19 Jan 2012

CR IP TI ON BS SU

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

Iraq urges Iran to keep oil flowing from Gulf

Wikipedia, Google protest US antipiracy proposals

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NO: 15333

amount to KD 160m: Barrak

40 PAGES

150 FILS

21Illegal27deposits, 28transfers 20 Tribes forming alliances • Court reinstates more candidates

Max 18º Min 03º High Tide 08:25 & 19:35 Low Tide 01:54 & 12:36

By B Izzak

‘Freezing cold’ in coming days KUWAIT: The weather today will continue to be sunny with light to moderate northwesterly to northerly wind, said Mohammad Karam, Director of Kuwaiti Meteorological Center at The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Karam said that the “Siberian front” will begin tomorrow, and will pick up towards the region accompanied by very cold winds in the upper atmosphere followed by the northwesterly winds. By day, he said, it will be of moderate speed, later developing into a storm of a speed exceeding 70 kmph.

Karam also forecast a sharp decrease in visibility due to horizontal dust from the northwest of the country (from central and southern Iraq), which is expected to be a source of a dust storm heading towards Kuwait and until Saturday, he added. He noted that the temperature will drop sharply - the lowest since the beginning of the winter season this year - to below zero Celsius in many areas on Saturday night. “It will be freezing cold on Sunday,” Karam said. He expected exposed agricultural crops to frost over in this period. As for sea conditions, he advised seafarers to be careful and cautious due to high waves starting from noon tomorrow. — KUNA

RABAT: Morocco’s King Mohammed VI (right) welcomes Kuwait’s Amir HH Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah at the king’s palace yesterday. — AP

KUWAIT: Prominent opposition figure and former MP Mussallam AlBarrak has charged that the value of illegal deposits into the bank accounts of some former MPs and transfers made by the former prime minister amounted to KD 160 million.

He also said that he has documents proving that more than KD 60 million was transferred into the private bank accounts held by the former prime minister in foreign countries through the foreign ministry and the Central Bank. The previous government had denied any wrongdoing and insisted that all the funds had been paid back to the state.

Barrak said the funds of both deposits and transfers are sufficient to send more than 5,000 Kuwaiti students for university studies in the United States for five years. At the opening of his election headquarters, Barrak showed pictures of luxurious cars he claimed were bought with public funds and vowed that he and other opposition figures will push for a judicial probe into the foreign transfers.

Continued on Page 13

Ahmad Al-Saadoun

Mussallam Al-Barrak

Protesters defy ban on Manama protest Bahrain pins hopes on air show ADDIS ABABA: An unidentified member of the tourist group who was attacked is assisted as she arrives back at the airport yesterday. — AP

5 Europeans killed in Ethiopia attack ADDIS ABABA: Gunmen killed five Europeans trekking near Ethiopia’s famed Erta Ale volcano and kidnapped two others, officials said yesterday, in the region’s worst attack on tourists in years.

The volcano is one of Africa’s most spectacular and lies in the Afar depression reputedly one of the least hospitable places on the planet - where local rebels have claimed attacks and kidnappings in the past. Ethiopia blamed Eritrea but Asmara denied involvement in the attack, which occurred before dawn on

Tuesday and dealt another blow to regional tourism after recent kidnappings in Kenyan resorts and attacks on yachts by Somali pirates.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s spokesman Peter Szijjarto, in an emailed statement, provided the nationalities of all the tourists involved in Monday’s incident, citing information he said was obtained from Interpol. “Two Hungarians were killed in Ethiopia and another lightly wounded... In total, five Continued on Page 13

DUBAI: Bahraini police fired rubber bullets and tear gas yesterday to disperse protesters who were attempting to hold a banned demonstration in Manama, the key Shiite opposition group Al-Wefaq reported. There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests. Security forces prevented the small groups of people, who were chanting anti-regime slogans and demanding democracy, from reaching the Ras Rumman diplomatic quarter in the capital’s business district, the source said. The authorities said on Tuesday that they were prohibiting the demonstration, called by the Shiite-led opposition, for security reasons.

Al-Wefaq’s website also called for another demonstration to be held in a suburb of the capital tomorrow, the same day an air show is to begin in the tiny Gulf kingdom. Bahrain, keen to show its recovery after violent unrest, will not get much mileage from the air show, the first major international event since the protests, as the West remains wary of unpopular defence deals and commercial orders fizzle.

Yesterday’s incident comes just days after King Hamad introduced constitutional reforms that give more power to the elected parliament, but fall far short of the demands set down by the opposition. A brutal crackdown on protests in mid-March led to the death of 35 people, including five security personnel and five Continued on Page 13

Gulf economies can brave Iran tensions

Tiny Qatar wields powerful punch DOHA: From its startling winning bid to host the 2022 football World Cup and mediating roles in Middle East and African conflicts to its role leading Arab efforts to isolate Syria, tiny Qatar is aspiring to an ambitious role: global powerbroker. Led by a ruling family that does not shy away from taking controversial positions on world affairs, the Gulf Arab state was a major supporter of Libya’s NATO-backed rebels, providing arms and troops and ensuring the lasting gratitude of Libyans. In 2008 Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani helped cajole Lebanese leaders to a political agreement, succeeding where the Arab League, the United Nations, France and others had failed.

And in Sudan, Qatar mediated the ceasefire agreement signed in Doha between Khartoum and Darfur rebels in 2010.

The impetus behind the country’s

pursuit of the limelight in the past decade is a wish to differentiate itself from regional neighbours - specifically Saudi Arabia, with whom Qatar has had sporadically acrimonious relations for decades. “One of the key goals of Qatari foreign policy is to insert itself into key conflicts whereby Qatar becomes the crucial interlocutor between Western states and a range of ‘problematic’ Muslim actors,” said David Roberts, deputy director of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), based in Doha.

A close ally of Washington and home to the largest US airbase in the Middle East, Qatar has often launched political initiatives that corresponded with Western interests, and it had formal ties with Israel until the Jewish state’s 2009 war with the Palestinian Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip.

Continued on Page 13

MANAMA: Bahraini anti-government protesters kneel in the street and gesture towards riot police yesterday. — AP

KUWAIT: Former MP Mussallam Al-Barrak speaks during a protest outside the Palace of Justice yesterday demanding more severe penalties for those convicted in the torture and killing of 35year-old Kuwaiti Mohammad Al-Maimouni last year. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh

DUBAI: Tensions over Iran’s nuclear program may prompt Gulf Arab states to spend more on defence and infrastructure projects this year, but higher oil prices would probably cushion the impact on their economies of any escalation of the crisis. The risk of conflict over Iran’s nuclear ambitions has existed for several years with little effect on the Arab world’s wealthy oil exporters, most of which have minimal trade and investment ties with their rival on the other side of the Gulf.

In the last few months, however, threats of international military intervention in Iran, and Tehran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, have raised tensions to the point where they could have a major influence on investment in the Gulf states and their fiscal policies, some analysts believe. A recent rise of prices of Gulf states’ credit default swaps, used to insure against the risk of a sovereign debt default, may reflect increased con-

cern about Iran. Five-year Saudi Arabian CDS prices have climbed by 22 basis points since the start of this year to 149 bps, their highest level since July 2009, although they remain far below prices for debt-ridden European states, some of which are above 1,000 bps.

“Government spending in the Gulf, which on average increased by 20 percent last year compared to under 15 percent a year over the preceding decade, will probably have to rise more,” Said Hirsh, Middle East economist at consultancy Capital Economics, wrote in a report. “First, military spending is set to rise across the Gulf. Second, the Gulf’s governments will need to boost capital expenditure if political tensions lead to a fall in private investment.”

Foreign direct investment into Gulf Arab states totalled nearly $40 billion in 2010, according to the latest data from the United Nations Conference on Trade Continued on Page 13

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

LOCAL

Female voters eager for NA representation Unhappy with performance of former MPs KUWAIT: Having failed to get a female representative in parliament last time, the female voters of the Fifth Constituency still have strong opinions on of the country’s women parliamentarians performance so far and continuously evaluate it. The voters in the constituency are still at odds regarding women’s vote and the female MPs, which means it could prove a great oppor tunity to secure voters for the candidates who could sell their agendas better than the rest. This would be a major opportunity, since the constituency has the largest number of voters.

One voter, Um Ahmad Al-Saleh, said she is so disappointed and disheartened by the performance of parliament in general and the female MPs in particular that she would boycott the February polls.

“When we had only male MPs, we said they failed to pursue our causes because they could not fully understand them,” she said, hinting there is no excuse for this failure with female MPs in parliament.

“It is vital that women take part in development and work on correcting wrong stereotypes. After the immense joy to see female MPs, Kuwaiti women had only disappointment to content with, yet again.” “What happened to all the promises made in their campaigns? They must all be fully aware that their performance, of whatever standard and quality, would be remembered and assessed.

Voters, including the women in the Fifth Constituency, have the maturity and clarity of vision to discern empty slogans.

“Fatma Al-Ajmi is taking part in the elections for the first time. The university student said “Optimism is the top goal at present, amid the political strife among political groups. Optimism would be a means to mend fences with and restore trust in the female MPs. I hope our constituency manages to put a woman under the dome of Abdullah Al-Salem Hall this time.” The young voter further demanded future female MPs to focus on serving the “women of Kuwait”, rather than women of their own affiliations, sects, status, or any likewise small group.

Call for fast-track development drive KUWAIT: A Second Constituency candidate for the next parliamentary elections called for speeding up the implementation of the national development blueprint.

Addressing his supporters, Mohammad Flaitah underscored the significance of political reforms as a springboard for economic, social, educational and health reforms.

Although four billion Kuwaiti dinars have been so far spent on the country’s KD-37-billion development plan, no tangible results have been made on the ground, he said.

He also called for encouraging the private sector to play a more active role in the development process, supporting national products and small and medium-sized enterprises and protecting small investors.

Another candidate for the Second Constituency promised to work hard to protect national unity and empowering youth and women to play an influential role in Kuwaiti society.

Promoting his platform, Ahmad Jawhar said: “National unity is a red line

that must not be overstepped.”

He called for ensuring justice and equality among all members of the Kuwaiti society so that the nation’s national fabric can remain strong and firm.

He also vowed to support Kuwaiti women and to defend their rights and gains, reminding that women make up one half of the society.

For his part, lawyer Adel Abdulhadi of the Second Constituency stressed the importance of ensuring judicial independence and rule of law.

He said in news remarks at his election headquarters emphasized that the freedom of speech and expression should be further unleashed.

On youth, he said Kuwaiti young people should be allowed to get more involved in the countr y ’s national development as they represent the “backbone of development projects”. Abdulhadi also called for revamping health, educational and infrastructure services, and vowed to do his best to take more care of the disabled. — KUNA

Upcoming elections historic KUWAIT: Kuwaiti women attend the opening of the electoral campaign of Kuwaiti candidate and former MP Maasouma Al-Mubarak in Kuwait City on Tuesday. More than 300 Kuwaiti candidates, including 20 women, have begun electoral campaigns for Kuwait’s early polls next month called by the ruler, after dissolving parliament, over a political crisis amid high hopes for massive change and relative stability. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat A high school teacher in the same constituency, Sara Al-Azmi said she is most confident Kuwaiti women, both voters and MPs would prove mature citizens. Media coverage of late showed the high level of awareness and sense of responsibility shared by a vast group of Kuwaiti women, who represented the homeland in best light possible abroad in posts and positions in all fields, she stressed.

Stressing this same maturity would guide the February voting, she said it is unfair to describe the female MPs’ performance or women’s political participation as a failed experience. The women did not function in vacuum, she said, and their results are those reached through interaction with and sometimes action against male peers, she argued.

A housewife in her fifties, Um Nassar AlOtaibi said any assessment of the female MPs’

performance should be a comparison; pros and cons, instances of success and of failure.

To their credit, the MPs succeeded in making it to parliament despite previous strong opposition and persistent and lingering challenge to their merit and credibility. Their presence served as means to push for women ministers and senior female officials in all fields. The MPs took part in committee functions and appeared for vote on many bills, and also joined and had an impact within some influential political blocs.

As for discredit, Um Nassar mentioned failure to foster and maintain effective media and overall interaction with the constituency.

Some of the lady MPs also failed to take a clear political stance during some of the grilling sessions, which cast doubt to credibility of their votes in the end. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Fourth Constituency candidate for next month’s parliamentary elections, Musallam Al-Barrak said yesterday forthcoming polls were one of the most impor tant elec tions in Kuwait’s democratic history.

At the inauguration of his campaign, Al-Barrak said it was up to the voters to draw their own future through the good selection of candidates.

If voters succeeded in electing MPs whose major concern is fighting corruption coupled with a new government with a new approach, he added, “they then mark the first step on the path of development which will only happen in a corrupt-free environment.”

Kuwait is in dire need for development, he asserted.

Al-Barrak said he would fight for the independence of judiciar y, making Kuwait a single constituency, disclosing financial status of senior officials, approving anti-corruption laws and achieving social justice and equality.

Meanwhile, Ibtisam Al-Ketbi, professor of political science at the United Arab Emirates University, said that

upcoming Kuwaiti parliamentary elections need a firm stance from the Kuwaiti government and people in order to start a new step towards a better future.

Al-Ketbi pointed out to KUNA that the democratic experience needs to be self-critiqued by all Kuwaiti people, including government and citizens, in order to upgrade it better and overcome obstacles, adding that this stance must study the obstacles that Kuwaiti democrac y had faced in the past, instead of settling on democracy itself.

Democracy is a system and election is one its elements and tools, Al-Ketbi explained. However, voters should have some knowledge about democracy that would separate the system from the tribe, ideology, family, and category before heading to the ballots, she said.

On women participation in the elections, she said that women performance in the previous assembly, in general, was not positive and this could have a negative effect on their chances in succeeding in the upcoming elections. — KUNA

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

local

Salwa Najia unveils second cookbook

By Sawsan Kazak KUWAIT: Salwa Najia launched her second cookbook, ‘Dishes and Tastes,’ and held a book signing event at Costa Del Sol Hotel on Tuesday night. The hard cover book encompasses over 300 Middle Eastern and international recipes with precise ingredients lists, detailed descriptions and colorful illustrations. The Arabic cookbook is separated into twelve sections and covers recipes from appetizers, rice dishes, meats, elaborate desserts; to name a few.

“I was just collecting recipes, I wasn’t planning a book, yet. But when the recipes started building up and I kept getting new ideas, I was always inspired and decided to make a book. I began by separating my recipes into different sections and started work on my second book,” says Najia.

Najia gets inspired by her many travels and encounters with new flavors. “Every time I am away, I get new recipes to which I add my own special touches to. When I like

a recipe I go inside the kitchen and speak to the chef and take the recipe from the source and adjust it to make it even more special,” explains Najia. The cookbook author also enjoys creating original recipes.

“My cooking is always international and that is reflected in my book. I have Indian, Italian, Chinese, Brazilian and Middle eastern dishes,” says Najia.

Najia is somewhat of an amateur photographer and insists on taking all the pictures used to illustrate her recipes. “I now have more experience than in my first book, and I take pictures of all my dishes.

This new book has been completely illustrated by me,” says Najia.

Najia insists that all the recipes are tried and tested several times before they make it into the book. “You can tell I tried the recipe with the simple fact that I have taken all the pictures myself. I try to make sure that all the tastes are consistent, and that is why I will try the recipes more than once,” she adds. “The feedback from my first cookbook was great, as people were telling me that the recipes they were trying would work on the first attempt,” says Najia. She believes that the reason for the success is due to her exact measurements and clear explanation of each recipe. “For the average at-home-cook, the recipes are very easy to follow. There are recipes for the beginner level, intermediate and even the professionals can find recipes at their level like the Mille Feuille (French pastry). But anyone can find a recipe to suit them,” Najia says. Najia is planning a third cookbook. “I have already opened a folder on my computer called ‘My third book’ because I now feel stronger and more experienced in the cookbook making process. Najia loves cooking in general but says her favorite recipes right now are kibbehs and pastries.

Parliamentary hopefuls launch campaigns KUWAIT: Seven candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections, namely Bader Al-Buaijan, Dr Aseel Al-Awadhi, Ammar AlAjmi, Ali Al-Khalaf Al-Saeed, Naji Abdulhadi, Jamal Hussein Al-Omar and Suad AlTararwah launched their campaigns at the Third Constituency Tuesday evening.

Addressing his supporters, Bader AlBuaijan highlighted respect for the international conventions, to which Kuwait is a state party, and national unity as means to solve all problems.

He urged cooperation among all political and factional spectrums of the country in order to cement the social texture and curb intolerance. “ Those who manipulate religion for political ends will not be able to deceive voters since the citizens are mature enough to discover such tricks,” he said.

Al-Buaijan added that Kuwait, thanks to her national unity and moderate religious background, has a regional impact across the Arabian Peninsula extending from the Gulf to Red Sea. Meanwhile, Dr Aseel Al-Awadhi said her platform prioritizes educational reform as a means to building a modern country and strong economy.

“Our focus has to be placed on human development and encouragement of the spirit of entrepreneurship in order to accelerate economic growth and implement the mega projects,” she stressed.

Dealing with the healthcare sector, Dr Al-Awadhi urged adopting the international standards for all personnel and facilities of the medical sector to ensure better world-class services.

She also called for more legislations to back woman political empowerment and end all forms of discrimination against females who account for half of the society.

She added that her platform gives due care for promotion of culture, solving the problems of the people with special needs, ensuring social safety and protecting environment.

On his part, Ammar Al-Ajmi said his platform prioritizes the conservation of the Islamic identity of the society and promotes the values of good citizenship.

“To ensure progress for the country we have to protect its resources through strict supervision over spending and equitable treatment to all citizens,” he suggested.

Al-Ajmi promised to follow up the implementation of the development plans and back up the auditing work in order to promote transparency and ensure better future for the coming generations.

Ali Al-Khalaf Al-Saeed urged the voters to put the national interests above any other considerations whether personal, tribal or factional.

“The voters shoulder a great responsibility for reforming the political situation in the country; so they have to choose their representatives carefully,” he urged.

“The country faces numerous political, economic and moral problems resulting mainly from the standoff and non-cooperation between the previous government and parliament,” he pointed out. Al-Saeed added that he gives precedence to the effort to clarify the political environment, remove tensions and promote the values of true democracy.— KUNA

Cabinet to increase Future Fund’s share KUWAIT: Kuwait will increase its savings deposited to its Fund for Future Generations from ten to fifteen percent, reported Al-Qabas yesterday quoting a senior state official. “The Cabinet gave the finance minister the authority to authorize an increase in the percentage deposited from the state’s income surplus into the Future Generations Fund,” said Minister of Finance Mustafa AlShamali. They added that the final decision will be made by the end of the current fiscal year.

Kuwait established the Future Generations Fund in the seventies to allocate a part of the country’s annual oil revenues to be utilized for projects oriented for future generations’ welfare. Al-Shamali added that the percentage can be increased whenever a large surplus is recorded, without the need for an official decree. —Al-Qabas

Praise for Kuwait democracy BEIRUT: Mohammad Baalbaki, the Head of the Lebanese Press Federation, praised democracy in Kuwait which protected the country vis a vis possible fallouts of the regional events, alluding to the widely-known Arab Spring events.

Kuwait is pioneer at the level of adopting a democratic system, at the regional level, said Baalbaki, on the occasion of the parliament elections, due to be held in the Gulf country on Feb 2. He also noted that the Kuwaiti authorities had amended the electoral system to “boost its democratic aspects.”

Resorting to the people to elect a new National Assembly constitutes yet a new evidence of adherence of Kuwait, namely HH the Amir, to the democratic system, “which has safeguarded Kuwait in the face of the current events in the region.”

Several Arab countries have witnessed public demonstrations and dissents, calling for freedoms, reforms, social justice and democracy. These events could have been averted had the Arab states adopted such a democratic regime, said the veteran and leading journalist.

Both, Kuwait and Lebanon, were among the first Arab countries that embraced democracy and established free electoral systems and parliaments to represent the peoples of the two states. —KUNA

KUWAIT: French Ambassador to Kuwait Nada Yafi (center) attends the opening of the electoral campaign of former MP and university professor Aseel Al-Awadhi in Kuwait on Tuesday. (Right) Former MP and Kuwait University professor Aseel Al-Awadhi, a candidate in Kuwait’s upcoming parliamentary elections, is seated among guests at her election campaign tent on the first day of canvassing.— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Candidates urge more political reforms Election campaign heating up KUWAIT: First Constituenc y hopefuls for the forthcoming parliamentary elections due in Kuwait on Feb 2 stressed here yesterday the significance of carrying out more political reforms. Fahad AlMasoud said in news remarks that political reforms is the basis and springboard for economic, educational and health revamp. He called for creating a public authority for integrity, transparency and fighting corruption, and adopting fresh bills on financial disclosure.

Al-Masoud believed that the relationship among the executive, legislative and judicial authorities can be regulated through the respect of the constitution and application of laws and regulations. Another hopeful for the First Constituency called for enacting laws on combating corruption and controlling public funds as well as ensuring efficiency and social justice in recruitment.

Abdullah Al-Roumi vowed, if he wins a seat in next parliament, to work hard with other prospective deputies to rebuild Kuwait, maintain its gains at all levels, and to preclude political conflicts and tensions.

He added that the coming parliament should attach much attention to effor ts to diversify the

sources of the country’s national income and retrenching expenditure. For her part, Maasouma AlMubarak, also a First Constituency candidate, underlined the significance of shoring up national unity and rebuilding Kuwait on the basis of genuine sustainable development.

Opening her campaign for the elec toral race, she said: “ The nation is not a banner or flag to be

raised, or a song to be sung.

Rather, it is loyalty, belonging and dedication.”

She urged ever yone in the country to do their utmost to be up to responsibility for meeting domestic and foreign challenges.

Al-Mubarak believed that the aftershocks of the country’s successive political crises need to be fended off by reasoning and genuine cooperation between the

KUWAIT: Supporters of Aseel Al-Awadhi attend the opening rally of her electoral campaign in Kuwait City on Tuesday.

executive and the legislative within a framework of the constitution, national constants and deep-rooted values of the Kuwaiti people.

Furthermore, innovative media, educational and legislative programs need to be set out for reinforcing national unity.

Finally, Hussein Jamal, also a First Constituency hopeful, called for reversing the current political track by changing parliamentary action.

Addressing his supporters, he said: “Unless the political track is reversed, there will be grave consequences on all fields, including economy, development, education, youth and sports and whatnots.”

“The fresh stage requires us to be stronger than ever and able to usher in a new phase where Kuwait’s national interest should be given a top priority,” he added.

He voiced ex treme concern over the current situation in the country, saying: “It is the most critical period in Kuwait’s history.” Dr. Ali Jamal, another candidate, said the reconstruc tion of Kuwait would only happen through comprehensive and serious review of the political life. He called for more freedom and democracies, political reforms. — KUNA

Al-Anjari demands urgent end to bedoons’ issue KUWAIT: Candidate Nabila Al-Anjari has called for prompt actions to be taken to find radical solutions to end bedoons’ problem “which have became a serious threat to Kuwait’s safety and security.” In a statement made available yesterday to the press, the third constituency candidate identified solutions to grant citizenship to stateless residents who are eligible for naturalization. She opined that it was important to expose the original nationalities “of those who make use of the bedoons’ suffering by concealing their original documents that seek Kuwaiti citizens’ privileges.”

“Leaving bedoons’ problem unaddressed damages the international reputation of Kuwait, and puts national security at risk during a critical time in which waves of tension are raging,” Al-Anjari said. They called for ‘serious action’ to be taken against stateless residents who have been

accused of demonstrating illegally and attacking police officers.

Moreover, Al-Anjari added that Kuwait has so far been dealing with the bedoons’ issue from a humanitarian standpoint, which she said, eventually, led for granting basic human rights to stateless residents. “However, the bedoons’ issue has been used by some individuals to spread enmity by placing Kuwait’s safety and security at risk,” she added.

Al-Anjari ended her statement by urging bedoon residents who meet conditions of naturalization “to seek legal means to obtain Kuwaiti nationality.” She also asked the government to handle bedoons’ issue with extreme caution “especially with recent information suggesting that certain individuals from Iraq and other places are agitating at bedoons who do not meet naturalization conditions.”

Nabila Al-Anjari

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

LOCAL

Local Spotlight

in my view

Don’t touch, it’s the Constitution

The power of the media, social change

By Fouad Al-Obaid

Muna Al-Fuzai fouad@kuwaittimes.net Twitter: @Fouadalobaid

eople in Kuwait are social by nature, their favorite pass-time being talking. We as a society can spend endless hours speaking about things that we are knowledgeable about as much as in matters about which we have no clue! The issue that I would like to share today is pivotal for the understanding of a society that is stuck in between to diverging directions; on one hand our society is pushing for greater liberalization of society. On the other, a segment of society is preaching a return to puritanical Islamic roots and heritage. Alternatively, a third branch may emerge that tries to marry two ultimately differing modes of life, and come up with a viable alternative middle ground.

In the meanwhile, emerging from a conference organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor that touched upon the question of the role of women in media, I could not help but remember a movie that I saw one night on a flight from Paris ‘Capitan America.’ When I watched the movie, I recalled my amazement at the ability of a movie to inspire people to reach out for greatness, despite initial insurmountable handicaps. The story, though, romanticized had a very central message, “if you want something so bad, you are the only person that is in the way of achieving your true potential.” Furthermore, it emphasized societal values such as social cohesiveness, unity in the face of adversity, courage, integrity, audacity, the acceptance of responsibility and its endorsement to name a few.

The aforementioned movie urged my reflection on the reality of the modern media with the following outcomes: The way people are portrayed in the media can make or break reputations, just as much as the media today is a tool that can be used for many purposes, not the least for building a just, moral society that is able to deal with the realities of globalization, ready to challenge and take a leading position. On the other hand, it could be a tool for the spread of rampant corruption during times of great national stress, like the ones we are living these days. It is a tool that could damage our national unity and cause rifts between different segments of society.

I fear - and at the same time remain hopeful for the future - need to develop and encourage positive message to be propagated within the various mediums of mass communication to encourage the emergence of a society that is able to not merely live pointlessly on earth, but rather one capable of developing; one capable of emerging as truly a new socio-economic and cultural capital of the Middle East. With that I leave you to question the way you spend your time on news and media , and whether you are using it as a tool for positive development, or whether you are a dummy being feed useless information.

muna@kuwaittimes.net

P

S kuwait digest

No end in sight for bedoon problem

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij he bedoons’ problem will never be resolved as their ancestors originally came from. Moreover, they long as the government views it that way: as a grew up living in Kuwaiti society their entire lives. problem. It appears that the government’s Kuwait is the only home that bedoons know. There approach is one of assumed pompousness, playing are people who call for them to be repatriated to their native countries, without realizing that this is victim all the while.

Kuwait’s government believes that it is the victim, practically impossible because they never had any and that bedoons disposed of their original pass- relations with societies.

They cannot adapt with economic and social ports to abuse its tolerant approach and impose aspects of societies. themselves on Kuwait mainly to obtain privileges Today’s bedoons are children, per- More importantly, bedoons don’t know of that a Kuwaiti citizenship haps, even grandchildren of people any other country to can grant its holder. First of who the government accuse of dis- feel that it’s their home. all, I believe that this is 100 percent true. I don’t think posing their original passports. This Yet, the government keeps treating them as that there are people who means that they were born and raised if they are infiltrators were present in Kuwait in Kuwait, and that they never had who refuse to leave before independence.

They simply failed to any connection with societies from Kuwait after entering it illegally. obtain passports when citwhere their ancestors originally came Not only that, but izenships were granted. from. Moreover, they grew up living the government also Yet, the government must realize that they created in Kuwaiti society their entire lives. regards stateless residents as lawbreakers bedoons’ problems.

Kuwait is the only home that bedoons who must be penalized Therefore, they should bear all responsibility to know. There are people who call for regardless of their solve it. them to be repatriated to their native humanitarian status or even personal rights.

The bedoons’ problem countries, without realizing that this The same way they was created when the state began a random natis practically impossible because they blamed children for uralization program, and never had any relations with those their predecessors’ decision to dispose of passwhen it failed to protect its societies. ports. The government borders from infiltration. is now punishing The issue snowballed into a crisis in light of mismanagement, and when people fathers by releasing them from the army or kicking in Kuwait began using it for their own benefit. them out of [governmental] homes because their Stateless residents are, in fact, victims of our govern- children decided to protest against the inhuman conditions they live in. This happened, despite the fact ment’s policies.

Today’s bedoons are children, perhaps, even that Article 32 of the Constitution says that ‘no crime grandchildren of people who the government accuse and no penalty may be established except by virtue of disposing their original passports. This means that of law.’ There is no law in Kuwait that criminalizes they were born and raised in Kuwait, and that they demonstrations. There isn’t even a law that criminalnever had any connection with societies from where izes being bedoon. — Al-Qabas

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kuwait digest kuwait digest

True colors of crises makers

Let’s not try to hide reality

By Thaar Al-Rashidi ven If we close our eyes a thousand times and bury our heads in sand, we will not be able to cover up reality. There is an attempt to bring down the current government on purpose. I am not here to defend this government or its prime minister. I am not ready to put on a lawyer’s suit.

Whoever thinks that the issues raised over the past 20 days were just a coincidence, is mistaken. I am not going to identify one certain issue, but mean everything that was raised. The timing and how it was raised is not something that just happened.

There must be some one behind them. It is like a fire that might have caused the death of many due to an electric short circuit.

What appears to us today is that the political furnace facing current government have been deliberately set alight. The purpose behind it is not clear.

There are individuals who benefit from igniting fire on different issues. Simply because people are ‘spreading political fires’ does not mean that the government is innocent. It bears a part of the responsibility for spreading fires. They do not know how to control it.

Political issues created will not stop without two main solutions - the current government should practice politics and deal with issues in accordance with the state’s interests. Secondly, the current government can play in accordance with the opponents’ game, and start revealing everything about those who interfere in elections whether through financial support or even political support.

There is nothing that we can weed out, except for vote buying. If the government resorts to its legal path, without being selective or closing its eyes on one person or more, half of the political problems behind the current political furnace will be exposed.— Al-Anba

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hould our Constitution be amended now?

How can this proposal be implemented? At every election this matter is brought to notice as if someone is trying to ring a bell in the public’s ears! Is it true that if only amendments are introduced to the Constitution can we be saved, and all our troubles will end?

Now, I wish that were true. Honestly , no one can argue that the Constitution is more than a set of regulations, laws and also a symbol of modernization. If only I followed it! They could move ahead and be part of the civilized world that sets laws to govern people and adapt. Therefore , every nation needs a Constitution and no government can survive today without one.

Now, this matter goes beyond organizing the country’s system. Here, there are many citizens, all Kuwaitis who supposedly love the country.

The government will not penetrate into people’s hearts and minds to check their intention and investigate the real reason. Why should we amend the Constitution?

Yes, the regional situation is going through a sad phase. The Arab region will continue to experience a gloomy, dark, vague and unpredictable phase. If we let go, we will plunge into a tunnel that will bring nothing but misery, confusion and chaos. The entire country could face a deadly threat because of the possibility of civil conflicts breaking out among the Sunni, Shia, Salafists if the Constitution is amended.

Extremist Salafists would want to amend the Second Article of the Constitution which clearly states that as Shari’a (Islamic law) is the main source of legislation to Sharia is the ONLY source of legislation in Kuwait. Let me point out that we are Muslims living in this century no matter what. I don’t want to live under a Taliban-like system.

That will not happen any soon and will be resisted by many Kuwaitis. Kuwait’s freedom is unlimited. There is no reason why amendments should be introduced in this environment. I believe that calls for amendments should be denied for the sake of our safety and survival . We should be cautious and careful.

By Dr Badr Al-Daihani hat we have is a semi-democracy, not main reason of the political crises. The number of democracy as known worldwide. It is not MPs opposing the former government reached more possible to have true democracy unless than half the number of the assembly before it there is an exchange of authority, that is an elected resigned, that is that more than half of the Kuwaiti government, political parties, and a true separation people did not trust the previous government. Does of authorities. All this is absent with us making our this mean the majority of the people are crises democracy not complete. Or, it is a democracy at the causers?!

As for the unaccepted behaviors by some MPs, minimum, even if the Constitution was applied in full. So what do you think as the democratic princi- they are effect, not a cause of the political crises. In ples were not applied properly since their inception addition to the verbal exchanges, and physical and issuance? The political struggle and the continu- attacks between members of parliament, yet they ous crises between the two authorities are centered remain rejected exceptions, that do not affect the total parliamentary peraround the application formance. of the 1962 constituWhat is this logic? Is it tion, that is accepting Ignoring this factor is what makes a must that the MP true political participaour crises continuous, and this is what should stay silent over tion and working under allowed some independents, oppor- corruption cases. One the roof of the constitution, not away from it. tunists, or those suffer from intellec- examples was the “mildeposits and transIgnoring this factor is tual and political shortcomings, or lions fers,” and that he should what makes our crises those who have current interest in ignore constitutional viocontinuous, and this is what allowed some continuing the crises to pre-occupy lations so that he can be a ‘non crises independents, opporpeople in marginal and trivial issues, considered causer’, or “wise” as some tunists, or those suffer to emerge. None of them lead to a media like to describe from intellectual and political shortcomings, deep rooted solution for the political them?!

No, because the oppoor those who have curproblem that is exhausting all of us. site is correct. rent interest in continuWhat should be ing the crises to pre occupy people in marginal and trivial issues, to described as crises causers are the MPs, media and emerge. None of them lead to a deep rooted solu- columnists who justify the cases of corruption and tion for the political problem that is exhausting all of back the government attempts to bypass the constitution and empty it from its content, and transform us.

Consider the concentration of some media on the National Assembly into a figurehead although some writers in an exaggerated manner on the so the era of such councils is gone, and we are living the called “crises” causers. The media focus on a group of time of the Arab spring and the era of the informamembers of parliament who opposed the previous tion technology revolution, which makes the matter government and its premier, or the projection of of updating our democratic system that its foundasome wrong and rejected behavior of some MPs, tions were laid in 1962, something necessary to and show the matter as if those two issues are the maintaining the stability of our country. —Al-Jarida

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kuwait digest

Privatize oil, leak our wealth

By Waleed Al-Rujaib here is talk that the Cabinet is eventually going to take recommendations of the state’s consultative economic committee to expand privatization projects, not only in fields such as the education and health, but also the oil sector. I really hope these rumors are not true. In 1960, the Kuwait Oil Company became the first state-owned oil company in all of the Arab countries and Iran. Today, all of Kuwait’s oil is refined in Kuwait, unlike the case in most other Arab states. Even Kuwaiti crude that is refined in Europe is so done by companies subsidiary to the KOC. These all are source of pride to all Kuwaiti citizens.

However, it seems that the state’s private sector is eager to put its hands over everything in the country. I

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The oil sector is too enormous for the private sector to be able to manage alone. If privatized, oil companies are likely going to end up being co-managed by foreign companies with long experience in oil digging and refinery. This basically is a way to open the door for the West to take control over our wealth, leaving people, especially the working class, pay the price. am afraid that the next parliament and Cabinet would work together to enforce laws that might only seem to be developmental but in fact only benefit certain economic interests.

The oil sector is too enormous for the private sector to be able to manage alone. If privatized, oil companies are likely going to end up being co-managed by foreign companies with long experience in oil digging and refinery. This basically is a way to open the door for the West to take control over our wealth, leaving people, especially the working class, pay the price. The capitalistic economic crisis led countries worldwide to adopt austerity policies, but the oil wealth enabled Kuwait to remain without dues. However, privatizing the oil sector paves the way for Kuwait to eventually find itself forced to become indebted. Instead of privatizing the oil sector, the government should change its management approach to repair the damage created in Kuwait’s economy as a result of corruption, and start planning for sustainable development. —Al-Rai

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

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US troop mobilization ‘not indicator of war’ Iranian diplomat optimistic

KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with the children.

Abdullah House inaugurated KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah represented HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah at inauguration of Abdullah House in the district of AlSulaibikhat early yesterday—HH the Amir is sponsor of the event.

HH the Deputy Amir, who arrived in a motorcade at site of the ceremony, was welcomed by Dr Musaed Hilal Al-Sayer, Board Chairman of Abdullah House for Children Care, Dr

Saleh Al-Duwairi, the assistant undersecretary for public health affairs at the Ministry of Health, members of the board and the steering committee.

The ceremony was attended by senior sheikhs, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, ministers, governors and senior state officials.

The ceremony started with recitation of the National Anthem and the Holy Quran. Dr. Al-Sayer addressed

the attendees, noting that activities of the house had been launched “under umbrellaî”of the Kuwaiti Association for the Care of Children in 2006. The house, which is a specially-equipped medical center, includes wards for children suffering from serious diseases—who can be accompanied by their mothers.

His Highness Sheikh Nawaf honored donors for the center, uncovered a memorial plague and toured the premises. — KUNA

Plans to amend rules on MPs’ immunity KUWAIT: If elected, several parliamentary candidates plan to push for amendments to the parliament’s internal regulations so as to provide complete protection to MPs from being put in a similar situation to that of Third Constituency candidate and former MP Faisal Al-Mislem, a daily newspaper reported yesterday.

“Al-Mislem’s conviction makes us seriously consider to propose amendments to the parliament’s internal regulations by which an MPs’ immunity is fortified

based on Articles 108 and 110 of the Constitution”, said First Constituency candidate and former MP Abdullah Al-Roumi to AlRai on Tuesday.

Al-Mislem was reinstated earlier this week to run for reelection after he appealed a Ministry of Interior decision to disqualify him based on an earlier court ruling that convicted him of releasing a check he used during debate of a grilling motion to former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad AlSabah.

On that regard, sources revealed that Al-Mislem’s reinstating “shook up tactics of most political and religious groups in the Third Constituency ”.

Speaking anonymously, the sources further notified that there are signs of coordination between candidates Dr Rola Dashti, Mohammad Bushehri, and Hesham Al-Baghli, as well as between Jamaal AlOmar and Mohammad AlTuwaijri, reported Al-Rai. Meanwhile, the administrative court is expected today to overrule disqualifi-

cation of numerous other candidates, which would force the Interior Ministry to reinstate them back, reported Al-Dar yesterday.

The court is set today to make its ruling in appeals made by candidates Abdulhameed Dashty, Mohammad Al-Hufaiti, Adel Al-Muhaid, Essa AlAjmi and Mohammad AlBlushi. The sources indicated that these candidates have clean criminal records which make it more likely that the court is going to rule in their favor, reported Al-Dar.

KUWAIT: A top Iranian diplomat in Kuwait believes that the United States’ mobilization of troops in Kuwait, is not an indicator of a potential war against Iran. However, he asserted on Tehran’s readiness to face “any military situation.” “Iran knows well that a war isn’t going to happen so simply,” said Mohammad Shehabi Iranian charge d’Affaires in Kuwait to Al-Rai daily on Tuesday, adding that Washington cannot engage in a military conflict with Iran “because they are well aware of the repercussions.”

While adding that is militarily capable of facing any war in the region, Shehabi said that “[Iranian] and Americans know each other as

well as each other’s abilities very well, and a war at the present time is unlikely.” “A decision from Washington to launch military action against Tehran isn’t going to be as easy as the decision to create a war in Libya,” he added.

Meanwhile, Shehab criticized “the West’s campaign against Iran’s nuclear program,” explaining that the infrastructure of most of Iran’s nuclear facilities were first established by the United States, followed by European countries. Now Russia is providing technology in the final stage.

“America and the West don’t want an Iranian political leadership that makes its own decisions, but

need a system similar to the Shah,” he added, referring the regime which ruled Iran prior to the Islamic Revolution.

Shehab also insisted that Tehran isn’t concerned about rumors that the European market could boycott Iran’s oil, arguing that “Europeans need Iranian oil; not the other way around, and they can’t do without our oil.” Shehab ended his statements by asserting on Tehran’s preparation to face any hostile situation.

“We are still dealing with the West’s provocative attempts, and it is natural for us to respond if we are targeted by an aggressive act,” he said. — Al-Rai

No harmony between education outcome, labor market demands KUWAIT: The education sector in the Arab region has witnessed a major leap in quality and quantity in the past years but surprisingly it also led to a major increase in unemployment rate, a study carried by the Kuwait-based Arab Planning Institute (API) revealed.

“This leap has enriched human resources and buttressed the competitiveness on the labor market and raised wages,” said Hussein Al-Tallafaha, conductor of study themed (solving the dilemma of unemployment among educated people), in a seminar held here yesterday. He added that the increase and improve of educational institutions outcome did not coincide with similar growth in economic development. “This failure has resulted in great increase in unemployment rates among educated people, particularly youth,” he said.

Al-Tallafaha unveiled that the unemployment rates are high in the Arab region as a whole, adding that it amounts to 35-54 percent in countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE. He also pointed out that unemployment is more rampant among educated Arab women.

Al-Tallafaha underlined the need for upgrading education sector to achieve harmony between its outcome and the demands of labor market.

Meanwhile, API Chief Bader Malallah voiced different view. “The problems lie in the lack of harmony between the skills provided by the educational process and those required by the labor market,” Malallah said during the seminar. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The paramedical unit of the National Guard’s medical services directorate carried out an evacuation drill at the National Guard Officers Club, mocking a cooking gas cylinder explosion that left human injuries.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

local

KUWAIT: The Chairman of Municipal Council Zaid Al-Azmi received a high-ranking delegation comprising the General Council of Lille a Felon, Brittany, France. This includes Chairman of General Council Jean Louis Touraine, Jeanine Hune Deputy Chairman and Jean Francis along with the International Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Al-Azmi welcomed the delegation and stated that such visits reflect HH the Amir’s vision to turn Kuwait into a financial and commercial hub. He expressed hope that the two municipalities can cooperate in fields like recycling garbage and water treatment. — Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun

Nine injured in accidents

By Hanan Al Saadoun KUWAIT: Two bedoons sustained various injuries during a car accident near Sabah Al-Nasser area. They were taken to Farwaniya Hospital. In another accident, on Abdaly road, three bedoons sustained head and body injuries. They were referred to Jahra Hospital.

A 30 year old Egyptian sustained a broken left leg during a car accident on Canada Dry street. He was taken to

Sabah Hospital. A 19 year old Kuwaiti complained of pain in his left wrist following a car accident on Riyadh street.

He was taken to Amiri Hospital.

A 53 year old Kuwaiti sustained a broken right shoulder during a car accident under Messila bridge. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital. A 16 year old Kuwaiti was admitted to the ICU after sustaining a head injury, when he was hit by a car in Mubarak AlKabeer area.

Kuwaitis among winners of FireFit competition DUBAI: Kuwaiti firefighters won fourth place among competing teams in the UAE’s third International FireFit Championship, which concluded Tuesday night. The Kuwaiti team competed against peers from the host country as well as Canada, France, the UK, and Germany.

Coming fourth place, the Kuwaitis beat the French and the British, while it followed the Germans and the Emiratis in first and second place.

Head of Public Relations and Media at Kuwait Fire Directorate Khalil Al-Amir congratulated the five -man team on this result, and said this is a praiseworthy accomplishment on the second time of participation in the event. The competing teams were of high standards of performance and our firemen still did well and broke their numbers and times from last year.

“Such event is the best method to prepare us for other international competitions, and we look forward to take part in

FireFit 2013,” he said.

“The fire department is keen on such competitions that help maintain and improve focus, physical strength and performance, and speed, to guarantee highest level of readiness possible.” Al-Amir also thanked the organizers for their efforts and hospitality.

General Manager of 911 Fire Fighting and founder of the championships Mohammed Al Ahmadi for his part praised the level of the Kuwaiti team and said they proved a tough opponent. In addition to the achievement of winning prizes here, the championship is in fact a re-enactment of the competitors’ daily struggle on the job in situations where the difference between life and death may well be mere seconds or flights up, he stressed. The championship is organized by parties including Dubai Civil Defense, 911 firefighting training, Dubai Scouts, and NAFFCO, a UAE-based fire equipment and apparatus supplier. —KUNA

Lebanese MPs praise Kuwait’s support for water venture BEIRUT: Members of the Lebanese parliament praised yesterday Kuwait’s support for development ventures in the country, latest of which was its partial funding of the vital Litani water project.

The project to pump water from AlQaroun Lake to the south was one of the major strategic ventures that have been supported by Kuwait, said deputy Mohammad Raad, the head of the parliamentary bloc, “faithfulness to the resistance.” Raad expressed gratitude to Kuwait, namely HH the Amir, the government and people, for launching the Litani venture. “The Lebanese people will not forget this help from brotherly Kuwait,” he affirmed.

On Tuesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri hailed assistances offered by Kuwait to Lebanon, as they addressed the launching ceremony of the Litani River project at the government headquarters.

The ceremony was attended by KFAED’s

Director General Abdulwahab Al-Bader, Representative of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) Marzouq Al-Kharafi, Chairman of Lebanon’s Council of Development and Reconstruction (CDR) Nabil Al-Jisr and Kuwait Ambassador to Lebanon Abdul’al Al-Qana’ei as well as dozens of senior officials, MPs and public figures.

Deputy Ayoub Hemayed, a member of the parliamentary “development and liberation” bloc, praised Kuwait for supporting the Lebanese without discrimination.

Kuwait has pledged $70 million to the project while AFESD pledged $92 million. Up to 90 villages and towns will benefit from the water project, forecast to cost a total of $330 million.

The first of the two stages of the project will supply drinking water to 200,000 residents and irrigation water to 4,200 hectares of arable land in the targeted areas where up to 110 million cubic meters of water will be pumped from the river per year. —- KUNA

Proposal to bring down voting age to 18 years KUWAIT: Kuwaiti political experts responded differently to the suggestion to allow people in uniform to cast ballots in the parliamentary elections and bring down the voting age from 21 to 18 years. Dr Ya’qoub Al-Kandari, dean of the Faculty of Political Science, Kuwait University (KU), approved the suggestion saying it “could deepen the concept of democratic practice since the military and the police as well as the youth are part of the social texture.” “The democratic practices enshrine the right of these segments of the society to choose their representatives and have a say in the political life,” he argued. To strengthen the concept of democratic practice is an essential part of the political reform,” Dr. Al-Kandari stressed, noting that these segments of the society have huge potentials and a great zest for changing the situations to the better.

On his part, Dr. Mohammad Al-Feili, Professor. of public law at KU’s Faculty of Law, said the expansion of the electorate will definitely impact the performance of the legislature.

“It’s a vital for strengthening the democratization drive and addressing some problems of the parliamentary life. The electoral process relies heavily on the personal and direct contacts between the voters and the candidates,” he pointed out.

“The issue of bringing down the voting age was first raised in constituent assembly in 1962. However, a draft law in this regard, based on the provisions of Islamic Sharia which deem a person accountable for their actions, failed to get a majority of votes,” he said.

“Recent census shows that the majority of Kuwaitis are youth, and if we force youths at the age of 18 to join the army, how can we deprive them of the right to vote,” Dr. Al-Feili wondered. Meanwhile, Aisha Al-Rashed, chairperson of Al-Manar centre for promotion of culture and political awareness, warned against involving the military in the political life. “The move could make the people in uniform liable to manipulation by differing political parties for serving certain trends instead of focusing on the national interests,” she said.— KUNA

Two security officers caught for smuggling Maid threatens to commit suicide KUWAIT: Two female security officers were taken into custody following a failed attempt to smuggle cell phones to inmates at the Central Jail. The two officers raised suspicions when they changed their mind about entering the facility after a front gate officer unexpectedly stopped to search them. They were put under arrest after several cell phones were found in their possession. They admitted during investigations at Sulaibiya police station that they agreed to smuggle the phones to inmates in exchange of money. They are currently held behind bars pending legal procedures.

Suicide threat Investigations are currently ongoing to reveal the mystery behind a case in which a domestic worker threatened to kill herself before police were able to put her under control. Security officers rushed to a house in Surra where a citizen reported his housemaid standing outside with a kitchen knife in hand and threatening to stab herself to death if anyone approaches. Officers were able to calm the Asian woman down, after which they took her to the area’s police station for investigations to reveal her motives.

Thugs held Police nabbed three Arab gangsters responsible for 13 mugging crimes in which they targeted pedestrians in Salhiya while impersonating police officers. Investigators were first able to identify one of the suspects through his car after obtaining its license number from his most recent victim.

Following his arrest, the suspect admitted

during investigations that he and two accomplices were responsible for crimes in which they mugged Asian men on streets while pretending to be police investigators. The gangsters reportedly used a flashing light they bought online and fixed on their car as part of their impersonation. They currently remain detained for further action.

Father shuns girl A Kuwaiti man refused to come over to the Salmiya investigations office and collect his daughter who was previously reported missing, insisting that he no longer wishes to keep her under his custody. The 20-year-old girl was found at a location in Salmiya following investigations, 24 hours after she was reported missing from a Rumaithiya home.

During investigations, the girl revealed that she escaped from her father’s abusive treatment, adding that she decided to live instead at her male friend’s apartment. After her father was contacted, he replied with an angry tone and said that he did not want her living at his house anymore. The girl eventually gave police her aunt’s number to call in order to come over and take her home.

‘Bride-to-be’ scammed Hawally police arrested a suspect charged with stealing thousands of dinars from a woman he made believe he was committed to their relationship. Investigations went under way after a Kuwaiti woman told Salmiya police that a Bedoon (stateless) man disappeared shor tly after she gave him KD35,000 which she loaned from several banks. She explained that the suspect had

asked for the amount to pay for their marriage preparations. Police were able to arrest the suspect inside his house in Al-Sulaibiya after he was located via his car after the woman gave police its license plate number.

The suspect eventually admitted that he scammed the woman, and added that he already spent all but a little of the payment he stole. He remains in custody to face charges.

Best friend’s snap A Kuwaiti woman filed a case at AlSulaibikhat police station against her best friend, seeking damage following divorce which she blames her friend for. The complainant reportedly went into trouble with her husband after he saw a picture showing her riding a motorcycle with another man.

The picture was reportedly taken by the woman’s best friend during a picnic. An order was made to summon the friend for investigations.

Angry employee A Ministry of Education employee faces attempted murder charges following his arrest after he tried to attack his manager inside his office recently. The suspect, who reportedly started working at an MOE department recently, stormed his boss’s office and verbally assaulted him for refusing to grant him early exit the day before. The manager was reportedly able to fight off his employee and avoid being attacked by a knife he was wielding. Police were soon present at the scene and placed the suspect under arrest.

—Al-Watan, Al-Rai, Al-Anba, and Al-Qabas

‘True democracy’ in Kuwait CAIRO: The political system in Kuwait is truly a democracy, and the small state is leaps ahead of other Arab countries in its rich and unique experience where there is an elected parliament, a head of government who could be questioned or even subjected to a “no confidence” vote, said deputy chief of Middle East News Agency yesterday.

Mahmoud Al-Naggar said Kuwait is led by a senior and first rate statesman, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah, who shows wisdom in handling the affairs of his subjects and preserves the separation of authorities and upholds

the law and the state’s constitution.

Such system allowed Kuwait to precede other countries in many fields, especially freedom of publication and expression as well as allow for translation activities to thrive, and the latter served as beacon of enlightenment for the entire Arab region.

This freedom brought about a cultural renaissance that was reflected by the issue of many papers and magazines of different interests and stances on issues of politics, economy, culture, society, and sports, among others.

The freedom also allowed for

political stability and economic prosperity for the public, which protects the country against the tougher storms and more biting winds that often sweep across the Arab region.

Deputy Editor in Chief for Arab affairs at Al-Ahram Tahani Al-Burtuqali meanwhile said the secret to Kuwait’s political and social stability is the wisdom with which His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad handles the helm.

“Having seen what goes on under the roof of Abdullah AlSalem Hall at the Kuwaiti National Assembly, with MPs harshly criticizing the govern-

ment and being heard without bearing a grudge, I never sensed any peril to Kuwait’s political future.” The journalist said true democracy in Kuwait means that the Kuwaiti citizens enjoy considerable maturity that allows them to experience a free and honest process, and she urged them to stay aler t to hidden agendas.

The system also enjoys the protection of a wise ruling family that is well capable of steering things even at times of challenge, the journalist said, praising the Sabah family for what she called “very long breath and calm at the helm.”— KUNA

Ethiopia praises Direct Aid KUWAIT: In the course of the various successes achieved by charitable projects, Direct Aid reported that the Society received a number of Thanks and Appreciation certificates from the government of Ethiopia and local authorities expressing their deep appreciation for the impressive results achieved through these projects and their contribution to the national development process.

The society said that Ethiopia office has been able to achieve several milestones for different development sectors including education, healthcare, and local develop-

ment. At the level of education, children under the care of the Society, including orphans, achieved good results in 2011-2012 academic year, and exceeded all performance expectations. In Nagashi School, the success rate was 100% in the Certificate of Primary Education exam in Republic of Ethiopia, whereas Bilal School achieved 98% in the Certificate of Primary Education exam.

In the area of health, the Society received an appreciation letter from the Ministry of Health for the Society’s contribution to the 2011 4th eyes camp , which was held in Dacey city, Amhara, about 400 km of Addis

Ababa with nearly 80% of Muslim population . The screening includes about 8,000 patients of population suffer from vision problems, and 800 operations were performed free of charge to those in need.

With respect to the Society’s participation in local development, the Society’s office in Ethiopia received an appreciation letter from the Office of Water in the Somali Region, as the Society dug 11 shallow wells or hand dug wells to supply the community in Jakjaka with water.

Moreover, the appreciation letters expressed deep gratitude of the govern-

Scenes from Direct Aid operations in Ethiopia.

ment of Ethiopia to Kuwait Direct Aid for their generous efforts and significant contributions to reducing the country’s burden and assisting in the achievement of development for rural and remote areas, which include more than 60% of population, who lack access to adequate education and health services and safe drinking water. In conclusion, Kuwait executive management expressed deep appreciation to external employees for their contributions to these achievements, marking Kuwaiti charitable action, which obtains a special place in the map of humanitarian action across the world.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

Suu Kyi registers for seat in Myanmar’s Parliament

Pakistani PM’s lawyer: No harm in graft case Page 11

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ZABADANI: In this Tuesday photo, anti-Syrian regime protesters chant slogans and flash the victory sign as they march during a demonstration at the mountain resort town of Zabadani, Syria, near the Lebanese border. —AP

Syria willing to let monitors stay Britain urges tougher Syria sanctions BEIRUT: Britain called yesterday for harsher sanctions on Syria, where an Arab monitoring mission has failed to halt bloodshed in a 10-month-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad. Syria may let the monitors stay on after their mandate expires today, but Assad’s foes say the Arab League peace effort has failed and the UNSecurity Council should step in.

Arab foreign ministers, due to consider their next step at the weekend, are split over how to handle Syria, as is the Security Council, which has failed to adopt any position.

US President Barack Obama has again called for a change of government, saying

the violence in Syria was unacceptable.

British Prime Minister David Cameron accused Iran and Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah movement of helping to prop up Assad, whom he described as “a wretched tyrant”.“Britain needs to lead the way in making sure we tighten the sanctions, the travel bans, the asset freezes, on Syria,” Cameron told parliament in London.

European Union foreign ministers are expected to discuss extra EU sanctions at a meeting on Monday.

Hundreds of killings on both sides have been reported since the Arab League sent observers last month to see whether Damascus was respecting a peace plan it

accepted on Nov 2. An Arab League source said Damascus would accept a one-month extension of the monitoring mission, but no broadening of its mandate.

Critics say the observers have only provided Assad with diplomatic cover and more time to crush his opponents.

The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said security forces killed a civilian in a village in the northwestern province of Idlib yesterday and the body of a youth detained nearly two weeks ago turned up in Homs.

It said a soldier had been killed and five wounded in clashes between troops and army deserters in the Idlib village of Khaf Takharim. Three rebel soldiers were also wounded.

Syria’s state news agency SANA said the strangled body of a veterinarian doctor was found in Homs bearing marks of torture four days after he was kidnapped by an “armed terrorist group”.

The United Nations said on Dec. 13 that Assad’s security forces had killed more than 5,000 people since the unrest erupted in mid-March. Nine days later, the government said “armed terrorist groups” had killed 2,000 security personnel.

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, who has distanced himself from Damascus in recent months, said the Arab monitors had failed to staunch the bloodletting and that Syrians wanted freedom, like other Arabs who have revolted in the past year. “I am more and more concerned about the possibility that Syria will plunge into more violence and ... maybe civil war,” he told Reuters in an interview. The Arab plan required Syria to halt the bloodshed, withdraw troops from cities, free detainees, provide access for the monitors and the media and open talks with opposition forces.

A tenuous truce was holding yesterday in Zabadani, near the Lebanese border, where troops had been fighting anti-Assad rebels, residents said. But heavy machinegun fire and explosions rocked the troubled city of Homs, an opposition group said. “As of now there is no shelling and no gunfire. It is quiet. But the army is still surrounding the area,” said one Zabadani resident who gave her name as Rita. Syrian forces backed by tanks attacked the hill resort on Friday in the biggest military offensive against insurgents since the Arab monitors began work on Dec 26.

Michel Kilo, a dissident Syrian writer who spent six years in jail, said the struggle in Syria was at an impasse.

“The regime can’t stop people protesting and the people can’t bring the regime down,” he told France’s Le Figaro daily, adding that Assad wanted to “bring in Iran, Hezbollah, Iraq and to threaten Gulf countries with a long war”. Riad Al-Asaad, a leader of the rebel Free Syrian Army, told Reuters on Tuesday the Arab League’s efforts

had failed. “We call on them to turn the issue over to the UNSecurity Council and we ask that the international community intervene because they are more capable of protecting Syrians at this stage than our Arab brothers,” the former army colonel said.

The Arab League source said China and

Russia, which have blocked Security Council action so far, had urged President Assad to accept an extension of the monitoring mission to avert an escalation at the international level. Qatar has proposed sending in Arab troops, an idea rejected by Syria and one likely to be resisted by its Arab allies. —Reuters

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

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

Iran in touch with powers on new talks, EU denies it TEHRAN: Iran said yesterday it was in touch with big powers to hold fresh talks soon but the European Union denied it, with Britain saying Tehran had yet to show willingness for negotiations addressing suspicions that it trying to develop atom bombs. A year after the last talks fell apart, confrontation is brewing as the EU prepare to dramatically intensify international sanctions against Iran with an embargo on its economically vital oil exports.

Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, used for a third of the world’s seaborne oil exports, if it cannot sell its own crude, fanning fears of a descent into war in the Gulf that could inflame the Middle East. Iranian politicians said US President Barack Obama had expressed readiness to negotiate in a letter to Tehran, a step that might relieve tensions behind recent oil price spikes. “Negotiations are going on about venue and date. We would like to have these negotiations,” Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters during a visit to Turkey.

“Most probably, I am not sure yet, the venue will be Istanbul. The day is not yet settled, but it will be soon.” A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, representing the six powers, denied there were any fresh discussions with the Islamic Republic to organize a meeting. “There are no negotiations under way on new talks,” he said in Brussels. “We are still waiting for Iran to respond to the substantive proposals the High Representative (Ashton) made in her letter from October.” Iran has yet to formally respond.

Ashton wrote to Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili to stress that the West still wanted to resume talks but Iran must be ready to engage “seriously in meaningful discussions” about ways to ensure its nuclear work

would be wholly peaceful in nature. The Islamic Republic has in sporadic meetings over the past five years insisted that talks focus on broader international security issues, not its nuclear energy program.

Britain also dismissed Salehi’s remarks. “There are no dates or concrete plans because Iran has yet to demonstrate clearly it is willing to respond to Baroness Ashton’s letter and negotiate without preconditions,” a Foreign Office spokesman said.

“Until it does so, the international community will only increase pressure on it through further peaceful and legitimate sanctions,” he said. Iran denies wanting nuclear bombs, saying its enrichment work is for power generation and medical applications.

The last talks between Iran and the permanent members of the UNSecurity Council-the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China-along with Germany stalled in Istanbul a year ago, with the parties unable to agree even on an agenda. Since then, a UNnuclear watchdog report has lent weight to concern that Iran has worked on designing a nuclear weapon and Washington and the EU have turned to extending hitherto modest sanctions in place since 2006 to target Iranian oil. EU foreign ministers are expected to approve a phased ban on imports of Iranian oil at a meeting on Jan. 23 - three weeks after the United States passed a law that would freeze out any institution dealing with Iran’s central bank, effectively making it impossible for most countries to buy Iranian oil.

“Ahead of (that meeting) Iran is chasing headlines and pretending that it is ready to engage,” a Western diplomat said in reference to Salehi’s remarks. “If it really is ready to sit down without preconditions the (six powers) would do so. Sadly, at the moment, it

seems more interested in propaganda.” Iran has said it is ready to talk but has also started shifting uranium enrichment to a deep bunker where it would be less vulnerable to the air strikes Israel says it could launch if diplomacy fails to curb Tehran’s nuclear drive.

Western diplomats say Tehran must show willingness to change its course in any new talks. Crucially, Tehran says other countries must respect its right to enrich uranium, the nuclear fuel which, if enriched to much higher levels than that suitable for power plants, can provide material for atomic bombs.

Russia, a member of the six power group that has criticised the new EU and US sanctions, said the lastditch military option mooted by the United States and Israel would ignite a disastrous, widespread Middle East war. “On the chances of whether this catastrophe will happen or not you should ask those who repeatedly talk about this,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference in Moscow. “I have no doubt that it would pour fuel on a fire which is already smouldering, the hidden smouldering fire of Sunni-Shi’ite (Muslim) confrontation, and beyond that (it would cause) a chain reaction. I don’t know where it would stop.” Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said yesterday any decision about an Israeli attack on Iran was “very far off”.

China, which shares Russia’s dislike of the new Western moves to stop Iran exporting oil, said US sanctions that Obama signed into law on Dec. 31 had no basis in international law. “As for some countries imposing unilateral sanctions on Iran, that is not international law and other countries are under no obligation to participate,” Li Song, a deputy directorgeneral of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Arms Control and Disarmament, told an online question-

and-answer session. Iranian politicians said that in reply to Tehran’s threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, if sanctions prevent it selling oil, Obama has written to the senior cleric who sits atop the Islamic Republic’s power structure.

While Washington has yet to comment on the reported letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, several members of Iran’s parliament who discussed the matter yesterday said it included the offer of talks. “In this letter it was said that closing the Strait of Hormuz is our (US) ‘red line’ and also asked for direct negotiations,” the semi-official Fars news agency quoted lawmaker Ali Mottahari as saying.

“The first part of letter has a threatening stance and the second part has a stance of negotiation and friendship.” Washington has often said it has a dualtrack approach to Iran, leaving open the offer of talks while seeking ever tighter sanctions as long as Tehran does not rein in its nuclear work.

But any fresh opening to Tehran might be a risky strategy for Obama in an election year as aspiring Republican presidential challengers compete over who is toughest on a country Washington has long considered a pariah state. Ray Takeyh, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said in a Washington Post column that there were doubts about Tehran’s sincerity in wishing to return to negotiations.

“By threatening the disruption of global oil supplies, yet dangling the prospect of entering talks, Iran can press actors such as Russia and China to be more accommodating in an effort to avoid a crisis that they fear,” Takeyh wrote. “Any concessions that Iran may make at the negotiating table are bound to be symbolic and reversible.” — Reuters

Yemen Islamists to quit town if prisoners freed Acting president’s aide says presidential vote on time SANAA: Yemeni Islamist fighters who seized a small town southeast of the capital Sanaa this week have said they will withdraw if several comrades are released from jail, tribal sources said yesterday. Yemeni tribesmen negotiating with the militants on behalf of the government said Tareq Al-Dahab, leader of the group that took over Radda, about 170 km (105 miles) southeast of Sanaa, agreed to go if his brother Nabil and several others were freed.

Dahab is related to Anwar Al-Awlaki, a US citizen whom Washington accused of a leadership role in the Yemeni branch of al Qaeda, and assassinated in a drone strike last year. Radda’s capture underscored US fears that political upheaval in Yemen over the fate of President Ali Abdullah Saleh will give al Qaeda a foothold near shipping routes through the Red Sea and may spread to world No. 1 oil exporter Saudi Arabia.

Saleh formally handed over power to his deputy late last year, in line with a Gulf-brokered plan to end months of mass protests and bursts

of open combat between his forces and those of a rebel general and tribal militias. Under the deal hammered out by Yemen’s wealthy neighbours, Saleh’s General People’s Congress and opposition parties divided up cabinet posts between them, forming a unity government to steer the country towards presidential elections in February.

Saleh’s opponents accuse him of ceding territory to Islamists to bolster his assertion that his rule alone keeps Al Qaeda from growing stronger in Yemen, and ultimately aiming to retain power by sabotaging the transition deal.

A spokesman for Yemen’s acting leader, Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, dismissed comments by the foreign minister, who suggested a day earlier that elections may be delayed due to deteriorating security. “There is no scope for delaying the ... election because it will be conducted under the supervision of the international community,” said Yehia Al-Arasi.

Washington, which long backed Saleh as key to its “counter-terrorism” policy, endorses the

SANAA: An armed Yemeni tribesman loyal to Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh, walks on a street where barricades, unseen, are being removed in Sanaa, Yemen yesterday. —AP

transition plan. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that Saleh was failing to meet his pledges under the deal and that Washington was “focused on the threat posed by al Qaeda in Yemen”.

Dozens of fighters entered Radda on Sunday, expanding Islamist control beyond southern Abyan province, where they have taken several towns since an uprising against Saleh began early last year. The streets of Radda were empty yesterday, residents said. In the militant-controlled town of Jaar in Abyan, residents said al Qaeda linked fighters calling themselves Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law) planned to behead two Saudi nationals and one Yemeni for spying for the Yemeni army.

In another outbreak of violence, two people were killed and dozens injured in fierce gunbattles late on Tuesday in Saada, a rugged, impoverished governorate bordering Saudi Arabia that has been the scene of intense sectarian fighting in recent months. “Houthi” rebels, who draw their name from a tribal leader and are members of the Zaydi branch of Shi’ite Islam, seized control of a major highway they say is used to send weapons to from Saudi Arabia to their local foes.

Two Houthi fighters were killed and dozens injured as government troops fought them with automatic weapons to try to regain control of the road, said Dayfallah al-Shami, a member of the Houthi political leadership council.

The area has seen Houthi fighters attack a religious school controlled by Salafis, Sunni adherents of a puritanical creed influential in Saudi Arabia which deems Shiites heretics. The northern conflict is just one of several threats to smooth implementation of the power transfer deal signed in November with the goal of steering Yemen away from civil war. Question marks remain over the intentions of Yemen’s veteran leader, who has said he will stay in the country, reversing a pledge to leave for the United States.

Yemen’s parliament has yet to vote on a law denounced by protesters demanding Saleh’s ousting - that would give him and his associates immunity from prosecution over the killing of protesters. The measure has the cabinet’s backing. “The legitimacy of the parliament depends on the Gulf initiative and its operational mechanism. It must pass the law because it is written into the Gulf initiative,” Arasi said. — Reuters

Egypt’s military ruler warns of ‘grave dangers’ CAIRO: Egypt is facing unprecedented “grave dangers” but its military will protect it, military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi said in remarks published yesterday which appeared aimed at rallying public opinion against protests planned for next week’s anniversary of the country’s 2011 uprising.

Tantawi’s comments also seemed to be a thinly

veiled warning to the activists behind last year’s Jan 25-Feb 11 demonstrations that led to the toppling of authoritarian president Hosni Mubarak.

The activists are now calling on the military to step down immediately, and accuse the ruling generals of botching the transition to civilian rule, of killing at least 80 protesters since October, of tor-

CAIRO: Muslim brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie (L) meets with US Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson in Cairo yesterday. —AFP

turing detainees and of hauling at least 12,000 civilians before military tribunals for trial. Activists plan to stage a wave of protests to mark next week’s first anniversary of the start of the uprising. The staterun media has responded with a media campaign warning of a plot to destabilize the nation on the anniversary. Tantawi’s talk of unspecified “grave dangers” facing the nation and of the military’s resolve to counter them harks back to the Mubarak era, when officials frequently sought to shift attention away from domestic problems with warnings of conspiracies against the country by local agents of foreign powers. “Egypt is facing grave dangers it has not seen before,” Tantawi said. Calling on Egyptians to foil the “schemes and conspiracies” against Egypt, he said: “The armed forces is the backbone that protects Egypt. These schemes are aimed at targeting that backbone. We will not allow it and will carry out our task perfectly to hand over the nation to an elected civilian administration.”

Tantawi, who is in his late 70s, said that the armed forces were “pushed into the political fray only to protect Egypt from the enemies of the nation and people,” language that appears designed to counter charges by activists and politicians that the ruling generals planned all along to retain their political leverage and their privileges.

Activists claim that Tantawi and the rest of the generals sitting on the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces are an extension of Mubarak’s 29year regime and remain beholden to the former president, whose consent was essential to their promotion through the ranks. —AP

BAGHDAD: Ayad Allawi, the leader of Iraq’s main Sunni-backed and former Prime Minister, right, gestures as Iraq’s Parliament Speaker Osama Al-Nujaifi looks on during a meeting for the main Sunni-backed bloc in Baghdad, Iraq yesterday. —AP

Crisis tearing Iraq apart: Sunni-backed leader BAGHDAD: Iraq needs new leaders to prevent the country from disintegrating, the leader of the main Sunni-backed bloc said yesterday, reflecting the severity of a sectarian political battle in the Shiite-led government, accompanied by violence, just a month after the exit of US forces. The leader of the Iraqiya bloc, Ayad Allawi, was responding to a bold step by Shiite Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, issuing an arrest warrant against the nation’s top Sunni official, sending him into virtual internal exile.

“Iraq is at a crossroads and I say that Iraq needs forgiving leaders, who will raise above their personal hatred,” Allawi told a news conference in Baghdad, accusing the government of stoking sectarian tensions to divert attention from its failures. Last month, Al-Maliki’s government issued an arrest warrant against Sunni Vice President Tareq Al-Hashemi, charging he ran death squads that targeted Shiite officials. In protest, Iraqiya began boycotting parliament and Cabinet sessions. On Tuesday the remaining Cabinet ministers suspended the Sunni-backed members until they end their boycott.

Al-Hashemi denied charges and fled to the autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq, out of reach of authorities in Baghdad. He is refusing to return for trial in Baghdad. The political battle coincides with a wave of bombing attacks, most of them targeting Shiites, killing more than 160 people this year. The twin crises have raised fears of a reprise of a conflict five years ago, when heavily armed Shiite and Sunni militias battled each other and brought the nation to

the brink of civil war.

Allawi accused Al-Maliki of unfairly targeting Sunni officials and deliberately triggering a political crisis that is tearing Iraq apart. Allawi said Iraq needs a new prime minister or new elections. “This is not the country that we fought the dictatorship for ... (and) not the democracy and freedom that we made sacrifices for,” said Allawi, who served as prime minister in the government the US formed after toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003.

If it prefers not to call an election, Allawi said, Al-Maliki’s National Alliance bloc should name a new prime minister, who will respect the US -brokered power-sharing agreement that enabled the formation of the current government after months of political bargaining following an inconclusive parliamentary election in March 2010.

The government crisis has intensified sectarian resentments that have remained raw in Iraq since the 2003 US -led invasion unleashed fierce fighting between Sunni and Shiite militias battling for dominance and killing tens of thousands civilians on both sides of the sectarian divide just a few years ago.

Attacks have surged since the last US troops left Dec 18. Yesterday, suspected insurgents killed a member of the government-allied Sunni militia along with three of his sons in the city of Latifiyah, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) south of Baghdad. In Baghdad, police officials said a mortar round landed near the Turkish Embassy in the northeastern part of the capital. There were no casualties. —AP

Israel’s main opposition to hold March primaries JERUSALEM: The head of Israel’s main opposition party yesterday reluctantly called a leadership primary election for March 27, injecting a new element of uncertainty into Israel’s already unsettled political scene. National polls showing dramatically shrinking support for the Kadima Party pressured party leader Tzipi Livni to start a campaign she had long resisted.

Livni appeared to be reacting to a fast-moving series of political developments that could result in early national elections.

National elections are set for late 2013.

Public opinion polls suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hawkish coalition partners would maintain power if the elections were moved up. But crises threatening two of Netanyahu’s partners and the entry of a popular former journalist into the mix have reshuffled the deck. Livni, who has led Kadima since former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stepped aside in early 2009 to fight corruption charges, has presided over a party divided by infighting and struggling for relevance. The party, like other centrist rivals, champions the establishment of a Palestinian state, but it has ill-defined views on economic and social issues that have come to the fore.

The animosities tearing the party apart surfaced immediately after news of the

leadership election broke. Livni’s chief rival Shaul Mofaz, a former defense minister and military chief, accused her of damaging the party with her “indecisive, tired and irresolute conduct.” Then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon formed Kadima in 2005 when the his hard-line Likud refused to back his unilateral pullout from Gaza that year. Sharon was felled by a stroke a few months later.

With Olmert, it governed until the 2009 election, where it won the most votes under Livni but failed to build a centrist coalition, handing the premier post to Netanyahu. Polls predict that Kadima would not do nearly as well in the next election.

Without a clear message and facing several centrist rivals, it appears to be struggling for support. In particular, the arrival of newcomer Yair Lapid, a charismatic former TV personality who last week decided to enter politics, is expected to lure away a significant number of Kadima supporters.

Netanyahu abruptly moved up the leadership race in his own party, in a move some analysts have interpreted as signaling his desire to call early elections, possibly before the US presidential election in November. Some of his allies are having internal problems that could lead either one to pull out and rob Netanyahu of his parliamentary majority. —AP

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

Peace Corps pullout latest blow to Honduras TEGUCIGALPA: The US government’s decision to pull out all its Peace Corps volunteers from Honduras for safety reasons is yet another blow to a nation still battered by a coup and recently labeled the world’s most deadly country. Neither US nor Honduran officials have said what specifically prompted them to withdraw the 158 Peace Corps volunteers, which the US State Department in 2011 called one of the largest missions in the world.

But the wave of violence and drug cartel-related crime hitting the Central American country had affected volunteers working on HIV prevention, water sanitation and youth projects, President Porfirio Lobo acknowledged. Monday’s pullout also comes less than two months after US Rep. Howard Berman, a California Democrat, asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to reconsider sending police and military aid to Honduras as a response to human rights abuses.

“It’s a welcome step toward the United States recognizing that they have a disastrous situation in Honduras,” said Dana Frank, a University of California Santa Cruz history professor who has researched and traveled in Honduras. The decision to pull out the entire delegation came 18 days after a Dec. 3 armed robbery in a bus where a female volunteer was shot in the leg in the violence-torn city of San Pedro Sula.

Hugo Velasquez, a spokesman for the country’s National Police, said 27-year-old Lauren Robert was wounded along with two other people. One of the three

alleged robbers was killed by a bus passenger, Velasquez said. The daily La Prensa said Robert was from Texas. The US also announced it was suspended training for new volunteers in El Salvador and Guatemala, meaning that when existing volunteers end their missions, the operations end. El Salvador has 113 volunteers, and Guatemala, 222. The US embassies in those countries did not respond to requests for comment.

The three countries make up the so-called northern triangle of Central America, a region plagued by drug trafficking and gang violence. El Salvador has the second highest homicide rate with 66 killings per 100,000 inhabitants, the U.N. said. Honduras joins Kazakhstan and Niger as countries that have recently had their volunteers pulled out. The Kazakhstan decision followed reports of sexual assaults against volunteers.

The Niger decision came after the kidnapping and murder of two French citizens claimed by an al-Qaida affiliate. A U.N. report, released in October 2011, said Honduras had the highest homicide rate in the world with 6,200 killings, or 82.1 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2010. “Violence affects all Hondurans.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Peace Corps members, too,” said Jose Rolando Bu, president of a group that represents non-governmental agencies. It is most significant suspension of Peace Corps activities in Central America since the 1980s, when several Central American nations were torn by civil wars.

The Peace Corps had sent volunteers to Honduras

GOP candidates vie for backing of military vets SOUTH CAROLINA: Mitt Romney has ex-POW John McCain vouching for him. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum highlights his time on the Senate Armed Services Committee. And former House Speaker Newt Gingrich frequently calls himself an “Army brat” who grew up on military bases. While Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Texas Rep. Ron Paul are the only GOP candidates to have worn a military uniform, all of the Republican presidential contenders are emphasizing their military ties these days in a state that’s home to 413,000 veterans and eight military bases, with thousands of people on active duty.

“My purpose in life was to never be the president of the United States,” Perry says as he campaigns ahead of South Carolina’s primary Saturday. “My purpose has always been to serve my country and my state whenever they need or they call. That’s our duty as Americans.”

Perry’s days as an Air Force pilot in the 1970s and his father’s B-17 tailgunner missions in World War II are staples of his South Carolina message as he looks to right his struggling campaign. Paul, a flight surgeon in the 1960s who made his name as an antiwar congressman, is filling mailboxes with five-page letters that include a picture of him as a young draftee in a fullbrimmed Air Force hat. “Let me begin by telling you that the troops know first and foremost that I am one of them,” he writes.

There’s a reason for the intensive courting: As long as South Carolina has been instrumental in deciding GOP nominees, the state’s voters have rewarded candidates with military service. Every GOP primary winner since Ronald Reagan in 1980 has been a veteran. This year may end that streak.

Polls show Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, leading the pack. With the economy push-

ing US involvement in foreign conflicts to the back of voters’ concerns, some in South Carolina argue that GOP voters aren’t pining for the biggest hawk this time.

“Financially, people are in dire straits right now,” said state Sen. Lee Bright, a backer of Michele Bachmann before she left the race.

“They realize that the more money we spend overseas the less money they are going to spend at home.”

Nonetheless, most of the candidates have spent considerable time along the South Carolina coastline, wooing active-duty military members and veterans - many of whom lean toward the GOP clustered around the bases near Charleston that for many years fueled the state’s economy.

Perry, for one, has struck an aggressive posture lately, pledging that as president he would send troops back to Iraq to prevent Iran from exerting too much muscle in the region. —AP

since 1962, and around 1982 it was the largest mission in the world, according to the US State Department. The US sent more people to help after Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Berman said in the Nov. 28, 2011, letter to Clinton that he worried that some murders in Honduras appeared to be politically motivated because high-profile victims included people related to or investigating abuses by police and security forces, or to the June 28, 2009, ouster of President Manuel Zelaya. The coup lead

to the temporary diplomatic isolation of Honduras.

On Tuesday, a Honduran lawyer who had reported torture and human rights violations by police officers was killed by gunmen, authorities said. Three men stormed into the office of Ricardo Rosales, 42, shot him dead and escaped, said Hector Turcios, the police chief of Tela, a city 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of the capital. Rosales had told local press that officers had tortured jail inmates in his city. —AP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

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

Ambitious new London airport gets support LONDON: Support is growing for constructing a brand-new London airport in the Thames Estuary region of southeast England, the capital’s mayor said yesterday. Boris Johnson said the government was “increasingly interested” in the ambitious proposal, which would see a massive new air hub built where London’s River Thames meets the North Sea. Although detailed plans are likely to be years in the making, one high-profile proposal would see a 150 million passenger-a-year airport built at the edge of the sea for 50 billion pounds ($76 billion).

Johnson acknowledged that building an entirely new airport would be costly and time-consuming, but he argued it was critical to the country’s economy.

“You can’t go on expecting Britain to compete with France and Germany and other European countries when you simply can’t supply the flights to these growth destinations,” he told BBC radio.

Johnson’s new airport would effectively replace Heathrow, London’s current long-haul hub. The airport handles 65 million passengers annually, making it Europe’s busiest, but longstanding plans to build a third runway there were scrapped following a drawn-out and acrimonious debate with local residents and environmental groups.

Gert Zonneveld, a transport analyst at Panmure Gordon, said that the capital’s other four airports are either too small or too dominated by short-haul,

low-cost carriers to take on Heathrow’s role. That has led Johnson to champion an entirely new airport built about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of central London. A proposal recently published by London-based Foster & Partners envisions a multi-runway facility on the Isle of Grain, a marshy, sparsely populated peninsula at the edge of the estuary.

The airport would be linked to London by a four-track, high-speed train line which would plug into the Channel tunnel rail link and a planned high-speed line to Birmingham.

Concept drawings published by the architecture firm show bullet trains pulling into a glass-domed terminal building at a massive airport at the edge of the sea, as well as a futuristic-

looking flood-protection barrier aimed at generating tidal power for the region.

Critics say the plan is expensive, impractical, dangerous and environmentally destructive. Foster & Partners’ proposed price tag of 50 billion pounds is nearly half the size of Britain’s budget deficit.

Local council leaders have expressed outrage, saying the airport would be on the wrong side of London and that flight paths would slice through an area which is home to thousands of migratory birds.

The fact that the Isle of Grain also handles a fifth of Britain’s liquefied natural gas imports has raised safety concerns, and there’s a further danger lurking just below the surface of the

water: The SS Richard Montgomery, a World War II-era American munitions ship, remains submerged with 1,400 tons of explosives only four miles from the proposed terminal building. The government is planning to soon publish proposals for a possible expansion of Britain’s airports, a spokeswoman for British Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said yesterday. The consultation is expected to include proposals for a new London hub, including Johnson’s estuary idea.

Zonneveld said that technical challenges could be overcome - but suggested that cost would be the biggest stumbling block. “From an engineering point of view, yeah sure it could be done,” he said. “Clearly it needs to be paid for.” —AP

US calls on S Africans to prevent Sudan crisis Civilians running out of food, medicine

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron (L) welcomes Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti to 10 Downing Street in London yesterday. Monti is also expected to visit the London Stock Exchange later. —AFP

Russian TV attacks new US ambassador MOSCOW: State television has lashed out at the new US ambassador to Russia, questioning his credentials and suggesting his agenda is to support opposition leaders and promote revolution. Channel One criticized Ambassador Michael McFaul’s appointment in a segment that aired on Tuesday night, McFaul’s second day on the job. “The fact is that McFaul is not an expert on Russia,” said Channel One analyst Mikhail Leontev. “He is a specialist purely in the promotion of democracy.”

The commentary questioned McFaul’s previous work in Russia with the National Democratic Institute __ “known for its proximity to the US intelligence services” __ and his connections to the “so- called democratic movement” in the early 1990s. It also suggested McFaul has written hundreds of articles against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is expected to return to the presidency in March.

Noting the title of McFaul’s 2001 book - “An Unfinished Revolution in Russia. The political change from Gorbachev to Putin” - Leontev asked, “Has Mr. McFaul arrived in Russia to work in the specialty?

That is, finish the revolution?” The report followed video of Russian opposition and civil society leaders leaving the US embassy after meetings with McFaul and US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns - McFaul’s first official receptions in his post.

He met with senior government officials at the Kremlin on Monday.

Environmentalist Yevgeniya Chirikova, who was among those invited to the embassy, tweeted that McFaul’s choice of hosting opposition leaders first had cast him in a positive light. Others at the meetings included human rights and anti-corruption activists, along with representatives from the Communist, Just Russia, Yabloko and People’s Freedom Parties. Human rights activist Lev Ponomarev was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying that the discus-

sions included elections, the jailing of Russian businessmen and the awakening of political activism in Russian society.

“We had an informal conversation about the state of civil society in our country, about human rights violations and the problems that we have,” Ponomarev said. McFaul later explained on his blog that US officials in Russia make a point of meeting with both government officials and civil society leaders. “It’s a policy we call dual track engagement,” he said. “We learned a lot from listening to these leaders.” McFaul is regarded as one of the nation’s leading experts on US relations with Russia, and has been involved in the Obama administration’s efforts to “reset” relations with Moscow. That includes the signing of the New START treaty that set a ceiling of 1,550 strategic warheads in each country’s arsenal.

He responded to Channel One’s report on Twitter late Tuesday, saying the commentary included “no word about the 3 years of reset.” “Yesterday my mtgs with WH/Kremlin officials could not have been warmer. pluralism!” he tweeted.

Russian state television has suggested there has been US involvement in growing protests following December’s fraudtainted parliamentary election, in which Putin’s United Russia party won a majority of seats.

Two days before the vote, Kremlincontrolled NTV television showed a halfhour program attacking Golos, Russia’s only independent election monitoring group, which is supported by grants from the US and Europe. The program included shots of suitcases full of US dollars and claimed that Golos was openly supporting opposition parties and trying to discredit the election. The show aired several days after Putin accused Western governments of trying to influence the election through their funding of unidentified Russian non-governmental organizations. —AP

MOSCOW: Leader of the Yabloko party Grigory Yavlinsky shows lists with signatures in support of his candidacy as he submits documents to officially register as a candidate in March’s presidential election, at the Central Election Commission in Moscow yesterday. —AP

PRETORIA: A top US envoy yesterday urged South Africa to use its influence to help prevent a humanitarian disaster in a violencewracked region along the border between Sudan and the new nation of South Sudan.

Princeton Lyman, the special US envoy on Sudan, said civilians caught up in fighting in Sudan’s Blue Nile and South Kordofan states are running out of food and medicine. He said South Africa should pressure Sudan to allow in international humanitarian agencies.

“The prospect of hundreds of thousands of people dying with no access to food or medicine is something we can’t accept,” Lyman said in a speech yesterday in South Africa’s capital.

“We can prevent it. There’s time to do it.”

Charles Nqakula, South Africa’s special envoy on Sudan, told reporters later his country had received several requests similar to Lyman’s, including from South Sudan, and would act to ensure “that that crisis is averted.” He did not elaborate.

US diplomacy is limited. While Lyman can talk with lower-level officials, he does not meet with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir

because the president has been charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity for atrocities committed in Sudan’s Darfur region. South Africa, current chair of the UN Security Council, has long been a mediator in Sudan. A former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, chairs a special African Union committee on Sudan.

Sudan’s ambassador to South Africa, Ali Yousif Alsharif, said yesterday his government might yield if Mbeki were to call for international aid groups to be able to work freely in Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

But Alsharif, who appeared alongside Lyman at a forum organized by South Africa’s foreign affairs department, added: “There is no famine in these areas. There is fighting, but it is caused by the attacks by neighboring South Sudan.” Jago Arop Yor, a South Sudanese diplomat who also took part in yesterday’s forum, denied her government was behind the violence. She blamed the fighting on Khartoum, saying it was trying to discourage others in Sudan from following South Sudan’s path to independence.

Fighting between the Sudanese army and rebels who want to topple the Khartoum government started last year in Blue Nile and South Kordofan, and has raised concern about a larger north-south war erupting again. Groups in both states, which border South Sudan, sided with the south during a lengthy civil war but remain part of the north.

South Sudan has faced a host of problems since gaining independence in July. Some 80,000 people fleeing the fighting in Blue Nile and South Kordofan have sought refuge in impoverished and underdeveloped South Sudan. South Sudan’s Jonglei state has seen deadly ethnic violence. And tensions have risen between Sudan and South Sudan over sharing oil. Speaking to reporters after his speech, US envoy Lyman said the bitter oil dispute and the Blue Nile and South Kordofan fighting were especially worrying. The fighting, he said, already has led to cross-border clashes between Sudan and South Sudan. “I don’t think either country wants to go back to war,” Lyman said, but added that disputes could easily spill over into conflict. —AP

Media freedom in Hungary now under EU microscope STRASBOURG: The European Union stepped up its criticism of Hungary’s government yesterday, saying its crackdown on the media violates an essential freedom in EU countries. EU Vice President Neelie Kroes said that in addition to the three legal challenges against the bloc already has raised with the former Sovietbloc country - which many fear may be slipping back toward authoritarianism - she also is worried that press freedom is under threat. The warning came hours ahead of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s visit to the European Parliament to address his critics. The EU Commission said Tuesday it had enough evidence to start legal proceedings in three sectors - the judiciary, the central bank and the data protection office - where it sees democratic rights under threat. The EU measures underscore an overall discomfort about Hungary, where critics fear a creeping fallback to a centralized one-party rule under Orban’s Fidesz party.

The Commission said the new Hungarian constitution that came into force Jan. 1 undermines the independence of the national central bank and the judiciary and does not respect data privacy

principles. It centered its challenge on legal and technical issues, but Kroes insisted that when it comes to the media something more fundamental is at stake.

Kroes said, “ The respect of media freedom and media pluralism is not only about the technically correct application of EU and national law but also, and more importantly, about implementing and promoting these fundamental principles in practice.” A key step in the centralization of power was a much-criticized Hungarian media law that has allowed the party to influence reports in the state media. Critical journalists have been fired and the threat of massive fines has pushed others into self-censorship. A private radio station, KlubRadio, which was critical of the government, has been stripped of its frequency - and could go off the air in weeks.

The fate of KlubRadio “comes in addition to the criticism by international and civil society organizations about the risks of disproportionately centralized control of media under Hungary’s media law,” a statement from Kroes’ office said. In an initial reaction to the legal challenges, the Hungarian government struck a

480 homeless after rains in Mozambique MAPUTO: Nearly 500 people were flooded out of their homes in Mozambique’s capital after a tropical depression brought torrential rain and high winds, city officials said yesterday. In neighboring South Africa, the flagship Kruger National Park was affected during the busy summer season.

The homeless in Mozambique were being sheltered in schools, churches and even on sports fields, city officials said. In the southern Inhambane province, officials said roofs were blown off 71 classrooms, seven teachers’ homes and two offices at a school. In neighboring Gaza province, 40 small homes were swept away and 1,000 goats were killed.

Mozambique’s National Operational Emergency Center said tropical depression Dando had now dissipated after two days of destroying homes, downing power lines and causing other damage in Maputo and other southern areas. No deaths were reported.

In South Africa, helicopters were used to evacuate guests from one private lodge and a trail in Kruger, which borders Mozambique, park officials said in a statement yesterday.

Flooding has made some roads and low-lying bridges inaccessible and several camping sites and a picnic area were closed, they added. —AP

STRASBOURG: Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, arrives to deliver his speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France yesterday. Hungarian prime minister says key EU concerns on democratic rights can be easily resolved. —AP conciliatory tone, hoping a deal could be found before the issue comes to court. Orban will meet

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels next week. —AP

Slow response to East Africa hunger ‘cost lives’ NAIROBI: Thousands of people, more than half of them children, died needlessly and millions of dollars were wasted because the international community did not respond to early warnings of an impending food crisis in East Africa, aid agencies said in a report released yesterday. Most rich donor nations waited until the crisis was in full swing before donating a substantial amount of money, said the report by Oxfam and Save the Children. A food shortage was predicted as early as August 2010, but most donors did not respond until famine was declared in parts of Somalia in July 2011.

The report, written by two prominent aid groups, even blamed aid agencies, saying they were too slow to scale up their response. “We all bear responsibility for this dangerous delay that cost lives in East Africa and need to learn the lessons of the late response,” said Oxfam head Barbara Stocking. The aid agencies said many donors wanted to first see proof that there was a humanitarian catastrophe. That caused a funding shortfall that delayed a large-scale response to the crisis by around six months.

Now, there are clear signs that there is an impending hunger crisis in West Africa, said

Save the Children’s head Justin Forsyth. The report said that a food crisis in the West African region known as the Sahel is being driven by drought and high food prices. The report says agencies should put into practice there what has been learned in the Somalia crisis. A recent Save the Children assessment in Niger shows families in the worst-hit areas are already struggling with around one-third less food, money and fuel than is necessary to survive.

The report says the delays in East Africa caused thousands of deaths and increased costs for aid agencies. The British government estimates that between 50,000 and 100,000 people have died from the famine, mostly Somalis. Ethiopia and Kenya were also affected but aid agencies were able to work more easily there than in war-ravaged Somalia. More than half of those who died are believed to be children. The UN says 250,000 Somalis are still at risk of starvation and more than 13 million people need aid.

“The earlier you respond, the more you get for your money,” said Oxfam’s regional spokesman Alun McDonald. “We’ve done a lot of water trucking. It’s the last resort,” he said. “It’s a very expensive and inefficient way of delivering water.” — AP

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India PM tepidly pledges help on chronic power shortages NEW DELHI: India’s prime minister tepidly pledged help on chronic power shortages strangling economic growth, offering few specifics in a meeting with business leaders in the sector who sought faster coal and gas development and to pass on rising costs.

Electricity shortages are a bottleneck in India, where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is under pressure for failing to drive bold reforms in power and other sectors, such as allowing private generation firms to pass on higher fuel costs to ensure new plants needed to boost supply are profitable.

“We discussed with him shortage of domestic fuel, cost increase due to imports,

financial health of state utilities and environmental clearances,” Ashok Khurana, director general of India’s Association of Power Producers, said yesterday. He “has given us full assurance to address all our issues in a credible and commercially sustainable way,” he said after a group including Tata group Chairman Ratan Tata and Reliance Power Chairman Anil Ambani met Singh at his residence during a long day of meetings in the capital.

Singh’s office pledged a “practical, pragmatic and viable solution” to the industry’s problems would be found and said a committee would be formed at the secretary lev-

el, but offered little in the way of specific solutions. Singh has made little headway in pushing overall economic reforms halfway through his second term, disappointing hopes for rapid change to an economy constrained by capacity issues. India does not produce enough power to meet the demands of a fast-growing economy and increasingly affluent population of 1.2 billion people. Outages in big cities, including the capital, are commonplace, and businesses frequently rely on self-generated power.

Coal and natural gas shortages have crimped the rollout of new plants by big producers such as Adani Power and left many

existing units running below capacity. “The government needs to coordinate all its arms if it aims to improve the situation in the power sector,” said V. Srinivasan, an analyst with Angel Broking. India has installed capacity of 187,000 megawatts (MW), about a fifth of what China has, and a peak-hour deficit of about 12 percent. India’s power output rose 8 percent to 72.7 billion kilowatt-hours in December from a year earlier.

Stagnant domestic output by state-run Coal India, the world’s largest coal miner, and lower-than-expected gas production coupled with the high cost of imports has thrown the business plans of generators into

disarray. But as pressure builds on the government, India has raised its coal import target by over a third to about 114 million tons in the fiscal year ending in March, though a lack of rail capacity from key ports to endusers remains a constraint. Coal accounts for more than half of India’s power generation and will be required for about 85 percent of a 75,000 MW target for new capacity by 2017, a government draft report said in late 2011.

India has about 10 percent of the world’s coal reserves but struggles to provide private players more access to coal blocks and swifter environmental clearances and land acquisition. —Reuters

Pakistani PM’s lawyer: No harm in graft case President enjoys immunity from prosecution

KABUL: Afghan women and children walk on a cold winter day in Kabul yesterday. With a population of some 29 million, 23 percent of the total Afghan population live in urban areas. Afghanistan is the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world. —AFP

Snow may end drought, but bitter Afghan winter looms KABUL: Heavy snow that has blanketed large parts of Afghanistan, killing at least 20 people, could end a long-running drought that last summer threatened millions of people with severe food shortages, government and aid officials said yesterday. But the weekend snowfall and avalanches across the mountainous north and centre could bring a bitter winter and short-term hardship to many people, with many roads still cut off, hampering food delivery in several hard-hit provinces.

Government officials said the snow, when it melts in the spring, should end a near-decade long dry spell. Last year about 80 percent of the country’s non-irrigated wheat crop was ruined in almost half the country — 14 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces — hitting almost three million of the country’s poorest people. “The current rain and snow will benefit our underground water table and we hope now to have a year of good harvests,” said Ghulam Rabani Haqiqatpal, statistics director at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Food.

“We will have snow and rain until May now, so we hope the water shortage will

finish in Afghanistan,” he told Reuters.

Scores of Afghans die each year due to the cold, although farmers and small communities also rely on snowfall between December and April to bring water for the summer’s food and cash crops. The United Nations last year appealed for urgent international aid to get food and shelter to provinces including Ghor, Daikundi, Bamiyan and Badakhshan after rains failed for the eighth time since 2000.

Afghanistan needs about 5.2 million metric tons of wheat, the staple crop, a year. The country normally produces 4.5 million tons of wheat each year and imports the rest.

The UN’s World Food Program also said it was “cautiously optimistic” that this year’s snow would break the dry cycle, as it had come early in the winter, meaning it was likely to melt more gradually. A provincial official in mountainous Badakhshan province said that avalanches in northeastern Afghanistan had cut off tens of thousands of people already suffering food shortages and appealed for more aid to avert a humanitarian crisis. —Reuters

Pakistan will arrest Musharraf if he returns ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will arrest former military ruler Pervez Musharraf if he returns home as announced at the end of January after three years in selfimposed exile, the interior minister said yesterday. “I assure this house that if he (Musharraf) lands in Pakistan, he will be arrested because he is a PO (proclaimed offender),” Rehman Malik told the upper house of parliament.

“There are three registered cases against him. He has been named in these cases, so ultimately he will be arrested,” Malik added. In a telephone address to a political rally in Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi on January 8, Musharraf promised to fly home between January 27-30 to contest gen-

eral elections now widely expected later this year. Musharraf seized power in 1999 in Pakistan’s third military coup, becoming the country’s fourth military ruler.

He was forced to step down as president in August 2008 after the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) formed a government following elections. In October, a court issued a warrant for his arrest over the killing of Akbar Bugti, a rebel leader in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Baluchistan who died in a cave hideout during an army raid in August 2006. Another court in February last year, issued a warrant for his arrest over the 2007 assassination of ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto.—AFP

ISLAMABAD: A lawyer for Pakistan’s prime minister said yesterday there would be no harm in the government’s asking Swiss authorities to reopen an old corruption case against the country’s president, because he enjoys immunity from prosecution. The comments by Aitzaz Ahsan might suggest a way out of a legal crisis that could force Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from office. The mounting political pressures threaten to bring down the country’s beleaguered government, which is under a combined assault from the Supreme Court and the powerful army.

Gilani is scheduled to make a rare appearance Thursday before the Supreme Court, which has initiated contempt proceedings against him for failing to write a letter to Swiss authorities asking them to reopen the graft case against his ally, President Asif Ali Zardari. The government has long refused to write the letter, arguing that Zardari enjoys immunity from prosecution while in office.

Ahsan’s comments indicate Gilani may reverse that stance to avoid being held in contempt of court, while using the same legal argument to avoid prosecution. If he were held in contempt he could face a maximum of five years in prison and be disqualified from holding public office.

“There is no harm in writing a letter to the Swiss authorities,” said Ahsan. “The president has complete immunity against criminal procedures in courts.” Reopening the case would expose Zardari to prosecution once he leaves office.

It would also come at a serious political cost, since the president has said he would never send the letter to Swiss authorities because it would dishonor his late wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was also part of the case.

Zardari and Bhutto were found guilty in absentia in a Swiss court in 2003 of laundering millions of dollars in kickbacks from Swiss companies when they were in government. They appealed, and

Swiss authorities abandoned the case in 2008 at the request of the Pakistani government. The case was among thousands dropped as a result of an amnesty that allowed Bhutto to return from exile and run for election in 2008.

She was assassinated in 2007 during the campaign.

The Supreme Court declared

the matter was already being probed by the parliament.

Some observers have speculated the army is working behind the scenes with the Supreme Court to oust the government. But the court could have its own reasons for stepping up pressure on the government. Supreme Court Justice Mohammad Iftikhar

ISLAMABAD: The pictures of Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, right, and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with wording ‘Who will save Pakistan... Zardai, alliance and people’, is seen on a banner in front of the Supreme Court in Islamabad, Pakistan yesterday. —AP the amnesty unconstitutional in 2009, leaving those covered by it vulnerable to prosecution. The government is also under pressure from the army over an unsigned memo sent last year to Washington asking for US help in preventing a coup in the aftermath of the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden. The army was outraged by the memo, which was allegedly sent by the government, and pushed the Supreme Court to set up a commission to investigate.

The government has denied any connection to the memo and opposed the commission, saying

Chaudhry has clashed with Zardari in the past, and the judges could be fed up with the government’s defying its order to reopen the corruption case against the president.

Since Pakistan was founded in 1947, no civilian government has ever completed a full five-year term before being toppled by a military coup, or forced to call early elections.

There have been three coups over that period. A fourth coup is considered unlikely, but the government may call early elections to counter the building political pressure.

troops stop entering homes, saying Afghan citizens cannot feel secure if they think armed soldiers might burst into their houses in the middle of the night.

In November, Karzai convened a traditional national assembly known as a Loya Jirga that stopped short of demanding a complete end to night raids. Instead, it asked that they be led and controlled by Afghan security forces. Meanwhile, Afghan security forces said they had killed nine armed insurgents and captured 23 suspects in a series of raids in the past 24 hours.

An Interior Ministry statement issued yesterday morning said the operations in eight different provinces also uncovered caches of weapons, ammunition and explosives. The Afghan Defense Ministry says a soldier was killed and four were wounded in clashes with insurgents on Tuesday. Fighting across the country appears to have decreased in recent weeks, after heavy snows blanketed much of the mountainous terrain in which the Taliban usually operate. —AP

country until the Pakistani parliament concluded a review of Pakistan-US relations triggered by the airstrikes, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Tuesday in Washington.

Pakistan conveyed its request about a week ago, another US official said yesterday, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters. The official would not say when Grossman planned to visit Pakistan. The envoy is currently in the region meeting, with officials about peace talks with the Afghan Taliban. —AP

India calls army chief’s birthday row ‘unfortunate’

Afghan official: NATO forces kill five civilians KABUL: A senior Afghan official said Wednesday that NATO forces killed five civilians, including one woman and two children, during a night raid earlier this week in northeastern Afghanistan. A NATO statement said the alliance was aware of a military operation in Chawkay district of Kunar province on Monday and was checking into the report.

Sayed Fazelullah Wahidi, governor of Kunar province, which includes the district, said the raid occurred Monday night. He said coalition helicopters fired into a compound, killing two militants and five civilians, including a woman and two children. Coalition troops and Afghan special forces have been carrying out regular nighttime kill-and capture raids against suspected insurgents across Afghanistan.

But the operations and allegations of civilian deaths have provoked anger over foreign meddling in Afghanistan and whether detention operations will be run by the Afghans or Americans. President Hamid Karzai has demanded that foreign

Tension is also high between Pakistan and one of its most important allies, the United States, over American airstrikes that accidentally killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at two posts along the Afghan border on Nov 26.

Pakistan recently asked the US special envoy to the region, Marc Grossman, to delay a trip to the

NEW DELHI: Indian female soldiers march during a rehearsal of the Republic Day parade in New Delhi yesterday. India will celebrate its 63rd Republic Day on January 26 with a large military parade. —AFP

NEW DELHI: India yesterday described as “unfortunate” a lawsuit filed by the chief of its army asking for his birthday to be changed, which would allow him to remain in office for an extra year. The defence ministry broke its silence over the development, which has led to an embarrassing clash between the government and India’s 1.13-million-strong military, the fourth largest in the world.

“It is an unfortunate development and it is not a healthy precedent either for the defence ministry or the armed forces,” India’s junior defence minister Pallam Raju told the CNN-IBN television channel. “It is a very sensitive issue,” Raju added. General V K Singh on Monday petitioned the Supreme Court asking for his birthday to be changed on official records to prevent him being forced into retirement in May. He has asked the Court to recognise what he says is his correct birthday as May 10, 1951, making him one year younger than the age shown on government records which state his date of birth as May 10, 1950. Indian government employees must retire at 62. The defence ministry has previously rejected Singh’s claim twice, citing the date marked on his documents when he entered the army. —AFP

2 UK soldiers arrested after Afghan child abuse report KABUL: Two British soldiers have been arrested for “inappropriate behavior ” in Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defence said ye s te rd ay a f te r a n e ws p a p e r report of child abuse. Quoting defence sources, Britain’s Sun newspaper reported that the pair had abused two Afghan children a g e d “a b o u t te n”, a n d m a d e re co rd i n g s o f t h e i r b e h av i o r.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in a statement that the government in K abul was “deeply disturbed” by reports of abuse, and said their alleged behaviour

was “immoral”.

The alleged incident comes just a week af ter a video emerged showing US Marines urinating on corpses, believed to be dead Taleban fighters, that caused outrage across Afghanistan. “The government of Afghanistan is immensely disgusted by the rise in recent incidents of immoral nature among foreign soldiers that clearly undermine public confidence and the Afghan people’s cooperation with foreign troops,” K arzai’s office said. The Royal Military Police have launched an

investigation into allegations against the two soldiers, a ministry spokesman said, but declined comment on the nature of the allegations. “ Two service personnel have been arrested, interviewed under caution and released,” the spokesman said, adding that the ministry took any such allegations extremely seriously. A spokesman for the NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan said they were aware of the allegations. Anti-American feeling has boiled over, or been whipped up, into violence several

times in Afghanistan in recent years, including protests over reports of the desecration of the Muslim holy book that twice sparked deadly riots. The tape of the Marines also prompted reference to earlier scandals involving US soldiers’ treatment of prisoners in Iraq and the killing of unarmed civilians in Afghanistan. The US military has been prosecuting soldiers from the Army’s 5th Stryker Brigade on charges of murdering unarmed Afghan civilians while deployed in Kandahar province in 2010.—Reuters

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China says government to be more open BEIJING: China will be more open about the often secretive workings of the government and ruling Communist Party in the coming year, although strict controls over the Internet would remain in place, a senior propaganda official said yesterday.

Officials will expand the use of government spokespeople, boost the overseas reach of state media, and further promote the use of microblogs to interact with the public, Wang Chen told reporters.”In this new year, we will adopt an even more open attitude and even more forceful policies,” Wang said.

Chinese government departments have traditionally been tightlipped, a

result of authoritarian one-party rule in which officials had little accountability to the public and policies were drafted in high-level meetings without input from ordinar y citizens.

However, amid rising incomes and increased demand for transparency and efficiency, departments over the past decade have appointed spokesmen to deal with media and the general public, and released an increasing flow of information.

Wang said news and information about government’s day-to-day activities as well as emergency responses would be expanded and systematized.

Spokesmen would receive intensified

training with an emphasis on obtaining first-hand information rather than simply passing on information from other departments, he said.

Much of that public interaction has been driven by the Internet, and government departments at all levels now have not only websites but also Twitter-like microblogs on which to post breaking news.

China has more people online than any other country - 513 million - nearly 360 million of whom primarily access the web over their cell phones and almost half of whom use microblogs. The explosive growth of such services has underscored gov-

ernment efforts to rigorously police the Internet for content promoting fraud, gambling, pornography or content considered politically sensitive information.

China also blocks major social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter out of fear they could be used to spread subversive content, or to organize public demonstrations such as those that spread last spring across the Arab world. Webmasters, prodemocracy activists, and journalists who have posted sensitive information on the Internet have been harassed, detained, and in some cases imprisoned.

Wang said the government would compel those opening new microblog accounts in Beijing and other major cities to use their real names and other information. The requirement would later be expanded to cover those with existing accounts, he said.

Free speech advocates have called that an attempt to further curtail online discussions. Wang said it was necessary to prevent fraud, identity theft and the spread of rumors or other “harmful information.” “Our only purpose is to ensure the rapid, healthy expansion of the Chinese Internet,” he said. —AP

Japan to let plants run after 40-year cap Power plants could be extended up to 20 years

YANGON: Myanmar’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, left, signs on documents as she submits a candidates’ list of her National League for Democracy for the upcoming parliamentary by-election at the Yangon District Election Commission yesterday in Yangon, Myanmar. —AP

Suu Kyi registers for seat in Myanmar’s Parliament THANLYIN: Ecstatic cheers of “Long Live Aung San Suu Kyi!” echoed through the streets of this impoverished Yangon suburb yesterday as she registered for elections, a sign of how vastly Myanmar has changed since the junta gave up power after decades of iron-fisted rule. Throngs of flag-waving supporters crowded the local election office to shout support and glimpse the 66-year-old Nobel Peace laureate, who became Myanmar’s most recognizable face during years of house arrest under authoritarian rule.

The scene would have been unthinkable while the junta still ruled. It despised Suu Kyi because of her popularity and any public support for her was swiftly and firmly halted. The freedom allowed to Suu Kyi’s supporters is another sign that the country’s elected but military-backed government is keeping promises for democratic reforms - a key condition of the West before lifting sanctions.

Since taking office in March, the government has released hundreds of prominent political prisoners, signed cease-fires with ethnic rebels, increased press freedoms and opened a dialogue with Suu Kyi herself. Even if her political party wins all 48 seats to be contested in by-elections April 1, it will have minimal power.

The 440-seat lower house of Parliament is heavily weighted with military appointees and allies of the former junta.

But a victory would be historic. It would give the longtime political prisoner a voice in Parliament for the first time after decades as the country’s opposition leader. Suu Kyi registered to run for a seat

representing Kawhmu, a poor district south of Yangon where villagers’ livelihoods were devastated by Cyclone Nargis in 2008. Many in the crowds that greeted her at the Election Commission office in Thanlyin wore Suu Kyi T-shirts.

Suu Kyi paraphernalia has proliferated in recent months with vendors hawking photographs, key chains and calendars with her image, seen as another testament to the country’s breakneck pace of change. The Election Commission must still accept Suu Kyi’s candidacy, a ruling expected to come next month. Her party has so far chosen 44 candidates to contest the 48 seats vacated by lawmakers who became Cabinet ministers.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in 1990 elections but was denied power by the military junta. Myanmar’s next elections didn’t come for 20 years, but Suu Kyi was under house arrest and her party boycotted due to what they called unfair and undemocratic rules. Reforms since that election in 2010 have drawn Suu Kyi and her party back into mainstream politics and won international praise and measured diplomatic support.

The United States is upgrading diplomatic relations and sending an ambassador to Myanmar for the first time in two decades. The severe international sanctions that restrict Myanmar’s trade and the travel and financial transactions of the former junta’s inner circle mostly remain, as countries monitor how the April vote is conducted and weigh other considerations.—AP

Book claims Kim’s eldest son fears N Korea may collapse TOKYO: A new book claims that the eldest son of North Korea’s late leader Kim Jong Il believes the impoverished regime is in danger of collapse and that his young halfbrother, chosen to lead after Kim’s death, is merely a figurehead. The book by Tokyobased journalist Yoji Gomi went on sale yesterday. He says it is based primarily on email exchanges he had with Kim Jong Nam over many years.

The book drew immediate attention as a rare view into the family that has led the secretive country for decades - though Kim Jong Nam is thought to be estranged from his family and the workings of government.

Since Kim Jong Il’s death Dec 17, North Korea has been led by his youngest son, Kim Jong Un. “Jong Un will just be a figurehead,” the book quotes Kim Jong Nam as saying. It claims he said the collapse of North Korea’s economy is likely unless it initiates reforms, which could also bring it down.

“Without reforms and libereralization, the collapse of the economy is within sight,” he quoted Kim as saying. “But reforms and opening up could also invite dangers for the regime.” Gomi, a Tokyo Shimbun journalist who had assignments in Seoul and Beijing, claims he exchanged 150 emails and has spent a total of seven hours interviewing Kim Jong Nam, who was seen as a possible successor until he fell out of favor with Kim Jong Il in 2001.

Gomi says he met Kim Jong Nam in person in 2004, in Beijing, and twice last year. Gomi was not immediately available for com-

ment on the book.

Not long after Kim Jong Il’s funeral, Jong Nam suggested in an interview with a Japanese TV network that he opposes a hereditary transfer of power to his young half-brother, who is believed to be in his late 20s. That was a rare public sign of discord in the tightly choreographed succession process, but analysts said Jong Nam spends so much time outside his native land that his opinion carries little weight.

Kim Jong Nam, who did not attend the funeral, made similar comments in his communications with Gomi, the book claims.

“As a matter of common sense, a transfer to the third generation is unacceptable,” Kim Jong Nam was quoted as saying in an email dated this month. “The power elite that have ruled the country will continue to be in control.” He added: “I have my doubts about whether a person with only two years of grooming as a leader can govern.”

Party and military officials have moved quickly to install Kim Jong Un as “supreme leader” of the people, party and military.

But the new ruler’s youth and quick ascension to power have raised questions in foreign capitals about how ready he is to inherit rule over this nation of 24 million with a nuclear program as well as chronic trouble feeding all its people. A senior North Korean party official, however, told the AP in a recent interview that Kim Jong Un was ready to lead and had spent years working closely with his late father and helped him make key policy decisions on economic and military affairs. —AP

TOKYO: Japan’s planned 40-year cap on nuclear power plants could be extended up to 20 years, but exemptions will be rare, the government said yesterday. Japan currently does not have a limit on the operational lifespan of reactors, and the government had hinted when it announced the cap that extensions were a possibility. The proposed legislation requiring plants to shutter after 40 years is part of the government’s campaign to improve safety following the nuclear crisis set off by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Concern about aging reactors has grown because three of those at the tsunami-hit plant were built starting in the late 1960s and many more of Japan’s 54 reactors will reach the 40-year mark in coming years. Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said the government still plans to stick to the 40year cap in principle. He said exemptions would be rare, with each reactor only allowed a maximum of one. He said to qualify a reactor would have to meet strict safety requirements.

The Cabinet is set to approve the bill by the end of January before submitting legislation to parliament for further debate, he said. It’s aiming to enact the cap by the end of March. The proposed legislation is similar to regulations in the US , which grant 40-year licenses and allow for 20-year extensions. Such renewals have been granted to 66 of 104 US nuclear reactors. That process has been so routine that many in the industry are already planning for extensions that could push the plants to operate for decades longer.

If the 40-year-rule is applied, 36 reactors would have to close by 2030, the Asahi newspaper reported. Since the meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, Japan has ordered reactors across the country to undergo new “stress tests” and get community approval before they can be restarted.

Yesterday, Japan’s nuclear officials moved a step closer to restart two of more than 40 nuclear reactors that are offline - most of them for regular inspections.

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency presented a preliminary ruling on two nuclear reactors at the Oi power plant in western Japan, telling a panel of experts that operator Kansai Electric Power Co. had properly carried out stress tests. It was still unclear if the community would approve. The operator said the tests found the two reactors had a safety margin of 1.8 times the strength of an anticipated quake, and four times the height of an anticipated tsunami.

The meeting was delayed for several hours as activists stormed into a conference room demanding they be allowed to observe the proceedings in the same room, not on a TV monitor downstairs. The stress tests are similar to those used in France and other European countries, where they conduct a simulation designed to assess if the plants could weather extreme events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, storms and other disasters.

Some experts and concerned residents in Japan say the tests have no clear criteria, rendering

them meaningless. They also say disasters often occur in a string of events, and evaluation by computer simulation on a single event is not realistic. University of Tokyo metallic material scientist Hiromitsu Ino, who is on the panel, said the way stress tests are designed is not adequate even though an attempt to find vulnerable spots to improve safety is good. “ The problem is that stress tests are not comprehensive.

They only look at certain areas, and it’s not appropriate to determine safety based on an evaluation on limited areas.” Japan is currently reviewing its future energy policy and plans to announce one this summer.

Fujimura also said that Japan is trying to be less reliant to nuclear energy. “If you limit an operational lifespan at 40 years, obviously the number of nuclear power plants would decrease,” he said. “ We are still aiming to reduce reliance on nuclear energy, but it’s a goal that we cannot be achieved overnight.” —AP

CIA past of Bangkok’s ‘Silk King’ emerges BANGKOK: Forty-five years after vanishing into a jungle without a trace, “Silk King” Jim Thompson remains a daily presence in Thailand: Shoppers crowd his elegant stores and the American expatriate’s antique-rich residence is one of the capital’s top tourist attractions. Credited with the revival of a now booming silk industry, Thompson attained legendary status, enhanced by a bon vivant lifestyle at a time when Thailand was still truly exotic - and by his mysterious death. But little has been known about Thompson’s intensely political, darker side - his freelance backing of Asia’s insurgencies, clashes with Washington’s Cold War warriors and his connections to the US Central Intelligence Agency, which to this day reportedly refuses to release Jim Thompson his complete file.

It’s the cloak and dagger stuff, rather than the glitz and glamor, that’s the focus of “The Ideal Man: The Tragedy of Jim Thompson and the American Way of War” by Joshua Kurlantzick, an author on Asian affairs with the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations. The book provides no new clues about Thompson’s vacation walk into a Malaysian jungle in 1967 from which he never returned. Numerous theories range from his having been eaten by a tiger to abduction by US intelligence agents.

But Kurlantzick says he uncovered a trove of other information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, departments of Defense and State and other US government agencies through the Freedom of Information Act as well as unclassified material available, but mostly untapped, in the National Archives. From this, emerges a portrait of Thompson as a U.S Army officer in the Office of Strategic Services, forerunner of the CIA, who stood ardently behind America’s immediate post-World War II policy of championing democracy and ridding the world of colonialism.

He believed Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh was a nationalist who should be supported, and almost worshipped Pridi Banomyong, Thailand’s pro-democracy statesman.

But Washington executed an about-turn and began to back assorted Asian strongmen and the French in colonial Indochina “a scurvy race” he called them - on grounds that it was fighting the greater menace of Communism. Thompson became disillusioned and angry. He was devastated when Pridi was ousted in a coup followed by the killings of many of his followers and a succession of thuggish leaders from the military, which remains a powerful force in Thai politics to this day. “I wanted to use Jim to broaden the story to Thailand’s relations with the United States, and to explore this whole generation of those who had come out of the OSS in World War II and then were pushed out by the Cold War,” Kurlantzick said in an interview.

Scion of a wealthy East Coast establishment family, educated at Princeton University, James H W Thompson dabbled in architecture and partied in New York before volunteering for the army. A wartime marriage ended in divorce. Serving with distinction in North Africa and Europe, he was about to parachute into Thailand with an OSS team when the war ended. In Thailand, Thompson became deeply involved with Lao, Cambodian and Vietnamese insurgents who used the country as a base in fighting the French, helping to supply weapons and serving as a go-between, often acting without approval from headquarters. Although discharged in 1946, Thompson continued to “serve as a de facto intelligence officer,” Kurlantzick says, one useful to all sides until the radical shift in US policy when he and other colleagues in the OSS found themselves on the “wrong side.” —AP

TAOYUAN: Isabel (R), a woman born in Taiwan and who was allegedly sold into “slavery” as a child arrives in the island’s northern Taoyuan airport yesterday returning from the United States for a much-anticipated family union. —AFP

Woman ‘sold into slavery’ as child returns to Taiwan TAIPEI: A Taiwanese woman who was allegedly sold into “slavery” as a child returned from the United States to the island yesterday for a much-anticipated family reunion, officials and media said.

Television images showed the woman, in her 20s and who identified herself as “Isabel”, arriving at the northern Taoyuan airport flanked by a group of Taiwanese government officials-she did not answer questions from reporters. The foreign ministry, ordered by President Ma Yingjeou to assist Isabel on the trip, declined to provide her itinerary, but sources said she would stay the night in Taipei before meeting her real mother in eastern Taitung county.

Her “slavery” story came out in November and immediately caught the attention of media after she was interviewed by US cable television network CNN, recounting her unhappy childhood.

Isabel told CNN she was seven when her destitute parents had wanted to sell off

her baby sister to a wealthy Taiwanese family, but she had offered to be sold instead. The woman’s new family, who later moved to the United States and took her with them, subjected her to prisonlike conditions she said, describing how her adopted mother once shoved a toilet brush into her mouth and twisted it.

“As other children went to school, Isabel cooked and cleaned,” CNN said in the report, adding that “Isabel” was not her real name. “Her bedroom was the garage. Her bed, the floor. Food, whatever the family didn’t want.” Eventually “Isabel” managed to escape from the family’s southern California home, and she now lives in her own apartment, but wishes to be reunited with her Taiwanese mother. “If I find her, I’ll say, Mom I love you so much,” she told CNN. The trip has been low-profile, media said, because Isabel is barred from speaking to reporters after reaching a private settlement with the family in the US. —AFP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

NEWS

KUWAIT: People attend the opening of the election campaign of ex-MP Mussallam Al-Barrak (inset left) yesterday. Veteran ex-MP and speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun (inset right) also opened his campaign. Speaking at the event were former MPs Faisal Al-Mislem (inset second right) and Khaled Al-Sultan. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Illegal deposits, transfers amount...

Continued from Page 1 The public prosecution has already interrogated 13 members of the previous parliament over allegations they received large sums of cash into their local bank accounts amid allegations of bribes or money laundering.

The two issues triggered large popular protests that eventually led to the resignation of the government, dissolution of the National Assembly and early polls.

Observers believe that if the opposition wins the Feb 2 general elections and secures at least 30 seats, it is most likely that they will push for a major inquiry into the two issues, possibly by sending MPs to investigate the Central Bank records and ask the public prosecution to investigate the fund transfers.

Four more candidates pulled out of the race yesterday, reducing the number of candidates to 336 including 24 women with just one week left for candidates to withdraw from the elections. The administrative court also cancelled a decision by the Interior Ministry to disqualify two candidates from contesting the Assembly elections but confirmed the decision against a third.

The ruling allowed candidates Mohammad Al-Haddad

and Abdullah Saleh to run but upheld the decision against Emad Buhamra. More decisions will be issued today against four candidates including prominent Shiite businessman Abdulhameed Dashti.

In another development, election alliances started to shape in the mainly tribal fourth and fifth constituencies where tribes held eight tribal primaries which were boycotted by a number of leading candidates. In the fourth constituency, Khaled Al-Shulaimi and Fahad Al-Dhafiri, both from the Dhafiri tribe, announced they formed a alliance to fight the election together and were waiting for the third candidate from the tribe, former MP Ahmad Al-Shuraian to join them.

In the fifth constituency, businessman Nasser AlMarri formed an alliance with candidates Omar AlRasheedi, Mahdi Al-Ajmi and Khaled Al-Hazaa. The new alliance will face three major alliances, each with four candidates. The first two are from the Ajman and Awazem tribes, the two largest tribes in the constituency, and the third alliance is from the tribes of Mutairi, Hawajer, Oteibi and Dossari. A number of prominent candidates like former MPs Khaled Al-Tahous and Falah Al-Sawwagh decided not to take part in their tribes’ primary elections.

Gulf economies can brave Iran tensions Continued from Page 1 and Development. While that is not a huge amount relative to the size of Gulf Arab economies - their combined output was about $1.4 trillion last year - much of the foreign investment is in strategic sectors such as oil and gas. So any reduction due to geopolitical tensions could be awkward for the Gulf, forcing a rise in state spending to compensate. “We are going into the year when international investors are very risk averse.

The impact of Iranian tensions could be much more severe than say the revolution in Egypt and Tunisia for capital flows into the Gulf,” Hirsh said.

Government spending in the Gulf has already been rising strongly since a wave of pro-democracy protests hit the Arab world early last year. The Saudi government spent a record 804 billion riyals ($214 billion) in 2011 - 39 percent above target and 24 percent higher than in 2010 - partly to defuse social tensions with welfare payments and social investments. Defence spending could be boosted further in response to tensions with Iran; Saudi Arabia is sensitive to any Shiite unrest in its Eastern Province because of concern it might be fomented by Shiite Iran. Saudi King Abdullah said last month that the security of Saudi Arabia and its Arab neighbours was being targeted, an apparent reference to Iran.

Saudi Arabia’s 2011 defence budget was a record 182 billion riyals, which was 31 percent of planned total spending and accounted for 8.4 percent of gross domestic product, Reuters calculations show. The ratio to GDP is nearly twice the level in the United States for 2010, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Riyadh has announced a 690 billion riyal budget for 2012. Jadwa Investment said in a repor t that defence and security spending, while not disclosed, were expected to account for the largest component of the 2012 government budget.

Saudi Arabia can afford to boost spending, however. Brent crude oil prices are currently above $110 a bar-

rel, supported partly by tensions over Iran; analysts estimate that Riyadh’s 2012 budget would be balanced at an oil price of $85. At current price levels, the budget is massively in surplus; last year, the surplus was about 14.1 percent of GDP. And in the strange economic calculus of the Middle East, any worsening of the Iran crisis - as long as it does not develop into fullscale war in the region - could push Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states even further into surplus. Barclays Capital said last week that more international sanctions against Iran, restricting its ability to export its oil and receive payment, could push global crude prices well into the $130-140 range.

Tehran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of globally traded oil passes, if new US and European Union sanctions cut off its oil exports. That could temporarily propel crude prices to anywhere between $150 and $300 a barrel, analysts say - enough to keep the Saudi budget in surplus even if the country loses part of its oil exports during the period of closure. “You are probably talking about 25 percent of Saudi oil exports being basically shut in. I still think if that was to happen, they would still record a fiscal surplus,” said James Reeve, senior economist at Samba Financial Group in London.

In any case, most analysts think a closure of the Strait of Hormuz would not last long -perhaps just hours or a few days - given the US military presence in the Gulf. “We believe that it would be a very short-term spike in oil prices because it would become rapidly clear that Iran does not have the military capacity to effectively block the Strait of Hormuz,” said Farouk Soussa, Citi’s Middle East chief economist. “The international community’s response to any such effort would be swift and decisive, and the Strait would remain open for business.”

The effect of a closure of the Strait on Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar would probably be greater than for Saudi Arabia, because those countries do not have ports outside the Gulf. Later this year, the impact of any closure on the United Arab Emirates is expected

to diminish when it opens a pipeline that would bypass Hormuz and carry most of its oil to the Arabian Sea. The pipeline is due to open by mid-2012.

If the crisis stops short of military conflict, Iran’s international merchandise trade may still be hit further by financial sanctions. With the exception of Dubai, however, Gulf Arab trade links with Iran are minor. “Tensions with Iran have increased but, provided they do not escalate, we think the broader economic impact on the region is likely to be modest,” Deutsche Bank’s chief emerging markets economist Robert Burgess wrote in a January report. “The only exception is the UAE, mainly Dubai, where exports to Iran have increased substantially in recent years to $20.4 billion in 2010 or about 7 percent of GDP. These are likely mainly re-exports and reflect the diversion of trade from elsewhere in response to sanctions on Iran, something that the US has increasingly sought to restrict.”

The rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, exported just $700 million worth of goods to Iran in 2010, according to Deutsche Bank. The International Monetary Fund said in May 2011 that international sanctions against Iran existing at that time could harm the UAE because they increased the cost of securing trade finance and raised insurance premiums. Iran has accounted for a little more than 6 percent of the UAE’s total exports and 12 percent of its nonhydrocarbon trade.

The IMF’s estimate of the damage to the UAE, however, was not crippling for an economy which is growing at an annual rate of about 3-4 percent. “Losses from disruptions in strong trade links between the UAE and Iran could reach 0.2 to 0.7 percent of GDP annually,” the IMF said following regular consultations with the UAE. It added, “By complicating the execution of payments and settlements, sanctions risk stifling demand for real estate from Iran, undermining further prospects of recovery in the already weak housing market in Dubai.” — Reuters

Tiny Qatar wields powerful punch Continued from Page 1 But Qatar has not hesitated in recent years to engage America’s foes Iran and Hamas in pursuit of political leverage. Just before the Taleban blew up Afghanistan’s ancient Buddha statues in Bamiyan in 2001, Qatar sent a delegation urging them to desist.

And until recently it maintained good ties with Syrian President Bashar AlAssad, as well as with the current opposition.

That boldness and ability to engage almost everyone from the United States to Hezbollah has enabled Qatar, a tiny peninsula slightly smaller than Connecticut, to quietly morph into a surprisingly agile diplomatic power centre. “Qatar has been able to do this because they’ve always made it a priority to maintain good relations with everybody,” said one Doha-based political analyst, declining to be identified. “They sustained relations with Iran during the (198088) Iran-Iraq war and played a mediating role throughout. During the Gulf war, they maintained contacts with Saddam Hussein until the last minute,” he added.

With Egypt, the region’s traditional mediator, in disarray and others holding back, analysts say the timing is right for Qatar, which gained independence from Britain only in 1971.

The United States and Afghanistan are holding talks to seal an agreement for Taleban insurgents to open a political office in Qatar, and negotiating the possible transfer to the Gulf state of five former senior Taleban officials who have been held for years at Guantanamo Bay military prison.

Such steps would mark a milestone for the administration of US President Barack Obama, which is working on making Afghanistan secure ahead of its planned extrication from a long and costly war. Analysts say rivalry with Saudi Arabia has been an important element of Qatari foreign policy over the past decade. Open debates on the Doha-based and -financed Al Jazeera satellite channel that included criticism of Riyadh have not helped, though relations have warmed recently.

Being the locus of a potential resolution to the Afghan war could immeasurably boost Qatar’s status, Roberts said. “Qatar’s appearance as a

moderate, powerful - but not too powerful - country and a good balancer has likely contributed to the decision to host the Taleban and been encouraged by the United States, of this we are certain,” said Michael Stephens, Doha-based researcher at RUSI. He said countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which were put forward by Afghan President Hamid Karzai as options for the Taleban office, were too focused on their own self-interest. “Qatar has no such problems. It intervenes where it sees fit without too much regard for upsetting others, because its policy is simply to engage with everyone it can as often as it can.”

A Qatari role in diplomacy over Afghanistan will mark the third time in less than a year the Saudis have had to take a back seat to major Qatari diplomatic initiatives, after Libya and Syria. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani has become the dominant figure at Arab League discussions about Syria.

Qatar’s Emir has suggested sending Arab troops to halt the bloodshed, the first Arab leader to propose such a move. — Reuters

5 Europeans killed in Ethiopia attack Continued from Page 1 people were killed: two Germans, two Hungarians and an Austrian,” the spokesman said. “Two Italians were able to escape, two Belgians were lightly wounded. Two Germans and two Ethiopians were abducted,” he added. Belgium said one of its nationals was wounded in the attack, as was a British friend she was travelling with.

Ethiopian government spokesman Bereket Simon had said earlier that the dead were from Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Italy and Austria. Some of the tourists were flown back to the capital Addis Ababa yesterday afternoon, including a man in a wheelchair. Some hid their faces with scarves and rucksacks, an AFP correspondent said. Several diplomats were at the airport to meet the tourists who were driven away in waiting vehicles. The Afar region, an arid northern region with shallow salty lakes and chains of volcanoes, is one of the hottest places on Earth. It is also known for hominid fossil finds. Erta Ale, or “Smoking Mountain”, is an active volcano which has a width of some

50 km. It sits in the Afar depression, also known as the Danakil depression, an area which lies below sea level and features as the dramatic backdrop to scenes in Hollywood’s 2010 epic fantasy Clash of the Titans.

Access to the region is limited and foreigners need official approval to get there but it attracts a steady stream of volcano buffs and adventure backpackers who often plan group trips on Internet forums to share the high travel costs. A French tourist disappeared in the region in 2004 leaving behind no trace apart from a rucksack. In 2007, five European nationals, including British embassy staff, were captured by the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front rebels (ARDUF), who freed them after 12 days.

ARDUF, which wants the unification of Afar people divided by the borders of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti, reached a peace deal in 2003 with Addis Ababa but a dissident wing of the group is still active. Bereket blamed the attack on “terrorist groups trained and armed by the Eritrean government (who) crossed the border and attacked them and the assailants have gone back”. — Agencies

Protesters defy ban on Manama protest Continued from Page 1 detainees tortured to death, according to a commission appointed by the king. Hundreds were injured.

Tensions have remained high in Bahrain since the spring, and sporadic violence has been on the upturn in recent weeks. On Dec 31, a Shiite youth was hit and killed by a tear gas shell. Bahrain’s Shiite community, although a majority in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, has complained of marginalisation.

The Gulf island kingdom is pulling out the stops for the second Bahrain Air Show, which starts today and comes after the cancellation of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix and the Volvo Golf Championship last year. Planemakers Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier , Embraer as well as defence contractors, including Lockheed Martin, will be at the show which generated a modest $1 billion in deals in its inaugural edition in 2010.

“The on-going political problems

in Bahrain mean that the show is unlikely to be as successful as the Bahrainis would like it to be,” said Michael Stephens, researcher at Qatar-based Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. “Bahrain relies on its reputation as a good place to do business to survive - they do not have much oil or material resources. The air show needs to be a success for them to revive their international reputation.”

The unrest has cost Bahrain’s economy some $2 billion and curbed investment. The crackdown drew international criticism and prompted Britain to revoke arms export licences while Washington said a $53 million arms sale to Bahrain partly hinged on the Gulf monarchy halting abuses against protesters. Given political sentiment, analysts expect no major defence deals between Bahrain and Western firms. Instead, a key focus will be potential purchases by other Gulf states.

“There’s fierce competition out there to grab deals from Saudi Arabia,

UAE and other Gulf countries looking to strengthen their force.” said Riad Kahwaji, chief executive of Dubaibased think tank INEGMA. “ These companies will be at the air show not for Bahrain but for their neighbours like Saudi Arabia and UAE.” Competition to sell fighters is intensifying amid rising security tensions in the Gulf over Iran and pressure on domestic Western defence budgets, which has prompted US and European manufacturers to step up efforts to find exports.

The reticence of Western defence firms to strike big deals with Bahrain has encouraged Russia, which is making a major appearance at the air show with a display of its fighter jets including the Sukhoi combat aircraft.

“The Russians certainly see a gap in the market and they would want to exploit it,” said Stephens. “But I think the Bahrainis would want to go for American or British if they had the chance, primarily for alliance cohesion and inter-operability with other weapons platforms.” — Agencies

14

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

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Issues

Crisis shows army’s limits

By Chris Brummitt akistan appears on the brink of chaos again, with the judiciary and army bearing down on its elected leaders. But already the crisis has underlined how Pakistan has changed in recent years: The military can no longer simply march in and seize power as it has done three times over the last six decades. As a result, opportunities remain for both sides to back down. The civilian government may be able to ride it out until elections now seen likely in late summer. “If this were the ‘90s, there would have been a coup a year ago,” said Moeed Yusuf of the Washington-based United States Institute of Peace. A watchful media poised to hound the generals and a populace under few illusions that the top brass can be saviors after failing so many times before - seem to have acted as a brake on any designs by the army. The judiciary itself, although regarded by some as out to get President Asif Ali Zardari, would not sanction a coup. It’s also unclear how much of an appetite the judges have for dismissing a government that heads a coalition with a solid majority in parliament and with just one year left before it has to call elections.

Opposition parties are happy to see the government weakened. But the country’s largest party, that of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is no fan of the army and might not want to come to power on the shoulders of a military intervention. “The status quo remains, despite all the institutions coming to a head. Every scenario you paint, there will be chaos and no one benefits,” Yusuf said.

To be sure, tensions are higher now than they have ever been since Zardari took office in 2008, and the crisis could yet turn in unpredictable and dangerous directions. The political turmoil has all but paralyzed governance in the nuclear-armed country, hampering American hopes of rebuilding strained ties with Islamabad and securing its help with negotiating peace in neighboring Afghanistan.

Last week, coup jitters spread after the army issued an unusual warning of “grievous consequences” for the country over a scandal involving an unsigned memo sent last year to Washington asking for US help in preventing a coup in the aftermath of the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden. But pundits and government critics alike have been predicting the imminent fall of either Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani or the government they head for much of the past four years. Each time, they have been proven wrong.

The next crunch date will be today, when Gilani has been summoned to appear before the Supreme Court to explain why he has not ordered the attorney general to reopen a corruption case dating back years against his boss, Zardari. Zardari and his late wife, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, were found guilty in absentia in a Swiss court in 2003 of laundering millions of dollars in kickbacks when they were in government.

They appealed, and Swiss authorities abandoned the case in 2008 at the request of the Pakistani government.

The case was among thousands dropped as a result of an amnesty that allowed Bhutto to return from exile and contest elections in 2008. Supporters of the deal said most of the cases were politically motivated and that “reconciliation” was needed to allow the country to move forward after years of cutthroat politics. The Supreme Court struck down the amnesty in 2009, and the standoff has simmered since then. Gilani is being asked to write to Swiss authorities and request that they reopen the case against Zardari. The government has resisted doing this for the past two years, saying the president has immunity from prosecution while in office.

If the court convicts Gilani of contempt, he could serve up to six months in prison and be disqualified from holding office. Faced with the prospect of time behind bars, Gilani may now agree to send a letter. The most likely option, though, is that Gilani will make a conciliatory speech and play for time, dragging the process out.

Zardari has publicly said he would never send a letter to Geneva because it would disrespect the memory of his wife, who was killed by Islamist militants in 2007.

If Gilani resigns or is forced to stand down by the court, the ruling party will elect another prime minister from the loyalists that stack the benches in the parliament. The government has its eyes set firmly on Senate elections in March that are likely to result in a majority for Zardari’s party in the upper house. That would give the party significant clout for the next six years even if it crashes in general elections. — AP

P

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Not-so-covert Iran war raises tension

By William Maclean backseat passenger on a motorcycle weaving through the crush of Tehran’s morning traffic reaches out and places a small magnetic device on the door of a silver-grey Peugeot 405. When the directional bomb explodes seconds later, blasting through the sedan’s door and instantly killing nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, a 32-year-old father of one, the motorcycle has already vanished, accelerating into the ranks of the Iranian capital’s rush hour. The proficiency of the latest assassination to deplete Iran’s community of atom specialists suggests that violent actions by one or more of Iran’s adversaries form an increasingly active and public - element in a multifaceted international drive to impede Iran’s nuclear program.

Some old espionage hands voice respect for the expert landing of clandestine, deniable blows against a program the West suspects is aimed at acquiring a nuclear bomb capability and Iran says is for civilian purposes. “Ten out of 10. They hit the target and nobody got caught,” former US intelligence officer Robert Ayers told Reuters of the Jan 11 killing. “What makes these things so impressive is they gather a lot of information and do their ‘on the ground’ homework, which can take months.” Sidney Alford, a British explosives expert, says the hit was technically “professional. It worked and it worked very well.”

But whoever the apparently adept perpetrators were, the attack appears to form part of a quickening series of sabotage and assassinations that is growing less covert by the month. And the more visible the cloak-and-dagger campaign grows, some analysts argue, the more acute its affront to national prestige and sovereignty, and the deeper the siege mentality widely held to motivate Iran’s drive for nuclear prowess.

A

Pressure, or Regime Change?

Ahmadi-Roshan was the fourth Iranian nuclear scientist killed in the past two years; another scientist survived an explosion that wounded him and his wife. Iran says scientists have also been kidnapped, a computer virus attacked its nuclear equipment, and a massive explosion at a military base, which Iran called an accident, killed more than a dozen officers including the head of the Revolutionary Guards missile program. The campaign, coinciding with a toughening of economic sanctions, may strain any discreet diplomatic feelers between Tehran and Washington, some Western analysts say.

Iran is in defiant mood. “If Israel thinks they can prevent our studies with four terrorist attacks, it’s a very weak way of thinking... Everybody will learn that they can’t stop us with such actions,” said Iran parliament speaker Ali Larijani the day after the killing. Ali Vaez and Charles D Ferguson of the Federation of American Scientists wrote that “such acts of terrorism” are unlikely to significantly delay or deter Tehran’s nuclear work. “The resulting climate of insecurity feeds ammunition to hardliners in Tehran demanding reprisals.”

Ahmadi-Roshan’s killing happened less than two weeks after the Obama administration signed into law an unprecedented tightening of sanctions aimed at Iranian oil exports. To some, the evident effectiveness of tougher sanctions in getting the attention of Tehran’s leaders might obviate at least for the moment any need for a resort to clandestine methods. In response to a new US law targeting Iranian oil income Tehran threatened to choke the West’s supply of Gulf oil if its exports are hit.

Washington warned that the US navy was ready to open fire to prevent any blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a third of the world’s seaborne traded oil

passes. “In this process of ever-accelerating sanctions, we have arrived at a point where sanctions begin to blur into actual warfare,” wrote Iran expert and former US official Gary Sick. “If the sanctions succeed in their purpose of cutting off nearly all oil exports from Iran, that is the equivalent of a blockade of Iran’s oil ports, an act of war.”

Meanwhile, spectacular mishaps in Iran’s nuclear program or military facilities appear to be multiplying, in tandem with a series of espionage-related incidents that have raised the diplomatic temperature, including an Iranian court’s sentencing of an Iranian-American man to death for spying and the apparent malfunctioning and crash in eastern Iran of a US drone.

Indignant The attacks are making some in the West uncomfortable. Hans Blix, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1981-97 and a former Swedish foreign minister, told Reuters: “”When it comes to the murder... What is the effectiveness of it? “I think people will be indignant, and in fact not only in Iran. I think people everywhere are indignant.” The result of more frequent and public attacks could be increased tension, analysts say, raising risks of a clash between US and Iranian forces in the Gulf or of a unilateral Israeli air strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, either one of which might result in temporary closure of the strategic waterway.

Iranian officials remember well that before Israel’s 1981 air strike on a nuclear reactor in Iraq, there were similar acts of sabotage and assassination attributed largely to Israel. John Cochrane, a defence

wanted to restart negotiations with six world powers to resolve the nuclear row.

The last talks collapsed a year ago. Western countries have so far refused Iran’s proposal for more talks, arguing that it is a waste of time because Tehran will not discuss halting its uranium enrichment. Speculation has lingered about a possible divergence of views between the United States and Israel on tactics. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded to the Jan 11 killing by saying the United States had nothing to do with any “violent acts inside Iran” and condemning such actions.

US Iran expert Sick wrote: “The US government had made no such intervention in previous assassination cases. If the perpetrator was, as widely suspected, Israel, this was a serious warning not to interfere in US diplomatic efforts.” He wrote that while the Israeli government distrusted the diplomatic track, the Obama administration had looked hard at the potential effects of a war with Iran and “has decided that a return to the negotiating track is essential”.

Asked where the Iran standoff was heading, Blix replied: “For the moment the decibel level is fairly high. But it is clear to me that the Obama administration, that cannot allow itself to be described as soft and that says that ‘all options are on the table’... that the Obama administration does not want war and bombing. That is quite clear. The American public is clearly somewhat war-fatigued.”

Israel and its main allies are on common ground on much when it comes to Iran.

Israel, the United States and Britain have all made clear that they view covert operations as a sensible alternative to conven-

Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi (left) speaks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan before an official meeting in Ankara yesterday.— AFP specialist at Londson-based Exclusive Analysis, told Reuters that the killings in Iran could be seen as effective “in the narrow sense” that they sought an erosion in Iran’s nuclear expertise. “But clearly the big risk is that the Iranians are quick to point the finger at Israel or the US, so there is no particular restraint on their (Iranian) side from carrying out some particular asymmetric attack which has the risk of producing a spiral of violence. Israel is the key player. It is the state that sees itself as under existential threat and has the capacity, just, to exercise a strike option.”

Metsa Rahimi of Janusian security consultants in London said the killings had failed to deter Iran’s nuclear programme since “the Iranian regime’s will is made of stronger stuff and most (of its leaders) would probably say that the death of a few scientists will not be decisive in this game.”

‘War-Fatigued’ The day after the assassination, Larijani reiterated on a visit to Turkey that Iran

tional military action. Last year’s Stuxnet computer worm, which damaged computers used in industrial machinery, was widely believed to have been a US-Israeli attack to cripple Iranian nuclear centrifuges.

Killings ‘Unacceptable‘ In a speech at Reuters London offices in 2010, John Sawers, overseas espionage chief of US ally Britain, made an unusually forthright comment on the topic, saying that stopping nuclear proliferation could not be done just by conventional diplomacy. “We need intelligence-led operations to make it more difficult for countries like Iran to develop nuclear weapons. The longer international efforts delay Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons technology, the more time we create for a political solution to be found.” But it is not clear that the United States and its European allies believe subversion acts involving violence are prudent.

One former senior European intelligence strategist told Reuters killings were “an unacceptable tactic”. The scars of the Iraq

war, which was launched on information about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction programs that turned out to be false, run very deep. A 2011 RAND Corporation study led by former US diplomat James Dobbins said that U.S. military options apart from conventional air strikes included “show-offorce operations in the Gulf, cyberwarfare, and a broad-based air campaign against political and military targets”.

But Dobbins’s report argues that while covert action might slow the Iranian nuclear programme it is unlikely to stop it and might have “the unintended consequence of fortifying the regime’s resolve in continuing the nuclear program”. Israel does not comment directly on covert operations but it is suspected by some of viewing more favourably than its allies covert actions that risk or seek to inflict bloodshed. Israel says it has no option but to take seriously appeals by Iranian leaders for Israel’s demise, calls that have prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to liken them to the Nazis.

Not Shedding Tears And to those who object to assassination on moral grounds, Israel’s supporters such as Louis Ren Beres, Professor of International Law at Purdue University, Indiana, say such targeted killings may be justified in self-defence. “As long as Iran proudly announces its literally genocidal intentions toward Israel, while simultaneously and illegally developing nuclear weapons and infrastructures, Jerusalem has no reasonable choice but to protect itself with the best means available,” he wrote.

Any Israeli pre -emptive measures, he wrote, would perhaps involve “the targeted killing of selected enemy scientists or military figures and substantially expanded cyber-warfare”.

Israel’s intelligence minister Dan Meridor distanced himself from the Jan 11 killing, saying “I don’t know this subject”.

But at other times Israeli officials have sometimes reacted to news of the periodic mishaps in Iran’s nuclear program by issuing denials or comments that have bordered on the laconic. “I don’t know who settled the score with the Iranian scientist, but I am definitely not shedding any tears,” Israel’s military spokesman BrigadierGeneral Yoav Mordechai said on his Facebook page. In November, days after a mysterious explosion was reported near the city of Isfahan, Meridor himself told Israeli Army Radio: “There are countries who impose economic sanctions and there are countries who act in other ways in dealing with the Iranian nuclear threat.”

Exclusive Analysis’s John Cochrane noted that while there was no evidence of Israeli involvement “the Israelis don’t seem to mind giving the impression that they may have been.”

‘Covert War Being Waged’ Some Middle East watchers such as former British diplomat Carne Ross thinks the one option that has not been tried seriously is simply talking to Iran about regional security. Israeli concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme were understandable but the Iranians “have a covert war being waged against them...tension is mounting and conflict would be disastrous for everybody, so we have to examine alternatives”.

“If they feel threatened the one way to address this is to talk about it with them,” he said.

But other experts say the mistrust between Iran and Washington is so great that the prospects of contacts are poor.

Economic sanctions may be far more effective than any covert operation, some analysts say. Prices of staples are soaring, the rial currency has plummeted and inflation is rising rapidly. Working class Iranians are under economic pressure.— Reuters

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

sp orts Khan withdraws IBF appeal

Clarke claims solo win

Howson set for Norwich move

WASHINGTON: Amir Khan has dropped his appeal with the International Boxing Federation (IBF) as the Briton seeks an immediate rematch to avenge his controversial defeat to Lamont Peterson in Washington last month, his US promoters said in a statement on Tuesday. Golden Boy Promotions attributed the late withdrawal, barely 24 hours before the scheduled hearing, to the fact that “there was only to be partial representation of fight officials involved with the Dec 10, 2011 bout...”. Khan (26-2) lost two versions of his light-welterweight world titles in Peterson’s hometown on a split decision, although the World Boxing Association (WBA) has already ordered a rematch. “Golden Boy Promotions and Team Khan are pleased to have been vindicated by the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) recent decision to mandate an immediate rematch and still hope that Peterson will honor earlier statements in which he asserted that he would be happy to agree to a rematch,” a statement on Khan’s website said (http://www.amirkhanworld.com/?p=2882).

“In that vein, Golden Boy Promotions and Team Khan would agree to a 5050 split of worldwide revenues derived from a rematch (including those derived from the United Kingdom) should Mr. Peterson agree to participate and hope that this will be both financially and professionally satisfying to Mr. Peterson and his team,” the statement added. After Peterson’s (30-1-1) surprise victory, Khan’s team initially questioned the performance of referee Joseph Cooper, who deducted points from the Briton in the seventh and 12th rounds for pushing. — Reuters

LONDON: Australian Will Clarke broke away after only two kilometers to snatch a solo victory in the second stage of the Tour Down Under yesterday. Tasmanian Clarke of the UniSA team jumped away from the pack almost at the gun and never looked back. Swiss Martin Kohler (BMC) claimed the overall lead after picking up time bonuses along the 148 kms between Lobethal and Stirling. ìItís my first Pro win and itís a World Tour race, so it doesnít get much better than this,î Clarke was quoted as saying on his teamís website (www.unisa.edu.au). His compatriots Michael Matthews (Rabobank) and Simon Gerrans (GreenEDGE) finished second and third respectively, one minute and two seconds off the pace. Spainís Alejandro Valverde, returning from a twoyear suspension for his implication in the Operation Puerto blood doping scandal, took fourth place for the Movistar team. Todayís third stage will take the peloton over 134.5 kms from Unley to Victor Harbor. The Tour Down Under, the first World Tour (elite) race of the season, ends in Adelaide on Sunday. — Reuters

LONDON: Leeds midfielder and captain Jonny Howson is set to join Norwich City in the summer when his contract runs out, the club revealed yesterday. A statement on Leeds website read: “The club has reluctantly accepted the offer on the basis that the player only has six months of his current contract remaining and has expressed a desire to play Premier League football at the earliest opportunity.” The 23-year-old Howson has not played since December because of a knee injury, and Championship side Leeds expressed disappointment at being unable to tie the former England Under-21 international down on a longer deal.

“The club has been in discussions with the player about a new contract at Elland Road for more than 12 months, but he has been steadfast in his position that he would like the opportunity to play Premier League football,” the Leeds statement continued. “On that basis Jonny hasn’t felt in a position to commit himself to Leeds United at this moment in time. “The player would be able to leave on a free transfer at the end of his current contract. “While accepting the offer on Tuesday the player has still to agree terms with Norwich and we are disappointed the matter has become public at this stage.”— AFP

Islanders blank Capitals Devils down Jets 5-1 WASHINGTON: Evgeni Nabokov stopped 17 shots and P A Parenteau scored two goals as the New York Islanders handed the Washington Capitals their first shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory Tuesday. It was the 51st career shutout for the 36-year-old Nabokov and first with New York. He has 301 career wins, including eight this season. Playing the last of back-to-back games and for the fourth time in six days, the Islanders converted three of 28 shots against Tomas Vokoun, who came in 14-3 with a 2.03 goalsagainst average in 17 starts at home. John Tavares extended his point streak to a careerbest 10 games with a power-play goal at 12:05 of the first period.

MELBOURNE: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark serves against Anna Tatishvili of Georgia in their second round women’s singles match on day three of the 2012 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. Wozniacki won 6-1, 7-6.

— AFP

New golfer Wozniacki gets advice from Rory MELBOURNE: Caroline Wozniacki has taken up golf and drawn inspiration from Rory McIlroy’s stunning turnaround to win the US Open after his US Masters meltdown, as she seeks to break through for her maiden grand slam at Melbourne Park. Wozniacki, whose long reign as world number one has been dogged by criticism for her lack of a grand slam title, said her boyfriend McIlroy had given her a few tips on how to move on from heartbreaking failure.

“It’s just about, you can’t really do anything about the past,” Wozniacki said of her motivational chats with the 22-yearold Northern Irishman. “You just need to look forward. You have a tournament now, and you want to do the best you can. That’s it. “Then if it goes well, it’s great. If not, you have the next one. It’s like tennis. So, you know, it’s just important not to dwell too much in the past.”

Wozniacki showed her own sporting pedigree at Hisense Arena on Wednesday with a grinding 6-1 7-6 defeat over longtime friend and former doubles partner Anna Tatishvili of Georgia.

She will next face 31st seed Monica Niculescu of Romania in the third round.

The ebullient Dane, who delights in her public banter with McIlroy on Twitter, said her golf, like her grand slam ambitions, remains very much a work in progress despite her boyfriend arranging a special coach for her. “It’s not so easy as it looks on TV. It’s not just hitting a ball, standing still. It’s a lot of mental,” the 21year-old told reporters. “I think it’s more mental than tennis actually. You do one

wrong movement and the ball goes in the trees or somewhere and it’s difficult.

“Yeah, I’ve been out playing a little bit.

It’s good when you have someone there saying, ‘Okay, remember these few key points.’ Then I can hit it far,” she added.

“Once I’m out there alone and have to start playing, it goes right and left and up and down. I get so frustrated. Feel like I just want to break the clubs and go home.” Wozniacki has also inspired McIlroy to pick up the tennis racket, but there’s not much rivalry there. “I think both of us don’t want to, I mean, be too serious in the other sport. It’s just for fun.

Yeah, a bit of fun.” McIlroy, who has been in Dubai preparing for the start of his season at Abu Dhabi, might have admired his sweetheart’s grit as she came back from 4-1 down in the second sent to close out the match 7-4 in the tiebreaker.

Wozniacki shrugged off a wrist injury she sustained at the Sydney International but had a medical timeout to deal with a “small” blister. She has been reading Rafa Nadal’s book “Rafa: My Story” and has yet to finish it, but can identify with the Mallorcan’s mortal devastation after losing, even as a 10-year-old. “I remember when I was playing under-10s or under12s I thought my world was going to break down if I didn’t win this match,” she said. “When I lost I was devastated and (would) start crying. I was like, ‘Oh, I never want to step on the court again, this hard work doesn’t pay off ’, all these things. “But I hung in there, and it paid off in the end.” — Reuters

Home boy Els aiming to trump more champions GEORGE: Ernie Els will have the rare pleasure of sleeping at home when he takes on South Africa’s toughest course and a clutch of golf stars in the Volvo Champions at The Links in Fancourt from today. Only 2011 and 2012 European Tour winners and those with 10 or more career tournament victories are eligible for the 35-man event, which offers a first prize of 350,000 euros. There is no cut and the player who finishes last will earn 22,000 euros. Els won the 2010 South African Open, one of the first events of the 2011 European Tour. But the 42-year-old former US and British Open champion has undergone a lean spell, slumping to 71 in the world rankings. He has seen younger South African players such as Major winners Charl Schwartzel (nine) and Louis Oosthuizen (27) sweep past him.

Els, US Masters champion Schwartzel and 2010 British Open champion Oosthuizen are among eight Major champions in the field, who include current British Open champion Darren Clarke, former US Open winner Retief Goosen and former British Open and US PGA champion Padraig Harrington. European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal, who won two US Masters titles in the 1990s and 1998 British Open champion Paul Lawrie, complete the Major winners. If anyone knows his way around The Links it is Els, whose South African home is at Herold’s Bay, a short drive away. He is sponsored by the software company of German businessman Hasso Plattner,

owner of Fancourt.

“I have great memories of playing at The Links, both in professional events including the (2003) Presidents Cup, and also while on family holidays here,” Els wrote on his website. “It ’s justifiably ranked as the best golf course in the country.” The 6,648-metre course is a manmade links, built on the site of a disused airfield, and is renowned as a challenging test of golf. Despite five par-fives and a par of 73, only four players finished under par when the South African Open was staged at The Links in 2005. The halfway cut was made at eight over. Els finished second in that tournament after a thrilling duel with long-time South African rival Goosen.

This week ’s event, billed as the European Tour’s first true tournament of champions, has attracted a strong field, although Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer, the top four qualifiers who also fill the first four places in the world rankings, did not enter.

There are eight South Africans in the field, including George resident Branden Grace, who qualified by winning the Joburg Open in Johannesburg last weekend, and Spanish Open champion Thomas Aiken, who is affiliated to Fancourt. The entrants include two of European golf’s most exciting young talents, Matteo Manassero, 18, and Tom Lewis, 21, as well as Rober t Karlsson, Simon Dyson, Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jiminez, who are ranked in the world’s top 50. — AFP

RANGERS 3, PREDATORS 0 At New York, Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as the New York Rangers stayed atop the NHL standings with a victory over Nashville. The Rangers had lost two of three entering Tuesday’s game following a five -game winning streak. John Mitchell scored midway through the second period and defenseman Dan Girardi had a goal in the first. Ryan Callahan was awarded a goal when he dived to try to knock the puck into the empty net in the final minute, and Martin Erat dived on top of him.

Spezza scored and Craig Anderson made 37 saves as Ottawa edged Toronto. The Senators have climbed to fifth in the Eastern Conference and hold a nine-point advantage over the ninthplace Leafs. Kyle Turris also scored for Ottawa, which hasn’t dropped consecutive games in regulation since Nov 9 and 11. Matthew Lombardi and Joffrey Lupul scored for the Maple Leafs.

PENGUINS 2, HURRICANES 1, SO At Pittsburgh, James Neal beat Cam Ward on the stick side in the shootout to lift Pittsburgh over Carolina. Evgeni Malkin netted his 22nd goal of the season for the Penguins, and then scored to lead off the shootout as Pittsburgh won its third straight. Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 saves and stopped Eric Staal’s backhand bid to extend the shootout as Pittsburgh has rebounded following a six-game losing streak.

Ward made 40 saves for the Hurricanes, and Jamie McBain scored his fourth goal of the season.

RED WINGS 3, STARS 2, SO At Dallas, Jiri Hudler scored in the second round of the shootout as the Red Wings beat Dallas. Hudler put on a nifty move to fake rookie Richard Bachman out of position and tucked the puck into the right side of the net. Ty Conklin

denied Loui Eriksson, Michael Ryder and Trevor Daley in the shootout to earn the extra point for the Red Wings. Brenden Morrow and Eriksson scored in regulation for Dallas. Tomas Holmstrom and Hudler had regulation goals for Detroit.

KINGS 3, CANUCKS 2, SO At Vancouver, British Columbia, Justin Williams and Mike Richards scored in the shootout as Los Angeles handed Vancouver its second straight home loss. Williams, who also scored in regulation.

Alex Burrows scored in the shootout for the Canucks, who got regulation goals from Daniel Sedin and David Booth. Vancouver has lost third of five. Dustin Penner opened the scoring for the Kings.

SHARKS 2, FLAMES 1, SO At San Jose, California, Michal Handzus and Brent Burns scored in the shootout as San Jose rallied to a victory over Calgary. Torrey Mitchell tied the game midway through the third period, and Antti Niemi made 27 saves and was perfect in the shootout.

The Sharks earned just their third win all season when trailing after two periods. Chris Butler scored the lone goal for the Flames. —AP

LIGHTNING 5, BRUINS 3 At Tampa, Florida, Dominic Moore scored a tiebreaking goal with 3:45 remaining as Tampa Bay beat Boston. Moore stopped an 11-game goal drought and put Tampa Bay up 4-3 when he scored on Tim Thomas with a shot from the top of the left circle. Steven Stamkos added his NHL-leading 31st goal into an empty net during the final minute. Vincent Lecavalier, Tom Pyatt and Ryan Malone had the other goals for Tampa Bay. Nathan Horton scored two goals, and Daniel Paille added a short-handed tally.

FLYERS 5, WILD 1 At Philadelphia, Sean Couturier scored a short-handed goal to lead a balanced attack as Philadelphia topped Minnesota. Kimmo Timonen, Scott Hartnell, Braydon Coburn and Jakub Voracek also had goals, and Jaromir Jagr had two assists for the Flyers, who got points from 11 players. Darroll Powe scored against his former team for Minnesota’s lone goal. Ilya Bryzgalov made 25 saves to earn the win.

DEVILS 5, JETS 1 At Newark, New Jersey, Ilya Kovalchuk scored two goals, giving him seven in six games as New Jersey routed Winnipeg. Patrik Elias had a goal and two assists, and Petr Sykora and David Clarkson also scored to give the Devils their third straight win and fifth in six games. Martin Brodeur made 20 saves in recording his 14th win of the season and second over Winnipeg in four days. He came into the third period within reach of his first shutout of the season, but was beaten on a blast by defenseman Tobias Enstrom with 11:42 to play.

BLUE JACKETS 4, OILERS 2 At Columbus, Ohio, Derek MacKenzie scored 32 seconds into the third period to help Columbus rally from a two-goal deficit and beat Edmonton. The defeat in a matchup of the teams at the bottom of the Western Conference could be particularly costly for the Oilers, who lost Taylor Hall for the game during warm-ups when he collided with a teammate and fell. Hall cut his head on another teammate’s skate and couldn’t play. Ryan Johansen and Derick Brassard also had goals, and Derek Dorsett added an empty-netter for the Blue Jackets.

Curtis Sanford made 21 saves. Anton Lander and Ben Eager scored in the opening nine minutes for the Oilers.

SENATORS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 2 At Toronto, Daniel Alfredsson and Jason

PITTSBURGH: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Deryk Engelland (5) lands a punch during a fight against Carolina Hurricanes’ Tim Gleason (6) in the first period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012. — AP

NHL results/standings NHL results and standings on Tuesday.

Philadelphia 5, Minnesota 1; Pittsburgh 2, Carolina 1 (SO); NY Islanders 3, Washington 0; Columbus 4, Edmonton 2; Ottawa 3, Toronto 2; New Jersey 5, Winnipeg 1; NY Rangers 3, Nashville 0; Tampa Bay 5, Boston 3; Detroit 3, Dallas 2 (SO); Los Angeles 3, Vancouver 2 (SO); San Jose 2, Calgary 1 (SO). * SO = shootout Western Conference Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Central Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Detroit 30 15 1 149 105 61 NY Rangers 29 11 4 125 90 62 27 12 6 116 94 60 St. Louis Philadelphia 27 13 4 149 129 58 Chicago 27 13 6 150 133 60 New Jersey 26 17 2 126 126 54 Nashville 26 16 4 125 123 56 Pittsburgh 24 17 4 136 117 52 Columbus 13 27 5 110 149 31 NY Islanders 17 21 6 106 134 40 Northwest Division Northeast Division Vancouver 28 15 4 151 117 60 Boston 29 13 1 156 88 59 22 17 7 106 118 51 Minnesota Ottawa 26 16 6 149 150 58 Colorado 24 21 2 120 134 50 Toronto 22 18 5 139 140 49 Calgary 21 20 6 112 133 48 Buffalo 19 21 5 112 134 43 Edmonton 17 24 4 116 131 38 Montreal 17 20 8 116 123 42 Pacific Division Southeast Division San Jose 26 12 5 125 100 57 Florida 21 14 9 112 123 51 105 105 55 Los Angeles 23 15 9 Washington 24 18 2 125 127 50 Dallas 24 19 2 122 129 50 Winnipeg 21 20 5 116 133 47 Tampa Bay 18 23 4 126 159 40 Phoenix 21 18 7 120 119 49 Carolina 16 24 8 124 156 40 Anaheim 15 22 7 113 138 37

NFL’s ‘last real anarchist’ still on top CHICAGO: There’s something about New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick that rubs people the wrong way. Not Patriots fans, of course, nor most of the guys who play for him. That’s because he’s taken their teams to four Super Bowls, won three, and has them back in the AFC title game this Sunday for the sixth time in his 11 seasons. It’s how he does it that riles most everyone else. When other coaches run up the score, they mumble an apology and dread what might happen if the shoe ever winds up on the other foot. Belichick does neither.

It’s rarely personal with him, except perhaps during the 2007 season after the Patriots got caught videotaping opponents’ practices and would have completed an unbeaten season if they hadn’t been upset by the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

Belichick is so consumed with trying to crush opponents - he often seems more interested in what’s possible rather than practical - that there’s no point in trying to keep track of grudges. Even more surprising might be that he’s managed to convince a grow-

ing list of superstars and spare-part players alike to follow him over to the dark side.

If Belichick has charisma, he’s done a masterful job of hiding it. In a wonderful piece at Grantland.com, writer Charles P. Pierce calls the coach “the NFL’s last real anarchist,” which may be as good an explanation as any of Belichick’s appeal inside the locker room. He routinely - and unapologetically - thumbs his nose at all manner of NFL conventions, a stubborn streak he first displayed in its fullness at the 2002 Super Bowl, when the Patriots slowed a St Louis offense billed as “The Greatest Show on Turf” by deploying as few as two defensive lineman and dropping as many as seven defensive backs into pass coverage en route to an upset 20-17 win. Since then, Belichick has monkeyed with just about everything else in the game.

The Patriots’ weekly injury report, for example, has been a running joke in the league for years. It’s always packed with familiar names, followed by “doubtful” and “questionable” during the week, and

almost always empty by game time. Belichick demands that nearly everyone on the squad learns to play more than one position and cuts long-serving regulars the second they start to slip. To play for him is to live in fear of having a job, but also to enjoy almost unmatched success. At the end of what might be the most offensive-oriented season in NFL history, three of the four teams still playing - NFC finalists New York and San Francisco, and AFC rival Baltimore, which visits New England - survived on the strength of their defenses. Belichick long ago established his credentials as one of the finest defensive minds in the league. But as the rules gradually shifted over the last few years to open up play and protect glamourboy quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, he jumped ahead of the curve with a spread offense. The Patriots’ current set is built around a pair of versatile tight ends who can run and catch like wide receivers, but are also big and tough enough to shake off defensive backs determined to bump them off routes. —AP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

sp orts

Eighth seed Fish out Fish in a flap after falling to Falla

MELBOURNE: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus serves during her women’s singles match against Casey Dellacqua of Australia on the third day of the Australian Open tennis tournament yesterday. — AFP

Azarenka silences mockers with ruthless demolition MELBOURNE: Victoria Azarenka underlined her credentials as an Australian Open title contender, if not a crowd favorite, with a ruthless 6-1 6-0 demolition of local wildcard Casey Dellacqua in the second round yesterday. The Belarussian’s loud grunts inspired a string of mocking imitators in the partisan crowd on Rod Laver Arena but the third seed ignored the jibes to brush aside her opponent in just 57 minutes.

Azarenka, who won the title against a strong field at the Sydney warm-up tournament last week, was simply too sharp, too accurate and too mobile for the 126thranked Dellacqua. The 22-year-old, one of four players who could emerge from the year’s first grand slam as world number one, pointed a single finger into the night sky after setting up a third-round meeting

with Mona Barthel of Germany. “I’m loud always, I guess,” Azarenka laughed. “I played really well. She came out really aggressive and I just waited for my shots.”

Dellacqua saved a break point to win her first service game but the traffic was all one way after that. A former top-40 player still battling her way back after missing most of 2009 and 2010 because of injury, the 26year-old failed to win consecutive points on her serve all night and it was her 33rd unforced error that handed Azarenka victory. “It was great to see Casey out there again,” said Azarenka.

“I think it’s just amazing what she’s done.”

Azarenka, a semi-finalist at Wimbledon last year, also conceded just one game in her first-round victory over Heather Watson of Britain on Monday.— Reuters

Erakovic embraces role as New Zealand lone warrior MELBOURNE: Anyone walking past court six at Melbourne Park yesterday could have quite easily thought they had wandered into the little known and geographically tiny enclave of New Mel-andia. Chants of “Kiwi! Kiwi! Kiwi!” echoed around the jampacked court as Marina Erakovic, New Zealand’s only representative on the top tier tennis tours played her second round Australian Open match against Christina McHale of the United States. “It’s nice, especially here in Melbourne that a lot of them come out and support me and that’s terrific,” the world number 62 told Reuters before her match with McHale, which she lost in three sets. “On the other hand, I really want to do well for the Kiwis and it’s a little bit of pressure but it’s all right. New Zealand is a small place and if I do well that’s great.”

The 23-year-old has “pretty much” been the South Pacific nation’s only representative at the elite level for five years and with number two Sacha Jones’ defection to Australia this month, she said it was a bit of a lonely existence. “Sacha has turned Aussie but to tell you the truth I am the only Kiwi at a lot of tournaments so it’s not a huge change for me (to be travelling without compatriots),” she said. “I do see the guys like Mike Venus and Rubin Statham when they turn up to play quallies (qualifiers) for the grand slams, and there’s not a lot of us that are up there (at the elite level) but we have a few trying their best.”

Erakovic, born in Croatia but raised in Auckland when her family moved to New Zealand when she was six, has a toned down ‘Kiwi twang’, brought about by growing up speaking her native tongue, travelling “a lot” in the United States and “Hollywood movies”. Like other New

Zealanders, however, when she is overseas and hears the tell-tale nasal drawl that the diaspora never seems to lose, she pricks up her ears. “Yeah, definitely. Or whenever I see an All Blacks jersey or silver fern, I’m like (staring intently), then I wait until they open their mouth,” she said. “I try to spot them.”

Erakovic having battled back from two years of injury in 2011, reached her first WTA Tour final in Quebec City and recorded her first win over a top-20 player when she beat Victoria Azarenka at Stanford.

“Last year was a good year. I had a good year body wise, no injuries and I played all the matches I wanted to,” she said. “I played a lot of tournaments and built a lot of confidence.” That confidence transferred over to her doubles play, when she made last year ’s Wimbledon semi-finals with Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn, though she had also won five career titles. This year, instead of picking up a doubles partner when she arrived at an event, she was going to try to cement a regular partnership with Taiwan’s Chuang Chia-jung, a doubles specialist.

They made the Hobart International final immediately before the Australian Open, but then were beaten by Spanish pair Carla Suarez Navarro and Silva SolerEspinosa 6-3 7-6 in the first round yesterday. “I like the game and I play well but singles is my priority,” Erakovic said. Erakovic, who is based in New Zealand but lives out of a suitcase for much of the year, said her next trip would be to Bogota, Colombia.

“Then Monterrey. Miami. Indian Wells.

Then...” Though wherever she pitches up, she’ll be watching out for that familiar black jersey and twang chanting: “Go Niu Zilund!”— Reuters

MELBOURNE: American number one Mardy Fish crashed out of the Australian Open yesterday, beaten 7-6 6-3 7-6 by Alejandro Falla in the second round.

After wards, eighth-seed Fish questioned whether the Colombian had “abused” the rules by calling out the trainer as a tactical ploy during a tense third set. Fish had to battle back just to force a tiebreak in the third set on court three but lost it 8-6 to fall at the second hurdle for the second year in a row at Melbourne Park.

Lefthander Falla summoned up a brilliant lob after a 30-stroke rally to take a 5-4 lead in the tiebreak and survived some late nerves to claim victory when Fish blasted a forehand wide. Falla called the trainer out twice at changeovers in the third set as he appeared to be struggling with cramp, prompting Fish to ask the umpire and tournament referee for clarification of the rules. “Third set obviously pretty important knowing that he’s struggling, I guess. Maybe not.

Maybe that was a ploy. I don’t know,” the 30-year-old said.

“Didn’t seem like he was having too much trouble during the point. So it was a good tactic on

his part. “When you think someone is cramping or ailing physically, you sort of change your game a tiny bit,” he added. “I think it had a significant bearing on the third set, for sure.” Fish said he did not think players were allowed to call out the trainer for cramps, adding that as the modern game was so physically draining it was something that some players would exploit.

“You’re going to have guys that are going to abuse that a lot,” he said. “I thought he was having some physical issues. But then in between on every point he was totally fine.”

Fish arrived in Melbourne after a controversial appearance at the Hopman Cup in Perth, where he and Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov had to be separated by the match referee when they squared up to each other in a bad-tempered encounter. The American also spat towards Dimitrov’s fans in the stands when they cheered his errors. Asked whether his uncharacteristic bad temper was the result of fatigue from last year, Fish was unforthcoming. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Falla will meet Germany’s Phillip Kohlschreiber in the third round. — Reuters

Angry Nalbandian blasts referee after Isner loss MELBOURNE: A furious David Nalbandian blasted the chair umpire for over-ruling a point and denying him a Hawk-eye challenge towards the end of his marathon 4-6 6-3 2-6 7-6 10-8 loss to American John Isner in the second round of the Australian Open yesterday. Holding a breakpoint at 8-8 in the fifth set, Nalbandian was left fuming after Frenchman Kader Nouni overruled a first serve by Isner as an ace after it was called a fault. The Argentine walked up to inspect

the mark where the ball had bounced and demanded a challenge but was denied by Nouni who ruled he had not made it quickly enough. There is no set time that players are bound by to mount challenges and it is up to the umpire’s discretion.

A non-plussed Nalbandian remonstrated with Nouni for some minutes as boos and jeering rang out in the stands at Margaret Court Arena, before he grudgingly returned to the baseline with the score at deuce. Isner

Bogomolov jr, have suggested that the formation of a players’ union is now inevitable.

Drewett, who won two titles in 12 years on the men’s tour, said he thought the ATP, despite also representing the tournaments, was best placed to act as advocate for the interests of the players.

“The players actually are owners of half this organization. There’s not too many other player and sports leagues that can say that,” he said. “Once again, no organization, no structure in any company, not just the ATP, could ever say it’s absolutely perfect. There are issues. “I’m not saying there’s not. But I believe, when you look at the last 20 plus years, that’s a long time. Things have worked well.”

Drewett did not discuss specific issues or the possibility of a strike, which looks like an increasingly remote prospect.

Former president of the players’ council Ivan Ljubicic said he thought striking was never a real option. “In my opinion, that was complete nonsense,” the Croatian told thetennisspace.com.

“Guys got hot, got excited, but fortunately there were some cool heads in there. “It was never, in my opinion, (a possibility) that the players wouldn’t play here, or anywhere else. “That’s not the way you get things done. I went through one war. I would rather talk than fight. I always think that’s the best way to get things done.”—Reuters

held serve to lead 9-8 and subsequently broke his opponent in the next game to seal the fourhour and 41-minute match in the gloaming, thumping his chest in triumph to the delight of the packed crowd. Nalbandian told reporters he thought Nouni was not qualified to umpire. “I called Hawk-eye and he didn’t give it. I never seen something like that,” the 2002 Wimbledon finalist said.

“There (was) no time to call ... I don’t think he’s able to do these kinds of matches ... Absolutely no

doubt.” Isner’s win was a timely reminder of his marathon man credentials. The American fought a record 11-hour epic with Frenchman Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010.

“The sun going down helped me a lot here,” Isner, who will play Spanish 18th-seed Feliciano Lopez in the next round, said in a courtside interview. “The temperature dropped and it wasn’t that hot. “I was cramping a bit in my right leg. But somehow I pulled it out.”— Reuters

Clijsters, Li cruise, Federer advances without playing

ATP listening to players’ gripes MELBOURNE: The ATP is listening to players’ grievances and is still the best body to represent their interests, the new chairman of the men’s professional tennis tour said yesterday. Speaking after last Saturday’s meeting of the players, at which a boycott of the Australian Open was proposed, Brad Drewett said he thought much of the media coverage had been “sensational” even if he conceded there were problems. “There is some frustration on certain points within the game,” Drewett told a news conference at Melbourne Park. “Nothing’s ever perfect in any world, and certainly not in the tennis world. As I said, I think the game is clearly in a great spot. “That doesn’t mean there’s not always going to be some issues on the side. That’s for me to listen. I heard the players loud and clear the other night about their issues.

“They’re obviously a very, very important part of this organization. As a former player, I hope I understand their issues as much as anyone. “My plan is to represent their opinions wherever it needs to be represented and make sure they ’re heard.” Of the issues that were raised at the meeting, the two biggest grievances were the number of tournaments the players must play each year and the distribution of prize money at the four grand slam events.

As well as the possibility of a strike, some players, such as Russian Alex

MELBOURNE: Mardy Fish of the US makes a forehand return to Colombia’s Alejandro Falla during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship yesterday. — AP

MELBOURNE: Kim Clijsters of Belgium watches the ball as she plays a stroke during her second round women’s singles match against Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France yesterday. —AFP

MELBOURNE: Champion Kim Clijsters and the player she beat in last year’s final Li Na rarely got out of first gear while Roger Federer did not even have to get out of bed to advance to the third round of the Australian Open yesterday. American eighth seed Mardy Fish, however, became the first men’s top-10 player to depart the tournament when he crashed out in straight sets to Colombia’s Alejandro Falla 7-6 6-3 7-6.

Temperatures were much more comfortable yesterday after the first two days when they reached 30 degrees Celsius before midday, and Clijsters barely built up a sweat on Rod Laver Arena as she thrashed France’s Stephanie Foretz Gacon in 47 minutes.

Clijsters, who has recorded four previous 6-0 6-0 ‘double bagel’ victories at Melbourne Park, flirted with a fifth as she rattled off the opening seven games in little under 30 minutes before the 30year-old Frenchwoman finally held serve.

The stay of execution, however, was brief and the Belgian calmly went through her processes again, building pressure and forcing errors before she moved

into the third round with a 6-0 6-1 win when Fortez Gacon’s return of serve floated long.

“I felt like in my first match I didn’t really have that rhythm that I would have liked to have,” Clijsters told reporters. “So that’s usually something that I try to look for in the beginning of the match. “(I) was hitting the ball well (and) felt that I could keep her under pressure. I didn’t really let her play her game. From the beginning till the end, I did what I had to do well.”

French Open champion Li, was almost as efficient, giving Australian opponent Olivia Rogowska little time to settle into the match and ran out a 6-2 6-2 winner in 62 minutes. World number three Federer, who had been due to play later yesterday received a walkover into the third round when his German opponent Andreas Beck withdrew from the tournament with a back injury. Men’s number two Rafa Nadal was on court with a twoset lead against German veteran Tommy Haas while women’s top seed Caroline Wozniacki was scheduled to meet Anna Tatishvili later in the day.—Reuters

Indianapolis looks to future after firing Caldwell INDIANAPOLIS: Jim Irsay has big plans for the Colts’ future. He just hasn’t worked through the details yet. Two weeks after overhauling the front office, Indianapolis took the next big step in its major housecleaning project Tuesday - firing coach Jim Caldwell after three seasons. “This (search) is something that’s going to start immediately and I really think we’re going to get a coach that’s going to lead us going into the future, and I think it’s a bright future,” Irsay said Tuesday. “It’s tough to change and go forward, we’ve had such excellence and greatness here over such a long period of time and that’s what I expect us to do again.”

Irsay is following the same plan he installed after the 1997 season. Back then, a season-ending loss on the road allowed the 3-13 Colts to clinch the No 1 overall draft pick. The next day, Irsay fired the general manager and the head coach and eventually changed quarterbacks. It

could happen again with a little more deliberation. The day after losing at Jacksonville to post their worst record (2-14) in two decades and wrap up this year’s No 1 pick, Irsay fired team vice chairman Bill Polian and his son, Chris, the Colts’ general manager. Last week, Irsay hired 39year-old Ryan Grigson as the replacement for the Polians. Since then, Grigson and Irsay have been in almost constant meetings debating the future of the coaching staff.

On Monday, Caldwell and former Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo met in Indianapolis about the Colts’ defensive coordinator job. Most took it as an indication Caldwell would be retained. That was still the conventional wisdom Tuesday.

Eventually, Irsay and Grigson proved the pundits wrong. Irsay said he told Caldwell of the decision at about 2 pm, shortly before the team confirmed the firing. “We’ve talked about where we want to be more balanced,” Irsay said. “We want

to be excellent on defense and more consistent, and I think that’s something that we’re looking at as part of the vision. I don’t think the guy has to be offensive or defensive or anything like that.

It’s a heavy lifting process right now.”

It’s unclear where the Colts will turn next. Yes, Grigson acknowledged, he has a short list of candidates. Not surprisingly, he didn’t say who was on the list, which could include names such as Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, Eagles offensive coordinator Mary Mornhinweg and perhaps Spagnuolo. Neither Grigson nor Irsay provided a timeline for the hire. “We want leadership. Leadership is important,” Grigson said after making his first big decision in charge of an NFL team. “We want strong leadership, and we want someone who shares his vision in this new era of Colts football. We want the best man and the best leader and the man that gives us the best way to go.”— AP

A

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

S P ORT S

Years

Red-hot Heat melt Spurs Magic overpower Bobcats

DUBAI: Pakistan’s Asad Shafiq (fourth left) is caught out by England’s wicketkeeper Matt Prior, (second left) as he dives with captain Andrew Strauss (left) off the bowling of James Anderson (seventh left) during the second day of the first cricket test match of a three-match series between England and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday. — AP

Misbah’s late dismissal caps England’s fightback DUBAI: Off-spinner Graeme Swann trapped Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq in the penultimate over of the second day to help England fight back in the second Test yesterday. Misbah’s 13th half-century-his 11th in 13 Tests as captain-had kept Pakistan in a good position after openers Mohammad Hafeez had made 88 and Taufiq Umar 58 on a slow turning Dubai Stadium pitch.

But Swann trapped Misbah infront with a sharp incoming delivery and had the not out decision by New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden overturned by the Decision Review System (DRS) to boost England’s cause.

Misbah had put on a valuable 52 runs for the sixth wicket with wicket-keeper batsman Adnan Akmal, who was unbeaten on a gritty 24. James Anderson ended the day on a high note for his team when he bowled Abdul Rehman (four) in the last over to leave Pakistan at 288-7 at the close, a lead of 96 over England’s first innings total of 192. Misbah’s wicket has seemingly brought England back in the match. The Pakistani skipper had hit five boundaries during his 154-ball knock.

England paceman Stuart Broad said his team deserved wickets at the end.

“We deserved those wickets,” said Broad. “It was Swann’s decision to take the DRS because we had two and it’s no use keeping them in the hat, so we got that crucial wicket and now need to bowl them out quickly and score big second time.” Hafeez agreed Misbah’s wicket was crucial. “Misbah’s wicket was costly, but we are still in a strong position and with the ball turning we still have a good chance in this match,” said the opener. Before Misbah, Pakistan lost the crucial wicket of Younis Khan (37) on the stroke of tea when the experienced batsman offered no stroke to part-timer Jonathan Trott’s incoming delivery and was adjudged leg-before.

England took the second new ball and Anderson’s first over with it brought the downfall of Asad Shafiq (16) to leave Pakistan at 231-5, in danger of being dismissed for a small lead. It was paceman Broad who gave England the breakthrough in the morning session after the Pakistani openers, resuming at 42-0, played out the first 90 minutes without being separated.

Broad bowled Umar with a beautiful delivery which held its line and hit the off-stump, just one ball after Chris Tremlett dropped Hafeez off a miscued hook which resulted in a single. Umar hit ten boundaries in his 58 and was sedate during his 113-ball stay at the crease. Three overs later, Broad swung one away from Azhar Ali and had him caught behind by wicket-keeper Matt Prior, much to the jubilation of his team-mates. Ali made just one. England, who were poor against off-

SCOREBOARD

SCOREBOARD DUBAI: Scores at stumps on the second day of the first cricket Test between Pakistan and England played at Dubai Stadium here yesterday: England 1st innings 192 (M. Prior 70, G. Swann 34; Saeed Ajmal 7-55) Pakistan 1st innings (overnight 42-0) Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Swann 88 Taufiq Umar b Broad 58 Azhar Ali c Prior b Broad 1 Younis Khan lbw b Trott 37 Misbah-ul Haq lbw b Swann 52 Asad Shafiq c Prior b Anderson 16 Adnan Akmal not out 24 Abdul Rehman b Anderson 4 Extras: (b2, lb4, nb2) 8 Total: (for seven wkts) 288 Fall of wickets: 1-114 (Umar), 2-128 (Ali), 3-176 (Hafeez), 4202 (Younis), 5-231 (Shafiq), 6-283 (Misbah), 7-288 (Rehman) Bowling: Anderson 23.3-7-57-2, Tremlett 20-6-48-0 (nb1), Broad 26-6-72-2 (nb1), Swann 27-3-89-2, Trott 8-2-16-1.

Overs: 104.3

spinner Saeed Ajmal (7-55) on day one, were well short of their best in fielding. Ian Bell failed to hit the stumps when Hafeez, batting on 44, ran for a single after pushing Tremlett to square-leg and was well short of his crease after being sent back by Umar.

Pietersen also dropped Adnan on nine off Tremlett to cap another tough day for the world’s number one Test team, who have only won on two occasions after conceding the lead in a Test in the sub-continent-both against Pakistan in 1961 and 2000. It was Umar who reached his fifty first, hitting Swann for two consecutive boundaries to complete his 13th Test half-century.

Hafeez reached his seventh with a single off Tremlett.

Swann finally dismissed Hafeez with a full pitched delivery as the batsmen missed a sweep. Hafeez hit eleven boundaries and a six during his solid 164-ball knock.

Swann, who took 2-89, failed to trouble the batsmen like Ajmal did on Tuesday but his late wicket brought England back in the match. Broad and Anderson also had two wickets apiece — AFP

MIAMI: Three-pointers rained down from all directions as the Miami Heat burnt the San Antonio Spurs 120-98 on Tuesday despite the absence of All-Star guard Dwyane Wade. Miami’s perimeter assault came in the second half where they made 12 of their 16 three-pointers to erase a 14-point first-half deficit and snap their three-game losing streak with a dizzying display of shooting. LeBron James led the way with 33 points and 10 assists, Chris Bosh scored 30 and Mike Miller made his season debut off the bench with 18 points on a perfect six from six from behind the threepoint arc. The Heat (9-4) took over by outscoring San Antonio 39-12 in the third, where at one point they used a 24-2 run to claim a commanding 85-70 advantage. Tony Parker recorded 18 points and Daniel Green had 20 off the bench for the Spurs (9-5) who looked in control early on but had their three-game win streak brushed aside.

MAGIC 96, BOBCATS 89 At Orlando, Florida, Dwight Howard had 25 points and 17 rebounds to lead Orlando to its fifth straight win. Jameer Nelson scored 17 points, Hedo Turkoglu had 15 and Von Wafer 13 as the Magic won for the 10th time in 12 games.

Gerald Henderson had 22 points for Charlotte, which has lost eight of its last nine. The Bobcats are also winless in their last five trips to Orlando. Turkoglu and Wafer scored eight points each in the decisive fourth quarter.

WARRIORS 105, CAVALIERS 95 At Cleveland, David Lee scored a season-high 29 points 13 in the fourth quarter - and Nate Robinson added 17 points, leading Golden State past the road-worn Cavaliers.

Golden State’s Monta Ellis had to be helped from the floor bleeding in the final minute with a cut on his face. He was accidentally struck by an elbow from Cleveland’s Anderson Varejao. Ellis finished with 10 points - 13 below his average.

Antawn Jamison scored 19 and rookie Kyrie Irving had 18 for Cleveland, which committed a season-high 25 turnovers.

BULLS 118, SUNS 97 At Chicago, Carlos Boozer scored 26 of his season-high 31 points in the first half, leading short-handed Chicago past Phoenix. Boozer hit 12 of 15 shots in the opening half and scored eight points during a 12-point burst that opened up a 20-point lead for Chicago, which was playing without Derrick Rose for the second straight game because of a sprained left big toe. Steve Nash led Phoenix with 25 points and nine assists.

NBA results/standings NBA results and standings Tuesday.

Golden State 105, Cleveland 95; Orlando 96, Charlotte 89; Miami 120, San Antonio 98; Houston 97, Detroit 80; Denver 105, Milwaukee 95; Chicago 118, Phoenix 97.

ROCKETS 97, PISTONS 80 At Houston, Samuel Dalembert had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Luis Scola also scored 14 as Houston downed Detroit for its fourth straight win. Kyle Lowry had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Rockets, who outrebounded the Pistons 42-35 to offset 21 turnovers.

Houston shot 49 percent (40 of 81) from the field and scored 21 points off 17 offensive rebounds. Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points, Ben Gordon had 18 and Rodney Stuckey added 16 off the bench for the Pistons, who’ve dropped eight of nine.

Philadelphia NY Knicks Boston Toronto New Jersey

NUGGETS 105, BUCKS 95 At Milwaukee, Corey Brewer scored a season-high 22 points as Denver started its five-game road trip with a win over Milwaukee. Brandon Jennings scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and first-round pick Tobias Harris came off the bench for 14 for the Bucks, who lost for the first time in five home games. Milwaukee last opened a season with five straight home wins in 2007-08. Al Harrington added 16 points and Gallinari and Nene each had 14 for Denver.

Orlando Atlanta Miami Charlotte Washington

JAZZ 108, CLIPPERS 79 At Salt Lake City, Paul Millsap scored 20 points and reserve CJ Miles added a season-high 19 as Utah got its 16th straight home win against Los Angeles. The Clippers, who were without star guard Chris Paul for the second straight game because of a hamstring injury, have not won in Salt Lake City since 2003. Millsap picked up where he left off in Sunday’s win over Denver, starting 4 of 4 from the field. Miles provided a spark off the bench, with a 3-pointer, four steals and five rebounds. Blake Griffin scored eight firsthalf points and finished with 10 for Los Angeles. Caron Butler led the Clippers with 14 points, while Chauncey Billups had 10. — Agencies

Chicago Indiana Cleveland Milwaukee Detroit

Oklahoma City Utah Denver Portland Minnesota LA Lakers LA Clippers Golden State Phoenix Sacramento San Antonio Dallas Memphis Houston New Orleans

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT 10 3 .769 6 7 .462 4 8 .333 4 10 .286 3 11 .214 Central Division 13 3 .813 9 3 .750 6 7 .462 4 9 .308 3 11 .214 Southeast Division 10 3 .769 10 4 .714 9 4 .692 3 12 .200 1 12 .077 Western Conference Northwest Division 12 2 .857 9 4 .692 9 5 .643 8 5 .615 5 8 .385 Pacific Division 10 5 .667 7 4 .636 5 8 .385 4 9 .308 4 10 .286 Southwest Division 9 5 .643 8 6 .571 6 6 .500 7 7 .500 3 10 .231

GB 4 5.5 6.5 7.5 2 5.5 7.5 9 0.5 1 8 9 2.5 3 3.5 6.5 1 4 5 5.5 1 2 2 5.5

Du Plessis clinches series for S Africa

Scoreboard in the third one-day international between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Bloemfontein yesterday: Sri Lanka innings U.Tharanga c Ingram b Peterson 58 T.Dilshan c Steyn b Duminy 33 K.Sangakkara run out 38 D.Chandimal c Smith b Morkel 36 M.Jaywardene run out 15 K.Kulasekara b M. Morkel 40 A.Mathews c Peterson b Tsotsobe 15 N.Kulasekara run out 19 L.Malinga b Styen 2 H.Herath not out 1 Extras (b-1 w-7 nb-1) 9 Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 266 Did not bat: D. Prasad Fall of wickets: 1-94 2-102 3-154 4-183 5-192 6-220 7-259 8262 9-266 Bowling: M.Morkel 9-0-65-2, Tsotsobe 10-0-40-1 (2w), Steyn 10-9-55-1 (1w), Duminy 5-0-26-1 (1w), A.Morkel 2-0-9-0 (1w), Peterson 10-0-45-1 (1nb 1w), Du Plessis, 4-0-25-0 (1w).

South Africa innings G.Smith b Malinga 2 A.Petersen lbw b Dilshan 17 C.Ingram b Malinga 13 F.du Plessis run out 72 JP Duminy run out 25 AB de Villiers not out 39 A.Morkel not out 7 Extras (lb-2 w-2) 4 Total (for five wickets, 34 overs) 179 Did not bat: R.Peterson, D.Steyn, M.Morkel, L. Tsotsobe Fall of wickets: 1-14 2-29 3-52 4-113 5-147 Bowling: Malinga 5-1-20-2 (2w), Kulasekara 6-0-31-0, Prasad 5-0-35-0, Herath 6-0-24-0, Dilshan 5-0-22-1, Kulasekara 3-021-0, Mathews 4-0-21-0.

Result: South Africa won by four runs (Duckworth/Lewis method)

SALT LAKE CITY: Utah Jazz small forward Jeremy Evans (40) scores against Los Angeles Clippers forward Trey Thompkins (33) during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012. — AP

BLOEMFONTEIN: Sri Lanka’s captain and bowler Tillakaratne Dilshan (right) delivers a ball to South Africa’s batsman JP Duminy (center) during the third One Day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Chevrolet Park Stadium in Bloemfontein. —AFP

BLOEMFONTEIN: Francois ‘Faf ’ du Plessis made the top score and pulled off a spectacular run out as South Africa clinched a series victory in the third one-day international against World Cup finalists Sri Lanka at Chevrolet Park here on Tuesday. Mainly due to Du Plessis making 72 off 74 balls, South Africa were four ahead of the Duckworth/Lewis par score when rain stopped play. The home side were on 179 for five after 34 overs in reply to Sri Lanka’s 266 for nine and the result gave South Africa a winning 3-0 lead in the five-match series and extended the tourists poor run to six successive one day defeats.

Run outs played a crucial role in both innings. Sri Lanka made a competitive total but it might have been considerably higher if their two star batsmen, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, had not been run out, both by direct hits. Upul Tharanga (58) and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (33) put on 94 for Sri Lanka’s first wicket. Sangakkara, batting at number three, looked set to take full advantage of the good start on an easy-paced pitch as he stroked his way to 38 off 37 balls.

But Sangakkara fell to a superb piece of fielding by Du Plessis, who dived far to his left at backward point to stop a cut by Dinesh Chandimal, then hit the stumps at the batsman’s end with Sangakkara stranded after the batsmen hesitated. Jayawardene was run out for 15, four balls into the batting powerplay in the 36th over, when he was sent back by Chandimal, slipped as he turned and could not recover to beat an accurate throw from Colin Ingram at mid-off. “Mahela’s and Sanga’s run outs cost us 20 runs,” said Dilshan, who added that some sloppy fielding by his team had cost another 20 runs when South Africa batted.

Lasith Malinga made two early strikes in the South African innings, bowling Graeme Smith and Colin Ingram, and South Africa slumped to

52 for three when Alviro Petersen missed a reverse sweep and was leg before wicket to Dilshan. Du Plessis and JP Duminy put on 61 in a fourth wicket stand marked by aggressive running between wickets before Duminy fell to a direct hit by Nuwan Kulasekera from midoff. Du Plessis went to a career-best score before he became another run out victim, with Angelo Mathews making a quick pick-up and throw from cover. Rain started to fall in the 33rd over, at the end of which South Africa were one behind according to the Duckworth/Lewis method.

Dilshan brought Malinga back into the attack but the unorthodox fast bowler conceded eight runs to South African captain AB de Villiers and Albie Morkel before the rain intensified and play was halted. On a pitch which offered no assistance to the bowlers, Tharanga and Du Plessis were the only batsmen to achieve half-centuries. The left-handed Tharanga dominated the opening stand with Dilshan and reached a stylish 50 when Dilshan, who failed to score in the first two matches, was on 18. Tharanga made his 58 off 65 balls with five fours and two sixes. Dilshan, who had less of the strike during the partnership, scored 33 off 49 balls with two fours.

Despite senior batsmen Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis having been released from the South African squad, Du Plessis was promoted to number four in the South African order as part of a rotation policy with De Villiers and Duminy. He responded with some crisp strokeplay in an innings which included seven fours.

He was suffering from cramp towards the end of his innings which he admitted contributed to him being run out. De Villiers said he would have preferred the match to have gone the distance. “I thought we were in a good position although the game was in the balance,” he said.—AFP

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

S P ORT S

DePaul falls short against No 10 Georgetown

ROSEMONT: Jamee Crockett #21 of the DePaul Blue Demons leaps for a rebound over teammate Krys Faber #33 and Nate Lubick #34 of the Georgetown Hoyas at Allstate Arena on January 17, 2012 in Rosemont, Illinois. —AFP

ROSEMONT: Once again DePaul gave glimpses of being a team on the verge of a breakthrough.

Still, the effort ended with yet another Big East loss for the Blue Demons. “We’re just not playing well enough or long enough,” coach Oliver Purnell said Tuesday night after an 83-75 loss to No. 10 Georgetown, the Blue Demons’ four th straight. DePaul kept scrapping and hustling to the end. Every time the Blue Demons looked like they were about to be blown out, they rallied within striking distance.

“Good spurts out there where you see good offense, tenacious defense and timely rebounding, but we’re not doing it long enough. It’s that simple,” Purnell said. “We got to play better.” The Blue Demons were routed on the boards, 47-25 by the aggressive

Hoyas, who won despite playing without starting guard Markel Starks, who couldn’t go because of a stomach ailment. And DePaul couldn’t control the Hoyas’ other guard, their star Jason Clark, who finished with a career-high 31 points.

Clark was 11 of 14 from the field, including 5 of 7 on 3-pointers - he made only four 3-pointers in his previous six games - but did miss five of the nine free throws.

“He (Clark) started with a 3 stepping behind a screen and they weren’t easy shots.... Then he got a few easy ones going to the basket.

He made some really tough shots,” Purnell said. “I think it was just coming through our offense,” Clark said of his big scoring game. “I’ve been on a stretch where I haven’t been making a lot of 3-pointers but today they were falling.” Henry

Sims added 16 points and Otto Porter had 15 rebounds for Georgetown ((15-3, 5-2).

And even though DePaul had only 11 turnovers, several were out near the key leading to Georgetown fast breaks, many of those by Clark. “Those are almost like pick 6s in football, they’re uncontested. You take away six or seven of those you got a different deal. And the shot selection could have been better,” Purnell said. “When we took our time and attacked, we got good looks and we got the ball where we wanted. ... But you take bad shots, a lot of times they’re just like turnovers.” Cleveland Melvin scored 19 points and Moses Morgan had 17, including five 3pointers, for the Blue Demons (10-8, 1-5). Morgan found the range on two 3-pointers and

Melvin had a jumper in an 8-0 run that made it a two-point game with 14 minutes to go.

Once again the Hoyas’ strong rebounding and Clark stopped the run. Clark had a driving reverse layup, Hollis Thompson scored on a follow and Clark made another 3-pointer in a 12-2 run that made it 60-48. The Hoyas have won 11 straight against DePaul and lead the series 20-6. “Wins in this league are difficult to come by and road wins in this league are very difficult to come by, so to that extent it was a good day,” Hoyas coach John Thompson III said. “I don’t like our execution down at the end on a lot of different fronts.

But I don’t want to take anything away from their effort ... But we made it a lot harder than it had to be.”—AP

Fisher set for challenge of rebuilding the Rams ST LOUIS: About a month and a half ago, Jeff Fisher began scouting teams that were likely to have coaching vacancies. Watching video of the St Louis Rams as they wound up a depressing three -year run under Steve Spagnuolo, Fisher saw potential. “There’s a really solid nucleus here,” Fisher said. “Yes, there is.” Fisher perceived commitment, too, after spending time with owner Stan Kroenke.

The usually camera-shy Kroenke reinforced that impression when he introduced Fisher to media on Tuesday. “Jeff and I both put our names on a contract upstairs that will keep him here for a good while, and we’re really excited about that,” Kroenke said. He added that “the more we talked, the more comfortable we got.”

Fisher agreed to a five-year contract worth a reported $7 million per season late last week. Before the dollar amount was discussed, Fisher and the Rams had to agree on a list of about two dozen items, including the makeup of the coaching staff and front office.

At least for now, Fisher doesn’t have an additional title such as president of football operations. “My decision was very, very simple,” Fisher said. “It was based on a shared collective vision in restoring this franchise to a place of significance. It was that vision that made my decision very, very easy.”

Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, who attended the news conference along with quarterback Sam Bradford, was impressed with Fisher’s 17-year stay in Tennessee, and the Titans’ reputation for toughness. “That means he knows how to handle many personalities, he knows how to really relate to the players,” Laurinaitis said. “He’s was a player, he’s been through those battles, he’s been through training camps. He still knows what it means to be sore, to go through that rigorous process. I think it’s instant respect.”

During his interview in St Louis, Fisher met with Bradford. “Obviously, he’s a tremendous coach,” Bradford said. “Everyone that I’ve talked to that’s ever played for him said that he’s a great, great person to play for.” And now comes the challenge. The Rams finished 2-14 this year, tied for the NFL’s worst, and have won all of 15 games the last five seasons.

Fisher said reports the Dolphins were his first

choice were not true. And despite the Rams’ struggles in recent seasons, Fisher said he doesn’t think they’re that far off. He said the Rams have holes but didn’t want to discuss specifics.

The possibility of the Rams relocating in a few seasons was not a major factor in Fisher’s decision. Kroenke can move the franchise after the 2014 season if the Edward Jones Dome is not deemed among the top quarter of stadiums in the NFL. Kroenke was noncommittal on the issue, noting that the city’s Convention and Visitors Commission is due to make a proposal for potential upgrades on Feb 1. He did make a reference to his investment in St Louis. “I’ve been around here a long time,” Kroenke said. “Contrary to a lot of reports, I haven’t taken a lot of jack out of the market. I have put a lot of jack into the market. We’ll see how that process works out.”

Fisher will have a role in the hiring of a general manager, and said several times that decision-making will be a collaborative effort.

The Rams have targeted about a dozen candidates, a handful of whom they’ve already interviewed. The Rams did not confirm any assistant coaches, although it’s been widely reported that Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has agreed to join Fisher in that role. Fisher said only that he had some “very good options.”

Fisher inherits a franchise with a recent history of futility, averaging three wins per season under Scott Linehan, interim coach Jim Haslett and Steve Spagnuolo. The 53year-old Fisher sat out the 2011 season after 17 years in Tennessee, saying he needed a break. His long stint with the Titans included a Super Bowl matchup against the Rams in 2000 in which Tennessee fell 1 yard shy of forcing overtime in a 23-16 loss. The Titans won three division titles and made six playoff appearances under Fisher, who stepped down as the league’s longest-tenured coach.

After the Rams fired Spagnuolo, Fisher’s name immediately jumped to the top of the search list.

The Rams had an advantage in the bidding against the Dolphins since the new coach’s agent is Mar vin Demoff, Kevin’s father.

Former coach Dick Vermeil was a consultant

in the process, with Kroenke playing an active role. Kevin Demoff said the relationship was beneficial as an ice-breaker, but afterward the Rams’ offer stood on its own. Demoff said the time spent with Fisher during the interview process topped their previous contact. “I’m sure there’s a comfort factor but obviously he knows a lot of people in this league,” Demoff said. “This wasn’t about our relationship, this was about his vision for the Rams meshing with our vision. “That’s what really sold him on being here.”

Fisher was interviewed twice, once in Denver where Kroenke owns the Nuggets and Avalanche, and again in St. Louis where he toured facilities. Kroenke clearly wanted an experienced hand; Spagnuolo and Linehan both came to St. Louis untested beyond coordinator duties. Spagnuolo, fired along with general manager Billy Devaney, was just 10-38 in three seasons. St. Louis was considered a franchise on the rise after making a six-win improvement in 2010 and playing for the NFC West title in the finale, but was a total flop in 2011, playing a brutal schedule and hampered by injuries. The Rams haven’t had a winning season since 2003, and they had the NFL’s worst offense last season.

For all his longevity in Tennessee, Fisher had only six winning seasons, and a succession of 8-8 finishes brought out the critics. His most recent playoff victory came in January 2004, and his most recent winning record was in 2008 when the Titans squandered the No. 1 seed in the AFC by losing in the divisional round.

But Fisher led his team to at least 12 wins four times, and has a career record of 142-120 (.542). He coached more games for one franchise than all but six coaches, all Hall of Famers. The Rams have the second pick in the April draft-the fourth time in five seasons with either the first or second pick. Fisher also inherits a handful of Pro Bowl-caliber talents including Bradford, running back Steven Jackson, defensive end Chris Long and Laurinaitis. Bradford was the top overall pick in 2010 and was the NFL offensive rookie of the year, although last year he missed six games with a high left ankle sprain and threw only six touchdown passes.

Senegal bomber raises the Ba L AGOS: S enegal are one of the favorites for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations because of the red-hot form of striker Demba Ba. The goals of the big centre-forward are one of the reasons Newcastle United are flying high in the English Premier League this season. The former Hoffenheim striker has netted 15 goals in 19 outings for Newcastle so far. He was voted the best player in the EPL for December with various reports linking him with a big-money transfer before the end of his three-year contract.

It is a sharp contrast to when he failed a medical early last year and it looked like a career in the top flight was all but over for him. His dream was always to star in the English Premier League and despite the reluctance of German club Hoffenheim, he left for England but did not sign for Stoke City after a medical showed some problems with his knee. Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has described Ba’s knees as “a ticking time bomb”.

But West Ham took a chance on him when they contracted him on a pay-as-you-play basis. He repaid their confidence by scoring seven goals in a dozen appearances even though the London club would be relegated. Ba, who has been hailed as “a winner” by Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, will remain grounded despite his recent exploits, insisting he is self driven and not out to prove wrong those who doubt him. “Any time I’m on the pitch, I want to do something to prove to

myself, not to people,” he said in a recent interview. “All the problems were behind me when I signed and star ted playing football. I’m not a quitter and I have shown I’m totally fit as well as shown my quality.”

S enegal ’s Teranga Lions have paraded some of the most accomplished finishers in Africa like the legendar y Jules Bocande and most recently El Hadji Diouf. The 26-yearold Ba has continued this line of topclass strikers as Senegal aim for a firstever Nations Cup triumph in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. He is strong, explosive, superb in the air and uses his physical presence to telling effect.

An international since 2007, he is in great company in a revived Teranga Lions side who boast of an intimidating line-up of other strikers like the experienced Mamadou Niang, Papiss Demba Cisse, Souleymane Camara and Moussa Sow. He may have only scored four goals in a dozen outings with Senegal, but many believe now is the time for him to shine in his first major international tournament with his countr y.

“Senegal have never been very far away in major competitions,” said Ba, who scored the winner in a recent warm-up match against fellow Nations Cup finalists Sudan in Dakar.

“We have the quality that makes us one of the favorites in this competition. “However, we must learn from our past mistakes and ensure we do not repeat these mistakes.” —AFP

Seydou Doumbia

Doumbia joins Ivory Coast galaxy of stars LAGOS: The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations is the stage on which Russia-based striker Seydou Doumbia could well force his way into the galaxy of stars from the Ivory Coast. Didier Drogba, Yaya and Kolo Toure, Ger vinho, Salomon Kalou and Chieck Tiote are already well known for their exploits for club and countr y. I t is now the chance for 24-year-old Doumbia to shine on the biggest stage of African football.

It has been a long way from the JLeague in Japan to Switzerland with BSC Young Boys and now top Russian club CSKA Moscow and the Elephants of the Ivory Coast, where he is rubbing shoulders with the likes of Drogba and Yaya Toure.

In Switzerland, he was Player of the Year as well as top scorer in the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons. How much progress the quicksilver striker has made was further underlined when he was picked as the top player in the Russian league last year to follow an illustrious list of past winners that included Viktor Onok po and Yuri Zhirkov.

Doumbia has always shown that he knows his way to goal since he topped scored in the Ivorian league in 2005, and now his 24 goals in 30 appearances for CSKA this season have got

the big clubs interested. “He’s a big asset for any team,’ remarked CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky after seeing the Ivorian’s five goals including one at Inter Milan qualify the Russian army team to the Round of 16 of this season’s UEFA Champions League. And once he gets his chance at the Nations Cup, he will again show that despite not being the biggest man on the pitch, his speed, mobility, direct style and power could unsettle the most organized defenses.

At the 2010 World Cup, he managed only an appearance as a substitute in the 3-0 win over North Korea. Doumbia will enjoy a bigger role at the Nations Cup af ter the I vor y Coast coach Francois Zahoui hailed him for stepping in for the absent Drogba in a recent friendly against South Africa. ‘I want to rely on all the players and not just an individual,” said Zahoui. “The absence of Drogba did not affect us negatively because we were able to plug that hole with with Doumbia.”

Zahoui added: “We can’t rely on our socalled superstars. During the 2010 World Cup, Drogba was injured and we still relied on him and it backfired. “We have learned from Ghana. M ichael Essien and Sulley Muntari are their key players but their coach got results even without them.” —AFP

Africa Cup of Nations shop window for Guinea talisman

Demba Ba

LAGOS: Guinea durable star Pascal Feindouno will hope to use the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations to get another club after he recently quit Swiss side FC Sion.

Last year, the midfielder, 31 next month, returned to Europe after three years in Qatar. His first stop was Monaco but he packed his bags and left for FC Sion soon after the club from the Principality were relegated to the lower league.

And he only recently quit Sion after they were deducted 36 points from fielding ineligible players in a UEFA Europa League match against Celtic. A daring attacking midfielder who weighs in with his share of goals, he made his name at French club Saint Etienne. His return to Europe last year coincided with his comeback to the Guinea national team in a decisive 2012 Nations Cup qualifying match at home to Madagascar in September. Feindouno has been the talisman for many years since his debut in 1999 and it was only fitting that Guinea President Alpha Conde will present the reinstated captain with the country’s flag at a special reception in Conakry.

President Conde told the team to defend the pride of their country, saying he dreams of a first-ever triumph in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Guinea’s

best performance at the Nations Cup was in 1976 when they were beaten to the title by Morocco by a single point in a playoff. “Getting to the semi-finals is our target,” declared Feindouno. “We reached the quarter-finals at the last three Nations Cups we featured and so the objective is to do better than that.’ The Syli Nationale are drawn in a tough Group D in Franceville, Gabon, along with Ghana, Mali and Botswana. “We are in a difficult group,” admits Feindouno.

“On paper, Ghana, who reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup will be the favorites to emerge from this group, while the other teams fight for the other spot. But it is the reality on the ground that counts in the end.” Guinea have been on a high since they upstaged star-studded Nigeria to qualify for this tournament, but they were brought down to earth promptly by Senegal, who won a friendly 4-1 in November. The Guinea skipper blamed the big loss to the quick goals they let in as well as the physical presence of the Senegalese, who are one of the favorites to win this competition. “Most of their players are two meters tall, not so us. They are far ahead but we will continue to work and work so as to close this gap,” he promised. —AFP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

S P ORT S

Relief for Hughes as QPR end FA Cup jinx Gabbidon comes to QPR’s rescue

DAKAR: Senegal national team player Papiss Cisse (left) kicks the ball in front of Kenya national team players during a friendly match ahead of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations at the Leopold Sedar Senghor stadium in Dakar. — AFP

Newcastle splash out on Senegalese striker Cisse NEWCASTLE: Newcastle United have signed Senegal striker Papiss Cisse from bottom of the table Bundesliga team Freiburg on a five-and-a half-year deal, the Premier League club said on Tuesday. Although the fee was undisclosed, it is likely to be the biggest of the January transfer window so far with local media reporting it is around 10 million pounds ($15.35 million). The 26-year-old must wait to make his debut as he is on international duty at the African Nations Cup. “It is an honor to play for such a big club and I am looking forward to it,” Cisse told Newcastle’s website (www.nufc.co.uk).

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said Cisse had been a target ever since Andy Carroll’s transfer to Liverpool in the last January transfer window but had been out of reach financially. Cisse will wear the number nine shirt, vacated by Carroll and which has been worn by club greats such as Alan Shearer. “I am aware of the

huge importance of the number nine shirt, and when I spoke to the manager he made it very clear how important this shirt is,” he said. “I will treat it with the respect and I hope to do my very best in this shirt.”

Cisse scored 37 goals in 65 appearances for Freiburg and Newcastle will be hoping for a similar record for them. “He is a finisher with an already-established CV in the Bundesliga, where we have monitored him for the best part of two years,” Pardew said. “It has become obvious this season that the team and the club have done exceptionally well, and (owner) Mike Ashley has backed me to bring this player to the club,” added the manager, whose side lie sixth in the Premier League. “In the short-term of course, he is at the Africa Cup of Nations, but the competition he will bring to our squad when he joins up with us should inspire the players and reassure them of this club’s ambition.” — Reuters

LONDON: Mark Hughes registered the first win of his reign at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday as the Premier League strugglers ended their 11-year FA Cup jinx to beat MK Dons 1-0. A powerful Danny Gabbidon header settled a scrappy game at Loftus Road, with QPR now advancing to a dream tie against west London neighbors Chelsea in the fourth round later this month.

But Rangers, who had forced a replay with a late equalizer in the first meeting between the clubs, were made to work all the way for a win which exposed the scale of the task facing new manager Hughes. Gabbidon’s winner came against the run of play on 73 minutes, the Welsh defender rising to meet Shaun Wright-Phillips’ corner with a firm header which flew past Dons keeper David Martin.

It was the first time QPR have reached the FA Cup fourth round since 2001, and only the club’s second home win of the 2011/2012 campaign. “I think there was a lack of sharpness as a consequence of playing Sunday and Tuesday-we looked a bit leggy at times, but we stuck at it and in the end we got our noses in front and were able to close it out,” Hughes said. “But we know we can play a lot better than that. I’ve seen things in the two games that have pleased me. But there are areas where we need to improve and improve quickly. “Given the run the team has been on, perhaps there is a lack of confidence in each other. The desire is there for everyone to see, but we can improve.”

Elsewhere, relegation-threatened Premier League side Bolton had little difficulty in dispatching League Two outfit Macclesfield, from the fourth tier of English football, with a 2-0 win at the Reebok Stadium. Macclesfield had come within a whisker of a famous upset when the first meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-2 draw, but Wanderers were in no mood for a repeat performance in Tuesday’s replay. Kevin Davies put Bolton 1-0 up with a goal in the first minute before Martin Petrov extended Bolton’ lead on 26 minutes. Bolton will now play Swansea in the fourth round.

Leicester cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over fellow Championship side Nottingham

LONDON: Milton Keynes Dons’ Republic of Ireland midfielder Shaun Williams (left) vies with Queens Park Rangers’ striker Federico Macheda during their English FA Cup 3rd round replay football match at Loftus Road in London on January 17, 2012. —AFP Forest, Jermaine Beckford netting a hat-trick as the Foxes advanced to a fourth round meeting with Swindon. Leicester were set on the path to victory after an own goal from George Boateng after only seven minutes following a low cross from Lloyd Dyer.

Beckford made it 2-0 on the half hour mark, heading in off the underside of the bar after a swift break out left Forest struggling to cover.

Beckford then scored two goals in seven minutes to complete his hat-trick early in the second half as Leicester piled on the agony for Forest, who are currently languishing in the Championship relegation zone.

Millwall meanwhile bounced back from their 6-0 home drubbing by Birmingham last week-

Last-gasp Espanyol in dramatic Cup win MADRID: Espanyol struck three goals in four minutes to snatch a dramatic 3-2 comeback win at home to third-tier Mirandes in a King’s Cup quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.

Competing in the last eight for the first time having disposed of Villarreal and Racing Santander, Mirandes shocked the crowd at a chilly Cornella stadium in Barcelona by opening a 2-0 lead thanks to Alain Arroyo and captain Pablo Infante.

Espanyol, who have won the trophy four times but not since 2006, looked well beaten ahead of next week’s second leg until Vladimir Weiss stole in to make it 2-1 five minutes from time. Rui Fonte nodded the equalizer two minutes later and Joan Verdu punished a defensive lapse to poke in the winner in the 89th to leave the Mirandes players cursing and shaking their heads in disbelief and the home fans in raptures. The

Segunda B leaders, based in the town of Miranda de Ebro in northern Spain, have an annual budget of 1.23 million euros ($1.6 million) compared with Espanyol’s estimated 50 million.

Mirandes coach Carlos Pouso refused to criticize the referee despite having what appeared to be a clear penalty turned down in the second half. “Complaining about the referee is a very poor argument,” he told a news conference. “If he didn’t give a penalty it wasn’t one.” The winners of the tie will play Athletic Bilbao or Real Mallorca in the semifinals. The top-flight rivals meet at Bilbao’s San Mames stadium on Wednesday (1900 GMT ). Holders Real Madrid hosted arch rivals Barcelona, the team they beat 1-0 in last year’s final, later yesterday (2100) and Levante visit city neighbors Valencia today (2030). — Reuters

Russian-owned Neuchatel kicked out of Swiss league Swiss league reduced to nine teams BERNE: Neuchatel Xamax have been stripped of their license and kicked out of the Swiss Super League less than a year after being taken over by Russian businessman Bulat Chagaev. The Swiss Football League said in a statement yesterday that the decision was taken because the club was suspected of falsifying a bank document produced as a financial guarantee last year.

“The Swiss Football League (SFL) has taken away Neuchatel Xamax’s license for participating in championships organized by the SFL,” the statement said.

“The disciplinary commission has reached the conclusion that the conditions for the license are no longer met due to the non-presentation of financial guarantees. “The disciplinary commission is also convinced that the banking guarantee from the Bank of America was not provided by the latter.” Swiss media have reported that the bank letter was littered with basic grammatical and spelling mistakes. Neuchatel have already had eight points deducted for irregularities in the payment of social security contributions and players’ wages.

Chagaev, a businessman who hails from the volatile region of Chechnya, bought the club in May saying he wanted to take Neuchatel into the Champions League. Since then, he has sacked four coaches, faced a boycott by fans and fired several players. He also sacked the entire administrative staff, leaving the club unable to print tickets for the opening game of the season, and parted company with all of the club’s sponsors. Chagaev has in turn accused the media of persecuting him because of his nationality. The club, whose website (www.xamax.ch) made no reference to yesterday’s decision but which carries earlier statements saying they feel they are being attacked from many quarters, have five days to appeal.

Neuchatel were formed in 1970 by the merger of two clubs and the team have won the Swiss league twice, in 1987 and 1988. Their expulsion means the

Swiss league, which has reached the halfway mark, will be reduced to nine teams when it resumes in February. The season has already featured another top flight club, Sion, being deducted 36 points for fielding

six players who were signed when the club was subject to a FIFA transfer ban. FIFA threatened Switzerland with an international suspension after Sion took their case to a civil court. — Reuters

end with a 5-0 win over League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge, Darius Henderson grabbing a hat-trick.

Henderson opened the scoring for the Lions on seven minutes before Tottenham loan player Harry Kane effectively settled the contest in Millwall’s favor with a 20-yard effort near half-time to make it 2-0. Henderson added a third on 59 minutes and then coolly slotted home a penalty four minutes later to seal his hat-trick and make it 4-0. Kane then bagged his second of the night, and Millwall’s fifth, on 65 minutes as the rout continued.

Millwall’s reward for the victory is a fourth round tie at home to Championship pace-setters Southampton. — AFP

Schwarzer to stay at Fulham till 2013 LONDON: Australia international Mark Schwarzer has signed a one-year extension to his Fulham contract which will keep him at the club until 2013, it was confirmed yesterday. The 39-year-old goalkeeper, widely regarded as one of the most reliable shot stoppers in the Premier League, joined the Cottagers on a free transfer in 2008 following a long stint with Middlesbrough. Schwarzer said he hoped to prolong his club career at least until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. “I love playing and want to continue for as long as possible as long as the performances are there,” he said. “I like to set myself targets and the 2014 World Cup is my goal without a doubt.

“I’m enjoying my football as much as ever and I try to maximize every opportunity I get. The saying I use is ‘I’ll be a long time retired’, so I want to do the best job I can. “There’s plenty of time to feel tired when you’re retired - now is the time to enjoy it.” Schwarzer, who is currently injured, said he had taken inspiration from Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel, the 40-yearold US international earning plaudits for his performances at Spurs. “I look at Brad Friedel and he’s older than me so I’ll keep going as long as he’s going!” he told Fulham’s official website. “He said to me he’s going to play for at least another two seasons so I’ve got at least that.”— AFP

Chelsea sign 3 blues brothers LONDON: Chelsea have completed a unique deal by signing three young brothers from Luton Town’s academy system, the minor league club said on Tuesday.

Twins Rio and Cole Dasilva, 12, and older brother Jay, 13, joined the 2009-10 Premier League champions in separate transfers that were each worth an undisclosed five-figure sum. “I am hesitant to talk about the boys in the collective term because they all have wonderful unique attributes but this is a historical deal to see three brothers transferred together,” said Luton’s head of youth Gregg Broughton.

“Jay is a special talent, a fantastic student of the game whose temperament compliments his technical ability,” Broughton told the club’s website (www.lutontown.co.uk). “Cole has strong physical attributes and is very comfortable in possession while Rio is a real livewire whose ability to play in tight areas has always allowed him to shine.” Luton, who play in the fifth tier of English soccer, said the overall package could eventually be worth one million pounds ($1.54 million) if the three brothers go on to play for Chelsea’s first team. The Stamford Bridge club have a penchant for fielding brothers. Ray and Graham Wilkins played for the Blues in the 1970s, as did Ron and Allan Harris in the 1960s and John and Peter Sillett in the 1950s. — Reuters

Today’s matches on TV

Italian Cup

DUBAI: Walid Salem (8) of Iraqi Olympic and team mate Saif Salman (5), vies for the ball against Vulnet Basha of Switzerland’s club Neuchatel Xamax FC during the qualifying round of the Dubai Matchworld Cup 2012 in Dubai yesterday. The Swiss Football League (SFL) announced it has revoked the playing licence of beleaguered club Neuchatel Xamax, excluding the side from SFL matches. — AFP

Internazionale v Genoa..................................23:00 Aljazeera Sport +1 Aljazeera Sport 1 HD Spain Copa del Rey Valencia v Levante...........................................23:30 Aljazeera Sport +2

Red-hot Heat melt Spurs

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

Misbah’s late dismissal caps England’s fightback

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Relief for Hughes as QPR end FA Cup jinx

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MADRID: Barcelona’s French defender Eric Abidal (second left) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Spanish Cup ‘El clasico’ football match Real Madrid vs Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid yesterday. — AFP

Barca overwhelm Real Madrid MADRID: Barcelona came from behind to beat holders Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of an increasingly bad-tempered Spanish Cup quarter-final in the Santiago Bernabeu yesterday. Second half goals from veteran defenders Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal overturned a half-time Madrid lead for whom Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo scored. It was the third victory in twelve months for the Catalans in the stadium of their biggest rival. Unless Real can produce something special in the second leg in the Nou Camp in a week’s time it could become a season defining result with both teams also battling for supremacy in La Liga and the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola is yet to lose in the Bernabeu in four seasons in charge and his team appear to have a psychological advantage over ‘los blancos’. Madrid coach

Jose Mourinho surprised all with an unfamiliar side employing both Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain in attack, while at the back playing the rarely used Hamit Altintop and Ricardo Carvalho who was playing his first game since September. Both teams started very cautiously with Madrid happy to allow Barca possession in deep positions and when the first attack came on 11 minutes it was to bring the first goal of the evening.

Set free by Benzema, Ronaldo produced a stinging left footed drive from the left hand side of the penalty area that Jose Pinto, Barca’s regular goalkeeper ahead of Victor Valdes in the Spanish Cup, could perhaps have dealt better with. The game suddenly burst into life, Andres Iniesta brought a save from Iker Casillas with a long range shot on 13 minutes and three minutes later Cesc Fabregas found Alexis

Sanchez in space only for the Chilean to head onto the bar with Casillas stranded.

At the other end Abidal had to make a last ditch block to stop Ronaldo reaching Benzema with the goal at his mercy, then Lionel Messi burst forward for Barca and forced a near post save from Casillas.

Iniesta should have tested Casillas on 30 minutes from close range after Sanchez played him into a great position.

By this stage Barcelona were possessing the ball in deeper positions and Madrid were counter attacking quickly on the break to make the game an open affair.

Barca were finally level three minutes into the second period when captain Puyol got free from his marker Pepe to head home a Xavi corner. Iniesta went close again on 54 minutes after a quick exchange of passes with Xavi and two minutes later Benzema hit the post for

Madrid when found with a sweeping right wing cross from Altintop.

By the hour mark Barca’s short passing game was allowing them to control the tie and Mourinho made some changes introducing Jose Callejon and Mesut Ozil. Pepe should have seen his second yellow card of the night for an off the ball stamp on the hand of a prostrate Messi on 69 minutes. However it took more than the dark arts to keep down the irrepressible Argentinean and it was he that conjured up the pass on 77 minutes that found Abidal onside and with the time and space to prod the ball home to win the tie. A familiar silence came down over the Santiago Bernabeu, the home fans had seen it all before and although Madrid tried sporadically for a way back into the game Barca rarely ceded them the ball. — AFP

Bilbao down Mallorca MADRID: Headers from the towering Fernando Llorente and the diminutive Iker Muniain gave Athletic Bilbao a 2-0 win at home to Real Mallorca in a King’s Cup quarter-final first leg yesterday.

Spain forward Llorente, who is nearly 2 metres tall, powered home an Oscar De Marcos cross to make it 1-0 in the 35th minute as the home side dominated their La Liga rivals at the San Mames. Muniain, who plays for Spain’s Under-21 side and is just under 1.70 meters, sent a more measured header into the top corner just before the hour mark to give the Basques the advantage ahead of next week’s second leg

in Mallorca.

The winners of the tie will play 2006 Cup champions Espanyol or third-tier Mirandes, who are through to the last eight for the first time, in the semifinals. Mirandes stunned top-flight Espanyol by opening a two-goal lead in their first leg on Tuesday before the home side struck three times in four minutes late on to secure a 3-2 lead for the second leg in Miranda de Ebro.

Holders Real Madrid hosted arch rivals Barcelona, the team they beat 1-0 in last year’s final, later yesterday and Levante visit city neighbors Valencia today. — Reuters

Pato sinks Novara as Milan reach quarters Birmingham kick Wolves out of FA Cup LONDON: Second-tier side Birmingham City knocked Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers out of the FA Cup yesterday after Wade Elliott broke the deadlock 16 minutes from the end of the third round replay to secure a 1-0 away win. Elliott hit the post after latching on to a cross from the right but made no mistake when he converted the rebound from close range while lying on the ground. City will now travel to third division Sheffield United for their fourth-round match. In yesterday’s other replay, minor league Wrexham took second division Brighton and Hove Albion to penalties after extra time ended 1-1 at the Racecourse Ground in north Wales. Brighton, managed by former Uruguayan international Gus Poyet, won the penalty shootout 5-4. They play at home to Premier League Newcastle United in the fourth round. — Reuters

ROME: AC Milan rung the changes and made hard work of reaching the Italian Cup quarter-finals, beating Novara 2-1 after extra-time at the San Siro yesterday night. Teenager Stephan El Shaarawy opened the scoring midway through the first half but Ivan Radovanovic equalised two minutes from time. In the extra period Brazilian pair Robinho and Alexandre Pato combined for the latter to score the winner and secure a clash with Lazio in the next round.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri rested star per formers such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Mark van Bommel while Kevin-Prince Boateng has been ruled out for a month with a hamstring injury. It meant veteran Filippo Inzaghi was given a starting berth alongside youngsters such as El Shaarawy and Alexander Merkel, while France centre-back Philippe Mexes was afforded a rare start. In fact Merkel was thrust straight into the team despite only rejoining the club from Genoa 24 hours earlier. Chances were few and far between with Inzaghi, 38, peeling off his marker at the back post to meet an inswinging cross from Luca Antonini, only to head wide.

Moments later and Novara’s

Simone Pesce tried his luck from outside the box but reserve goalkeeper Marco Aurelio turned the ball around the post. The goal came on 24 minutes as El Shaarawy, 19, turned inside a defender and then thumped a shot from distance beyond Alberto Fontana. The tiring Inzaghi made way for Pato who soon after teed up Urby Emanuelson but the Dutch midfielder’s shot was too close to Fontana.

Pato seemed keen to make an impact but he was well off target with a pair of chances, a shot from an angle and a free-kick from a long way out.

And out of the blue, having hardly created anything all night, Novara equalized when Radovanovic cracked in a free-kick from long range. In extra-time Fontana came to his side’s rescue when he made an instinctive one-handed save to deny Pato from five yards out after Ignazio Abate’s devillish cross. But moments later substitute Robinho brilliantly dinked the ball past the defence and Pato chipped Fontana before volleying home. Seconds later Robinho crashed a volley against the post as Milan showed far more urgency than they had done in the first half. Milan finished with 10 men and under the cosh as Pato limped off injured.— AFP

MILAN: AC Milan defender Luca Antonini challenges for the ball with Novara Brazilian forward Jedaias Neves (right) during the Italian Cup eight final soccer match between AC Milan and Novara at the San Siro stadium yesterday. — AP

Business

Barclays ME head says still ready to help Dubai Page 22

US factory output rose in December Page 23

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

Crisis prompts Germany to cut 2012 growth forecast

Stocks end in red as bank shares suffer

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SHARJAH: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao (second right) and the ruler of Sharjah, Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qassimi (seated right), attend the China-Arab Business conference in the Gulf emirate yesterday. Jiabao vowed earlier this week in the United Arab Emirates to keep promoting peace in energy-rich Middle East and North Africa through the United Nations, at a time of high tension between the West and major oil producer Iran. — AFP

Iraq urges Iran to keep oil flowing OPEC chief to visit Tehran • Baghdad ups output BAGHDAD: Iraq yesterday urged Iran not to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, where most oil exports from the Gulf to the West pass, arguing that exporters have an interest in a stable world economy.

Iran is threatening to shut down the strait over stepped-up Western sanctions on its nuclear program, but such a step would also hit Iraq hard.

Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul-Karim Elaibi, who is also the rotating president of OPEC, said he will travel to Iran today to urge Iran “to issue real and important assurances to the world that everybody is keen to protect the waterways, production and oil exports from the region.”

Iran has threatened to close the waterway if the West tries to stop Iranian oil exports as a sanction against its nuclear development program. The US has passed a law banning business with Iran’s central bank, which would make it difficult for customers to pay for Iranian oil. The ban goes into effect later this

year, and other nations are considering whether to abide by it as well.

The West believes Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons and has enacted several rounds of sanctions to try to persuade Iran to rein in its program. Iran insists its nuclear development program is for peaceful purposes.

Oil exports account for 80 percent of Iran’s foreign currency earnings, and its threats indicate that it is troubled by the prospect of new sanctions. Iraq’s exports traverse the Strait of Hormuz, and closing it would cripple the Iraqi economy. Oil export revenues make up 95 percent of Iraq’s foreign currency income.

Elaibi rejected the idea of using control over oil exports as a weapon. “We at OPEC are keen on the stability of production and prices which is a guarantee to the stability of the global economy,” he told reporters. “We are not in favor of using oil in politics.”

Elaibi also said that Iraq will inaugurate a new oil export outlet in the Gulf by the end of

this month, with a capacity of up to 900,000 barrels a day. It would be the first of five floating facilities that would eventually handle about 5 million barrels a day.

The new outlet will help Iraq, limited now by infrastructure bottlenecks, to export more oil. Although Iraq sits atop the world’s fourth largest proven reserves of conventional crude, about 143.1 billion barrels, decades of sanctions, war, sabotage and neglect have battered the sector. Since 2008, Iraq has awarded 15 oil and gas deals to international energy companies, the first major investments in the country’s energy industry in more than three decades.

Baghdad aims to raise daily output to 12 million barrels by 2017, a level that would put it nearly on par with Saudi Arabia’s current production capacity. Many analysts say that target is unrealistic, because of the degraded state of the industry’s infrastructure after wars and an international embargo that lasted more than a decade. — AP

Iran’s rial hits record low TEHRAN: Iran’s currency, the rial, hit a record low against the dollar yesterday, the ISNA news agency reported, based on rates in blackmarket trading that the government has tried to ban.

The rial’s plunge, to 18,000 to the dollar, comes ahead of an EU foreign ministers’ meeting next Monday that is expected to add further sanctions against Iran’s economy. The Tehran government has tried to shore up the value of the rial in recent weeks by imposing a lower rate in banks and currency exchange bureaux, and banning transactions outside of those outlets.

But many exchange bureaux have

refused to buy or sell dollars at the imposed rate, and blackmarket dealers have managed to continue to do business despite the presence of police deployed to enforce the ban, according to witnesses in the centre of Tehran.

A website, mesghal.ir, that gives real-time values for the rial against other currencies, quoted a price of 18,200 to the dollar.

Access to the site has been blocked on the Internet inside Iran, although people with a VPN (virtual private network) have been able to get around the filter.

The blackmarket figure quoted by ISNA yesterday represented a 29 percent differ-

TEHRAN: Iranians count and exchange the United States 100-dollar bills and Iran’s rial banknotes, bearing a portrait of Iran’s late founder of Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran. — AFP

ence with the imposed rate of 14,000. The rial has lost 40 percent of its value against the dollar in the past three months, as the United States and European countries have ramped up their sanctions.

A sudden acceleration in the slide was seen in the first few days of January, after US President Barack Obama signed into law more sanctions hitting Iran’s central bank and targeting foreign companies that do business with Iran. Economy Minister Shamseddin Hosseini and Central Bank chief Mahmoud Bahmani were summoned before the Iranian parliament on Tuesday over the issue, and promised to bring the exchange rate under control.

The pair “promised the market situation will be managed in a few days” with no difference between the official and blackmarket rates, Deputy Economy Minister Mohsen Salehi-Nia told the Mehr news agency.

Although the government has insisted there is no connection between the rial’s slide and the new sanctions, some officials have admitted a “psychological” effect spooking ordinary Iranians.

A rush to gold and other non-currency assets has been seen. The price of gold coins in Iran has risen 16 percent in the past week, according to ISNA. The European Union is poised to add to the sanctions by announcing a ban on exports of Iran’s most vital resource, oil, although the embargo is expected to be phased in over a number of months. US envoys, meanwhile, have been dispatched to several countries that trade significantly with Iran to try to persuade them to financially isolate the Islamic republic. — AFP

BAGHDAD: Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul-Karim Elaibi holds a news conference in Baghdad yesterday during which he said Iraq will boost its oil export capacity to 850,000 barrels per day by the end of January. — AFP

Davos supremo calls for ‘new model’ for capitalism COLOGNY, Switzerland: The founder and organizer of the World Economic Forum, the annual gathering in Davos of the world’s political and business elite, said yesterday that capitalism needs a complete overhaul.

Speaking to journalists as he unveiled the line-up for next week’s meeting in the Alpine resort, Klaus Schwab said “new models” must be developed and that there was an urgent need to revive a sense of social responsibility. “Capitalism in its current form, has no place in the world around us,” Schwab told reporters at the forum’s headquarters near Geneva.

“We have failed to learn the lessons of the financial crisis of 2009. A global transfor-

mation needs to take place urgently and it must begin by restoring a form of social responsibility.” Schwab revealed that German Chancellor Angela Merkel would give the keynote opening speech when the 42nd WEF begins on January 25.

This year ’s forum comes as even Germany, the continent’s economic powerhouse, has had to lower its growth forecast in the wake of the euro- zone debt crisis.

Other leaders due to attend the five-day meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, while the Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will represent the United States government. —AFP

WB warns of global growth slowdown BEIJING: The World Bank warned yesterday of a possible slump in global economic growth and urged developing countries to prepare for shocks that could be more severe than the 2008 crisis.

The bank cut its growth forecast for developing countries this year to 5.4 percent from 6.2 percent and for developed countries to 1.4 percent from 2.7 percent. For the 17 countries that use the euro currency, it forecast a contraction, cutting their growth outlook to -0.3 percent from 1.8 percent.

Global growth could be hurt by a recession in Europe and a slowdown in India, Brazil and other developing countries, the Washington-based bank said. It said conditions might worsen if more European countries are unable to raise

money in financial markets. “The global economy is entering into a new phase of uncertainty and danger,” said the bank’s chief economist, Justin Yifu Lin. “The risks of a global freezing up of capital markets as well as a global crisis similar to what happened in September 2008 are real.”

Developing countries that have enjoyed relatively strong growth while the United States and Europe struggled might be hit hard, Lin said. He said they should line up financing in advance to cover budget deficits, review the health of their banks and emphasize spending on social safety nets.

Many governments are in a weaker position than they were to respond to the 2008 global crisis because their debts and budget deficits are bigger, Lin said at a news conference. —AP

22

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

BUSINESS

Barclays ME head says still ready to help Dubai British lender bullish on MENA DUBAI: Barclays Plc is willing to extend financing to the debt-laden Dubai government if required and expects the emirate to support state entities in meeting their debt obligations this year, the British lender’s regional head John Vitalo said.

His comments come at an important time for Dubai, which has restructured some $41 billion debt in the last two years but which still faces refinancing risks related to three of its state-linked entities in 2012 amid a tightening global bank lending environment.

“We have a level of balance sheet to support Dubai Inc among other clients. We’re committed to Dubai and the UAE but every credit decision has to stand up to its merits,” Vitalo, Barclays’ chief executive officer for the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, said in an interview. Government-related entities in Dubai have bonds worth $3.8 billion maturing in 2012, according to a Moody’s report last month. Moody’s reckons the total debt of the government and related entities stands at

$102 billion-amounting to around 125 percent of the emirate’s gross domestic product (GDP).

A chunk of $3.8 billion in bonds is due this year from a trio of state-linked firms seen as having the highest refinancing risk. “We do expect some Dubai sovereign support for this debt,” Vitalo said.

Barclays, in which Qatar’s sovereign fund and the Abu Dhabi royal family own stakes, expects higher revenue from the Middle East and North Africa this year, driven by the lender’s solid capital position and supported by the expanding coffers of oil exporting countries, the executive said.

The British lender will focus on investment banking, wealth management and trade finance in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Egypt. “It’s a pretty fair spread of revenues from all those businesses,” Vitalo said. “The MENA region is critical to Barclays. We expect to increase revenues from the region this year ...

There are very few places in the world today

UAE inflation remains at 0.9% in 2011 DUBAI: Inflation in the United Arab Emirates remained at 0.9 percent on average in 2011, unchanged from the previous year and well below analysts’ forecasts, data showed yesterday, with the rate being the lowest since the Gulf War started in 1990.

Pressures remained benign last year although the government raised public spending, the main engine of the hydrocarbon-reliant economy, partly in response to social unrest seen in several nearby Arab countries such as Bahrain and Oman. “Although producer prices have seen some pressure in 2011, this was not enough to push up consumer prices, particularly in the face of weak consumer demand and overcapacity in the housing sector,” said Liz Martins, senior MENA economist at HSBC. A Reuters poll in December forecast average inflation in the world’s No. 4 oil exporter of 1.6 percent in 2011 and 2.4 percent this year, below its long-term average of around 4 percent. The economy ministry expected inflation of between 1 percent and 1.5 percent in 2011.

Annual consumer price growth in the Gulf OPEC member decelerated to levels close to zero in 2011, ending the year at 0.2 percent, as its oversupplied housing market offset food price advances and credit growth remained subdued following the 2009-2010 Dubai debt crisis.

Compared to the previous month, prices edged down by 0.1 percent in December, after staying flat in November, mainly due to lower housing costs, the data from the National Bureau of

that I can ... (readily) write a big check and this is one of them.”

Vitalo did not rule out looking into other countries such as Iraq and Libya but said the bank did not have any concrete plans to enter those markets. Vitalo’s comments come as several European banks have unveiled plans to offload assets in the Gulf Arab region as they look to raise capital and exit non-core businesses. Royal Bank of Scotland said earlier this week it is in talks to sell its mergers and acquisitions business in the Middle East, while Lloyds Banking Group is in talks to dispose its operations in the United Arab Emirates, sources told Reuters last week.

“With the forced deleveraging of some banks there, you have unnecessary withdrawal of cross-border lending,” Vitalo said. “But Barclays is in a different boat than those banks and ... many of the European banks.

The bank does not have any UK government ownership. It is rock solid on capital and liquidity.” —Reuters

QIB Q4 earnings slip 33%, miss views

Statistics also showed. “We expected the inflation outlook to remain benign in 2011 and we continue to see a tame outlook for 2012 with weak domestic drivers of inflation and ample supply of housing limiting price increases. Externally, the supported dollar is helping to reduce any imported inflation,” said Monica Malik, chief economist at EFG-Hermes in Dubai.

The UAE, which pegs its dirham to the US dollar, is desert-covered and depends on imports for much of its food needs.

That makes it vulnerable to swings in global food prices and the greenback’s moves against other currencies. In December, food prices, which account for 14 percent of consumer expenses, rose 0.6 percent month-on-month. They surged by 5.9 percent on average in 2011.

Housing costs, a major inflation driver before the global crisis pierced Dubai’s property bubble, fell by 0.3 percent in December after staying flat for two consecutive months, the data showed, bringing the average decrease to 2.4 percent last year.

In January, the UAE, which remained politically stable amid the regional turmoil, raised minimum pensions of former military and government employees. The measure followed a plan, announced in November, to increase wages of some state employees.

Both moves are expected to encourage consumer spending but also increase the fiscal burden in the country, which has one of the world’s largest incomes per capita of nearly $48,600, according to the International Monetary Fund. —Reuters

DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), the Gulf state’s second largest lender by market value, posted a 32.6 percent dip in fourth-quarter net profit yesterday, missing analysts’ forecasts. QIB made a net profit of 265 million riyals ($72.8 million), according to Reuters calculations, compared with 393 million riyals a year earlier and below analysts’ average forecast of 394.2 million riyals.

The bank posted a full-year net profit of 1.37 billion riyals, an 8 percent increase over its 2010 profit due to growth in investment income, which climbed 631 million riyals, a statement said.

It proposed a 45 percent dividend distribution.

The results “come on the back of a strategic transformation program that the bank is implementing to restructure both its local operations and its affiliates in order to build a strong banking group with regional and international presence,” QIB Chairman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani said in the statement.

QIB is said to be planning to raise between $500 million and$1 billion via a sale of sukuk, or Islamic bonds. The lender pulled out of a deal to buy a majority stake in Indonesian Islamic lender PT Bank Muamalat, banking sources said in July.

Qatar’s central bank has told conventional banks to stop offering Islamic banking services by the end of 2011, a move seen as boosting Islamic lenders in the Gulf state. Banks in Qatar are expected to benefit as the country is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, set to spend more on infrastructure as it prepares to host the 2022 World Cup. Earlier this month Qatar National Bank (QNB), the first major regional lender to report earnings and considered a bellwether for the sector’s performance, posted an 40 percent jump in fourth-quarter profit.

QIB shares closed up 0.2 percent before the results were announced. —Reuters

LISBON: A broker works in a Portuguese bank yesterday in Lisbon. Portugal has easily raised euro 2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) in a debt auction yesterday, just days after Standard & Poor’s downgraded its credit rating to junk status. —AP

Nigeria strike cost economy $1.2bn This was despite the fact that oil workers did not carry out a threat to shut down production. Most oil majors say their production was not affected during the strike at all.

“Our production wasn’t touched at all.

We made no losses,” said an official at one oil major.

Jonathan reinstated part of a subsidy on petrol after Nigerians took to the streets in anger at an attempt on January 1 to scrap it completely, which doubled the pump price of petrol overnight to around 150 naira ($0.93) per litre from 65 naira.

The compromise, settling on 97 naira per litre, still slashes the cost of the benefit to the government and leaves the way open to talks on phasing it out again later.

Analysts said December’s inflation figure was broadly in line with expectations, but warned that they expected January’s figure to be affected by the hike in fuel prices. “The market will now be anxiously awaiting the Jan 2012 inflation data given the recent 50 percent increase in fuel prices,” said Standard Bank’s Samir Gadio.

“We see inflation rising by up to 200 bps this year, with highs of 14 percent to 14.5 percent y/y in Jul-Aug.” But he added that this would most likely spur monetary tightening, which could make the bond market more attractive. “For now, we would recommend a carry trade at the short end of the curve (the 364-day T-bill yield has fluctuated around 20 percent lately,” Gadio said. —AP

ABUJA: Nigeria’s economy lost out on an estimated 207.4 billion naira ($1.27 billion) due to an eight day strike this month prompted by a dispute over fuel import subsidies, the national bureau of statistics said yesterday.

The biggest losses were sustained in the retail and the oil and gas sectors, a report by the bureau said. Nigeria’s consumer inflation edged down slightly yearon-year in December to 10.3 percent, from 10.5 percent the month before, it also said. Food inflation rose 11 percent in December, up from 9.6 percent in November, the bureau’s data showed.

Nigerian trade unions called off strikes and protests on Monday, ending a major confrontation over fuel prices after President Goodluck Jonathan said he would cut them by one third. But a week of total shutdown was massively damaging to Nigeria’s economy, especially in its two biggest cities of Lagos and Kano, where protests were most widespread.

“The sector, which accounts for about 18 percent of GDP, was worst hit by the crisis was the Wholesale and Retail Sector, which recorded a loss of approximately 86,981.84 million naira,” the bureau report said. “This sector accounted for 42 percent of the overall total loss in output during the period. This was followed by the Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector, the largest source of government revenue accounting for N28,710.87 million, and 14 percent of economic losses,” it said.

Saudi Dar Al-Arkan Q4 profit drops ing it would earn 264 million riyals and SICO Bahrain pencilling in 277 million riyals for the fourth quarter.

In a statement posted on the website of the Saudi bourse, Dar Al-Arkan said the fall in revenue from the last quarter of 2011 was due to “lower land sales as the company sought to enhance gross margins and lower residential sales due to lower available completed units.” —Reuters

RIYADH: Saudi Arabian real estate company Dar Al-Arkan said yesterday its fourth quarter net profit fell 12.3 percent on the year due to lower land and residential sales. The kingdom’s largest listed developer said its profit for the final three months of 2011 was 289.6 million riyals ($77.22 million), compared with 330.4 million riyals in the same period in 2010.

The result beat analyst expectations, with Global Investment House forecast-

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

.2730000 .4240000 .3520000 .2900000 .2710000 .2840000 .0040000 .0020000 .0756750 .7372770 .3810000 .0710000 .7227670 .0040000 .0430000

.2820000 .4350000 .3620000 .3020000 .2800000 .2940000 .0070000 .0035000 .0764350 .7446860 .4030000 .0780000 .7300310 .0072000 .0520000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2787500 .2808500 GB Pound/KD .4269890 .4302060 Euro .3545700 .3572410 Swiss francs .2926200 .2948250 Canadian dollars .2737140 .2757760 Danish Kroner .0476790 .0480390 Swedish Kroner .0401870 .0404900 Australian dlr .2869450 .2891070 Hong Kong dlr .0358840 .0361540 Singapore dlr .2155670 .2171910 Japanese yen .0036270 .0036550 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 .0054540 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 .0024730 Pakistan rupee .0000000 .0031310 Bangladesh taka .0000000 .0033920 UAE dirhams .0759230 .0764950 Bahraini dinars .7396840 .7452570 Jordanian dinar .0000000 .3972420 Saudi Riyal/KD .0743530 .0749130 Omani riyals .7243080 .7297650 Philippine Peso .0000000 .0064290

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.598 5.337 3.154 2.436 3.341 213.250 35.672 3.580 6.336 8.873 0.271 0.273

GCC COUNTRIES 74.150 76.402 722.230 738.540 75.715

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal/for 1000 Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira/for 1000 Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES 47.500 46.282 1.272 189.860 392.670 1.865 6.003 33.814

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 277.950 Euro 370.650 Sterling Pound 431.930 Canadian dollar 268.420 Turkish lire 153.940 Swiss Franc 300.620 Australian dollar 277.000 US Dollar Buying 277.750

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria

SELL CASH 294.900 743.850 3.880 279.900 549.300 44.600 49.100 167.800 48.350 362.000 36.700 5.670 0.032 0.207 0.247 3.740 396.660 0.189 91.330 46.300 4.300 228.500 1.812

47.600 726.530 3.250 6.780 77.370 74.680 219.590 37.390 2.653 434.000 41.500 299.200 4.900 9.200 198.263 76.260 280.100 1.290

728.350 3.100 6.425 76.940 74.680 219.590 37.390 2.450 432.000 297.700 4.900 8.990 76.160 279.700

10 Tola

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 432.000 279.700

Sterling Pound US Dollar

SELL DRAFT 293.400 743.850 3.363 278.400

219.600 46.352 360.500 36.550 5.530 0.031

COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

SELL DRAFT 295.19 280.33 300.84 361.23 432.56 3.70 3.313 5.513 2.455 3.474 3.093 76.12 743.86 46.34 397.85 726.79 77.11 74.67

SELL CASH 297.00 280.00 305.00 365.00 436.00 3.70 3.750 5.650 2.660 4.250 3.260 76.85 743.00 48.50 397.00 729.00 77.50 75.00

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 396.340 0.188 91.330 3.480 227.000

Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar

Selling Rate 278.500 275.585 436.990 366.765 298.040 737.505

UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

75.800 76.445 74.225 392.025 46.238 2.441 5.241 3.106 3.401 6.331 683.150 3.675 8.935 5.865 3.370 92.510

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

GOLD 1,730.000

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

GOLD 315.500 159.000 81.500

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

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 Rate per 1000 (Tran) US Dollar 279.600 Pak Rupees 3.093 Indian Rupees 5.540 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.465 Bangladesh Taka 3.330 Philippines Peso 6.460 UAE Dirhams 76.230 Saudi Riyals 74.715 Bahraini Dinars 743.300 Egyptian Pounds 46.267 Pound Sterling 434.900 Indonesian Rupiah 3.190 Yemeni Riyal 1.550 Euro 363.200 Canadian Dollars 281.300 Nepali rupee 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) US Dollar 279.550 Euro 360.500 Pound Sterling 431.300 Canadian Dollar 276.600 Japanese Yen 3.655 Indian Rupee 5.442 Egyptian Pound 46.330 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.454 Bangladesh Taka 3.270 Philippines Peso 6.389 Pakistan Rupee 3.113 Bahraini Dinar 744.150 UAE Dirham 76.150 Saudi Riyal 74.700 *Rates are subject to change

23

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

BUSINESS

Goldman beats Street; net income falls 58% NEW YORK: Goldman Sachs’ net income fell 58 percent in the last three months of last year because of lower investment banking fees in a quarter marked by choppy financial markets. The investment bank said yesterday that it made $1 billion, or $1.84 per share, from October through December. The results beat the estimate of $1.28 per share from analysts surveyed by FactSet, a provider of financial data.

Goldman’s quarterly revenue fell 30 percent to $6 billion. It set aside $2.2 billion for pay, 2 percent less than the year before. Fear about the European debt crisis made the stock and bond markets volatile late last year, and clients of all the major

banks shied away from mergers and acquisitions and public offerings of stock.

Goldman took in 43 percent less in the fourth quarter than it did in the same quarter a year earlier from advising companies on mergers and acquisitions and underwriting fees for stock and bond sales.

Goldman has a reputation for outper forming the rest of Wall Street. But its fee decline was roughly in line with Citigroup, its much weaker competitor, where fees declined 45 percent. JPMorgan Chase reported a smaller decline of 39 percent. CEO Lloyd Blankfein said concerns about the global economy made Goldman’s clients less

inclined to take risks in 2011. He said the firm saw “encouraging signs” that the economy and financial markets are improving.

Goldman’s typical clients are large hedge funds and multinational corporations that need to hedge their bets on foreign currencies, fluctuating interest rates and commodities.

The bumpy financial markets hurt revenue in those parts of Goldman’s business. Revenue from client services fell 16 percent to $3.06 billion for the quarter. Transactions in commodities, currency and fixed income fell 17 percent.

Besides conducting large trades for those clients, Goldman has made

big profits trading for its own account - especially when the markets are volatile. But regulations taking effect this year will reduce Goldman’s ability to make those trades for the firm.

Another worry is that the near future isn’t looking as healthy. The firm’s investment banking transaction backlog, an indicator of future revenue and profit, decreased from the quarter before, though it was slightly higher than a year earlier.

For the year, Goldman made $4.4 billion, 47 percent less than in 2010, on revenue of $28.8 billion, down 26 percent from the previous year.

Goldman’s stock was up 1 percent at $98.74 in pre-market trading. —AP

NEW YORK: The headquarters building of Goldman Sachs in New York. Goldman Sachs said yesterday its income fell 58 percent in the last three months of last year because of lower investment banking income in a quarter marked by choppy markets. —AP

US factory output rose in December Manufacturing roars back from depths

MARSEILLE: French workers demonstrate against the unemployment following the CGT labor union call in Marseille, south of France, yesterday. At the same time a summit takes place between French President Nicolas Sarkozy, union representatives and corporate chiefs, in a bid to tackle growing unemployment ahead of the French presidential election in April. —AFP

Sarkozy unveils $550m jobs plan before vote PARIS: President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a 430 million euros ($550 million) plan to drive down unemployment and restart growth yesterday, a move criticized as an attempt to boost his popularity three months before France’s presidential election.

With the unemployment rate pushing 10 percent and the recent downgrade of France’s credit rating by Standard & Poor ’s, Socialist candidate Francois Hollande is hitting the president hard, saying the financial crisis reflects Sarkozy’s failed economic stewardship.

Sarkozy, who is trailing Hollande in polls, has countered that the crisis is Europe-wide and that French people who are suffering need help now. To that end, he met with business and labor leaders yesterday to formulate a plan to create more jobs and ease the pressure on those looking for work.

It’s unclear whether Sarkozy’s government can put the jobs plan in place before the presidential elections, held in two rounds in April and May. “The current economic situation in France as in Europe is very perilous. It’s urgent,” Sarkozy said in the opening remarks of the closed-door session, according to a transcript made public by his office.

In a clear nod to his critics, Sarkozy mused: “Do economic life and firings stop because there are elections? Should we stop thinking and acting because there are elections?”

After the meeting, he unveiled the 430 million euros ($550 million) jobs plan - a relatively minor incentive compared to France’s 1.9 trillion euros GDP. The proposals include increasing aid to those

unable to find full-time work, training for the unemployed and incentives to hire young people. He also suggested creating a state-funded body to invest in industry.

But he gave little detail on his main plan to increase France’s competitivity and spur hiring: reducing the amount companies contribute to the social benefits system, and raising the sales tax to make up for the shortfall. After yesterday’s meeting, France’s hard-charging labor leaders said they wanted more details on the plan, which they’ve dismissed because it would shift some of the burden of paying for generous social benefits from businesses to all consumers - including workers.

In his speech to the meeting, Sarkozy compared France, at times unfavorably, with “our main competitor ... Germany” the bellwether of economic success in Europe. Germany retained its triple-A rating from S&P when France lost it last week. Sarkozy said French labor costs have risen 20 percent between 2000 and 2009, compared to 7 percent in Germany.

He said the relative cost to employers for a worker who earns a gross monthly salary of 2,500 euros ($3,200) was twice as high in France than in Germany.

But labor unions insist workers shouldn’t have to pay the cost of the financial crisis at a time when many French companies are still making profits, and accuse Sarkozy of putting together a slap-dash solution ahead of elections. “You don’t address the question of financing the social safety net in two shakes, just like that, in three weeks,” Mailly told i-Tele TV before the meeting. —AP

WASHINGTON: US factory output surged in December by the most in year. Stronger demand for business equipment, vehicles and energy offered the most visible evidence that manufacturing has roared back from the depths of the recession.

The Federal Reserve said yesterday that manufacturing increased 0.9 percent in December, the biggest gain since December 2010.

And the overall output of the nation’s factories, mines and utilities grew 0.4 percent in December.

Warm weather dampened demand for energy produced by utilities.

Industrial output is less than 5 percent below its pre-recession peak, reached in September 2007.

It has increased more than 14 percent since hitting a recession low in June 2009. Manufacturing activity remains nearly 8 percent below its pre-recession peak in July 2007. Yet it has increased almost 15 percent from its recession low. The recession hit manufacturing harder than the overall industry, so its path to recovery has been a little slower.

Factories benefited in the second half of 2011 from a number of trends. Consumers bought more cars. Businesses boosted spending on industrial machinery and computers. And companies are restocking their warehouses again after cutting inventories over the summer. Still, Europe’s debt crisis has already started to dampen demand for American exports. That could slow manufacturing and threaten

growth in the 2012.

In December, factories made more goods that are used early in the production process - construction materials, metals and wood products. That typically signals that production of finished products will increase in the com-

regions also saw a rise in demand for goods at the end of the year, according to surveys by the Federal Reserve banks in those areas. And the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Tuesday that January’s growth in the region was the best in nine

MICHIGAN: Ford Focus vehicles move on the assembly line at the Ford Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan. US factories roared to life in December, creating sharply more goods to meet strong demand for business equipment, materials, vehicles and energy. —AP ing months. Other reports showed manufacturing is picking.

New orders rose and production increased last month, according to a private survey by the Institute for Supply Management. The government said factories hired a net 23,000 workers - the best job growth for the sector since July.

The New York and Philadelphia

months.

In November, industrial production declined for the first time in seven months. And factory production, the biggest single element of industrial production, fell.

Manufacturers produced fewer cars, home appliances, electronics and business equipment.

Economists blamed temporary fac-

Angel Broking. India has installed capacity of 187,000 megawatts (MW), about a fifth of what China has, and has a peak-hour deficit of about 12 percent. India’s power output rose 8 percent to 72.7 billion kilowatt-hours in December from a year earlier.

But halfway through a second five-year term, Singh’s government has made little headway in pushing reforms in power and other areas, crimping investment and contributing to slowing growth.

Stagnant domestic output by state-run Coal India, the world’s largest coal miner, and lowerthan-expected gas production coupled with the high cost of imports has thrown the business plans of generators into disarray. In addition, the inability to pass along the full cost of fuel price increases makes many units unprofitable.

But as pressure builds on the government, India has raised its coal import target by over a third to about 114 million tons in the fiscal year ending in March, though further increases are unlikely because of a lack of rail capacity from key ports to end-users. Coal accounts for more than half of India’s power generation and will be required for about 85 percent of the target of adding 75,000 MW of capacity by 2017, a government draft report said in late 2011. India has about 10 percent of the world’s coal reserves but struggles to provide private players more access to coal blocks and swifter environmental clearances and land acquisition. —Reuters

rupted supply chains, which slowed US auto production. Car and truck manufacturers are busy again.

US automakers said November and December were the best sales months in 2011.

GM’s December sales rose 5 percent, Ford’s climbed 10 percent and Chrysler’s surged a whopping 37 percent. —AP

ME gasoline market firm on tight supply

India tycoons see higher coal output easing power crisis NEW DELHI: Some of India’s biggest tycoons pushed the government to resolve the country’s worsening electricity crunch by freeing access to fuel for power plants, adding pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, blamed for failing to push bold reforms.

Tata group Chairman Ratan Tata, Reliance Power Chairman Anil Ambani, and Adani Power Chairman Gautam Adani met with Singh on a long day of meetings in the capital between top power industry executives and senior government officials.

“We pushed for all issues, mainly augmenting domestic coal production,” Ashok Khurana, director general of the Association of Power Producers said after the group met B.K. Chaturvedi, the member of India’s Planning Commission responsible for energy. India does not produce enough power to meet the demands of a fast-growing economy and increasingly affluent population of 1.2 billion people. Outages in big cities, including the capital, are commonplace, and industrial users and office buildings must frequently rely on selfgenerated power.

Coal and natural gas shortages and delays in acquiring land, have crimped the rollout of new plants by big producers such as Adani and left many existing units running below capacity.

“The government needs to coordinate all its arms if it aims to improve the situation in the power sector,” said V Srinivasan, an analyst with

tors for the decline, such as severe flooding in a region of Thailand that produces hard drives for many of the world’s computers. Prior to November, factory output was strengthening after a spring slump brought on in part by the Japan earthquake and tsunami. That dis-

JAKARTA: An elevated road is under construction, seen in the foreground, while new high rise commercial buildings are constructed in Jakarta yesterday. Moody’s Investors Service restored Indonesia’s investment grade sovereign credit rating, weeks after a similar move by Fitch. —AFP

DUBAI: Strong demand in the Middle East and tight supplies in European and Asian markets supported gasoline premiums in the Gulf this week, while recent strength in the naphtha market looks set to wane, traders said.

“Looking at Europe and the East - they are both tight markets,” a gasoline trader said. “East (Asia) perhaps much more tight and plus there is demand cropping up in the Gulf,” he said.

The Asian gasoline market was being supported by expectations of higher gasoline demand from Indonesia because Asia’s top gasoline importer plans to shut its 125,000 barrel per day (bpd) refinery for 30-45 days from mid-March. In Europe, gasoline crack spreads rose as the fuel subsidy row in Nigeria, which earlier dampened the outlook for gasoline demand, seemed to have calmed and bookings to the United States supported the market.

In addition, buying from Saudi Aramco supported a tight market in the Middle East.

“There’s demand in the region, mainly from Aramco and supply doesn’t seem to be catching up,” the gasoline trader said. The naphtha market has seen some temporary strength but fundamentals are still weak, traders said.

“The supply is still there. It’s all depending on the petrochemicals industry in the Far East and there’s not a clear picture of where its going at the moment,” one trader said.

Naphtha is cracked into various petrochemical products, mainly ethylene, which is used to make plastics.

High sulfur gasoil supplies remained tight in the region, while traders said spot low sulphur cargoes from Bahrain slightly weighed on the market.

“In high sulfur, premiums are still high. 500 ppm has eased a bit,” one middle distillates trader said.

More spot diesel cargoes are expected to be offered from Bahrain Petroleum Co (Bapco), after the company decided not to award a second term contract for this year.

In fuel oil, tightness in the Fujairah market was seen easing, a trader said. “It’s a little bit better compared to the last few weeks, but with the East holding up, I don’t think we will see a lot of cargoes coming here,” he said.

Western arbitrage fuel oil into East Asia for February delivery is expected to scale seven-year highs of 4.3-4.4 million tons, but the market is seen remaining bullish due to strong demand. —Reuters

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

business

Stocks end in red as bank shares suffer GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended yesterday’s session on a lower note, on the bad performance witnessed by the banks. Global General Index (GGI) dropped marginally by 0.07 percent during the session, closing at 178.65 points. Market capitalization also went down by KD21.3mn, reaching KD29.2bn.

KSE Price Index declined by 0.19 percent, closing at 5,800.4 points.

Market breadth During the session, 108 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards advancers with 44 equities advancing against 29 that declined.

Trading activates retreated during the session, as volume of shares traded decreased by 26.5 percent, with 281.1mn shares changing hands at a total value of KD28.2mn (-28.3 percent).

Investment sector accounted for 39.8 percent and 26.1 percent, respectively, of the total volume and value of shares traded on the exchange during this session with 112.0mnn shares changing hands at a total value of KD7.4mn. International Financial Advisors topped the volume list, with 28.2mn shares changing hands. The scrip closed the session up by 2.3 percent at KD0.044. On the other side, Kuwait Remal Real Estate topped the value leader list for the day with a total value traded of KD2.3mn. The scrip added 6.0 percent in daily gains, closing at KD0.440.

In terms of top gainers, Ekttitab Holding Company was the top gainer for the day, adding

8.5 percent to its share value, closing at KD0.064. On the other hand, share price of A’ayan Real Estate was the biggest decliner in the market, shedding 8.6 percent of its value, ending at KD0.053.

Sectors Heavyweight, Global Banking Index was the sole loser for the day taking the General index down with it. The index shed 0.87 percent from its value. The biggest lender, National Bank of Kuwait dropped by 1.72 percent, closing at KD1.140. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait and Kuwait Finance House dropped by 1.52 percent and 1.12 percent, respec-

tively. The share price of Kuwait International Bank was the only gainer in the sector, adding 2.52 percent, while the other banks ended unchanged.

On the positive side, Global Non Kuwaiti Index was the biggest advancer, adding 1.51 percent to its value. Sharjah Cement & Industrial Development Company was the best performer, adding 5.75 percent, while Fujairah Cement Industries and Gulf Cement Company followed, adding 5.38 percent and 5.26 percent, respectively.

Global Food Index came second, with a daily increase of 0.97

percent. Danah Al Safat Foodstuff Company climbed by 3.85 percent and Kuwait Foodstuff Company rose by 1.37 percent.

Global Real Estate followed, gaining 0.64 percent. The Commercial Real Estate Company added 1.30 percent, closing at KD0.078. However, Kuwait Remal Real Estate Company was the sector’s top gainer, with an increase of 6.02, finishing at KD0.440.

Another heavyweight, Global Services Index was up by 0.49 percent. The index was supported by the increase in heavyweight Zain of 1.16 percent to KD0.870 and Agility, which ended the day up by 1.41 percent at KD0.360.

Brent oil up, IMF talk supports risk appetite LONDON: Oil gained yesterday as demand-sensitive assets got a boost from talk the IMF may do more to help resolve the European debt crisis, helping to temper worry about the outcome of crucial Greek debt restructuring. Front-month Brent crude was 32 cents higher at $111.85 a barrel by 1214 GMT, after touching an intraday peak of $112.20. US oil gained 46 cents $101.17 a barrel.

Brent futures hovered in backwardation, just above parity, as prompt oil was priced comparably to forward futures, illustrating weaker demand at the front of the curve.

It dipped briefly again into contango, getting down to -2 cents this morning for the first time in almost six months. Oil was supported by weakness in the dollar, as oil priced in the US currency becomes more affordable to holders of other units as it falls.

Traders said a media report that the IMF would propose increasing its lending pool drove the euro higher, while solid demand at German and Portuguese bond auctions bolstered the single currency to near session highs. International creditors are set to meet the Greek government to resume the talks that broke down last week over the interest rate Greece will offer on new bonds and a plan to enforce investor losses.

“There’s a combination of the trend of a stronger dollar coming to an end, risk appetite that’s supportive of prices and fundamentals in China and the United States looking better than they did towards the end of last year,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, oil analyst at BNP Paribas.

He pointed to data released on Tuesday which showed China’s rising fuel consumption drove global oil demand growth in 2011.

However forecasts pointed to weak oil demand. Oil demand is falling for the first time since the global economic crisis of 2008-2009, the International

Energy Agency said, warning that mild weather, high oil prices and a rising likelihood of a global recession will depress demand in 2012.

World oil demand will rise by 18 percent from 2010 levels to 103 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2030, making it the slowest-growing fuel in the next 20 years, oil giant BP said.

Prices were supported by supply threats from the Middle East due to escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear program. The West is trying to isolate the Islamic Republic by imposing tougher sanctions and pressing top oil consumers from halting purchases of Iranian barrels.

The European Union would ban the import of Iranian oil from July 1, giving member states nearly six months to wind up existing contracts, under a proposal by rotating EU presidency holder Denmark, EU diplomats said on Tuesday.

However, indicating the situation would not soon spiral into military conflict, Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak said yesterday any decision about an Israeli attack on Iran was “very far off” and Russia said an attack on Iran would be a “catastrophe”.

Greece goes head to head with its creditors later in the day in a renewed attempt to break a deadlock in negotiations to slash the country’s debt and stave off default.

Another factor weighing on prices is expectations of a build-up in crude stockpiles in the United States for the fourth straight week on strong imports. On average, domestic crude inventories were forecast up 2.8 million barrels, according to the poll of six analysts, who all predicted builds for the week to Jan. 13.

Data will be delayed by a day this week due to a holiday in the United States on Monday, with the American Petroleum Institute numbers due later in the day followed by the US Energy Information Agency today. —Reuters

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

business

US Congress revisiting payroll tax cut fight WASHINGTON: With television lights glaring, 20 lawmakers will gather next week to revisit the fight that consumed Congress before Christmas over renewing a Social Security payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits.

Little real work will be done, but the meeting will mark the formal start of an effort to untangle a dispute that both parties want to resolve, though for different reasons. Following is a look at the path Round 2 could take, based on interviews with participants on both sides.

Q: Can you remind me what’s at stake?

A: After a bitter clash and just a week before a New Year ’s Day deadline, President Barack Obama and Congress renewed a 2 percentage point payroll tax cut for 160 million workers and benefits for the long-term unemployed through February. They also temporarily forestalled a deep cut in doctors’ Medicare fees that threatened to make it harder for the elderly to find physicians who would treat them. Now, the two sides need to figure out how to extend all three measures through 2012 and cover the roughly $160 billion cost.

Q: Are they expected to succeed?

A: Yes, though it will probably take until shortly before the current extensions expire Feb. 29.

There are complicated decisions ahead, chiefly what programs to cut and what fees to increase to offset the price tag. Just as important, Democrats won’t be in a hurry to finish.

Q: Why not?

A: Republicans took a severe pounding in December when the House GOP resisted a bipartisan, Senate-approved, two-month extension of the payroll tax cut, which was designed to give lawmakers time to negotiate a longer version.

With control of the White House and Congress at stake in the November elections, many Democrats think the GOP could incur further damage if these latest talks take time.

Many Republicans doubt the economic benefit of a payroll tax cut, a foundation of Obama’s plan to create jobs. But as December’s battle unfolded, GOP leaders worried that they would suffer political damage from opposing the deeply popular tax cut, worth $1,000 annually to a family earning $50,000 a year.

With the House’s fractious conservative wing balking until the very end, the fight made the GOP look like it was opposing the tax reduction which Democrats contrasted with Republican support for tax breaks for the wealthy. Most Republicans want this year’s fight to end quickly so they can change the subject to their own efforts to cut taxes, federal spending and Obama administration regulations.

Q: How long can Democrats prolong the negotiations?

A: If they’re not careful they could overplay their hand.

Democrats scored points last year by forcing Senate votes on their proposal to finance the payroll tax cut with a small surtax on people earning $1 million or more a year. They have a new incentive to do something similar this year with the GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney, a wealthy venture capitalist, being cast by party rivals as callous and out of touch.

As a result, many Democrats want to begin this year’s talks on extending the Social Security tax cut by targeting the wealthy for a tax

increase, perhaps with the millionaire surtax or by limiting their deductions. The millionaire surtax has no chance of passage in the GOP-run House, and Democrats could be accused of blatantly playing politics. Democrats and Obama have a reason to cut a deal: They believe extending the payroll tax cut and jobless benefits will goose the economy and reduce the risk of another economic downturn that could hurt their election prospects.

Q; What will the 20 members of Congress do?

A: House and Senate party leaders each have appointed bargainers to hash out differences over the bill, following Congress’ tradition of naming conference committees to craft compromise legislation.

But as usual when high-profile battles are being resolved, party leaders will have tight control over the ultimate deal. Still, conference committee members will play a role in writing details, and their endorsement of a package would let leaders argue that they didn’t jam something down the throats of rank-and-file lawmakers. — AP

Crisis prompts Germany to cut 2012 growth forecast Berlin struggles to stave off recession

LARNACA: Passengers walk by other passengers waiting for their flight at Larnaca international airport, Cyprus yesterday. Air traffic controllers in Cyprus will walk off the job for four hours yesterday to protest a two-year government worker wage freeze and other deficit-reduction measures. —AP

Cyprus air traffic controllers to strike NICOSIA: Air traffic controllers in Cyprus will walk off the job for four hours yesterday to protest a two-year government worker wage freeze and other deficitreduction measures.

The latest strike action on the island nation comes in the wake of last month’s package of cost cuts and tax increases, which are intended to boost investor confidence. Cyprus is struggling to convince investors it has a strategy to deal with its problems and its credit rating was cut last week to junk status by the Standard & Poor’s ratings agency largely because of the country’s sizable financial sector’s heavy exposure to Greek debt.

Airport spokesman Adamos Aspris said the stoppage between 1300 and 1700 local time will affect more than 5,000 passengers on 38 flights to and from the island’s two airports. The Air Traffic Controllers’ Union President Giorgos Georgiou defended the action, arguing that his members have been unfairly grouped with other government

workers.

Since the salaries of the air traffic controllers come from levies airlines pay the government to use Cyprus-controlled airspace, they should be exempt from austerity measures aimed at reducing the size of the public sector that takes up to a third of all government spending.

Georgiou said the government’s measures, that also include lower overtime pay and higher contribution to social insurance, would shrink controllers’ take home pay by up to 40 percent, and rejected criticism that the union is holding the economy hostage.

Communications Minister Efthymios Flourentzou said he wants arbitrators to adjudicate the dispute.

A similar four-hour work stoppage is planned for next week. Largely unable to borrow from international markets, the island is relying on a Ä4.5 billion ($5.8 billion), low-interest Russian loan to meet its financial needs for this year. — AP

Russia threatens to ignore WTO rules in US trade MOSCOW: Russia will not abide by its World Trade Organization commitments with the US unless Washington scraps a trade law that dates back to the Cold War, the foreign minister said yesterday.

The Jackson-Vanik law, which was passed in 1974 and denies Russia normal trade relations status, has been a political sticking point in the countries’ trade relations for years. The law was originally used to pressure the Soviet Union to allow emigration, primarily of Jews. US presidents have granted Russia annual waivers to the law since 1994, so it hasn’t materially affected the country’s business interests since then. But Moscow has been growing impatient with US

promises to scrap what Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described as a “Cold War relic.”

Lavrov told a news conference that the US must repeal the discriminatory law. “Russia will not abide by the commitments it undertook as a WTO member if the Jackson-Vanik amendment remains in force,” he said. American businessmen and the US administration have long lobbied to have the law scrapped in Congress, but Republicans have opposed such a move for years, using it as a negotiation tool to advance other issues.

Lavrov said the law is still in place because of “domestic American problems.” —AP

MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks at a news conference in Moscow yesterday. Russia’s foreign minister says Moscow will not abide by its World Trade Organizations’ commitments in trade with the US unless it scraps a Cold War trade law. —AP

BERLIN: Germany’s government cut the country’s 2012 growth forecast yesterday in the wake of a faltering global economy and Europe’s debt crisis, but said Europe’s largest economy should avoid sinking back into recession.

Following what is believed to have been a contraction in economic activity in the fourth quarter of 2011, Economy Minister Philipp Roesler said the government had reduced Germany’s growth forecast for this year to 0.7 percent from 1 percent - its second reduction in three months. As recently as October, the prediction had been 1.8 percent.

Germany’s economy, the world’s fourth largest, is thought to have contracted by up to 0.3 percent in last year’s fourth quarter compared with the previous three-month period, though final numbers are not yet in.

Roesler said he expects growth of 0.1 percent in the current quarter, which would mean that Germany avoids slipping into a technical recession, defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. Other forecasters have painted a bleaker picture, however, with many - such as Commerzbank last week - predicting that Germany will fall into a modest recession in the first quarter before returning to growth. Roesler said “a temporary dent in growth can be expected for the coming months” but predicted that “the economy will gradually liven up over the course of 2012.” Growth next year is expected to be 1.6 percent, he said.

Roesler conceded there were risks around the forecasts, not least from financial market turbulence and the debt crisis in the 17-country euro-zone.

“Germany remains on the course of growth - assuming that there is no new sudden crisis on the financial markets, and the uncertainty in the euro-zone above all gradually abates,” said Roesler, who is also Germany’s vice chancellor. Over 2011 as a

whole, Germany grew by 3 percent - following a growth spurt of 3.7 percent in 2010 after its emergence from recession the previous year.

That contrasted with the performance of many of its partners in the euro-zone, which have seen their economies barely grow or

percent, Japan by 1.9 percent and China by 8.4 percent. Exports have been the bedrock of Germany’s growth over recent years, but Roesler said this year’s expansion will stem from stronger domestic demand. His ministry forecast that export growth will slow to 2 percent from 8.2 percent last year.

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right), French President Nicolas Sarkozy brief the media after talks about the Euro debt crisis at the chancellery in Berlin. — AP shrink amid debt troubles and tough austerity measures. The German government figures come after the World Bank forecast that the euro-zone economy as a whole will contract by 0.3 percent this year.

It sees the United States growing by 2.2

It also expects a further improvement in Germany’s already-bright labor market picture, with the average unemployment rate this year projected to fall from last year’s 7.1 percent - already a two-decade low - to 6.8 percent. — AP

Merkel to open Davos forum in Switzerland GENEVA: German Chancellor Angela Merkel will headline an annual elite gathering of government and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland later this month to address the debt crisis that has gripped global markets for over two years.

Organizers said yesterday that Merkel will deliver the opening address at the forum at which 2,600 leaders are expected to attend.

Other public figures expected

at the Swiss Alpine resort include Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and League of Arab States Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby.

About 40 heads of state and 18 of the world’s central bankers also plan to participate, the organizers said. The forum’s founder, Klaus Schwab, said that as the global economy sputters government

leaders are losing the confidence of younger generations because the world has “failed to learn the lessons from the financial crisis of 2009.” Capitalism in its traditional form no longer really works, he said yesterday. “We are looking desperately around the world for people who can offer solutions,” he said.

The five-day annual meeting will likely be dominated also by discussion of the wave of Arab Spring protests and comes just

months ahead of Russian and French elections. Last year’s forum was held just as Tunisia and Egypt were roiled by protests fueled by a lack of jobs and political inclusion. Activists inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement have also set up an igloo camp outside the gathering of the world’s political and business elite in the Swiss ski resort in late January.

None of the protesters have been invited to the panels. — AP

Hungary CB chief plays down row with PM VIENNA: The head of Hungary’s Central Bank is downplaying his dispute with the country’s prime minister over the institution’s independence. Andras Simor says Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that the bank will remain autonomous so he has to “believe what the prime minister said.”

Simor spoke at a seminar yesterday, after the European Commission launched legal action against Hungary’s new constitution. The commission says the constitution undermines the Central Bank’s independence by giving the government a much larger role in naming top bank officials.

EU confidence in Hungary has been undermined by perceptions that Orban is infringing on democratic principles, worsening the country’s economic problems. Simor alluded to such concerns, saying it made no sense to “take (the) risk of total unpredictability” in economic and legal matters. — AP

KOLKATA: Mahindra & Mahindra Limited Senior General Manager for Marketing SUVs Ashish Malik (Second) poses with new sports utility vehicle XUV500 during its launch in Kolkata yesterday. —AP

26

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

business

Stage set for Horeca Kuwait exhibition KUWAIT: Preparations are going on in full swing for the inauguration of Horeca Kuwait 2012 exhibition on Sunday (January 22, 2012) at the Arraya Ball Room Courtyard Marriott Hotel. The exhibition is held under the patronage of Minister of Commerce and Industry, State Minister of Planning and Development Dr Amani Buresli.

The three-day exhibition is a comprehensive event covering the hospitality, catering and food industry sectors in Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that will witness featured sponsorship and participation of more than 40 leading companies in hospitality and catering fields.

The exhibition, which is organized by the Leaders Group for Consulting & Development in cooperation with Hospitality Services of Lebanon, is also set to feature cooking competitions in which more than 90 chefs from around the world are expected to take part, as well as the firstever Kuwait Barista competition. “The Horeca Kuwait exhibition offers a platform for showcasing opportunities that meet the increasing demand in Kuwait’s tourism industry in order to help this sector live up to its future challenges”, said statement released by Dr Amani Buresli the Leaders Group yesterday.

Two-day Indian property expo opens tomorrow KUWAIT: Indian real estate is growing to newer heights and has emerged as one of the most profitable businesses in recent years, disclosed Zia Sait, the managing director of Mindscape, the coorganizers along with Times of India, of Realty India 2012, at a press conference held at Ramada Kuwait yesterday.

Speaking to media persons Sait stated that Realty India 2012 would be the biggest ever Indian real estate exhibition held to-date in Kuwait with more than 50 top builders participating in the exhibition and showcasing the best and biggest projects across India. An exclusive Kerala pavilion by Credai Kochi will also see top builders participation from across Kerala.

Elaborating on the exhibition, Sait said that the high profile Realty India 2012 exhibition, with its display of a wide range of properties offers choices to suit every budget and lifestyle from luxury villas to budget friendly apartments from KD 5,000 upwards.

He urged NRIs (non-resident Indians) to take advantage of this opportunity and come and meet these builders and see the options and offers available to them.

Times of India Realty 2012 has been conducting its annual exhibition in Kuwait for the past 5 years to considerable demand and response from the participants and visitors. The Exhibition has grown every year and the response has been excellent, Sait explained.

Another added advantage this year is the depreciating rupee which has made buying a house cheaper and an attractive proposition for NRIs. On Credai Kochi participation, Sait revealed that for the first time that the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (Credai), the apex body of organized real estate developers will be participating with some of the leading builders from Kerala under one roof.

With years of repute and credibility Credai property show has been the favorite venue for Non-resident Keralites to choose their homes in their homeland.

The exhibition will be inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta and will be open for two days — Friday, Jan 20 and Sautrday, Jan 21. Local organizers of the exhibition is Response Events and Exhibitions.

Burgan Bank announces Al-Thuraya Account draw winner of KD 60,000

Haneen Al-Rumaihi

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank yesterday announced Eyad Suleiman Dawood Jaber as the lucky winner of the bi-annual Al-Thuraya Account draw. The winner proudly took home a rewarding cashprize of KD 60,000.

On this occasion, Haneen Al-Rumaihi, Head of Marketing at Burgan Bank said: “We congratulate Eyad Jaber on winning the bank’s latest Al-Thuraya Account Draw. The draw is amongst the most innovative of its kind in Kuwait, with its wide range of exclusive benefits. We will continue rewarding our customers with a diverse array of benefits that are catered to their needs.” Burgan Bank’s Al-Thuraya Account is the only salary account that offers chances to win cash prizes up to KD 120,000 bi-annually, KD 60,000 each.

Opening Al-Thuraya account is simple, customers are required to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch and get all the details. Or simply call the Call Center 1804080 where Customer Service Representative will assist with any inquiries. For further information visit www.burgan.com

Gulftainer sets sail with Pearl Initiative UAE Ports and Logistics C become partners Gulftainer, the world’s largest privately-owned port operator, has agreed to be a Founding Partner of Pearl Initiative, the private-sector led initiative set up in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Partnerships to foster a culture of transparency, accountability, good corporate governance and best business practices in the Arab world.

Gulftainer, which was established in the United Arab Emirates in 1976, is a key partner for Pearl Initiative, and a company with an international presence and stellar reputation.

Within the UAE, its remit now includes the Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT ) and Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) as well as port operations in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi.

Gulftainer, via Momentum also operates logistics throughout the region. The company’s international presence is significant, and includes Kuwait, Turkey, Pakistan, Iraq, Russia and Brazil with other new ventures under development.

Gulftainer has always maintained the highest standards of ethics, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. The company is committed to conduct its business legally, fairly, honestly and with transparency and integrity. Gulftainer Managing Director Peter Richards is delighted about the new partnership. “You can see by our very detailed anti-corruption policy, the procedures we have in place, and the culture of social

responsibility that we try to engender, that we take the tenets of Pearl Initiative seriously”, he said.

“We want to share our ideas with the other partners, and help plan a future for regional business in which these principles - transparency and good governance-are consistently respected”, Richards added. Pearl Initiative (http://www.pearlinitiative.org) - which had its soft launch at the UN headquarters in

UK unemployment rate hits 17-year high LONDON: Britain’s unemployment rate spiked to 8.4 percent in November, its highest level since 1995, official figures showed yesterday. The figure is up from last month’s 8.3 percent and follows a run of fairly downbeat economic news. The Office for National Statistics also said there were 2.7 million people out of work in the three months from September to November. That is the highest figure since 1994. Unemployment is rising as the British economy has flatlined in the wake of the debt crisis in the euro area, which has dented economic confidence, and as the government continues with its deficit-reduction program.

The statistics office also found that pay growth remains relatively muted as high unemployment keeps a lid on wages. Analysts expect unemployment to continue to rise. “Public sector staff cuts will be accompanied by private sector job losses, as companies focus on cost-cutting in the face of what many are expecting to be a challenging year ahead,” said Chris Williamson, chief economist at financial data company Markit. The report came a day after some rare good news, a sharp drop in the UK’s consumer prices inflation rate from 4.8 percent to 4.2 percent. But that too was a measure of a tough year ahead; retailers contributed to the improved inflation rate by slashing prices in December to lure customers. —AP

September 2010, is a growing regional membership network of business leaders committed to driving joint action and sharing knowledge and experience in areas of transparency, governance and good practices. Pearl Initiative programs are underway on collaborative action to fight bribery and corruption, as well as making progress in areas such as good governance, integrated reporting and corporate disclosure in the GCC.

Burgan Bank offers chance to win a trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games with VISA KUWAIT: Burgan Bank yesterday announced that it is offering a chance for its VISA cardholders to win a trip to the much awaited London 2012 Olympic Games, which will take place during July 27th until the 12th of August 2012. Each time a Burgan Bank Visa card holder uses their card for any purchase they will automatically get a chance to enter the draw. This promotion will run until the 5th of March.

Muneera Al-Mukhaizeem, Chief Retail Banking Officer said: “London is amongst the most visited cities in the world. Customers paying with their Visa Card at home or abroad will be entered into a draw to win a once in a life time trip to the London 2012 Olympic games.

“The package will include airport meet and greet service, 4 day/3 nights for 2 people at a 4-star hotel accom-

modation, daily breakfast, enjoy 3 Olympic events, as well as tour options.”

The London 2012 Olympic Games will include tournaments around 26 spor ts and 14,700 athletes from around 205 countries. Burgan Bank continues to provide superior banking services by tailoring its offers to its wide customer base.

The bank constantly adds more convenience to its customers by ensuring the continuous use of their cards, as well as taking advantage of great discounts and offers from various outlets.

For more information on the new promotion with VISA, customers are urged to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch, contact the bank’s call center on 1804080, or log onto the bank’s website on www.burgan.com.

Media note — Research In Motion exclusive media event KUWAIT: Research In Motion (RIM) hosted an exclusive media event yesterday in Kuwait to showcase the recently announced BlackBerry 7.1 OS, the new BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 and updates to BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). The event was one of the first to be held in the Middle East, highlighting the importance of the Kuwaiti market for RIM. Mohammed Al-Mefleh, Director of Product Management, Ser vices and Platforms, RIM Middle East, said: “The new BlackBerry 7.1 OS will further enhance the mobile experience and make life easier, from managing daily tasks to planning big adventures with capabilities such as BlackBerry Tag, a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, BBM 6.1 and connected apps.”

With BlackBerry 7.1, BlackBerry smartphone users will now be able to share information and content by simply tapping their NFC-enabled BlackBerr y smar tphone against another NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphone. They can instantly invite a friend to BBM, exchange contact information, documents, URLs, photos and other multimedia content. Other BlackBerry 7.1 capabilities demonstrated by Al-Mefleh included: lWi-Fi hotspot - users can now turn their BlackBerr y smar tphone into a mobile hotspot that can be shared by up to 5 Wi-Fi -enabled devices, including laptops and tablets l FM radio - customers with a BlackBerry Curve 9360 or 9380 smartphone will be able to tune in and enjoy local FM radio stations BlackBerry 7.1 also supports the latest version of the ever-popular BBM instant messaging service, BBM 6.1. Additional features will allow users to personalize their experience even more with support for animated avatars, a dozen new and fun emoticons to spice up conversations, and the ability to customize chat bubbles with different colors.

In addition, the new BBM app allows users to add customized personal messages of up to 160 characters in their online profile, more than double the length supported in previous versions.

New features of the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 were also demonstrated, designed to enable customers to stay even more connected and productive in their personal and professional lives. Al-Mefleh continued, “The BlackBerry PlayBook is already recog-

nized for delivering powerful performance, true multi-tasking, advanced web browsing and HD multimedia in an ultra-portable design. With BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0,

the advanced messaging experience offers a new unified inbox, multi-tasking within email, rich-text email composing and editing, and inbox management tools.”

Mohammed Al-Mefleh with his Kuwait team

Mohammed Al-Mefleh displays the BlackBerry 7.1 OS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

Weird gadgets at CES: Motorized unicycle, anyone?

LAS VEGAS: A motorized, seat-less unicycle, a video game you control with your eyes, and a mind-reading headset that serves as a game controller were among the more bizarre gadgets being shown off at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show.

Some 3,100 exhibitors attended the show, and although there were plenty of mainstream technologies on display, the show attracted a fair share of offbeat gadgets. Here’s a roundup of some of the weirdest devices: SOLOWHEEL: Picture a unicycle without a frame or saddle, and you have the Solowheel. Not working for you? Ok, add this to the picture: footboards that fold out from the wheel. To ride it, you stand on the footboards and straddle the wheel. Lean forward, and the wheel engages a battery-powered electric motor that can send it -and hopefully its rider- zooming along at 10 miles per hour. The wheel has a gyroscope that helps keep the rider upright. In other words, it’s like a Segway with only one wheel.

Because of the rechargeable battery, which has a 15- to 20-mile range, the Solowheel weighs 26 pounds. That’s as much as a folding bike, but the Solowheel is more compact. It’s sold by Inventist LLC

for $1,800. Its creator is a serial inventor, Shane Chen, previously came up with the AquaSkipper, a humanpowered hydrofoil. Who’s it for? Brave people with a good sense of balance, who want to utterly surprise everyone they meet.

FOAM FIGHTERS: Toy companies are eager to link their products with smartphone and tablet games, creating toys that are an amusing blend of virtual and real. Foam Fighters are made of two sheets of thin foam, painted and shaped like World War II fighter planes such as the famous Mitsubishi Zero. Toss them in the air, and they fly like paper airplanes. Better yet, you can attach them to a plastic arm with a suction cup that, in turn, sticks to the back of an iPhone, iPad or Android phone, right next to the camera. The airplane shows up on screen, and if you download a free app, the fighter plane will look like it’s zooming around in war-torn skies, controlled by the movement of the phone or tablet.

Foam Fighters go on sale in April. A pack of two, with a stand, will cost $10.

Who’s it for: AppGear is aiming at kids, ages 8 to 12, but it could appeal to frustrated fighter pilots of all ages.

HAIER BRAIN WAVE: The Chinese appliance company brought this wireless mind-reading headset to the show, and demonstrated how it could be used to control a TV set. It holds one sensing pad to the wearer’s forehead and another that clips onto an earlobe. The big limitation is that the mind- reading capability (actually just measurement of brain waves) is crude. The set can only be used to sense if the user wants something to go up or down. For any other direction, you need the remote. In a demonstration of a simple maze-like game, the wearer guided a figure up or down with his mind, and right and left with the remote. Haier said it’s developing something that lets the wearer change channels by thinking about it.

Haier is selling the set in China, but has no plans to bring it to market in the US Who’s it for: No one outside of China, yet. Eventually, this could be a dream come true for the laziest of couch potatoes.

EYE ASTEROIDS: Continuing on the theme of controlling electronics without moving, Swedish company Tobii brought its eye-controlled arcade game to the show. To play, you stand in front of it and look at a screen, where asteroids hurtle toward

your battle station. It shoots laser beams at the asteroids you look at, destroying them. So yes, looks can kill.

The game cabinet contains cameras that track your gaze. The arcade game is really just a technology demonstration. What Tobii really wants is to have these gaze-tracking cameras built into laptops and other computers, so we can dispense with the mouse. But it does sell the game for $15,000. Who’s it for: Arcade owners who want the latest.

SIGNA POWERTREKK: This New York company showed off an alternative to batteries: a fuel cell the size of a big sandwich, powered by small, light “pucks” of a silicon-based material that produces hydrogen when water is added. The fuel cell is expensive, at $200, but the pucks are cheap, at $12 for three. Each puck will produce the equivalent of six AA batteries of electricity. That means it can charge an iPhone twice, through the included cables.

SiGNa will be selling the cell through outdoor retailer REI this spring. Who’s it for: Campers, hermits and others who need to go a long time without electricity. — AP

Wikipedia goes dark to protest anti-piracy law Google, other sites join in

SANTA CLARA: In this March 3, 1997 file photo, Yahoo co-founders David Filo, left, and Jerry Yang, right, hold up a fish prop at Yahoo headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. Yang is leaving the struggling company. The surprise departure, announced Tuesday, comes just two weeks after Yahoo Inc. hired former PayPal executive Scott Thomson as its CEO. — AP

Yahoo! co-founder Jerry Yang resigns SAN FRANCISCO: Jerry Yang, who cofounded Yahoo! nearly 17 years ago and had an ill-fated stint as chief executive, resigned on Tuesday from all of his positions with the struggling Internet company.

Yang, 43, one of the original dotcom billionaires, resigned, effective immediately, from the board of directors of Yahoo! and from the boards of Yahoo!

Japan and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Yahoo! shares rose more than 3.5 percent to $15.99 in after-hours trading following the announcement that Yang was stepping away from the Sunnyvale, California-based company.

In a letter to Roy Bostock, the chairman of the Yahoo! board, Yang said “my time at Yahoo!, from its founding to the present, has encompassed some of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life. However, the time has come for me to pursue other interests outside of Yahoo!”

Yang owns 3.6 percent of Yahoo!’s shares and has a net worth of $1.1 billion, according to Forbes. “As I leave the company I co-founded nearly 17 years ago, I am enthusiastic about the appointment of Scott Thompson as Chief Executive Officer and his ability, along with the entire Yahoo! leadership team, to guide Yahoo! into an exciting and successful future,” Yang said.

Bostock, in a statement, described Yang as a “visionary and a pioneer, who has contributed normously to Yahoo! during his many years of service. “He has always remained focused on the best interests of Yahoo!’s stakeholders, including shareholders, employees and more than 700 million users,” he said.

“And while I and the entire board respect his decision, we will miss his remarkable perspective, vision and wise

counsel,” Bostock said. Yang co-founded Yahoo! in 1995 with David Filo and the pioneering Internet company went public the following year.

Yang served as chief executive of Yahoo! from June 2007 to January 2009, during which time he notably turned down a $47 billion takeover bid from Microsoft, earning the ire of many shareholders. Thompson, who was named CEO nearly two weeks ago, replacing Carol Bartz, who was fired in September, said Yang “leaves behind a legacy of innovation and customer focus for this iconic brand.

“Jerry has great confidence in the future of Yahoo!, and I share his confidence in the enormous potential of Yahoo! in the days ahead,” Thompson said. Since Bartz ’s departure in September, Yahoo!’s board has reportedly been looking at selling all or part of the company and Yang was seen as a fierce opponent of a breakup by some shareholders.

Analyst Jon Ogg of 247wallst.com said Yang’s departure was “classified as a resignation” but “in reality this is a forceout.” “Needless to say, many investors are going to be glad to see Jerry Yang out of the way,” Ogg said. “Very, Very Glad!”

“Yahoo! is barely half of its market value today compared to when Microsoft Corporation made its buyout offer,” he said. “Jerry Yang’s role in that acquisition at the time was ‘Chief Reality Blocker.’

Microsoft has reportedly been collaborating with private investors to assemble another multi-billion-dollar offer for Yahoo!. At least nine private equity firms are also reported to be eyeing Yahoo! and its global audience of 700 million monthly visitors to the company’s various websites, including Yahoo! News, Yahoo!

Finance and Yahoo! Sports. —AFP

SEOUL: This undated handout picture released by online shopping company GS Shop shows a woman using a low temperature hand heater in Seoul. South Korea’s government, worried about shrinking power reserves after a shock September 2011 blackout, has ordered staff in 19,000 government offices to keep the indoor temperature below 18 degrees C (64º F). — AFP

SAN FRANCISCO: The English page of Wikipedia, the world’s free online encyclopedia, was dark yesterday except for a paragraph urging users to protest legislation designed to stop copyright piracy, but that Wikipedia says “could fatally damage the free and open Internet.” Google’s home search page has the logo: “Tell Congress: Please don’t censor the web!” Smaller sites, such as Reddit.com and BoingBoing.net, were also dark, with BoingBoing noting that the proposed antipiracy bills “would put us in legal jeopardy if we linked to a site anywhere online that had links to copyright infringement”.

The companies oppose bills designed to curb access and payments to overseas websites that traffic in stolen content or counterfeit goods on the grounds that it could put them in legal peril. The legislation has been a major priority for entertainment companies, publishers, pharmaceutical companies and many industry groups. They maintain the proposed law is critical to curbing online piracy they say costs them billions of dollars annually.

Internet companies have furiously opposed the legislation and have stepped up lobbying efforts in recent months, arguing it would undermine innovation and free speech rights, compromise the functioning of the Internet, and would be ineffective in stopping piracy.

The bills were seemingly on the fast track for approval by Congress until the White House criticized aspects of it over the weekend.

Big tech names including Facebook and Twitter declined to participate despite their opposition to the House of Representatives’ Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Senate’s PROTECT Intellectual Property Act (PIPA). The companies were not prepared to sacrifice a day’s worth of revenue and risk the ire of users for a protest whose impact on lawmakers would be hard to gauge.

Google’s solution allows the search engine giant to keep revenue attached to its searches, while still highlighting the issue. “This publicity stunt does a disservice to its users by promoting fear instead of facts,” said Lamar Smith, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a sponsor of SOPA. “Perhaps

This screen shot shows the blacked-out Wikipedia website, announcing a 24-hour protest against proposed legislation in the US Congress, intended to protect intellectual property that critics say could facilitate censorship, referred to as the “Stop Online Piracy Act,” or “SOPA,” and the “Protect IP Act,” or “PIPA.” — AP during the blackout, Internet users can look elsewhere for an accurate definition of online piracy.” Former Senator Chris Dodd, who now chairs the Motion Picture Association of America, labeled the blackout a “gimmick” and called for its supporters to “stop the hyperbole and PR stunts and engage in meaningful efforts to combat piracy”. Bill Allison, editorial director of the Sunlight Foundation, which aims to create a transparent government, said the in-your-face public lobbying effort was “very effective”. “It’s a way of engaging the public in something that had been a very much behind closed doors kind of business as usual in Washington thing,” he said.

“Obviously lobbying and campaign contributions are important, but members of Congress still need to get 50 percent of the vote. If a significant portion of their constituents are affected by something ... and go to the other

side, you can lose your seat. That’s what makes this such an interesting confrontation right now.” - Reuters Danny Chia, another contributor to the site, said he had mixed feelings about the blackout. The neutrality applies to the content, but a lot of people interpret it as being about the site as a whole, said the Los Altos, Calif., software engineer.

In an online discussion, others raised the same point about the blackout: Appearances matter, and if the audience sees Wikipedia taking a stand, it might not believe the articles are objective, either. Wikipedia has seen a small decline in participation, from a peak of 100,000 active editors a year ago to about 90,000 now. Wikimedia Foundation blames this mainly on outdated editing tools, and believes it can get the number growing again with software upgrades. — AP

Online Africa: How Internet is changing Ugandan business KAMPALA: Sitting in the glow of his flat-screen computer monitor in a fashionable office, Donald Kasule says that until recently it was almost impossible to imagine making a success of an Internet start-up in Uganda.

When he first had the idea several years ago for his “Wedding Bells” website-a flashy site to help couples plan for their big day-exorbitant connection fees and achingly slow speeds severely limited demand for the service.

The website struggled to attract more than a few hundred users-and most of those were Ugandans living outside the country. But, as cheaper technology has flooded the market and the cost of going online has plummeted, Internet access has boomed, especially among the country’s growing middle class. Kasule, 33, says his website is surging in popularity, now enjoying up to around 4,000 hits on a good day, and he says that he is looking to expand. “The number of people going online from their homes and offices has increased a lot,” Kasule says. “The growing market is there and it has the potential to be a real success.” Industry experts say affordability and speed have revolutionised Internet use. “It’s been a revolution in the sector over the past few years, and the change has really been radical,” said Michael Niyitegeka, a computer science lecturer at Makerere University in Kampala.

Niyitegeka says a major breakthrough came in 2009 when east Africa was finally connected to Europe and Asia by an undersea fibre optic cable.

Before that, Internet access via satellite link-ups was cripplingly expensive and slow. Since then, Ugandans with some spare cash have been able to surf the web without bankrupting themselves.

Now, middle-class professionals can check their emails over wireless Internet or portable modems in smart cafes around Kampala. For a few dollars a month, Ugandans can access the Internet on mobile phones costing less than $100 (77 euros).

By 2010, the number of Internet users in Uganda

had risen to four million: just over 10 percent of the population, according to the Uganda Communications Commission.

Online services still developing-And researchers say rapidly growing Internet use is a key marker of the increasing clout of the middle class across the continent, which today accounts for one in three Africans.

In a report released in April the African Development Bank estimated that about 18.7 percent of Ugandans-or 5.9 million people-can now be considered middle class. For Africa as a whole, the number of Internet users increased

from about 4.5 million people in 2000 to 80.6 million people in 2008, the AfDB report said.

Despite the progress, however, analysts admit that Uganda’s Internet sector is still in its infancy, with few Ugandans using online services such as banking and shopping. A middle class Ugandan who uses the Internet regularly-and might use something like Kasule’s wedding service-would range from private businessmen to civil servants to journalists. And though no official figures exists on an average middle class salary in Uganda, estimates put it at around $400 dollars a month, for example, for civil servants. —AFP

KAMPALA: Men work on their laptops at an internet cafe in Kampala on November 11, 2011. In 2010 the number of internet users in Uganda rose to 4 million people: Just over one in ten of the population, according to statistics from the Uganda Communications Commission. — AFP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

World experts urge UN to take up mental health WASHINGTON: Mental illness and drug abuse can wreak havoc in global societies and economies, and the UN General Assembly should devote a special session to the matter, global health experts said on Tuesday.

Every country in the world is affected by the burden of mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders, but often sufferers face discrimination and human rights abuse, said the article in PLoS Medicine.

“The time has come for recognition at the highest levels of global development, namely the UN General

Assembly, of the urgent need for a global strategy to address the global burden of MNS disorders,” said the article. Lead authors were Vikram Patel from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Judith Bass from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in the United States.

Investment is needed in three key areas, they argued: expanding knowledge about mental health disorders, better access to evidence-based programs of care and treatment, and protection of human rights.

A list of key needs to be addressed

and steps to take could be enshrined in a “People’s Charter for Mental Health” accounting for input from policy makers, families, researchers and other advocates.

The article said neuropsychiatric disorders will account for the loss of some $16.1 trillion US dollars globally over the next two decades, with “dramatic impacts on productivity and quality of life,” particularly as the population ages. About 25 million people have dementia worldwide, a number set to skyrocket to 80 million by 2040, with close to three quarters of demen-

tia patients concentrated in low and middle income countries.

Meanwhile, suicide claims at least one million lives per year and nearly four percent of all deaths around the world are attributable to alcohol.

Mental illness can also boost risky behaviors that result in disease.

“Depressive disorders markedly increase the risk for noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, and dementia,” said the article. “Conflict, displacement, poverty, gender-based violence, and other social determinants of ill health

increase the risk for MNS disorders,” it added.

“MNS disorders are, in turn, associated with worsening of social and economic circumstances, setting up a vicious cycle of poverty and illness.” A majority of world governments would have to agree that the issue is important enough that it deserves a special session at the UN General Assembly.

“The fact that MNS disorders affect people in all countries should offer considerable incentive for investments by both public and private sectors in this initiative,” the authors wrote. — AFP

Foreigners in India for ‘ makeover’ surgery Despite risks, millions reshape bodies through surgery

SPRINGE: A picture taken on May 12, 2011 of a boa constrictor at the “Wisentgehege Springe” park for wild animals in Springe, northwestern Germany. Boa constrictors can sense the heartbeat of their quarry as they suffocate it, thus giving themselves the signal to know when the prey is dead, herpetologists said yesterday. — AFP

Ruthless boas know when to ditch their squeeze PARIS: Boa constrictors can sense the heartbeat of their quarry as they suffocate it, thus giving themselves the signal to know when the prey is dead, scientists say. In a study published yesterday in the journal Biology Letters, snake experts at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania pondered how the boa can tell when its target is lifeless and can then be swallowed.

Timing the constriction is vital for these snakes. Squeezing is a huge drain on their energy reserves, for their metabolic rate rises sevenfold during the operation. And while they are coiled around the prey, they themselves are vulnerable to other predators.

The team used a clever idea-”warm cadaveric rats”-to monitor the boas.

These were lab rats that had been humanely killed, frozen and then rewarmed to 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) using an electric blanket.

The rodents’ bodies were then fitted with two tiny gauges: a sensor to monitor external pressure and a replica heart, comprising a water-filled bulb that was connected by a tube to an external pump, which imitated a heartbeat.

Primed for action, the hi-tech rats were placed within striking range of seven captive-born snakes which had never

been exposed to live prey and nine wildcaught counterparts.

The herpetologists carried out three experiments, each time controlling the rat’s fake heartbeat, to see how long the boa kept up its squeeze. When they shut off the heartbeat for 10 minutes, the snakes continued their constriction for another seven minutes or so and then released the rat, presuming it to be dead.

But snakes confronted with a rat with a continuously beating heartbeat doubled the pressure and kept up the squeeze for around 22 minutes. This is a phenomenal achievement, and the longest ever observed for any snake, says the paper.

Rats without a heartbeat were constricted for about 12 minutes on average.

But the snake notably did not adjust its coils or apply periodic bursts of pressure, as it did with rats with a beating heart.

Overall, wild snakes were cannier about how long and how much to squeeze. “Our findings suggest that the ability to respond to a heartbeat is innate, whereas the magnitude of the response is guided by experience,” says the study. “We suggest that the capacity to improve performance through learning enables snakes to become efficient predators of variable and unpredictable prey animals.” — AFP

Little change in US obesity rates BALTIMORE: The number of children and adults in the United States who are obese has remained steady over the last few years, researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Tuesday.

In two separate reports, the researchers found that in 2009 and 2010, about one in three adults and one in six kids and teens were obese. The rates represented no change from 2007 and 2008 figures, and only a slight increase from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“I’m not very surprised, but I think this is a kind of encouraging finding, given all the efforts we have been making,” said Dr. Youfa Wang, head of the Johns Hopkins Global Center for Childhood Obesity in Baltimore, who was not involved in the new reports.

“The general public for sure nowadays has become more aware of the health consequences of obesity, and industry has been heavily influenced by all the efforts,” Wang told Reuters Health. With the rates of overweight and obese Americans increasing throughout the 1980s and 1990s, some researchers projected those trends would continue into the next century and that type 2 diabetes, a disease that is generally related to diet and lifestyle, and heart disease risks would rise with them.

The most recent obesity data come from two nationally-representative studies of about 6,000 adults and 4,000 children and teens who had their heights and weights measured in a mobile exam center in 2009 and 2010.

From that data, researchers calculated each person’s body mass index, or BMI - a ratio of weight to height. A BMI of 30 or

over - equal to a 5-foot, 6-inch (1.67meter) adult weighing 186 pounds (84 kg) is considered obese. Cynthia Ogden from the CDC, a federal agency, and her colleagues found that between 35 and 36 percent of those tested were obese.

While obesity rates in men were similar across races, that wasn’t the case in women: 32 percent of white women were obese, versus almost 59 percent of black women.

Compared to data from 1999 to 2000, the numbers represented a less than one percent annual increase in the rate of obesity among men and no net increase in women. The exceptions were black and Mexican-American women, who also had slightly higher obesity rates in 2009 and 2010 than a decade earlier.

Ogden said that the long-term results suggest rates of obesity in men have slowly caught up to rates in women. But, she added, there was no change in obesity rates in any demographic group compared to the data from 2007 to 2008.

Seventeen percent of kids and teens were obese, a rate that varied from 14 percent of white kids to almost a quarter of black kids. Overall rates were similar to those reported in 1999 and 2000 for girls, with a slight uptick in obesity among teen boys since then, Ogden and her colleagues reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“I think that you can be fairly comfortable in saying that even if there is an increase, it’s small relative to the increases in the 1980s and 1990s,” Ogden said.

She told Reuters Health that there’s also evidence that obesity rates are leveling off in some countries in Europe and around the world. — Reuters

NEW DELHI: When a group of women from Uganda embarked on a trip of a lifetime to India, little did many of their friends and families at home know that a secret surgical “mommy makeover” was on their itinerary.

The three mothers from the east African nation meticulously planned their month-long tour around surgical procedures in New Delhi that they hoped would enable them to return to their husbands looking trimmer and healthier. They admit that vanity is a key motive behind their choice to go under the surgeon’s knife in a faraway country, saying they want their tummies tucked and breasts firmed up so they can again wear swimsuits with confidence.

“There are certain activities you can’t do if your top is very heavy,” one of the women told AFP, requesting anonymity after breast reduction surgery at a clinic in the Indian capital. “I am feeling so light now. I can go for a jog or a swim without attracting all the negative male attention that I earlier did,” said the mother of four. The women, staying at a guesthouse in the upmarket area of Greater Kailash, have been mixing two weeks of post-operative care with shopping and visits to sight-seeing favourites such as the Red Fort and the Qutub Minar monument.

“It’s been a girls-only fun trip for us,” giggled the eldest of the group, aged 40, who is doubling up as a guide to the rest of the women, having visited India once before. “We had thought of visiting South Africa, which is nearer home but expensive,” she said. “We are glad we decided to come here.”

The Ugandan mothers are among foreigners from many countries who are adding surgery to holiday trips that often include trips to the Taj Mahal in Agra and other tourist spots. Millions globally choose to reshape their bodies through cosmetic surgery each year, despite risks such as those highlighted by the French breast implant scandal, in which tens of thousands of women have been told to have defective implants removed.

Popular cosmetic surgery destinations include Brazil, Thailand and South Africa, but the Ugandan women said India’s relatively low costs, good medical facilities and English-speaking doctors were deciding factors in their choice. Having surgery away from home means the women do not need to worry about their family or work. They also have the luxury of revealing the surgery only to those they want

to. “Our country is very image conscious. When you run into a friend, instead of saying hello she will comment on your weight. It makes you feel bad,” said one, a 37-year-old mother to three including three-year-old twins. “They will gossip and make a mountain out of a molehill. I wanted to avoid all that,” she said.

‘Get my self-esteem back’-A “mommy makeover” in countries such as the United States and Britain would cost nearly five times as much in India where an average bill would be about half a million rupees ($10,000), said Delhi

Ugandan mothers. “It began in my bedroom to be precise. “I squirmed at the thought of taking off my clothes. My protruding belly and hanging breasts made it so difficult. My husband teased me as well,” she said.

Kashyap says business has been good as awareness about the relatively low-risk procedure increases.

“We have 10-12 people coming in from abroad in a month,” Kashyap told AFP at his busy New Delhi clinic, tastefully decorated with scented candles and elegantly carved sculptures. But he said sometimes he has had to dis-

NEW DELHI: Indian plastic surgeon Ajaya Kashyap talks during an interview with AFP at his office in New Delhi on November 28, 2011. — AFP plastic surgeon Ajaya Kashyap.

Medical tourism is a booming business in India, especially the cosmetic surgery sector, which industry experts say is growing between 20 and 30 percent annually.

The number of medical tourists, including those seeking cosmetic surgery, is expected to reach one million by 2012, according to a report

by FICCI, a prominent trade body. Kashyap said mothers seeking makeovers are typically in their thirties or early forties, have completed their families and are financially independent with some disposable income.

“My journey began long before I actually took the flight to India,” said one of the

appoint prospective clients from abroad.

“Expectations have to be realistic. They must realise that just by having a surgery, they cannot look like a film star,” he said. Patricia Brown, a 38-year-old British mother of two, was in Delhi to seek bigger breasts after various creams and lotions failed to bring any results.

“My dressing table had started looking like a pharmacy,” said Brown. “I used these to the last drop because these were so expensive. I realised their futility slowly. “Coming to India meant neighbours back home would not get to know about my surgery as the change is not very obvious, but it is just as much as I wanted to get my self-esteem back.” — AFP

Abdulla Ani lost 40 kg with Lofat!

KUWAIT: As many of us know, the battle to lose weight is not an easy one and has many obstacles to overcome.

There are many temptations around that make the journey even harder to pursue, however with strong will power and sup port it is possible to succeed. This was the case with Abdulla Ani, a 15 year old who has been suffering from obesity from the age of 12. He decided one day to start taking control of his life and health, and with the suppor t of both his parents and Lofat Junior he was able to shed an alarming 40 kg!

Abdulla is an inspiration to both teenagers and adults alike and he was kind enough to share his story in the interview After below.

When did you become unhappy with your weight?

Since I was young, 12 years old.

What made you decide to lose weight?

I never was comfortable in my own skin.

Last summer, when I came back from holiday, I was bigger than I have ever been. My weight was 108kg. I remember looking in the mirror and just thinking to myself, how did I let this happen to myself, and I decided to lose

weight.

Why did you choose Lofat?

I remember once trying the Lofat restaurant and the food was amazing compared to other diet companies/foods I have tried before. It tasted like ‘real’ food, as opposed to some diet foods I have tried before. So I took the brochure, called Lofat and set an appointment, I didn’t even have to decide between other companies.

Also, Lofat is the only company in Kuwait that actually has a section dedicated to children and teenagers up to age 16. This was another factor that pleased my mother when joining a diet company.

How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?

I joined Lofat in September 2010 my weight was 108 kg. It has been one year and four months since I have started my diet and lost 40 kg.

How has your life changed now that you’ve lost weight?

My life has changed drastically now that I have lost weight. The best thing is just how I feel. Inside, I just feel better, healthier. It is a feeling I haven’t experienced before my weight loss. Everything I do is easier and less stressful now that I have lost weight.

me at 15 would have high cholesterol.

Do you mind if we ask how much you have lost?

Not at all. I have lost 40 kg since my first consultation last year.

How have you done it? What’s your secret?

Honestly there really isn’t a secret. I followed the Lofat diet set out for me by my dietitian Tanya, and I just exercise regularly.

How is your health after losing the weight?

I do many sports regularly. I run an average of 6km 4 times a week as well as swim.

My blood has no lipids or cholesterol in it, and I feel better than I have ever been.

Do you have any advice for others who would like to lose weight?

No matter what you think, nothing is impossible. If you really want something and with the great support from Lofat, you can achieve your goals. Good luck to anyone like me, who is trying to lose weight!

How did Lofat help you reach your weight loss goals?

Having a weekly consultation motivated me to want to lose weight every week. My dietitian at Lofat, Tanya, makes sure that I follow my diet regularly, and gives me advice, which I find very helpful. Also the variety and selection of the meals offered by Lofat made it easy.

How would you describe your health condition before you started your weight loss journey?

My weight was 108kg. I never played any sports, and I would be out of breath from just walking up stairs. After doing a blood test, my blood showed that I had high lipids and cholesterol in my blood. It was scary to think that

Before

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

H E A LT H

Up to 6.7m bats dead from fungus WASHINGTON: Between 5.7 and 6.7 million bats have died in Nor th America due to a fungus known as white-nose syndrome ( WNS) since the disease first appeared in 2006, US authorities said on Tuesday.

The count is a vast increase over the one million bats believed dead according to the last estimate in 2009, and in some areas has meant that nearly all of the bat population is gone, wildlife expert Jeremy Coleman told AFP. “In states like New York and Vermont and southern Ontario, we anticipate that the overall population is probably impacted on the order of 90-plus percent,” said Coleman, national white-nose syndrome coordinator at the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The figures were compiled using data from state biologists and mathematical models to project losses across geographical areas where the disease is known to have spread. “This startling new information illustrates the severity of the threat that whitenose syndrome poses for bats, as well as the scope of the problem facing

our nation,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe.

“Bats provide tremendous value to the US economy as natural pest control for American farms and forests every year, while playing an essential role in helping to control insects that can spread disease to people.”

Bats are in important natural pesticide worth at least 3.7 billion dollars per year to farmers, a recent study calculated. The first known outbreak of WNS has been traced to a colony of bats in upstate New York, and has spread 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) across the United States and into Canada.

It has now been documented in 16 states and four Canadian provinces.

The syndrome is particularly lethal for winter colonies of species that hibernate, including little brown bats, northern long-eared bats and the endangered Indiana bat, according to the United States Geological Survey.

A study published late last year confirmed that the disease is caused by a fungus called Geomyces destructans, but experts are stumped as to how to stop it.— AFP

New Mowasat Hospital hails latest scientific developments in endoscopy KUWAIT: Dr Mahmoud Omar: “We use the second generation of colon and intestine capsules” Consultant and Head of Internal Medicine Diseases Department at New Mowasat Hospital, Fellow of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Dr Mahmoud Mohammad Omar said the hospital exclusively reveals the latest scientific developments in the field of endoscopy, high definition endoscopes, which allows early detection of tumors of the digestive system, using the “i-scan” technology.

This technology detects changes in the lining of the digestive system more accurately.

He clarified that modern endoscopes use ultrasound examination of the stomach wall and lymph glands behind it, which was not available by ordinary endoscopes.

On esophageal reflux and its causes, Dr Mahmoud Omar noted that acid reflux into the esophagus is a common condition. Usually it is attributed to inflammation or laxity of the stomach valve which reduces its efficiency in preventing the reflux of acid to the esophagus. Then the symptoms appear on the patient such as feeling of heartburn, acidity, nausea, and the desire to vomit, and may feel the taste of acid in his mouth, causing vomit.

It may also show non-gastrointestinal symptoms such as chest pain and frequency of cough, especially during sleep and pain in the heart area although it is intact. Patients may suspect having heart or respiratory disease, while tests prove otherwise. Accordingly the cause of these symptoms reveals to be due to reflux of acid into the respiratory system.

Dr. Mahmoud Omar noted that the risk factors that increase the chance of esophageal reflux include smoking, excessive alcohol, exces-

sive eating especially fattening meals and sleeping afterwards, excessive intake of soft drinks, caffeine, chocolate and acidic substances, as well as obesity.

Dr Omar confirmed that endoscopy is a completely safe diagnostic method if used properly.

Dr. Omar pointed that the endoscopy has two functions; the first is diagnostic to detect tumors early, while the second is the treatment of tumors.

Dr. Omar pointed out that the rapid developments in digestive system endoscopies began to play a major role in the treatment of many dis-

Dr Mahmoud Omar

eases without surgery, such as treatment of obesity, the removal of tumors, colon diseases, esophageal reflux, pains, high acidity and bleeding.

Dr. Omar noted that New Mowasat Hospital is using the second generation of colon and intestine capsules, explaining that these capsules has test accuracy up to the accuracy of the ordinary endoscopy.

On the nature of the work of these capsules, Dr. Omar stated it is a small capsule with a battery and a camera. When swallowed by the patient, it shows the digestive system and is used in the diagnosis of small bowel diseases that are difficult to diagnose endoscopically, as it can transfer photos through a wireless device that records what goes into the capsule and then the body extracts this capsule naturally.

At the end of his speech, Dr. Omar warned of the wrong dietary habits in the Arab region, which plays a vital role in the digestive system diseases, including eating until full, sleeping immediately after eating, eating junk food and spicy food.

Dr. Omar advises anyone over fifty years old to conduct a routine examination of the colon leading to early detection of colon tumors, noting that such examination must be performed before the age of fifty if there is a history in the family of colon tumors. He also advised those who suffer from a change in form or nature of the stool, bleeding, weight loss or a sense of a state of general weakness to undergo colon examination.

On methods of prevention of the digestive system diseases, Dr. Omar advised to exercise, rationalize eating, and avoid smoking and alcohol as well as early detection of tumors.

30

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

W H AT ’ S O N Announcements

Greetings

NSS Kuwait Mannam Jayanthi tomorrow NSS Kuwait, will be celebrating the 135th Mannam Jayanthi (135th birth anniversary of our great Acharyan Baratha Kesari Padmabhushan Mannathu Padmanabhan) on Friday, 20 January at Cambridge English School, Mangaf from 10 am onwards with a full day event with variety of cultural programs followed by a traditional feast. Entry is free so all members are requested to be present at the venue well before the program starts to avail the seats. Transportation facilities available from Abbassiya and back. For details contact 9786 1393, 6646 2521, 9928 4824.

Happy birthday to you and many congratulations on all your success. May Allah Almighty shower His blessings upon you. Greetings from Ami, Jabbar, Atif, sisters, wife, Haseeb, Raeed, Furqan, Fatima & Mohammad.

KNES tops in Quran competition

Upcoming event Vichar Bharati seminar on Swami Vivekananda On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary, Vichar Bharati, an affiliate of Seva Darshan Kuwait, will hold a seminar on Swami Vivekananda on Friday, January 20, 2012 at the Indian Central School, Abbasiya. Vivekananda is regarded as the patriot saint of modern India and an inspirer of her dormant national consciousness. His Philosophy and vision became the eye-opener for millions across the world. Vivekananda’s unique message still remains as “an unopened gift” to mankind and Vichar Bharati aims to enlighten its members and well wishers with the message of this great visionary. Eminent speakers from the Indian community in Kuwait will deliver thoughts on various aspects of Vivekananda’s life.

Suresh V Balakrishnan, HOD, English Department at Bharatheeya Vidhya Bhavan will deliver a speech on Swami Vivekananda and Man-making. Sajeev K Peter, Business Editor, Kuwait Times will speak on the role of Swami Vivekananda in propagating Indian culture and heritage. Dr Srikumar T S, Scientific Consultant, Kuwait Foundation For The Advancement Of Science, will deliver a speech on ‘Swami Vivekananda, the Patriot and the Voice of India.’

Krishno Sarkar (Planning Engineer, KNPC) will talk on ‘Swami Vivekananda - The Role model of the Youth’ while Satyanarayanan S, Electrical Supervisor, Al Julaih Petroleum Company, will speak on Spiritual Perceptiveness of Swami Vivekananda. For more details and information please contact vbkuwait@gmail.com Infoconnect expo to be held in Kuwait From January 29th till February 4th Infoconnect will be held at the Kuwait International Fair Grounds Infoconnect is one of the most professionally organized trade shows in Kuwait, dedicated exclusively to the computer applications and information technology sector. The show ranks high on the popularity count, drawing in a large number of exhibitors as well as qualified business visitors at each of its editions. The line of products put on exhibit at the show is quite extensive and includes computer peripherals, IT security tools, software solutions, data warehousing systems and a host of other related services and accessories. The show draws in active participation from eminent professionals from both the public as well as the private sectors and the latest innovations and developments in the IT industry are closely looked into here. The show is held over a period of seven days at the Kuwait International Fairground and enjoys large scale media coverage too.

Kuwait Boat Show Kuwait, in the cradle of one of the most ancient and mostcontested corners of the world, is best described as a city state. The burgeoning capital, Kuwait City, is like a magnet: indeed it has been attracting Bedouin people from the Arabian interior, in search of a sea breeze and an escape from recurring drought, for centuries. Today the metropolis is still an oasis in a land of desert plains, but rather more of the cultural and epicurean kind. Excellent museums; a corniche ornamented with combed beaches and extravagant restaurants; modern shopping complexes and marinas, and long and lazy retreats at new beach resorts mark the Kuwait City experience. The organizers of the Kuwait International Boat Show expect more than 100 marine companies to display their latest products, boats, yachts, super yachts, electronics, engines and thousands of boating accessories from major marine manufacturers. The Boat Show encompasses more than 120.000 m2 of space, both on land and in water.

Where: Souk Sharq Marina & Water Front Kuwait International Boat Show Timings: 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm Local exhibitors & for more info kindly contact Mr. Abdulla Al Manei (Exhibition Manager): 2538-7100 Ext: 172, 9978-8130, 2539-3872, 2539-8123, 9444-9102, a.almanei@kif.net International exhibitors & any additional info kindly contact Mrs. Kaya Gabrielcic info@kuwait-boatshow.com

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tudents from Kuwait National English School got excellent results in the Reading Quran Competition, organized by the Ministry of Education among all the English, American and Bilingual Schools in Kuwait. On this occasion, Madame Chantal Al Gharabally expresses her sincere thanks and congratulations to the Islamic Department and the students for their continuous effort for their achievements.

Comedy-play to be hosted with Indian celebrities The Indian Cultural Society of Kuwait (ICS) proudly presents a new concept comedy-play titled “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi”.

The play will star well-known Bollywood film celebrities Bhagyashree and Akshay Ananad for the first time in Kuwait.

This latest romantic comedy will also feature other Bollywood actors such as Krutika Sharma, Prairna and Navin Agarwal. ICS is known for organizing cultural events and wonderful quality entertainment for music lovers in Kuwait!

The event will be held on Friday, February 17th at 7pm the American International School (Dr Kamil Al-Rays Auditorium), Near the police station, Maidan Hawally. For more info: 9727-0386, 6703-0839 Email: ics.kuwait@gmail.com

Cultural programme On the 10th of February 2012, Friday at 3:30 pm. A cultural programme will be staged at the Carmel School Kuwait, Khaitan. This will include a Book Fair and an Art Competition with a Musical Drama (JanatarDak). It is written n Directed by Rafiqul Islam Bulu and organized by the Bangladesh Udjapon Committee Kuwait.

This is an open invitation, All are welcome.

Spring camp The Scientific Center is set to kick off its 2012 Spring Camp on Sunday, January 29; which features two separate camps each held for a one week period. The event features various activities that include visits to the aquarium and iMAX theater, as well as a ‘behind the scenes’ trip to watch fish and shark feeding process.

Registration in the event is available for children aged between 6 and 12. The activities will take place every day from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm.

IMWA holds meeting

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he EC of Indian Muslim Welfare Association (IMWA) held their regular meeting at Anjappar Restaurant, Farwaniya on 7th January and took the feedback of recently held events and discussed about their future Programs. Senior IMWA members like Dr Mirza Umair Beg and Br Mukhtar Marouf graced the meeting with their presence and gave invaluable advice. They reminded

that IMWA was established with a noble aim of serving the community and Education shall be the first priority. Br. Mukhtar Marouf said that the programs shall be of community interest to attract new members.

IMWA President Br Mohammed Manshauddin said that they do intend to conduct Education oriented programs for the benefit of the community, especially for the

children and ladies. And the first such program, Educational Meet and Lectures series will be organized shortly. He also informed that a new Website will be launched incorporated with new technology for the convenience of the organizers as well as IMWA members etc.

The meeting was concluded by Dua offered by Br AbdulAzeem Majgaonkar.

Ramy Haykal - new GM of Crowne Plaza Kuwait

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he best example of leadership is leadership by example. True to this saying, Ramy Haykal donned the mantle of becoming the General Manager of Crowne Plaza Kuwait.A significant moment in the historic chapter of Crowne Plaza Kuwait, was witnessed last month during the official hand over by the outgoing general manager, Hani Kafafi who warmly welcomed Ramy Haykal as the new General Manager amidst great fanfare following heartfelt congratulation from thethe owners, IHG top officials, ambassadors, key accounts, and media presence.

Having started his career with IHG 15 years ago at the young age of 21, Ramy Haykal went through several ranks in various departments, such as front office, food and beverage, finance; in addition to several

GLEE-esque show choir This Valentine’s Day step into a musical Love Story performed by Vocal Rhapsody, KLT’s first ever GLEE-esque show choir. Vocal Rhapsody’s “Love Story” - is a show choir production with hit songs from artists such as Journey, Queen, Katy Perry and Meatloaf. It promises to be an exciting evening for all with some classic songs that everyone will enjoy. For contact: http://www.theklt.com Kuwait Bike Show The Kuwait Bike Show is an annual bike show organized by Harley Davidson of Kuwait. The show this year will take place at Marina Mall the most popular shopping destination in Kuwait. The bike show is a competition with different categories, where judgment will be taken on certain points by experts. Invited participants will include chapters from all over the Middle East. It will be held January 26th - 27th.For further info Email: webmaster@hog-kw.com or cmc@harley-davidsonkw.com

Santhwanam anniversary Pioneering Indian voluntary organization, “Santhwanam Kuwait” announces its 11th anniversary-cum-Annual General Body Meeting on Friday, Jan 27 at Abbasiya United Indian School auditorium at 5 pm. The volunteers welcome all expat Indians for the anniversary function.

special assignments for new hotels opening, then moving on to the corporate office taking up the role of

Director of Finance for Intercontinental Hotels Group [IHG] for the Middle East & Africa [MEA]

region hotels for 4 years, steadily rising up to become the Director of the Franchise division for IHG MEA in just over 2 years. Following he was promoted to becoming the youngest general manager, managing the Holiday Inn Kuwait for the past 2.5 years. He was responsible for rebranding the Holiday Inn Kuwait and gave a total new look to the Holiday Inn Kuwait. During his leadership, the Holiday Inn witnessed unprecedented success that continued to follow during the past 2-1/2 years.

Ramy Haykal holds management degree in both accounting and finance and hospitality as well. We wish him the very best in his new role and hope that he continues his success story at the Crowne Plaza Kuwait

K’s PATH to hold first ever ‘Bark in the Park’ A fundraiser event no dog would want to miss

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’S PATH (Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat) - a non-profit organization committed to animal welfare and habitat protection - will hold its first ever ‘Bark in the Park’ on Saturday 21st January 2012 from 11 am to 5 pm at the Mishref Fair Grounds. The fundraiser event is a fun-filled day for all dogs and their humans with a host of unique competitions, funny races, vendors and lots of entertainment and games for children. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support K’S PATH’s programs in animal welfare, environment and habitat protection.

“Following the success of our Charity Ball and Golf Tournament, Bark in the Park is the newest addition to K’S PATH’s annual calendar of exciting fundraiser events. Bark in the Park takes a departure from the pedigree dog show by celebrating all types of dogs through fun activi-

ties in a carnival setting”, says K’S PATH Chairman Ayeshah Al Humaidhi. “It’s a great opportunity for people who love dogs to treat their beloved pets to novel competitions and socialize with other dogs while supporting a worthy cause.

We have a range of renowned pet care and F&B vendors participating and we invite Kuwait’s dog-loving community to come out and be part of Bark in the Park.” Thanks goes to Blue Buffalo Co., Pawsh Boutique and Move One for sponsoring Bark in the Park in its very first year, she adds.

Dogs and their families can enjoy fabulous fare from a host of select vendors such as The November Bakery, Popcornopolis, Blue Pitt Bull Kennel, Q8 Bullies Kennel, Kerry A Sellers Photography, Epetome, Kuwait Petography, Organica Fish and Chips, Basic Organic Pet and Feed, Petzone, Royal Animal

Hospital, Gloria Jeans Coffee and Animal Care. Visitors can also bag special door and raffle prizes from Easa Al Yousifi and Sons, Ethan Allen, Johnny Rocket, Moevenpick, Hard Rock Cafe, Baskets made perfect and Alghanim.

Competitions will be held through the day in the following categories: Most Mysterious Heritage, Egg Race, Best Child Handler, Most Obedient, Musical Sit, Best Dressed, Temptation Alley, Best Look A Like, Best Veteran, Terrific Pet Tricks, Most Adorable and Sack Race. Visitors can register their dogs for competitions on the day of the event itself, 15 minutes before the commencement of each competition.

For a complete list of competitions and their timings, please visit www.kspath.org or email events@kspath.org.

Grand cricket tournament IMA Youth Wing is organizing a Grand Cricket Tournament on 3rd February 2012 from 7 am to 5:30 pm at South Khaitan (Opp to Crowne Plaza). Winners will take home attractive Prizes.

27th January is the last date for registration. To register your teams please contact the below persons or register online by visiting our website www.imayouthwing.org Fahaheel - Br. Ayaz Ahmed - 65064722, Khaitan - Br. Ibrahim 94025249, Salmiya - Br. Nawazish - 60364711, Hawally - Br. Salman - 99660183 Kuwait Little Theatre to host a show Following the success of Mad Musicals 7 and Dick Whittington this season KLT continues to push the theatrical envelope with a whole new genre of show brought to you by Kristen Falcioni and Stephen Grimes. This Valentine’s Day step into a musical Love Story performed

by Vocal Rhapsody, KLT’s first ever GLEE-esque show choir. Vocal Rhapsody’s “Love Story” - is a show choir production with hit songs from artists such as Journey, Queen, Katy Perry and Meatloaf. It promises to be an exciting evening for all with some classic songs that everyone will enjoy.

When: February 14th - February 17th Where: Kuwait Little Theater in Ahmadi

Cinemagic schedule THE GREAT DICTATOR In Chaplin’s satire on Nazi Germany, dictator Adenoid Hynkel has a double... a poor Jewish barber... who one day is mistaken for Hynkel. today, January 19th at 7:30pm THE BEAT THAT MY HEART SKIPPED Should Tom (Duris) make like his thuggish father or pursue his dream of becoming a pianist?

Saturday, January 21st at 7:30pm THRONE OF BLOOD A ruthlessly ambitious lord, egged on by his wife, works to fulfill a prophecy that he would become Emperor. Thursday, January 26th at 7:30pm GREASE Good girl Sandy and greaser Danny fell in love over the summer. But when they unexpectedly discover they’re now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance? Saturday, January 28th at 7:30pm AKIRA A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psionic psychopath that only two kids and a group of psionics can stop. Cinemagic Kuwait, is organizing these events as part of its efforts to contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Kuwaiti audio-visual production industry, partly by bringing the filmmakers and audiences together and by Increasing the public’s interest in - and appreciation for - the art of film-making. Cinemagic movies are screened in the old Salmiya, on the roof on top of Alghanim Electronics and LG. Entrance is free of charge and includes refreshments, popcorn and much more.

31

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF BRITAIN The British embassy will be closed on Wednesday, 18 January, 2012 for training. The embassy will reopen on Thursday 18, January 2012. The Consular services will also be closed on the same day. Opening hours of the consular section are 8:30 am until 10:30 am from Sunday to Thursday.

For information on the British Embassy services, visit the website: www.uninkuwait.fco.gov.uk nnnnnnn

‘Sandwich Day’ at NPIS

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o break the growing popularity of junk food and inculcate healthy eating habits KG, Class 1 and Class 2 of NPIS celebrated “Sandwich Day” on Monday 9th Jan. It was amusing to see children dressed as different sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers etc. Teachers in their respective classes made different kind of sandwiches and distributed among the students.

Some of them wanted the sandwiches without mayonnaise some without ketchup etc. and the teachers catered to their requests. Basement looked like sandwich land beautifully decorated with a variety of sandwiches.

Anita Bukharey, director of the school appreciated efforts of the teachers and parents. The children thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Syrian Orthodox Church celebrates Xmas, New Year

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he Christmas, New Year Family Get-together of St. George Universal Syrian Orthodox Reesh Kuwait and 34th Anniversary of the St. George Sunday School were jointly celebrated on January 13, 2012 at National Evangelical Church, Kuwait City with colorful programs displayed by the Sunday School Students and elders.

The event started with a Public

Meeting presided over the Parish Vicar Rev. Fr. Sajan T. John. Church Secretary, Johnson Varghese welcomed the gathering and Rev. Fr. Immanuel Thomas of St. Peter’s Knanaya Syrian Church officially inaugurated the program and delivered Christmas Message. The Sunday School Head Master, Saju Kuriakose presented the Sunday School Annual

Report for the year 2011.

Jacob John, the Church Trustee proposed Vote of Thanks. Shinosh Geevarghese, Ms. Sara Alex and Susan John compeered the programs.

The Sunday School children entertained the audience with variety of colorful stage presentations of dance, songs and skits etc. Carols, candle dance, shadow shows, margam kali, the

traditional Malankara Syrian traditional dance form for woman, received big appreciation from one and all.

Trophies and prices were distributed to the toppers in Sunday School exams and the Balasamajam competitions.

Mathew Tharakan, the Program Convener thanked the students, teachers, audience and all who helped organize this memorable program.

EMBASSY OF BRAZIL The Embassy of Brazil requests all Brazilian citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the website www.brazil.org.kw (Contact Us Form / Fale Conosco) in order to register or update contact information. The Embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the Embassy. The registration process helps the Brazilian Government to contact and assist Brazilians living abroad in case of any emergency. nnnnnnn

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. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break. Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday. 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. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus requests Cypriot citizens living in Kuwait to register with the Embassy. This registration service is provided so that the Embassy can update its contact list and assist Cypriot citizens in cases of emergencies.

Registration information can be emailed to cyprusembassykwt@gmail.com or faxed to 22253227 or given by phone to 65906048 (Mrs Christine). nnnnnnn

MMF media seminar

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IASCO Kuwait chairman S A Labba receiving Pravasi Bharath Divas Shreyas Puraskar from Kerala Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar.

alayali Media Forum (Kuwait) will host a media seminar tomorrow Jan 20, evening at Rajadhani Palace Hall, Khaitan from 6 pm onwards. Renowned Indian journalist and India Today Associate editor M G Radhakrishnan will deliver the keynote speech. The MMF members and invited guests working in various socio-cultural fields in Kuwait will attend the seminar.

EMBASSY OF INDIA On the occasion of the Republic Day of India, a Flag Hoisting Ceremony will be held at the Embassy of India premises at 9:00 AM on Thursday, January 26, 2012.

This will be followed by the reading of the message of Hon’ble President of India by the Ambassador, singing of patriotic songs by Indian children, and an Open House Reception. All Indian nationals in Kuwait are cordially invited to attend the Ceremony. 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 its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax- 25387719.

Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF PERU Peruvian Permanent Expo will be temporarily closed from December 2lst 2011 to January 21st 2012. The Expo will reopen on January 22nd 2012 and offer once again “Peruvian Private Gastronomy Tasting Lunches” and much more like Peruvian culture, tourism, trade and great possibilities of investment. nnnnnnn

Discover the chef in you with Italian culinary experts at ‘Carluccios’

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arluccio’s most flavorful dishes will come to life for the entire month of January and February as the restaurant chef will host exclusive cooking classes and demonstrations. Discover the ‘Masterchef’ in you as you set out on a culinary journey with expert Italian Chef Davide Barison. Watch him in action as he whips up traditional favorites from Northern Italy.

Guests at the classes will have the opportunity to recreate some of the restaurant’s signature dishes and indulge in their culinary masterpiece while taking advantage of fantastic dining offers in-store.They can also enjoy tasting samples of all the dishes which the chef will

prepare on the day, in addition to all the recipes featured in the class and a goody bag containing some lovely Italian products to enjoy at home.

Speaking about the classes Sajan Alex, Country Operations Manager, Foodmark Kuwait said: “Food, cooking and dining play such an important part of our lives, the cooking classes and demonstrations provides us an ideal platform to reach out to cooking enthusiasts across Kuwait. The classes are going to be hands-on, informative, interactive, fun and guests will learn authentic techniques and recipes. Chef Davide Barison will demonstrate easy sessions with interesting anecdotes and fascinat-

ing information that will make Italian cooking a delight.”

The January class will include “Minestrone alla Milanese” - Minestrone Soup from Milan, containing a medley of vegetables .The second course will be “Risotto ai Funghi Porcini” - a creamy Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms. The Porcini Mushrooms are picked from the forests of North Italy, and then combined with creamy risotto. Dessert will be classic “Panna Cotta al Caffe” - a traditional set cream dessert - flavoured with coffee.

For the month of February, Chef’s menu will consist of “Zuppa di Funghi” a hearty soup made with mixed mush-

rooms, potatoes and chives. Second course will include “Gnocchi al Ragu di Agnello” - fresh potato dumplings, handmade from scratch, cooked with diced lamb and vegetables - a hearty dish for the winter season. To finish, chef will demonstrate how to make a “Pasticcio di Cioccolato” - a delicious Chocolate Bread and Butter Pudding.

The classes will be held at Carluccio’s Restaurant, Avenues Mall on January 20th and 21st and February 17th. It includes breakfast, juice and coffee - all served from 9.30 am. There will also be a pizza making session for kids on January 27th. Classes start at 10.30 am. For more information contact 22597310.

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE We’d like to inform you that in response to the increasing number of our citizens who work in the state and the need for 24-hour operational telephone in case of emergency the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened “hotline telephone number” (+ 965) 972-79-206.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

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What To Eat Now - Summer James Martin’s Brittany Indian Food Made Easy Come Dine With Me Cash In The Attic USA Cash In The Attic USA Indian Food Made Easy What To Eat Now - Summer James Martin’s Brittany Masterchef Australia Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Come Dine With Me 10 Years Younger Masterchef Fantasy Homes By The Sea House Swap Bargain Hunt Cash In The Attic USA James Martin’s Brittany What To Eat Now - Summer James Martin’s Brittany Indian Food Made Easy Antiques Roadshow Masterchef Bargain Hunt

Johnny Bravo Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Johnny Bravo Duck Dodgers King Arthur’s Disasters The Scooby Doo Show Popeye Classics Tom & Jerry Popeye The Jetsons The Flintstones Looney Tunes Pink Panther & Pals Tex Avery Duck Dodgers The Garfield Show Pink Panther And Pals Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm New Yogi Bear Show Puppy In My Pocket The Garfield Show Pink Panther And Pals The Scooby Doo Show Tom & Jerry Dastardly And Muttley Top Cat New Yogi Bear Show Puppy In My Pocket Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Bananas In Pyjamas The Jetsons Duck Dodgers Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Garfield Show Pink Panther And Pals The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Puppy In My Pocket Looney Tunes Tom & Jerry The Scooby Doo Show Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-

00:05 00:55 01:25 01:55 02:10 03:30 04:00 04:20 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:05 05:25 05:35 05:50 06:10 06:20 06:30 06:45 06:50 07:10 07:20 07:35 08:05 08:35 09:20 09:50 10:20 11:10 11:40 13:00 13:45 14:15 14:50 15:50 17:10 17:40 18:10 18:40 19:10 20:00 Tests 20:50 21:20 21:50 22:40 23:05 23:50

Holby City Eastenders Doctors New Tricks Lark Rise to Candleford The Green Green Grass Balamory Tellytales Bobinogs The Roly Mo Show Buzz & Tell Tweenies 3rd & Bird Nina And The Neurons Balamory Tellytales Bobinogs The Roly Mo Show Buzz & Tell Tweenies 3rd & Bird Nina And The Neurons Last Of The Summer Wine Keeping Up Appearances The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Casualty The Green Green Grass Lark Rise to Candleford The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Casualty Lark Rise to Candleford Eastenders Doctors Last Of The Summer Wine Keeping Up Appearances Chimp Family Fortunes The World’s Toughest Driving dinnerladies The Green Green Grass Survivors Keeping Up Appearances The Weakest Link As Time Goes By

00:05 00:30 00:55 01:20 01:45 02:10 02:35 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:00 09:25 09:50 10:15 10:40 11:05 11:30 11:55 12:20 12:35 13:00 13:15 13:40 13:55 14:20 14:45 15:15 15:40 16:05 16:30 16:55 17:45 18:20 18:45 Doo 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:15 20:40 21:05 21:30 21:45 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:25 23:55

00:00 00:45 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:45 03:15 04:05

Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow What To Eat Now - Summer James Martin’s Brittany James Martin’s Brittany Indian Food Made Easy 10 Years Younger Fantasy Homes By The Sea

00:40 Samurai Jack 01:05 Samurai Jack 01:30 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 02:20 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 02:45 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 03:10 Best Ed 04:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien

Scooby Doo Where Are You! A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas New Yogi Bear Show Pink Panther And Pals The Garfield Show Dastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show Dexters Laboratory

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

Years

04:25 Adventure Time 04:50 Generator Rex 05:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 05:40 Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 05:55 I Am Weasel 06:55 Powerpuff Girls 07:45 Angelo Rules 08:00 Casper’s Scare School 08:30 The Amazing World Of Gumball 08:45 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 09:15 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 09:40 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 10:05 Angelo Rules 10:30 Chowder 10:55 Adventure Time 11:20 Eliot Kid 11:35 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 12:00 Ben 10 12:25 Sym-Bionic Titan 12:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 13:15 I Am Weasel 13:40 Best Ed 14:05 Cow & Chicken 14:30 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 14:50 Eliot Kid 15:15 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 15:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 16:05 Courage The Cowardly Dog 16:30 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 16:55 The Amazing World Of Gumball 17:10 Adventure Time 17:35 Regular Show 18:00 Cow & Chicken 18:25 Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders 18:50 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 19:15 Angelo Rules 19:30 Total Drama World Tour 19:55 Hero 108 20:25 Sym-Bionic Titan 20:50 Adventure Time 21:25 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 21:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 22:25 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 22:50 Cow & Chicken 23:00 Ben 10 23:25 Ben 10 23:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog

07:00 07:50 08:45 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 16:00 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:25 23:20

Mythbusters Gold Rush: Alaska Coal How It’s Made Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings American Hotrod Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival Mythbusters Cash Cab Us Border Security Auction Kings How It’s Made How Stuff Works Cake Boss Surviving The Cut Miami SWAT Ross Kemp On Gangs

00:40 01:35 02:25 02:50 03:40 04:35 05:00 05:25 06:20 07:10 08:00 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:35 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:05 14:55 15:20 15:50 16:40 17:05 18:00 18:50 19:40 20:30 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50

The Gadget Show Colony The Tech Show Weird Or What?

What’s That About?

How Does That Work?

How Stuff’s Made Engineered Catch It Keep It Sci-Trek Space Pioneer How Does That Work?

How Stuff’s Made Weird Or What?

What’s That About?

Engineered Catch It Keep It The Gadget Show Sci-Trek How Does That Work?

How Stuff’s Made Space Pioneer The Tech Show Catch It Keep It The Gadget Show Man Made Marvels Asia Bang Goes The Theory Science Of The Movies Catch It Keep It Space Pioneer Bang Goes The Theory Science Of The Movies

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:45 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00

00:00 KIM POSSIBLE 00:25 Fairly Odd Parents 01:15 STITCH 02:00 REPLACEMENTS 02:50 EMPEROR’S NEW SCHOOL 04:00 STITCH 04:25 REPLACEMENTS 05:35 Fairly Odd Parents 06:00 HANNAH MONTANA 06:20 RECESS 06:45 Good Luck Charlie 07:05 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 07:55 PHINEAS AND FERB 08:10 FISH HOOKS 08:35 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 09:00 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 09:25 HANDY MANNY 09:40 THE HIVE 09:48 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 09:50 Fairly Odd Parents 10:15 SO RANDOM 10:40 HAVE A LAUGH 10:45 HANNAH MONTANA 11:10 Suite Life On Deck 11:35 JAKE & BLAKE 12:00 JONAS 12:25 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 12:45 PHINEAS AND FERB 13:10 SO RANDOM 13:30 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 14:20 SHAKE IT UP 14:55 HAVE A LAUGH 15:00 GOOD LUCK CHARLIE 15:25 PHINEAS AND FERB 15:50 FISH HOOKS 16:10 SHAKE IT UP 16:35 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 17:25 GOOD LUCK CHARLIE 17:50 FISH HOOKS 18:15 Suite Life On Deck 18:35 HAVE A LAUGH 18:45 Suite Life On Deck 19:10 GOOD LUCK CHARLIE 19:35 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 20:00 HANNAH MONTANA 20:25 PHINEAS AND FERB 20:50 SHAKE IT UP 21:15 FISH HOOKS 21:35 GOOD LUCK CHARLIE 22:00 SHAKE IT UP 22:50 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 23:35 SONNY WITH A CHANCE

00:15 00:40 01:35 02:30 03:25 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05

Connect The World Backstory World Sport The Situation Room World Report Anderson Cooper 360 Piers Morgan Tonight Quest Means Business Erin Burnett Outfront World Sport Talk Asia World Report World Report World Sport Ireport For CNN World Business Today Backstory Aiming For Gold World One Piers Morgan Tonight News Stream World Business Today International Desk Global Exchange CNN Marketplace Middle East World Sport Aiming For Gold International Desk Quest Means Business

Destroyed In Seconds Animal Cops South Africa Dirty Jobs Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How It’s Made How It’s Made Dirty Jobs

THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR ON OSN ACTION HD

00:20 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 01:05 JUNGLE JUNCTION 01:15 LITTLE EINSTEINS 01:40 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 02:10 JO JO’S CIRCUS 02:30 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 03:15 JUNGLE JUNCTION 03:25 LITTLE EINSTEINS 03:50 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 04:20 JO JO’S CIRCUS 04:40 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 05:10 JUNGLE JUNCTION 05:35 LITTLE EINSTEINS 06:00 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 06:30 JO JO’S CIRCUS 06:50 JUNGLE JUNCTION 07:15 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 07:45 HANDY MANNY 08:00 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 08:15 JUNGLE JUNCTION 08:45 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 09:10 THE HIVE 09:20 HANDY MANNY 09:30 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 10:15 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 10:25 TIMON AND PUMBAA 10:45 THE HIVE 10:55 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 11:20 IMAGINATION MOVERS 11:45 ART ATTACK 12:10 IMAGINATION MOVERS 12:30 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 12:45 LazyTown 13:10 HANDY MANNY 13:25 JUNGLE JUNCTION 13:40 IMAGINATION MOVERS 14:05 THE HIVE 14:15 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 14:25 LITTLE EINSTEINS 14:50 LazyTown 15:15 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 15:40 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND

PIRATES 15:55 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 16:05 HANDY MANNY 16:35 THE HIVE 16:45 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 17:30 HANDY MANNY 17:45 ART ATTACK 18:10 THE HIVE 18:20 HANDY MANNY 18:30 JUNGLE JUNCTION 18:45 HANDY MANNY 18:55 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 19:25 THE HIVE 19:35 LITTLE EINSTEINS 20:00 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 20:05 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 20:30 ANIMATED STORIES 20:35 HANDY MANNY 20:50 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 21:20 THE HIVE 21:30 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 21:33 A POEM IS...

21:40 JUNGLE JUNCTION 21:55 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 22:20 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 22:35 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 22:50 LITTLE EINSTEINS 23:15 TIMMY TIME 23:25 HANDY MANNY 23:40 JUNGLE JUNCTION 23:55 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 25 Celebrity Near Death Experiences 03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 15 Most Infamous Child Star Mugshots 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Kendra 09:45 Kendra 10:15 THS 12:05 E! News 13:05 Awards Fashion Police 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 15:00 Style Star 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Ice Loves Coco 17:55 E! News 18:55 Awards Fashion Police 19:55 Scouted 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Scouted 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami

00:40 01:30 02:15 03:05 03:50 04:40 05:25 06:15 07:10 08:00 08:50 09:40 10:25 11:10 11:35 11:55 12:40 13:25 14:15 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:35 17:20 18:10 19:00 19:45 20:10 20:55 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50

Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab Psychic Witness I Almost Got Away With It FBI Case Files Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab Psychic Witness Mystery ER FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Mystery ER Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Murder Shift Mystery ER Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Kidnap And Rescue Fugitive Strike Force

00:00 Treks In A Wild World 00:30 Geologic Journey 01:00 On The Camino De Santiago 01:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 01:30 Word Travels 02:00 Cruise Ship Diaries 02:00 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 02:30 Alaskan Killer Shark 03:00 Pressure Cook 03:30 Master of Disaster 03:30 Pressure Cook 04:00 Around The World For Free 04:30 Megastructures 05:00 Nomads 05:30 Alaskan Killer Shark 06:00 Treks In A Wild World 06:30 Megastructures 07:00 On The Camino De Santiago 07:30 Geologic Journey 07:30 Word Travels 08:00 Cruise Ship Diaries 08:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 09:00 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 09:00 Pressure Cook 09:30 Megastructures 09:30 Pressure Cook 10:00 Around The World For Free 10:30 Shark Nicole 11:00 Nomads 11:30 Master of Disaster 12:00 Treks In A Wild World 12:30 Megastructures 13:00 Food School 13:30 Bondi Rescue 13:30 Shark Nicole 14:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 14:30 Megastructures 14:30 Naked Lentil 15:00 First Ascent 15:30 Geologic Journey 15:30 The Best Job In The World 16:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 2 16:30 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 2 16:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 17:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita

THE ECLIPSE ON OSN CINEMA 17:30 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 17:30 Megastructures 18:00 Departures 18:30 Killer Dragons 19:00 Food School 19:30 Bondi Rescue 19:30 Mega Factories 20:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 20:30 Naked Lentil 20:30 World’s Worst Venom 21:00 First Ascent 21:30 The Best Job In The World 21:30 World’s Toughest Fixes 22:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 2 22:30 World’s Deadliest Animals 23:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 23:30 Megastructures

00:15 01:45 03:45 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:45 16:00 PG15 18:15 21:00 22:30

Deadtime Stories-R Sanctum-18 Alive-PG15 The Thirteenth Floor-18 No Time To Fear-PG15 Top Gun-PG15 2012-PG15 No Time To Fear-PG15 The Hunt For Red October-

01:00 03:00 05:15 07:15 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Vinyan-18 The A-Team-PG15 Paper Man-PG15 The Eclipse-PG15 Waiting For Superman-PG15 The Boys Are Back-PG Mars Needs Moms-PG Miles From Nowhere-PG15 The Boys Are Back-PG Freakonomics-PG15 Red-PG15 The Killer Inside Me-18

2012-PG15 Blood Out-18 Luster-18

12:00 Two And A Half Men 12:30 Will And Grace 13:00 Just Shoot Me 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 16:30 The Office 18:00 Friends 19:00 30 Rock 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 The Big C 22:30 The Ricky Gervais Show 23:00 Family Guy

01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

Strikeback Terriers Once Upon A Time In Treatment Good Morning America Law & Order: Los Angeles Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Once Upon A Time Law & Order: Los Angeles Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Psych American Idol Rescue Me In Treatment

00:00 01:00 03:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00

C.S.I. Hawthorne Strikeback Surface C.S.I. How I Met Your Mother Coronation Street House Hawthorne How I Met Your Mother Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show House C.S.I. The Cape The Ellen DeGeneres Show

18:00 19:00 22:00 23:00

House Psych Rescue Me Supernatural

01:00 Empire-18 03:00 Survival Of The Dead-18 05:00 Largo Winch 2-PG15 07:00 Bodyguard: A New BeginningPG15 09:00 Batman: Under The Red Hood-PG 11:00 The Bannen Way-PG15 13:00 Bangkok Adrenaline-PG15 15:00 Batman: Under The Red Hood-PG 17:00 The Lost Future-PG15 19:00 The Rig-18 21:00 Harry Brown-18 23:00 Saw VI-R

00:00 02:00 04:00 PG15 06:00 PG15 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee-PG15 Without A Paddle-PG15 A Pyromaniac’s Love Story-

01:00 03:00 PG15 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:15 13:30 15:15 17:00 18:45 21:00 PG15 23:00

The Shock Doctrine-PG15 The Time Traveller’s Wife-

Revenge Of The BridesmaidsThe Making Of Plus One-PG15 The Lizzie McGuire Movie-PG Bubble Boy-PG15 Tom And Huck-PG15 Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee-PG15 Bob Roberts-PG15 The Slammin’ Salmon-18 Tank Girl-PG15

Veronica Guerin-PG15 Dean Spanley-PG Another Year-PG15 Lost In Space-PG15 Witch Hunt-PG15 Bond Of Silence-PG15 Parlez-Moi De LA Pluie-PG15 The Sting-PG15 The Thomas Crown AffairThe Limits Of Control-18

01:00 The Last House On The Left18 03:00 Cats & Dogs-PG 05:00 Josie And The Pussycats-PG15 07:00 Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief-PG15 09:00 Iron Man 2-PG15 11:15 Planet 51-PG 13:00 Just Wright-PG15 15:00 The Fourth Kind-PG15 16:45 Iron Man 2-PG15 19:00 Burlesque-PG15 21:00 Red-PG15 23:00 All Good Things-18

01:45 03:45 PG15 06:00 FAM 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 PG15 18:00 20:00 22:00 PG15

The Nimbols: Part II-PG15 Kong: Return To The JungleCasper Haunted ChristmasIn Search Of The Titanic-PG15 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid-PG 102 Dalmatians-PG Gladiators: The Conspiracy-PG I’ll Be Home For Christmas102 Dalmatians-PG Flicka 2-PG15 I’ll Be Home For Christmas-

00:30 Made In Dagenham-PG15 02:30 Robin Hood (2010)-PG15 05:00 Post Grad-PG15 06:30 Family Gathering-PG15 08:00 Too Big To Fail-PG15 10:00 Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard-PG 11:45 Mean Girls-PG15 13:45 Marmaduke-PG 15:30 Robin Hood (2010)-PG15 18:00 Knight And Day-PG15 20:00 Unstoppable-PG15 22:00 Sundays At Tiffany’s-PG15 23:45 Fish Tank-PG15

02:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 11:00 14:00 14:30 15:30 21:30 22:45

Cricket Twenty20 Volvo Ocean Race Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Powerboats Snooker Masters Live Cricket Twenty20 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Trans World Sport Live Snooker Masters WWE NXT Live European Challenge Cup

02:00 Cricket Twenty20 05:00 European Challenge Cup 07:00 Snooker Masters 11:00 Live Cricket Twenty20 14:00 Live PGA European Tour 18:00 Golfing World 19:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 19:30 Cricket Twenty20 22:45 Live European Challenge Cup

02:00 03:00 04:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 14:00 15:00 15:30 21:30 22:00

Golfing World Trans World Sport Scottish Premier League FIVB Beach Volley Ball Golfing World Trans World Sport SPL Highlights European Tour Weekly Golfing World FIVB Beach Volley Ball European Challenge Cup Golfing World Futbol Mundial Live Snooker Masters World Hockey Live Snooker Masters

01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00

V8 Supercars Championship Speedway Intercontinental Le Mans Cup UFC Unleashed WWE SmackDown Speedway Le Mans Series Highlights V8 Supercars Championship WWE Vintage Collection WWE Bottom Line Le Mans Series Highlights Speedway FIM World Powerboats WWE Vintage Collection WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC 142

00:00 Down the Line 01:00 Globe Trekker 03:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 04:00 Food Tripper 05:00 Cruise 1st 09:00 Planet Food 10:00 Globe Trekker 11:00 Culinary Asia 12:00 Cruise 1st 13:00 Floyd On Spain 13:30 Floyd Uncorked 14:00 Globe Trekker 15:00 Sophie Grigson In The Home Counties 15:30 Cruise 1st 16:30 Wild Carpathia 17:30 The Ethical Hedonist 18:30 Globe Trekker 19:30 Cruise 1st 20:30 Floyd On Spain 21:00 Floyd Uncorked 21:30 Sophie Grigson In The Souk 22:00 Cruise 1st 23:00 Third Class Traveller

01:15 02:50 04:20 06:30 08:00 09:50 11:30 13:00 14:45 16:40 18:15 19:45 21:25 23:00

Pink Floyd—The Wall The Split Victor/Victoria A Night At The Opera-FAM Dark Passage-FAM Hotel Paradiso-PG Live A Little, Love A Little-PG Tortilla Flat-FAM Silk Stockings-FAM Tribute To A Bad Man-PG Royal Wedding-FAM The Swordsman Of Siena-FAM Pat And Mike-FAM The Prize-PG

Classifieds THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR KLM JZR JZR THY UAE QTR DHX MSR FDB ETD GFA KAC THY DHX FAH JZR JZR BAW KAC KAC FDB IRA KAC KAC JZR KAC IRA KAC UAE ABY QTR ETD FDB GFA KNE JZR RKM MEA SYR MSC KAC MSR KAC GFA MSR FDB MSR UAL GRF OMA QTR KNE SVA KAC RJA KAC KAC JZR LMU KAC QTR JZR MLR ETD JZR UAE KAC FDB GFA SVA ABY JZR ALK JZR MSC TAR FDB KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB JAI OMA MSR KAC DHX MEA GFA LMU QTR UAE JZR KAC KLM AIC JZR UAL PHY AXB BBC DLH

Arrival Flights on Thursday 19/1/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 447 AMSTERDAM/BAHRAIN 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 772 ISTANBUL 853 DUBAI 138 DOHA 370 BAHRAIN 612 CAIRO 67 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 211 BAHRAIN 544 CAIRO 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 201 DUBAI 503 LUXOR 555 ALEXANDRIA 157 LONDON 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 617 AHWAZ 352 COCHIN 302 MUMBAI 531 ASSIUT 332 TRIVANDRUM 605 ISFAHAN 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI 55 DUBAI 213 BAHRAIN 789 JEDDAH 165 DUBAI 310 RAS ALKHAIMAH 404 BEIRUT 341 DAMASCUS 9621 SOHAG 382 DELHI 610 CAIRO 672 DUBAI 219 BAHRAIN 621 ASSIUT 57 DUBAI 606 LUXOR 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 93 KANDAHAR/DUBAI 645 MUSCAT 140 DOHA 745 JEDDAH 500 JEDDAH 552 DAMASCUS 640 AMMAN 788 JEDDAH 284 DHAKA 257 BEIRUT 407 ALEXANDRIA 546 ALEXANDRIA 134 DOHA 535 CAIRO 403 COLOMBO/DUBAI 303 ABU DHABI 357 MASHAD 857 DUBAI 118 NEW YORK 59 DUBAI 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 127 SHARJAH 777 JEDDAH 227 COLOMBO/DUBAI 177 DUBAI 9623 SOHAG 328 TUNIS/DUBAI 63 DUBAI 542 CAIRO 125 BAHRAIN 786 JEDDAH 618 DOHA 614 BAHRAIN 674 DUBAI 104 LONDON 774 RIYADH 562 AMMAN 61 DUBAI 572 MUMBAI 647 MUSCAT 618 ALEXANDRIA 178 GENEVA/FRANKFURT 372 BAHRAIN 402 BEIRUT 217 BAHRAIN 409 ASSIUT 136 DOHA 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 502 BEIRUT 445 AMSTERDAM 981 CHENNAI/HYDERABAD 239 AMMAN 981 BAHRAIN 1002 TBILISI 389 KOZHIKODE/MANGALORE 43 DHAKA 636 FRANKFURT

Time 0:20 0:30 0:45 0:50 2:15 2:35 2:40 2:55 3:00 3:05 3:10 3:15 4:40 4:50 5:15 5:30 5:55 6:00 6:40 6:45 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:50 7:55 8:00 8:05 8:15 8:20 8:30 9:00 9:05 9:15 9:20 9:55 11:20 11:20 11:45 11:55 12:35 12:45 12:45 12:55 13:20 13:25 13:30 13:50 13:55 14:05 14:15 14:15 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:40 14:50 15:00 15:00 15:10 15:20 15:25 16:25 16:40 16:50 16:50 16:55 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:50 19:00 19:10 19:15 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:40 19:50 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:45 20:55 21:00 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:00 22:05 22:05 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:35 23:45 23:50

Airlines AXB UAL AIC JZR DLH KLM KAC THY KAC FDB UAE DHX MSR ETD QTR PHY THY JZR GFA FDB KAC BAW IRA JZR KAC KAC JZR IRA KAC KAC UAE ABY ETD FDB QTR GFA JZR KAC KAC KNE JZR RKM MEA MSC SYR KAC JZR MSR GFA MSR FDB KAC MSR KAC KNE OMA UAL RJA JZR LMU KAC SVA KAC KAC KAC QTR JZR ETD JZR MLR QTR FDB GRF UAE GFA ABY SVA JZR JZR ALK FDB TAR MSC JZR FDB KAC KAC DHX KAC JAI OMA MSR KAC DHX KAC LMU MEA GFA FAH QTR KAC JZR UAE KAC KLM JZR KAC KAC

Departure Flights on Thursday 19/1/2012 Flt Route 394 COCHIN/KOZHIKODE 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 976 GOA/CHENNAI 530 ASSIUT 637 FRANKFURT 447 AMSTERDAM 283 DHAKA 773 ISTANBUL 381 DELHI 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 1003 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 54 DUBAI 545 ALEXANDRIA 156 LONDON 606 MASHAD 256 BEIRUT 671 DUBAI 551 DAMASCUS 534 CAIRO 604 ISFAHAN 787 JEDDAH 101 LONDON/NEW YORK 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 302 ABU DHABI 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 214 BAHRAIN 356 MASHAD 165 ROME/PARIS 541 CAIRO 790 JEDDAH 776 JEDDAH 311 RAS ALKHAIMAH 405 BEIRUT 9622 SOHAG 342 DEIREZZOR/DAMASCUS 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 220 BAHRAIN 622 ASSIUT 58 DUBAI 561 AMMAN 607 LUXOR 673 DUBAI 746 JEDDAH 646 MUSCAT 982 BAHRAIN 641 AMMAN 124 BAHRAIN 408 ASSIUT 617 DOHA 505 JEDDAH 501 BEIRUT 613 BAHRAIN 773 RIYADH 141 DOHA 238 AMMAN 304 ABU DHABI 538 CAIRO 404 DUBAI/COLOMBO 135 DOHA 60 DUBAI 82 BAGHDAD 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 511 RIYADH 266 BEIRUT 134 BAHRAIN 228 DUBAI/COLOMBO 64 DUBAI 328 TUNIS 9624 ASSIUT 184 DUBAI 62 DUBAI 343 CHENNAI 331 TRIVANDRUM 171 BAHRAIN 351 COCHIN 571 MUMBAI 648 MUSCAT 619 ALEXANDRIA 543 CAIRO 373 BAHRAIN 675 DUBAI 410 ALEXANDRIA 403 BEIRUT 218 BAHRAIN 102 DUBAI 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 554 ALEXANDRIA 860 DUBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 445 BAHRAIN/AMSTERDAM 528 ASSIUT 415 KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA 411 BANGKOK/MANILA

Time 0:40 0:45 0:50 1:15 1:20 1:45 2:40 3:15 3:30 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00 4:00 4:55 5:00 5:50 6:55 7:00 8:25 8:30 8:40 8:50 9:00 9:00 9:10 9:15 9:15 9:25 9:35 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:05 10:10 10:40 10:50 11:45 12:00 12:05 12:15 12:50 12:55 13:30 13:35 13:40 13:50 13:55 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:45 14:55 15:05 15:10 15:15 15:20 15:35 15:50 15:55 15:55 16:00 16:15 16:20 16:25 16:30 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:40 17:45 17:50 18:00 18:10 18:15 18:25 18:35 18:45 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:55 20:40 20:55 21:00 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:45 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:05 23:35 23:45 23:55

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for decent Indian Christian bachelor or couple next to Salmiya garden.

Cable TV, landline facility available.

Contact 66884273, afternoon 2:30: 25657832. (C 3829) 16-1-2012 Full furnished single room with separate bathroom available with small Muslim family in 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms C-A/C flat in Hawally, Tunis Street, near Sadique roundabout behind Commercial Bank.

Contact: 97794619.

(C 3826) A two bed room central A/C flat with two bathrooms and large hall for rent. Most of the household furniture for sale including bedroom set with two cupboards, IKEA dressing table, Fridge, Two coffee tables, Dining table with 4 chairs, Two seater sofa, Kitchen cabinets etc. Call 65053439 12-1-2012

FOR SALE Toyota Camry 2007 model GLX, silver color, excellent condition very law mileage with interior wooden CD player, fog lamp, rear sensor, remote key etc, wanted price KD 3450. Contact: 60099305. (C 3830) 17-1-2012 Internet for sale, 3 DSL service for ready use, 3 months for KD 25, 1 Mbps speed and subscription periods with the ability to upgrade any time, valid before 29 February 2012.

Contact: 66203674. Email: francisappoline@gmail.com (C 3825) 15-1-2012 Mitsubishi Gallant 1998 for sale. Passing till November 2012. Owner wants to leave Kuwait for good. Please call 66372366.

Mitsubishi Nativa 2008, 66564 km, black color, excellent condition, KD 3,560/-, negotiable.

Contact: 60306273. (C 3827) 14-1-2012

Toyota Corolla 2012 model, gray color, alloys wheel, sensor, mileage 5000km, under warranty 3 years, price KD 4,950/-.

Contact: 55522942.

(C 3818) Mitsubishi Lancer 2004 GLX, Price KD 850/-, Mitsubishi Box 2006, Price KD 2,000/-.

Contact: 66052331. (C 3820)

MATRIMONIAL Parents settled in US invite proposals for their daughter age 27 5”3”, completed Bachelors degree, doing Masters in Physio-Therapy in USA. Currently on vacation to Kerala, on short visit in Kuwait (Jan 21st to 25th) invite proposals from Christian parents of Doctors/MPharm/Engineer.

Contact: merlinfredin@gmail.com (C 3831) Parents settled in US invite proposals for their daughter age 27 5”4”, completed BPharm from India, doing MD, residency/rotation in New York. Currently on vacation to Kerala, on short visit in Kuwait (Jan 21st to 25th) invite proposals from Christian parents of Doctors/MPharm/Engineer.

Contact: merlinfredin@gmail.com (C 3832) 17-1-2012

No: 15333

TUITION

Business management teacher with doctoral degree for universities, institutions, corporate & all student levels. Over 10 years experience. Call 66495951. (C 3817) Business management teacher with doctoral degree for universities, institutions, corporate & all student levels. Over 10 years experience. Call 66495951. (C 3817) 16-1-2012 Mathematics teacher, Intermediate and secondar y Exams models, Easy method, Exams from past years with solutions.

97301901 English teacher (3) years experience, looking for a job and ready to start with all educational stages.

55963993 Mathematics teacher for Universities, Institutions, Foreign Schools, Administrative, American, English, Australian, Bahrain, Electric and Gulf Sciences, Algbra Prel, Mathematics, intermediate, gmat, sat college, math98, 110 pre calculus geometry. 97619261 Senior Biology teacher for secondary stage. Biology for University students and foreign schools, sciences of

intermediate stage and 10th grade physics.

A Syrian Arabic language teacher. Masters in methods of teaching and follow up of 10th grade and 11th grade students. 97934291 A Syrian Arabic Language teacher. Masters, for secondary, intermediate, religious institution, universities, and establishment of the elementary stage using the Aleppo method “the alphabet then the word”.

50513599 Islamic education teacher for elementary and intermediate stages.

Experienced in Kuwait curricula. Easy explanation, and summary of the subject, training for exams.

66292985

SITUATION WANTED Accountant: young, smart, first class B.Com graduate, knowing Peachtree and Tally Accounting Software with 2 years experience in Kuwait looking for suitable job as Accountant. Contact: 65179245. (C 3828) SITUATION VACANT Required house cook, Indian nationality - male, attractive salary. Contact: 99062666. (C 3822) 15-1-2012

34

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

stars CROSSWORD 562

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) Your desire to succeed is strong. Courage and confidence reign.

Others will follow your lead in any group effort. Make sure new projects are short-term. You should experience all the benefits of this most powerful planet. Your creative juices are flowing, ready to be applied to the work at hand. If you give your best effort now, considerable success will follow and you may unconsciously help a close friend through your efforts. This is a good time to lead the way on a project—your bright ideas help motivate others. Your energy is high—perfect for getting some exercise or chopping that cord of wood this afternoon. Your heart is full of amorous feelings for your special someone. Your sensitivity is the key to a superb relationship these days.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) It is a good day to just reflect or help others. If you have been considering a new business venture, today is an excellent day to begin. It is also a good day for travel. Your communication skills are good and ideas that need expression or paperwork that needs finishing can be handled efficiently.

This is a time for combining business and pleasure, a time to enjoy your career and savor its rewards. You are apt to spend a great deal of time communicating with coworkers and people apart from work. The social graces pave your path to success. This is an excellent time for spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of the forces that move the world and each other. This time period can also mark time of good energies to give to a difficult relationship.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. One of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof.

5. Valuable fiber plant of East Indies now widespread in cultivation.

10. A federation of North American labor unions that merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1955.

13. On or toward the lee.

14. An iconic mental representation.

15. Large brownish-green New Zealand parrot.

16. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

17. Give over.

19. An ache localized in the middle or inner ear.

21. Brazilian tree with handsomely marked wood.

24. Thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord.

27. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

30. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan.

32. A woman hired to suckle a child of someone else.

33. A doctor's degree in optometry.

34. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

38. Of or relating to the kidneys.

39. A state in northwestern North America.

40. Either of two large African antelopes of the genus Taurotragus having short spirally twisted horns in both sexes.

42. Empty rhetoric or insincere or exaggerated talk.

43. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

44. The seventh month of the Moslem calendar.

47. An inflammatory complication of leprosy that results in painful skin lesions on the arms and legs and face.

50. Any of a group of antidepressant drugs that inhibit the action of monoamine oxidase in the brain and so allow monoamines to accumulate.

53. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

54. In or belonging to the air or operating (for or by means of aircraft or elevated cables) in the air.

57. A health resort near a spring or at the seaside.

58. Japanese ornamental tree with fragrant white or pink blossoms and small yellow fruits.

59. (South African) An ear of corn.

60. The seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located adv.

61. A unit of force equal to the force that imparts an acceleration of 1 foot/sec/sec to a mass of 1 pound.

62. Submit or yield to another's wish or opinion.

63. Fiddler crabs.

64. A state in northwestern North America.

DOWN 1. Serving as or forming a base.

2. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

3. British artist and writer of nonsense verse (1812-1888).

4. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

5. A member of a Caddo people formerly living in north central Texas.

6. An independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia).

7. A coenzyme derived from the B vitamin nicotinic acid.

8. How long something has existed.

9. A heavy ductile magnetic metallic element.

10. Jordan's port.

11. An intuitive awareness.

12. A body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land.

18. A region of Malaysia in northeastern Borneo.

20. A stronghold into which people could go for shelter during a battle.

22. Having the wind against the forward side of the sails.

23. Avatar of Vishnu.

25. Pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness.

26. A city of central China.

28. The provision of money temporarily (usually at interest).

29. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

31. Largest crested screamer.

35. A state in the southeastern United States on the Gulf of Mexico.

36. Bourbon with bitters and Pernod and sugar served with lemon peel.

37. Tall feather palm of northern Brazil with hard-shelled nuts yielding valuable oil and a kind of vegetable ivory.

38. An intuitive awareness.

41. A rapid escape (as by criminals).

45. In bed.

46. A correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence).

47. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

48. World's longest river (4187 miles).

49. Set down according to a plan.

51. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

52. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

55. An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members.

56. Towards the side away from the wind.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Others may find you especially witty and conventional just now. However, this is a time when you should take the important things in your life seriously. Do not engage in frivolous activities just now; it could prove to be stressful or harmful. You may have insights or breakthroughs regarding your living situation or life circumstances. Others value you for your independence and unique qualities. You can demonstrate great understanding and sensitivity to the needs of others just now and are in a good position to communicate with those you love. Perhaps work has slowed you from spending time with loved ones. This evening is perfect for paying attention to those you love. Enjoy some quiet or play time with the family—perhaps a card or board game.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

This is a good day to devote to charity work or some other activity that helps others. You have a great love for your fellow man. You may have misgivings about what you have to give to others under the present planetary influences. However, it is good to remember that personal confidences are important. Spiritual interests are high and if you make the effort and act selflessly, you can be of tremendous emotional help to a friend or family member. If you should feel frustrated or low in energy—do not over extend yourself. Being in the spotlight is fun this evening. There may be an opportunity to meet someone innovative now and it is likely they will be from a land far away.

Today also marks a period of personal growth.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You may look for ways to get out of what seems a rut—to meet some new and different people, or find some new and different adventure. You will need to listen carefully as you could tend to be a bit single-minded. You may alienate co-workers if you are insensitive and discount their ideas. It is a much better time for working on a single task than it is for having multi-tasks, but now that you know you could be inclined to be a bit impatient—practice taking deep breaths. Try taking one thing at a time and don’t turn down help when it is offered.

Later, you and your friends may find yourselves enjoying a special sale or a get-together to discuss your favorite hobby. Love is in full bloom during this time—it’s a good time to let someone know how you feel.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) What a day for relationships—and relating! Your completeness does not depend on someone else, but your personality shines when love is new. Today, love is either new or like new. It is also one of those days when you do not want to go to work. If your relationship has been difficult, now is the time to find a healing. If you have not had a relationship, now is the time love finds you! Unexpected good news is in the air! It seems to seek you out as you go about your daily business. Both financially and in the professional sphere, there are developments that are going to do you a lot of good—stop, look and listen. Instinctively, you will know just what to do to secure a loan, make a job bid, or achieve some reward.

You can proceed with confidence.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

You seem to be going in a positive direction and seeing the end results of a project soon will encourage you to continue to move forward at a steady pace. The secret is to step back and view your work from a distance so you can see just how far you have come with your work. In your hunger for emotional excitement, you may be seeking out new and different kinds of people, or maybe new and different kinds of places to spend the evening. If you deal with groups, you will probably be advocating sweeping changes. Don’t become involved in projects that require a follow-through just now. Your energies are more directed toward new beginnings that others can complete after you have given the instructions. Enjoy some time with family members tonight.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) There is an air of seriousness to your dealings with partners.

You are looking forward to finances improving before diving into further debt. Also, you are concerned more about the future of a business at this time. You are invigorated and ready to conquer the world, so to speak. You could be in a teaching, lecturing, management or an advising sort of position.

Organizing and administering to people and projects will become central to your lifestyle. This afternoon you show a great deal of interest in a family matter that concerns the general living environment in the home. You may wish to express your own ideas or concern about some proposed change. Perhaps you could offer to paint or help build a new item to help lower costs.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) A surge of intellectual energy can help you accomplish a lot; however, do not let competition draw you into any debates unless the outcome is very important in protecting your integrity—use restraint. This could be a useful time to reflect on exactly where your priorities are and where you want to focus your energies. You must be practical in personal decisions about investments.

Concerning co-workers and perhaps, friends—this marks a time when it’s best to take it easy and let others have their way. Demanding what you want could lead to frustrations and ill feelings—you will have your day soon enough. Confiding your true feelings to those you genuinely care about is a good idea during this time. This may help you keep a focus.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

This is a good time to throw yourself into your work. You are good to keep complaints to yourself; it is important to practice the art of letting go as well. If you channel your energies, you will be able to make a positive difference. Sudden decisions that need to be made should undergo much consideration. Excitement! New discoveries, encounters and ideas should make this a day to remember. You will not have to look for these new discoveries; they will find you.

Perhaps an old problem can finally be resolved due to original thinking. Chuck the routine for now and leave part of your day open for surprises and new adventures.

Expand your insights with some fascinating nonfiction for your relaxation this afternoon. Romance is possible this evening.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You will be extremely busy today. There may be many instances when you will have to supply a solution to a particular problem. Be prepared to work hard, although this day can be stimulating—full of conferences and communication. It is not a good day for going off onto some new track of thinking— stay focused. You could run into opposition. Make sure you have information to back your opinion, particularly if you feel you must express an opinion about some situation that could make or lose money for your company. This afternoon, life should seem richer, more satisfying and fun—you feel a special bond with your friends and loved ones. Go out on a date with your special someone or invite your friends over for the evening. You will make them all feel good.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

Watching a broadcast news report this morning you may realize how important it is to write your representative and report some information that you think would be worthy of his or her attention. This may be regarding taxes or transportation or some other subject but you are determined to make sure your opinion is heard. Write out what you want to say and go over it several times before you mail it. It is a wise thing that you are doing. In the workplace you find issues that need the attention of higher-ups and writing to the owner of the company as though you were a customer might be a wiser choice than reporting what you see as an employee. This way your note is appreciated and not ignored. The only letters from your home today are get-well cards.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n

FIRE BRIGADE STATE ST TATE T OF KUW K KUWAIT WA AIT

112

DA AY: Y W DAY: Wednesday ednesday e

Ext.: 262 2627 27 - 2630

Fax: 24348714 WWW .MET.GOV V.KW . W WWW.MET.GOV.KW

18/01/2012

Ministry of Interior

07:00

Issue Time Time

Expected W Weather eather for the Next 24 4 Hours Partly cloudy with light variable wind w changing to light to mod moderate derate north westerly wind, with w speed of 06 km/h rain - 26 km m/h with a chance for light ra ain

BY Y DA DAY: AY:

website: www.moi.gov.kw

changing north speed Cold with w light variable wind chan nging to light to moderate no orth westerly wind, with spee ed of 08 - 28 km/h and som some me scattered clouds will app appear pear

NIGHT:: BY Y NIGHT

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

No Current Warnings Warnin a gs

WARNING W A ARNING STATION ST TATION T

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

Tel.: T e el.: 161

DIRECTORA DIRECTORATE AT TE GENE GENERAL ERAL OF CIVIL A AVIATION VIA V AT TION METEOROLOGICAL DEP D PA ARTMENT DEPARTMENT

24812000

MAX. EXP. EXP P.

MIN.. REC.

KUWAIT KUW WA AIT CITY

19 °C

11 1 1 °C

KUW WA AIT AIRPOR RT KUWAIT AIRPORT

18 °C

04 °C

18 °C C

09 °C C

Amiri Hospital

22450005

NUW WA AISEEB NUWAISEEB

Maternity Hospital

24843100

WAFRA W A AFRA

19 °C

06 °C

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

SALMI

18 °C

06 °C

Chest Hospital

24849400

ABDALY ABDAL LY

19 °C

05 °C

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

ALIYAH JAL ALIY YAH A

19 °C

05 °C

Adan Hospital

23940620

FAILAKA F A AILAKA

18 °C

07 °C

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

PORT AHMADI POR RT

17 °C

12 °C

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

UMM AL-MARADEM M

17 °C

15 °C

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

WARBA BUBYAN W A ARBA A - BUBY YA AN

18 °C

04 °C

Clinics

SFC. CHAR CHART T

18/01/2012 0000 0 UTC

4732263

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya Keifan

Temperatures T emperratures DA DATE AT TE

WEA WEATHER AT THER

Thursday

19/01

24848075

Friday

24849807

Saturday

Shamiya

24848913

Sunday

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Fajr

05:20

MA AX. T emp.

MAX. Temp.

19 °C

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Sunrise S i

06:43 06 43

MI IN T IN. emp.

MIN. Temp.

04 °C

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Zuhr

11:58 11:58

MAX. RH M

81 %

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

DAY DA AY

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

POLICE STATION

4 DAYS DA AYS Y FORECAST

Rabiya

Al-Madena

MAX.

MIN.

Wind Direction W ind Dir ection

W Wind ind Speed

sunny

19 °C

05 °C

NW-N NW -N

08 - 28 km/h

20/01

d cold + blowing dust

17 °C

03 °C

NW

20 - 45 km/h

21/01

cold dusty+very col d

12 °C

01 °C

NW

25 - 50 km/h

22/01

dust to subsidee

14 °C

01 °C

NW

20 - 45 km/h

PRAYER PR RA AY YER TIMES

RECORDED D YESTERDA YESTERDAY AY AT AT KUW KUWAIT WA AIT T AIRPOR AIRPORT T

14:54

MIN. RH M

17:14

MA AX. W ind MAX. Wind

Isha

18:35

T OT TA AL L RAI INF FALL A L IN 24 HR. TOTAL RAINFALL

All times are local time un nless otherwise stated. unless

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry

20 %

Asr Sunset

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

SE E 25 km/h

about the Civil ID card is 1889988

00 mm

18/01/12 03:21 UTC

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

171 177 22924455 22414400 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22921555 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/ 2433141 22456700 22958787 22453820/1 22404838/9

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

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erardo Naranjo may have made the leastglamorous movie ever about a pageant queen with “Miss Bala.” And that’s what makes it so beautiful. With long, fluid takes that create a mesmerizing tension, the Mexican director and writer initially draws us into a world of youthful optimism, one which ends up being wildly unpredictable and increasingly desperate. “Miss Bala” is Mexico’s entry in the foreign-language film category at the Academy Awards and, sadly, it couldn’t be more relevant in depicting the brutal violence plaguing Mexico’s northern border areas.

At its center is the gorgeous, leggy Stephanie Sigman, a former model making her striking film debut. Naranjo doesn’t let us see her face at the film’s start; he shoots her from the back or the side, her dark, wavy hair obscuring her features. But when she finally turns around and flashes a smile totally natural, with no makeup - and speaks in her playful, husky voice, she’s radiant. Sigman stars as Laura Guerrero, a young woman still living at home with her father and brother outside Tijuana who hopes to be crowned the next Miss Baja California.

(The title is a play on words: “bala” means bullet in Spanish.) Her tacky, clingy dress and chipped fingernails tell us everything we need to know about the disparity between the life she lives and the one to which she aspires.

Laura goes to a club with her best friend, a fellow contestant who insists they could meet some guys with connections there who might help them win.

Instead, she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, as gang members shoot the place up while targeting some DEA agents who are partying there. Laura escapes briefly but she’s seen too much, and ends up becoming their captive pawn. The group’s leader is the wily Lino (a subtly menacing

Noe Fernandez), who’s been terrorizing northern Mexico with his minions while working the angles across the United States border, as well.

Lino at first forces Laura to run a few errands; in exchange, he will (allegedly) try and find out what happened to her friend, who’s been missing since the club ambush. But the tasks become more and more dangerous, and Laura’s various attempts to escape prove futile. And yet, she still must take part in the pageant to maintain appearances, and the absurd juxtaposition of this glitzy, artificial realm nestled within a vicious reality provides some dark humor.

Laura is understandably shaken but, except for a few cracks, keeps her composure and does what she must to survive. Yet she never turns into a superhero, and her actions always seem plausibly instinctive. But knowing even a little bit more about her who she truly is, what drives her - might have sucked us into her story even more, engaged us with greater emotion. Instead, “Miss Bala” functions most effectively as an action film. Naranjo really knows how to craft and shoot meticulous, virtuoso set pieces; his quick bursts of violence seem to come out of nowhere, and sometimes develop into all-out warfare in the streets. But he also knows well enough to remain at a distance from the action, and let these sequences play out rather than relying on a lot of tired shaky-cam tactics or frantic cuts.

Naranjo remains uncompromising to the last shot: He ends the film on a vague but unmistakably downbeat note, as a young life full of promise has been shattered, and needlessly so. “Miss Bala,” a Fox International Productions release, is rated R for language, some brutal violence and sexuality. In Spanish with English subtitles. Running time: 113 minutes. Three stars out of four.

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Actress Jessica Alba poses for a portrait Tuesday in New York to promote Honest.com, a new e-commerce eco friendly and non-toxic baby product company. — AP

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essica Alba has another new baby. She’s launched an e-commerce company at Honest.com (named after her 3-year-old daughter Honor) to sell eco-friendly and toxicfree baby products and household items for a monthly subscription. Alba, who welcomed her second daughter Haven in 2011, said Tuesday the idea was born after she learned that toxic chemicals are in widely used, everyday products. “I would buy what I thought was like an eco-brand and pay out the wazoo for it and then find out that it’s made with the same ingredients as any other brand, but the packaging is a little more biodegradable and you’re like ‘But I care about the product touching my kid. Is that OK?’” She decided the best solution was to make available the kinds of products she would buy.

To launch the business, she partnered with author and environmentalist Christopher Gavigan, ShoeDazzle founder Brian Lee and PriceGrabber.com executive Sean Kane. The 30-year-old actress said the venture is “hands down” more nerve-racking than the opening of a new movie but also more gratifying. “I came up with the idea. I had to pitch it to my partners and they came on board and together we created the company from scratch,” she said. “From the packaging to the bottles to the product that’s inside, the way that the interfacing is with the website, all of that is really from me ... it’s taken three years to get here.”

To make a purchase, consumers sign up on Honest.com and choose from subscription packages for products including diapers, shampoo and laundry detergent. The products are then delivered monthly to the buyer’s door.

Alba plans to expand the line based on customer feedback. “It’s important that a brand that’s meant for families actually listens to families, and it’s not just some big corporate entity making these huge decisions,” she said.—AP

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Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions G PG PG-13 R NC-17

- General audiences. All ages admitted.

- Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

- Special parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.

- Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

- No one under 17 admitted. — AP

he producers of Broadway’s version of “Spider-Man” filed a countersuit against the musical’s ousted director Julie Taymor on Tuesday, accusing her of jeopardizing the production by not caring about ticket sales. The 66page filing submitted in federal court in New York by producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris, accuses Taymor of “developing a dark, disjointed and hallucinogenic musical,” and it comes in response to Taylor’s lawsuit against them which she filed in November.

After a disastrous start that saw injuries to actors and opening night delays, “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” has been packing in audiences on Broadway. It made a recordsetting $2.9 million from Christmas to New Year’s Day, according to figures from industry website The Broadway League. The stunt-heavy musical based on Marvel Comics’ most famous character, which cost over $70 million to bring to the stage with music by Bono and The Edge, was reworked after Taymor was fired from the production in March 2011.

Taymor, the Tony-winning director of “The Lion King,” worked on the musical’s original book-the non-sung wordsbefore she left the show. Her copyright infringement lawsuit filed against the “Spider-Man” producers last year argued that, after the show was revamped, the producers continued to make “unauthorized and unlawful use” of her written works.

But attorneys for the producers, in their countersuit filed on Tuesday, stated that Taymor breached her duties to cowrite and collaborate on the musical. “Taymore refused to develop a musical that followed the original, family-friendly ‘Spider-Man’ story, which was depicted in the Marvel comic books and the hugely successful motion picture trilogy

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he 28th Sundance Film Festival opens in the Utah mountains today, trumpeted as a showcase of the “mature” independent US cinema standing up proudly to the Hollywood juggernaut. Founded by Robert Redford, the annual festival in Park City aims to nurture independent filmmakers who might otherwise be eclipsed by the major studios’ output-while Hollywood uses it to scout new up-and-coming talent. The January 19-29 festival will present 117

based on them,” the lawsuit stated. “Instead, Taymor, who admits that she was not a fan of the ‘Spider-Man’ story prior to her involvement with the musical, insisted on developing a dark, disjointed and hallucinogenic musical involving suicide, sex and death.”

An attorney for Taymor could not be reached for comment. Her lawsuit stated she suffered over $1 million in damages. The countersuit filed by producers on Tuesday brought tolight what it described as conflicts between Taymor’s creative desires and the show’s need to turn a profit. At one point, Taymor used an expletive to say that she did not care “about audience reaction” to the musical, the lawsuit stated.

“Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” received poor reviews when it opened under Taymor’s direction in preview shows in late 2010, and the production suffered cast member injuries in its first weeks. When it officially opened in June 2011, after Taymor’s ouster, critics only warmed slightly to the new show. But audiences, who were drawn in part by the show’s sensational publicity, began to make the show a hit. The musical has grossed over $81 million to date, according to The Broadway League.—Reuters

diverse in the stories they want to tell,” he added. Most films screened do not yet have a distributor, and the chalets of Park City host multi-million-dollar battles every year between independent distributors like the Weinstein Company and the studios’ “art house” divisions. Buyers scoop up many of the films-especially US entrants in competition in deals that often lead to awards success, including, in recent years, “Precious”, “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Winter’s Bone” and “Blue Valentine.”

In this film image released by Sundance Film Festival, Melanie Lynskey is shown in a scene from “Hello I Must Be Going,” a love story between a 19year-old man and a 35-year-old divorcee . — AP feature films from 30 countries, including 45 first-timers — 24 in competition-and 91 world premiers. “What I am seeing is more depth of quality by independent filmmakers, even from 10 years ago. As the independent film movement matures, a new bar is set each year,” festival director John Cooper told AFP. “The filmmakers are responding to that and know they have to compete. I think the films in the festival are very

In this image released by Fox International Productions, Stephanie Sigman is shown in a scene from, “Miss Bala.”

—AP

The last few years saw a flurry of films about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and although there are none in the documentary competition this year, topical strife will be well-represented. Egypt’s uprising comes under the spotlight in “1/2 Revolution,” while the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is explored through the story of an amateur Palestinian videographer in “Five Broken Cameras” and the Israeli army in “The Law in These Parts.” Filmmakers

File photo shows director Julie Taymor at the opening night performance of the Broadway musical “Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark” in New York. — AP

tackle major issues from nuclear power (“The Atomic States of America”) and US healthcare (“Escape Fire”) to drugs (“The House I Live In”) and the relationship between homosexuality and the church (“Love Free or Die”).

“The Invisible War”-which looks at a taboo of the US military, the growth of rapes of female soldiers by their male comrades-has generated considerable interest. On the fiction front several major figures will present their latest work, including Spike Lee, with “Red Hook Summer,” and Briton Stephen Frears, with “Lay the Favorite.”

Hollywood stars including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Bradley Cooper, Richard Gere, Dennis Quaid and Bruce Willis will also be in town. US comedian Chris Rock makes an unexpected appearance in French filmmaker Julie Delpy’s “2 Days in New York”-in which he “convincingly plays the straight man”-following the success of her “2 Days in Paris” in 2007. The festival’s parallel out-ofcompetition Next section will this year focus on low-budget films, while Park City At Midnight will show a selection of horror and B-movie productions.—AFP

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inemagoers in the British city of Liverpool demanded refunds on tickets for Oscar favorite “The Artist” because they did not realize it is a silent movie, a cinema chain said. The French-directed picture won three Golden Globes and the most nominations for Britain’s BAFTAs this week, and is widely tipped for glory at next month’s Oscars. But several cinemagoers in Liverpool, a port city in northwest England, were apparently not so impressed and stormed out in objection to the lack of dialogue and the smaller-than-usual screen.

“Odeon Liverpool One can confirm it has issued a small number of refunds to guests who were unaware that ‘The Artist’ was a silent film,” a spokeswoman for the cinema told AFP. “The cinema is happy to offer guests a refund on their film choice is they raise concern with a member of staff within 10 minutes of the film starting.” The spokeswoman said the complaints were limited to one cinema. Nicola Shearer, 25, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that box office staff at the cinema had double-checked that she knew it was silent.

“Of course I knew it was and I asked the usher why she wanted to know,” Shearer told the paper on Tuesday. “She then told me some people complained and asked for refunds because there is no sound and the screen is smaller. I thought it was really funny and laughed.” Liverpool was famously the birthplace of The Beatles and was European Capital of Culture in 2008. “The Artist” has been shrunk to a 1:33 ratio to make it look more like one of the original silent movies, which were popular from the late 19th century until the arrival of “talkies” in the thirties. Billed as a love letter to silent cinema, the film tells the story of silent star George Valentin (played by French actor Jean Dujardin) whose career is destroyed by the “talkies”. — AFP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

lifestyle M u s i c

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indsay Lohan received her second favorable probation report in a row and a judge told the actress that she appears to be on track to complete a strict program by the end of March. Lohan appeared in court for less than five minutes Tuesday to update the judge on her progress in completing strict probation terms that were imposed in November after a series of missteps by the actress. By all accounts, the rigid program has benefited Lohan, with Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner telling Lohan that she received favorable reports from probation officials and her community service program. Lohan is doing mandatory cleanup duty at the county morgue and attending frequent psychotherapy sessions, with Sautner requiring Lohan to appear in court monthly for updates.

“Just keep doing what you’re doing, you appear to be doing it well,” Sautner told Lohan. The model and actress arrived early for Tuesday’s hearing, wearing black slacks, a blue blouse and matching sweater. The “Mean Girls” star will have to work at the morgue 15 times before she returns to court on Feb 22. Sautner said Lohan appears to be on track to complete morgue duty and court-mandated therapy by March 29, just shy of five years after the actress’ problems began with a drunken driving arrest on Memorial Day weekend in 2007. After that, she will probably be placed on informal probation that won’t require court appearances.

She has struggled with the terms of her sentence since then, prompting judges to send Lohan to jail and rehab repeatedly. Tuesday’s hearing marked the second straight hearing in which the actress wasn’t on the receiving end of threats of further punishment. “She will continue to make the completion of her community service a top priority,” Lohan’s publicist Steve Honig wrote in an email after the hearing. The actress remains on probation for both the

Lindsay Lohan appears with her attorney Shawn Chapman Holley in Los Angeles Superior Court for a probation progress hearing Tuesday. — AP

Lindsay Lohan leaves Los Angeles Superior Court after a probation progress hearing. — AP drunken driving case and a misdemeanor grand theft case filed after she took a necklace without permission in January 2010. She pleaded no contest to taking the $2,500

necklace and served 35 days on house arrest last summer.—AP

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t’s always difficult to sell your family home, especially if it means severing most ties with the people you grew up with and loved. The tug-of-war between embracing happy memories and letting go of the past is at the heart of “The Picture Box.” The quirky, melancholy short play by Cate Ryan is currently being presented by the Negro Ensemble Company off-Broadway at the Beckett Theatre on Theatre Row. Although the play feels incomplete, it has some interesting characters, who, through shared memories, describe but don’t explain the decades-long friendship between a privileged white family and the now-retired African-American couple who worked for them, first on Long Island and then in a wealthy Florida island community. Directed by Charles Weldon, artistic director of the NEC, the drama goes curiously flat at times. The story centers around Carrie (an over-smiling, opaque performance by Jennifer Van Dyck) who is still trying to decide whether to sell her recently deceased mother’s large Florida house, even though it’s the day of the closing.

Urging her to sell and get on with her life in New York are the family servants, whom Carrie and her mother regarded as close friends. Arthur French is loving and wise as Mackie, the former cook and caretaker, while Elain Graham exudes dignity and In this theater image released by KPM Associates, Arthur French, left, and Jennifer Van Dyck, in a scene pride as his tart-tongued but loving wife, Josephine. from “The Picture Box.”—AP Carrie and Mackie look through a box of old photos, friendship with Mackie and Jo right after meeting conjuring up mostly warm, loving memories that them. Carrie’s failure to react much when Mackie provide colorful stories, while Josephine adds remi- reveals the truth about the disappearance one day niscences brought out by the sight of her old iron- long ago of her favorite dog is odd, and the sad stoing board. But the stories, while entertaining and ry of Mackie’s broken relationship with his nowfondly told, don’t help the characters explore any imprisoned son is another loose end left hanging, deep issues. along with the reasons Carrie’s mother was so disThe potential homebuyers are unfortunate tant in her childhood. Ryan is a good writer of natustereotypes from another era. The bombastic, out- ral-sounding dialogue, but this play, while thoughtspoken bigot, Bob, (portrayed with bluster by provoking, would benefit from more resolution and Malachy Cleary) is barely held in check by his slightly depth.—AP ight years after he died of prostate cancer, more open-minded wife, Karen, (Marisa Redanty, Johnny Ramone’s autobiography is finally adding layers to a slightly-written part.) It’s unclear being published. “Commando: The why Bob would be as outspokenly rude as he is, Autobiography of Johnny Ramone” is set for going so far as to question the validity of Carrie’s release April 2 by Abrams Image. His widow,

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Linda, says he started writing the book when he got sick.

She said Tuesday, “It was like he knew he was dying, and he wanted to do something.”

Ramone was one of the founding members of the legendary rock group and is considered one of rock’s most influential guitarists. The book’s foreword is written by band mate Tommy Ramone and the epilogue is written by close friend Lisa Marie Presley. — AP Johnny Ramone

American actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson poses with Ashish Purswaney, 8, as he meets with fans at the premiere of his new film “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” in Taipei, Taiwan, yesterday. —AP

“A

merican Idol” returned yesterday for an 11th season, facing a new wolf at the door as it tries to retain its place as the No 1 US TV programnot so much age, but competition. Rejuvenated by a judging panel makeover and the discovery of its biggest star in years in country singer Scotty McCreery, the Fox talent show last season saw a four percent increase in audience, reversing a trend that had seen viewership slip. But that was before NBC launched its surprise 2011 summer hit “The Voice” and Simon Cowell brought his “The X Factor” to Fox in September with outsize hype but underwhelming critical reviews. Each show attracted about half the average 25.2 million viewers who watched “American Idol” in 2011.

Brian Mansfield, who covers “American Idol” for USA Today, said the contest faces more competition this year than ever. “You are a month away from the end of ‘X Factor’ and a month away from the beginning of ‘The Voice’. And so you do wonder if, even though ‘X Factor’ was not as big a success as Simon Cowell had anticipated, if it managed to cannibalize viewers from ‘Idol.’ And I think that is the big question going in,” Mansfield said.

“Idol’s twice-a-week, five month search for a new singing star won’t be going to head to head with “The Voice,” which makes its second season premiere after the 2012 Superbowl on Feb 5 before settling in to a regular Monday night slot. This year, “Idol” will air every Wednesday and Thursday. Yet, that means reality singing contest fans will face three nights a week of auditions, performances and exits if they want to keep up with both shows.

Fox says it is not overly concerned about the competition, calling “American Idol” the “gold standard” of TV singing contests which has produced bona-fide stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson.

“We’ve had several waves of competitors over the last 10 years, and this show (‘Idol’) has stood up extraordinarily tall,” Fox reality programming chief Mike Darnell told TV reporters last week.

‘Roaring back’ Darnell recalled that a year ago, TV critics were predicting the demise of “Idol” following the exit of acerbic judge Cowell. But, thanks partly to the addition of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and pop star Jennifer Lopez as judges, “it came roaring back.” “This is the show the audience loves, and this is the show the audience wants to come back to,” Darnell said.

Fox executives note that even if “American Idol” were to lose 10 percent of its audience from now on, it would still be a Top 3 show until 2015, if all the other shows on TV continued their current performance. Yet this year, more than ever, questions are being raised about viewer fatigue, given the new, rival shows.

“That is the thing I am really curious about. Is there going to be singing competition burn out?” said Mansfield.

Mansfield wasn’t talking so much about “The Voice”, which put a twist on the format with blind auditions and live performances by its superstar judges Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. “X Factor,” however, was so similar to “Idol” that viewers might have little appetite for another singing binge so soon, Mansfield said.

“I would be less concerned about direct competition from ‘The Voice’ than having viewers siphoned by ‘X Factor’ who now go, enough of the singing competitions,” he said.

The verdict is unlikely to come during the first few weeks of the program, as audiences often don’t connect until late in a season when they get a say in which contestants stay or go. “Idol” caught fire in 2011 as teen country stars Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina emerged as likely finalists. McCreery, 17, the eventual winner, went straight to the top of the Billboard album charts in October in the best debut by an Idol champion since 2008. Last week, McCreery’s “Clear As Day” album went platinum after selling more than one million copies. “Last year, we had nearly twice the numbers to our Idol Chatter website around the final than we have ever had. For us, it was a jaw-dropping number,” said Mansfield. Fox television is a unit of News Corp ; NBC is majority owned by Comcast Corp. — Reuters

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

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iven the economic gloom, safe, long-term investments are definitely in fashion. And designers are banking on the overcoat, which made a big comeback on the Milan runways during menswear fashion week, which ended Tuesday. A rich, red long overcoat with astrakhan fur lapels modeled by Adrien Brody at Prada earlier in the week was emblematic of the winter look. Shearling, hardy and multipurpose yet fashionable, is the darling of the season. But there also will be an array of elegant evening coats of such luscious materials as astrakhan and velvet - not only as accents, but as fullfledged outerwear.

Styles ranged from businesslike doublebreasted to winter-ready trench coats.

There was no end to the detailing, from peacock feathers to military broaches to studs and silk embroidery. Designers also mixed materials, combining leather and tweed, wool and velvet, fur and fabric. For a more casual look, fashion houses offered hooded duffle coats and pea jackets. There were few sportier styles, although biker jackets, bombers and parkas made cameo appearances. Overall, the message was conservative. Jackets tended to be short and close to the body, and pants were mostly skinny with some more relaxed looks.

Layering was in, and turtlenecks were substituting for ties even for evening.

Knitwear was geometric and floral patterns graced just about any garment. Total black was the season’s favorite tone - perhaps wishful thinking for the balance sheets.

Overall the palate was traditional urban, with just sparks of teal, peacock blue, red and purple. Much of the flash was reserved

Models wear creations of Giorgio Armani men’s Fall-Winter 2012-13 collection, part of the Milan Fashion Week, unveiled in Milan, Italy, Tuesday. — AP photos

for accents, like silver details on footwear or shimmery fabric for shirts and jackets. If all this was too much austerity, then ostentatious studs glammed up some wardrobes. Bags were flat, for the work laptop, or roomy, for travel getaways. Velvet slippers were big, contrasting with heavy biker boots. The classic laceup and fringed moccasins were sure bets for the season.

ARMANI Leave it to Mr Armani to prove that comfort and elegance can share the same closet. His menswear winter 2013 collection had all the items a well-turned-out gentlemen needs, and yet was as comfortable as a pair of jeans and a sweat shirt. The secret lies in the materials: knitted wool and stretch fabric. The ample cut of the clothes does the rest. An iconic doublebreasted coat - the number one item on a man’s shopping list for next winter comes in knitted wool. A gray business suit is crafted in super soft stretch fabric and has a short deconstructed jacket and pants with extra wide darts. A velvet Tuxedo jacket is worn with a simple silk T-shirt.

On the other side of the coin, Armani takes top-drawer pieces and transfers them into casual wear worthy of fancy dress. The vest from a three-piece suit gets a zipper and is knitted in Nordic patterns. The same zippered vest returns for eveningwear, this time in monochromatic stretch fabric. A zipper replaces buttons on a silk shirt.

Armani drew inspiration for his winter palette from Alpine scenery: boulder gray, bright sky blue, and Dolomite red, the color of the mountains surrounding Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of Italy’s most exclusive ski resorts.

Models wear creations of Versace men.

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VERSACE At Versace, the motto for next winter is clearly: Glitter, never enough! Donatella Versace covered her menswear creations in golden studs, and then sprinkled them with Swarovski crystals. The collection presented in the covered garden of her Milanese palazzo started off quite buttondown: A dark blue pinstriped suit with a baby blue shirt and silver tie. Golden buttons provided the only bling. But it didn’t take long to turn up the heat, with denim outfits covered with large golden rivets, adorned with bright wool collars in green or yellow. The rivets completely covered the denim in one pair of cropped jeans.

Donatella wasn’t color-shy. Two frolicking denim outfits in bright floral print conjured images of 1970s playsuits. A bright red tailored suit was paired with a bright pink turtleneck, a fire-engine red jacket with a green turtleneck. Then, suddenly, the lights went down, and the glam went up. A sheer black shirt with crystal accents, worn with tuxedo trousers. A leather jacket with crystals on the back, and studs on the arms. For accessories, a heavy gold chain provides security for oversized leather wallets stuffed in back pockets. Motorcycle boots with gold accents completed the “Don’t mess with me!” attitude.

Models display creations of DSquared2 Fall-Winter 2012-2013 Menswear collection

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talian clothing chain Dolce & Gabbana yesterday apologized to the people of Hong Kong for allegedly discriminating against them in favor of wealthy mainland shoppers. The company’s flagship Hong Kong store has been the focus of protests and online rage after it allegedly instructed security guards to prevent locals from taking photographs while allowing mainlanders and foreigners to do so. Locals accused the fashion house of “mainlandism” and started a Facebook page protesting against the store’s abuse of their rights. Dolce & Gabbana has previously rejected the criticism but in a statement stuck on the storefront overnight Tuesday and sent to journalists yesterday it said it accepted that it was in the wrong.

“We understand that the events which unfolded in front of the Dolce & Gabbana boutique on Canton Road have offended the citizens of Hong Kong, and for this we are truly sorry and we apologise,” it said. “The Dolce & Gabbana policy is to welcome the Hong Kong people and that of the whole world respecting the rights of each individ-

ual and of the local laws.” The rapid expansion of personal wealth in China has fuelled growth in the luxury sector in Hong Kong, a favourite destination for mainland shoppers to splurge on Western designer goods.

But many Hong Kongers grumble that the foreign luxury stores that line the city’s shopping streets perpetrate a form of “luxury hegemonism” in favor of mainlanders and Western tourists.

Reactions to the apology on the Facebook protest page were mainly negative. “We do not accept D&G’s apology statement. It lacks sincerity.

Everyone should write to the European Union to complain and demand that D&G be held accountable for racism,” wrote one user, Netizen Eric Lo. Another said: “The statement was released so sneakily-they did not admit their mistakes. It lacks sincerity, please everyone, do not accept their apology.”—AFP

A girl looks at the Dolce & Gabbana flagship store in Hong Kong yesterday. — AFP

DSQUARED2 The transgressive designing duo Dean and Dan Caten, opened the last day of the menswear preview collections for next winter with a relatively somber DSquared2 collection-showing the twins are in tune with the tough economic times. To the rock beat of “The Wall” by Pink Floyd, the Canadian duo sent out models in tight, low waisted cropped jeans, worn with a short jacket. By night, the designers offered several outfits with studs or graffiti. But that was as badboy as it got. The rest of the show was devoted to classic styles, the same kind seen on most of the runways throughout the four days of preview showings. Knitted vests, tweed coats, mohair sweaters and suede jackets all stayed on the safe side, where fashion has retreated for the moment. Ditto for the formal tuxedo suit that closed the show, worn with classy patent-leather boots. — AP

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Models present creations designed by Hong Kong designer Stella Lam at the Fall/Winter collection during the Fashion Week Expo in Hong Kong yesterday. — AP

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hina at one time may have been better known for fashion knockoffs than catwalk creations, but Chinese haute-couture is now finding its feet on the international stage-even as it grows ever more popular with customers at home. Chinese designers have been front and centre at Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter 2012, which ends today, taking advantage of the nearly 2,000 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions to make their mark. “China’s been the clothing factory of the world for some time,” said Chinese designer Qi Gang, whose creations featured bright colors, sequins, fur and feathers.

“But as our economy develops, we are also becoming a country of famous brands, big brands. This trend is unstoppable,” he told Reuters TV. Qi, who describes his styles as “sexy and extravagant,” is profiting from the growing affluence of his vast nation, whose economic growth has been hit by a sluggish global economy but still posted annual growth of 8.9 percent in the fourth quarter. His SCfashion label saw turnover of $47 million last year, and his chain of stores across the mainland rose to 40 from 25.

Qi joins a growing host of Chinese designers including Uma Wang, Qiu Hao and Ma Ke, whose “exception” label is known as the closest thing China has to its own luxury brand. “Chinese designers are definitely marking their territory,” said Craig Lawrence, a UK-based knitwear designer, who said that China is

likely to benefit from moves by Western fashion capitals, such as Paris, to become more global.

“They’re putting their stamp down on the international platform because (this) Fashion Extravaganza is such a mix of international people and there’s so much press from around the world it helps create a buzz.” But while international brands still dominate the luxury markets, local brands have a home advantage, said fashion researcher Angelia Teo, content director, Asia-Pacific, WGSN. “A lot of the Chinese designers will find a lot of satisfaction and a lot of return if they base their businesses on a domestic standpoint, simply because there is such an appetite for it,” she added, noting that local shoppers are developing a more sophisticated sense of style. “We start to see the Chinese become more nationalistic in the way they purchase items. So they want to buy something that’s Chinese, they want to buy a design aesthetic they’ve grown up with. The Chinese designers are meeting that need.” — Reuters

India’s Instituti Callegari Milano

KUWAIT: Deniz Cerinan Al-Ghawas held a presentation and a fashion show called ‘Secrets from the Sultan’s Harem’ featuring exotic Turkish textiles. The event was held on Tuesday evening at the Sadu Weaving House.

— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat