, in the third such gathering in a week.

Meanwhile, pro-democracy activists on their Facebook site, Syrian Revolution 2011, called for a nationwide general strikes tomorrow.

Assad, faced with a revolt since mid-

March, sacked the governor of Hama province on Saturday, a day after the massive rally during which security forces kept out of sight. Since security forces gunned down 48 protesters in the city on June 3, Hama has escaped the clutches of the regime, according to activists. The next day, more than 100,000 mourners were reported to have taken part in their funerals.

Hama was the scene of a 1982 bloodbath in which an estimated 20,000 people were killed when the army crushed an Islamist revolt against the rule of the president’s predecessor and late father, Hafez Al-Assad.

In Idlib province, northwest Syria, activists said security forces yesterday mounted an assault on the town of Kfar Nubol, the scene of several demonstrations against Assad.

“Tanks have been deployed at crossroads and snipers posted on rooftops of house and government

buildings” in the town, said the Syrian Observatory. The Observatory, in a separate statement, said more than 500 activists and “peaceful demonstrators” had been arrested since last Friday, including lawyer Mussab Barish who was detained in Idlib yesterday.

Security forces also arrested Bissan Hamed and three other activists Friday on their way to Lebanon, it said, adding dozens had been rounded up in the Damascus region, including young blogger Omar Asaad and activist Adham AlQaq. Assad has decreed two “general” amnesties since the start of the unrest almost four months ago and also lifted a state of emergency that had been in force for five decades.

Rights groups say that more than 1,300 civilians have been killed and 10,000 people arrested by security forces since mid-March. — AFP

Twin bombings kill 37 in Iraq Continued from Page 1 to the scene to help the victims, the second bomb was detonated. The Iraqi army later sealed off the area, and at one point four ambulances were seen waiting for permission to evacuate the wounded. A doctor at Kazimiyah Hospital outside Baghdad who saw the bodies confirmed the casualty figures. Maj Gen Qassim Al-Moussawi, a spokesman for Baghdad’s military operations command, gave a lower count, saying 27 were killed and 50 wounded. Conflicting reports on casualties are common in the immediate aftermath of big attacks in Iraq.

“I was standing in a line when suddenly a powerful blast shook the ground. I immediately covered my face as shrapnel and shattered glass flew around,” said witness Karrar Abid, who acts as a middleman for people applying for identity cards. “I heard people screaming, ‘car bomb, car bomb, people killed’. I turned around to see four cars set ablaze, with smoke and dust filling the area ... The second blast awakened me from the shock, to see people covered with blood screaming for help.”

Vice President President Tariq Al-Hashemi, a Sunni politician, demanded that Shiite Prime Minister Nouri AlMaliki quickly appoint defense and interior ministers to help deal with growing chaos among the security forces.

The two senior posts have been vacant for more than six months as government officials squabble over which par-

ties should hold them. “The security system needs to be or fixed as soon as possible,” Al-Hashemi said. Parliament Speaker Osama Al-Nujaifi, another Sunni, lashed out security forces, saying they are not doing enough to foil such attacks.

While violence in Iraq is less intense now than during Shiite-Sunni sectarian fighting in 2006 and 2007, militants have again stepped up deadly attacks. That has prompted concerns about what will happen when the 47,000 remaining US troops pull out. Yesterday’s attack bore the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda. Similar strikes carried out by the insurgent group in recent months have killed scores at provincial government headquarters across the country, including in Baqouba, Diwaniyah, Kirkuk and in Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit. On June 23, bombs ripped through Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad and killing at least 40 people.

Late Monday, a rocket attack on Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone killed three women and two children, and wounded 10 people. Officials said militants fired a Katyusha rocket as Americans were celebrating Fourth of July at the US Embassy, which is inside the Green Zone.

The rocket hit a residential complex for laborers working at a hotel and sparked a fire. The sprawling Green Zone houses the Iraqi government headquarters and the US and British embassies. It’s a favorite target for insurgents’ mortar and Katyusha attacks. — Agencies

UK shocked by tabloid’s phone...

Continued from Page 1 investigator were jailed for the practice in 2007, and a new investigation was launched in January amid a wave of fresh allegations. But most of the targets have been celebrities and politicians - the paper recently settled a civil suit with actress Sienna Miller so claims that Dowler’s phone was hacked sparked widespread outrage.

The teenager disappeared in 2002 on her way home from school near London, sparking a high-profile search.

Her bones were found six months later, although it was not until last month that her killer Levi Bellfield was convicted. According to the Guardian, private investigators and journalists listened to increasingly desperate messages on Dowler’s phone left by her parents and friends as the days went by without any word from her. When her voicemail box became full, they even deleted several messages to make room for new ones - an action that her loved ones and police mistakenly took as proof that Dowler was still alive and using her phone, the report said.

“If they are true, this is a truly dreadful act and a truly dreadful situa-

tion. What I’ve read in the papers is quite, quite shocking,” Cameron told a press conference during a visit to Afghanistan. He said police “should feel they should investigate this without any fear, without any favour, without any worry about where the evidence should lead them. They should pursue this in the most vigorous way that they can”.

However, Cameron said he would not intervene in the government’s deliberations over News Corp.’s highly controversial bid to buy the 61-percent of BSkyB it does not already own.

“The government, on these processes, is acting in a quasi-judicial way and it is quite right that the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Jeremy Hunt) carries out his role in that manner without any interference from anyone else in the government,” he said.

Police refused to comment on the allegations about Dowler, but Brooks said News International would cooperate fully with any investigation, as well as conducting its own internal inquiries. “I have to tell you that I am sickened that these events are alleged to have happened,” she said in a mes-

sage to staff, adding that she had written to Dowler’s parents, Sally and Bob, promising to “vigorously pursue the truth”. She continued: “If the allegations are proved to be true then I can promise the strongest possible action will be taken as this company will not tolerate such disgraceful behaviour.”

The Dowlers’ lawyer, Mark Lewis, earlier said they would be suing the tabloid for its “heinous” and “despicable” behaviour and said Brooks should “do the honourable thing” and quit.

“She should consider her position but this goes well beyond one individual,” added opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband. He called for a public inquiry, and an emergency debate on the issue was set for the House of Commons today.

In the first sign of a commercial backlash from the allegations, carmaker Ford announced that it was pulling its advertising from the News of the World. It emerged later Tuesday that the parents of the victims in another prominent murder case, schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, have been contacted by detectives investigating phone hacking at the newspaper. — AFP

14

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

opinion

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher

YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief

ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24835619 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait.

E MAIL :info@kuwaittimes.net Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

Issues

Libya peace efforts appear to gather pace

By William Maclean he search for a political solution to Libya’s war has quietly moved up a gear despite tough-looking declarations by Muammar Gaddafi and his rebel foes suggesting they can fight on. In part, the impression of a quickening behind the scenes peace effort stems from the sheer number of statements made by the combatants urging a settlement, aggressive and sometimes contradictory though some of these communiques are.

Speculation, analysts say, that a deal may be in the works has also been heightened by unconfirmed talk that rebels have eased some operations against Gaddafi, as either a short-term military tactic or, possibly, to facilitate negotiations.

And some say an arrest warrant for Gaddafi issued by the world court at The Hague has spurred deal-making by giving the West potential new leverage in the form of a possible offer of immunity in return for him stepping down from power. “My hunch is that we’re not far from the end game,” Oliver Miles, a former British ambassador to Libya, told Reuters. “There’s definitely something going on,” said UK-based opposition journalist and analyst Ashour Shamis, referring to his belief that political efforts had been stepped up. “There are now more efforts to bring things to a conclusion and avoid an armed struggle for Tripoli, which would be very messy,” he said, referring to the capital, a Gaddafi bastion.

Gaddafi has rejected all international calls for him to step down and said he will fight to the end, but people in his inner circle have signalled they are ready to negotiate with the rebels, including on the Libyan leader’s political future. Rebel leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil said on Sunday Gaddafi was welcome to live out his retirement in Libya as long as he gave up all power, in the clearest rebel concession to date. On Monday Abdel Jalil issued a statement saying he had wanted to “clarify” that there was no possibility for Gaddafi to stay in Libya and he would have to face justice. Abdel Jalil also said there had been no negotiations with Gaddafi. Gaddafi’s administration, for its part, said the government had had meetings in foreign capitals with rebel representatives to try to negotiate a peace deal.

Noman Benotman, an analyst at the British Quilliam thinktank and a friend of former Libya spy chief Moussa Koussa, said he suspected Gaddafi was ready to step down, under conditions. These were that Gaddafi stay in Libya, with immunity, and a son have an official role in a future Libya. “He strongly wants a son to be part of the future of Libya, representing the tribes now supporting the regime,” he said. “It’s his plan, his insurance policy. He believes that if, later, they go through elections, he and his family will get protection from the tribes whose support they now have.”

Saad Djebbar, a former legal advisor to the Libyan government, said arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court last month for Gaddafi, one of his sons, Saif al-Islam, and his security chief Abdullah Al-Senussi were a big part of the backdrop to the combatants’ latest manoeuvring. An immunity deal was possible, he said.

“Gaddafi would be a fool not to accept an internationally-binding U.N. Security Council resolution granting him immunity from the court in return for him giving up power and calling on his people to abandon arms,” he said. To date, the outlook for such a deal appears poor. In remarks to Russian television last week, Saif al-Islam said NATO had already offered the government an “under the table” deal that would see the arrest warrants dropped if they quit power. He dismissed the warrants and the reported NATO offer as a means of “psychological and political pressure”. But some analysts say that as time goes on such a deal might look more attractive, if only because the alternative of being driven militarily from power without immunity looked grimmer. “As long as Gaddafi still has some power, he can accept any such offer. But I believe he is losing power by the day,” said Djebbar, who thinks Gaddafi has progressed through various stages of denial during the war and may now be ready to compromise.

“We have now got to the last stage, where he actually starts to think he is going to lose ... He sees the difficult Ramadan coming, he sees his friends in places like Russia and Algeria under pressure to abandon him. He has limited time to decide.” Gaddafi’s government is in the process of preparing for a Muslim fasting month that will test its dwindling resources because it must obtain sufficient food and fuel to enable Libyans in governmentheld areas to hold family celebrations. — Reuters

T

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.

‘Mad Dog’ Gaddafi may accept deal

By Christian Lowe ehind his image as a crazed tyrant, Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi is fiercely intelligent, loves his family and just might do what everyone is least expecting and let go of power. The battle over Libya, now in its fifth month, is a contest of Western military technology, money, oil, diplomacy, rag-tag rebels and a stubborn system of government that has refused to be swept away by the wave of “Arab Spring” uprisings.

Ultimately though, it is a battle whose outcome could boil down to the decisions made by one man: Muammar Gaddafi.

The view of Gaddafi commonly held outside Libya - with his safari suits, retinue of female bodyguards and his ruthless repression of opponents - is of a volatile and violent dictator who will fight to the last drop of blood. Former US President Ronald Reagan coined the phrase “Mad Dog” of the Middle East to describe Gaddafi. Some of Gaddafi’s personal behaviour lends support to that view. This reporter saw an angry Gaddafi slap one of his protocol officials hard on the back with both hands during an international summit. The sound of the blow reverberated around the marble hallways of the summit venue.

Nor has he shied from spilling blood. More than 1,000 inmates were killed in a Tripoli prison in 1996. The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity in the killing of civilian protesters.

Opponents have disappeared. But the portrait drawn from leaked diplomatic cables and the accounts of people who have watched him for decades is of a man who is more complex than the stereotypes suggest and who has a capacity to confound predictions of what he will do next. “Personally I think that he will keep surprising us to the end,” said Oliver Miles, a former British ambassador to Libya. “One way he might surprise us, I suppose, because suicide is not an Arab thing, he might do a Hitler, but I think on the whole it is more likely that he would do something else, that he’d retire in ... a cloud of glory to some African destiny as retired king of kings.”

David Mack was a young American diplomat when he first met Gaddafi, soon after the Libyan had led a 1969 military coup to oust Libya’s king and install revolutionary rule. Mack translated for the then US ambassador at a meeting with Gaddafi. His recollection is of a man who was “extremely intelligent, very high IQ”. “He had total recall from one meeting to another and he was capable of great tactical flexibility,” said Mack, who went on to become US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs.

Years later, Gaddafi was still showing the same intellectual power. Senior Libyan officials are often ordered to translate works on political theory for him to read. His reading list at one point in 2008 included Barack Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” and

B

George Soros’ “The Age of Fallibility: Consequences of the War on Terror”, according to US diplomats who saw the books stacked on an advisor’s desk.

When Libya emerged from isolation half-way through the last decade, Gaddafi was keen to show off his erudition to his new Western visitors. “I remember being very struck by the fact that when American Congressmen started coming to see him ... when for the very first time there was contact, people were talking about him being on his last legs, possibly mentally sick,” said Miles. “But after a three-hour session it would be the American congressmen who would come out exhausted, not Gaddafi.”

He approaches meetings with his own officials with the same rigour, said Noman Benotman, a former Libyan dissident who knows members of the Gaddafi inner circle. “It’s very common for government ministers to get a call at midnight,” said Benotman. He said some senior officials prepared for meetings with Gaddafi with lengthy academic-style research to avoid being caught out by his probing questions.

Gaddafi’s ability to analyse events objectively has eroded over the years, said Mack, now a scholar at the Washington-based Middle East Institute. Mack was among a group who met Gaddafi in New York in Sept 2009, hours after he had delivered a rambling 90-minute address to the United Nations General Assembly. “Being in a system of absolute power, where no one told him no, his emotional and intellectual development became frozen,” he said. “I do not think he has the capacity to adjust easily to changed circumstances.”

Nevertheless, Gaddafi still held huge power over Libyans. On the same day Mack met Gaddafi in New York, waiters in a hotel restaurant in central Tripoli stopped work and sat down at the tables to watch their leader’s UN speech on television. As he approached his 40th year in power, people close to Gaddafi said he was beginning to believe the personality cult around him. Gaddafi “perceives himself as a ‘superman of history’ and is not able to admit fault or weakness,” a 2008 US embassy cable, published by WikiLeaks, quoted a well-connected Libyan as saying.

There were outward signs of this. He designed a car, and had several prototypes built by an Italian manufacturer. In the latest version, it was shaped like a lozenge, with one wheel at the front, one at the back, and two in the middle.

Gaddafi also tinkered with the Muslim calendar. He decreed in 2009 that the Eid Al-Adha religious holiday

would be a day earlier in Libya than in most other parts of the Arab world.

His own lifestyle is frugal. He drinks camel’s milk every day and likes traditional Libyan pasta with lots of chili, according to Benotman, the former dissident. He often works through the night - one diplomat said he liked to surf the Internet into the small hours of the morning checking what was being written about Libya. He also rises late. Foreign heads of state at one summit in Libya had to wait hours for Gaddafi to arrive.

Rumours have circulated about Gaddafi’s health. Diplomatic cables mention unconfirmed reports of mini-strokes and cancer, and his difficulty in climbing long flights of stairs.

At times his speech in public has been slurred, and his face has appeared swollen. Since this crisis broke out though, he has been his most animated in years. One constant that has changed little throughout Gaddafi’s long rule is the importance he attaches to his family, something which could, in the end, persuade him that relinquishing power and going into exile is the only course of action.

Observers say he is close to his second wife, Safia. He is fiercely protective of his children.

He halted oil exports to Switzerland when one of his sons, Hannibal, was briefly arrested at a luxury hotel in Geneva.

Not all his children share their father’s stubbornness. Both his daughter, Aisha, and another son, Saif al-Islam, have spoken of possible political deals. “He is a political tyrant and he is also a person of rigid views but he is also a father and grandfather,” said Mack.

“An Arab grandfather has to care about the fate of his children and grandchildren. I think he can be moved by them if they say to him: ‘Papa , we have to at least save the rest of us from being killed or brought up before the international court’ and there is an offer and there is a ... plane waiting.’.” — Reuters

Calderon’s party reeling after vote rout

By Dave Graham resident Felipe Calderon’s crushing defeat in weekend state elections has badly hurt his party’s hopes of retaining power in 2012, setting the scene for a rough campaign designed to thwart the main opposition party. Calderon’s conservative National Action Party, or PAN, trailed way behind in third place in Sunday’s election for governor in the State of Mexico, the country’s most populous state. The vote was a major victory for the centrist Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), a bitter rival of the PAN which ruled Mexico for most of the 20th century and is looking to return to power at the next presidential election in July 2012.

Bogged down in a bloody war against powerful drug cartels, Calderon’s popularity has been in steady decline, and analysts said the rout in the State of Mexico shows that he and his party are in serious trouble.

“Calderon has been a lame duck without really knowing it for the last year or more.

And he’s close to being a dead duck now,” said George W. Grayson, an expert on Mexican politics at the College of William & Mary in Virginia.

The PAN’s share of votes in the 15 million-strong state flanking the capital plunged by half to 12.5 percent, while the PRI candidate stormed home with more

P

than 62 percent. It was the PAN’s worst showing in the state since 1987.

Compounding the PAN’s misery, the PRI cemented its hold on two other states, Coahuila and Nayarit in Sunday’s elections.

The night’s big winner was Enrique Pena Nieto, the 44-year-old outgoing governor of the State of Mexico who is expected to be the PRI’s presidential candidate next year.

The PRI’s huge margin of victory in the State of Mexico - winning three times as many votes as the second-placed leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD - was seen as a tribute to Pena Nieto, who campaigned hard for the winner. With reforms stalled and his own approval ratings touching record lows, one of the few options left to Calderon is to train his fire on the PRI, whose 71-year rule of Mexico until 2000 was tainted by corruption and election fraud.

Analysts say the campaign against the PRI has already begun with authorities launching criminal probes into several senior PRI officials in recent weeks. “There are lots of people with cases to answer in court, but they’re choosing to go after those with clear ties to the PRI,” said Jorge Schiavon of the CIDE think tank in Mexico City. Calderon’s government ended up with egg on its face last month when Jorge Hank Rhon, a prominent PRI politician and

former mayor of Tijuana, walked free just days after he was arrested on weapons charges.

The PAN pledged to revitalize Mexico when it ended PRI rule in 2000 but critics say it has failed to reform corrupt public institutions or close the gap between rich and poor. Calderon’s defenders argue the political stranglehold the PRI still holds in much of Mexico has made this nearly impossible. The PRI has blasted Calderon for the drug war violence that has killed 40,000 people since he took office in late 2006. The daily grind of killings has taken a toll on the PAN with security now above the economy as voters’ top concern.

“There’s a sense of a president stuck in the trenches, struggling to turn things around on the economy, politically or in terms of public security,” said John Ackerman, a political scientist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

With less than a year to go before the July 1, 2012 election, Calderon is running out of time to turn the tide.

His reform agenda has been stifled by PRI dominance of the lower house of Congress and despite the capture of numerous drug bosses, the most powerful capo remains at large.

Killings and disappearances in the drug war have become so acute that the president last month apologized to victims in a

meeting broadcast live on national television in which angry parents berated him for several hours. The fact the PRI has benefited from the chaos would rankle particularly with Calderon, said Grayson at William & Mary. “Calderon is obsessed by the prospect of the PRI coming back. He started off as a real PRI hater when he entered Congress in 1991. When he walked down the aisle he would not go near the PRI, much less shake hands or slap backs,” he said. “So I’m sure he’s got his own people thinking, ‘What can we do to block the PRI’s return?’”, Grayson added, noting that Calderon might even throw his weight behind the PRD in 2012 to deny the PRI if it became obvious the PAN could not win.

Government attacks against the PRI run the risk of foundering against its formidable political machinery, with which it controls of nearly two-thirds of Mexico’s states.

With every passing day, more and more of that machinery is lining up behind Pena Nieto, while the PAN has no clear favorite to succeed Calderon, who cannot seek reelection. None of this augurs well for Calderon’s party, said Sergio Aguayo, a political scientist at the College of Mexico.

“It’s another symptom of the PAN’s weakness,” he said of the election results on Sunday. “It’s in the worst shape of all heading into 2012 because its candidates are very weak.” — Reuters

15

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

analysis

The man who hunted bin Laden

By Adam Goldman and Matt Apuzzo fter US Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden, the White House released a photo of President Barack Obama and his Cabinet inside the Situation Room, watching the daring raid unfold. Hidden from view, standing just outside the frame of that now-famous photograph was a career CIA analyst. In the hunt for the world’s mostwanted terrorist, there may have been no one more important. His job for nearly a decade was finding the Al-Qaeda leader.

The analyst was the first to put in writing last summer that the CIA might have a legitimate lead on finding bin Laden. He oversaw the collection of clues that led the agency to a for tified compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. His was among the most confident voices telling Obama that bin Laden was probably behind those walls. The CIA will not permit him to speak with reporters. But interviews with former and current US intelligence officials reveal a story of quiet persistence and continuity that led to the greatest counterterrorism success in the history of the CIA. Nearly all the officials insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters or because they did not want their names linked to the bin Laden operation.

The AP has agreed to the CIA’s request not to publish his full name and withhold certain biographical details so that he would not become a target for retribution. Call him John, his middle name. John was among the hundreds of people who poured into the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center after the Sept 11 attacks, bringing fresh eyes and energy to the fight. He had been a standout in the agency’s Russian and Balkan departments.

When Vladimir Putin was coming to power in Russia, for instance, John pulled together details overlooked by others and wrote what some colleagues considered the definitive profile of Putin. He challenged some of the agency’s conventional wisdom about Putin’s KGB background and painted a much fuller portrait of the man who would come to dominate Russian politics. That ability to spot the importance of seemingly insignificant details, to weave disparate strands of information into a meaningful story, gave him a particular knack for hunting terrorists.

“He could always give you the broader implications of all these details we were amassing,” said John McLaughlin, who as CIA deputy director was briefed regularly by John in the mornings after the 2001 attacks.

From 2003, when he joined the counterterrorism center, through 2005, John was one of the driving forces behind the most successful string of counterterrorism captures in the fight against terrorism: Abu Zubaydah, Abd Al-Nashiri, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, Ramzi bin Alshib, Hambali and Faraj Al-Libi.

But there was no greater prize than finding bin Laden. Bin Laden had slipped away from US forces in the Afghan mountains of Tora Bora in 2001, and the CIA believed he had taken shelter in the lawless tribal areas of Pakistan.

In 2006, the agency mounted Operation Cannonball, an effort to establish bases in the tribal regions and find bin Laden. Even with all its money and resources, the CIA could not locate its prime target.

By then, the agency was on its third director since Sept 11, 2001. John had outlasted many of his direct supervisors who retired or went on to other jobs. The CIA doesn’t like to keep its people in one spot for too long. They become jaded. They start missing things. John didn’t want to leave.

He’d always been persistent. In college, he walked on to a Division I basketball team

A

and hustled his way into a rotation full of scholarship players. The CIA offered to promote him and move him somewhere else.

John wanted to keep the bin Laden file.

He examined and re-examined every aspect of bin Laden’s life. How did he live while hiding in Sudan? With whom did he surround himself while living in Kandahar, Afghanistan? What would a bin Laden hideout look like today? The CIA had a list of potential leads, associates and family members who might have access to bin Laden.

“Just keep working that list bit by bit,” one senior intelligence official recalls John telling his team. “He’s there somewhere. We’ll get there.” John rose through the ranks of the

colleague whom the AP has also agreed not to identify decided to zero in on a man known as Abu Ahmed Al-Kuwaiti, a nom de guerre. Other terrorists had identified AlKuwaiti as an important courier for AlQaeda’s upper echelon, and she believed that finding him might help lead to bin Laden. “They had their teeth clenched on this and they weren’t going to let go,” McLaughlin said of John and his team. “This was an obsession.”

It took three years, but in Aug 2010, AlKuwaiti turned up on a National Security Agency wiretap. The female analyst, who had studied journalism at a select US university, tapped out a memo for John, “Closing in

In this May 1, 2011 file image, US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House in Washington. Hidden from view, standing just outside the frame of this photograph was a career CIA analyst whose job for nearly a decade was finding the Al-Qaeda leader. – AP counterterrorism center, but because of his nearly unrivaled experience, he always had influence beyond his title.

One former boss confessed that he didn’t know exactly what John’s position was. “I knew he was the guy in the room I always listened to,” the official said.

While he was shepherding the hunt for bin Laden, John also was pushing to expand the Predator program, the agency’s use of unmanned airplanes to launch missiles at terrorists. The CIA largely confined those strikes to targets along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan. But in late 2007 and early 2008, John said the CIA needed to carry out those attacks deeper inside Pakistan. It was a risky move.

Pakistan was an important but shaky ally.

John’s analysts saw an increase in the number of Westerners training in Pakistani terrorist camps. John worried that those men would soon start showing up on US soil.

“We’ve got to act,” John said, a former senior intelligence official recalls. “There’s no explaining inaction.” John took the analysis to then CIA Director Michael Hayden, who agreed and took the recommendation to President George W Bush. In the last months of the Bush administration, the CIA began striking deeper inside Pakistan. Obama immediately adopted the same strategy and stepped up the pace. Recent attacks have killed Al-Qaeda’s No. 3 official, Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid, and Pakistani Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud.

All the while, John’s team was working the list of bin Laden leads. In 2007, a female

on Bin Laden Courier ”, saying her team believed Al-Kuwaiti was somewhere on the outskirts of Islamabad. As the CIA homed in on Al-Kuwaiti, John’s team continually updated the memo with fresh information.

Ever yone knew that anything with bin Laden’s name on it would shoot right to the director’s desk and invite scrutiny, so the early drafts played down hopes that the courier would lead to bin Laden. But John saw the bigger picture. The hunt for Al-Kuwaiti was effectively the hunt for bin Laden, and he was not afraid to say so.

The revised memo was finished in Sept 2010. John, by then deputy chief of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Department, emailed it to those who needed to know. The title was “Anatomy of a Lead”.

As expected, the memo immediately became a hot topic inside CIA headquarters and Director Leon Panetta wanted to know more. John never overpromised, colleagues recall, but he was unafraid to say there was a good chance this might be the break the agency was looking for.

The CIA tracked Al-Kuwaiti to a walled compound in Abbottabad. If bin Laden was hiding there, in a busy suburb not far from Pakistan’s military academy, it challenged much of what the agency had assumed about his hideout. But John said it wasn’t that far-fetched. Drawing on what he knew about bin Laden’s earlier hideouts, he said it made sense that bin Laden had surrounded himself only with his couriers and family and did not use phones or the Internet. The CIA knew that top Al-Qaeda operatives had lived

in urban areas before.

A cautious Panetta took the information to Obama, but there was much more work to be done. The government tried everything to figure out who was in that compound. In a small house nearby, the CIA put people who would fit in and not draw any attention.

They watched and waited but turned up nothing definitive. Satellites captured images of a tall man walking the grounds of the compound, but never got a look at his face. Again and again, John and his team asked themselves who else might be living in that compound. They came up with five or six alternatives; bin Laden was always the best explanation.

This went on for months. By about February, John told his bosses, including Panetta, that the CIA could keep trying, but the information was unlikely to get any better. He told Panetta this might be their best chance to find bin Laden and it would not last forever. Panetta made that same point to the president Panetta held regular meetings on the hunt, often concluding with an around-the-table poll: How sure are you that this is bin Laden?

John was always bullish, rating his confidence as high as 80 percent. Others weren’t so sure, especially those who had been in the room for operations that went bad. Not two years earlier, the CIA thought it had an informant who could lead him to bin Laden’s deputy. That man blew himself up at a base in Khost, Afghanistan, killing seven CIA employees and injuring six others.

That didn’t come up in the meetings with Panetta, a senior intelligence official said.

But everyone knew the risk the CIA was taking if it told the president that bin Laden was in Abbottabad and was wrong. “We all knew that if he wasn’t there and this was a disaster, certainly there would be consequences,” the official recalled.

John was among several CIA officials who repeatedly briefed Obama and others at the White House. Current and former officials involved in the discussions said John had a coolness and a reassuring confidence. By April, the president had decided to send the Navy SEALs to assault the compound.

Though the plan was in motion, John went back to his team, a senior intelligence official said. “Right up to the last hour,” he told them, “if we get any piece of information that suggests it’s not him, somebody has to raise their hand before we risk American lives.”

Nobody did.

Inside the Situation Room, the analyst who was barely known outside the closeknit intelligence world took his place alongside the nation’s top security officials, the household names and well-known faces of Washington. An agonizing 40 minutes after Navy SEALs stormed the compound, the report came back: Bin Laden was dead. John and his team had guessed correctly, taking an intellectual risk based on incomplete information. It was a gamble that ended a decade of disappointment.

Later, Champagne was uncorked back at the CIA, where those in the Counterterrorism Center who had targeted bin Laden for so long celebrated. John’s team reveled in the moment. Two days after bin Laden’s death, John accompanied Panetta to US Congress.

The Senate Intelligence Committee wanted a full briefing on the successful mission. At one point in the private session, Panetta turned to the man whose counterterrorism resume spanned four CIA directors. He began to speak, about the operation and about the years of intelligence it was based on. And as he spoke about the mission that had become his career, the calm, collected analyst paused, and he choked up. — AP

Bibi gallops on while peacemaking stumbles

By Jeffrey Heller he last time an Israeli prime minister led a government that served out a full four-year term, Ronald Reagan was just settling into the White House.

Political in-fighting and, in one case, an assassination, have cut short the governance of Israeli leaders who formed fragile coalitions after elections in which no party in Israel has ever won an outright parliamentary majority. Now, for the first time since Menachem Begin’s rightwing government completed its 1977-1981 term, another Likud party leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, appears to be on course to defy the odds, riding on strong economic indicators.

Past the midway point after a 2009 election, Netanyahu’s Likud-led bonding of religious and rightwing parties as well as legislators who broke away from centreleft Labour, shows few signs of fracture before the next vote due in 2013. With US-backed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks frozen, relative quiet along Israel’s borders and a strong economy, there has been little to jolt the coalition or the electorate. A paucity of opinion polls in the third year of the Netanyahu government is arguably one of the clearest signs that Israelis are not about to bid farewell to ‘Bibi’ any time soon.

A rare poll last week forecast that if elections were held now, Likud would win 32 of parliament’s 120 seats - up from 27 in the 2009 vote but still short of a governing majority - compared with 29 for the main opposition centrist Kadima party. Assuming Netanyahu could keep his current coalition partners, he would emerge from the ballot with about 66 parliamentary seats, the same number his government now controls, according to the survey.

“The political system hasn’t had such a period in ages,” said commentary accompanying the poll conducted by the Yisrael Hayom newspaper, often supportive of Netanyahu, and Hagal Hahadash polling company. “After the relentless maelstroms that characterised previous governments, which worsened after two years in power, Netanyahu’s government is characterised primarily by a lull, a political lull, a diplomatic lull, a security lull.”

Critics accuse him of pandering to ultranationalists in the coalition, mainly his foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, to keep the alliance together rather than pursue peace compromises. Economics also tell the story: the economy grew 4.8 percent in 2010 and is forecast by the

T

central bank to grow 5.2 percent this year. Unemployment is at an all-time low of 5.8 percent. “You may love or hate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but there is no arguing with his success,” commentator Aluf Benn, citing economic growth and political stability, wrote in Haaretz, a leftwing daily. “The people prefer Netanyahu’s diplomatic standstill and security restraint to the policy of his predecessor, Ehud Olmert, which combined diplomatic daring with military adventurism,” Benn wrote.

He was referring to Olmert’s offer to the Palestinians of an Israeli pullout from much of the occupied West Bank and territorial swaps in exchange for major Jewish settlement blocs. On the battlefront, Olmert spearheaded a controversial 2006 war in Lebanon and a 2008 invasion of the Gaza Strip. A similar land-for-peace proposal by US President Barack Obama was publicly rejected by Netanyahu at a frosty photo-op in the Oval Office during a visit to Washington in May. With Obama plagued by domestic economic woes and wary of alienating US Jews strongly supportive of Israel, there appears to be little incentive for tough pressure on Netanyahu to bend in the run-up to the president’s 2012 re-election bid. And Netanyahu is well aware of the political risks he faces at home in any peace initiative with the Palestinians. His first term as prime minister, from 1996 to 1999, was truncated by the collapse of his coalition over an interim peace deal.

At home and abroad, Netanyahu has cultivated an image of a pro-active leader who is not afraid of taking on challenges, embracing Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to highlight his work.

A major forest fire erupted in Israel: Netanyahu was at the scene to oversee efforts to extinguish the blaze and telephoned foreign leaders for help in getting aircraft to tame the flames. Palestinians announced a plan to seek UN recognition of a state in September: Netanyahu embarked on a series of visits to Europe to try to persuade leaders to join the United States and Israel in opposing the unilateral bid. Israel’s ties with Turkey soured after Israeli commandos raided a pro-Palestinian flotilla bound for Gaza in May 2010 and killed nine Turks in clashes with activists wielding clubs and knives: Netanyahu stepped up his courtship of

Greece, Turkey’s long-time rival.

That diplomatic drive appeared to have paid off for Netanyahu this week after Greece banned another convoy from leaving its ports for the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave. But Netanyahu’s detractors say he must do more to do more to achieve peace. “It’s easy to say there is no (Palestinian) partner to talk to,” Kadima leader Tzipi Livni said in a speech last month. “The worst decision ever is not to do anything - but it’s not too late.” — Reuters

Focus

As Bahrain talks begin, rifts run deep

By Reed Stevenson ahrain is eager to get back to business after widespread upheaval over the past five months, when a protest movement was crushed by the Gulf state’s Sunni Muslim rulers, but the country remains deeply divided. Facing international calls to engage with opposition groups dominated by majority Shiites, King Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa opened a national dialogue this week with “all options” on the table to discuss political, economic and social reform. “The Bahrainis are responsive to international opinion ... It’s what Arab regimes are good at, embarking on reform and doing the right gesture. The fundamental power structure doesn’t change in any way,” said Shadi Hamid, director of research at the Brookings Doha Center. “The situation is very tense and there is a divide and it’s not going to be healed overnight.”

Mostly Shiite pro-democracy protests, inspired by revolts that toppled Tunisia and Egypt’s leaders, erupted in February in Bahrain, a financial hub and modest oil producer and host to the Fifth Fleet, the US Navy’s main regional outpost. By mid-March the protests demanding political reform were stamped out by Bahrain’s Sunni rulers with the aid of some 1,500 troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. An estimated 30 people died. Bahrain introduced over two months of martial law during which thousands of people who took part in the protests lost their jobs, but Shiites say it was a witchhunt that targeted them for being Shiite.

Bahrain’s Sunni royal family and Saudi Arabia, with its own Shiite population in the oil-producing Eastern Province near the causeway linking the two countries, are determined to keep Bahrain’s status quo, and have accused Shiite power Iran across Gulf waters of stirring up unrest. After two and a half months of imposed calm, the king lifted martial law and announced the dialogue, and on the eve of talks unveiled an investigative committee to probe widespread reports of abuse in detention, including four who died in custody. He said most Saudi troops would leave.

Yet on the day the dialogue formally opened on Saturday, about 500 protesters marched from nearby Shiite villages toward Manama’s main roundabout, the heart of the February protests. The mostly Shiite youth clashed with police and were eventually turned back by a volley of tear gas and rubber bullets. Many are upset that the opposition decided to join the talks, where they hold just 35 out of 300 seats. They are also angry over the sentencing of eight opposition figures and activists to life in prison in June. “No dialogue without the downfall of the regime,” they shouted.

The opposition was split until the last minute over whether to join the dialogue. After a rally organised by the main Shiite opposition group Wefaq that drew over 20,000 people, its leader Ali Salman was nearly assaulted by a Wefaq member angry over the decision to participate. The Sunni government called on the more radical youth to let the dialogue run its course, promising that reforms will be considered and those who committed crimes would be punished. Wefaq leaders were spared from facing trial.

Opposition figures suspect the dialogue, in which the youth movement is not taking part, is a PR exercise that aims to appease international criticism about the crackdown on the democracy movement. US President Barack Obama has called on Manama to release opposition figures and start talks. Taking place at a gleaming cultural centre in the capital of Manama, the dialogue has all the trappings of a big budget conference, with catered food and scores of staff, as well as a logo, website and a slogan, “Our Bahrain. Our Unity.” Meetings will be held three times per week, four hours at a time. The participants, which will be grouped into committees of around 50, are drawn from the government, opposition groups, unions, women’s societies, journalists, businesses and professional societies.

“Everything will be up to the participants,” he said.

Yet the opposition complains that this is precisely the problem, that there are too many handpicked participants to reach a meaningful consensus. “We don’t feel we are getting on the right track of consensus,” said Wefaq member and dialogue representative Khalil al-Marzouq, who griped that he would only have one seat in a committee of 50. “This dialogue is not responding to the real solution the international community wants.”

The wounds are still raw in Bahrain after the protests and crackdown, and tension remains high.

Hassan, a Shiite driver, is angry because his $100,000 bus was confiscated by police near a protest site.

Now driving a cab, he dares not ask for it back because he once spent three years in prison for spraying protest graffiti on walls. Sunnis deny Shiites are discriminated against and accuse them of taking welfare handouts instead of jobs. Shiites argue they are shut out of plum jobs handed to Sunnis and have to take menial work.

Shiites are also incensed by naturalised Sunnis from Yemen, Pakistan, and other Muslim countries obtaining citizenship, jobs and housing. Often it is these onetime foreigners who abuse them at checkpoints, they say. Although there are also poor Sunni towns, Shiite villages are crowded with poorly built, crumbling concrete houses, filled with families supported by just a few with jobs. Nearby, Sunnis homes are easily identifiable. They are the only homes where Shiites dare not park in front.

Fissures run so deep in Bahrain that it now dictates preferences over coffee shops. Sunnis go to Starbucks, and Shiites go to Costa Coffee for lattes. It is from the streets where the trouble will come.

Shiite leaders, sensing the potential for violent protests, say they will have to stay out in front of popular sentiment. “We are going to lead the street,” said Wefaq’s Marzouq. “We are not going to be led by the street.” — Reuters

B

A

y

e niv rsar n

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Years

sp orts

Real to sign Coentrao LISBON: Real Madrid have agreed to sign Portugal left back Fabio Coentrao from Benfica for a fee of 30 million euros ($43.43 million), the Portuguese club said on Tuesday.

The completion of the deal is subject to the player passing a medical and agreeing personal terms with the Spanish club, Benfica said in a statement.

Coentrao, 23, had a contract with Benfica until 2016 and is regarded as one of the most promising left backs in Europe. Portuguese newspapers reported on Monday that the player was in Madrid to complete the formalities.

Coentrao joined Benfica from Rio Ave in 2007 as a winger but failed to make an impact in his first season and went on three consecutive loan spells, including a short and unimpressive one at Spain’s Zaragoza.

Benfica coach Jorge Jesus recalled Coentrao in 2009 and converted him into a speedy and tricky left back who became a key member of the team who won the Portuguese Premier League title in 2010 for the first time in five years. — Reuters

NY Yankees Boston Tampa Bay Toronto Baltimore

American League Eastern Division W L PCT 50 33 .602 49 35 .583 47 38 .553 42 44 .488 36 46 .439

GB 1.5 4 9.5 13.5

Cleveland Detroit C’ White Sox Minnesota Kansas City

Central Division 45 38 .542 45 41 .523 43 43 .500 37 46 .446 34 51 .400

1.5 3.5 8 12

Texas LA Angels Seattle Oakland

Western Division 45 41 .523 45 41 .523 42 43 .494 38 48 .442

2.5 7

Philadelphia Atlanta NY Mets Washington Florida

National League Eastern Division 54 32 .628 50 36 .581 43 42 .506 43 43 .500 38 47 .447

4 10.5 11 15.5

St. Louis Milwaukee Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago Cubs Houston

Central Division 46 40 .535 45 41 .523 44 41 .518 43 43 .500 35 51 .407 29 57 .337

1 1.5 3 11 17

San Francisco Arizona Colorado San Diego LA Dodgers

Western Division 48 38 .558 46 40 .535 41 44 .482 39 47 .453 37 49 .430

2 6.5 9 11

KARACHI: Pakistan cricket’s endless parade of controversies and scandal has made playing for the national team akin to ‘mental torture’, according to captainMisbahul-Haq. Since appointed test captain in October after Salman Butt was banned for spot-fixing during last year ’s test series against England, Misbah has led a team dogged by corruption allegations and political in-fighting.

Following five -year bans imposed by the ICC on Butt and two other players in February, Pakistan have been rocked by the departure of sacked one-day captain Shahid Afridi, who resigned in acrimony in May citing differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board. “It is a mental torture to go through

such things and it affects your performance,” the 37-year-old batsman Misbah told Geo Super sports channel in an interview. “It is bad for Pakistan cricket and people taunt us at home and abroad.” Misbah, who took over the reins of the oneday side after Afridi’s dismissal, said Pakistan’s players needed a union to educate them and improve communications with their coaches and paymasters in the wake of a number of ugly contractual disputes. “A players association can play a positive role in preparing and grooming players for international cricket and in understanding their contractual obligations,” said Misbah, whose appointment as one-day captain sparked a row with Afridi. —Reuters

PITTSBURGH: Rookie Alex Presley had three of Pittsburgh’s 14 hits and the Pirates moved three games over .500 this late in the season for the first time in 12 years with a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros on Monday. A day after matching a season high for hits with 16, the Pirates’ offense had 13 off Houston’s Brett Myers (3-8) — the most he’s allowed in 234 career starts. Chase d’Arnaud, Garrett Jones, Neil Walker and Lyle Overbay each had two hits for Pittsburgh, which played in front of its fourth consecutive home sellout — another sign of how rare it is for the Pirates to be in contention. Paul Maholm (5-9) allowed one earned run in six innings for the Pirates.

Nationals 5, Cubs 4 At Washington, Jayson Werth turned boos to cheers by scoring the winning run on a wild pitch in the 10th inning as the Nationals snagged another one-run victory. Werth opened the inning by drawing a walk off Marcos Mateo (1-2), then advanced on a sacrifice by pinchhitting pitcher Livan Hernandez. Mateo was replaced by Carlos Marmol, and Werth stole third on Marmol’s first pitch to Ivan Rodriguez.

Then Marmol uncorked a 2-2 pitch that sailed way outside to Rodriguez.

Werth scored and was mobbed by his teammates. Henr y Rodriguez (3-1) pitched the 10th for the win.

Phillies 1, Marlins 0 At Miami, Vance Worley pitched seven sharp innings and Philadelphia scored the only run on a close play in the seventh to beat Florida.Michael Martinez, playing for an injured Shane Victorino, got his fifth RBI with a single to center. A sliding Domonic Brown barely beat the throw home, although a TV replay appeared to show he was out.

The Marlins argued only briefly, but twice had a player ejected for disputing other calls.Worley (4-1) allowed two singles and walked two while lowering his ERA to 2.21 in 10 games. Antonio Bastardo pitched a hitless ninth for his fifth save to complete a two-hitter for the Phillies, who lead the majors with 13 shutouts. The Phillies have won 20 of their past 24 games in Miami.

Cardinals 1, Reds 0 At St. Louis, Chris Carpenter outdueled Cincinnati Reds nemesis Johnny Cueto with eight impressive innings, then watched from the dugout as pinchhitter Mark Hamilton drove in the lone run with an infield hit for St. Louis.

Cueto (5-3) allowed six hits in eight innings in his first appearance against the Cardinals since he spiked Carpenter on the back and dealt Jason LaRue a career-ending concussion with kicks dur-

Michael Cuddyer added a solo homer and Tsuyoshi Nishioka had a two-run double for the Twins.

Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 7 At Boston, Travis Snider had three doubles and drove in a pair of runs and Aaron Hill homered as Toronto became the latest team to rough up John Lackey.

Hill also had an RBI single and Rajai Davis added two doubles for the Blue Jays, who had lost nine of 14. The Blue Jays scored a run in the first, two in the second and chased Lackey (5-8) with four in the third.

In seven Fenway starts, heLackey is 3-4 with a 9.17 ERA. Toronto starter Brandon Morrow (5-4), allowed four runs on five hits, walking three and striking out five over five-plus innings. It was his third victory in four starts.

Snider, recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, doubled in his first three at-bats. He was sent down on April 29 after hitting just .184 in 25 games.

Mariners 2, Athletics 1 At Oakland, Michael Pineda and three relievers combined on a three-hitter and Josh Bard hit his first home run of the season for Seattle. Justin Smoak added a tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh inning for the Mariners, who opened a key seven-game road trip against division rivals with their third win in four games.

The strong start by Pineda (85) helped spoil the return of Brandon McCarthy (1-5) from the disabled list for Oakland.

McCarthy faced the minimum

Padres 5, Giants 3 At San Francisco, Will Venable hit his second home run of the season and San Diego pounced on Tim Lincecum in a victory over San Francisco.

Chase Headley, Orlando Hudson and Ryan Ludwick each had an RBI off Lincecum (6-7) to chase the Giants’ ace after five innings. Nick Hundley added an RBI single in the eighth and Venable’s solo shot came in the ninth. Clayton Richard (5-9) struck out two and gave up two hits

PITTSBURGH: Pirates’ Alex Presley (left) slides past second and is tagged out by Houston Astros shortstop Clint Barnes (12) during a baseball game. —AP ing a brawl in Cincinnati Aug. 11.

Cueto and Brandon Phillips, whose bat tap to catcher Yadier Molina’s shin guard had precipitated the bench-clearing fight, were both booed at every opportunity. Jon Jay robbed Jay Bruce with a leaping catch at the right-field wall to end the fourth and retreated while battling the sun for another fine grab on Edgar Renteria’s drive near the warning track with two on in the seventh. Carpenter (4-7) has won three straight starts, digging himself out of the worst hole of his career, and is 13-4 against Cincinnati.

Kearns’ homer lifts Indians CLEVELAND: Austin Kearns hit his first homer in 105 at-bats this season, a stunning three-run shot in the seventh inning off New York’s AJ Burnett, to guide the Cleveland Indians to a 6-3 win and spoil Derek Jeter’s return to the Yankees’ lineup Monday night.

Jeter was back at shortstop and again atop the batting order for the first time since June 13, when he went on the disabled list with a calf injury. New York’s captain went 0 for 4 and remained six shy of becoming the first Yankees player to reach 3,000 hits.

Josh Tomlin (10-4), who carried a no-hitter into the seventh, allowed two runs and three hits.

The Indians’ right-hander also became the first pitcher since 1919 to go at least five innings in each of his first 29 career appearances. With two on and the Indians trailing 2-1, Kearns, who has been in a slump all season, hit a 1-0 pitch from Burnett (8-7) the opposite way to right for his first homer since Aug. 22, when he wore Yankee pinstripes.

Twins 7, Rays 0 At Minneapolis, Brian Duensing overcame a shaky start to throw a six-hitter and Danny Valencia homered among his three hits for Minnesota.

Duensing (6-7) struck out seven and walked four for his second career shutout, giving struggling closer Matt Capps the day off.

David Price (8-7) gave up four runs on five hits with six strikeouts in six innings for the Rays.

LONDON: Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard will miss the club’s preseason tour of Asia which starts on Sunday so he can regain full fitness for the start of the Premier League season, Liverpool said yesterday.

Gerrard, who missed the end of last season because of a groin injury which needed surgery, will continue his rehabilitation programme at their Melwood training ground. LiverpooL play in China against Guangdong on July 13 and a Malaysian XI on July 16. They will also spend time training in Singapore during their eight-day stay in the Far East. “Steven and the medical team have done fantastically well so far and they are in the final stages of getting him back to full training,” manager Kenny Dalglish told the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.tv). “I’m sure there will be supporters disappointed that Steven is unable to be with us in Asia, but I’m sure the same people will appreciate the importance of Steven giving himself the best possible opportunity of being fit to play against Sunderland on the opening day of the new campaign. — Reuters

Pirates down Astros

MLB results/standings Results and standings from the MLB games on Monday. Washington 5, Chicago Cubs 4 (10 innings); Toronto 9, Boston 7; Pittsburgh 5, Houston 3; Minnesota 7, Tampa Bay 0; Seattle 2, Oakland 1; Arizona 8, Milwaukee 6; San Diego 5, San Francisco 3; Philadelphia 1, Florida 0; St. Louis 1, Cincinnati 0; Cleveland 6, NY Yankees 3; Atlanta 4, Colorado 1; Chicago White Sox 5, Kansas City 4.

Gerrard to miss Asia tour

Playing for Pakistan is like ‘mental torture’ — captain

and three walks in five innings. After two separate four-game losing streaks this season, the lefty has won three straight.

Heath Bell allowed a run in the ninth and put the potential tying runs in scoring position with one out. Then he got Andres Torres to fly out and Aaron Rowand to ground out for his 25th save.

Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer into McCovey Cove and finished a triple shy of the cycle for the Giants.

D’backs 8, Brewers 6 At Milwaukee, Chris Young drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the ninth inning as Arizona overcame a grand slam by pitcher Shaun Marcum, ral-

lying from a five-run deficit to beat slumping Milwaukee. The Diamondbacks scored in every inning from the fourth through ninth after falling into a 6-1 hole against the best home team in the majors.

Miguel Montero and Wily Mo Pena homered for the Diamondbacks, who have lost six of nine. John Axford (2-2) took the loss.

Braves 4, Rockies 1 At Atlanta, Freddie Freeman homered twice to drive in three runs and Tommy Hanson combined with two relievers on a four-hitter and Atlanta beat Colorado.

Freeman’s two-run shot in the first inning drove in Brian McCann, who singled with two outs off Ubaldo Jimenez (3-8). The rookie first baseman hit his 11th homer in the eighth off Matt Reynolds.

Jimenez was facing the Braves for the first time since throwing a no-hitter at Turner Field on April 17, 2010. It was the first no-hitter in Rockies history. Hanson (10-4) gave up one run on four hits and one walk in seven innings. He had six strikeouts while lowering his ERA to 2.52.

He ranks among the league leaders in wins and ERA but wasn’t selected to the NL All-Star team. Jonny Venters worked around a walk in the eighth and Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save.

Mets 5, Dodgers 2 At Los Angeles, Angel Pagan, Carlos Beltran and Daniel Murphy had RBI doubles in the sixth inning after the Mets were held hitless through five by Rubby De La Rosa before New York went on to beat Los Angeles. Chris Capuano (8-7) allowed six hits and two runs in six innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked two in winning his third decision in a row.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth to earn his 21st save in 24 chances. The Mets won their second consecutive game without All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes, who sat out with a strained left hamstring. De La Rosa (3-4) gave up five hits and three runs over seven innings in his sixth career start, losing his fourth straight outing. The last-place Dodgers dropped their third in a row and fifth in their last six. —AP

Retired NFL players say they are being excluded

MINNEAPOLIS: Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon (left) reacts after striking out to Minnesota Twins pitcher Brian Duensing in the eighth inning of a baseball game. —AP batters through 5 2-3 innings but ended up losing his fifth straight decision. He gave up two runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings and is 0-5 in his last eight starts despite having six quality starts in that span.

White Sox 5, Royals 4 At Chicago, A.J. Pierzynski scored the winning run on a balk called on Aaron Crow in the ninth and the White Sox beat Kansas City after the Royals had tied it on a homer first ruled a triple in the top of the inning.

With the Royals trailing 4-3 in the ninth, Eric Hosmer led off with what appeared to be a homer off White Sox closer Sergio Santos (3-3). Second base umpire Alfonso Marquez signaled the ball was in play as Hosmer advanced to third. Royals manager Ned Yost contested the call, and the umpire reviewed it.

Moments after the review, Marquez signaled a homer.

Rangers 13, Orioles 4 At Arlington, Endy Chavez had his first four-RBI game in more

than eight years with a long home run and a double in Texas’ victory over Baltimore.

Adrian Beltre also homered for the Rangers. Michael Young had a single, double and an RBI triple while David Murphy drove in a pair of runs with three hits. Colby Lewis (8-7) won his third straight decision, allowing three runs on a pair of homers over seven innings.

Orioles starter Chris Jakubauskas (2-2) gave up six runs and seven hits while facing only 13 batters.

Baltimore’s Buck Showalter, who still has a house in the Dallas area, managed a game at Rangers Ballpark for the first time since he was fired by Texas after the 2006 season. Mark Reynolds homered twice for Baltimore, giving him six in his last five games. J.J. Hardy also went deep.

Angels 5, Tigers 1 At Anaheim, Torii Hunter and Vernon Wells homered and Joel Pineiro yielded five hits over seven solid innings as Los Angeles beat Detroit for its ninth win in 11 games. —AP

MINNEAPOLIS: While NFL owners and players appear to be inching toward a resolution of the league’s long lockout, a group of retired players is clamoring to be more involved in the discussions.

The group filed a class-action complaint against the owners and current players in federal court Monday, saying they have been excluded from the mediation sessions taking place in an attempt to end the lockout.

Named plaintiffs including Hall of Famers Carl Eller, Franco Harris, Marcus Allen and Paul Krause are asking U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson to put a halt to the mediation she ordered and declare that the current players cannot negotiate on behalf of those who are retired.

Owners and current players have met five times over the last few weeks as they work to put together a new collective bargaining agreement in time to avoid the loss of training camps and games. They met with US Magistrate Judge Arthur J. Boylan in Minneapolis last week, including for more than 15 hours on Thursday, and will resume meetings late yesterday in New York.

The retired players say that NFL owners, the NFL Players’ Association and a group of current players including star quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are “conspiring to depress the amounts of pension and disability benefits to be paid to former NFL players in order to maximize the salaries and benefits to current NFL players.”

The NFL declined comment on the complaint, which was first reported by the New York Times. The Associated Press left a message for an NFLPA spokesman seeking comment. The

complaint gets to the heart of an issue that has been building for quite some time. Retired players have felt marginalized in the dispute over how to divide more than $9 billion in revenue.

After the owners locked out the players in March, the NFLPA disbanded and a group of them sued the league for antitrust violations. A small group of retired players, including Eller, Obafemi Ayanbadejo and Ryan Collins, filed their own lawsuit against the league seeking more help for medical treatments of former players and better pensions.

Nelson combined the two lawsuits, and several representatives of the retired players, including Eller and attorney Michael Hausfeld were present at early mediation sessions in Minneapolis.

But as talks have heated up and the venue has shifted from the Twin Cities to Maryland, Massachussetts, Illinois and back to Minneapolis again over the last month or so, the retired players have not been present. This hasn’t sit well with them, and lawyers for the group have sent letters to Boylan, lobbied Commissioner Roger Goodell and held intense media briefings to make their feelings known.

The complaint said the players’ decision to decertify their union makes it an antitrust violation for the owners and current players to negotiate for retired players. It also alleges that the NFL had said it would tap revenue streams both from within and outside the salary cap to help retired players, union representatives including DeMaurice Smith want all the money delegated for the cap to be given to current players. — AP

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

sp orts

India targets foreign coaches amid doping scandal NEW DELHI: One foreign coach has already been fired and others are under intense scrutiny as the government launches a crackdown on drugs in sport amid a deepening doping crisis in Indian athletics.

With eight athletes suspended within a week — including members of the women’s 1,600-meter relay teams that won gold at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games — former Olympians and the public have been escalating demands for the government to intervene. Sports Minister Ajay Maken responded yesterday by firing Ukrainian Yuri Ogorodnik, coach of six of the athletes named in recent doping cases, and demanding an overhaul of the way anti-doping authorities operate in the country of 1.1 billion. Other coaches have been warned.

“I have asked for his (Ogorodnik’s) removal,” Maken told a news conference. “All foreign coaches training athletes who test positive will be removed.” Maken has ordered a full inquiry, led by a retired High Court judge or an official of similar rank.

“The positive dope tests of eight athletes brought disgrace to the sporting fraternity and the entire country. So we have decided

to take some strong measures against the coaches and officials so that such things doesn’t occur again,” Maken said.

Among the disgraced athletes are Ashwini Akkunji, dubbed India’s “Golden Girl,” Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose, who were all part of the women’s 1,600-meter relay squads that won gold at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games and Guangzhou Asian Games last October and November.

Akkunji had also won the 400 hurdles at Guangzhou. The relay team was considered India’s best hope for a medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Jauna Murmu, Tiana Mary and Priyanka Panwar were other 400 runners caught for doping, while men’s long jumper Hari Krishnan and women’s shot putter Sonia Kumari have also been provisionally banned.

They all tested positive for drugs that help build muscle. Akkunji, Jose, Kumari, Panwar and Krishnan tested positive for methandienone, Murmu and Mary for epimethandiol, and Kaur for the more common stanozolol.

Ogorodnik had been with the Indian track and field squad for two years, and had only had his contract recently renewed after

the successes of 2010.

He was based in the northern city of Patiala, where the women’s 400 runners stayed for national camps. Ogorodnik denied having given steroids to athletes. “I told the athletes to buy only food supplements,” Ogorodnik told Times Now news channel. “I am not a fool to tell athletes to consume something that is in the WADA list.”

The relay gold in New Delhi last October was India’s first on the Commonwealth Games track in 52 years and came in the penultimate event of the meet. Tens of thousands of fans stayed in their seats long after competition to watch the women presented with their medals, and the country was abuzz with the unexpected achievement.

Even Sebastian Coe, the famous British Olympic gold medalist and London Olympics official, was praising the women’s team for their contribution to the sport.

“That may just have changed the direction of track and field,” Coe, who is part Indian on his mother’s side, said as he sat in the stadium.

“Not only track and field in India, but in Asia.”

Now, three-quarters of the relay quartet are under suspension, and Maken is holding offi-

cials at least partly responsible — even if no firm evidence of systemic doping has been presented publicly.

“Officials and coaches left to go scot-free earlier will be removed immediately,” Maken said, referring to coaches associated with athletes caught for doping in the past. “I want Indian officials to explain how the drugs reached national camps. I have asked for a detailed report.” Maken wants the national anti-doping agency to track the movement of performance-enhancing drugs and is asking for more sophisticated border controls. “Proper searches will be made, so that such substances do not enter the country,” he said. PT Usha, who missed the 400 hurdles bronze by a fraction of a second at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and is now a coach, called for a government inquiry before departing late Monday for the Asian championships in Kobe, Japan.

“It is a big slap for all of us,” she told reporters in Bangalore. “When we celebrated the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games triumphs, we never thought this would happen.” Milkha Singh, who narrowly missed out on a bronze in the 400 at the

1960 Olympics, said coaches and officials were responsible for the mess.

“The coaches and federation officials are fully responsible, they know about it,” Singh said in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh.

Though doping is not a new problem in India _ the national weightlifting federation has twice been banned from international competition due to a high number of doping violations _ the recent spurt in cases in athletics is unprecedented and concerning.

There have been positive cases, including Sunita Rani (2002 Busan Asian Games), Neelam Jaswant Singh (2005 Helsinki World Championships) and Rani Yadav (2010 Commonwealth Games) in the past, but never so many simultaneously. Some high-ranking past and present federation officials are already in trouble of a different kind.

Commonwealth Games chief organizer Suresh Kalmadi is a former president of the Athletics Federation of India. His close aide, Lalit Bhanot, remains secretary of the AFI. They’re both in jail awaiting trial on charges of corruption relating to the organization of the Commonwealth Games.—AP

Powell rues lack of top-flight rivalry

SOWETO: In this May 22, 2010 file photo, New Zealand Crusaders’ Daniel Carter (left) runs with the ball as South Africa Bulls’ Zane Kirchner try to tackle during the semi-finals of the Super 14 rugby match.— AP

Cooper against Carter, a Super 15 final highlight BRISBANE: Cooper vs. Carter. Already the contest between flyhalves which will illuminate Saturday ’s Super 15 rugby final between the Queensland Reds and Canterbury Crusaders, and maybe decide it, has the ring of one of sport’s great headto-heads. The competition between the Crusaders’ Daniel Carter and the Reds’ Quade Cooper has all of the qualities which cause an individual contest within a team sport to loom out of the compelling background of the match itself.

Saturday’s final in Brisbane, Australia, pits the two most exciting and constructive flyhalves in world rugby against each other and may decide, in a foretaste of this year’s World Cup, which may be called the best No. 10 in the sport.

In one corner there is Cooper, the hometown hero, poised and confident yet still only 23. He is shaven-headed and liberally tattooed, muscled yet youthfully lean, possessed of the most singular goalkicking style in world rugby.

Cooper is brash, unorthodox, inventive and unafraid. He is New Zealand-born — raised in Tokoroa, a logging town about 150km south of Auckland — but moved with his family to Brisbane at age 14. His family roots in New Zealand are still deep, though.

So deep that Sean Maitland, the Crusaders’ winger, is his first cousin.

Cooper has played only 24 tests, scored only 41 points in international rugby and yet already he is universally acclaimed as one of the best playmakers in rugby, one who has the ability to decide this year’s World Cup. Saturday’s meeting is his second with Carter in Brisbane this season — he decided the first with a last-minute penalty which gave the Reds a 17-16 win over the Crusaders in the tournament’s 15th round.

It could be the second of five meetings between the pair this season if they are to meet again, ultimately, in the World Cup final. Carter is the established master. Now 29, he has played 93 tests and scored 1,188 test points; more than any player other than England’s Jonny Wilkinson (1,195).

Clean cut, athletic and assured in all of the fundamentals of the flyhalf’s game, Carter brings additional qualities of skill, anticipation, opportunism and tactical insight which have made him the world’s benchmark at least for the last five years.

He has the edge on Cooper in experience, in his proven track record and his participation in five previous Super rugby finals, but Cooper’s season with the Reds has elevated his reputation.

Cooper may do more than Carter that is unpredictable, even unaccountable; he has the ability to operate in the most limited space, to make breaks in the midst of defenders. He does it all with apparent ease. Carter will do all that he needs to do exceptionally well, even flawlessly.

He will find his touches, manage territory, make his tackles, create gaps for his outside players. He has the No. 10’s very best

quality, that he can be counted on.

It is Carter’s resume more than his form this season which make him stand out as the current world No. 1, although this has been a quiet season. Auckland Blues coach Pat Lam, after his team’s semifinal exit at the hands of the Reds, sought to rank the pair. “Quade is right up there,” he said.

“There is Dan, then him.”

Even Carter has remarked on Cooper’s developed this season with the Reds.

“Quade has just grown from the way he played last year,” Carter said. “He is really leading them and creating a lot of opportunities ... He really is the danger man.”

Cooper almost single-handidly contrived the Reds’ 30-13 win over the Blues, though others such as winger Rod Davies — who scored three tries — benefited from his creativity.

All the elements of his game were present in the stunning try he set up for center Ben Tapuai. Receiving the ball from a kick 35 meters from his own goalline, he fended off Auckland winger Lachie Munro and, working with only a meter to the touchline, hared upfield. He beat another Auckland tackler near the sideline then turned sharply infield, dummied beyond the grasp of another defender and handed off to Tapuai.

He explained later: “I see an opportunity and I’ve just got to take them. “There were a few other options, a few safe options some might say. I’m sure that’s what everyone else was thinking but that’s what the defense was thinking as well.”

Blues coach Lam was both stunned and admiring. “You appreciate skill,” he said.

“You appreciate good players whether they’re Australian or English or wherever they come from. You’ve got to try to defend him as a team. One-on-one he’ll beat just about every player around.”

Carter has been less influential this season: steady but seldom spectacular. It seems to have become the nature of Carter’s game that he saves his best for the big occasion. He has run more rarely this season than he typically does but that might also be encouraged by the fact that he has outside him Sonny Bill Williams and one of the best backlines in the Super 15.

“He’s probably been a little bit quiet in recent times,” Crusaders assistant coach and former All Blacks midfielder Daryl Gibson said. “He’s one of those players, because he does everything so well, you sometimes don’t notice just how good he is. “You look at a number of other (flyhalves) playing with a lot more flair, but they also make a lot more mistakes. He does a fantastic job of making sure we stick to the game plan and go out and execute everything we need to do.”

And he’s coming into form, contributing 19 points in a nearly perfect kicking performance in the Crusaders 29-10 semifinal win over the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend. “Everyone would be disappointed if we didn’t go all the way,” Carter said. “not a lot has to be said.” —AP

MUMBAI: World athletics has suffered from a lack of high-profile rivalries due to the growing influence of money on the sport, long jump world record holder Mike Powell has told Reuters.

Powell had a sustained rivalry with Carl Lewis and it was those duels with the nine-times Olympic gold medallist that pushed him to break Bob Beamon’s 23-year world record at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo.

“Look at what I had to do ... I had to break an unbreakable world record just to beat this guy,” said Powell, who was in India as an ambassador for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

“He motivated me and drove me to do big things, but at the same time in my event I had one of the best athletes of all time and at his best. He was one of the most tough-minded persons that I have ever encountered.”

While Powell’s world record has stood for 20 years, he had to settle for silver medals in the long jump at the 1988 Seoul Games and four years later in Barcelona.

Lewis bagged gold at both Olympics. “I tell the jumpers now that ‘you guys are so lucky’. You don’t understand how difficult it was to compete when Carl was competing,” he said in an interview. “Carl should have had the world record. He just didn’t jump enough. He only jumped three-four times a season. “Today Carl and I are very friendly. For me he was a blessing and at the same time he was a curse,” Powell said of his former rival, who turned 50 last Friday.

The 47-year-old credited Lewis with helping him scale new heights and said he was disappointed with the lack of consistent rivalries in present day athletics.

“Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay, it rarely happens that they cross paths. It’s unfortunate,” he said. “When I was competing, we felt that it was our responsibility to promote the sport.

“But I think now, maybe its part of the present generation, it’s more about ‘me’. “They want to make sure: ‘okay, I want to make sure I get this amount of money’ instead of just ‘go for it’. “It’s a different mentality and it saddens me.”

Powell, dressed in a black t-shirt and a pair of denims, said he would not hesitate to stretch out a helping hand to his one-time nemesis in building his political career, but did not see himself going down the same career path.

Lewis, voted as the sportsman of the century by the International Olympic Committee, recently won the Democratic nomination for the New Jersey state Senate. “I think it’s great. Carl is a very intelligent man. He knows how to connect with people,” said Powell. “I haven’t talked to him yet about it but I was going to tell him ‘if you need me to do something for you I will be more than happy.’” Powell does not see himself in the political arena. “It’s a personal choice. Being an athlete is hard enough. When you are a politician they look at your whole life,” he said, breaking into a laugh.

“I know I don’t want my life to be examined like that. You have to sacrifice a lot if you want to be a politician.”—Reuters

Mike Powell in action in this file photo

Security tests begin on London 2012 venues

LONDON: Sebastian Coe chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, watches the dressage during the Greenwich Park Eventing international event. Greenwich Park will host the London 2012 Olympic equestrian events.—AP

S Korea look to deliver Winter Games for Asia DURBAN: Pyeongchang hope that at the third time of asking they will prevail here today and win the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and deliver Asia only their third ever Games.

The South Koreans have twice finished runners-up-to Vancouver for 2010 and Sochi for 2014 — and here they must wait once again to see if at last they have convinced the electorate of 100+ International Olympic Committee (IOC) members that they can host the Games. Victory would see Asia host the Games for the first time since 1998 in Nagano, the second time Japan had hosted them.

In doing so they must see off the increasingly strong German candidate Munich, bidding to become the first venue to host both the Summer and Winter Games, and the French alpine town Annecy, apparently destined for third place.

South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak has come to lend his support to the bid, like his late predecessor Roh Moo-Hyun did for the 2014 team, but insists he is not here to reap the rewards for himself.

“I wouldn’t make this about personal glory,” said Lee, who is on a three-country whistlestop tour of Africa, starting with talks with South African president Jacob Zuma yesterday. “If we do win the bid it will be a great honor for the country. “America and Europe have benefited from winter sports, Asia hasn’t had that opportunity. I consider this as my

duty and mission to deliver this for Asia.”

For the IOC, the possibility of crossing a new frontier and opening up a lucrative new market in these financially precarious times is a very attractive option.

It was certainly a strong factor in the laudatory report compiled by the IOC Evaluation Commission-the only IOC members allowed to visit the bid candidates-and something to which Lee alluded in an interview accorded to a few journalists on Monday.

“This (Asia) is a region with the most robust and dynamic growth in terms of the economy, hence people will enjoy winter sports,” said the 69-year-old. “It is our aspiration to become a Mecca for Asians to enjoy winter sports. “By hosting the Games we hope to spread the spirit of the Olympics beyond Pyeongchang, throughout Asia.”

However, the Koreans will be casting nervous glances at the IOC members, with Munich poised to pounce if Pyeongchang cannot secure a first-round victory.

The Germans’ increasingly impressive campaign has given them hope they will emulate the Black Sea resort of Sochi, by developing from a long shot into one with unstoppable momentum. Olympic ice skating icon Katarina Witt may be the impressive front person for the bid, but their hopes were best encapsulated by the blind German paralympic legend, 12-time gold medallist Verena Bentele. —AFP

LONDON: British police have begun testing Olympic venues against all potential terrorist threats, including from Irish dissidents and Islamists, the policeman in charge of 2012 security told Reuters. Next summer’s London Games are predicted to be Britain’s biggest peacetime security operation, and will be policed at a severe threat level, the second-highest status.

The country faces several potential threats, one of the most high-profile being from al-Qaeda after Britain’s support of US military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, while dissident Irish nationalists pose a renewed challenge.

The London Games also coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Munich Olympics, when 11 Israeli team members died after being held hostage by Palestinian gunmen.

“I am trying to ensure that we produce 34 venues that are secure, that people can go in and have a really good time, that people can feel safe inside and their focus can be on the sport,” Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, Olympic security coordinator, said from his office at Scotland Yard.

“That is at the heart of all our planning, and we’ll do everything that we need around the outside to ensure that happens.” As well as the 34 venues, police will also have to make sure street parties and public events in the city’s parks go ahead without disruption.

At a briefing at Scotland Yard yesterday, Britain’s top police officer, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Stephenson said that while he is delighted with intra-agency progress on security preparations he was not complacent.

“I want to stress that the summer of 2012, for the Metropolitan Police and indeed the nation and the government, isn’t just about the games ... the challenge for the Met in particular is to continue to run policing services here in London. And we are going to do that,” he told reporters.

Home Secretary Theresa May, who also attended the briefing, said the government had set aside a budget of 600 million pounds ($960 million) for policing the games but that it was on course to come in under budget at around 500 million.

Testing has so far focused on the main stadium and velodrome at the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, where police have been working with the London organising committee (LOCOG), responsible for screening spectators.

Police tested their defensive search procedures, for example seeing how long it would take to look for hidden bombs, and improving their understanding of the venues.

A counter-terrorism exercise involving the Ministry of Defence and other emergency services took place in the Olympic Village in May. The police will prepare for all possible scenarios covering all venues and aspects of security, up to and throughout the Games, Allison said. He said Munich would be a factor in the preparations, but it was looking at all possible terrorist-related activity.

“You cannot think about the Olympics without taking that into consideration, without thinking about that,” he said. “Clearly we have to look at every terrorist threat that there is out there and make sure we have got the appropriate mitigations in place.”

Britain is currently operating on a severe threat level, meaning a militant attack is considered highly likely. London has been a victim of militants in the recent past. In July 2005, four young British Islamists carried out suicide bomb attacks killing 52 commuters on the capital’s transport network, a day after the city was awarded the Games.

Northern Ireland has seen an upsurge in shootings and bombings targeting police officers and soldiers during the past two years by nationalist splinter groups who want to end British rule.

While last Friday, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said Libyan fighters would descend on Europe “like a swarm of locusts or bees”, if NATO did not halt its bombing campaign. —Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

S P ORT S

British MPs accuse FIFA and Blatter of cover-up LONDON: A British Government inquiry into corruption allegations surrounding World Cup bids has accused FIFA of trying to brush aside the evidence and has questioned president Sepp Blatter’s commitment to reforming the organisation.

The 31-page report, issued by a House of Commons Select Committee, has called for FIFA to “commission a full, urgent and independent investigation” into the allegations surrounding the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

It also says it finds FIFA’s decision to drop investigations into alleged wrongdoing by Jack Warner of Trinidad & Tobago, who resigned from FIFA’s executive committee last month after 28 years rather than face corruption charges, as “extraordinary”.

Among a number of conclusions, the report states: “We were appalled by the allegations of corruption made against members of the FIFA Executive Committee during the course of our inquiry. “Although they have been challenged in other evidence, they are sufficiently serious for FIFA to commission a full, urgent and independent investigation and for the outcome to be made public.

“Instead, FIFA has given every impression of wishing to sweep all allegations of misconduct under the carpet and dismissing anyone bringing allegations to them with an approach bordering on contempt.”

The report urges FIFA to review its bidding process for future World Cups and to reform itself as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did fol-

lowing allegations of bribery and corruption into Salt Lake City’s bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

However, the report said Blatter’s record did not inspire confidence that this would happen. “We look to him now to fulfil the undertakings he gave at the time of his re-election to the presidency,” it said. “We urge the FA, and other national associations to ensure he is held to account for them.”

Committee member Damian Collins MP told Reuters in a telephone interview prior to the report’s publication: “We are very concerned at the contempt FIFA showed when the evidence was presented to them. It is absolutely shocking at how little scrutiny there is of how FIFA executive members go about their business.

“FIFA may govern football, but it does not own football, and the way it operates would not be acceptable in any other organisation. FIFA needs to be far more transparent.”

Initially, the inquiry, comprising MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, was set up to examine how the game is run in England and to examine the failure of England’s bid to stage the 2018 World Cup which was awarded to Russia last December. On the same day, FIFA awarded the 2022 finals to Qatar.

Subsequently in May, David Triesman, the former chairman of the English FA, gave evidence to the committee alleging that four members of the FIFA executive committee had demanded favours in

return for voting for England. Allegations made by the Sunday Times newspaper were also raised during the inquiry. Collins added that the way FIFA had dismissed those allegations was “hugely disappointing”. As well as being critical of FIFA, the report is also critical of Triesman, whose allegations in May against FIFA executive committee members Warner, Nicolas Leoz of Paraguay, Ricardo Teixeira of Brazil and Worawi Makudi of Thailand made headlines across the world and set alarm bells ringing.

Triesman resigned as FA chairman in May last year after being taped making what proved to be unfounded allegations against 2018 bid rivals Russia and Spain.

He told the Committee he did not make his allegations earlier for fear of harming England’s bid, but following his assertions to the Committee regarding the four FIFA members, the English FA commissioned a report into his allegations, which could not be backed up.

The committee added: “It is frustrating and disappointing that Lord Triesman did not see fit to raise his allegations...when he first became aware of them. We welcome the undertaking he gave us that he would now raise his allegations with FIFA so that it could conduct an investigation.”

The Committee has also recommended that the English FA conducts a review into the failures of the World Cup bid, which cost the FA and local councils more than 17 million pounds ($27 million) and ended up securing just two votes, one from England’s

own representatives, when the vote was taken by the executive committee, in Zurich on Dec. 2 last year.

Under current FIFA rules, after Russia hosts the 2018 World Cup, it will not return to Europe until 2030. The report concludes that English influence in FIFA and in European’s soccer’s governing body UEFA is poor due to a number of historic and current perceptions including an arrogant approach to other countries.

With no bids possible for a World Cup for at least another decade, the committee recommends: “The FA can perhaps afford to play a long game, and to consolidate its position as a leading internal advocate of FIFA reform.”

The FA gave a statement in response to the report. “We have always acknowledged the level of disappointment amongst the public and everyone who was involved in the unsuccessful England 2018 Bid, particularly when we were very confident England’s technical bid was the strongest following feedback from FIFA’s inspection group,” it said.

“Our focus is now on ensuring that the FA and all of English football work towards building stronger and more enduring international relationships.

“We can confirm that the FA chairman David Bernstein has began a process of evaluating our current representation on FIFA and UEFA committees, while determining how we can best strengthen our international relationships, both formally and informally.” — Reuters

Colombia look for Rincon to fire against Koreans

GERMANY: United States’ Megan Rapinoe juggles the ball with her head during a training session in preparation for a match against Sweden during the Women’s Soccer World Cup. —AP

Sweden gunning to down Stars and Stripes WOLFSBURG: Sweden take on two-time champions the USA here today at the women’s World Cup with midfielder Therese Sjogran insisting her side can beat the Stars and Stripes again.

Both teams have already booked their quarter-final berths with 100 percent records, but Sweden beat the USA 2-1 the last time the sides met in China last January.

While the USA beat Colombia 3-0 and North Korea 2-0 in their opening games, Sweden squeezed past the same teams with 1-0 victories in both meetings, but Sjogran insists that the Americans hold no surprises.

“The USA are a really good team, but they’re only human,” said Sjogran, who plays her club football in the States for New Jersey-based side Sky Blue.

“They are a good team but we don’t have the fear of them that we had before.

“We beat them in January in China and I feel we know how they play. “They have changed their style, they want to go through the midfield more, so we know how we’re supposed to play against them.

“It’s going to be a hard game but I think we can get a good result.” Sweden pride themselves on their defence and the USA were frustrated not to score more in Saturday’s win over Colombia.

“We want to put away more chances,” said US midfielder Megan Rapinoe. “I put a six-yarder off the post and so did Abby Wambach a couple of times. “As the pressure becomes more and more, we’ll have to be more precise.”

Sweden coach Thomas Dennerby says closing down the USA’s impressive attack will be the key. “We know that it’s very hard to score against Sweden,” he said. “And if you have a very solid defence it used to be a big reason to going a long way in big tournaments.”

Swedish captain Caroline Seger will miss the game with a second yellow, but says every game is now crucial. “Every game is important no matter who we play,” she said.

“We’re at the World Cup and if you want to be the best you have to beat the best.”

Veteran US striker Abby Wambach has yet to score at the World Cup, but her coach Pia Sundhage is backing the 31-yearold to open her account soon after 118 international goals in 159 appearances for the Stars and Stripes. “Abby had a couple of chances and she didn’t put them away,” said Sundhage. “She will before the tournament ends, I have no doubt in my mind.

“She’s a very experienced player and if you look how teams play against her it helps teammates around her. “She will score a goal sooner or later.” — AFP

Australia, Norway battle for World Cup survival LEVERKUSEN: Australia take on former champions Norway here today with both teams fighting for women’s World Cup survival in their final Group D game.

Both have three points after two games with Australia ahead on goal difference following their 1-0 loss to Brazil with a 3-2 victory over Equatorial Guinea.

Norway, the 1995 winners, are still reeling after a painful 3-0 correction to a Marta-inspired Brazil, and struggling 1-0 past the Africans in their opener. Brazil are already through with the second qualifying spot up for grabs for a final eight clash with either the United States or Sweden.

Tom Sermanni’s young Matildas are looking to match their first quarter-final place four years ago, and to do that a draw would be enough.

Although Sermanni admitted his team gave him some heart-stopping moments against Equatorial Guinea, he thinks these problems can be ironed out before meeting the Norwegians whom they have never beaten in four previous meetings. “We made the game more difficult for ourselves than we needed to,” he said of their match against Equatorial Guinea. “We played some excellent foot-

ball and created great chances and at other times we made some very poor mistakes which we need to rectify before the Norway game.”

Taking on the experienced Norwegians after the African newcomers could prove to be a culture shock for the Matildas. “Norway are a very different team than Equatorial Guinea,” said Sermanni. “Very structured, very direct and they play their game very effectively. We have to deal with their style of play and try to impose our style of game.”

Nor way are among the elite of women’s world football but have lost some of their lustre in recent years.

Australian midfielder Claire Polkinghorne said on Twitter after the game against Equatorial Guinea: “We never like to make it easy for ourselves.

But 3 points is 3 points. Bring on Norway.” Norway have competed in all editions of the tournament, finishing runners-up in the inaugural event in 1991, and four years later lifting the trophy. They were Olympic champions in 2000 and have never failed to get to the quarter-finals at the World Cup with two fourth-place finishes. But they have lost some of their luster in recent years. — AFP

BOCHUM: Colombia will be looking for star Yoreli Rincon to finally show her potential and lift the South Americans to their first women’s World Cup points against North Korea today.

Rincon, 17, was one of the revelations of the under-20 World Cup last year and had proclaimed that she wanted to follow in the footsteps of Brazilian five-time world player of the year Marta.

But she failed to feature in both of the team’s opening matches as World Cup debutantes Colombia fell 1-0 to Sweden and 3-0 to the United States.

An Indiana University player next season Rincon will get her final chance to impress as the Colombians go head to head with North Korea with nothing but pride at stake in their final Group C game here today.

“Yoreli is on the right path. She’s doing a great job. She’s maturing and she wants to become the best player in the world and she’s working on it,” said Colombia coach Ricardo Rozo.

“She hasn’t been able to show all her capabilities as she did in the under-20s. She’s going to be a player just as important as Marta.”

He added: “We’re not going to give up. We’re competing in our first World Cup which is a dream come true and we feel we have our place here.”

The eighth-ranked Koreans have had a disappointing tournament after reaching the quarterfinals for the first time four years ago, and also want a result in their first meeting with the 31st-

GERMANY: Colombian players react after losing 0-3 in the Group C match against United States in this file photo. — AP ranked Colombians.

Korean coach Kim Kwang Min had initially blamed the effects of being struck by lightning at a pre-tournament training camp on his players failure to win.

“This team is very young and they are inexperienced in such a competition as this,” said the Korean coach. “However, this World Cup will

have taught them a lot of lessons. In four years time they will be stronger.”

The United States and Sweden are already through to the quarter-finals unbeaten. The USA beat Colombia 3-0 and North Korea 2-0 as Sweden squeezed past the same teams with 1-0 wins. They play each other for top spot group supremacy in Wolfsburg today.— AFP

Tevez wants to leave City MANCHESTER: Carlos Tevez wants to leave Manchester City and move to a country where he can reunite with his wife and daughters.

The City captain issued a statement Monday saying that “it is with great regret that I have to inform Manchester City of my wish to leave the club.” The Argentina striker, who is currently playing for Argentina in the Copa America, also handed in a transfer request in January but later withdrew it and helped City win the FA Cup and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

However, he seems unlikely to change his mind again after making it clear he wants to live in an environment where his wife Vanesa and their two daughters can feel at home.

Vanesa moved back to Argentina with the two girls after struggling to adapt to the British climate and culture. “Living without my children in Manchester has been incredibly challenging for me,” Tevez said.

Argentina’s Carlos Tevez

Matches on TV (Local Timings) COPA AMERICA (Thursday) Argentina v Colombia .......... 3:45 Al Jazeera Sport +2 Al Jazeera Sport +3 Al Jazeera Sport 1 HD WOMEN,S WORLD CUP Australia v Norway .............. 19:00 Al Jazeera Sport +3 Al Jazeera Sport +4 Al Jazeera Sport 2 HD Equatorial Guinea v Brazil .. 19:00 Al Jazeera Sport +3 Al Jazeera Sport +4 Al Jazeera Sport 2 HD North Korea v Colombia ..... 21:45 Al Jazeera Sport +3 Al Jazeera Sport +4 Al Jazeera Sport 2 HD Sweden v United States ...... 21:45 Al Jazeera Sport +3 Al Jazeera Sport +4 Al Jazeera Sport 2 HD

“Everything I do, I do for my daughters, Katie and Florencia. I need to be closer to them and to spend more time with them. I need them to be happy because my life is about them now. I need to be in a place where they can adapt.”

He did not say where he plans to move.

Tevez joined City in 2009 from crosstown rival Manchester United, where he won two Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League. He was the captain as City beat Stoke 1-0 in May in the FA Cup final to end a 35-year spell without a major trophy.

“I hope that most of the City fans will understand that I have given them my all on the pitch and that my dedication to the city cause has been 100 percent on the pitch,” Tevez said. “I hope I have done my bit to help City continue their progress towards their ambition to be champions of England and to advance in the Champions League.”—AP

Brazil aim to avoid E Guinea slip-up FRANKFURT: Title contenders Brazil will look to avoid a slip-up in their final Group D match of the 2011 Women’s World Cup against pointless Equatorial Guinea today.

Brazil have already locked up first place in the group with six points and victories over both Norway and Australia - who square off in the other group match. And the Brazilians will take on either Sweden or the United States in the quarter-finals.

The South American giants - on the hunt for their first world title after losing to Germany in the 2007 final - have yet to concede a goal through two games. Only three other nations could claim that going into the final group matches - France, the United States and Sweden.

Brazil midfielder Formiga said the team cannot overestimate the Cup debutants from Africa. “It’s been a long road, we can’t rest and can’t let up. We have to continue working hard, like we came here to do, and trusting that we can continue eliminating our rivals,” said Formiga, appearing at her fifth World Cup. “We’re a close team. We have spent a long time working hard and our objective is to be world champions for the first time.”

Equatorial Guinea will be looking for their

first World Cup point after a 1-0 loss to Nor way and 3-2 defeat at the hands of Australia. And despite meeting for the first time in World Cup play, many of Brazilian and Equatorial Guinean players know each other.

Many of the Equatorial Guinea players are nationalised Brazilians or play in the Brazilian football league. And Guinea coach Marcello Frigerio is an Italian-Brazilian who learned the game in the Brazilian academies - including using a sweeper, something only his team and Brazil have in the game.

Frigerio plans on using that connection to push his players. “I’m Brazilian and know the Brazil team very well. I’ll try to motivate my players to represent the country as best they can,” said the head coach.

Equatorial Guinea would like to finish their first World Cup on a high note even though that will be difficult. “It is going to be a very difficult match no doubt about that. It’s very difficult,” said Frigerio.

“It’s our first experience in the World Cup. Our country ranks very low so we have to leave a good impression. We lost 1-0 to Nor way and then had a close defeat to Australia: this is something that we can be really satisfied with.” — AFP

A

y

e niv rsar n

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Years

S P ORT S

India look to wrap up cricket Test series ROSEAU: India head into today’s third Test against the West Indies - and the inaugural Test at Windsor Park - looking to close out a series that they have dominated.

The Indians, who are ranked the top Test side in the world, lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 63 runs inside four days at Sabina Park in Jamaica. They also had the better part of the rain-hit second Test in Barbados which finished in a draw.

Logic suggests that their greater experience with bat and ball will see them complete a Test and oneday series double but the two unknowns remain the weather - it is hurricane season - and the pitch.

Windsor Park, located on the eastern side of the Dominica capital, provides the backdrop for the contest. The ground, which was redeveloped six years ago at a cost of US $17 million borne by the Chinese government, will become the 12th Test venue in the Caribbean, and 106th worldwide. As for the pitch, the jury is still out. When the Windward Islands hosted the England Lions in a West Indies domestic firstclass match earlier this year, there was plenty of pace and bounce - something which may appeal to Fidel Edwards who was the stand-out bowler for the West

Indies in Barbados.

“I won’t say I am back to my best but I have been taking wickets and it’s wickets that the team needs,” said Edwards. However, Gary Mathurin of Windwards and Danny Briggs of the Lions also shared 19 of the 39 wickets which suggests that there may also be a little in it for the spinners. And that is bound to have Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh licking his lips, the “Turbanator” needing just two wickets to reach 400 in Test cricket. He would be the 11th player to pass the milestone and third Indian after Kapil Dev and Anil Kumble. India could drop opener Murali Vijay, just 22 runs in the series, and middleman Virat Kohli, who has only made 46, with Parthiv Patel and Subramaniam Badrinath coming into the side.

Ishant Sharma will be fit to lead the bowling attack in spite of sustaining a gash under his left eye after a training ground collision with new-ball partner Praveen Kumar.

The West Indies have dropped Ramnaresh Sarwan - just 49 runs from four innings - and have brought uncapped left-handed opener Kieran Powell into the squad. He may have to carry the drinks, though, if the selectors decide to bring in Kirk Edwards for his

Test debut. Meanwhile, Michael Holding has hit out at India for wielding “too much power” in world cricket. India are the sport’s financial powerhouse on account of cricket’s massive following in the world’s second most populous nation.

They also currently boast the 50-over world champions and the game’s top-ranked Test side. But there have long been concerns about the way the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) uses its influence in the sport’s corridors of power.

For example, last week the International Cricket Council announced the controversial Decision Review System would be made mandatory in all Tests and one-dayers.

However, it added that ball-tracking deviceswhich India objects to-would only be used to assist in lbw decisions with the agreement of both teams. “I have no sympathy with India,” said former West Indies fast bowler Holding. “They have too much power. “I do not believe any country should be able to dictate to the rest of the world,” Holding, now a television commentator, added. “In the Caribbean we have been fans of Brazilian football for many years.

Brazil has dominated many World Cups.

“But they could never go to FIFA and say ‘this is what we want’. They could never dictate the path of the sport,” Holding insisted.

“Only the organisation that runs the sport should dictate its path. “Individual boards are dictating certain things and that’s something I can’t agree with.”

Holding was speaking at the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture delivered by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara at Lord’s on Monday.

Squads: West Indies (from): Darren Sammy (capt), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh Jr, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), VVS Laxman, Subramaniam Badrinath, Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh, Virat Kohli, Praveen Kumar, Amit Mishra, Abhimanyu Mithun, Abhinav Mukund, Pragyan Ojha, Munaf Patel, Parthiv Patel, Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay Umpires: Asad Rauf (PAK), Richard Kettleborough (ENG) TV umpire: Joel Wilson (WIS) Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG) Reserve umpire: Norman Malcolm (WIS). —AFP

Evans wins Tour stage

BELGRADE: People celebrate and wave Serbian flags at a welcoming ceremony for Novak Djokovic in Belgrade. — AP

Thousands give Wimbledon king Djokovic hero’s welcome BELGRADE: Some 100,000 Serbian tennis fans gave Novak Djokovic a royal reception in central Belgrade on Monday after the 24year-old arrived home to celebrate winning his first Wimbledon title.

Djokovic, who leapt to the top of the ATP rankings in the process, was greeted by a deafening roar as he arrived in an opentop bus which took hours to reach the Serbian parliament square from the airport.

Traffic on the main motorway ground to a halt as fans got out of their cars to salute Serbia’s most popular athlete, whose entire family paraded alongside him on a giant stage where rock bands entertained the crowd.

“This is absolutely unbelievable and I owe all of you eternal gratitude for this reception,” an elated Djokovic said as he held aloft the trophy he won with an emphatic four-set win over Spaniard Rafa Nadal in Sunday’s final.

“The time has come to bare all my emotions to you and all I can say is that you are the best in the world because only Serbian fans can throw a party like this.

“You have made the happiest day of my life even better and I dedicate this trophy to you,” said Djokovic, who will lead Davis Cup holders Serbia in their quarter-final tie away to Sweden next weekend.

“We have a soul that is second to none and with the team event coming up, I can

promise you we will do everything in our power to win it all again,” he added.

Djokovic and his two younger brothers then joined rock, pop and folk bands on stage in singing local chartbusters, as fans lit flares and waved Serbian flags.

Some of them produced banners taunting Nadal, who relinquished the world number one spot to his fierce rival. “Are you watching this from Madrid, Rafa, and keep practising that backhand of yours,” said one of them. The frenzy culminated when Djokovic and his family engaged in a traditional Serbian folk dance as fireworks lit the skies above Belgrade on a warm evening.

“Young people are here in droves because they look up to this extraordinary young man and draw inspiration from his accomplishments,” said former Davis Cup coach Radmilo Armenulic.

“He is a role model and a true champion, finding the strength and willpower in his family and close friends, which is the best way to keep your life on the rails.

“As for his game, I am in no position to give him any advice because he is so superior on the court,” said Armenulic. Former handball international Igor Butulija added: “As a former top-level athlete I know how much more difficult it is to reach the top as an individual, hence Djokovic’s triumph must stand as the most remarkable achievement in Serbia’s history.” —Reuters

FRANCE: Two-time runner-up Cadel Evans of BMC held off a late charge from Alberto Contador to claim a prestigious victory on the fourth stage of the Tour de France yesterday.

Norwegian Thor Hushovd, tipped to lose the yellow jersey after a brutal two-kilometre finishing climb, held on to the race lead after the 172.5km ride from Lorient to Mur-de-Bretagne.

Reigning world champion Hushovd upset predictions to finish sixth on the stage and keep his 01sec lead on Evans intact ahead of Wednesday’s fifth stage to Cap Frehel.

“Everyone wants to take the jersey off me, but I’m going to hold on to it as long as possible,” said Hushovd, who took the race lead after his Garmin-Cervelo team won the 23km team timetrial on Sunday.

Belgian champion Philippe Gilbert, who won the opening stage on a similar finish at Mont des Alouettes, was expected for a repeat on his 29th birthday.

But on a finish designed for the ‘punchers’ who excel in the hilly one-day classics, he could only finish in fifth place as Evans continued his promising start to the race.

“Normally it’s a perfect finish for me, but I wasn’t having a great day,” said Gilbert, who earlier this season swept the hilly ‘Ardennes Classics’ - Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne and LiegeBastogne-Liege.

It is Evans’ first win on the race since he was handed victory from the 2007 13th stage time trial after Alexandre Vinokourov was disqualified for doping.

“It’s a big surprise, I still quite can’t believe it myself,” said Evans, who overcame extra stress on the way to the climb when he had to change bikes and get back into the peloton.

“With 15km to go I think someone crashed into my rear derailleur (gear mechanism) and I had to change bikes. ( Team-mate) Marcus Burghardt helped me out... he is my hero today.”

After the peloton had successfully chased down the last riders from an earlier five-man breakaway, the punchers’ teams moved to the front to begin setting the pace for the climb.

But once on the steep, early pitches of the Mur, the specialists took over. Reigning champi-

FRANCE: A helicopter of the French TV hovers over the pack with Thor Hushovd of Norway, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey (center) during the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race. — AP on Contador, who has had a disastrous start to the Tour, kept at the front in a bid to avoid losing any more time to his key rivals for the yellow jersey. Despite the Saxo Bank climber taking things in hand when he moved to the front of a rapidly dwindling group 1.3km from the finish, Evans and Gilbert never looked threatened by the Spaniard.

Inside the final few hundred metres Evans edged a bike length in front of the group as the climb petered out, with Contador on his wheel and Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov just behind.

As Evans drove for the finish line Contador made a bid to pass the Australian, who won by a few centimetres to claim his first win of this year’s race.

Despite being tipped as a possible stage winner, Evans admitted he had other priorities. “I

Woods withdraws from British Open

Li tries to maintain low profile in China BEIJING: Li Na is doing her best to keep a low profile in China, despite returning home to a hero’s welcome after securing the country’s first Grand Slam title at the French Open.

“Since I have returned, I have tried my best to not go out if I can help it and just stay at home,” Li told reporters on Tuesday. “Perhaps everyone’s recognition of me is greater and their expectations will be higher, but to me I don’t want to change the life I have been leading.”

Li was speaking at a celebration organized by the women’s tennis association in China. But other than that event, and a prize ceremony in her home province of Hubei, she has turned down all requests because she wants to rest.

The already popular 29-year-old became more of a star in China when she beat defending champion Francesca Schiavone in the French Open final last month. She was also the runner-up at the Australian Open this year, but lost in the second round of Wimbledon to Sabine Lisicki of Germany.

Yesterday, dozens of fans milled around a stage set up in an open-air plaza in a downtown Beijing shopping mall, decorated with banners proclaiming “Congratulations, Sister Na!” “I think Li Na is awesome! As a fellow Chinese citizen, I feel so proud of what she’s achieved,” said 12-year-old elementary school student Dong Meng, who waved a Chinese flag and a flag with a picture of Li on it. Dong said she played tennis in school and Li’s victory was an inspiration to her.

“I hope that she will keep working hard and winning. I want to play great tennis like her too,” she said. On Monday, Li was presented an award and a cash prize of 600,000 yuan ($94,000) by Hubei for her win in Paris, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

“Li Na has earned China and Hubei province great honor by winning the French Open women’s singles title, so the provincial government decided to name her the Hubei Pioneer of Breakthrough,” the government said in a statement, according to Xinhua.

Li’s win over Schiavone was watched by 116 million people at home, making it the most-watched sporting event in China this year and the most-watched tennis match ever in the country.

Li is already one of the biggest sports stars in China, on a level with basketball player Yao Ming, and the WTA hopes her success could have a wide-reaching impact on the game globally.

Her success wasn’t a bolt from the blue. China invested heavily in tennis, like other sports, before it hosted the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and it was rewarded with a bronze medal in the women’s doubles for Zheng Jie and Yan Zi. Li’s career had blossomed since she pulled out of China’s government-run sports training system in 2008.

That will likely raise questions about the costly system, which has produced Olympic champions in gymnastics and track and field _ along with other racket sports such as badminton and table tennis _ but has a poor record in more commercial sports such as tennis and golf. —AP

didn’t know if I was going to have anything left to give in the final after nearly 180km with crosswinds and headwinds,” added the Australian, who took over the ‘King of the Mountains’ polka dot jersey from Gilbert.

“The first goal today was to avoid problems, and then go for the stage if possible. For me personally, the objectives are always the same-our plans in the GC (general classification).”

Fellow yellow jersey contenders Bradley Wiggins finished 6sec in arrears with Ivan Basso and Schleck trailing home 8 off the pace.

Contador, however, is still 1:30 behind Schleck and 1:41 behind Evans. “Eight seconds isn’t a lot compared to what I’ve already lost... but it’s good,” said Contador.

“I will continue to do my best but for me Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans are now more the favourites than me.” — AFP

NEWTOWN SQUARE: Tiger Woods walks at the AT&T National golf tournament at the Aronimink Golf Club in this Tuesday, June 28, 2011 file photo. — AP

ORLANDO: Injured 14-time major champion Tiger Woods announced yesterday that he was pulling out of next week’s British Open, casting further doubt on whether he will ever recover his form of old.

“Unfortunately, I’ve been advised that I should not play in the British Open,” Woods said in a statement. “I am only going to come back when I’m 100 percent ready. I do not want to risk further injury. That’s different for me, but I’m being smarter this time.

I’m very disappointed and want to express my regrets to the British Open fans.”

Woods sprained a ligament in his left knee and strained his Achilles tendon in the third round of the US Masters in April. He then aggravated the injuries in May when he started the Players Championship but withdrew after nine holes.

Woods, a three-time British Open champion, contacted Royal and Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson to explain personally why he will not compete July 14-17 at Royal St George’s. “I know how disappointed Tiger is not to be able to play in the Open this year,” Dawson said.

“Naturally, we are sorry that a player of his caliber isn’t able to join us at Royal St George’s, but we wish him well in his recovery and hope to see him back soon, competing in front of the fans that love to see him play the game.”

Woods, who has undergone four knee operations, has not won since November 2009, just before the eruption of a massive sex scandal that ended his marriage and his iconic image. After resuming his career in the wake of the scandal, Woods began working on changes to his swing, only to be struck time and again by injuries. “In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have competed at The Players, but it’s a big event, and I wanted to be there to support the tour,” Woods said. “I’ve got to learn

from what I did there and do it right this time and not come back until I’m ready.”

That means Woods will miss his second major championship in a row, having also been unable to compete in last month’s US Open, which was won by Northern Ireland’s 22-year-old sensation Rory McIlroy.

Woods, 35, said last week that he thinks he will be able to break the alltime record of 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus despite nagging left knee injuries, noting, “I’m 35 not 65.”

“I think my best years are still ahead of me, and I’m very confident and optimistic about the future,” Woods said yesterday.

Woods has played with pain before, notably in his most recent major victory, the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines when he limped to a playoff triumph over US compatriot Rocco Mediate.

Since then, Woods has gone without a major title and where he was once well ahead of Nicklaus’ pace, he will end the year level with it unless he should recover, play and win next month’s PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club.

Woods, who holds the record for the most consecutive weeks atop the world golf rankings, said last week he had not hit balls except with a putter since his failed effort at the Players.

In addition to his body betraying him after years of long drives, Woods was also undone by the revelation of his secret sex life, which led to a divorce from wife Elin Nordegren and the loss of several major sponsor endorsements.

Woods, whose last victory came at the 2009 Australian Masters, has plunged to 17th in the rankings, seventh among Americans, but he remains a top draw for golf fans.

American Jason Dufner will replace Woods in the British Open, an event that Woods won in 2000, 2005 and 2006. —AFP

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

Kearns’ homer lifts Indians

16

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Sweden gunning to down Stars and Stripes

18

British MPs accuse FIFA and Blatter of cover-up Page 18

GERMANY: England’s Ellen White (right) kicks the ball past Japan’s Aya Sameshima, during the Group B match between England and Japan at the Women’s Soccer World Cup. —AP

England blank Japan in Women’s World Cup AUGSBURG: England turned the threat of first-round elimination into Group B victory with a 2-0 win over Japan to reach the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals yesterday.

After a lackluster first two games, England was spectacular in its decisive game. After 15 minutes, Sophie Bradley sent a deep ball from her half toward Ellen White, who forward spotted goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori off her line.

She let the ball bounce once and lobbed it over Kaihori with exquisite precision from 21 meters out. In the 66th, England came up with a second good goal, when Rachel Unitt shrugged off several Japanese defenders to set up substitute forward Rachel Yankey for a delicate chip and the insurance goal.

Japan was supposed to be all about skill while England relied on power and push, but with an inspired performance and great goals, the Europeans disproved it. With the tournament on the line, England was aggressive and played with passion throughout,

while Japan rarely thrilled the crowd of 20,777. Victory gave England seven points, one more than Japan.

Mexico and New Zealand were eliminated. After the game, the players united behind a Japanese banner saying “To our friends around the world — Thank you for your support,” recognizing the global support in the wake of the deadly Japanese earthquake and tsunami in March.

England had everything to play for. A big loss could eliminate it from the tournament while a win over Japan would give it the right to avoid the top team of Group A in the quarters.

The early goal settled nerves, and from then on England always looked more like group winners than first-round losers.

Japan started with the same lineup that set it up as a tournament favorite, while England made changes in four places to rev up its campaign.

In balmy late afternoon temperatures of

22 degrees C (72 F), Japan found it tough to get its rhythm going. After her first goal, While almost scored one of equal brilliance in the 38th when she had to go back for a cross, yet swung in an overhead volley which Kaihori barely tipped onto the bar and over.

Japan sought a way back into the game in the second half and Yuki Nagasato slid in behind defenders on a 49th-minute free kick, but her deflection went just wide.

Meanwhile, last-gasp goals from Hannah Wilkinson and captain Rebecca Smith earned New Zealand a 2-2 draw with Mexico at the Women’s World Cup yesterday.

Wilkinson scored in the fourth minute of injury time, after Smith pulled one back in the 90th, to deny Mexico its first ever win at the World Cup. Stephany Mayor gave Mexico the perfect start when she scored in the second minute, and Maribel Dominguez made it 2-0 in the 29th.

New Zealand — already out of con-

Uruguay rallies for 1-1 draw with Peru

Chile defeat Mexico SAN JUAN: Esteban Paredes and Arturo Vidal scored second-half goals as Chile rallied to beat Mexico 2-1 on Monday in a Group C match in the Copa America.

Paredes, who went on as a second-half substitute, chipped in after a corner in the 67th, and Vidal soared high and angled in a header in the 73rd — again from a corner. Fielding a youth team, Mexico took an unlikely lead in the 41st via Nestor Araujo’s header after Chile had dominated possession.

Chile was just as dominant in the second half — probably the best team so far in the tournament — but this time converted after key forwards Humbeto Suazo and Alexis Sanchez were thwarted in the first half.

Suazo had a chance early in the half before Chile finally broke through, hitting Luis Ernesto Michel in the face with a close-range shot which the Mexico keeper somehow smothered in the 53rd minute.

Despite Chile’s dominance, Mexico had two chances to equalize in the final seconds with Chile keeper Claudio Bravo coming up with a key save on Edgar Pacheco. It was an important victory for new Chile coach Claudio Borghi, who took over when Marcelo Bielsa resigned after leading Chile to its best World Cup performance since 1962.

Because it plays in the CONCACAF region, Mexico is playing in the South America championship as a guest and with a young team. Stars like Javier Hernandez, who led Mexico to the Gold Cup title last month against the United States, were not selected. —AP

tention — made a sloppy start at RheinNeckar-Arena, losing the ball in midfield, and Dominguez needed no further invitation to slip a perfect pass for Mayor to give Mexico the perfect start. Dominguez, the Mexico captain, ran on to a pass from Veronica Perez before curling a wonderful strike past the helpless Jenny Bindon in goal for Mexico’s second. New Zealand looked short of ideas going forward and rarely troubled the Mexican defense.

New Zealand’s Ali Riley earned a corner with a long-range effort in the 41st, before Anna Green’s 30-meter (yard) free kick was easily stopped by goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago.

Spurred by pride, New Zealand improved in the second half and deservedly pulled one back when Smith scored from a corner. It looked like being no more than a late consolation until Riley crossed for Wilkinson’s dramatic equalizer.—AP

SAN JUAN: Uruguay’s Maximiliano Pereira kicks the ball during a Copa America Group C soccer match against Peru. —AP

SAN JUAN: Luis Suarez scored a first-half stoppage time equalizer as Uruguay rallied for a 1-1 draw against Peru on Monday in the opening match in Group C at the Copa America.

Paolo Guerrero gave Peru a 1-0 lead in the 24th, a surprising start for a team playing without its top two forwards, both out injured.

Uruguay is the pick of some pundits to win the Copa America, ahead of Brazil and Argentina. Uruguay reached the World Cup semifinals a year ago and is fielding much the same team in the South American championship.

Peru stunned Uruguay, opening the scoring when lone striker Guerrero received a long, well-placed pass between two defenders from Michael Guevara in midfield, moved in alone and then stepped around Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera before slotting home the goal.

Peru had to rely heavily on counterattack after starting without leading forwards Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizarro. The team’s top midfielder, Juan Vargas, also has nagging injuries, but came on in the second half.

But the goal seemed to wake up Uruguay, with Diego Forlan forcing Peru keeper Fernandez Valverde into two diving saves before Suarez leveled the score with a shot at full stretch from six yards.

Both teams had chances in the second half. Forlan was in good position, alone in the 76th when he fired over the crossbar. Guerrero headed the ball just wide of the near post in the final minute. —AP

To play like Barca is Argentina’s question BUENOS AIRES: To aspire to play like Barcelona, or not.

That, in a Lionel Messi-sized nutshell, is the question facing Argentina as they plot Colombia’s downfall at the Copa America today.

Messi is the great conundrum for a host nation chasing a first major honour since the 1993 Copa, won in Ecuador.

The Albiceleste, stung by criticism of their opening 1-1 draw with Bolivia, have won a joint-record 14 titles along with Uruguay.

Home advantage, which had brought six Copas and also helped to propel Argentina to their maiden World Cup in 1978, should be like a 12th man.

The trouble is, where does their 10th man fit into the equation? There are certain levels of footballing sacrilege in Argentina and slinging mud at ‘El diez,’ the number ten, ought to be well up the list.

A shirt worn by Diego Maradona is a sizeable garment to fill, and Brazilian successors to Pele will empathise entirely.

The unassuming Messi may not have the tousled curls of his predecessor, but he can point to his successes with Barcelona and his world player of the year status.

Yet the question is asked ever louder: Why can’t Argentina win with the game’s number one talent on board? Sometimes, he is a victim of circumstances.

Five years ago, coach Jose Pekerman left him on the bench as Argentina exited the World Cup to Germany, when one moment of brilliance would have sufficed.

But then, in the 2007 Copa final, he was marked out of the game as Brazil cantered to a 3-0 victory in Venezuela.

And at last year’s World Cup he was powerless to prevent a quarter-final thrashing by Germany.

This time, fans wonder if his presence is a potential solution-or part of the problem. Opinions are divided. “I don’t think the national team should play for Messi,” midfield hope Javier Pastore told Ole in an interview published yesterday.

“We have to make use of the speed of others. It’s not all about Messi. Yes, he is a plus for us as he is the best in the world-but we have to function well as a unit.”

Striker Sergio Aguero, who rescued a point with a fine volley against Bolivia, also has a view. “People expect Leo to win matches on his own but there are 11 of us on the pitch,” says Aguero.

Aguero suggests Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Julio Grondona had a point when he said after the first game that “Messi always plays well, never badlywhich is what the others around him were doing.”

“As the ball did not get through to Messi, he had to drop back to pick it up,” Grondona complained. Aguero conceded that Messi “played well in the first game but he didn’t succeed as we didn’t turn in a good showing in general”.

Dropping Messi would be a radical step, yet coach Sergio Batista has to weigh up whether he and Carlos Tevez are the attacking dream ticket.

The latter is a fan favorite and wears his heart on his sleeve, whereas the modest-to-a-fault Messi is regarded by some as barely Argentinian after moving to Catalonia as a young teenager. To drop Tevez would be as sacriligious in the eyes of many fans as to leave out Messi. —AFP

y

A

Business e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Bangladeshi remittances hit $11.65 billion Page 23

Supreme court hears eurozone rescue suits Page 25

Furor over Nigeria’s bid to introduce Islamic banking Page 26

Israel’s easing of blockade boasting Gaza’s economy Page 23

Greece receives debt warning World stock markets stall, dollar rises

NEW DELHI: Laborers work on the Yamuna expressway near Nangla Bhatana village in Greater Noida, some 80 kms east of New Delhi yesterday. The proposed 165-kilometre long Yamuna Expressway connecting Agra, Noida and New Delhi is likely to be opened this year, two years ahead of schedule. — AFP BANGKOK: World stocks stalled yesterday after comments on Greece by Standard & Poor’s underlined that the debt laden country may be unable to avoid defaulting. Oil prices hovered below $95 a barrel while the dollar rose against the yen and the euro. In early European trading, Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.1 percent to 6,023.49 and Germany’s DAX was 0.2 percent higher at 7,455.62. France’s CAC40 dropped 0.3 percent to 3,991.81. Wall Street appeared poised for a mixed opening after a three-day holiday weekend. Dow Jones industrial futures rose 0.1 percent to 12,531 and S&P 500 futures slipped less than 0.1 percent to 1,334.10.

Earlier in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose narrowly to 9,972.46, a two-month closing high. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.8 percent to 2,161.75. Samsung Electronics Co, the top

global manufacturer of flat screen televisions, memory chips and liquid crystal displays, rose 2.4 percent. Hynix Semiconductor Inc, one of the world’s leading memory chip makers, jumped 3.9 percent. With Wall Street closed Monday for a holiday, markets were focused on Greece.

Sentiment last week was buoyed after the country’s lawmakers backed austerity measures required from international creditors in return for emergency cash, which diminished fears of a broader European crisis. That changed Monday, however, when credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s warned that a proposal by French banks to help Greece with its financial crisis would likely amount to a debt default. Some analysts said they believed that a Greek default was inevitable, no matter what aid was provided, and that

Dubai flooded with 18,000 new homes Oversupply woes push prices down DUBAI: Dubai’s real estate market will see another 18,000 homes by the end of the year, adding to the emirate’s oversupply woes and pushing prices further down, a report from property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle said. Some 2,000 homes were completed in Dubai in the second quarter and another 18,000 will be ready for occupancy by the fourth quarter, it said in a report, adding that total current residential stock will rise to around 322,000 homes.

Office supply in Dubai is expected to grow by more than 30 percent over the next 3 years, it said.

With liquidity slowly flowing back into the construction industry a few developers, including Nakheel, have recommenced work on projects, thereby raising fears of adding

further supply to the market.

“The residential sector is approaching the cycle trough and select pockets of stability are emerging, but, on average, sale prices and rents will continue to decline,” Jesse Downs, head of management consulting at Jones Lang LaSalle said. Rents for apartments fell 3 percent in the second quarter year-on-year and average sale prices decreased by 1 percent, the report said. Rents in more established areas like the Burj Khalifa Downtown and Palm Jumierah have stabilized, while prices in other less popular areas continue its decline. Dubai house prices, already nearly 60 percent off their peak, are set to drop another 10 percent before stabilizing, Reuters poll showed. — Reuters

Dubai investors sue StanChart SINGAPORE: Two groups of Dubai-based investors are suing Standard Chartered for around $10 million in Singapore, saying they lost money after investing in a feeder fund linked to Bernard Madoff that had been recommended by American Express Bank (AEB), which StanChart acquired in 2008. The investors, who had accounts with AEB in Singapore, invested a large portion of their funds in Fairfield Sentry, which in turn parked up to 95 percent of its money with Madoff.

Madoff is now serving a 150-year jail sentence for defrauding investors through a Ponzi scheme.

AEB “failed to act with reasonable care and skill in matters relating to the plaintiff’s investments,” the Dubai investors alleged in writs filed with the Singapore High Court.

StanChart has denied liability, saying in its defense the plaintiffs were experienced investors who had signed client agreements stating the bank had no duty or obligation to monitor their transactions and assets. Even if the bank were to give any advice or make any recommendation, “the bank would not be liable for the accuracy or completeness of such advice or recommendation,” StanChart said in response to the writs. —Reuters

such a default had already been factored into markets. “The S&P is doing the right thing because Greece is really not able to pay its debts. That is why they should be in default, even though there are rescue packages,” said Jackson Wong, vice president at Tanrich Securities in Hong Kong. “We already know this fact, so it was a little bump in the situation.”

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.1 percent to 22,747.95, with banking shares sliding after Moody’s Investor Service said Beijing’s estimate of local government debt was likely too low - raising concerns that Chinese banks could be hurt if borrowers cannot repay loans.

Shares of Hong Kong-listed Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the world’s biggest bank by market value, dropped 0.5 percent. China Construction Bank Ltd, the

country’s third-biggest commercial lender, lost 1.2 percent. While a majority of loans to local Chinese governments are assumed to be of good quality, “we conclude that the banks’ exposure to local government borrowers is greater than we anticipated,” a Moody report quoted vice president Yvonne Zhang as saying. The agency views the outlook for the Chinese banking system “as potentially turning to negative.” Benchmarks in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Indonesia were also lower. But the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.1 percent to 2,816.36 and the Shenzhen Composite Index added 0.6 percent to 1,195.83. Shares in chemicals were buoyed by speculation that half-year results will be better than earlier forecast. China Vanke, the industry leader in real estate, gained 1.5 percent after reports said its sales in January-

June exceeded the total for all of 2009.

Yongtai Technology hit the daily 10 percent limit.

Attention will turn to US jobs data Friday.

After a string of mostly poor economic indicators in recent weeks, investors will be looking for indications that the US recovery is getting back on track. On Thursday, the European Central Bank is expected to raise its main interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point for the second time since April.

Benchmark oil for August delivery was down 25 cents at $94.70 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Crude last settled down 48 cents at $94.94 on Friday. In currencies, the euro dropped to $1.4487 from $1.4511 late Thursday in New York. The dollar strengthened to 81.10 yen from 80.84 yen. — AP

UAE pledges $3 billion in assistance to Egypt ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates has pledged $3 billion in financial assistance to Egypt during a visit to the oil-rich Gulf state by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, state media said. UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahayan “has issued directives to allocate an aid package of $3 billion for Egypt,” the official WAM news agency reported late on Monday. The UAE will establish a $1.5 billion fund in Egypt for small and medium-sized enterprises, to be named after the Emirati ruler, “with the objective of providing business and job opportunities to a broad range of Egyptian youth,” WAM said.

“Sheikh Khalifa also directed allocation of $750 million as a grant to develop housing and infrastructure projects for the schemes to be created under the fund,” the news agency added. “Another $750 million will be set aside as concessionary loans for different projects in Egypt,” it added. The Egyptian economy, which depends in large part on tourism, has seen a dramatic drop in tourist arrivals and near zero economic growth since the revolt that ousted former president Hosni Mubarak in February.

The interim government estimates it needs between 10 and 12 billion dollars in international funding to keep it going until mid-2012. But last month the government announced that it would not draw on a $3 billion loan facility it had secured with the International Monetary Fund, nor would it take up a World Bank offer of assistance, preferring instead to turn to Arab states. Saudi Arabia has

DUBAI: Dubai’s ruler and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed AlMaktoum, meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf (left) in Dubai. — AFP

pledged $4 billion in assistance in the form of long-term loans and grants, while Qatar has pledged to invest $10 billion, according to Egyptian authorities.

Cairo’s decision to decline international financing reflects a desire to preserve Egypt’s economic independence and its preference for Arab capital, as well as the transitional authority’s reluctance to make long-term decisions on debt. The IMF’s deputy director for the Middle East, Ratna

Sahay, said on June 30 that the crisis lender remained ready to support Egypt and rejected accusations that the facility originally proposed had politically tough secret conditions to force privatizations and end subsidies. “It would have supported plans to increase investment in the education, health, and low-income housing, which would in turn have helped the Egyptian economy to recover faster,” she said. — AFP

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

business

GIC’s Gulf Bond Fund shows consistent performance of 3.29% KUWAIT: Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) yesterday announced the half yearly returns for its Gulf Bond Fund, the GCC’s oldest and largest fixed income fund. The Gulf Bond Fund achieved a Year-to-date (YTD) return of 3.29 %, showing consistent performance when compared to the same period of 2010 despite market instability in the first half of this year. When asked to comment on the Gulf Bond Fund, Khalifa Al-Rashid, Vice President - GCC Fixed Income Desk and Fund Manager said “the Fund’s noticeable performance since it was launched 6 years ago is a reflection of GIC’s industry expertise built up over the last 26 years”.

Al-Rashid also mentioned that GIC’s primary objective is to ensure that the Gulf Bond Fund provides investors with consistently competitive performance.

The Fund, which was launched in 2005, aims to generate a return in excess of short-term bank deposits. It also seeks maximum current income and price appreciation, consistent with the preservation of capital and low return volatility.

The high quality of the portfolio, where 84% of underlying assets are rated A- and

84% of underlying assets rated A- and above above, according to International Rating Agencies, and the management’s prudent selection criteria, which involves selecting highly rated and highly liquid regional

Khalifa Al-Rashid

securities, weekly redemptions and consistent returns with a low risk profile, attracts clients seeking a conservative investment approach to the Fund.

As a result, even in the current market scenario, the Fund was able to achieve positive performance for the second quarter in a row and continues to attract new subscriptions from a range of clients such as insurance companies, banks, high net worth individuals and pension funds, and has grown to reach approximately USD 150 million. This places GIC ahead of all specialized institutions in managing investment products in the bond sector.

Tarek Al-Rohayem, Head of GCC Research at GIC said “The Fund’s solid performance has been backed up by the concerted effort of one of the largest buy-side research desks in the region, dedicated to analyzing market trends and directions and uncovering investment opportunities. This is done through a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches to investment research with a special focus on the Debt

‘Career Advancement in MENA’ DUBAI: About 35.1% of respondents across the Middle East and North Africa said working for a good company is a fundamental factor in getting ahead in their career, according to the latest online poll series ‘Career Advancement in the MENA’, conducted by the Middle East’s number one job site Bayt.com.

However, 35.9% voted the lack of clearly defined career paths in organizations as the biggest impediment that MENA professionals face en route to career advancement.

22.5% of professionals felt having a good attitude is what is most required in order to succeed in one’s career, 16.5% claimed having advanced technical skills as important, 12.3% of respondents said energy and enthusiasm, while only 9.5% felt a good education is essential to achieve success in their career. Along the same lines when partakers were asked what they attributed their own success to, 12.9% said a good attitude; 7.2% attributed it to having advanced technical skills, 7.6% stated a good education; while 8.4% credited energy and enthusiasm as a reason for their prosperous careers. Almost half of the respondents surveyed (43.2%) specified all of the above as factors that helped them lead their careers on the path to success.

“In order for us to provide a better platform for numerous professionals longing for a different and improved professional career, we bring forward remarkable analytical surveying skills to obtain the substantial results. Being the number one job site in the Middle East, Bayt.com is dedicated to researching and analysing data that is recognised as being beneficial to top employers as well as employees,” said Amer Zureikat, VP Sales, Bayt.com.

The poll went on to ask the respondents ‘what they personally need to get ahead in their own career’, to which a majority (35.1%) quantified that working for a better company was vital for them, followed by 16.4% who felt that better work-life balance was essential and

the half yearly results saying: “Despite widespread market instability in the region in the first quarter of the year, we have managed to grow positively and protect our products against any significant downside impact. We stand first in the region in introducing a dedicated credit research desk and manage high profile portfolios across the region. GIC has a proven track record of delivering consistent performance across the region. This reflects the team’s longstanding expertise in the regional markets and application of rigorous risk management methodologies and practices. GIC is also a benchmark for many international investors looking to enter the GCC market and is often used as a reference because of its insights and expertise.

Established in 1983, GIC is a regional financial institution owned equally by the six GCC states. It strives to provide a comprehensive range of financial services that support the development of private enterprise and economic growth in the region. GIC managed to achieve a number of major projects throughout GCC countries with diversified activities covering different sectors via financial, petrochemical, steel, power, communications amongst others.

11.9% of respondents who felt that better work-teams would allow them to get ahead in their career. According to 9.6% of respondents, better communication and social skills were what they considered most vital for their career growth, 8.8% indicated a better education, 8.1% of respondents said better technical skills and 7.3% indicated working for a better boss was most essential.

Poll participants also disclosed some insightful information when they revealed that some of the biggest impediments in career development faced by professionals in the MENA are the lack of adequate professional training for their

30.5% of the region’s respondents claim the willingness to learn is the most imperative quality required to succeed in one’s career roles (12.4%), expectations of instant success (6.9%), changing jobs and companies too soon (6.2%), and the absence of the right attitude (3%). 26.6% of the respondents stated all of the above as the biggest impediments faced in career advancement. Thereafter, when poll takers were asked to what extent they felt personally responsible for reaching the career level they want, a majority (60.9%) said that they were fully accountable hard work and good decisions pay off; 28.2% claimed they were partially responsible - company and boss and other team members also played a part; and 7.1% stated that they felt slightly responsible - external forces being influential in determining their career success.

According to the survey participants, 25.7% specified that achieving financial independence for their family was highly important when asked what they mostly

wanted from their career. 21.2% claimed that being renowned and respected as a true expert in their field was important for them; 14% felt that making a huge amount of money was considered imperative; and 12.3% stated that for them enjoyment and satisfaction on a daily basis was the key factor.

Respondents were also asked if they thought reading relevant literature regularly was important for their career advancement and a good 69.6% stated that it was extremely important with 77.8% revealing they read their industry related literature on a regular basis; 78.3% of respondents felt that regular networking is extremely vital for enhancing career growth.

Furthermore, when partakers were asked what they regarded as the biggest mistake they can make when climbing the career ladder, 28.6% said not improving and updating existing skills, 16.9% stated not learning new skills regularly was an issue, 17.1% said not being nice to others and 10.2% stated not networking regularly as a mistake when it came to career advancement.

“The results of our most recent poll also allowed new insights into what people felt about their lives given their chosen career path. We found out that 44.2% of participants clearly felt that it’s never too late to acquire success in their career, while 31% stated the opposite and 24.8% remained non-committal and said it depended on the situation. These results we have derived from the ‘Career Advancement in the MENA’ poll will benefit the MENA professional community and MENA employers in all industries as they gauge the requirements of the regional talent pool.” Data for the ‘Career Advancement in the MENA’ poll series was collected online between May 9 and June 13, 2011, with a total of 12,270 respondents from across the MENA region. This and other Middle East research, as well as information on Bayt.com’s classifieds, are available online on www.bayt.com.

Capital Markets of the region which we believe would become one of the most promising in terms of risk-return profile”. AlRohayem also highlighted the significance of

Tarek Al-Rohayem

Abu Dhabi to take over ENOC petrol stations UAE plans to cancel some ENOC, EPPCO licenses DUBAI: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is set to take over the operations of Dubai-owned petrol stations in the northern emirates, which have been facing a fuel shortage for over a month, a newspaper reported yesterday. Gulf News, citing sources in the oil sector, said the United Arab Emirates’ government plans to cancel licenses of Dubai’s Emirates National Oil Co (ENOC) and its arm Emirates Petroleum Products Co (EPPCO) and allow ADNOC to take over the stations.

The fuel shortage in the OPEC member, also the world’s third-largest crude oil exporter, hit the northern emirate of Sharjah hard. ENOC and EPPCO petrol stations ran dry for weeks before being shut down by Sharjah’s government two weeks ago. The shortage, the third in the last ten months, came after ENOC and EPPCO, both operating at a loss due to federal fuel subsidies, refused to supply to Sharjah, industry sources and analysts have

said. An ENOC spokesman said the firm was planning to make a statement shortly. He did not confirm the newspaper report.

ADNOC officials were not immediately available to comment. The daily said EPPCO and ENOC were pressing the government to allow an increase in fuel prices and had told authorities the cap was leading to massive losses amid rising global oil prices. Gasoline is heavily subsidized in the UAE. Prices have been raised by 26 percent since April 2010 as part of a plan to phase out subsidies but that plan, analysts say, is on hold given popular unrest sweeping the Arab world.

The UAE has so far avoided the protests seen in many Arab states this year. It has taken a series of measures to calm potential social tensions, including a $1.6 billion plan to improve infrastructure in five northern emirates, which have benefited less from the country’s oil wealth. — Reuters

Agility wins major contract

Western Union to buy Travelex unit

LONDON: Agility, a leading global logistics provider, has been awarded the contract to manage the international freight and on-site handling services for Gastech 2012, which will be held at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London from October 8-11, 2012. Now in its 39th year, Gastech is the global meeting place for the energy industry and brings together thousands of commercial and technical industry professionals for networking, new business opportunities and the latest innovations, technologies and developments across the gas value chain. The exhibition showcases more than 400 international exhibitors and is supported by 21 leading governing bodies throughout the industry. As part of the contract awarded, Agility Fairs & Events will be the sole official freight contractor and will be responsible for assisting exhibitors and their contractors with logistical and shipping requirements of exhibits to and from the show.

NEW YORK: Western Union says it has agreed to acquire Travelex Global Business Payments for about $973.8 million in cash, in a deal that will allow it to expand rapidly in the business of international payment processing. The Travelex division provides international payments services to business clients, mostly small and mediumsized companies and distribution partners. The deal announced yesterday is valued at 606 million pounds. It is expected to boost Western Union’s earnings by 2 cents per share this year and 4 cents per share in 2012. The companies expect the deal will close later this year. The Western Union Co is based in Englewood, Colorado. Travelex is based in London and is a unit of Travelex Holdings Ltd. Western Union shares slipped 19 cents to $20.05 in premarket trading. — AP

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 .4360000 .3930000 .3190000 .2820000 .2890000 .0040000 .0020000 .0741850 .7227610 .3810000 .0700000 .7085350 .0040000 .0430000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2732500 .4383480 .3955430 .3218300 .28402580 .0530260 .0436060 .2916940 .0351140 .2225530 .0033700 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0744250 .7250900 .0000000 .0728860 .7100170 .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 3.408 6.164 3.192 2.504 3.870 224.170 35.302

.2760000 .4460000 .4030000 .3330000 .2910000 .3020000 .0072500 .0035000 .0749300 .7300250 .4010000 .0770000 .7156550 .0072000 .0530000 .2753500 .4417160 .3985830 .3243040 .2862410 .0534340 .0439410 .2939360 .0353840 .2242630 .0033960 .0062090 .0025190 .0032110 .0037210 .0749970 .7306620 .3894630 .0734460 .7154740 .0064110

Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.680 6.369 9.001 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES 73.269 75.495 713.650 729.770 74.816

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 48.350 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.070 Yemen Riyal 1.258 Tunisian Dinar 202.390 Jordanian Dinar 388.010 Lebanese Lira 183.100 Syrian Lier 5.932 Morocco Dirham 35.762 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 274.650 Euro 399.790 Sterling Pound 441.090 Canadian dollar 286.690 Turkish lire 169.750 Swiss Franc 325.110 Australian dollar 292.970 US Dollar Buying 272.450

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

SELL CASH 298.800 730.060 3.920 289.200 539.200 36.500 54.600 167.800 48.140 402.200 35.960 6.340

SELL DRAFT 297.300 730.060 3.680 287.700

225.700 46.140 400.700 35.810 6.170

0.033 0.239 0.240 3.500 389.730 0.186 93.930 47.300 4.310 231.400 1.861 52.600 713.020 3.300 6.540 75.940 73.290 225.680 43.510 2.640 445.000 45.000 32.300 5.500 9.400 198.263 74.800 274.900 1.200

0.033

387.980 0.185 93.930 3.870 229.900

325.800 5.500 9.210 74.740 274.500

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 443.000 274.500

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

Selling Rate 275.050 287.490 444.215 401.375 331.306 728.544 74.862 75.499 73.310 387.165 46.124 2.508 6.157

Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

3.208 3.693 6.339 674.672 3.519 9.058 5.783 3.924 91.361

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. 712.840 3.200 6.375 75.510 73.290 225.680 43.510 2.504 443.000

GOLD 1,543.930

10 Tola

GOLD 275.000 139.000 72.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

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

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) 274.400 3.205 6.175 2.515 3.690 6.410 74.810 74.810 729.500 46.075 446.600 0.00003280 3.910 1.550 389.900 5.750 402.800 292.200

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) US Dollar 274.050 Euro 400.500 Pound Sterling 442.800 Canadian Dollar 287.500 Japanese Yen 3.415 Indian Rupee 6.170 Egyptian Pound 46.090 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.502 Bangladesh Taka 3.663 Philippines Peso 6.360 Pakistan Rupee 3.193 Bahraini Dinar 730.000 UAE Dirham 74.650 Saudi Riyal 73.200 *Rates are subject to change

y

A

23

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

BUSINESS

Bangladeshi workers’ remittances hit $11.65 billion DHAKA: Bangladeshi migrant laborers sent home a record $11.65 billion last year, the central bank said yesterday, defying expectations that unrest in the Arab world would cause a downturn in payments.

Remittances from the country’s seven million-plus migrants are Bangladesh’s second-highest foreign

exchange earner after exports and are seen as a big help in alleviating poverty in the impoverished South Asian nation.

The figure, which made up more than 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, represented a six percent rise from the previous financial year, Bangladesh Bank spokesman

A F M Asaduzzaman said. “It is the highest remittance figure in the country’s history,” he said. He added that concerns that cash flows would be hit by turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa-where 70 percent of Bangladesh’s migrant workers are based-had proved unfounded.

Earlier this year, more than 35,000

Bangladeshi workers were flown home after violent unrest erupted in Libya. Up to 30,000 more are thought to remain there.

Last month, the government released data showing that poverty rates had declined significantly between 2005 and 2010, with remittances playing a key role. According to

government figures, seven million Bangladeshis work overseas, although unofficial estimates put the figure at around nine million. Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world with a population of 150 million, counts on the inflow of foreign exchange from migrant workers to fund its imports.—AFP

China local government debt understated by $540 billion Banks credit outlook may turn negative, Moody’s warns BEIJING: China’s local government debt may be 3.5 trillion yuan ($540 billion) larger than auditors estimated, potentially putting banks on the hook for deeper losses that could threaten their credit ratings, Moody’s said yesterday. China’s mountain of local government debt has long been seen as a major risk by investors. The worry is that slower growth in the world’s second-biggest economy could set off a wave of loan defaults and hobble its banking system. “Banks’ exposure to local government borrowers is greater than we anticipated,” Yvonne Zhang, a Moody’s analyst, said in a statement.

LAHORE: Farmers plant rice in a paddy field in the outskirts of Lahore.

Around 68 percent of Pakistan’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, with the agricultural sector contributing nearly a fourth of the country’s GDP. —AFP

Pakistan’s energy crisis leaves textiles in tatters FAISALABAD: Spinning yarn into cloth used to be a path to fortune in Pakistan, but a story of decline encapsulates how far a crippling energy crisis and rocketing inflation are suffocating the economy.

Power cuts sometimes lasting more than 12 hours a day have forced factory owners in the country’s cloth capital Faisalabad to switch off the lights and sell their looms for scrap, leaving tens of thousands of workers jobless. The country is the world’s fourthlargest producer of cloth and the industry accounts for 60 percent of export revenue according to official data. But the shortages are heaping pressure on Pakistan’s crippled and debt-ridden economy.

Malik Ammanullah Mani, 31, used to be a leading light on the party circuit. As manager of his family’s textile factory, he belonged to a small, rich cabal that regularly graced private members’ clubs and dined at five-star hotels. But in the three years since Pakistan returned to elected rule, the energy crisis has steadily worsened amid poor investment and rampant theft from the grid, causing daily cuts and a sharp rise in the cost of power. Inflation has also hit the price of thread-leaving Mani no option but to sell most of his family’s weaving looms.

“Electricity and yarn prices have become unaffordable, for most of the time there is no power to run our looms, so we had to sell half of them to a scrap dealer,” Mani said, as other workers sat idle in his closed factory. The former rich kid now works a loom in his father’s factory and says he gets by on pocket money of just 500 rupees ($6) a week. “In good times, I was manager and distributing wages among my workers. Now I myself work on the looms we have left because I have nothing to pay workers,” said Mani, kitted out in a black t-shirt and jeans covered in chemical marks. Faisalabad’s textile district has now become a haven for metal dealers who buy looms from closing factories and sell them as scrap.

Those dealers’ warehouses are filled with broken machinery while workers wait idle in weaving factories, plunged into darkness until the power resumes. Industry

leaders in Faisalabad, which is situated in Pakistan’s most populous province of Punjab, say the shortage of electricity and gas has forced hundreds of units to shut down, with unknown numbers more in line to fall. “Almost 800 units of a total of around 2,000 factories in Punjab province have closed down and many more are likely to be shut,” said Sheikh Abdul Qayyum, former head of the city’s chamber of commerce and a factory owner.

“Around 500,000 workers lost their jobs in the province-about 100,000 in Faisalabad alone due to the closure of the factories,” he said. The country faced a total shortfall of 7,739 megawatts of electricity in the peak summer month of June, before monsoon season, while the overall shortfall in the gas supply to industry is around 400 million cubic feet per day. The authorities manage the shortages by cutting supply for hours at a time to industrial and domestic users. Towns and cities across Pakistan are rocked by daily summer protests against the crisis and the government’s perceived inaction, sometimes leading to violent clashes with riot police.

Despite a wealth of natural resources, Pakistan produces only 80 percent of its electricity needs and even some of that comes from imported fuel. “Lack of political will, bad governance and administrative inabilities pushed us into the crisis. If the situation stays the same, I have no hope things will improve,” said Fazlullah Qureshi, former top bureaucrat at the country’s planning commission. Punjab’s industrialists blame politicians for exacerbating the crisis, accusing the government of giving preferential treatment to the textile industry in southern province of Sindh, the home of President Asif Ali Zardari.

A constitutional clause approved by parliament last year gives each province first right to use the natural resources they produce, putting Sindh ahead of Punjab in the queue for gas, which in turns fuels electricity generation. “We want a uniform policy in the country as everybody should share the burden and opportunities,” said Shabbir Ahmed, a senior member of Faisalabad’s chamber of commerce. —AFP

Unless China comes up with a “clear master plan” to clean up the problem, the credit outlook for Chinese banks could turn negative, Moody’s said. Moody’s debt tally is near the midpoint of various estimates from Chinese authorities, which used different definitions and accounting methods to compute their debt totals.

The varying figures have led to confusion about just how serious the problem could become if heavily indebted local governments default, saddling banks with large loan losses.

Moody’s said it was hard to judge which banks had taken on the most local government debt, but Bank of China and China Citic Bank were among those that had lent more aggressively than their peers during China’s bank lending spree in 2009.

China’s state auditor reported last week that local governments had chalked up 10.7 trillion yuan of debt, about half of it amassed during a stimulus spending binge as Beijing sought to cushion the blow of a global recession.

Moody ’s said the auditor ’s report excluded some bank-funded loans because they were not deemed to be “real claims” on

local governments. But the ratings agency said those loans posed the greatest risk of delinquency, and banks may face losses. The warning weighed on Chinese bank shares, which were the biggest drag on the Hang Seng index yesterday. However, the share declines were modest and analysts expressed confidence that banks could withstand loan losses. “Even if the worst-case scenario happened, it’s not going to be fatal,” said Victor Feng, an equity strategist at Everbright Securities in Shanghai. “Profits may drop but banks will not go bankrupt.”

The ratings agency said a jump in local government loan defaults could push the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio for Chinese banks as high as 12 percent, well above its base-case scenario that envisions losses in the range of 5 percent to 8 percent.

Government figures show the average NPL was 1.1 percent at the end of March. Moody’s outlined three scenarios for resolving the debt problem. Most likely, Beijing would work on a case-bycase basis, helping local governments to get funding. China may ask banks to absorb losses on

loans for which local governments are not liable. Moody’s said this scenario would probably involve a fair amount of debt restructuring by banks.

In the worst-case scenario, Beijing would leave banks and local governments to thrash out the issue on their own. This could hurt investor confidence in China as there would be no clarity around China’s debt problems and loan disputes could drag on, thereby worsening losses. The best case would involve Beijing stepping in to supply local governments with funding or take on some of their debt, although Moody’s acknowledged that this would raise “moral hazard” issues of banks assuming excessive risk knowing the government would always come to their rescue.

Reuters reported on May 31 that China’s regulators planned to shift 2 trillion to 3 trillion yuan of debt off of local governments to try to ease the default threat.

INSTRUMENTS OF THE STATE Many investors have long eyed China’s mountain of local government debt as a major risk.

The worry is that slower growth in the world’s second-biggest

economy could set off a wave of loan defaults and hobble its banking system.

About half of the debt dates back to the 2008 financial crisis when Beijing unveiled a 4 trillion yuan fiscal stimulus package that compelled local authorities to spend their way back to economic health. But the legacy of the massive spending is now catching up with China as maturity dates for the loans, many of which are due in 2013, draw closer.

While most loans were used to build roads and other infrastructure that some analysts argue China needs, it has also generated some wasteful spending. Peter Elston, a strategist with Aberdeen Asset Management Asia, said the episode served as a reminder that Chinese banks can be used as instruments of the state, making them less attractive as investment options.

“It is very sad because it is going to take a very long time for them to convince investors that they are run for the benefit of shareholders and not for the benefit of the broader economy,” Elston told Reuters in an interview in Singapore. —Reuters

Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons Automotive extends the Crazy Prices Campaign KUWAIT: Due to the great success of the crazy prices campaign, Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons Automotive has decided to extend their incredible offers, giving further chances to all customers to take advantage of their amazing deals on the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo, Cruze, Malibu, Epica, Caprice and Traverse. With Chevrolet from Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons, there’s a car for every taste. For those looking for a modern and stylish sedan vehicle, the Chevrolet Cruze and Malibu provides a combination of style, power, and performance.

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, starting at KD4,222, with a coupe-style exterior and a spacious world-class interior, is powered by a 1.8L, 4 Cylinder engine generating 140 HP and boasts a 6-speed transmission, the only in its class, offering a smoother ride. The 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, starting at KD5,555 and awarded with more than 30 global industry awards, combines a bold exterior and luxurious interior bringing customers the ultimate level of functionality, performance, control, technology and advanced safety. The Malibu is available in 2 engine variants: a 2.4L engine generating 170 HP and an award winning 3.6L V6 engine generating 252 HP.

At only KD4,777, the 2011 Chevrolet Epica has it all. Powered by a 6-cylinder engine and a 6-speed transmission, the Epica is the epit-

ome of performance. The extravagant interior can easily seat five adults making driving a pleasure while providing the highest level of comfort. Moreover, Epica’s beautiful exterior is reflected by its stylish contours, unique rear tail lamps, 16” alloy wheels and fog lamps.

The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse, starting at KD7,777, is a car for every family. Powered by a 3.6L, V6 engine generating 288 HP, the Chevrolet Traverse is an expressively styled, well-equipped crossover. The Chevrolet Traverse earned a five-star frontal and sideimpact crash test rating. With three rows of airbags, rear ultrasonic park ing assist, StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with traction control system, the Chevrolet Traverse offers you a 360-degree safety system.

Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons, the sole distributor of Chevrolet vehicles in Kuwait, guarantees continuous exclusive promotions by introducing the latest vehicles at competitive prices to meet the needs and desires of their customers who wish to own vehicles celebrated for unparalleled quality, technological advances, and world-class design and performance.

Israeli easing of blockade boosting Gaza’s economy BEIT LAHIYA: Maher Khoudari boasts that his Gaza grocery has a wide assortment of chocolates for sale - even some you couldn’t find in the cosmopolitan Israeli city of Tel Aviv. The problem is, there is no one to buy them. Israel eased its blockade of the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory a year ago and now allows virtually all consumer goods in, meaning there are no longer acute shortages of foods or basic household items.

Tiny construction projects have begun sprouting up, and Gaza is awash in big ticket items such as cars and refrigerators.

But deep troubles remain. Israel maintains restrictions on the key construction and export sectors, and the vast majority of Gazans are still barred from traveling in and out of the territory. Nearly half the work force is unemployed, and more than 70 percent of the population relies on food handouts, making fancy chocolates, like any other non-essential goods, a luxury most cannot afford. “We have no customers,” says Khoudari, 40, who owns one of Gaza’s biggest supermarkets.

His predicament sums up Gaza’s economic situation after blockade was eased amid an international outcry over Israel’s deadly raid on a blockade-busting international flotilla. Now proPalestinian activists in Greece are laying plans to launch a new protest flotilla toward Gaza, drawing attention back to

the plight of the impoverished territory of 1.6 million. Israel dismisses claims by Palestinians and their sympathizers that there is a humanitarian crisis. Maj Gen Eitan Dangot, who oversees Israel’s border policy with Gaza, told reporters last week that Israel has taken numerous measures in recent months to boost the Palestinian economy.

He said the number of trucks carrying goods into Gaza has more than tripled, cargo crossings with the area are being expanded and that Israel is now allowing dozens of building and infrastructure projects to move forward. Palestinian officials say the Israeli measures are far too little. Most critically, Israel continues to tightly restrict the entry of construction materials - badly needed to repair the damage from an Israeli military offensive two years ago. Tight restrictions on exports, along with the entry of raw materials, mean that more than 80 percent of Gaza factories are either shuttered or working at limited capacity.

“Israel has made much of the fact that there is no starvation in Gaza,” said Gaza economist Omar Shaban. “But the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not about food,” he added. “The humanitarian crisis is about education, it’s about development, about imprisonment.” The economy of Gaza, a crowded seaside strip sandwiched between Egypt and Israel, has

always struggled. Shaban said that even if Israel lifted all restrictions on Gaza, it would take years for the economy to recover. “This is not something you can achieve in days or months,” he said, suggested the territory would need an international bailout similar to the post-World War II Marshall Plan that rescued Europe.

Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade after Hamas-linked militants captured an Israeli soldier in 2006. The

restrictions were further tightened after Hamas seized control of Gaza the following year. Israel says the measures are aimed at weakening Hamas, which it considers a terrorist group, and to prevent it from bringing arms into the territory. But the blockade failed to achieve either goal.

Instead, a flourishing smuggling business sprouted up along the Egyptian border. A vast network of tunnels has actually helped strengthen Hamas, which col-

GAZA: Maher Khoudari, owner of a grocery shop, sits behind the counter of his store in Gaza city. —AP

lects taxes on the industry. ProPalestinian activists from around the globe have been trying to breach the blockade since 2008, sending ships laden with supplies bound for Gaza. Israel allowed ships through five times, but has blocked them from Gaza since its threeweek military offensive in January 2009.

Under international criticism, Israel began to ease the blockade in early 2010. The situation changed drastically after Israeli naval commandos killed nine Turkish activists on board a Gaza-bound ship.

The May 2010 incident was a public relations nightmare for Israel and forced it to greatly ease the blockade. The military says the number of supply trucks entering Gaza through Israeli-controlled cargo crossings grew 66 percent from a year ago. Now a loose network of activists organized a new flotilla based mostly in Greek ports, and planned to sail for Gaza last week. But their plans suffered a major setback when Greece banned the boats from leaving for the Palestinian territory, and the project is now in doubt. Israel says the activists trying to send another flotilla are naive and misguided.

The International Monetary Fund said Gaza’s economy expanded 16 percent in the first half of 2010, though that leap was largely a result of a very depressed economy the year before. Nonetheless, experts say economic activity remains

below the 2006 levels. Israel’s war in Gaza reduced Fayza Al-Louh, her husband and eight kids to living in a single room with one bathroom and a small kitchen. With Israel still severely restricting the entry of construction materials into the coastal strip, thousands of homes and businesses damaged in the war still await repairs.

Al-Louh’s three-story home is damaged beyond use. “Every night, I expect the remains of my house to collapse,” Al Louh said. “We suffer from the rain in the winter and the sun in the summer. And if the weather weren’t enough of a problem, what about the rats and snakes and mosquitoes?” Earlier this month, Israeli authorities agreed to allow the UN to import materials to rebuild some 1,200 homes destroyed in fighting with Israel nearly 10 years ago. It is one of the largest projects Israel has authorized in Gaza, but will still only meet a fraction of Gaza’s needs and will not help Al-Louh, who lives in a different part of the territory.

The UN estimates some 60,000 homes need to be repaired or rebuilt altogether.

Israel says its only aim in preventing some materials and impeding some projects is security-related. It believes construction materials could be diverted by Hamas for military use. But critics say Israel applies too broad a definition and that the true, unspoken purpose is to punish Gazans for the rule of Hamas. —AP

A

y

e niv rsar n

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Years

business

KSE closes on a positive note GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) firmed up further yesterday, closing the day on a positive note. The advance was broad-based with six out of the eight sectors edging higher. The gains come as a surge in the prices of industrial and services stocks lifting all major indices to record higher levels. Investors interest remained in pivotal stocks as they looking ahead to the 2Q2011 earnings results.

Market Indices Global General Index (GGI), market weighted, ended the day up by 0.72 percent, at 192.31 point. Market Capitalization was up for the day at KD31.39bn. On the other hand, KSE Price Index closed at 6,213.7 point, adding 19.10 points (0.31 percent) to its previous close.

Market Breadth During the session, 97 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards advancers as 43 equities advanced versus 18 that retreated.

Daily Trading Activity Trading activity was up this session. Total volume traded was up by 0.51 percent with 89.99mn shares changing hands at a total value of KD13.81mn (14.83 percent higher compared to the day before). The real estate sector was the volume leader today, accounting for 28.44 percent of total shares. The services sector was the value leader, with 27.01 percent of total traded value. Zain Company was the most active in terms of values traded during yesterday session, with 1.75mn shares exchanged at an aggregate value of KD1.78mn.

Top Gainers and Biggest Decliners In terms of top gainers, Heavy Engineering Industries and Shipbuilding Co took the top spot for the day, adding 8.33 percent and closed at KD0.325. On the other hand, AlQurain Holding Co shed 5.77 percent and closed at KD0.025, making it the biggest decliner in the market.

Sectors Wise Sector-wise, six out of the eight sectors moved northward during the day. Buying interest was observed in the industrial, banking, and services sectors. Global Industrial Index led the pack of advancers, producing

1.37 percent in gains. Qurain Petrochemical Company’s stock reported a 5.05 percent improvement. Kuwait Metal Pipe Industries & Oil Services Company too reported a 2.22 percent climb. Elsewhere in the industrial sector, the sector’s heavy-weight, National Industries Group (Holding) saw its share value appreciate by 4.50 percent in the day, to close at KD0.232.

Services stocks followed, clocking 1.14 percent in sector gains backed by Zain’s advance.

The scrip closed up by 1.96 percent at KD1.040. Furthermore, Privatization Holding Company and National Cleaning Company added 6.00 percent and 3.85 percent, respectively to their share prices. Banking stocks too were notable advancers, adding 0.67 percent in sector gains. Ahli United Bank, Kuwait Finance House Boubyan Bank and Kuwait International Bank were up by 2.44 percent, 2.06 percent, 1.67 percent and 1.61 percent, respectively. Fitch Ratings says in a new report that its outlook for Kuwaiti banks is stable. The agency expects the operating environment for banks in Kuwait to improve in 2011 and profitability to continue to benefit from declining impairment charges.

Although a significant deterioration in asset quality is not expected, Fitch remains cautious on the banks’ large exposures to

higher risk sectors such as real estate, investment companies and stock market lending.

Kuwaiti banks’ Long and Short-term IDRs are based on Fitch’s expectation of an extremely high probability of sovereign support, if needed. Potential changes to the Outlooks on the IDRs, Support Ratings, and Support Rating Floors for each of the Kuwaiti banks would largely be dependent on changes in the Outlook of the Kuwaiti sovereign, although Fitch views this as unlikely at present.

Oil News The price of Kuwaiti crude oil increased $0.33 to reach $104.84pb on Monday, said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) yesterday. The increase of Kuwaiti crude prices comes at a time when EU is helping the Greek credit crisis.

Corporate News Samy Al-Moajil, Head of the Initiative on Data and Indices on Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE), said that the main target of the new index under preparation is to enhance transparency standards. The new Kuwait 15 Index will include the biggest 15 companies in terms of liquidity and market value. The top official noted that the new Index will overcome the previous deficiencies and put an end to ‘bogus trading’.

Oil dips on economic concerns, firm dollar LONDON: Oil prices slipped yesterday, weighed down by concerns over the outlook for the global economy, the Greek debt crisis and a stronger dollar. China, the world’s second biggest oil consumer and a major consumer of commodities, is experiencing a slowdown in economic growth, sounding warning bells across financial markets. Ratings agency Moody’s said yesterday that China’s local government debt may be 3.5 trillion yuan ($540 billion) larger than estimated, which could make banks liable for deeper losses and threaten their credit worthiness.

The news follows data last week showing China’s factory sector grew at its slowest pace in 28 months in June, fuelling fears of a big drop in demand, which could impact suppliers worldwide. ICE Brent crude fell 21 cents to $111.18 a barrel by 0901 GMT and was headed for its third straight session of losses. US crude was at $94.80, down 14 cents From Friday’s close. US financial markets were closed on Monday for the July 4 national holiday.

“It looks as if the Chinese economy is slowing,” said Christophe Barret, global oil analyst at Credit Agricole.

“Almost all the economic data is weak and demand data is also poor.

China is always a concern for oil markets because the country is such a big consumer.” China’s fledgling services sector also fell slightly in June but still pointed to a solid business expansion as new order growth quickened to an eight-month high, a report yesterday showed.

In Europe, the market’s initial optimism over euro zone policymakers’ approval of an emergency bailout for Greece was tempered by Standard & Poor’s negative view of a planned second Greek bailout package.

‘BEARISH’ Edward Meir, senior commodities analyst at US brokers MF Global, also

highlighted deteriorating macro-economic data from the euro zone and China. “The net impact on commodities will be somewhat more bearish given the importance of the Chinese as a key commodity price driver,” Meir said. Oil traders are also keeping a wary eye on the United States, where Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has warned of huge risks if Congress fails to raise the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by Aug 2, potentially triggering a default.

Participants will be closely watching the key US non-farm payrolls report on Friday for signs economic growth in the world’s top oil consumer has regained traction. Data on US durable goods and factory orders for May due at 1400 GMT will also give an indication of the state of demand in the world’s biggest oil consumer. Weekly US oil inventory data from industr y group the American Petroleum Institute and the government’s Department of Energy will be delayed by a day to Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, due to Monday’s Independence Day holiday.

Oil prices were also depressed by a stronger dollar, which rose 0.3 percent against a basket of currencies, making dollar-denominated oil more expensive when purchased in foreign currencies. Deutsche Bank said it had cut its forecasts for Brent in 2011 to $114 per barrel from $117.50, and for 2012 to $117 from $117.50.

It says it expects Brent to climb to $125 in 2015. US light crude futures are expected to average around $100 in 2011, Deutsche Bank said.

According to technical price charts, Brent crude needs to clear resistance at $113 a barrel before developing a decent rally towards a short-term resistance target at $121.47, while US crude is expected to rise to $98.13 a barrel, said Reuters market analyst Wang Tao. — Reuters

y

A

25

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

BUSINESS

Soaring Saudi oil burning to cap exports rise Analysts see higher use of crude in power plants DUBAI: Saudi Arabian oil exports may trail far behind rising output this summer as its power stations burn more crude than ever before to keep a booming population cool, part of a trend that is squeezing spare output capacity, analysts say.

Energy minister Ali Al-Naimi said Saudi would produce as much crude as needed after OPEC output talks collapsed in early June. Production is expected to rise by about a million barrels per day (bpd) to nearly 10 million bpd in July.

But most of that is likely to be soaked up by a summer surge in air conditioning demand and the ramp up of the huge Rabigh refinery after maintenance, leaving less extra crude from the world’s biggest oil expor ter for refineries abroad.

“Available Saudi crude expor t capacity is getting squeezed from all sides,” John Tottie, senior analyst at HSBC Saudi Arabia, said. “Rabigh is coming back, you have the increase in exports and then you have the increased summer power generation demand.”

The 400,000 bpd Red Sea refiner y was down for maintenance before OPEC met on June 8 but has been ramping up production since

then and is nearing full capacity.

Rabigh’s rising crude consumption not a problem for Saudi, which makes a tidy profit selling the refined products, or for a global market that buys them. It is the booming power generation sectorwhich has been increasingly burning the country’s biggest export product as limited natural gas is fed to other industry-that is already squeezing spare oil supply capacity and threatens to slash Saudi exports in the long term.

Michael Wittner, chief oil analyst at French investment bank Societe Generale, expects little extra crude from the Saudi summer ramp up to trickle onto global markets. “The 1 million bpd production increase between May and July is much less than meets the eye,” he said in a research note, pointing to rising Rabigh inputs and a possible 300,000-bpd rise in crude burn by Saudi power plants from May to July. “Our conclusion is that Saudi crude exports-what really matters for the global crude markets-will increase only by 300,000 bpd.”

Offsetting higher crude burn by upping production at the well head also squeezes spare capacity in the

only country in the world with a sizeable cushion to reassure those nervous about supply since the loss of Libyan light crude production in February. Saudi’s response to the Libyan loss has also come in to question after the International Energy Agency sanctioned the release of consumer countries’ oil stocks to make good that deficit.

Some analysts have doubted whether the kingdom may go ahead with such a large increase when its customers have issued their own oil.

RISING TREND Based on scant Saudi government production, export and refining throughput data made available through the Joint Oil Data Initiative (JODI), the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates the kingdom burnt as much as 920,000 barrels on some July days last year, with August peaks of around 720,000 bpd.

Tottie estimates Riyadh missed out on about $17 billion in potential export earnings from feeding its most valuable commodity into power plants in 2010, up from around $3 billion lost earnings in

2005. He believes hot peak days could see up to 1.2 million barrels burnt in Saudi power plants in the next two months, which implies a potential loss of export earnings of as much as 3.7 billion a month based on a $100/bbl price.

Saudi industry sources say direct crude burning is likely to average 540,000 bpd in 2011, up from an average of 403,000 bpd last year.

But many more barrels will be burnt each day in the summer in an annual burning boom driven by air conditioning demand as temperatures across the Middle East soar. Jamie Webster, senior country strategies manager at PFC Energy in Washington, expects the burn to average around 885,000 bpd in July and August, hitting highs of around 1.2 million bpd in August.

“This will occur in August when Ramadan will increase electricity demand further as activities are pushed into the night but daytime demand is not diminished,” Webster said.

An oil industry source said he expected this year’s power surge to be par ticularly pronounced because many people who would usually flee the intense August

heat will stay put or fly in to be with their families for the holy month. Exactly how much crude is burnt will depend on how hot it gets over the next few months, with rare respite from the scorching summer heat likely to help shave something off the demand peaks, but long term weather forecasting is difficult. PFC estimates that crude demand from the Saudi power generation sector could swing by over 500,000 bpd from the relatively cool first quarter to the much hotter July-September period of 2011.

Based on JODI data, HSBC estimates that the average Saudi barrel burn by power plants in the peak demand season of April to September more than tripled from 2006 to 2010 after the government decided to halt construction of gas-fired plants in response to tight gas supplies and focus on oil.

Crude burn has accelerated since 2008, weighing on summer export levels, so a big rise in output was necessary to avoid an even bigger seasonal sag in exports this year.

“The Saudis were already going to increase produc tion precisely because of the increased summer-

time demand for power generation,” Webster said.

LONGER TERM The short-term impact of Saudi’s reliance on setting light to oil in its power plants-when most countries have long since shut their oil burners in favor of gas, nuclear and renewables-is not yet a big problem for a global economy that is as reliant on oil as a transport fuel as it ever has been. But in the longer term, unless the country which is already one of the world’s 10 biggest oil consumers can find large new sources of natural gas to wean itself off oil power, it could become a serious issue for economies hooked other uses for its oil riches.

“We estimate that an exclusive reliance on crude oil to meet incremental feedstock needs could require the burning of about 4 billion barrels this decade at a cost of over $300 billion and imply a 2020 burning rate as high as 1.6MMbbl/d,” HSBC said in a study on Middle Eastern fuel issues published in late June. “This stresses the urgency of meeting power sector demand with natural gas, not oil.” —Reuters

Supreme court hears eurozone rescue suits Eurozone growth indicator weaker than forecast KARLSRUHE: Germany’s finance minister defended the rescue packages for Greece and other eurozone countries at a Supreme Court hearing yesterday, as opponents argued that the bailouts violated both German and European law.

Wolfgang Schaeuble told the Federal Constitutional Court that “the stability of the euro is of paramount significance.” He pointed to the risk of financial instability across Europe and beyond at the time when the government signed on to the initial Greek rescue of May 2010 and also the wider eurozone fund created shortly afterward.

WAD MADANI: A farmer ploughs a field with his tractor ahead of the planting season. Many farmers struggle to make a profit, despite the agonizing potential of Sudan’s fertile farmland and the high hopes of the government. —AFP

Revolution looming in Sudan’s breadbasket WAD MADANI: Standing in a green field near the banks of the Nile, Al-Hajil Maamun says he struggles to make a profit from his farm despite the potential of Sudan’s fertile heartland and the high hopes of the government. Agriculture has become something of a Holy Grail for cash-strapped Khartoum as it seeks to diversify its economy. Its oil income-which accounts for more than 90 percent of hard currency earningsis set to plummet with the independence of the south, on July 9, where some 75 percent of the reserves lie.

Farming was a mainstay of Sudan’s economy before oil exports started at the end of the 1990s, and senior government officials insist on the sector’s ability to minimize the economic impact of southern secession. But disgruntled farmers in Gezira state-home to one of the world’s largest irrigation projects, between the Blue and White Nile rivers-do not bear witness to Sudan’s would-be agricultural revolution.

Nor does the fact that Sudan had to hike sugar prices by 15 percent in January because of the punitive cost of subsidizing imports of a commodity that it could be exporting.

“The farming situation is worse than 10 years ago because costs have tripled and there is no research into improving produc-

tion or help with marketing,” said Maamun.

Over the winter, the 50-year-old farmer sold 12 trucks of tomatoes and made a net profit of just 200 Sudanese pounds (62 dollars, 42 euros) because, he says, of low seasonal prices, soaring production costs and the lack of government support. To breathe new life into its agricultural sector and boost output, Sudan is desperately seeking foreign investment, especially from neighboring Arab countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia which are nervous about their future food security.

The jewel in the crown of the onceprosperous industr y is k nown as the Gezira scheme, the vast but neglected farming project with its network of irrigation canals spanning 840,000 hectares (two million acres) between the two Niles.

“Cotton, sorghum, wheat and ground nuts are the Gezira scheme’s four main crops.

We hope to increase sugar, fruit and meat production,” the project’s general director, Osman Simsaa said. “Now we are planning for 200,000 feddans (84,000 hectares) of sugar cane-10 percent of the whole Gezira scheme-and we are looking for foreign finance to help with this plan. The irrigation system is in place. The land is available. Water is available. We only need the capital.” —AFP

Bombardier to cut 1,400 jobs LONDON: Canadian train maker Bombardier is cutting more than 1,400 jobs at its plant in Derby, central England, after losing out to German group Siemens for supplying the Thameslink cross-London railway.

Bombardier said it would cut 446 permanent jobs and 983 temporary jobs from its 3,000 strong Derby workforce as a result of missing out on the Thameslink contract and the completion of its current workload, which includes metro cars for London Underground.

“The culmination and successful delivery of these projects and the loss of the Thameslink contract, which would have secured workload at this site, means that it is inevitable that we must adjust capacity in line with economic reality,” Francis Paonessa, President of the Passenger Division for the UK, said in a statement yesterday. “We regret this outcome but without new orders we cannot maintain the current level of employment and activity at Derby.”

Bombardier-the only remaining train builder in Britain- said all its contracts, except for cars for some London Underground lines, would be complete by the end of September. In June Britain award-

ed a consortium led by Siemens a contract to build and maintain 1,200 train carriages for London’s Thameslink commuter overground rail service as part of a 6 billion pound ($9.6 billion) upgrade of the line, which links Brighton on the south coast to commuter towns north of London. Siemens said when the government’s decision was announced that up to 600 jobs in manufacturing train components, including up to 300 at its factory in South Tyneside, northeast England, would be created as a direct result of it winning the work.

Unite the union, however, said the vast majority of manufacturing work by the Siemens-led consortium would be done in Germany, and it called on the government to act swiftly and decisively to save Britain’s last train manufacturer. “It is a tragedy because these redundancies would have been needless if the government really cared about British manufacturing and British skills,” Unite’s general secretary, Len McCluskey, said in a statement. The GMB union, which represents metal fabrication workers, and the TSSA rail union also called on the government to reverse the decision. —Reuters

Those plans foresee Germany Europe’s biggest economy - guaranteeing loans up to $32.5 billion for Greece and 147.6 billion euros for other countries. Plaintiffs include Peter Gauweiler, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc, who challenged previous European integration measures, and a group of professors. Chief justice Andreas Vosskuhle said the court didn’t want to hear a debate on the measures’ economic merits, and that the right economic strategy was a matter for politicians and not judges.

But, he said, his court “has to consider the limits that the constitution sets for politicians.” Karl Albrecht Schachtschneider, speaking for the professors, insisted that “what is economically wrong can’t be legally right.” He argued that the rescue measures violated a nobailout provision in the European Union’s Lisbon treaty without sufficient justification. He also contended that they violated German constitutional clauses protecting property and democracy - the latter by restricting the German parliament’s control over its own budget. “A union of liability and debt favoring other states has been created,” he said.

Gauweiler ’s representative, Dietrich Murswiek, pointed to current effor ts to set up a second Greek rescue package, arguing that loans would sink into a “bottomless pit.” “It’s like trying to repair water damage by blowing up the house,” he said. In addition, “the rescue fund serves in reality to take risks away from cer tain big banks,” Murswiek contended, arguing that that would be unconstitutional.

Schaeuble said the government was on solid legal ground, and argued that “we Germans benefit even more from other Europeans from the currency union.”

He pointed to German-led efforts to toughen rules governing the 17-nation euro and improve countries’ competitiveness - efforts

KARLSRUHE: Judges of the German Federal Constitutional Court stand in a courtroom of the Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, southern Germany yesterday. Germany’s finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble defended the rescue packages for Greece and other eurozone countries at a Supreme Court hearing yesterday. —AP which he said need time and argued that no major stabilization measure had been taken without parliament’s approval. “A common currency can’t do without the solidarity of all members,” Schaeuble said. In addition, he noted that “Greece has to fulfill very tough conditions.” Government lawmaker Siegfried Kauder, speaking on parliament’s behalf, said the measures were given full consideration by lawmakers and “no one was forced to vote in favor.” “It’s inaccurate to speak of a ‘transfer union,”‘ he said.

“There is no ban on solidarity in European law. One doesn’t have to help, but one can.” A ruling is expected this year.

Growth indicator Private sector activity in the eurozone was weaker than forecast in June, hitting 20-month low level with recoveries slowing in Germany and France, a key growth

indicator showed yesterday. The data showed that output fell in Italy and Spain while Ireland continued to record a “very modest” pace of expansion, according to the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) leading indicator compiled by research firm Markit. “Over the past two months, the region has seen the sharpest slowing in growth since just after the collapse of Lehman’s in late -2008,” said Markit chief economist Chris Williamson.

The PMI, a survey of 4,500 companies in service and manufacturing in the 17-nation eurozone, fell to 53.3 points in June from 55.8 in May. A first estimate last month had forecast 53.6 points for June.

Despite the fall, the index remains above the 50-point mark indicating growth. The eurozone posted growth of 0.8 percent in the first quarter, picking up steam after a mere 0.3 percent in the last three

months of 2010. Economists say the single currency area, scrambling to contain a debt crisis in Greece, will struggle to retain that pace of growth.

“The further loss of momentum in June bodes ill for the third quarter and suggests that growth may weaken further unless order books improve,” Williamson said.

“National growth variations are also a worry. Of the four largest Eurozone nations, only Germany continued to record a PMI which is consistent with strong quarterly GDP growth in June, although even here the pace has slowed sharply. “The PMIs are meanwhile consistent with only modest growth rates in France and Spain, while a risk of double-dip recession is highlighted in Italy.” The manufacturing sector saw a sharp drop, from 54.6 in May to 52 points in June, while services also slowed from 56 to 53.7 points. —Agencies

US airlines take EU to court over emissions

SAN FRANCISCO: John Rosas, an employee with the metal works factory Wizard of Metals, cuts steel in San Francisco. Businesses requested more airplanes, autos, and oil drilling equipment in May. The increase in factory orders suggests supply disruptions stemming from the Japan crisis are fading. —AP

BRUSSELS: US airlines took the European Union to court yesterday arguing that its imposition of emissions caps on nonEuropean carriers breaches international law. The suit at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg was filed by Air Transport Association of America, which represents the US airlines, together with United/Continental and American Airlines.

Air travel is responsible for about 3 percent of greenhouse gases, but their share of global emissions is rising rapidly. Although thousands of airlines will fall under the scheme, 50 major carriers are responsible for about 70 percent of the emissions.

Starting in January next year, the EU plans to include all airlines flying to and from the continent in its cap-and-trade scheme - a move that will eventually force

the carriers to pay for their emissions. The new pollution restrictions are designed to encourage airlines to reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming by switching to cleaner fuels or economizing on fuel consumption. Each carrier will be allocated permits to emit a set amount of carbon dioxide. They can buy extra credits if they exceed that limit or sell credits if they emit less.

In March, the European Commission, the EU’s executive, set the 2012 cap at 212.9 million tons of CO2, about 3 percent less than the annual average the airlines emitted in 2004-2006. The cap will be reduced the following year by another 2 percent of that three-year average, where it will remain until 2020. The EU said the impact of the measure on airline tickets will be minimal. —AP

y

A

26

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

business

Cuba tries to drag shadow economy into the light HAVANA: Want some paprika-infused chorizo sausage? How about a bit of buffalo mozzarella? Or maybe you just need more cooking oil this month, or a homemade soft drink you can afford on paltry wages. Perhaps you are looking for something more precious, such as an imported air conditioner or some hand-rolled cigars at a fraction of the official price.

In a Marxist country where virtually all economic activity is regulated, and where supermarkets and ration shops run out of such basics as sugar, eggs and toilet paper, you can get nearly anything on Cuba’s thriving black market - if you have a “friend,” or the right telephone number. A raft of economic changes introduced over the past year by President Raul Castro, including the right to work for oneself in 178 approved jobs, has been billed as a wide new opening for entrepreneurship, on an island of 11 million people where the state employs more than four in five workers and controls virtually all means of production.

In reality, many of the new jobs, everything from food vendor to wedding photographer, manicurist to construction worker, have existed for years in the informal economy, and many of those seeking work licenses were already offering the same services under the table. And while the black market in developed countries might be dominated by drugs, bootleg DVDs and prostitution, in Cuba it literally can cover anything. One man drives his car into Havana each day with links of handmade sausage stuffed under the passenger seat.

A woman sells skintight spandex miniskirts and gaudy, patterned blouses from behind a flowery curtain in her ramshackle apartment.

Economists, and Cubans themselves, say nearly everyone on the island is in on it.

“Everyone with a job robs something,” said Marki, a chain-smoking 44-year-old transportation specialist. “The guy who works in the sugar industry steals sugar so he can resell it. The women who work with textiles steal thread so they can make their own clothes.” Marki makes his living as a “mule,” ferrying clothes from Europe to Havana for sale at three underground stores, and has spent time in jail for his activities. Like several of the people interviewed for this article,

he agreed to speak on condition he not be further identified for fear he could get into trouble.

Merchandise flows into the informal market from overseas, but also from the river of goods that disappear in pockets, backpacks, even trucks from state-owned warehouses, factories, supermarkets and offices. There are no official government statistics on how much is stolen each year, though petty thievery is routinely denounced in the official press. On June 21, Communist party newspaper Granma reported that efforts to stop theft at state-run enterprises in the cap-

HAVANA: Gold is weighed after being molded to make teeth in a workshop in Havana. — AP ital had “taken a step back” in recent months.

It blamed managers for lax oversight after an initial surge of compliance with Castro’s exhortations to stop the pilfering. “Criminal and corrupt acts have gone up because of a lack of internal control,” the paper said. An extensive study by Canadian economist Archibald Ritter in 2005 examined the myriad ways Cubans augment salaries of just $20 a month through illegal trade - everything from a woman selling stolen spaghetti doorto-door, to a bartender at a tourist hot spot replacing high-quality rum with his own moonshine, to a bicycle repairman selling spare parts out the back door. He and sever-

Furor over Nigeria’s bid to introduce Islamic banking CBN unveils plans to issue Islamic bonds LAGOS: Plans to introduce Islamic banking as one of the models of non-interest financial ser vices has touched off intense controversy in religiously divided Nigeria. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) two weeks ago published a final set of regulations on non-interest banking, which includes Islamic banking, and cleared in principle two banks to offer the product.

The CBN says the introduction of Islamic banking is part of its drive to propel Nigeria’s economy and promote financial inclusion by introducing alternative products. “ The non-interest regime offers veritable incentives and attractive options for investors,” central bank governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said Monday at a conference to promote Islamic banking held in Abuja. The bank has also unveiled plans to issue sovereign sukuk or Islamic bonds in under two years.

“A rapid development and increasing wealth in the Middle East is driving the appetite for assets in the region and other parts of the world. Given the positive market environment and latent opportunity in Nigeria, we anticipate that Nigeria will be seen as an investment destination,” Lamido Sanusi said.

Although plans for setting up Islamic banking have been on the books for years, Christian religious leaders are suspecting that Lamido Sanusi, himself a Muslim and who took the helm of the bank two years ago, has a hidden agenda. The Catholic Archibishop of Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, said efforts to “ensure a speedy take off of the scheme ... was part of the grand plan to turn Nigeria into an Islamic state.” “ We are against the operation of Islamic banking in Nigeria because we see it as another deliberate move to subjugate Christians in Nigeria. Nigeria is a secular state. We must be very sensitive to the religious beliefs of others,” Olubunmi Okogie said.

“Introducing Islamic banking in Nigeria will further aggravate the culpable religious tension in the country already being hoisted by the radical sect Boko Haram,” the archbishop said in a statement. But the bank’s deputy governor Kingsley Moghalu was quoted in ThisDay as saying “There is no agenda; it is simply finance, not about religion.”

Nigeria’s population of 150 million is roughly divided in half between Muslims and Christians.

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs says criticisms “are uninformed and unobjective and smack of religious intolerance.” “There is a misunderstanding. Muslims have no hidden agenda. Nigeria cannot be an Islamic state and nobody can declare Nigeria a Christian state,” said the council’s secretary general Abdul Lateef Adegbite.

With Islamic banking found in more than 75 countries, including predomi-

al others who study the Cuban economy said it was impossible to estimate the dollar value of the black market.

“You could probably say that 95 percent or more of the population participates in the underground economy in one way or another. It’s tremendously widespread,” Ritter, a professor at Carlton University in Ottawa said. “Stealing from the state, for Cubans, is like taking firewood from the forest, or picking blueberries in the wild. It’s considered public property that wouldn’t otherwise be used productively, so one helps oneself.”

Cubans even have a term for obtaining the

nantly Christian countries such as the US, Britain, Germany and France, as well as African countries like South Africa and Kenya, Nigeria, according to Adegbite, could not afford to be left behind in the multi-billion-dollar business. “ Why should Nigeria, the sixth largest Muslim population in the world, not partake in the benefits of a global financial product,” he asked.

He said the facility would throw up new opportunities for ordinary Nigerians to enjoy access to a “less intimidating banking system that is ethical in its operations, and guaranteed attractive returns on their investments.”

A rights activist Shehu Sani said the controversy over Islamic banking “has to do with the religious polarization of the country ...every issue is interpreted on religion.” Authorities were forced to set up a panel to aid Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem because there was a tradition to do so for Muslims going to Makkah.

When Nigeria joined the Organization of Islamic Conference in the 1980s, similar controversy was stirred.

Muslims, according to Sani, also complained that if Sunday is a public holiday, Friday should also be declared a holiday and now Friday afternoon has become de-facto work-free.

“All these things are issues that have to do with balancing the religious divide in the country,” said Sani. “I don’t know why the furore. We have to live above this and grow out of it,” said Adegbite. A Lagos-based lawyer Femi Agunbiade said “Islamic banking does not preclude a Christian from benefiting from its noninterest products.” — AFP

things they need, legally or illegally: “resolver,” which loosely translates as solving a problem. Over the decades it has lost its negative connotations and is now taken as a necessity of survival.

“Turning to the black market and informal sector for nearly everything is so common that it has become the norm, with little or no thought of legality or morality,” said Ted Henken, a professor at New York’s Baruch College who has spent years studying Cuba’s economy. “When legal options are limited or nonexistent, then everyone breaks the law, and when everyone breaks the law, the law loses its legitimacy and essentially

ceases to exist.” There is evidence, however, that Castro is persuading at least some black market operators to play by the rules and pay taxes.

In the last seven months, more than 220,000 Cubans have received licenses to work for themselves, joining about 100,000 who have legally worked independently since the 1990s. Of those, some 68 percent were officially “unemployed” when they took out their license, 16 percent had a state job and another 16 percent were listed as “retired,” according to statistics on the government Web site Cubadebate. Many of these jobless and nominally retired people were likely making ends meet by working in the informal market, and even the former government workers were probably connected in one way or another.

“You have to find a way to survive,” said Manuel Rodriguez, the former head of a Cienfuegos medical center for children with disabilities. Rodriguez said his monthly government ration card plus his and his wife’s meager salaries only covered two weeks’ worth of food. “I sat in the park one day and thought, ‘What can I do?”‘ He began bicycling around town on Sundays, renting out bootleg DVDs of the latest Hollywood films, which others had downloaded from the Internet. Rodriguez, who moved to Miami in 2009, defended his decision to turn to the black market to put food on the table.

“I wasn’t hurting anyone,” he said. “It’s not pornography. It’s not drugs.” In fact, the sale and rental of pirated DVDs now is one of the 178 jobs that can now be done legally in Cuba, which ignores US intellectual property rights in response to Washington’s 49year economic embargo. New license holders complain the taxes and social security payments can be well over 50 percent of sales, raw materials are hard to come by because there is no wholesale market and government promises to provide bank credits and retail space have been slow to develop. But many say they jumped at the chance to go legit anyway, tired of always looking over their shoulder. “We started off illegally, years ago, but when they started to give out licenses we got one because it means peace of mind,” said Odalis Losano, a 46-year-old single mother who got a license in December to sell lunches she prepares on her home stove. “Now we don’t have to be

afraid of the police or the inspectors.”

Paradoxically, the expansion of a legal free market may be increasing the size of the black market, particularly for the goods and services the new entrepreneurs need to survive. Newly legalized pizzerias must have a steady supply of cheese, flour and tomato paste, self-employed construction workers must have building materials, manicurists must find nail polish.

One man profiting off the legitimate economic opening, albeit illegally, is Roberto, who uses stolen canisters of CO2 to make carbonated drinks for sale to the scores of downmarket private cafes opening up all over Havana. He charges just 7 pesos (28 cents) for a 1.5-liter bottle, a sixth of what a bottle of state-made cola costs in the supermarket. “This business is not totally legal,” he said. “I can’t get a license for it because the state will not sell me the CO2. I need to get it on the black market.” And then there are the many activities that by their nature must remain hidden under Cuba’s controlled system. The Internet is strictly regulated in Cuba, so those who sell time on accounts that belong to doctors, professors and computer technicians do so on the sly. The government maintains a monopoly on that most quintessential of Cuban products, the cigar, so the hundreds of underground stogie-rolling factories will stay underground.

Likewise, the sale of gold is regulated, so those who melt it down for false teeth won’t get licenses anytime soon. “Even if they legalize this, it wouldn’t be worth getting a license,” said one practitioner, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of earning the ire of the state.

He charges up to $40 per tooth, using gold melted down from jewelry and trinkets he buys from secret suppliers. “They would regulate it so much it would be impossible to get the gold and other materials I need.

The authorities would bother me so much it would be worse than doing it in hiding.”

Marki, the mule, said he would happily open an imported clothing boutique if the island’s leaders ever scrapped Cuba’s Marxist economy for capitalism. Until then, he said, he and many of his countrymen will carry on living and working on the margins of the law and no amount of fines, seizures or jail time will dissuade them. — AP

Greek fiscal survival ‘vital’ for eurozone Greece will stave off default: Venizelos ATHENS: Greece will stave off default not only for its own sake but because its survival is vital for the eurozone and the global economy, Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. With help from its EU partners and fresh determination, the debtridden eurozone member will regain its fiscal sovereignty as soon as possible and aims to return to markets in the middle of 2014, as expected, the minister said.

“We will make it, because this is vital not only for Greece but for the stability of the whole eurozone and the global economy, because in Greece the stamina of the financial system is being tested,” he said in the second part of an interview. Appointed in a June 17 reshuffle and speaking after eurozone finance ministers approved on Saturday a critical, fifth tranche of a bailout loan to avert default, Venizelos said he was grateful to EU partners and vowed to fulfill his obligations. He said he would redouble efforts to raise 1.7 billion euros in privatizations by September, as agreed with the EU and the IMF who pulled Greece back from the brink of bankruptcy with a 110 billion-euro bailout a year ago.

Greece must deliver 50 billion euros in proceeds from a massive and complicated state selloff by 2015, including 5 billion this year. So far, in 18 months in office, the socialists have yet to launch any privatizations.

Amid the worst recession in nearly 40 years, good news for the economy comes from the tourism sector, which makes up about 15 percent of GDP. Revenues are seen rising by about 10 percent this year after a 25 percent slump in 2009-2010, Venizelos said. “The data we have so far from the Tourism Ministry and the Bank of Greece are encouraging that it will be a good year. Revenues will rise by about 10 percent,” he said.

A tough political veteran who has held several portfolios and prepared the 2004 Olympics, Venizelos took in his stride comments by Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker that Greece’s sovereignty must be severely limited during the bailout program.

“Mr Juncker is a great Philhellene (friend of Greece),” Venizelos said. “He doubtless wants to always help Greece and the eurozone over-

MINSK: Belarusian women protect themselves with umbrellas as they sell home-grown potatoes at the roadside near the village of Pilchuki, some 210 km west of capital Minsk. — AP come its problems and, primarily, to avoid systemic dangers. “There is no doubt we have very tough fiscal limitations and we must restore our fiscal sovereignty as soon as possible through the successful implementation of our program,” he added.

FOREIGN INSPECTORS Venizelos denied suggestions foreign inspectors would be placed in ministries to check progress. “There will be no inspectors,” he said. “We can all resort to the knowhow and expertise of the EU and other member states. This does not mean inspectors will be posted or that responsibilities will be removed from the Greek parliament, the Greek government or the Greek public administration.”

Venizelos said selloffs and the reform of the tax system were among his top priorities and that he would lay out a detailed plan to fight chronic tax evasion and improve tax collection, which has fallen behind target, next week. Greece has 20 days from Saturday to set up a privatization body and Venizelos said he

would unveil its board to fellow Eurogroup ministers on July 11.

“I will announce this after I complete discussions with the opposition on the 2-3 key people, because we need the widest possible consensus,” he said. The conservative opposition has opposed the bailout, drawing criticism from EU officials, but says it agrees with some parts of the privatization plan, raising hope some political consensus can be reached.

International lenders are working on a plan to provide Greece with an additional 110 billion euros to avoid default which could hit European banks and other lenders. Asked about a warning by the S&P rating agency that banks’ plans to roll over Greek debt could be seen as default, which drove down the euro on Monday, Venizelos said it was crucial that any model included the strictly voluntary participation of private lenders. “As markets are strict and merciless, we want the format that results from the next program to have a shape that is accepted by markets and they react positively,” he said. — Reuters

Nearly 700,000 homes unsold

PAMPLONA: Alice, 49, an unemployed woman since 2010, begs for alms in front of a banner of a bank reading: ‘And for you, your bank gives you so much?’ on Carlos III street, in Pamplona northern Spain. — AP

MADRID: Spain had nearly 700,000 new homes sitting unsold at the end of last year, with more than half clustered on the countr y ’s overdeveloped coast, the government said yesterday. With demand fuelled by low interest rates and easy credit, Spain built nearly 700,000 new homes each year during most of the previous decade-as much as Britain, France and Germany com-

bined. But the global credit crunch and oversupply caused the property sector to collapse in 2008, plunging the Spanish economy into its worst recession in decades. There were 687,523 unsold homes in Spain at the end of 2010, a 0.08 percent drop from the total the previous year and the first drop since 2005, the public works, housing and transport ministry said in a statement.

The drop was fuelled by a 5.9percent increase last year in sales of new homes in Spain after three years running of falling home sales. Property purchases by foreign residents in Spain increased by 20.8 percent over 2009 as buyers took advantage of falling prices. More than half of the unsold new homes, 61 percent, are concentrated in the provinces of the coast and the Balearic and

Canary Islands, according to the ministry. The number of unsold homes in Spain has risen steadily in recent years. It stood at 195,184 at the end of 2005, nearly double from the previous year.

The unsold housing stock rose to 273,363 in 2006, 413,642 in 2007 and 613,512 in 2008. The government estimates it will take until 2014 for Spain to clear the bulk of its unsold housing stock. — AFP

y

A

27

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

TECHNOLOGY

What’s new in digital cameras?

WASHINGTON: If you’re still using an older digital camera - say, older than two years - the market has plenty of surprises in store for you.

Quietly, digital cameras have been packing on features that make taking pictures easier than ever, while introducing innovative technologies that allow you to do more with your digital camera than you probably ever imagined. Here’s a rundown of features you should look for in your next digital camera.

Great lenses Serious photographers know that the lens makes the camera. That’s why most photographers with single lens reflex cameras (SLR) often spend many times more on their lens collection than their camera collection. In the past, in fact, you had to buy a digital SLR in order to get access to great lenses.

Not anymore. A growing number of compact, affordable digital cameras are banking on consumers’ growing sophistication regarding camera equipment and are bringing out models that, while easy to carry, feature lenses that work well in low light and produce images that rival those taken by high-end digital SLRs. Panasonic’s Lumix series, Canon’s S95 IS, Nikon’s Coolpix S9100, and Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-WX5, for example, feature fast, high-quality lenses, yet retain the tiny form factor that allow the units to fit nicely into a pocket.

3D images Normal still images not vibrant enough for you? Some of the latest digital cameras feature a “3D shooting” mode, which seemingly makes images pop off of the page as though you were looking at them with 3D glasses. Cameras with 3D typically achieve the effect by digitally merging two or more captures of the same scene.

Fuji’s FinePix Real 3D and Vivitar’s 3D compact are examples of models that feature 3D images.

Sony’s TX9 offers a “3D sweep panorama” mode that records separate left- and right-eye images as you sweep across a landscape. The images are stitched together in-camera and are designed to be viewed on a 3D television set. Expect other camera makers to trot out models with 3D features in the coming months.

Self-cleaners Buying a digital SLR in the past meant having to suffer through cleaning your camera’s image sensor - the main light-gathering chip in the camera - or sending the unit in to the manufacturer to have it professionally cleaned. Neither of those options was fun. Many in the latest crop of digital SLRs, though, feature some type of selfcleaning mechanisms which eliminates the need to have the camera serviced regularly. Most of these cameras automatically clean the sensor each time you turn the camera off or on. The feature is so useful that you should probably avoid buying any new SLR without it.

Touch screens Digital cameras have almost always offered LCDs either framing images or for navigating menus. But the screens were never very easy to use. Some of today’s latest digital cameras change all that, with touch screen interfaces that make the cameras as easy and fun to use as swiping your hand across an iPhone. Sony, Samsung, Nikon, Panasonic, and Canon all offer touch-screen models.

Soft skin mode Today’s hi-res digital cameras are great for bringing out details. But guess what? Most people, when photographed, don’t want your camera to pick up every wrinkle and mole. That’s where “soft focus” comes in. It’s a processing trick that photographers have been employing postcapture for decades. But now some cameras are offering a soft focus mode right in the camera itself. Sony has several models offering a soft skin mode, as does Panasonic.

Magic focusing Perhaps the most amazing new feature introduced of late isn’t actually available on a productionmodel camera yet. But it’s coming. Manufacturer Lytro has introduced a technology that lets you focus your images after the picture has been taken.

Sounding too good to be true, the technology actually works, if the online demos are to be believed (http://www.lytro.com/picture_gallery). In essence, you can make any part of a blurry image become clearly focused just by clicking on it in software once it’s downloaded to your computer. Lytro claims that its new technology amounts to a “picture revolution.” If the after-the-fact focus feature works as well as advertised, the company just may have a point.

There’s no release date yet on the camera, and you probably shouldn’t expect it to be affordable. The manufacturer promises that the price will be below 10,000 dollars. —dpa

Avoid Google’s data gathering zeal BERLIN: Whether with Gmail, Docs, Maps, Calendar, Analytics, YouTube or its eponymous search engine, Google is always busy trying to gather as much information about its users as possible so it can craft personalized advertising.

To put a lid on that gathering frenzy, install the Firefox add-on GoogleSharing, advises German magazine iX. The expansion activates a proxy server between the user and Google, diverting search requests and, thereby, creating anonymity.

It’s also worth taking a look at the setting of the various Google services and set which data can be transmitted and stored. When setting up a Google account, it’s standard to activate something called a web history.

That means all search requests made while one is logged on are saved in a file.

That makes turning off the history a good idea. It also means you might not want to regularly be logged in with your Google account. —dpa

‘Green’ hydrogen competes with battery to power electric cars ‘Fuel cell has only a minor role to play’ BERLIN: Visitors to any major automotive show these days can easily be forgiven for thinking that they could drive home in one of the electric cars on display. Most of the models are still at the prototype stage, but the manufacturers like people to think that they are the genuine production article. Away from the hype and the bold design lines of these pioneering vehicles though, however, no one knows for sure what technology will prove to be most suitable for the regular electric car of the future. Will it rely on batteries or on the more “exotic” fuel of hydrogen to produce electricity via a fuel cell?

Some carmakers such as Germany’s Daimler are pressing ahead while experts continue to argue over which drivetrain will prevail. “Electric traction is going to accompany us into the future,” says industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer. He believes batteries and fuel cells will complement one another “whereby the fuel cell will become increasingly significant in the long run.”

Dudenhoeffer does not expect the first commercially viable fuel cells to be available until 2025. He also predicts that Daimler, and US car giant General Motors will be at the forefront of future developments. Things may move much more quickly than that, bearing in mind that Daimler has brought forward the series production of fuel cell-fitted cars by 12 months and plans to start making them in 2014. The fuel cell produces electricity by combining hydrogen (the fuel) and oxygen (from air) via a catalyst such as platinum. It also overcomes one of the main obstacles on the way to a practicable electric car, namely the vehicle’s limited range.

“Depending on the driving style and terrain, fuel-cell-powered cars can have a range of between 400 and 750 kilometres”, says Andreas Opfermann, development chief at the Munich-based industrial gases

and engineering corporation Linde.

Electric cars that rely entirely on batteries are seldom able to cover 150 or so kilometres before needing a recharge from mains electricity. The lengthy refuelling process used to be a bugbear with fuel-cell cars but there have been improvements.

“It’s now possible to carry out refuelling in the space of three minutes and that is comparable with the time needed for conventional vehicles”, explains Opfermann.

The carbon footprint of fuel-cell cars improves considerably if the electricity used to produce the hydrogen fuel comes from clean, renewable sources. Until now hydrogen has been obtained largely from burning fossil fuels such as gas, leading to the output of carbon dioxide, which in turn is detrimental to the climate.

Linde aims to produce “green” hydrogen from biogenic sources, namely organic material made from plants and animals (micro organisms). So-called biomass contains stored energy from living, or recently living organisms, such as wood, plants and other biodegradable materials. Linde is already operating a landmark hydrogen plant along these lines in the German town of Leuna.

If industrial-scale production of “green” hydrogen at a commercially viable cost

proves to be possible, Dudenhoeffer believes the fuel cell could be “the solution for the next 5,000 years.” His view is not shared by some other experts. Automotive analyst Frank Schwope who works for the North German Landesbank (NordLB), believes the fuel cell has only a minor role to play.

A number of manufacturers - such as BMW - have largely halted work on hydrogen-powered cars. Schwope believes the battery-driven electric car will establish itself alongside vehicles powered by combustion engines. In his opinion there is no room for a third technological solution.

Cost will remain a prohibitive factor for some time to come. Schwope estimates that a typical fuel-cell-powered car is likely to cost a five figure sum, more than the equivalent car fitted with a diesel or petrol engine. Car specialist Stefan Bratzel points to estimates of between 15,000 and 20,000 euros (28,000 to 35,000 dollars) in additional costs per car, largely because of the precious platinum used as a metal catalyst.

Dudenhoeffer expects that by 2025 fuelcell-powered cars off the showroom floor will cost about 20,000 to 25,000 dollars.

The lack of a comprehensive refuelling infrastructure is seen as another handicap to hydrogen in everyday use. At present

Fine-tune Windows 7 for speed WASHINGTON: Windows 7 is at least as speedy as Windows Vista. But that’s not exactly anything to boast about. You can throw the fastest hardware at Microsoft’s latest operating system, and it will be speedy enough. But there’s always room for improvement. The good news: with a few tweaks and some know-how, you can wring the most performance out of Windows 7, regardless of the computer you’re running it on. Here’s how.

Disable visual effects Windows 7’s inter face is laden with little visual effects and animations that, while impressive when you first see them, do little more than slow down the rate at which you can get things done. Luckily, you can turn off most or all of the visual effects while retaining the snazzy look of Windows 7. In fact, you can turn off just the visual effects you want to and leave the rest.

To do so, open the Start menu, and type “adjust.” One of the entries that results is “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.” Click that, and Windows 7 opens the Per formance Options dialog box.

Make sure the Visual Effects tab is selected, and remove the check mark next to the options that say “animate,” “fade,” or “slide.” Click OK. Now windows, dialog boxes, and menus will snap into view immediately rather than gradually.

Kill UAC User Account Control (UAC) is the feature that almost single-handedly made Windows Vista the most reviled Windows release in recent memory.

UAC was originally designed as a security feature. It keeps an eye out

for potentially harmful changes to your system and prompts you to confirm something that might be a threat. Unfor tunately, under the rubric of “potential threat” fall such harmless activities as installation a new application or downloading a file from the internet that you know is safe. Microsoft wisely made UAC a bit less obtrusive in Windows 7. But best of all, it make UAC easy to disable.

That’s why one of the first things that savvy Windows users do with Windows 7 is visit the UAC slider dia-

board.” Click the Keyboard entr y under the Control Panel section, and Windows 7 open the Keyboard Properties dialog box. From there, make sure the Speed tab is selected, and move the Repeat Delay slider to “Short.” Click OK, and from that point forward, Windows will react much faster when you hold down a letter within any text application.

log box. Do it by opening the Start menu, typing UAC, and selecting “Change User Account Control settings.” In the resulting User Account Control Settings dialog box, move the “notify” slider all the way to the bottom, for “Never notify.” And that will be the end of the annoying UAC slowdowns.

Set your PC for maximum performance Windows 7 actually throttles down performance of certain components at certain times in order to save energy. Those components include the hard drive and processor (CPU). So if you’re more concerned with ensuring that your PC always operates at its fastest while you’re using it, you can turn off power saving features. Just open the Star t menu, and type “power options.”

Click the Power Options entry that appears. In the resulting dialog box, select the “Change advanced power settings” link, and use the control in the dialog box that follows to adjust your PC for maximum performance at all times. —dpa

Speed up your keyboard Part of what can make Windows 7 - or any previous version of Windows - seem slow is the rate at which the cursor moves when you hold down a key. That’s why one of the first things you should do after a new installation of Windows 7 is to adjust the keyboard speed. Do that by opening the Star t menu and typing “key-

Remove unused features Windows 7 comes loaded with a bunch of features you probably never use. Whether you use them or not, however, they’ll slow your system down. So turn off the ones you don’t need. Open the Start menu, and type Windows Features. Then click the “Turn Windows features on or off ” entry that appears. The Windows Features dialog box opens, and from there, you can de-select any feature that you never use. Prime candidates are the “Windows Gadget Platform,” “Games,” and “Indexing Service.”

Germany has about 30 hydrogen refuelling stations, seven of which are open to the general public and located in large urban areas such as Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.

Another eight are slated to come on stream at the beginning of 2012 and Daimler aims to join forces with Linde to establish another 20 additional facilities over the next three years. Each refuelling station will cost about 1 million euros.

Experts believe a network of an estimated 1,000 refuelling stations across the country is needed in order for the infrastructure to be on par with service stations offering fossil fuels, and establishing this would cost a staggering 1.5 to 2 billion euros.

Achieving this will take the best part of 20 years, believes Dudenhoeffer. Bratzel adds, “I don’t expect this infrastructure to be established over the next five to eight years.” Three fuel-cell cars from Daimler have successfully toured the globe, but this notable achievement will not necessarily help the technology achieve a breakthrough.

So far Daimler has only committed itself to a small-scale production run of 200 cars with fuel-cell power - a tiny proportion of the 42 million cars currently in use on German roads. —dpa

Minors may buy violent video games WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court Monday overturned a California bill that banned the sale or rental of violent video games to minors. In a 72 decision, the court declared that the bill was an unconstitutional infringement on freedom of speech, and upheld an earlier decision by the San Francisco-based federal appeals court.

The California legislature passed the ban on sales of violent games to minors in 2005, when Arnold Schwarzenegger was still governor. It was intended to keep gamers under the age of 18 from acquiring video games that included “killing, maiming, dismembering or sexually assaulting an image of a human being.” The state argued that such games fell within the realm of sexual materials, making the state well within its right to restrict them to minors.

The court disagreed. “Even where the protection of children is the object, the constitutional limits on governmental action apply,” Justice Antonin Scalia said in the court’s lead opinion.

The industr y trade group Enter tainment Software Association (ESA) was one of the lead parties in the court challenge. One of its high profile members, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (TTWO), makes the popular and violent video game Grand Theft Auto.

“This is a historic and complete win for the first amendment and the creative freedom of artists and storytellers everywhere,” ESA president and CEO Michael Gallagher declared in a statement. He said the court decision meant “that parents, not government bureaucrats, have the right to decide what is appropriate for their children.” —dpa

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

AIDS activists outraged after gay ‘disease’ remarks in India Homosexuality a ‘disease’ PARIS: Angry campaigners yesterday said India’s health minister was hampering the fight against AIDS after he branded homosexuality a “disease” which had been introduced to the country by foreigners.

The International AIDS Society, which organises the world’s AIDS conferences, blasted the remarks as “irresponsible (and) homophobic.” “(They) are a sad testament to how far the world still has to go to before its gay, lesbian and transgender citizens can enjoy the same health care and human rights as the rest of the population,” Bertrand Audoin, the IAS executive director, told AFP. “Such comments can

serve only to negatively impact the lives of gay people who already struggle with inherent discrimination,” he warned.

Stigma “places significant obstacles in the path of effective HIV/AIDS prevention efforts by driving gay people away from the HIV prevention, treatment and care that some of them desperately need,” Audoin said. The UN agency UNAIDS issued a statement from the sidelines of the meeting in New Delhi where Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad made the controversial remarks.

UNAIDS did not mention Azad by name, but pointedly said it

“rejects prejudice and misconceptions” about men who have sex with men. “UNAIDS does not regard homosexuality as a disease,” its executive director, Michel Sidibe, said. He pointed to UN guidelinespublished just two weeks earlierthat calls on countries to implement laws which protect gays and transgender people from discrimination and violence.

Azad, speaking at a national meeting of district and mayoral leaders on HIV/AIDS prevention, declared homosexuality to be “unnatural and not good for India”.

“It is a disease which has come from other countries,” he added. “Even

NEW DELHI: File photo shows an Indian transgender dancing during a gay pride parade in New Delhi.

Yesterday, Indian gay rights activists were outraged by the remark made by the Indian health minister who described homosexuality as a “disease” and man-with-man sex to be “unnatural”. — AFP

Couch potatoes double risk of lung blood clots PARIS: Lying around for long stretches outside of work doubles the risk of dangerous blood clots in the lungs, according to a study among women released yesterday. The study looked at the risk of pulmonary embolism-blood clots in the lungs that typically arise from a vein constriction in the legs-among 69,950 female nurses over an 18-year period.

Previous research has highlighted a number of factors for this condition, including age, immobility on long-haul flights, obesity, smoking and hypertension. The new research suggests that a sedentary lifestyle can be added to the list. Over the 18-year study period, there were 268 cases of pulmonary embolism.

The risk more than doubled in women who spent more than 41 hours a week sitting down outside the workplace compared to those who were seated for less than 10 hours per week. Results held even after age, weight and tobacco consumption were taken into account.

The study, published online by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), is led by Christopher Kabrhel at Massachusetts General Hospital. Researchers called for further work to see if the results also applied to men, and to people not of European origin. They also pointed out that the mean age of the women studied was 55, leaving open the question of whether younger women would be subject to the same risks. — AFP

Late talkers do fine as they grow up: Study NEW YORK: In good news for parents of children who talk late, an Australian study shows that a slow start on language is unlikely to have lingering effects on the children’s mental health. Andrew Whitehouse and colleagues at the University of Western Australia, followed late talkers into their teens in an unusual long-term study and found that they were no more likely to be shy, depressed or aggressive than their peers as they great up.

“Expressive vocabulary delay at the age of 2 years is not in itself a risk factor for later behavioral and emotional disturbances,” the group wrote in Pediatrics. That means a “wait-andsee” approach may be just fine for toddlers with a language lag, as long as they develop typically in other areas.

Between 7 to 18 percent of children have language delays at two years, although most catch up by the time they start school. Some research has suggested that these toddlers may face psychological problems, but whether that matters later on has been unclear.

The study followed more than 1,400 two-year-olds whose parents had filled out a language development survey asking about the words

their child would use spontaneously.

A two-year-old typically says a few hundred words, but there is a lot of variation. About one of every 10 two-year-olds in the study was a late talker, scoring in the lowest 15 percent on a list of 310 common words.

The late-talking toddlers also appeared to have more psychological problems, according to questions on a child behavior checklist that parents answered. For instance, 13 percent of the late talkers had “internalizing” behavior-such as being shy, sad or underactive-compared to 8 percent of their peers who were “faster” talkers. But that difference had vanished at age five, when their parents were approached again. It didn’t reappear for as long as the children were followed, up until age 17.

According to Whitehouse and his colleagues, that hints that the reason more late talkers had early behavioral problems is likely because they are frustrated by not being able to communicate effectively, not because there is something else wrong. But they added that it’s important to pay attention if the children don’t catch up, because persistent language deficits have been tied to mental health problems. — Reuters

though it is unnatural, it exists in our country and is now fast spreading, making it tough to detect it.”

Britain’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, the Terrence Higgins Trust, said Azad was ironically “perpetuating the anti-gay prejudice” of India’s colonial rulers. “Same-sex activity is celebrated in many historical texts and paintings of Indian origin, but anti-gay laws were brought in by the British in 1860,” observed Lisa Power, the trust’s policy director.

“UNAIDS has made it clear that anti-gay prejudice and discrimination makes it harder for a country to successfully combat HIV, so the minister needs both a history lesson and a health promotion one.”

The controversy brewed almost two years to the day after the Delhi High Court scrapped colonial-era laws against “carnal intercourse against the order of nature.”

Conviction carried a fine and maximum 10-year jail sentence.

It comes just weeks after the 30th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic, where the world’s nations recommitted themselves to fighting the disease, including discrimination. AIDS campaigners say groups such as homosexuals, sex workers, intravenous drug users and prison inmates are highly vulnerable to the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Criminalising or stigmatising such groups helps HIV spread swiftly within these social niches and then leap out into the wider population, they say. It was on June 4 1981 that the first cases of what would be called acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), a disease that wrecks the body’s defences and opens the way to opportunistic infection, were first noted among American homosexuals.

Within a short time, HIV was found to be transmissible to heterosexuals too, through sexual intercourse and blood transfusions and from an infected mother to her foetus. Around 30 million people have died of AIDS since 1981 and 33.3 million live with HIV, UNAIDS said in a report last year. — AFP

Fukushima residents dump radiated soil FUKUSHIMA: They scoop up soil from their gardens and dump it in holes dug out in parks and nearby forests, scrub their roofs with soap and refuse to let their children play outside. More than three months after a massive earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear meltdown at a nearby power plant, Fukushima residents are scrambling to cope with contamination on their own in the absence of a long-term plan from the government.

“Everything and everyone here is paralysed and we feel left on our own, unsure whether it’s actually safe for us to stay in the city,” said Akiko Itoh, 42, with her four-year old son in her lap. Even though this city of 300,000 lies outside of the 30-km (20 mile) evacuation zone around the crippled Fukushima Daiichi plant, a recent survey showed radiation levels in several spots exceed 13 millisieverts per year, more than six times natural levels.

As increasingly panicked residents take matters into their own hands, experts warn that their do-it-yourself efforts to reduce contamination risk making matters worse by allowing radiation to spread without monitoring and by creating hotspots of high radioactivity where soil is piled high. “I scooped up all the radioactive soil and grass from my garden and dumped it in the forest, so no one could find it,” said a mother of a four-year-old child from Fukushima city, who did not want to be identified by name.

“When I put my Geiger counter close to that mountain of soil it showed 10 microseverts per hour,” she said. That is more than four times the official annual nuclear exposure limit. Others were spotted dumping their nuclear waste in public parks and by the river, residents said. Experts say the longer it takes Japanese authorities to organise a clean-up the greater the risk of additional, long-lasting damage.

“Such clusters of radiation can also leak into the groundwater and pose more health hazards for a sustained period,” said Takumi Gotoh, a Nagoya-based cancer specialist. “That’s why Japan urgently needs a comprehensive, long-term plan to deal with the issue,” Gotoh said. Since late May authorities have been removing topsoil from school grounds in the affected areas, by packing it in tarps and burying it in holes in the grounds as a stopgap measure intended to reduce exposure for children.

“They say this is just a temporary solution. But we are worried they may take years before removing the contaminated soil for good,” says Seiichi Nakate from “Fukushima Network for Saving Children from Radiation,” a non-profit citizens group. Experts have said that they don’t know and can’t yet estimate how much radioactive soil might have to be removed after Fukushima, but say the amount will be massive based on historical precedent.

For example, after British nuclear testing in remote South Australia that ended in 1963, more than two cubic kilometers of soil had to be removed. After an American B52 carrying nuclear bombs crashed in south Spain in 1966, more than 1,000 cubic meters of soil had to be removed and sent back to the United States for storage as nuclear waste. Many see the best storage site as the Fukushima nuclear plant, but experts warn that will mean waiting until at least 2012 when efforts to stabilize the plant are scheduled to wind down. “The soil ultimately should be taken to those who are responsible for this mess, that is Tokyo Electric,” said Nakate. The International Commission on Radiological Protection has issued guidelines that urge governments dealing with a nuclear emergency to set up a radiation monitoring system with a detailed read-out on hotspots and a health monitoring system for the affected population. — Reuters

This photo provided by NASA shows the sun, a portion of the International Space Station and Earth’s horizon in a photograph made by a spacewalker using a fisheye lens during a space walk. — AP

Space shuttle’s legacy: Soaring in orbit and costs CAPE CANAVERAL: The space shuttle was sold to America as cheap, safe and reliable.

It was none of those. It cost $196 billion over 40 years, ended the lives of 14 astronauts and managed to make less than half the flights promised. Yet despite all that, there were some big achievements that weren’t promised: major scientific advances, stunning photos of the cosmos, a high-flying vehicle of diplomacy that helped bring Cold War enemies closer, and something to brag about.

Former President George H.W. Bush, who oversaw the early flights, said the shuttle program “authored a truly inspiring chapter in the history of human exploration.” NASA’s first space shuttle flight was in April 1981. The 135th and final launch is set for July 8. Once Atlantis lands at the end of a 12-day mission, it and the other two remaining shuttles are officially museum pieces — more expensive than any paintings.

America has done far more for far less.

The total price tag for the program was more than twice the $90 billion NASA originally calculated. The nation spent more on the space shuttle than the combined cost of soaring to the moon, creating the atomic bomb and digging the Panama Canal, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using figures from NASA and the Smithsonian Institution and adjusting for inflation. Even its most ardent supporters concede that the shuttle program never lived up to its initial promise. The selling point when it was conceived four decades ago was that with weekly launches, getting into space would be relatively inexpensive and safe. That wasn’t the case. “But there is no embarrassment in setting the bar impossibly high and then failing to clear it,” said former astronaut Duane Carey, who flew in 2002. “What matters is that we strived mightily to do so — and we did strive mightily. The main legacy left by the shuttle program is that of a magnificent failure.” Of the five shuttles built, two were lost in fiery tragedies. The most shuttle flights taken in one year was nine — far from the promised 50.

The program also managed to make blasting into space seem everyday dull by going to the same place over and over again. Shuttles circled the planet 20,830 times, but went nowhere really new. The shuttle’s epitaph is “we tried,” said Hans Mark, a former deputy NASA administrator who oversaw most of the first dozen launches. Six years ago, then-NASA chief Michael Griffin even called the shuttle program a mistake.

But as a mistake it is one that paid off in wildly unexpected ways that weren’t about money and reliability. “The discoveries it enabled, the international cooperation it fostered and the knowledge it gained — often at great human cost — has also contributed in countless, important ways to humanity and our common progress,” President Bush wrote The Associated Press in an email. Bush oversaw the program’s early days as vice president, a job that has traditionally included supervising NASA. There are the magnificent photos from the Hubble Space Telescope, which helped pinpoint the age of the universe and demonstrated the existence of mysterious dark energy; the ongoing labwork on the International Space Station; a multitude of satellites for everything from spying to climate change; and spacecraft that explore the solar system. All owe their existence to the space shuttle. The Hubble was not just launched from the shuttle — it was repaired and upgraded five times by shuttle astronauts. They also captured and fixed satellites in orbit. Earlier this year, shuttle astronauts installed a $2 billion particle physics experiment on the space station that may find evidence of dark matter and better explain aspects of how the universe was formed. Add the intangibles of near continuous American presence in space over three decades and a high-flying venue for both international diplomacy and school science lessons. Like a real life version of the television show “Star Trek,” the shuttle was a United Nations in space, carrying representatives of 16 other countries. The U.S. and Russia became close partners in space and Russian rocket scientists after the breakup of the Soviet Union found new employment. NASA’s current boss said all that is not something that should be ignored. The shuttle also diversified space to make it seem more like Earth, sending the first American woman, the first African-American and teachers, lawmakers and even a former migrant farmworker into orbit.

“The space shuttle program reaffirmed,

once again, American dominance in space and laid the foundation for the United States to continue its long-standing leadership beyond our home planet,” NASA Administrator and former shuttle commander Charles Bolden wrote in an email.

“The shuttle program evolved over its lifetime and gave us many firsts and many proud national moments, along with painful lessons.” University of Colorado science policy professor Roger Pielke Jr., who studies shuttle costs and policies, said there are probably other ways the U.S. could have spent several billion dollars a year on a human space program and gotten more.

Launching like a rocket and landing like an airplane, the shuttle was the ultimate hybrid. It acts both as a space taxi, carrying astronauts, and has the muscle of a long-distance trucker, hauling heavy machinery. That versatility translated into higher costs. When spaceships carry people, extra safety requirements add hefty expenses. Rockets that haul big pieces of equipment — like station segments or a giant telescope — require more power and fuel, which means more cost. The shuttle has both of those problems that escalate the price. When the shuttle succeeded, it did so in a spectacular way. But its failures were also large and tragic. Seven astronauts perished when Challenger exploded about a minute after launch in 1986 and seven more died when Columbia burned up as it returned to Earth in 2003.

One out of every 67 flights ended in death — a fatality rate that would make the most ardent aredevil cringe. Based on deaths per million miles traveled, the space shuttle is 138 times riskier than a passenger jet.

Former astronaut and past NASA associate administrator Scott Horowitz said, “While the shuttle is the most magnificent engineering feat, its complexity and the naIve belief that it would be as safe as an airliner was its Achilles heel.” One problem is that the shuttle was a compromise from start to finish, said Howard McCurdy, a professor at American University and author of several books on the space agency. The shuttle had to satisfy both NASA and the Department of Defense, which dictated the exact shape of its wings and the size of its payload bay, said Roger Launius, senior curator at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. The concept behind it was based on a three-step space plan, ultimately ending on Mars, said George Mueller, the former top official who is credited as the father of the space shuttle program. To get to Mars, NASA needed a space station circling Earth as a jumping-off point. To get to the space station, NASA wanted a completely reusable space shuttle.

In 1971, President Nixon gave NASA only the shuttle. It had no place to go. The space station wasn’t built until 1998. Worst of all, Mueller said, was that the plan to make ever y part of the shuttle fully reusable was dropped. Budget cuts ordered by the Nixon White House meant that the fuel tank would be jettisoned with each flight and the boosters would fall into the ocean after launch and have to be retrieved and refurbished extensively.

Those changes made to save upfront money, while they sound small, meant adding incredible expense to every flight, Mueller said in an interview.

The shuttle will likely go down in history as an anomaly of America’s space program.

The spacecraft before it were disposable capsules, like Apollo. And the designs for machines of the near future are also for the most part disposable capsules. That suggests that the 30 years of reusable shuttles that landed like airplanes were a diversion from the natural evolution of rocketry, said McCurdy.

It may be an anomaly, but astronauts call it an engineering marvel in both versatility and complexity. John Glenn, who flew in a Mercury capsule as well as the shuttle, called it “the perfect vehicle for its time.” He said like any pilot he’d prefer to fly the shuttle and called it a much smoother ride. But he said he understands why the future looks more like his old Mercury capsules.

“As far as expense, simplification and cutting costs, the capsule is by far cheaper,” the 89-year-old former senator said in a telephone interview from his Columbus, Ohio, office on Friday. “ The shuttle is an amazing piece of machinery,” astronaut Stan Love said. “It blows away anything that can fly now or in the next 30 years.” However, when it comes to fulfilling the promise made four decades ago, Love retells a joke heard often around NASA: The space shuttle was supposed to be cheap, safe and turn spaceflight into something so routine it would be boring.

One out of three ain’t bad. — AP

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

he a lt h & s c ie n c e

Mental health fears mount over cattle ban SYDNEY: Fears mounted yesterday over the mental health of farmers hit hard by Australia’s ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia as one stockman prepared to shoot 3,000 cows he cannot afford to keep. Nico Botha, of Moola Bulla station in Western Australia, told state broadcaster ABC that he would begin killing the animals as soon as today. “We’d rather shoot them now than go through overgrazing, dying in the paddocks, struggling to get the paddocks better again,� he said. “That’s going to take us another three years, so (we’d) rather do our decision now than go through all the other dramas.� Botha said he knew of other cattle farmers who would also have to cull following the government’s decision to halt exports a month ago, after a public outcry about shocking images of mistreatment in Indonesian slaughterhouses.

Indonesia and Australia are yet to agree on mutual slaughter standards which must be in place before cattle can be shipped north again. Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig has said he could not predict when live exports to

Indonesia would resume, with the suspension set to last anywhere up to November.

Northern Territor y Cattlemen’s Association executive director Luke Bowen said the longer the ban was in place the harder it would become for farmers to survive, with mental illness now a major concern. “Every producer is facing problems in terms of feed supply and their financial position and the longer the situation is allowed to fester, the worse it will get,� he told AFP. “We are talking with a number of producers who are in danger of going out of business because of this manmade disaster. “The psychological impact is enormous. People have invested their whole lives in this and to see it going down the gurgler (drain), and the government’s lame attempts at compensation, is hard to take.�

So far the government has put up Aus$33 million ($35 million) in compensation for affected farmers and the animal welfare charity RSPCA said there was no reason cattle should be shot. “There is a government and industry fund to assist producers during this period,� spokes-

woman Lisa Chalk said. “As such no producer should need to be shooting their animals.� While the National Farmers Federation said it did not want to see cattle killed, it also voiced concerns about mental health problems. “Moola Bulla station is the first report we’ve heard where a farmer feels he has to kill his cattle and it is not something we can condone, but we sympathise,� spokeswoman Ruth Redfern said. “The mental impact of this ban is of real concern. Farmers are already recognised as among the worst group of suicide threats. They had already done it tough with drought even before this latest crisis.� Nigel Scullion, deputy leader of the Nationals party, forecast the government would be spending much more on mental health assistance for farmers before the issue was resolved. “(It’s) Aus$120,000 a day worth of cattle he’ll be shooting,� he said of Botha. “This particular crisis is going to be a crisis in human terms. “I don’t know how (farmers) are going to recover from it now, let alone how they’re going to recover as the weeks roll out.� — AFP

A Word of Solutions

Painkillers linked to heartbeat risks LONDON: Common painkillers such as ibuprofen are linked to an increased risk of irregular heartbeat, experts have said. Nonselective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been found in previous studies to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke if taken regularly.

Now experts writing yesterday in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) say the drugs together with a group of anti-inflammatories known as selective COX-2 inhibitors could increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythm.

The condition (also known as atrial fibrillation) can increase the chances of suffering a stroke, heart failure and death.

Danish researchers analysed data for more than 32,000 patients with abnormal heart rhythm who were diagnosed between 1999 and 2008, and compared them with healthy

people. The group was broken down according to whether people used the drugs over the long term or had started them more recently. Compared with people who did not take the drugs, recent users were about 40 percent more likely to suffer irregular heart beat if they were on NSAIDs and 70 percent more likely if they were on COX-2 inhibitors.

This equates to about four extra cases of atrial fibrillation per year per 1,000 new users of NSAIDs and seven extra cases among new users of COX-2 inhibitors. The risk appeared highest in older people. Those taking COX-2 inhibitors for rheumatoid arthritis were at particular risk. The authors concluded “Our study thus adds evidence that atrial fibrillation or flutter need to be added to the cardiovascular risks under consideration when prescribing NSAIDs�. — KUNA

A Al-Seef Hospital Hospital Neurology Ne eurology Dept.

Dept Al Seef Hospital is proud to aannounce nnounce the opening of Ne Neurology urology Dept. under the sup supervision pervision of Dr.r. Raed Alroughani / Consult Dr Consultant tant Neurologist & Multiple Sclerosis Specialist Â&#x2DC; Cb`m WYfh]Z]YX Ai`h]d`Y GW`Yfcg]g GdYW]U`]gh ]b ?ikU]h Â&#x2DC; Cb`m WYfh]Z]YX Ai`h]d`Y GW`Yfcg]g GdYW]U`]gh ]b ?ikU]h Â&#x2DC; 7 cadfY\Ybg]jY bYifc`c[]WU` aUbU[YaYbh h\fci[\ dUh]Ybh!WYbhhYfYX cihWcaY Â&#x2DC; 7cadfY\Ybg]jY bYifc`c[]WU` aUbU[YaYbh h\fci[\ dUh]Ybh!WYbhYfYX cihWcaY Â&#x2DC; 5 Ai`h]!X]gW]d`]bUfm 5ddfcUW\ h\\fci[\ Ub YZZYWh]jY dUh]Ybh!d\mgg]W]Ub Wcaaib]WUh]cb UbX fY`Uh]cbg\]d Â&#x2DC; 5 Ai`h]!X]gW]d`]bUfm 5ddfcUW\ h\fci[\ Ub YZZYWh]jY dUh]Ybh!d\mg]W]Ub Wcaaib]WUh]cb UbX fY`Uh]cbg\]d Offfering the following Diagnosis and treatment of major neurological Offering neuroological disorders: Â&#x2DC; < YUXUW\Yg Â&#x2DC; 8]nn]bYgg Â&#x2DC; BYW_ UbX VUW_ dU]b Â&#x2DC; GY]nifYg 99d]`Ydgm Â&#x2DC; Ai`h]d`Y GW`Yfcg]g Â&#x2DC; <YUXUW\Yg Â&#x2DC; 8]nn]bYgg Â&#x2DC; BYW_ UbX VUW_ dU]b Â&#x2DC; GY]nifYg 9d]`Ydgm Â&#x2DC; Ai`h]d`Y GW`Yfcg]g Â&#x2DC; A AcjYaYbh X]gcfXYfg Y"[ hfYacf [ f DUf_]bgcb g X]gYUgY Â&#x2DC; AigW

W`Y X]gYUgYg Â&#x2DC; 8YaYbh]U X]gYUUgY Â&#x2DC; AcjYaYbh X]gcfXYfg Y"[ hfYacf DUf_]bgcb g X]gYUgY Â&#x2DC; AigW`Y X]gYUgYg Â&#x2DC; 8YaYbh]U X]gYUgY - Procedures: P Â&#x2DC; 99 9; Â&#x2DC; BYfjY 7cbXiWh]cb GhiXm UbX 9A; Â&#x2DC; 99; Â&#x2DC; BYfjY 7cbXiWh]cb GhiXm UbX 9A; Â&#x2DC; J]giU` 9jc_YX DchYbh]U`g ]giU` 9jc_YX DchYbh]U`g Â&#x2DC; J Reservation inquires: For Reser vation and Further F

25764145 - 60 60012078 0012078

To advertise a on tthis page l t t us: please contact

Dermatology tology & CCosmetology osmetology t Derma t General Medicine t Int Internal ernal Medicine t Ent tO Ophthalmology phthalmology t PPeadiatric eadiatric t Ob & G Gynecology ynecology

tO Orthopedic rthopedic t XX-ray -ray & Ultrasonograph Ultrasonography g y t General Ph Physician ysician t Dental t LLaboratory aboratory t Pharmac Pharmacyy

Cosmetology C osmetology C Clinic. linic.

248 33 199 ads@kuwaittimes.net

Non N on SSurgical urggical FFacelift, acelifft, Antii AAgeing ggeingg W Wrinkle rinkle Frown Li / Pigmenta Pigmentation D b Chin Frown Lines g tion Double Chin Correction Botox Correction i Sk SSkin kiin RRejuvenation ejuv ox / FFillers illers j enation Bot Painless Laser Laser Hair emoval Dermar ollerr, Painless Removal Dermaroller, H i R Skin Brighting Skin Whitening Whitening & Brightin ng VVail aail TTreatment reatment

Wee A W Accept ccept All All Major Ma ajjor IInsuramce nsuramce C Cards ards FARWANIYA FA ARWANIYYA - OPP. OPP P. POLICE POL LICE STATION ST TATION T Behind B ehind Magadheer Magadheer Commercial Comm mercial Complex Complex

s - 65561619 TEL: 24734000 6

shifakuwait@gmail.com shifak uwait@g gmail.com www.shifakuwait.com www.shifakuwait.com Working m to to 12:00am Working i Hours: 8.00 am

y

A

30

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

W H AT ’ S O N

Al-Asma’ei High School for Boys holds graduation ceremony

A

l-Asma’ei High School for Boys held a ceremony at the Radisson SAS Hotel to celebrate the graduation of its scientific and arts sectors’ 12 grade students. The event was attended by the school’s administration and staff, as well as the graduates’ families.

Celebrating Australian indigenous culture

T

Glenn Miles, Australian Ambassador to Kuwait and Embassy staff.

he Australian Ambassador to Kuwait, Glenn Miles, announced the Embassy’s celebration of Australian Indigenous culture through NAIDOC Week, being held from 3 to 10 July.

Each year in July, NAIDOC celebrations are held around Australia to honour the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC Week celebrates the survival of Indigenous culture and the Indigenous contribution to modern Australia. The Embassy’s celebrations are part of this.

The theme for this year’s NAIDOC celebrations is “Change:

The next step is ours”. The theme reflects the work being done by Indigenous people across Australia who are taking responsibility for their own future and shaping the changes they want to see in their communities.

NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair, Ben Mitchell, said the theme is about taking responsibility for the future. “To ensure a brighter outlook for all Indigenous Australians, government, business and individuals must work together to take the next step and make positive changes.”

Throughout NAIDOC Week, hundreds of events are held throughout Australia and in

Australian Embassies to encourage people to learn about, experience and celebrate Indigenous culture and the achievements of Indigenous people.

As part of this, the Australian Embassy is displaying posters and Indigenous and artworks by Aboriginal artists including ‘Women Hunting for Bush Tucker at Yuelhgjamu’ by Linny Nampajimpa, and ‘Jarla Jukurrpa’,

by Bessie Nakamarra Sims.

During NAIDOC Week, the Embassy also flies the Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag which were both proclaimed Flags of Australia in 1995.

The Australian Aboriginal Flag

and Torres Strait Islander Flag l Black - represents the Aboriginal people of Australia l Yellow disk - represents the Sun, the giver of life and protector l Red - represents the red earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies and Aboriginal peoples’ spiritual relation to the land l Green - represents the land l Black - represents the Indigenous peoples l Blue - represents the sea l White - represents peace Those interested in receiving further information on NAIDOC Week should contact the Embassy or visit www.naidoc.org.au/.

Crowne Plaza Kuwait celebrates service at Kuwait Sea Sports Club

L

abor is dignity and work is worship - and at Crowne Plaza Kuwait, every act of service is appreciated and acknowledged. In line with this acknowledgement, the management of the hotel held its Celebrate Service Week at the Kuwait Sea Sports Club for all its employees.

Divided into 2 days, every department complete from the HOD to the last employee had the chance to take a break from work and have an evening out with their families. Fun, games, food and plenty of activities filled the evening with lots of surprises in store for those present.

Hotel Manager, Ahmed Serafi, inaugurated the activities of both days, expressing his gratitude to the staffs, appreciation for all their

hard work and encouraging them to continue their dedication towards achieving the common

goal of the InterContinental Hotels Group, which is Great Hotels Guests Love.

Warm summer air and the salty tang of the sea in the vicinity heightened the excitement as the employees and their families took a break from their daily routines and indulged in good, healthy fun and play.

Around the world, every hotel brand belonging to the IHG brand celebrated their staff and the services rendered by them in this highly innovative and motivational Celebrate Service Week.

We at Crowne Plaza Kuwait believe in the saying - all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. So why don’t you go ahead, break the routine and savor some good moments of fun and freedom with your family and loved ones? You won’t believe how refreshing it can be!

Design & design book of the year features Paragon’s work

P

aragon Marketing Communications one of Kuwait’s leading advertising agency has its work featured in Design and Design.com annual publication “Design and Design.com book of the year.”

The publication includes work that has been featured on the homepage of the website of the same name (designanddesign.com) during the entire year of 2010. The publication features work from all over the world and is dedicated to 365 days of design. Specially catering to designers, the book showcases work and acts as an inspirational tool for all the designers around the world showcasing the latest trends in graphic design. The book is designed by the world renowned Mark Praquin and features work from countries such as Albania to Zimbabwe.

Paragon Marketing Communications recently announced its venture into the Omani market, Paragon International as it realizes its aim of being a truly global integrated marketing communications agency.

Paragon Marketing Communications has won a total of 52 international, regional and local awards

on creativity and also has been featured in 18 international books on advertising and graphic design: 1000 More Greetings by Rockport Publications; The Best of Business Card Design by Sibley/Peteet Design/Austin, Letterhead & Logo Design 9 by The San Francisco Design Office Mine, Letterhead & Logo Design 11 by Design Army, Logo Lounge 4 by Bill Gardner, Identity Crisis by Jeff Fisher, The Big Book of Self promotion by Peleg Top and Ilise Benun, Logo Lounge Master Library 3000 Initial & Crest Logos and Logo Lounge Master Library 3000 Initial & Mythology Logos by Catharine Fishel and Bill Gardner, Recycling & Redesigning Logos by Michael Hodgson, Really Good Logos Explained

by Margo Chase, Rian Hughes, Ron Miriello and Alex White, Portfolios 01 by Maura Keller, Crack, Celebrations Graphics Sourcebook by John Stones, Kuwait Arab Advertising Award Book, Complete Graphic Designer by Ryan Hembree, Creating Great Graphic Design to a Budget by Scott Witham Reference to Paragon Marketing Communications work is available on www.paragonmc.com.

Family conference

H

ome land family conference of KTMCC (Kuwait Town Malalyali Christian Congregation) will be conducted on July 23 at Kumbanadu, Kerala including its ex-members and the present members who are on vacation at that time. Meantime it decided to honor those who completed age of 70 and above. For the registration of conference to visit www.ktmcc.com or to contact HFC (Home land family conference) Kerala Chapter Convener T. John Mathew Mob: (+91) 94463-68878 or Secretary Roy. K.Yohannan 66570486.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

31

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy Information 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

Fatima Al-Saraawi High School graduation ceremony

T

he Fatima Al-Saraawi High School for Girls celebrated its 2010/2011 graduation ceremony held at the Sheraton Hotel.

It was attended by the school’s staff and the students’ families.

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

Perfect summer getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait

B

reak the daily routine and enjoy some peace of mind with an outstanding getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait; a destination to experience a pleasant summer away from the regular city life. The summer package on offer promises guests absolute comfort and leisure in one spot with quick access to its various amenities.

In close proximity to Marina Mall and the Crescent, guests can enjoy the vibrant white sands, private beach along with the three pools: lap pool, kid’s pool, chilly pool and the pool bar - all not far away from your favourite shopping destination. Guests can unwind in the superior rooms at a rate starting from KD 66 which include free access to the hotel’s multitude facilities and services, gym, beach and pool area.

Personal swimming lessons are also offered to those aiming to experience this summer to its fullest, whereas fitness lovers can freely access the Coral Reef Health Club plus the squash courts to keep the daily exercises on a roll.

Experience fine dining at the hotel’s two renowned restaurants with their freshly prepared, appetizing delicacies.

‘The Six Palms’ restaurant serves a scrumptious breakfast buffet, while the ‘Atlantis’ restaurant, which specializes in International and Mediterranean cuisines, would be an exceptional choice for the mouth-watering aroma of its fresh menu choices.

During your stay don’t forget to pass

by The Six Palms restaurant which is an exotic dining establishment serving Oriental cuisine in the form of Middle Eastern food. The restaurant is also able to provide entertainment as diverse as the cuisine including the music of the best playing Oud on Thursday night.

A number of restaurants and play-

grounds are also part of the Marina development, making it an ideal location for family leisure. The award winning Marina Hotel Kuwait is the destination to be this summer for its dedication to a unique guest experience and high standard of quality service.

Hurry and reserve your rooms now not to miss out on The Marina Hotel’s 2011 summer package.

Malayalam classes begin

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.

To ensure that the most recent version of the Temporary Resident Visa application form is being utilized, applicants should refer to the CIC website.

As of January 15, 2011, forms are to be filled in electronically. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. 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

T

he classes at Salmiya zone started as part of the free Malayalam classes conducted by Kala, Kuwait. General Convener P.K. Janrdhanan inaugurated the classes by reciting poems and stories and it was attended by a large crowd which

included the parents as well as other Samithi members.

Bhashasamithi Joint Convener Rajan C.Kulakkada briefed on the allocation of the classes. Kala president Sam Pynumood presided the meeting in which felicita-

tions were delivered by Geetha Krishnan, Kiran.P. Nair, Madhusoodhanan, Shailesh Kannoth, P.V.Mustafa and Vinodh John. Jay Jose, Cicily Thomas, Joji Jacob and Bindu Mathew are the teachers who will be taking the various classes.

Kala, Kuwait Salmiya unit convenor, R.Suresh Babu welcomed all whereas Mathubhasha Samithi regional Joint Convener Reji K.Jacon rendered the vote of thanks. For details contact: 97496171 or 99630856

EMBASSY OF SLOVAK REPUBLIC On the occasion of the Day of the Apostles St. Cyril and St. Methodius, the Embassy of the Slovak Republic was closed yesterday (Tuesday, July 05, 2011) and will resume its duties today (Wednesday, July 06, 2011). The Business hours of the Consular Section is from Monday to Wednesday from 10:00 till 13:00 hrs.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 01:40 Untamed & Uncut 02:35 Venom Hunter with Donald Schultz 03:30 Wildest Africa 04:25 Buggin’ with Ruud 05:20 Animal Cops Houston 06:10 Cats 101 07:00 Lemur Street 07:25 The Really Wild Show 07:50 Jeff Corwin Unleashed 08:15 Natural Born Hunters 08:40 Breed All About It 09:10 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 10:05 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 11:00 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 11:55 Lemur Street 12:20 Wildlife SOS 12:50 Last Chance Highway 13:45 Animal Cops Houston 14:40 Animal Precinct 15:30 RSPCA: On the Frontline 16:00 The Really Wild Show 16:30 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 17:00 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 17:25 America’s Cutest...

18:20 Breed All About It 18:45 Planet Wild 19:15 Crocodile Hunter 20:10 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 21:05 Austin Stevens Adventures 22:00 Planet Earth 22:55 Human Prey

00:00 00:30 01:15 02:10 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:35 04:55 05:15 05:40 05:55 06:15 06:35 07:00 07:20 07:40 08:05 08:20 08:40 09:00 09:25 09:40 10:10 10:40 11:25 12:15 12:45 13:15 14:10 14:40 15:10 15:40 16:30 17:15 17:45 18:15 19:10 20:00 20:45 21:15 21:45 22:35 23:05 23:40

00:00 00:45 01:35 02:00 02:25 04:15 05:00 07:20 08:05 09:00

Keeping Up Appearances The Weakest Link Holby City Spooks Eastenders Doctors Keeping Up Appearances Fimbles Balamory Teletubbies Gigglebiz Fimbles Balamory Teletubbies Fimbles Balamory Teletubbies Gigglebiz Fimbles Balamory Teletubbies Gigglebiz Keeping Up Appearances Keeping Up Appearances The Weakest Link Sahara Doctors Eastenders Holby City Keeping Up Appearances Keeping Up Appearances Keeping Up Appearances Sahara The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Holby City Sahara The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Casualty Bleak House Bleak House Keeping Up Appearances

Cash In The Attic USA Come Dine With Me New Scandinavian Cooking New Scandinavian Cooking Cash In The Attic USA The Home Show Daily Cooks Challenge Sweet Baby James New Scandinavian Cooking Antiques Roadshow

09:50 11:35 12:25 13:15 14:00 14:40 15:30 17:15 18:05 19:00 19:50 20:35 21:20 22:10 23:00

Cash In The Attic USA New Scandinavian Cooking Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic Bargain Hunt Come Dine With Me Cash In The Attic USA Sweet Baby James New Scandinavian Cooking Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic Bargain Hunt Come Dine With Me The Home Show Design Star

00:40 01:35 02:30 03:25 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:10 10:05 10:30 10:55 12:20 13:15 14:10 15:05 16:00 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:55 22:50 23:45

Dirty Jobs LA Ink Ultimate Survival Battle Machine Bros Mythbusters How It’s Made How It’s Made Dirty Jobs Battle Machine Bros Street Customs 2008 How It’s Made Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security The Next Great Baker LA Ink Ultimate Survival LA Ink Dirty Jobs Battle Machine Bros Mythbusters Extreme Fishing Cake Boss Border Security Auction Hunters How It’s Made How It’s Made Science Of The Movies Mythbusters The Future Of...

Extreme Fishing

00:05 00:55 01:45 02:35 03:25 04:15 04:45 05:40 06:10 07:00 07:55 08:50 09:15 09:40 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:15 18:40 19:30 19:55 20:20 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:50 23:40

Science Of The Movies Mega Builders Space Pioneer Sci-Fi Saved My Life Da Vinci’s Machines How Stuff’s Made Mega Builders One Step Beyond Superships Da Vinci’s Machines Super Comet: After The Impact The Gadget Show The Gadget Show How The Universe Works Weird Connections Brainiac Sci-Fi Saved My Life Sci-Fi Science The Gadget Show What’s That About?

Weird Connections Weird Connections Da Vinci’s Machines The Gadget Show The Gadget Show What’s That About?

Weird Connections The Gadget Show

00:00 00:25 00:50 01:15 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:15 03:35 04:00 04:25 04:50

Kim Possible Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Stitch Stitch Replacements Replacements Emperors New School Emperors New School Stitch Stitch Replacements Replacements

05:15 05:35 06:00 06:20 07:05 07:55 08:20 08:35 09:00 09:10 09:25 09:40 09:50 10:10 10:35 10:50 11:15 12:00 12:45 13:30 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 17:25 17:50 18:15 18:45 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:35 22:00

Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Emperors New School Phineas & Ferb Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction Handy Manny Jake & The Neverland Pirates Sonny With A Chance Fish Hooks Phineas And Ferb Shake It Up Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Wendy Wu The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Fish Hooks Shake It Up Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Fish Hooks Suite Life On Deck S3 Shake It Up Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Jake & Blake Hannah Montana Phineas & Ferb Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up

00:05 00:30 00:55 01:20 01:45 02:35 03:25 04:15 04:40 05:05 05:30 05:50 06:35 Basics 07:00 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:30 09:55 Basics 10:20 10:45 11:10 11:35 12:25 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:30 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:35 17:00 Basics 17:25 17:50 18:15 19:05 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

Unwrapped Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Guy’s Big Bite Guy’s Big Bite Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Food Network Challenge Barefoot Contessa Good Eats - Special Unwrapped Ten Dollar Dinners Paula’s Best Dishes Paula’s Party Barefoot Contessa - Back To

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00

Morning Drive Golf Central International Mobil 1 The Grid MLB The Big Ten’s Greatest Games Morning Drive Ray Romano The Haney Project School Of Golf Golf Central International

Chopped Guy’s Big Bite Everyday Italian Good Deal With Dave Lieberman Ten Dollar Dinners Paula’s Best Dishes Barefoot Contessa - Back To Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Lidia’s Italy Unwrapped Paula’s Party Everyday Italian Paula’s Best Dishes Good Deal With Dave Lieberman Ultimate Recipe Showdown Lidia’s Italy Unwrapped Boy Meets Grill Chopped Guy’s Big Bite Barefoot Contessa - Back To Lidia’s Italy Everyday Italian Paula’s Party Good Eats - Special Food Network Challenge Paula’s Best Dishes Unwrapped Ultimate Recipe Showdown Chopped Good Eats - Special

09:30 10:00 13:00 13:30 14:30 15:00 15:30 17:30 18:00 21:00 23:00

Playing Lessons MLB Golf Central International Champions Tour Highlights Mobil 1 The Grid The Nespresso Cup The Big Ten’s Greatest Games Big Ten MLB Prime/Time Boxing American Drag Racing League

00:30 01:20 02:10 03:00 03:50 04:45 05:15 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 Jones 12:50 13:40 14:30 14:55 15:20 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 19:55 20:20 Jones 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

The Haunted A Haunting Deadly Women Ripped From The Headlines Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghosthunters The Haunted Mystery Diagnosis Murder Shift Forensic Detectives Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Mystery Diagnosis Fugitive Strike Force FBI Files True Crime With Aphrodite

01:10 01:25 03:00 04:30 06:15 08:00 10:20 11:55 13:25 15:05 16:55 18:30 18:45 20:20 22:00 23:30

Mgm’s Big Screen-FAM The Boost Ninja Vengeance-PG Love Is All There Is-PG The Last Of The Finest Avanti-PG .Com For Murder Awake To Danger-PG Escape Clause-PG Hornet’s Nest-PG Killing Mr. Griffin-PG Mgm’s Big Screen-FAM The Aviator-PG Bojangles-PG Another Pretty Face-PG Body And Soul (TV Movie)-PG

00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:45 04:40 05:35 06:30 07:25 08:20 09:15 10:10 11:05 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

How Big Can It Get Phantom Wolverine Built For The Kill I, Predator Shadow Hunters Zoo Confidential Swamp Men Lions Behaving Badly Big Cat Odyssey How Big Can It Get Built For The Kill I, Predator Shadow Hunters Spine Chillers: Vampire Bats Hooked The Pack Shark Eden Built For The Kill I, Predator World’s Deadliest Hooked The Pack Shark Eden Built For The Kill I, Predator

Royal Inquest Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Fugitive Strike Force FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol True Crime With Aphrodite Royal Inquest I Almost Got Away With It Crimes That Shook The World Dr G: Medical Examiner

00:00 The Collector-18 02:00 Universal Soldier: Regeneration-PG15 04:00 The Bannen Way-PG15 06:00 Unbreakable-PG15 08:00 Kiss The Girls-18 10:00 Shinjuku Incident-PG15 12:00 The Stepfather-PG15 14:00 Kiss The Girls-18 16:00 Pearl Harbor-PG15 19:00 The Stepfather-PG15 20:45 Armored-18 22:15 The Grudge 3-18

01:15 Assassination Of A High School President-18 03:00 The Last Word-PG15 05:00 It’s A Wonderful AfterlifePG15 07:00 Echelon Conspiracy-PG15 09:00 Desperate Hours: An Amber Alert-PG15 11:00 A Christmas Carol-PG 13:00 The Nutty Professor-FAM 15:00 Cairo Time-PG15 16:45 The Brothers Bloom-PG15 18:45 It’s Complicated-PG15 21:00 The Great Debaters-PG15 23:15 The Uninvited-18

CHRIS HUMFREY’S WILDLIFE ON ANIMAL PLANET

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Boondocks 02:00 The Cleveland Show 02:30 Party Down 03:00 Malcolm In The Middle 03:30 Hope And Faith 04:00 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 06:00 According To Jim 06:30 Coach 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 08:30 Malcolm In The Middle 09:00 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 09:30 Raising Hope 10:00 Seinfeld

10:30 According To Jim 11:00 Coach 11:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:30 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 13:00 Hope And Faith 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 14:00 According To Jim 14:30 Raising Hope 15:00 Seinfeld 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Coach 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Malcolm In The Middle 18:30 Hope And Faith 19:00 Parks And Recreation 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Louie 22:30 Party Down 23:00 Funny Or Die Presents 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Body Of Proof House Grey’s Anatomy Hawthorne The View Good Morning America Glee Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Body Of Proof Hawthorne Live Good Morning America Grey’s Anatomy The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Terriers Supernatural Mildred Pierce Grey’s Anatomy Glee

THE BANNEN WAY ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD 01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:45 13:00 15:30 17:15 19:30 21:15 23:00

The Final Destination-18 The Bannen Way-PG15 Altitude-PG15 Hollywood Homicide-PG15 Bad Girls-PG15 The Day After Tomorrow-PG Alatriste-PG15 Bad Girls-PG15 Angels And Demons-PG15 Juice-18 Penny Dreadful-18 Dead Presidents-18

01:30 The Shape Of Things-PG15 03:30 He’s Just Not That Into YouPG15 06:00 Ice Age 3: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs-FAM 08:00 Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel-PG15 10:00 Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid 12:00 Sweet Home Alabama-PG15 14:00 Jack-PG15 16:00 Under The Tuscan Sun-PG15 18:00 Someone Like You-PG15 20:00 Heart And Souls-PG 22:00 The Sweetest Thing-18

01:00 03:00 05:15 06:45 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:30 17:30 19:30 21:30 23:15

Ishtar-PG15 The Hurt Locker-18 Cry Baby-PG15 Seven Years In Tibet-PG15 Drumline-PG15 Awakenings-PG Forrest Gump-PG15 End Of The Spear-PG15 The Knot-PG15 Simon Birch-PG Glitter-PG Dead Man Walking-18

01:00 Dare-18 02:45 Star Trek-PG 05:00 Head Of State-PG15 06:45 Secretariat-PG15 09:00 Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming-PG15 11:00 G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra13:00 102 Dalmatians-PG 15:00 Tooth Fairy-PG 17:00 Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming-PG15 19:00 Green Zone-PG15 21:00 Shanghai-PG15 23:00 Repo Men-18

00:00 The Three Musketeers-FAM 02:00 Green Lantern: First Flight-PG 04:00 War Of The Buttons-PG 06:00 Ramses Of Egypt-PG 08:00 Gladiators: The Conspiracy-PG 10:00 Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare 12:00 The Big Green-PG 14:00 Columbus III: The New World 16:00 Scooby-Doo Meets The Boo Brothers-FAM 18:00 The Big Green-PG 20:00 Ace Ventura : Pet Detective Jr.-PG15 22:00 Columbus III: The New World

00:30 A Fork In The Road-PG15 02:15 Nanny Mcphee And The Big Bang-PG 04:15 Not The Messiah: He’s A Very Naughty Boy-PG15 06:00 How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days-PG 08:00 Hardwired-PG15 10:00 Gasland-PG15 12:00 Nanny Mcphee And The Big Bang-PG 14:00 Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard-PG 16:00 Hardwired-PG15 18:00 Moon-PG15 20:00 Death At A Funeral-PG15 22:00 Shanghai-PG15

02:00 03:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 12:00 12:30 15:30 16:00

WWE Bottom Line Super Rugby Super Rugby WWE NXT WWE Vintage Collection Speedway Trans World Sport Super League NRL Full Time Live State of Origin Futbol Mundial Live ODI Cricket

00:00 Golfing World 01:00 Super Rugby 03:00 Futbol Mundial 03:30 NRL Full Time 04:00 Ladies European PGA Tour Highlights 05:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 06:00 Trans World Sport 07:00 AFL Highlights 08:00 Super Rugby Highlights 09:00 Asian Tour Highlights 10:00 ICC Cricket World 10:30 Futbol Mundial 11:00 Trans World Sport 12:00 NRL Full Time 12:30 Live State of Origin 15:15 ICC Cricket World 16:00 Asian Tour Golf Show 16:30 Asian Tour Highlights 17:30 Trans World Sport 18:30 State of Origin 21:00 Trans World Sport 22:00 Live Super League

00:00 00:30 03:30 04:30 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 17:30 19:30 20:00 23:30

ICC Criket World Masters Football Super Rugby Highlights Rugby Union Futbol Mundial Golfing World World Hockey Live Snooker Mobil 1 The Grid ICC Criket World Golfing World Live Snooker Golfing World Euro Tour Weekly Snooker Mobil 1 The Grid

02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:30 16:00 17:00 18:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

WWE Bottom Line Speedway Powerboats UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed WWE Vintage Collection Speedway Powerboats Aquabikes V8 Supercars Championship Le Mans Series Magazine Mobil 1 The Grid WWE NXT WWE Vintage Collection Le Mans Series Magazine Speedway Mass Participation Modern Pentatholn Modern Pentatholn UFC 132 UFC Wired UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed

00:00 00:30 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00

Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Extreme Trains Patton 360 American Pickers America: The Story Of The Us America: The Story Of The Us Pawn Stars

06:30 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Pawn Stars Extreme Trains Patton 360 American Pickers America: The Story Of The Us Pawn Stars Extreme Trains Patton 360 American Pickers America: The Story Of The Us America: The Story Of The Us Pawn Stars Extreme Trains Patton 360 Britain At War America: The Story Of The Us

00:00 Jerseylicious 01:00 Fashion Avenue 01:55 Big Boutique 02:25 How Do I Look?

04:15 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

05:10 Homes With Style 05:35 Area 06:05 Clean House 07:00 Big Boutique 08:00 Homes With Style 09:00 Fashion Avenue 09:55 How Do I Look?

10:50 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

11:50 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

12:50 Clean House 13:45 Clean House Comes Clean 14:15 Mel B: It’s A Scary World 14:45 Jerseylicious 15:40 Ruby 16:35 Giuliana And Bill 17:30 Jerseylicious 18:25 Clean House 19:25 Top 10 20:20 Clean House 21:15 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

22:10 How Do I Look?

23:05 Ruby

00:00 Julian And Camilla’s World Odyssey 01:00 Travel Today 01:30 First Class South Africa 02:00 Journey Into Wine-South Africa 02:30 Essential 03:00 Trabant Trek 03:30 Word Travels 04:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 Julian And Camilla’s World Odyssey 06:00 Cruise Today 06:30 Distant Shores 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Intrepid Journeys 09:00 Travel Today 09:30 Cruise Today 10:00 Julian And Camilla’s World Odyssey 11:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 Planet Food 14:00 Intrepid Journeys 15:00 Travel Today 15:30 First Class South Africa 16:00 Globe Trekker 17:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 18:00 Planet Food 19:00 Globe Trekker 20:00 Hollywood And Vines 20:30 Distant Shores 21:00 Planet Sports 22:00 48 Hours In 22:30 Essential 23:00 Globe Trekker

00:05 Cow And Chicken 00:30 Cramp Twins 00:55 The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy 01:20 Courage The Cowardly Dog 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 Samurai Jack 04:30 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 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 Codename: Kids Next Door 07:25 Cow And Chicken 07:50 Angelo Rules 08:05 Cartoon Network Dance Club 08:15 Adventure Time 08:40 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 09:05 Angelo Rules 10:00 Samurai Jack 10:30 Samurai Jack 10:55 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes 11:20 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes 11:45 Robotboy 12:10 Robotboy 12:35 The Secret Saturdays 13:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 14:15 Bakugan: New Vestroia 15:05 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 15:25 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 15:50 The Powerpuff Girls 16:10 The Powerpuff Girls 16:35 Adventure Time 17:15 Angelo Rules 18:05 Hero 108 18:30 Cartoon Network Dance Club 18:45 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 18:55 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 19:20 Adventure Time 19:45 The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy 20:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 20:35 Cow And Chicken 21:00 Best Ed 21:25 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 21:50 Robotboy 22:00 Adventure Time 22:25 Hero 108 22:50 Ben 10 23:15 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 23:40 Chowder

06:00 Kid Vs Kat 06:20 Kick Buttowski 06:40 Pokemon Dp: Sinnoh League Victors 07:05 Phineas & Ferb 07:40 Phineas & Ferb 08:05 Kick Buttowski 08:30 American Dragon 09:00 Suite Life On Deck 11:30 Pair Of Kings 11:55 Phineas & Ferb 12:20 Phineas & Ferb 12:45 Kid Vs Kat 13:10 Kid Vs Kat 13:30 Kid Vs Kat 13:50 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 14:15 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 14:40 Zeke & Luther 15:05 Kick Buttowski 15:35 Pokemon Dp: Sinnoh League Victors 16:00 I’m In The Band 16:25 New Spiderman 16:50 New Spiderman 17:15 New Spiderman 17:40 New Spiderman 18:05 New Spiderman 18:30 New Spiderman 18:55 Kick Buttowski 19:20 Kick Buttowski 19:45 Kid Vs Kat 20:15 Kid Vs Kat 20:40 I’m In The Band 21:05 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 21:30 Zeke & Luther 22:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 22:20 The Super Hero Squad Show

Classifieds WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Healthy Living

Foods for aching joints Osteoarthritis, a common ailment that follows the loss of jointcushioning cartilage, causes pain and stiffness.

Diet tips for arthritics Â&#x2021; (DW RLO\ ILVK VXFK DV VDOPRQ SLFWXUHG OHIW KHUULQJ WURXW DQG VDUGLQHV RU DQRWKHU VRXUFH RI RPHJD IDWW\ DFLGV VXFK DV ZDOQXWV RU IOD[ VHHGV Â&#x2021; 8VH WKH VSLFHV WXUPHULF DQG JLQJHU UHJXODUO\ Â&#x2021; +DYH JHQHURXV DPRXQWV RI IUHVK RUJDQLFDOO\ JURZQ IUXLWV DQG YHJHWDEOHV GDLO\ WKH\ FRQWDLQ DQWLR[LGDQWV WKDW FDQ KHOS UHGXFH LQIODPPDWLRQ 6RXUFH GUZHLO FRP 0&7 3KRWR 6HUYLFH *UDSKLF 3DW &DUU

A ppaper aper hhelicopter elicopter

1

You Y ou o m may ay kn know ow how how to t make make a paper ai airplane, irp plan lane, but but can yyou o ou make make a pape er helicopter? pter? ter? er? r? ? Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s H He Her Here ere reâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how: ho h ow: w: paper

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need need

t Sheet Shee She Sh S heet eet ett of of plain p pla lain ain n paper p pa pap pape aper per er

Fold Fold sides... sides...

ffold old

3 ...fold ... fold tip... tip...

...add paper clip

Sharing accommodation available for decent Indian Hindu or Catholic bachelors or family with Mangalorean Catholic family in a window A/C building off Rashid Hospital, Shara Amman, Salmiya.

Contact: 55995437/ 99200186.

month. Telephone: 66417504.

(C 3492) Full time and part time website developers, designers, administrators, sales and marketing specialists. Email: thinkq8@gmail.com (C 3494) 3-7-2011

FOR SALE Sony LCD T V, 32 inches, excellent condition, KD 120/- final. Contact: 99598324. (C 3497) 5-7-2011

6-7-2011 Seeking job as accountant, M.Com, PGDBA, Indian, 10 years Kuwait experience possess car, residence valid till July 2012, join immediately. Contact: 99214246.

(C 3498) 5-7-2011 Commerce graduate, Indian (Keralite) seeking employment as Accountant / Junior Accountant in good companies. Visa transferable, ready to join. Contact: 66509373. (C 3491) 3-7-2011

ter from Mughal family.

Contact Email: wasimughal2003@yahoo.com (C 3495) 4-7-2011 Proposal invited for Marthoma male, 29 years, company foreman. Invite proposal from MOH staff in Kuwait. Email: vijige orge83@yahoo.com / vijigeorge83@gmail.com (C 3489) 2-7-2011

CHANGE OF NAME

SITUATION VACANT Need baby sitter part time or stay-in at Al-Muthana, Kuwait City. Contact: 66809431.

(C 3493) A well organized lady is needed to do light cleaning and cooking for a single Arab/ American man living in a house located in Salmiya. Working hours: 3:00pm to 8:30pm. Salary: KD 85/

SITUATION WANTED MATRIMONIAL Male nurse available, Kuwait experience 10 years.

Contact: 66475410.

(C 3500)

We are inviting marriage proposals from Pakistani families for our MSc daugh-

I, Luis Anthony Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;cunha, aged 36, holder of Indian Passport no. F 8706443 residing in Kuwait hereby change my name to Luis Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;cunha. (C 3501) 6-7-2011

No: 15141

Instead, it will spin its wings and go down slowly

fold on dotted d lines fold

cut

2

Sharing accommodation available for a single person in a fully furnished CA/C building, in Farwaniya near Burger King with kitchen & parking facilities. If interested please contact: 99038601.

(C 3490) 2-7-2011

The copter will not fall straight to the ground

ffold old on dotted d lines

ffold old

cut on dark d lines

Sharing accommodation available for bachelor or couple in Abbassiya near Holy Sweets Restaurant.

Contact: 65129145.

(C 3499) 6-7-2011

What W hat happened? happened?

Put the paper o ov ver e this t over page and ttrace and trra ace the ace tth p patte tt rn bel be b llo ow pattern below o to it ont onto

tP Pape Paper aper per e clip clip ip

cut

© 2011 011 MCT Source: Exploratorium Trap Graphic: Paul T

© 2011 MCT

ACCOMMODATION

On a real helicopter, if the motor suddenly stops, the pilot lets the â&#x20AC;&#x2122; helicopterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blades, or rotors, turn freely The helicopter will spin its rotors just the way your paper copter did, and it will glide to a safe landing

Hold Hold ld d the the th e co copte copt ccop opter pter ter copter b th he eb bottom botto bot bo ottom ttom om byy the and d thr th thro hrow it throw hard into the air

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Airlines RJA JZR THY ETH UAE DHX MSR FDB GFA QTR JZR JZR THY JZR FCX JZR KAC BAW BBC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE QTR ABY IRA ETD GFA FCX MEA JZR JZR IRM JZR RBG KAC MSR IRC UAL RJA MSR FDB KAC KAC QTR SVA

Flt 642 267 772 620 853 370 614 67 211 138 529 241 770 503 201 555 412 157 45 1541 206 382 284 302 53 352 362 344 855 132 125 603 301 213 203 404 165 121 5066 561 3557 672 610 6791 982 640 621 57 802 790 140 500

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 6/7/2011 Route AMMAN BEIRUT ISTANBUL ADDIS ABABA DUBAI BAHRAIN CAIRO DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA ASSIUT AMMAN ISTANBUL LUXOR DUBAI ALEXANDRIA MANILA / BANGKOK LONDON DHAKA CAIRO ISLAMABAD DELHI DHAKA MUMBAI DUBAI COCHIN COLOMBO CHENNAI DUBAI DOHA SHARJAH SHIRAZ ABU DHABI BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT DUBAI BAHRAIN MASHAD SOHAG ALEXANDRIA DUBAI CAIRO MASHAD WASHINGTON DC DULLES AMMAN ASSIUT DUBAI CAIRO MEDINAH DOHA JEDDAH

Time 0:05 0:35 1:15 1:45 2:25 2:55 3:05 3:10 3:15 3:20 3:35 3:55 4:10 5:15 5:25 6:10 6:15 6:30 6:45 7:10 7:15 7:20 7:40 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:20 8:20 8:25 9:00 9:10 9:25 9:30 9:35 10:30 10:55 11:10 11:15 11:50 12:30 12:55 13:15 13:20 13:25 13:30 13:35 13:40 13:50 14:00 14:05 14:15 14:30

KNE CLX QTR KAC JZR JZR KNE SYR ETD UAE GFA SVA JZR JZR ABY KAC JZR FDB ALK JZR IYE KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC AIC JAI FDB JZR FDB OMA VOS MEA MSR DHX UAE GFA QTR UAL JZR JZR MSR DLH SAI AXB JZR KLM PIA

745 792 134 546 201 535 701 341 303 857 215 510 777 239 127 550 481 63 227 177 824 166 502 542 618 786 614 674 102 774 575 572 61 787 8067 647 81 402 618 372 859 217 136 981 135 185 612 636 441 393 539 447 215

JEDDAH LUXEMBOURG DOHA ALEXANDRIA DAMASCUS CAIRO RIYADH DAMASCUS ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH JEDDAH AMMAN SHARJAH SHARM EL SHEIKH / SOHAG SABIHA DUBAI COLOMBO / DUBAI DUBAI SANAA / DOHA PARIS / ROME BEIRUT CAIRO DOHA JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI NEW YORK / LONDON RIYADH CHENNAI / GOA MUMBAI DUBAI RIYADH DUBAI MUSCAT BAGHDAD BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO FRANKFURT LAHORE / KARACHI KOZHIKODE / COCHIN CAIRO AMSTERDAM / BAHRAIN KARACHI

14:45 14:50 15:15 15:30 15:45 15:50 16:00 16:30 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:25 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 17:55 18:00 18:00 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:50 18:55 19:00 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:25 19:30 19:35 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:15 20:55 21:00 21:15 21:25 21:35 22:00 22:10 22:35 22:50 23:00 23:05 23:15 23:30 23:35 23:55

Airlines JZR AXB DLH AIC PIA THY ETH UAE FDB DHX MSR QTR THY JZR JZR RJA GFA KAC VOS BBC JZR BAW KAC FDB JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY KAC QTR JZR ETD GFA JZR IRA FCX MEA KAC JZR JZR KAC KAC IRM KAC RBG JZR MSR IRC RJA

Departure Flights on Wednesday 6/7/2011 Flt Route 1540 CAIRO 390 MANGALORE / KOZHIKODE 637 FRANKFURT 982 AHMEDABAD / CHENNAI 206 LAHORE 773 ISTANBUL 620 BAHRAIN / ADDIS ABABA 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 615 CAIRO 139 DOHA 771 ISTANBUL 560 SOHAG 164 DUBAI 643 AMMAN 212 BAHRAIN 801 CAIRO 94 DUBAI / KANDAHAR 46 DHAKA 120 BAHRAIN 156 LONDON 545 ALEXANDRIA 54 DUBAI 534 CAIRO 177 FRANKFURT / GENEVA 671 DUBAI 117 NEW YORK 789 MEDINAH 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 549 SHARM EL SHEIKH / SOHAG 133 DOHA 480 SABIHA 302 ABU DHABI 214 BAHRAIN 200 DAMASCUS 602 SHIRAZ 204 DUBAI 405 BEIRUT 541 CAIRO 776 JEDDAH 238 AMMAN 103 LONDON 501 BEIRUT 5065 MASHAD 785 JEDDAH 3558 SOHAG / ALEXANDRIA 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 6792 MASHAD 641 AMMAN

Time 0:20 0:25 0:40 1:05 1:10 2:15 2:30 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 5:00 5:10 5:55 6:55 7:00 7:10 7:20 8:00 8:00 8:20 8:25 8:35 8:40 8:50 8:55 9:00 9:05 9:25 9:40 9:50 9:55 10:00 10:05 10:15 10:20 10:20 10:25 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:00 12:10 12:30 13:00 13:20 13:30 13:35 13:40 14:20 14:25 14:30

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

FDB MSR UAL KAC KNE KAC SVA KAC QTR CLX KAC JZR JZR KNE SYR ETD QTR UAE GFA ABY JZR JZR SVA FDB JZR JZR ALK IYE KAC KAC JAI FDB FDB KAC KAC OMA MEA MSR DHX UAE GFA KAC FCX QTR KAC KAC JZR JZR UAL MSR KAC SAI

58 622 982 673 746 617 503 773 141 792 613 786 538 704 342 304 135 858 216 128 184 266 511 64 204 134 228 824 283 361 571 62 8067 331 351 648 403 619 373 860 218 381 102 137 301 205 502 554 981 613 415 442

DUBAI ASSIUT BAHRAIN DUBAI JEDDAH DOHA MEDINAH / JEDDAH RIYADH DOHA HONG KONG BAHRAIN RIYADH CAIRO MEDINAH DAMASCUS ABU DHABI DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN SHARJAH DUBAI BEIRUT RIYADH DUBAI DAMASCUS BAHRAIN DUBAI / COLOMBO SANAA DHAKA COLOMBO MUMBAI DUBAI DUBAI TRIVANDRUM COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DELHI BAHRAIN DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD LUXOR ALEXANDRIA WASHINGTON DC DULLES CAIRO KUALA LUMPUR / JAKARTA LAHORE

14:35 14:40 14:45 15:10 15:30 15:35 15:45 16:05 16:15 16:20 16:20 16:35 16:40 16:45 17:30 17:35 17:45 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:55 19:10 19:10 19:40 20:00 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:50 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:55 22:00 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:55 23:05 23:10 23:40 23:50 23:50 23:59

34

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

stars CROSSWORD 370

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today brings you a kind of recognition of who you really are with regard to how you appear to others, in the business as well as the social world. You will be wise to make plans toward securing your professional and financial life instead of spending time in worry. Write out a plan that will include these goals. More demanding years could be in the forecast on down the road. You have a strong need to be admired and appreciated for what you do and who you are. Now is the time to build on not only what you have accomplished in the business world but also in your relationships. A lover or child becomes a focal point in your life today.

Laughter and fun communications come easily this afternoon. There is fun competition with a hobby this evening.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You have a great love of the written and spoken word; ideas are what you like to work with best. Your enthusiasm for mental stimulation and the world of ideas makes it easy for you to communicate to others.

You may find yourself teaching spiritual lessons today. You have no trouble putting feelings into the way you express your words; this carries a lot of meaning. A choice in entertaining, teaching, speaking or singing are ways in which you will become involved in order to communicate hope, realities and possibilities. Your expression of hope, acceptance and good insights shows off the magnitude of your perspective.

You will always find new ways to relate in a love relationship and this evening is a good time to do just that.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. Edible tuber of any of several yams.

4. Extensive plain without trees (associated with eastern Russia and Siberia).

10. An abnormally large amount of this fetoprotein in the fetus can signal an abnormality of the neural tube (as spina bifida or anencephaly).

13. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

14. A pipe with a long flexible tube connected to a container where the smoke is cooled by passing through water.

15. 10 hao equal 1 dong.

16. The residue that remains when something is burned.

17. Metal shackles.

19. A collection of objects laid on top of each other.

21. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

22. A United Nations agency created to assist developing nations by loans guaranteed by member governments.

23. Formerly a term of respect for important white Europeans in colonial India.

24. Any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent.

28. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

29. United States writer (born in Poland) who wrote in Yiddish (1880-1957).

33. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling).

35. Come to pass.

36. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

37. A small cake leavened with yeast.

40. Disabled in the feet or legs.

41. Make anew.

43. Poor and often mischievous city child.

45. A long-playing phonograph record.

47. The capital and chief port of Qatar.

50. Large scissors with strong blades.

54. Small genus of Eurasian shrubs with yellow flowers and bladdery pods.

56. Grass mowed and cured for use as fodder.

57. Strike with disgust or revulsion.

59. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

60. Used of a single unit or thing.

61. Member of an international gang of Jamaican criminals who sell drugs and violence.

62. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

63. A doctor's degree in education.

64. Anneal or toughen by a process of gradually heating and cooling.

65. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

DOWN 1. Not only so, but.

2. A domed or vaulted recess or projection on a building especially the east end of a church.

3. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

4. Narrow wood or metal or plastic runners used for gliding over snow.

5. Edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants.

6. Type genus of the Elopidae.

7. Relating to the pineal body.

8. An archaic name for Easter or Passover.

9. Half the width of an em.

10. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

11. Of a temperature scale that registers the freezing point of water as 32 degrees F and the boiling point as 212 degrees F at one atmosphere of pressure.

12. A small lake.

18. A portable brazier that burns charcoal and has a grill for cooking.

20. A beautiful and graceful girl.

25. A self-replicating protein molecule that occupies a fixed place on a chromosome.

26. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

27. A light touch or stroke.

30. The act of scanning.

31. A passage with access only at one end.

32. Hormones (estrogen and progestin) are given to postmenopausal women.

34. (computer science) A data transmission rate (bits/second) for modems.

38. Thick heavy expensive material with a raised pattern.

39. A condition in which little or no bile is secreted or the flow of bile into the digestive tract is obstructed.

40. Half the width of an em.

42. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in India for writing paper.

44. (Judaism) A chant of praise (Psalms 113 through 118) used at Passover and Shabuoth and Sukkoth and Hanukkah and Rosh Hodesh.

46. Colonial siphonophore of up to 130 ft long.

47. An artificial language for international use that rejects rejects all existing words and is based instead on an abstract analysis of ideas.

48. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

49. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy wall or pericarp.

51. The (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb.

52. Having an eye or eyes or eyelike feature especially as specified.

53. The complete duration of something.

54. A note appended to a letter after the signature.

55. The basic unit of money in Western Samoa.

58. According to need (physicians use PRN in writing prescriptions).

59. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) When it comes to taking care of business you are relentless in getting down to the nitty-gritty. Others sense this about you. When asked for your services, perhaps a favor or some volunteer situation, you see the best in a situation—making it hard to say no or cut yourself the best deal. Think your answer through before obligating time and energy that you do not have. You look to home and family for support and encouragement. You trust a more experienced person today when you seek guidance. There could be opportunities to discuss or hear past experiences—amusing stories—perhaps your own childhood events. Security is very important and you need to have stable roots in order to be productive. The social scene grabs your attention this evening.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

You could find that you are appreciated or valued for your feelings or your ability to act and get things done. Everything may be pouring in at once and it’s all good news. Your career direction gets some encouragement and life’s problems seem to have easy solutions. You benefit from an older person or one in authority. Life could assume a dreamlike stance. You may find yourself more than a little greedy and your current appreciation for just about everything may lead you to overspend or indulge too much. Something you really have wanted to purchase may not be as desirable after a few days of delay—compare prices. You will make career gains by your ability to sense quality and choose accordingly. Someone understands your complaints.

Leo (July 23-August 22) This is a period emphasizing an enhanced sense of personal possibility and potential. There is tremendous psychological growth and it will lead to great personal success, if you follow through with it. You might also find that you will put on the pounds if you are not careful. Respect, status and achievement are central goals for you as a new phase begins in your life. Ambition unlimited always ends in defeat. In-depth discussions and probing conversations find you at your mental best. Your analytical abilities are at a high point. Good practical job-related thoughts and ideas are available to you. The ability to communicate with superiors or describe what you see is a talent others wish they had. Take some time to just relax and enjoy some quiet time tonight.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Your insight and vision into what unites people and into the dreams and mystical regions of our minds are profound. You may be working and communicating with others in these matters and with music and the arts. New paths to world or personal unity are a major interest and you have a very practical sense of how to make your dreams real. You think of life as a grand experience and will do whatever it takes to find where the best opportunities are developing. Concentrate on developing your special talent or in helping a loved one develop his or her special talent. This is an excellent time to seek out an inspiring teacher or mentor. You are generous to the extreme with others. You are good at sensing the unity in life. Relax with your loved one this evening.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Everything points to your taking the initiative. You could feel great support from those around you. You feel healthy and natural with a sharp, nimble mind and ready wit. You are quick to achieve and gain insights to see new solutions. Your response to stress makes the difference between success and failure. Your ability to converse with most any individual in any sector of life puts you in the genius arena when it comes to communication skills. Others will find that you have a natural physical dexterity—good hands too. Your enchanting manner transports all who meet you beyond the mundane and into the extraordinary regions where you spend a lot of your time. You may find yourself being put to good use by your friends this afternoon.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You have a natural appreciation for the past—personal or worldly—all that is traditional. There is an opportunity to lead a club or group organization today. This could mean a location away from your place of work. You will find that you enjoy decorating homes or advising medical groups how to use color and floral setting as well as pictures and furniture settings. Part of this decorator job entails the confirmation of times, products and people. You enjoy moods and emotions, especially in a group setting. You find it easy to work with other people and you tend to pour a lot of energy into those around you. Perhaps stage-managing would also be a good way to express your many talents. Your dreams are memorable—keep a dream diary.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Your mind is full of practical ideas, especially related to your particular talents. You may come up with new ideas to manage things better. You sense things with the mind and understand that feelings are thoughts first.

What does this or that thought mean? Where is it pointing? These are questions you may ask. You use subjective rather than objective logic—intuition and gut instinct.

Your image and ideals could be challenged by another who sees you as impractical and not down-to-earth. You understand that thoughts must be positive and productive and the negative is a signal that someone is going nowhere . . . you can help.

Poetry, music and the arts interest you, as do psychology and the psyche. A classic movie or a book about new discoveries is enjoyed.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

In-depth discussions and probing conversations find you at your mental best this day. Your analytical abilities are at a high point. You can really get your thoughts and ideas successfully across to others.

This is a good time to think or study—you have a real appreciation for ideas and thoughts. You may find yourself enjoying a long conversation, writing a letter, or making a special phone call. In a word, it is your emotions and gusto that hold your innermost self together. Your feelings are central to getting to really know you. A strong devotional nature becomes apparent to anyone who is a friend with you. The search for a mate is crucial and you are driven to unite. If there is a mate, you may discover a new pet is licking you in the face.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) There is news of a part-time job, if you want it. A cycle of nostalgia begins—emphasizing a need for security and a sense of roots.

Family, home, relatives and real estate play a bigger part in your life. You want to belong on a private, intimate, personal level and to be needed; to feel it is okay to have needs. You are in a mood of self-enjoyment and can appreciate your own better qualities. You may see value in or feel love for an older person or someone in authority. You are very animated and it is easy for you to convey your ideas. Books on mysticism, psychic phenomena and the imagination in general intrigue you and keep you busy this evening. You will find new ways to relate and may become quite creative in making a marriage or love relationship deepen.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

You could be in the limelight today, especially in relation to your work. You may find that you enjoy your job or the responsibility it entails more than usual. Material things and the whole concept of value take on more importance for you now. Financial security and enjoying the finer things in life, appreciating and creating things others long to have are experiences that assume a high priority. Your energies run effectively toward making yourself felt in the material world. You are an action person who gains the attention of others and you seem to get things moving. The circumstances of your life at this time suggest extroversion. Careful—this no-nonsense approach may be why it is difficult for others to reach out to you and get close.

A

y

e niv rsar n

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Years

i n f o r m at i o n FIRE BRIGADE STATE ST TATE T OF KUW K KUWAIT WA AIT

112

Tel.: T el.: e 161

DIRECTORA DIRECTORATE AT TE GENE GENERAL ERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION AVIA V AT TION METEOROLOGICAL DEP D DEPARTMENT PA ARTMENT DA AY: Y T DAY: Tuesday uesday

WWW .MET.GOV V..KW W WWW.MET.GOV.KW

05/07/2011 05/07/201 1

Ministry of Interior

Ext.: 262 2627 27 - 2630

Fax: 24348714

07:00

Time Issue Time

Expected Weather Weather for the Next 24 4 Hours

website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

BY Y DAY: DA AY:

Hot with wiith light to moderate freshening freshen ning gradually north westerly y wind, with speed of 15 - 40 0 km/h causing blowing blowin ng dust over open areas

BY Y NIGHT: NIGHT:

Relatively Relativ vely hot with light to moderate moderaate north westerly wind, with h speed of 15 - 35 km/h

No Current W Warnings aarnings

WARNING W ARNING A STATION ST TAT TION

Al-Madena

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

MAX. EXP. EXP P.

MIN.. REC.

Al-Mangaf

23711183

KUW WAIT A CITY KUWAIT

43 °C

33 °C

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

24812000

KUW WAIT A AIRPORT AIRPOR RT KUWAIT

45 °C

27 °C

Al-Jahra

25610011

Amiri Hospital

22450005

NUW WAISEEB A NUWAISEEB

45 °C C

28 °C C

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Maternity Hospital

24843100

WA AFRA WAFRA

45 °C

28 °C

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

SALMI

42 °C

27 °C

Chest Hospital

24849400

ABDAL LY ABDALY

44 °C

27 °C

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

ALIY YAH A JAL ALIYAH

43 °C

26 °C

Adan Hospital

23940620

FAILAKA A FAILAKA

43 °C

26 °C

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

POR RT AHMADI PORT

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

42 °C

33 °C

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

M UMM AL-MARADEM

38 °C

31 °C

WA ARBA A - BUBYAN BUBY YAN A WARBA

43 °C

27 °C

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

Clinics Rabiya

4732263

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

SFC. CHART CHART

05/07/2011 0000UTC 0000U UTC 05/07/2011

POLICE STATION

4 DAYS DA AYS Y FORECAST Temperatures Temperratures DAY DA AY

DATE DA AT TE

WEA WEATHER AT THER

Weednesday Wednesday

06/07

hot

45 °C

28 °C

NW

12 - 32 km/h

Thursday

07/07

hot

47 °C

30 °C

NW

12 - 35 km/h

Friday

08/07

g dust very hot + blowing

49 °C

32 °C

NW

20 - 45 km/h

Saturday

09/07

g dust very hot + blowing

49 °C

33 °C

NW

20 - 40 km/h

MAX.

PRAYER PR RA AY YER TIMES

MIN.

Wind Wind Speed

Wind Wind Direction Direction

RECORDED D YESTERDA YESTERDAY AY AT AT KUWAIT KUW WA AIT T AIRPOR AIRPORT T

Fajr

03:19

MAX. MA AX. Temp.

Temp.

44 °C

Sunrise S i

Al-Nuzha

22526804

04 54 04:54

MIN. Temp.

MI IN T IN. emp.

28 °C

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Zuhr

11:52 11:52

MAX. RH M

14 %

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Asr

15:26

MIN. RH M

05 %

Dasmah

22532265

Sunset

18:51

MAX. Wind MA AX. W ind

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Isha

20:23

TOTAL RAINFALL T OT TA AL L RAI INF FA ALL L IN 24 HR.

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

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 about the Civil ID card is 1889988

NW W 57 km/h 00 mm

05/07/11 02:17 UTC 05/07/11

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

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist 25340300

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

Dr Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581 22641071/2

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Salem soso

22618787

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Neurologists

Dr. Adnan Ebil

22639939

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Mousa Khadada

22666300

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists

25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291 22666288

Rheumatologists:

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

Dentists

Internists, Chest & Heart

25339330

25655535

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

General Surgeons

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677

Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands

0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345

Central African Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK) Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia

00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044 00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689

y

A

36

e niv rsar n

Years

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

lifest yle G o s s i p

Minaj’s cousin has been murdered he ‘Check It Out’ rapper - who is currently supporting Britney Spears on tour - has been left devastated by the death of her relative Nicholas, who was killed in Brooklyn, New York City, on Sunday. Alongside a picture of Nicholas, Nicki tweeted: “Lived in Brooklyn his whole life. My precious cousin.

My baby. Killed last nite. (sic)” The hip-hop star later added another snap, which was accompanied by the words: “My cousin Nicholas. Also goes by Juse. Murdered. Last nite. Near his home. Brooklyn, NY. (sic)” No other details about the murder are yet known. Family has always been important to Nicki and she recently revealed she is motivated by making a better life for her mother. The 26-year-old rapper - who moved from Trinidad to the US at the age of five - admitted living in a three-bedroom home with 15 other people and then seeing her father fall victim to drug and alcohol abuse made her determined to “kick

T

ass” with her music. She said: “In Trinidad we didn’t have much.

Then my parents moved to the States and then they sent for me, and I thought everything was going to be great. “But my father fell victim to drug and alcohol abuse, so it was an uphill battle for a very, very long time. He was really, really addicted.

My mother had to make ends meet the best way she knew how.

“Really, when I talk about my life in records like ‘I’m The Best’ I’m just saying, ‘Hey, after all of this, here’s what I’ve accomplished.’

“What motivated me was that I wanted to get my mother out of her situation, so I always wanted to kick ass at whatever I did.”

osie Huntington-Whiteley feels more confident when she has a suntan. The model-andactress likes her skin to be sunkissed but isn’t a fan of sunbathing or sunbeds so uses lots of bronzing powder and fake tan as it’s the safest option. She said: “I love BeneFit’s Hoola bronzing powder. More women have discovered that they look great with a tan and they also look and feel sexier. It’s also much healthier and safer than going in the sun and using sunbeds. Looking after your skin has become more fashionable. “I love to be tanned before I go to awards ceremonies and parties. Self-tanning is the way forward - especially for me. As a Victoria’s Secret model, I like to be tanned when I shoot lingerie. It gives me a confidence boost, I feel healthy and of course I look great. The

R

Biel martial arts workout J

tan makes your skin glow on camera.” As well as being tanned, Rosie always loves wearing her leather trousers. The ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ star told Britain’s OK! magazine: “I couldn’t live without my Les Chiffoniers leather trousers, I live in them. I wear them for shopping, dinner and nights out.”

my Winehouse asks her 15-year-old goddaughter for advice. The troubled singer who recently scrapped European tour dates following a disastrous performance in Belgrade - turns to Dionne Bromfield for support, and the young singer admits she is unsure why people always go to her with their problems. Dionne said: “It’s weird. I’m only 15 but a lot of people ask me for advice. Don’t ask me why. And Amy is one of those people, always

A

essica Biel credits martial arts with helping her maintain her stunning figure. The beautiful actress is famed for her amazing body and she admits she works hard at it but has now found an exercise which makes her look and feel good. She said: “I’m really into martial arts now it’s the most amazing workout ever! And, since I’ve been working with a partner, I’ve learned some awesome selfdefense moves and most importantly, how to redirect someone’s energy. It gives me a real sense of empowerment.” Jessica is also a fan of yoga as it helps both her body and skin. The 29-year-old beauty told LOOK magazine: “Yoga definitely helps me with my beauty routine - when I’m stressed, it starts to show in my skin. Anything I can do to relax my mind will give me better body and skin.” Her other tip to looking good, is getting plenty of sleep and drinking lots of water, saying: “I don’t always have perfect skin, and I’m sure most women feel that way. I think healthy skin comes as much from within as from the outside, so a healthy lifestyle is important, drinking plenty of water and getting lots of sleep are essential. Plus I incorporate omega 3 into my diet and lots of coconut oil and coconut butter.”

coming to me for advice.” During Amy’s performance in Belgrade, the ‘Back To Black’ hitmaker - who recently sought rehab treatment for alcohol problems and has a history of drug addiction - appeared wild-eyed, behaved erratically and slurred her words. Despite video footage of the show being posted on the internet, Dionne insists she hasn’t seen the clips but finds it “sad” that Amy, 28, now appears to struggle with her music. She told The Scotsman newspaper: “I haven’t seen the video but I’ve heard. What can you say, really? I’ve seen some other footage of her and it is sad. “But then again, you have to realize if I feel sad watching this, how does she feel? Amy is Amy. She is her own person. We don’t tell her what to do. Only she can decide. But you know, she’s a massive talent and you can’t knock her for that.”

Douglas and Zeta-Jones relax in Turkey ichael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have been holidaying in Turkey. The couple and their children, Dylan, 11, and eight-year-old Carys, were seen shopping in the resort town of Bodrum on Sunday , where they seemed happy and relaxed. One onlooker told the New York Post newspaper: “They ate fish in a local restaurant and they visited a nightclub. They seemed relaxed and very happy.” Insiders say Michael - who recently completed treatment for throat cancer - and Catherine have rented a luxury yacht, the ‘Mary Juaner’, to sail along the European coast. Last week, the family disembarked from the vessel - which boasts a private pool and sauna - to visit the Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, where they spent more than two hours viewing exhibits on ancient civilizations.

Michael - who has supported his wife while she battled bipolar disorder and last year saw his son Cameron receive a five-year jail sentence for drug dealing - has spoken of his delight in spending time on the ocean with his family. He said: “You’ve got to believe in heaven for perfect happiness but right now I will take warm seas the same temperature as the air, the freshest seafood, giggles from my kids and a Welsh chuckle.”

M

Williams’ dog bitten by rattlesnake obbie Williams’ dog has been bitten by a rattlesnake. The ‘Angels’ singer - who is currently on the UK leg of Take That’s European tour - and his wife Ayda Field have eight pooches and their beloved Jack Russell Baby recently had a nasty encounter with the slippery reptile. Luckily though Samantha wasn’t hurt and has made a full recovery. Writing on his website in response to a fan’s question about whether he preferred German Shepherds or Jack Russells, Robbie said: “I’ve got both so can’t pick ..seems wrong...our Jack Russell got bit by a rattlesnake last week....all good though she’s fine...tuff ting she is. (sic)” During Take That’s ‘Progress Live’ tour, Robbie who quit the group in 1995 - performs some of his greatest solo hits and says he wants to do another solo tour, especially for the people

R

who have been criticizing his recent performances. Writing to a fan who asked what he wants to say to his critics, Robbie said: “Haha! I wouldn’t be aware that people were putting me down if you hadn’t told me ; ) I must say I am aware that there is a perception in certain quarters and I’m enjoying throwing that perception down people’s throats when I jump through the wall in L.M.E.Y (Let Me Entertain You)...I’ve never felt more on my game ..and it’s thanks in part to the nay sayers....they have put a fire in my belly and in turn a smile on my face.

I’m blessed to have them... and when the tickets go on sale for my next tour I think we’ll see what ‘dwindling’ looks like ;) (sic) “Yes there will be a solo tour and I’m not sure where I’ll be going yet.”

Adele is ‘trying to be a veggie’ he ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ hitmaker has been inspired to turn vegetarian by her pet bulldog Louis, because every time she looks into his eyes she feels guilty about eating meat. Speaking on UK station BBC Radio 1, the singer - who is currently recovering from a haemorrhage on her vocal chords and laryngitis - said: “I’m trying to be veggie.

For what I want to do next year I have to be really healthy and stuff like that. “I can find another way of getting all the stuff out of meat you need. I hate that tofu stuff though.

It’s rank. Whenever I’m about to eat meat I

T

wyneth Paltrow has admitted her marriage is “not perfect”. The ‘Iron Man’ actress married Coldplay singer Chris Martin in 2003 and their busy schedules as successful stars and the pressures of fame mean they have to work hard at their relationship. Gwyneth - who has two children, Apple, seven, and Moses, five, with Chris said: “Chris and I have our ups and downs - a long relationship takes a lot of twists and turns. We both have a lot going on so we just have to make it work.” The Oscar-winning actress insists she and the ‘Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall’ singer keep their marriage on track by being open with each other and being as “normal” as possible.

G

always see my little dog’s eyes.” The 23-yearold singer wouldn’t reveal what she is planning for the next year, but she is set to return to performing in the coming weeks, and will resume a US tour she was forced to pull out of in June because of her problems with her voice. Adele also said she won’t join microblogging website twitter because she is afraid of the outrageous things she might say online. She explained: “I don’t want to tell everybody what I’m doing all the time. I’ve got such a loose mouth anyway, I put my foot in it all the time!”

She added to Easy Living magazine: “I am very happy to support anything that Chris is doing and vice versa. ‘I think the reason it’s worked so far is because we are very open with each other and communicate well. “I think in many ways I’m a traditional wife. I believe that I have a responsibility to make a home and protect my family.” The 38-yearold screen beauty - who is also taking her first steps as a singer - also revealed the London home she shares with Chris, 34, has a “wonderful garden and a little vegetable patch and a swing”, and she likes nothing more than being in the kitchen. Gwyneth - who recently released her own cookbook ‘My Father’s Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes

Celebrating Family & Togetherness’ - added: “My life can be so surreal sometimes - to be in the kitchen with things that are routine and mundane make me feel good. “I have this thing where I always throw a dishcloth over my shoulder when I cook. Actually, Brad Pitt’s mom taught me that and it’s the best tip anyone’s ever given me.” Gwyneth was engaged to Brad in the mid-90s and dated him for twoand-half years before they separated in May 1997.

— Bang Showbiz

A

y

e niv rsar n

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

lifestyle

Years

F E A T U R E S

Fashion with character

At Anime Expo pretending

gets real T

he perky young woman with pumpkin-orange hair bounces up to the man in the long red dress.

“Have we met before?” she asks, admiring the large bows on his head. “Yes,” he says, taking in her cartoonish outfit of bright-yellow tank top, red suspenders and denim shorts. “I believe we have.”

Recognition, though, doesn’t come instantly for Traci Hines, 22, of Newport Beach, Calif., and Bryan Yang, 27, of Villa Park, Calif. That’s because both are dressed up as Japanese animation characters — right down to the seemingly less-than-sane details.

Hines’ shock of orange hair hangs between her eyes to mimic Misty, the tomboyish gym leader in the Pokemon franchise. Yang’s delicate features, including light eye shadow and lip gloss, make him a convincing Reimu Hakurei, a shrine maiden from the computer game series “Touhou Project.”

Hines and Yang soon are joined by a dude in a shaggy gray wig and white lab coat with a huge black bolt sticking out of the left side of his head, and a scar running across his face - Dr Frank Stein, from the “Soul Eater ” manga

(comic book) series. “Nice to meet you,” Bradley Vandervis, 22, of Yorba Linda, Calif, greets the two. On this sunny afternoon in Yorba Regional Park in Anaheim, Calif, where kids are play and couples picnic — and three adults are dressed as cartoons — the question is reasonable: Who are these people?

Geeks? Hines, Yang and Vandervis prefer “enthusiasts” — as in, huge fans of Japanese animation and manga. So huge, in fact, that they dress the parts.

The handmade costumes they’re wearing on this day are the same ones they wore over the July 4 weekend at the largest gathering in North America of folks just like them. The 20th Anime Expo, held July 1-4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, is a four-day orgy of Japanese pop culture. A major part of the expo involves fans engaging in what is known as “cosplay,” for “costume play.” (When males dress up like female characters, as in Yang’s case, it’s called “crossplay.”)

Dressed up as their favorite characters, “cosplayers” stroll the expo floor, in character, soaking up adulation. Giddy fans of the comics or video games swamp the cosplayers and crossplayers.

Some seek photos. Some want autographs.

The players say it’s a great way to spend a weekend. Yang, an exporter and importer who’s been attending Anime Expos since 1999, says the desire to dress up comes from a deep attachment to a particular character. “It’s kind of like ... this is your way of expressing your love.” For Yang, a seed was planted in elementary school, when he was hooked on Saturday morning episodes of “Dragonball Z.” It blossomed in high school, when someone lent him a VHS tape of “Neon Genesis Evangelion.” “I was hooked,” says Yang, his face framed by two strands of long black hair tied into thin ponytails.

Vandervis, a biology major at Cal Poly Pomona, twirls his bolt to make clicking sounds just like Dr Frank Stein does in the “Soul Eater” series. “He’s kind of what you’d call an antihero,” Vandervis explains of his character. “He’s a good guy ... with evil tendencies.”

Vandervis’ interest in anime and manga took off in high school, when friends introduced him to shows like “Trigun” and “Cowboy Bebop.” For Hines, the outfit and the buzz she’ll get at the Expo isn’t all about fandom. She’s an actress and a model and a singer (she’s all over YouTube), and she loves making and wearing costumes.

Her costume hobby is also her job. Hines sings and performs at themed events, usually as princesses. When Hines dyes her natural blonde hair red, she’s the spitting image of Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.”

And that’s OK. Costumes at Anime Expo aren’t restricted to Japanese creations. Hines typically dresses as Ariel at least one day of the Expo.

When she does, she says, the attention makes it hard to walk the Expo. “Little girls are constantly stopping me.”

Anime Expo is big business.

“It’s basically Halloween in July,” says Marc Perez, chief executive of the entity behind the Expo, the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation. This year’s event figured to be the biggest in the Expo’s 20-year run, with an estimated 110,000 attendees.

They’ll pay daily ticket prices of $25 to $45 to experience Anime and manga-themed music and gaming, and get some face time with Japanese artists and personalities, among other things.

They’ll also get their first “live” peek at Hatsune Miku, a hologram whose voice is generated by computer and who is considered a virtual pop star in Japan. Another highlight: $25,000 worth of cash and prizes for the most creatively dressed. “It’s basically Halloween in July,” Perez says of the cosplay element of the expos. “Everyone enjoys people watching.” The park is quiet, so Hines, Yang and Vandervis mostly are watching each other. Hines and Yang met at a previous anime event. Vandervis is meeting both for the first time. They fall into an easy patter about their love of all things anime.

“It’s an ice breaker,” Vandervis says of cosplay. Half the fun, they say, is putting together the costumes. It’s art, which is cool. And while some costumes run into the thousands, spending can’t trump creativity.

Vandervis, who has been to three Expos, chose the character of Frank N. Stein partly because Stein sees the world as an experiment — something the biology major appreciates. How do they think the rest of the world — the undressed, as it were — view cosplayers? Hines, with accompanying character Pikachu, answers by posing for a photo. Yang, all flowing red dress and huge bows, vamps for a videographer.

Finally, Vandervis answers: “A lot of people think that this (cosplaying) is crazy.

“They think I’m crazy, too,” he adds. “But in a good way.” —MCT

Traci Hines dressed as “Misty” with accompanying character Pikachu plans to attend the 2011 Anime Expo in Los Angeles, California. —MCT

Artists from the Arab world take part in London’s contemporary

Arab culture T

he curtain is raised Monday on London’s first ever celebration of contemporary culture from across the Arab world, organised by the Mayor of London and sponsored by HSBC. Shubbak: A Window on Contemporary Arab Culture, will feature around one hundred artists in over seventy events in more than thirty key cultural venues throughout the city for three weeks from 4 - 24 July 2011. Shubbak (the arabic word for ‘window’) will feature a wide-ranging programme of events including visual arts, film, music, theatre, dance, literature, architecture, lectures and discussion, many of them free.

Among the highlights of the programme are: Monday 4 July: A Musical Revolution into the Arab World, a free concert to open the Festival at The Scoop featuring three of the hottest new generation stars of the Middle East’s music subcultures: Zeid Hamdan from Beirut, Tamer Abu Ghazaleh from Palestine, and Maryam Saleh from Egypt.

Until 23 July: A Girl in her Room, an exhibition of photo works by highly acclaimed our 2011 and 2012 global Cultural Exchange programme, Arabian Journeys. Celebrating the rich and diverse culture of the region, the programme will include research with the Economist Intelligence Unit, Arabia Offscreen - an international education project involving an expedition to Saudi Arabia - and exclusive cultural experiences for clients and stakeholders, with further announcements to be made shortly. Following our previous spotlights on the emerging markets of China, India and Brazil, our Cultural Exchange programme reflects the value we place on appreciating and understanding different points of view when building successful working relationships.”

Presenting organisations include: Arab British Centre, Arab New Trends, Arts Canteen, Barbican Centre, The British Museum, Brunel Institute of Contemporary Middle-Eastern Music, Cadogan Hall, CafÈ Oto, Dash Arts, Delfina Foundation, English Chamber Orchestra, Foyles Bookshop, Freeword, Gate Cinema, ICA, The Idler, iniva, Land in Focus, Leighton House Museum, LIFT, London Review of Books, London Walks, Lebanese/American artist, Rania Matar, at the Mosaic Rooms, one of London’s leading centres for Arab contemporary arts.

Until 24 July: Shopopolis, produced by Delfina Foundation. Artists from the UK and UAE have been developing a special commission for Shubbak, involving shoppers at Westfield Shopping Centre in a series of collaborations, drawing on the contrasting shopping experiences of the luxury Malls in the UK and the Emirates.

Wednesday 6 July: Inauguration, a unique concert at LSO St Luke’s to celebrate the opening of Brunel University ’s new Institute for Contemporary Middle Eastern Music, the first of its kind in the world. Including works by composers from Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Turkey.

Friday 8 July-Sunday 10 July: Interference, a free weekend of films, talks and workshops at the ICA curated by Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha in a close collaboration between the two organisations. Speakers include curator Jack Persekian, artist Emily Jacir, film director, Ahmad Abdalla, Deena Chalabi, Head of Strategy at Mathaf. Friday evening will include a screening of Microphone (2010), directed by award-winning director Ahmad Abdalla, followed by a Q&A with the director and James Neil, film curator of Parallax Media.

Monday 11-Saturday 23 July: In the Penal Colony, Kafka’s classic play presented by Young Vic Theatre, adapted by director Amir Nizar Zuabi and Palestinian company ShiberHur, performed in Arabic with English surtitles.

Tuesday 12 July: The BIdoun Library in Residence at the Serpentine Gallery opens, a travelling collection of 50 years of books, magazines, videos, music and ephemera from and about the Middle East, of interest to artists, researchers and art lovers. Until 11 September.

Wednesday 13 July: Palestine/Lebanon/Syria: Poetry and Political Protest presented by Poet in the City at City Hall, featuring renowned Palestinian poet Najwan Darwish.

Friday 22 July: A Night in Tahrir Square presented by the Barbican Centre featuring a line-up

of artists who helped to create the soundtrack of Egypt’s revolution including street music group El Tanbura, Azza Balba, oud virtuoso Mustafa Said and singer-songwriter, Ramy Essam.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “The Arab world is changing fast; in some ways beyond recognition. In London we want to look beyond the stereotypes and understand a region that is diverse and dynamic in arts, culture, ideas and belief. Shubbak provides a ‘window’ through which to see the extraordinary breadth and excitement of contemporary Arab arts in key London institutions, building on a powerful sense of connection and respect. At a time of remarkable political and social change, and in a city which has welcomed many Arabs over the years, I hope this festival will make us think again about Arab culture today.”

Zarir J Cama, Group General Manager, Group Management Office, HSBC Holdings plc commented: “Shubbak: A Window on Contemporary Arab Culture will provide real insight into the Middle East and we are pleased to announce this sponsorship as the first event of

MICA Gallery, The Mosaic Rooms, Museum of London, Musicstage Promotions, Nous, Poet in the City, The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, Resonance FM, Rich Mix, Royal Institute of British Architects, Sadler’s Wells, Saqi Books, Scoop at MORE London, Selma Feriani Gallery, Serpentine Gallery, Six Pillars, SOAS, Sotheby’s, Southbank Centre, Tate Modern, V&A, Young Vic, Westfield Shopping Centre, Zenith Foundation.

Countries around the world will be represented including Algeria, Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, India, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, USA and the United Arab Emirates.

Munira Mirza, Advisor for Arts and Culture to the Mayor of London, said today: “We are absolutely delighted at the response we’ve received from cultural organisations all over London and across the Arab world to our invitation to take part. There is a real sense of excitement and collaboration amongst artists and I believe the festival will demonstrate the power of culture to bring people together.”.”

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

lifestyle F a s h i o n

Galliano-less Dior couture show fails to inspire W

hen your collection notes read like an abbreviated history of the art, architecture and fashion design of the 20th century, you know you’ve got a problem. Such was the case at Dior’s first show in 15 years without its disgraced former creative director John Galliano. The British designer was fired in March amid a scandal over alleged anti-Semitic remarks, and his former righthand man stepped in Monday, fielding a fall-winter 2011-12 haute couture collection that cited as influences interior designer Jean-Michel Frank, architects Ettore Sottsass and Frank Gehry, graphic designer Jean Paul Gouda, watchmaker Jean Dunned and fashion designer Marc Bohan. It was as if Bill Gaytten-who took a bow at Monday’s show, though Dior executives were quick to stress he has not officially taken over the reins at the house-were trying to prove his cultural erudition by shoving all those disparate influences into a single show.

In the days following Galliano’s firing-which came right before the house’s ready-to-wear show after a video showing the designer praising Adolf Hitler went viral on the internet-Dior executives handled the sticky situation with aplomb. Four months on, the same cannot be said. While Dior was a disappointment, delights abounded at day one of Paris’ rarified haute couture displays-the three-day-long extravaganza where 23 cherry-picked labels showcase their savoir faire by creating wildly expensive made-to-measure garments for the world’s wealthiest women.

Two newcomers to the elite cadre of approved couture purveyors, dramatic Italian Giambattista Valli and Dutch wunderkind Iris Van Herpen each fielded jaw-dropping collections that suggested that despite the dwindling numbers of buyers, couture still has brilliant days ahead. Displays enter day two on Tuesday with shows by Chanel, Givenchy and Giorgio Armani-the man behind the clean, graphic gown Princess Charlene wore to the wedding that saw her transformed from commoner into Grace Kelly’s successor as the princess of Monaco.

CHRISTIAN DIOR Four months after Galliano was fired, and with no successor yet appointed, it was with bated breath that the small audience of fashion insiders waited to see how whoever was filling Galliano’s immense shoes would fare. The reaction was underwhelming: Hoots and thunderous applause erupted from backstage, but the audience greeted the show with a short-lived flurry of halfhearted claps. The collection simply lacked cohesion. With sections that channeled the fluorescent pop aesthetic of the 1980s, a sort of 1970s Marrakech bohemian vibe, and shiny modernist architecture, the show felt like a bunch of ideas thrown almost randomly together. It was like watching three shows in one-and not a particularly inspiring three shows, at that.

The nipped jackets and pouffy skirts were embellished with the sort of amoebashaped appliques in eyepopping shades that were last seen on the costumes of 1987 teen pop sensation Tiffany and worn with oversized plastic cubes or spheres in the guise of hats. Oversized ballgowns made from petals of delicate chiffon were accessorized with the kinds of cheap glitter-covered novelty headbands you might wear to ring in the New Year, and you couldn’t quite tell if sparkly bits on the bodices were part of the dresses or just shreds of confetti.

Gaytten was named creative director at Galliano’s signature line, John Galliano, last month, but Dior

Models present creations for Dior during the Fall/Winter 2011-2012 Haute Couture collection show on July 4, 2011 in Paris. — AP/AFP

executives were quick to point out that he hadn’t taken the reins at Dior, one of the world’s top brands and the jewel in the crown of luxury giant LVMH. “Mr. Gaytten has done this collection but he is not artistic director.” Dior president Sidney Toledano told journalists backstage in a post-show interview.

“We are taking our time because we want to find a long-term solution, and many hypotheses are being explored.” Given the audience’s tepid reaction to Monday’s show, it seemed likely that Gaytten would prove more of a stopgap measure. Fashion insiders were hoping Monday’s uneven results would push Dior to end the suspense already and designate an official successor to a man who is nothing if not a hard act to follow.

GIAMBATTISTA VALLI Talk about making an entrance. Valli fairly erupted onto the haute couture calendar Monday with a collection of glamorous sheath dresses and evening gowns that dripped drama. Valli’s signature retro bourgeois dresses have made his pret-a-porter line a favorite among jet-setting It Girls, and dedicated fans like socialite Bianca Brandolini turned out to support his debut among the elite cadre of Paris couturiers. With his penchant for beadwork and feathers-which he uses with abandon in ready-towear-Valli is a natural for couture.

On Monday, the cap-sleeved sheath dresses sparkled with strips of flower-shaped sequins at the neckline, and their hemlines were densely feathered in black or white ostrich. A cropped jacket was a reef of tiny pieces of Capri coral, and a bustier dress was but the lightest cloud of white tulle. The flowing chiffon capes that topped off the goddess gowns brushed over the guests’ feet as the models walked, looking like modern day superwomen. “How glamorous was that show?” gushed Brazilian-born socialite and longtime Valli supporter, Andrea Dellal.

“It’s like Valli, but with more of everything.” The sole flaw in the otherwise stunning collection were the shoes: heels so high they crippled two of the models, who barely made it up the endless catwalk and back.

IRIS VAN HERPEN The stuff of nightmares became a fashionista’s dream. The Dutch designer plumbed the depths of darkness, spinning it Rumpelstiltskin-style into concoctions of a rare and delicate beauty. Abbreviated cocktail dresses sprouted an armor of Stegosaurus plates in clear plastic. A halterdress was made from what appeared to be a distended skeleton. Shiny black tubes completely enveloped another minidress, as if the model had been swallowed whole by a vacuum cleaner gone mad, or was being constructed by a luminous ebony boa. A dress had an oversized skirt that was made entirely out of twisted coils of metal wire. A plastic collar like a giant drop of water hitting a hard surface topped a tiny bustier dress made of leather laces. The show — which channeled much of the dark creativity of the late Alexander McQueen, for whom Van Herpen once interned-was nothing short of a tour de force. Born in 1984 in Wamel, the Netherlands, she’s among the youngest designers on the official couture calendarnot to mention among the most promising.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

lifestyle F a s h i o n

Models present creations

by Italian designer Giambatista Valli.

BOUCHRA JARRAR Two very different cultures united by a common sense of aesthetic refinement, the Japanese and the French have long exercised a mutual fascination for one another. So it was fitting that Jarrar, one of the most Parisienne of French designers, should look to Japan to expand the horizons of her graphic, pareddown style. Jarrar’s sheath dresses and clean-lined pantsuits breathe an effortless elegance that has hit a chord with the French fashion set, and the creme de la creme of the fashion glitteratti here, including the new editor-in-chief of French Vogue, Emmanuelle Alt, turned out for Monday’s show. You could imagine Alt and others who channel her casually stylish, tres Parisienne aesthetic wearing just about every piece in the collection, from the bustier dress whose only assets were its perfect cut and graphic patent leather piping to the razor-cut pleated trousers, worn with cropped jackets. In fact, it looked like the trousers Alt was wearing to the show, with stilettos and a blue men’s button-down shirt, might just have been Jarrar. Whereas haute couture tends to be about excess-throw on the sequins, slap on the rhinestones-Jarrar is all restrained sobriety with a hidden dose of kinkiness. With the Japanese undercurrent running through this season-palpable in the kimono-like closures on the dresses, the belts that looked like modified Obi belts and its silks printed with black and white stripes-the collection was more elaborate and worldly than in seasons past.

But it was still an exercise in perfectly calibrated minimalism, in a reduced palette of gray, black, white and electric blue.

ALEXIS MABILLE The bourgeois wardrobe got in touch with its animal instincts at Mabille, with a fur and feathered collection of bustier gowns and abbreviated cocktail dresses.

A strapless gown in white leopard print sprouted little tufts of fur, while a short little number in brown jersey had oversized fox sleeves and raccoon tails that dangled from a tie-belt at the waist.

Feathers that looked like they

Models present creations by French designer Alexis Mabille.

came from some oversized bird of prey poked out of the tops of the bustier dresses and shot through the models’ bouffant hairdos.

ADELINE ANDRE Adeline Andre is fashion stripped of pretense, ego and (bad) attitude, just flattering, beautifully made clothes, themselves stripped of such extraneous elements as buttons, zippers or other closures. This season, Andre served up straight-lined wrap coats in citrus shades of boiled wool and long-sleeved kaftans in translucent silk. Models of different ages and sizes emerged from backstage two by two, walking slowly up a catwalk illuminated by the afternoon sun streaming in through the windows. They gazed shyly at each other and smiled. When a Japanese photographer shouted at them to “stop in the light of day,” they complied, posing in the patches of streaming sunlight. The meditative pacing and gentle sweetness of the show were a welcome change from the booming soundtracks and willful hardness of most of today’s hyper-produced fashion shows. And sweetness begot sweetness: Instead of beating a hasty exit, the crowd clapped in unison for several minutes, demanding an encore bow from Andre. — AP

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

Galliano-less Dior couture show fails to inspire

38

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

American drummer for the heavy metal band Scorpions James Kottak carries a Lebanese flag during a concert.

German singer, lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the heavy metal band Scorpions salutes the public at the end of a concert for the band in the coastal city of Byblos north of Beirut on Monday. —AFP photos

Jay-Z to bring 40/40 restaurant franchise to London Paris Hilton

U

Man arrested over Hilton restraining order

L

os Angeles County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a man accused of violating a restraining order that bars him from being within 200 yards (180 meters) of Paris Hilton or her home. The sheriff’s department says in a statement that someone called authorities Monday afternoon and reported a man standing on a beach looking into Hilton’s Malibu home.

The caller recognized the man as James Rainford. He pleaded no contest to a battery charge in April after Hilton’s thenboyfriend Cy Waits was attacked outside a courthouse. Deputies who responded were met by numerous paparazzi who pointed out Rainford standing on the beach.

Rainford was arrested without incident and is being held on $20,000 bail.

The arrest comes less than a week after a man convicted of trying to burglarize Hilton’s home was sentenced to two years in prison.—AP

S rapper Jay-Z plans to bring his 40/40 restaurant and bar franchise to London next year in a deal which will team him up with England and Chelsea soccer player Ashley Cole. The NVA Entertainment Group (NVA), which brokered the multi-million pound (dollar) deal, said that The 40/40 London will be the first project of a partnership between Jay-Z and Cole that will include a number of new ventures.

“London is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world and the perfect location for our new venue,” Jay-Z said in an NVA statement emailed to Reuters. “I’m excited about working with Ashley and NVA Entertainment Group on a range of new projects and The 40/40 London is going to be the hottest place in town.”The management team will be appointing a top chef to deliver a modern American-themed menu for the restaurant/bar that will feature top DJ’s and A-list artists. A shortlist of three potential sites is now under consideration with a final decision on location expected in August, NVA said.

The 40/40 London will give first option on jobs to talented, long-term unemployed young people. Each month a percentage of profits from the project will go to local youth charities for music and sport projects in deprived communities.

“I am delighted to be working with Jay Z I have grown up listening to his music and now to be doing business with him is amazing and the projects we do will be delivering much needed funds back into sport and music on a local community level as well as helping talented young people get back to

Aussies set sights on

‘Quidditch’

world cup

Jay-Z

work,” Cole said in the statement. The grand opening party to be held next year will be similar to the 40/40 openings thrown by JayZ in New York, Las Vegas and Atlantic City and will be attended by a host of stars from music, sport and entertainment. NVA are in talks with UK broadcasters over exclusive TV opportunities. Alongside his music business Roc Nation and Rocawear clothing range JayZ is a sports fan - he attended Wimbledon last week and co-owns NBA basketball team New Jersey Nets. He runs a chain of 40/40 clubs in five US cities.—Reuters

Grooms kneel before their brides during a military mass wedding ceremony in Taipei yesterday. A total of 268 new couples will take part in this mass wedding ceremony between July 5-6 to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of Taiwan. — AFP

File photo shows chaser Jacob Warnock manoeuvres past Mitchell Waters while training for Muggle Quidditch, based on JK Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’ books and films, in Sydney. —AFP

A

ustralians, renowned for their sporting prowess in cricket and rugby, now want to win a world cup for running around on broomsticksotherwise known as Quidditch. In JK Rowling’s hugely successful Harry Potter books and films, Quidditch is a semicontact sport played by wizards and witches-as popular in their world as football or cricket is in real life. The final installment of the series hits movie screens in July, but the crowd-pulling sport of Quidditch has only just arrived in Australia.

“Four universities in Australia launched Muggle Quidditch teams this year,” said Justin Chau, who founded the Quidditch Society at the University of New South Wales. “On my campus it kicked off immediately with over 200 people joining in.” The rules of Muggle Quidditch-or Ground Quidditch-mirror the game invented by Rowling, which is played on flying broomsticks. Three Chasers have to score through three hoops patrolled by a Keeper, with their task made harder by Bludgers-flying balls that attempt to knock over the players.

Each team has two Beaters whose role is to knock the Bludgers off towards opponents. The game does not end until the Seeker captures the Snitch, a walnut-size ball that hovers and darts around the field. In the absence of flying broom-

sticks, Muggle Quidditch has been adapted to the law of gravity.

“Players have to run with a broom between their legs, avoiding the Bludgers that are thrown by the Beaters,’ explains Chau. “Unlike the real game, the Snitch is actually a person because obviously we don’t have balls that fly around.”

The sport has become popular in the United States, where it originated at Middlebury College in Vermont. With the success of a Quidditch World Cup last November in New York, the International Quidditch Association was formed, and it now has teams from some 200 colleges.

Buoyed by the success of the US initiative, Australians are now trying to build up enough teams to create a national league. “I heard about the World Cup and I thought it would be pretty awesome if we could have some sort of tournament going on in Australia,” said Chau. “We are not yet at a stage where we could take part in the World Cup. For now, we just want to build up a domestic competition.” Students from the four Australian universities where Quidditch is currently played are readying their brooms with the season expected to kick off once exams are over at the end of June. “I believe Muggle Quidditch is going to catch on. The generation which is entering universities now is the Harry Potter generation,” said Chau. —AFP