18 Apr 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

Jihadists fire rockets at Israeli resort on Prisoners’ Day

16 hurt in ‘terror’ blast in Bangalore

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150 FILS

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www.kuwaittimes.net

JAMADA ALTHANI 8, 1434 AH

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United held at West Ham, City sink Wigan

Bahrain tensions spike ahead of F1 race

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Commandos raid Barrak’s home as standoff worsens Running battles in Andalus as police clash with protesters

Max 34º Min 20º High Tide 06:05 & 15:59 Low Tide 10:38 & 23:31

conspiracy theories

KWPD

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

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rrest or no arrest? Till I completed this article, the news going on all day revolved around the arrest of former MP Musallam Al-Barrak. One minute we receive the news that the police are surrounding his diwan. Few minutes later we are told that the police could not find him in his diwan. A few minutes later Musallam Al-Barrak himself addresses the Ministry of Interior telling them that he is available and ready to be arrested.

This movie had been going on in front of the whole nation throughout the day. Twitter and all social media have been pretty busy giving updates on the Barrak affair. Honestly speaking, it has become an episode like the San Francisco police series. Pick the one you like. For the older generation I choose Miami Vice, Starsky and Hutch, Mad Max, or Colombo for the intelligent or CSI for the current audience.

Take your pick. In our case instead of NYPD we can have KWPD. Why if the government is determined to arrest Musallam Al-Barrak, they haven’t done it for two days since the verdict came out? Mind you, guys, I am not pushing the government to arrest him or not to arrest him. I am not a judge or the police. I am merely a citizen watching.

Right now there are many followers and fans around Musallam Al-Barrak who are vehemently supporting every step he makes. People are tweeting and retweeting and even making songs and video clips about him. I tell you his audience has impressed me. They seem to be very creative. This material has flooded the Internet and social media. Honestly, like I previously wrote, the man has become a hero.

The question is: How many series of KWPD are we going to watch on the Musallam arrest? I think they should videotape them for the serial “On the chase of Barrak.” This can be very entrepreneurial.

I am not sure what to say: Good luck Musallam or well done KWPD!

Boston ‘bomber’ spotted on video BOSTON: US investigators yesterday uncovered images of a suspect who may have planted the Boston marathon bombs that killed three people and maimed scores in a hail of shrapnel. The images could mark a breakthrough in the hunt for the perpetrators, two days after the explosions. President Barack Obama will visit the city today to show national solidarity. Boston remained on edge with the evacuation of the federal courthouse and part of a hospital and conflicting reports of an arrest that brought a stern rebuke by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

A law enforcement official told AFP “there’s an image of a person, of a potential suspect,” and officials are working “to locate and identify that individual”. The Boston Globe said a department store surveillance camera and private photographer may have caught a suspect planting one of the two bombs set off at the finish line of Monday’s marathon. Separate media reports indicated there were pictures of the suspect running away while other people slumped to the ground in the blast. With no claim of responsibility made for the attack, the FBI said it has launched a “worldwide” hunt.

It released photographs of the mangled metal remnants of a pressure cooker believed to have been used for one of the bombs which sprayed nails, ball bearings and metal pellets into the huge crowds. The lid of one pressure cooker was found on the roof of a nearby hotel, the owner told AFP. Shreds of black nylon bags believed to have been used to carry the bombs have also been found. Doctors at hospitals where the critically injured were taken say ball bearings and nails taken from patients were being used in the investigation.

George Velmahos, Massachusetts General Hospital’s chief of trauma surgery, said the metal was being handed over to police. He said 12 nails were taken from inside one patient. Peter Burke, chief trauma surgeon at Continued on Page 15

KUWAIT: (Top) Opposition demonstrators flee teargas and stun grenades fired by riot police in Andalus yesterday during a protest against a five-year jail term against opposition leader and former MP Musallam Al-Barrak. (Inset) An injured protester lies on the ground. (Above left) Elite forces raid Barrak’s house in another failed attempt to arrest him. (Above center) Barrak attends a demonstration near his house later. (Above right) Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah leaves the hall during a session at the National Assembly following disputes with MPs over the arrest of Barrak. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

By B Izzak KUWAIT: Elite special forces last night fired teargas and stun grenades against thousands of opposition demonstrators who marched on Andalus police station amid reports of several injuries. The clashes broke out hours after a raid by the special forces on the home of former opposition MP Musallam Al-Barrak, who has been sentenced to five years in jail on charges of insulting HH the Amir. It was like a battlefield with hundreds of grenades fired at the angry crowds, estimated at around 10,000 people, who marched from Barrak’s diwaniya to the nearby Andalus police station with the intention of storming it.

• MoI denies assaulting women, children • Information ministry website hacked • MPs slam beleaguered interior minister Police repulsed the attackers into the internal streets of Andalus, but fires broke out in the area’s co-operative society and in a municipality vehicle. Ambulances rushed to the scene with activists reporting on Twitter that several people were wounded. They posted a picture of at least one man with apparently serious wounds. The clashes are the first in more than two

months and come after Barrak was handed a harsh sentence on charges of insulting the Amir in a speech at a public rally in October.

Earlier in the day, a group of special forces surprisingly raided Barrak’s diwaniya amid claims that they mistreated the occupants of the house, all of whom are Barrak’s relatives. The special forces came to arrest the opposition figure to serve his five-year jail term. Barrak was not at his home and the special forces left the place after searching it and beating up a number of relatives of Barrak, who described the action as “cowardly”. The former lawmaker later said that he was prepared to go to prison anytime but only after authorities produce the Continued on Page 15

Britain bids farewell to Thatcher Poisoned letter sent to Obama Senate rejects gun background checks WASHINGTON: A letter addressed to Wicker, and the blasts at the Boston US President Barack Obama tested posi- marathon which killed three people. tive for ricin in a drama over poisoned The letter contained “a granular submail spreading alarm in Washington, stance that preliminarily tested positive for ricin”, an FBI statement which was already on edge said. Further examinations yesterday after the Boston will be carried out over the bombings. Separately, the next 24 to 48 hours, the FBI US Senate yesterday rejectsaid. ed a bipartisan plan to The US Secret Service said expand background checks the letter to Obama had for gun buyers, dealing a been intercepted at a mail sharp blow to Obama’s camscreening facility outside the paign to curb gun violence White House on Tuesday, the after the Newtown school same day authorities said a massacre. The FBI said there Barack Obama letter was sent to Wicker that was no connection between the letter sent to Obama and detected also showed traces of ricin. Ricin - a at a remote mail facility, and another highly toxic protein found in castor Continued on Page 15 mailed to Republican Senator Roger

LONDON: Margaret Thatcher was laid to rest yesterday with military pageantry and pockets of protests, in a funeral that reflected the polarising impact of Britain’s longest-serving post-war prime minister. Queen Elizabeth II led mourners from the British establishment and 170 countries including Kuwait in bidding farewell to the Iron Lady, who trans-

formed Britain and is credited with helping end the Cold War. Tens of thousands of people gathered to watch the procession through London to St Paul’s Cathedral and many broke into spontaneous applause and threw flowers as the coffin passed by. But several hundred protesters turned their backs and booed Continued on Page 15

LONDON: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (left) watches the Bearer Party made up of personnel from the three branches of the military carry the coffin of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher during her ceremonial funeral in St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday. — AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

LOCAL

Amir graces Teachers’ Day ceremony KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah graced a ceremony held yesterday to mark Teachers Day and honor a host of devoted teachers for the scholastic year 2011-2012, at the Basic Education College in Shamiya.

His Highness was warmly greeted upon arrival by Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Nayef Al-Hajraf and members of the organizing committee.

The ceremony was also attended

by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, National Assembly Speaker Ali Fahad Al-Rashed, former National Assembly speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi, senior Sheikhs, Deputy Chief of National Guard Sheikh Mishaal AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Nasser AlMohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud AlJaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs and a number of senior state officials.

The official ceremony began with the per formance of the national anthem and then a recitation of the Holy Quran.

The Education Minister Al-Hajraf addressed the audience on the occasion, and another speech followed on behalf of the honored teachers read out by Headmaster of Al-Farwaniya Secondary School for Girls Seham Hamad Al-Sehel. A group of students per formed an operetta themed “Kuwait Capital of Teachers”.

In his speech, Minister Al-Hajraf expressed gratitude for HH the Amir’s attendance at the ceremony.

He underlined that the Amir’s keen-

ness to attend such events honoring devoted teachers further reflects the Kuwaiti leadership’s great care to education, the key driving force for development and progress of nations.

HH the Amir ’s attendance also shows the honorable status of a teacher in the community, the minister said.

Al-Hajraf highlighted the strenuous efforts exerted by the Eudation Ministry and all the state institutions to develop the educational process at the level of attainment and achievements.

The minister concluded that such annual honoring ceremony and care

by HH the Amir to recognize achievements and efforts in this sector prompt teachers and educators to put even more effort in their work.

Moreover, the positive competition that results from such honoring would be in the greater interest of the homeland.

Speaking on behalf of the honored teachers, Al-Sehel said it was a great honor to mark this occasion and recall the devotion of teachers and educators who help raise new generations in a manner befitting the times.

Al-Sehel expressed educators’ pride in the visit today by HH the Amir. This honor prods teachers to do more to upgrade educational process in Kuwait to help provide Kuwaiti students with the required skills and knowledge to achieve prominence in their academic and everyday life.

After the speeches, HH the Amir honored outstanding teachers and distinguished schools. HH the Amir left the venue after receiving a memorial gift from the ceremony organizers on the occasion. —KUNA

Increased use of antibiotics in Kuwait

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Some expat patients complained about the increased use of antibiotics in Kuwait, compared to their home countries. They think that doctors prescribe antibiotics for any disease even if it was something as minor as a flu or a fever, and there are concerns about overuse of antibiotics affecting the immunity levels badly.According to Professor Ayman Elwan, Dermatology Specialist at the European Policlinic, the abuse of antibiotics is an international phenomenon and is not limited to Kuwait.

“I read different statistics showing that even in the United States, doctors are forced to prescribe antibiotics under pressure from the patients in cases as simple as flu. I think that doctors should refrain from such acts,” he told the Kuwait Times. “ We use local antibiotics or administer these orally in some cases as a prevention since the general atmosphere may not be safe, and we have doubts about the wounds becoming infected. In such cases, we use the antibiotic to keep the patient safe. However, we do not use antibiotics as prevention after surgeries, and it may even be useless in some cases,” added Dr. Elwan.

On his part, Dr. Hatim Abdulraouf, ENT specialist at the Bushihri Clinic, noted that the phenomenon of antibiotics being abused is now

becoming less pronounced. “The international trend and recommendation is to only use antibiotics in case of complications and not for the normal infections or flu,” he pointed out.

The increased use of antibiotics was popular in the past. “We used to prescribe antibiotics when the patient had fever and his temperature reached 38 degrees. However, now we ask the patient to get some rest and follow up with him. We prescribe antibiotics in about 10 percent of the cases only, that too when complications such as bronchitis, otitis media or others arise. In such cases, we treat the secondary reinfection of opportunistic microbe that causes problems when it becomes active and does not allow treatment of the basic disease,” explained Dr. Hatim Abdulraouf. He said he has not heard of any new kinds of flu, and that the recent cases of bird flu can be counted on the fingers of one hand, so it was not anything serious.

Dr. Fahad Al-Anezi, head of Pediatric Department of Al-Jahra Hospital, stressed that the phenomenon of antibiotic abuse existed in Kuwait and was being noticed more in the private sector.

“In fact, the patients themselves are responsible for this phenomenon. Many doctors prescribe antibiotics for patients under pressure from the patients even when these are not necessary. The doctors sim-

ply do not like to get into an argument or conflict with the patient and prescribe it. In the private sector, some doctors prescribe it for commercial benefits, as they receive percentage on the drugs from the pharmacy. The patients think that any disease or inflammation needs antibiotics, while viruses, for instance, do not,” he noted. He also explained that the parents in most cases insist on prescribing antibiotics for their sick children, although the child often does not need it.

“Such behavior is not healthy, and it may even harm the child. If the child is affected with virus and has fever and is taking antibiotics, it will disappear after about two days while at the same time, the bacteria just caused it keeps growing and becomes resistant to the antibiotics,” stated Al-Anezi.

According to him, studies showed that the use of antibiotics in Kuwait was much higher than in the United States. No wonder, the antibiotics here were no more as effective as they were in Europe or the States.

“With frequent use of antibiotics, the body becomes more resistant to the drug, so the doctor is forced to use a stronger kind, which, as a result, leads to stronger side effects and the patient’s health deteriorates. This is also witnessed in the children, whose immunity levels go down and they cannot resist diseases,” he concluded.

Stateless People conference opens KUWAIT: The first conference of the Stateless People in Kuwait - the Case and Solution began on Tuesday with the participation of international organizations and local NGOs in addition to several Kuwaiti dignitaries and western ambassadors, including the US ambassador to Kuwait. The chairman of the Kuwait Graduates Society, Saud Al-Enezy, said the society decided to sponsor the conference after it received a letter from the Social Affairs and Labor Ministry asking it to cancel the conference since the group of 29 did not seek a license.

A member of the 29 group, Muna Al-Abdulrazaq, while declaring the conference open, said, “We thank you for your support and interest in bringing to a closure an issue that has been there for over half a century, without any solution other than referring to it by different names.

We have reached this stage today

and it is the first event of its kind which we hope will help bring about a change or reach a solution.”

Al-Abulrazaq said that the Central System has refused to participate in the conference, which will only lead to more questions and a sense of increased fear that the government lacked a clear and serious vision to resolve and bring this issue to a close.

Meanwhile, the representative of the High Commission on Human Rights, said, “We hear about the issue of Kuwaiti bedoons everywhere in Asia, and when we came here, we heard that there is a problem because the group of 29 is not licensed. However, we work in many countries and conditions like obtaining licenses do not exist in our dictionary.”

During the first discussion session, a representative of the international refugees’ organization

demanded that the suffering of the stateless people in Kuwait be brought to an end, and that experiences of other countries be used in this field.

About the agreement on organizing the affairs of the stateless, Dr. Al-Ajmi said,” There are two agreements - the agreement on the situation of the stateless in 1954, and the second in 1961 on reducing the number of stateless cases. However, Kuwait has not yet ratified either of them.”

He said the definition of the stateless is “a person who is not considered by any country as a citizen according to its legislations.”

He said the important thing was that it is the state which decides who is a citizen and who is not. He said to be stateless does not mean one is not human and does not mean that such people are not important to us.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

LOCAL

ASAI accepts online grants, helped 7,720 students New system introduced

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: The US-based Arab Student Aid International (ASAI), a non-profit, non-political, non-religious organization, announced an on-line scholarship grant to Arab students who excel in studies but could not study due to financial constraints. The scholarship grant is given to deserving Arab students, irrespective of the country they come from, through the American College of Technology (ACOT), an educational institution in the US which was established by a former ASAI student.

Speaking with the Kuwait Times yesterday, Dr Ishaq Al-Qutub, current ASAI President and former University of Kuwait Professor, said the new system has been introduced to broaden their spectrum and give a chance to welldeserving Arab students.

“This new internet-based system has been introduced since we are now in the age of computer and globalization. Students who are willing to study in the US or other parts of the world can now study even in the comfort of their home through an on-line study program,” he said.

The new online scholarship grant was introduced in 2013 only. The grant is available to BA, MA and Ph.D. students.

“The system, while granting scholarships to Arab students, has been revised to enable us to help more students and give opportunities to others. Earlier, as we have a specific amount for grants, it used to be a full-grant including their transportation and seminars conferences; but this time, in order to accommodate more students, we have sliced the budget and now pay only the tuition fees and living expenses in the country of their choice,” AlQutub said.

ASAI was originally founded in Kuwait but is now headquartered in the United States.

ASAI’s mission is to effectively contribute to the enhancement of university graduates at the doctorate and masters level, especially in the fields that foster socio-economic and cultural unity of the Arab countries in which they live. Al-Qutub, who taught sociology for 16 years at Kuwait University, said the educational foundation which he helped build, believed that their effort has been part of the process of building human resources and the development of highly specialized and qualified scholars with the objective of enhancing social, economic and peace progress in the Arab world. He admitted that the idea of cre-

ating a fund for Arab students was actually put forward in 1976.

There were many underprivileged students, especially from Arab expatriate communities, here at that time. At that time, they were unable to enroll into university because of a lack of financial funding. Besides, there were many restrictions and only a limited number of students were allowed to enter university. “We have about 100-120 students every year and we have already helped more than 7,720 students since our inception. You know that some of the Arab states like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, helped instead of availing the grant. Grants come mostly from companies or are a result of individual effort,” he quipped.

“In the 1970s, Kuwait was in dire need of qualified workers in urban and commercial

Dr Ishaq Al-Qutub

spheres. In order to enable it to have qualified workers and specialists, it had to hire people from abroad. It was the reason why we set up the ASAI. We established the ASAI so that vacancies could be filled, especially with the Arab speaking people. We sponsored students to study abroad and then return to transfer their knowledge. In order to avail the grant, the key requirement was that the students must be highly qualified. The objective was to invest in human resources and ensure transfer of knowledge and technology from advanced world to developing Arab countries,” he noted.

Initially the ASAI was able to solicit US $60,000 to fund the program. At that time, in 1976, the amount seemed huge. Businessmen during those years, according to Al-Qutub, were very education-oriented people, and were ready to spend money so as to help or benefit from students when they graduated.

“We want to sponsor students who are bright and academically outstanding; at least with a B+ average. We only accept students who are at an economic disadvantage and who, therefore, cannot provide for university studies. If they pass the criteria, we, as an educational aid foundation, will finance their studies,” he said.

ASAI only assists and focuses its education aid to the deserving students. “We also provide interest-free loans to Arab students in order to help them continue their dream of pursuing university education. They can use the ASAI’s money, free of interest, to finance their studies until their program is completed.

We give them five years to pay off educational loans after they graduate,” he added.

According to Al-Qutub, ASAI can sponsor and finance education for socially and economically needed professionals in their home country regardless of the field applied, be it medical sciences, various disciplines of engineering or applied technology.

ASAI, a non-political and an independent organization, does not want to be influenced by any Arab country. It is run by a competent private board of trustees, assisted by a number of executive committees, the ASAI president and staff members.

There are people whose support and love for education are genuine and they trust the ASAI greatly. For example, in 1982, HH Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, became the chairman of the board of trustees.

In order to guarantee repayment, the ASAI requires students to provide at least two guarantors who can undertake to shoulder expenses the moment students fail to abide by the agreement. The ASAI, Qutub said, has spent more than $ 31 million since its inception and has witnessed almost 8000 students graduating with its help.

A majority of them enrolled into universities in the US, Europe and Far Eastern countries. Most ASAI students were refugees from Gaza and West Bank, but there were a significant number of students from Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Sudan.

The Arab Student Aid International was formally registered in the State of Ohio, USA as a charitable public foundation. ASAI welcomes the support of individuals and companies in the form of bank transfers, title deeds or real estate, endowment, fund in trust and donation by cheque. To learn more about ASAI, please visit www.studentaid.org

Editors discuss new press law KUWAIT: The Editors-in-Chief of Kuwait’s local daily newspapers met yesterday at the Kuwait Journalists’ Association premises.

The meeting was attended by the chairman and members of the board of directors.

During the meeting, the proposed unified press law was discussed.

The law was approved by council of ministers recently, and after studying the law proposed by the government, the

meeting decided to seek a meeting with His Highness the Prime Minister to put across the editors’ views. This subject will be discussed in a meeting fixed earlier with the Speaker of the National Assembly, next Sunday. The meeting emphasized that the editors and journalists would continue to safeguard the freedoms of the press and will reject any move that might affect freedom in the land of the free.

Contract awarded for restructuring KAC KUWAIT: The chairman of the board of KAC and its Managing Director, Sami Al-Nisf, said that IATA was awarded an advisory contract for restructuring the company, adding that the KAC’s board of directors will implement IATA’s suggestions to carry out course correction in the functioning of the company.

Al-Nisf, who was speaking at a press conference during a tour organized by the KAC for journalists who were taken around the departments dealing with operations, engineering and KASCO kitchen, said that the IATA has a vast experience and played the role of an advisor in restructuring many airlines around the world.

He said Kuwait selected IATA after it offered best price and was adjudged best, thanks to the experience it had. Nearly 94 percent of IATA’s revenue comes from such advisory contracts.

He said it was not right to reduce the KAC to just a few people as it is “a thousand times bigger than that” and stressed that the KAC was a giant and has been a prestigious airline since 1954.

He said KAC was too big to be allowed to fail and was just like many global companies that were preserved by their governments during the financial crisis. He said the company had a legacy of tens of years that put a huge responsibility upon it.

Al-Nisf said the KAC should not be compared with other airlines owned by rich countries which support them all the time or with airlines in countries that depend on tourism and are visited by more than 90 million tourists per year.

He said the KAC was the only public sector company that was not compensated for its losses during the invasion in 1990, which forced it to borrow from banks and landed it in a cycle of annual losses.

He said that the closing accounts and annual budgets of the KAC were being suspended along the past year, and this is what made KAC resort to borrowings to cover its financial commitments. He said he was a member of the board in 2007 when the board had decided to modernize the fleet since some aircrafts were 15 years old, but there was opposition from the parliament and the aircraft purchase deal was cancelled.

He said there were only two known manufacturers of passenger aircrafts around the world and they were already committed to large orders. So, any purchaser must wait for a considerable time, which can reach up to eight years, to receive the aircrafts they order. He said he found it strange that some people said that the KAC privatization will be complete in the next ten months.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

LOCAL

kuwait digest

In my view

Violation of constitution

Noah’s Ark is back

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By Labeed Abdal

local@kuwaittimes.net

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fter the latest blasts that struck the Boston Marathon near the finish line, killing two people and injuring over 23, people everywhere should come together. They must stay even more alert and take all due precautions so that any threats against peace and humanity can be thwarted.

The United States of America is not alone in this tragedy, and the innocent victims who lost their lives were like human beings anywhere else. The families lost their beloved ones for something as simple as sharing in the joy with others at a sports event.

Definitely, the dead or the injured people were not in a battlefield where weapons could be expected. They did not relate to any political agendas or power games between the north, south, west or east.

Furthermore, the discovery of multiple explosive devices after the explosions raises even more questions about the motives of those behind these blasts, especially when these occurred at one of the most prestigious marathon races.

This incident will surely affect the touristic and shopping areas, as children and elderly people would tend to stay away from similar fears and threats.

The message that must go out to the terrorists in the US or anywhere else must be unambiguous that no religion on earth can accept terrorizing people and killing or wounding innocent human beings as moral.

The principled stance must remain that no matter which camp you belong to, there is but only one humanity and it cannot be fragmented.

We, in Kuwait, surely share in the grief of the victims’ families and extend our condolences and sympathy to everyone affected.

Noah’s Ark will continue to extend its arch over modern history and will always carry all ordinary, good human beings and animals, but as far as terrorists are concerned, we are afraid that the ship is too full and the arch may not carry them anymore.

Keeping and defending the national interest, solidarity and harmony in tough times is the best remedy we have, and we must do so in the face of street bombs, invasion, chronic political tensions or even a tsunami.

kuwait digest

Too hard to believe!

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By Ahmed Mohammed Al-Fahad

ver since the fall of the former Iraqi regime in 2003, thanks to the joint Iran-American efforts, and after Nouri Al-Malki’s party assumed office by alienating Sunnis from politics, Iraq has transformed from being an Arab country into a Persian one.

It is even said, though I have not seen this myself, that the Iranian currency is being widely used in Najaf, Karbala and Basra, as if it were an official currency.

Most Iraqi politicians are trying to be seen as being independent of Iran and are keen on preserving their Arab identity. But as they try doing so, they are no different from a bald man who wears a different wig every night thinking that people would be beguiled by such appearance.

It is also said that Iranian ads have started invading Southern Iraq not because there is an abundance of Iranian tourists, like there are Japanese in Thailand, but because the fall of the regime led to Iranian dominance over the Iraqi state.

We all remember how all Iraqi pilots, who had taken part in offensives against Iran, had been assassinated using Iranian weapons and intelligence agents in the aftermath of the Ba’th party. We all know how Iran interfered in the appointment of Nouri Al-Malki against the will of the entire Iraqi society.

Nevertheless, most Iraqi politicians are trying to be seen as being independent of Iran and are keen on preserving their Arab identity. But as they try doing so, they are no different from a bald man who wears a different wig every night thinking that people would be beguiled by such appearance.

A few days ago, the media carried a story about the Iraqi authorities forcing an Iranian cargo plane en route to Syria to land. It was inspected and searched by the Iraqis. This piece of news made me laugh my heart out to an extent that I forgot all about our domestic and foreign problems.

“That inspection must have been aimed at stuffing the plane with even more weapons,” I told myself since it would be impossible that Iraq, a country where the hold of clergymen is all pervasive from north to south, would impede Iran’s efforts to protect the Syrian regime from falling.

It is also unacceptable that the Iraqi regime could be actually sympathizing with the Syrian people, as it claims, even as it prevented them from using Iraq’s open territory to shelter Syrian refugees.

Taking all these logical findings into consideration, I cannot help but remember something once said by the great veteran Kuwaiti comedian, Saad Al-Faraj: “I’d like to buy that, but it’s too hard to believe.” — Al-Watan

By Thaar Al-Rashidi

kuwait digest

Citizens more important than expats

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By Ahmed Al-Dawwas

conomics says people migrate from one place to another to seek a better-paying job. For instance, a Greek or a Turkish man may go to Germany, France or Sweden where he could earn three times of what he earns in his own country. Similarly, an African may try to illegally sneak into Europe, using small fishing boats, through the Mediterranean. The expats in the Gulf, be them Asians or Arabs, also went there because they knew for sure that they would be better paid.

Some Kuwaiti officials discuss economic issues without thinking of the consequences. For instance, the Ministry of Education recently announced its intention to increase the salaries of some of its expat employees. Such a proposal might encourage others also -though I do not intend to name anyone but the readers may as well read between the lines to understand whom I am referring to to demand the same.

Moreover, on Feb 2, MP Kamel Al-Awadhi suggested granting expats working in other GCC states visitors’ visas to come to Kuwait. I wrote about this proposal at the time and stressed that we, in Kuwait, can hardly breathe because of the traffic jams. Besides, violence has become rampant. In addition, such a proposal would only encourage visa trafficking.

Al-Awadhi also made another proposal on April 6, suggesting allowing expats in Kuwait to purchase real estate and claimed that this would ‘positively affect Kuwait’s economy.’

Dear MP, the mere decision to grant Kuwaiti widows or divorced women loans, sent the prices of flats skyrocketing in Kuwait. What would be the effect if expats were given a chance and they started crowding out young Kuwaitis while seeking proper accommodation?

Charity begins at home. I know that such an opinion would offend the expats but our country is small and many of our own youth cannot find work or accommodation. Expats’ salaries are more than enough for the time being. The fact that many of them send monthly payments home proves this, as per the central bank statistics.

So, if life was becoming expensive for the expats in the

Ministry of Education or any other government establishment, let them exercise their right and leave for other countries.

Who says that increase in population is good for any country? On the contrary, overpopulation is the hallmark of backward states that have too many people and export only one national product, such as cotton, cocoa or oil.

Why open new doors for problems we can as well do without at this particular juncture in Kuwait’s history?

Kuwait has never witnessed such dangerous behavioral phenomena like we are witnessing nowadays. Fires, traffic congestion, crimes, robberies abound. In such circumstances, why should we keep telling others to come and visit us because we will pay them more?

Why should our government yield to political pressure from other underdeveloped or non-developed countries which do not care about Kuwait’s interests and give more priority to their subjects’ salaries? Why should we go out seeking new problems domestically, like the one that hit Khaitan when expats reacted to political changes taking place in their countries and led to fracas like the recent scuffle between groups of Syrians at the Ogaila beach where they used knives and other objects?

I know that many expats will not like my words. I am even sure that some of them will write very scathing comments in response to my article, but that is how they are and this is how far their intellectual levels have reached.

Kuwait’s interest calls for washing our hands of the excessive number of expats.

Socioeconomically, reducing the number of immigrants could help any country as it helps reduce traffic congestion, high consumption of water and electricity, crimes and violations of law.

So, dear MPs and officials, please do not come up with any such proposals concerning the expats and, instead, focus on the citizens alone because charity begins at home. We have to fix our domestic problems first. It would have been much better to suggest solutions to citizens’ problems and leave innovations to experts. — Al-Watan

In my view

Politics in a changing world

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he death of former British Prime Minister Margret Thatcher has proven to be as controversial as her tumultuous 11 years at No. 10 Downing Street. The controversy has centered on her legacy and how she would be remembered. According to Prime Minister David Cameron, “History will recall Thatcher as the person who saved England.” The debate over Thatcher ’s legacy also opens a debate about today’s leadership and whether it is able to deal with the challenges facing the world. The world economy is reeling from one crisis to another without a solution in sight.

A quick rundown on the problems facing the world and ineptitude of leaders to deal with them are quite conspicous. In the United States, no one is sure how to handle the gargantuan budget deficit and national debts. In Europe the best its leaders can hope for is to contain the evergrowing euro zone crisis, which on the face of it appears to be monetary, but in effect a political one.

Its political underpinning is evident as politicians still talk and dream about a European Union without having the guts to concede some of their national interests. While Japan seems to be content with papering over cracks in its system without going deep to fix them, China and other rising powers in Asia and Brazil are very much reluctant to play a leading role.

That leaves the United States a de facto leader. But given the high political and economic cost of its blunders in both Iraq and Afghanistan with no clear outcome to justify that

By Alsir Sidahmed operation, the US is becoming “warweary and war-wary” as described by an eloquent Op-Ed piece by the Washington Post columnist David Ignatius.

The issue of lack of leadership in a changing world is becoming so pressing that the World Economic Forum in Davos last January chose it as one of the topics of discussions.

The Davos meeting was held close on heels of publication of a report on the level of trust people have in their leaders. The annual “Trust Barometer” survey published by Edelman, a public-relations firm, reports widespread scepticism about the ethics practised by political and business leaders. The lowest scores were when those surveyed were asked if they trust leaders to “tell the truth, regardless of how complex or unpopular it is”: Only 18 percent trusted business leaders, whilst government leaders scored a yet more miserable 13 percent of those surveyed in 26 countries where people are informed. On the other hand trust in institutions and NGOs is improving, though not to a satisfactory level.

However, the problem with leadership exceeds that of public trust and centers more on the ability of those leaders to do anything to resolve the crises engulfing the whole world. The Arab Spring uprising that is changing the Middle East, impacting the rest of the world, is a case in point.

These uprisings - peaceful or violent - have one thing in common: They lack leadership or even a face people could rally around. On the other hand, the enthusiasm with which both Britain and France

embraced these uprisings is sorely missing in the Syrian crisis. They were the ones who pushed for military intervention in Libya and the outcome of that intervention was so worrisome that they shunned repeating the same role in Syria. And Obama, who borrowed the phrase of “leading from behind” from Nelson Mandela, has opted to stay on the fence.

After decades of repression in the region, the uprising is unleashing powers, which nobody, including Western powers with their think thanks and resources, is clear or sure who they are and how to deal with them.

But more important is that this development is taking place at a juncture in human history, where the communication revolution is taking over from the well-established institutions inherited from the industrial revolution. What is happening now is a classic case where old institutions are crumbling with their strategies, policies and leadership, while new ones, reflecting new realities, have not yet fully emerged.

A good example is democracy, where people can vote in and out their rulers. Is that still valid in a world where the individual, not the party or a similar association can decide on his/her own affair without waiting for a deputy to that or even access the needed news and be active in dealing with them instead of the passive role audience used to have in the past. This is a development that is impacting the relationship between the leadership and the individual and has yet to find a way to express itself in a political format.

do not know who drafted the unified press law, but I do know one thing: either he is not a Kuwaiti citizen or he is not aware about the Kuwaiti constitution and has never read an alphabet of it.

One of the articles in the new law calls for “penalty for violating any article of the law, in any TV program for any TV channel, (which) shall be applied to the program guest (the speaker) who violated the law, and also is applicable to the program host and the one who prepared the material, and the owner of the TV channel,” which plainly violates article 33 of the constitution which states that “Penalty is personal.”

Article 93 calls for something very strange. It says: “The minister (will) issue a decision to appoint employees, who will be entrusted with proving violations of this law, and will file citations and send it to two concerned investigating parties, and those employees have the right to enter all places and organizations under this law to check the documents available and to seize those documents.”

This article means that supervision on the media is back once again, but this time in a legal fashion. Thanks to such provisions, inspectors employed by the Ministry of Information will enjoy the powers to seize people by law, a power not available even during the pre 1992 era when inspectors were posted to watch the newspapers.

This is like bringing back inspector’s courts through law.

I can review and cite how through tens of provisions, the unified press law is in violation of the constitution and other legislations. Some of its provisions even defy logic and cannot be accepted in 2013. These cannot be acceptable at a time when the information world is opening up.

The law should not be passed either in its current shape or even after amendments. Speaking for myself, if this law is passed in the current form or after amendments, I will resort to the constitutional court as the law was in conflict with the constitution. — Al-Anbaa

kuwait digest

Power play forces Fayad out

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By Waleed Al-Rujaib

Palestinian affairs expert commented on the recent resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad by saying, “The issue has absolutely nothing to do with the land, the cause or politics; it is about money!”

This is not the first time that Fayad has announced his resignation, but this time it has come at one of the most important junctures in 12 years. International attention to the Palestinian cause ceased after the 9/11 attacks. It only started to regain its importance last month, when US President Barack Obama visited the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel, and hinted at a new peace initiative when he delivered his speech in Jerusalem.

Fayad was known as an honest financial manager.

Funds from international donors spent mostly to meet Palestinians’ needs were safeguarded by him. He reformed the reputation of Fatah, the biggest Palestinian party, which was previously commonly regarded as a party that badly manages funds. The majority of Palestinians voted for Hamas and not for Fatah during the 2006 parliamentary elections due to the corruption within the latter.

Most funds come from the European Union and the United States, and the money comes on the condition that the finance minister be someone whose integrity and competence are trusted - two characteristics that distinguished Fayad. Yet these characteristics have always caused him problems with the Palestinian Authority’s leaders, who were used to late President Yasser Arafat’s habit of exploiting money for political interests.

Fayad’s rivals want to sideline him - not because they are corrupt, but simply in order to use funds for political goals.

They may actually think that without political funds, Hamas, which uses funds from Arab and Iranian donors to gain political support, will infiltrate the Palestinians.

But there is also a party that holds on to Fayad because it fears corruption if he leaves, and it sees him as a premier who will protect the funds of the Palestinians, who struggle to survive under the Israeli siege.

Fayad’s battle, however, is not with the hungry hawks in Ramallah. It is with Hamas and the Israelis. There is only one reason for this: Fayad is the one person who gave the Palestinian government a good reputation.

Israel launched a fierce battle against him because he established and supported many small Palestinian institutions that strengthened the Palestinians’ local economy and gave hope to people who would otherwise immigrate or work, humiliated, building Jewish settlements on their stolen land.

Fayad is an economic expert and his agenda is establishing real institutions for the Palestinian people.

As for Hamas, it knows that the Palestinian Authority’s good reputation will be behind its loss in any upcoming elections. Ever since Hamas seized power, it has not fought, it did not make peace, and it has not added anything to Gaza. All it does is stall and stall.

What about the president himself, Mahmoud Abbas?

We know him as a calm reasonable man who does not like battles or conspiracies. These characteristics are not in harmony with the nature of the political atmosphere, but his weaknesses are what distinguish him.

In the West Bank, he ensured the Palestinian Authority’s stability and continuity against the conspiracies of Israel and Iran, which are always seeking to either dominate or sabotage the Palestinian situation to serve their own interests. Many have noticed the fierce battle within Hamas recently, although the party denied it.

This battle reflected the struggle between what is called the Iranian option that includes senior Hamas figures like Zahhar and Khaled Meshaal, and the WesternQatari option. Perhaps Iran will fail to manage Hamas on both the foreign and the domestic level. This will increase the chances of reconciliation and the unity of all Palestinians under one command.

So now Fayad resigned- or, to be more accurate, he was pushed to resign by the hungry hawks who used political justifications we all know are weak. In the end, the hawks will also take down President Abbas, who has always seen in Fayad as a safeguard and who has always blamed Fayad for his problems.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

LOCAL

Amir’s visit to Turkey highly significant

KUWAIT: Kuwait Dyslexia Association Chairman Mohammad Y Al-Qatami (right) and Geetha Devi Balakrishnan during the seminar at KDA.

Pamela Ammach

Seminar analyses intervention tools for dyslexic children More awareness on dyslexia needed: KDA chief

By Sajeev K Peter KUWAIT: A large number of people around us do not understand what dyslexia is and its difficulties are. It is a learning disability that impairs a person’s fluency or comprehension accuracy in being able to read.

“But dyslexia is not an obvious difficulty; it is hidden. As a result, dyslexic people have to overcome numerous barriers to make a full contribution to society,” said Mohammad Y Al-Qatami, Chairman, Kuwait Dyslexia Association (KDA).

Talking to Kuwait Times on the sidelines of a seminar on dyslexia on Tuesday, Al-Qatami said, “In Kuwait, more than 30,000 children studying in government schools are with dyslexia. The number could very well go up to 50,000 if proper intervention is not made on time.”

The KDA was established in 1999 with a view to helping many of the dyslexic people across Kuwait and the region both adults and children. The KDA deals with dyslexia in all its aspects. It provides the assessment and diagnosis through new technological programs in English and Arabic. It also actively promotes effective teaching approaches and related educational intervention strategies for people with dyslexia.

“With the support of a scientific study, we showed the government that dyslexia exists in Kuwait. The government became fully convinced that we had such a major problem. They sought our advice. On the basis of our recommendation, the government decided to implement a project for dyslexic children in all the government schools in 2005. The project was successfully executed in the UK,” he said. “Since then, the government formed committees on dyslexia in government schools. As advisers of the com-

mittees, our role is to implement the programs in 650 government schools in Kuwait,” Al-Qatami said.

He said the objective of the project is to turn all the schools to dyslexia-friendly schools. Screening will begin at kindergarten levels in order to find out who really are at risk of being dyslexic. The screening with the help of hightech computers begins at the age of five.

“So, the minute they go to a primary school, the children with dyslexia will be identified and taken care of in an organized manner. Teachers are specially trained to deal with them. If this general intervention does not work, we have an assessment stage for a thorough checking to determine if any children have dyslexia or any other disabilities. We also identify whether the child has any strong points so that we can enhance his/her weaker points. By two years’ time, most of the problems are solved and the success rate may be around 80 percent,” Al-Qatami explained.

Pioneer Al-Qatami said Kuwait is the pioneer in the Arab world in implementing dyslexia project in schools. Today, other countries in the region such as Yemen and Egypt have also begun to implement similar projects.

Qatami regularly visits these countries to support their dyslexia projects. He also recalled an episode in Yemen when he had a narrow escape from death as he was caught in a crossfire between militants.

“Many of our people are not aware of the problem. The Kuwait University officials were really shocked when they saw our study. But nobody can deny it when it is proved with the support of scientific data,” he said. Today, the

Kuwait University has changed its curriculum to address dyslexia and appointed qualified teachers to deal with the problem, he said.

Later, Geetha Devi Balakrishnan, a dyslexia specialist presented a workshop on “Evaluation of the Therapeutic Tools in English Language” at KDA auditorium. Talking about evaluation intervention, she said there are many intervention tools or techniques developed over the years to help dyslexic students to read better.

“Today, a dyslexic child does not merely need to learn to read but to be a learner. He/she needs the required skills to perform academically and be an independent learner.

Hence it is ideal to analyze the phonic programs that we can adopt as a method of remediation or intervention,” Geetha said.

“We support and encourage interdisciplinary research.

We facilitate the exploration of the causes and early identification of dyslexia and are committed to the responsible and wide dissemination of research-based knowledge,” said Pamela Ammach, PR specialist at KDA. “We seek to offer hope and possibility. Because, we pursue and provide the most comprehensive range of information and services that address the full scope of dyslexia and related difficulties in learning to read and write,” Pamela explained.

She said the interventions are given by qualified teachers specialized in learning difficulties for both English and Arabic. “We believe that all individuals have the right to achieve their potential. We believe that individual learning abilities can be strengthened and that social, educational and cultural barriers to language acquisition and use must be removed,” Pamela added.

ISTANBUL: Forthcoming visit by His Highness the Amir (of Kuwait) Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah to Turkey will be of prior significance and will within framework of boosting bilateral relations between Kuwait and Turkey, affirmed a prominent Turkish media figure.

The historic and deep-rooted relations between the two countries witnessed leaps in various aspects, namely the economic and commercial sectors, in recent years, said Raeda Ural, also an expert in Middle Eastern affairs. The visit by His Highness, scheduled in the end of this month, will be of utter importance for it will be helpful for enhancing level of the KuwaitiTurkish relations. Moreover, it will constitute an opportunity to discuss various issues, regional and international topics of joint coordination, said Ural in the remarks to the Kuwaiti news agency.

Elaborating, she added that HH Sheikh Sabah’s visit to the country will be also designed to establish coordination between Ankara and Kuwait City, noting that the two sides share joint perspectives as to plenty of Arab, Islamic and international issues.

Consultation between leaders of the two countries, currently, is quite vital, in shadow of present historic developments taking place on the Middle Eastern arena, she noted.

The prominent journalist, in her assessment of the forthcoming visit by His Highness to her country, noted that the mutual cooperation between Kuwait and Turkey have recently grown stronger, noting “tremendous growth in commercial exchanges during the past decade.” Noting that the two countries have huge potentials to create new scopes for cooperation, Ural said Kuwait has been witnessing noticeable development in various sectors. Turkey, for its part, is the 16th economic power worldwide. It is also a bridge between the West and East. — KUNA

Algeria, Kuwait seek closer ties ALGIERS: Algerian Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Security Tayeb Louh met yesterday with visiting Kuwaiti Minister of State for Social Affairs and Labor Thikra Al-Rashidi. The meeting was attended by the Kuwaiti minister’s accompanying delegation and Kuwaiti Ambassador in Algiers Saud Al-Duweesh.

During the talks, the Algerian and Kuwaiti ministers discussed bilateral relations and ways and means of further promoting and reinforcing them for the common interest of both nations and their people. Speaking to reporters following the meeting, the Kuwaiti minister said she was happy to be here to attend a meeting of Arab ministers of labor.

Al-Rashidi emphasized that it was necessary for Kuwait and Algeria to coordinate joint efforts in various fields, especially social and economic ones. For his part, the Algerian minister highly acclaimed the Kuwaiti employment experiment as an example for Algeria to follow within the framework of sharing experience and knowledge. — KUNA

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

LOCAL

‘Love-rejected’ doctor files case against neighbour Masked trio beats up lawyer KUWAIT: An Iranian lady doctor kept sending SMS professing love to one of her neighbors, who worked as a manager in a company, after obtaining his phone number from the haris of the building but without eliciting any response as he ignored the messages.

The Jordanian manager did not pay attention to her advances as he was married but when she continued to press on, he called her and asked her to stop lest he will be forced to approach the police. The woman then preempted any such scenario and approached the officers at the police station before he could, accusing him of misusing the phone.

The unsuspecting manager, meanwhile, had left the country on a short trip but was arrested at the airport upon returning and was taken in a handcuffed state to the Salmiya police station.

It all began one fine day when the Jordanian manager was taken by surprise by a telephone call from an unknown number. There was a woman on the line, who started to urge him to commit vice acts. He warned her and ignored the call. The woman told him she was his neighbor in the same building and worked as a doctor.

The manager asked his neighbor not to call again and hung up. This was when she resorted to sending SMS, forcing him to call her and threaten to approach the police if she ever tried to contact him again. Meanwhile, he asked the haris if he gave her his phone number and was told that she had asked for it, though the haris was not given any reason.

A security source said the Jordanian manager left Kuwait on a short visit a few days ago and

was arrested upon his return at the airport. He discovered that his neighbor had cited the call he had made and charged him with misusing the phone.

The source said that the arrested manager told the truth and explained what all had happened. He narrated how the woman had sent the SMS and that he had rejected her advances, following which she filed a complaint against him. Detectives are investigating.

Cable thieves Surra detectives are investigating a case of theft of copper cables that were stolen from 36 transformers in Surra and Qur tuba areas, according to the safety and security officials at the MEW. A police source said the official told the police that a large amount of cables was missing from the two transformers, and therefore the case was handed to the detectives to identify the culprits.

Drug addicts A Kuwaiti citizen said his wife’s paramour beat him up, leading to him suffering a shoulder dislocation. The wife and her lover were using drugs in the husband’s flat.

A security source said a policeman went with the man to the flat, but by the time they reached, they found the wife alone with drugrelated paraphernalia scattered near her.

When she was asked about her husband’s claims, she said she uses drugs with her husband and friend, and that it was her husband who involved her in drugs. They were sent to the drug control authorities.

Woman harassed A woman who was being harassed by a man called her husband to seek help even as she drove towards her home in Kheitan. The husband instructed her to ignore the man and hurry home, but when she arrived, the husband waiting at the door was surprised to see that the man, who was harassing her, was still pursuing her. As he inter vened, a scuffle ensued in which the husband received several punches, prompting the woman to rush to his aid. She, too, was beaten up by the harasser who later escaped. The couple went to the police, armed with medical reports. Detectives are investigating.

Lawyer attacked Three masked men barged into the office of a lawyer in Abu Halaifa, beat him up and then escaped with some documents. A security source said that they received a call about three masked men attacking the lawyer.

Policemen and paramedics rushed to the office, and took the lawyer to the Adan Hospital while police referred the case to detectives for investigation.

Vice acts Ten persons, men and women, were taken to the Sharq police station for committing vice acts in public, aboard a boat. Sea goers were surprised by ten people aboard a boat exchanging kisses and indulging in certain other acts.

They called the police, and the coast guard men arrested the suspects who were charged with committing a vice act in public.

Kuwait envoy affirms close ties with Hungary BUDAPEST: Bilateral relations between Hungary and Kuwait have been very much distinguished and free of any strains, the Kuwaiti ambassador to Hungary Abdul-Hamid Al-Failakawi said.

The State of Kuwait was among the first countries in the Gulf region that established diplomatic relations with Hungary, said the ambassador on occasion a ceremony, due to be held by Corvinus University, to honor the former Kuwaiti deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Sabah.

Corvinus University, one of the top academic institutions in the European nation, will hold the honorary ceremony in coordination with Josef Antall Foundation, with presence of senior state officials. The honorary ceremony of Sheikh

Mohammad will “be explicit embodiment” of the deep relations that have been bounding the two friendly countries, AlFailakawi said. It will be also aimed to honor Sheikh Mohammad for his major role in cementing the bonds between Hungary and Kuwait, he added.

Sheikh Dr. Mohammad played a pivotal role for boosting the HungarianKuwaiti relations and opening the first embassy in Hungary, in November 2007.

The Kuwaiti diplomatic mission to Hungary had served from an embassy building in Austria.

The former Kuwaiti foreign minister is scheduled, during his visit to the country, to meet with Hungarian officials, namely Janos Lazar, Minister of State and Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, for talks on

issues of bilateral interest, regional and international topics as well as the Europe state policy toward the Gulf. Sheikh Mohammad is also scheduled to address a lecture at Corvinus University, themed “the Arabs at the cross-road of creative chaos or annihilation,” shedding light on “Arab spring” uprisings that had first flared up in Tunisia before spreading to other Arab countries.

Al-Failakawi, who touched on some of the formalities prepared by the university for Sheikh Mohammad, noted that “a round table meeting” will be held at the university to discuss educational relations, prospects of exchanging students, professors and researches. Lecturers at the honorary ceremony will include President of Kuwait University Ahmad Abdul-Latif Al-

Bader, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Semmelweis University Istvan Karadi, the Dean of Sociology Faculty of Eotvos Lorand University and President of Qatar University Dr. Sheikha bint Abdullah AlMasnad. Elaborating, the diplomat indicated that the president of the Kuwaiti university, during his presence in the country, would sign with Corvinus University a cooperation agreement for scientific and cultural exchange-with attendance of Sheikh Dr. Mohammad.

Shifting to other issues, Al-Failakawi noted that the joint Kuwaiti-Hungarian commission would hold its first meeting, in May, in the Hungarian capital, adding that the Kuwaiti delegation would include officials from the ministries of foreign, health and commercial affairs. —KUNA

GPA meets in Bahrain KUWAIT: Bahrain’s prime minister, Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, has praised the GCC press for its success in achieving a high status not only in the Arab world but also globally. He also lauded GCC press for exercising moderation and handling various issues in a balanced way, as well as for its role in defending Arab and GCC rights by refuting various wrong allegations.

Speaking after receiving Gulf Press Association (GPA) chairman Torki Bin Abdullah Al-Sadeeri and GPA secretary general Nasser Al-Othman at the GPA’s fourth conference in Bahrain, Al-Khalifa stated that GCC security was an integral issue and public demand for launching a GCC union had grown. “The whole region in general and GCC states in particular are facing a vicious campaign, and it is the duty of the press to refute such campaigns through truthfulness and transparency”, he underlined.

On the occasion, Bahrain’s minister of state for media affairs and the government’s

official spokesperson, Samira Ibrahim, called for supporting the GCC press’s efforts towards “enlightening” both local and international public opinions as well as developing a general GCC insight in order to help defend its countries’ interests through transparency. “Bahrain itself has been victimized by publication of false and misleading news”, she said, noting that in view of modern technological developments, information has become a more dangerous weapon than ever. Later, Nasser Mohammed Al-Othman said three researchers - one each from Kuwait, Oman and UAE - will write three books about the pioneer founders of journalism in their respective countries, as an addition to earlier books published in Bahrain and KSA. “We are also planning to have Qatar and Yemen do the same”, he added.

Finally, Torki Al-Sadeeri stressed that GCC journalists had a “great responsibility” to maintain stability in GCC societies and protect them.

Fire breaks out in camel stable

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Firefighters faced a peculiar situation while fighting the blaze at a camel stable in Kabd Area when they ran out of water after three hours of struggle to bring it under control.

The first distress call was received by the fire department at 10:30 am. Immediately, Jleeb Al-Shoyoukh and Ardiya fire centers responded and rushed firefighters to the site. On arrival, they found that fire was in the fodder spread over 1600 square meter area.

Firemen immediately began fighting the fire and continued for three hours when they ran out of water as tanks went dry. The support center was called to rush water and a wheel loader was deployed to dump fodder on the fire and reduce the billowing smoke.

The fire was finally brought under control without suffering any causality.

Group photo of EQUATE and Gulf Cryo Leaderships

EQUATE selects Gulf Cryo for CO2 recovery project KUWAIT: EQUATE Petrochemical Company signed an accord with Gulf Cryo for Kuwait’s Second CO2 Recovery Project. Gulf Cryo will obtain CO2 from EQUATE’s plants to be converted and used for industrial purposes.

On this occasion, EQUATE President and CEO Mohammad Husain said, “EQUATE’s collaboration with Gulf Cryo is a reflection of our tagline ‘Partners in Success,’ and it is an extension of EQUATE’s previous initiative of Kuwait’s First CO2 Recovery Project launched in 2008. This project is not only aimed at creating an added-value from the CO2, but is also a part of EQUATE’s sustainability driven efforts to protect and preserve Kuwait’s environment.”

On his part, Gulf Cryo CEO Naji Skaf explained, “EQUATE’s plants produce commercially viable amounts of gas daily. We capture the gas that contains raw CO2, then filter and purify it at our recovery plant which is situated close to EQUATE’s manufacturing complex.

This process separates CO2 and other gases to enable us to liquefy pure CO2 which is required in many industries, such as food and beverage, welding and cutting and in the manufacture of dry ice.”

Gulf Cryo is investing heavily in Kuwait’s Shuaiba Industrial Area with a pipeline that will deliver the product from EQUATE’s plants to Gulf Cryo’s production facilities.

Naji Skaf and Mohammad Husain

This partnership further strengthens Gulf Cryo’s long standing relationship with EQUATE which commenced in 2004.

Gulf Cryo is a closed shareholding company operating in the industrial gas field in the Middle East, founded as the Kuwait Oxygen Company in 1953.

Today Gulf Cryo comprises of 13 affiliated companies. It is the leading manufacturer and distributor of industrial, medical, food and speciality gases in the Middle East. Over time Gulf Cryo has secured a position offering total solutions in storage and delivery modes, as well as equipment rental.

Currently Gulf Cryo operates in ten countries, including all of the GCC, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Pakistan and Iraq.

With advanced production facilities, it continues to build and maintain an edge in experience, knowledge and technical expertise.

Established in 1995, EQUATE is an international joint venture between Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) and Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC). Commencing production in 1997, EQUATE is the single operator of a fully integrated world-scale manufacturing facility producing over 5 million tons annually of high-quality petrochemical products which are marketed throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.

Hawally fire Firefighters fought a blaze in a ninestorey building spread over a 500 square meter area, with inflammable material like timber, plastic etc only adding to the intensity of the flames.

The fire department received a report about a fire breaking out in the basement of the building. Immediately, personnel from the Hawally fire center, Salmiya South and North fire centers proceeded to the site.

The building was evacuated and as firemen began fighting the fire, they found the basement was not only not licensed, but that it was also being used for storing timber, plastic and other inflammable materials.

The building’s owner had violated safety conditions and por storage coupled with very narrow space to move around made it difficult to reach to core of the blaze. Finally, firefighters decided to call other fire centers for help and Mishref, Subhan, Ardiya, Farwaniya support center and Marine center responded. Foam was also used to fight the flames and airing equipment was used.

KUWAIT: Firefighters in action at the camel stable in Kabd Area.

Medical conference Fire department participated in the first conference on medical emergency and crisis administration, held under the patronage of the Minister of Health, Dr. Mohammad Al-Haifi.

The conference, which began on April 15 and continued till April 17, was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Farwaniya governorate.

Personnel from a number of fire centers exhibited their rescue and fire fighting equipment besides exhibiting how certain actions often lead to fire accidents and can be avoided.

The deputy director of fire department, Brig. K halid Al-M ik rad, Brig.

Khalid al-Zaid and a number of fire department leaders visited the exhibition.

Specialized crises management apparatus needed KUWAIT: Participants in the first conference for medical emergencies and disaster management called here yesterday for the need to set up a specialized body to manage disasters and major crises, with the participation of all relevant government agencies dealing with accidents in the State of Kuwait.

Director of Medical Emergency Management in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Faisal Al-Ghanim said at a press conference on the sidelines of the conclusion of the conference today that Kuwait “lacks an independent body with a clear strategy involving all gov-

ernment agencies which deal with the management of disasters and major crises that can occur in any country around the world.

Al-Ghanim said participants in the conference from several countries also recommended the need to develop a system of communication between the ambulance that deal with emergency cases on the scene and the hospital by giving the medic the needed medical instructions that will reduce the complication rate until the case reaches the hospital. He explained that the aim of the two-day conference is to raise the status of the State of

Kuwait in the field of disaster and crisis management and look at the experiences of developed countries in the field of emergency and ways to deal with major accidents if they occur.

He said that the Ministry of Health is part of an integrated system involving all the competent state institutions to face emergencies and accidents, noting that the proposals and recommendations of the conference will be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration and to reach a permanent and joint apparatus for managing disasters and crises in the country. —KUNA

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

‘Deadly poison’ found in letter to US senator

Bahrain tensions spike ahead of F1 race Page 8

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Rockets hit Israeli resort Salafi jihadists claim Sinai rocket fire JERUSALEM: At least two Grad rockets fired from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula exploded in the Israeli Red Sea resort of Eilat yesterday, causing no casualties, in an attack claimed by a Salafi jihadist group. It was the first rocket attack on the southern resort city in eight months, with the Israeli army saying they were fired from the Egyptian Sinai, although there was no immediate confirmation from Cairo where a senior military official said troops were “investigating” the incident.

As news of the rocket fire emerged, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu-who is in London for the funeral of Britain’s Margaret Thatcher-held a telephone consultation with the security establishment on “how to react,” his office said.

Several hours later, a Salafi group called the Mujahedeen Shura Council posted a statement online saying its militants had “managed to target occupied Eilat with two Grad rockets” without saying where they were fired from. The attack took place as Palestinians were marking Prisoners’ Day in solidarity with the thousands of inmates held by Israel, with the group saying the rockets were a “response to the continued suffering of the downtrodden prisoners in Israeli jails”. The rockets struck shortly after 9:00 am, both landing inside the city but without causing injuries, Israeli police said.

“We’ve found two explosion sites in the city, we’ve also closed off the airport as a precaution,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said, later saying that Eilat’s tiny international airport had been reopened.

One rocket hit a construction site in the Shahamon neighborhood, while the second struck an open area close to the Jordan border, just east of the main hotel strip, local residents said. At the start of April, fears of an imminent rocket attack from Sinai prompted the military to move a battery of Israel’s vaunted Iron Dome anti-missile system to the Eilat area, a defense official confirmed yesterday.

“There were warnings of possible firings, and they decided to shift the system to there,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. But an Israeli security

16 hurt in ‘terror’ blast in Bangalore

EILAT: Israeli security investigates the scene of a rocket attack in Eilat, Israel yesterday. — AFP source said the system did not engage to intercept the rockets. “Due to operational circumstances, the battery located in the area did not intercept the incoming rockets,” the source said, without elaborating. Israeli media reports also said two rockets had landed in the nearby Jordanian resort of Aqaba, in reports denied by Amman. “All military and security services in Aqaba have confirmed that nothing happened in Aqaba. It was only on the other side,” Amer Sartawi, spokesman for Jordan’s Public Security Department said.

At least two Aqaba residents contacted by AFP said they were unaware of any rockets landing in the city.

Eilat lies on the northernmost point of the Gulf of Aqaba, a narrow stretch of water bordered on one side by the Sinai and the other by Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Last April, a rocket fired from Sinai hit Eilat but

caused no casualties, with police finding another unexploded rocket near the city days later. In August, another two rockets rocked Eilat, again injuring noone. That attack was claimed by another Salafist group called Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis which said it had fired two Grad rockets at the city.

Since the collapse of the regime of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, Israel’s border with Sinai has seen multiple security incidents, with militants using the lawless peninsula to stage attacks on the Jewish state. The most serious incident was in August 2011, when gunmen infiltrated southern Israel and staged a series of ambushes that killed eight Israelis. Over the past few years, there has been intermittent rocket fire on Eilat from Sinai. So far, noone has been injured but in August 2010, one landed in Aqaba, killing a taxi driver. — AFP

BANGALORE: A top Indian official said a blast in the city of Bangalore that wounded 16 people yesterday, including 11 policemen, was “an act of terror” designed to disrupt upcoming state elections. The explosion, which triggered panic among locals, appeared to have been planted on a motorbike near the office of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main national opposition party which holds power in the southern state of Karnataka, police said.

“The incident is an act of terror,” R Ashok, Karnataka’s home minister, told reporters as he appealed to people to “remain calm and peaceful”. The explosion took place mid-morning in Malleshwaram, a part of the city referred to as “old” Bangalore and destroyed several surrounding vehicles. It occurred a short distance from the BJP’s state office and opposite a Hindu temple. “The fact it was so near our (BJP) office clearly indicates the perpetrators wanted to cause damage to our party members, cause panic and disrupt the forthcoming state election,” Ashok said.

India has made efforts to improve domestic security since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which 10 Islamist gunmen laid siege to the city, killing 166 people. But experts say security forces still suffer from weak grassroots intelligence gathering. Karnataka’s directorgeneral of police, Lalrokhuma Pachau, said the nature of the explosion needed to be investigated further as authorities still “do not know the type of material or bomb used for the blast”. There were no claims of responsibility, police said.

The state-run National Investigation Agency and forensic experts are “studying the explosion”, Pachau said. None of the 16 injured, who included 11 policemen, was wounded seriously, he added. The policemen who were injured had been sitting in a mini-bus parked near the motorcycle. They were on security duty for the Karnataka legislative assembly elections to be held May 5, for which candidates’ nominations were due to close yesterday.

Initially, police said it was a gas cylinder blast but later said they believed an explosive had been used. —AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

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

Bahrain tensions spike ahead of F1 race Opposition urges peaceful protests before Grand Prix MANAMA: Bahrain’s main opposition bloc called yesterday for stepped up peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations before Sunday’s Formula One race, saying the global spotlight shone on the kingdom by the Grand Prix would help showcase its message of reform. Sheikh Ali Salman, leader of the Shi’ite Muslim-led group AlWefaq, added in remarks to Reuters that he would be prepared to meet Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone in order to advance his demands for political reform in the island kingdom. “We are open to meet anybody,” he said. Ecclestone has said he is willing to meet opposition figures ahead of the race. A group of British politicians has written to Ecclestone urging him to cancel the race, which was reinstated to the calendar last year after being called off in 2011.

Asked if meeting a foreign businessman like Ecclestone could help his campaign, Salman replied: “We speak all the time about reform, human rights and democracy. Anyone can share these concerns. They are a human interest.”

Salman added that he wanted Bahrainis to take advantage of the increased attention brought to Bahrain by the race and step up peaceful protests. “I am calling for more peaceful protests,” he said. “I am calling on people to share peaceful protests to send a message to the world about our demand for peaceful democratic reform. “I am against violence. Our protest is to take place today and tomorrow. It is not against

SANABIS: Bahraini anti-government protesters block a road with burning debris to slow approaching riot police in Sanabis, Bahrain. —AP

backdrop to the race, even if the kingdom can justifiably say it is now addressing its problems with dialogue. In February the Sunni Muslim-led government and mainly Shiite Muslim opposition resumed an effort to negotiate an end to two years of political deadlock and violence in the tiny but strategically vital Gulf Arab island kingdom.

Two months on, as the country prepares to host its biggest sporting event before a global television audience, the atmosphere remains as heavy with mutual recrimination as it was during the 2012 race meeting.

Behind closed doors, the two sides trade blame for the current deadlock in the “National Dialogue”, while out on the streets, police and protesters clash daily amid fears the low-level violence could escalate into more deadly attacks.

The stakes are high. Home to the US Fifth Fleet, Bahrain is a front-line in a regional jockeying for influence between Shiite Muslim Iran and Sunni heavyweight Saudi Arabia. The kingdom adjoins Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province. Locked in a bitter rivalry with Iran involving sectarian struggles in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and neighboring Bahrain, Riyadh is a strong supporter of Bahrain’s Sunni ruling family.

INSTABILITY Political instability in Bahrain looks little nearer a solution than a year ago, when street clashes formed an embarrassing

MASS PROTESTS Mass protests by Bahrain’s Shiite majority were crushed by the Sunni-ruled kingdom in 2011, but protests have continued,

the race itself.” Khalil Al-Marzouq, a senior Wefaq leader said he expected tens of thousands to attend the main demonstration planned for tomorrow. Other protests

would be held today, and authorities had been informed. “These demonstrations show that the movement continues and the demands have not been met yet.

Obviously, the presence of the media for the Formula One helps shed the spotlight on Bahrain,” he said. “We expect tens of thousands of people tomorrow.”

demanding the creation of a constitutional monarchy, a demand flatly rejected by the government. “The dialogue is present, but it is on ice unless the (opposition’s) conditions are met,” Information Minister Samira Rajab told Reuters in Manama last week, accusing the opposition of obstructing the dialogue.

The Shiite majority has long complained of entrenched discrimination, and its loyalty has been openly questioned by members of Bahrain’s Sunni ruling family, bound by historical and marriage ties to that of Riyadh. Salman blamed the government for intransigence. “... the regime until now, practically, is not positive in the talks, and is not helping the talks to succeed. On the contrary it looks like it’s going in the direction of thwarting the dialogue,” the white-turbanned Wefaq leader said at the party’s headquarters in Bahrain.

The talks restarted in February after the opposition quit them in July 2011, saying they were not carried out fairly.

The opposition blames security forces for excessive force in suppressing protests.

The government says the opposition is not vocal in condemning a spate of recent small bomb attacks. About 35 people died during the 2011 unrest and in the two months of martial law afterwards, according to an independent commission of inquiry, but the opposition says at least 80 died.—Reuters

21 executed in Iraq Bombings, attacks kill 9 BAGHDAD: Iraq has executed 21 prisoners convicted on terrorism charges and links to AlQaeda, the Justice Ministry said yesterday, setting off fresh criticism from an international human rights expert over Baghdad’s insistence on carrying out capital punishment. The execu-

year, Ibrahim added. Executions in Iraq are usually carried out by hanging. According to the London-based Amnesty International, Iraq was ranked fourth among the top five executioners in the world in 2011, after China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the US Last year, Iraq executed 129

HABIBIYA: A policeman inspects the aftermath of a car bomb attack at a used cars dealers parking lot in Habibiya neighborhood of eastern Baghdad, Iraq. —AP tions were carried out by hanging in the Iraqi capital on Tuesday, according to a statement posted on the ministry’s website. All the convicts were Iraqi Al-Qaeda operatives who were involved in bombings, car bomb attacks and assassinations, the statement said.

The hangings brought the number of prisoners executed in Iraq so far this year to 50, according to Deputy Justice Minister Busho Ibrahim. The latest group was the biggest this

people, triggering concerns among rights groups on whether defendants had received a fair trial.

After the US-led invasion in 2003, coalition authority officials suspended Iraq’s death penalty, but it was reinstated in 2004 by Iraq’s transitional government. Since 2005, Iraq’s government has executed 422 people, including women and foreigners convicted on terrorism charges. Erin Evers, a Middle East researcher at

News

in brief

Quakes rock Japan island TOKYO: More than a dozen earthquakes, one of them magnitude 6.2, rocked a volcanic island south of Tokyo yesterday, the national meteorological agency said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage from any of the quakes and no risk of a tsunami, the agency said. The biggest tremor, with its epicenter located near Miyake Island some 180 kilometers south of Tokyo, was registered at around 5:57 pm, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. “There may be slight changes in the level of sea along Japan’s coast but there is no fear of damage resulting from this quake,” the agency said. There had been 13 minor quakes near the island-an active volcano-since 10:15 am. A small earthquake was also registered four minutes after the 6.2magnitude tremor, the agency said.

Carbon monoxide kills 4 QUAKERTOWN: An eastern Pennsylvania prosecutor says a man apparently tried to commit suicide by leaving a car running in a garage and the carbon monoxide fumes apparently claimed not only his life but those of his wife and their two children. Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler said Tuesday night that a state police investigation indicates that Gary Reitnauer went to the garage of an adjacent home on the family’s Milford Township property and started the car in an apparent suicide attempt after some kind of disagreement with his wife, Michelle. Heckler says she then apparently broke a window to get into the garage but was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes. He says their 16-year-old daughter Kimberly later went to the adjacent kitchen but was overcome. Ten-year-old daughter Jamie is believed to have done the same and was barely alive when rescuers arrived. She later died.

Human Rights Watch, said the number of those executed and the timing of the latest announcement was cause for concern. On Saturday, Iraqis vote in local elections, the countr y ’s first vote since the US withdrawal in December 2011.

The country has seen intensifying violence in recent weeks, some of it directly related to the elections, in an apparent attempt by insurgent to derail the voting. On Monday, at least 55 people were killed in a wave of bombings and other killings across the country. “The fact that this they announced this huge number (of executions) just after the attacks and just before elections is raising questions about what their motives are,” Evers told The Associated Press in a phone interview. Nine people were killed and 32 were wounded in four separate attacks in Iraq yesterday.

In one attack, gunmen in two SUVs opened fire early in the morning on a military checkpoint in Baghdad’s western suburb of Abu Ghraib, killing two soldiers and wounding five, a police officer said. Another police officer said a parked car bomb went off shortly afterward in another part of Abu Ghraib, killing two civilians and wounding six people. Around noon, a parked car bomb exploded in a commercial area in Baghdad’s western neighborhood of Jihad, killing three civilians and wounding 12. In a Baghdad southeastern suburb, a Sunni lawmaker escaped an assassination attempt when a roadside bomb hit his convoy. Three of his guards were wounded.

In the western Anbar province, police said a sticky bomb attached to a car exploded in a parking lot near the main Sunni protest area on a highway near the provincial capital, Ramadi, killing two people and wounding six others.

Members of Iraq’s Sunni minority have been staging weekly rallies to protest perceived second class treatment by the Shiite-led government. Medical officials confirmed the causalities in yesterday’s attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.—AP

Iraqis to vote in test of stability BAGHDAD: Iraqis vote on Saturday in a key test of political stability and security in the country’s first elections since US troops withdrew at the end of 2011. The provincial elections, the first since parliamentary polls in 2010, will be a gauge of Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s popularity as he spars with several of his erstwhile partners in government who accuse him of a consolidating power and reneging on agreements.

The country’s Sunni Arab minority, meanwhile, has been demonstrating for months to decry the alleged targeting of their community by the Shiite-led authorities. That has further increased sectarian tensions in a country that fought a bloody communal conflict which left tens of thousands dead in 2006 and 2007, and has seen a recent uptick in violence. Two of the country’s 18 provinces will not even be voting in the polls because authorities say security in those Sunni-majority areas cannot be guaranteed, and 14 candidates have been assassinated across the country.

Voters in four more provinces will also miss out-those in the northern province of Kirkuk and in the autonomous region of Kurdistan. In Kirkuk, elections are indefinitely on hold because of disagreement between various political and ethnic groups in the province, which is claimed by both Kurdistan and the federal government. And in Kurdistan, elections are typically not held at the same time as the rest of the country, but will come some time before September 8.

“It (the election) crystallizes the polarization along sectarian lines, certainly more so than the last election,” said London-based

Crispin Hawes, Middle East and North Africa director for the Eurasia Group consultancy.

“This speaks to the fundamental problem in Iraq. I’m still waiting for someone to have a policy discussion-the distinctions (between political parties) are almost never to do with policy.” Indeed, after parliament was elected, lawmakers jockeyed for months before agreeing on who would be prime minister. And since then, political bickering has meant that little in the way of landmark legislation has been passed.

As a result, few voter concerns such as poor basic services have been addressed, while corruption remains rampant and unemployment is high. Provincial councils are responsible for nominating governors who take charge of the provinces’ administration, finances and reconstruction projects, and have sway over key local issues such as sewerage and other services. But while several contentious issues fall under the purview of the councils, campaigning in Iraq is rarely divided along ideological lines or focused on policy.

Instead, parties typically appeal to voters based on shared sectarian, ethnic or tribal identity. An estimated 13.5 million Iraqis are eligible to vote for more than 8,000 candidates standing in the elections, all running for 378 seats. While violence in Iraq has fallen significantly from the height of the sectarian war, the country still faces significant security challenges, mainly from Sunni militants linked to Al-Qaeda who launch attacks in a bid to undermine confidence in the Shiite-led government. —AFP

ZARQA: Syrian refugees wait to register near their personal belongings after their arrival at the newly-opened Mrigeb Al-Fuhud refugee camp. —AFP

Jordanians feel the heat as Syrians flee MRIGEB AL-FUHUD: Jordan, already straining from hosting hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, is increasingly feeling the heat from its own citizens who are fed up with the growing influx.

Jordan says it is hosting more than 500,000 Syrian refugees and the authorities last week opened a new refugee camp in the Mrigeb Al-Fuhud area east of the capital Amman as thousands continue to flee the war across the border.

The 13,000-acre camp, built and run by the United Arab Emirates northeast of Amman, has 750 caravans, a hospital and a school and can accommodate 5,500 people. The seven-million-dinar ($9.8million, 7.5-million euro) facility was opened nine months after Jordan set up the sprawling Zaatari camp that houses 150,000 Syrian refugees outside the northeastern city of Mafraq. Now Jordanians, who are already suffering from high unemployment, prices and inflation as well as poverty, accuse the refugees of taking their jobs and prompting greedy landlords to raise rents.

“More than 160,000 Syrians hold various jobs in Jordan, though most do not have work permits,” Hamda Abu Nejmeh, secretary general at the labour ministry, told AFP. “It is a huge number that has a very negative impact.” He said Syrians “are depriving Jordanians from having jobs. If this continues, unemployment will rise and our plans to help citizens work will be affected negatively.” Abu Nejmeh said Syrians accept less than the monthly minimum wage of 190 dinars ($268, 203 euros) and work longer hours.

Unemployment is officially around 14 percent in the country of 6.8 million people, 70 percent of them under 30, but other estimates put the figure at 30 percent. “Rents have doubled in the (northern) cities of Ramtha and Irbid. An apartment that is usually rented for 125 dinars a month now costs 250 dinars,” said Fathi Bashabsheh, who owns a housing complex in Ramtha where 35 Syrian families live. “Around 130,000 people live in Ramtha now, including 40,000 Syrians.

This is a problem for Ramtha residents who face many problems in finding jobs and renting houses and shops.”

‘REFUGEES IN OUR OWN COUNTRY’ The UN estimates that around 385,500 Syrians have sought refuge in Jordan, including nearly a quarter

of a million children.

“We are extremely worried about what is going on in... Syria-which is causing people to continue to move across,” UNHCR representative in Jordan Andrew Harper told AFP. “We believe, unfortunately, we are going to see more Syrians seek safety and security in Jordan.” The UN expects the number to surge to around 1.2 million by December-the equivalent of about one-fifth of Jordan’s total population. “I own a restaurant and I recently fired three Jordanians and replaced them with three Syrians. I pay the Syrians less while they are more professional and serious about work,” said Imad Marji, a lawyer in Mafraq.

Jordan’s Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur told parliament on Sunday that the impact of Syria’s war is a threat to the kingdom’s security and that Amman will seek the UN Security Council’s help in tackling the fallout. “Jordanians face a lot of pressure and are very worried about the growing numbers of Syrians,” said Mohammad Abu Rumman, a researcher at the University of Jordan’s Centre for Strategic Studies. “Statistics show that the majority do not want more Syrian refugees. The way the government manages the issue and the fact that Jordan is not getting enough aid provokes Jordanians.”

In Mrigeb Al-Fuhud, which now houses 600 refugees, 27-year-old medical student Fatima said she understood how Jordanians feel. “Hundreds of thousands of Syrians in Jordan are sharing food, water and other things with the Jordanians, who have very limited resources that are hardly enough for them,” the mother of three told AFP outside her caravan. “If I were in their shoes, I wouldn’t be happy,” she said as her children played with toys provided by the camp management.

Hajeh, 43, who fled to Jordan two days ago with her four children, agreed. “We understand that we are a burden. The world has let Jordan and us down. One day the Syrian regime will fall and we will go back,” she said. Jordan has in past decades given refuge to waves of Palestinian and Iraqi refugees because of regional conflicts. “We have become refugees in our own country. I sympathize with the Syrians, but why do we have to suffer this way?” asked Ahmad, a 23-yearold Jordanian university student. —AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

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

Thatcher polarizes opinion even in death LONDON: Thousands lined the route of Margaret Thatcher’s funeral procession yesterday to pay their respects to a prime minister who had a profound impact on Britain, but others turned their backs on her coffin in bitter protest. The woman who ruled Britain for 11 years has aroused strong passions even in death, but admirers vastly outnumbered protesters along the route as her coffin passed by on its way to St Paul’s Cathedral largely accompanied by applause. Andrew Moodie, 56, a veteran of the 1982 Falklands war, the conflict which for many was a defining moment of Thatcher’s time in office, said he wanted to “show respect to a great leader”. “She sorted this country out.

She made it great again. She got rid of the unions and supported the forces,” he said.

Black-suited young supporters of Thatcher’s Conservative Party took up their positions on the route at 7:00 am, three hours before the coffin passed. “We’re here to mark our respect and regard for the greatest peacetime prime minister the country has ever known,” said Oliver Cooper, the 26-year-old chairman-elect of Conservative Future, the party’s youth wing. “She gave a huge amount, not just to this country but to others around the world that she helped liberate from totalitarianism. She stood for freedom and democracy,” he said. But others said they had come to show their opposition to a woman whose politics polarize Britain even 23 years after she left power. Many said it was wrong that at a time of deep public spending cuts, state funds

GOLDTHORPE: An effigy of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in a ‘coffin’ is burnt together with a sofa and wood as people gather to celebrate the death of Margaret Thatcher in Goldthorpe, northern England yesterday. — AFP

are being used to pay for her ceremonial funeral. “We’re spending £10 million (11.7 million euros, $15.3 million) on it and that’s disgraceful and unacceptable at a time of austerity,” said 22-year-old anthropology student Casper Winslow, who had the words “society does exist” emblazoned on the back of his t-shirt.

Katie McDonald, a 30-year-old doctor, said: “I grew up in Scotland and Thatcher basically ripped all the industry out of the country. And as a taxpayer I am very angry that I’m having to pay for this.” She added: “I think this is different from going to a party celebrating her death, which sends out the wrong message.

I’m still respecting her mourners-I’ve come here in black today-but I’m using my right to make a political point.” Several voices shouted “waste of money” and booed at the funeral cortege. But the words of protest fell on deaf ears for many of the crowd. Shaun Cross, 53, a scaffolder, said Thatcher had changed Britain for the better. “She turned the country around. We were going nowhere fast in the late 1970s. I was working a threeday week, the firemen were on strike, policemen on strike, the dustmen on strike-the unions had a grip,” he said. “She broke that stranglehold that the unions had and it needed to be done.” And Gary Sturge, wearing the medals he earned serving with British forces in Northern Ireland, said Thatcher was “an exceptional leader of people”. “We’ll watch her go past and then we’ll probably try to find a drinking hole and have a drink to the old lady,” he said. — AFP

Obama endorses overhaul of US immigration system Supporters prepare for long battle

YENAGOA: A man walk past state billboard campaigning against rumour mongering in Yenagoa, Nigeria’s southern Bayelsa State. — AFP

True story: Nigeria state seeks to hush rumours YENAGOA: The government in this Nigerian state decided something needed to be done, so billboards have been erected around town and a committee has been named. The campaign to stamp out the spreading of rumours in Bayelsa, the home state of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, is now underway.

“What rumours are they scared of?” said Simon Goladi, a 34-year-old sociology student walking near one of the anti-rumour billboards in the state capital Yenagoa. “It’s just a waste of resources.” While it may seem odd that the state, located in the country’s oil-producing Niger Delta region and with an impoverished population, has decided to spend energy and resources on stopping rumours, there is precedent.

The previous Bayelsa governor had a special assistant on propaganda and rumour management, his spokesman Doifie Ola said.

Current Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has opted for a 13-member committee, called the Public Information Management Committee.

“That points to the fact that rumours were a problem,” Tarinyo Akono, a member of the committee who also works for the state information ministry, said of the previous government’s decision to have an adviser on rumours. “It’s also important to check this thing because in the long run the problem might overwhelm the people.”

So far the most visible signs of the campaign have been billboards depicting actors pretending to pass rumours to each other and urging residents to “say no to rumour mongers.” They have been erected at main intersections and phone numbers are listed for residents to call “when in doubt.” Akono specified that the numbers were to allow residents to verify whether information being passed on to them was true, however no one was answering at any of the three numbers earlier this week.

Niger Delta activist Anyakwee Nsirimovu of the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law condemned the campaign, saying he believed it was simply meant to protect the governor from criticism as well as hand out government positions to allies - a well-worn practice in Nigeria, where deeply rooted corruption has kept meaningful development out of reach in many cases. “They want to, through the backdoor, introduce censorship,” he said. Bayelsa’s governor is no stranger to criticism over alleged patronage.

He faced an uproar last year when the wife of the president, a political ally, was granted a

top government post.

But Akono says the anti-rumour campaign is both legitimate and important. Rumours are capable of breaking up marriages or causing false information to spread about violence that can lead to shops closing, he said.

He insists that no one will be arrested for spreading rumours and that the campaign is merely meant to persuade people to resist the temptation to dish dirt.

Asked if there was something specific that prompted the campaign, he gave examples of rumours spreading about the governor himself. In September when Dickson was out of town, a rumour spread that he had suffered health problems and become physically paralyzed, said Akono. Another time earlier this year, a rumour spread that a court had overturned his election in 2012 polls, he said.

“Meanwhile, there was no iota of truth in all of these things,” he said. “Business people also get scared. If not checked, it could also result in some of the contractors running away from the state.”

But considering those examples, did that mean the effort was mainly aimed at protecting the governor? “No, I’m just giving you instances,” said Akono. “ There are other instances.” Opinions around town were difficult to gauge. While sociology student Goladi said he felt it was all a waste of time, another resident working at a nearby automotive spare parts shop agreed with the campaign and even went further, arguing that people should be arrested for spreading false rumors.

“The former state governor, they said he changed into lady’s clothes,” said Tony Tochukwu, 26, referring to another former Bayelsa governor. “It’s not good. It’s false.”

There were widespread allegations in the local press that the ex-governor he was referring to dressed as a woman to disguise himself when he fled Britain after being charged with money laundering. It has never been confirmed and the ex-governor later denied it.

The cost of the anti-rumor campaign is not yet clear. Akono said the budget is still being put together, though he specified that his position did not include a salary. However, committee members would likely receive allowances to cover their expenses, he said.

“Nobody’s limiting criticism,” he said.

“Criticism is different from falsehood. If there is a politician who is not doing well, I can come out and say, ‘my brother, you are not doing well.’ That is different than spreading rumours.”— AFP

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama yesterday embraced a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s immigration system put forward by a bipartisan group of US senators, saying it was “largely consistent” with his own principles for immigration reform. The Democratic president, who had said previously that he would submit his own bill if he was not satisfied with the Senate proposal, urged Congress to “quickly move” the bill forward and pledged to do “whatever it takes” to help.

He spoke after meeting with two of the measure’s chief sponsors, Senators John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, and Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York.

Obama’s endorsement and the bipartisan support for the bill improves its chances for passage but by no means ensures it. The four Democrats and four Republicans sponsoring the bill likely face a months-long battle, with the biggest challenge expected in the Republican-led House of Representatives.

Some opposition surfaced Tuesday, even though many House members, including Republican leaders, resolved to stay silent for the day because of the Boston Marathon bombing on Monday. Republican Representative Lamar Smith of Texas slammed the senators’ plan and said it would encourage even more illegal immigration, favor foreign workers and treat illegal immigrants better than those who have played by the rules. McCain, who lost the 2008 presiden-

tial election to Obama, warned that the defeat of any one of the key provisions of the complex legislation could jeopardize the whole effort.

He told reporters that it was “carefully crafted” to keep Republicans, Democrats and different interest groups on board and that if “certain things” were changed, “we would lose one side or the other.” For this and other reasons, Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, another of the bill’s sponsors, said the group planned on taking its time with the legislation. “It’s a complicated issue and I think people want to learn more about it,” the Cuban-American lawmaker told reporters.

“This will be a while. This is not going to be done in a week or quite frankly in a month.”

‘SERIOUS BORDER SECURITY’ Rubio’s comment underscored the delicate construction of the proposal, which would create a new legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants, as urged by immigrant advocacy groups and large segments of the Democratic party. But to lure Republican support, it conditions a path to permanent legal status - and ultimately a chance for citizenship - on the success of a multibillion-dollar effort to make US borders less porous, using unmanned aerial surveillance, the construction of double and triple lawyers of fencing and the deployment of thousands of additional border patrol officers

Italy to elect new president amid government deadlock ROME: Italian lawmakers meet today to begin voting on a new president in a key step that could end a two-month impasse between political parties that has blocked the formation of a new government. A joint session of both chambers of parliament meeting together with regional representatives is called on to elect a successor to President Giorgio Napolitano, who failed to clinch an agreement between bickering political forces.

The election could take a single day or several or even weeks, with a two-thirds majority required in the first three rounds of voting and a simple majority thereafter. “We are walking on thin ice,” said Stefano Folli, columnist for Il Sole 24 Ore daily, warning that the political system is “too worn out and frayed to resist the pressure of a conflict for the presidency over several days”. No single party or coalition holds a majority, meaning that there will have to be some kind of compromise-which analysts hope could be the basis for a long-delayed deal on a government for the eurozone’s third largest economy.

The main centre-left coalition won a general election on February 24-25 but only by a whisker and it failed to get enough votes for an overall majority in parliament.

Coalition leader Pier Luigi Bersani has tried to woo lawmakers from a new anti-establishment party, the Five Star Movement, but has been rebuffed. Bersani has ruled out the most obvious alternative-a grand coalition with Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right-which would prove hugely controversial among leftists fiercely opposed to the scandal-tainted billionaire tycoon.The question of whether or not to strike a deal with Berlusconi has threatened to split Bersani’s Democratic Party. The issue of two ongoing trials pending against Berlusconi-one for tax fraud and the other for allegedly having sex with an underage prostitute-is also looming. Berlusconi has said there should be new elections if there is no cross-party deal with Bersani and opinion polls indicate he would win, although they show he would still

Putin’s foe Navalny defiant; Trial opens KIROV: Russian protest leader Alexei Navalny accused the authorities of fabricating charges against him at the start of a trial yesterday that he says is intended to crush opposition to Vladimir Putin. The anti-corruption blogger, 36, was calm and defiant in a 40-minute appearance in court in the provincial city of Kirov before Judge Sergei Blinov adjourned proceedings until April 24 to give the defense more time to prepare its case.

Navalny could face 10 years in jail if convicted of stealing 16 million roubles ($510,000) from a timber firm in Kirov that he was advising in 2009 while working for the liberal regional governor. Navalny, the most prominent opposition leader to be tried in post-Soviet Russia, has

along with the National Guard.

To get business support, the bill would create a new system of visas for temporary agricultural workers and low-skilled laborers as well as expand the number of specialized, highly-trained foreigners allowed to enter the country to work for technology companies. To avoid alienating fiscal conservatives in both parties, the proposal denies most federal benefits to the immigrants until they achieve permanent status in the United States, which could take 10 years.

Supporters insist that the bill would not provide an amnesty to illegal immigrants. The eight senators are trying to pull together broad Republican and Democratic support in hopes that doing so will save the legislation from the fate of failed efforts to comprehensively reform immigration over the past three decades.

That strategy began to pay off Tuesday, even before the bill had been formally introduced. Conservative anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform, was among those who praised the immigration reform effort. He said he would attend a news conference later this week sponsored by the bipartisan group of senators backing the bill. “They are doing serious border security.

They are making sure that the 10 or 11 million who are here without papers can stay and work as long they are not criminals as long as they’re working. —Reuters

suggested Putin ordered the trial to sideline a potential presidential rival. “The case is totally falsified, trumped up. I am completely innocent,” he told reporters in court, reiterating his belief that he would be convicted regardless of the evidence.

Casually dressed in an open-necked shirt with no tie or jacket, Navalny chatted casually with reporters and thanked them for attending. His wife Yulia sat calmly in court behind him, flanked by opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. Tall and clean-cut, Navalny has been a thorn in the side of the government since starting to campaign online against state corruption in 2007. He established himself as a powerful speaker at anti-Putin demonstrations

that flared 16 months ago.

Rallies in his support were planned in Moscow and Kirov yesterday, but the wave of protests against Putin’s 13-year domination of Russia has ebbed. On the muddy streets of the industrial city, few people had any sympathy with Navalny. “He is probably guilty of something,” said Anya, a young woman selling toy cars in the main square of Kirov, almost 900 km northeast of Moscow and dominated by grey Soviet-era buildings. “His supporters would say this is political, of course, but I think there must be more to it since the case has gone this far,” she said. Grigory Pandzensky, a student, said: “It looks like he’s guilty ... It would be best if he went to jail.” —Reuters

fail to get a majority.

The 87-year-old Napolitano was constitutionally prevented from dissolving parliament and calling new elections because he was in the last months of his seven-year mandate but his successor will have full powers to do so. While the presidency in Italy is a mostly ceremonial post, it takes on critical importance during times of political crisis, as shown by Napolitano’s maneuvering to put Mario Monti in power when Berlusconi was ousted in 2011.

Some analysts say elections could be held

as soon as late June-a prospect that could have worrying consequences for Italy on the financial markets, which have remained relatively muted. Big business and trade union leaders have urged politicians to strike an agreement, warning that there is no time to lose as Italy endures its worst economic recession since the post-war period. Giorgio Squinzi, head of the main employers’ association Confindustria, has said the protracted political crisis has already cost the economy around 1.0 percent in gross domestic product (GDP). —AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

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

Immigration is questioned in bastion of tolerance Sweden ESKILSTUNA: An influx of refugees from countries such as Syria is fuelling a backlash against immigration in Sweden, for years seen by victims of conflict as a bastion of tolerance. The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats have risen in voter polls to vie for third place a year before a general election that could leave them holding the balance of power. City councilor Adam Marttinen personifies the growing anti-immigration sentiment. Dressed in an immaculate suit, gone is the skinhead image that once pushed the party to the sidelines.

Sitting in a cafe in this industrial town west of Stockholm, where unemployment of 15 percent is almost double the national average, Marttinen said immigrants were a burden on the welfare budget. “The main thing is we have to stop immigration to this city,” he said. Outside, women in head scarves shopped in the shadow of tower blocks. The majority of Swedes still welcome immigration, but the Sweden Democrats have advanced in voter surveys to nearly 10 percent from five percent in the last election.

Immigration is increasingly part of the mainstream debate in a country where some 15 percent of the population is foreign born, the highest in the Nordic region. It is a rise in asylum seekers, drawn by Sweden’s robust economy and tradition of helping refugees, that has attracted most controversy and is stirring anxiety among minority groups.

Sweden received 43,900 asylum seekers in 2012, a nearly 50 percent jump from 2011 and the second highest on record. Nearly half were from Syria,

Afghanistan and Somalia and will get at least temporary residency - out of a total 103,000 immigrants.

“You can see that the language and tone is more vulgar now. That gets worse and worse,” said Bejzat Becirov, founder of Sweden’s first mosque, the Islamic Centre, in the southern city of Malmo, one of the cities with most immigrants. Among 44 industrialized countries, Sweden ranked fourth in the number of asylum seekers and second relative to its population, according to UN figures. Sweden has a reputation for treating new arrivals well, from providing housing to free Swedish lessons. Some asylum seekers are allowed to live with relatives while they await appeals on their fate.

But the immigration spurt came just as many Swedes are feeling insecure due to headlines about job cuts featuring some of their most iconic companies, from Ericsson to airline SAS. Municipalities complain they lack housing for new arrivals. “Sweden is one of the countries that receives the most immigrants in the EU. That’s not sustainable,” Immigration Minister Tobias Billstrom said earlier this year. “Today, people are coming to households where the only income is support from the municipality. Is that reasonable?”

REGIONAL TREND The minister’s statement reflects how Sweden’s reputation as one of Europe’s most welcoming countries for immigrants may be eroding. People in other Nordic countries share Swedish concerns that openness to

refugees may strain their welfare states. Asylum seekers, in the short term, add a fiscal burden on the welfare state. OECD data show foreign-born unemployed rates, at 16 percent, compare with 6 percent for native Swedes.

Sweden needs high employment levels to pay for its extensive welfare, including some of the most generous parental leaves in Europe. “Sweden is seeing the most intense debate on immigration in its political history,” said Andreas Johansson Heino, a political scientist at Sweden’s Timbro think tank. “What we are seeing is polarization in Sweden.”

Across the Nordic region anti-immigration parties, which languished after Anders Behring Breivik’s killing of 77 people in Norway in 2011, are gaining support.

The Danish People’s Party, a power broker in the last coalition, has gained amid an unpopular left-of-centre government. In Norway, the Progress Party, hit by sex scandals that also eroded its image, is now the third largest party. Leader Jimmie Akesson has improved the image of a Sweden Democrats party long perceived as dominated by the far right. His aim is to reduce immigration by 90 percent. “We want to be a real kingmaker,” he said.

FEVER PITCH In recent months, immigration issues have reached fever pitch. Immigration Minister Billstrom sparked furor when he said people protecting illegal immigrants were no longer “blonde and blue-eyed” but fellow migrants exploiting cheap labour. This prompted a

dressing down by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

When a librarian removed a Tintin book from the children’s section on the basis it contained racist and imperialist views, it caused a storm on Twitter and in newspapers. The library put it back. Then Stockholm’s police were accused of using racial profiling to arrest paperless immigrants in the metro. A bus driver in the capital made headlines when he was suspended from work, accused of separating passengers based on their foreign looks. Around 20 percent of Swedes now believe the Sweden Democrats have the best immigration policy, pollster Novus says.

In Eskilstuna, Marttinen hopes the party will reach 15 percent of votes in this town of around 50,000 people. The party got 10 percent in the last election in a blue collar town once known as the “city of steel” for its industrial base. Marttinen told how one constituent complained she could no longer wear skirts in the street without harassment. His tone mostly appears moderate, talking about close Syrian friends. “People take you more seriously,” said Marttinen. “People now see we can act responsibly.”

Testament to Sweden’s history of tolerance, there has also been a backlash against anti-immigration sentiments. Aftonbladet, one of the main tabloids, ran a campaign called “We like difference”. Surveys also show the Sweden Democrats may have a ceiling of support at between 10 and 15 percent. “Sweden is not a racist country. Ninety percent are good people,” said the Islamic Centre’s Becirov. “But we must also be honest, it’s a difficult time right now.”— Reuters

US Muslims fear backlash if Islamists behind Boston Muslim groups condemn bombings

WASHINGTON: The entrance to the office of US Senator Roger Wicker’s (R-MS) is shown in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. — AFP

‘Deadly poison’ found in letter to US senator WASHINGTON: US authorities have intercepted a letter sent to Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker that preliminary tests showed contained the deadly poison ricin, and the Capitol police, FBI and other agencies have launched an investigation. The letter has been sent for further analysis to an accredited laboratory, Capitol police said Tuesday night. It was postmarked from Memphis, Tennessee, and had no return address, Terrance Gainer, the Senate sergeant at arms, said earlier in a warning to members of the Senate.

Gainer first said in a statement that the substance had tested positive for ricin, which is found naturally in castor beans and can cause death from exposure to as little as a pinhead amount, usually within the first 72 hours. Police later issued a statement saying the test was “preliminary” and “indicated” that ricin had been found in the letter. It was intercepted in a mail handling facility and quarantined, the statement said. “Senate employees should be vigilant in their mail handling processes for ALL mailings,” Gainer said in his written statement.

Members of the Senate were briefed on the incident by Gainer during a meeting with FBI Director Robert Mueller and Janet Napolitano, the secretary of Homeland Security, on Tuesday on the bombings in Boston.

Several senators told reporters after the briefing that the incident reminded them of the anthrax attacks in the wake of the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. The ricin test came one day after the explosions at the Boston Marathon that killed three people and injured 176. “I don’t know if it’s a coincidence. It’s too early to tell. We don’t know enough about Boston,” said Senator Richard Durbin, the No 2 Democrat in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he had been told the letter was addressed to Wicker, a Republican senator from Mississippi. All mail to the US Senate had been stopped, and post offices at the Capitol had been closed as a precaution, the senators said. They were getting in touch with their state offices, where mail is not subject to the same extensive screening, to ensure that precautions were being put in place. Many senators expressed concern about their staffs and the risks to postal workers. They said they were aware of only

one letter that had been intercepted that tested positive for ricin. A law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said initial field tests on the letter produced mixed results, prompting authorities to order further analysis at an accredited laboratory. It was not immediately clear whether Wicker, a Republican, had attended the briefing by Mueller and Napolitano that was open to all senators from both parties.

Wicker issued a statement saying only that the matter was being investigated and expressing gratitude for thoughts and prayers on his behalf. “This matter is part of an ongoing investigation by the United States Capitol Police and FBI. I want to thank our law enforcement officials for their hard work and diligence in keeping those of us who work in the Capitol complex safe,” he said in the statement.

PREVENTION SYSTEM WORKED Wicker, a former member of the House of Representatives, has been a member of the Senate since he was first appointed to a vacant seat in December 2007. He won a special election to serve the remainder of that term, and was re-elected in November 2012 to a full six-year term. Several senators noted that the system of mail screening, begun after the anthrax attacks, had worked.

“The bottom line is the process we have in place worked,” said Claire McCaskill, a Democratic senator from Missouri. She said a suspect had been identified, and said it was someone who wrote to senators often.

Other officials could not immediately confirm that report. There was another ricin scare at the US Capitol in 2004, when tests identified a letter in a Senate mail room that served the office of Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican who was then the Senate Majority Leader.

The most famous case of ricin poisoning was in 1978 when dissident Bulgarian writer Georgi Markov was killed after a passerby in London jabbed him with an umbrella that injected a tiny ricin-filled pellet. In 2001, the Capitol was one target in a series of anthrax attacks that killed at least five people on the East Coast, including two Washington postal workers. Letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to the Washington offices of two senators and to news media outlets in New York and Florida. — Reuters

LOS ANGELES: US Muslims are watching closely as the probe into the Boston bombings unfolds, fearing a backlash like after 9/11 if an Islamist link is confirmed to the deadly attack. Several Muslim groups issued statements within hours of Monday ’s double bombing at the Boston Marathon, strenuously condemning the attacks which killed three and injured more than 100 people. Investigators said Tuesday the range of possible culprits remains “wide open”, as speculation ranges from homegrown rightwing or white supremacist extremists to foreign Islamist groups or an Al-Qaeda type cell.

A spokesman for the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIR), Ibrahim Hooper, said the Muslim group had already received “the usual hate calls”, but nothing major as yet - and underlined its main message was condemnation. “You don’t want to create the impression that you’re more concerned about vandalism at a mosque, or something like that, than you are about a violent attack that takes the lives of individuals and injures many more,” he said. But he told AFP: “In any of these cases that’s something that’s in the back of our mind, that there’s a possibility of a backlash. We’ll just have to see how the investigation develops.”

The number of FBI-designated hate crimes against Muslims and Arabs in America shot up dramatically after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, which were quickly attributed to Al-Qaeda and a team of mostly Saudi hijackers. Amid the torrent of accurate and not-so-accurate reporting as the Boston bombing story broke Monday, at least two news outlets inaccurately reported that a Saudi national was being held as a suspect. CNN reported the two bombs may have used “pressure cookers” - a type of device referred to in a 2010 magazine article by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), entitled “Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom.” No Islamist or other link has yet been confirmed. But Sahar Aziz of the Institute for Social

BOSTON: FBI crime scene investigators sweep up Boylston Street after placing an evidence marker down just past Berkeley Street yesterday in Boston, Massachusetts. — AFP Policy and Understanding (ISPU) thinktank, said Muslims should be wary. “Because the stereotype of Muslims as terrorists and disloyal has become entrenched within American culture, there is a strong likelihood that Muslims in America will face backlash if the suspect .. is a Muslim. Such backlash could take the form of hate crimes, mosque vandalization, evictions off of airplanes, school bullying, and scapegoating in certain media outlets,” she told AFP. The Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) posted a link on its Facebook page to a Washington Post story headlined: “‘Please don’t be a Muslim’: Boston marathon blasts draw condemnation and dread in Muslim world.” “Was this thought crossing your mind today? Seems like it was for many Muslims,”

MPAC commented, referring to the link. MPAC head Salam Al-Marayati said: “Terrorism has no faith so it is irrelevant what the culprit.. will claim as his affiliation. What is relevant is the crime of terrorism, which we as Muslims have been speaking out against. We have confidence in our country, the United States of America, to maintain its tradition of protecting minorities and all people subjected to hate or persecution.”

America’s estimated 3.5 million Muslims make up fewer than one percent of the country’s population, according to a study by the Pew research group published in December. A Pew poll published before the 10th anniversary of 9/11 found that “Muslims in the United States continue to reject extremism by much larger margins than most other Muslim publics.” — AFP

Boston bombers chose troubling date for attack BOSTON: Troubling anniversaries linked to US extremists have cast a shadow over the Boston bombings even though investigators have yet to blame any group publicly. The twin bombs left at the marathon’s finish line Monday, which killed three people and wounded more than 180, contain disturbing details that could be seen as aping AlQaeda.

President Barack Obama has clearly accused terrorists of staging the attacks. But he also insisted that neither domestic, nor foreign militants, nor a “lone wolf” individual, had yet been implicated.

Still, the date alone-April 15 - leaves plenty of room for speculation. Monday was the deadline for Americans to pay taxes, a day hated by the far right. In Boston, it was also Patriots’ Day-the anniversary of the first battles against British forces in the American Revolutionary War. This Friday will mark the 20th anniversary of the end of the siege of a radical sect at Waco, Texas, in which 76 people died. A bombing in Oklahoma City by Timothy McVeigh, a hero to extremists, took place on April 19, 1995. It claimed more than 160 lives. And there’s more. The killing of 32 people by gunman Seung-Hui Cho at Virginia Tech University

fell on April 16, 2007, while the Columbine school massacre of 13 people happened April 20, 1999.

Doctors say carpentry nails have been taken out of the bodies of victims from the Boston attack. The same nails were used in the pipe bomb that killed a woman during the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. “But the technology does not really belong to anyone,” said J.M. Berger, a consultant and researcher on terrorism. Nails and other metal shrapnel have also been used in improvised roadside bombs left in Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflict zones.

Investigators say they suspect the Boston bombs were in pressure cookers left in backpacks.

Such bombs have been used in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Al-Qaeda supporters published a guide to making the weapon last month, according to the SITE monitoring group that follows Jihadist websites. Jeffrey Grossmann, a security specialist at St John’s University in New York, said such attacks “require advanced preparation and dry runs that may have been happening without detection for months”. “The timing of the event (Patriots’ Day) and the high-profile Boston Marathon were likely contributing factors in choosing where and when to act,” he added.

Berger, meanwhile, noted that the marathon was “an attractive target if you are a terrorist group that wants to get an identity. But for the moment it is all speculation and eventually someone will be right.” Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have appealed for people who were at the marathon to hand over video and still pictures, particularly those taken just before the explosions. After the Atlanta bombing, police were able to trace the nails found in the dead woman back to the manufacturer as they hunted Eric Rudolph who was eventually found guilty of the attack and is now serving a life jail term.

Alexia Ash, chief North America forecaster for Exclusive Analysis, a specialist intelligence company, said the attacks were “intended to cause mass casualties.” “The scale of the attack, coupled with the fact there has been no claim of responsibility indicates that this was likely the work of an individual or a small group,” Ash adding that there was an “elevated” risk of new shooting or bomb attacks.

“The war on terrorism is far from over, whether it is Islamic jihadists or right-wing extremists,” said Representative Peter King, a member of the House Intelligence Committee. — AFP

Terror strikes a new in American homeland WASHINGTON: America suddenly faced terror in the homeland Tuesday after carnage in Boston and a ricin scare jolted a largely peaceful run of luck since the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Constantly rolling news coverage-showing the moment when two murderous explosions sent flames and smoke spurting into the air near the finish line of the Boston Marathon Mondayspooled endlessly on cable news stations.

Blood-soaked pictures stained newspaper front pages and gruesome footage of grievously wounded victims of the first successful terror bombings in more than 11 years on US soil was easily viewable on the Internet. Meanwhile, a cycle of questioning, commentary, press conferences by law enforcement and political leaders, matched by heartrending tales of the dead, recalled the searing and unsettling days after the 9/11 attacks.

While the Boston attacks were nowhere near the scale of AlQaeda’s airborne strikes on New York and Washington in 2001, they again debunked the idea that American soil is immune from the terrorism faced abroad. “On 9/11, we were forever disabused of the notion that attacks like the one that rocked Boston yester-

day only happen on the field of battle, or in distant countries,” said the top Senate Republican, Mitch McConnell. “With the passage of time, however, and the vigilant efforts of our military, intelligence and law enforcement professionals, I think it’s safe to say that, for many, the complacency that prevailed prior to September 11th has returned.”

Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer said that due to security advances, it was not an accident “we’ve been relatively free of terrorist incidents” but warned “we can never get complacent.”

President Barack Obama meanwhile gave his second televised statement in as many days, though had few answers to share with Americans as investigators groped for a motive and culprits, be they based abroad or at home.

“This was a heinous and cowardly act,” Obama said. “Any time bombs are used to target innocent civilians, it is an act of terror,” Obama said, using emotive terminology he avoided using in the immediate aftermath of the strike. Before long, the politics of terrorism will be stirring. While thousands of Americans have died on foreign battlefields and some have perished at the hand of ter-

rorism abroad since 2001, the US home front had largely been spared mass casualty terrorism in the decade since. Privately, political leaders have admitted there have been lucky escapes since September 11 - and there have been incidents like the one in which a US Army psychiatrist is accused of massacring 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009. But they admitted that it was impossible to stop 100 percent of attacks, especially after New York had a lucky escape with a foiled truck bombing in 2010. In an eerie reminder of mysterious anthrax attacks which spooked already nervy Americans after September 11, it was revealed Tuesday that a letter sent to US Senator Roger Wicker had tested positive for ricin. Obama ran for re-election in 2012 touting his anti-terror record, killing of Osama bin Laden and fearsome crackdown against Al-Qaeda-so if the attack did come from abroad, he may face some political liability. He has also learned the need for presidents to appear to be in charge of national crises, notably following his uncertain response to a foiled attempt to bring down a US jetliner over Detroit in 2009. The sense of uncertainty was compounded by an information vacuum beginning to be filled by

speculation. “Obviously, we have to, you know, consider whether it was Islamic Jihad,” said New York Congressman Peter King on MSNBC. “But it could also be white supremacists. It could be antigovernment people.” Senator Susan Collins of Maine said: “whenever we have an attack like this, it’s difficult not to think that it is somehow involved in Islamic extremism, but I don’t have evidence to back that up.” With extra police deployed in New York and Washington subway systems, political debate about how to halt such attacks was also renewed.

“It’s very, very difficult to stop something like this in a free and open society,” said Michael McCaul, Republican chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. “You really can’t clamp down on security with open-air events like a marathon, like a football game, like a shopping mall,” he told MSNBC. The echoes of 9/11 were not confined to politics, as even usually bitter rivals united in grief. “NY (Hearts) B” said a message projected in light across a wall in Brooklyn on Monday night-using the logo of Boston’s Red Sox baseball franchise, which is reviled in New York. — AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

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

Guns black market thriving in Philippines MANILA: Bespectacled and clean shaven, 37-year-old Jomari Paraas could pass for a typical office employee in the Philippines, except he has six guns in his backpack that he will soon sell. The father-of-two is a prolific player in the country’s enormous and lucrative weapons black market, which has been under scrutiny following a spate of high-profile massacres and shoot-outs this year. “Why do I trade guns? Because there is a demand for it. And it’s extra income,” said Paraas, a former communist guerrilla whose day job as a community organizer for a non-government organization is not enough to pay his bills.

Speaking to AFP in a crowded Manila slum where he was planning to sell the six guns, Paraas said he had been a firearms trader for more than a decade, starting in his late 20s when he quit the rebel movement. Paraas is a made up name for security reasons, but his real identity has been vetted by a Filipino expert on security issues who advises local law enforcement officials on the gun trade. Paraas started selling used guns and knockoffs of foreign brands made by illegal gunsmiths in the central and southern Philippines, before moving to more expensive weapons smuggled from abroad.

The American-made .22 calibre Magnum Black Widow revolvers in his bag were ordered by a buyer

through a shadowy network of small-time gun runners who take advantage of the city’s urban squalor to peddle their deadly wares. Their clients range from securityconscious house wives to slum dwellers and members of “private armies” employed by political warlords. “They are light and easy to move, and in demand from many people because they primarily use it for self-defense,” Paraas said of the revolvers, which he sells for 5,000 pesos (120 dollars) each.

“Higher calibre guns and automatic rifles can also be bought, at a higher price.” The proliferation of firearms in the Philippines has been in the spotlight since January, following a series of shooting-related deaths, including of two children hit by stray bullets on New Year’s Eve. A drugs-crazed gunman also killed seven people in a slum rampage, and a shoot-out linked to a gambling turf war left 13 dead, among them corrupt police and military officers.

The Philippines has a strong gun culture dating back centuries, with a history of armed struggle against Spanish and US colonial rulers. Today, people typically carry guns because they lack confidence in the country’s security forces to protect the public, according to security analysts and firearms traders. There were 1.2

million registered firearms in the Philippines last year, with another 600,000 unlicensed firearms in circulation, according to national police data.

Getting a license to own a conventional gun is easy, subject to police clearance and security checks that include psychological tests, and firearms shops sit alongside clothes outlets in malls. But getting one without a police clearance can be even easier. Security analyst Ed Quitoriano, who regularly advises foreign embassies on threat issues, said there could be as many as four million unlicensed guns across the country. The gun culture can be unsettling, particularly for foreign visitors.

Private security guards with loaded, sawn-off shotguns infest the crime-plagued cities, protecting small and large private businesses. Traffic wardens deputised by the police but with little security training stand at intersections with revolvers hanging off their hips.

Restaurants, nightclubs and banks often have signs asking patrons to leave their firearms at entrance counters. Foreigners are warned by long-time expatriates to avoid any incident that could escalate into violence, because of the potential for a gun to be used on them.

This month an Australian man was shot in the head from point blank range at a beach resort he managed,

with police suspecting an aggrieved former staff member may have ordered the murder.

President Benigno Aquino launched a high-profile campaign at the start of the year to get unlicensed guns off the streets.

But government data shows this has so far netted fewer that 2,200 firearms, highlighting what Quitoriano said was the government’s lack of resolve and capabilities to tackle the issue.

Quitoriano said many powerful figures, including soldiers, police and politicians, profited from the firearms trade, part of a huge corruption problem that plagues all sectors of society.

“Many of the unlicensed guns that leak into the grey market actually come from legal imports and government purchases,” he said. Quitoriano said the climate of fear fuelled the black market. “If the public trusted the government more, there would be no need for them to protect themselves by arming,” he said. Alexander Reyes, who owns self-defense speciality shop Aquila Firearms and Ammunition Corp at a Manila mall, agreed. “It used to be for prestige, because guns equate with power,” Reyes said. “But nowadays, it is mostly for protection. The police cannot protect you 24/7.” — AFP

Myanmar Buddhist living in fear after Indonesia killings Attacks underscore soaring Buddhist-Muslim tensions

TOKYO: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo yesterday. — AFP

San Suu Kyi defends her conciliatory style TOKYO: Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi defended her conciliatory political style yesterday, saying her focus was on building a more unified society rather than making headlines. Suu Kyi, visiting Japan this week, said many interviewers have asked her why she does not speak more forcefully about the plight of minority groups in her nation. She said she has been addressing those issues, albeit in ways that people may consider “boring”. “In fact, I have been speaking all the time about ethnic nationalities. But the point was that my statements were not colorful enough to please everybody,” she told a press conference.

“Actually I am not very keen on colorful statements. I am sorry if people do not find my comments interesting enough to acknowledge them. “But I have been speaking a lot about ethnic nationalities and problems of national reconciliation in our country, except that I speak in a way in which, I suppose, most people consider slightly boring.” The comments came as activists express disappointment that Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate who was locked up for 15 years by Myanmar’s then-ruling junta, has remained largely silent about several episodes of communal bloodshed.

At least 43 people were killed in March as mosques and Muslim homes were destroyed in central Myanmar, in a wave of violence that witnesses say appeared to have been well organized. The recent disorder was the worst since an eruption of violence between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in the western state of Rakhine last year that left scores dead and tens of thousands-mainly Muslims-displaced. The Rohingya have been described by the UN as one of the world’s most persecuted

minorities.

Suu Kyi said she has met with Muslim leaders and felt “sad” to see their situations.

“With regard to whether or not Rohingya are citizens of the country, that depends very much on whether or not they meet the requirements of the citizenship law as they now exist,” she said. “Then we must go on and assess this citizenship law to find out whether it is in line with the international standard,” she said, stressing the importance of rule of law. “We must learn to accommodate those with different views from ours,” she said.

Chris Lewa, the Bangkok-based director of The Arakan Project, a non-governmental organization that lobbies for the rights of the Rohingya said that many Muslims in Myanmar were disappointed Suu Kyi had not been more forthright in their defense.

“People like Aung San Suu Kyi who have moral authority in Myanmar should be clearer about the rights of minorities,” she said. “She talks a lot about the rule of law, but that is not enough. We must protect minorities. Rohingyas had hoped that she might improve their lot, but they are beginning to lose hope that she can play that role.”

Suu Kyi said she aspired to lead the nation and hoped to build a society in which opposing views can be discussed. “I have always said our country is poor in the culture of negotiated compromise. But it is something we must work at to achieve,” she said. “I want changes in our country to be achieved through agreements between different forces in our country.” She said the current regime under President Thein Sein lacked a “structure” for its reform initiatives, such as the priority and sequence of what needs to be done. — AFP

NZ legalizes gay marriage WELLINGTON: New Zealand became the first Asia-Pacific country to legalize samesex marriage yesterday after a decadeslong campaign, a historic decision celebrated with parties across the gay community.

A parliamentary vote overwhelmingly backed a move to amend the 1955 Marriage Act 77-44 to describe matrimony as a union of two people regardless of their sex, sexuality or how they choose to identify their gender. “It is about saying these lives matter, our society is big enough for us,” gay Green Party MP Kevin Hague told parliament.

The lawmaker behind the reform, Louisa Wall, a gay member of the centre-left Labor Party, said the New Zealand legislation should pave the way for reform in other countries in the region. “The law unfortunately has treated homosexual New Zealanders as less than human, as less than equal citizens,” she told AFP. “What this bill will do is ensure the state does not discriminate against any citizen.” On the capital’s Cuba Street entertainment strip, gay venues such as the San Francisco Bath House and S&M’s held parties while screening yesterday night’s vote live.

Parliament’s public gallery was booked out due to overwhelming demand and a big screen was erected in an overflow room near the debating chamber to accommodate hundreds of extra onlookers. “There’s going to be parties everywhere,” LegaliseLove Wellington co-ordinator Joseph Habgood said ahead of the vote.

The change makes New Zealand the 13th

nation globally to allow gay marriage, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Australia rejected a similar proposal last September and the issue has prompted heated debate in the United States since President Barack Obama made support for same-sex unions a prominent part of his second-term agenda.

With Britain and France both appearing set to adopt same-sex marriage soon, Wall said a “global conversation” on gay rights was occurring, which should prompt changes in nations such as Tonga and Samoa, where homosexuality is still illegal.

Opinion was divided on Cuba Street ahead of the vote. “If some people are allowed to do it, then all people should be allowed to do it,” Christina Hroch said “I haven’t met anyone that would be against it.” But Suzy Prime was “totally opposed” to the change, raising concerns about the impact on children raised in same-sex marriages.

“I don’t think there’s a need for marriage,” she said. “We already have a law that they can be together with their civil rights. I don’t have a problem with that but I don’t think it’s right to go beyond that and allow marriage.”

New Zealand decriminalized homosexuality in 1986 and since 2005 has allowed same-sex civil unions. HRW lists the countries that currently allow same-sex marriage as The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Argentina, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Uruguay, which changed the law this month. — AFP

BELAWAN: With tears running down his cheeks, a Buddhist fisherman from Myanmar told how he was living in fear after his friends were beaten to death by Muslim Rohingya in a brutal attack at an Indonesian detention centre. “There were too few guards and they just couldn’t get into the block” when violence erupted last week, a clearly traumatized Soe Paing told AFP at the overcrowded, two-storey building on Sumatra island.

“It took ages for the immigration officials to send any backup. That’s why our people died.

“We are very upset, and now we fear for our lives,” said the slight 44-year-old, one of 11 Myanmar Buddhist fishermen who was in the centre when fighting flared, eight of whom were killed. The attack underscored the soaring Buddhist-Muslim tensions which have cast a shadow over political reforms in Myanmar, where the end of decades of authoritarian military rule has laid bare deep sectarian fault lines.

It followed an outbreak of deadly communal unrest in central Myanmar last month, the worst since violence between Buddhists and Rohingya in the western state of Rakhine last year that left scores dead and tens of thousands-mainly Muslims-displaced. Some 200 asylum seekers, from countries including Sri Lanka and Afghanistan as well as Myanmar, remain at the detention centre in the port town of Belawan, with some rooms holding large groups. They have been badly shaken by the killings.

“We could see what was happening through the bars. They were killed right in front of our eyes,” said Mustafa Javeed, a 17-year-old Afghan from the Hazara Shiite Muslim minority. Friday’s violence began when already high tensions escalated after allegations emerged that some of the Buddhists raped two Rohingya women at the centre and sexually harassed a third, according to the national police. Around 60 of the Rohingya sealed off the entrance to their block with chairs and tables before launching the deadly attack using pieces of wood and broom handles in the early hours, according to detention centre officials.

Only one immigration officer was on duty at the time in the centre which was holding more than 300 detainees-way above its capacity of 120, the police said in a statement released after their initial probe. When backup arrived and officials finally got into the room, they found a hor-

MEDAN: An Indonesian policeman (right) watches over Afghan detainees at Indonesia’s Belawan immigration detention center in Medan city located on Sumatra island, where eight Myanmar Buddhist detainees were killed by Myanmar Muslim Rohingya refugees inside the detention center on April 5, 2013. — AFP rific scene of bloodied, beaten bodies, with blood collected in pools on the floor and smeared on the walls. Another 15 people, believed to be Rohingya, were also injured in the violence. Soe Paing and two other fishermenwho had been detained for fishing illegally in Indonesian waters-were unharmed as they were in another part of the centre when the violence broke out.

Detention centre officials and local police originally said they believed the violence was triggered by photos of communal violence in Myanmar, but police and officials say their probe is now focused on the sex attack claims. At the centre, some of the Rohingya-who have been fleeing the violence in Myanmar in their thousands and are described by the UN as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world-sought to distance themselves from the fighting.

“I’d never faced trouble like this in the past. I never wanted to get involved,” said Ikhbramad, a 41-year-old who gave only one name, adding he

was in the room during the attack but did not participate. Soe Paing, who spoke to AFP earlier this week, and the two other Myanmar Buddhist fishermen who were not involved in the attack, have now been sent to Jakarta to be deported back to Myanmar. But for asylum seekers still at the centre, who are often detained for months waiting for their cases to be assessed, the violence has made desperate existences even more miserable. Scores of Sri Lankans have gone on a hunger strike and are demanding to be moved from the gloomy, concrete building to a safer place. “We’re scared that the same thing will happen to us, so we don’t want to live here anymore,” said R. Thusanthan, 29.

Centre official Rida Agustian said that some women, children and couples had been moved since Friday to community housing in the nearby city of Medan in an attempt to ease the pressure on the complex. “There are not usually tensions like this here, but the overcrowding doesn’t help,” he conceded. — AFP

Death spotlights abuses in Chinese party graft probe BEIJING: Yu Qiyi had a promising career in a government investment company when he disappeared on his way home from a business trip March 1. Thirty-eight days later, the bespectacled, boyish-looking engineer died after turning up in a hospital emaciated, with bruises on his arms and thighs, dark welts on his buttocks and scrapes on his feet and shins. In between, Yu was held by investigators from China’s ruling Communist Party in secret detention frequently used but not regulated by law. Since his death last week, he’s become a rallying point for reformers who want to do away with a system that is prone to abuse but that Chinese leaders depend on to keep members in line.

Photos of Yu’s body have ricocheted around the Internet, prompting thousands of comments from ordinary Chinese citizens on popular Twitter-like microblogs, as well as from journalist in the state media. “If power is not locked in the cage of institutions, everyone will find it hard to feel secure. From ordinary citizens to leading cadres, everyone could become a victim,” reporter Chen Yuming of the official Xinhua News Agency posted on the agency’s account last week.

Yu’s family says the injuries are proof that he was beaten, starved and otherwise tortured by investigators in the eastern city of Wenzhou where he lived. “He was thin like a beggar,” said Wu Qian, his ex-wife with whom he still lived, describing seeing Yu on April 9 in a local hospital.

“He was lying there so pitifully. ... Anywhere that we could see, there were injuries on his body.” Wu said in an interview that the hospital’s medical records cited drowning as a potential cause of death. A terse official statement carried by state media said Yu had an unspecified accident while being held by the party’s local inspectors and that he died in the hospital after rescue attempts failed. It said an investigation was underway.

Wenzhou police referred calls to the office of local party investigators, where phones rang unanswered this week. Lines were constantly busy at the city’s propaganda office. The hospital

where Yu was sent declined comment. Yu’s case is drawing attention to a feared tool of communist rule: the detention of party members by internal investigators. Those being investigated are ordered to appear at a designated time and a designated place for questioning, yielding the euphemism by which these investigations are widely known: “shuanggui,” a term that roughly translates to “dual designation.”

In practice, it’s a system in which suspects are whisked away into a shadowy detention. It operates beyond the law, with people held for weeks and months at a time with no regard for the nor-

Yu Qiyi mal, if often ignored, legal protections Chinese citizens are supposed to be entitled to. The staterun Global Times newspaper said targets of investigations are “asked to confess to wrongdoings.” “Shuanggui faces no constraints and that makes it easier for torture to be used to obtain confessions,” said Shen Liangqing, a former prosecutor who has become a government critic and has investigated the detention system.

Interrogators say: “‘We will beat you to death, take your corpse down the mountain and say you committed suicide by jumping,’” Shen said.

“That’s how they threaten them.” Defenders of the system say party investigators need unchecked power to prevent officials suspected

of malfeasance from using their influence to block such inquiries. By keeping them in solitary confinement, the argument goes, officials are unable contact others who might be implicated or police or judges they might have influence over. And it has been used against powerful officials, most recently Bo Xilai, a high-ranking politician brought down in spectacular style last year following his wife’s involvement in the murder of a British businessman. The former railways minister, Liu Zhijun, who now faces charges of taking bribes and abusing his power, also was under the party’s investigative detention system. Yu was wanted for questioning for possible corruption in a land deal when he was picked up by investigators. Run by the party’s Discipline Inspection Commission, the investigations have time limits of up to six months and usually take place in hotels or guesthouses, according to a 2010 book on arbitrary detention in China by legal scholar Flora Sapio. Detainees are guarded even when they use the toilet, Sapio writes, and are subject to sleep deprivation and beatings.

Because the targets and interrogators are party members and are bound by the party’s disciplinary code, the process is girded in silence, its details mostly kept out of public view. When the probe is concluded, investigators sometimes turn the suspect along with selected evidence to prosecutors for what is often a perfunctory prosecution with guilt a foregone conclusion.

No figures are made public on the number of people put through the party’s detention system annually. Shen said the number of corruption cases the party investigates - about 150,000 cases last year - provides some indication, though the detentions are likely to be far higher since each case usually involves multiple suspects. The attention that Yu’s case has brought comes at an inconvenient time for the party. There is growing pressure from legal reformers and the public to do away with another form of punishment with flimsy legal underpinnings: a system that allows police to jail people in labor camps for up to four years without a court trial or judicial review. —AP

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

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

As Islamic radicals retreat, young Somalis elope WALAWEYN: Outside a dilapidated twostory building, Abdi Ali says goodbye to his veiled girlfriend Anisa and they take two separate streets to avoid attention.

Soon they’re aboard a minibus heading outside Mogadishu, pretending they don’t know each other.

After more than two hours of travel, they arrive at Walaweyn, a run-down town 90 kilometers north of Mogadishu, and are led inside a shanty by a man running a string of Arab worr y beads through his fingers. Another man and woman walk out; they have just been married. Abdi Ali, who is 25, and his 23year-old girlfriend will be next.

Since the Islamic extremist rebels of Al-Shabab have been pushed out of almost all of Somalia’s cities and towns, life has begun to return to normal. Under its strict interpretation of Islamic Shariah law, Al-Shabab had declared eloping illegal, punishable by whipping or even death by stoning. Now that the extremists’ harsh rule has been replaced by a more tolerant form of Islam, elopement once again is popular among young Somali couples, many of whom have dramatic stories of defying their families to follow their hearts and marry.

In the case of Ali and Anisa, they had dated in secret for two years. Anisa, who refused to give her full name for fear of family retribution, said they decided to elope after her parents refused her request to marry Ali, intending her to

marry a cousin in America. “They tried to turn down my choice, and I had to do the same against their will,” said Anisa, her soft voice and shy demeanor belying her determination. “You can’t be engaged with just a stranger you have been forced to marry. We are living a civilized world.”

Anisa, with hennaed hands and bangle bracelets, is studying business at a Mogadishu university. She looks fondly at Ali, a lanky man with wispy hair who works as a tailor. Walaweyn appears an unlikely marriage destination. It is little more than a crossroads with many of its buildings made of poles and dried cow dung, which is fitting as most of the residents are cow herders.

Walaweyn’s elopement activity is one of the most visible signs that the tight grip that Islamic militiamen once held here has loosened. After the al-Shabab rebels left in October 2012, elopement became an industry in this town. There are several eloping rooms, including some in buildings that once housed alShabab extremists. Guides welcome new arrivals to the town, asking them if they want to elope.

Elopements here have soared, says Sheikh Mohamed Salad, an Islamic cleric who marries eloping couples. “Already this year we married hundreds of people, unlike last year when you could barely receive ten or fewer a month,” he said.

Reasons for choosing the elopement

option vary. It is favored by poor young men who cannot afford the hefty dowries given to brides’ families. Others, as in Ali and Anisa’s case, are rebelling against an arranged marriage so love can prevail. Elopement is generally frowned upon in the Saudi Arabia-based Wahabi school of Islam that is growing in influence. But Sufism, which is followed by many moderate Somalis, considers elopement a legal marriage, according to Mohamed Yasin, an Islamic philosopher in Mogadishu.

“Elopement is fully legal in accordance with the teaching of Islamic religion,” said Sheikh Mohamed Ahmed, a Sufi cleric in Mogadishu. “If the woman happens to be in a remote place far from her guardians she can be wedded if she agrees to it.” Walaweyn’s location is just far away from Mogadishu for young women to be out of their parents’ jurisdiction so they can decide on their own marriage. And that is why Ali and Anisa chose Walaweyn.

After arriving in the town, Ali and Anisa go into a small, stuffy elopement room. A cleric presides over the marriage ceremony which lasts about 20 minutes.

Ali pays about $20 for the service. The couple emerges holding a small marriage certificate written out in ink, which will prevent them from being accused of adultery and, if they have children, will ensure the children are seen as legitimate. The no-frills ceremony is a far cry

MOGADISHU: Photo shows a young Somali man at Mogadishu’s Lido beach.

Somalia’s security forces have launched a major security operation, searching for explosives and weapons. — AFP from the elaborate nuptial ceremonies, feasts and celebrations of a traditional Somali wedding. But the smiles of Ali and Anisa show their delight.

“Our dream has just come true. We are finally married now,” declared Ali, smiling and shading his face against the scorching sun. However, they will continue to keep their relationship secret, at least for now. Anisa will live with her parents and have clandestine meetings with Ali. Now that they have had the certificate, the two are looking forward to consummating their marriage when they

can find time alone together. “Secret meetings, phone calls and anonymity will dictate our relationship,” said Ali. “But we shall finally, officially, be married.” He wants to break the news of the marriage gently to Anisa’s family. Like many eloped couples, Anisa and Ali hope that eventually their families will accept the marriage, although some families never agree and some even disown their children. Then the newlyweds board a minivan heading back to Mogadishu, sitting separately, as if they don’t know each other.— AP

Palestinian inmates refuse food, mark Prisoners’ Day Israel seeks to end prisoner’s hunger strike

PENGHU: A US-made AH-1W attack helicopter releases flares in a military drill in western Penghu islands yesterday. — AFP

Taiwan shows force in biggest live-fire drill PENGHU: Taiwan staged its biggest livefire drill since 2008 yesterday, in an operation involving more than 7000 troops that simulated a Chinese attack as its leader warned of Beijing’s arms build-up. The operation, part of a five-day round-theclock annual exercise codenamed “Han Kuang 29” (Han Glory 29), took place on the Penghu Islands in the middle of the 180kilometre strait separating Taiwan from the Chinese mainland.

A cross-military-force involving the army, navy and air force were carrying out drills aimed at preparing a defense of the strategically important islands from a surprise Chinese attack. Taiwanese officials said the operation involved a test of the Ray Ting 2000 or “Thunder 2000” multiplelaunch rocket system designed to prevent the enemy from making an amphibious landing. President Ma Ying-jeou, who initiated Taipei’s much-touted detente with Beijing, said the live-fire exercise was a reminder of the lingering threat from China. “(In) the past few years, the Chinese communists have conducted a massive arms build-up in both quality and quantity

following fast economic development. In the face of the threat, we have to make some preparations if we are to sustain peace in the Taiwan Strait,” Ma said. Ma’s presence overseeing the drill sparked various political interpretations, with some saying the leader-who has come under fire in recent years for intentionally staying away from military exercises as part of his peace overture towards Beijing-was using the exercise to help boost low approval ratings.

Others said the move was to underline a tough stance towards Beijing as a new Chinese leadership pushes for further dialogue following previous talks that led to the opening of direct flights across the strait and the signing of a comprehensive trade agreement. China still considers Taiwan part of its territory and has vowed to take it back even if it means war, and even though the island has governed itself since their split in 1949 at the end of a civil war. But ties have improved markedly since Ma from the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang party came to power in 2008 on a platform of beefing up trade and tourism links. He was re-elected in January 2012 for a second and last four-year term. — AFP

Weapons, chocolate cake in Mali’s jihadist camps INAIS VALLEY: Picking through the spartan remains of the jihadist camps dotting Inais valley in northern Mali, it is obvious to the French soldiers that their enemy is having a tough time of it. The troops sweeping the arid river bed 100 kilometers north of the Malian city of Gao since Sunday have not encountered a single militant, yet evidence of their primitive lifestyle is everywhere. They take shelter in camps under the largest acacia tress, in the most dense woodland in the 20kilometre basin, out of sight of the villages whose inhabitants they recruit or terrorize, but never trust.

“Their primary goal is to reduce their footprint, make themselves invisible from the sky, because they know a fleet is flying night and day over their heads,” said a French lieutenant who will only give his first name, Cyrille. The trawl through the valley, nicknamed Operation Gustav, is one of France’s largest military operations during its three-month old intervention in its former colony. One thousand French troops along with Malian security forces are backed by tanks and covered from above by drones, helicopters and spy planes equipped with thermal cameras that detect heat sources even in vegetation.

But it is difficult to differentiate from the air between four men around a camp fire and a herd of goats, so the soldiers of France’s 92nd Infantry Regiment are on

foot patrol under the acacia trees. The shadows of the tallest trees provide ideal cover for bivouacs fashioned by Islamist fighters from the needled branches of acacia trees which are bent together to form opaque walls. A soldier easily could pass a few metres in front of one of these without noticing a thing.

Operation Gustav comes with France having begun a phased withdrawal of the 4,000 troops it deployed in January to block a feared advance on the capital Bamako by Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents.

The intervention drove the militants from most of their northern strongholds, where they had terrorized locals with amputations and executions performed under their brutal interpretation of sharia Islamic law.

While French-led troops have inflicted severe losses on the Islamists, soldiers are still battling significant pockets of resistance around Gao from the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa. In a makeshift camp, the jihadists have left clues to the simple lifestyle they were leading before fleeing the French-led advance into the valley. Almost all the food-cartons of “Choco Dream” cakes, “Gusto” spaghetti and “Veronica” powdered milk-comes from Algeria. There are boxes of dates, canned peeled tomatoes and other ingredients which would have made for an uninspiring lunch in the 40C heat in the shade in the afternoon. — AFP

RAMALLAH: Some 3,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails yesterday refused breakfast as part of a oneday hunger strike to mark Prisoners’ Day, an Israeli prison official said. Palestinians across the territories are attending marches and rallies as a show of solidarity with prisoners from the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza held in Israeli facilities, whose numbers according to Israeli rights group B’Tselem reach 4,713.

In the West Bank, around 600 relatives of prisoners gathered for a sit-in in the rain at Arafat Square in central Ramallah after which some of them were planning to march towards the nearby military prison at Ofer. Another rally was being held in the northern city of Nablus.

Meanwhile in Gaza, hundreds of people were taking part in a march from central Gaza City to the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross, an AFP correspondent said. Another sit-in was to take place at Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem at 1400 GMT, officials said.

Meanwhile, Palestinian and Israeli officials are seeking a compromise to end the hunger strike of a Palestinian prisoner whose on-off fast has lasted more than 250 days and stoked weeks of street protests. Samer Al-Issawi, a 32-year-old from an Arab suburb of Jerusalem, is receiving some nutrients via an intravenous drip but refusing food. His lawyer says his low heart rate means he could die at any time. Moved from jail to an Israeli civilian hospital and under guard, an emaciated and bed-ridden Issawi has been approached in recent days by Israeli negotiators.

Both Palestinian and Israeli officials hope to preempt the violence his death could provoke.

Israel has asked Issawi to stop his fast in exchange for commuting his decades-long sentence to one year behind bars, a Palestinian official said yesterday. Issawi said he would accept only if the year-long term were backdated to the date of his arrest last July, according to Qadura Fares, head of the Palestinian prisoner organization. “We don’t want to see this man commit suicide,” an Israeli official told Reuters. “There are elements on the Palestinian side who are eager to exploit a tragedy.”

Two Palestinian prisoners died in Israeli jails this year, raising the total number of Palestinians to have died in Israeli prison since 1948 to 207, a Palestinian official said. Nine prisoners from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Leftist faction to which Issawi belongs, announced yesterday an open-ended fast until he is freed. “Prisoner Day,” an annual commemo-

ration of Palestinian prisoners, who currently number 4,800, was held yesterday, with Israeli security forces on standby for possible protests.

EXILE REFUSED The Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah, has said it will try to prevent any mass uprising against Israel and has renounced violence in its quest for statehood. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is keen to give US President Barack Obama a chance to renew stalled IsraeliPalestinian talks after his visit to the region last month.

Palestinian officials have made a offer, not accepted by Israel, that Issawi be immediately released to Ramallah to receive a year of medical treatment after which Israel would allow him to return to neighboring Jerusalem. Israel convicted Issawi of opening fire on an Israeli bus in 2002, but released him in 2011 along with over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for an Israeli soldier held hostage by the Hamas Islamist group in Gaza. He was re-arrested last

July after Israel said he violated the terms of his release by crossing from his native East Jerusalem to the West Bank, both majorityPalestinian areas, and ordered him to stay in jail until 2029 - his original sentence. In an open letter to the European Union published Thursday, top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said he would hold Israel and the international community responsible if Issawi perished, blasting Israel’s re-arrest of Issawi as unfair.

His bail terms had “denied him the right to move a few kilometers from one part of his country to another part of it. Such is the absurdity and injustice of Israel’s obsession with controlling Palestinian lives”, Erekat wrote. United Nations and European Union officials have expressed concern to Israel over Issawi’s case.

Israel has said it would be willing to deport Issawi to an EU or UN member state.

The idea has been rejected by Issawi himself, and an Israeli official said neither the European Union nor the United Nations had responded. — Agencies

WEST BANK: A Palestinian protester cuts barbed wire while another places the Palestinian flag on a fence to mark Prisoners’ Day next to Israel’s Ofer prison, between Jerusalem and Ramallah yesterday. — AFP

Mozambicans see painful echoes of brutal civil war MUXUNGWE: While much of Mozambique enjoys the fruits of peace, in one central town recent violence has left unsettling echos of a civil war that ended more than two decades ago. The streets of Muxungwe are largely empty, except, that is, for the presence of heavily armed and camouflaged commandos on patrol. They are on the look out for further attacks by ex-guerrillas from Renamo, who earlier this month stormed a local police station killing four officers. Renamo’s leader Afonso Dhlakama says the assault was in response to a teargas and rubber bullet-filled police raid, in which 15 of his supporters were arrested.

But it was also the result of years of seething tensions between Dhlakama and the Frelimo-led government. The two groups are old adversaries. From 1977 to 1992 they fought a civil war that killed around one million Mozambicans. Since then Dhlakama has become more and more marginalized, more and more disgruntled and more and more willing to pick a fight with his old Frelimo enemy.

Civilians in Muxungwe are the collat-

eral damage of the latest front in that rivalry.

As the soldiers poured in, most of Muxungwe’s residents fled.

Classrooms are deserted, everyone, including teachers fled the fighting.

“There was a war here. We suffered here. I fled to the bush because of what happened here,” says Jose Joao.

While many residents are still camped out in the open, too afraid to return, Joao is one of those who are being forced by hunger to make their way home. A woman who makes a living selling cashew nuts to passing motorists and buses has also made her way back.

“We came out of the bush because there is nothing to eat there. We have to sell in order to eat. The children were crying because of hunger.” She is too afraid to give her name. “The guys with guns are here to keep us safe,” she whispers as another soldier passes. Thirteen year old Mathias has spent his time collecting plastic bottles by the side of the road while he waits for school to reopen. “It was a war here,” he said. Metres away the police station where Renamo

launched its fierce attack in the early hours of April 4th, is now heavily fortified. A brand new armored anti-riot vehicle mounted with a high-calibre machine gun faces on to the main road. The attack lasted 45 minutes, witnesses said, but sporadic shooting carried on for at least two days and the reverberations continue to be felt.

Everyone here knows their history.

Renamo’s leader, Afonso Dhlakama grew up in the district. The shots that started the civil war were fired just one hundred kilometers away. And the community believes some 200 Renamo members are still hiding in the thick landmine-laden bush close to the town.

“People were afraid and confused, worried they would start war,” says resident, Mathias Javier who says local authorities used the pretext Renamo members were cutting sticks in the bush to use as weapons to launch the raid. “They are afraid and ashamed.

They know they will be killed by police if they come back,” says Javier.

For the first time since the civil war, civilians have again become a target in the simmering hostilities between

Renamo and the government.

Several attacks on civilian vehicles in the area have been blamed on Renamo after armed men in Renamo uniforms shot and killed three people in a truck and injured two passengers in an overland bus on April 6th.

Renamo denies these claims saying the assailants donned their uniforms in an effort to discredit them, a tactic they say dates back to the civil war.

Vehicles are now returning to the area, but police and the army maintain a heavy presence, searching buses entering and leaving the zone.

Meanwhile Dhlakama has indicated he is open to a cease-fire as long as the government pulls back troops from around his camp in the nearby Gorongosa mountains and detained Renamo members are released. While Renamo and the President Armando Guebuza’s government have begun talking to each other in the capital, Maputo, the residents of Muxungwe say they can’t be sure of anything. “Yes they are talking at the moment Guebuza and Dhlakama. The problem for us is we don’t know if it is over or not,” says Jose Joao. — AFP

ANALYSIS

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

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Paracel and Spratly belong to Viet Nam V

iet Nam has more than 3,000 coastal islands and two offshore archipelagoes, namely Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

These two archipelagoes are an inseparable part of Viet Nam’s territory. The State of Viet Nam has been already exercising sovereignty over the two archipelagoes for hundreds of years. The sovereignty of Viet Nam over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes is in full accordance with international law and supported by numerous legal and historical evidences.

The process of establishing and exercising Viet Nam’s sovereignty over these two archipelagos: 1. Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes during French colony period: Since the conclusion of the Treaty of Hue on June 6th, 1884, France had represented Viet Nam in all of its external relations and protected Viet Nam’s sovereignty and integrity. Relating to land border between Viet Nam and China, in 1887, France signed the convention with Qing Dynasty; in 1895, France signed the supplementary convention with Qing Dynasty.

Within the framework of those commitments, Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes was exercised by France. That sovereignty exercise is clearly illustrated with numerous examples, of which some are listed below.

The French battleships often patrolled in the East Sea, including the areas of Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes.

In 1899, Paul Doumer, the then Governor-General of Indochina, sent a proposal to Paris for building a lighthouse on Paracel island within Paracel archipelago to guide ships in the area. The plan, however, was not implemented due to budget issue. Since 1920, Indochinese ships of customs had intensified their patrol in the area of Paracel archipelago to prevent smuggling. In 1925, the Institute of Oceanography in Nha Trang sent the ship De Lanessan for an oceanography survey in Paracel archipelago. In addition to A.krempf, the then Institute’s Director, other researchers including Delacour and Jabouille also joined the trip for their geological and biological research and other studies. Also, in 1925, the Minister of Military Affairs Than Trong Hue of the Imperial Court reaffirmed that Paracel archipelago is within Viet Nam’s territory.

In 1927, the ship De Lanessan went to Hoang Sa archipelago for a scientific survey.

In 1929, the Pierre de Rouville delegation proposed that four lighthouses be set up at four corners of Paracel archipelago, named Triton and Lincoln islands, and the North and Bong Bay reefs.

In 1930, the gunboat La Malicieuse went to Paracel archipelago.

In March 1931, the ship Inconstant went to Paracel archipelago.

In June 1932, the battleships Alerte went to Paracel archipelago.

From April 13th, 1930 to April 12th, 1933, the Government of France deployed the naval units to garrison in major islands of Spratly archipelago, namely Truong Sa Lon (Spratly), An Bang (Amboyna Cay), Ba Binh (Itu Aba), Song Tu (Groud des Deux Iles), Loai Ta (Loaita), and Thi Tu (Thitu).

On December 21st, 1933, the then Governor of Cochinchina M.J. Krautheimer signed the decree of annexing the islands of Spratly, Amboyna Cay, Itu Aba, Groud des Deux Iles, Loaita, and Thitu to Ba Ria province. In 1937, the French authorities sent a civil engineer named Gauthier to Paracel archipelago to examine the positions for building lighthouses and seaplane terminal.In February 1937, the patrol ship Lamotte Piquet commanded by Rear-Admiral Istava came to Paracel archipelago.

On March 29th, 1938, Emperor Bao Dai signed the Imperial Edict to split Paracel archipelago from Nam Nghia province and annex them to Thua Thien province.

The Edict reads: “Considering that Paracel islands have been for long under the sovereignty of Nuoc Nam, and directly under the province of Nam Nghia during the dynasties’ time, and that this administration had not been changed until the reign of The to Cao hoang de as all the communications with these islands were carried out via the seaports in the province of Nam Nghia; Considering that by nautical progress, the communications have changed, and that the Imperial Court’s representative who went on an inspection tour with the Protectorate’s representative, petitioned to annex those islands to the province of Thua Thien for the sake of convenience; Orders: Single item-To annex Paracel islands to the province of Thua Thien. In terms of administration, these islands are under the command of the Government of province.”

On June 15th, 1938, the Governor-General of Indochina Jules Brevie signed the Decree on Establishing an Administrative Unit in Paracel archipelago under Thua Thien province. In 1938, France erected a sovereignty stele, completed the constructions of a lighthouse, a meteorological station, a radio on Paracel (Pattle) island, and a meteorological station

and a radio on Ba Binh island within Paracel archipelago. The inscription on the stele reads: “The French Republic, The Kingdom of An Nam, The Paracel Islands, 1816-Pattle Island 1938” (1816 and 1938 are the years of Viet Nam’s sovereignty exercise over Paracel archipelago by Emperor Gia Long, and of the French erection of the stele, respectively).

On May 5th,1939, the Government-General of Indochina Jules BrÈviÈ signed the decree to amend the Decree of June 15th, 1938. The new decree established two administrative delegations, namely the Delegations of Croissant and its Dependents, and Amphitrite and its Dependents.

For the whole time of representing Viet Nam for its external relations, France consistently affirmed the sovereignty of Viet Nam over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes, and protested actions that violated this sovereignty. For instance, on December 4th, 1931 and April 24th, 1932, France opposed the Government of China on the intention of the Guangdong provincial authorities to invite bids for exploiting guano on Hoang Sa archipelago. Other examples include the France’s objection on April 4th, 1939 to the Japan’s inclusion of some islands within Spratly archipelago under its jurisdiction .

2. Protection and exercise of Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagos since the end of World War II: After returning to Indochina after World War II, in early 1947, France requested the Republic of China to withdraw their troops from some islands of Viet Nam they illegal occupied in late 1946. The French armed forces resumed the control of Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes and rebuilt their meteorological and radio stations.

On September 7th, 1951, Tran Van Huu, the head of the State of Viet Nam’s delegation at the San Francisco Conference on the Treaty of Peace with Japan, declared that Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes have long been the territories of Viet Nam, and that “to stifle the germs of discord, we affirm our right to the Spratly and Paracel Islands, which have always belonged to Viet Nam”. This statement did not meet any objections and/or reserves of opinion.

In 1953, the French ship IngÈnieur en chef Girod went on its survey trip on oceanography, geology, geography, and ecology in Paracel archipelago. Later governments in South Viet Nam, including both the Sai Gon Administration (the Republic of Viet Nam) and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Viet Nam, exercised Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes as clearly showed by the following examples.

On June 16th, 1956, the Sai Gon Administration’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement to re-affirm Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Spratly archipelago. In the same year, the Sai Gon Administration strongly objected to the occupation of the eastern islands within Paracel archipelago by the People’s Republic of China. In 1956, the naval forces of Sai Gon Administration took over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes when France withdrew its troops. In the same year, with the assistance of the Sai Gon Administration’s naval forces, the Department of Mining, Technology & Small Industries organized a survey on four islands within Paracel archipelago, namely Hoang Sa, Quang Anh, Huy Nhat, and Duy Mong.

On October 22nd, 1956, the Sai Gon Administration placed Spratly archipelago under the province of Phuoc Tuy. On July 13th, 1961, the Sai Gon Administration transferred the jurisdiction of Paracel archipelago from Thua Thien province to Quang Nam province. The administrative commune of Dinh Hai, headed by an administrative envoy directly under the district of Hoa Vang, was established in the archipelago. From 1961 to 1963, the Sai Gon Administration built sovereignty steles on major islands within Spratly archipelago such as Spratly, An Bang, and Southwest Cay. On October 21st, 1969, the Sai Gon Administration annexed Dinh Hai commune into Hoa Long commune, also under Hoa Vang district of Quang Nam province.

On February 22nd, 1959, the Sai Gon Administration detained 82 people who claimed to be “fishermen” from the People’s Republic of China and had landed on the islands of Huu Nhat, Duy Mong, and Quang Hoa within Paracel archipelago. On April 20th, 1971, the Sai Gon Administration once again re-affirmed that Paracel archipelago is a part of Viet Vam’s territory. This affirmation of Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the archipelago was repeated by the Sai Gon Administration’s Foreign Minister at the July 13th, 1971 Press Conference.

In July 1973, the Institute of Agricultural Research under the Ministry of Agricultural Development & Land conducted its investigation on Nam Yet island with Spratly archipelago.

In August 1973, the Sai Gon Administration’s Ministry of National Planning & Development, in collaboration with Marubeni Corporation of Japan, conducted an investigation on phosphates in Paracel archipelago.

On September 6th, 1973, the Sai Gon Administration annexed Spratly archipelago into Phuoc Hai commune, Dat Do district, Phuoc Tuy province. The Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes districts under Dong Nai and Quang Nam - Da Nang provinces, respectively. After some administrative revisions, Paracel archipelago is currently under on January 19th, 1974,

the military forces of the People’s Republic of China occupied the southwestern islands of Paracel archipelago. It should be noted that this part of Paracel archipelago was under Sai Gon Administration control until 1974. This violation of Viet Nam’s territory was condemned the same day by the Sai Gon Administration. On February 14th, 1974, the Republic of South Viet Nam Government declared its three-point position on the solution for territorial disputes on January 26th, 1974, and reaffirmed Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes.

On June 28th, 1974, the Republic of South Viet Nam Government affirmed its sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in Caracas, Venezuela.

On May 5th and 6th, 1975, the Republic of South Viet Nam Government announced its liberation of Truong Sa archipelago, which had been under the control of the Sai Gon Administration .

In September 1975, the delegation of the Republic of South Viet Nam Government at the Colombo Meteorological Conference stated that Paracel archipelago is Viet Nam’s territories, and requested that the Viet Nam’s meteorological station in the archipelago be registered in the WMO’s list of meteorological stations (this station had registration number 48.860).

After the country’s re-unification, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam has been promulgating many important legal documents on its maritime zones and Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes. They include the 1977 Statement by the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on Viet Nam’s Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zones, Exclusive Economic Zones, and Continental Shelf; the 1982 Statement by the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on the Baselines for measuring Viet Nam’s Territorial Sea; the 1944 Resolution of the Fifth Session of the Ninth National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on the Ratification of 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea (UNCLOS); and the 2003 Law of the National Borders. In terms of administration, the Government of Viet Nam made Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes districts under Dong Nai and Quang Nam-Da Nang provinces respectively.

After administrative revisions, Paracel archipelago is currently under Da Nang city, while Truong Sa archipelago belongs to Khanh Hoa province.

The government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam has repeatedly affirmed Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes in diplomatic notes sent to the involved parties, in the international meetings, including the WMO meeting in Geneva (June 1980) and in the International Geological Congress in Paris (July 1980).

Viet Nam has also issued white papers of 1979, 1981, and 1988 on the sovereignty of Viet Nam over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes to affirm that these two archipelagoes are inseparable territories of Viet Nam, and that Viet Nam has full sovereignty over them in accordance with international law and practice. On March 14th, 1988, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam issued a statement condemning China’s act that caused military conflict in Spratly archipelago and reaffirming Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes.

In April 2007, the Government of Viet Nam established SpratlyTownship, Song Tu Tay and Sinh Ton commune under Spratly district in Paracel and Spratly archipelago.

CONCLUSION In summary, there are three major points one can clearly conclude with reference to the aforementioned historical documents as well as international law and practice.

First, Viet Nam has actually possessed Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes for long since the time when the two archipelagoes were not under the sovereignty of any other country.

Second, for hundreds of year since the 17th century, Viet Nam has indeed exercised its sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes in a continuous and peaceful manner.

Third, Viet Nam has always been proactive in protecting its rights and titles against any intentions and actions that violate Viet Nam’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and right in Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes.

APPENDIX Some international documents and treaties related to Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes.

1. Cairo Declaration on November 27th, 1943 When World War II entered its fiercest stage, a conference of the three powers of the Allies, namely the United Kingdom of Great Britain & North Ireland, the United States of American, and the Republic of China (represented by Chiang Kai-shek), was held in Cairo, Egypt. The Cairo Declaration, the outcome of the conference, states that: “It is their purpose that Japan shall be stripped off all the islands in the Pacific which she has seized or occupied since the beginning of the first World War in 1914, and that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa, and the Pescadores,

shall be restored to the Republic of China.” In accordance to this statement, the three Great Allies expressed their purpose to force Japan to return to the Republic of China those territories that were seized from the Chinese, including Manchuria, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Pescadores (Penghu), without any mention of Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes.

2. Potsdam Declaration on July 26th, 1945 Heads of states and government of the United States of American, the United Kingdom of Great Britain & North Ireland, and the Republic of China declared that the terms given in the 1943 Cairo Declaration should be executed. After declaring war with Japan in the Far East, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics also joined this declaration.

3. Treaty of Peace with Japan in 1951 The San Francisco conference on the Treaty of Peace with Japan was held from September 4th to 8th, 1951 with the attendance of 51 countries. Article 2 of Chapter II of the draft treaty states that Japan shall renounce all rights, titles, and claims to specific territories that are listed. These territories include: Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), the Pescadores (Penghu), the Kuril islands, the southern portion of Sakhalin island, the Pacific islands, Antarctic areas, Spratly archipelago, and Paracel archipelagoes. At the plenary session on September 5th, 1951, a proposal to amend the language of Article 2 was made by stating that Japan shall recognize the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China over Manchuria, Formosa and its adjacent islands, the Pescadores, the Pratas islands, Paracel archipelago, the Amphirites, and the Maxfield submerged cays, and Spratly archipelago, and that Janpan shall renounce all rights, titles, and claims to these territories. The proposal was rejected by the conference with 46 against, 3 yes, and 1 abstain. Countries that voted to reject this proposal include Argentina, Autralia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Sri Lanka, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Savador, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Viet Nam and Japan.

As the result, Article2 of Chapter II, Treaty of Peace with Janpan states: (a) Janpan recognizing the independence of Korea, renounces all right, title and claim to Korea, including the islands of Quelpart, Port Hamilton and Dagelet. (b) Japan renounces all right, title and claim to Formosa and the Pescadores. (c) Japan renounces all right, title and claim to the Kurile islands, and to that portion of Sakhalin and the islands adjacent to it over which Japan acquired sovereignty as a consequence of the Treaty of Portsmouth of September 5th, 1905. (d) Japan renounces all right, title and claim in connection with the League of Nations Mandate System, and accepts the action of the United Nations Security Council of April 2nd, 1947, extending the trusteeship system to the Pacific islands formerly under mandate to Japan. (e) Japan renounces all claim to any right or title to or interest in connection with any part of the Antarctic area, whether deriving from the activities of Japanese nationals or otherwise. (f) Japan renounces all right, title and claim to the Spratly Islands and to the Paracel Islands.”

Apparently, the territories proclaimed by 1943 Cario Declaration and the 1951 Treaty of Peace with Japan to be under China’s sovereignty only include Taiwan and Penghu.

The fact that the Treaty of Peace with Japan places Taiwan and Penghu together in one item (Item b) and Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes together in a separate item (Item f ) confirms that Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes are not recognized as parts of China.

Also at the 1951 San Francisco Conference, on September 7th,1951, Tran Van Huu, the head of the State of Viet Nam’s delegation, declared that Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes have long been the territories of Viet Nam, and that “to stifle the germs of discord, we affirm our right the Spratly and Paracel Islands, which have always belonged to Viet Nam”. None of the representatives of 51 countries attending the conference objected to and/or expressed their wish to reserve opinions about this statement. All of these aforementioned documents and evidence clearly demonstrate that international legal documents, from the Cairo Declaration of November 27th, 1943 (reaffirmed by the Potsdam Declaration of July 26th, 1945) to the San Francisco Treaty of Peace with Japan of September 8th, 1951, do not recognize the sovereignty of any other countries over Viet Nam’s Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes.

Also, the fact that none of the countries attending the 1951 San Francisco Conference objected to or wished to reserve their opinion on the statement of the Viet Nam’s delegation on Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes shows that the international community implicitly recognized the sovereignty of Viet Nam over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes.

NEWS Poisoned letter sent to Obama Continued from Page 1 beans - can, when inhaled, cause respiratory problems.

Ingested orally, it is lethal in even miniscule quantities. Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan said the agency, which protects the president and his family, was working closely with the US Capitol Police and the FBI to trace the origins of the letter.

NBC News cited unidentified government sources as saying that officials believed they knew who sent the letters, reportedly with a Tennessee postmark, but that no arrests had been made pending further tests. The FBI said in a statement that a filter at a second mail facility had tested positive for ricin, and warned that more letters could be received. But it added: “There is no indication of a connection to the attack in Boston.” The White House deflected inquiries on the incident to the FBI and the Secret Service.

Senator Carl Levin meanwhile issued a statement saying one of his staffers had discovered a “suspicious-looking letter” at a regional office in Michigan and handed it over to authorities for further investigation. Adding to nervousness in the US capital, two Senate office buildings were briefly cordoned off amid reports of a suspicious package but were reopened after the all-clear was given. US Capitol Police confirmed one man was being questioned. “Right now they are interviewing a person but that person is not in custody. He has not been detained,” a US Capitol Police officer told AFP. Republican Senator Jim Risch told AFP that everyone on Capitol Hill was perpetually as “vigilant as they can be” and that such scares had been part of life for many years. The poisoned mail episodes recalled the mysterious series of letters laced with anthrax sent to lawmakers and some journalists following the Sept 11 attacks in 2001, which killed five people and sickened 17 others. Congressional mail has been screened off-site since the 2001 incident. Three Senate office buildings were shut in 2004 after tests found ricin in mail that had been sent to the Senate majority leader’s office. The biological agent was also sent to the White House and the Department of Transportation in November 2003. There were no injuries in those incidents.

Separately, Obama’s gun control drive in the wake of the Newtown massacre suffered a major setback yesterday when the Senate voted down expanded background checks on firearms buyers. The measure, which would have required background checks on sales at gun shows and on the Internet needed 60 votes for approval, but it fell well short, 54-46, as a handful of Democrats either facing tough re-election challenges in 2014 or from pro-gun states stood in opposition of the amendment.

The White House said Obama, who has expended considerable political capital on the issue since proposing several gun safety measures in the wake of the December carnage in Newtown, would address the gun reform effort at 2130 GMT. “Shame on you!” yelled Patricia Maisch - a survivor of the 2011 shooting that left six people dead and then-congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords gravely wounded - from the visitors’ gallery. She was escorted out of the chamber. She was one of several gun violence victims or relatives of victims, including parents or siblings of children killed in the Newtown school shooting in December, on hand to witness what they hoped would be a victory for proponents of gun control.

Instead, the Senate’s members confirmed they remain deeply apprehensive about instituting any legislation that could be seen as infringing on Americans’ constitutional right to bear arms. “They have no souls, they have no compassion for the experiences that people have lived through (with) gun violence, who have had a child or a loved one murdered by a gun,” Maisch said.

The handwriting was on the wall by early yesterday, as most Republicans balked at supporting the expansion of background checks. Four Democrats as well refused to get on board with the compromise legislation. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin earlier acknowledged to NBC News that his bill would “not get the votes today”. White House sources said the president had been calling wavering senators to push for support for the background checks bill in the hours before the vote, and his spokesman Jay Carney said everyone in the White House from Obama on down was involved.

Vice President Joe Biden, who took the rare step of presiding over the Senate for the series of votes on several gun measures, was not conceding defeat in the battle for greater curbs on firearms. “I can assure you one thing - we are going to get this eventually. If we don’t get it today, we are going to get it eventually,” Biden said during a Google Plus “hangout” event with mayors.

Shortly before the vote, Republican Senator John McCain announced his backing, but knew the amendment was already doomed. “You did the right thing,” he told Manchin on the Senate floor, commending his colleague for his commitment to a politically difficult issue. “Sooner or later, this country will take up this issue,” McCain added. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has allowed votes on several amendments, including one that bans assault weapons, another which restricts the size of ammunition clips, a proposal that expands concealed-carry rights for gun owners, and a measure that funds expanded mental health programs. — Agencies

Britain bids farewell to Thatcher Continued from Page 1 at the cortege, proof of the bitterness that remains over Thatcher’s legacy.

Britain’s only female prime minister, who served from 1979 to 1990, died last week aged 87 after suffering a stroke. Her flag-draped coffin was transported through streets lined with 700 soldiers, sailors and airmen in full ceremonial uniform, carried first in a hearse and then in a World War I-era gun carriage drawn by six black horses.

Supporters say Thatcher’s radical free-market reforms saved Britain from economic decline, but critics say they left millions of people out of work and created a culture of greed.

The police deployed 4,000 officers for the funeral amid heightened security following the bombings at the Boston Marathon and fears of disruption by leftwing groups. At one section of the procession, the applause was drowned out by chants of “Maggie, Maggie, Maggie!

Scum, scum, scum!”, although the protest passed off peacefully. At the cathedral, the queen led the 2,300 mourners in a rare tribute - she had not attended a prime ministerial funeral since Winston Churchill died in 1965.

Prime Minister David Cameron, leader of Thatcher’s Conservative party, joined politicians from across the political spectrum including former premiers John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Global figures including Thatcher’s fellow Cold War warrior Henry Kissinger, the former US secretary of state, and showbusiness stars Joan Collins and Shirley Bassey also attended. Sitting at the front were Thatcher’s twin children Mark and Carol, 59, who had attached a note on the white flowers adorning the coffin which read simply: “Beloved Mother - Always in Our Hearts”.

In his address, Bishop of London Richard Chartres acknowledged the debate that still rages over Thatcher’s policies but said she deserved compassion at her funeral. “After the storm of a life led in the heat of political controversy, there is a great calm,” he said. “The storm of conflicting opinions centres on the Mrs Thatcher who became a symbolic figure - even an -ism. Today the remains of the real Margaret Hilda Thatcher are here at her funeral service.”

Many people had risen at dawn to travel to London for the funeral. “I wanted to pay my respects to the best prime minister since Churchill,” said Gloria Martin, a

property developer in her 60s with an array of “I Love Maggie” badges pinned to her chest. “She was strong, she was resolute, and she put her country first above any idea of popularity.” The crowd included veterans of the Falklands war, viewed by many of her admirers as Thatcher’s finest hour.

Servicemen from units that fought in the 1982 conflict with Argentina carried the coffin into St Paul’s, while two brothers who served in the war walked behind. The islands in the South Atlantic, which recently voted overwhelmingly to stay British in a referendum, held a day of mourning yesterday. Argentina was pointedly not represented at St Paul’s, where international guests included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his counterparts from Canada, Italy, Poland and Kuwait.

A minute’s silence was held for Thatcher at the United Nations headquarters in New York to coincide with the funeral. The scale of the funeral - paid for with millions of pounds of public money - has sparked criticism from those who argue that she was too divisive to merit a state-funded send-off. “We’re spending £10 million on it and that’s disgraceful and unacceptable at a time of austerity,” said 22-year-old student Casper Winslow, one of those who turned his back to the coffin.

The protests took a more macabre turn in Goldthorpe in northern England, which like many of Britain’s former mining communities was devastated by coal pit closures under Thatcher. An effigy of the former premier was paraded inside an open wooden coffin before it was burned, while another hung from the roof of a social club, watched gleefully by drinkers outside. The government has yet to disclose the costs of the funeral but insists it will be less than the reported £10 million.

Cameron insisted it was right to give Thatcher a proper farewell. “It is a fitting tribute to a great prime minister respected around the world,” he told BBC radio. “And I think other countries in the world would think Britain got it completely wrong if we didn’t mark this in a proper way.”

The service was drawn up in line with Thatcher’s wishes and included Christian hymns reflecting her strict Methodist upbringing, and Bible readings by her granddaughter Amanda and Cameron. The former prime minister’s coffin was later taken to Mortlake in southwest London for a private cremation. Her ashes are to be interned next to those of her husband Denis at the Chelsea Royal Hospital. — AFP

Commandos raid Barrak’s home...

Continued from Page 1 original arrest warrant, which they have so far failed to do.

The Interior Ministry later issued an official statement denying violating the law while trying to arrest Barrak.

“The ministry fully realizes that we are a state of laws, institutions and constitution. The arrest attempt was conducted according to the law and upon the court order to locate and arrest Barrak,” the statement said, noting that in view of the chaos at the scene, the arrest force was assisted by a small group of special forces. The statement added that Jahra security director Maj Gen Ibrahim Al-Tarrah had notified the concerned parties of the arrest order but he was insulted by demonstrators on the scene. The statement added the forces advanced from the right and left side of the diwaniya and an office in the basement without seeing any women or children.

Barrak returned to his diwaniya after sunset to a thunderous reception by thousands of his supporters and tribesmen who welcomed him with gunfire from automatic machineguns. After Barrak addressed the protesters, reiterating that he was willing to give himself up, the crowds decided not to stage a procession like what they did on the previous two nights. But half an hour later, the supporters decided to stage a procession but this time towards the police station in the area.

Witnesses said that the young protesters shot fireworks in retaliation of the police’s excessive use of teargas and stun grenades.

Earlier in the day, the National Assembly held a secret debate over the security developments in the country following the sentence against Barrak and the

subsequent demonstrations. Ahead of the debate, several MPs criticised Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad AlHumoud Al-Sabah for failing to arrest Barrak and curb demonstrations, which they described as illegal. “There is a direct threat to the head of state... and a challenge to the judicial authority... These people (the opposition) hold no respect to the state, regime and the judiciary,” MP Maasouma Al-Mubarak said. “If he (Barrak) refuses arrest, we should send him armoured vehicles from the army and the national guard,” said Nabeel Al-Fadl, a progovernment lawmaker.

After the secret session, the minister called on Barrak to give himself up to authorities to serve his jail sentence and denied that the ministry has been selective in implementing court rulings. The minister also said that authorities have tried to implement the court order but Barrak refused, insisting that police officers had produced to Barrak the original arrest order as he wanted.

Earlier, unidentified activists hacked the information ministry website during the night and posted the speech of Barrak for which he was punished. “The ministry’s electronic website has been penetrated by hackers,” a source at the ministry said in a brief statement carried by the official KUNA news agency. “The ministry immediately suspended the site as a precautionary measure and will take legal measures against those who did this.” The statement made no reference to the posting of Barrak’s speech, but activists on Twitter said the text of the speech had been visible on the site for some time. The ministry website remained suspended more than 10 hours after the cyber attack which happened at about midnight on Tuesday. But yesterday, the ministry played down the cyber attack, saying that only “an old page was actually hacked”.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

Assad says West to pay for ‘supporting’ Qaeda DAMASCUS: President Bashar Al-Assad warned yesterday the West that it will pay a heavy price for its alleged support of Al-Qaeda in Syria and said his regime’s defeat is not an option. Assad, whose has been battling an uprising since March 2011, told state television Al-Ikhbariya in an interview that the West is playing with fire. “The West has paid heavily for funding Al-Qaeda in its early stages. Today it is doing the same in Syria, Libya and other places, and will pay a heavy price in the heart of Europe and the United States,” Assad said.

Last week, the jihadist rebel group Al-Nusra Front pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri, who had previously urged rebels to establish an Islamic state in Syria.

“We are facing a new war, a new method” with fighters, some of whom are Arabs, not Syrians,” the president said in the hour-long interview, adding that the “army is not fighting a war to liberate Syrian territory, but a war on terror”. While saying the “situation is better now than it was before,” he claimed that “there are big powers, in particular the United States, that do not accept countries to be independent; they want them to be submissive.”

The president did not spell out how he believed the West was supporting Al-Qaeda in Syria. In fact, the United States and EU countries have been loathe to fulfill rebel requests for arms for fear they might fall into the wrong hands. But he insisted that “everyone who carries weapons and attacks civilians is a terrorist, be they Al-Qaeda or not.” The regime has long used the word “terrorist” to describe those who have taken up arms against it.

Assad also warned that a defeat of his government would spell the demise of Syria, and vowed that he will not surrender. “There is no option but victory. Otherwise it will be the end of Syria, and I don’t think that the Syrian people will accept such an option,” he said. “The truth is there is a war and I repeat: no to surrender, no to submission.” As for his own future, he said that would be decided by the people.

“The position (of president) has no value without popular backing. The people’s decision is what matters in the question of whether the president stays or goes,” he said Assad, suggesting he might stand for a new term in elections slated for next year.

Assad took to task neighbouring Jordan, which says is hosting around 500,000 Syria refugees, accusing it of allowing rebels free movement across its borders. “I cannot believe that hundreds (of rebels) are entering Syria with their weapons while Jordan is capable of arresting any single person with a light arm for going to resist in Palestine,” Assad said. “We would wish that our Jordanian neighbours realise that... the fire will not stop at our borders; all the world knows Jordan is just as exposed (to the crisis) as Syria.”

In Amman, meanwhile, Information Minister Mohammad Momani said the United States plans to deploy 200 troops in Jordan because of the war in neighbouring Syria. “The deployment of the troops is part of US-Jordanian military cooperation to boost the Jordanian armed forces in light of the deteriorating situation in Syria,” Momani told AFP. He did not say when the troops were due to arrive in Jordan. Assad has repeatedly blamed enemies and conspirators for the deadly unrest rocking Syria, where the UN says more than 70,000 people have been killed over the past two years. And he told Al-Ikhbariya that, “from the first day, what is happening in Syria is dictated from abroad.” The interview was timed to coincide with Syria’s Independence Day, which marks the 1946 end of French rule.

Meanwhile, staunch Assad ally Russia warned that the Friends of Syria group of countries opposed to the Damascus regime was playing a “negative” role in resolving the conflict.

“Right now we see this process is making a negative contribution to the (Geneva) decisions,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Istanbul, referring to a 2012 accord aimed at ending the conflict through talks between all parties. — AFP

Boston ‘bomber’ spotted on video Continued from Page 1 Boston Medical Center, also said the metal pieces was being kept aside for police. He said some of the nails were about five centimeters long. Evidence is being collected for analysis at the FBI’s main laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.

Similar, easy-to-make devices are used as roadside bombs in Afghanistan and Iraq, but have also been used by domestic extremists in the United States. US authorities have thrown virtually every investigative agency into the hunt for Monday’s bombers, with more than 1,000 officers working in Boston alone, said Rick DesLauriers, head of the FBI’s Boston office. Obama has condemned the attack as “an act of terror” and vowed that the attackers “will feel the full weight of justice.” The US leader and his wife Michelle will attend a special inter-faith service for the victims at Boston’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross today morning.

About 100 of the injured have left Boston hospitals but many remain in critical condition and will require

new operations. Boston federal courthouse and part of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where many victims were taken, were evacuated yesterday. Hundreds of people went to the courthouse after reports that a suspect had been arrested for the attacks. But the reports were denied by Boston police and the FBI criticized what it called a number of “inaccurate” press reports since the attacks. “Since these stories often have unintended consequences, we ask the media, particularly at this early stage of the investigation, to exercise caution and attempt to verify information through appropriate official channels before reporting,” it said in a statement.

Boston has held emotional tributes to the dead, who include eight-year-old boy Martin Richard, restaurant manager Krystle Campbell and Lu Lingzi, a Chinese graduate student at Boston University. About 1,000 people attended a candlelight vigil in a park near the boy’s home on Tuesday night and hundreds went to other events. Hundreds of students attended a memorial service for Lu at Boston University and thousands of tributes were posted on Chinese websites. — AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

S P ORTS Badminton line-call review

Bolt to head top stars

MALAYSIA: Heated line-call disputes in badminton will soon become a thing of the past after the sport opted to embrace instant review system by trialling the technology at next month’s Sudirman Cup in Malaysia. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) Council has voted to okay the technology which would go live at the Indonesian Open in June, the BWF said on its website (www.bwfbadminton.org).

“We are obviously still in an experimental phase so we will likely not implement instant-review technology in all tournaments right now,” BWF deputy president Paisan Rangsikitpho said.

“We are certain players will welcome this news as BWF continues its quest to be innovative and advance badminton,” said Rangsikitpho, who also heads the BWF Events Committee.

Badminton joins other sports such as tennis and cricket to adopt a system which allows players to challenge close calls. Athletes’ Commission head Emma Mason hailed the news as “an important development for our players and for badminton as a whole”. “The inclusion of such modern technology brings badminton into line with leading sports ... which are already using or implementing this type of system,” said the retired Scottish international.

While such technology is widely used in top level tennis, soccer has lately agreed to adopt it. Ball-tracking technology is popular in cricket as well but not mandatory in all formats yet. —Reuters

LONDON: Usain Bolt will return to London to compete in the IAAF Diamond League meeting at the Olympic Stadium in which he achieved a clean sweep of gold medals last year.

The Jamaican six-times Olympic champion will head a glittering cast as London’s Queen Elizabeth Park celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Olympic opening ceremony. The meeting, held on July 26-28, will feature 29 Olympic medallists, including 12 champions and four world record holders. Britain’s heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis and double Olympic champion Mo Farah will also take part.

Sprinter Bolt’s presence in the 100m and 4x100m relay will top the bill, however, as he puts the finishing touches to his preparations for August’s world championships in Moscow. Other than the Olympics, it will be his first competitive appearance in London since 2009, partly due to Britain’s tax laws which could have seen him give up a share of his appearance or prize money and endorsements. An exemption for “non-residents” is now in force and Bolt said he was relishing the chance to play a part in what is being dubbed the “Anniversary Games.” —Reuters

Taylor’s return cut short LONDON: Newcastle United defender Ryan Taylor could miss all of next season after his comeback from a serious knee injury in August was cut short, the Premier League club said yesterday.

The 28-year-old had returned to training after he suffered the cruciate injury in a Europa League qualifier last year. “It is likely that Taylor will miss the majority, if not all, of next season,” the club said on their website (www.nufc.co.uk).

“Ryan has worked so hard and diligently since his injury. Ryan will continue to receive the full support of everyone at Newcastle United during this difficult time for him,” added manager Alan Pardew. Newcastle, who sit five points above the Premier League drop zone with five fixtures remaining, were dealt a blow to their survival chances when goalkeeper Tim Krul dislocated his shoulder against Sunderland on Sunday.

Krul will undergo surgery on Monday and is expected back at the end of July. —Reuters

Red Sox pound Indians

ATLANTA: Andrelton Simmons No.19 of the Atlanta Braves fields a ground ball against the Kansas City Royals at Turner Field. —AFP

Braves winning streak continues ATLANTA: Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Dan Uggla homered in the eighth inning, and Juan Francisco hit a pair of solo shots earlier in the game to help the Atlanta Braves win their 10th straight with a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals in an interleague matchup Tuesday night.

Atlanta’s 10-game winning streak is its longest since the club won 15 in a row from April 15 to May 2, 2000. The Braves are 12-1 and off to their best start since they began the 1994 season 13-1.

Eric O’Flaherty (3-0) struck out two in a scoreless eighth.

Heyward’s second homer, Upton’s eighth and Uggla’s third were solo shots off Kelvin Herrera (11). The Braves have outhomered opponents 25-7 and outscored them 68-25 for the best run differential in the majors. Heyward hit the go-ahead shot before Upton and Uggla followed to make it 5-2. Craig Kimbrel finished off the Royals in a nonsave situation after an injury to Luis Avilan.

ceded the homer and led to four unearned runs.

The Marlins (3-11) began the game with the worst record in the majors but broke out of an offensive slump in the fourth inning with four runs, more than they had scored in all but one game.

Hechavarria sent the Marlins Park home run sculpture swinging into action for the first time this season and ended a homer drought that had tied the 20-year-old franchise record.

Justin Ruggiano had two hits and three RBIs, and Juan Pierre finished with three hits. Alex Sanabia (2-1) allowed two runs in six innings, and two relievers completed an eight-hitter.

Dan Haren (1-2) gave up seven runs, three earned, in 4 1-3 innings and lowered his ERA to 8.10. The Nationals played without three regulars.

Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton sat out for the fifth consecutive game because of a bruised left shoulder.

RANGERS 4, CUBS 2 In Chicago, Derek Holland pitched seven shutout innings, Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer and Craig Gentry made a diving catch for the final out to preserve Texas’ interleague victory over Chicago on a 39-degree night at Wrigley Field.

Holland (1-1) at one point retired nine straight against the Cubs, who have lost three games in a row. The left-hander struck out six and allowed two hits.

Beltre’s home run off reliever Shawn Camp gave the Rangers a 4-0 lead in the eighth. Chicago starter Travis Wood (1-1) gave up two runs and five hits in 7 1-3 innings. The Cubs scored twice with two outs in the ninth, but Gentry made a diving grab on Darwin Barney’s bases-loaded liner to give Joe Nathan his fifth save in five tries.

ROCKIES 8, METS 4 In Denver, Carlos Gonzalez homered and tripled, Todd Helton hit a go-ahead single and Colorado beat New York in the opening game of a doubleheader that was delayed 2 hours as 8 inches of snow was cleared off the field.

One day after a spring storm postponed the first game of the series, the teams were scheduled to play two in frigid conditions. The temperature at first pitch was 39 degrees and dipped to 36 for the nightcap. David Wright homered twice for the Mets, finally back on the field after cold weather postponed two straight games. Wintry conditions in Minneapolis on Sunday prompted their game against the Twins to be rescheduled in August.

Juan Nicasio (2-0) allowed four runs in five innings. Dillon Gee (0-3) had another rough outing for the Mets, going 4 2-3 innings and giving up five earned runs.

Early in the morning, Rockies owner Dick Monfort took the field with a shovel and helped clear the way for the game to be played. A crew of team employees lent a hand as well, as did Sandy Alderson, the general manager of the Mets. —AP

MARLINS 8, NATIONALS 2 In Miami, Adeiny Hechavarria ended Miami’s nine-game home run drought with a three-run shot against Washington.

A throwing error by Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman - his fourth in five games - pre-

SYDNEY: In this Saturday, April 13, 2013 file photo, Black Caviar, ridden by Luke Nolen, crosses the finishing post to win the TJ Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia. —AP

Black Caviar to retire after unbeaten career MELBOURNE: Unbeaten Australian mare Black Caviar will retire with a perfect record after winning 25 consecutive races.

Trainer Peter Moody said yesterday that the super sprinter “has done everything we’ve asked her to do” when he appeared at a news conference in front of Caulfield race track, where the 6-year-old mare will make a farewell, non-racing appearance for track patrons on Saturday.

He said he and the ownership group led by Neil Werrett had discussed Black Caviar’s future over the past few days and “we decided at lunch today” to announce her retirement. “We feel we’ve done our job, we feel she’s done hers and she deserves a break now,” Moody said. “Twenty-five is a great number. She’ll wander off into the sunset.”

Black Caviar, purchased by Moody for $225,000, won $8 million in prize money, including an Australian-record 15 Group One wins, most over distances around 1,200 meters. She’ll now have some time being spelled in a paddock before being bred.

Australian bookmakers were suggesting the mare’s first foal could be sold for at least $7 million.

“We hope that in three years, Peter Moody will be training a progeny of Black Caviar,” said Werrett, his voice breaking at times during the retirement announcement.

Black Caviar, ridden by her regular jockey Luke Nolen, won her 25th race last Friday in the T.J. Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick by two lengths. It was the sprinter’s third win since coming back in February from an eight-month injury layoff.

Black Caviar narrowly won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, England last June and faced possible retirement after tearing a quadriceps muscle at Ascot.

But laser therapy and exercise enabled her to return to the track for another - and what turned out her final - abbreviated season.

“We got three more runs than we thought we were ever going to have,” Moody said. “We thought she would be retired post-Ascot.” —AP

CLEVELAND: Mike Napoli hit a three-run double in Boston’s seven-run second inning as the Red Sox, playing with heavy hearts one day after the deadly bombings back home, beat the Cleveland Indians 7-2 on Tuesday night.

Boston’s players were already en route to Cleveland when they learned of the explosions near the Boston Marathon’s finish line that killed three and injured more than 170. The Red Sox were hoping to bring some relief to those affected by the tragedy, and they may have while winning their fourth straight. The series opener was also Indians manager Terry Francona’s first game against the Red Sox, the team he led to two World Series titles during eight seasons in Boston.

Helped by five walks, the Red Sox scored seven runs in the second off Ubaldo Jimenez (0-2) and gave Felix Doubront (1-0) all the support he needed.

Monday’s tragic events in Boston brought a somber tone to Francona’s reunion as well as to the Red Sox. Before the game, in a clubhouse devoid of its usual pregame sound and bustle, several players spoke of how a memorable Patriots Day win over Tampa Bay turned horrific.

ORIOLES 5, RAYS 4 In Baltimore, Matt Wieters homered, Nate McLouth scored twice, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the struggling Tampa Bay Rays despite allowing three home runs.

The Orioles let a four-run cushion dwindle to 5-4 in the eighth, but held on for their fifth straight home win over the Rays, dating to last year.

Desmond Jennings homered on the game’s first pitch for Tampa Bay, and Kelly Johnson and Evan Longoria connected off Pedro Strop in the eighth. But the Rays could muster only six hits against Jake Arrieta (1-2) and five relievers. Roberto Hernandez (0-3) took the loss for lastplace Tampa Bay, which has lost four straight and seven of eight. With a 4-9 record, Tampa Bay has matched the worst start in franchise history (2001 and 2005).

WHITE SOX 4, BLUE JAYS 3 In Toronto, Dayan Viciedo doubled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the Chicago White Sox rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays.

Paul Konerko hit a game-tying homer and scored three runs as the White Sox won for just the second time in eight games. Matt Lindstrom (1-0) got one out for the win and Addison Reed finished for his fifth save in as many opportunities.

Colby Rasmus and J.P. Arencibia hit solo home runs for the Blue Jays, who couldn’t hold on after taking a 2-1 lead in the sixth. Steve Delabar (1-1) allowed two runs and one hit in 1 1-3 innings.

TWINS 8, ANGELS 6 In Minneapolis, Joe Mauer had another four hits and three RBIs to lead the Minnesota Twins past the Los Angeles Angels.

Mauer sprayed four singles into the Target Field outfield, making him 8 for 10 in the series through two games and raising his average to .386. Brian Dozier added two hits and two RBIs in his first career game batting leadoff for the Twins.

Mike Pelfrey (2-1) gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings for the Twins. Jason Vargas (0-2) gave up five runs and nine hits with two walks in just 3 1/3 innings for the Angels.

ATHLETICS 4, ASTROS 3 In Oakland, Josh Donaldson’s eighthinning triple drove in Josh Reddick for the

CLEVELAND: Boston Red Sox’s Mike Napoli hits a bases-loaded double off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez to drive in three runs in the second inning of a baseball game. —AP named him for Robinson, connected on the day when all players, managers, coaches and umpires at Yankee Stadium wore No. 42 to salute the late Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Famer. Major League Baseball held Jackie Robinson Day on Monday, the anniversary of the date he broke the color barrier in 1947. The Yankees and Diamondbacks were off Monday.

Mariano Rivera, the last big leaguer

Mariners. Cabrera’s homer came with two outs in the fifth inning off Seattle starter Aaron Harang (0-1) and was his second of the season. Cabrera drove a pitch off the edge of the plate out to right-center field to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead. Cabrera also had RBIs in the first and seventh innings. Austin Jackson scored twice, giving him 19 runs scored in just 13 games. Doug Fister (3-0) pitched seven strong innings for his first

winning run and Oakland Athletics overcame starter A.J. Griffin’s early struggles for a victory over the Houston Astros.

Reddick drew a two-out walk off reliever Rhiner Cruz (0-1) and took off for second just before Donaldson’s hit down the right-field line landed just fair.

Houston outfielder Rick Ankiel made a diving attempt, but came up short as Reddick raced around the bases.

Eric Sogard added a career-high three

MLB results/standings Colorado 8, NY Mets 4; Baltimore 5, Tampa Bay 4; Boston 7, Cleveland 2; NY Yankees 4, Arizona 2; Chicago White Sox 4, Toronto 3; Atlanta 6, Kansas City 3; Miami 8, Washington 2; Texas 4, Chicago Cubs 2; Milwaukee 10, San Francisco 8; Minnesota 8, LA Angels 6; Colorado 9, NY Mets 8 (10 Innings); Oakland 4, Houston 3; Detroit 6, Seattle 2; San Diego 9, LA Dodgers 2.

National League American League Eastern Division Eastern Division W L PCT GB Atlanta 12 1 .923 Boston 9 4 .692 Washington 8 6 .571 4.52 NY Yankees 7 5 .583 1.5 NY Mets 7 6 .538 5 Baltimore 7 6 .538 2 Philadelphia 6 7 .462 6 Toronto 6 8 .429 3.5 Miami 3 11 .214 9.5 Tampa Bay 4 9 .308 5 Central Division Detroit 8 5 Kansas City 7 6 Minnesota 6 7 Chicago White Sox 6 8 Cleveland 5 7

Oakland Texas Seattle Houston LA Angels

Western Division 11 4 9 5 6 9 4 10 4 10

hits for the A’s, who have won all five games against the Astros this season.

Carlos Pena homered for Houston, which has lost four straight. Grant Balfour pitched the ninth for his second save in as many chances after Sean Doolittle (1-0) gave up Pena’s tying home run.

TIGERS 6, MARINERS 2 In Seattle, Miguel Cabrera hit a tworun homer and drove in Detroit’s first four runs, and the Tigers beat the Seattle

.615 .538 .462 .429 .417

.733 .643 .400 .286 .286

1 2 2.5 2.5

St. Louis Cincinnati Pittsburgh Milwaukee Chicago Cubs

Central Division 8 5 6 7 6 7 4 8 4 9

.615 .462 .462 .333 .308

2 2 3.5 4

1.5 5 6.5 6.5

Colorado San Francisco Arizona LA Dodgers San Diego

Western Division 10 4 9 5 8 5 7 7 4 10

.714 .643 .615 .500 .286

1 1.5 3 6

victory against his former team.

INTERLEAGUE YANKEES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 2 In new York, Robinson Cano paid tribute to Jackie Robinson in fitting fashion by hitting a three-run homer, and the New York Yankees beat the Arizona Diamondbacks on a night devoted to honoring victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Cano, whose big league father Jose

still wearing No. 42 on a daily basis, closed for his third save. The Yankees also remembered Boston, home of their longtime rivals, by playing the Fenway Park favorite “Sweet Caroline” after the third inning. Yankees fans sang along with the Neil Diamond hit as it came over the public-address system, and some people in the crowd wore Red Sox hats and jerseys.

Ivan Nova (1-1) labored through five innings for the win. Brandon McCarthy (02) took the loss. —AP

London marathon will bring people together — chief executive LONDON: Additional security will be deployed for Sunday’s London Marathon following the Boston bombings but chief executive Nick Bitel said he was confident the race would fulfil its aim of bringing people together.

“One of the great things about the London Marathon is that it is perceived as being this event that brings people together,” Bitel told a news conference yesterday.

“One of the founding principles of the London Marathon was to show that at least for one day, humanity can be united.” Two bombs detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing three people and injuring 176.

“We instigated a full security review... and as a result of that we are putting up additional

resources and taking every reasonable step to ensure the race is as safe and secure a possible,” Bitel said. “We conducted this review and I won’t talk about the specific nature or numbers, but what we said is there are additional measures and additional security checks, some extra police and our own security resources will be deployed.

“London is one of the safest cities in the world.

We saw last year with the Olympic Games the Metropolitan Police led an incredible security effort around the Games,” he added.

Former Boston Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai expressed his shock and sorrow at the attack, saying it had deeply affected the family of runners.

“I feel very sad because I know Boston,” said

2011 champion Mutai who is running in London. “I was feeling like I was there, it was painful. Those people there were just like our family because we are all runners,” added the Kenyan, wearing a black ribbon on his bright yellow tracksuit top.

None of the elite male runners at a media day for the London Marathon expressed any concerns about their safety in the event.

“In terms of security we are going to run feeling free,” Kenyan defending champion Wilson Kipsang said. There will be a 30-second silence before the elite men’s race and mass start (0900 GMT) to mark the events in Boston.

Some of the world’s top athletes as well as over 36,000 fun runners are expected to take part in Sunday’s race around London. —Reuters

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

S P ORTS

No trouble for Nadal, Djokovic in Monaco MONTE CARLO: Top three seeds Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal all made winning starts at the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday.

World number one Djokovic said he was pleased to have passed a huge test on his injured right ankle following a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

Djokovic admitted that at one point in the second set he felt some pain but played through it successfully, thanks in part to his heavy strappings.

Second seed Murray posted an uneventful 6-1, 6-4 win over Frenchman Eduardo Roger-Vasselin while Nadal began his favorite part of the year and a quest for a ninth straight title here with a 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Marinko Matosevic.

Djokovic had waited until the last minute to make his decision on whether he could compete, having rolled his ankle on Davis Cup duty 10 days ago. He earned a late break for 5-4 in the final set as Youzhny missed a drop shot, before serving out the match. “I think that my ankle is in a good state as the days are passing by,” said the winner. “Today was a big test, I had a great quality opponent.

“My clay movements are still not at the maximum. But I’m going to slowly get into it. Hopefully I can elevate the level of performance in the next match.

“I’m very happy to win, I’m just happy to compete, to be honest. I didn’t know if I’m going to be playing the tournament up to yesterday (Tuesday) basically.”Murray was pleased with his own effort on his weakest surface as he beat Roger-Vasselin.

“Its always difficult to move when you get to this surface. I started the match well and he made a lot of errors in the first set. I was able to take advantage of them.”

Nadal was totally in his comfort zone on another sunny, warm day on the Mediterranean, demolishing the Australian

in 62 minutes.

“I played well with the right feelings and doing the right things, so I’m very happy,” he said. “I had the right intensity, with no mistakes. “I was trying to find a good feeling on the ball, to find the right rhythm.

And I think I did, no? That gives me confidence.”

Nadal’s quick win marked a successful return to action after resting for three weeks in the wake of his Indian Wells title of last month.

The 26-year-old is planning his schedule more carefully after missing seven months of play in 2012-2013 due to his chronic knee problems.

But he will have little rest in the run-up to Roland Garros, with entries set for Barcelona plus the Madrid and Rome Masters over the next four weeks.

Nadal, playing Monte Carlo for the 10th time, improved his phenomenal record here to 45-1, with his only loss coming to Guillermo Coria in 2003 as a teenager.

He said, though, that despite his enviable Monte Carlo run, he feels no extra pressure to win. “I feel that I am coming here trying to play well. As in every tournament, I try my best in every moment.

“If that happens, if I’m able to play my best tennis, probably I will have my chance to be in a good position to play in the last rounds, to fight for important things.”Nadal next plays German Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Elsewhere in the second round, Czech fourth seed Tomas Berdych began his clay season with a defeat of Spain’s Marcel Granollers 7-5, 6-4.

Croatian ninth seed Marin Cilic put out South African Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-3, while Austrian Jurgen Melzer upset Spanish tenth seed Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-2 and veteran Finn Jarkko Nieminen upset Canadian 12th seed Milos Raonic 6-3, 1-6, 76 (7/3). —AFP

LOS ANGELES: JJ Hickson No. 21 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots over DeAndre Jordan No. 6 of the Los Angeles Clippers in the first half at Staples Center. —AFP

Clippers trounce Blazers LOS ANGELES: Caron Butler scored 18 of his 22 points in the third quarter as the Los Angeles Clippers trounced the Portland Trail Blazers 9377 on Tuesday night for their sixth straight victory.

Blake Griffin added 16 points, DeAndre Jordan had 10 points and nine rebounds, and Chris Paul had 11 assists for the Pacific Division champions, who finished their home schedule with a 32-9 record. They end the regular season on Wednesday at Sacramento, and another win would ensure the Clippers have home-court advantage to start the playoffs.

Will Barton scored 17 points and Joel Freeland added 13 points for the Blazers, who never led while losing their 12th in a row.

MONACO: Spain’s Rafael Nadal hits a return to Australia’s Marinko Matosevic during the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament tennis match. —AFP

RAPTORS 113, HAWKS 96 In Atlanta, DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points, Rudy Gay added 22 and Toronto ran all over playoff-bound Atlanta.

The Raptors made two-thirds of their shots in the first half, sprinting to a 68-51 lead as DeRozan scored 19 points and Gay chipped in with 17. Atlanta went mostly with backups, showing no sense of urgency to claim the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Atlanta fell into a tie with Chicago for the fifth spot. The teams finish the regular season on Wednesday, with the Hawks traveling to New York to face the Knicks, while the Bulls are home against lowly Washington. Chicago holds the tiebreaker. Kyle Korver led the Hawks with 13 points, extending his 3-point streak to 73 consecutive games. — AP

NBA results/standings Toronto 113, Atlanta 96; LA Clippers 93, Portland 77.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT 53 28 .654 NY Knicks Brooklyn 48 33 .593 Boston 41 39 .513 Philadelphia 33 48 .407 Toronto 33 48 .407

Indiana Chicago Milwaukee Detroit Cleveland

Central Division 49 31 .613 44 37 .543 37 44 .457 29 52 .358 24 57 .296

Miami Atlanta Washington Charlotte Orlando

Southeast Division 65 16 .802 44 37 .543 29 52 .358 20 61 .247 20 61 .247

GB 5 11.5 20 20

Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 60 21 .741 56 25 .691 Denver Utah 43 38 .531 Portland 33 48 .407 Minnesota 30 51 .370

4 17 27 30

5.5 12.5 20.5 25.5

LA Clippers Golden State LA Lakers Sacramento Phoenix

Pacific Division 55 26 .679 46 35 .568 44 37 .543 28 53 .346 25 56 .309

9 11 27 30

21 36 45 45

San Antonio Memphis Houston Dallas New Orleans

Southwest Division 58 23 .716 55 26 .679 45 36 .556 40 41 .494 27 54 .333

3 13 18 31

Wie looking for inspiration

MONACO: Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a return to Mikhail Youzhny of Russia during their match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament. —AP

Moreno wins cycling race HUY: Spaniard Daniel Moreno won the second of the Ardennes Classics, the Fleche-Wallonne, yesterday giving his team Katusha their second successive victory in the race.

The 31-year-old - whose team leader Joaquim Rodriguez won last year - beat two Colombians Sergio Henao and Carlos Alberto Betancur to the line in the 205km race.

Rodriguez failed to mount a challenge as the effects of his fall in last weekend’s Amstel Gold Race took their toll. Moreno, whose previous best win was a stage in the Tour of Spain, made the decisive burst when he passed the world champion Philippe Gilbert, who had gone after Betancur, on the final

climb. “ We decided, with ‘Purito’ Rodriguez, to play my card. I went full pelt and I kept going to the end,” said the winner.

“It’s my greatest victory, this is my favorite course and I’ve managed to win it.”

The third and final Ardennes one day classic is the Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday, when Rodriguez should take over the team leadership at Katusha.

“Sunday, during Liege-BastogneLiege, Purito will be better,” said Moreno, who powered clear up the Mur de Huy in a stunning finish. Neither Gilbert nor another favourite Peter Sagan of Slovakia could react as Moreno surged to victory. —AFP

KAPOLEI: Michelle Wie is hoping this week’s U.S. LPGA Tour stop in her Hawaiian homeland will help her turn around a lackluster season.

She’s 91st in the world ranking after breaking 70 only once in 18 rounds this season. She’s coming off a season-best tie for 41st two weeks ago in the Kraft Nabisco Championship - after starting the tournament with an apology from Annika Sorenstam for being quoted as saying the former child prodigy hasn’t shown the talent that initially made her a star.

The 23-year-old Wie says it’s nice to be home, where she’s more relaxed. Wie grew up in Honolulu, not far from the Ko Olina Golf Club, where the Lotte Championship is in its second year.

“As soon as you get off the plane, that smell - everything,” she said on Tuesday. “It’s great to play in front of a home crowd and hopefully a lot of people will come out tomorrow.”

A friendly, familiar crowd couldn’t hurt Wie, who won the last of her two tour titles in 2010 and has received a lot of attention lately for her new putting style - an unorthodox stance where she bends at the waist, her back straight and nearly parallel to the ground with her eyes peering straight over the ball. Wie had an up-and-down practice round on Tuesday, taking extra time between shots to work on her technique and chat with her parents, who walked the course and occasionally chimed in with tips.

After her group in the pro-am finished each hole, Wie’s caddie frequently tossed out a ball for Wie to chip, putt, or hit from a bunker.

The Lotte Championship comes as Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis and Yani Tseng battle for the top spot in the world rankings. Park, the LPGA Thailand and Kraft Nabisco winner this year, took over the top spot on Monday, ending Lewis’ four-week run at No. 1.

“That’s been the place that I always wanted to be,” Park said. “It came as a bit of a shock because it came in an off week. But coming into this week that was one of my goals to reach, but it happened really early.”

Lewis also has two victories this year, winning consecutive events in Singapore and Phoenix. She was surprised to lose the No. 1 ranking on Monday.

“I mean, I expected it to probably happen at some point, but I definitely didn’t expect it in an off week,” Lewis said. “It’s tough because I don’t know, I didn’t do anything wrong and I lost it.” Ai Miyazato won the tournament last year.

“I have great memories from last year,” Miyazato said. “Last year, it was only a three-day event but this year it’s going to be four days, so I think it’s going to be interesting.”

New Zealand amateur Lydia Ko is coming off a tie for 25th in the Kraft Nabisco. She won the Canadian Open in August to become the youngest tour winner at 15 years, 4 months, 2 days.

The South Korea-born Ko has two other pro victories, the New South Wales Open last year and New Zealand Women’s Open this year. She’s ranked 22nd. —AP

Michelle Wie

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

S P ORTS

Butt, Asif lose appeals to CAS against bans ISLAMABAD: Former captain Salman Butt still believes he can return to international cricket after he and former Pakistan teammate Mohammad Asif lost their appeals against lengthy bans for spot-fixing in a Test against England.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport yesterday dismissed the challenges of both players on bans imposed by the International Cricket Council. The ICC welcomed the CAS decision in what it called an “important, sensitive and high-profile matter.”

“The decisions strengthen our resolve to always remain vigilant and keep the game clean at all cost, whilst continuing to educate the players about the threats and ways to combat the challenges faced by our sport,” the ICC said. CAS said Butt lost his appeal against a 10-year ban while Asif failed to overturn a seven-year suspension. The players must serve five years of their sanctions, with the remaining years deferred by the ICC. “I have already served two years and eight months (of the ban) and after another two years and four months I can still play,” Butt said in the eastern city of Lahore soon after CAS rejected his appeal in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“I wasn’t more than 50 percent sure that the decision will come in my favor,” he added.

Butt will be 30 when his minimum five-year suspension ends, and with Pakistan test and one-day captain Misbah-ul-Haq at 39, Butt believes he can contend again for a place in the national team.

“If I can perform when the ban ends its fine, otherwise I will have to do some other work,” he said. Lawyers for Butt said the player “will be exploring every other available avenue” to resume his professional career.

“Both Salman and us are bitterly disappoint-

ed with the decision of the court,” said Amer Rahman, the legal advisor who represented Butt in the appeal. “Salman has been in a very dark place over the last few years and he was hoping that he would be successful in this appeal. We will not be giving up.”

Butt, Asif and teammate Mohammad Amir were found guilty in an English criminal trial of arranging to bowl no-balls for betting scams during an August 2010 test at Lord’s.

They were jailed for three to seven months.

CAS said Butt did not contest the ICC’s guilty verdict against him but wanted a reduction in the length of his ban.

“However, the panel was not persuaded that the sanction imposed by the ICC tribunal was disproportionate, nor that any of the mitigating circumstances advanced by Butt qualified as exceptional circumstances,” CAS said in a statement.

Regarding Asif, who didn’t appeal his ICC sanction, CAS was “satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Asif was party to a spotfixing conspiracy,” and that there was “no evidence advanced ... which clearly exculpated him and that his submissions did not break the chain of circumstantial evidence or in any way undermine the reasoning contained in the ICC’s decision.”

The same panel of three CAS arbitrators judged both cases after appeal hearings in February. CAS verdicts can be challenged at Switzerland’s supreme court, which can overturn decisions only if legal process was abused.

Amir did not appeal in the CAS against his five-year ban. Pakistan cricket has been constantly hit by fixing charges in recent times, and only last week the Pakistan Cricket Board banned international umpire Nadeem Ghauri for four years over corruption charges.—AP

HARARE: Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor bats during the opening day of the first Test match between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. —AFP

Taylor boosts Zimbabwe HARARE: A defiant, unbeaten century from captain Brendan Taylor allowed Zimbabwe to build a solid platform on a sluggish first day of the first Test against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club.

In their first home Test in 18 months, Taylor put Zimbabwe’s recent problems aside as he scored 105 not out and took his side from 65 for three early in the second session to 217 for four at the close of play.

Taylor endured a torrid tour of the West Indies last month and has seen his squad become increasingly dispirited in the wake of another contract dispute, but led from the front on a difficult pitch.

Although on the low side, Zimbabwe’s total represented a reasonable day’s work for the hosts after they were inserted on a green top by Bangladesh, who lacked the fast bowling arsenal to take full advantage.

“If they had scored 300-plus today then I would have been pretty upset, but I think it’s still a pretty even game,” said Bangladesh coach Shane Jurgensen.

Robiul Islam charged in manfully for 24 overs, but after removing both of Zimbabwe’s openers cheaply, Bangladesh’s only genuine seam threat was unable to make further

inroads. Although Enamul Haque had Hamilton Masakadza caught at slip 10 overs after the lunch break to leave Zimbabwe in a spot of bother, Taylor was joined by Malcolm Waller and the pair put on 127 for the fourth wicket. Both batsmen took their time to adjust to the pace of the pitch in the afternoon, before gradually lifting Zimbabwe’s lethargic run-rate in the third session.

Taylor offered just a single chance on the way to his third Test century, when he lofted Enamul to wide long-off where Shahriar Nafees failed to take a difficult catch on the run. The partnership was finally broken by the second new ball, with Waller bowled for 55 by Rubel Hossain, who was then denied the wicket of Elton Chigumbura when replays suggested the bowler had overstepped. In between those incidents Taylor went to three figures with a distinctive fist-pumping celebration that told of his recent frustrations.

“The celebration was due to the poor performance we had in the West Indies,” he said.

“To fail in pretty much every game in the whole tour was tough to swallow, so today was very rewarding. “I’ve prepared well, I’ve worked hard and it was nice to see it pay off.”—AFP

SCOREBOARD HARARE: Scoreboard at close of play on the first day of the first Test between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh yesterday: Zimbabwe first innings (Waller).

T. Maruma lbw Robiul Islam 10 Still to bat: R. Mutambami, G. Cremer, K. Meth, V. Sibanda b Robiul Islam 5 S. Masakadza, K. Jarvis.

H. Masakadza c Mahmudullah b Enamul 25 Bowling: Robiul 24-6-56-2; Rubel 20-6-42-1; B. Taylor not out 105 Nasir 5-2-3-0; Enamul 29-3-76-1; Sohag 11-0M. Waller b Rubel 55 33-0; Mahmudullah 1-0-3-0.

E. Chigumbura not out 6 Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Shahriar Extras (1b, 3lb, 5nb, 2wd) 11 Nafees, Jahurul Islam, Mohammad Ashraful, Total (4 wkts, 90 overs, 376 mins) 217 Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Sibanda), 2-22 (Maruma), Sohag Gazi, Enamul Haq Jr, Rubel Hossain, 3-65 (H. Masakadza), 4-192 Robiul Islam.

Webber hits the 200 mark MANAMA: Formula One’s most controversial race, the Bahrain Grand Prix with its simmering backdrop of teargas and petrol bombs, might just give Mark Webber something to celebrate on Sunday.

Red Bull’s Australian has had a pretty thin time of it recently but Sunday’s race, in a Gulf kingdom troubled by civil unrest since a 2011 uprising, will be the 200th grand prix of his career.

The 36-year-old has been outspoken about Bahrain in the past and would doubtless feel happier hitting the milestone somewhere else. But any strong result will be a bonus after last weekend in China and the previous ‘team orders’ storm in Malaysia.

“Yes folks really looking forward to the next GP, it’s my 200th appearance,” he said on Twitter this week. “Jeez it goes quick, pumped for the rest of the year.”

Webber has yet to stand on the podium in Bahrain but triple champion team mate

Sebastian Vettel, the German who snatched victory from him in Malaysia by ignoring an order not to overtake, was the winner last year. In China, the Australian ran out of fuel in qualifying and lost a wheel in the race after having to start from the pitlane and then being involved in a collision.

Vettel leads the standings with 52 points to 49 for Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen and 43 for Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. Webber has just 26 after four races.

Formula One’s travelling circus began arriving from China on Monday, greeted by friendly smiles at the airport and newspaper reports of explosions in town overnight that marked an escalation in protests against the sport. Away from the circuit, in more rundown areas and majority Shi’ite villages, teargas-firing police and protesters throwing petrol bombs clash almost nightly in low-level violence that threatens to flare up in race week.— Reuters

Photo of the day

Ronnie Renner (USA) speaks with a local during a freeriding session in the Nazwa Desert outside of Dubai. www.redbullcontentpool.com

Flyers and Islanders triumph PHILADELPHIA: Brayden Schenn, Erik Gustafsson and Kimmo Timonen scored to give Philadelphia’s faint playoff hopes a boost as the Flyers beat the New York Rangers 4-2 on Tuesday night for their second win in two nights.

Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored for the Rangers, who have a tenuous hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers are tied with Winnipeg, five points ahead of the 11th-place Flyers.

Jakub Voracek added an emptynet goal in the final seconds to seal the victory for Philadelphia. Steve Mason got the spot start over Ilya Bryzgalov and made 38 saves. New York’s Henrik Lundqvist was solid with 18 saves, but two goals off the post doomed the Rangers.

ISLANDERS 5, PANTHERS 2 In Uniondale, Michael Grabner scored twice and Evgeni Nabokov made 26 saves as the New York Islanders moved closer to a playoff berth with a victory over Florida.

The Islanders earned their ninth win in 12 games while playing their final regular-season home game.

The Islanders, 10-11-3 at home after starting 2-8-1, will begin a seasonending, five-game trip on Thursday in Toronto. With a 14-5-3 mark since March 1, the Islanders hold seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

New York, seeing its first postseason appearance since 2007, has allowed two goals or fewer in nine straight games. Matt Moulson, Mark Streit and Radek Martinek also scored for the Islanders. Dmitry Kulikov and Marcel Goc had goals for the Panthers (13-23-6), who own the NHL’s worst record.

CAPITALS 5, MAPLE LEAFS 1 In Washington, Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 28th goal, and Washington enjoyed a rare feeling of dominance outside its division, winning its eighth straight by topping Toronto.

Jack Hillen, Martin Erat, Troy Brouwer and Marcus Johansson also scored, and Braden Holtby made 29 saves for the Southeast Division-leading Capitals.

The Capitals have moved into playoff position by feasting on the weak Southeast, going 14-3 within the division, but they entered Tuesday’s game just 9-14-2 against the rest of the Eastern Conference.

All but two of those nine wins were by one goal. The Maple Leafs had won four of five. Toronto was down 4-0 before Mikhail Grabovski scored in the third period. Ovechkin has 19 goals in 18 games.

JETS 4, LIGHTNING 3 In Winnipeg, Andrew Ladd scored twice in regulation and added the decisive goal in a shootout as Winnipeg stayed in the thick of the playoff hunt with a victory over Tampa Bay. Ladd also earned an assist, and defenseman Zach Bogosian had a pair of assists. Blake Wheeler scored once and added two assists for Winnipeg (22-19-2), which is on a season-high, four-game winning streak. The Jets are tied in points with the eighth-place New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Winnipeg has five games remaining, one fewer than New York.

Martin St. Louis, Pierre-Cedric Labrie and Steven Stamkos - with his 27th goal - scored for Tampa Bay (17-22-4). Mike Santorelli also beat Lightning goalie Ben Bishop in the shootout. No Tampa Bay skaters scored on Ondrej Pavelec.

SHARKS 3, KINGS 2 In San Jose, Antti Niemi stopped

EDMONTON: Mikko Koivu No. 9 of the Minnesota Wild tries to tie up Ryan Smyth No. 94 of the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Rexall Place. —AFP Jeff Carter on a 2-on-1 in overtime and then was per fect in the shootout to help San Jose move into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference with a victory over Los Angeles.

Raffi Torres scored the only goal of the shootout in the third round, and Brent Burns scored one goal and assisted on another by TJ Galiardi on a productive secondperiod shift for the Sharks, who followed Monday night ’s win in Phoenix with a home victor y against the Kings. Niemi made 41 saves, including the key pad stop on Carter in overtime. Jake Muzzin and Dustin Brown scored for Los Angeles, which fell into a tie with San Jose in the battle for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Jonathan Quick made 33 saves as the Kings lost their fourth straight road game.

BLUES 2, CANUCKS 1 In St. Louis, Jay Bouwmeester tied it midway through the third period, and Andy McDonald and Alex Steen scored in the shootout to lead St. Louis over Vancouver.

Brian Elliott made 21 saves through overtime and stopped Derek Roy and Alexandre Burrows in the shootout, solidifying the Blues’ chances in a tight Western Conference race. Bowmeester’s goal was his first since joining the Blues in a trade-deadline deal.

Alexander Edler scored on a power play late in the second period for Vancouver. Cory Schneider made 35 saves, but surrendered two goals on three shootout chances.

The Canucks played for the third time in four nights, all on the road, and had trouble generating much offense coming off a 5-2 victory at Nashville on Monday.

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock earned his 600th career NHL win against the franchise he beat for his first victory when Dallas won at Vancouver on Jan. 22, 1996.

SENATORS 3, HURRICANES 2 In O ttawa, Craig Anderson made 32 saves to help Ottawa beat Carolina for its third straight win. Mik a Zibanejad, Cor y Conacher and Chris Neil all scored as Ottawa remained in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the New York

Islanders. Justin Faulk and Eric Staal scored for the Hurricanes, who got 31 saves from Justin Peters.

The Senators returned to Ottawa from Boston amid tightened security measures a day after the bombings at the Boston Marathon. Their game against the Bruins, postponed Monday, was rescheduled for April 28.

O ttawa defenseman Jared Cowen played his first game since undergoing hip surger y in November that was expected to end his season.

WILD 5, OILERS 3 In Edmonton, Kyle Brodziak

scored a pair of goals, and Minnesota earned another lateseason win by topping Edmonton.

Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund and Zach Parise also scored for the Wild (24-16-3), who are 2-0-1 in their last three games after losing five of six. Minnesota remained in sixth place in the Western Conference playoff race.

Nail Yakupov, Magnus Paajarvi and Shawn Horcoff had goals for the Oilers (16-19-7), whose slim playoff hopes took another hit.

Edmonton has lost six in a row on the heels of a five-game winning streak.—AP

NHL results/standings NY Islanders 5, Florida 2; Washington 5, Toronto 1; Ottawa 3, Carolina 2; Philadelphia 4, NY Rangers 2; Winnipeg 4, Tampa Bay 3 (SO); St. Louis 2, Vancouver 1 (SO); Minnesota 5, Edmonton 3; San Jose 3, Los Angeles 2 (SO).

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Pittsburgh 32 10 0 141 102 64 NY Islanders 22 16 5 124 124 49 NY Rangers 21 17 4 102 100 46 Philadelphia 19 21 3 119 131 41 New Jersey 15 17 10 96 115 40 Northeast Division Montreal 26 11 5 131 107 57 Boston 26 11 4 116 91 56 Toronto 24 14 5 131 118 53 Ottawa 22 14 6 104 91 50 Buffalo 18 19 6 111 128 42 Southeast Division Washington 24 17 2 134 119 50 Winnipeg 22 19 2 113 126 46 Tampa Bay 17 22 4 136 135 38 Carolina 17 23 2 109 134 36 Florida 13 23 6 101 147 32 Western Conference Central Division Chicago 33 5 4 139 87 70 St. Louis 24 16 2 112 105 50 Detroit 20 15 7 106 107 47 Columbus 20 16 7 106 110 47 Nashville 15 21 8 100 123 38 Northwest Division Vancouver 24 12 7 118 104 55 Minnesota 24 16 3 114 109 51 Edmonton 16 19 7 106 120 39 Calgary 16 22 4 113 145 36 Colorado 14 22 7 103 135 35 Pacific Division Anaheim 27 10 5 125 105 59 Los Angeles 24 14 5 122 107 53 San Jose 23 13 7 109 104 53 Dallas 21 18 3 118 126 45 Phoenix 18 17 7 110 114 43 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

S P ORT S

Italy needs change and investment says Maldini MIAMI: Italy’s Serie A needs radical change and investment if their struggling clubs are to compete for European trophies, former AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini has told Reuters.

No Italian club has made the Champions League semi-finals since Inter Milan won the title in 2010, with Serie A leaders Juventus’ 4-0 loss on aggregate to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals causing consternation and Maldini said it was time for the league to look at the reasons why.

“To compete with the great teams in Europe, you have to invest money, there is no other way to reach that kind of level,” said Maldini, who earned 126 caps for Italy and holds Milan’s record for most appearances. “You could see it with Juventus against Bayern. Juventus are a

great team, especially in Italy, but when you compete with a team like Bayern, you can see the difference. They need at least two or three more great players.”

Maldini won the European Cup/Champions League five times during his 25-year career with Milan and played until 2009 when he retired at the age of 41 and he looks back with nostalgia on the years when Serie A was the top league in Europe.

“In the 1990s we had seven great teams - Milan, Inter, Juventus, Parma, Lazio, Roma, Fiorentina. If you look at the players, they were great players but there was some crazy investment and some teams went bankrupt, like Parma and Lazio. “ Then you had the Moratti and Berlusconi families who put in so much

money and are still surviving, it is hard though.”

Maldini, widely considered one of the great defenders in world soccer in the last 30 years, has played no role in the game since hanging up his boots although he has now taken on an ‘ambassador’ position with the upcoming International Champions Cup tournament which will be held in the U.S. from July.

Still looking as though he could comfortably handle 90 minutes at left-back, Maldini spends some of his time each year at his Miami Beach apartment having visited during the close-season throughout his career.

As well as enjoying the relaxed rhythm of South Beach life, Maldini, whose two sons are both in Milan’s

youth teams, occasionally pops to watch LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the NBA and he said Italian soccer clubs could learn a lot from the business approach to sport in the US. “We should learn from this mentality.

In Italy we still have laws that don’t work.

“If you go outside the San Siro (stadium) you can see people selling fake merchandising, it was like that when I started to play and it is still like that now. You can’t allow this.

“Then you have old stadiums, very old stadiums. San Siro is a historic stadium, it’s nice but it doesn’t offer comfort ...we have to improve it.

“Above all we need to learn from leagues that make money from sports rather than lose money. Everyone is losing money in Italian football, it’s crazy.”

The only benefit Maldini can see from the lack of investment in Italian teams is that it is forcing clubs to give homegrown talent a chance. “The positive is that clubs are looking to young players.

Italy has a lot of young players that maybe deserve more space. Milan has Mattia De Sciglio and Stephan El Shaarawy, who maybe some years ago, would have been still on the bench,” he said.

But Maldini is not going to take on the role of reforming Italian soccer, at least not for some time. “I’m not working in football. Basically I’m a father with two kids and taking some time for myself,” he said. “I played for 25 years and I believe I need some space for myself. “I’m doing different things, in different businesses and enjoying life.”—Reuters

Cardiff back in top flight Promoted to English Premier League

HAVANA: FIFA President Joseph Blatter (center) puts the first pile of earth as the foundation stone for the construction of a synthetic turf football field at La Polar Stadium. Blatter is on a six-day trip to CONCACAF countries where FIFA has important development projects.—AFP

FIFA concerned about WCup stadium delay RIO DE JANEIRO: FIFA has expressed alarm about repeated delays in readying the Brasilia stadium for the Confederations Cup in June and next year’s World Cup. The inauguration of Brasilia’s 71,000-seat Mane Garrincha arena, initially set for Sunday, was postponed until May 18 because of problems in preparing the pitch.

It was the fifth delay in delivering the stadium, where the Confederations Cup is to kick off on June 15, with a Brazil-Japan match.

At a meeting with Brasilia federal district governor Agnelo Queiroz Tuesday, officials of FIFA and Brazil’s 2014 World Cup Organizing Committee (COL) expressed alarm.

“FIFA and COL expressed concern about the tight deadlines and the short time available for tests to ensure the operational success of events such as FIFA’s Confederations Cup,” the two bodies said in a statement sent to AFP yesterday.

Between the delivery date and the opening of the Confederations Cup, FIFA wants at least two test events to verify that

everything is running smoothly.

FIFA and COL said they have scheduled a new series of inspections of the Brasilia arena in two weeks and announced they would step up daily monitoring of the renovation work.

And they warned that “delays like those observed will not be tolerated for stadiums that will host the World Cup, which involves a significantly greater number of arenas, teams, fans, matches, journalists and TV viewers.”

Of the six host stadiums for the Confederations Cup, four have been completed, although only those of Belo Horizonte and Fortaleza met the December deadline initially set by FIFA. The stadiums of Salvador and Recife were completed this month. Rio’s iconic Maracana arena is to be delivered on April 27. FIFA’s deadline for six other stadiums hosting next year’s World Cup is December 31.

Eight countries are competing in the June 15-30 Confederations Cup: Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Uruguay, Japan, Italy, Nigeria and Tahiti.—AFP

LONDON: Cardiff City were promoted to the English Premier League on Tuesday after a 0-0 draw at home to Charlton Athletic guaranteed the Welsh side a toptwo finish in the Championship (second division). Cardiff, who have agonisingly missed out in the playoffs for the last three seasons, will play in the top flight next season for the first time since 1962.

Their promotion was greeted with joyous scenes at the final whistle with players and fans celebrating on the pitch.

“There are a lot of smiley happy faces and it’s going to be a long night in Cardiff I think,” manager Malk y Mack ay told Sk y Spor ts against a deafening noise at the Cardiff City stadium.

“I’m delighted for these people.

There are a lot of people here who have gone through a lot of hard times and this is for them,” added the Scotsman who took over the team in 2011.

“The staff of the football club, the back office, the training ground staff, the directors and our owners, these players and these fans and the people of Cardiff, it’s a night for them,” added the former Watford boss.

The principality now has two representatives in the Premier League with Cardiff joining archrivals Swansea City, who won the English League Cup final this season.

“I am lost for words right now.

We thoroughly deserve that if I’m honest,” Cardiff defender Mark Hudson told the BBC. “ The consistenc y we’ve had this year, top since November, and now we’re promoted. We’ll celebrate now then go for that title.”

Cardiff are well placed to claim the silver ware, with 84 points

placed Watford remain six points off the second automatic promotion spot after going down by the same score at losing FA Cup semifinalists Millwall.

Brighton drew 0-0 at Peterborough to move into fourth place on goal difference with 66 points above sliding Crystal Palace

Mark Hudson

from 43 matches giving them a seven-point lead over secondplaced Hull City with three games left.

Hull lost 1-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers, who moved out of the relegation zone, while third-

who slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Ipswich Town.

Leicester City returned to the playoff zone by replacing opponents Bolton Wanderers after a 3-2 win took them to 64 points, one point above the visitors and late

challengers Nottingham Forest, who lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough.

At the other end of the table, Bristol City’s six seasons in the Championship ended when a 1-0 defeat at home to Birmingham City consigned them to relegation to League One. Cardiff have flirted with success in recent seasons. As well as missing out on promotion through their playoff heartache, they were beaten in the FA Cup final in 2008 and by Liverpool in last season’s League Cup final on penalties.

The near-misses have come against a backdrop of financial instability, although the financial riches of the Premier League are sure to put the club on a sounder footing.

Cardiff were on the brink of administration and escaped a winding-up petition at the High Court in 2010 after settling a 1.9 million pounds ($2.91 million) tax bill shortly after the club was taken over by billionaire Malaysian Vincent Tan. Tan has sought to increase the club’s marketability, especially in Asia, although his decision to change their traditional blue kit to red sparked controversy.

Nicknamed the Bluebirds, having played in blue for over 100 years, Cardiff also now have a red badge featuring a dragon but opposition to the colour change has faded with the Welsh club now back in the top flight for the first time in 51 years.—Reuters

AFF hopes local money can fuel ambitious league SINGAPORE: As Southeast Asian money floods into English football while local leagues are left to rot, the proposed ASEAN Super League (ASL) might just offer those investors a viable alternative and put a stop to the financial drain from the region.

The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) told Reuters on Tuesday that their new tournament will start in Feb. 2015 and feature eight franchises initially with no promotion or relegation.

The plan is to eventually increase that number to 16 teams with all 11 members of the federation taking part in a product the body hopes will enable the region to realise its true potential.

The AFF said discussions were ongoing but they were keen to reassure that the new league would not kill off domestic competitions in the region, many of which are already struggling with investment lacking. The blanket coverage of the English Premier League means more people in Singapore stay up to watch the Manchester derby between City and United at 3 am local time then pay S$5 ($4.05) to attend an S.League match.

One of the 12 clubs in this year’s league, Balestier Khalsa, even went door-to-door to drum up support for this season, with their exploits going viral as their commendable initiative was mocked.

In Indonesia, supporter passion is there but stifled by mismanagement with clubs in perilous financial states as a two-year power struggle continues to rip apart the domestic game.

FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have had little joy in resolving the issues, with Paraguayan striker Diego Mendieta paying the ultimate price when he died of a treatable disease after going months unpaid, caught in the middle of the rival factions power struggle. In Vietnam, it is still unclear when the 2013 V.League season will start after months of delays because of financial issues, while the Philippines is slowly professionalising after years of neglect.

While all these leagues suffer in a region which is more famous for its contribution to match-fixing than achievements on the field, Southeast Asian businessmen follow the fans and plough their money into England.

Cardiff City’s Malaysian owners were celebrating on Tuesday as their Welsh club finally gained promotion to the lucrative English

Premier League. They could swap places with another Malaysian-owned club, with Tony Fernandes’ Queens Park Rangers in dire relegation trouble, while another struggling side, Aston Villa, are sponsored by Malaysian gaming and plantation group Genting Bhd Elsewhere in England’s second tier, three times League Cup winners and promotion chasing Leicester City are run by Thailand’s King Power International.

Last year, Singaporean businessmen Bill Ng came close to buying Scottish club Glasgow Rangers, while compatriot Peter Lim was in advanced talks about purchasing English giants Liverpool in 2010.

Asian money men also own Manchester City, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City with the Premier League receiving hefty sums from television networks in Asia to air matches for fans who cannot get enough football.

But simply mimicking the English Premier League model at home has struggled to bear fruit for the majority of the member associations in ASEAN leading to the AFF’s bold, ambitious and brave plans to join forces.

“The challenge for the organisers and backers of the league is to develop a product that resonates in this market,” sports rights expert James Scholefield told Reuters.

“The fans need to have a genuine affiliation and loyalty that takes them off their sofas and into stadia to watch games.

“Without this level of engagement, I don’t see why savvy, sophisticated sponsors and marketeers will be rushing to invest in a property that doesn’t ‘speak’ to mass audiences in Southeast Asia.” The success of the biennial AFF Suzuki Cup for international teams in the region suggests it could work, with 90,000 routinely attending matches and television rights proving a hot commodity.

Fusing a club competition with an international rivalry has interested some. “The ASL is likely to see a lot of attention from sponsors,” John Yap, chairman of former S.League club Gombak United, told Singapore daily The New Paper. “Because it showcases national rivalries, it may just be the right concoction to take regional football to the next level.”

But whether it will ever be enough to wean sponsors and fans alike off the English Premier League only time will tell.—Reuters

GERMANY: Bayern Munich’s Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic (left) and Wolfsburg’s Japanese midfielder Makoto Hasebe vie for the ball during the German Cup semi-final football match. —AFP

Shaqiri, Gomez steer Bayern to Cup final BERLIN: Xherdan Shaqiri scored one goal and set up three and substitute Mario Gomez notched a quick hat-trick as Bayern Munich, chasing a treble of titles, crushed VfL Wolfsburg 6-1 on Tuesday to move into the German Cup final.

Germany international Gomez, who came on as a substitute in the 77th minute struck three times in six minutes to complete another bigscoring win this season.

The Bavarians, who won the Bundesliga title earlier this month and face Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final first leg next week, will face either VfB Stuttgart or Freiburg, who play late yesterday. With Franck Ribery suspended, defender David Alaba injured and

coach Jupp Heynckes rotating the line-up, Bayern needed some time to adjust.

“Wolfsburg made it hard for us for a long time,” Heynckes told reporters. “We were not fully there at the start. I told them at halftime what I think must change and it seems to have worked.

“I am happy for Mario that he got his hattrick. It goes to show that we have three top strikers in this team.”

Forward Mario Mandzukic struck against his former club in the 17th minute after good early work from Shaqiri. Arjen Robben doubled their lead after another pin-point pass from the Swiss midfielder.

Wolfsburg briefly battled back and Brazilian

Diego cut the deficit with a stinging 18-metre shot that flew past Manuel Neuer on the stroke of halftime.

Shaqiri, however, restored Bayern’s two-goal cushion with an unstoppable low drive from the edge of the box five minutes after the restart and cut back for substitute Gomez to tap in after a darting 20-metre sprint in the 80th minute.

The Germany forward, who lost his spot to Mandzukic this season and could be playing his last matches for Bayern with reports linking him with a move to England and Spain, had time to grab two more as Wolfsburg imploded.

Bayern secured their 23rd German league title - their first since 2010 - earlier this month with six games to spare.—Reuters

Flyers and Islanders triumph

No trouble for Nadal, Djokovic in Monaco

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

18

17

Italy needs change and investment, says Maldini

Page 19

LONDON: West Ham’s Mohamed Diame (second left) celebrates his goal with teammates during the English Premier League soccer match against Manchester United at Upton Park stadium. —AP

West Ham check United’s title charge West Ham 2

Man United 2

LONDON: Robin van Persie struck a late equaliser at West Ham United for the second time this season as champions elect Manchester United scraped a 2-2 draw in the Premier League yesterday.

Just as he had in the 2-2 FA Cup draw at Upton Park in January, van Persie found the net in front of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand to rescue United from being penalised for a sluggish display.

West Ham had looked set to earn a hardfought win through a vicious strike from Mohamed Diame, who restored the hosts’ lead early in the second half after Antonio Valencia cancelled out Ricardo Vaz Te’s opener.

With second-place Manchester City having beaten Wigan Athletic, United now require six points from their final five games to secure a 20th English league title.

Their lead is now 13 points, but while a late collapse appears unthinkable, manager Alex

Ferguson will be concerned by the apathy that has crept into his team’s play. West Ham, meanwhile, climb one place to 11th-one point short of the 40-point mark-and their top-flight status seems all but secure.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is eager to tie on-loan striker Andy Carroll to a permanent contract and the Liverpool man demonstrated his worth with a brilliantly uncompromising display.

The West Ham number eight was the first player to threaten at either end, showing great footwork to shield the ball from a posse of defenders before dispatching a low shot that grazed the right-hand post.

James Collins glanced a Gary O’Neil corner over the bar, before the hosts’ positive start received its reward in the 17th minute.

Carroll was the key link in the chain at the end of a swift counter-attack, nodding the ball down for Vaz Te to score with a diving header after Matt Jarvis surged past Rio Ferdinand on the left.

United’s frustration told with a hopeful shot off target from Wayne Rooney, restored to a striker’s role after his stint in midfield at Stoke City on Sunday, but in the 31st minute they levelled. It was the first piece of quality in attack the visitors showed, but it was devastating with Van Persie slipping a pass inside to Shinji Kagawa, whose shimmy took him past a defender and

allowed him to centre for Valencia to tap home.

In reply, Diame hit the side netting for the hosts, while home skipper Kevin Nolan had a penalty appeal turned down after tangling with Nemanja Vidic just inside the United box.

Booked following a tussle with United goalkeeper David de Gea early in the second half, Carroll came close to exacting swift revenge with a dipping half-volley that narrowly missed the Spaniard’s right-hand post.

If United thought they had survived the West Ham storm, they were wrong, as Diame put the hosts back in front with a fine goal 10 minutes after the interval.

Collecting a pass from Guy Demel near the United byline on the West Ham right, he span away from Rooney and set himself before bending a sweet left-foot shot into the bottom-left corner from outside the box.

United’s push for an equaliser drew the best from the hosts, with O’Neil hacking a shot from Rooney off the line and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen producing a superb one-handed save to deny Van Persie.

West Ham’s luck was to desert them in the 77th minute, however, as Van Persie slammed home the equaliser after Kagawa’s deflected shot struck both posts.

Jaaskelainen then saved from United substitute Javier Hernandez, but defeat would have been cruel on the home side. — AFP

Fulham 0

Chelsea 3

LONDON: Chelsea moved third in the Premier League as John Terry scored twice following a David Luiz thunderbolt in their 3-0 win against west London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage yesterday.

Brazil star Luiz lashed home from 35 yards in the 30th minute before Terry netted with a brace of closerange headers in the 42nd and 71st minutes.

Rafael Benitez’s side are one point ahead of fourth placed Arsenal and three in front of fifth placed Tottenham in the race to qualify for the Champions League. Benitez made four changes to the starting line-up that lost 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final to Manchester City on Sunday. In came Frank Lampard for his 600th appearance for the club as well as Terry, winger Victor Moses and striker Fernando Torres.

Cottagers boss Martin Jol also tinkered with his team and brought in Mladen Petric and John Arne Riise for the injured Damien Duff and Kieran Richardson. The hosts started on the front foot and had a chance to take the lead within three minutes.

Sascha Riether crossed for Bryan Ruiz, but he couldn’t keep his cushioned volley down from closerange. Fulham took time to settle at the back. Brede

English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Man Utd Man City Chelsea Arsenal Tottenham Everton Liverpool West Brom Swansea Fulham West Ham Southampton

33 32 32 33 32 33 33 32 32 33 33 33

26 20 18 17 17 14 13 13 10 10 10 9

3 8 7 9 7 14 11 5 11 10 9 11

4 4 7 7 8 5 9 14 11 13 14 13

75 58 64 64 55 51 59 42 43 44 38 47

35 27 33 35 40 37 40 43 42 51 47 54

81 68 61 60 58 56 50 44 41 40 39 38

LONDON: Chelsea’s John Terry (center lower) celebrates his second goal against Fulham with teammates during their English Premier League soccer match at Craven Cottage. — AP Despite having to be disciplined at times as Fulham looked for a way back, the Blues never looked like losing their grip on the game.

In fact the last time they lost a top-flight contest when leading by two or more goals was a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in 1999. Petric, standing right on the goal line, somehow hooked over following Philippe Senderos’ header as Fulham continued to miss chances. Terry then popped up with his second and Chelsea’s third when he headed in from Torres’ flick from right on the line with 18 minutes to go as Fulham were beaten for the second time in three games. —AFP

Newcastle Norwich Sunderland Stoke Aston Villa Wigan QPR Reading

33 10 6 17 42 59 36 33 7 14 12 31 52 35 33 8 10 15 37 45 34 33 7 13 13 28 41 34 33 8 10 15 36 60 34 32 8 7 17 37 58 31 33 4 12 17 29 54 24 33 5 9 19 36 63 24

Note: Top four clubs qualify for the Champions League, while the bottom three teams are relegated

Tevez sinks Wigan as City close gap on Man United Man City 1

Wigan 0

Terry’s double lifts Chelsea Hangeland looked nervy when he skewed a clearance into the air and Torres set the ball up for Lampard to strike straight at goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in the 10th minute.

Dimitar Berbatov’s volley on the edge of the box was deflected off Terry and deflected for a corner.

Then the Bulgarian striker played in Giorgos Karagounis, who failed to hit the target with his shot from 20 yards drifting wide of Petr Cech’s far post.

Riise began to bomb forward as he looked to get involved in attack and put added pressure on Cech.

But it was almost straight after the former Liverpool defender saw an effort saved by the Blues keeper that Chelsea opened the scoring. With Luiz in acres of space the centre-back shot and Schwarzer had no chance of keeping his goal-of-the-season contender out of the net. Having played the more fluid and attractive football, Fulham knew they had a chance to get back into the game. Urby Emanuelson forced a full-stretch Cech to tip an effort around a post as halftime approached, while Berbatov always looked a threat.

His chance from the edge of the box, hit with the outside of his boot, went agonisingly wide of the target as Fulham’s lack of cutting edge cost them.

Following another spell of pressure from the Cottagers, Chelsea struck again. Juan Mata’s deep cross-field ball towards the far post was met by Terry, who headed down into the ground and past Schwarzer from just six yards.

It then took Chelsea 13 minutes to put together their first telling attack of the second-half. The lively Torres crossed into the six-yard box and Mata threw his legs at the ball, but couldn’t connect.

EPL results/standings Fulham 0, Chelsea 3 (Luiz 30, Terry 43, 71); Manchester City 1 (Tevez 83) Wigan 0; West Ham 2 (Vaz Te 16, Diame 55) Manchester Utd 2 (Valencia 31, Van Persie 77); Played Tuesday Arsenal 0, Everton 0.

MANCHESTER: Carlos Tevez struck late on to give Manchester City a 1-0 win against unlucky Wigan in their FA Cup final dress rehearsal at Eastlands yesterday.

Argentina striker Tevez netted his 11th league goal of the season seven minutes from full time to narrow the gap to 13 points between City and Premier League leaders Manchester United, who only drew at West Ham. City’s win could delay United’s title celebrations as their bitter rivals will only clinch the trophy in the next round of fixtures if Roberto Mancini’s men lose at Tottenham on Sunday while United beat Aston Villa on Monday.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was keen to get across the message about the importance of staying in the Premier League and there were only muted celebrations from the Latics on Saturday when they beat Millwall to reach their first FA Cup final.

Martinez made two changes with forward Franco Di Santo and keeper Joel Robles replacing Callum McManaman and Ali Al Habsi respectively.

City had Micah Richards making his first appearance since the England defender suffered a knee injury in October. Aleksandar Kolarov, Joleon Lescott and Javi Garcia also came in for Gael Clichy, Matija Nastasic and James Milner.

Mancini threw the towel in on the title

weeks ago and the FA Cup may represent their only realistic hope of silverware this season, but five wins from six games is at least delaying United’s coronation. City were struggling to find space early on but a tricky run from Sergio Aguero opened up the Wigan defence before the Argentina international curled wide from a tight angle.

Richards may have been out for seven months but he showed no sign of any rustiness as he got across the area to cut out a clever chipped ball from Di Santo that was heading to the feet of Shaun Maloney in front of goal.

Wigan had an even better chance in the 35th minute when Arouna Kone broke free before finding Maloney in the area.

The Scotland attacker’s clever flick found Di Santo before the Argentina forward slipped two City defenders but could not beat Joe Hart in the hosts’ goal.

City broke away immediately but Aguero could not reach Richards’ ball across the face of goal. Mancini brought off Aguero at the break for Edin Dzeko with Garcia moving back into the defence to form a five-man back line but that did not stop Wigan creating a chance right after the restart.

Maloney weaved down the left before cutting inside and his shot beat Hart, but Lescott was on hand to clear the ball away to safety.

Mancini opted for change again with Milner on for Garcia and the England international was straight into the action but his cross was just too far in front of City’s attackers.

City were starting to find space and Robles had to be alert to close down Dzeko before blocking the Bosnian striker’s effort with his boot.

But the reigning champions did get the winner when Kolarov fed Tevez and he shook off the challenges of Paul Scharner and Jordi Gomez to break into the area before firing home the winner into the top corner. — AFP

Business

Tesco quits US and takes $3.5bn global writedown Page 22 Mercedes-Benz Kuwait digital portal is live Page 25

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

BMW Group in Kuwait posts 56% sales rise

AUB Kuwait posts KD10.9m profits in Q1 2013 Page 26 Page 23

NBK reports $286m net profit for Q1 2013 Bank proved resilient in face of crises and challenges: Dabdoub KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the largest Kuwaiti bank and the highest-rated in the Middle East, reported net profits of $286 million (KD81.3 million) for the first quarter of 2013 compared with $284.5 million (KD81.0 million) for the same period in 2012.

As of end of March 2013, NBK Group’s total assets reached $63.4 billion (KD18.1 billion) up 25.4 percent compared to March 2012, while total group shareholders’ equity increased by 5.1 percent year-on-year to $8.3 billion (KD2.4 billion). NBK’s net operating income continued to improve in the first quarter of 2013, increasing by 10 percent year-on-year to reach $517 million (KD147.3 million).

Ibrahim Dabdoub, NBK’s Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “our consistency in delivering strong results is a testimony to our strong financial position and focus on core banking business despite a challenging operating environment.” “NBK proved resilient in the face of different crises and continued to deliver solid profits thanks to the bank’s conservative strategy, fundamental strength and robust risk management practices,” Dabdoub added.

Dabdoub also pointed out that 2013 holds a promising outlook for the operating environment in Kuwait in contrast to last year, in

Stocks plunge on falling oil prices, weak earnings

Ibrahim Dabdoub

Mohammed Al-Bahar

light of the government’s position to adopt a more dynamic fiscal policy and to accelerate implementation of mega projects. This is expected to boost economic activity and spur growth creating new opportunities in the local economy.

Dabdoub highlighted that NBK continued to deliver on its income diversification efforts.

NBK increased its stake in Boubyan Bank to 58.4 percent in the third quarter of 2012, transforming it into a subsidiary of NBK group.

Additionally, NBK continues to strengthen its position in regional and international markets, focusing on GCC operations, increasing the contribution of international banking profits to the Group despite regional unrest and the ongoing global crisis.

NBK continues to enjoy collectively the highest ratings among all banks in the Middle

East from the three international rating agencies Moody’s, Fitch Ratings and Standard and Poor’s. The Bank’s ratings are supported by its high capitalization, prudent lending policies, and its disciplined approach to risk management, in addition to its highly recognized and very stable management team. NBK was also named among Global Finance’s list of the 50 safest banks in the world for the seventh consecutive time.

NBK continues to enjoy the widest banking presence with more than 170 branches worldwide. NBK’s international presence spans many of the world’s leading financial centers including London, Paris, Geneva, New York and Singapore, as well as China (Shanghai).

Meanwhile, regional coverage extends to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey.

NEW YORK: Falling energy prices and disappointing earnings reports pushed stock prices sharply lower on Wall Street yesterday. The Dow Jones industrial average was down almost 150 points in late morning trading, giving back most of the gain it made the day before.

Energy stocks led the market lower with a decline of 2.2 percent as the price of crude oil fell for the fourth day in five.

Crude has fallen $7 a barrel over the past week to $87 a barrel, its lowest level since December, as the outlook for the global economy weakens while oil supplies remain high.

Chevron fell 2 percent to $114.30 and Exxon Mobil dropped 1.2 percent to $85.53. Bank of America fell 5.3 percent to $11.63 after reporting earnings that fell short of analysts’ expectations. The lender also agreed to pay $500 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by investors who bought mortgage investments from Countrywide Financial, a lender it acquired in 2008. Other bank stocks were also lower.

Technology stocks fell sharply, led by Apple. The Nasdaq composite index fell 67 points, or 2 percent, to 3,198. Apple, which makes up 8 percent of the index, slumped 4.6 percent to $403, its lowest stock price in a year. A key supplier of iPhone parts reported that inventories were moving slowly, a warning sign that sales of the hit smartphone may be weakening. Google fell 1.2 percent to $783 following disruptions in some of its popular services like Gmail and Google Drive.

The stock market has had a roller coaster ride this week. The Dow logged its

NEW YORK: Screens at the Nasdaq MarketSite, in New York’s Times Square, show the Dow Jones industrial average after the opening bell yesterday.—AP biggest drop in five months Monday, 265 points, on concerns about a slowdown in economic growth in China and as the price of gold had its biggest plunge in 30 years.

The index won back more than half of that loss a day later following strong housing and earnings reports.

The Dow Jones Industrial average was down 149 points, or 1 percent, to 14,606 as of noon EDT (1600 GMT) yesterday. The index is down 1.7 percent this week.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index dropped 22 points, or 1.4 percent, to 1,551 and is 2.3 percent lower since the opening bell on Monday. Small-company stocks fell even more than the broader market, a signal that investors are moving money out of higher-risk investments. The Russell 2000 dropped 2 percent to 904.—AP

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

BUSINESS

Tesco quits US and takes $3.5bn global writedown

Bank Muscat misses Q1 profit forecast DUBAI: Bank Muscat, Oman’s largest lender, posted a 25.1 percent drop in first-quarter net profit, missing analysts’ forecasts, as it booked a provision after some of its prepaid travel cards were hit by fraud. The lender made a quarterly profit of 25 million rials ($64.9 million) in the three months to March 31, compared with a profit of 33.4 million rials in the prior-year period, it said yesterday. Five analysts polled by Reuters had, on average, estimated a first-quarter profit of 26.5 million rials.

The bank’s shares were trading down 0.9 percent at 0630 GMT on the Muscat bourse.

The shares have risen 10.4 percent year-todate. Bank Muscat made a 15-million-rials one-off provision after some of its prepaid travel cards were hit by fraud, it added. The lender said in late-February it would have to take an impairment charge of up to 15 million rials after a small number of the cards were hit by fraud - an amount United

Securities calculated was around 10.5 percent of the bank’s estimated 2013 earnings.

The cards allow users to carry currencies abroad rather than using their debit or credit cards in foreign countries, which can be expensive. Credit impairments for the three-month period stood at 7.4 million rials, down 40.8 percent on the corresponding period of 2012, the bank said. Loans and advances grew to 5.49 billion rials at the end of the first quarter, up 10 percent from 4.99 billion rials at the same point last year. Deposits increased 9 percent over March 31, 2012, the bank said, rising to 5.51 billion rials from 5.06 billion rials. Bank Muscat priced a $500 million bond on March 18, the first time it has printed a dollar deal since 2004.

It also raised 75.1 million rials through an equity placement with the International Finance Corporation, a unit of the World Bank, in February. — Reuters

Profit slumps 51.5%, UK sales growth slows

Arabtec inks JV with Samsung Engineering DUBAI: Arabtec, the contractor part-owned

by Abu Dhabi fund Aabar, signed an agreement with Korea’s Samsung Engineering Co to jointly form a new company that will focus on large energy and power-related projects in the region. The Dubai-based builder, which is planning a $1.8 billion capital increase as part of its expansion drive, said the new firm would be 60 percent owned by Arabtec and headquartered in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi.

Samsung Engineering would own the remaining 40 percent, the two companies said in a joint bourse statement on Wednesday. Under the terms of the agree-

ment, the new firm will exclusively bid for projects in oil and gas, power and infrastructure segments in the Middle East and North Africa, in contracts ranging between $3-$10 billion, the statement said. Arabtec is keen to expand into the oil & gas construction business and is also set to acquire the remaining 40 percent it does not already own in UAE oil and gas construction firm Target Engineering, according to sources familiar with the plan.

Arabtec replaced its chief executive in February as part of the shake-up led by Aabar, which has been tightening its grip on the group. — Reuters

Dubai developer Nakheel Q1 net profit up 36% DUBAI: Dubai property developer Nakheel , one of the biggest casualties of the emirate’s real estate market crash in 2009, reported a 36 percent rise in first-quarter net profit yesterday as residential property prices and demand rebounded.

The government-owned firm posted a profit of 491 million dirhams ($133.4 million) in the quarter compared to 362 million dirhams in the corresponding period of 2012, Nakheel said in an emailed statement.

Revenue for the first quarter was 2.2 billion dirhams, up 62 percent from a year earlier. Nakheel delivered 770 homes in the first quarter including units at its palm-shaped island project, Palm Jumeirah, it said. Dubai house prices plunged over 50 percent over several years from a 2008 peak as a property

boom turned to bust, with Nakheel among the most high-profile corporate casualties.

The real estate sector has been recovering since last year. First-quarter earnings “reflect the continual recovery of Dubai’s real estate market and solid investor confidence in Nakheel and its projects”, Nakheel chairman Ali Rashid Lootah said in the statement.

The developer agreed on a $16 billion debt restructuring in 2011 and scaled back grandiose plans, such as building a 1-kilometre high tower.

Nakheel said that since the restructuring it had paid over 1.1 billion dirhams in loan interest and profit disbursements on Islamic bonds, and made cash payments of around 11 billion dirhams to trade creditors and contractors. — Reuters

CBQ profit rises 7%, bank beats forecasts DOHA: Commercial Bank of Qatar beat analysts’ forecasts with a seven percent rise in quarterly profit as the Gulf Arab state’s thirdlargest lender presses ahead with its international expansion.

The bank - which is buying a majority stake in Turkey’s Alternatifbank as it seeks lending opportunities outside the tiny, gasrich state - cited growth in lending to the commercial, real estate and services sectors.

Chairman Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah said in a statement that the bank will devel-

op its international alliance businesses in Oman and in the United Arab Emirates, alongside the Turkish foray.

The bank earned a net profit of 506 million riyals ($139.0 million) for the first quarter, compared with 471 million riyals last year. Analysts had forecast an average quarterly profit of 469.17 million riyals, according to a Reuters poll. Earlier yesterday Qatar’s Doha Bank reported a first quarter net profit of 395 million riyals compared to 390 million riyals for the year-ago period. — Reuters

LONDON: Britain’s biggest retailer, Tesco, wrote down the value of its global operations by $3.5 billion and announced plans to exit the United States, as it sought to rebuild after a year in which profit fell for the first time in two decades.

The group, the world’s third largest retailer after Wal-Mart and Carrefour, said yesterday abandoning loss-making Fresh & Easy in the US would mean restructuring and other one-off costs of 1 billion pounds ($1.5 billion). Tesco also wrote down the value of its property in Britain by 804 million pounds, reflecting a decision not to develop more than 100 sites, and its businesses in Poland, the Czech Republic and Turkey by 495 million pounds, to account for a sharp slowdown in demand.

Though Chief Executive Philip Clarke hailed Tesco’s fourth quarter performance in its home market as its best quarterly outcome in three years, it still represented a slowdown in growth since Christmas, despite a year of huge investment. “I’ve been working for Tesco for nearly 40 years and I can tell you this - it already looks, feels and acts like a different and a better business,” Clarke told reporters. “We’ve closed the gap in the (UK) market, at times we’ve outperformed it,” he said. Shares in Tesco, up 24 percent over the last three months, were down 2.5 percent at 375 pence at 1023 GMT, valuing the business at 30.3 billion pounds.

“Management cannot claim concrete evidence of a UK recovery with these numbers,” said Panmure Gordon analyst Philip Dorgan.

“It will take time - retail is detail - but we believe that Tesco is on track and we expect recovery in the UK to slowly emerge in FY2014,” he said, adding that Tesco could commence share buybacks in 2015. Tesco made a statutory pretax profit of 1.96 billion pounds in the year to Feb. 13, down 51.5 percent. It also reported an expected 14.5 percent fall in underlying full-year profit to 3.55 billion pounds, largely reflecting the cost of a 1 billion pounds turnaround plan for its home market, launched after a shock profit warning in January last year.

Earnings were also hit by the impact of the euro-zone debt crisis on eastern European markets, restrictions on store opening times in South Korea, and the Fresh & Easy losses. Fourth quarter sales at British stores open over a year, excluding fuel and VAT sales tax, grew 0.5 percent. Though at the top end of analysts’ forecasts it was worse than growth of 1.8 percent recorded in the six weeks to Jan 5.

LONDON: People pass by a branch of British retailer Tesco in London. Tesco PLC, Britain’s largest supermarket operator, announced yesterday that it will close its six-year-old US operation. —AP Tesco’s fightback plan for Britain, where it Terry Leahy but has never turned a profit in a makes over 60 percent of revenue and profit, has market where it competes with the likes of focused on more staff, refurbished stores, Trader Joe’s and Wal-Mart.

“When I became CEO I really did give it all revamped food ranges and price initiatives - all aimed at reversing years of underinvestment that we had but in the end I’m responsible to and halting a loss of share to rivals like J investors and I know I can deliver more to them by leaving that I can by staying,” said Clarke.

Sainsbury and Asda.

He had put the venture, which contributes The group also said it had increased a provision to cover the possible miss-selling of insur- just 1 percent of group turnover, under review in ance products at its Tesco Bank to 115 million December, saying an exit was likely. Chief pounds. Following the US retrenchment and Financial Officer Laurie McIlwee said Tesco had reassessment of its UK property plans, including received “a lot of interest” in Fresh & Easy, both a scaling back of sale-and-leasebacks, Tesco now for the whole business and parcels of stores.

“What we’re most interested in is those buyexpects to deliver mid single digit trading profit growth, a return on capital employed within a ers that are interested in buying the complete range of 12 to 15 percent and dividend growth business,” he said, noting that a clean sale would remove redundancy and onerous leasehold broadly in line with underlying earnings.

Fresh & Easy, which trades from 199 stores issues. He said Tesco would not conclude the and employs around 5,000, has absorbed over 1 process for at least another three months. The billion pounds of capital since its 2007 launch group is paying a maintained dividend of 14.76 when Tesco was run by Clarke’s predecessor pence. — Reuters

Burberry H1 boosted

by China demand LONDON: British luxury group Burberry posted a 10 percent rise in fourth quarter revenue as strong demand for its more expensive products in China helped it beat sales forecasts for the second half of the year. The seller of raincoats and leather goods, known for its camel, red and black check pattern, said yesterday fourth quarter group sales rose to 503 million pounds ($769 million), building on better than expected third quarter results after a strong Christmas period.

That took revenue for the six months to March 31 to 1.116 billion pounds, ahead of a company-compiled average analyst forecast of 1.098 billion pounds. Last September, Burberry shook the global luxury industry by warning of a spending slowdown, particularly in China - the driving force behind demand in recent years but it has been more upbeat recently, highlight-

ing a rebound in Chinese demand while posting third quarter sales in January. Retail sales, which make up 75 percent of group revenue, grew 14 percent to 376 million pounds in its fourth quarter, Burberry said, as higher average spend helped offset lower numbers of shoppers.

Comparable store sales increased by 7 percent, including double-digit rises in China and Hong Kong. It said it expected net new openings to deliver low to mid single digit increase in retail revenue in its 2013/14 year. Second-half wholesale revenue - or sales through nonBurberry stores - fell 3 percent, as expected, due to smaller firms struggling in weak European markets where tourist spending has also shown signs of slowing. Excluding its beauty division, Burberry said it expects underlying wholesale revenue to decrease by about 10 percent in the

six months to Sept. 30, 2013. Earlier this month, over half of 23 brands surveyed by Reuters at stores in London, Paris and Milan - including Gucci, Hermes and Jimmy Choo - reported lower demand from tourists, notably from Asia.

This week the owner of luxury brand Louis Vuitton LVMH posted the lowest quarterly sales growth since 2009 at its fashion and leather division, while Italian fashion house Prada SpA has outlined plans to expand in the Middle East and the Americas to help offset lower spending in Europe.

Shares in Burberry, whose spring/summer campaign is being modelled by Briton Cara Delevingne and David Beckham’s son, Romeo, closed at 1,266 pence on Tuesday, down 8 percent on three months ago, valuing the business at around 5.6 billion pounds. — Reuters

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 Egyptian pounds US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

.2770000 .4310000 .3680000 .3020000 .2780000 .2940000 .0040000 .0020000 .0771240 .7513970 .3930000 .0720000 .7366120 .0370000

.2880000 .4470000 .3760000 .3170000 .2920000 .3020000 .0069000 .0035000 .0778990 .7589480 .4110000 .0770000 .7440150 .0440000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2841000 .4338920 .3707360 .3043390 .2795430 .0497330 .0443660 .2963730 .0365940 .2291130 .0029600 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0773800 .7538810 .0000000 .0757800 .7382100 .0000000

.2862000 .4370990 .3734770 .3065880 .2816100 .0501010 .0446940 .2985640 .0368650 .2308060 .0028810 .0052870 .0022880 .0029190 .0036810 .0779520 .7594530 .4048090 .0763400 .7436660 .0069870

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso

2.895 5.271 2.892 2.270 3.277 231.570 36.711 3.641 6.895

Thai Baht Irani riyal - transfer Irani riyal - cash

9.847 0.271 0.273

Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

GCC COUNTRIES

740.04 78.52 76.96

740.000 78.500 76.500

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

76.017 78.326 740.420 757.140 77.622

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal/for 1000 Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira/for 1000 Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

41.200 40.928 1.330 179.500 402.560 1.912 3.097 34.249

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 284.950 Euro 376.850 Sterling Pound 438.820 Canadian dollar 279.640 Turkish lira 159.060 Swiss Franc 309.730 US Dollar Buying 283.750

Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

Selling Rate 284.700 282.110 438.745 376.005 308.880 753.750 77.490 78.145 75.885 401.330 40.854 2.269 5.278 2.890 3.649 6.891 698.380 3.890 9.920 4.025 3.390 93.945

GOLD 20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

298.000 150.000 77.500

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar

SELL DRAFT 299.00 282.51 310.50 378.21 284.35 439.79 2.96 3.662 5.255 2.266 3.310 2.895 77.49 757.12 40.87 405.09

SELL CASH 308.000 283.500 307.000 369.000 286.500 437.000 3.300 3.740 5.400 2.450 3.450 2.975 78.300 757.850 41.300 413.000

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Scottish Pound Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar Uganda Shilling Canadian Dollar Colombian Peso US Dollars Bangladesh Taka Cape Vrde Escudo Chinese Yuan Eritrea-Nakfa

SELL CASH Europe 0.4293574 0.0061567 0.0459211 0.3677036 0.0454870 0.4260933 0.0404609 0.3019576 Australasia 0.2853629 0.2337252 0.0001116 America 0.2719706 0.0001484 0.2829000 Asia 0.0036081 0.0031622 0.0449693 0.0164700

SELLDRAFT 0.4383574 0.0181567 0.0509211 0.3752036 0.0506870 0.4335933 0.0454609 0.3089579 0.2973629 0.2437252 0.0001116 0.2809706 0.0001664 0.2850500 0.0036631 0.0033922 0.0499693 0.0195700

Guinea Franc Hg Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Jamaican Dollars Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee Philippine Peso Sierra Leone Singapore Dollar Sri Lankan Rupee Thai Baht Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Ethiopeanbirr Ghanaian Cedi Iranian Riyal Iraqi Dinar Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Lebanese Pound Moroccan Dirhams Nigerian Naira Omani Riyal Qatar Riyal Saudi Riyal Sudanese Pounds Syrian Pound Tunisian Dinar UAE Dirhams Yemeni Riyal

0.0000442 0.0341806 0.0051765 0.0000243 0.0028477 0.0028460 0.0033337 0.0892219 0.0031233 0.0028706 0.0064482 0.0000728 0.22663116 0.0019710 0.0094121 Arab 0.7496745 0.0389130 0.0129248 0.1483801 0.0000793 0.0001734 0.3964753 1.0000000 0.0001748 0.0219688 0.0012114 0.7293790 0.0776409 0.0754800 0.0479288 0.0031807 0.1776667 0.0761813 0.0012859

0.0000502 0.0372806 0.0052405 0.0000295 0.0038477 0.0030260 0.0035637 0.0962219 0.0033233 0.0029106 0.0069182 0.0000758 0.2323116 0.0022730 0.0100121 0.7581745 0.0409430 0.0194248 0.1501701 0.0000796 0.0002334 0.4039753 1.0000000 0.0001948 0.0459688 0.0018464 0.7403790 0.0784239 O.0761200 0.0484788 0.0034007 0.1836667 0.0776313 0.0013859

Al Mulla Exchange Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000) 284.900 374.300 436.800 282.400 2.890 5.235 41.170 2.270 3.643 6.910 2.896 758.650 77.640 76.130

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

BUSINESS

Regulations, expectations stymie funds in Mideast DUBAI: Across much of the Middle East, economic growth is strong and financial markets are picking up. But there is surprisingly little cheer in the region’s asset management industry, which faces continued pressure to cut costs and consolidate.

Many fund managers are still struggling with small pools of assets, sluggish inflows of fresh money and high operating costs.

The total number of funds being launched has shrunk even as stock markets have risen. These difficulties are being felt well beyond the confines of the industry; they are a stumbling block in the Gulf’s efforts to create, in cities such as Dubai and Doha, international financial centers which can compete with those in London, Singapore and Hong Kong.

“Going forward, consolidation is going to be a key theme for the sector. There are a lot of discussions happening in that regard,” said Nadi Bargouti, head of asset management at Dubai-based Shuaa Capital. “Given the situation that the industry is in, fund management firms would need to consolidate to reach the optimum scale and size and keep control of costs.”

In most parts of the world, expanding economies, increasing disposable income and climbing asset prices would be enough to galvanise the asset management industry. Those conditions are all in place in the Gulf, where most of the Middle East’s fund managers are based. More than two years of high oil prices have left government’s sovereign wealth funds and private savers flush with cash.

Real estate and equity markets have begun to shake off the global financial crisis; Dubai’s stock market is up 22 percent so far this year, after a 20 percent gain last year.

But the total number of new funds launched in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) during the first quarter of 2013 dropped to 14, from 24 in the same period last year, according to data from Zawya, a Thomson Reuters company.

Zawya estimated 46 funds focusing on investments in the region had been retired in the last 12 months.

Of $1.83 trillion of banking sector assets in the wealthy Gulf oil exporters, the Levant and Egypt, only about $41 billion have been placed in funds and $177 billion are in discretionary mandates awarded to fund managers by single investors. The rest are sitting as deposits in banks, according to Dubaibased Rasmala Investment Bank.

That means about 12 percent of assets in the region are managed; globally, the level is estimated by analysts at above 20 percent. Average fund sizes in the Middle East are well below $100 million, which makes it difficult to operate cost-effectively. “Asset management is a scale business. Without

scale, fixed overhead costs eat into fund returns, making it very difficult to compete with the large international asset managers,” said Anwar Abu Sbaitan, Rasmala’s chief executive. Fund managers say culture is behind some of their problems.

Traditionally, many people in the Middle East have viewed real estate as the safest store of value; they are still unfamiliar with, even suspicious of financial products more complex than bank accounts.

In the wealthy, consumer-oriented societies of the Gulf, other investors demand returns which far exceed the realities of the markets, fund managers complain.

“Investors still have huge return expectations. Beating the benchmark is not enough for them. Many actually feel that they can perform better than fund managers by investing directly into stocks,” said Shuaa’s Bargouti.

An example of this approach is the Saudi Arabian stock market, where at least twothirds of the trading is estimated to be done by individuals, many of them investing for the short term, rather than institutions.

The main difficulty, however, is with regulations; multiple rules across different national jurisdictions, and inconsistent enforcement, make it expensive and timeconsuming for fund managers to operate.

“The biggest reason why the asset management business has not developed within the region is a lack of unified regulation across the MENA markets,” said Nisarg Trivedi, head of UAE sales and business development at Baring Asset Management, which runs a MENA-focused fund managing $10.2 million.

“There is still a lot of uncertainty in terms of what one can do and what they can’t in various markets, and that keeps most of the asset managers away from developing their business like our Asian peers.”

Governments are not unaware of the problems; authorities in countries including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are working to streamline regulation and protect investor rights. But there have been bureaucratic and administrative delays.

Fund managers see some glimmers of light on the horizon. One is the growth of the Gulf ’s bond market, particularly for Islamic bonds or sukuk.

“If you look at the last two years, the local bond market has been in the limelight.

A lot of MENA fixed income funds and sukuk funds have managed to raise a good amount of money, and at the same time deliver good returns to clients,” said Trivedi.

Another boost to the asset management industry could come from the eventual opening of the Saudi stock market, the Arab world’s biggest, to direct investment by foreign institutions. —Reuters

Ahli United Bank Kuwait posts KD10.9m profits in Q1 2013 Bank records 10.2% rise in profits KUWAIT: Ahli United Bank realized favorable profit levels during the first quarter of 2013, whereby the net profit realized amounted to KD10.9 million for the first quarter of 2013, an increase of 10.2% above the corresponding period of the previous year. These profits were realized from operating income of KD21.9 million, and the earning per share (EPS) reached 9.3 fils against 8.4 fils for the corresponding period of 2012. This reflects the strength of the bank financial position and its competence to continue realizing operating profits.

Commenting on the positive results the bank realized during the first quarter of 2013, the Chairman & Managing Director Hamad Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq of Ahli United Bank Kuwait (AUBK) said that by the grace of Allah, AUBK realized marked growth rates, whereas the total assets during the first quarter of 2013 amounted to KD2,818 million, i.e. a growth of 7%, compared to KD2,633 million as at 31 December 2012. Customer deposits grew by 1.23% to KD1,818 million at the end of the first quarter of 2013, compared to KD1,796 million as at 31 December 2012, stressing that these favorable results were the outgrowth of the prudent and diligent efforts expended by the bank management, the board of directors and the bank staff members who maintained the main distinctive success and stability characteristics of Ahli United Bank.

Al-Marzouq affirmed that the returns on investment deposits at AUBK during the first quarter of 2013 surpassed the returns on their peers in the market and signify the highest returns in the State of Kuwait, whereby the results of the bank activities during the first quarter of 2013 showed that profit rates on annual and semi-annual KD deposits reached 1.58% and 1.06% respectively. Meanwhile, annual return on saving deposits reached 1.05%. Al-Marzouq added that quarterly profits are calculated on deposits, and this secures to depositors their rights in the profits realized during the previous period (for each quarter independently) according to the results announced by the bank for these periods, thereby confirming the customer confidence in the bank, which will remain their safe haven.

Al-Marzouq highlighted that these distinctive results have been realized amidst tighter precautionary policy and the bank management resolve to apply the best corporate governance approaches and principles within an integrated system, a technique that underlines AUBK business course of action in the local and regional markets, which enabled the bank to stand up to the global financial crisis that affected the markets and cast adverse impacts on credit and financing. However, the prudent management of the bank succeeded to overcome these obstacles and to realize consecutive success for the third year since the bank conversion into Islamic banking on the first of April 2010. This reconfirms that the resolution for the bank conversion into Islamic bank was a carefully deliberate decision and was based on strong grounds of successful factors.

Al-Marzouq added that these profits were mainly attributable to the growth in performance in all sectors, driven by the diversified sources of income, activity expansion, distribution of risks, the enhanced interest to satisfy customers needs, and the innovation of many developed services and products, stressing that the next period will be fraught with challenges which will drive the Kuwaiti banking sector to the necessity to develop its instruments and products in light of the accelerated changes witnessed in the whole world.

Commendations from Moody’s Al-Marzouq said that AUBK Management is proud of the commendations and high ratings accorded by one of the global reputable rating agencies, indicating in this regard that the global rating agency Moody’s upgraded by one notch the long-term deposit rating to A2. Moody’s upgrade rating affirms to the bank’s strong and stable asset quality, capital and liquidity metrics. Furthermore, the rating upgrade reflects the stabilization of AUBK’s Islamic franchise within the Kuwaiti market.

Saudi drops on global Outlook; Kuwait rises MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s bourse dropped for a fifth straight session as a further fall in oil prices and weak global markets weighed on shares. Insurance stocks slumped as the financial regulator probed possible market manipulation, according to traders.

Brent crude slid towards $99 per barrel yesterday because of the prospect of sluggish fuel demand in the United States and China, and rising stockpiles of US crude. This hurt petrochemical shares; Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) dropped 1.4 percent, dragging down the main index, which was 0.5 percent lower yesterday.

The insurance sector’s index sank 5.2 percent after the Capital Market Authority launched a probe into potential market manipulation by some investors, traders said. Insurance stocks are a favorite target of shorter-term speculation; there was no immediate comment from the CMA. “A CMA inspection into illegal trading caused a

deep correction in speculative stocks,” said Mohammad Omran, an independent financial analyst based in Riyadh.

“The inspection rang a bell that there is a watchdog.” In Kuwait, the measure rose 0.6 percent to 7,086 points, a fresh 29-month high, as investors increased positions ahead of first-quarter earnings. The market resumed gains after a dip earlier this week when a prominent Kuwaiti opposition politician was sentenced to five years in jail.

“The market is oblivious to political instability and this is adding to the favorable sentiment, which should propel the market further towards the 7,500 level that many thought unattainable,” said Fouad Darwish, head of brokerage at Global Investment House.

In Dubai, the index snapped a threesession losing run, gaining 0.1 percent, as bargain-hunters returned ahead of first-quarter numbers. The market was led by budget carrier Air Arabia, which jumped 4.7 percent - its biggest one-

day hike since February 2012.

“What has surprised some of us is that there has been an increase in volumes earlier than thought - usually people price in Q1 earnings towards the end of April,” said an Abu Dhabibased trader who asked not to be identified.

Investors are betting on strong earnings growth, not just for the first quarter but for the year ahead, he added.

Most United Arab Emirates companies have yet to report their quarterly numbers.

Oman’s bourse dipped 0.1 percent as heavyweight Bank Muscat slumped 1.1 percent after posting a 25 percent drop in first-quarter earnings.

The bank was forced to take a one-off 15 million rial ($39 million) provision after suffering card fraud in February. Qatar’s exchange gained 0.5 percent, aided by gains in heavyweights Qatar National Bank and Industries Qatar, which rose 0.7 and 2.0 percent. — Reuters

Bank of America profits higher NEW YORK: Bank of America yesterday on reported a six-fold increase in first-quarter earnings even as it signaled that profits were constrained by the low interest rate environment.

The US banking giant said net income was $2.3 billion on revenues of $23.7 billion, compared with $328 million on revenues of $22.5 billion in the year-earlier quarter. The better results were driven in part by $1 billion less in expenses due to company efforts to

“streamline processes” and fewer costs related to service delinquent loans.

The company had about 16,000 fewer employees in March 2013, compared with the year-ago period.

Like other banks, Bank of America also gained on stronger credit quality as the housing market steadies. The company’s provision for credit losses fell to $1.7 billion, down from $2.4 billion in the year-ago period. Non-interest income increased $1.4 billion from

View of a Bank of America branch in New York’s Times Square. — AFP

the year-ago period, thanks to negative accounting adjustments on some liabilities of just $90 million compared with $3.3 billion in the year-ago period. But as with other banks, the bank felt some of the weight of lower interest rates, with revenue and net income lower for the consumer and business banking category.

Net interest income, a key earnings benchmark, fell $250 million from the year-ago quarter driven in part by the “continued low-rate environment.” The bank also reported lower revenues and profits in its consumer real estate services division due to lower mortgage banking income. Bank of America shares were off 2.6 percent in pre-market trading.

Executives said the bank was on track with previously-announced plans on dividends and share repurchases. “ There were many examples of progress this quarter,” said Chief Financial Officer Bruce Thompson. “We reduced non-interest expense by nearly $1 billion year-over-year, and credit costs continued to decline,” he said.

“Our relentless focus on capital, liquidity, and expense reduction enables us to be in position to return excess capital to investors through the previously announced common stock repurchase program and preferred stock redemptions.” — AFP

Chairman & Managing Director Hamad Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq Al-Marzouq pointed out also that Moody’s affirmed the AUBK ratings with stable outlook on all the ratings, supported by the strong essential elements which the bank enjoys. Al-Marzouq stressed that the bank still adheres to well established and diligent policies and distinguished management approaches. The bank, therefore, received impartial international accreditations which certify that the bank maintains firm position and future financial stability, quality assets, and stability in its profitability levels. Again, this proves that that bank has overrun the repercussion of the past period, and maintained the development of its assets, stressing that the Risk Management team at the bank are very highly qualified and perform their tasks on very professional scales. This helped us to enjoy distinctive and stable credit rating by the world rating agencies, and made the bank the optimum option for the public to deal with.

Al-Marzouq added that following the conversion of the bank into an Islamic bank exercising its business in conformity with Islamic Sharia, the bank runs its business on full-fledged scale and offers a package of miscellaneous Islamic banking service which consider the maintenance of privileges of customer accounts, as well as the upgrade of customer services. In the meantime, the bank persists to exercise its activities and services rendered to customers to secure the best interests to them, and these services received considerable satisfaction by customers.

On the financial statements during the present year and the forecasts on the profitability, Mr. Al-Marzouq said, “Our bank will, in sha’a Allah, realize further achievements during the current year, specifically with the imminence of the economic boom and the symptoms of the recovery of the global economy, whereas AUBK rose as one of the promising Islamic banks within a group of integrated banking groups, and attains marked regional position whose deliverables, strength and high adequacy are derived from its deep-rooted history that goes back to 71 years ago.

In conclusion of his press release, Al-Marzouq thanked the bank customers and shareholders for the confidence they accorded in the bank and their continued support to the bank which enabled it to realize these results. He thanked also the bank management and its staff members for their dedication, loyalty and diligence, hoping for further success and growth in the coming years.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

BUSINESS

Brent drops below $99; demand worries persist LONDON: Brent crude fell below $99 per barrel yesterday, weighed by the prospect of sluggish fuel demand in top consumers the United States and China and rising stockpiles of US crude. More bleak economic news came courtesy of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which trimmed projections for this year and next - implying limited upside for oil demand growth.

The North Sea benchmark has lost nearly 6 percent over the past five sessions in a wider commodities rout triggered by data showing growth in China, the world’s second largest oil burner, had slowed unexpectedly in the first three months of 2013. Gold later edged back, although other metals such as copper continued to decline. “At the moment the oil com-

plex is in a technical downtrend with the fundamentals being driven by a deteriorating demand projection in a robust supply environment,” said Dominick Chirichella of Energy Management Institute. The head of the International Energy Agency, Maria van der Hoeven, said the oil price decline was proof that the market was adequately supplied.

Brent crude shed $1 to $98.91 by 1200 GMT, after sinking earlier to $98.80, the weakest since July 2012.

US crude slipped $1.29 to $88.43. “For now there is no immediate reason - other than short covering - to suggest that oil prices are ready for strong move to the upside,” said Chirichella. While further weakness in Brent crude cannot be ruled out, oil prices are unlikely to fall below the $100 a barrel mark past the

second quarter, Barclays said in a note on Tuesday.

A pick-up in hedging activity from consumers who have been waiting on the sidelines for better entry points for their hedging programs could help support prices, it added. “The second layer of support is likely to come through market expectations surrounding comfort levels for OPEC producers to continue producing above their target, below the $100/bbl, which they have lately mentioned as appropriate for both consumers and producers,” according to Barclays. Data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed total weekly US crude stocks dropped by 6.7 million barrels, in contrast to a Reuters survey in which analysts forecast a rise of 1.3 million. — Reuters

JAKARTA: Workers unload tons of rice in sacks at a wholesale rice market in Jakarta yesterday. Indonesian inflation accelerated to 5.90 percent year-on-year in March, surpassing the upper limit of the central bank’s target range due to an increase in food prices, official data showed early this month. — AFP

Euro market plunge tests carmakers’ endurance PARIS: PSA Peugeot Citroen and Toyota led European car sales 10.3 percent lower in March, as an unrelenting market contraction spreads to the region’s more prosperous north, unnerving automakers.

Registrations dropped to 1.35 million cars last month from 1.5 million a year earlier, the Association of European Carmakers said yesterday. That completed a near 10 percent decline for the first quarter that has prompted industry bosses to trim their 2013 sales outlooks and prepare the ground for possible profit warnings.

Defying earlier industry predictions of a second-half rebound, European car sales are headed for a sixth straight annual decline to a two-decade low, threatening to undermine the best-laid turnaround plans and survival strategies.

While France’s Peugeot was among March’s biggest casualties, with a further 16.3 percent sales slump it can ill afford, European No 1 Volkswagen AG posted a 15 percent year-on-year decline for its namesake brand as the German market shrank even more sharply. Domestic sales are “still a critical driver of German (carmaker) earnings and the current trend is quite disturbing”, Bernstein analyst Max Warburton said in a note to clients this week. “The risk is that Europe remains structurally very weak for many years.”

It is a worrying prospect, and not just for Peugeot - which is cutting 8,000 jobs and a domestic plant to stay afloat. Chief Executive Philippe Varin says the outlook has worsened since the company forecast a European market decline this year of between 3 and 5 percent. Ford Motor Co, also scrapping European plants and thousands of jobs, lost more ground as its sales tumbled 15.9 percent in March, eroding its quarterly market share to 7.3 percent from 8.2 percent. Ford emphasized an increase in consumer market share as it reins in lossmaking fleet sales to businesses, but said the euro zone’s worsening conditions and unemployment were a serious concern.

“There was a lot of hope that the second half would start to see some gradual

improvement,” Ford of Europe President Stephen Odell told Reuters Insider TV yesterday. “But with unemployment at 12 million in the euro area, it doesn’t feel like we’re going to see that just for a while.”

Asked whether Ford was considering more cutbacks, Odell said the US carmaker had “nothing new to announce” at this stage.

Daimler AG has also cautioned it may have to trim profit expectations, even after its Mercedes-Benz cars have gained on BMW and VW’s Audi so far this year.

Mercedes sales bucked the market decline with a 0.8 percent monthly gain, while the BMW brand fell 4.5 percent and Audi dropped 8.6 percent. Fiat SpA also put up resistance with a modest 1.2 percent slide in group sales. Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne has warned that its loss-making European operations, may be further weakened by a drawn-out slump. Fiat and Peugeot have been among the carmakers most exposed to a demand collapse that began in recession-hit southern Europe and is now gaining a firmer hold in Germany and other countries in the region’s more prosperous north. Toyota’s 16.6 percent registrations decline in March compared with a year ago was worsened by a bigger drop in sales of its upmarket Lexus models. With no end to the decline in sight, cut-throat price competition can only toughen, piling up more losses for automakers in the region.

Average retail sales incentives in the top five markets - Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Spain - rose 13 percent to almost 2,400 euro’s ($3,200) per vehicle among volume automakers in January-February, according to industry data seen by Reuters. South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co, among the biggest mass-market gainers last year, sounded a cautionary note even after lifting its combined market share with affiliate Kia Motors Corp by another half-point to 6.2 percent in the first quarter. Hyundai is sticking to a more modest 2013 goal of defending its existing share of European sales, the brand’s regional boss, Allan Rushforth, said in a statement. — Reuters

Russia’s growth slows drastically in Q1 MOSCOW: Russia reported a sharp slowdown in growth yesterday over the first three months of the year to 1.1 percent from 4.9 percent in the same period of 2012. Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Klepach said the estimate came in after downward revisions for the figures for January and February-a month in which the economy contracted by 0.4 percent. But he added that a stronger March helped Russia’s overall performance in the first quarter. “By our estimate, GDP grew in March by 2.3 percent in annual terms, and we confirm our estimate of 1.1 percent for the first quarter,” the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Klepach as saying.

The estimate was released a week after Russia slashed its 2013 growth forecast to 2.4 from 3.6 percent due to a slowdown in both industrial output and consumer demand. Klepach spoke at the same time as Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was delivering an economic performance review before the lower house of parliament. Medvedev told deputies that Russia’s slowdown was caused in large part by poor economic performance among its main trading partners abroad. “The first months of the year show that the global trend toward slower growth remains in place,” Medvedev said in a speech lasting nearly two hours. “There are serious risks here.”

President Vladimir Putin-whose strong popularity ratings come from the prosperity brought by years of high prices for Russia’s energy exports-himself admitted on Monday that the world economy was in “crisis”. He then instructed Medvedev to quickly assemble a meeting of ministers and Kremlin officials that could devise a strategy for pulling the country out of its economic malaise. Medvedev said yesterday that the government already had a proper strategy in place. “The government has its own vision of what must be done,” he said. “But these measures must be discussed in detail with the experts and the deputies.”

Economists also called Russia’s economic performance worrying. “With growth easing in most trading partners, the fact that Russia has slowed is not surprising. But the magnitude of the slowdown is becoming increasingly worrying,” the London-based Capital Economics consultancy said in a research note. It also noted that the slowdown actually began in the second half of last year after impressive growth figures for the first six months of more than four percent. “Russia’s slowdown at the end of last year was driven by a combination of a slump in investment, a deceleration in consumer spending growth and the end of the inventory restocking cycle,” it noted. — AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

BUSINESS

Mercedes-Benz Kuwait digital portal is live Supported by iOS, Android and Windows KUWAIT: A R Albisher and Z Alkazemi Co the exclusive general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Kuwait - has launched a digital web portal exclusively for its customers in Kuwait. A service like no other, the latest technology connects MercedesBenz Kuwait with its customers, providing yet another channel of communication and customer service convenience.

“The portal is another service we are eager for our customers to try. It’s an interactive space to connect with MercedesBenz and get a feel for some of our top of the range cars,” said Michael Ruehle, General Manager, Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Co. “Mercedes-Benz is world-renowned for its edge on technology and we are staying true to this by offering the best digital and social media services.”

The most important feature of the Mercedes-Benz portal is its accessibility through a variety of platforms - mainly iOS, Android and Windows - so customers can navigate via their PC, phone or tablet, at home or on the go. The portal is also built to grow - specifically to include additional

information, events and services exclusive for the Kuwaiti market.

The site will feature independent subportals for luxury Mercedes-Benz models, allowing customers to easily navigate through the main features of design, comfort, luxury and safety, as well as watch short videos. Customers are also able to book a Test drive, with an option to leave a comment and access the Mercedes-Benz Facebook page. The V8 biturbo ML 500 is the first to be showcased on the portal, allowing visitors to view the luxury German SUV’s seamless ability to match performance with sophistication, as well as book an first-hand experience with a test drive.

“We are always looking for new ways to bring better and more useful services to our clients,” added Ruehle. “The portal allows us to interact with our customers and get a feel for what they like best about our services and listen to any suggestions as we move forward. We are going beyond just selling cars, we are making the whole process of owning a Mercedes-Benz a meaningful and gratifying experience.”

France mulls spending cuts as fiscal targets slip Multi-year budget plan to bring structural surplus

Jaguar XJR unveiled at New York Auto Show • • • • •

A new Jaguar flagship sports saloon - the 550PS XJR - combines supercar performance and assertive looks with the high levels of luxury already associated with the XJ range With a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine delivering 550PS and 680Nm of torque, the XJR is the most focused, agile and responsive Jaguar XJ ever made The XJR is capable of sprinting from zero to 60mph in 4.4 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds) and on to an electronically limited top speed of 174mph (280km/h) An eight-speed automatic transmission, with a bespoke tuning for the XJR, enables optimal acceleration throughout the speed and rev ranges while still maintaining a composed character for urban driving conditions A new front splitter and aerodynamic sill section combined with an additional rear spoiler and unique ‘R’ bonnet louvres give the car optimum

levels of high speed stability and an assertive appearance on the road Electronic Active Differential and Dynamic Stability Control systems have been calibrated to enhance handling characteristics, allowing the driver to fully exploit the XJR’s true performance capability New 20-inch ‘Farallon’ forged alloy wheels are shod with bespoke low-profile tyres to maximise grip and lend the car a dynamic, muscular stance Exclusive interior materials, including semi-aniline leather, a choice of veneers and contrasting stitching on the seats, bolster the XJR’s dynamic intent “The new XJR epitomises the three pillars of technology, performance and seductive design which the Jaguar brand stands for in the twenty-first century, while delivering new levels of dynamic ability in a luxury saloon,” says Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar.

• • •

PARIS: The French government said yesterday it would have a higher-than-planned public debt and deficit throughout its mandate but hoped to appease EU partners with spending cuts that will bring the underlying budget to surplus in 2016. Paris is battling to persuade the European Commission and euro zone leaders to grant it more time to knock its finances into shape after it conceded earlier this year it would break a pledge to cut its deficit to 3 percent of output in 2013.

In a new set of projections taking account of its weakening economy, the government set its headline public deficit target for 2017, at the end of its five-year term, at 0.7 percent of output, up from an earlier goal of 0.3 percent. But at the structural level - a measure that strips out the impact of the economic cycle and which the European Commission has said is valid - the plan envisages a budget surplus of 0.2 percent of output in 2016 and 0.5 percent in 2017.

The already unpopular government, which fleshed out yesterday plans for 6 billion euros in extra taxes and 14 billion in spending cuts for 2014, says imposing harsher measures on the stagnating economy would be counter-productive. It plans no further tax increases from 2015 onwards, meaning the fiscal tightening will hinge on cutting spending.

“We are sticking completely to our plan, which is indeed aimed at cutting the deficit ... but which is above all an effort to put the country back on its feet, to restore competitiveness, growth and jobs,” Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said after presenting the projections to cabinet.

President Francois Hollande’s government has pruned back its shorter-term forecasts to reflect a more pessimistic growth outlook.

But with consumer spending drying up and company investment stalled, many see even the weaker growth goals as optimistic, casting some doubt on the new deficit targets.

The budget plan, presented at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, will be sent

would allow the public deficit to be cut to 2.9 percent of output next year.

The growth forecasts have been questioned however both by the International Monetary Fund and a new French high council for public finances, with the IMF forecasting Tuesday that the French economy would contract by 0.1 percent this year before expanding by a slight 0.3 percent in 2014.

France was initially to have cut the deficit to 3.0 percent of gross domestic product already this year, but has asked for more time owing to weak growth which has pushed the revised estimated 2013 figure up to 3.7 percent of GDP. Under EU rules, euro-zone members are expected to run public deficits of no more than 3.0 percent of GDP, and to work towards a balance, or even a surplus in times of economic growth. Merkel has campaigned against deficit spending as a way of stimulating growth, arguing it laid the foundation for the EU’s crippling debt crisis.

ahead with reforms to boost its competitiveness. The Commission said in February it could be lenient if the economic outlook worsened, as is the case, and if Paris sufficiently cut its structural deficit.

Asked about Wednesday’s data during a news conference in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose lenience is particularly sought by Paris, said she wished France success because of its importance for euro-zone stability.

The new plan also showed that France’s public debt will peak a year later than first planned, in 2014. It will reach 94.3 percent of GDP in 2014 from a previous 90.5 percent target before starting to fall in 2015.

Still, government bond yields have so far been unharmed by the state’s fiscal troubles and are at record lows, with Paris attracting yield-hungry investors looking for more safety than in the euro zone periphery. — Reuters

PARIS: France’s president Francois Hollande (second right), France’s Ecology minister Delphine Batho (right), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) General Secretary Angel Gurria (second left) and GDF Suez CEO Gerard Mestrallet (left) pose prior to attend the New World Forum yesterday. — AFP

Daimler makes $2.9bn on sale of EADS stake

Merkel wishes France success on cutting deficit BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday wished France success with a new plan to get its public deficit back under the EU limit of 3.0 percent of output by 2014.

“We wish France success because France is key to the euro-zone as a whole and we will stand by it on the reforms it has planned or undertaken,” she told reporters in Berlin.

France said earlier yesterday that it aimed to get its public deficit back under the EU limit by 2014, a year later than expected, having decided to let debt grow further as it tries to jumpstart a sputtering economy. The plan to bring the deficit below 3.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) is based on a broad effort that includes higher taxes along with savings within the social security system.

The program was released by the finance ministry and based on what the government termed a “realistic” economic growth forecast of 0.1 percent this year and 1.2 percent in 2014, which it maintained

to parliament next week and then reviewed by the European Commission at the end of May. The budget plan will be crucial in persuading France’s euro zone partners to grant it more time to meet the 3 percent target, while debt-holders are watching for signs of more slippage on budget and growth estimates.

The government is basing its new fiscal plan on growth forecasts of 0.1 percent this year, 1.2 percent next year and 2 percent on average in 2015-2017.

However, the International Monetary Fund sees France contracting by 0.1 percent this year and economists polled by Reuters see a slightly deeper recession that would push the 2013 public deficit to 3.8 percent of GDP. The European Commission, which will publish its own updated economic forecasts early May, did not comment yesterday’s plan beyond stressing that France must push

She told reporters after talks with Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip that only budgetary discipline allowed for sustainable economic expansion.

“We talk about austerity-that is the new word that gets used a lot-but forget to talk about paying back these debts,” she said.

“We talk instead about how much more money we can spend every year than we take in. “Word has got around that we can do that without thinking and in the long run of course that’s not going to go well, at least I can say that for Germany,” she said, noting the country’s ageing population and the debt burden for future generations.

She singled out Estonia’s compliance with EU budget rules for praise as Ansip defended her against European critics who accuse her of stifling growth.

“In my view Germany is doing what is expected of it (in the EU) and doing it very well,” he told a joint news conference, expressing “surprise” about the attacks on Merkel. — AFP

FRANKFURT: German automaker Daimler said yesterday it pocketed 2.2 billion euros ($2.9 billion) from the sale of its remaining 7.5-percent stake in the European aerospace and defense group EADS. “Daimler received gross proceeds of about 2.2 billion euros from the offering and, following the offering, does not hold any residual shares in EADS,” the group said in a statement. Shares in EADS soared by almost 4.0 percent in midday trades on the Paris stock exchange, while those in Daimler was sharply lower in Frankfurt.

As announced the day before, Daimler put up 61.1 million EADS shares for sale at 37 euros apiece.

EADS itself bought 16 million of the shares worth 600 million euros. “Demand from institutional investors was strong,” Daimler said. “We have concluded a very successful transaction, enabling us to fully participate in the positive development of the EADS share price,” said Daimler’s financial chief Bodo Uebber.

“The proceeds from this sale are contributing positively to our free cash flow this year and in addition to the earnings from our ongoing businesses, will also support our policy of stable dividends,” Uebber said.

Daimler was a founding member of EADS, but has decided to sell its stake as part of a broader overhaul of EADS’s shareholder structure, and to focus on the

automaker’s core activities.

It had already sold a stake of 7.5 percent in December for 1.66 billion euros. At an extraordinary meeting in Amsterdam last month, EADS shareholders approved sweeping reforms that weaken the influence of European governments and allow the aerospace giant to pursue its global ambitions unfettered.

Shareholders overwhelmingly adopted 15 proposed amendments in a major easing of state clout in the powerful group that controls the civilian airplane maker Airbus.They notably dissolved a complicated shareholders pact that gave EADS’s three founding states-France, Germany and Spain-veto rights on strategic decisions and rights to nominate board members.

On Monday, EADS announced it is in talks to buy 1.56 percent of its own shares from the French state for 478 million euros. EADS said that France had proposed a price of 37.35 euros per share, the same price EADS paid last week to acquire a stake of 1.61 percent from French media company Lagardere. In midday Paris trading, EADS shares jumped by 3.94 percent to 38.66 euros, while the CAC 40 index of blue-chip stocks was off by 1.68 percent overall. Daimler shares were 1.41 percent lower at 38.94 euros in Frankfurt, where the DAX 30 index was down by 1.63 percent. — AFP

China vows to boost consumption after growth dips BEIJING: China’s government yesterday promised steps to boost domestic consumption as a driver of the economy after growth dipped in the latest quarter.

A Cabinet statement also promised to guard against risks from rising local government debt, a factor that is causing growing concern about China’s finances. The statement promised changes in medical, pension and other policies but gave no other details. Analysts say higher outlays on social programs are required to free up household incomes for consumer spending if the ruling Communist Party is to achieve its goal of nurturing self-sustaining growth based on domestic consumption instead of trade and investment.

“The focus of the next phase” of economic management will include “actively expanding effective domestic demand,” the statement said. It said the meeting led by Premier Li Keqiang, who took office in March as China’s top economic official, concluded that first quarter growth was at a “reasonable level.” Growth suffered an unexpected decline to 7.7 percent in the first three months of the year from the previous quarter’s 7.9 percent.

That prompted some private sector economists to cut their growth forecasts for the full year but to still robust levels just under 8 percent. The World Bank reduced its growth outlook this week from 8.4 percent to 8.3 percent.

Analysts have warned China’s recovery is being propped up by bank lending and government-led investment, while consumer spending is growing more slowly than authorities want.

Growth in retail sales edged up in March to 12.6 percent from the 12.3 percent rate of the first two months of the year.

The global crisis and a slowdown in growth last year prompted Beijing to boost lending and government investment in public works, temporarily setting back its effort to rebalance the economy toward consumer spending.

Wednesday’s statement also promised to “guard against risks from local government debt” but gave no details what

Beijing will do. The rapid rise in government debt, driven in part by heavy spending mandated by Beijing as part of China’s multibillion-dollar stimulus in response to the 2008 crisis, has prompted concern about possible defaults and strain on the financial system.

Ratings agency Fitch cut its rating on China’s long-term local currency sovereign debt last week, citing potential financial risks due to rising debt.

Fitch said China’s total credit, including informal lending among private entrepreneurs, may have risen to the equivalent of 198 percent of gross domestic product in 2012 from 125 percent in 2008. — AP

RAJESH THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

BUSINESS

Zain Group holds extraordinary general assembly Company distributes KD195m in cash dividends KUWAIT: Zain Group held its postponed extraordinary general assembly yesterday at its corporate headquarters in Kuwait with a quorum of 72.27 percent of the total number of shareholders, sufficing the regulatory limit.

The assembly approved company’s request to authorize the Board of Directors to issue bonds and Sukuk not exceeding the maximum legally authorized in Kuwaiti Dinars or other currencies, as well as approving the amendment of the company’s capital taking into account changes to the employee stock option (ESOP).

Alghanim Industries becomes majority shareholder of Gulf Strategic Partners KUWAIT: Alghanim Industries is pleased to announce it has completed the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Gulf Strategic Partners WLL (GSP), a Bahrain-based company founded in 2004, providing specialized engineering services to the oil and gas and related industries.

Kutayba Y Alghanim, Chairman of Alghanim Industries, commenting on the acquisition, said: “The oil and gas sector is a core industry, which is crucial for the future progress and prosperity of the Gulf region.

Over the next five years we estimate that there will be over $200 billion (approx KD 57 billion) invested in the sector and Alghanim Industries plans to take an active lead in this as part of its own investment and growth strategy.”

Omar K Alghanim, Alghanim Industries’ Chief Executive Officer said: “Our investment in GSP provides an excellent growth platform for our oil and gas business and we are committed to developing the company as a part of our long-term business strategy.

GSP’s expertise strengthens Alghanim Industries’ skillbase and gives us a strong competitive advantage as we address new business opportunities in this important and rapidly expanding sector.”

Wayne Giles, CEO of GSP, announced, “We are delighted to become part of Alghanim Industries’ Oil and Gas Division, as this transaction firmly positions GSP to experience a new chapter of growth and expansion for our services throughout all our markets.

The management and team at GSP are very excited by this development and we look forward to the strength and support that a regional heavyweight such as Alghanim will bring to the success of GSP in the years ahead.”

As the newest member of the Alghanim Industries portfolio, GSP will continue to provide best-in-class services to its customers by expanding into new geographies, broadening its suite of services to meet customers’ requirements, and preparing to grow the company in support of upcoming projects.

GSP provides specialized pre-commissioning services to the power, water, petrochemical, oil & gas and other industrial sectors. The business is a regional leader in providing engineered industrial services across the GCC, MENA and Asia regions. The scope of services comprise pre-commissioning, shutdowns and operational cleaning to a wide-ranging client base that includes blue chip NOC’s, IOC’s and EPC contractors. Core services of the business include chemical cleaning, silent steam blowing, oil flushing, pipeline services, water-milling and decontamination. The philosophy of the team at GSP is to provide innovative solutions to client needs, driven by the best international technology, to minimize commissioning time, reduce plant downtime and maximize plant operational efficiency.

The company also provides marketing and aftermarket service support for a number of engineered products manufactured by strategic partners around the globe. The list of products continues to grow as GSP seeks to meet the requirements of its customers.

Alghanim Industries is one of the largest, privatelyowned companies in the Gulf region. Originally founded in 1932 by Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim in Kuwait, the company has since grown into a multi-billion dollar conglomerate, employing over 14,000 employees in 30 businesses, and operating in over 40 countries across Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Alghanim Industries is a market leader in almost every major sector of its operations. These sectors include engineering, retail, automotive sales and service, manufacture of insulation and pre-engineered building structures, logistics and warehousing, fast moving consumable goods, office automation, advertising, insurance, consumer credit and travel. This range of business activities has allowed it to develop long-standing relationships with more than 300 global brands, including household names such as AC Delco, American Express, Avis, British Airways, BP, Cathay Pacific, Daewoo, General Motors, Honda, SaintGobain, Toshiba and Whirlpool.

Last date to deposit or open Al-Danah account is April 30 KUWAIT: The countdown to the Al-Danah 2nd quarterly draw has begun and only 12 days are left for customers to increase their deposits or to open an Al-Danah account by 30 April, to enhance their chances of winning one of the major cash prizes of KD250,000, KD125,000 and KD25,000 in the second Al-Danah quarterly prize draw for 2013.

Opening Al-Danah account merely requires a minimum balance of KD 200 deposited in the account to allow active participation in the Al-Danah draws. Minors wishing to open an account require their parents or their legal guardian to open the account on their behalf. Customers are advised to maintain the minimum balance, allowing them to automatically enter the daily and quarterly draws, as well as the annual draw.

Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah 2013 draw lineup includes daily draws (2 winners per working day each receive KD1000), as well as two additional prizes per quarter. Al-Danah’s 2nd Quarterly draw will be held on 27 June (KD250,000, KD125,000, and KD25,000), 3rd Quarter - 26 September (KD500,000, KD125,000, and KD25,000) and the final draw held on 9 January, 2014 announcing winners of KD50,000, KD250,000 and the Al-Danah millionaire.

Zain also advises that commencing April 15, 2013, it started distributing approximately KD195 million ($685 million) in cash dividends through the Kuwait Clearing Company-reflecting 50fils per share to shareholders registered in the records of the company until the date of the General Assembly - which was approved when the company held its AGM on April 7, 2013.

Zain is continuously updating its database of shareholders, in coordination with the Kuwait Clearing Company with the aim of facilitating all forms of communications with all shareholders.

BMW Group in Kuwait posts 56% sales rise

Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive Sales team

KUWAI: Building on the BMW Group’s success globally and across the Middle East, sales for BMW and MINI have got off to an equally positive start in Kuwait with Alghanim & Sons Automotive announcing a 56 percent increase in quarter one sales for the two BMW Group brands compared to the same period in 2012.

The exclusive importer of BMW Group vehicles in Kuwait is the second best performing Middle East market after the UAE in terms of number of cars sold. The success signals the strength of the BMW and MINI brands and the continued demand for BMW Group cars in Kuwait.

Contributing to Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive’ solid performance was the BMW 6 Series with a 296 percent increase over the same January to March period in 2012. The first four-door coupÈ in the history of BMW, the all-new BMW 6 Series Gran CoupÈ was launched in Kuwait in May last year and since become a driving force behind the company’s positive sales achievements Other models that showed positive double digit sales increases included the company’s flagship BMW 7 Series (92 percent), the BMW 5 Series (66 percent) and the BMW 3 Series (30 percent).

Reaffirming its position as the fastest growing premium brand in the world as well as in the Middle East, MINI witnessed a 7 percent growth in Kuwait during the first three months of 2013. Sales were led by the MINI Cooper, while the MINI Countryman and MINI Coupe

were also strong contributors.

Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive is currently gearing up to welcome the seventh member of the MINI family the MINI Paceman, the world’s first Sports Activity CoupÈ. Additionally, the importer is building a dedicated MINI showroom due to be completed later this year.

The new showroom will comprise state of the art facilities aimed at delivering a broadened MINI experience.

Commenting on the company’s exceptional performance, Yousef Al-Qatami, General Manager, Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive, said: “Kuwait’s automotive industry continues to go from strength to strength. This robust growth combined with the launch of a number of beau-

• BMW 6 Series, 7 Series continue to drive business

• MINI’s popularity grows with 7% sales growth tifully-designed and technologically-advanced new and refined models last year, helped drive our 56 percent sales growth. Looking ahead of the rest of the year, we have some exciting new models to launch, that together with ongoing great customer service, makes us confident that we will continue to see strong growth.”

Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive showroom

Strong support from shareholders for board proposals at Nestle AGM VEVEY: 2,998 shareholders attended the Nestle S A annual general meeting yesterday in Lausanne. They represented 49.78 percent of the total capital and 70.64 percent of the shares entitled to vote. The annual report and the accounts were approved and the shareholders agreed to the release of the Board of Directors and the Management. The Nestle Compensation Report was accepted in a separate advisory vote, in line with the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance.

The shareholders further approved the proposed dividend of CHF 2.05 per share. All proposals of the Board of Directors were approved with strong majorities.

Shareholders re-elected Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Steven G Hoch, Titia de Lange and Jean-Pierre Roth to the Board, each for a further term of three years, and elected Eva Cheng as a new member of the Board for a three -year term. Cheng is the former Corporate Executive Vice President responsible for Greater China and Southeast Asia Region of Amway Corporation, a USbased global consumer product company. Andre Kudelski who had reached the end of his third term was not standing for re-election. The Board thanked him for his highly appreciated services provided to Nestle over the past twelve years.

At the meeting, Nestle Chairman Peter BrabeckLetmathe highlighted Nestle’s commitment to Switzerland: “Nestle’s production in Switzerland

accounts for roughly 5% of global turnover, of which nearly 80% is exported. Of our 339,000 employees worldwide, more than 10,000 are employed in Switzerland. This modest share should not belittle the fact that over the last ten years, we have created 3,500 jobs in Switzerland, at a time when employment in the food industry has been stagnant. We have invested significantly here in this country, more than CHF 3.2 billion over the last ten years. More than 60% of our worldwide R&D expenditure is in Switzerland.”

Brabeck-Letmathe’s address also touched on the “Minder Initiative”, adopted in March by the Swiss population. He said: “It is now crucial to respect the Swiss electorate’s decision and to find practical legislative solutions which safeguard the long-term attractiveness of Switzerland as a business location. The political and regulatory environment for publicly listed companies is becoming more difficult in this country. We must find a new consensus between the economy, politics and society. Efforts need to be made on all sides to deepen mutual understanding and to find the right balance.

Nestle wants to stay in Switzerland. Nestle - the management and the employees - want to continue to feel welcome in this country and contribute to its success story, not only today, but also in the future.”

Furthermore, Brabeck-Letmathe addressed the new societal challenges the food industry as a whole is faced

with. He pointed out that, with its long-term orientation to be the leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company, Nestle is uniquely positioned to make a positive contribution to meeting the nutrition and health challenges a growing and ageing population is facing.

After reviewing the Group’s 2012 results, Nestle CEO Paul Bulcke again underlined Nestle’s ambition to be the recognized leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness: “Nutrition is at the heart of Nestle. We want to offer our consumers tastier and healthier food and beverage choices, and this at all stages of their life and at any time of the day. In this way, we help consumers care for themselves and their families, everywhere in the world.

This is the foundation of our promise ‘Good Food, Good Life’, which puts nutrition at the centre of everything we do. It is this strategy that differentiates us from our competitors, that differentiates our brands. It is this strategy that creates value for our consumers, that creates value for society, that creates value for our Company.”

For the year to come, the Board and its different Committees will be composed as follows: Board of Directors Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Paul Bulcke, Andreas Koopmann, Rolf Hanggi, Beat Hess, Daniel Borel, JeanPierre Meyers, Steven G Hoch, Naina Lal Kidwai, Titia de Lange, Jean-Pierre Roth, Ann M Veneman, Henri de Castries, Eva Cheng.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

technology

Oracle fixes 42 holes in Java to revive security confidence SAN FRANCISCO: Oracle Corp released a major security update on Tuesday for the version of Java programming language that runs inside Web browsers to make it a less popular target for hackers.

The patch fixes 42 vulnerabilities within Java, including “the vast majority” of those that have been rated as the most critical, said Oracle Executive Vice President Hasan Rizvi.

A series of big security flaws in the Java plug-in for browsers have been uncovered in the past year by researchers and hackers, and some have been used by criminal groups before

previous patches were issued.

One widespread hacking campaign disclosed this year infected computers using Microsoft Corp’s Windows and Apple software inside hundreds of companies, including Facebook, Apple Inc and Twitter.

The situation grew so bad earlier this year that the US Depar tment of Homeland Security recommended that computer users disable Java in the browser. But many large companies use internal software that relies on Java and have been pressing Oracle to make the language safer.

Perhaps the most significant change

will be that, in the default setting, sites will not be able to force the small programs known as Java applets to run in the browser unless they have been digitally signed. Users can override that only if they click to acknowledge the risk, Rizvi said.

Not all known problems are being fixed with the current patch, but there are no unpatched problems that are being actively exploited, Rizvi said.

Primarily a database software and applications company, Oracle inherited Java when it bought Sun Microsystems in 2010. It is the company’s greatest exposure to the mass market, as ver-

sions of Java run on desktops, in telephones and other devices and on servers.

The browser version, however, has been especially prone to security problems.

Last year, Java surpassed Adobe Systems Inc’s Reader software as the most frequently attacked piece of software, according to security software maker Kaspersky Lab. Java was the vehicle for 50 percent of all cyber attacks last year in which hackers broke into computers by exploiting software bugs, according to Kaspersky.

That was followed by Adobe Reader,

which was involved in 28 percent of all incidents. Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer were involved in about 3 percent of incidents, according to the survey.

Although no high-profile Oracle customers have publicly threatened to desert the company over security issues, Rizvi acknowledge widespread concern.

“It was pretty embarrassing what happened with the Facebook attacks,” said IDC analyst Al Hilwa.

“It’s a fight for the Java plug-in’s life.

Either a lot of companies are going to turn these off, or they are going to have their confidence restored.” —Reuters

Taiwan tech industry faces up to Samsung Samsung out to crush Taiwan’s technology industry TAIPEI: Taiwanese companies have long viewed tech giant Samsung as a major threat and the battle has recently appeared to tilt in favor of the South Korean rival as Taiwan’s smartphone, memory chip and display panel makers suffered sagging exports.

The sales erosion has been driven by competition, some of it from South Korea, and a weak global economy but has also spawned fears on this export-reliant island of 23 million that Samsung has deliberately targeted Taiwanese firms as part of a campaign to undermine their competitiveness in markets around the world.

Business Today, Taiwan’s top business magazine, gave voice to those fears last month with an extensive cover story accusing Samsung Electronics of launching a “Kill Taiwan” effort and targeting some of the island’s leading high-tech companies including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world’s largest contract chip maker.

Adding fuel to the fire, Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission recently launched an investigation into allegations that Samsung planted unflattering comments about Taiwanese consumer electronics on the Internet as a way of undermining their appeal to customers.

While Taiwanese companies are facing a challenge from Samsung, industry analysts such as John Brebeck, a Taipei-based adviser with technology

innovative to avoid the downward spiral of famous Japanese companies such as Sony Corp which were outrun by competitors including Samsung. Taiwan’s high tech exports totaled $98 billion last year, accounting for about 20 percent of the island’s GDP. Fearing they will lose more ground, a number of Taiwanese manufacturers are carving out alliances with high-tech companies in Japan and the United States that are also facing off against Samsung, in an effort to safeguard market share and give a boost to Taiwan’s economy. A noted and longtime Taiwanese collaborator is Apple Inc, which was replaced last year

by Samsung as the top smartphone maker in the world.

For its part, the Taiwan government is pressing the island’s tech companies to work more closely with local component suppliers in an effort to achieve the kind of business integration that has helped to make Samsung such a formidable rival.

“We hope the tech companies can work together with their suppliers during the early product developing process, rather than wait till the new components are developed,” said Stephen Su, a marketing analyst with Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute, a state-funded institute that develops cutting-edge technologies and transfers them to the private sector.

Su said a major pilot project in the integration

TAIPEI: In this April 10, 2013 photo, a saleswoman displays new Samsung smartphones at a retail shop in Taipei, Taiwan. Taiwanese companies have long viewed tech giant Samsung as a major threat and the battle has recently appeared to tilt in favor of the South Korean rival as Taiwan’s smartphone, memory chip and display panel makers suffered sagging exports. —AP development firm Quantum International Corp, says perceptions here that the South Korean company is setting out to crush Taiwan’s lucrative technology industry miss the point.

Samsung is trying to make inroads in specific areas where it sees a big profit potential and these areas are also where Taiwanese companies have a major stake, he said. “It’s not Taiwan as much as it’s industry sectors that’s motivating Samsung.”

Samsung Electronics spokeswoman Jee HaeRyoung said business strategies like “Kill Taiwan” do not exist at Samsung.

That’s all little comfort for Taiwan’s technology industry, which knows it must remain nimble and

effort involves smartphone maker HTC Corp, which is trying to use processors made by local chip designers in its new handsets.

Until last year, HTC was a top global smartphone maker, cashing in on its status as the first company to make handsets using Google’s Android operation system. Now, however, it is struggling as Samsung and Apple smartphones dominate.

Aside from smartphones, another emerging battlefield in the Taiwan-Samsung rivalry is the semiconductor industry, long a Taiwanese stronghold. With its seemingly unlimited supply of capital, Samsung has deftly moved from making memory chips that store data to more profitable logic chips that run as the

brain of computers.

It is also ramping up its expansion into the foundry business that fabricates chips, posing a direct challenge to TSMC, which provides application chips to companies such as Apple and Qualcomm Inc. TSMC founder Morris Chang has called Samsung a “formidable rival” but says his company is well prepared to meet the challenge.

In the past year, TSMC has significantly increased its capital spending to move more aggressively into the cutting-edge technologies of 20 and 16 nanometers that can make smaller chips which run faster at lower power.

The new technologies will enable TSMC to make the application processors that will run new iPhones and iPads. Apple currently gets such chips from its smartphone and tablet rival Samsung. But analysts say that Apple’s transition will be complicated, because Samsung is involved in part of the processors’ design, in addition to fabricating the wafers that foundries normally handle.

“Apple has been waiting until TSMC is ready and able to catch up,” said Brebeck. “They are willing to wait because they want to get away from Samsung.

TSMC understands it and is clearly moving rapidly in this direction.”

Apart from the new processors, TSMC has - as of now - a clear edge in its foundry business with a wellestablished customer base.

Nicholas Chen, an attorney who advises many Taiwanese tech firms, said global companies such as Apple may not trust Samsung as a chip supplier for fear the Korean giant could steal their designs when making its own products.

TSMC’s advantage, he said, is that it is a pure foundry that does not make chips under its own brand and is known to be “proactively disciplined on protecting trade secrets.”

“If somebody is committed to this in this industry, they are clearly the example,” Chen said.

Aside from TSMC, another Taiwanese tech company under serious threat from Samsung is Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., also known as Foxconn, which makes gadgets for global clients, including Apple iPhones and iPads, at its massive plants on mainland China.

One of Hon Hai’s problems involves its acquisition of Chimei Innolux Corp, a display panel maker. Since the deal was completed three years ago, Chimei has suffered large losses. A major factor has been its inability to compete with Samsung’s substantial capital spending, and produce at a profit the energy saving Amoled advanced display panel, known for its superior picture quality.

In an apparent effort to address the problem, Hon Hai Chairman Terry Gou last year negotiated to acquire a 10 percent stake in Japan’s struggling Sharp Corp, the only major competitor to Samsung in display panels.

Apple was widely believed to be behind the Hon Hai move, reflecting its eagerness to find an alternative panel supplier to Samsung for iPhones, iPads and the future iTVs. But the Hon Hai deal has been put on hold, apparently over Sharp’s refusal to involve Gou in its management, and in the meanwhile it sold 3 percent of the company to Samsung.

“Hon Hai is the biggest contract manufacturer, the most cost-efficient and successful,” said Brebeck. “If you take down that giant, you hit a bunch of Taiwanese firms, and you hit Apple too.”

Industrial Technology Research’s Su says that Samsung has the upper hand in attracting first rate talent, a crucial element in the continuing high-tech battle. —AP

Windows 8 making headway in Kuwait KUWAIT: While Windows XP is no longer the most used operating system on the planet - Windows 7 surpassed it last year - the upcoming April 2014 deadline to receive support for older Windows XP devices raises the question for many businesses of what to do with their older technology as they look to protect valuable IP and customer information.

Business and personal technology has dramatically changed over the last decade. PC desktops are now commonly found side by side with laptops, and newer form factors like Ultrabooks, All in Ones, and tablets. Writeable CDs are today replaced by cloud-based storage solutions like SkyDrive. Connectivity and accessibility once limited to offices is now possible at home, in the car or even on a beach. The newest version of Windows that Microsoft released this fall, Windows 8, reflects this evolution.

Ehab Mostafa, Country Manager, Microsoft Kuwait,said:” Windows 8 is quickly making headway being adopted across the corporate environment in Kuwait. The use of Windows XP is diminishing as corporations and people update their systems to the latest and best software available.”

As businesses evaluate their migration path from Windows XP, there are a few key questions to consider: What does support look like for the software

applications you need for work? As Windows XP goes off into the sunset, many of the applications that were originally written for it will cost extra in support costs -especially as independent software vendors increasingly stop supporting their newer apps running on Windows XP. This is one of the reasons why firms like IDC predict the longer businesses wait to move to Windows XP to Windows 7 or Windows 8, the pricier custom support for Windows XP gets.

What kinds of form factors do your employees need to be successful? With an ever-increasing lineup of Windows 8 form factors to choose from - from notebooks, tablets and All in Ones that use touch - you can replace older hardware with a newer Windows device that reflects the unique needs of your employees and how they prefer to work today.

How do you want to manage devices running on your corporate network?

Businesses in particular are feeling the most pressure to stay up-to-date, with an increasing need to protect their data and manage all their devices, all while ensuring security and compliance.

Companies such as BT PLC, Emirates Airlines, Seton Hall University and Toyota Racing Development moved from XP to Windows 7 and are now deploying Windows 8 because of how it reflects their needs today.

FoxConn to pay Microsoft royalties NEW YORK: Taiwan tech giant Hon Hai, parent company of FoxConn, will pay royalties to Microsoft to ward off a lawsuit over its production of devices using rival Google’s Android and Chrome platforms.

A Microsoft statement late on Tuesday did not reveal the amounts the US company will be paid however.

The licensing agreement protects Hon Hai from claims that the cell

phones and televisions it produces and which use Android and Chrome infringe on Microsoft’s patented technology.

The Taiwanese company is the world’s largest contract electronics maker and assembles products for Apple, Sony and Nokia, among others, in huge plants in China where it employs more than one million workers. —AFP

HP launches new class of server for social, mobile and cloud DUBAI: HP unveiled the world’s first commercially available HP Moonshot system at an event in Dubai. The new system delivers compelling new infrastructure economics by using up to 89 percent less energy, 80 percent less space and costing less than 77 percent compared to traditional servers.

Moonshot was launched at the “Road to Innovation 2013” event, held at Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

Today’s mega data centers are nearing a breaking point where further growth is restricted due to the current economics of traditional infrastructure.

HP Moonshot servers are a first step organizations can take to address these constraints.

“With nearly 10 billion devices connected to the Internet globally, and predictions for exponential growth in the Middle East, we’ve reached a point where the space, power and cost demands of traditional technology are no longer sustainable,” said Karam Jabi, Industry Standard Server Business Unit Manager, HP Middle East, HP Middle East. “HP Moonshot marks the beginning of a new style of IT that will change the infrastructure economics and lay the

foundation for the growth and development of the Middle East.

HP innovation delivers less energy use, less space, less cost HP has been the leader in defining next-generation com-

Karam Jabi puting platforms for decades.

More than 20 years ago, HP introduced the first successful commercial UNIX server, the HP9000 Series 840, as well as the first x86 server, the HP SystemPro. More than a decade later, HP was granted one of the first patents for

blade server architectures. The company hasremained the x86 server market leader for the last 16 years.

HP has continued to push the boundaries of technology and innovation by ushering in a paradigm shift that paved the way for the first “software defined” server that enables enterprises to optimize their servers based on specific workload needs. Built from HP’s industry-leading server intellectual property (IP) and 10 years of extensive research from HP Labs, the company’s central research arm, HP Moonshot delivers a significant improvementin energy, space, cost and simplicity.

The new HP Moonshot system is the second-generation server from HP’s Project Moonshot. This new class of server is engineered to address the IT challenges created by social, cloud, mobile and big data. HP Moonshot servers are built from chips more commonly found in smartphones and tablets, which allow the servers to deliver reduced energy use and a high-density footprint, all at a significantly lower cost.

The HP Moonshot platform consists of the HP Moonshot 1500 system and application-optimized HP ProLiant

Moonshot servers. These servers will offer processors from multiple HP partners, each targeting a specific workload.

With supportfor up to1,800 servers per rack, HP Moonshot servers occupy

Comparison football one-eighth of the space required by traditional servers. This offers a compelling solution to the problem of physical data center space. Each chassisshares traditional components includingthe fabric,HP Integrated Lights Out (iLo) management,power supply and cooling

fans. These shared components reduce complexity as well as add to the reduction in energy use and space.

The first HP ProLiantMoonshotserveris available with the Intel(r) Atom S1200 processor and supports web-hosting workloads. HP Moonshot 1500, a 4.3u server enclosure, is fully equipped with 45 Intel-based cartridges, one network switch and supporting components.

“We recognized several years ago the need for a new breed of high-density, energy-efficient servers and other datacenter equipment.” said Alexei Navolokin, Regional Market Development Director for the Middle East. “The Intel(r) Atom(tm) processor S1200 product family delivers the world’s first low-power, 64-bit serverclass system-on-chip (SoC) for high-density microservers.

The energy-sipping, industrialstrength microprocessor features essential capabilities to achieve server-class reliability, manageability and cost effectiveness. The data center continues to evolve into unique segments and both Intel and HP continue to be leaders in these transitions and today’s launch marks a new milestone in energy efficiency.”

A growing ecosystem of industry leading technology partners HP also announced a comprehensive roadmap of workload-optimized HP ProLiant Moonshot servers incorporating processors from a broad ecosystem of HP partners including AMD, Applied Micro, Calxeda, Intel and Texas Instruments Incorporated.

Scheduled to be released in the second half of 2013, the new HP ProLiantMoonshot servers willsupport emerging web, cloud and massive scale environments, as well as analytics and telecommunications.

Future serverswill be delivered for big data, high-performance computing, gaming, financial services, genomics, facial recognition, video analysis and other applications.

HP Information Technology has implemented HP Moonshot servers to support the hp.com environment, which receives approximately three million visits per day.

Concierge services for the new era of extreme scale computing HPalso introduced an enhanced partner program and new services that will accelerate the pace of innovation in this new class of server.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Obama ocean plan aims to protect economy, environment WASHINGTON: The White House released a plan aimed at protecting oceans, coastal and Great Lakes environments around the United States while safeguarding related businesses that support more than 44 million jobs.

The plan drew criticism from some Republican lawmakers who called it bureaucratic overreach but was lauded by environmental groups as smart management that supports economic development.

The National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan is meant to put into practice the National Ocean Policy, established by President Barack Obama in 2010. It will involve some 27 federal agencies, departments and offices, the White House Council

on Environmental Quality said a statement. “ Without creating any new regulations or authorities, the plan will ensure the many federal agencies involved in ocean management work together to reduce duplication and red tape and use taxpayer dollars more efficiently,” the council said. The plan aims to improve forecasting of ocean conditions, share data about severe storms and sea level changes, support regional marine planning and cut red tape in the federal permitting process for ocean-based industries.

Also addressed are ways to improve the ability to predict conditions in the Arctic as economic and other activity there increases.

Congressmen Doc Hastings of Washington state and Bill Flores of Texas, both Republicans, have criticized the ocean policy as creating more federal bureaucracy. Flores questioned the White House statement that no new regulations or authorities would be established, saying this was contrary to information presented in congressional hearings. “ Why are we doing this if it has not been requested by the stakeholder?” Flores told Reuters.

But California Representative Lois Capps, a Democrat, praised the plan as a “coordinated, national approach.” Sarah Chasis of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group, said the plan could foster a return to ocean

health, which would support businesses such as fishing, tourism and clean energy development.

Another group, the Center for Biological Diversity, said the plan falls short by failing to address carbon pollution that makes the oceans more acidic, affecting marine life.

The White House said maritime economic activities in 2010 contributed $258 billion in GDP to the national economy and supported 2.8 million jobs.

Because so many people live near U.S. coasts, though, a much larger 41 percent of GDP, or $6 trillion, was generated in coastal counties, supporting some 44 million jobs and $2.4 trillion in wages in 2010, the White House said. — Reuters

French executives on trial over faulty breast implants 5,000 women registered as plaintiffs in the case

SHANGHAI: This photo taken on April 16, 2013 shows a commuter wearing a facemask as the city protects itself against the H7N9 bird flu virus in the downtown area of Shanghai. China reported eight new human cases of H7N9 bird flu yesterday, all of them in critical condition, bringing the total number across the country to 71, state media said. — AFP

WHO says no poultry contact in some China bird flu cases GENEVA/BEIJING: The World Health Organization said yesterday that a number of people who have tested positive for a new strain of bird flu in China have had no history of contact with poultry, adding to the mystery about the virus that has killed 16 people to date.

WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl confirmed that “there are people who have no history of contact with poultry”, after a top Chinese scientist was quoted as saying that about 40 percent of those with the H7N9 virus had had no contact with fowl.

“This is one of the puzzles still (to) be solved and therefore argues for a wide investigation net,” Hartl said in emailed comments, though he added he did not know the exact percentage.

China has warned that the number of infections could rise from the current 77. The latest victims are from the commercial capital of Shanghai, where the majority of the cases have been found, the official Xinhua news agency said on Tuesday.

China reported three new outbreaks to the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) this week, bringing the total number of places to 11, the OIE said on its website. The exact source of infection remains unknown and no human-tohuman spread of the virus has been confirmed.

Samples have tested positive in some poultry markets that remain the focus of investigation by China and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Zeng Guang, the chief scientist in charge of epidemiology at the China Disease Prevention and Control Centre (CDPCC), said

about 40 percent of the victims had no clear history of poultry exposure, the Beijing News reported yesterday.

“How did these people get infected? It’s a mystery,” Zeng was quoted as saying. According to a Reuters analysis of the infections, based on state media reports, only 10 of the 77 cases as of Tuesday have had contact with poultry. The CDPCC declined to comment when asked by Reuters.

WHO said no H7N9 vaccine was currently being produced. “Such a decision will depend, for WHO’s part, on public health considerations,” it said. “We must see how H7N9 develops before any such decision is considered.” The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in early April it had started work on a vaccine just in case it was needed. China’s poultry sector has recorded losses of more than 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) since reports emerged of the new strain two weeks ago, an official at the country’s National Poultry Industry Association said on Tuesday.

Authorities have slaughtered thousands of birds and closed live poultry markets in Shanghai and Beijing in an attempt to reduce the rate of human infection.

An international team of flu experts will go to China this week to help with investigations into the virus, WHO said on Tuesday. China said on Sunday the virus had spread outside the Yangtze River delta region in eastern China, with cases reported in the capital Beijing and the central province of Henan. — Reuters

Orbital Sciences ready for launch of Antares rocket WASHINGTON: Orbital Sciences, one of two private US firms chosen by NASA to shuttle cargo to the International Space Station, prepared for the first launch of its Antares rocket yesterday. The launch over the Atlantic ocean was scheduled for 5 pm (2100 GMT) from the Wallops flight facility from an island off the coast of Virginia about 270 kilometers from Washington.

The two-stage launch vehicle, 131 feet (40 meters) tall and 12.8 feet (3.9 meters) in diameter, aimed to hit an orbit of 155 miles (250 kilometers) some ten minutes after take-off. Weather forecasts gave a 45 percent change of favorable conditions. As this was a test mission, Antares did transport the company’s Cygnus capsule but instead carried a simulation of an equivalent payload.

If the launch is a success, Virginiabased Orbital Sciences plans a demonstration run to the space station with the Cygnus capsule in three months, fol-

lowed by its first delivery mission before the end of the year. “We see this as a key milestone in proving what can be done in an industry-government partnership,” Mike Pinkston, the program manager for Antares at Orbital Sciences, said in a conference call yesterday.

The US space agency, in offering its expertise and equipment to partners in the private sector, aims to achieve “safe, reliable and cost-effective access to space and to low orbit and to the ISS in particular,” said Alan Lindenmoyer, manager of NASA’s commercial crew and cargo program. “We also recognize the need to create a market environment that will sustain these capabilities, and the ISS provides a perfect market for this new capability with reliable and predictable needs.” The $1.9 billion contract requires Orbital Sciences to deliver freight to the ISS over the course of eight flights by the beginning of 2016. Cygnus has a capacity of two tons. —AFP

World’s energy as dirty now as 20 years ago: IEA NEW DELHI: Progress towards the use of cleaner fuel technology has stalled, with production of the world’s energy as “dirty” now as it was two decades ago, the International Energy Agency said yesterday.

Two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy sector and the lack of change should “serve as a wake-up call”, the IEA’s executive director Maria van der Hoeven told a Clean Energy Ministerial meeting in New Delhi. She warned that with increases in wind and solar energy being offset by increased coal use in countries such as China and India, the world needed to act fast “to avoid a potentially catastrophic warming of the planet”.

“Despite much talk by world leaders and despite a boom in renewable energy over the last decade, the average unit of energy produced today is basically as dirty as it was 20 years ago,” Van der Hoeven said. “The drive to clean up the world’s energy system has stalled.” The Paris-based IEA has developed an Energy Sector Carbon Intensity Index, which indicates how much carbon dioxide is emit-

ted on average to provide a given unit of energy, she said.

The index for the world’s energy stood at 2.39 tonnes of carbon dioxide per tonne of oil equivalent in 1990 and had barely moved by 2010, holding at 2.37 per tonne of oil equivalent. While there has been investment in new forms of clean energy, such as solar or wind power, these benefits have been counter-balanced by the increasing use of carbon-intensive coal by rising economic powers such as China and India.

“Our analysis is stark reminder the world is not on track to realize the benefit of a lowcarbon energy system — to limit long-term temperature rises to two degrees centigrade,” the IEA head said. “We cannot afford another 20 years of listlessness,” she said, calling for a rapid expansion in low-carbon energy technologies. Clean energy investment fell to its lowest in four years in 2012, she said at the Clean Energy Ministerial which brought together 22 countries and the European Union that are responsible for 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. — AFP

MARSEILLE: France launched one its biggestever trials yesterday as five managers from company PIP faced charges of selling faulty breast implants that sparked a global health scare.

More than 5,000 women registered as plaintiffs in the case, which sees the defendants including PIP founder Jean-Claude Mas charged with aggravated fraud for using industrial-grade silicone in implants.

An estimated 300,000 women in 65 countries are believed to have received the implants, which some health authorities say are twice as likely to rupture as other brands.

The trial, which began around 0930 GMT yesterday, has been moved to a congress centre in the southern city of Marseille to accommodate the hundreds of plaintiffs and lawyers attending.

The defendants face up to five years in prison and the trial is set to last until May 17.

As the trial began, Mas was booed when he took to the stand to state his name and profession. He had earlier arrived, accompanied by his lawyer, Yves Haddad, who chided reporters for their treatment of his client, who will turn 74 next month. “Whatever happened, what you are doing to a 74-year-old man is not dignified,” he said. Hundreds of women who were given the faulty implants are expected to attend the trial in the 700-seat congress centre hall or three oth-

MARSEILLE: PIP founder Jean-Claude Mas is having a cigarette break yesterday outside a Marseille courtroom, on the first day of his trial with four others executives of breast implant company PIP. — AFP

MARSEILLE: Plaintiffs register as they arrive at the Parc Chanot temporary courthouse in Marseille, Southern France, to attend the trial of Jean-Claude Mas, who founded and ran breast implant-maker Poly Implant Prothese, yesterday. Hundreds of women who received faulty breast implants are gathering in the south of France to witness the fraud trial of five executives accused of using cheap industrial silicone to fill tens of thousands of implants around the world. — AP er rooms where more than 800 people will be able to watch video transmissions.

Angela Mauro, a 47-year-old plaintiff, said she hoped the court would treat the women with the same respect accorded other victims of medical malpractice.“I expect us to be considered as victims and not just as women who wanted implants,” said Mauro, whose implants ruptured twice, requiring her to interrupt work for treatments.

News of the faulty implants in 2011 sparked fears worldwide, but health officials in various countries have said they are not toxic and do not increase the risk of breast cancer. A 10-year case study has been launched in France to determine the long-term effects.

More than 4,000 women have reported ruptures and in France alone 15,000 have had the PIP implants replaced. Mas, a former travelling salesman who got his start in the medical business by selling pharmaceuticals, founded PIP in 1991 to take advantage of the booming market for cosmetic implants.

He built the company into the third-largest global supplier but came under the spotlight when plastic surgeons began reporting an unusual number of ruptures in his products.

Health authorities later discovered he was saving millions of euros by allegedly using

industrial-grade gel in 75 percent of the implants. PIP’s implants were banned and the company eventually liquidated.

PIP had exported more than 80 percent of its implants, with about half going to Latin America, about a third to other countries in western Europe, some 10 percent to eastern Europe and the rest to the Middle East and Asia. The others on trial with Mas are PIP’s former general manager, Claude Couty, quality control director Hannelore Font, technical director Loic Gossart and product director Thierry Brinon. Some of the defendants, including Mas, have also been charged in separate and ongoing manslaughter and financial fraud investigations into the scandal. The court began yesterday by studying a number of defense requests for the case to be thrown out, including one on the basis that this trial is going ahead before the other probes into more serious charges have concluded.

Some lawyers for the plaintiffs are also expected to request the case be expanded to include others they claim should be held responsible, such as plastic surgeons, public health authorities and a German safety standards firm that gave the implants the go-ahead.

A court source said the first two days of the trial are expected to be taken up with such requests. — AFP

FDA fell short in policing pharmacy WASHINGTON: House lawmakers said Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration had numerous opportunities over nearly a decade to stop he Massachusetts pharmacy responsible for a deadly meningitis outbreak that has killed more than 50 Americans.

Republicans and Democrats took turns chastising the FDA for not being aggressive enough in going after compounding pharmacies like the New England Compounding Center, the specialty pharmacy which produced tainted pain injections that have sickened more than 700 people and killed 53 others. In the second hearing on the outbreak, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg reiterated that her agency needs clearer authority to go after compounding pharmacies, which have challenged the FDA’s authority in court since the 1990s.

Hamburg said her agency is working to crack down on compounding pharmacies, despite legal challenges. “I wish we had been more aggressive, and I can assure you that we are being more aggressive now,” Hamburg told lawmakers.

The wave of fungal meningitis infections was first identified in September and grew into one of the deadliest medication-related outbreaks in US history. The NECC halted operations in October and faces over 100 lawsuits in federal court.

But more than half a year later, lawmakers in Washington continue to debate who should be held accountable for the outbreak and whether it could have been prevented.

Republicans said Tuesday that the FDA should have shut down the NECC based on complaints from doctors, patients, hospitals and state pharmacy regulators. The FDA first inspected the NECC in 2002 and issued a warning letter in 2006 over the pharmacy’s production of copies of manufactured drugs without patient prescriptions. Between 2007 and 2012 the FDA continued to receive complaints about the company from anonymous whistleblowers and state pharmacy regulators, according to internal documents released by the committee.

“Ten years of warning signs, alarm bells, and flashing red lights were deliberately ignored,” said Rep Tim Murphy, R-Pa, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Murphy and other Republicans pointed to correspondence in thousands of pages of FDA documents turned over to the committee.

Democrats agreed that the FDA should have been more aggressive, but also supported the agency’s argument that outdated laws and conflicting court decisions have hamstrung federal efforts at policing pharmacies.

“These documents show us that the FDA has been grappling with a law that is broken, and we need to help fix that law and keep the American public safe,” said Rep Diana Degette, D-Colo, the subcommittee’s ranking member.

Compounding pharmacies mix customized medications based on doctors’ prescriptions, and have traditionally been overseen by state pharmacy boards. But in recent years, the FDA has tried to police larger compounders like the NECC, which operate more like manufacturers by mass producing drugs and shipping them across state lines.

Last week the FDA completed a wave of inspections targeting about 30 compounding pharmacies with a history of complaints or problems.

Inspectors reported finding a host of potential safety hazards, including rust and mold in supposedly sterile rooms.

Republicans charged that this “flurry of wellpublicized activity” only proves that FDA has the

ability to shut down pharmacies like the NECC. “No law has changed. The only change is the FDA decided to act,” Murphy said.

Republicans pressured Hamburg to explain a 2011 FDA decision to suspend routine inspections of compounding pharmacies, including the NECC. Hamburg said agency lawyers recommended the halt in enforcement due to legal questions about the agency’s authority to police compounding pharmacies. Hamburg told lawmakers she was unaware of the policy at the time.

“I regret that I was not more fully aware,” Hamburg said. Congressional Democrats acknowledged that the FDA did not act quickly enough, but placed the blame on a complicated legal landscape. Rep Henry Waxman, D-Calif, and other Democrats said Congress should pass be working to clarify FDA’s authority.

An effort to draft new legislation on compounding pharmacies has made little headway in the House, which is controlled by Republicans.

However, Senate lawmakers are expected to introduce a bill in coming weeks that would subject large compounding pharmacies to new requirements, similar to large drug manufacturers. — AP

SINGAPORE: Three Zebra fish, which were injected with a green fluorescent protein gene from a jellyfish and a red gene from a sea anemone into its embryo, are seen glowing under ultraviolet light in Singapore, 24 May 2001. — AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Hassan’s Optician Co, visits Kuwait schools

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Greetings

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appy birthday to Eimilee Sara Ninan (Chickoo) who celebrates her birthday today. The wishes come from Appacha, Ammachy, Ammama, Appa, Amma, Ammuchechi, Achuchechi, Ammachan, Ammayi, Ruhaan & Vivaan, Uncle, Badi Bua, Kunjumanichechi & Kichu Achachan, Nebu Achachan, Bua & Kuttu, Josepaan & all friends.

Announcements Konkani musical show nited Friends Club - Kuwait presents Kuwait Trio’s Konkani Songit Sanz (a Konkani musical evening) with fun filled comedy and songs, starring: Gracy Rodrigues, Clemmie Pereira, Irene Vaz, Lucy Aranha, Espy Crasto, Bab. Agnel, Katty de Navelim, Salu Faleiro, Gasper Crasto, Braz de Parra, Anthony D’Silva, Agnelo Fernandes, Seby & Seby, Zeferino Mendes, Lopes Bros., Comedian Nelson, Laurente Pereira & Cajetan de Sanvordem-Michael D’Silva-Mario de Majorda (Kuwait Trio). The show will be held on Friday, 10th May 2013 at 4 pm at the Indian Community School (Senior), Salmiya, Kuwait. Music will be provided by Maestro Shahu.

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The Scientific Center he Kuwait Scientific Center celebrates the 13th anniversary of its opening on 18th April. Chairman and Managing Director Eng. Mijbel Sulaiman AlMuttawa said that the celebration includes a recreational program and it includes several games and competition programs and live exhibition for animal in the aquarium. Visitors will be given special prices with discount up to 50% for entering aquarium and discovery hall and Imax. Al-Mutawwa invited public to participate in the occasion and enjoy what the scientific center will provide.

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KALA-Balakalamela registeration alakalamela-2013, the art and cultural competition for Indian students in Kuwait, organized yearly by KALA-Kuwait is scheduled to be conducted on 3 May 2013 at Indian Public school, Salmiya. The completions are open for Indian students from Class 1 to 12 categorized as Sub Juniors (Class 1~4), Juniors (Class 5~8) and Seniors (9-12). The completions will be held for Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Folk Dance, Group Dance, Light Music, Classical Music, Fancy Dress, Elocution (English & Malayalam), Essay (English & Malayalam), Recitation (English & Malayalam) in 6 different stages in the venue. The registrations can be done through schools or directly through KALA web site ‘www.kalaonweb.com’ or directly handed over to any of the nearest KALA-units, or to sent to our e-mail ‘kalabalakalamela@gmail.com’ on or before 20 April 2013.

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AUK holds 9th annual career fair tudents at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) will have a fantastic opportunity to meet and speak with representatives from more than 25 reputed companies in Kuwait at the 9th Annual AUK Career Fair, organized by AUK Career Services and the Wellness Center of AUK. This event, exclusively for AUK students and graduates, is sponsored by the Platinum sponsors Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) and Gulf Bank, the Gold sponsors: KIPCO Asset Management, 4Fest and 4Films Printing Group, and Ahli United Bank; and the Silver sponsors Al-Homaizi Ltd. - IKEA, Hyundai Green Industries (HGI), United Real Estate Company, Al Ghanim Industries, and Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK). During the event, AUK students and graduates will have the opportunity to meet and speak with a variety of corporate representatives at this event, which will enable them to investigate their career paths. The event will be held on April 23rd 2013.

“Our students have great employment opportunities this year with leading companies in Kuwait. I hope this will provide them with a wide scope of prospects to develop their skills and achieve their career goals,” said Abir Itani, Career and Personal Counselor at the Career and Wellness Center at AUK.

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assan’s Optician Company began it’s visits to the schools of Kuwait in order to start implementing the optometry program for the Kuwaiti youth that is being held on the basis of it’s commitment to its social responsibilities. A delegation of administrators, doctors and Optometry technicians working in the company head to Hawally to the Intellectual Educational Rehabilitation School for Girls, part of the Special Educational Schools Administrations, where members of the school’s educational and administrative body led by the principal, Ms. Naeema Al Obeid welcomed them.

During their visit, Hassan’s Optician technicians and doctors examined and tested the young girl’s vision to make sure they don’t suffer from any optical problem or if they need to wear glasses and gave them certificates and gifts for having completed successfully the tests.

On this occasion, they declared: “The aim of our visit is to test the vision of the Kuwaiti youth in recognition of the continuous confidence Kuwait society grants for the multiple services of

Hassan’s Optician Company for over 62 years since we were the first company specialized in optometry and producing medical glasses to witness unprecedented progress. We make sure now we continue providing our services throughout our 40 branches scattered all around Kuwait and abroad along with our before and after selling services and our exclusive representation of International brands of Sunglasses, Spectacles and medical and cosmetic contact lenses.

The company owns a well-equipped, modern centralized laboratory in Kuwait, which is one of the best laboratories in the Middle -East region in addition to 3 other regional workshops in other areas of Kuwait.

It is worth mentioning that the company has received lately the quality certification, a certification awarded to companies that fulfill to a set of International standards in guiding and controlling the company such as “focusing on customer’s satisfaction, having effective leadership, co-operation among the employees, developing a mechanism for continuous improve-

ment and taking the best decisions at the best times”. All those standards have helped Hassan’s Optician Company reach its goal and attain success to become one of the pioneers in the Optical industry in Kuwait.

Thanks to its hard base on continuous

modernization program with innovative solutions for customers in the fields of Ophthalmic glasses, Sunglasses and Medical and Cosmetic Contact Lenses.

Hassan’s Optician feel proud in serving the residents of Kuwait for over six decades.

ICSK bids farewell to Archie, honors sports persons

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his holds true for one of the most dedicated ex-members of ICSK Board of Trustees, Archibald Menezes, former Vice-Chairman of the Board. A special farewell program was organized at the ICSK Senior Branch Auditorium on April 3, as Archie will soon be leaving Kuwait to settle in India.

His vision and guidance while he was the head of the Sports Committee of the ICSK Board led ICSK to an unmatched 11 consecutive victories at the CBSE Kuwait-Cluster Sports Meet. The event was also an occasion to felicitate the sports persons of ICSK and was attended by members of the Board of Trustees, principals and vice principals of ICSK, members of the Parent as Council and parents. Mrs Sonia Mehta, wife of late Abhay Mehta who was the ex-vice-chairman and the ex-treasurer of the board, was the guest of honour for the occasion.

The traditional lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries was followed by a welcome speech

by Vijay Karayil, Honorary Secretary of the

ICSK Board. Honorary Chairman, Ashok Kalra, in his presidential address, recognized the efforts of Archibald Menezes in inculcating the culture of sports in the student community of ICSK. Rajan Daniel, Honorary ViceChairman, in his speech, traced Archie’s rise within the Board from parent advisory member to the post of Vice-Chairman and highlighted Archie’s focus on encouraging the sportspersons of ICSK. Kalra, Rajan Daniel, Vijay Karayil, Honorary Treasurer Dinesh Kamath, Dr Kamlesh Kumari and Member of Council of Elders Kuldeep Singh Lamba presented a memento to Archibald. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Archie thanked the Board for their words of appreciation and hoped that the efforts at improving the quality of academics and sports would continue. He also hoped that ICSK would always set benchmarks in sports and academics in Kuwait.

The ICSK proudly recognized the basketball Under-19 team who won at the Kuwait-

Cluster meet and participated at the National Level athletics meet at Jaipur. The ICSK teams of volleyball, chess, swimming, badminton, table tennis and the most talented Athletic

Team who have made ICSK proud were also felicitated. The management, staff and students of ICSK wish Archibald Menezes, all the very best.

KBS presents Aladdin the musical

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uwait Bilingual School, Jahra presented Aladdin the musical on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. The 1hour production showcased the talent of grade 3-5 students in singing, acting dancing and proved the spirit of teamwork. 16 student-actors performed to the delight of parents, teachers and guests surprising everyone by their creative output. More than 30 students demonstrated their skills in physical movements, dance and in rendering their harmonious voice in the choir.

Produced by Norman H. Dennis and P Williams who have copyrights to this musical, the school production was coordinated by Lee Higginbottom assisted by Amna Al-Shammary. Mohammed Farouq and Desiree Pacifico were the choreographers. Jason De Roma was on light and sound while costumes and make-up were handled by Aliya and Shroukh. Ahmed Aref, Nawaf and Sunil gave technical assistance. Norman H Dennis who composed music and directed the drama helped many students to bring out their talents that were previously unearthed.

The cast: Aladdin: Abdulwahab Mamdouh (4C), Trader 1: Nashmi Ahmed (5C), Trader 2: Abdulrahman Mohammed

(5B), Trader 3: Yaqoob Yousef (5A), Gangster 1:Norhan Lafi (4B), Gangster 2: Hamad Nadi (5C), Gangster 1: Saud Abdulaziz (4B), Maid 1: Sara Mishal (5C), Maid 2: Noorhan Lafi (4A), Sultan: Khalaf Abdullatif (4A), Sultana: Ala Sultan (5A), Princess: Tamara Mubarak (5C), Omar: Waleed Khaled (5A), Mother of Aladdin: Maryam Aladdin (5C), Genie: Batel Abdullah (4B), Saadin: Fahad Ali (4C).

Choir & Dancers: Aishah Ahmad, Amna Khaled, Dima Abdulbasit, Fatimah Hammad, Ali Abdullah, Asma Aqeel, Fahad Mohammad, Hajar Hameed, Manal Mudhi, Mohammad Ali, Muneera Nayef, Sharifah Hamad, Abdulrahman Ahmad, Manar Mubarak, Mohammad Mubarak, Saleh Khaled, Al Jouri Juden, Alawatef Khald, Nawaf Salem, Saad Faisl, Salwa Ahamad, Bander Saleh, Salem Humoud, Turki Soud, Rahaf Mejbel, Jouri Mowafak, Faisal Khairallah, Aya Mubarak, Hussain Ghazi, Al Jowahara Saad, Gadna Mohammed, Ahmed Abdullah, Lulwa Batah, Farah Nadi, Moudi Hussain, Moon Mohammed, Reem Mamdouh, Fouz Ghaleb, Meteb Ahmed, Abdulwahab Talal, Bader Falah, Abdullah Sayer, Sultan Nawaf,

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Mohammed Nadir, Abdullah Mishal, Hasan Ali, Yousef Hussain, Faisal Mohammed, Abdullah Rashed, Abdulrahman Fahad, Abdulmohsen Abdullah, Abdullah Mohammed, Ahmed

Radhi, Fahad Saad, Salem Naser, Naif Faisal, Reem Tareq, Nadia Fahad, Bader Nawaf Enizi, Naser Bader, Fadhil Mohammed, Lulwa Naser, Maha Jaber, Sara Lafi, and Latifa Mosaed.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department.

All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada in Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visa and immigration matters including enquiries is conducted by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Individuals who are interested in working, studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.goingtocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-imenquiry@international.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei 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 open from 07:30 to 12:30. Consular services for Canadian citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00, Sunday through Wednesday. nnnnnnn

Sebamed goes Instagram

The Nigerian Embassy recently hosted a group of Nigerian students who participated in Kuwait’s 4th International Holy Quran Competition. The 7-day event attracted students and Muslim scholars from 56 countries. The Nigerian Ambassador, Senator Haruna Garba urged the students to be good ambassadors of their country.

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e are glad to inform you that we launched our site on instagram.

Follow us on @sebamedkuwait and (hashtag) #sebamedkuwait.

We plan to launch a contest about the daily life with sebamed involving all family members, so follow us for more details, for the weekly contest and prizes.

Arpan holds family desert camp

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rpan - Kuwait a socio-cultural organization organized a two days family desert camp on March 28 and 29 at Wafra. The location was apt to the core for the enthusiastic and energetic members with its ambiance and surroundings.

The program started with a silent prayer paying tribute to the late Sukumari who was close to the hearts of many. The day and night program was filled with fun, frolic and various entertaining games. Tough and challenging competitions and games were arranged for children and adults by Arpan ladies wing lead by Manju Sreenath and Rathi Ramamoorthi.

Music solo and duet songs, dances, skit, lots of physical, mental and stress relieving games kept the members busy throughout. The program included a special session on yoga

by Sandhya Sreekumar.

The highlight of the camp was the launching the family protection insurance scheme called ‘Loksuraksha’ for Arpan family members. K Nagarajan detailed the policy and its benefits. Program Convener Sajeevan Chengara, Cultural Secretary Mohammed Rafi, General Secretary Anil Attuva and President Mohan Iyer coordinated the entire program. At the end of the second day the participants returned with a satisfaction of having one of those memorable days of Kuwait life.

Parents’ Day at GIS (pre-primary section)

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS In its capacity as EU Local Presidency in the State of Kuwait, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the Member States of the EU and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, would like to announce that as from 2nd October 2012 all Schengen States’ Consulates in Kuwait will use the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is a central database for the exchange of data on shortstay (up to three months) visas between Schengen States. The main objectives of the VIS are to facilitate visa application procedures and checks at external border as well as to enhance security. The VIS will contain all the Schengen visa applications lodged by an applicant over five years and the decisions taken by any Schengen State’s consulate. This will allow applicants to establish more easily the lawful use of previous visas and their bona fide status. For the purpose of the VIS, applicants will be required to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and digital photos) when applying for a Schengen visa. It is a simple and discreet procedure that only takes a few minutes. Biometric data, along with the data provided in the Schengen visa application form, will be recorded in the VIS central database. Therefore, as from 2nd October 2012, first-time applicants will have to appear in person when lodging the application, in order to provide their fingerprints. For subsequent applications within 5 years the fingerprints can be copied from the previous application file in the VIS. The Cypriot Presidency would like to assure the people of Kuwait and all its permanent citizens that the Member States and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, have taken all necessary technical measures to facilitate the rapid examination and the efficient processing of visa applications and to ensure a quick and discreet procedure for the implementation of the new VIS. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to inform the Kenyan community residents throughout Kuwait and the general public that the Embassy has acquired new office telephone numbers as follows: 25353982, 25353985 - Consular’s enquiries 25353987 - Fax Our Email address: info@kenyaembkuwait.com. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF MEXICO The Embassy of Mexico to Kuwait has the pleasure to announce the opening of its Consular Section where visa applications are already being handled. The Consular Section is open to the public from Sundays-Thursdays 09.00-12.00 hrs. at Cliffs Complex in Salmiya, Villa No. 6 (3rd floor). nnnnnnn

EMBASSY GREECE

T

he little kids of the pre primary section of Gulf Indian School (GIS) put up an enchanting show for the entertainment of their doting parents at the end of the academic year. Each class teacher took great care in ensuring the participation of the entire class and also in training them per fectly for the presentation. The beautiful costumes and properties added to the visual impact of the show.

The Embassy of Greece in Kuwait has the pleasure to announce that visa applications must be submitted to Schengen Visa Application Centre (VFS office) located at 12th floor, Al-Naser Tower, Fahad Al-Salem Street, Al-Qibla area, Kuwait City, (Parking at Souk Watia). For information please call 22281046 from 08:30 to 17:00 (Sunday to Thursday).

Working hours: Submission from 08:30 to 15:30. Passport collection from 16:00 to 17:00. For visa applications please visit the following website www.mfa.gr/kuwait. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF ALBANIA The Embassy of the Republic of Albania to the State of Kuwait would like to inform that on 03.04.2013, the new Albanian Ambassador, Kujtim Morina presented credential letters to His Highness, the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah. The address of the embassy is the same: Al - Zahra, Block 8, Street 802, Villa 169, Kuwait,P.O.BOX 3090, Safat 13131. The ebassy offers consular services as well. Working hours are from 9:00 to 14:00, Sunday through Thursday.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 Up Close And Dangerous 01:10 Up Close And Dangerous 01:35 Untamed & Uncut 02:25 Wildest Latin America 03:15 Wild Appalachia 04:05 Wild France 04:55 Call Of The Wildman 05:20 Orangutan Island 05:45 RSPCA: On The Frontline 06:10 RSPCA: On The Frontline 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 The Really Wild Show 07:25 Groomer Has It 08:15 Dogs 101: Specials 09:10 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 10:05 Wildest Latin America 11:00 Animal Cops Houston 11:55 Call Of The Wildman 12:20 Wildlife SOS 12:50 World Wild Vet 13:45 Animal Precinct 14:40 Wildest Latin America 15:30 Orangutan Island 16:00 The Really Wild Show 16:30 Dogs 101: Specials 17:25 Animal Planet’s Most Outrageous 18:20 Project Puppy 18:45 Project Puppy 19:15 Monkey Life 19:40 Bondi Vet 20:10 Call Of The Wildman 20:35 Orangutan Island 21:05 Wildest Latin America 22:00 Into The Pride 22:55 Untamed China With Nigel Marven 23:50 Animal Cops Phoenix

00:40 Come Dine With Me 01:30 Masterchef: The Professionals 02:15 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 03:05 What To Eat Now - Summer 03:30 Cash In The Attic 04:15 Bargain Hunt 05:00 Britain’s Dream Homes 05:50 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 06:35 French Food At Home 07:00 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 07:25 The Good Cook 07:50 Baking Made Easy 08:15 Homes Under The Hammer 09:10 Bargain Hunt 09:55 Antiques Roadshow 10:45 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 11:25 Masterchef: The Professionals 12:10 Come Dine With Me 13:00 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 13:30 French Food At Home 13:55 Cash In The Attic 14:40 Bargain Hunt 15:25 Antiques Roadshow 16:15 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 17:00 Homes Under The Hammer 17:55 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 18:20 The Roux Legacy 18:55 French Food At Home 19:40 Come Dine With Me 20:35 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 21:20 Antiques Roadshow 22:15 Bargain Hunt 23:00 Homes Under The Hammer 23:55 Cash In The Attic

00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00

BBC World News America BBC World News America Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News

05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Sport Today 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 Hardtalk 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 World Business Report 07:45 BBC World News 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:00 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 BBC World News 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 BBC World News 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 Hardtalk 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 World Business Report 12:45 Sport Today 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 BBC World News 14:00 GMT With George Alagiah 14:30 GMT With George Alagiah 15:00 BBC World News 15:30 World Business Report 15:45 Sport Today 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 16:30 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 Hardtalk 18:00 Global With John Sopel 18:30 Global With John Sopel 19:00 Global With John Sopel 19:30 World Business Report 19:45 Sport Today 20:00 BBC World News 20:30 BBC Focus On Africa 21:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 21:30 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:30 World Business Report 22:45 Sport Today 23:00 Business Edition With Tanya Beckett 23:30 Hardtalk

00:45 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:00 03:30 03:55 04:20 04:45 05:00 05:25 05:45 06:00 06:25 06:50 07:15 07:40 08:05 08:30 08:55 09:45 10:10 10:35 11:00 11:25 11:50 12:40 13:00 13:25 13:50 14:20 14:45 15:10 15:35 16:00 16:25 16:50 17:15 17:40 18:05 18:30 18:55 19:20 19:45 20:10 20:35 21:00

Wacky Races Duck Dodgers Duck Dodgers Dastardly And Muttley Dastardly And Muttley Dexter’s Laboratory Wacky Races Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show Bananas In Pyjamas Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm Ha Ha Hairies Bananas In Pyjamas Lazytown Krypto: The Super Dog Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Cartoonito Tales Lazy Town Baby Looney Tunes Krypto: The Super Dog Cartoonito Tales Jelly Jamm Gerald McBoing Boing Lazy Town Jelly Jamm Tom & Jerry Kids A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Moomins Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Tiny Toon Adventures The 13 Ghosts Of Scooby-Doo Taz-Mania Tom & Jerry Tales Moomins The Garfield Show The Looney Tunes Show Tiny Toon Adventures Taz-Mania Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries The 13 Ghosts Of Scooby-Doo Pink Panther And Pals The Looney Tunes Show Taz-Mania Puppy In My Pocket What’s New Scooby-Doo?

21:25 21:50 22:15 23:05 23:30 23:55

Looney Tunes Dexter’s Laboratory Tom & Jerry Tales Pink Panther And Pals Pink Panther And Pals Moomins

00:30 Grim Adventures Of...

01:20 Johnny Test 02:10 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 02:35 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 03:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 03:25 Regular Show 03:50 Ben 10: Omniverse 04:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 04:40 Powerpuff Girls 05:05 Evil Con Carne 05:30 Cow & Chicken 06:00 Casper’s Scare School 06:30 Angelo Rules 07:00 Ben 10 Omniverse 07:25 The Amazing World Of Gumball 07:45 Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated 08:10 Evil Con Carne 08:55 Adventure Time 09:45 Regular Show 10:35 Angelo Rules 11:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 11:50 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 12:15 Hero 108 12:40 Hero 108 13:05 Mucha Lucha !

13:30 Angelo Rules 14:20 Evil Con Carne 15:10 Ben 10 15:35 Ben 10 16:00 Johnny Test 16:35 Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated 17:00 Ben 10: Omniverse 17:25 Dreamworks Dragons Riders Of Berk 17:50 The Amazing World Of Gumball 18:15 Adventure Time 18:40 Regular Show 19:05 Total Drama World Tour 19:30 Total Drama World Tour 19:55 Starwars: The Clone Wars 20:20 Ben 10: Omniverse 20:45 Hero 108 21:10 Young Justice 21:35 Green Lantern: The Animated Series 22:00 Ben 10 22:25 Ben 10 22:50 Mucha Lucha !

23:15 Mucha Lucha !

23:40 Powerpuff Girls

00:00 00:30 01:00 02:00 02:30 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:45 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:45 22:00

GOAL! ON OSN ACTION HD

Amanpour World Sport Piers Morgan Tonight World Report World Sport Anderson Cooper 360 Piers Morgan Tonight Quest Means Business The Situation Room World Sport Talk Asia World Report World Report World Sport I Report For CNN World Business Today World One Open Court Amanpour CNN Newscenter Piers Morgan Tonight News Stream World Business Today International Desk Global Exchange CNN Marketplace Middle East CNN Football Club Open Court International Desk Quest Means Business CNN Marketplace Europe Amanpour

22:30 CNN Newscenter 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

00:15 You Have Been Warned 01:10 Magic Of Science 01:35 Magic Of Science 02:05 Mythbusters 03:00 Mythbusters 03:55 Border Security 04:20 Auction Hunters 04:50 Baggage Battles 05:15 How Do They Do It? 05:40 How It’s Made 06:05 Sons Of Guns 07:00 Mythbusters 07:50 Inventions That Shook The World 08:45 American Chopper 09:40 Border Security 10:05 Auction Hunters 10:30 Baggage Battles 10:55 How Do They Do It? 11:25 How It’s Made 11:50 You Have Been Warned 12:45 Magic Of Science 13:15 Magic Of Science 13:40 Mythbusters 14:35 Border Security 15:05 Auction Hunters 15:30 Baggage Battles 16:00 Fast N’ Loud 16:55 American Chopper 17:50 Mythbusters 18:45 Sons Of Guns 19:40 How Do They Do It? 20:05 How It’s Made 20:35 Auction Hunters 21:00 Baggage Battles 21:30 Sons Of Guns 22:25 Mobster Confessions 22:50 Mobster Confessions 23:20 Hellriders

00:05 00:30 01:00 01:50 02:45 03:35 04:25 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:25 11:15 12:05 13:00 13:50 14:20 14:45 15:10 15:35 16:00 16:55 17:45 18:35 19:30 19:55 20:20 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:40

The Tech Show Weird Connections NASA’s Greatest Missions Weird Or What?

Space Pioneer NASA’s Greatest Missions Robocar Gadget Show - World Tour The Tech Show Moon Machines Food Factory Food Factory Bang Goes The Theory Gadget Show - World Tour The Tech Show Smash Lab Nextworld Robocar Meteorite Men Bang Goes The Theory Weird Connections Gadget Show - World Tour The Tech Show Food Factory Food Factory Smash Lab Nextworld Kings Of Construction Moon Machines Food Factory Food Factory Curiosity Gadget Show - World Tour The Tech Show Food Factory Food Factory Weird Or What?

Gadget Show - World Tour

00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:40 03:05 03:30 03:55 04:20 04:45 05:10 05:35 06:00 06:25 06:40 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:10 09:35 10:00 10:25 10:50 11:15 11:40 12:05 12:30 12:55 13:20 13:45 14:10 14:35 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:15 16:40 17:00 17:30 17:55 18:20 18:45 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:40 22:05 22:30 22:55 23:20 23:45

Hannah Montana Forever Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Replacements Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Replacements Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Brandy & Mr Whiskers Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Doc McStuffins Hannah Montana Hannah Montana A.N.T. Farm Jessie Jessie Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie Austin And Ally Austin And Ally Shake It Up Shake It Up Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Hannah Montana Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Jessie A.N.T Farm A.N.T Farm Hannah Montana Hannah Montana Good Luck Charlie Jessie Shake It Up A.N.T Farm Austin And Ally Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place That’s So Raven Cory In The House Good Luck Charlie Jessie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Phil Of The Future Hannah Montana Jonas Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Forever

00:00 00:55 01:25 02:20 03:15 03:40

Opening Act Style Star E!es E!es Style Star Extreme Close-Up

04:10 05:05 06:00 07:50 08:20 09:15 09:45 10:15 12:05 13:05 14:05 York 15:00 15:30 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:30 23:30

E!es E!es E!es Style Star E! News Ice Loves Coco Ice Loves Coco THS E! News Opening Act Kourtney & Kim Take New Style Star E!es Extreme Close-Up Married To Jonas Married To Jonas E! News THS Giuliana & Bill Chasing The Saturdays Fashion Police E! News Chelsea Lately

00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Outrageous Food 00:55 Unwrapped 01:20 Unwrapped 01:45 Charly’s Cake Angels 02:10 Charly’s Cake Angels 02:35 Unique Sweets 03:25 Unique Eats 03:50 Andy Bates Street Feasts 04:15 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 04:40 Chopped 05:30 Iron Chef America 06:10 Food Network Challenge 07:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 07:50 Unique Eats 08:15 Andy Bates Street Feasts 08:40 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 09:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 09:30 The Next Iron Chef 10:20 Extra Virgin 10:45 Extra Virgin 11:10 Everyday Italian 11:35 Unwrapped 12:00 Staten Island Cakes 12:50 Reza’s African Kitchen 13:15 Barefoot Contessa 14:05 Extra Virgin 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 14:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 15:20 Guy’s Big Bite 15:45 Chopped 16:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:15 Reza’s African Kitchen 18:40 Guy’s Big Bite 19:05 Tyler’s Ultimate 19:30 Chopped 20:20 Chopped 21:10 Iron Chef America 22:00 Food Network Challenge 22:50 Unique Eats 23:15 Unique Eats 23:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives

00:30 01:20 02:05 02:55 03:45 04:30 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:30 15:20 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

00:15 00:45 01:40 02:05 02:35 03:00 03:30 03:55 04:25 05:20 06:15 06:40 07:10 07:35 08:05 09:00 09:25 09:55 10:20 10:50 11:15 11:45 12:40 13:35 14:00 14:30 14:55 15:25 16:20 10 16:45 11 17:15 17:40 18:10 18:35 19:05 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:55 23:20 23:50

Dr G: Medical Examiner A Haunting Nightmare Next Door I Almost Got Away With It I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner A Haunting Undercover: Double Life Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Undercover: Double Life Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Disappeared Undercover: Double Life Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill On The Case With Paula Zahn Killer Kids I Almost Got Away With It

Papua New Guinea Aikido Keeping Up With The Joneses 8 Keeping Up With The Joneses 9 Ep 4 Ep 5 Ep 6 Danger Beach, 3 Colombia City Chase Rome, 2 Lake District Spain - Barcelona South Africa Papua New Guinea Aikido Keeping Up With The Joneses 8 Keeping Up With The Joneses 9 Ep 4 Ep 5 Ep 6 Danger Beach, 3 Colombia Ep 3 Belize Germany - Berlin Czech Republic Peru Savate Keeping Up With The Joneses Keeping Up With The Joneses Ep 7 Ep 8 Ep 9 Danger Beach, 4 Laos Czech Republic Peru Belize Germany - Berlin City Chase Rome, 3 Caldicot Rocco’s Food Tour Limone

THE WAY ON OSN CINEMA

00:30 03:30 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 PG15 14:00 16:00 18:00 PG15 20:00 22:00

01:00 03:00 05:00 06:45 09:00 11:00 12:45 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

The Godfather II-18 John Carter-PG15 Ice Road Terror-PG15 Goal!-PG15 The Man Inside-PG15 True Justice: Urban WarfareGoal!-PG15 Killer Mountain-PG15 True Justice: Urban WarfareAlien-18 The Echo-18

The Trotsky-PG15 The Winning Season-PG15 Stolen Lives-PG15 We Bought A Zoo-PG The Winning Season-PG15 Hidden Crimes-PG15 The Way-PG15 Blank Slate-PG15 The Artist-PG Like Crazy-PG15 After Life-18 Powder Blue-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Weeds 02:00 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 03:00 Ben And Kate 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Hope & Faith 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:30 Hope & Faith 09:00 Ben And Kate 09:30 Modern Family 10:00 The Mindy Project 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 13:00 Hope & Faith 14:30 The Mindy Project 15:00 Modern Family 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 New Girl 19:00 Community 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 South Park

22:00 Downton Abbey OSN FIRST HD 00:00 Supernatural 01:00 The Client List 02:00 Castle 03:00 Greek 04:00 Franklin & Bash 05:00 Castle 06:00 Supernatural 07:00 Emmerdale 07:30 Coronation Street 08:00 The Closer 09:00 Franklin & Bash 10:00 Castle 11:00 Touch 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 14:00 The Closer 15:00 Supernatural 16:00 Emmerdale 16:30 Coronation Street 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 18:00 The Closer 19:00 Switched At Birth 20:00 American Idol 22:00 Downton Abbey 23:00 Greek

00:00 02:30 05:30 08:00 10:00 12:00

John Carter The Godfather II John Carter Ice Road Terror Goal!

The Man Inside

14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

True Justice: Urban Warfare Goal!

Killer Mountain True Justice: Urban Warfare Alien

00:00 Detroit Rock City-18 02:00 The Romantics-PG15 04:00 Hop-PG 06:00 The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad-PG 08:00 Wild Wild West-PG15 10:00 Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell Of Fear-PG15 12:00 Hop-PG 14:00 Arthur-PG15 16:00 Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell Of Fear-PG15 18:00 The Decoy Bride-PG15 20:00 The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard-18 22:00 Detroit Rock City-18

01:15 03:00 05:15 07:15 09:00 PG15 11:00 13:00 15:15 19:00 21:00 23:15

Daydream Nation-PG15 Final Analysis-PG15 Take Shelter-PG15 Call Of The Wild-PG15 An Invisible Sign Of My OwnA Kiss At Midnight-PG15 Departures-PG15 Cinderella—PG15 The Debt-18 The Crucible-PG15 Burning Man-18

01:00 Casino Jack-18 03:00 Real Steel-PG15 05:15 The Muppets-PG 07:00 33 Postcards-PG15 09:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2-PG 10:45 The Phantom Of The Opera At The Royal Albert Hall-PG15 13:30 Shark Tale-PG 15:00 Blackthorn-PG15 17:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2-PG 19:00 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island-PG 21:00 The Raven-18 23:00 The Change Up-18

01:00 The Happy Cricket 2 02:45 Marley & Me: The Puppy Years 04:30 Supertramps 06:00 The Pirates! Band Of Misfits 08:00 Free Birds 10:00 Zathura: A Space Adventure 11:45 Dolphin Tale 13:45 Princess Sydney: The Legend Of The Blue Rabbit 14:45 Flicka: Country Pride 16:45 Queen Of The Swallows 18:15 Zathura: A Space Adventure 20:00 The Adventures Of Tintin 22:00 Princess Sydney: The Legend Of The Blue Rabbit 23:30 Queen Of The Swallows

00:00 MSNBC Hardball With Chris Matthews 01:00 MSNBC Politicsnation 02:00 Live NBC Nightly News 02:30 ABC World News With Diane Sawyer 03:00 MSNBC The Ed Show 04:00 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 05:00 MSNBC The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell 06:00 NBC Nightly News 06:30 ABC World News With Diane Sawyer 07:00 Live NBC Nightly News 07:39 ABC Nightline 08:06 Live MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 09:00 MSNBC The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell 10:00 ABC World News Now 10:30 Live ABC World News Now 11:00 NBC Early Today 11:30 ABC America This Morning 12:00 ABC America This Morning 12:30 Live ABC America This Morning 13:00 Live ABC America This

Morning 13:30 MSNBC First Look 14:00 Live NBC Today Show 17:57 Live MSNBC Hardball With Chris Matthews 18:38 Live MSNBC The Ed Show 19:19 Live MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 20:00 MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports 21:00 MSNBC Newsnation 22:00 MSNBC The Cycle 23:00 MSNBC Martin Bashir

01:30 02:00 02:30 03:30 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:00 11:00 11:30 13:30 14:30 15:00 15:30 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00

PGA European Tour Weekly Inside The PGA Tour AFL Premiership Highlights NRL Premiership Futbol Mundial Trans World Sport Super Rugby Highlights HSBC Sevens World Series ICC Cricket 360 Top 14 Super Rugby Highlights Inside The PGA Tour PGA European Tour Weekly Live PGA European Tour PGA European Tour Weekly AFL Premiership Highlights ICC Cricket 360 Inside The PGA Tour Live PGA Tour

03:00 05:00 05:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 13:30 16:30 17:00 19:00 20:00 21:00

NHL European Tour Weekly Inside The PGA Tour Futbol Mundial ICC Cricket 360 Trans World Sport Futbol Mundial Inside The PGA Tour European Tour Weekly ICC Cricket 360 AFL Premiership Highlights Super League Super League Futbol Mundial NHL WWE NXT Trans World Sport Live Premier League Darts

00:00 00:30 01:30 02:30 03:00 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:30 11:30 12:30 14:30 15:00 17:30 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00

ICC Cricket 360 Golfing World World Cup Of Pool Top 14 Highlights AFL Premiership ICC Cricket 360 Golfing World Golfing World Top 14 Highlights Total Rugby Asian Tour Golf Asian Tour Highlights World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool Pro 12 Total Rugby AFL Premiership Trans World Sport NRL Full Time Top 14 Highlights Futbol Mundial Total Rugby Asian Tour Golf Asian Tour Highlights Boston Marathon

00:00 WWE Vintage Collection 01:00 NHL 03:00 Ping Pong World 04:00 US Bass Fishing 05:00 NHL 07:00 WWE SmackDown 09:00 Ping Pong World 10:00 US Bass Fishing 11:00 NHL 13:00 WWE Vintage Collection 14:00 WWE Bottom Line 15:00 UAE National Race Day Series 16:00 Triahlon UK 17:00 Adventure Challenge 18:00 Prizefighter 21:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter Finale Prelims 23:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter Finale

Classifieds THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for small families in Abbassiya near Hi-Dine supermarket from 25-4-13.

Contact 24312462 (8 am to 8 pm). (C 4379) 18-4-2013 MATRIMONIAL Marthomite parents seek alliance for their daughter 25/165, BE chemical engineer working as process engineer in oil and gas company in Kuwait. From parents of well qualified professionals, preferably engineers, doctor, CAs, below 29 years.

Email: stephenvarughese51@gmail.com (C 4377)

15-4-2013

CHANGE OF NAME I, Abdul Wasim, Indian Passport No: E5138929, hereby change my name to Abdul Wasim Mewafrosh.

(C 4378) 17-4-2013 I, Moises Joao Gomes, holder of Indian Passport No: E9556439, hereby change my name to MOISES GOMES, Address: Bathiem Cuncolim Salcette, Goa, India. (C 4376) 14-4-2013

SITUATION VACANT A live-in housekeeper is needed. Two adults, no children. Good English / Arabic speaking. Dahiyat Abdulla Al-Salem. Transferable residency. Call or SMS 99160902 16-4-2013

FOR SALE BMW X5 2001 V8, full option 200,000 km, white color in good condition, just come out from service cost KD 800, price for sale KD 2,500. For more information feel free to call 90005442.

15-4-2013

Kuwait

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (18/04/2013 TO 24/04/2013)

SHARQIA-1 THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA DEAD MAN DOWN (DIG) IT TAKES A MAN AND A WOMAN (DIG) (FILIPINO) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA KON-TIKI (DIG) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA SHARQIA-2 SKY FORCE (DIG-3D) SKY FORCE (DIG-3D) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) THE HOST (DIG) THE HOST (DIG) THE HOST (DIG) SHARQIA-3 OBLIVION (DIG) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) MUHALAB-1 DEAD MAN DOWN (DIG) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA GET LUCKY (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA MUHALAB-2 FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) MUHALAB-3 THE HOST (DIG) SKY FORCE (DIG-3D) THE HOST (DIG) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) THE HOST (DIG)

12:45 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM 1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM 1:15 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM 12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM 1:15 PM 3:15 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM

THE HOST (DIG) FANAR-1 OBLIVION (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) IT TAKES A MAN AND A WOMAN (DIG) (FILIPINO) OBLIVION (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) FANAR-2 KON-TIKI (DIG) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA DEAD MAN DOWN (DIG) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA KON-TIKI (DIG) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA FANAR-3 GET LUCKY (DIG) THE HOST (DIG) THE HOST (DIG) GET LUCKY (DIG) THE HOST (DIG) THE HOST (DIG) MARINA-1 THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA GET LUCKY (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA MARINA-2 OBLIVION (DIG) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) MARINA-3 SKY FORCE (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE HOST (DIG) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) THE HOST (DIG)

12:45 AM 1:45 PM 4:30 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM 12:45 PM 2:45 PM 5:15 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM 1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM 12:45 PM 3:15 PM 5:15 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM 1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM

THE HOST (DIG) AVENUES-1 THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA AVENUES-2 KON-TIKI (DIG) DEAD MAN DOWN (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) DEAD MAN DOWN (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) DEAD MAN DOWN (DIG) AVENUES-3 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) GET LUCKY (DIG) GET LUCKY (DIG) GET LUCKY (DIG) 360ยบ- 1 THE HOST (DIG) THE HOST (DIG) THE HOST (DIG) THE HOST (DIG) THE HOST (DIG) 360ยบ- 2 THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA 360ยบ- 3 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (DIG-3D) SNITCH (DIG) SNITCH (DIG)

12:45 AM 1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM 12:45 PM 3:15 PM 5:45 PM 8:15 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM 1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM 1:45 PM 4:15 PM 6:45 PM 9:15 PM 11:45 PM 2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM 2:15 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.1 SKY FORCE (DIG-3D) SKY FORCE (DIG-3D) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) AL-KOUT.2 THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA DEAD MAN DOWN (DIG) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA KON-TIKI (DIG) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA AL-KOUT.3 OBLIVION (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) IT TAKES A MAN AND A WOMAN (DIG) (FILIPINO) OBLIVION (DIG) BAIRAQ-1 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) BAIRAQ-2 THE HOST (DIG) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HOST (DIG) THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA THE HOST (DIG) THE HOST (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED BAIRAQ-3 OBLIVION (DIG) DEAD MAN DOWN (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) OBLIVION (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 11:45 PM 1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM 2:00 PM 4:30 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:15 AM 12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM 1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:30 PM 9:00 PM 11:30 PM

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines BBC QTR JZR JZR SAI THY ETH GFA UAE ETD FDB RBG MSR QTR THY DHX FDB KAC BAW KAC KAC JZR FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE IRA KAC IZG ABY QTR IRA FDB ETD SYR GFA MEA JZR KAC JZR MSC UAE MSR KNE QTR FDB KAC KAC MSR JZR SVA KNE KAC OMA KAC

Arrival Flights Thursday 18/4/2013 Flt Route 43 DHAKA 148 DOHA 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 441 LAHORE 764 SABIHA 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 67 DUBAI 555 ALEXANDRIA 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 69 DUBAI 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 503 LUXOR 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 332 TRIVANDRUM 352 COCHIN 855 DUBAI 605 ISFAHAN 362 COLOMBO 4161 MASHAD 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 617 AHWAZ 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 341 DAMASCUS 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 284 DHAKA 241 AMMAN 403 ASSIUT 871 DUBAI 610 CAIRO 480 TAIF 140 DOHA 57 DUBAI 1782 JEDDAH 546 ALEXANDRIA 575 CAIRO 257 BEIRUT 500 JEDDAH 472 JEDDAH 562 AMMAN 645 MUSCAT 788 JEDDAH

Time 00:05 00:15 00:20 00:40 01:30 01:40 01:45 01:55 02:25 02:30 03:10 03:15 03:15 03:30 04:35 05:10 05:50 06:15 06:30 07:25 07:30 07:40 07:45 07:50 07:55 08:05 08:25 08:40 08:45 08:45 08:50 09:00 09:10 09:15 09:30 10:10 10:40 10:55 11:35 12:05 12:35 12:40 12:45 13:00 13:25 13:45 13:50 14:05 14:15 14:15 14:30 14:30 14:35 14:40 14:40 15:00

KNE RJA KAC JZR JZR QTR JZR ETD FDB UAE ABY SVA GFA UAL JZR KAC JZR KAC TAR KAC QTR KAC KAC FDB GFA KAC AXB KAC KAC KAC JAI RBG FDB OMA ABY JZR MEA AFG MSC MSR KNE MSC ALK UAE ETD QTR GFA DHX QTR FDB AIC JZR UAL JZR DLH JAI JZR KLM THY

470 640 118 535 787 134 125 303 71 857 127 510 215 982 177 176 777 502 327 542 144 786 104 63 219 618 393 674 774 614 572 553 61 647 129 189 402 415 405 618 474 401 229 859 307 136 217 372 146 59 981 239 981 185 636 574 513 411 772

JEDDAH AMMAN NEW YORK CAIRO RIYADH DOHA BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI DUBAI SHARJAH RIYADH BAHRAIN WASHINGTON DC DULLES DUBAI GENEVA JEDDAH BEIRUT TUNIS CAIRO DOHA JEDDAH LONDON DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA KOZHIKODE DUBAI RIYADH BAHRAIN MUMBAI ALEXANDRIA DUBAI MUSCAT SHARJAH DUBAI BEIRUT KABUL SOHAG ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA COLOMBO DUBAI ABU DHABI DOHA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI CHENNAI AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI FRANKFURT MUMBAI SHARM EL SHEIKH AMSTERDAM ISTANBUL

15:05 15:55 16:00 16:10 16:15 16:15 16:25 16:35 16:50 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:25 17:30 17:45 17:50 18:00 18:00 18:15 18:25 18:30 18:45 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:15 19:25 19:25 19:35 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:20 20:25 20:30 20:45 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:45 22:00 22:00 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:40 22:40 23:10 23:20 23:20 23:40 23:45

Airlines AIC AXB JAI UAL DLH BBC JZR THY SAI THY ETH UAE FDB RBG MSR ETD QTR QTR FDB GFA JZR THY KAC JZR BAW FDB JZR KAC JZR KAC ABY KAC IRA IZG UAE FDB QTR IRA ETD KAC SYR GFA KAC KAC MEA KAC JZR JZR KAC JZR JZR MSC MSR KNE UAE FDB QTR

Departure Flights on Thursday 18/4/2013 Flt Route 976 GOA 490 MANGALORE 573 MUMBAI 981 WASHINGTON 637 FRANKFURT 44 DHAKA 502 LUXOR 773 ISTANBUL 442 LAHORE 765 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 556 ALEXANDRIA 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 70 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 240 AMMAN 771 ISTANBUL 545 ALEXANDRIA 164 DUBAI 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 1781 JEDDAH 534 CAIRO 561 AMMAN 126 SHARJAH 787 JEDDAH 606 MASHHAD 4162 MASHHAD 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 616 AHWAZ 302 ABU DHABI 101 LONDON 342 DAMASCUS 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 405 BEIRUT 501 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 786 RIYADH 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 124 BAHRAIN 406 SOHAG 611 CAIRO 481 TAIF 872 DUBAI 58 DUBAI 141 DOHA

Time 00:05 00:15 00:20 00:25 00:30 01:30 01:30 02:20 02:30 02:40 02:45 03:45 03:50 03:55 04:15 04:20 04:25 05:15 06:30 07:00 07:10 07:10 07:20 07:25 08:25 08:25 08:50 08:55 09:10 09:25 09:30 09:35 09:40 09:45 09:50 09:55 10:00 10:10 10:15 10:25 11:10 11:25 11:30 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:25 12:50 13:00 13:20 13:30 13:40 14:00 14:15 14:15 14:30 14:55

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

MSR KAC KNE OMA KAC KAC JZR SVA KNE KAC RJA JZR JZR QTR ETD FDB JZR ABY UAE SVA GFA JZR JZR UAL TAR QTR FDB GFA AXB RBG JAI FDB ABY KAC KAC OMA KAC MEA AFG MSC MSR KAC KNE DHX MSC ETD ALK UAE QTR KAC GFA DHX KAC FDB QTR JZR KAC KAC KAC JZR

576 673 473 646 617 773 188 505 471 613 641 238 512 135 304 72 538 128 858 511 216 184 266 982 328 145 64 220 394 554 571 62 120 331 343 648 351 403 415 404 619 543 475 171 402 308 230 860 137 301 218 373 205 60 147 554 411 283 415 528

SHARM EL SHEIKH DUBAI JEDDAH MUSCAT DOHA RIYADH DUBAI JEDDAH JEDDAH BAHRAIN AMMAN AMMAN SHARM EL SHEIKH DOHA ABU DHABI DUBAI CAIRO SHARJAH DUBAI RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT BAHRAIN TUNIS DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI DUBAI SHARJAH TRIVANDRUM CHENNAI MUSCAT KOCHI BEIRUT JEDDAH ASSIUT ALEXANDRIA CAIRO JEDDAH BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA ABU DHABI COLOMBO DUBAI DOHA MUMBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN ISLAMABAD DUBAI DOHA ALEXANDRIA BANGKOK DHAKA KUALA LUMPUR ASSIUT

15:00 15:05 15:30 15:40 15:45 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:05 16:35 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:15 17:20 17:35 17:40 17:50 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:30 18:40 18:40 18:50 19:25 19:35 19:50 20:15 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:45 20:50 20:55 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:30 21:45 21:50 22:05 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:20 23:40 23:45 23:50 23:55

34

s ta rs CROSSWORD 163

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) ARIES You could become very strong and unaffected when dealing with the weaknesses and shortcomings of others today. You shouldn’t allow their fears, bad habits, gossip, or envy to harm you. However, your confident and decisive attitude could arouse competition or insecurities in others, and you could be subjected to deception and lies from people around you. Hidden passions, fears, jealousies, longings, desires, or needs surface in you now and can stir up trouble in your closest relationships. You are likely to be compulsive or demanding in a close relationship. On the positive side a relationship can be deepened and reborn now, given new life by your willingness to reveal yourself completely to your loved one.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Expect an increase in social activities just now. A bright new idea of yours should be shared with one and all. A fulfillment of a promise can come out of the blue and your bright sparks will be the alluring energy for others. This could even result in an admirer coming forward. Things are heating up today so be careful how you approach that special someone in your life. You’ll need to present things in a practical manner, so there won’t be any misunderstandings what you are trying to do and accomplish for both of you.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. The last (12th) month of the year.

4. (of plants) Having tufts of soft woolly hairs.

12. An undergarment worn by women to support their breasts.

15. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

16. Disarrange or rumple.

17. The act of slowing down or falling behind.

18. A coffee cake flavored with orange rind and raisins and almonds.

20. The content of cognition.

22. An associate degree in nursing.

28. A painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt.

29. A landlocked desert republic in north-central Africa.

31. The compass point midway between east and southeast.

33. A metric unit of length equal to one hundredth of a meter.

36. A colorless and odorless inert gas.

37. Type genus of the Percidae.

39. A theocratic republic in the Middle East in western Asia.

41. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

43. The longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code.

46. The sixth month of the civil year.

47. Of or relating to the stomach and intestines.

48. Having the equatorial diameter greater than the polar diameter.

49. Imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time) from 206 BC to 221 and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy.

50. To force onto another.

51. Essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers.

52. Advanced in years.

56. A radioactive transuranic element.

57. How long something has existed.

58. The cry made by sheep.

61. Moderate-sized Asiatic moth whose larvae feed on mulberry leaves and produce silk.

70. Wild sheep of northern Africa.

71. Evidencing the possession of inside information.

74. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

75. (computer science) A graphic symbol (usually a simple picture) that denotes a program or a command or a data file or a concept in a graphical user interface.

76. A republic in northwestern South America.

77. Relating to a recently developed fashion or style.

78. The taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth.

79. Distance measured in the aggregate number of yards.

80. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

DOWN 1. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

2. A feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause).

3. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle

where driver sits.

4. A federal agency established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

5. Being one more than fifty.

6. A mouth or mouthlike opening.

7. (Greek mythology) Fire-breathing she-monster with a lion's head and a goat's body and a serpent's tail.

8. Give over.

9. Being or passing over or across the sea.

10. Relating to or characteristic of or occurring on the sea or ships.

11. Angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object).

12. Expletives used informally as intensifiers.

13. East Indian cereal grass whose seed yield a somewhat bitter flour, a staple in the Orient.

14. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

19. A general anesthetic (not a barbiturate) that is administered intravenously or intramuscularly.

21. The small projection of a mammary gland.

23. A colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses.

24. An expression of greeting.

25. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

26. A midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region.

27. A public promotion of some product or service.

30. Of or relating to a creed.

32. German statesman who served as chancellor of Germany (born in 1918).

34. Disparaging terms for the common people.

35. Be inherent in something.

38. Make understand.

40. A long noosed rope used to catch animals.

42. An unofficial association of people or groups.

44. A training program to prepare college students to be commissioned officers.

45. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

53. A gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number).

54. A column of light (as from a beacon).

55. A male servant (especially a footman).

59. The sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form.

60. A state in midwestern United States.

62. Predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin.

63. An elementary particle with a negative charge and a half-life of 2 microsecond.

64. A ruler of the Inca Empire (or a member of his family).

65. Cuddling and kissing.

66. A cruel wicked and inhuman person.

67. God of love and erotic desire.

68. Very dark black.

69. An informal term for a father.

72. (often followed by `of') A large number or amount or extent.

73. An agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

You could make a great impression on the people you work for just now.

Your peer group will start to see aspects of your personality that they’ve overlooked before. Expect a cycle of increased popularity and happiness. As you become more popular, there are additional demands. Don’t forget that. Get ready to fill up your calendar with engagements. Stability, maturity, and cooperation are the key issues during this time. You feel in tune with your romantic partner on important issues.

You could find that others share common concerns about important aspects of your life.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Some adjustments in the way you express yourself and treat others are required now. Others may complain that you are not sincere with them, you are too domineering or passive, or unfair in some respect. You may also find yourself feeling the need to approach others about the way they express themselves and treat others. You may begin a relationship now, boldly taking the initiative to pursue someone you want to be with. You will come on strong to this person, but he or she might just love it! If you don’t take a risk to find out you won’t ever know, so be gentle with yourself and the person you’ve got your heart set on and go for it!

Leo (July 23-August 22) There could be some changes in your home or family life that will be really beneficial to you just now. Some woman, although not necessarily a relative, will have a profound and even spiritual influence on you and other relatives. This is a time when you extend your love beyond your family and take on a more active role in your community at large. You are bold, daring, and enterprising during this time and may feel hemmed in by present circumstances and feel an uncontrollable urge to enlarge your vistas and expand your emotions. Your restless need to accomplish more and break free of present limitations may inspire you to seek a new relationship. This doesn’t mean getting rid of the old ones, it may mean a new friend or just adding to your current circle.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) It is a good time to push personal and business affairs, and take advantage of new opportunities for future expansion. You may to get a chance to travel or experience pleasurable contacts from those living in distant cities. Your positive outlook during this trend should bring you in touch with new friends or acquaintances and increase social contacts. Today is a good time to express your feelings with conviction, knowing that there will be response in kind. Situations that arise now will have lasting clarity and a quality of self reinvention as they move along, as head and heart are on the same page and will tend to remain that way.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) Be very careful when making important decisions now. Others often do not follow through on their intentions, and it is difficult to bring plans and ideas into practical and tangible form. The energy is running hot and cold today, and just as you think you’re warming up to someone, they can suddenly turn negative and even outright cranky. So wait, if you can, to make commitments or even propositions. If it’s meant to happen you’ll have another chance when things feel more stable.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Love is in the air! You are entering whole new cycle for romance. Also this cycle has to do with children so, if you have kids, particularly the eldest child, will find that this could be a period where there can be a renewed bond with you.

Some better feelings between you and others are likely. It is also a very lucky period for you. A chance encounter today possibly leading to an intense emotional or sexual attraction when you are least it could happen. Try to keep your head and your heart together as this could be overwhelming, the love at first site thundering of your heart moment.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) A yearning for the stimulation of new ideas and ideals is emphasized for you now. Others may see the world as it is and ask why, but like Bobby Kennedy, you imagine the world as it could be and ask why not. New friends and an involvement in idealistic groups take on greater importance for you now... the old is suspect; the new seems to hold all the answers. Both friendship and material benefits could come to you at this time, it may feel like you’ve won the lottery in many ways. You feel very sociable and gregarious, it’s a time to spend with people who really know how to have a good time.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Release from restrictive circumstances and pressures is the key issue of this time period. Obligations and responsibilities are not so demanding now, and you are able to enjoy a greater level of freedom in your daily life. You are in a partying mood and just want to play and share a good time with your friends. You are also very generous and tolerant toward others. Though you feel wonderful now, you’re likely to regret your actions later if you don’t curtail your impulses to overindulge, overspend, and enjoy too much of a good thing.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Start talking and keep up the conversation until you’ve made yourself perfectly clear. Emotional tides are strong and upbeat, and all you have to do is ride them as if you were born to sail. Foundations laid today will be firm and supportive and continue to evolve that way. Feelings of friendship abound and it’s easy to see the good side of anyone — just remember there may be other sides too. This is a time for discovering others or for finding yourself able to respond to friends and lovers.

Also a time to enter into relationships with a renewed sense of love and compassion.

Real breakthroughs, a willingness to try new and different approaches to relationships are going to get you farther than doing nothing at all.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) There may be a family issue to contend with today, but it’ll be in your best interest to face the music rather than try and smooth things over with sweet-talk. A field that you’ve had a passion for recently could be easier to break into than you think.

Dissatisfactions in your current romantic relationship are likely to take the forefront at this time. It’s likely basic lifestyle conflicts are blaringly evident at the moment and making it difficult for you and your mate to find some common ground. Fortunately communication is strong during this period, so you should be able to discuss your differences and reach some compromises that please both of you.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Sabhan

24742838

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Al-Helaly

22434853

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Al-Faiha

22545051

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

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

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

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36

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Will.I.Am

records Mona Lisa song in Paris’s Louvre

G

rammy award winning US musician Will.I.Am was allowed into Paris’s Louvre museum at two in the morning to record part of a song entitled “Smile Mona Lisa” in front of the famed painting by Leonardo da Vinci, he told reporters in Paris on Wednesday. “That song touches me because I recorded a large portion of that song inside the Louvre, next to Mona Lisa’s picture,” the lead singer of the Black Eyed Peas said, adding that the song would appear on his next solo album. “They let me go to the Louvre at 2 am to record the guitars for that song, I wanted to capture the ambiance of the Louvre, that Mona Lisa lives in. That was exciting, to walk through the Louvre at 2 am with the manager,” he said. The singer added that if he had not entered the world of music he would have wanted to have been a scientist. “I’m fascinated with quantum physics. That’s the reason why I’m going back to school this September to learn computer science,” he said. And he urged young people to look to new technology for opportunities. “If you live in a ghetto and really want not to just change your life and your family’s life but change your ghetto’s life, make your ghetto a good neighborhood, learn science, try to be like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs,” he said. “You’ll change not just your family and your neighborhood, you’ll change your whole city. Music is great, athletics is great, but the guys in Silicon valley and the dudes that make Twitter and Facebook , they’re changing the world,” he added.

Simpson got

Maguire was captivated

by Mulligan

T

obey Maguire was “snake charmed” by Carey Mulligan. The pair star together in ‘The Great Gatsby’ and the actor thinks she was the perfect choice to play Daisy Buchanan because she is so captivating. Tobey - who plays Nick Carraway, the story’s narrator said: “You feel like you’re in on some sort of secret with her constantly.

“You’re the one that she’s chosen to be part of a secret club or language. She pulls you in. I remember hearing her voice and I just went, ‘That’s Daisy.’ “It was like the cartoons with the snake charmer, and the eyes start swirling around. She said four words and I was there; I was snake-charmed.” Tobey isn’t the only person to be won over by Carey’s natural charm, with her ‘Drive’ director Nicolas Winding Refn believing it is easy for people to “fall in love” with her, a quality they used to their advantage one evening. He recalled to America’s Vogue magazine: “She’s like this petite Bambi, but she is very good at seeing through the illusion of what Hollywood can offer. “She’s very pragmatic when she needs to be. I remember one time we were pulled over by the cops driving home from the set because she drank too many Red Bulls. I thought, Oh, boy: Here we go. But Carey was very charming and apologetic in that English manner, and he let us go. What else can you do but fall in love with her?”

K

Osbourne in pain with sunburn

elly Osbourne has been left with bad sunburn after overdoing the rays. The 28-year-old star has been out and about with radio DJ Nick Grimshaw and their singer/songwriter friend Remi Nicole in Los Angeles, and she took to Twitter to reveal her bright red back and joked she made a grave error staying out in the sunshine for such a long time. In a message accompanying the image, she wrote: “#ImSmart! (sic)” The ‘Fashion Police’ star has been having fun with Nick - whose nickname is Grimmers - and Remi while the pair have been in the US to attend the star-studded Coachella music festival in California, but the Radio 1 DJ didn’t seem too keen on some of the food he was served in the Sunshine State. Kelly took to her Instagram account to reveal Nick’s shocked face after being presented with some unappetizing-looking thickly cut French toast, writing: “I think this is the last time grimmers will ever order French toast in American (@grimmers @reminicole ) (sic)” While Nick was left disappointed with his food, Kelly was left feeling like a “diva” on Saturday after receiving a free upgrade to the Presidential Suite of a hotel she was staying at. She tweeted: “feel like such a #diva I got a complimentary upgrade to the Presidential Suite & 90 min massage because they messed up my reservation #Sick “This sort of thing never happens to me I always end up with the room with pubic hair in the bathroom & a broken TV! Im in #heaven “I think it was a situation of this room or nothing I have never stayed in a room this big in my life am i wrong 2 say i dont like it #ToMuch (sic)” —Bangshowbiz

‘leather jackets’ for son at shower

J

essica Simpson received “vintage cars” and “leather jackets” for her son at her baby shower. The ‘Fashion Star’ mentor was joined by her close family, friends and 11-month-old daughter Maxwell Drew at the Hotel Bel-Air last weekend to celebrate her pregnancy and her son got lots of cool gifts to enjoy when he’s born. And Jessica can’t wait to have a little boy in her house because it will be a totally new experience for her as she grew up with a younger sister, pop star Ashlee. The blonde beauty - who is engaged to former NFL star Eric Johnson - told People magazine: “I’m so excited to have a son. He got all these cute vintage cars and I got a lot of little leather jackets I can’t wait to try out ... I didn’t grow up with a brother and I think the unknown is really exciting. I can’t wait to have that connection with our little man.”

Jessica and Eric’s daughter Maxwell really enjoyed herself at the party and was “taking over some of her little brother’s gifts”. The Tom Sawyer-themed shower was hosted by Jessica’s mother Tina, organized by celebrity event planner Mindy Weiss and was held next to the pond at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles. Guests were treated to a Southern comfort food inspired menu and there was even a grilled cheese station making toasted sandwiches for the kids in attendance.

Jessica did indulge in the calorific treats but insists she hasn’t gained anywhere near the 60 pounds she put on when pregnant for the first time. The singer - who has been working out three times a week with trainer Harley Pasternak - said: “I always love some fried chicken. This pregnancy I’m active. I’ve

B

Morgan to host Billboard Music Awards

M

usicians beware: Tracy Morgan will host the Billboard Music Awards. Billboard announced yesterday that the 44-year-old will host the awards show on May 19 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The former “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” cast member says in a statement that he’s honored to host the show. Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars and Miguel will perform at the awards show. Prince will receive the icon award and will also hit the stage. Morgan adds in his statement: “And how can you say no when Prince is going to be there!”The Billboard Music Awards will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Spears records new song for ‘Smurfs2’

ritney Spears has recorded a song for the new ‘Smurfs’ movie.

The ‘Toxic’ hitmaker worked on ‘Ooh La La’ for her children, Sean, seven, and Jayden, six, with ex-husband Kevin Federline, but has now revealed the track will be part of the soundtrack for ‘The Smurfs 2’, the forthcoming sequel to the 2011 animated adventure. She announced on both Facebook and Twitter: “Remember that surprise song I recorded for my boys? It’s coming soon! #OohLaLa for #TheSmurfs2 :) (sic)” While details about the track are not yet known, it is possibly Britney has teamed with her ‘Scream & Shout’ collaborator will.i.am again as earlier this month the Black Eyed Peas star tweeted they had been “bonding”. He wrote: “I had a good vibe session during lunch with .@britneyspears today ... talking about music, dreams, and life...#bonding (sic)” And last month, the pair spoke of their desire to work together again. After hearing will’s new song ‘#THATPOWER’ with Justin Bieber, Britney tweeted: “@JustinBieber @IAmWill got #ThatPower!! I am in L-O-V-E with the new song! (sic)” will.i.am replied, saying: “Thanks so much @BritneySpears. I can’t wait 2work with u (sic)”‘Scream & Shout’ producer Lazy Jay - real name Jef Martens has said how it felt “surreal” when he got a call from will.i.am asking to use one of his productions with the pop icon. He said: “One night I was just working in my home studio in Holland and I received a phone call and I wasn’t sure who it was. “When I picked up, it was will.i.am. I couldn’t believe it. He said, ‘Hi, it’s will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas, I’ve heard some of your stuff and I think it’s really dope and I want to make record with you and Britney Spears. Is that OK?’ Of course, I said, yes. It was a surreal moment.” will.i.am - who is also a member of the Black Eyed Peas - has also previously worked with Britney, on the track ‘Big Fat Bass’ from 2011’s ‘Femme Fatale’ album.

Pregnant Jamie-Lynn Sigler craves cheeseburgers

P

regnant Jamie-Lynn Sigler has a constant craving for McDonald’s cheeseburgers. The ‘Sopranos’ actress is expecting her first child with baseball player Cutter Dykstra and it seems her pregnancy cravings are in full swing as she revealed that she can’t get enough of the calorific meat treats. Asked how often she indulges in the beef snack, she told Us Weekly: “Every day if I can get to it.” The 31-yearold star, who is expecting a boy, admits that her pregnancy hasn’t been smooth sailing and found it “pretty hard” to adjust to her growing baby bump. She said: “The first few months were not fun. I got hit pretty hard, but I feel fantastic now. It’s the most natural thing your body can do. I have no part in anything that’s happening with the baby. I’m just kind of a vessel, so it really is a miracle and it really is an exciting time.” The actress also has plenty of support from her fellow pregnant pals, including Jenna Dewan-Tatum, who is expecting her first child with Channing Tatum, and Joanna Garcia.

She added: “So many of my close girlfriends are pregnant right now, so we’re kind of going through it all together, which is awesome. “[They told me there’s] no specific milestones you need to hit, you don’t need to look a certain way, you don’t need to feel a certain way, just listen to your body.

I’ve really been doing that.”

37

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

LIFESTYLE F e a t u r e s

File photo shows crowds at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans.

—AP photos

K

aren Pery doesn’t consider herself a jazz fan. Yet for each of the past four years, she’s spent $3,000 and flown nearly 4,000 miles (nearly 6,500 kilometers) roundtrip to attend the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. “It’s humid. It’s hot. It’s crowded,” the 42-year-old Los Angeles resident recalled. But, “It’s so much fun and it’s such a great experience.”

For Pery, it’s a combination of the people big headliners like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Robert Plant and Simon and Garfunkel - exposure to new bands, great New Orleans food and a reason to spend some time in the city. “It’s like homecoming.

Everyone is super friendly. It’s this sense of, ‘We’re all in this together.’ “Said Pery, a life coach. “I have amazing stories from the Port-

Music fans gathering to watch Wiz Khalifa during the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester.

Music festivals are nothing new, but they are more popular than ever, attracting millions of fans. There are about 270 festivals of various types annually in the United States, and worldwide there are more than 800 in 57 countries, according to Pollstar, a trade publication covering the concert industry. Yet, given that most bands tour, what would prompt someone to invest the time and money in traveling far afield to hear music they could hear closer to home?

A-Potty lines.”

Last year, the music lineup was so impressive that she and her husband attended the first weekend in late April with their children, ages 8 and 10, then flew home for a few days before returning the following weekend to meet friends from Boston and Philadelphia.

“There is one direct flight from LA to New Orleans and it’s at 9:30 am, and it’s a party on a plane,” she said. “Everyone is going to the jazz festival.”

The New Orleans festival attracted 450,000 people over seven days last year, a lower daily attendance that some of the other major festivals. Since the city itself a tourist hub, it’s hard to say how many traveled specifically for the jazz festival, entering its 43rd year, versus how many were in town for another reason and decided to take in a day’s music. But head a couple hundred miles (kilometers) east along the coast to the summer resort of Gulf Shores, Ala., and it’s much easier to see the draw that a music festival can have. That’s where the Hangout Music Fest - which debuted in 2010 amid the Deepwater Horizon oil spill - holds its annual event on the beach.

After the inauspicious start, the festival took off, selling out all 35,000 tickets each day for the three-day event and winning the 2011 Pollstar Music Festival of the Year award.

Between fans and the festival’s 5,000 workers, the population of Gulf Shores-Orange Beach nearly triples for the weekend before Memorial Day. “We’ve had people travel from all 50 states for the festival - definitely opening up our typical eight-hour drive market,” said Missy Zak, spokeswoman for Meyer Vacation Rentals, which manages over 1,500 properties in the area.

Before the festival, occupancy in the rental units generally ran below 50 percent for the third weekend in May. The past two years, it has been above 90 percent for that period.

Despite the travel costs, some view music festivals as good value, and an incentive to visit places they otherwise wouldn’t.

“I think the big thing is you have tons of your favorite artists in one venue. It’s like a kid in a candy store,” said Megan Given, 25, a nail technician from Fort Collins, Colo, who said aside from the festivals, she doesn’t travel much.

Last year, Given and 10 friends in three cars drove for 24 hours to get to the Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury, Mich, a town of 430 about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Detroit. The four-day festival in late June offered more than 50 bands for about $200.

This computer-generated image provided by the Royal Caribbean International cruise line shows its forthcoming ship, Quantum of the Seas. —AP photos

They camped to help cut costs, and because it is a “bonding” experience that they enjoy, she said. “For us to see all the artists we really wanted to see individually by going to Red Rocks, (an amphitheater near Denver,) it would have cost us so much more money,” she said.

Two years ago, Given drove 16 hours to the Wakarusa Music Festival in Ozark, Ark, held over four days in early June, because they wanted to hear String Cheese Incident perform. Next February, she and her boyfriend are flying to Costa Rica, where they plan to attend the Envision Festival. In addition to the five-day music, art and yoga festival, they are working with a travel agency to sightsee around the country for about 10 days.

Similarly, travelers from other countries come to attend festivals in the United States.

Dan Berkowitz, head of CID Entertainment, a travel agent of sorts for music fans, said New York festivals tend to attract a lot of Europeans, while the California festivals attract fans from Australia and Japan. “We have entire groups of 100 people at some of our festivals that are coming from Australia,” he said.

Berkowitz, who founded CID six years ago to provide logistics except for airfare, reminds fans to go with an open mind, and explore - by listening to new music or eating new food. “Forget about your email for a few days. Forget about your job. Forget about your lack of a job,” he said. “Have a good time and go.”

Pery has looked at other festivals, including June’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival held on a 700-acre (283-hectare) farm 65 miles (105 kilometers) southeast of Nashville, and April’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Annual Festival near Palm Desert, Calif, but she is hooked on New Orleans. “I think what I love about the jazz fest is the variety of the music,” she said. “My husband has agreed that as long as we can we will go. We will be those old people camped out on the chairs.” —AP

Princie Diamond: Rare Indian gem sells for $40million

A

34.64-carat pink diamond has sold at auction in New York for nearly $40 million, setting a new record for Christie’s auction house. Dubbed the “Princie Diamond,” the gem is “one of the largest and finest pink diamonds in the world,” with a “fabulous provenance,” Christie’s jewelry chief Francois Curiel said ahead of the sale. An anonymous telephone bidder paid $39,323,750, or more than $1 million per carat, for the stone from ancient diamond mines in southern India, the auction house said in a statement Tuesday.

The pink gem was once owned by the royal family of Hyderabad and, since 1960, by the London branch of Van Cleef & Arpels. The exclusive jewelry firm originally paid 46,000 pounds for it, equivalent to $1.3 million today, Christie’s said, indicating a hefty profit after Tuesday’s sale. All told, bidders paid more than $80 million for the jewels at the New York auction, including just under $4.5 million for a 30.32 carat rectangular cut D color diamond and $3.3 million for a Harry Winston diamond ring. Previously, the most paid at Christie’s for a diamond was $24.3 million, for the 31-carat Wittelsbach diamond in 2008. —AFP

This computer-generated image provided by the Royal Caribbean International cruise line shows its forthcoming ship, Quantum of the Seas.

(Inset) This computer-generated image provided by the Royal Caribbean International cruise line shows a bumper car attraction planned for the forthcoming ship, Quantum of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean’s ship Quantum of the Seas

R

oyal Caribbean cruise line dazzled cruise aficionados Tuesday with details of its forthcoming Quantum of the Seas ship, which will be the first at sea to offer attractions like bumper cars, simulated skydiving and an observation capsule called The North Star, with a bird’s eye view 300 feet (91 meters) above the water. “Without a doubt, Quantum of the Seas is a game changer with technological innovations never imagined aboard a cruise ship,” said Stewart Chiron, who writes at CruiseGuy.com.

“I can’t wait to get on it,” said Barbara Lippincott, who’s taken 160 cruises on Royal

Caribbean and was among a number of the company’s devotees at a Manhattan event unveiling the ship’s features. Richard Butz, a Pennsylvania-based travel agent with Cruise One, said he’ll have no trouble selling trips on Quantum. “Royal Caribbean comes up with things nobody ever thinks of,” he said.

Quantum will launch in November 2014 and will homeport in Cape Liberty, in Bayonne, NJ, with winter sailings to the Bahamas and Caribbean. Royal Caribbean executives said The North Star was inspired by the London Eye. The capsule can hold 14 people and is attached to a crane-like arm.

The skydiving attraction, called RipCord, uses a powerful wind flow to keep participants aloft while floating and spinning over an outdoor deck. “You’re not touching anything but the air,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.

An indoor complex called SeaPlex will host basketball, table tennis, trapeze instruction and bumper cars. The space converts to a dance floor for roller-skaters, with a DJ hovering above in a see-through pod. Another space, Two70, has a 270-degree panoramic view and will host aerialists and other performances.

Cabins have modular features like interior doors so that adjacent bedrooms can be connected for large families or multi-generational groups. Not everything on Quantum is new to the industry. Norwegian’s Epic ship introduced rooms designed for solo travelers, which Quantum will also have. Disney’s Dream and Fantasy ships have “virtual portholes” for windowless staterooms offering live views of the sea, and all of Quantum’s interior cabins will also have “virtual balconies” consisting of LED screens with projected ocean views.

Tickets for Quantum’s first sailing will go

on sale to the public June 4, with Royal Caribbean regular cruisers getting an early shot at tickets starting May 27. Prices were not announced but cruise lines typically charge more for new ships than for other cruises. Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said there would be no extra fees for many of the ship’s attractions, including The North Star and skydiving.

Royal Caribbean also owns the largest cruise ships in the world, the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas, which carry more than 6,000 people apiece. Quantum will carry 4,180 passengers. —AP

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

lifestyle M u s i c

E

arly in the sleek sci-fi thriller “Oblivion,” Tom Cruise, as a flyboy repairman living a removed, Jetsons-like existence above an invaded and deserted Earth, intones his home sickness. “I can’t shake the feeling that despite all that’s happened, Earth is still my home,” he narrates. One can’t help but chortle and wonder if Cruise is speaking for himself.

The chiseled blockbuster star carries so much baggage nowadays that an audience’s relationship to him often feels downright alien. But Cruise, that unrelenting bullet of headlong momentum, is undaunted. He keeps coming back with even bigger films, most of which, despite it all, he reliably propels - even if it’s become harder to see Cruise as anything other than himself.

In “Oblivion,” the second film from “Tron: Legacy” director Joseph Kosinski, he plays Jack Harper, a patroller of the drone-controlled skies over Earth.

From a sparse dock where he lives with his supervisor and girlfriend, Victoria (Andrea Riseborough), Jack makes daily flights in his spacecraft to the Earth’s barren surface. “We’re the mop-up crew,” he says. He tells us that it’s been 60 years since aliens invaded, first knocking out the moon (goodnight moon, indeed) and then leading to a devastating nuclear war.

Though humans, he says, won out, they had to abandon the planet’s surface (New York is buried up to the Empire State Building’s needle), taking refuge on a moon of Saturn. On a desolate Earth, the only beings remaining are hiding bands of Scavengers (“Scavs”) that look something like a cross between the Tusken Raiders of “Star Wars” and Milli Vanilli.

Monitoring the land are white, round drones that appear like giant, floating cue balls from afar, but menacing robot killers up close. Occasionally, they need servicing from Jack (Cruise as WALL-E). He avoids their blasters by authenticating himself, but as they bleep and blork, he cowers anxiously - not entirely certain they’re on the same team. His faith is greater with Victoria, who guides his movements from her

computerized desk. Her superior (played with a folksy Southern accent by Melissa Leo) is seen only in scratchy video communiques.

So we are back in a post-apocalyptic world, a place to which movies lately can’t help returning, all with various images of wrecked ironic monuments and unpeopled landscapes. We have seen many of the elements of “Oblivion” in countless science fiction tales before. But we’ve seldom seen them more beautifully rendered. Kosinski, who based the film on the ideas of his unpublished graphic novel, is an expert in 3D modeling and computer graphics. His “Tron: Legacy” was a critical flop for its muddled story but was nevertheless remarkable for its elegant digital architecture (including the more natural but no less exquisitely structured face of Olivia Wilde). His two movies now seem to owe as much to the iPod as anything: glossy clean surfaces with throbbing electronic scores (Daft Punk for “Tron,” M83 for “Oblivion”).

He filmed “Oblivion” with cinematographer Claudio Miranda, who also shot “Tron: Legacy” and since did the gorgeous filmography of Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi.” In “Oblivion,” they achieve a symphony of otherworldly sleekness when Victoria disrobes and dives into a pool on their space station, her dark silhouette outlined on the sunset stratosphere. We, too, bath in the imagery. This carefully organized world is thrown when a NASA shuttle crashes with an astronaut, Julia (Olga Kurylenko), who seems to recognize Jack. His own memory has been scrubbed but flickers with images from his past.

As the film builds, it plays with familiar sci-fi themes of identity, memory, faith in institutions and human nature. Little can be said about Morgan Freeman’s character without giving much away, but suffice to say that he enters the film in shades, lighting a cigar and wearing a cape. Yes, a cape. Kosinski could have chucked all his visual effects and just gone with a cape-clad Freeman. Analyzing the substance of “Oblivion,” which declines - as so many science-fiction

Q: Revisiting your life for this book, did you have any revelations about your journey so far?

A: The one thing that was pretty obvious is that I’ve had a pretty crazy life. It’s colorful ... reliving some of those closets that I had shut, locked and thrown away the key intentionally because it was painful to revisit a lot of those places - especially the loss of my buddy Robbie Tooley, the divorce of my parents, some of the things I went through as a kid, a lot of that stuff was locked up for a reason - it was painful.

But at the same time, there was some therapy in revisiting some of those spots.

Q: Was it hard to balance how much you wanted to include in your book about Miley’s story?

A: I think it would have been hard to write my life story without touching on (hers) somewhat. But at the same time, I respect her privacy and her life, and her world and her life is examined by everybody and Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus

everything. For me, I’m very respectful of her privacy, but yes ... I think it would have been missed a bit if I didn’t touch on some aspect of it. I’m respectful that she’s a young human being and just being a young person in today’s world is tough enough as it is. That makes it hard on a young person let alone be that famous and to live her life in that spotlight. I kind of walked through it respectfully.”

Q: You address the controversies you and your wife Tish faced regarding Miley, be it the Vanity Fair photoshoot (showing her only in a bed sheet at age 15) or the video of her smoking out of a bong.

Was it difficult reflecting on those?

A: I didn’t point a finger. The first thing I do (in the book) is I’m pointing a finger more at myself and saying, learn by my mistakes.

I’m not a perfect person so therefore I’m not in any position to tell anyone how to be perfect. That’s what daddies do - sheltering the storm, to be there, to pick you up when you get knocked down ... I’m not a perfect parent and this book is not about how to be perfect at anything. This book is a documentation about what my journey was, some of the mistakes that I made and some of the things that I did right.

And every now and then, I think failure is the most ingredient for success.”

Q: Why choose to write your book now?

A: I’m hungry for purpose. I’m looking for still that reason that I bought a guitar and started a band, to fulfill a purpose, to manifest destiny as to who I am and why I am the way I am, and what I do. I think it’s still about the music, the song and the story.

Q: You sound like you’re at crossroads?

A: Crossroads - that is the most accurate ... I’m hungry, I’ve got a chance to learn more from this than anybody ... I’m standing at a crossroads. I’m not entirely sure what the future holds ... I’m at a crossroads, but it’s a little bit different than the crossroads I’ve been at before because now I’m doing what I do because I love it, and doing what I do because it’s pure passion.”

Q: Anything you wish you hadn’t included in the book?

A: One of the worst things I did was steal a 3D picture of Jesus for my grandmother for Christmas. That’s terrible. I’d give anything if I hadn’t have done that, but I did ... that story I think I could have left out.

— Reuters

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films do - as the puzzles are solved, inevitably diminishes the film. But for those who enjoy the simple thrill of handsomely stylized image-making, “Oblivion” is mostly mesmerizing.

The severe artificiality of the film’s universe begins cracking with Jack’s curiosity for earthly, analog things. It started with a found book, and grows in his secret mountain hideaway of old records, a baseball cap and literature. It’s a familiar trope in sci-fi that humanity breathes eternally through art. But if films like “Oblivion” are so preoccupied by the detritus of our civilization, perhaps we ought to aim a little high-

er than Tom Cruise blockbusters. After all, our future fate depends on it. “Oblivion,” a Universal Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, brief strong language, and some sensuality. Running time: 124 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four. — AP

This film publicity image released by Universal Pictures shows Olga Kurylenko, left, and Tom Cruise in a scene from ‘Oblivion.’ — AP

The kind of demographic variety makes sound business sense. Although Caucasians make up the majority of the population and moviegoers, Latinos are more likely than any other ethnic group to go to movies, according to a recent report by the Motion Picture Assn of America. The number of Latinos who qualify as frequent moviegoers jumped from 8.4 million in 2011 to 10.9 million last year.—Reuters

Vin Diesel, center, a cast member in the forthcoming film ‘Fast & Furious 6,’ flashes a thumbs-up sign for the audience as Universal Pictures Chairman Adam Fogelson, left, and fellow cast member Paul Walker watch during CinemaCon 2013 at Caesars Palace. — AP

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ast & Furious 6” reflects the changing demographics of today’s moviegoers with its cast of Latino, African-American and Asian actors, Universal Studios Chairman Adam Fogelson said at CinemaCon on Tuesday. When Tyrese Gibson, Vin Diesel, Sung Kang and Michelle Rodriguez took the stage at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace it was indeed a welcome break from the spectacle of white men anchoring big studio tentpole films.

This kind of diversity has powered the illegal street racing franchise to more than $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office. Moreover, the franchise has grown its audience with each installment: “Fast Five” was actually the series’ highest-grossing film, racking up $626.1 million worldwide. That could be eclipsed by “Fast & Furious 6,” which BoxOffice.com senior analyst Phil Contrino predicts will gross between $700 million to $750 million at the global box office this summer.

“They’ve called our series the most progressive force in Hollywood,” Diesel told the crowd at CinemaCon. Diesel was referring to the franchise’s use of social-media, which he credited with reviving Rodriguez’s character, who set out the previous installment, but was brought back at the request of fans. He might as well have been talking about its habit of casting lead actors that mirror the increasingly global nature of film audiences.

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cottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sande was nominated for two of Britain’s top songwriting honors yesterday in a shortlist that also put northern English rockers Alt-J and London rapper Plan B forward for two awards. Sande’s “Next to Me” was nominated in both the best song and a most performed work category in the Ivor Novello Awards.

The nominations cap a triumphant 12 months for 26-year-old Sande in which she won best British female artist and best album at the BRIT Awards and sang at the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics. Leeds-based indie rock quartet Alt-J was nominated for best contemporary song for Emeli Sande

by Bat for Lashes “Next to Me”; written by Hugo Chegwin, Harry Craze, Anup Paul and Emeli Sande; performed by Emeli Sande “Two Fingers”; written by Iain Archer and Jake Bugg; performed

by Jake Bugg Best Contemporary Song “Fitzpleasure”; written by Thomas Green, Joe Newman, Gwilym Sainsbury and Augustus Unger-Hamilton; performed by Alt-J “Ill Manors”; written by Pierre Baigorry, David Conen, Benjamin Drew, Vincent Graf-Schlippenbach, Dmitri Shostakovich and Al Shux; performed by Plan B “Pelican”; written by Sam Doyle, Rupert Jarvis, Orlando Weeks, Felix White and Hugo White; performed by The Maccabees PRS for Music most Performed Work “Dance With Me Tonight”; written by Claude Kelly, Oliver Murs and Steve Robson; performed by Olly Murs “Next to Me”; written by Hugo Chegwin, Harry Craze, Anup Paul and Emeli SandÈ; performed by Emeli Sande

“Fitzpleasure” and the album award for “An Awesome Wave”, while Plan B’s “Ill Manors” was up for best contemporary song and best original film score.

The 58th Ivor Novello Awards, to be presented by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors on May 16, are judged by the music writing community and are regarded as the most important awards for British music writers.

Following is a full list of nominees:

Album Award “An Awesome Wave”; written by Thomas Green, Joe Newman, Gwilym Sainsbury and Augustus Unger-Hamilton; performed by Alt-J “Every Kingdom”; written by Ben Howard; performed by Ben Howard “Is Your Love Big Enough?” written by Lianne Barnes and Matthew Hales; performed by Lianne La Havas Best Original Film Score “Anna Karenina”; composed by Dario Marianelli “Dr Seuss’ The Lorax”; composed by John Powell “Ill Manors”; composed by Benjamin Drew and Al Shux —Reuters

Best Song Musically and Lyrically “Laura”; written by Natasha Khan and Justin Parker; performed

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ctor Richard LeParmentier, best known as the commander in “Star Wars” who Darth Vader nearly choked to death for his “lack of faith” in the Force, has died aged 66, his family said. LeParmentier appeared in more than 50 films and TV shows but is remembered for playing Death Star commander Admiral Motti in the 1977 film “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” in which Darth Vader chokes him using the invisible “Force”.

LeParmentier also appeared in “Octopussy”, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, and as a reporter in “Superman II” which starred British actress Sarah Douglas, his wife from

1981-1984, as the Kryptonian supervillain Ursa. His family paid tribute to “a warm, genuine person with an unparalleled joie de vivre”.

“He absolutely loved traveling the world and meeting his friends and fellow Stars Wars fans - whose tributes have given us all the best lines in this message,” Rhiannon, Stephanie, and Tyrone LeParmentier said in a statement.

“Every time we find someone’s lack of faith disturbing, we’ll think of him . He has gone to the Stars, and he will be missed.” The actor was born in Pittsburgh but moved to Britain in 1974 where he was most recently working as a

screenwriter, according to his biography on IMDb. He was visiting relatives in Austin, Texas, at the time of his death. No cause was given for his death. The actor, who appeared at some sci-fi conventions, was reported as saying of his most famous role: “I did the choking effect by flexing muscles in my neck. It set off a chain of events, that choking. “I can’t do it anymore because, oddly enough, I have had an operation on my neck and had some 21st century titanium joints put into it.”—Reuters

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

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angnam Style” star Psy’s new music video crossed the 100 million views mark on YouTube yesterday, shattering another record on the video-sharing site since its much-anticipated weekend debut. The video for “Gentleman”, the long-awaited follow-up to the South Korean singer’s global hit, has received 105.4 million hits, topping 100 million in record time since it was posted Saturday. The previous record was set by the video of Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle singing “I Dreamed A Dream” in the TV show, which received 100 million hits in just over a week in 2009.

Psy’s latest offering also racked up around 20 million hits in the first 24 hours, smashing the previous record for first-day views of 8.0 million set by Canadian star Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend” video in May 2012. The video shows Psy, wearing his signature sunglasses, dancing at various locations in and around Seoul including a high-end clothing store, restaurant, swimming pool and a library. The storyline features the singer teasing and playing practical jokes on women, such as pulling their chairs away as they are about to sit or untying a woman’s bikini top at a swimming pool, before meeting his match.

It was the video of “Gangnam Style”, and in particular Psy’s signature horse-riding dance, that pushed him to global stardom last year after it was posted on YouTube and turned

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into a viral sensation. A satire on the luxury lifestyle of Seoul’s upscale Gangnam district, it has become the most-watched YouTube video of all time, registering more than 1.5 billion views since it debuted last July.

“Gentleman” was ranked yesterday in the top 10 songs on iTunes stores in a number of countries including France, Australia, Canada and Britain and topped the chart in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Greece.

Critical reactions to the song were mixed but the videoshowing the quirky singer’s signature self-mocking humor as well as the new hip-swiveling dance-left many fans satisfied. “I can tell that by July, people around the world will do that dance,” said one of 500,000 YouTube users who posted comments. —AFP

In a file picture taken on April 13, 2013 ‘Gangnam Style’ star Psy performs during his concert ‘Happening’ in Seoul. — AFP

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Michelle Williams arrives at the world premiere of ‘Call Me Crazy: A Five Film’.

Actress/singer Jennifer Hudson attends the premiere of Lifetime’s ‘Call Me Crazy: A Five Film’.

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Actress Jennifer Aniston attends the premiere of Lifetime’s ‘Call Me Crazy: A Five Film’ at Pacific Design Center on April 16, 2013 in West Hollywood, California.—AP photos

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ndia’s top court yesterday granted Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt four weeks of freedom before he must return to prison for firearms offences, but refused him more time to meet filming commitments. Dutt, who was convicted for possessing arms supplied by the plotters of deadly blasts in Mumbai in 1993, had appealed on humanitarian grounds for another six months of freedom because of his on-set commitments. In a ruling by the Supreme Court, a two-judge bench said they were “not inclined to extend the time” by the six months Dutt had requested.

The muscular, tattooed 53-year-old was freed on bail in 2007 after serving 18 months of a five-year sentence and

ennifer Aniston may have played a terrible manager in the 2011 comedy “Horrible Bosses,” but in real life the actor turned-director/producer says she’s a total “pushover” when in charge. Aniston executive produced the upcoming television movie “Call Me Crazy: A Five Film,” a compilation of short films about mental illness premiering April 20 on Lifetime. At the movie’s premiere Tuesday in Los Angeles Aniston said she’s a hardworking, no-nonsense boss who loves seeing a film come together from the ground up.

Though audiences are used to watching the “Friends” actress in big budget blockbusters, Aniston finds passion projects like “Call Me Crazy” most-fulfilling. “These are the things you wake up excited about,” she said. The film’s star-studded cast and directors include Jennifer Hudson, Melissa Leo and Ashley Judd. — AP

was allowed his liberty while appealing his conviction. But last month the Supreme Court ruled he must return to jail

by April 18 to serve the remainder of his sentence for the possession of firearms supplied by gangland bosses who staged the string of bombings that killed 257 people in Mumbai. At an emotional press conference last month, Dutt, whose late parents were two of India’s biggest film stars, said he would accept his fate and surrender to prison authorities before his deadline. He tearfully said at the time: “I am a shattered man, my family is shattered. These are tough times in my life.”

The actor, whose mother was Muslim and whose father was Hindu, was acquitted in 2007 of conspiracy charges over the blasts staged by Mumbai’s criminal world. The bombings across the city were seen as retaliation for religious rioting in which mainly Muslims died following the razing of an ancient mosque. Despite the acquittal Dutt was found guilty of possession of an automatic rifle and a pistol, which he insisted were only meant to protect his family amid the highly charged atmosphere in Mumbai following the mosque’s destruction. Analysts estimate there are some 2.5 billion rupees ($45 million) riding on Dutt in Bollywood, with four or five films in the pipeline. — AFP File photo shows Indian Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt speaks during a press conference promoting his new Bollywood film ‘Knock Out’ at the International Indian Film Academy awards event in Colombo, Sri Lanka. — AP

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anzibari singer Bi Kidude, a legend in east Africa for her haunting voice and energetic performances despite her age, which was thought to be around 100, died yesterday at her home, her nephew said. Bi Kidude, whose real name was Fatuma binti Baraka, and who performed and toured up until very recently, was best known for Taarab music, which combines Arab and African influences.

A diminutive and wrinkled figure with a haunting voice, she displayed immense energy on stage, beating a large drum clamped between her legs and occasionally drawing on a cigarette or taking a swig of liquor from the bottle. “She has died, we are making funeral

arrangements,” her nephew Baraka Abdullah Said told AFP. He said his aunt had been confined to bed for the past several months. In 2005 Bi Kidude, who started her singing career back in the 1920s, received the prestigious World Music Expo (WOMEX) award for her outstanding contribution to music and culture in Zanzibar. Bi Kidude was one of the most famous cultural icons from the east African island of Zanzibar, a semiautonomous part of Tanzania, whose people and traditions are a melting pot resulting from centuries of trade across eastern Africa, the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

When she was born Zanzibar-once a famous

usic documentary “Mistaken for Strangers,” a tale about two brothers and the indie rock group The National, opens the Tribeca Film Festival yesterday, which this year features nearly 90 feature films from 30 countries. The documentary was made by Tom Berninger, the younger brother of the Brooklyn group’s lead singer Matt, who follows the band behind the scenes on a world tour. The filmmaker fires funny and often irrelevant questions at the five members of the band which is made up of Matt and two other pairs of brothers.

“It is a very personal movie,” said Berninger, 33, who shot the film while working as a roadie for the band, which will perform after yesterday’s screening. The band, formed in Cincinnati in 1999 before moving Brooklyn, is known for its dark, moody music. “With every younger brother there comes this desire to make something of himself in his (older) brother’s eyes. It is about self discovery, stepping out of the shadow and acceptance of who you are,” Berninger said.

Festival organizers said they selected the film to start Tribeca because it embodies the independent spirit of many of the emerging filmmakers showing their work at the 12-day festival that runs until April 28. “Not only is it a

Actor Robert DeNiro, left, and his wife Grace Hightower, attend the Vanity Fair Tribeca Film Festival Party.

Actress Sienna Miller

Actor Christopher Walken, left, and his wife, casting director Georgianne Walken.

music documentary, it is a documentary about a young filmmaker making his first film. It is funny and irreverent, a good laugh, and has great music,” said Genna Terranova, the director of programming for Tribeca.

Jane Rosenthal, who co-founded the festival named for a New York City neighborhood with actor Robert De Niro after the September 2001 attacks in downtown Manhattan, described it as “a very poignant story,” with its title stemming from the band’s song of the same name.

“The festival was founded to expose filmmakers to the widest possible audiences and to bring people back downtown, and it does both of those things,” she said.

Berninger is among 38 first-time directors showing at Tribeca, which will feature 55 narrative films, 34 documentaries and 53 world premieres. The festival, now in its second decade, will include free streaming of a number of

films and has added a new section called Storyscapes, with five transmedia projects examining the intersection of technology and filmmaking.

“We are in an interesting time in our business now between technology and creating stories,” said Rosenthal.

“The way we are viewing things is changing. Our habits are changing.” Visitors can interact with the projects whose topics range from personal reflections on insomnia, accounts of the effects of Superstorm Sandy in the US Northeast, and alternatives to the storyline of “Star Wars.”

The festival will close with a restored version of Martin Scorsese’s 1982 film “The King of Comedy” starring De Niro and Jerry Lewis. — Reuters

port for slaves, ivory and spices-was under British colonial rule. She was regarded as one of Zanzibar’s most famous musicians. Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of rock legends Queen, was also born on the island, but left as a teenager for Britain. — AFP

Swahili traditional music ‘Taarab’ star, Zanzibar’s Bi Fatuma Binti Baraka, but popularly known as Bi Kidude, performs during a show in Nairobi. — AFP

Princie Diamond: Rare Indian gem sells for $40 million

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THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

A picture taken on April 16, 2013 shows a tree among several thousands of tons of used tyres piled in a ten-hectare installation for recycling in Lachapelle-Auzac. The company recycling these used tyres in this facility closed in 2004 after being placed in receivership. — AFP

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anes in hand and bowler hats firmly in place, dozens of Charlie Chaplin impersonators tramped through the streets of a small port town in western India Tuesday to celebrate the birthday of the legendary comic actor and filmmaker. Chaplin has an odd resonance in this industrial town. Surrounded by salt flats bordering the Thar desert, Adipur’s only claim to fame is the annual parade - now in its 40th year to honor the silent era actor.

More than 100 people participated in the parade that included brass

Chaplin’s films have a universal appeal.

“Every Chaplin film has a message for the common man. It’s a message that has relevance even today,” Aswani said. Aswani, said the first Chaplin film he watched was “Gold Rush,” back in 1966 and was hooked.

Aswani recalled that he was on his way to work when he saw a poster of Charlie Chaplin dressed as a tramp at the local movie hall. “I watched all three shows of the film that day. The next day I was sacked from my job for taking the day off without informing

Members and supporters of the Charlie Circle, a Charlie Chaplin fanclub, gesture after getting ready for the annual parade to celebrate the birthday of Charlie Chaplin in Adipur, Gujarat state, India, Tuesday. — AP photos bands, camel carts and open jeeps carrying life-sized cut-outs of Chaplin.

Men and women dressed in crumpled black suits and carrying canes practiced the cheerful tramp’s customary bowlegged walk as the parade made its way through the streets of Adipur in Gujarat state.

“Charlie Chaplin is our hero. Every year we celebrate his birthday with a parade,” said Ashok Aswani, founder of Charlie Circle, a club that has been celebrating Chaplin’s birthday since 1973.

Women dressed in colorful local costumes performed traditional Indian dances around the Chaplin impersonators as boom boxes loaded on small trucks belted out Hindi film songs. The two-hour long parade winds down with club members performing skits mimicking Chaplin and the day’s festivities end with a screening of one of his classic films. Aswani, a portly 64-year-old wearing a black bowler hat and sporting Chaplin’s trademark toothbrush mustache, said

the office,” Aswani said.

“I lost my job, but I discovered Charlie Chaplin, and I’ve stayed his fan ever since,” he said. Aswani, who practices traditional Indian medicine for a living, said that he often hands out DVDs of Chaplin films to his patients when they are feeling low.

“They always return feeling upbeat and wanting more Chaplin films,” he said. The Charlie Circle club has about 200 members, all living in and around Adipur, and the annual bash for Chaplin’s birthday is the club’s highlight. Among the members is 79-year-old Arjunji Bhimji Karia, a retired bus driver, who counts himself among Chaplin’s oldest fans.—AP

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ndia’s most elaborate theme park opens this week with special-effect Hindu gods and Bollywood-themed rides, aiming to tap a thirst for family entertainment among the country’s rising middle-class. Adlabs Imagica, which cost about $294 million to create, opens its doors to the public on Thursday between the western cities of Mumbai and Pune, with capacity for 10,000 to 15,000 visitors a day.

In the style of a Disney or Universal Studios park, the new tourist site hopes to fill a gap in the Indian leisure market and comes with twists to appeal to the domestic audience.

Attractions include a “Wrath of the Gods” show, in which Hindu deities furious with humans “cause the ultimate destruction” amid temple ruins. The “Curse of Salimgarh” involves a haunted fortress named after an old Delhi structure, while a “Mr India” motion simulation ride is based on a 1987 Hindi superhero film of the same name. “It was our vision to create an entertainment theme park of international standards in India,” said Manmohan Shetty, whose firm Adlabs Entertainment Ltd set up the complex.

A water park, hotel and shopping area will also be launched at the 300-acre (121-hectare) site in phases, while Shetty plans to open another venture in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad in 2015. Tickets are expensive by Indian standards-at 1200 rupees ($22) for children and 1,500 ($28) for adults on weekends-but Shetty is confident of meeting a target of three million visitors a year. A day out for a family of four could cost about 10,000 rupees ($185) — “not a huge expense once or twice a year”, said the Bollywood entrepreneur, who also introduced multiplex cinemas to India.

The park will attract urban middle-class families who are spending in ways unimaginable a decade ago but who still have limited leisure options, said Ankur Bisen, vice president at consultancy Technopak Advisors. Since India’s economy liberalized in the early 1990s, household spending has risen on new areas such as eating out and travel, spurred by increased exposure to global trends, Bisen explained. “It’s affordability meets desirability,” said the retail and consumer products analyst. “People are starting to see what they’re missing in their lives.”

The new park fits the trend across Asia, which has become a new frontier for large-scale outdoor entertainment complexes in recent years thanks to growing affluence and cheaper air travel. Disney is constructing a $5 bil-

lion theme park resort in Shanghai, while Asia’s first Legoland opened to packed crowds in Malaysia late last year. Such attractions on the continent draw more than 100 million visitors and up to $3 billion in revenues a year, said Chris Yoshii, Hong Kong-based director in Asian leisure and cultural services at consultancy AECOM.

“It’s really been in the last ten years there’s been very strong growth of five to ten percent per year,” he told AFP. India however is yet to attract major global theme park operators to its shores, in part because of concerns over infrastructure and spending power. On a recent visit to Mumbai, head of Walt Disney International Andy Bird was reported as saying they had no plans to open a park in the country, instead focusing on their Shanghai resort. Adlabs imported all of its new rides owing to India’s lack of technology and it took on staff with experience at international theme parks-but it could be some time before the big names arrive themselves. “We’re at the point where the market is not big enough for Disney to come in, but it’s big enough for an Indian businessman to come and seize the opportunity,” Bisen said. — AFP

Indian Bollywood personality Manmohan Shetty with daughters Pooja Shetty and Aarti Shetty poses in front of the Abland Magica theme park at Khopoli. — AFP

A general view of the Abland Magica theme park at Khopoli, some 70 kms southwest of Mumbai.

Preview visitors enjoy a ride on a water feature at the Abland Magica theme park.