30th Jun 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Kerry extends Middle East peace mission

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9Egypt11 15 20 braces for protests Army has warned it could step in if violence flares

CAIRO: Supporters of Egypt’s Islamist President Mohamed Morsi shout slogans against the opposition as they hold the president’s poster at a public square outside the Rabia Al-Adawiya mosque near the presidential palace yesterday. — AP

Haj in focus amid MERS virus fears GENEVA: Virologists are casting a worried eye on this year’s haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia as they struggle with the enigmatic, deadly virus known as MERS which is striking hardest in the kingdom. Little is known about the new pathogen, beyond the fact that it can be lethal by causing respiratory problems, pneumonia and kidney failure. It can be transmitted between humans, but unlike its cousin, the SARS virus, which sparked a scare a decade ago, it does not seem very contagious.

Even so, for any respiratory virus the mass gathering of the haj provides a perfect opportunity to first spread at the two holiest Muslim shrines in the cities of Makkah and Madinah, and then travel around the globe at jet speed as pilgrims return home. The 2012 haj drew 3.1 million people - and this year’s event likewise occurs in October, as the northern hemisphere slides into the season for coughs and sneezes.

Continued on Page 15

Rowhani looks to detente with world TEHRAN: Moderate president-elect Hassan Rowhani said yesterday his victory opened a new path for Iran to engage constructively with the international community and ease tensions raised by Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. “Moderation in foreign policy means neither surrender nor confrontation but constructive and efficacious interaction with the world,” Rowhani said in his first live televised speech since being elected on June 14 to succeed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iran is at odds with world powers over its controversial nuclear ambitions, which the West and Israel suspect have military objectives, and its support for the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar AlAssad. Rowhani, who thrashed his conservative opponents by winning almost 51 percent of votes, did not mention either issue directly. But he did say he would move to ease tensions after he formally takes office on Aug 3. Under his administration, “interaction and dialogue will be based on reciprocity, respect and mutual interest, and seeking mutual detente,” Rowhani said.

TEHRAN: Iranian president-elect Hassan Rowhani speaks in his first live televised speech since his election during a ceremony at the state TV yesterday. — AFP His tone contrasted with Ahmadinejad’s eight years as president, which were marked by fiery, contentious remarks on a wide range of international issues, including Iran’s nuclear drive, arch-foe Israel’s right to exist and the Holocaust.

Ahmadinejad, whose disputed 2009 reelection plunged Iran into domestic turmoil, has also drawn the ire of domestic Continued on Page 15

Max 47º Min 32º High Tide 05:03 & 16:57 Low Tide 11:10 & 23:31

CAIRO: Egyptians were on edge yesterday ahead of mass rallies against Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, as US President Barack Obama expressed concern after an American was killed during clashes between proand anti-government protesters. Four people died and scores were hurt on Friday when Islamist supporters of Morsi turned out to challenge opponents demanding his departure, in what is seen as a prelude to possible confrontations today. The army, which has stayed aloof from politics since Morsi was elected a year ago, has warned it will intervene if there is major unrest.

Speaking in South Africa, Obama said of Egypt: “We are all looking at the situation there with concern. We would urge all parties to make sure they are not engaging in violence and that police and military are showing appropriate restraint. Everybody has to denounce violence. We would like to see the opposition and President Morsi engage in a more constructive conversation about (how) to move their country forward because nobody is benefiting from the current stalemate.”

He added that it was “challenging, given there is not a tradition of democracy in Egypt”. “Egypt is the largest country in the Arab world,” Obama said. “The entire region is concerned that, if Egypt continues with this constant instability, that has adverse effects more broadly.” US missions would be protected, he said. Last year, a consulate in Libya was overrun and Americans killed.

Andrew Pochter, 21, an intern with US cultural and educational group AMIDEAST, was killed as he photographed clashes in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, Egyptian officials said. One man was killed during earlier clashes there, and another succumbed to his injuries yesterday. An Egyptian journalist in the Suez Canal city of Port Said was also killed and several others wounded by a small explosive device thrown at antiMorsi protesters, a security official and witnesses said.

Across the country more than 130 people were reported wounded. The offices of the Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood from which Morsi hails, were torched in Alexandria and at Aga in Daqahliya. Its offices were stormed in Beheira.

Washington warned Americans against travel to Egypt as antagonism intensifies between Morsi’s supporters and the opposition, which accuses him of betraying the 2011 revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak.

Continued on Page 15

Obama meets family of Mandela Shabab kill own chiefs MOGADISHU: Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shabab extremists have killed two of their own top commanders, one with a $5 million United States bounty on his head, the insurgents said yesterday. “We have informed their widows of their deaths, as they must now wear the clothes of mourning,” Shabab spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab told AFP. The pair killed are two co-founders of the Islamist group, including US-wanted Ibrahim Haji Jama Mead, better known by his nickname Al-Afghani - “the Afghan”, due to his training and fighting with Islamist guerrillas there.

Washington offered a $5 million bounty for Afghani, who opposed the command of top Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane. Godane earlier this month ordered Afghani and other leaders’ arrest.

Shabab gunmen also killed Abul Hamid Hashi Olhayi, named as another senior commander and cofounder of the group. Family members said they were arrested and then executed, but the Shabab said they were killed during a gun battle. “We deny reports that the men were killed after capture,” Musab told AFP. “ The two men were killed in a shootout when they were resisting arrest on court orders.”

Somalia’s Shabab is fractured into multiple rival factions, some based along clan lines and others ideological. Some are more attracted by a nationalist agenda to oust foreigners from Somalia, while others - including Godane - have more international jihadi ambitions. However, despite its divisions, analysts say it remains a dangerous and powerful force.

Afghani formerly headed the extremist group’s forces in southern Somalia’s Lower Juba region, based in the strategic port city of Kismayo.

In April, a letter was circulated on extremist websites reportedly penned by Afghani to Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, criticising the leadership of Godane. Security sources report that clashes broke out between Godane’s troops and forces loyal to Afghani on June 20 in the southern Somali port of Barawe, one of the few towns still held by the AlQaeda-linked insurgents. After the fighting in Barawe in which Afghani was captured, factions opposed to Godane have scattered. — AFP

JOHANNESBURG: US President Barack Obama met the family of his “inspiration” Nelson Mandela in South Africa yesterday but was unable to see the antiapartheid legend who remains critically ill in hospital. Despite tentative signs of an improvement in the condition of the 94-year-old icon, who has been in intensive care for more than three weeks, Obama decided not to visit Mandela for fearing of disturbing his “peace and comfort”. Instead Obama met privately with relatives of his fellow Nobel peace laureate, including two daughters and several grandchildren, and spoke by telephone with Mandela’s wife Graca Machel.

“I expressed my hope that Madiba draws peace and comfort from the time that he is spending with loved ones, and also expressed my heartfelt support for the entire family as they work through this difficult time,” Obama said, using Mandela’s clan name. Machel said she had “drawn strength from the support” offered by the Obama family. “I am humbled by their comfort and messages of strength and inspiration which I have already conveyed to Madiba.”

Speaking earlier in Pretoria, where Mandela lay fighting for his life in a nearby hospital, Obama praised the “moral Continued on Page 15

PRETORIA: South African President Jacob Zuma (second right) and his wife Thobeka Madiba-Zuma (right) wave alongside US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as they arrive at the Union Building yesterday. — AFP

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

LOCAL

35 register on third day of candidacy for NA elections ‘Judiciary guides the govt’

Khalaf Demaitheer Al-Enezi

Barrak Naser Al-Noun

Nawaf Al-Fuzai’a

Meshal Ibrahim Al-Nami

Hammad Mannah Al-Dousary

Bader Sahab Al-Muwaizri

Naser Abdullah Al-Enezi

Abbas Ali Abbas

Salman Naser Al-Rashidi

Mubarak Al-Merri

KUWAIT: Thirty five candidates submitted their candidacy papers to the General Department for Elections Affairs at the Ministry of Interior on the third day of candidacy registration for the upcoming 14th parliamentary elections, slated for July 27. The candidates are distributed as follows: three candidates in the first constituency; six in the second constituency; five for the third constituency; eight for the fourth constituency; and 13 for the fifth constituency.

Under Kuwait’s electoral laws, parliament hopefuls have ten days to sign up their names for the elections.

Kuwait has 435,000 eligible voters who elect a 50-member parliament for a fouryear term. Meanwhile, the government is committed to taking steps in accordance with the law and constitution, regardless of the impact that their implementation might have on the political scene, said a cabinet member recently, in response to accusations of delaying in setting the date for parliamentary elections.

“Government procedures must be in accordance with the judiciary in order to avoid legal hassles or making errors,” State Minister of Cabinet Affairs and State Minister of Municipality Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah told Al-Rai on Friday. He emphasized the impor tance of allowing the judiciar y enough time to make its decisions “in order to avoid repentance later,”and insisted that the judiciar y in Ku wait “guides the government” instead of the other way around. Speak ing from Lo ndo n by p h on e, Sheik h A l -Sab ah defended the Madinat Al-Harir (Silk City)

project. He was quoted in a recent CNN report as announcing that the government project was worth a quarter-trilliondollars. “The project is vital to Kuwait and its future, and a decree was released to establish an apparatus for it,” he said, adding that the gove rnment waited before making a decision on the budget for the project “out of respect for the constitutional principles,” which require the decision to be passed in the parliament.

And while candidates’ registration continues for the July 29 elections, debate has already started on the likely nominees to run for the speaker’s post in the upcoming parliament. “ The government’s political calculation will determine the next parliament’s speaker,”said third constituenc y member Dr. Ahmad AlMunais. He fur ther indicated that the announcement of first constituency candidate Abdullah Al-Roumi to run for speaker “opens the door early for competition,”expressing belief that ministers could vote for him. However, he did not rule out the likelihood that they might support Ali Al-Rashid, “depending on the parliament’s formation.” Member of the annulled parliament Abdullah Al-Tamimi told Al-Rai in the meantime that speaker of the same parliament Ali Al-Rashid has a strong chance to return to the same post, given “the very successful job” he did during his short-lived tenure.

In that regard, parliamentary sources told Al-Rai that a bloc featuring at least eight members from the annulled parliament could be announced soon “with the earliest task being supporting Al-Rashid in his speakership bid.”

In other news, a top Islamist in the government, in what was considered an unusual statement, called for establishing political parties in Kuwait as a necessary step to “organize political life in Kuwait.”

In statements published by Al-Watan yesterday, President of the Supreme Advisor y Committe e for t he I mplementation of Islamic Sharia Dr. K halid Al-M athkour said that the Constitutional Court’s ruling to uphold the single-vote system must be followed by steps to “complete Kuwait’s democracy that remains incomplete given the lack of political clarity regarding the already existing [political] forces.”

According to Dr. Al-Mathkour, a parlia- Ali Abdullah Madhi Al-Khamees mentary system in which the cabinet is organisation for liberal groups in Kuwait, formed by the political party that wins released the statement apparently in majority votes in the elections could end response to calls for introducing constituthe political crisis in Kuwait and restore tional amendments containing restricactivity in all aspects of life. “People have tions on public freedoms, which are often grown tired of years of political instability made by members from the opposition resulting from cabinet resignations and who are boycotting the upcoming elecparliament dissolutions,” he said. tions.

In other news, the National Democratic Meanwhile, the candidate for the third Alliance criticized the opposition’s com- constituency for the N.A. Council elecments on S ecretar y General Adel Al- tions, Osama Yousuf Al-Tahous, emphaFawzan’s rejection of the use of “Sharia sized the importance of the upcoming slogans to control the country and abol- period as one that could make a differish the civil state and constitution.” ence between Kuwait making achieve“ The civil state is no longer just an ments or missing the bus. option, but a reality that we will never He called for the necessity to back accept a replacement for,” said Al-Fawzan public participation in the democratic in a statement made available to the process by voting in the upcoming elecpress on Friday. He further insisted that tions. He said the voters must choose the Kuwaiti Constitution must “maintain such representatives in the N.A. Council its civil identity,” and called for “taking the who could take a stand in favour of the state towards more freedom and civiliza- nation and represent the concerns of the tion.” The NDA, which is an umbrella people.

Training program at CBK branches KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait received a group of students registered for the summer training program organized for the children of the CBK employees and their relatives as well as @Tijari account customers.

Acting General Manager of the Human Resources Department Huda Sadiq said in a recent statement that the training program Huda Sadiq that started on June 23 will continue till Aug 22, adding that it also features a two-week training program at several CBK branches across Kuwait.

Ahmad Haji Lari

He said the elected MPs would be able to continue to legislate the country’s way towards real reforms which would result in growth and lead to the much required stability. He told reporters that Kuwaitis have to be united, especially since it was no more a fight between the executive authority and the legislative authority but one among the influential, which has caused the growth to stop and caused frustration among the public.

“We have started seeing differences that were never seen before,” he said. He emphasized the role of voters, particularly the youth who form a majority and said they must vote as per the one person-one vote to choose their public representatives. He said his message during the election campaign would be that the ‘youth have a voice, and it is necessary to par ticipate in voting’. He said it was essential that ever yone par ticipated proactively in the elections.

Kuwait holds study on crime rate KUWAIT: A study prepared by the National Assembly about crime rates in Kuwait and reasons behind these, apart from the nature of crimes, the nationality of criminals and various other factors has revealed many aspects of behaviour of criminals in the country and provided comparative data in the field.

The study dealt with level of crime in Kuwait and their classification from a legal point. It also dealt with the social aspects, use of electronics in committing crime and detecting these, apart from the number of criminals and comparisons between citizens and expats involved in crimes.

The study also covered crime happening in the commercial sphere, cases of juvenile delinquency and the consequences of the increasing rate of crime, including their economic, psychological and social effects.

The study brought out that there are 130 inmates in Kuwait’s prisons for ever y 100,000 population.

Compared to a random sample from other countries, one can say that the instance of crime on an average in Kuwait is not as high as in the US, Tunisia or the UAE while it is not as low as in France, Bahrain and Qatar.

Thus, it is possible to reduce the rate of crime in Kuwait than the current average and it could be brought to the level of countries that are considered safer in the world. The study indicated that there is no society without crime, and some crimes do happen wherever people deal with each other in social and economic spheres. There is always some deviation in conduct which we call a crime. Of course there is an effect of expats on crime average in Kuwait.

Major role for Kuwait at population conference KUWAIT: The efforts of the Kuwaiti delegation to the Regional Population and Development Conference were commendable, announced Rapporteur of the High consultative Committee in the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Dr Fawwaz Al-Husainan.

Al-Husainan said yesterday the delegation noted to the participants of the conference which concluded in Cairo, the importance of separating youth sector from the sport sector in order to follow the international developments in this field. Moreover, the delegation called for investing the talents and abilities of youth and giving them a chance in different bodies of their countries, so they could play an important role in building their societies. Al-Husainan said that Kuwait focused on the importance of giving youth the chance to participate in decision making, especially youth below 25 years old who form two-thrids of the Arab world population, with 100 million male and female.—KUNA

KUWAIT: Participants of the Arab Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions meeting pose for a group photograph.

Kuwait elected president of ARABOSAI General Assembly KUWAIT: The Kuwait State Audit Bureau (SAB) was elected president of the Arab Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ARABOSAI) for a three-year term, SAB announced in a press statement yesterday after the conclusion on ARABOSAI 11th General Assembly.

“The presidency of ARABOSAI is a new success for SAB and an outcome of the relentless efforts exerted for upgrading and raising the efficiency of SAB staff,” reads the statement.

It noted that SAB President Abdulaziz Al-Adsani will preside over the ARABOSAI General Assembly.

Chairman of Saudi General Auditing Bureau Usama bin Jaffar Faqih and President of the Iraqi Federal Board of Supreme Audit Abdulbasit Turki Saeed were elected first and second deputies for AlAdsani.

The statement also revealed that the coming general assembly will be held in Iraq in 2016.

Kuwait Audit Bureau hosted ARABOSAI’s 11th General Assembly as well as the 48th and 49th meetings of the ARABOSAI Executive Council during the period from 23-27 June.

The meetings have resulted in a series of resolutions and recommendations to aggressively crackdown on corruption and protect public money in Arab countries. These included the approval of the pan-Arab organization’s three-year strategy, plan of action, budget and research and training programs, the statement unveiled.

The Arab Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ARABOSAI), whose membership includes all supreme audit institutions in the Arab countries, was established in 1976 to achieve the following objectives.

Structuring and fostering cooperation in all its forms among the member institutions and strengthening their mutual ties.

Encouraging the exchange of views, ideas, experiences, studies and researches in the fields related to audit among the member institutions, and raising the standard of this profession both in theory and practice.

• Provide the necessary assistance to the Arab countries planning to establish audit institutions or to enhance their existing institutions.

• Unifying the scientific precepts and terminology used by the member

institutions in their fields of activity.

Spreading audit awareness among the public in the Arab countries, as this will result in consolidating the role of the audit institutions and give them more efficiency in accomplishing their missions.

• Channeling and enhancing cooperation between the members of the Organization and the specialized bodies of the Arab League, as well as with the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) and other international and regional bodies related to financial audit.

Undertaking the necessary steps in order that the Organization be officially entrusted with appointing the financial institutions which will audit the accounts of the Arab League and the organizations, institutions a n d co m p a n i e s i t s u p e r v i s e s o r finances, as well as any other such organizations, institutions or companies financed directly by Arab co u n t r i e s. I n s o d o i n g, t h e O rg a n i z a t i o n w i l l wo r k fo r t h e improvement of financial auditing within these organizations, institutions and companies. —KUNA

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

LOCAL

MoE accepts undersecretary’s resignation over cheating cases Exam paper leakage

KUWAIT: ‘A Day of Prayer’ being led by Pastor Allan Dytianquin of the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait.

Filipino community holds ‘a day of prayer’

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Amidst reports of abuse and harassment suffered by expatriates during the ongoing crackdowns, the Filipino Community in Kuwait joined hands to pray for Filipino expatriates in the country and for the Kuwaiti authorities and its government. The prayer, held last Friday at the Disabled Sports Club in Hawally, was organized by various Filipino community organizations. The community prayed for leniency, a much better regulated and fairer treatment for expatriates of not just Filipino but other origins as well.

David Des Dicang The community prayer was attended by Philippine CDA and Consul General Raul Dado and Labor AttachÈ to Kuwait David Des Dicang.

“A prayer can move mountains. So instead of just playing basketball or badminton every Friday, we thought of turning the day into ‘a day of prayer’ so we could be protected and receive God’s favor,” Dr Chie Umandap, Filipino Badminton Committee Founder, and convener of the day of prayer.

“It is important to seek God’s intervention, guidance and assistance, especially at a time when we really need God’s assistance. In a prayer led by Pastor Allan Dytianquin of the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait (The Lighthouse Church), he prayed for the protection of all Filipinos, and expats of other nationalities who are facing difficulties, especially regarding their legal status in Kuwait.

Authorities have already depor ted thousands of mainly low-paid Asian workers for working without the proper visa or residency papers or on grounds of repeat-

ed traffic violations.

“While we do not necessarily condone illegal acts, but I pray that God will be the source of strength to people who are badly in need of help. We have a God that listens to his people’s cries,” he declared.

It was a day for the families and sports activities, but people fervently recited prayers at the well attended event and were greatly touched by the effort.

Meanwhile, Philippine Labor Attache to Kuwait, David Des Dicang has formally announced that his tenure as Manila representative of the Department of Labor comes to an end. He said he would be leaving Kuwait with a feeling of great gratitude as he accomplished many tasks within a few years in office.

He started his six-year tenure as a labor attachÈ in Saudi Arabia and completed the remaining two years in Kuwait. He appealed to the community to continue its support, especially to the newly appointed Consul General Raul Dado who has been in the country for only a few months.

“I urge everyone to continue what we have started. We are not done just because I am going and will be posted in another country.

Now, our Consul General needs your assistance. He has brought many changes for the benefit of Filipinos in Kuwait, but he needs your assistance even more. It is important to rally behind him in his efforts to continue the program he started for the community,” he added.

“Community approach to problem helps. It is about us the Filipinos and we appreciate each and every effort you have shared and done. We hope that everyone will continue doing what we have started. My duties come to an end on July 1, and we must support Consul General and our new Labor AttachÈ.

The Consul General has been here for a few weeks and has started many reforms already.

He is doing all he can to change the image of the embassy. In that short period, we have accomplished many things and I believe that it should not stop,” he noted.

Finally, he said he was greatly humbled by the support of the Filipino community during his two year-stint as labor attache to Kuwait. In return, the Filipino community also thanked him for the work and changes he introduced and laid down during his tenure. “Indeed, he is a great leader, a labor attachÈ who never stopped working for the greater benefit of many,” commented Carlito Galaus, a community leader.

News

in brief

No support for private sector KUWAIT: Member of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Al-Mulla said that the government is working against the private sector and is not supporting it in any way to realize the wish of His Highness the Amir to turn Kuwait into a financial hub for the area. Al-Mulla said the laws in Kuwait were skewed since these are applied to simple people but ignore those influential. He emphasized that fighting prostitution and drugs trade should receive priority over deporting hundreds of expats. He said many of those involved in corruption have remained safe ever since the invasion. He added that the political crisis in Kuwait was all by design and such fissures in the society would lead to disasters.

Corona virus precautions KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health has drafted a plan and identified precautionary steps to be taken to deal with any prospective case of the new Corona virus. The plan is in keeping with the new international standards and recommendations of the World Health Organization and other international health authorities to control and prevent the virus from spreading.

The Ministry of Health has asked doctors in the hospitals and the health centers, both in government and private sectors, to follow these procedures. A circular has been sent to all the hospitals and medical centers to immediately notify and report any case of Corona virus, whether it was ascertained or suspected, and file a daily report to trace the virus, look for any new cases and record results in old cases, and to communicate these via fax or SMS daily for an active follow up.

Medicine scholarship deal WASHINGTON: On behalf of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Education, Chairman of Kuwait Cultural Office in Washington Dr. Abdulaziz AlOmar on Friday signed with the West Virginia University (WVU) an agreement by virtue of which the secondment of Kuwaiti students of medicine to the US college will be increased.

Under the deal, the third of its kind since 2011, three scholarships will be added as part of the Education Ministry’s program for fostering the Kuwaiti medical cadres. It took to 13 the number of Kuwaitis students of medicine entitled to scholarships at US colleges in the 2013-2014 semester, according to a statement issued by the Cultural Office.

KUWAIT: The Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Nayef AlHajraf, yesterday announced his acceptance of the resignations of his assistant undersecretary for public education, Mohammed Al-Kanadari, and the governorate educational area director, Yosra Al-Omar, in the wake of recent cheating and exampaper leakage incidents during the school leaving certificate exams.

Speaking at a press conference, Al-Hajraf also announced that all subjects’ superiors-general must be forced to retire and be replaced by senior supervisors in order to avoid any negative impact on the ongoing final tests.

Further, Al-Hajraf revealed that during the first week of the final exams, two Kuwaiti employees working at the arts section’s control center had sent the model answers of paper one of grade twelve French

test to some students through their mobile phones.

“Both employees were fired after the investigations,” he stated. AlHajraf added that in response to a 45-second video showing chaos during a grade eleven Arabic test at Ahmed AL-Beshr Al-Roumi

Secondary school, which took place in the absence of two teachers who were assigned as invigilators, both the teachers and the ward supervisor were fired, with the school director forced to retire and his both assistants suspended.

Moreover, the minister said an

expatriate female geology teacher in Jahra was fired for giving the model answers she had received from the control center to some students.

He also blamed the supervisors general of various subjects for the incidents.

Fault in transformer caused Sulaibikhat blackout KUWAIT: A technical problem that made a main transformer go out of order caused a three-hour blackout in Al-Sulaibikhat and Al-Doha on Friday morning, a local daily reported yesterday, quoting a Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) official.

The blackout, which started at 1:30 am, raised concerns that the MEW could be facing difficulties in meeting the increasing demand for electricity amid rising temperatures.

However, the source, who spoke to Al-Qabas on the condition of anonymity, explained that emergency teams were able to restore power within three hours after the blackout was reported, and assured that the power cut had nothing to do with the ministry’s electricity-supply capabilities.

Demand for electricity and water in Kuwait usually peaks during the hottest days of summer, as well as during Ramadan. This year, the month of Ramadan falls in summer, which has caused concern among consumers.

Although MEW officials have repeatedly provided assurance that the ministry will be able to meet the projected demand for electricity this summer, they have often expressed concerns about the government’s ability to continue doing so in the coming years unless major power plant projects go through as planned.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Assistant for Water Operation and Maintenance Mohammad Bushehri expressed confidence during an interview with Al-Rai daily about the MEW’s ablility to handle the increased electricity demand during Ramadan, saying that surplus electricity production had been recorded as recently as last Saturday. When production exceeds consumption on a given day, the MEW stores the surplus production in a reserve that it calls the “strategic water reserve”, for use in cases of emergency. However, the MEW is forced to take water from the reserve several times during the summer when consumption rates exceed those of production.

KUWAIT: The Secretary General of the Kuwait National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Ali Al-Youha, inaugurated the second book fair as well as art show for young artists, Sarah Al-Arbeed and A’hd Al-Rasheedi, at the 360 Degrees Mall. The events are part of the NCCAL 8th Summer Festival.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

LOCAL In my view

Local Spotlight

Should Morsi quit now?

A compass of hope

By Ahmed Zewail

E

By Muna Al-Fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net

I

was one of those who believed that no blood should be shed for the sake of any one leader or power. I don’t believe that one man should die for the sake of another, no matter how important or valuable this person is. Also, I was never in favor of supporting anyone known for misusing power, like the Muslim Brotherhood, and I also do not support the western countries backing such forces. I think it is a simply stupid act. So, the question today is whether Morsi should stay at the realm in Egypt and how should the media handle the news about those dead or injured there? Should the west again intervene and support the victims or is it too late and the damage has been already done?

A young American in Egypt was killed last Friday in Alexandria during clashes between opponents and supporters of President Mohammed Morsi. I do not know why this American was there in the first place but, I guess one is always warned about avoiding a country or place where there is chaos. According to Al-Arabiya news channel, the dead American was a teacher. The BBC said he was a journalist while Ahram Online website said he was a photojournalist. The US Embassy said it was trying to confirm the reports. One Egyptian also died in the Alexandria clashes and 88 others were injured. Another violent incident occurred in the Tahrir Square when a foreign woman taking photos recording a video was attacked. It was not clear whether she was attacked by pro- or anti-government protesters. So, Egypt is not safe to travel or stay unless you are an Egyptian and it is your country.

Muslim Brotherhood offices were attacked in Gharbiya, Daqahliyah and Kafr al-Sheikh. Of course, all these incidents were to be expected and no one should be surprised. The Muslim Brotherhood represents a system that rules Egypt now but is not doing any good.

One should bear in mind that the revolution in Egypt changed the people’s attitude, thinking and sentiments.

A growing movement in Egypt called the Tamarod, or the rebels’ campaign, is collecting millions of signatures to show widespread anger with President Mohamed Morsi’s regime and is calling for early presidential elections. In support of Morsi, Egyptian Islamists have launched a counter-campaign, the Tagarod - or “impartiality” - movement. It advocates that Morsi must complete the rest of his term as per the new constitution.

Food and fuel costs have already increased heavily in recent months and unemployment is still very high.

The situation in Egypt will not settle down and many Egyptians, especially the liberal and middle class people, understand that the Muslim Brotherhood leaders have not improved their lives or increased their salaries.

The Foreign investment is still down, compared to what it was in the pre-revolution days and tourism is also not doing very well. Safety and stability of a country is the key to any social, economic or political development.

So far, such signs are not there in Egypt under the Muslim Brotherhood rule and I doubt if that will happen.

In fact, the experience of Muslim Brotherhood in the world today has proved it to be a complete failure. It is no different in Egypt.

Should President Morsi step down? That question will be answered by the Egyptians themselves and no one else. I hope not to hear any comments by any western country because the more they interfere, the more damage they do. They must be told to mind their own business.

Let Egyptians decide what they really want, and bear all consequences for it. We in the media are watching carefully for the lessons we must learn from history.

kuwait digest

Sectarian problems

By Dr Shamlan Y Al-Essa

I

t is no longer right for our local media to concen- that there was no need for licensing as long as scholtrate only on local issues while ignoring fast paced ars have issued fatwas for jihad. developments in the neighboring region which The news item goes on to say the former MP in often carry a huge risk for us, all because readers pre- the annulled assembly, Falah Al-Sawagh, announced fer discussing local issues. It should be focussing on an initiative to prepare 12,000 fighters for Allah’s the way the Arab region is currently going through a cause and to help the Syrian people at a cost of KD crisis and sectarian wars are moving from Syria to 700 per fighter.

Lebanon, a country where Hezbollah and Al-Aseer Local newspapers reported the killing of some salf movement are battling in Sidon, and the conflict Sunna youth in Syria and also said some Shiite youth has spilled over to Tripoli. who were killed in Syria were This may make Lebanon the taken to Al-Najaf in Iraq to be We have written repeatedly buried there without the fact second country where such a sectarian war could break and warned against the religious being announced. out. This war has moved to The question is: who is Egypt and may erupt in Iraq and sec tarian wars making responsible for the killing of even more seriously. So inroads into our small and so far our Kuwaiti youth abroad in much so that even Tunis and secure country. Yet it seems the useless wars that we have Libya are facing religious to do with? The era government is preoccupied with nothing wars today. of religious wars ended sevWe have written repeat- the ruling of the Constitutional eral centuries ago, and our edly and warned against the Cour t and mulling ways to children are fighting today religious and sectarian wars for nothing other than making inroads into our ensure that it avoids any more defending the ideology or small and so far secure coun- legal mistakes like the ones that tombs of revered scholars. try. Yet it seems the govern- led to the annulment of two The primary responsibility of ment is preoccupied with the the deaths of our youth falls ruling of the Constitutional assemblies in one year. upon the families because Court and mulling ways to first they did not raise their ensure that it avoids any more legal mistakes like the children with a spirit of patriotism, and instead left ones that led to the annulment of two assemblies in them to fall easy prey to Sunni and Shiite scholars. one year.

Secondly, the government is also responsible The question that we should ask is: Are we because it did not stop the political Islam groups exposed to sectarian problems and what are the from politicizing the places of worship, did not probabilities that a similar strife might be triggered oppose the indoctrination induced through educahere? We say it frankly and clearly that the strife was tion and did not deal strictly with speakers at the sparked in Kuwait. Anyone who says otherwise can mosques and the mixing of politics and religion in only be termed stupid and naÔve. For proof, one cooperative societies. only needs to listen to the sermons in the Sunni Finally, we find the society as a whole responsible mosques, full of anti-Shiite content, and the calls for interjecting our country with the nonsense secbeing given by some Brotherhood and Salaf leaders tarian differences merely due to electoral considerato collect donations for the Mujahedeen in Syria tions, and purely personal interests at the expense of secretly, as per a report published by the Al-Jarida the national interest. What we need is a popular ininewspaper on Friday June 21. The news report said: tiative for the sake of Kuwait to establish specialized Social Affairs Ministry: The majority members in centers for strategic studies away from the governthe annulled Parliament say that the campaign to ment because a government which is unable to colinvade Syria is not licensed, and thus the ministry is lect power and water bills cannot be depended upon thinking about sending a memo to the Interior to deal with strategic issues that decide our future Ministry with the names of sponsors. Sponsors say destiny at home and abroad. —Al-Watan

kuwait digest

Better late than never

kuwait digest

The concept of national duty

By Waleed Al-Rujaib

By Abdurrahman Al-Shemmary

T

he Cabinet is studying the possibility of establishing a Supreme Council for economy, according to recent news, which will be a positive and strategic step that, if realized, can ensure that Kuwaitis can continue to live decently. Kuwait is a pioneer when it comes to adopting the idea of foreign investment among Arab and Western countries. However, similar economic concepts are not considered advancement but only transitional moves that take a country from one phase to a better one. For a country that had just discovered that it had huge oil reserves, foreign investment and other economic ventures were considered natural next moves that turned into a necessity during the transitional state necessitated by the discovery of oil. While these steps are considered the least that could be done as part of the transitional phase, today these are being considered ‘revolutionary innovations’ since the economic development has stagnated. In other words, people are impressed when talking about the economic development in the past but the same is not happening today.

A country like Kuwait should have already had a strong economy, one of the strongest worldwide, given the fact that it launched investment projects relatively earlier, compared to its regional neighbors. New economies managed to establish an excellent economic system in a very short time. Some of the regional states have copied innovative Kuwaiti ideas in economy, and developed them to attain higher economic position.

Economy has always been the most important factor for a state. It is the force that rules the world and all decision making process is based on it. The BRICS countries have drawn up a strategic plan to challenge the world’s strongest systems, before transforming into a political era in which they can control the global decision making process. Kuwait has all the qualifications to realize its dream of becoming an important economic hub. Kuwait can reach an advanced economic position and guarantee economic security for its people and future generations if qualified people were put in the right places. Changing the appointments policy is not just a dream, nor is rebuilding Kuwait’s economic system. —Al-Qabas

T

he concept of ‘national duty’ or national inter- regardless of how experienced and well versed he est is perceived differently by different people might have become.

As the election day approaches, people in Kuwait depending on several factors like personal interests, political awareness and intentions. It is not are divided into one team which believes that partica concept that could be a constant characteristic for ipation is a national duty to ‘extricate the country out of a crisis’, and another which believes that boyan entire group of people.

For some people, public protests and strikes are cotting is a national duty and it is inappropriate to seen as actions against the national interests. On the take part in elections held under certain conditions other hand, some people find them to be a national the government outlined. Taking any of these sides depends on a person’s level duty. This example applies to of awareness and how they the arguments about In Kuwait, we have been experi- perceive the national interwhether to participate in the elections or boycott these. encing a deep political crisis est is best served. personally believe that Moreover, it can also be used ongoing for years and expected myI national duty is to avoid by governments to question t he p at r i o t ism o f p eo p le to continue for several more, taking part in the elections who dem and t hei r r ight s according to preliminary assess- in which I find my dignity, citizenship and constitutionusing peaceful means. Tyrant regimes often call such peo- ments. The solution is still hard to al right being violated. Like ple ‘troublemakers’, ‘a bunch achieve as it requires a level of many other citizens who are of the freedom and of hooligans’, or individuals political awareness that most proud dignit y that our countr y ‘serving foreign agendas’.

In Kuwait, we have been quarters lack, especially within g ave u s 5 0 yea rs a g o experiencing a deep political the opposition whose leaders through our constitution, I believe that the people must crisis ongoing for years and expec ted to co ntinue fo r focus on minor issues while ignor- remain the source of all powseveral more, according to ing the major ones, and see the er, and therefore must not give away the preliminar y assessments. results only instead of the causes. voluntarily right that our forefathers The solution is still hard to have struggled to achieve. achieve as it requires a level I am aware of the fact that the solution will not of political awareness that most quarters lack, especially within the opposition whose leaders focus on happen tomorrow, and that it will not come on a silminor issues while ignoring the major ones, and see ver platter. However, I regard myself as the son of those who wrestled with the adversities of the sea, the results only instead of the causes.

Political awareness is not something you are born built the Wall with their own arms and fought with. It is something that requires comprehension valiantly in defense of their land. Glory and dignity is and the ability to analyze based on ideological something that I inherited from them, and is not approaches that every person is raised on. It also something I learned from books or the Western needs political organization with an ideology that world. Therefore, I will only participate in the elecacts as per clear program and goals, as well as collec- tions if they are held as per my conditions, have diative work in accordance with a unified point of view. logue only under my terms, and will live only as per Working alone often leads a politician to go astray my rights as a Kuwaiti citizen. — Al-Rai

gypt is very different now from the country I experienced when millions were on the streets calling for the fall of Hosni Mubarak’s regime.

Despite a myriad of problems, now there is a new energy, or, as the Egyptians say, “hawa gadid” - a new air. The big question is how to channel this energy to forge a new Egypt that is democratic and sustainable both politically and economically.

The key to moving forward is building confidence among the people with an immediate high-profile project that captures their imagination and symbolizes what the future can bring. Just as the Aswan Dam did that for an earlier generation, the new “City for Science and Technology” now underway can do for today’s hopeful youth.

In the 1960s, I personally lived the resounding impact of President Nasser’s vision of constructing Aswan’s High Dam as a “national project” for controlling the Nile irrigation and the production of electricity. As the young journalist Emad Ahmed wrote in a recent essay on “Egypt’s Bridges” to the future, the post-revolution national project for Egypt comparable to the Aswan Dam must be education.

Every family in Egypt understands this. They have personally experienced the deteriorating education system over the past 30 years of Mubarak’s reign.

Especially for the “Youth of Facebook” who ignited the revolution, the focus on a breakthrough in education that can bring Egypt back to world-class status is in accord with the principles and spirit of their movement - which they fear could be overtaken by “politics as usual” rooted in the past.

As Emad has written, two dominant visions have shaped the Egyptian political imagination over the past 60 years. The first has been the socialist party or “al-Hisb al-Ishtraki” which came with Nasser’s 1952 “revolution.” To today’s youth that vision represents the past.

At the moment, the most organized force is the Muslim Brotherhood, or “Akhwan al-Muslimin.” For Emad, they represent the transitional present. From a historical perspective, the Akhwan also are part of the past as they were founded in 1928, even before Nasser’s time. Their appeal comes mainly as a result of their effective religious message and organized charity work, and because they resisted the regime for so long. The youth movement is aware that old visions cannot take Egypt into the future. So, in the months since Mubarak was overthrown with the Army’s admirable support, the youth, along with a broad spectrum of ordinary Egyptians, have kept that spirit alive by continuing to go to Tahrir Square on Fridays in what is called “millioniah” or gathering of a million people. They coined a name for each gathering - a Friday of change (takhier), of anger (khadab), of correction (tas’hih). Their demand is that the road to democracy be paved through the establishment of proper constitutions, elimination of old-regime influence, and achievement of justice and equality. Their expectation is a quick remedy to a better economic status. After so many years of inertia and dictatorship, however, the reality is that these changes will take years. In the meantime, the people need a compass of hope that unites the country and instills confidence and pride.

On June 3, a totally different Friday dawned on the country. It was a “Friday of hope” for Egyptians. The day before, a national campaign was launched to build the new City of Science and Technology, following the unanimously-approved legislation by the Cabinet of Ministers, and a decree of support from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

This “city of the future,” as it already being called, which is being built on 300 acres on the outskirts of Cairo, has a transparent governance structure and is completely independent from government regulation. The board of trustees that has already been formed includes six Nobel Laureates, the current president of Caltech and former president of MIT, and a number of influential Egyptians such as Mohamed ElErian, CEO of PIMCO, who has already made a large personal donation to the city. Sir Magdi Yacoub, the renowned heart surgeon based at Imperial College in London is also a member.

It is not surprising that the project has been enthusiastically embraced by public opinion. Ibrahim Issa, a prominent journalist and one of the leaders of the Tahrir protests, has said, “It is the only important thing proclaimed since the revolution.” Ahmed Moslemany, a popular TV commentator, has announced to millions of his viewers “it is the only way to the modern world.”

For 12 years, since I was awarded the Nobel Prize, I have been laboring to get this project off the ground, only to be frustrated by bureaucrats lacking vision and Mubarak’s indifference. The “new air” of the revolution has breathed new life into the project.

Our goal is to develop a non-profit institution of higher learning that is merit-based (no “wasta” or connection), and our model is a hybrid of Caltech, an institution I am familiar with for more than 30 years, the Max Planck Institutes, and Turkey’s Tech. Park. The objective is to revive the production of new knowledge by Arabs and to bring the advances of science and technology to the market and society in this Arab awakening epoch.

Our aim is to demonstrate that “Egypt can.” This, by itself, will have a huge impact on regaining national pride Even with the present economic hardship, Egyptians have decided to invest in the future, with billions of dollars in land and buildings for the project.

In weeks we have already nearly collected the first $100 million in our campaign for a $2 billion endowment that will ensure the long-term success and independence of the project.

Our hope is that the international community - the Gulf States, the G-20 and the G-8 (which pledged $20 billion at the Deauville Summit) - will create a genuine partnership with Egypt to invest in the education of our youth so that the gains of the revolution can be consolidated with benefits to the region and the world.

After more than 50 years of supporting undemocratic autocracy in the region, nothing would more successfully win the hearts and minds of Egyptians than real support for this tangible bridge to the future for a people who have liberated themselves with dignity and civility.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

LOCAL

Zain distributes ‘Machla Box’ to underprivileged families KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, announced yesterday that it has completed the distribution of 2000 ‘Machla Boxes’ to all areas in Kuwait for the underprivileged families on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.

The company stated in a press announcement that this charitable initiative took place for the seventh consecutive year and aimed at representing the strong Kuwaiti traditions during this time of year. Through this initiative, Zain highlighted the core element of the company’s policy of supporting the needs of the community during the month of giving.

Going the extra mile, Zain assured that the distribution will cover all areas of the country, making sure that all underprivileged families’ needs are covered.

Zain took this oppor tunity to extend its sincere gratitude to Zakat

House who will oversee and supervise the successful distribution of the ‘Machla Boxes’. Ramadan is the month of kindness and giving, and by initiating this charitable activity, Zain continues to lend a helping hand to those in need. Furthermore, Zain stated that an extensive array of programs will be executed during Ramadan. The activities will focus on helping less fortunate people to enjoy Ramadan happily, as well as celebrating the true spirit this Holy month brings. The ‘Iftar Saem’ banquets and popular annual hospital and care center visits are some of many activities that the company will undergo during Ramadan.

I t is wor th mentioning that the ‘Machla Box ’ consists of 11 basic necessities for general meal preparation during the fasting month of Ramadan, like dates, lentils, tomato paste, flour, tea, sugar, pasta, salt, rice, oil and others.

Woman robbed in Fahaheel KUWAIT: A man impersonating as a police detective mugged an Egyptian woman and escaped with her jewelry and cell phone, as per a case filed in Fahaheel recently. The woman approached the local police and explained that she became a victim of the robbery when a car pulled besides her while she was walking home, and a man came out and forced her into the vehicle claiming he was a police detective. She added that the man assaulted her, stole her jewelry and cell phone before forcing her out of the car and then drove away. Investigations are on.

Pedestrian killed A pedestrian was killed in an accident reported recently in Salmiya. Preliminary investigations indicated that the 34year-old Indian man was crossing the Blajat Road when he was hit by a speeding vehicle, injuring him fatally.

Paramedics pronounced the victim dead on the scene while police apprehended the car’s Kuwaiti driver and referred him to the nearest police station for further action.

Suspected suicide Jabriya police were waiting for the condition of a woman found unconscious in the area to stabilize in order to

unravel the mystery behind her case.

Police and paramedics reached a street in the area on Friday after receiving an emergency call about an unidentified woman being found unconscious. The woman was rushed to the Mubarak Hospital and admitted to its intensive care unit in a critical condition. Early medical tests indicated that she suffered complications of an overdose of unspecified medications, which prompted the police to file a case of an attempted suicide. The case remains open, pending improvement in the woman’s condition.

Bomb hoax A college student was arrested after he made a hoax call to force a delay in a flight he wanted to catch but was late for. Kuwait International Airport officials combed the Amman bound Jordanian Airways plane after a Kuwaiti man claimed there was a bomb planted on it that was about to explode. The man resorted to the hoax call after realizing that he had arrived too late to catch the plane. He later explained during investigations that he fabricated the threat to force a delay after he was not allowed to board the plane. The flight eventually took off six hours late, while the man was referred to the proper authorities to face charges.

Kuwait hails UN move on files with Iraq Call for continuity of cooperation KUWAIT: The State of Kuwait welcomes recent UN Security Council resolutions concluding mandate of the special international coordinator for Kuwaiti missing and POWs and archive and charging UNAMI, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq, with these files. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid AlHamad Al-Sabah publicized an official statement yesterday, reacting to the UN Security Council resolutions 2013/2107, dated 27/6/2013, regarding conclusion of the mission of the international coordinator and tasking UNAMI with following up on these issues.

The State of Kuwait welcomes these resolutions, that were issued as a result of unanimity among council member states, stipulating submission of the file of the prisoners and missing Kuwaitis, repatriation of the Kuwaiti properties to UNAMI, under Chapter VI instead of Chapter VII of the UN charter, with aim of following up on this file and presenting regular reports to the council to make the members acquainted with developments, pending a final settlement.

Moreover, Kuwait expresses appreciation for the significant role of the council, its close follow-up for years to ensure implementation of all

obligations, stipulated by the council resolutions related to the state between Kuwait and Iraq, as well as continuous efforts of the UN Secretary General in this respect, the foreign minister stated.

The State of Kuwait congratulates “the brothers of Iraq for exiting the Chapter VII, affirming that this (move) will enable them restore their regular role on the regional and international arenas, will bolster the bilateral relations between the two countries and pave way to a stage where common interests of peoples of the two brotherly countries can be served.”

The exiting from Chapter VII to Chapter VI was fruit of the positive development of the relations between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Iraq, as well as the reciprocal visits by officials of the two countries, namely the significant accords that were signed in these visits and the understanding reached on some bilateral issues and international commitments, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid added in the crucial official statement.

Kuwait, he elaborated, expresses support for the UNSC resolutions and affirms that the issue of the POWs and missing are purely humanitari-

an topics, “thus we look forward to continuity of cooperation of the Iraqi Government with the State of Kuwait and the international community within framework of the tripartite commission and the affiliate technical committee, under chairmanship of the International Committee of the Red Cross, with aim of settling this file.

In implementation of this mechanism, the ministry will task a senior diplomat in the embassy in Baghdad to work full time with UNAMI and follow up closely on this humanitarian file and cooperate directly with the Iraqi side. The Security Council issues resolutions on basis of the responsibility to maintain international peace and security. And when it released these resolutions concerning the state between Kuwait and Iraq, it sensed the threats to peace and security of the globe.

Moreover, when the council decides not to abide by these resolutions, such a stance will be on the basis of its convictions alone, for it is the sole power that takes a decision in this respect, whether to abide by these resolutions under any chapters of the charter of the UN, the minister concluded. —KUNA

Al-Tamimi to present on contractor liability at Kharafi KUWAIT: The Kuwait office of Al-Tamimi and Company, the largest independent law firm in the Middle East, was invited

by Chadbourne and Parke and Kharafi National to present on the overview of contractor and engineer liability under Kuwait law and civil code. Kharafi National held four training sessions over the course of a week for over 400 of their employees in the region and was facilitated by Chadbourne and Parke LLP, a leading US law firm headquartered in New York City, with offices spanning 12 countries around the globe.

Alex Saleh Al-Tamimi discussed Kuwait specific Philip Kotsis business and have open discussions with us legal topics at the seminar including: contract formation, breach of contract, liabilities, in order to better their understanding of pardamages and remedies, contractor and engi- ticular legal concepts and, importantly, disneer liability, defect warranty and decennial cuss practical implications of the Kuwait liability. Al-Tamimi Partner and Head of legal environment in relation to their busiKuwait Office, Alex Saleh, led off by dis- ness activities.”

Al-Tamimi and Company’s Kuwait office, a cussing contract formation and went on to discuss what constitutes a breach of con- joint venture with Kuwait attorney Yaqoub tract, as well as damages and remedies under Al-Munayae, offers full services in Kuwait and Kuwait law. Following Saleh was Associate the region.

Al Tamimi & Company was established in Ramy Shabana, who gave an overview on liabilities of contractors and engineers. Also 1989 and is the largest regional law firm, with presenting from Al Tamimi was Partner Philip 12 fully-owned offices or through partners in Kotsis, who presented during the second Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, round of the training sessions. The United Arab Emirates and employs approxiChadbourne and Parke team facilitating the mately 440 staff and 230 lawyers.

The Kuwait office provides services in seminar were Dubai based Partner Richard Keenan and Senior Associates Derek Kirton Kuwait through a joint venture with Kuwait lawyer Yaqoub Yousef Al Munayae. The firm and Aarta Alkarimi.

The Kuwait office of Al-Tamimi and Co is able to advise on a wide range of practice continues to conduct seminars on a variety areas that include: Banking and Finance, of topics specific to clients needs and Islamic Finance, Construction and requests. Commenting after the seminar, Engineering, Corporate Commercial, Dispute Philip Kotsis noted, “It is our pleasure to con- Resolution, Family Business and Private duct and participate in in-house seminars on Client Practice, Information Technology, various topics for our clients. This gives the Intellectual Property, Maritime, Aviation and client an opportunity to inquire on legal top- Insurance, Mergers and Acquisitions, PPP ics that are directly applicable to their area of projects, Property and Telecommunications.

Yaqoub Baqer

NBK hails voluntary work KUWAIT: The National Bank of Kuwait released a statement recalling the voluntary activities carried out by the NBK employees throughout the last year. In this regard, Public Relations Supervisor Yaqoub Baqer indicated that more than a 100 volunteers took part in social, humanitarian and charitable activities organized by the NBK every year. He further credited the volunteers’ continuous efforts “which transformed voluntary work into a deep-rooted culture within the NBK.” The NBK annual voluntary activities included the NBK Walkathon, the Ramadan charitable program, as well as visits to patients in the NBK Children Hospital and pediatric sections in hospitals across Kuwait.

Diving team lifts shipwreck near Kubbar Island KUWAIT: Kuwait Diving Team lifted a shipwreck from a yacht that had sunk southeast of Kubbar Island, an official said here yesterday.

The team’s head of marine operations, Waleed Al-Shatti, said his group cooperated with

the state and municipal council in order to pull out the shipwreck which posed a threat to coral formations and marine environment in that area.

It took three months to complete the job and the team managed to remove the wreck despite

all odds, Al-Shatti said.

Al-Shatti thanked all those who participated in the operation, affirming that the Kuwait Diving Team would continue its efforts to keep the marine environment protected. —KUNA

Mandela a hard act to follow for S Africans Page 10

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Follow Mandela example: Obama US president renews promise to visit Kenya JOHANNESBURG: US President Barack Obama encouraged leaders in Africa and around the world yesterday to follow former South African President Nelson Mandela’s example of country before self, as the US president prepared to pay personal respects to relatives who have been gathered around the critically ill anti-apartheid icon. “We as leaders occupy these spaces temporarily and we don’t get so deluded that we think the fate of our country doesn’t depend on how long we stay in office,” Obama said. Obama spoke at a news conference with South African President Jacob Zuma in the midst of a weeklong tour of the continent that also included stops in Senegal and Tanzania. But many other African nations are embroiled in religious, sectarian and other conflicts.

Obama decided to avoid stopping in his father’s home nation of Kenya because of international disputes there.

The International Criminal Court is prosecuting Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta for crimes against humanity, including murder, deportation, rape, persecution and inhumane acts allegedly committed by his supporters in the violent aftermath of Kenya’s 2007 elections. “The timing was not right for me as the president of the United States to be visiting Kenya when those issues are still being worked on, and hopefully at some point resolved,” Obama said. He noted he’s visited Kenya several times previously and expects he will as well in the future.

Obama and Zuma appeared at the Union Buildings that house government offices and the site of Mandela’s 1994 inauguration as the country’s first black president after 27 years behind bars for his activism. The 94-year-old Mandela has been in a nearby hospital for three weeks after being admitted with a lung infection. Zuma told reporters that Mandela is in critical but stable condition and the whole nation is praying that he will improve.

Obama visited with two of Mandela’s daughters and eight of his grandchildren yesterday at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, part of the former president’s foundation. Obama said he told the family he hopes Mandela draws comfort from the time he’s spending with loved ones. “I also reaffirmed the profound impact that his legacy has had in building a free South Africa, and in inspiring people around the world - including me,” Obama said in a statement after the visit. “That’s a legacy that we must all honor in our own lives.

Obama also spoke by telephone with Graca Machel, Mandela’s wife, while she stayed at his bedside in the hospital. Machel said she drew strength from the call and that Obama added a characteristic “touch of personal warmth”.

“I am humbled by their comfort and messages of strength and inspiration, which I have already conveyed” to Mandela, she said. The White House said that in accordance with the family’s wishes, Obama was not planning to visit Mandela.

In nearby Pretoria earlier, Obama revered Mandela as “one of the greatest people in history,” referred to him by his clan name as he praised South Africa’s historic integration from white racist rule as a shining beacon for the world. “The struggle here against apartheid for freedom, Madiba’s moral courage, this country’s historic transition to a free and democratic nation has been a personal inspiration to me, it has been an inspiration to the world,” Obama said.

“The outpouring of love that we’ve seen in recent days shows that the triumph of Nelson Mandela and this nation speaks to something very deep in the human spirit, the yearning for justice and dignity that transcends boundaries of race and class and faith and country,” Obama said. “That’s what Nelson Mandela represents, that’s what South African at its best represents to the world, and that’s what brings me back here.” Zuma told Obama he and Mandela are “bound by history as the first black presidents of your respective countries”. “Thus, you both carry the dreams of millions of people in Africa and in the diaspora who were previously oppressed,” Zuma said, reading from a prepared statement.

On other topics, Obama declined to commit to supporting South Africa’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

He said the UN’s structure needs to be updated and it would be “odd” for an

expanded Security Council not to have African representation. “How we do that and what fashion is complicated, it’s difficult and it involves all kinds of politics,” Obama said.

“Everybody wants a seat at the table, but when it comes time to step up and show responsibility, sometimes people want to be free riders,” Obama said, adding he wasn’t referring to South Africa specifically. Zuma responded that he wishes the process of change at the UN would speed up.

Obama also said he wants to boost trade with Africa and plans to renegotiate an African trade pact to improve it for American businesses. He said he welcomes competition from other nations who have been aggressive in pursuing commercial opportunities in Africa, including China. “I don’t feel threatened by it. I think it’s a good thing,” he said. He added: “Our only advice is make sure it’s a good deal for Africa.” He said that includes making sure foreign investment employs Africans and doesn’t tolerate corruption or take its natural resources without compensation for Africans.

Obama also is paying tribute to South Africa’s fight against apartheid by visiting the Soweto area yesterday afternoon for a town hall with students at the University of Johannesburg.

At least 176 young people were killed in Soweto township 27 years ago this month during a youth protest against the apartheid regime’s ban against teaching local Bantu languages. The Soweto Uprising catalyzed international support against apartheid, and June is now recognized as Youth Month in South Africa. The university plans to bestow an honorary law degree on the US president.

Protesters under police watch demonstrated outside the university against Obama’s record on surveillance and foreign policy. Demonstrators from a range of trade unions and civil society groups chanted, “Away with intelligence, away,” holding posters depicting Obama with an Adolf Hitler moustache. “People died in Libya. People are still dying in Syria,” said 54-year-old Ramasimong Tsokolibane. “In Egypt, in Afghanistan in Pakistan drones are still killing people. So that’s why we are calling him a Hitler. He’s a killer.”

Obama has been trying to inspire the continent’s youth to become civically active and part of a new democratically minded generation. Obama hosted young leaders from more than 40 African countries at the White House in 2010 and challenged them to bring change to their countries by standing up for freedom, openness and peaceful disagreement. Obama wraps up his South Africa stay Sunday, when he plans to give a sweeping speech on US-Africa policy at the University of Cape Town and take his family to Robben Island to tour the prison where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years behind bars. Obama has visited the island before, but said it’s a particular privilege to bring his daughters back to learn its lessons. —AP

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

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

Syria army, backed by jets, launches assault on Homs Offensive follows recent gains by Assad forces BEIRUT: Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s forces launched a major offensive yesterday against rebels in Homs, a centre of the two-yearold uprising, in their latest drive to secure an axis connecting Damascus to the Mediterranean.

Activists said jets and mortars had pounded rebel-held areas of the city that have been under siege by Assad’s troops for a year, and soldiers fought battles with rebel fighters in several districts. “Government forces are trying to storm

ry Khalid ibn al-Walid mosque, on the edge of the Khalidiyah neighbourhood. Syrian state media said the army was “achieving great progress” in Khalidiyah but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an anti-Assad monitoring group, said there were reports that rebels had destroyed an army tank as troops tried to penetrate the Old City in the centre of Homs.

The attack on Homs follows steady military

DEIR EZZOR, Syria: An opposition fighter takes position behind a barricade during clashes with Syrian government forces in this northeastern city yesterday. —AFP (Homs) from all fronts,” said an activist using the name Abu Mohammad.

There were no immediate details of casualties but video footage uploaded by activists showed heavy explosions and white clouds of smoke rising from what they said were rebel districts.

Loud, concentrated rounds of gunfire could also be heard. One clip showed thick black smoke rising from a mosque identified as the 13th-centu-

gains by Assad’s forces, backed by Lebanese Hezbollah militants, in villages in Homs province and towns close to the Lebanese border. Three weeks ago Hezbollah spearheaded Assad’s recapture of the border town of Qusair, a former rebel bridgehead for smuggling in guns and fighters. Last week the rebels lost another border town, Tel Kalakh. Those gains have consolidated Assad’s control over a corridor of territory

HRW urges EU to press for Bahrain activists’ release DUBAI: Human Rights Watch yesterday urged European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to secure the release of Bahraini opposition activists ahead of an EUGulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting in Manama.

The New York-based rights group called on Ashton in a statement to “pursue with Bahrain the immediate release of 13 high-profile activists and others detained or imprisoned for peacefully exercising their rights”. Currently 13 opposition leaders are serving prison terms for playing a role in an uprising in Bahrain in 2011 led by the Shiite opposition.

A court handed down life sentences to seven of the accused, including rights activist Abdel Hadi Khawaja who also holds Danish nationality, and gave the others jail terms ranging from five to 15 years. Lotte Leicht, EU director at Human Rights Watch, said it was vital for Ashton and EU member states to raise the issue. “If human rights are truly at the centre of the EU’s foreign relations...then the high representative and member states need to show it at the EU-GCC meeting by vigorously pressing for the release of the Bahraini activists,” she said.

Bahrain, a Gulf kingdom ruled by the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty, was shaken in February and March 2011 by demonstrations led by the Shiite majority. Security forces crushed the protests, but demonstrations still take place regularly in Shiite villages around Manama. Ashton is set to chair the joint EU-GCC meeting in Manama with Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled al-Khalifa, in an annual consultation examining key issues and ways of boosting cooperation.

Syria’s bloody civil war and rising sectarian tensions in Lebanon and Iraq will top the agenda, an EU statement said yesterday. It said that “the EU will shortly deploy a comprehensive package of assistance, with an additional 400 million euros in humanitarian and non-humanitarian support for Syria and neighbouring countries”. “The EU’s objective remains to end the suffering of the Syrian people through a political settlement,” it added.

Bilateral trade between the EU and the GCC has increased by 45 percent since 2010, and is worth �145 billion annually, Ashton said. Talks over an EU-GCC free trade agreement have stalled since 2010, partly because the EU insisted on including a section on human rights.

The EU statement on Saturday said other “global issues of concern” including the “promotion of human rights” would be raised today. GCC member states Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were to meet late yesterday to coordinate their positions ahead of the meeting. —AFP

that runs from the capital Damascus through Homs to the traditional heartland of his minority Alawite sect in the mountains overlooking the Mediterranean. They have also alarmed international supporters of the rebels, leading the United States to announce that it will step up military support. Saudi Arabia has accelerated deliveries of sophisticated weaponry, Gulf sources say.

The interventions by Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia, a staunch backer of the mainly Sunni rebels, and Shiite Hezbollah highlight how the 27-month-old uprising has divided the Middle East along sectarian lines. Gulf Arab States, Turkey and Egypt all support the rebels while Shiite Iran and Hezbollah are actively helping Assad whose Alawite community - an offshoot of Shiism - has dominated Syria for more than four decades.

Sunni Islamist fighters from countries across the Middle East have also flocked to Syria, fighting for the rebels in a war that has killed more than 100,000 people, driven 1.7 million refugees abroad and displaced another 4 million within Syria’s borders. Hopes of holding a US and Russian-backed peace conference have faded, with rebels reluctant to negotiate while they are on the defensive militarily and tensions between Moscow and Washington exacerbating their deep differences over Syria.

The violence has spilled over frontiers and stirred sectarian violence in neighbouring Iraq and Lebanon. Two people were killed in Lebanon’s northern city of Tripoli on Saturday, one in an explosion and another in sniper fire between the Alawite district of Jebel Mohsen and adjacent Sunni areas. Despite losing ground around Damascus and Homs, rebels registered a symbolic victory on Friday when they overran a major military checkpoint in Deraa, the southern city where the uprising first erupted. Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory, said the fall of the army post was strategically significant and could change the balance of power in Deraa, where rebels control most of the old city. The province of Deraa, on the border with Jordan, has been a conduit for arms supplies to the rebels. —Reuters

PARIS: French President Francois Hollande (right) shakes hands with Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani, prior to their meeting yesterday at the Presidential Elysse Palace yesterday. —AFP

Attacks in Iraq’s Sunni areas kill 10 BAGHDAD: Attacks in Sunni Arab areas of Iraq killed 10 people yesterday, the latest in spiralling violence that has left more than 420 dead this month and sparked fears of renewed sectarian war. The surge in unrest comes as the country grapples with a prolonged political deadlock and months of protests by the Sunni Arab community alleging discrimination at the hands of the Shiiteled authorities. Analysts warn that the political stand-off could persist until general elections due next year.

In Abu Ghraib, just west of Baghdad, a bomb in a market killed three people and wounded at least 10 others, while in nearby Garma, gunmen opened fire on a group of policemen and killed three before fleeing. In the main northern city of Mosul, meanwhile, three civilians were gunned down in an electronics shop. Separate attacks in Taji, Sharqat and Mosul - all predominantly Sunni Arab towns and cities north of Baghdad - left one person dead and 13 others wounded.

Among the victims were one Sahwa fighter killed and five wounded, a day after a

wave of attacks targeting the militiamen killed at least eight. The Sahwa are a collection of Sunni tribal militias who turned against Al-Qaeda and joined forces with the US military from late-2006 onwards, helping to turn the tide of Iraq’s bloody insurgency.

They are often targeted by Al-Qaeda-linked militants who regard them as traitors. The latest attacks pushed the overall nationwide death toll for June to 428, the third successive month the figure has topped 400, according to an AFP tally based on reports from security and medical officials. April and May saw more than 1,000 people killed in all.

However, figures compiled by the United Nations are higher still, pegging the death toll for April and May at more than 1,750. Iraq has seen a rise in violence since the beginning of the year, coinciding with rallies among the Sunni Arab minority against what demonstrators see as discrimination and the authorities targeting them. Analysts say a government failure to address protesters’ grievances has given militant groups recruitment fodder and room to manoeuvre. —AFP

Egypt group: 22 million signatures against Morsi CAIRO: More than 22 million Egyptians have signed a petition calling for the country’s Islamist president to step down, the youth group leading the signature campaign said yesterday on the eve of planned mass protests aimed at forcing Mohammed Morsi from office. The planned demonstrations, which could plunge Egypt once again into a dangerous round of civil unrest, reflect the growing polarization of the nation since Morsi took power, with the president and his Islamist allies in one camp and seculars, liberals, moderate Muslims and Christians on the other.

Already, clashes across a string of cities north of Cairo over the past week have left at least seven people dead, including an American, and hundreds injured, and there are deep-rooted fears in the country that Sunday’s protests will turn violent and quickly spiral out of control. The Tamarod, or Rebel, movement says its petition is evidence of the widespread dissatisfaction with Morsi’s administration, and has used the signature drive as the focal point of its call for millions of people to take to the streets Sunday to demand the president’s ouster.

Mahmoud Badr, a Tamarod leader, told reporters yesterday a total of 22,134,460 Egyptians have signed the petition. He did not say whether there had been an independent audit of the signatures.

Morsi’s supporters, who have long doubted the validity and authenticity of the collected signatures, expressed skepticism about the final count. “How do we trust the petitions?” asked Brotherhood member Ahmed Seif Islam Hassan Al-Banna. “Who guarantees that those who signed were not paid to sign?”

If authenticated, the collection of so many signatures would deal a symbolic blow to Morsi’s mandate and put in stark terms the popular frustrations with an administration perceived to have failed to effectively deal with the country’s pressing problems, from tenuous security and inflation and power cuts to traffic congestion and high unemployment. Tamarod, which began its campaign with the goal of collecting more signatures than the 13 million votes Morsi garnered in his 2012 election victory, announced its final tally the day before protests that organizers vow will bring millions into the

CAIRO: Egyptian Mahmud Badr (center), founder of the opposition Tamarod (Arabic for rebellion) campaign and spokesmen of the campaign Hasan Shaheen (left) and Mohamed Abdelziz (right) attend a press conference at the Syndicate of Journalists yesterday. —AFP streets to push the president from power.

Morsi, meanwhile, sought to project a businessas-usual image yesterday, meeting with the defense and interior ministers to review preparations to protect the protesters and vital state facilities during today’s demonstrations. Egypt has been roiled by political unrest in the two years since the uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak, but the round of protests set to kick off today promises to be the largest and holds the potential to be the bloodiest yet. In the past week alone, at least seven people have been killed in clashes between the president’s supporters and opponents in cities in the Nile Delta, while on Friday protesters ransacked and torched as least five Brotherhood offices across the country.

Adding to the tension, eight lawmakers from the country’s interim legislature announced their resignation yesterday to protest Morsi’s policies. The 270seat chamber was elected early last year by less than 10 percent of Egypt’s eligible voters, and is dominated by Islamists who support Morsi.

With a sense of doom hanging over the country, Defense Minister Gen Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi last Sunday gave the president and his opponents a week to reach a compromise and warned that the military would intervene to prevent the nation from entering a “dark tunnel.” It was the strongest expression of the military’s discontent with conditions in the nation since Morsi took office a year ago.

In South Africa, President Barack Obama said the US supports freedom of speech in Egypt and the right of protesters to peacefully assemble, and called on called on both sides in Egypt to avoid violence. “We would urge all parties to make sure they’re not engaging in violence (and) police and military are showing appropriate restraint,” he said.

The opposition, feeling that Morsi may be on the ropes and frustrated by past offers of dialogue that proved to be mostly symbolic, has shown no inclination to compromise, and Morsi offered no concessions to his opponents when he addressed the nation for 2 1/2 hours on Wednesday.

The focus of today’s protests is Morsi’s Ittihadiya palace in Cairo. As a precaution, the president and his family are reported to have moved into the Cairo headquarters of the Republican Guard, the branch of the army tasked with protecting the president and presidential palaces. As the country waits to see what transpires today, thousands of supporters and opponents of the embattled president held rival sitins yesterday in separate parts of the capital.

With expectations of violence running high, the military has dispatched troops backed by armored personnel carriers to reinforce military bases on the outskirts of cities expected to be flashpoints. In Cairo, the additional forces were deployed to military facilities in the suburbs and outlying districts.

Army troops are also moving to reinforce police guarding the city’s prisons to prevent a repeat of the nearly half dozen jail breaks during the chaos of the 2011 uprising.

The opposition is demanding Morsi’s ouster, saying he has lost his legitimacy through a series of missteps and authoritarian policies. They say early presidential elections should be held within six months of his ouster. Hardline Islamists loyal to Morsi have repeatedly vowed to “smash” the protesters, arguing that they were a front for loyalists of Hosni Mubarak, the autocrat ousted in Egypt’s 2011 revolt, determined to undermine Morsi’s rule. They also say that Morsi is a freely elected president who must serve out his four-year term before he can be replaced in an election.

Many Egyptians fear the new round of unrest could trigger a collapse in law and order similar to the one that occurred during the 2011 revolt.

Already, residents in some of the residential compounds and neighborhoods to the west of the city are reporting gunmen showing up to demand protection money or risk being robbed. The police, who have yet to fully take back the streets after they disappeared in unclear circumstances in 2011, have stepped up patrols on the outskirts of the city, ostensibly to prevent weapons and ammunition from coming into the city to be used in the case of an outbreak of violence. The army is advertising hotlines for civilians to call if they run into trouble. —AP

US eyes embassy security amid Egypt unrest WASHINGTON: The United States is working to ensure its embassy and diplomats in Egypt are safe, President Barack Obama said yesterday after one American was killed and opposition groups vowed millions would march on Cairo in an effort to oust Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi. The US government was warning Americans to steer clear of Egypt if possible as violence continued unabated. The State Department confirmed a 21-yearold college student - Andrew Pochter of Chevy Chase, Maryland - died a day while photographing battles between supporters and foes of the Islamist president.

Obama said the US was in direct contact with the Egyptian government about security arrangements and was planning ahead for larger protests over the weekend. “We’re all looking at the situation there with concern,” Obama said. “Our most immediate concern with respect to protests this weekend has to do with our

embassy and consulates.” Rage in the streets as protesters stormed political offices in Egyptian cities has unnerved American diplomats, still reeling from the attack last year on a US mission in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans - including the ambassador. The Obama administration appeared eager to show it was leaving nothing to chance as Egypt braced for the one-year anniversary of Morsi’s taking power as the country’s first freely elected leader.

The Benghazi attacks had followed demonstrations hours earlier outside the US Embassy in Cairo. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, initially claimed the Benghazi incident was a copycat of the Cairo demonstrations - a claim that became a major political headache for Obama when it was later debunked.

Citing the challenges in fostering democracy in Egypt given its authoritarian past, Obama said the US supports freedom of

Andrew Pochter

speech in Egypt and the right of protesters to peacefully assemble. “We would urge all parties to make sure they’re not engaging in violence (and) police and military are showing appropriate restraint,” Obama said in Pretoria, South Africa, while on a weeklong trip through sub-Saharan Africa.

At least seven Egyptians have been killed and hundreds injured in days of clashes that have fed an impending sense of doom in Egypt. Thousands of Morsi’s supporters and opponents held rival sitins in separate parts of Cairo Saturday on the eve of planned, nationwide protests Sunday demanding he leave office. The violence took a personal toll for the US when Pochter, a student at Ohio’s Kenyon College with a keen interest in the Middle East, was killed Friday in Alexandria.

The college said Pochter was a religious studies major working in Egypt as an intern for a nonprofit education organization. An organizer for the school’s Middle

Eastern Students Association, Pochter had hoped to learn fluent Arabic in the spring during a study-abroad program in Amman, Jordan. Pochter’s family said in a statement that he had gone to Egypt for the summer to teach English to 7- and 8year-olds and to improve his Arabic. “As we understand it, he was witnessing a protest as a bystander and was stabbed by a protester. He went to Egypt because he cared profoundly about the Middle East.

He had studied in the region, loved the culture, and planned to live and work there in the pursuit of peace and understanding,” the family said.

The State Department urged Americans on Friday to forego all but essential travel to Egypt and moved to reduce the official US presence in the country. Officials said they would allow some nonessential staff and the families of personnel at the embassy to leave the country until conditions improve. —AP

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

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Turkey artists demand an end to ‘you vs us’ rhetoric ANKARA: Turkish artists, journalists and authors placed a full-page ad in several newspapers yesterday, calling on the government to stop using divisive language they charge is polarising the country and stoking hatred. The ad, signed by more than 80 people including Nobel literature laureate Orhan Pamuk, was published after a wave of often violent protests this month against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government. “We are concerned,” the advert said. “The ‘you vs us’ rhetoric is sharpening the polarisation of society.

“There is an air of frustration and hatred around,” it said, implicitly pointing the finger of blame at Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted government, accused of becoming increasingly authoritarian after a decade in office. A defiant Erdogan has inflamed tensions by dismissing the demonstrators - mostly young, middle class and well-educated -

as “looters” or naive youngsters who were being manipulated by “terrorists”.

His fierce rhetoric has sharpened the divide between his supporters - whom Erdogan hails as “the 50 percent” - and secular segments of society, who have turned the tables on the catchphrase and dubbed themselves “the other 50 percent”. Journalists and members of the artistic community have been targeted by the Turkish authorities over the demonstrations, the most serious challenge to Erdogan’s rule since his Justice and Development Par ty (AKP) took office in 2002.

One target of Erdogan’s ire was prominent Turkish actor Mehmet Ali Alabora after he posted a tweet in a show of support for the protest movement. Erdogan angrily accused him of stirring up unrest and threatened to press charges against him. Alabora said earlier this month he had received unspecified threats after pro-govern-

ment daily Yeni Safak branded him a leading figure in a “plot aimed at toppling the government ”. Yeni Safak charged that a play directed by Alabora held several months of “revolution rehearsals” in Turkey ahead of the protests with the support of an unspecified “agency” in Britain.

The demonstrations, which claimed at least four lives and left thousands injured, have calmed down but the government’s handling of the unrest has set off alarm bells over Ankara’s commitment to freedom of expression and assembly. Erdogan, who has branded the turmoil as a plot “hatched by traitors and their foreign accomplices”, has repeatedly accused foreign media of wrongly portraying the mass protests, singling out CNN and the BBC. A progovernment Turkish newspaper yesterday said it had lodged a formal complaint against CNN International and its veteran anchor Christiane Amanpour for

their “false” coverage of the protests. “We filed a complaint Thursday against CNN and Amanpour on charges of inciting the public to hatred and enmity by making false news,” said Takvim daily news director Mevlut Yuksel, who submitted the petition to an Istanbul prosecutor’s office.

On Monday, the BBC expressed concern about a campaign by the Turkish authorities to “intimidate its journalists”, while government officials have lashed out at international media outlets for their coverage of the unrest. Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek has launched a Twitter campaign against BBC Turkish correspondent Selin Girit, accusing her of treason and spying for Britain.

Erdogan’s regular attacks on the media and a tendency to use the courts to silence his enemies have added to concerns about rights in a countr y which has long sought to join the European Union. Under his rule, Turkey

has been blacklisted by rights groups as the leading jailer of journalists worldwide. And fears are mounting that artists who joined the anti-government rallies will be banned from performing at festivals or staging plays in AKP-led municipalities.

World-renowned pianist Fazil Say was among the musicians to sign yesterday’s advert. The 43-year-old virtuoso is facing a retrial after a conviction for blasphemy over his Twitter posts was cancelled in April, a high-profile case that has irked secular Turks who are worried about what they see as creeping Islamic conservatism in the predominantly Muslim country. Erdogan has won three successive elections, gaining in popularity each time. An opinion poll earlier this month found that the AKP would still come first if elections were held today, but only with 35.3 percent of the vote, compared with nearly half at the last ballot in 2011.— AFP

Five dead in Kismayu as leadership dispute rages

AMMAN: US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) says goodbye to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after their second meeting yesterday. — AP

Kerry extends Middle East peace mission Top diplomat cancels UAE trip JERUSALEM: US Secretary of State John Kerry extended his Middle East peace mission yesterday, shuttling between Jerusalem and Amman for more talks with Palestinian and Israeli leaders on reviving their stalled negotiations. Cancelling a scheduled trip to Abu Dhabi, Kerry flew from Jerusalem to the Jordanian capital Amman for yet another meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He returned later via Tel Aviv to see Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the third time. “Because Secretary Kerry’s meetings on the peace process remain ongoing in Jerusalem and Amman, we will no longer be able to make a stop in Abu Dhabi,” State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said. Kerry had apologised to the United Arab Emirates for his change in plans.

An Israeli official involved in the talks said Kerry’s visit could yield an announcement that Israeli and Palestinian delegates would meet under US and Jordanian auspices.

“There is such a possibility, but it is not certain,” the official told Reuters. A US official declined to comment. Direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations broke down in late 2010 in a dispute over Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories that Palestinians want within a

future independent state.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat greeted Kerry yesterday at Abbas’ residence in Amman before the president joined them. Abbas and Kerry had met in Amman less than 24 hours earlier.

Erekat asked how Kerry’s sessions with Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres on Friday went. Kerry responded: “It was good, it was interesting.”

State Department officials said Abbas and Kerry met privately for about two hours before advisers joined them. “US efforts are continuing (but) until now no results that can lead to the resumption of negotiations,” a Palestinian source, with knowledge of the talks, told Reuters.

It was unclear whether Kerry would be able to announce a resumption of talks before his scheduled departure for Asia on Sunday, but US officials have compared his shuttle diplomacy to Henry Kissinger’s Middle East peace efforts in the 1970s. Kerry saw Netanyahu for several hours on Thursday as well as on Friday and had a Jewish Sabbath dinner with Peres.

Israeli officials gave no details of those meetings. Kerry - now on his fifth visit as a peace broker - has said he would not have returned to the region so soon if he did not believe he could make progress. He has been guarded about his plans to break the stalemate,

while warning time is running out. He is keen to clinch a deal to resume talks before the United Nations General Assembly, which has already granted de facto recognition to a Palestinian state, convenes in September.

Netanyahu is concerned that the Palestinians, in the absence of direct peace talks, could use the UN session as a springboard for further statehood moves circumventing Israel. With the Middle East engulfed in turmoil from protests in Egypt to the Syrian civil war, which is spilling into neighbouring countries, Kerry has said it is time for “hard decisions” by Israel and the Palestinians. “It is urgent because time is the enemy of a peace process,” he said in Kuwait last week. “The passage of time allows a vacuum to be filled by people who don’t want things to happen.” State Department officials believe the sides will return to negotiations once there is an agreement on confidence-building measures - such as a partial Israeli amnesty for Palestinian security prisoners - and a formula for fresh talks.

As an incentive for talks, Kerry is also working on a $4 billion economic plan led by ex-British prime minister Tony Blair, which would channel new investments in Palestinian areas via the private sector to boost jobs and economic growth. — Reuters

Jazeera America network ramps up ahead of debut NEW YORK: Al Jazeera America has hired hundreds of journalists and finalized parts of its programming schedule, as it moves ahead with its plan to create a mainstream US cable news channel that aims to compete with dominant networks like CNN and Fox. The network, with headquarters in New York City, has already hired about 650 employees in the United States as it gears up for a late-August launch, said Ehab Al-Shihabi, the executive director of international operations. The network will focus on regional and local US-based investigative journalism for its US programming. It will feature a flagship twohour long news program between 7 and 9 pm, Shihabi told an audience at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Al Jazeera may face an uphill battle in attracting a loyal US audience, given that it is under the patronage of the government of Qatar. It will at first be available in only 49 million US households - about half of the reach

of CNN. Al Jazeera, which has a separate English service called Al-Jazeera English, already available in the United States, has been trying to break into the US cable market for a number of years, but it has so far failed to get significant traction.

Many US consumers remember that Al Jazeera gained world notoriety when it aired videos of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s speeches during the early 2000s, and had been viewed by many as being antiAmerican - particularly at the height of the Iraq War. Shihabi acknowledged that there may be a perception problem among consumers of Al Jazeera being a controversial news channel but dismissed the challenge as one of the issues faced by any startup channel. He said the network’s programming will dispel any doubts about the quality of content or any perceived political bias and that a head of US operations will be announced soon.

He called Al Jazeera America a

“serious investment”, without specifying an exact amount. He added the network will focus on investigative journalism, which they expect will give it a competitive edge. As part of its investment in the US, Al Jazeera bought Al Gore’s Current TV earlier this year to allow it to compete with US news networks like CNN, MSNBC and Fox News. Terms were undisclosed, but analysts estimated the deal could be worth as much as $500 million.

Al Jazeera plans to have 8 minutes of commercials in an hour, which is lower than the industry standard of 14-16 minutes, Shihabi said, adding that the network will launch with 12 bureaus in the United States. Al Jazeera is planning bureaus in major cities such as Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago. The network’s model is based on the one followed by the BBC, which is UK state funded but independently operated, Shihabi added.— Reuters

MOGADISHU: At least five people have been killed in two days of fighting in a strategic Somali port city, a militia commander said yesterday, despite talks to end a leadership row aimed at stopping a slide back into broader clan warfare. The threat of the kind of clan fighting that tore Somalia apart over two decades has hung over the city of Kismayu since Ahmed Madobe, leader of the Ras Kamboni militia, was chosen by a regional assembly in May to lead Jubaland and its port.

Dozens of people have been killed in sporadic fighting since then between backers of Madobe and a rival claimant to the leadership, Barre Hirale, who is widely seen as having the backing of the federal government in Mogadishu. “From our side, five have died and 20 others were injured,” Ibrahim Saiid, a commander in a militia back ing Hirale, said by telephone, adding that the R as K amboni militia behind Madobi had also suffered an unknown number of casual-

ties. Other witnesses confirmed the clashes which erupted on Friday and extended into yesterday, but there was no official death toll. Poor communications to the city made it difficult to obtain a casualty count on Madobe’s side.

Worried that the clashes could spread and undermine fragile security gains secured by African peacekeepers in the battered nation, the United Nations called for an immediate halt to fighting and said talks should resolve the dispute. “At the same time as this new fighting has broken out, contacts are underway to put together an inclusive process to defuse tensions,” the top UN diplomat in Somalia, Nicholas Kay, said in a statement, adding that fighting would entrench positions and “make it all the harder to achieve a settlement”.

Witnesses said Kenyan troops, part of the African Union peacekeeping force, had been deploying along a vital road in Kismayu on an apparent mission to halt

the fighting. Senior diplomats earlier told Reuters the Mogadishu government was expected to accept Madobe as the regional leader but on an interim basis. The government has said it is ready to compromise but has not said whom it would back to hold the post. What happens in Kismayu is seen as a vital test of the skill of the new government in Mogadishu, in place for less than a year, in building a federation in a nation torn by war, deep clan rivalries and breakaway regions.

Regional and Western powers worry that a slide back into conflict would hand an opportunity to Al Shabaab Islamist militants to regroup and regain more territory. African troops led a campaign that drove the militants out of major centres, although Al Shabaab still controls swathes of countr yside. That means the leader of Kismayu and Jubaland would in reality only control the port and its immediate surroundings. — Reuters

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

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One restaurant, two countries: A Slovenian border tale OBREZJE, Slovenia: A neon-green line runs across the floor of the “Kalin” restaurant in the tiny Slovenian hamlet of Obrezje: step over it and you’re suddenly in Croatia. Outside, a lone border guard stands looking bored as the restaurant’s cook runs out in her apron and signals to a friend on the other side of the border to come over for a chat. Obrezje stands on the eastern edge of Slovenia and “Gostilna Kalin” (restaurant Kalin) literally straddles an international border that sprang up just over two decades ago, right in the middle of its main room.

The result: the fridge with cold drinks stands on the Slovenian side, the cases of empty bottles on the Croatian side. “This border was really bad for our business,” says restaurant owner Sasa Josip Kalin, 40.

The family-owned eatery was already popular with Croatians, who still make up 60 percent of its clientele, when Slovenia and Croatia were part of the former Yugoslavia. Independence in 1991 and Slovenia’s EU entry in 2004 however introduced passport controls between Zagreb, just 30 km away, and Obrezje.

Within the restaurant itself, there is no need to dig out one’s passport. But when Croatia enters the European Union on

Monday, business might become a little bit easier. “They’re going to be a lot looser with the border, it’s not going to be as strict,” says Kalin, who himself has dual Slovenian and Croatian citizenship.

“Hopefully in one year they’ll open this road in front. Then it will be much better because the traffic will go through here.”

At the moment, the gravel path is blocked; a border guard is on duty 24/7; and locals on foot or on bicycle need a special pass to cross the small stone bridge. Everyone else must go through the modern border checkpoint a few hundred metres away, a detour that can take 40 minutes depending on traffic. For Nada Krkovic, 65, who lives next door to the restaurant: “Until we enter Schengen (Europe’s visa-free zone), it will still be a border. It will be a bit easier but controls will remain.”

Border issues between Slovenia and Croatia were long an obstacle to Zagreb’s EU accession talks and even now, they have not been solved: the two neighbours have only just agreed to arbitration in their dispute over 13 sq km in the northern Adriatic. Rajka Krizanac, a “Kalin” regular from Jesenice, the next Slovenian town, remembers going to school on the

Croatian side of the border when it was still the former Yugoslavia. “It was hard for me to get used to showing my ID card on the border. The border actually angered me,” says the 46-year-old sociologist, who still buys her bread in Croatia. A softer border regime now will make a big difference, she says. “Most people in this border area expect benefits in their everyday lives.”

Anton Rop, Slovenia’s prime minister when it entered the EU, also told AFP: “It’s not important that Slovenia and Croatia had some problems concerning the borders.” “The important thing is that those two countries have quite a lot of similarities, they have a common history, they can cooperate very successfully and they understand each other very well.” Croatia is also a prime holiday spot for its neighbours. “Those two countries are connected and with Croatian membership, those relations will be much, much better,” said Rop. Already the border guard outside Kalin’s restaurant merely growls to trespassers that they should not be there, without moving from the metallic box where he is sheltering from the heat. A young woman wearing earphones cycles past him without even a glance. Kalin,

OBREZJE, Slovenia: A sign on the wall and a green line painted on the floor shows the Slovenian-Croatian border going through the Kalin Restaurant on June 18, 2013. — AFP whose restaurant is entirely under Slovenian law despite the border running through it, is now looking to expand on the Croatian part of his land - already home to his vegetable patch and the chil-

Mandela a hard act to follow for S Africans Nation caught in emotional reckoning JOHANNESBURG: In November, just before Nelson Mandela’s health began a long downward spiral, the leader of a project to build a children’s hospital named after the former president briefed him on efforts to raise construction funds. Mandela, 94 years old and infirm, was exasperated by the delays. Then the reflexes of the world statesman took over. “Well, get me a few business people. Sit them around my table here and I’ll tell them why this is important,” Mandela said, according to Sibongile Mkhabela, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust. The fundraiser didn’t happen, but the remark was a poignant hint of the Mandela of old, the charismatic leader who, as Mkhabela put it, “knew how to make people believe in things that were not there yet”.

Today Mandela is critically ill in a Pretoria hospital, seemingly close to the end of his life. As the day approaches, whenever it comes, many South Africans are caught in an emotional reckoning. They celebrate this father figure, whose jail-time sacrifice and peacemaking role in the transition from apartheid to democracy resonated worldwide, but they face the hard road of trying to emulate his example and implement his legacy after he is gone.

“There’s a part of Mandela in each of us,” said Anthony Prangley, a lecturer at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, a University of Pretoria business school whose campus is in Johannesburg. “It’s important to keep that in mind because we can start to see him as someone who is not accessible, or infallible,” he said.

“In doing so, we miss the potential to learn from his leadership.”

Mandela’s achievements were historic even though he admitted imperfection and sought to share credit with others. That humility left a deep impression on many who met him. The anti-apartheid leader spent 27 years in jail, but was seemingly free of rancor on his release in 1990, steering South Africa through a delicate transition to all-race elections that propelled him to the presidency four years later. The outpouring of support for the ailing Mandela, who was taken to the hospital on June 8 for what the government said was a lung infection, attests to his ability to connect and inspire in his country, even if it is struggling to live up to his soaring vision, and around the world.

“If and when he passes from this place, one thing I think we’ll all know is that his legacy is one that will linger on throughout the ages,” President Obama said in Senegal before arriving in South Africa on Friday as part of an Africa tour.

Obama met Mandela’s relatives yesterday, though he has said he will not visit the hospital where Mandela is receiving treatment. The United Nations has recognized July 18, Mandela’s birthday, as an international day to honor themes of activism, democracy and responsibility embodied by the former leader.

Organizers of events in his honor suggest participants spend 67 minutes engaged in acts of goodness on that day - 67 corresponds to the number of years Mandela is said to have spent in public service. “It’s possible for our societies to have ‘Mandelas’ so long as we don’t take away

PRETORIA: A well wisher chants prayers in support of former South African President Nelson Mandela at the entrance to the Mediclinic Heart Hospital where Mandela is being treated yesterday. — AP from ourselves the responsibilities to learn, to be better, to aspire to something bigger,” said Mkhabela, the CEO. She said she worried when people put Mandela on “such a high pedestal”, setting aside the need to follow his humanitarian values. “This just sounds like another way of saying: ‘We don’t want to be responsible, we feel and fear in us there is a ‘Mandela’ that could be unleashed. It’s too big a responsibility, too big a challenge,’” she said.

The business world has taken note of Mandela as a role model. He ranked fourth on a list of admired leaders, according to a global survey late last year of 1,330 chief executive officers in 68 countries. Winston Churchill, Steve Jobs and Mahatma Gandhi led the field in the survey, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The survey said many CEOs “chose leaders who were persistent in the face of adversity - as well as transformational leaders and leaders who did the ‘right thing’.”

Prangley, the business school lecturer, said a great leader doesn’t just inspire and have many followers, but also reaches out to other constituencies. Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, he said, became more effective by winning over white Americans, and Mahatma Gandhi sought to unite Muslims and Hindus, even though India was partitioned. President Obama energized crowds early on but now struggles to rally people when things sour, according to Prangley, who praised Mandela’s political skill.

“He understands when to push and when to bring other people to the table,” he said of Mandela’s skill in balancing firmness and compromise.

Prangley said he met Mandela as a student volunteer in Mozambique in the late 1990s, recalling how the former president told him and his young colleagues that it was a “wizened”

group of older leaders who had led the negotiations that ended apartheid. “In South African society, it was the older generation who began to compromise and brought change,” Prangley said. “It was a message to us, as young people at that time, to kind of learn from that experience.”

Mandela, though, was hardly a stuffy patriarch. He had cross-generational appeal. He wore colorful, patterned shirts when president and was known for warmth and attention to personal detail despite a somewhat regal, even stiff bearing. Those who have worked with Mandela, a philanthropist who joined the fight against the AIDS epidemic in South Africa and other humanitarian causes, often share what they learned with colorful anecdotes about the former president, also known by his clan name, Madiba.

Achmat Dangor, the former head of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, a Johannesburgbased foundation, picked up tips about the stubborn art of fundraising.

“I’ve been on occasions with heads of state and certain great persons somewhere who made a pledge, and Madiba called me and said, ‘You sit here until they give you something in writing, you don’t leave,’” Dangor told a foundation audience in May. “‘Thank you, Prime Minister. Your Excellency, thank you.’ And yes, I didn’t leave without a note. A million pounds came a couple of years later, but it came.” Mandela also stressed the importance of getting opposing sides to speak to each other, said Dangor, who described how he and a colleague once approached Mandela to discuss dialogue initiatives. Dangor recalled: “He listened very carefully and then he said, ‘Listen I want to tell you something. You know, when you get people together who agree with each other, and they’re friends, that’s not dialogue. That’s a chat. Bring together those who disagree with each other.’” — AP

Six killed in CAR clashes as anger mounts over abuses BANGUI, Central African Republic: Clashes between exrebels and armed civilians killed six people in Bangui as anger mounted over abuses by the Central African Republic’s new rulers, police and medics said yesterday. The violence broke out on Friday in a northern neighbourhood of the capital when a student believed to have been kidnapped by ex-rebels was found dead, a police official said on condition of anonymity. “Protesters, most of them youths, set up barricades and started burning tyres on the street to voice their anger over the discovery of the body of a student... who was abducted in broad daylight by Seleka forces,” he said, referring to the former rebel group now

in power. The police source said the ex-rebels then “opened fire on the protesters with live bullets, killing one person.”

Shots were fired back at the Seleka men, killing two, the official said, adding that another three unidentified people were shot dead in the ensuing confusion. Twenty five people were also wounded.

“This is a provisional toll that is likely to worsen because gunfire from heavier and automatic weapons was heard in the neighbourhood later on, soon spreading to much of the city,” he said.

Seleka (which means “alliance” in the Sango language) forces ousted the impoverished country’s leader Francois Bozize in March. One of its

leaders, Michel Djotodia, has since been sworn in as interim president but smouldering violence has continued to plague the landlocked nation. “The wounded keep coming in. Most of them were hit by stray bullets in various Bangui districts,” Romain Guitizia, the director of a Bangui hospital, told AFP. “It’s tense here, we’re not sure what is going to happen,” he said.

Witnesses said a Protestant youth centre and a bank were looted as chaos spread across the capital. Residents have repeatedly taken the law into their own hands over what rights groups say are executions and pillaging by ex-rebels.

Relief agencies in the Central African Republic warned on

Thursday that the troubled nation was facing a serious humanitarian crisis as a result of the coup and its aftermath.

Human Rights Watch said Seleka had “targeted and killed at least 40 civilians, and intentionally destroyed 34 villages or towns since February.”

Djotodia’s administration denies any involvement in the violence but senior Seleka members, including one of the former rebellion’s top generals, issued a statement demanding an internal dialogue to tackle ongoing insecurity and rights violations. Bangui has asked the regional bloc CEMAC to boost its troop presence from 700 to 2,000 in a bid to stabilise the capital. — AFP

dren’s playground. And he sees no administrative headaches on the horizon.

“Anyway now it’s going to be the European Union, so there won’t be any problems,” he says confidently. — AFP

Croatia to guard EU’s longest land border KARASOVICI, Croatia: When Croatia becomes the 28th member of the European Union, it will shoulder a major task - guarding the bloc’s longest external land border in a region notorious for trafficking. Croatia lies on the so-called Balkans route which stretches from Turkey across Greece, Macedonia and Serbia, and is used by criminal gangs to smuggle people, drugs or weapons. Croatian authorities must monitor a border more than 1,300 km long - surpassing Finland’s frontier with Russia - which besides Serbia touches the non-EU states of Bosnia and Montenegro.

At the Karasovici crossing, nestled among pine-covered hills at Croatia’s far south border with Montenegro, police official Stane Urlovic said: “Drugs and illegal immigrants are our main concern.” Only last year, some 6,500 would-be migrants were caught in Croatia on their way to Western Europe. They came mainly from Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey and Albania, and from the African nations of Somalia and Algeria. Urlovic said illegal immigrants mostly men in their late 20s, but also couples with babies - often try to sneak in only a few hundred meters away from the Karasovici crossing. “Sometimes we catch the same people only a few hours after we have caught them for the first time and sent them back to Montenegro,” she said.

Once an immigrant jumped out of a suitcase as an officer was opening it, she recalled. Another migrant was found rolled up in a carpet put under the children’s feet in the backseat of a car. Traffickers charge for a trip from Istanbul to an EU country between Ä5,000 to Ä6,000 ($6,700 to 8,000), police say. EU border management agency FRONTEX said the illegal crossings in the region - amounting to about 35,000 people - rose by 33 percent in 2012 compared with the year before. Also last year, around 600 kg of various drugs were seized at Croatian borders, and the smuggling of stolen vehicles is on the rise, police said. To

meet the border challenges, Croatia has spent tens of millions euros of European assistance funds to improve border infrastructure, modernise equipment and train police officers, said interior ministry official Gilio Toic Sintic. Some 6,000 police officers are currently involved in the monitoring and control of the land borders with Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia, but another 300 are needed, he said. The 1,011 kmlong border with Bosnia is the most challenging not only for its length but also for its difficult terrain dotted with rivers and impassable mountains.

At a police station in Metkovic - a southern Croatian town part of which lies in Bosnia -mostly young officers monitor around the clock six ‘suspicious points’ on big screens. “This is a suitable terrain for (illegal) migrants, they can hide easily and later ‘get lost’ in the town,” said the head of the regional border police Mato Barisic.

Cameras cover these hot spots used by human or drug traffickers while Bosnian and Croatian officers have joint patrols in the town.

Barisic said Croatia’s EU entry would not change much, although the country could now become a destination rather than just a transit point. “We have been preparing for this for years,” he said pointing to a nearby brand new Klek-Neum crossing on the Adriatic coast with Bosnia, where some eight million people, mostly tourists, pass every year. But even with sophisticated equipment and new infrastructure, the human eye and long experience “are still what’s most important in carrying out border controls while combating trafficking,” said Urlovic. “A forged document can be recognised only by a good eye that can also recognise fear” in the person carrying it, she said. Although becoming a EU member state on July 1, Croatia will not immediately join Europe’s 26-nation passport free Schengen area. The newcomer aims to meet that goal by the end of 2015. — AFP

DUBROVNIK, Croatia: Croatian border police officers patrol along the border between Croatia and Montenegro close to the Croatian village of Karasovici on June 5, 2013. — AFP

British far-right leader arrested LONDON: The leader of the far-right English Defence League (EDL) was arrested yesterday after breaching a police order banning a march to the London site where a soldier was murdered last month, the group said. Scotland Yard had warned Tommy Robinson and other EDL members they faced arrest if they went ahead with a planned walk and rally at the barracks in Woolwich, southeast London, where Lee Rigby was hacked to death. Two British converts to Islam are due to stand trial over the murder in November.

Police said the EDL’s plans risked causing “serious public disorder” and told the group to hold their rally, timed to mark Armed Forces Day in Britain, near parliament in central London. The EDL campaigns against what it says is the spread of radical Islam in Britain. But it has been accused of Islamophobia and previous rallies have ended in clashes with anti-fascist groups.

Despite the police warning, Robinson went ahead with a sponsored walk through the capital with EDL co-leader Kevin Carroll,

aimed to raise money for a children’s cancer charity. The movement said both were arrested as they entered Tower Hamlets, an east London borough with a sizeable Muslim community and a large mosque, on their way to Woolwich.

Footage on Sky News television showed Robinson being handcuffed and taken into a police van, although police could not immediately confirm the arrest. “Tommy Robinson & Kev Caroll arrested for obstructing the police and carted off,” the EDL said in a statement on its Facebook page, accusing police of acting like the Nazi Gestapo.

The group urged supporters “to continue the walk and lay the flowers at the scene of Lee Rigby’s murder”. The government had already banned two US political bloggers from entering Britain to attend the EDL rally.

Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, who set up Stop Islamization of America and operate the website Jihad Watch, were forbidden from entering Britain on the grounds their presence would “not be conducive to the public good”. — AFP

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Cameron visits troops in an unannounced Afghan trip British PM backs talks with Taleban

JOSHIMATH: A rescued pilgrim lies on a stretcher while an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter hovers in the background at the Joshimath helipad following flash floods in northern Uttarkhand state yesterday. More than 100,000 mainly pilgrims and tourists have been evacuated from the disaster zone while some 4,000 remain in relief camps after the flash floods and landslides that hit the state on June 15. — AFP

Retirement homes in vogue as Indians live longer, prosper PUNE: The Athashri retirement community offers the over-55 crowd Western-style amenities such as a clubhouse, gym, library and pool but with a distinctly Indian twist: a temple on site where residents worship Ganesh, the elephant-headed god followed by many Hindus in Maharashtra state. The 180-unit development in the city of Pune, which enjoys better weather and less bustle than nearby Mumbai, overlooks open fields and hills and is set in lush gardens - an appealing escape from the crowds and grime of India’s mega-cities.

Retirement communities like this one are just beginning to gain traction in India, where the multi-generational “joint family” structure endures despite rampant modernization. The concept of housing for the elderly still carries a social stigma in the country, which accounts for less than 1 percent of the $25 billion senior housing industry worldwide. But rising incomes, longer life expectancy and the rise of nuclear families as more people relocate for jobs are driving demand for retirement homes in Asia’s third-largest economy, and attracting developers and investors.

Paranjape Schemes Ltd, which manages Athashri, is among a handful of companies tapping the burgeoning senior living sector including Max India Ltd, backed by Goldman Sachs Group Inc, LIC Housing Finance Ltd, The Covai Group and Ashiana Housing Ltd. Tata Housing Development Co Ltd, part of India’s biggest conglomerate, launched its first senior housing project in May in the

southern city of Bangalore, and plans at least four more, catering to independent retirees looking for better security and services than what is available in ordinary housing.

“A significant section of seniors today are independent, financially stable, well-travelled and socially connected, and as a result have a fairly good idea of how they want to spend time after retirement,” said Brotin Banerjee, CEO, Tata Housing, which expects revenues of 950 million rupees ($16 million) from its 700 million rupee project investment over three years. While India is much younger than Japan, China or the United States, the number of people over age 60 is expected to more than double to 173 million by 2025.

Real estate consultant Jones Lang LaSalle estimates current annual demand for senior homes across 135 Indian cities at 312,000, far outstripping supply of 10,000 to 15,000 new homes now in the pipeline.

After spending two decades in Houston looking after their grandchildren, Vidyadhar and Aruna Gokhale returned to India last year and moved into a retirement home.

Developers view such Indians returning from overseas, the vast and often prosperous Diaspora known as non-resident Indians or NRIs, as a key target market. “Nobody needs us there so we thought we should live our lives the way we want to because we are young enough to be able to enjoy it,” Aruna Gokhale, 81, said in her apartment at Athashri in Pune, where she and her husband, now 84, grew up. —Reuters

KABUL: British Prime Minister David Cameron made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan yesterday, backing talks with the Taleban as his top general said the West missed a chance to strike a peace deal 10 years ago. Cameron visited troops in the southern province of Helmand before flying to Kabul for talks with President Hamid Karzai as the Afghan government and international powers try to revive stalled peace efforts. “ The encouraging thing, although there is a long way to go, is that the Taleban (have) said they no longer wanted Afghanistan to pose a threat to other countries,” he said in Helmand in remarks reported by the BBC. “There’s a long way to go but alongside our security process, of a big and secure Afghan army and police force, a political process makes sense too.”

General Nick Carter told yesterday’s Guardian newspaper that an opportunity to bring peace to Afghanistan was missed when the Taleban were on the defensive in 2002 after they were ousted following the 9/11 attacks. “The Taleban were on the run,” he said. “At that stage, if we had been very prescient, we might have spotted that a final political solution... would have involved getting all Afghans to sit at the table and talk about their future.”

Carter, deputy commander of the NATO-led coalition, acknowledged it was “easy to be wise with the benefit of hindsight” but Afghanistan’s problems were political issues that “are only ever solved by people talking to each other”.

The search for a peace settlement is now a pressing priority as the insurgency still rages across many parts of the country and 100,000 US-led troops prepare to exit next year.

A Taleban office in Qatar that opened on June 18 was meant to foster talks but instead triggered a diplomatic bust-up when the insurgents used the title of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” from their 1996-2001 reign. Karzai, furious that the office was being styled as an embassy for a government-in-

3 bodies found in SW Pakistan ISLAMABAD: Three dead bodies were recovered from Quetta city of the southwestern Pakistani province of Baluchistan, police officials stated yesterday. According to police officials, the dead bodies were shifted to the civil hospital in Quetta for post mortem and identification. Police had confirmed that all three victims received multiple bullets on different body parts but the motive behind the killings has not yet been revealed. Quetta has been facing militant insurgency from few months killing number of security personnel and civilian population.

Meanwhile Pakistan Rangers have carried out a major search operation at the central jail of the southern Pakistani city of Karachi recovering a

number of cell phones, laptops, and internet devices on Saturday, three days after an attack on a senior judge.

“Rangers believe the attack on Justice Baqar’s convoy was carried out from inside the prison cells with the help of mobile devices,” a senior prison official said.

The paramilitary force has also recovered a cellular device that they believe was used directly in the attack on the judge. Over 200 Rangers personnel cordoned off the central jail and carried a search operation on a tip off by an inmate at central jail. The security officials questioned two members of a banned organization Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and found them key suspect in the attack. According to local media

reports, both the members had confessed to plan an attack on the judge.

They have also confessed to plan attacks on senior CID official, SSP Chaudhry Aslam Khan, and Superintendent Police North Nazimabad, Khurram Warris.

Several contact numbers of the suspected militants were also recovered through the cell phones found with the suspects in central jail, paramilitary official said.

Last Wednesday, an explosion targeting the convoy of Sindh High Court (SHC) judge killed at least seven people and wounded many others in Karachi city of southern Pakistani province Sindh. The SHC judge, Maqbool Baqir, survived the attack but got wounded seriously in the attack. — KUNA

Karzai: Taleban attack won’t hit peace moves

DIYATALAWA: Visiting Pakistani Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani (second left) salutes a guard of honor as chief guest during a graduation ceremony for some 64 Sri Lankan army officers in the island nation’s central district town of Diyatalawa yesterday. — AFP

China denies changing policy on Dalai Lama BEIJING: China denied changing its stance on exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama yesterday, after reports said Beijing had relaxed its policies of publicly denouncing him and banning worship of his image. “Our policy towards the Dalai Lama is clear and consistent, and has not changed,” China’s state bureau of religious affairs said in a fax sent to AFP. Reports by a Tibet-focused rights group and USbased Radio Free Asia said China was showing signs of rethinking some aspects of its Tibet policy, which has been blamed for sparking a wave of more than 110 self-immolations by Tibetans since 2009. Authorities in some Tibetan areas were allowing locals to “openly venerate the Dalai

Lama as a religious leader but not as a ‘political’ figure,” Radio Free Asia reported. Local authorities had dropped policies requiring monks to denounce the Dalai Lama, according to London-based rights group Free Tibet. The issue has been seen as a key source of tension between monks and government officials.

China regularly condemns the global spiritual figure, and has branded him an anti-China “separatist”. China’s top religious authority repeated that position yesterday, saying: “If the Dalai Lama is to improve his relations with China’s government, he must drop his separatist position...and stop making statements which damage the peaceful development of Tibet.” —AFP

KABUL: The Taleban’s daylight attack on Afghanistan’s presidential palace earlier this week will not deter the government from forging ahead with the peace process, President Hamid Karzai said yesterday. Though the Taleban have indicated they are willing to start peace talks at a new office in Qatar, their violent attacks haven’t ceased.

Their ability to carry out wellplanned and bold operations was driven home Tuesday when a SUV carrying four Taleban fighters managed to make it into a highly secured area by the gates of the palace. Four Taliban gunmen battled Afghan security forces for about an hour before being killed; a second vehicle involved in the attack blew up at a checkpoint on the way into the area.

Karzai downplayed the significance of the Taleban attack, saying “I wish they would spend all the time attacking the presidential palace and leave the rest of Afghanistan alone.”

He condemned the assault but said it will not deter the Afghan government from the peace process. “We know what the Afghan people want - we want peace and stability in Afghanistan,” he said, speaking alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron at a news conference inside the presidential palace.

Elsewhere, Afghan authorities said a suicide car bomber attacked a NATO convoy, killing two Afghan civilians.

Farah provincial governor’s spokesman Abdul Rahman Zhawandi said yesterday a man and woman on a motorcycle riding near the convoy were killed when the attacker struck Friday evening. Five civilians were wounded. —AP

British Prime Minister David Cameron eats breakfast with troops during a visit to Camp Bastion in the southern Helmand province yesterday. Cameron made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan visiting troops in Helmand as the NATO military coalition hands responsibility over to local forces. — AFP exile, broke off security talks with the Americans and threatened to boycott any peace process altogether. US President Barack Obama recently said he anticipated “a lot of bumps in the road” towards a deal but that it was the only way to end the violence in Afghanistan.

More than 3,300 coalition personnel have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001, peaking at 711 deaths in 2010, according to the independent icasualties.org website.

Only hours after the Qatar office opened, a Taleban rocket attack killed four Americans on the largest military base in Afghanistan. Days later, a suicide squad targeted the presidential palace and a CIA office, in the most audacious assault in

Kabul in years. The capital’s airport, its Supreme Court and an international aid group’s compound have also been attacked in recent weeks by heavily-armed Taleban suicide bombers.

“First of all, people like to negotiate from a position of strength, and secondly I think the opponents of Afghanistan would like to appear to compel the international community’s withdrawal,” Carter said. “I don’t think it’s surprising that we are seeing spectacular attacks in Kabul and a continuance of attacks elsewhere.”

As NATO troops pull back, Afghan soldiers and police are taking over the fight against the Taleban, who were deposed in 2001 for sheltering Al-Qaeda leaders behind the 9/11

attacks on New York and Washington. Carter said that Afghan forces had proven themselves in battle and were ready to provide security after NATO troops depart by the end of 2014. “What the opponents of the Afghan government now realize is they are likely to be up against capable Afghan security forces who are going to be here in perpetuity,” he said. “I think that there is every chance people will realize that talking is the answer to this problem.” Peace talks with the Taleban were previously anathema to many Western leaders, with Cameron’s predecessor Gordon Brown vowing in 2007 that Britain “will not enter into any negotiations with these people”. — AFP

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Abe chided for querying war apology TOKYO: A retired Japanese politician whose name is on a landmark 1993 apology over Japan’s use of wartime sex slaves says Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s attempts to downplay Japan’s actions before and during World War II have hurt the country’s global image and could undermine its pacifist pledge. Yohei Kono played a major role in the early 1990s helping Japan confront its wartime past and establish warmer ties with its Asian neighbors during years leading up to the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. He said in a rare interview with The Associated Press this week that Abe’s suggestion that he wanted to revise two apologies - including a 1995 statement expressing regret for Japan’s wartime aggression and commitment to peacerisks setting back by decades relations with China and South Korea. If the apologies are changed, “Japan will be isolated from the international community. That much is clear,” the 76-year-old Kono said.

“I’m afraid he (Abe) is underestimating a possible impact of his comments” on Japan’s diplomacy.

Abe has alarmed China and South Korea by suggesting that he would like to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution so that Japan’s military can operate with more

freedom. Kono, too, is concerned about this push and says Abe’s government needs to fully accept that Japan is geopolitically part of Asia, and has no choice but to deepen ties with China and South Korea. “You say it’s hard to get along with them, or there is complicated history. Even so, we must overcome the difficulty and be friends. It’s crucial to keep that in mind and make efforts, and prioritize that before anything,” said Kono, who retired four years ago after 42 years at the top of Japan’s political world.

As Chief Cabinet Secretary in the early 1990s, Kono was a relatively liberal-leaning politician within the generally conservative Liberal Democratic Party. He helped craft - and read to the public on Aug. 4, 1993 - what has come to be called the “Kono Statement” apologizing for “immeasurable pain and incurable physical and psychological wounds” inflicted on thousands of “comfort women,” mostly Korean but also from China, the Philippines, Indonesia and the Netherlands.

The statement - the government’s most thorough apology on the matter - won praise in Asia and elsewhere outside Japan, but faced some criticism at home from conservatives, including members of Kono’s former party, which has become

increasingly right-wing. An earlier statement by his predecessor Koichi Kato in 1992 acknowledged a limited government role in the brothel operation and recruit-

ment of the women, but was not considered a full apology and prompted South Korea to demand more.

That led to a further investigation by

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) and Lower House Speaker Yohei Kono look at a tree during a tree planting ceremony in Tokyo. —AP file photo

Japan and a fuller apology in the Kono statement that acknowledged coercion used on many of the women - the part that most upsets opponents of the apology.

Abe has questioned parts of the apology that say many of the women were coerced into providing sex for Japanese soldiers, saying there is no official record to prove that. He has suggested that he would like it revised, but after recent criticism now says he accepts it. He has said his Cabinet does not necessarily support all of the 1995 apology by then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, Japan’s main expression of remorse for its wartime and colonial past and pledge to peace and elimination of “self-righteous nationalism.” Abe has also upset China and South Korea by repeatedly saying that there is no clear definition of “aggression.” He has campaigned for a “departure from post-war regime,” which virtually means a revision of the education and social values introduced by the 1945-1952 US occupation era.

That comes along with other nationalistic actions by his government, including the April visit by several government ministers and nearly 170 lawmakers to Tokyo’s Yasukuni war shrine, which memorializes 2.3 million war dead, including 14 leaders convicted of war crimes. —AP

N Korea likely to get a cold shoulder at the Asia forum Pyongyang keen on opening up talks

LUKQUN: An armed police officer stands guard in Lukqun township, Xinjiang, China. Violent incidents have spread over the past week in a tense minority region of western China, just days before the fourth anniversary of a bloody clash between minority Uighurs and the ethnic Han majority that left almost 200 people dead and resulted in a major security clampdown.— AP

Violence hits west China ahead of 4th anniversary BEIJING: Violent incidents have spread over the past week in a tense minority region of western China, just days before the fourth anniversary of a bloody clash between minority Uighurs and the ethnic Han majority that left almost 200 people dead and resulted in a major security clampdown. China’s communist authorities have labeled some of the incidents - including one that left 35 people dead - as terrorist attacks, and President Xi Jinping has ordered that the situation be promptly dealt with to safeguard overall social stability, state media has reported.

A state-run newspaper said Saturday that authorities had beefed up security in the region. The latest violence reportedly took place Friday in southern Xinjiang’s Hotan area.

In one incident, more than 100 knife-wielding people mounted motorbikes in an attempt to storm the police station for Karakax county, the state-run Global Times reported.

In another, an armed mob staged an attack in the township of Hanairike, according to the news portal of the Xinjiang regional government. It did not say what sort of weapons the mob had. The official Xinhua News Agency reported a “violent attack” Friday afternoon on a pedestrian street in downtown Hotan city.

No casualties were reported in any of the incidents, which state media said were quickly brought under control.

The government’s news portal, Tianshan Net, said there were no civilian casualties in Hanairike. An exiled Uighur activist, Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the Germany-based World Uyghur Congress, disputed those accounts, saying there were several protests in the Hotan area against what Uighurs see as China’s suppressive policies in Xinjiang. He said 48 people were arrested.

“It’s a crisis of survival,” said Dilxat Raxit, who called for international observers to be sent to the region to help curb what he said was excessive violence against Uighurs by the Chinese government. It has not been possible to independently verify the different accounts

of the violence because of tight controls over information in the region.

The incidents Friday in Xinjiang came after what the government described as attacks on police and other government buildings Wednesday in eastern Xinjiang. The violence in Turpan prefecture’s Lukqun township killed 35 people and was one of the bloodiest incidents since the July 5, 2009, unrest in the region’s capital city, Urumqi, killed nearly 200.

Xinjiang (shihn-jeeahng) is home to a large population of minority Muslim Uighurs (WEE’gurs) in a region that borders Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has been the scene of numerous violent acts in recent years. Critics often attribute the violence in Xinjiang to what they say is Beijing’s oppressive and discriminatory ethnicity policies.

Many Uighurs complain that authorities impose tight restrictions on their religious and cultural life. The Chinese government says that it has invested billions of dollars in modernizing the oil- and gas-rich region and that it treats all ethnic groups equally. Calls to local government agencies were either unanswered or were responded to by people who said they were unauthorized to speak to reporters. State-run media reported that the incident Wednesday started when knifewielding assailants targeted police stations, a government building and a construction site all symbols of Han authority in the region.

Photos released in state media show scorched police cars and government buildings and victims lying on the ground, presumably dead. Dilxat Raxit also disputed that account, saying the violence started when police forcefully raided homes at night.

Xinhua said 11 assailants were shot dead, and that two police officers were among the 24 people they killed. “This is a terrorist attack, there’s no question about that,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Friday at a regular news briefing. “As to who masterminded it, local people are still investigating.” — AP

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: A regional security summit in this tiny Southeast Asian sultanate is the sort of venue where North Korea has often managed to open up sideline discussions with Seoul and Washington. This time, while there will be plenty of talk about Pyongyang, there is little chance of substantive talk with it.

North Korea has sought negotiations with the US and South Korea but has ignored their demands that it first honor prior commitments to move toward nuclear disarmament. At high-level diplomatic talks beginning this weekend, it can expect the cold shoulder from those countries and others frustrated by Pyongyang’s insistence on developing nuclear weapons.

After a December long-range rocket launch, a February nuclear test and weeks of threats to defend itself from aggression with nuclear strikes against South Korea and the United States, North Korea earlier this month made a surprise offer for separate talks with its rivals.

Government delegates from the two Koreas met and agreed to hold senior-level talks on nonnuclear issues, but the plan collapsed over a protocol dispute. The United States responded coolly to Pyongyang’s appeal for direct negotiations, which some analysts view as a familiar effort to win aid in return for ratcheting down tensions.

“While it is certainly preferable for North Korea to pursue diplomatic rather than missile or nuclear tests, all of North Korea’s neighbors by now are well aware of North Korea’s history of diplomatic initiatives as just another tool through which North Korea has sought to consolidate gains following periods in which North Korean brinkmanship has driven political tensions to high levels,” Scott Snyder, a Korea specialist at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank, wrote in a blog post.

North Korea quit disarmament-for-aid talks with five other nations - South Korea, the US, Japan, Russia and China - in 2009 to protest international condemnation over a long-range rocket launch. He added that agreeing to hold talks with the North “and come back to the table as though nothing has changed since the last six-party talks were held in 2008 would imply acceptance” of Pyongyang’s rocket launches and nuclear tests.

Whether or not Washington and its allies ignore Pyongyang’s diplomats, North Korea’s atomic aspirations are on the agenda in talks surrounding the 27-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, which takes place Tuesday in the Bruneian capital of Bandar Seri Begawan.

A draft of the forum chairman’s statement said that the meetings would reaffirm the importance of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, and that most participants urged North Korea “to abide by its obligations” under UN Security Council resolutions and commitments made in a joint statement following six-party talks in 2005.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and his counterparts from South Korea, China and Japan will

attend the forum and could hold private meetings that touch on Pyongyang. Yesterday, North Korea’s longtime foreign minister, Pak Ui Chun, departed Pyongyang for Brunei. He was seen off at the airport by Liu Hongcai, China’s ambassador to North Korea. Beijing is Pyongyang’s biggest ally but has pushed its neighbor on denuclearization.

Because the ASEAN forum gathers diplomats from all six countries involved in the long-stalled disarmament negotiations it has previously provided a chance to use informal, sideline talks to break stalemates over the nuclear issue. In 2011, top nuclear envoys from the two Koreas met on the sidelines of the forum in Bali, Indonesia, and agreed to work toward a resumption of the six-nation talks, though the negotiations remain stalled. The Koreas’

PYONGYANG: North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun (left) shakes hands with Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Liu Hongcai at Pyongyang airport yesterday before leaving for Brunei to attend the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting.— AP foreign ministers held sideline talks in 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2007, and top diplomats from Pyongyang and Washington also met privately in 2004 and 2008. North Korea will likely seek similar talks in Brunei, but South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young told reporters Tuesday that officials from Seoul aren’t considering meeting the North Korean foreign minister on the sidelines.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said Monday that he knew of no discussions planned between Kerry and Pak in Brunei, and that such talks would be “fairly unusual.”

Analysts said North Korea appeared to be repeating its pattern of following aggressive rheto-

“If the Philippines continues to provoke China... a counterstrike will be hard to avoid,” the editorial said. Members of the ASEAN group hope to reach a legally binding code of conduct aimed at easing tensions over disputed areas in the Sea, which is claimed almost in its entirety by Beijing, leading to long-running disputes with several neighboring countries including the Philippines.

China has resisted ASEAN efforts to create a legally binding code to govern conduct on the sea, and analysts say Beijing will continue to oppose any agreement weakening its claims. The Philippines this year sought UN arbitration over its dispute with China, a move condemned by Beijing. A US destroyer joined the Philippine Navy’s flagship this week for military exercises close to the Scarborough Shoal, which China insists it owns. Countries around the region have boosted spending on their navies in recent years in response to tensions, raising fears of a military conflict. —AFP

led the North to issue a torrent of warlike threats and sharply raise tensions on the divided peninsula.

Recent satellite photos show signs of new tunnel work at North Korea’s underground nuclear test site, the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies said in an analysis Tuesday. The analysis said it doesn’t appear to indicate another atomic blast is imminent but suggests the country has continued to work on its nuclear weapons program even as tensions eased.

Other issues expected to draw keen media attention in Brunei include South China Sea territorial disputes and relations between the US and China, the world’s two biggest economies.—AP

S Korea halts launch of anti-North leaflet SEOUL: S outh Korean police yesterday stopped a planned launch of anti-Pyongyang leaflets following a threat of violent retaliation

by the North. A group of defectors from North Korea and US human rights activists had said they would use gas-filled balloons to drop

China media warns of potential ‘counterstrike’ as sea row rages BEIJING: Chinese state-media accused the Philippines of using the ASEAN group of nations as an “accomplice” in the violation of its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea yesterday, and warned of a potential “counterstrike”. The editorial in the overseas edition of the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of China’s ruling Communist Party, came as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was due to meet in Brunei, with disputes in the Sea expected to dominate discussions.

The Philippines, which has sought closer ties with Washington amid territorial disputes with Beijing, “calls on the United States as ‘patron’” and uses ASEAN as an “accomplice,” the editorial said. It added that the Philippines was guilty of “seven sins,” including the “illegal occupation” of parts of the Spratly Islands, strengthening control over disputed coral reefs, inviting foreign companies to develop oil and gas resources in disputed waters, and promoting the “internationalization” of the Sea.

ric with diplomatic efforts to get outside aid and concessions. Chang Yong Seok, an analyst at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University, said Pyongyang must do something to show it’s refraining from continuing nuclear activities, such as announcing some disarmament steps, if it wants to have talks.

Despite its recent bid for diplomacy, North Korea has raised renewed worries about a nuclear program that outsiders estimate to include a handful of crude nuclear bombs. Pyongyang followed up its February nuclear test, its third since 2006, with an announcement that it planned to restore all of its atomic bomb fuel producing facilities. The latest test drew widespread international condemnation and tightened UN sanctions, which subsequently

PAJU, South Korea: South Korean policemen surround a truck containing anti-North Korea leaflets to block a planned launch at the entrance of Imjingak peace park in Paju near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas yesterday.—AFP

200,000 leaflets critical of Pyongyang over the tense border.

But a contingent of plain-clothed policemen prevented the activists from unloading the pamphlets and other materials for the launch from a pickup truck at Imjingak, a tourist site near the border.

Hours earlier, the North’s military warned it would fire upon the launch site, denouncing the activists as “human scum” and warning the launch site was “within the range of direct sighting strike”.

A leading activist, Park Sang-Hak, was taken into custody briefly after he attempted to drive the vehicle through a police line to get to the planned launch site, some 300 meters (1,000 feet) away. “I’m wondering what they’re so afraid of.

Why is it illegal? Why is it wrong in what we are doing?” Thor Halvorssen, president of the New York-based Human Rights Foundation (HRF), told journalists. “If South Korea is going to do ever ything because of threats from North Korea, then South Korea is a hostage.

South Korea is not a free country,” he said.

Police stopped similar launches in April and May this year, citing protests from local residents living in the area. Local residents oppose such action as the North has threatened to shell sites used to launch leaflets which often carry messages such as calls for an uprising against the communist regime. — AFP

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

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

Conservative backlash greets US immigration bill WASHINGTON: Conservatives have drawn a bull’s eye on the immigration bill passed by the US Senate, insisting the landmark measure will fail as is and vowing political retribution against Republicans who voted for it. The bipartisan immigration reform bill passed 68-32 in the Senate Thursday with support from 14 Republicans, many of whom now face accusations they let down conservatives opposed to legislation that lays a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented people.

Those lawmakers, including highprofile figures like Senator Marco Rubio, “will have to go back home and explain the votes they cast, and explain to their constituents why it’s not amnesty, even though it is,” Dan Holler of Heritage Action, a lobbying arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation, told AFP on Friday. “In a very real sense, the Senate passage of the Gang of 8’s bill killed what we think is any hope for

real immigration reform.” The four Republicans who joined four Democrats in crafting the legislation were well aware of the potential political pitfalls, perhaps none more than Rubio, a potential 2016 presidential candidate who has been a darling of the small-government tea party movement.

“It’s been a real trial for me,” Rubio said candidly on the Senate floor this week, acknowledging that his office has been flooded with phone calls and emails by “increasingly unhappy” voters. Conservatives worry about the bill’s $46 billion price tag, and they are skeptical about a Congressional Budget Office report which estimated that the bill would lead to dramatic deficit reduction. Equally important, many see the Senate making the same mistakes that plagued 1986 legislation, when Congress approved an amnesty for three million undocumented workers on the condition that border securi-

ty and enforcement was tightened.

Those conditions were never met, and millions more slipped illegally across the US-Mexico border or overstayed their visas. Conservative lawmakers now warn that immigration reform is doomed if it once again puts legalization before border security.

“The Senate #immigration bill is a mistake. Border security, not amnesty, is the answer,” congressman Phil Gingrey said on Twitter. Obama, on a trip in Africa, called House Speaker John Boehner in a bid to nudge him to take up immigration reform. Boehner has already said the chamber will not take up the Senate bill but seek to pass its own legislation with tougher border security measures.

House Judiciary Committee chairman Bob Goodlatte insists on a piecemeal approach, and his committee has approved four bills, including one that gives state and local government broad interior enforcement powers.

But the most controversial element of potential reform, what to do with 11 million people living in the shadows, has yet to be addressed. “Chairman Goodlatte does not believe in a special pathway to citizenship,” a Judiciary aide said.

Lawmakers headed back to their districts for a week-long break, and some Republicans like Tennessee’s Senator Bob Corker will find the welcome mat missing. Corker co-authored the pivotal amendment that dramatically boosts border security, and while his important role helped bring some skeptical Republicans on board, it angered hard-line conservatives. “I think most tea party members feel completely betrayed” by Corker, Nashville Tea Party president Ben Cunningham told the Jackson Sun. Some tea party activists have openly called for conservatives to challenge Republican Senators in upcoming primary elections if they voted for the

“amnesty” bill. “There’s probably concern about primaries” in the House too, noted a Republican congressional aide.

The party’s 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney was ridiculed when he said “self-deportation” was a viable policy for illegal immigrants. But even after Obama won re-election and Republican leaders called for outreach to minority groups like Hispanics, diehard conservatives have largely resisted the Senate’s immigration reform.

And yet immigration reform obstructionists could face their own backlash. “We were at the edge of the Jordan River, but after the Senate, we officially got our feet wet,” Reverend Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, told the New York Times.

“If 11 million immigrants are left in the middle of the water and do not reach the promised land, neither will the Republican Party reach the promised land of the White House.” —AFP

Phoenix and Las Vegas bake in scorching heat Smaller jets, propeller planes more likely to be affected PHOENIX: A blazing heat wave expected to send the mercury soaring to nearly 120 degrees (49 Celsius) in Phoenix and Las Vegas over the weekend settled across the West on Friday, threatening to ground airliners and raising fears that pets will get burned on the

Valley took photos of the harsh landscape and a thermometer that read 121. The mercury there was expected to reach nearly 130 degrees (54 Celsius) through the weekend - just short of the 134degree (57-Celsius) reading from a century ago that stands as the

The scorching weather presented problems for airlines because high temperatures can make it more difficult for planes to take off. Hot air reduces lift and also can diminish engine performance. Planes taking off in the heat may need longer runways or may have to shed

CALIFORNIA: Heat waves rise and distort Hollywood Boulevard during a major heat wave in Southern California on June 28, 2013. Temperatures are expected to be in the triple digits in most areas of Southern California. —AFP scalding pavement. The heat was so punishing that rangers took up positions at trailheads at Lake Mead in Nevada to persuade people not to hike. Zookeepers in Phoenix hosed down the elephants and fed tigers frozen fish snacks.

And tourists at California’s Death

highest temperature ever recorded on Earth. “You have to take a picture of something like this.

Otherwise no one will believe you,” said Laura McAlpine, visiting Death Valley from Scotland on Friday.

The heat is not expected to break until tomorrow or Tuesday.

weight by carrying less fuel or cargo. Smaller jets and propeller planes are more likely to be affected than bigger airliners that are better equipped for extreme temperatures.

The National Weather Service said Phoenix reached 116 degrees

US online child privacy rules set to get stricter WASHINGTON: Toughened US regulations on online privacy for children take effect tomorrow, offering new protections amid the growing use of mobile apps and social networks by youngsters.

The new Federal Trade Commission rules are being hailed by some as a milestone, but critics claim they could stifle the growth of child-friendly websites and services. The rules from the US watchdog, in updating the 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, include stricter privacy protections for children under 13 by expanding the definition of “personal information” to include geolocation data, as well as photos, videos and audio files.

They also ban “behavioral advertising” directed toward children without parental notice and consent. This would prevent children from getting “re-targeting” ads, which are based on browsing history. “This is an important victory for privacy rights on the Internet,” said Jeffrey Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy, which spent four years lobbying for the new rules. “There is no more secret tracking or behavioral tracking,” he said. “Online services can’t secretly follow a child around the Web and target the child with advertising” based on the youngster’s profile.

Nineteen public health, consumer and digital rights groups endorsed the new rules, telling the FTC they are “necessary to protect children and assist parents in light of the growing use of computers, mobile phones, and tablets, the increasing amount of data that is collected through these devices.” Endorsing groups include the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the Consumers Union and the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The rules also apply to mobile apps and “plug-ins” similar to the Facebook “like” button used on millions of websites, but with limitations.

Third-party plug-ins will be responsible only where they have “actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information from users of a child-directed site,” according to the FTC. Although the new rules are aimed at protecting children on social media, the biggest social net-

work, Facebook, is mostly unaffected because its policies don’t allow children under 13 to join.

Chester said this remains a concern because of Facebook’s “sophisticated data tracking” for marketing. “We don’t think COPPA (the new rules) will be enough to protect children from the onslaught of the Facebook business model,” he said.

Implementation could lead to some confusion because strict limits apply only when websites are “directed” at children. Some critics claim this could stifle some websites by forcing them to demand age verification. The Application Developers Alliance, which represents some 20,000 app makers, had asked for a delay in the rules, saying the changes “are so significant and the penalties so severe that, absent delay, many developers and publishers will simply stop publishing, placing their entire business at risk.”

Daniel Castro at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation meanwhile said the new rules are “misguided” and could prevent websites and developers from developing child-friendly services. “The real problem is that we’ll see sites and apps that will either ignore the rule and ignore the age of the user, or if they are directed at children, they will significantly reduce the features. Or they will move to paid models,” Castro said. He added the rules “set a default so high on privacy and so low on functionality that it is crippling the space for children. It locks the child online space into something that is not very usable.”

Some say the rules may have little impact because children are often more tech-savvy than their parents and find ways to circumvent controls. “It’s incredibly easy for kids” to get around age verification, said Stanley Holditch, online safety expert at McAfee, which recently released a study showing that 85 percent of US children between 10 and 12 used Facebook. The study found one in four in that age group said they had cleared their browser history or used private browsing to avoid detection, and 10 percent said they had configured privacy settings to hide content from their parents. —AFP

(47 Celsius) on Friday, two degrees short of the expected high, in part because of a light layer of smoke from wildfires in neighboring New Mexico that shielded the blazing sun. Las Vegas still was expecting near record highs over the weekend approaching 116, while Phoenix was forecast to hit nearly 120 degrees (49 Celsius). The record in Phoenix is 122 degrees (50 Celsius). Temperatures are also expected to soar across Utah and into Wyoming and Idaho, with triple-digit heat forecast for the Boise area. Cities in Washington state that are better known for cool, rainy weather should break the 90s next week.

The heat is the result of a highpressure system brought on by a shift in the jet stream, the high-altitude air current that dictates weather patterns. The jet stream has been more erratic in the past few years. Health officials warned people to be extremely careful when venturing outdoors. The risks include not only dehydration and heat stroke but burns from the concrete and asphalt. Dogs can suffer burns and blisters on their paws by walking on scorching pavement.

Cooling stations were set up to shelter the homeless as well as elderly people who can’t afford to run their air conditioners. In Phoenix, Joe Arpaio, the famously hardnosed sheriff who runs a tent jail, planned to distribute ice cream and cold towels to inmates this weekend. Officials said personnel were added to the Border Patrol searchand-rescue unit because of the danger to people trying to slip across the Mexican border. At least seven people have been found dead in the last week in Arizona after falling victim to the brutal desert heat. —AP

CALIFORNIA: The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus sings as same-sex couples wed at City Hall in San Francisco. —AP

Gay marriages resume in California with flurry SAN FRANCISCO: Same-sex marriages that were outlawed in California 4 1/2 years ago resumed in a rush after a federal appeals court took the “unusual, but not unprecedented,” step of freeing couples to obtain marriage licenses, before the US Supreme Court had issued its final judgment in a challenge of the state’s voter-approved gay marriage ban.

Within hours of the appeals court’s action Friday, the four plaintiffs who in 2009 sued to overturn the ban had exchanged vows during hastily arranged ceremonies that drew crowds of well-wishers as the news spread that the weddings were back on. “I was at work,” lead plaintiff Kristen Perry said, adding that she rushed home to Berkeley to change into a gray suit so she could marry her now-wife Sandra Stier at San Francisco City Hall. California Attorney General Kamala Harris declared Perry and Stier “spouses for life” as hundreds of supporters looked on and cheered from the balconies ringing the couple’s perch under City Hall’s rotunda. The other couple in the Supreme Court case, Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, was married at Los Angeles City Hall 90 minutes later wearing matching white rose boutonniËres and with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa presiding.

“Your bravery in the face of bigotry has made history,” said Villaraigosa, who was pulled from his last day in office tour of the city to officiate the impromptu wedding.

Although the couples fought for the right to wed

for years, their nuptials came together in a flurry when a three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals issued a brief order Friday afternoon dissolving a stay it had imposed on gay marriages while the lawsuit challenging the ban advanced through the courts. The legal fight concluded Wednesday when the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Proposition 8’s sponsors lacked standing in the case after Harris and Gov Jerry Brown, both Democrats, refused to defend the ban in court. The decision lets stand a trial judge’s declaration that the ban violates the civil rights of gay Californians and cannot be enforced. The high court said, however, that it would not finalize its ruling “at least” until after the 25 days the ban’s backers have under the court’s rules to seek a rehearing. The 9th Circuit was widely expected to wait until the Supreme Court’s judgment was official before clearing the way for same-sex marriages to start again. The ban’s sponsors, who like gay marriage supporters were caught off-guard, complained that the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit’s swift action made it more difficult for them to ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision.

“The resumption of same-sex marriage this day has been obtained by illegitimate means. If our opponents rejoice in achieving their goal in a dishonorable fashion, they should be ashamed,” said Andy Pugno, general counsel for a coalition of religious conservative groups that sponsored the 2008 ballot measure. —AP

Five years after her freedom, Betancourt urges forgiveness BOGOTA: Five years after her rescue from FARC rebels, former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt says she vividly remembers July 2, 2008 - the day an army helicopter took her to freedom. But now, the onetime hostage, who says she has taken some time to rebuild her life, is preaching forgiveness as the way to achieve peace in Colombia after decades of conflict.

Far from the lush jungles where she spent six years in captivity, much of it in chains, the FrancoColombian woman recalls the feeling of being released from the clutches of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). “There is satisfaction to have been able to survive. It’s quite a primal feeling, but that’s the way it is,” Betancourt told AFP in an Internet video interview from London, where she is studying for a doctorate’s degree in theology at Oxford University.

During recent spring cleaning, she came across a box filled with her jungle belongings: A radio, a watch “that always shows the exact jungle time,” her detainee uniform, socks and underwear. “The feelings I got from taking out these mementos are completely different from those I felt when I put them away,” the 51year-old said. She still recalls the small details of her rescue by undercover soldiers who had duped the rebels into thinking they were handing 15 hostages-including Betancourt, three Americans and 11 Colombian troops and police-to a humanitarian mission.

“I can still see the movement of the grass when the helicopter landed on the coca field,” she said.

Betancourt was kidnapped in southern Colombia on February 23, 2002, along with her campaign manager Clara Rojas during her longshot bid for the Colombian presidency as a green party candidate. She said she emerged from her ordeal “more humane,” though her return from captivity was initially tough because “you return to a world in which you no longer belong.”

Betancourt has given up Colombia’s political arena, preferring to focus her energy on her human rights foundation. But she sparked controversy and outrage among Colombians following her release when she sought compensation from the government over her kidnapping, accusing the state of failing to protect her. “This affair hurt me a lot. I thought that it was very unfair. I felt that it was very spiteful,” said Betancourt, who eventually gave up her legal bid. “It prolonged the time I needed to get myself back together.”

BOGOTA: A file photo taken on July 2, 2008 shows FrancoColombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt (right) hugging her mother Yolanda Pulecio upon her arrival at the Catam air base in Bogota. —AFP

Betancourt now hopes the government’s peace talks with the FARC, which began six months ago, will bring an end to the conflict that has left 600,000 people dead and more than 3.7 million displaced in 50 years. “Forgiveness is obviously a central element, but not forgiveness in the form of charity,” she said. “We are all, in Colombia, responsible for this horrible war. We are all part of a generation that, with forgiveness, must assume this responsibility.”

The two sides struck a first deal last month related to the thorny issue of land reform, but other sticking points-like allowing rebels who repent to avoid to jail-still have to be resolved. Despite the misery she endured in captivity, Betancourt voiced support for suspending jail sentences. “We can’t continue with a justice of vengeance. Peace will require us to accept a certain degree of impunity, it’s inevitable,” she said.

A Gallup Colombia poll, however, showed Friday that 80 percent of people were opposed to amnesty for the rebels in return for their participation in political life. Betancourt remembered that the FARC commander who held her prisoner was quite brutal. He was captured during her release and has been in jail for the past five years. Would she forgive him? “Life gave him the possibility to understand what he made us go through since he’s now a prisoner, like we were,” she said. “If I had him in front of me, I would simply hug him.” —AFP

14

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

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Washington Watch

Egypt after June 30th

By Dr James J Zogby egardless of how events develop in the days that will follow June 30th in Egypt, consideration must be given to the situation that now exists: Egypt is now facing a crisis more substantial than the one that led to the downfall of the Mubarak government. In the past few years: food and fuel prices have soared, unemployment has risen sharply, the crime rate has tripled, and in just the last year alone there have been almost 9,500 demonstrations and protests nationwide; •A dangerous divide now exists in the country with most citizens having lost confidence in the government, fearing that it is using unconstitutional means to consolidate its grip on power.

The rhetoric used by both sides has accelerated, reaching, at times, dangerous levels of incitement; •Despite having a serious legitimacy problem, the president and his party have not taken steps toward national reconciliation, and instead have mounted an assault on their opponents and many institutions of civil society; •The opposition political groupings, though representing a majority of Egyptians, are too new and too weak to compete with the well-established Muslim Brotherhood organization; •The Egyptian military is in a quandary. It is the most trusted institution in the country. While fearful that the protests on June 30th could escalate into violence and mass disruptions, the military appears hesitant to squander the public’s trust by forcefully inserting itself into the political arena. Instead they have issued an ultimatum to both sides (the government and the protesters) calling on them to engage in a national dialogue to resolve differences and find a way forward; •In the midst of this crisis that is roiling Egypt, the US has badly misjudged the situation. To many Egyptians the US has appeared to side with the president and the Muslim Brotherhood, turning a blind eye to the public’s deep discontent; and finally •Whether or not the called for June 30th demonstrations materialize, whether or not they are sustained or produce violent clashes, whether the army enters the fray or remains on the sidelines - one fact is clear: both sides to this fight have constituencies and political realities that cannot be ignored. The Muslim Brotherhood remains the best organized, most disciplined force in the country. But the opposition to the Brotherhood, though not yet an electoral force, is motivated by the real fears and grievances of a substantial majority and is a reality that cannot be ignored.

The Muslim Brotherhood wasted a golden opportunity to be magnanimous in victory. After winning parliamentary elections, they should have reached out early on to include all of their opponents in a national dialogue. And they should not have broken their promise to skip the contest for the presidency. Then after winning that office, with a minority of the electorate, they should have realized that they had to secure the trust of those whom they had defeated. They should have insured that a broad crosssection of the society was involved in the drafting of the constitution - so that all Egyptians would feel that they had an equal say in shaping the future of their country.

The Muslim Brotherhood did not do any of these things.

Instead, after winning, they began to overreach. They used an unrepresentative body stacked with supporters to write the constitution. They consolidated their hold over the reins of power, declared the president to be above judicial review, and embarked on a campaign attacking the judiciary, the press, and non-governmental organizations.

In the process, they have alienated a substantial majority of the public who have recoiled from what they see as the president’s intention to establish a new authoritarian Islamic regime.

The president’s opponents though large in number have not yet coalesced into a cohesive political force with broadly recognized credible leadership. Lacking in organization and structure, they have not been able to win elections and are fearful that before they develop that capacity, the Muslim Brotherhood will have irreversibly established their authority over all of the state’s institutions. Feeling powerless to make change through democratic processes, the opposition has felt they have no recourse but to demonstrate. Through all of this unrest, the president has not only appeared unmoved, he has become hardened in his resolve to move forward without changing course. The result is June 30th.

In the lead up to this day of reckoning, the US Ambassador to Egypt delivered an address which was read by many Egyptians as chiding the demonstrators for not respecting the legitimacy of the government, while appearing to support the Morsi government. That may or may not have been the intention of the Ambassador, but by giving short shrift to the concerns of many Egyptians that the Morsi government was undercutting the very foundations of civil society and a democratic order, and by not calling out the many practices of the government that have eroded public trust in the future of a participatory democracy, the Ambassador put the US in the uncomfortable position of being on one side (and in fact the minority side) of a deeply divided polity. At this date, we don’t know what will occur on the days that will follow June 30th. What we do know is that when the dust settles Egypt will still be divided, will still be facing enormous economic challenges, and will still be in need of a national dialogue that can chart a new course for the country. Whether the military can or will be the agent that facilitates this process is uncertain.

But, at this point, that appears to be the best that can hoped for.

R

NOTE: Dr James J Zogby is the President of the Arab American Institute

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

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

Egypt prepares leap in the dark. Again.

By Alastair Macdonald and Yasmine Saleh gypt is heading for a “dark tunnel”, says the head of its armed forces. How he and his generals respond to a political showdown in the streets may determine whether its new democracy survives to see the light. The warning at the start of the week from General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi was presented as a wakeup call to the rival factions, President Mohamed Morsi and his Islamist allies on one side, a disparate coalition of liberals and a mass of Egyptians simply frustrated by economic stagnation on the other.

But the velvet glove of Sisi’s language, urging politicians to find consensus and avert bloodshed, could not conceal an iron-fist of possible intervention, even if he was widely believed when he said the generals, secure and prosperous in their new role, have no wish to go back to running the country. One thing is clear. The “consensus” Sisi urged politicians to reach this week is absent. A vague offer from Morsi of collaboration was met with disdain from the opposition.

So whether the generals step in, with their half million men, US-funded hardware and a 60-year-old sense of entitlement, now depends on how the next few days play out at flashpoints like Tahrir Square and Morsi’s palace in Cairo and on the streets of a dozen other major cities across the country. The numbers on the street will matter. So too will violence. Both sides say they take heart from Sisi’s promise to defend the “will of the people”. For the Islamists, that means the president and government freely chosen in a series of elections at which they defeated a rudderless opposition.

But Morsi’s rivals believe they can bring millions more out to demonstrate, especially today, the anniversary of Morsi’s inauguration, to show that the popular will lies elsewhere much as they did when the Arab Spring uprising of early 2011 persuaded the army that Hosni Mubarak’s days in power were over. Few

E

believe Sisi and a new generation of leaders elevated by Morsi want to grab long-term control in a full coup by a military that is held in high regard by almost all Egyptians. But many of the Islamists’ adversaries, from hardline Mubarak nostalgists to liberal idealists, seem ready to welcome a short-term shove by the army to abort the direction the revolution has taken and give a second chance to efforts to agree an institutional framework to end the polarised deadlock.

Whether the army will do so, and how far it might push Morsi, probably depends on two potential triggers: The first, Sisi spelled out explicitly, is violence. If there is blood on the tarmac, perhaps gunplay, the generals who already have troops deployed in the background, could invoke “national security” and a government failure to keep order. “The army has made its position clear: it will not allow violence and won’t stand by if things seem to be getting out of control,” one military source told Reuters on Thursday after the opposition rejected Morsi’s overtures. Leaders on neither side seemed fully capable of controlling their supporters, he added.

The second, less explicit trigger, is how the military may interpret the popular will. While their financial sponsors in Washington have angered the opposition by urging them not to overturn the result of Morsi’s election, the army listened to the voice of the street before, in ousting Mubarak. A number of protest movements since the uprising have fizzled out quickly. That cannot be ruled out again.

Although a petition against Morsi claiming to have 15 million signatures lends weight to anecdotal evidence that many will show up.

The military source who spoke to Reuters said a turnout at opposition protests on the scale of 2011 - many millions drawn from across society and prepared to stay on the streets for days or weeks - could see Morsi obliged to relent: “If the protesters’ numbers exceed those seen during the revolution, then everybody’s position will have to change,” he

said. “No one will be able to oppose the will of the people,” he added. “At least, not for long.”

Veteran commentator Mohamed Hassenein Heikal, who has close ties to the military, told a television interviewer the army was concerned at a lack of vision for the future among politicians: “The army will always side with the people,” he said. “Whether their will is expressed at the ballot box or in some other way.”

Few independent observers can assess with much certainty how the showdown between the factions will play out. Both seem unwilling to flinch: Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood insist on their electoral legitimacy and tell opponents just to fight another election in due course; the opposition coalition demands Morsi resign and make way for an interim authority to reset all the rules before new elections. “The two sides’ demands are pretty maximal so I see possibilities for real confrontation,” said Nathan Brown, an expert on Egypt’s transition at George Washington University who was in Cairo this month.

“Significant violence is a possibility. “Even if you have military intervention it’s not clear of what kind or whether it would solve anything.”

Opponents accuse the Brotherhood of feigning interest in democracy while aiming to entrench themselves deep in the state as Mubarak’s people did. Morsi and his allies in turn accuse many in officialdom, and the media, of sabotaging their efforts. Anti-Islamist sentiment in the police and other security organs that led Mubarak’s fight against them for decades adds an element of doubt to the government’s ability to staunch the kind of violence that might trigger an intervention by the army.

One source inside one of the domestic security agencies told Reuters this week that many in his organisation were hoping that a violent confrontation could bring down Islamist rule: “There’s a battle coming between us and the jihadists,” he said. “We need to cleanse the country of them. More state agencies will join us once they see the violence

those terrorists inflict - as they will in the days to come.” Such talk, while impossible to verify how widespread it is, somewhat supports allegations by Morsi’s government that agents provocateurs from the old regime are behind recent clashes.

How easily the army could quell violence is also unclear. Morsi has relied increasingly on support from more militant Islamists, including Al-Gamaa al-Islamiya, a movement that spent years fighting the old regime and had ties with al Qaeda. Its leaders, many freed from jail after the revolution, speak openly of taking up arms again to defend the president. They fear a return to army rule would mean prison again for them, or death.

Nathan Brown said an army move that tried to shut the Islamists back out of the system could prove bloody: “If it came to denying the Islamists political power, the Brotherhood, probably with the support of Al-Gamaa, will fight,” he said. “That’s what could be very very nasty ... but I don’t think a full-scale military takeover is the most likely intervention.

There’s all kinds of other things they could do short of that.”

Yasser El-Shimy, Egypt analyst at the International Crisis Group in Cairo, said he believed that the most the army was likely to do was use its strength to force both sides toward the sort of compromise Sisi spoke about in his warning last Sunday: “Even if the protests are massive and there is really bad violence,” he said, “If the army is to intervene, it will not be to pressure Morsi to resign, or call for presidential elections, but rather to try and make some compromises on the constitution and the government, in order to appease all parties.” Yet those compromises are unlikely to get any easier, especially if more blood is spilt, leaving Egyptian democracy in peril: “It is getting more and more complicated to find a political solution,” said a senior Western diplomat in Cairo. “And the more active the army becomes, the weaker civilian institutions will be. It will be a loss of legitimacy.” — Reuters

Syria peace conf: Don’t hold your breath

By Louis Charbonneau ow deep is the divide separating Russia and the United States on Syria? A photo from the recent G8 summit in Northern Ireland says it all - two grim-faced leaders slouched in their chairs, Barack Obama biting his lip and Vladimir Putin staring at the floor. The awkward photo opportunity, which went viral on the Internet, highlights the increasingly tense relationship between the former Cold War foes who find it difficult to agree on a series of high-profile issues, including Syria and a fugitive US intelligence contractor whom Putin refuses to extradite. Washington and Moscow have been trying since May to organize an international peace conference to bring an end to the violence. But hopes that such a conference will take place anytime soon - if at all - are fading quickly. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov originally announced that they would try to hold the conference, which is intended to bring rebels and representatives of Syrian President Bashar AlAssad’s government to the negotiating table, by the end of May. But the date keeps slipping. First it was bumped to June, then July. Earlier this week UNArab League peace mediator Lakhdar Brahimi, who held talks with senior US and Russian officials in Geneva, ruled out a peace conference before August. Diplomats at the United Nations in New York say it is unclear whether the peace conference will take place at all. “It’s not looking too good,” a senior Western diplomat said.

The point of the conference was to revive a plan adopted last year in Geneva. At that time, Washington and Moscow agreed on the need for a transitional Syrian government, but left open the question of whether Assad could par-

H

ticipate in the process. The United States, like the Syrian rebels, says Assad and his family should play no role in a transitional government, though Russia says there should be no conditions on the talks. Kerry and Lavrov will discuss Syria again next week on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations conference in Brunei, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

There are other sticking points in discussions on how to make what UN diplomats have been calling “Geneva 2” take place at all - who will represent Assad’s government and the Syrian opposition at the negotiating table. There is still no agreement on the lineup of potential negotiators. Then there is the issue of whether Assad’s other key ally Iran should participate, as Russia wants but Western governments dislike.

Recently, Assad’s forces have enjoyed some military successes. They recaptured two towns near the Lebanese border, while rebels complain about insufficient arms and ammunition.

This, diplomats say, makes both Assad’s government and the opposition more reluctant to seek a compromise and diplomacy in Geneva - Assad because he thinks he can win the war militarily, and the opposition because it does not want to negotiate from a position of weakness and is holding out for more weapons.

Assad’s foreign minister, Walid Al-Moualem, told a news conference earlier last week that authorities were ready to form a broad-based government of national unity. But he made clear that they were not planning to give up control of Syria. “We head to Geneva not to hand over power to another side,” he said.

“Whoever on the other side imagines this, I advise them not to go to Geneva.” Some diplomats say the ebbing hopes for a serious peace conference highlights the impotence of the

United Nations and Brahimi, who for months has threatened to quit the post like his predecessor, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Annan quit the job last year out of frustration at the way the dispute between Russia, Assad’s main arms supplier, and the United States, which supports the rebels and recently announced it would begin providing them with arms, has left the Security Council in a state of paralysis on the Syrian issue. Russia and China long ago ruled out sanctioning Syria and have vetoed three Western and Gulf Arab-backed resolutions condemning Assad’s government for an increasingly sectarian war that the United Nations says has killed more than 90,000.

Richard Gowan of New York University predicted that a collapse of Kerry’s peace conference plan will increase pressure on Obama to send more and heavier weapons to the Syrian rebels. “If the Geneva proposal fails, there will be pressure on the U.S. to move beyond its current offer of light weapons to the rebels, especially if Assad’s forces score more victories,” Gowan said.

“Kerry’s bet on Geneva may backfire by demonstrating that diplomacy is really a lost cause, but perhaps Kerry, who has reportedly argued for air strikes, is fine with that,” he said.

Washington’s cautious move to begin arming moderate Syrian rebels - not Islamist militants who are increasingly present in the conflict - came after it said Assad’s forces had crossed a “red line” by using chemical weapons.

The Syrian government denies the charge and says the rebels have used chemical arms. It also accuses Western and Gulf Arab governments of arming the opposition. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, now in his second and final term, is increasingly worried that he may be remembered as the man who failed in Syria, UN diplomats told Reuters. He has even considered step-

ping in himself to try to broker a peace deal if Brahimi throws in the towel, the envoys added.

Outgoing US Ambassador Susan Rice, who will soon take up the post of Obama’s national security adviser, said earlier this week that the council’s failure to take decisive action on Syria was a “moral and strategic disgrace”. “The repeated failure of the Security Council to unify on the crucial issue of Syria I think is a stain on this body and something that I will forever regret - even though I don’t believe that outcome is the product of the action of the United States,” Rice said.

British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant echoed Rice’s unusually strong words, which were clearly aimed at Russia and China. He also defended the United Nations against suggestions that the organization itself was somehow responsible for the Security Council’s failure to act on Syria.

“People talk about it being a stain on the United Nations but you can’t blame the United Nations,” he said, adding that the responsibility lies with its member states. “We have tried very hard over the last two years to secure some leverage for the Security Council in this crisis as it’s unfolded,” he said. “Unfortunately we’ve had three resolutions vetoed by Russia and China ...

Events on the ground might have unfolded very differently had those resolutions been adopted.”

A March 2011 council resolution authorized military intervention in Libya and gave a green light for NATO to mount an operation to protect civilians that led to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s ouster and death at the hands of rebel forces. No Western nations have called for something similar in Syria, and Russia has vowed to prevent a similar move in Syria.

There may be no swift end to the war. And even if the opposition were to prevail, it is unlikely to bring stability. — Reuters

NEWS

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Lebanon tourism pays price for Syria’s war ALEY, Lebanon: Dia’s restaurant in the Lebanese resort village of Aley is deserted.

Most years, he caters to thousands of rich Gulf Arab tourists and to visiting expats, but this year no one has come. “Usually, there’s so many people here that even finding a parking spot is hard. Now, there’s so few people that we let them park right outside the entrance,” complained the 27-yearold. His neighbour, a cake shop owner, said sales are down by 50 percent compared with June last year. “In other years, we had clients coming in every 15 minutes. Now, it’s a miracle if someone enters,” he said, hiding his worry behind a smile.

Lebanon is reeling from the spillover of war in neighbouring Syria, with deadly sectarian clashes, elections postponed, the absence of a government and the influx of half a million refugees. The Mediterranean country ’s beaches, superb Roman and Phoenician sites and legendary nightlife are barren. Early this summer, the six oilproducing Gulf monarchies sounded the death knell for this season’s tourism when they told their citizens to avoid Lebanon for security reasons.

Well-heeled visitors from the Gulf normally account for 65 percent of the country’s tourists, but the number of Saudis, Kuwaitis and other Gulf tourists this June is 80 percent lower than in June last year. An already bad situation grew even worse last weekend when news bulletins carried footage of a major 24-hour firefight in southern Lebanon’s city of Sidon, pitting the army against radical Islamists. Eighteen soldiers were killed.

The por t city of Sidon is home to a beautiful old district, fish restaurants, souks (traditional markets) and even a soap museum. “As soon as you even utter the word ‘weapons’ you’ve killed tourism,” Paul Achkar, head of the Lebanese hotel association, told AFP. “ Three hundred tourism establishments have closed down

since the start of the year,” he said.

Although confident that the industry will recover, Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud said the figures for the start of the season were pitiable. “ The occupancy rate at hotels in Beirut is barely 35 percent this month, half of the usual at this time of year. “Outside Beirut, it’s catastrophic. We’re talking about five percent compared to the usual 35 percent,” Abboud told AFP. The atmosphere in Beirut, dubbed party capital of the Middle East, is not so morose, and Christian areas such as Byblos or Jounieh have also fared better than other areas.

But Hezbollah bastion Baalbek, home to one of the world’s most beautiful and best preserved Roman sites, has been hit hard.

It has been targeted by rockets fired by rebels fighting Syria’s President Bashar AlAssad, after the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah joined the war fighting alongside regime forces. The rocket attacks’ only but noted victim was the famed international music festival, traditionally held in the temple of Bacchus, and headline act American soprano Renee Fleming cancelling her trip to Lebanon. I t is now expected to be held at a different venue, but without Fleming. For now, other music festivals at Byblos and Beiteddine remain on schedule.

Elsewhere, in northern Lebanon the port city of Tripoli is home to an old souk and a crusader castle. But today, it is also the scene of frequent sectarian battles between supporters of opposite sides in Syria’s raging conflict - Sunni Muslims and Alawites, the Shiite offshoot sect to which Assad belongs. Many Lebanese living abroad are accustomed to crises afflicting their home country but even they have decided to stay away this summer, fearing they may become trapped.

“Nobody in his right mind would go to Lebanon right now,” said Elvira Hawwa, a Lebanese living in Madrid who generally

BEIRUT: Empty tables are seen in a restaurant on Beirut’s corniche with a sea view of the capital’s landmark Pigeon’s Rock on June 26, 2013. — AFP visits relatives every year. “I won’t come scourged Lebanon from 1975 to 1990. since 2013 began, their union said. this year, and I’ve also advised my children “Before you could escape through Syria. Fashion brands have all started their sales against going,” she said. US-based Leila Now, we’d be trapped.” early this year, with some slashing prices agreed. “The country is going down the Tourism Minister Abboud said 200 wed- by as much as 90 percent. The tourism drain,” she told AFP by phone from dings that had been planned for the sum- industry is now looking elsewhere to drum Michigan. “I was planning on going in mer have been cancelled. “This means a up business, and travellers from Iraq, June, but I cancelled. We didn’t want to go $100-million loss,” he said. The restaurant Jordan and Egypt have begun to arrive. through the hell we suffered during the and nightclub businesses have been hit “They aren’t as worried by the violence,” civil war,” she said of the conflict that hard, suffering a 50 percent drop in sales Abboud said. — AFP

Rowhani looks to detente with world

Haj in focus amid MERS virus fears

Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1

foes for his populist economic agenda, and what his critics call mismanagement of vast oil wealth.

Rowhani pledged to replace that approach with “moderation” in which “a balance must be achieved between realism and idealism”. “People have chosen a new path... one that is of change,” he said of the ballots cast by nearly 37 million voters, a turnout of more than 72 percent. He also repeated his campaign promise of employing “the most qualified people with any mindset on the condition of moderation” to form a trans-factional cabinet “that is not in debt to any faction or (political) group”. Rowhani also vowed to fight for “all of Iran’s rights and the nation’s demands”, but without elaborating.

Iran insists its nuclear activities are aimed at civilian applications, under which it has the right to enrich uranium, whose highly enriched form can be used as the fissile core of an atomic bomb. Rowhani campaigned on promises resolving the nuclear stand-off with the West and lifting sanctions, which have cost the economy billions in vital oil revenues and foreign investment, leaving Iran struggling with raging inflation, high unemployment and a depreciated currency.

A 64-year-old mid-ranking cleric, Rowhani headed a relatively moderate nuclear negotiating team under reformist president Mohammad Khatami in the early 2000s, when Tehran agreed to suspend its enrichment activity. But that program, whose final decisions rest with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, resumed in 2005 when Ahmadinejad was first elected. Iran has since then massively expanded its facilities for the enrichment of uranium, an operation under the supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog. Rowhani is considered a regime insider as he has held senior political posts since the inception

of the Islamic republic, including representing Khamenei in the top national security council since 1989. He also enjoys the widespread support of reformists and moderates, in particular that of pragmatic two-time ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Rowhani’s election has created a surge of hope among the population that there will be change, including the easing of restrictions at home.

In his address yesterday, he urged the authorities to be more tolerant over civil freedoms. “Joy and exhilaration is the people’s right,” he said of two nights of street parties, one after the announcement of his election and another after Iran’s June 18 qualification for the 2014 football World Cup in Brazil. Rowhani thanked the police for allowing the festivities that ran past midnight, but warned: “Don’t impose too many restrictions. Our people are moralistic and aware of the Islamic, political and ethical boundaries.”

Iran’s anti-vice police sporadically detain youths on vague charges of not observing Islamic codes. During Ahmadinejad’s presidency, many detainees claimed to be mistreated while in detention. “We should talk to girls and boys in the same way we talk to our own children.

People’s dignity must be preserved. Humiliating people is not acceptable but giving (polite) notice (of a morality offense) is fine,” Rowhani said.

He also called on the state broadcaster to avoid “double standards” when reporting on world affairs. Without giving any specific examples, Rowhani said that wrongdoing anywhere in the world should be criticised as an “injustice”, even if “it happens in a friendly country”. Iran has strongly backed the Assad regime in its fight against armed rebels, whom Tehran regards as “terrorists” backed

by Western and Arab countries - a term regularly repeated on the Iranian state broadcaster outlets. — Agencies

Egypt braces for protests as Obama voices...

Continued from Page 1 The US embassy evacuated non-essential staff and warned citizens to avoid Egypt. An airport source said dozens of US personnel and their families left Cairo for Germany yesterday. The US ambassador has angered liberals by saying Morsi was legitimately elected and that protests may be counter-productive for an economy crippled by unrest that has cut tourism revenues. Britain urged its citizens to “avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings,” while France said citizens should “limit movements to those strictly necessary”.

Amnesty International called on the authorities to ensure the security forces showed restraint and protected peaceful demonstrators. Morsi met his army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim “to discuss the final security plans to protect vital establishments”, the official MENA news agency reported. Morsi’s opponents, a collection of leftists, liberals, Christians and also deeply religious Muslims, accuse him of hijacking the revolution and concentrating power in the hands of Islamist groups.

Their call for nationwide protests today, demanding his resignation and snap elections, prompted pre-emptive demonstrations on Friday by the Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamist allies. By yesterday, rival demonstrators had pitched tents and begun preparing for the long haul. Morsi supporters spent the night outside the Rabaa Al-Adawiya mosque in Cairo’s Nasr City neighbourhood, where tens of thousands gathered on Friday to defend the legitimacy of Egypt’s first freely elected president.

They had their own security men, carrying staves and wearing protective gear, frisking visitors. One activist, Abdelhakim Abdelfattah, 47, said he hoped to avoid violence but that many Islamists would take to the streets if Morsi was under pressure. “They’ll come down to defend his legitimacy, not with weapons, but with their bodies,” Abdelfattah said. “What’s the nature of this legitimacy? The ballot box.” “It’s not just about Morsi, it’s about legitimacy and the state. We can’t go backwards,” said another protester Kamal Ahmed Kamel. Others called on the opposition to invest their energy in the political process. “If it is that big

tomorrow, why can’t they use the ballot box and participate in parliamentary elections and get rid of Morsi that way?”

Kamel asked.

In Tahrir Square, epicentre of the 2011 revolt that toppled Mubarak, opponents also camped out and erected a large stage in preparation for what they call a “second revolution”.

Some activists say they want Egypt governed by a presidential council and a national unity government. “The Islamists have been in power for a year and they proved they failed at running the country,” said one, Adel Al-Amir. Another, Amr Riad, 26, said: “We’re peaceful. But if those who come at us are violent we’ll defend ourselves.”

Newspapers underlined the deep divisions in the Arab world’s most populous nation. Independent daily Al-Tahrir described Friday’s rallies as “Egypt against the Brotherhood”, while state-owned daily Al-Gomhuria talked of “The Battle of the Squares”. Morsi had warned in a televised speech on Wednesday that the growing polarisation threatened to “paralyse” Egypt, and appealed to the opposition to talk. The opposition National Salvation Front coalition spurned his offer and renewed its demand for an election.

Today’s protests have been called by Tamarod (Arabic for Rebellion), a grassroots movement which says it now has 22 million signatures on a petition demanding Morsi’s resignation and a snap election. Friday’s pro-Morsi demonstrations were seen as a preemptive strike by his supporters against what they see as an attempt to subvert a fledgling democracy. “We will not allow a coup against the president,” senior Brotherhood leader Mohamed Al-Beltagui told a mass rally in Cairo.

Egypt’s leading religious authority warned of the risk of “civil war”. A senior figure at Cairo’s Al-Azhar institute said yesterday should be a day of dialogue, a “catalyst” for leaders to understand their duty - and the “dangerous alternative”.

The head of the Coptic Church also called for dialogue and peace. Millions of Christians worry about new Islamic laws.

Senior Brotherhood figure Essam El-Erian was dismissive of middle-class protest organisers in a Facebook post: “Millions of farmers will wake early, perform their morning prayers and go to their fields to harvest food for the people,” he wrote. — Agencies

UN World Health Organisation (WHO) head Margaret Chan sounded the alarm to ministers at the agency’s annual congress in May. “We need to get the facts clear and get the appropriate advice to all your countries where your pilgrims want to go to Makkah. It is something quite urgent,” she said.

Experts point first and foremost to figuring out the basics of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus. Is it transmitted by contact - if a patient contaminates his home or workplace with droplets containing virus? Or is it done by breathing in virus from coughs and sneezes? What is the best treatment for it? What about a vaccine? Are there risks of viral mutation? And is there an animal host which acts as a reservoir for the virus?

The first recorded MERS death was in June 2012 in Saudi Arabia. The count has ticked up steadily, with a flurry this May and June taking it to 77, the bulk of them in the kingdom. Forty MERS patients have died to date, an extremely high rate of 52 percent, compared to nine percent of the 8,273 recorded patients with SARS, which was centred on Asia. But again, the tally of people who have fallen ill with MERS but not been diagnosed with it, or who may have been infected but not developed symptoms, is simply unknown.

As the fight for knowledge unfolds behind lab doors, the WHO is urging nations to monitor respiratory infections, especially among patients returning from the Middle East, but has held off calling for travel restrictions.

“This is really a new phenomenon that we’re dealing with,” Keiji Fukuda, WHO assistant director general for health security, told the International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control in Geneva last week.

“We don’t know what the potential is yet, based on the information we have, for sustained human-to-human transmission. We don’t know what the full geographic

extent of this virus is right now.” Leading virologist Laurent Kaiser of the Geneva University Hospitals told AFP: “It’s really a balance between too much precaution and no precaution. At this time, we have to be worried, we have to be careful.”

While MERS centres on Saudi Arabia, there have been laboratory-confirmed cases originating in Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Tunisia have had cases who were either sent there for care or who fell ill after returning from the Middle East. France, Italy, Tunisia and Britain have also seen limited transmission among patients who had not been to the Middle East but had close contact with people who had.

So far, MERS has essentially been found in nations with health services capable of tracing and tackling such diseases. But the haj draws a broad spectrum of Muslims, including from poor countries which struggle to cope even with commonplace diseases. “We don’t know if the disease is there right now. They don’t have surveillance,” Saudi Arabia’s deputy health minister, Ziad Memish, told AFP on the sidelines of the Geneva conference.

Health experts give praise to Saudi authorities for beefing up vigilance for infectious diseases over the years. They also note that the haj has successfully ridden out two previous viral episodes in the past decade SARS in 2003 and H1N1 influenza in 2009, although the difference now is that Saudi Arabia is the apparent hotbed of MERS. Memish, who is also a medical professor and runs a WHO-accredited research centre on the medicine of mass gatherings, pointed to the success of lower-scale umrah pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia this year.

“I think it’s comforting that as of today, four and a half million people have performed the umrah in Makkah and nothing has happened,” Memish said. “But of course we’re making all the arrangements and all the planning to do active surveillance, to be able to intervene.” — AFP

Obama meets family of Mandela Continued from Page 1 courage” of South Africa’s first black president. “The struggle here against apartheid, for freedom, Madiba’s moral courage, his country’s historic transition to a free and democratic nation, has been a personal inspiration to me. It has been an inspiration to the world,” Obama said after talks with President Jacob Zuma. “The outpouring of love that we’ve seen in recent days shows that the triumph of Nelson Mandela and this nation speaks to something very deep in the human spirit - the yearning for justice and dignity that transcends boundaries of race and class and faith and country,” he added.

Obama said before arriving he did not need “a photo-op” with Mandela, whom he met briefly in 2005, and the White House yesterday ruled out a meeting between the two men. “Out of deference to Nelson Mandela’s peace and comfort and the family’s wishes, they will not be visiting the hospital,” a US official said.

Zuma said Mandela remained in “critical but stable” condition in hospital, where he was admitted on June 8 with a recurring lung infection, expressing hope that he would improve.

Welcoming the US president to South Africa on the second leg of his tour, he said Mandela and Obama were “bound by history” as the first black leaders of their respective nations. “You both carry the dreams of millions of people in Africa,” Zuma said. But the US leader was not greeted so warmly by all South Africans. Riot police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at around 300 hundred anti-Obama protesters in the township of Soweto, once a flashpoint in the anti-apartheid struggle.

In Pretoria, supporters have been gathering outside Mandela’s hospital to offer prayers for the man who negotiated an end to decades of white minority rule. A wall of handwritten prayers has become the focal point for South Africans paying tribute to the father of their nation, with singing and dancing by day and candlelight vigils at night. “I’m here this morning to give my prayers. It’s important because Mandela is so important

to us South Africans and Africans,” said Tokozile Sibalo, 50, a receptionist at an Internet company who came with her daughters, 20 and 12. South Africa’s last apartheid president FW de Klerk cut short a visit to Europe because of the ailing health of his co-Nobel prize winner.

Obama’s three-nation tour is aimed at changing perceptions that he has neglected Africa since his election in 2008, while also countering China’s growing economic influence in the resource-rich continent. Obama told young Africans that the future of the continent “is in your hands” and urged them to use Mandela as a model for political leadership. “Think about 27 years in prison.

Think about hardships and the struggles and being away from family and friends,” Obama said at a town hall style meeting at a university in Soweto. There were dark moments that tested his faith in humanity, but he refused to give up.”

As Obama spoke, police broke up a protest by about 300 people critical of his anti-terror policies who burned US flags and portraits of the US president. Many Soweto residents, however, welcomed Obama as a “fellow African”. “To me, Madiba represents an older and perhaps more traditional generation of black leaders, while Obama represents the new generation,” Tshepo Mofokeng, 43, told AFP. “I’m sure he will be welcomed here as an African.”

Mandela may be out of sight, but his influence is palpable on Obama’s tour of Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. The man once branded a terrorist by the United States and Britain won South Africa’s first fully democratic elections in 1994, forging a path of racial reconciliation during his single term as president, before taking up a new role as a roving elder statesman and leading AIDS campaigner. A visit by Obama today to Mandela’s former jail cell on Robben Island, off Cape Town is expected to be laden with symbolism. Obama will then visit former Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s youth foundation HIV centre before delivering the central speech of his African tour at the University of Cape Town. — AFP

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

S P ORTS

Australia ease to victory LONDON: Usman Khawaja, Phil Hughes and Brad Haddin scored half-centuries as Australia put a difficult week behind them to notch a six-wicket win over Somerset in their four-day tour match yesterday. Having axed coach Mickey Arthur on Monday following a poor Champions Trophy, the tourists were keen to make a statement in the first of two warm-up matches ahead of the first Ashes test against England starting at Trent Bridge on July 10.

They began the final day on 36 without loss, requiring a further 224 runs to win. Ed Cowan and Khawaja added 86 for the first wicket before Cowan fell to Gemaal Hussain for the second time in the match when on 46.

Khawaja top-scored with 73 and Hughes made his second half-century of the match. Vice-captain Haddin was also in the runs, ending the game with a six of George Dockrell to finish on 52 off 40 balls. Australia’s final warm-up match is against Worcestershire starting on Tuesday.—Reuters

NHL player assaulted, robbed STOCKHOLM: Three men have been arrested by Swedish police after Winnipeg Jets defenseman Tobias Enstrom was attacked and robbed in his home town of Ornskjoldsvik on Friday, local media reported.

A witness told newspaper Ornskjoldsviks Allehanda that the 28-year-old was seen withdrawing money from a cash machine just before midnight. When the witness returned five minutes later, Enstrom was lying on the ground.

“I don’t have a clear picture of his injuries, but he had to get medical attention,” police spokesman Stefan Edin told reporters.

He added that three men were in custody following the attack. Enstrom, who turned down the chance to be part of Sweden’s recent world championship-winning team, played 22 games for the Winnipeg Jets last season, scoring four goals and making 11 assists.—Reuters

Butt admits to spot-fixing KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt admitted on Friday to cheating on his country’s tour of England in 2010 and said he would like to play domestic cricket once his ban for spot-fixing is completed. Butt and his opening bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were banned by the International Cricket Council for spot-fixing in the Lord’s test. Spot-fixing involves pre-arranging events within a match which may not affect the result. The Pakistan trio also served jail terms in Britain after being found guilty of corruption and cheating. Butt, 28, had previously denied the charges.

“Today I want to apologise to all my countrymen and cricket followers all over the world for having done wrong,” he told reporters in Lahore.

“I am sorry for having hurt the sentiments of the Pakistani people and cricket lovers. I am ready to undergo any rehabilitation programme.”

Butt, who received a 10-year ban, five years of which were suspended, added: “I just want to at least get the chance to play domestic cricket once my ban is completed.”

Amir has already confessed to spot fixing and is undergoing a rehabilitation programme in Pakistan but Asif, when contacted by Reuters, declined to comment on Butt’s admission.—Reuters

Braves, Padres advance ATLANTA: Julio Teheran pitched six strong innings, Andrelton Simmons homered and the Atlanta Braves beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-0 on Friday night.

The Braves, who have won three of four and lead second-place Washington by 51/2 games in the NL East, retired former All-Star third baseman Chipper Jones’ number before the game.

Teheran (6-4) allowed four hits, one walk and struck out 10. The NL West-leading Diamondbacks have lost three of four. They were shut out for the first time since losing 5-0 at San Francisco on Sept. 26, a span of 85 games.

Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel earned his 23rd save in 26 chances. After Aaron Hill grounded out, Kimbrel walked Paul Goldschmidt and then Miguel Montero grounded into a double play. Arizona’s Randall Delgado (0-2) gave up eight hits, two runs and three walks in six innings.

BOSTON: Jose Bautista No. 19 of the Toronto Blue Jays knocks in a run with a single in the 5th inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.—AFP

Red Sox down Blue Jays BOSTON: Jonny Gomes broke a tie with a seventh-inning single and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 after squandering a five-run lead Friday night. The Red Sox had 15 hits, giving them at least 10 for the sixth time in seven games.

Andrew Miller (1-2) got the win with 1 1-3 scoreless innings. Koji Uehara pitched the ninth for his fourth save of the season and third in three days. He retired all nine batters he faced in that span, six on strikeouts.

The Red Sox won their fourth in a row and improved to 16 games over .500 for the first time since they finished the 2011 season at 90-72. With the score tied at 5, Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia singled in the seventh off Neil Wagner (1-2). Brett Cecil relieved and both runners moved up on a wild pitch before Mike Napoli walked, loading the bases. Gomes, pinch hitting for Daniel Nava, then lined a single past third baseman Maicer Izturis.

TIGERS 6, RAYS 3 In St. Petersburg, major league wins leader Max Scherzer became the first starting pitcher in 27 years to win 12 consecutive decisions to begin a season, and Miguel Cabrera hit two home runs to lead Detroit. Scherzer (12-0) allowed three runs, four hits, walked one and struck out nine in seven innings to become the first pitcher in Tigers history to win his first 12 decisions as a starter. The right-hander also became the first in the majors to begin a season with at least 12 straight victories since Roger Clemens did it on the way to starting 14-0 with the Boston Red Sox in 1986.

Ben Zobrist and Wil Myers hit solo homers for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay rookie Alex Colome (1-1) allowed four hits and four runs in six innings.

ORIOLES 4, YANKEES 3 In Baltimore, Nate McLouth hit a tiebreaking homer off CC Sabathia in the seventh inning, Manny Machado had two RBIs and Baltimore rallied to beat the Yankees.

Orioles rookie Kevin Gausman (1-3) earned his first major league victory, allowing three hits over 4 1-3 innings as part of a relief crew that blanked the Yankees over the final six innings.

Gausman followed for Rule 5 draftee T.J. McFarland, who yielded three runs in 2 2-3 innings in his first major league start. Tommy Hunter got the final six outs for his second save. Sabathia (8-6) took a no-hitter and a 3-0 lead into the sixth.

INDIANS 19, WHITE SOX 10 In Chicago, Jason Kipnis reached base six times and scored four runs, Ryan Raburn homered and drove in four, and Cleveland rallied from five down early on to pound the White Sox in Game 1 of a doubleheader. The Indians matched a season high for runs. They also set one with eight doubles while falling one hit shy of their season best with 21 in a game that lasted just over four hours. Yet despite all that, Cleveland had to dig itself out of a five-run hole after the first inning and hang on after a nine-run lead dwindled to four. Raburn gave the Indians some breathing room with a two-run drive off Ramon Troncoso in the seventh, making it 16-10. He also had a two-run single to break a 5-all tie in the fourth and spark a six-run rally. White Sox reliever Brian Omogrosso (0-2) allowed nine runs in 2 1-3 innings. Matt Albers (2-0) got the win, allowing two hits over 2 1-3 scoreless innings.

ROYALS 9, TWINS 3 In Minneapolis, Eric Hosmer hit two of Kansas City’s season-high four home runs and James Shields pitched six strong innings for his 90th win to lead the Royals.

Billy Butler and Mike Moustakas also homered for Kansas City. Clete Thomas homered for the Twins, who got another

rough start from P.J. Walters (2-4). Walters allowed six runs in three innings one start after giving up six in the first at Cleveland last Saturday. The Royals entered the game with the fewest home runs in the majors (43) - two behind Miami - and had given Shields (3-6) some of the worst run support in the league.

ANGELS 4, ASTROS 2 In Houston, pinch-runner Peter Bourjos scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on an error and Erick Aybar added a two-run single in the ninth to help the Angels beat the Astros. Hank Conger doubled off Paul Clemens (4-3) to start the eighth. Conger was replaced by Bourjos before Aybar drew a walk. Bourjos took third on a fly out by J.B. Shuck. Shortstop Ronny Cedeno’s error on the play, when he bounced the ball trying to pick off Aybar at second, allowed Bourjos to dash home just ahead of the throw.

Aybar’s bases-loaded single sent two home and extended the lead to 4-1 in the ninth. Los Angeles starter Jerome Williams limited Houston to five hits and a run over 6 1-3 innings. Dane De La Rosa (3-1) and Kevin Jepsen pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings before Ernesto Frieri allowed one run in the ninth for his 20th save.

INTERLEAGUE RANGERS 4, REDS 0 In Arlington, Martin Perez pitched six-hit ball into the seventh inning and AL Westleading Texas handed Cincinnati its third straight loss and sixth in the last seven.

The Reds also have more concerns about right-hander Johnny Cueto (4-2), their opening day starter already on the disabled list twice this season who left after a batter into the second inning because of rightness in his right lat muscle. Perez (2-1) struck out three in 6 2-3 innings. The left-hander was coming off a win last Saturday at St. Louis, where he allowed runs in each of the first two innings before holding the Cardinals scoreless over his last five innings.

Jason Frasor and Robbie Ross finished off the Rangers’ second shutout in a row and seventh this season. Cincinnati was held scoreless for the sixth time.

ATHLETICS 6, CARDINALS 1 In Oakland, Bartolo Colon tossed eight innings of one-run ball to win his eighth straight start, powering the Oakland Athletics past the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 on Friday night. Colon (11-2) controlled the game with an efficient fastball the way he has so many others this season, burnishing his All-Star credentials and confounding critics who question how the 40-year-old continues to dominate. He allowed six hits, struck out five and walked one. Colon is second in wins in the AL behind Max Scherzer of Detroit, who is 12-0.

The A’s scored five runs in the second inning to knock Shelby Miller (8-6) out of the game and drop the Cardinals (48-31) a game behind Pittsburgh for the best record in the majors - and the NL Central lead.

MARINERS 5, CUBS 4 In Seattle, Mike Zunino hit a game-ending single in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Seattle Mariners to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.

Michael Saunders and Raul Ibanez led off the 10th with back-to-back walks before Blake Parker (0-1) was relieved by Shawn Camp. Jason Bay advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Justin Smoak was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Zunino then worked the count full before singling up the middle.

Yoervis Medina (3-2) pitched the 10th to earn the win. Oliver Perez struck out the side in the ninth, his 12 consecutive scoreless inning pitched. Alfonso Soriano and Dioner Navarro homered for the Cubs, who ended a two-game winning streak.—AP

Wilin Rosario also went deep and Jordan Pacheco had three hits for the Rockies, who moved within three games of Arizona in the NL West.

Chacin (7-3) earned his fourth straight win with another standout performance. Buster Posey homered among his three hits for the Giants, who have lost five straight and seven of their last eight. Giants starter Barry Zito (4-6) allowed four runs and 10 hits while striking out three in 5 1-3 innings.

PHILLIES 16, DODGERS 1 In Los Angeles, Delmon Young had a career-high six RBIs, helping John Lannan breeze to his first victory with Philadelphia, and the Phillies got homers from

Michael Young and John Mayberry in a 16-1 rout of the Dodgers on Friday night, snapping Los Angeles’ season-best, six-game winning streak. Phillies All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard, batting .268 overall and .173 against left-handers, was given the day off by manager Charlie Manuel with lefty Chris Capuano starting for the Dodgers. And with lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu scheduled to pitch for the Dodgers on Saturday, Manuel said he would give the 2006 NL MVP another day off before putting him back in the lineup for today’s series finale.

Despite Howard’s absence from the lineup, the Phillies ended up with a season-high 21 hits, including four by Young.—AP

PADRES 9, MARLINS 2 In Miami, Will Venable drove in three runs and saved one with a diving catch in right field to help San Diego beat Ricky Nolasco and Miami.

Logan Forsythe hit a two-run homer for the Padres and had three of their 15 hits. Edinson Volquez (6-6) gave up two runs in six innings for the Padres, who have outscored Miami 20-3 this season while winning all four games.

Nolasco (4-8), the subject of trade speculation, allowed six runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings to match or surpass his worst effort of the season in all three categories. The Marlins’ loss snapped a threegame winning streak that matched their longest this year.

NATIONALS 6, METS 4 In New York, Ian Desmond doubled home the goahead run in the ninth inning and Washington rallied late after a dominant Matt Harvey departed.

Harvey struck out 11 and left with the Mets leading 4-1 after seven innings. Ryan Zimmerman lined a three-run double with two outs in the eighth that made it 4-all. The Mets used four relievers in the inning, and still couldn’t protect the lead.

Jayson Werth, who had struck out in all three atbats against Harvey, hustled for a leadoff double in the ninth against closer Bobby Parnell (5-4).

Desmond doubled down the right-field line and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Kurt Suzuki. Tyler Clippard (6-1) won in relief and Drew Storen got his second save.

PIRATES 10, BREWERS 3 In Pittsburgh, Gerrit Cole overcame a rocky start to become the first Pirates pitcher to win his first four career starts in more than a century and Starling Marte missed getting cycle a few feet short of a home run in a win over Milwaukee.

Cole (4-0) gave up three runs in the first inning but no more as he made it through six innings, allowing eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Nick Maddox started 4-0 in his first four starts in 1907. Johnny Hellweg (0-1) failed to get out of the second inning in his major league debut, giving up seven runs - five earned - in 1 2-3 innings. Marte had a double and triple among his three hits, and just missed a homer in the eighth when he flied out to deep center field.

ROCKIES 4, GIANTS 1 In Denver, Michael Cuddyer homered to extend his hitting streak to 25 games, Jhoulys Chacin pitched eight scoreless innings and Colorado beat slumping San Francisco.

ATLANTA: Reed Johnson No. 7 of the Atlanta Braves hits an RBI bunt single on a squeeze play in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks.—AFP

MLB results/standings Cleveland 19, Chicago White Sox 10; Baltimore 4, NY Yankees 3; Pittsburgh 10, Milwaukee 3; Boston 7, Toronto 5; Washington 6, NY Mets 4; San Diego 9, Miami 2; Detroit 6, Tampa Bay 3; Atlanta 3, Arizona 0; Texas 4, Cincinnati 0; Cleveland 9, Chicago White Sox 8; Kansas City 9, Minnesota 3; LA Angels 4, Houston 2; Colorado 4, San Francisco 1; Oakland 6, St. Louis 1; Seattle 5, Chicago Cubs 4 (10 innings); Philadelphia 16, LA Dodgers 1.

Boston Baltimore NY Yankees Tampa Bay Toronto Detroit Cleveland Kansas City Minnesota Chicago W Sox Texas Oakland LA Angels Seattle Houston

American League Eastern Division W L PCT 49 33 .598 45 36 .556 42 37 .532 41 39 .513 39 40 .494 Central Division 43 35 .551 42 38 .525 37 40 .481 35 41 .461 32 45 .416 Western Division 47 33 .588 47 34 .580 37 43 .463 35 45 .438 30 50 .375

GB 3.5 5.5 7 8.5

Atlanta Washington Philadelphia NY Mets Miami

2 5.5 7 10.5

Pittsburgh St. Louis Cincinnati Chicago Cubs Milwaukee

0.5 10 12 17

Arizona San Diego Colorado San Francisco LA Dodgers

National League Eastern Division 46 34 .575 40 39 .506 39 42 .481 32 44 .421 27 51 .346 Central Division 49 30 .620 48 31 .608 45 35 .563 33 45 .423 32 46 .410 Western Division 42 37 .532 40 40 .500 40 41 .494 38 41 .481 36 43 .456

5.5 7.5 12 18 1 4.5 15.5 16.5 2.5 3 4 6

Franklin clinches fourth title US National Championships INDIANA: Olympic champion Missy Franklin clinched her fourth title when she swam the fastest time of the year to win the women’s 100 metres backstroke at the US National Championships on Friday. The Indiana meeting

is doubling as trials for the world championships in Barcelona from July 28-Aug. 4. Franklin, who came from behind at the turn to beat Elizabeth Pelton in 58.67 seconds, had already qualified in the 100 and 200 freestyle, the 200 backstroke

INDIANAPOLIS: Missy Franklin reacts to winning the women’s 100m backstroke finals on day 4 of the 2013 USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships and World Trials. —AFP

and earned a place in both the 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relay squads.

“I think the whole field was right there at the 50,” Franklin said after she pipped her future collegiate team mate Pelton by 0.6 seconds.

“I knew I had to bring it back that last half, so it was tough. It hurt a lot. It’s the hardest, but that’s my favorite part that last 15 metres.”

Despite being the quickest in the world this year, the 18-year-old said she was looking for more improvement before the world championships.

“The main goal is to be faster in four weeks than we were right now,” Franklin said. “I think that’s the goal for everyone. It will definitely be about the little technicalities the next four weeks.” “(Coach) Todd (Schmitz) and I will sit down and review what we need to do for each event, but I think for the most part, each event has different things I need to work on, which is fun.

“There’s always room for improvement.” Fellow Olympic champion Katie Ledecky claimed the women’s 400 freestyle with Chloe Sutton second while Connor Jaeger won the men’s title with Matt McLean second. Breeja Larson and Kevin Cordes backed up their wins in the women’s and men’s 200 breaststroke on Wednesday with victories in the 100. David Plummer, who won the 50 backstroke on Thursday, qualified for the 100 by beating London Olympic champion Matt Grevers.—Reuters

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

S P ORTS

Fraser-Pryce to renew 200 rivalry with Jeter LONDON: Two-time Olympic 100-meter champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will go head to head against world champion Carmelita Jeter today as the pair renew their sprinting rivalry over 200 meters at the Diamond League meet in Birmingham.

Jamaica’s Fraser-Pryce enjoyed the better of the London Olympics, finishing one place ahead of Jeter in both events to claim gold in the 100 and silver in the 200.

However, the American took swift revenge in Birmingham last year, beating Fraser-Pryce by 0.09 seconds to win the 100.

Fraser-Pryce, who has fond memories of Birmingham after the Jamaican team stayed there before the Olympics, is determined to lay down a marker ahead of the world championships in August.

“I’ve started the season well but I know there’s more to come from me,” Fraser-Pryce said. “The 200 meters is

looking very competitive already this year but I want to win at the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix in Birmingham and show that I’m still the woman to beat in the sprints going to Moscow.

“I had such a great welcome from the Birmingham public for the Jamaican team before the games, I’m really looking forward to putting on a show for the crowd and hopefully come out with a victory this year after finishing second at the meet in 2012.”

A total of 30 Olympic medalists, including 11 reigning champions, will be in action at the Birmingham Alexander Stadium and the British charge will be led by 5,000 and 10,000 champion Mo Farah.

Farah backed up his Olympic success by winning the 5,000 race at Birmingham last year and will defend his title against Ethiopian trio Hagos Gebrhiwet, Yenew Alamirew and Ibrahim Jeilan.

“2012 was an incredible year for me

and I’m really looking forward to competing in front of a home crowd in the UK again,” Farah said. “This is another big year with the world championships just around the corner and it’s always good to perform well in Birmingham.”

World and Olympic 100 hurdles champion Sally Pearson of Australia will return to the track after recovering from a hamstring tear sustained at the Asian Grand Prix last month.

Pearson, who equaled the meet record of 12.48 seconds on her way to victory in 2011, will be running alongside Olympic silver and bronze medalists Dawn Harper-Nelson and Kellie Wells, both of the US. “Winning the Olympics last year was a dream come true, it was a perfect year for me,” Pearson said. “However this is another impor tant year with the defense of my world title in Moscow in August and I’m confident that I can run even quicker and get close to the world record of 12.21.”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in action in this file photo All three London medalists will be fighting it out in the 400 hurdles, as Dominican Republic’s Felix Sanchez, American Michael Tinsley and Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson take to the start line next to reigning world champion Dai

Greene of Britain. An Olympic medal trio will also reconvene in the men’s shot put, where champion Tomasz Majewski of Poland looks to hold off Germany’s David Storl and Rees Hoffa of the US. —AP

Keselowski wins Nationwide race

SILVERSTONE: Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton drives during the qualifying session at the Silverstone circuit ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix.—AFP

Hamilton takes pole spot

SPARTA: Brad Keselowski took his final lead on the 156th lap and went on to a rainshortened victory Friday night in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway. Showers halted the race at lap 170 in the scheduled 200-lap, 300-mile event, but drivers were expecting it to resume before another pocket of rain forced officials to call it off. Keselowski settled for doing victory spinouts, being careful to avoid sliding into the wall on a night mostly spent on firm footing. After Keselowski finished second Thursday night in the Truck Series race, the Sprint Cup champion led four times for 59 laps en route to his second victory of the year and second at the track in three years. Elliott Sadler was second, followed by Truck Series points leader Matt Crafton, Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch.

Series points leader Regan Smith saw his 28-point advantage over Justin Allgaier coming in whacked to an eight-point edge over Sam Hornish Jr. after an engine problem that forced him behind the wall and left him 30th, 17 laps down.

The night mostly belonged to Busch and eventually Keselowski, who has a chance to add another trophy if he can win Saturday night’s 400-mile Cup race. If his first two races and Friday night in particular are any indication, he’s certainly the driver to beat.

Starting 19th, Keselowski quickly moved the No. 22 Ford into contention to make it a battle between him and Busch on a triplehead-

er weekend for both. Running in the top five on lap 150, Keselowski eventually got by Sadler for the lead before the sky opened up. “You know, I didn’t want it to end this way but we had a great car and we were able to drive to the front,” said Keselowski, who set a track record with his fifth top-five Nationwide finish. “We didn’t qualify like we wanted to but (crew chief ) Jeremy Bullins and this team did a great job.

“It was just a great car tonight. This is the type of car you get once a year if you are lucky. Driving this car I feel like Jimmie Johnson, this is a rocket.”

Busch led three times for a race-high 74 laps, mostly before the halfway point. The race featured 12 lead changes among seven drivers. One of the team was defending race winner Austin Dillon, whose quest was keeping the family name in victory lane for the third straight time at Kentucky. The grandson of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress dominated here a year ago, leading 192 laps while averaging a race-record 151.643 in a Chevy sporting RCR’s iconic No. 3 made famous by seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt.

Dillon led 65 last September to complete a season sweep here. If that wasn’t enough motivation for him to stay hot-not to mention, cutting into his 45-point deficit to firstplace Smith - there was the opportunity to one-up his brother, Ty, who won Thursday night’s Truck race. —AP

British Grand Prix SILVERSTONE: Lewis Hamilton resisted pressure from his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg and the speed of both Red Bulls to claim pole position yesterday for today’s British Grand Prix.

The 28-year-old Englishman gave his home fans good reason to cheer-as they gave him a standing ovation-with a fastest lap of one minute and 29.607 seconds, four-tenths of a second quicker than his German partner who wound up second on the grid as Mercedes locked out the front row.

It was Hamilton’s second pole this year, after three successive secondplace starts, and the 28th of his career. It was also the first pole by a British driver at Silverstone since Hamilton last succeeded in 2007.

Defending triple world champion German Sebastian Vettel was third quickest for Red Bull ahead of his retirement-bound team-mate Australian Mark Webber.

Scot Paul Di Resta was fifth fastest in his Force India car, to give the British fans two drivers in the top five, ahead of Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Toro Rosso, pressing home his credentials for consideration as Webber’s successor at Red Bull.

German Adrian Sutil was seventh in the second Force India ahead of Frenchman Romain Grosjean and his Lotus team-mate Finn Kimi Raikkonen and two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. “It’s an incredible feeling,” said Hamilton. “It feels like [his previous Silverstone pole] 2007. The crowd have been great - such a great turnout - that was a lap for them. “I hope we can do something special in

the race. It’s phenomenal because I haven’t been feeling 100 per cent comfortable in the car.”

Rosberg said: “It’s definitely a great feeling to have the fastest car and the Mercedes team did a great job. “We are confident we have improved and some of the other cars may be better than us but finishing top two can only be good for us.”

Vettel could not resist referring to Mercedes’ recent ‘secret’ tyre test, suggesting it has given them some advantages.

But, he added: “We will see what happens tomorrow. It is a long race. I’m honestly very happy today. I don’t know if Lewis [Hamilton] found a short cut or he just found something special here - it was a phenomenal lap.

“It is always nice to position well in qualifying here. I am looking forward to the race tomorrow and we will see how we are with looking after tyres...”

Mercedes team chief Ross Brawn said: “We worked hard to get the right race set-up. It’s warmer again tomorrow, we’re not comfortable, so we’ll see...”

On a warm, dry and overcast afternoon, the Mercedes men set the pace from the start with Hamilton fastest, in Q1, and Massa delivering the drama with a late saving lap in his Ferrari to avoid early elimination. The drivers removed from the fray were the usual suspects Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams, Mexican Esteban Gutierrez of Sauber, Frenchman Charles Pic and his Caterham team-mate Dutchman Giedo Van Der Garde, who sandwiched Frenchman Jules Bianchi of Marussia. Briton Max Chilton in the

second Marussia was down in 22nd.

By mid-session, with Q2 underway, the air temperature was 19 degrees and the track temperature had climbed to 30, a big change from Friday morning’s cold and rainswept conditions.

This may have spelt difficulties ahead for some teams given the unknown factor of tyre wear, but nothing seemed to have changed as Rosberg and Hamilton soared to the top of the time-screens before Vettel, on new tyres, topped the lot with a best lap for Red Bull.

Within seconds of the flag falling, Webber threw his Red Bull up to second with others following suit to push Hamilton down to sixth, separated from Rosberg by Sutil and Ricciardo.

Out after Q2 went the 2009 champion Briton Jenson Button of McLaren in 11th ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa of Ferrari, Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso, Mexican Sergio Perez in the second McLaren, German Nico Hulkenberg of Sauber and Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado in the leading Williams on the weekend of their celebrations for starting 600 Grands Prix, a landmark they reach in Germany next Sunday.

All this meant that Paul Di Resta joined Hamilton as one of the last two Britons in the fray, while Alonso, Grosjean and Raikkonen also squeezed through to claim their places in the top-ten shootout.

Rosberg soon set the pace until Hamilton, seemingly fuelled by people power, outpaced him by 1.5 seconds to go top as the big crowd readied themselves for a furious finale. —AFP

Flower says ‘favorites’ England respect Aussies LONDON: England coach Andy Flower has insisted his side won’t take Australia lightly when they face the “different challenge” of starting the Ashes as firm favorites.

England have won the last two Ashes series, with their most recent success a 3-1 series win in Australia in 2010/11. Now, on home soil, against an Australia who on Monday sacked coach Mickey Arthur and have been beset by problems on and off the field, with David Warner suspended until the first Test following his Birmingham bar attack on England’s Joe Root.

Without retired batting greats Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey Australia are struggling to reassert themselves following a 4-0 series loss in India.

But Flower believes that England, who recently won a two-match series against New Zealand 2-0, aren’t as good as some have suggested while Australia are certainly not as bad as those who’ve labelled Michael Clarke’s men the worst Aussie outfit to come to England in 30 years have suggested. “The 2009 Ashes were probably won against expectation and winning away was again I’d say won against expectation

because Australia had such an amazing record at home before we beat them there,” Flower told Saturday’s Daily Mail.

“Now we’re expected to win and that does bring a different challenge,” the former Zimbabwe batsman added. “Yes, we go into this series as favourites but anyone who knows about the game would also admit that we aren’t as good as some people are saying and the

Andy Flower

Australians are not as poor as some people are saying. “We know that they will be dangerous and we respect them as such. “But we also know we are a very good Test side and have a group of players who are excellent fighters.”

Flower also had some consoling words for Nick Compton, overlooked for England’s warmup game against Essex, with national selector Geoff Miller saying Joe Root was “currently the best opening partner for Alastair Cook”.

Although Compton, the grandson of England great Denis, scored back-to-back hundreds in New Zealand this year, he struggled for runs in the home series against the Black Caps.

However, he pressed his case with 81 for Somerset against Australia at Taunton this week and will have another chance when he appears for Worcestershire against the tourists next week. “You never know what’s round the corner.

He must ensure he’s in pole position should anything unfortunate occur to the men in possession. Runs against Australia for Somerset were the perfect start,” Flower added. “He’s very hungry to succeed and I love seeing that hunger in a player.” —AFP

SPARTA: Brad Keselowski lifts the trophy after winning the rain-shortened NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Kentucky Speedway. —AP

India wary of Windies in Tri-Nations opener KINGSTON: Exactly one week after clinching the Champions Trophy in a dramatic, rain-affected finale in Birmingham, undisputed world one-day champions India take on a confident West Indies team today at Sabina Park in the second match of the Tri-Nation Series.

Fresh from a convincing tournamentopening victory over Sri Lanka at the same venue on Friday, home captain Dwayne Bravo is nevertheless mindful that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side are an altogether different proposition given their considerable strengths in all departments of the game. India trounced the West Indies by eight wickets at the group stage of the Champions Trophy, yet Dhoni has been publicly advising caution over the expectation of continuous success, given the different context and different condi-

tions presented by each succeeding competition. “What is very important for us is not to look too far ahead,” he said on the eve of this series. “The demands (of the fans) remain the same. The expectation when it comes to the Indian cricket team has always been the same.”

In conditions quite similar to what they are accustomed to at home, the Indians are not expected to tinker too much with a combination that proved so successful in England. They will obviously be conscious of the ever-present threat of rain at this time of the year in the Caribbean in determining their final eleven, although the inclement weather thankfully stayed away for the West Indies’ six-wicket whipping of Sri Lanka, a result that also brought them a potentially crucial bonus point. —AFP

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

S P ORTS

Park leads US Women’s Open NEW YORK: South Korea’s Park Inbee moved a step closer to her third major victory this year when she seized a two-shot lead in the weather-interrupted second round of the US Women’s Open in Southampton, New York on Friday.

Shortly before play was suspended for the day as thick fog enveloped the challenging Sebonack Country Club layout, the in-form Park rolled in a 12foot birdie putt on the 18th green to complete a four-under-par 68.

That left the Korean world number one at nine-under 135, two ahead of

tunities, a very good ball-striking day.

The long putts seemed to be going well today. I left a couple out (of birdie putts) there, but I am very satisfied with today’s score.” American Lizette Salas was at four under after shooting an even 72, level with England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff, who was two under for the round with three holes to complete when the siren sounded to halt the action.

Angela Stanford (68) and fellow American Jessica Korda (71) were a further stroke back at three under while overnight leader Kim Ha-neul of

SOUTHAMPTON: Inbee Park of South Korea hits the ball on the second tee during the third round of the 2013 US Women’s Open. —AFP compatriot Kim In-kyung, who had played well for a 69 earlier in the day despite gusting winds and several tough pin positions.

“We got very lucky that we finished today,” Park told reporters after ending a wildly fluctuating day of weather conditions with a haul of six birdies and two bogeys. “I played very good golf today.

“I gave myself a lot of good oppor-

South Korea was eight off the pace after battling to a 77.

Most eyes, however, will be on the 24-year-old Park whose all-round game was once again in dazzling form despite the challenging conditions as she continued her bid for a fourth career major title, and a sixth LPGA win this season.

“I had hit the ball so good today,” the Korean smiled after recording

birdies on each of the last three parfives at Sebonack - the 13th, the 15th and the 18th.

“I didn’t miss many shots out there.

Very tough conditions out there to play in. With the wind and fog, it just really made me think that is what the U.S. Open is all about.”

Having already won this year’s Kraft Nabisco Championship and LPGA Championship, Park is oozing selfbelief as she seeks to emulate Babe Zaharias (1950), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986) by clinching three major titles in one season.

However, Park said she was doing her level best to maintain her focus on golf, and not on the prospect of carving out another slice of LPGA history.

“It’s tough not to think about it, but I just try to think that’s not a big deal,” she added. “If I want to do it so much, it’s just so tough and it puts too much pressure on you. Try to not think about so much.”

Kim, seeking her first major victory and a fourth win on the LPGA Tour, was delighted with her own position after mixing five birdies with two bogeys at the picturesque venue hugging Peconic Bay in eastern Long Island.

“I felt good out there,” said the 25year-old Korean, who has posted six top-10s in 12 starts on the 2013 LPGA Tour. “I did a lot of preparation this winter and all the hard work kind of pays off but still there’s a lot of golf to play.

“I feel confident because I feel I have been in contention a few times this year. I have come a long way the last two days.”

The cut was projected to fall at fiveover 149 with Taiwan’s former world number one Yani Tseng, third-ranked Norwegian Suzann Pettersen and reigning Women’s British Open champion Shin Ji-yai of South Korea among those destined to miss out. —Reuters

BETHESDA: Jordan Spieth tees off on the 10th hole during Round Two of the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club. —AFP

Spieth, Castro share lead BETHESDA: American teenager Jordan Spieth surged into an early tie for the second-round lead at the weather-interrupted AT&T National before play was suspended for the day at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland on Friday.

The 19-year-old Spieth, playing on a sponsor’s exemption this week, fired a five-under-par 66 in relatively calm conditions on a challenging layout to finish at seven-under 135, alongside overnight leader Roberto Castro, who carded a 69.

South Korea’s Lee Dong-hwan was at five under after shooting a seven-birdie 66, level with Argentina’s Andres Romero, who still had five holes to complete.

Play was suspended at 2:44 p.m. ET (1844 GMT) due to the threat of lightning and an attempt late in the day for the action to resume had to be aborted as storm clouds once again swept across the area. The second round will continue on Saturday morning before the cut is made and the players then begin the third round in threesomes with a two-tee start, officials said.

Spieth, competing on a limited PGA Tour schedule this year as a special temporary member, was delighted with his bogey-free display, highlighted by five birdies in his first nine holes.

“I hit 18 greens ... I was very solid from tee to green,” the former University of Texas standout told Golf Channel. “I put myself in great positions off the tee and was able to hit my mid-irons a little better than yesterday.

“Every opportunity I get (being) in contention, I learn a little bit each time,” said Spieth, who has posted four top-

10s in 13 starts on the 2013 PGA Tour, his best finish a tie for second at the Puerto Rico Open. “I felt the nerves on the back nine but was able to still strike the ball well.”

Spieth, who turned professional in December, has yet to win his first PGA Tour title but hoped to draw on memories of his college success while bidding for victor y at Congressional over the weekend.

“I just need to approach it like the last tournament that I won, and I am thinking back to college and just the way that I was able to win out there,” the 19-year-old recalled.

“Obviously I don’t know what it’s like to win on the tour yet, but I just can’t really think about that. I am only halfway through the tournament.”

Castro, like Spieth seeking a maiden victory on the PGA Tour, was happy to remain in contention after following his opening 66 with a 69.

“Just got to keep going, and I was able to do that today,” the flame-haired 28-year-old told reporters. “It feels good to play two rounds under par. It’s a very hard golf course.”

Americans Cameron Tringale (67) and James Driscoll (69) were at four under, a stroke better than Swede David Lingmerth, who was among a group of four players after firing a best-of-the-day 65.

Australian world number four and Masters champion Adam Scott, the highest-ranked player in the field, was a distant nine strokes off the pace after returning a 71.

The cut was projected to fall at two-over 144 with former PGA Tour winners Charley Hoffman, Aaron Baddeley, KJ Choi and Hunter Mahan among those in danger of missing out. —Reuters

Photo of the day

Competitors perform at the Red Bull Flugtag in Belgrade, Serbia.

—www.redbullcontentpool.com

Rossi wins MotoGP race ASSEN: Six-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi won his first race since 2010 at the Assen TT yesterday.

Rossi’s Yamaha teammate, Jorge Lorenzo, the defending world champion, finished fifth despite racing with a broken left collarbone sustained just two days ago in a high-speed crash during practice. Lorenzo underwent surgery on Friday in which the bone was fixed in place with a titanium plate and eight screws.

He complained of pain during warmups yesterday, but finally decided to push ahead saying that in the end “we are here to race.”

“I’m proud of myself for the effort in these two difficult days after the crash and also of my team for their support,” he said.

Marc Marquez was second, Cal Crutchlow third, and Dani Pedrosa fourth to remain atop the standings with 136 points. But Pedrosa gained just two points on Lorenzo to lead him by nine.

“I’m happy, but I cannot believe it,” Rossi said. “It was a long, long time since 2010 and I questioned myself, whether I could come back to first place or not, so it was a tough period.”

Rossi, a favorite with the Dutch crowd, had the fastest time during warmups on Saturday. He started fourth on the grid and took the lead by the sixth lap and held it. He was dominant as in days of old, eventually opening up a lead of more than two seconds.

During the race “I fought with everybody, I fought with Mark, I fought with Pedrosa, I fought with Cal, but always I was a little bit faster in some places” on the track, Rossi said.

The closing phase was a contest between Marquez and Crutchlow, the first Briton to start on the pole since

ASSEN: Italy’s Valentino Rossi celebrates on the podium after winning the Dutch MotoGP in Assen. —AFP 2002. Attempting to pass on the final lap, Crutchlow bumped Marquez’s tire and backed off, and the final order was settled. In Moto2, Spain’s Pol Espargaro won a back-and-forth duel with his main rival for the title, Britain’s Scott Redding, pulling ahead on the secondto-last lap. Redding retained the overall

lead by 30 points.

In Moto3, Luis Salom of Spain won a tight race in the final lap, passing countryman Maverick Vinales on the secondto-last corner and holding position in the rush to the finish line. Alex Rins finished third. That left them in the same order overall. —AP

Blackhawk fans throng Chicago to celebrate Stanley Cup win CHICAGO: Ice hockey fans thronged Chicago on Friday to celebrate the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup championship with a parade to a boisterous rally at the lakeside park where President Barack Obama marked his historic election victory in 2008.

A sea of red-clad fans stretched through Grant Park from Lake Michigan, with the gleaming city skyline as the backdrop on a bright summer day. Fans lined the route as the players paraded on double-decker buses from their home arena at the United Center to the rally.

The Blackhawks won their second Stanley Cup in four seasons by defeating the Boston Bruins 4-2 in a best-ofseven series, capping a National Hockey League season shortened by a labor dispute between players and owners.

There was a stepped up police presence at the rally and parade, and fans were discouraged from bringing backpacks and other bulky items after bombs left in backpacks along the crowded route of the Boston Marathon were detonated in April, leaving three people dead and hundreds injured.

A police spokesman said the rally was peaceful with no incidents or arrests reported. The size of the crowd was not immediately known although authorities had said they expected up to two million people. The Blackhawks are led by a pair of young skating stars - Patrick Kane, 24, a speedy sniper who won the Most Valuable Player award in the championship series, and Jonathan Toews, 25, the skilled and steady team captain.

Fans chanted “M-V-P” and “Kaner” as a smiling Kane briefly spoke to the crowd. The Buffalo, New York native, who likes to wear his hair in a mullet and has been reprimanded by team management in the past for offseason partying, thanked the fans for “making hockey fun.”

He then presented a team award to goalie Corey

Crawford, who Kane said was the real MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Crawford was not even the team’s starting goalie for part of the season.

Only six years ago the Blackhawks franchise, one of the six founding members of the NHL, was floundering with a losing record, poor home attendance and little exposure on television.

In 2007, the death of longtime Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz - reviled in Chicago as a penny-pincher who refused to broadcast the team’s games on local television - opened the way for his son Rocky Wirtz to revive the franchise.

The team drafted Kane and Toews, who immediately shined. The Blackhawks gradually improved and won the 2010 Stanley Cup, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers.

Smoking a cigar and dressed in a red T-shirt emblazoned with “2013 Stanley Cup Champions,” fan Brad Smeele, 25, said he did not even know the rules of hockey well until two years ago when he started watching the Blackhawks regularly with a friend.

“They are fun to watch. They are energetic. The fans are energetic. Everybody is into it now,” said Smeele, who took a train to the parade from the suburbs, where he is a high school teacher and football coach.

The team swept through the regular season, setting an NHL record of 24 regular season games without a regulation loss to start the year, but very nearly bombed out of the playoffs by falling behind the rival Detroit Red Wings before rallying to win in seven games.

The Stanley Cup finals with the Bruins were a bruising series that left numerous players injured. The Blackhawks organization took out a full page ad in the Boston Globe newspaper on Friday complimenting Boston’s hospitality and sportsmanship during the series, which drew the highest television audience for a Stanley Cup final since Nielsen began tracking ratings in 1994. —Reuters

McIlroy’s misery continues at Irish Open CARTON HOUSE: Rory McIlroy’s hopes of picking up much-needed form before the British Open next month ended in more disappointment on Friday when he missed the cut at the Irish Open.

The world number two improved his two-over par first round score to card a level par 72 but that was not good enough to keep him in the tournament at Carton House, County Kildare.

“It’s disappointing as I feel I played

okay today but it’s not nice not to be competing. But there were a few good things out there. I just need to work on my game,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old Northern Irishman, twice a major winner, was 11 shots off the lead, held jointly by American Peter Uihlein and England’s Robert Rock on nine under.

Rock shot a six-under-par 66 to join Uihlein at the top of the leaderboard

while both were being pressed by former Ryder Cup captain Jose-Maria Olazabal, after a 69 put him in a group on seven under par and joint second.

Olazabal hasn’t given hope of winning, telling reporters: “The captaincy took a lot out of me. I could not dedicate as much time to my game. I have never lost hope, that’s why I spend hours and hours on the range.

“Health-wise I have had problems but

at the moment I cannot complain. But the main goal is to keep improving my game to get myself in positions like this.”

Overnight leader Oscar Floren of Sweden could not match his first round 66 but did manage to produce another sub-par round of 71 to join Spaniard Olazabal on seven under for the tournament.

McIlroy wasn’t the only big name to flop. Ireland’s other three major winners -

Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell - all fell by the wayside.

McIlroy’s form has dipped alarmingly since he changed his club manufacturer towards the end of 2012. In the last five months of that year he won four tournaments and was top of the world rankings but in 2013 he has one top-five finish in 13 events, including Ireland. The 142nd British Open is at Muirfield from July 1821. —Reuters

19

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

SPORTS

No time for Rio de Janeiro’s poor to protest RIO DE JANEIRO: More than 1.5 million people have taken to the streets across Brazil during the Confederations Cup to protest poor public services as well as the cost of staging this event and next year’s World Cup. But some of the poorest citizens of all, those who live in the favelas or slum regions of big cities such as Rio, say they just cannot spare the time.

They agree Brazil needs better hospitals and schools. But even if they would like to join the protests, earning a living is the overriding priority.

Starting early and finishing late, their day is spent struggling to survive.

Rocinha is a favela in Rio, a small enclave wedged in between more affluent parts of the city. Eighteen months ago it was the scene of a police raid as the authorities cracked down on drug traffickers.

Earlier this week, around a thousand

residents of Rocinha marched on the Rio governor’s house down by the beach in the smart Copacabana district to protest their lot. Raimundo do Nascimento who has spent 17 of his 40 years in Rocinha, would have liked to join the protests. So too would Robson de Souza Cristina. But they did not have the time.

“Come wind come weather,” they are working away: Raimundo at the little hardware store he runs and Robson at a store selling sandals.

“Rocinha needs health services — there are a lot of things which need doing,” said Raimundo. “But I cannot down tools to go and demonstrate” the father of three explained.

Robson agreed. “I would go if I could - but I need to work,” he said. Mary, a housemaid, and Pamela, a childminder, likewise cannot afford to take a day off but both said they supported the pro-

testors. Many of the marchers have answered the call for Brazil to “wake up” and protest at poor government.

And while the authorities might have hoped international attention would be on Confederations Cup tournament, a dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup, footage of the protests has been beamed around the world.

“People say Brazil is apathetic but that is not so,” said Robson. “The people have woken up and are demanding everything that is missing.”

A poll by the Ibope institute has identified the typical protester as young, middle class and educated. But Marcelo Mendes does not fit that profile. Mendes, an unemployed 43-yearold gardener, did not even finish primary education. “Brazil has woken up and yet is still asleep,” he argued. “You have people with university degrees

who are calling for 20 cents off” A bus ticket, he added, alluding to what sparked the initial protests. Over the past two weeks however, the social revolt has broadened out to wider issues. Now, as well as the transport issue, the grievances include the state of the nation’s health and education services as well as government corruption.

In this context, many protesters have condemned a reported 15-billiondollar bill for staging the Confederations and World Cups. “I ask God to illuminate their path to let them know they can do much more,” said Mendes.

Rio’s favelas have seen some protests, but on a very small scale. In one slum, near Rio international airport, eight civilians and a member of an elite police unit were killed this week after a demonstration degenerated into vio-

lence and looting.

On Thursday some of the favela residents joined a protest in the city centre denouncing what they said was police heavy-handedness.

“That proves the ‘favelado’ (favela resident) possesses a strong political conscience,” even if he does not generally have the time to demonstrate, anthropologist Alba Zaluar told AFP. There are signs that life is slowly improving in Rocinha: there are sports centres, English-language centres, various boutiques and a bank. They are there thanks to government social programmes aimed at the poorest areas over the past decade. But the return of the spectre of inflation — six percent in May — is hitting people’s pockets.

“Often, the president spends too much time worrying about the rich and forgets the poor and the middle classes,” said Robson.—AFP

Brazil, Spain look to serve up a final feast

BRAZIL: Italy’s goalkeeper Federico Marchetti dives for the ball during a training session at the Roberto Santos stadium ahead of their FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 third place football match against Uruguay. —AFP

Italy and Uruguay seek Confed Cup consolation SALVADOR: After each suffering late heartbreak in the Confederations Cup semi-finals, Italy and Uruguay will attempt to rouse their weary bodies for today’s third-place play-off in steamy Salvador. Uruguay will start with a distinct physical advantage, their 2-1 loss to Brazil having taken place a full 24 hours before Italy’s stamina-sapping 7-6 penalty shoot-out defeat by Spain in Fortaleza on Thursday.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli was particularly concerned about the lack of recovery time available to his players following a 120-minute slog amid the cloying humidity of Estadio Castelao.

He even proposed a change to the format of the tournament, to allow teams more time to recover, while centre-back Giorgio Chiellini told Rai Sport he was “struggling to breathe” at the end of the game. To compound matters, today’s match at Arena Fonte Nova will start at 13:00 local time (1600GMT), when temperatures in tropical Salvador are forecast to hit 26 degrees Celsius with 75 percent humidity.

Given their exertions against Spain, captain Gianluigi Buffon has admitted that the quick turnaround before the Uruguay encounter represents a difficult challenge.

“The final would have been nice. You don’t get to play at the Maracana every

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

FIFA Confederations Cup THIRD PLACE Uruguay v Italy Al Jazeera Sport 1 HD Al Jazeera Sport +9

19:00

FINAL Monday 1 July 2013 Brazil v Spain 1:01 Al Jazeera Sport 1 HD Al Jazeera Sport +9

day. But if we had got there, we might have had to play on all fours,” said the Juventus goalkeeper.

“Now we will give our all against Uruguay, because our holidays have not started yet.” The Spain game appears to have taken a heavy toll on Prandelli’s squad, with reports in the Italian media suggesting Chiellini, Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Barzagli could all miss Sunday’s match due to either injury or fatigue.

Striker Mario Balotelli and right-back Ignazio Abate had already been ruled out of the tournament by injury, but Uruguay striker Luis Suarez believes the Azzurri are still an intimidating prospect.

“Even without Balotelli they are dangerous,” the Liverpool striker told Brazilian website Globoesporte. “They have a lot of quality players, like (Sebastian) Giovinco. We will have to take our chances because they can punish us.”

Italy were widely praised for muzzling Spain in the first half of Thursday’s game and Prandelli said the performance augured well for their World Cup qualifying campaign.

However, whereas Italy are currently four points clear of nearest rivals Bulgaria in UEFA qualifying Group B, Uruguay’s chances of returning to Brazil next year are in the balance.

The South American champions are five points adrift of the automatic CONMEBOL qualifying positions, but coach Oscar Tabarez believes his team’s displays during the Confederations Cup prove they are worthy of a berth at the World Cup. “If we play like this we are in a position to play anyone, and that is ground that we have gained for the qualifiers ahead,” he said. “We can compete with top-level teams. That’s a plus when it comes to playing future matches.”

Tabarez, whose side fell to an 86thminute Paulinho goal in the last four, will have veteran defender Andres Scotti available again after he served a onematch suspension for his red card in the 8-0 rout of Tahiti.—AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO: FIFA president Sepp Blatter has already declared this year’s Confederations Cup, hors d’oeuvre for the World Cup in 12 months time, the best ever.

Yet he and 200 million Brazilians, 47 million Spaniards and countless fans across the globe hope the best is yet to come as holders Brazil and world champions Spain prepare to take the final curtain today in Rio. Brazil starlet Neymar says he can already taste the atmosphere of an historic occasion as the Selecao aim for a third straight crown, and a fourth overall. A Spanish victory, by contrast, would make them the first side to win four straight international tournaments after sandwiching their 2010 World Cup success with European glory in 2008 and 2012.

With Spain the dominant power of recent years and Brazil the most successful nation in the game’s history, it is small wonder their stars cannot wait to joust at the renovated Maracana stadium, scene of Brazil’s legendary 1970 World Cup win. “These teams have great tradition and history. Spain have their stars - and so do Brazil,” Neymar said Friday as he contemplated the final the purists craved.

Neymar and company faced initial criticism from Pele, who claimed the current Brazil team is “not good enough” to land the game’s top prizes. But by beating Japan, Mexico and Italy in the group phase and then showing they can scrap by edging Uruguay in a tough semi, Brazil are rising again after falling to a modest 19th in the FIFA rankings ahead of the event.

Just as Vicente del Bosque has taken Spain to even greater heights after succeeding Euro 2008 winner Luis Aragones, so Brazil’s ongoing renaissance is down to a fellow moustachioed sexagenarian in Luiz Felipe Scolari, architect of a World Cup success in 2002.

Scolari insists this World Cup dress rehearsal is merely an opportunity to see how well he can blend the aces in his pack over the coming year.

Yet after seeing his side respond to his cracking of the whip, Brazil’s ‘eminence grise’ has slightly revised that opinion with another Confederations trophy almost in reach, knowing that beating the world champions would put a large feather in his cap. “(Spain) have won everything over the past five or six years. But we will play our game,” said Scolari, who rejects any idea the Spaniards will

BRAZIL: (From left to right) Brazil’s forward Neymar, Fred, Oscar, defender David Luiz and Brazil’s forward Hulk jog during a training session. Brazil and Spain will play the final of the competition today. —AFP be at a disadvantage having come through extra-time and penalties to see off Italy in a semi-final played a day later than Brazil’s. “They have basically played a match less, swapping the side for their group match against Tahiti. “We will respect them but we will show our own qualities.” The last time Brazil won a trophy on home soil was the Confederations tournament in 1989. Winning today would not see the popular anger at the cost of staging the event and the World Cup evaporate. But it would dissipate the desire for further mass protests as the giant country responds to the massive challenge of readying for its first World Cup since 1950.

Home skipper Thiago Silva says the final outcome is too close to call. “They are a very technical team oozing quality. They are world champions and very consistent. The final will come down to small details.”

Spain’s Jesus Navas, whose winning kick dragged the Spanish past Italy in their spotkick shootout in Fortaleza, refuses to make either

team favorite.

“It was very tough to see off the Italians, so imagine how difficult it is going to be to defeat Brazil on their own turf,” Navas said.

Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas, a pillar of the side after shrugging off being dropped at Real Madrid in mid-season, said he is thrilled two such exciting sides have made it.

“Everybody expected a Brazil versus Spain final and both deserve to be there. To play Brazil in their most iconic stadium will be fantastic,” said Casillas, whose team should have Roberto Soldado and Cesc Fabregas available after misisng the Italy game while Brazil are set to be unchanged.

Del Bosque says Spain will not be cowed by a partisan crowd or by playing a side whose last competitive home loss was 38 years ago.

“We will seek to impose our kind of game in the Maracana. We are tired for sure but we are dreaming of this final against Brazil. “We start even and today is another day.”—AFP

Wallabies strike late to beat Lions, level series MELBOURNE: Leigh Halfpenny missed a last minute penalty from halfway to hand Australia a 16-15 victory over the British and Irish Lions in the second test yesterday, sending the series to a mouthwatering decider in Sydney next week.

A scrappy match lacking in quality burst into life in a frenzied final five minutes when Adam Ashley-Cooper crashed over for a try and Christian Leali’ifano slotted the conversion to give the Wallabies a one-point lead in front of a record 56,771 crowd at the Docklands Stadium.

The Lions were chasing a first test series win since 1997 after their 23-21 victory in the first test last week - a win secured when Kurtley Beale also missed a last minute kick - and they came storming back, pushing close to the home line and looking to catch and drive from

a lineout. However, in echoes of Australia lock Justin Harrison’s decisive intervention in the third test of the 2001 series, flanker Liam Gill snared Lions ball and looked to have sealed the Wallabies win. The tourists, and referee Craig Joubert, were not done yet and the South African official blew for yet another penalty that would give Halfpenny the chance to win the match and earn a place in Lions’ history.

The Welsh fullback, who had been virtually flawless in his kicking on tour, approached the ball with his usual calm but his strike did not have the legs to carry and Australian celebrations broke out around the stadium.

Wallabies captain James Horwill, who could yet miss the decider because of a citing from the first test, acknowledged the game had not been of the highest quality but was delighted

MELBOURNE: Australian Wallabies flyhalf James O’Connor (left) is tackled by a British and Irish Lions defender (right) in the second rugby Test match. —AFP

to get the result. “Sometimes it’s not pretty, but we found a way to win and that’s the most important part,” he said. “It’s square now. It’s sort of, you don’t worry about the last two, it’s now one game to win it. It’s like a grand final.”

Lions captain Sam Warburton, who put in his best performance of the tour so far, could also miss the Sydney test after departing the pitch with a hamstring problem in the 68th minute.

“With Australia ... unless you are a couple of scores with a few minutes to go, you never settle down,” the flanker said.

“That’s something that we learned tonight, which was tough. “But I thought Australia did well, to be fair, it was going to be whoever scored the first try who won the game, because both defences were so good, and Australia were the ones to find it.”

A scrappy first half was dominated by defence, Joubert’s whistle and the kicking of Halfpenny and Leali’ifano. As the Lions had predicted, Joubert’s rulings at the breakdown punished Australia in the early exchanges and the visitors were awarded successive penalties for the Wallabies holding on to the ball in the tackle. Halfpenny hit the crossbar with the first from 48 metres and the second was booted into touch for the Lions to launch two big driving mauls towards the home line, which the Wallabies could only collapse. The second time Halfpenny took the points but the Lions were having less joy with Joubert’s zero tolerance policy in the set scrum and Leali’ifano levelled the score in the 17th minute when Mako Vunipola was penalised for his binding.

Vunipola was again the guilty party at the next scrum — Joubert telling him to keep his head and shoulders up — and Leali’ifano put the Wallabies 6-3 up.

The next scrum came courtesy of a Vunipola knock on but the England prop rectified his position and it was the Wallabies who were penalised, Halfpenny converting from 43m after 27 minutes.—Reuters

Fraser-Pryce to renew 200 rivalry with Jeter

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

17

Rossi wins MotoGP race

18

Brazil, Spain look to serve up a final feast

Page 19

WIMBLEDON: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates beating France’s Jeremy Chardy in their third round men’s singles match on day six of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament. — AFP

WIMBLEDON: China’s Li Na returns against Czech Republic’s Klara Zakopalova in their third round women’s singles match. — AFP

WIMBLEDON: Spain’s David Ferrer celebrates beating Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov in their third round men’s singles match. — AFP

Majestic Djokovic sweeps into last-16 LONDON: World number one Novak Djokovic stormed into the Wimbledon last-16 yesterday while Laura Robson became the first British woman for 15 years to make the fourth round.

Top seed Djokovic, the 2011 champion, destroyed French 28th seed Jeremy Chardy, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in just 86 minutes. He fired 38 winners, eight aces and committed just three unforced errors.

“I felt very confident to step onto the court and everything went my way,” said Djokovic after his 50th career grasscourt win. “I haven’t lost many points on my service games. I did everything I wanted to do. I enjoy it very much when everything works well. It’s a fantastic feeling.”

Djokovic will tackle veteran Tommy Haas for a place in the quarter-finals, just weeks after he beat the German in the French Open quarter-finals.

But 13th-seeded Haas beat the Serb star in Miami this season and also got the better of him in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2009.

Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer, a quarter-finalist last year, beat Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. Ferrer will face Croatia’s Ivan Dodig, the

world 49, for a place in the quarter-finals. Robson came from a set and 3-5 down to defeat New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 and goes on to face Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, a former quarter-finalist.

Robson, currently ranked 38 in the world, will also move into the top 30 after the tournament, the first British woman to break that barrier since Jo Durie in April, 1987.

“I was getting my butt kicked in the first set,” said Robson. “But I told myself just to keep working hard, she will get nervous and that’s what happened.” The men’s fourth round will feature five men making their maiden appearance at the fourth round stage.

France’s Kenny De Schepper, the 26-year-old world number 80, beat Argentine 22nd seed Juan Monaco, 6-4, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 to book a last-16 spot at a major for the first time.

Poland’s Lukasz Kubot, ranked 130, also made the fourth round in 2011, and is the second Pole to reach the last-16 after 24th seed Jerzy Janowicz also booked his place on Friday.

Kubot beat 25th seed Benoit Paire 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 and

next faces French world number 111 Adrian Mannarino who has made the last-16 at a major for the first time in 14 attempts. Left-hander De Schepper will face experienced Fernando Verdasco in Monday’s fourth round after the Spanish former top 10 player, now at 54 in the world, cruised past temperamental Latvian Ernests Gulbis, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

Russian 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny, a quarter-finalist in 2012, defeated Serbia’s Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 and goes on to face British second seed Andy Murray.

The lop-sided bottom half of the draw has been caused by the shock early exits of defending champion Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Only four of the top 10 seeds have made it through to the second week. In the top half, Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych, the runnerup in 2010, claimed his ninth win in nine meetings with South Africa’s Kevin Anderson, coming through 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.

Berdych takes on unseeded Australian Bernard Tomic, a quarter-finalist in 2011, who put out French ninth seed, Richard Gasquet, 7-6 (9/7), 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5).

Meanwhile, Ivan Dodig of Croatia reached his first

fourth round at Wimbledon when Dutchman Igor Sijsling quit trailing 6-0, 6-1, 1-0. Sijsling’s withdrawal equalled the injury pullouts record of 13 from 2008.

Italian 23rd seed Andreas Seppi beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori, 3-6, 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-4, also for a maiden last-16 place. Seppi will face Argentine eighth seed Juan Martin Del Potro who defeated Slovenia’s Grega Zemlja 75, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0.

In the women’s draw, Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, the runner-up to Serena Williams last year, defeated Madison Keys of the United States, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 She will face 2010 semi-finalist, Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria who defeated Petra Martic of Croatia, 6-1, 4-6, 62. Chinese sixth seed Li Na survived a roller-coaster of a battle to edge Czech veteran Klara Zakopalova, 4-6, 6-0, 8-6. Next up for Li is Italian 11th seed Roberta Vinci who saw off Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova, 6-1, 6-4.

Women’s 2011 champion Petra Kvitova, the eighth seed and highest ranked player in her half after the exits of Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka, reached the fourth round with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 defeat of Russian 25th seed Ekaterina Makarova.—AFP

Contador down, Kittel wins stage BASTIA: Germany’s Marcel Kittel of the Argos-Shimano team won the opening stage of the Tour de France yesterday, a 213kilometre ride from Porto-Vecchio to Bastia in Corsica that was lit up by a hectic finale.

Kittel stole in front of Norwegian rider Alexander Kristoff right on the line to win a Tour stage for the first time in his career, while Dutchman Danny van Poppel of the Vacansoleil team came third, although the whole 198-man field was later awarded the same time. Kittel became the first rider to wear the yellow jersey in the 100th Tour, which continues today with a 156-kilometre second stage across Corsica from Bastia to Ajaccio.

The German, 25, also took the green jersey for the best sprinter and the white jersey for the best young rider. “It feels like I have gold on my shoulders,” a delighted Kittel said in his post-race press conference. “It is unbelievable. I have no real words to describe the feeling. I’m so, so proud that we made it today and that we could achieve a goal that we had been working towards for years.” For long spells, the first stage ever held on the Mediterranean island was largely uneventful, save for a breakaway by a small group of riders including Spain’s Juan Antonio Flecha and Lars Boom of the Netherlands. But, after the breakaway was reined in by the peloton, there was chaos in a closing 20 kilometres marked by a series of crashes on the narrow roads leading into Bastia and a bizarre incident involving one of the team buses at the finish line. The bus of the Orica-GreenEdge team got stuck when it hit the gantry over the finish line as the riders approached, leading to suggestions that the line may be brought forward by three kilometres.

The bus was moved out of the way just in time to allow the first stage to conclude as planned, but not before a clutch of riders were hampered by a series of crashes.

Dutch champion Johnny Hoogerland, who famously crashed into a barbed wire fence on the 2011 Tour and was seriously hurt earlier this year after colliding with a car while out training, went to ground after crashing into an advertising banner, in a sign of things to come.

Spain’s Alberto Contador, considered by many to be the main challenger to race favourite Chris Froome of Britain, was the highest-profile name to fall on the way into Bastia, as he went to ground in a mass crash that also took out Slovakia’s promising sprinter Peter Sagan. Contador appeared to suffer an injury to his left shoulder, and there will be great concern for his fitness among his Saxo-Tinkoff team. Germany’s Tony Martin was even more seriously hurt, with the Omega Pharma-QuickStep teammate of Mark Cavendish being stretchered into his team bus before being taken to hospital with a reported fractured shoulder. Cavendish, who had dreamt of winning the stage and pulling on the yellow jersey for the first time in his career, was a leading voice in laying the blame for the carnage on the race organisers. “I didn’t crash, but the guy behind me crashed,” he said, before saying that the chaos could have been avoided had word not got out that organisers intended to bring forward the finish line. — AFP

Pickup in business credit gains traction in Kuwait Page 23

Business

Fitch affirms NBK’s ratings, outlook stable Page 25

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

KSE investors cautious amid selloff

Middle East aviation industry in advantageous position: Experts

Page 24

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ZOUPING: A woman works in a textile factory in Zouping, in eastern China’s Shandong province. A cash shortage that hit China’s credit markets this month was the first shock wave from what analysts say could be Beijing’s most drastic clampdown on credit in two decades. — AP

China’s entrepreneurs brace for credit crunch First shock wave from Beiijing’s clampdown on credit BEIJING: Like a boxer slimming down for a fight, Li Zhongjian is shrinking his 20-year-old business manufacturing cigarette lighters to brace for a credit crunch he sees looming over China’s entrepreneurs.

Li’s workforce in the southeastern city of Wenzhou has shrunk by half to 300 this year and he isn’t replacing employees who leave. He said he used to borrow money but is preparing to do without credit that might no longer be available as regulators try to force Chinese banks to cool a lending boom they worry could race out of control. “The authorities’ shifting policies are not offering stable surroundings for businesspeople to be confident to work,” said Li. “I won’t try to get loans for my business any more. I’ll wait and see how the market and policies are doing. I won’t invest, either.”

A cash shortage that hit China’s credit markets this month was the first shock wave from what analysts say could be Beijing’s most drastic clampdown on credit in two decades. The central bank has called for tighter lending standards, which should reduce risk but is likely to reduce financ-

ing for a private sector that generates China’s new jobs and wealth.

China will benefit in the long run from a safer financial system, but the short-term cost could be a painful squeeze on entrepreneurs. Some say a recovery that already was faltering could weaken further. “It’s going to be a bloodbath,” said Anne Stevenson-Yang, research director of J Capital Research in Beijing. “Rates are shooting up in the private market and regular commercial loans are being pulled back very quickly,” she said. “All industrial businesses here run on credit, so as soon as you close that down, they just stop producing and selling stuff.”

The government has yet to say how extensive the controls will be or what it might do to ensure lending for producers who Chinese leaders have said they want to support.

Some branches of two of China’s biggest lenders - Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China - have temporarily suspended lending to businesses and individuals, the business magazine Caixin reported, citing sources at the banks.

The credit clampdown hits amid uncertainty about whether China’s lackluster recovery from its deepest downturn since the 2008 global crisis is stalling. Economic growth decelerated to 7.7 percent in the first quarter from 7.9 percent the previous quarter. May retail sales fell short of forecasts and export growth slowed. An HSBC Corp. survey of manufacturers showed June activity fell to a nine-month low and was contracting.

Tighter credit controls could cause growth to dip below 7 percent in coming quarters, according to Nomura economist Zhiwei Zhang. That would be China’s weakest performance since the early 1990s.

Harder times for Chinese entrepreneurs could have global repercussions. China’s slowdown already is depressing demand for iron ore, copper and other commodities, crimping the flood of money that drove a boom for Australia, Brazil and other suppliers. Demand for industrial components from Southeast Asia and factory equipment from the United States and Europe could be hurt if credit-starved manufacturers put off purchases. The crackdown is part of a broader effort

by communist leaders to shift China to slower, more sustainable growth based on domestic consumption after a decade of explosive expansion driven by exports, investment and cheap credit.

The ruling party’s growth target this year is 7.5 percent, down by almost half from 2007’s staggering 14.2 percent.

“The episode is arguably the strongest sign yet that the leadership is willing to suffer shortterm economic pain if necessary to achieve more sustainable growth,” said Capital Economics analyst Mark Williams in a report.

A key goal appears to be to force banks to reduce their role in channeling money into unregulated, profitable and risky underground lending that is a pillar of support for entrepreneurs who cannot get formal loans from state banks. Money for informal lending came at first from individuals who wanted a better return on their savings but much of it now comes from state banks. They hid the lending from regulators, who worry they have taken on undisclosed risks in the event of defaults.

Even before the credit squeeze, underground

France to seek $18.2bn in cuts next year

Financial crisis cripples Spain’s medical research VALENCIA, Spain: In blue gloves and goggles, Maria Jesus Vicent’s team of young researchers busily mix chemicals in their laboratory, where they work at improving medications for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Theirs is a well-equipped lab, but like researchers across Spain, they warn that steep funding cuts made during the financial and economic crisis are threatening to ground their potentially life-saving workand driving the country’s most talented scientists away.

Vicent’s team at the Prince Felipe Research Centre (CIPF) in the eastern city of Valencia specialises in nanomedicine, a way of developing compounds that boost the efficacy of vital drugs.

“We were set to be among the best in this field in Spain,” she said. “We have made great advances in prostate cancer research. We wanted to go to the next stage with animal tests,” she added. “But I am waiting to get specific financing for that because I don’t have enough money and it’s much more expensive than chemical research.”

The 52,000 square-metre centre was opened in 2005 at the height of the boom that preceded Spain’s economic bust, with 60 million euros ($78 million) of investment.

But as Spain scrambled to shore up its public finances, the centre’s state subsidies were slashed in 2011 from just under 10 million euros ($13 million) to less than five million, forcing Vicent to rely on European Union funds to continue.

The centre had to close half of its 28 labs and fire 114 of its 244 workers. “It was tragic to see such talented people having to leave,” Vicent said. Now the centre’s hi-tech installations are falling into disuse, with its two mechanised operating theatres for animal research now being used for training courses instead. The Confederation of Scientific Associations of Spain (COSCE) said in a recent report that public investment in scientific research fell by 45 percent from nine billion to five billion euros between 2009, the year after the crisis started, and 2013.—AFP

borrowers paid interest of up to 70 percent a year - more than 10 times the benchmark rate for formal loans. Estimates of outstanding loans run as high as 4 trillion yuan ($650 billion), or as much as 7 percent of China’s total credit.

Li, the entrepreneur in Wenzhou, said he borrowed from both state banks and informal lenders to expand his business. He said he paid 6 to 14 percent in annual interest for bank loans and up to 70 percent for underground loans. “Is it possible to find any country whose interest rate is higher than China?” he said. Communist leaders allowed informal lending to grow over the past decade to support entrepreneurs. But regulators began to worry after the 2008 global crisis when they found banks were putting their own money into informal lending, taking on unreported higher risks.

Money flowed to entrepreneurs to pay for equipment and raw materials but it also flooded into speculation in stocks and real estate.

Regulators ordered banks to tighten lending standards but worried credit still was growing too fast. — AP (See Page 22)

HYDERABAD: An Indian LPG vendor carries cooking gas cylinders as others check their delivery receipts outside a depot in Hyderabad yesterday. India’s government has approved the doubling of natural gas prices, the first hike in three years, in a politically sensitive decision set to take effect around election time next year. —AFP

Fall of Indian rupee hits Indian tourists NEW DELHI: The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industr y of India (ASSOCHAM) announced yesterday the Indian rupee has dropped to $60.76, affecting Indian tourists budget by 20 percent during the past two months. The chamber explained that the fall in rupee makes foreign trips unaffordable for Indian tourists, adding that Indians are not just restricting their vacation days, but are also planning to spend holidays within the country rather than going abroad.

Indian travel agencies are also reducing the number of days from packages to make

it more affordable, while most middle income groups are looking to reduce the costs by choosing shorter stays and looking at budget accommodation options, noted the chamber. The chamber pointed out that many are heading towards domestic options due to high air fares.

Destinations like Kashmir, Ladakh, Goa, Himachal and Sikkim, which attract foreign tourists, are now starting to also attract Indian travelers, the chamber also said.

The chamber estimated that nearly 15 million Indians traveled abroad on business and leisure last year, an increase of 10 per-

cent over the previous year. However, over the past three months, travel costs and accommodation have gone up by about 20 to 25 percent due to the fall of rupee.

While business travel may not be as affected, ASSOCHAM says middle class Indians are now feeling the pinch as the economy slows dramatically, bringing with it uncertainty about the future, accompanied by a high cost of living. The chamber concluded that domestic destinations are going to dominate summer vacations, and the most preferred destinations would be be Kashmir, Himachal and Goa. —KUNA

PARIS: France will pursue 14 billion euros ($18.2 billion) in spending cuts next year as it attempts to reduce the public deficit to 3 percent of economic output by 2015, Le Monde reported.

France’s Socialist government aims to tame the deficit by trimming ministerial budgets, cutting state aid to companies and reducing local government funding.

But with the economy back in a shallow recession, jobless claims at an all-time high and his approval ratings around 30 percent, President Francois Hollande has been reluctant to accelerate the cuts.Annual growth in overall wage costs for French public employees will be cut to 0.15 percent from 3 percent, chiefly through pay restraint, the French daily said on its website. Ministries will also be expected to trim 2 percent from operating budgets through public purchasing reform, according to the report, which cited government proposals in a document submitted to a parliamentary committee. Funding for services such as the CNRS research institute and Meteo France weather forecaster will be cut 4 percent, it said. French lawmakers are scheduled to hold a preliminary debate on the government’s 2014 budget on July 2. The Cour des Comptes, which overseas France’s public accounts, warned on June 27 that the deficit could overshoot its 3.7 percent target for 2013.

It recommended spending cuts of 13 billion euros next year and 15 billion in 2015 to meet the 3 percent goal. —Reuters

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

BUSINESS

China’s banking system ‘stable’ despite squeeze

Bayt.com report

Five ways to make recruiters love you

Govt seeks to soothe concerns over funding SHANGHAI: China’s bank regulator said yesterday that a recent liquidity squeeze would not hurt the stability of the banking system, in the latest government effort to soothe concerns over the funding shortage. For three weeks, funds have been in short supply on China’s interbank market, and the interest rates banks charge to lend to each other have surged to record highs. Head of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, Shang Fulin, said the overall banking system had adequate liquidity, echoing comments by the central bank earlier in the week.

“These days the issue with tight liquidity in the interbank market has started to ease,” Shang told a financial forum in Shanghai.

“This situation will not affect the overall pattern of stable operations in the domestic banking sector,” he said, adding domestic financial institutions had excess reserves of 1.5 trillion

yuan ($244 billion) on Friday. China’s central bank chief Zhou Xiaochuan, speaking a day earlier, offered assurances that the People’s Bank of China would use multiple tools to “ensure the overall stability of the market”.

There are worries tight liquidity among banks could prompt them to tighten lending, which threatens to carry over into the real economy.

State media has reported that banks are struggling to meet their payment obligations as around 1.5 trillion yuan worth of wealth management products mature at the end of June. A top official of one of China’s big four banks, the Agricultural Bank of China, said Friday that lenders should step up risk control and allocate financial resources to the right places. “The recent liquidity shortage in the market to some extent has something to do with overly high financial leverage and rapid expansion of shad-

By Lama Ataya

ow banking,” Agricultural Bank deputy chairman Zhang Yun told the forum.

Shang, the banking regulator, also called for more attention by domestic banks for risk control and liquidity management. But he played down risks from local government debts, another issue which has sparked worries over China’s economy.

“Recently some foreign institutions and industry players showed concern about risk in areas including local government debts,” Shang said.

“As long as we apply the right risk-management measures, these risks are controllable,” he said. China’s top auditor recently put outstanding debts held by 18 of the countr y ’s 31 provinces and major municipalities at 3.85 trillion yuan in 2012, the official Xinhua news agency reported Thursday. —AFP

In rash of IPOs, firms raise less than hoped NEW YORK: The stock market’s recent gyrations are taking their toll on some IPOs. In a possible warning sign for the market for initial public stock offerings, five companies, ranging from former Home Depot arm HD Supply to Aratana, a developer of pet medicines, raised less money than they had hoped. That’s mainly because of recent volatility in the stock market, said Greg Leffert, a research analyst for IPO research firm Renaissance Capital.

Stocks plunged last week after the Federal Reserve said it might cut back on its billions of dollars in stimulus spending this year. Shares have recovered in recent days, and the stocks of four of the newly public companies rose Thursday. Despite the lower-than-expected proceeds from the five IPOs, Leffert said demand remains strong, with more than 60 deals since the start of the second quarter. That’s the most since in five years. He attributed that to increased investor optimism, market stability and pent-up demand for IPOs over the past couple years. “It’s definitely good that these were able to get done and it bodes well for activity picking up in next quarter,” Leffert said.

The recession that started in December 2007 shocked the IPO market, and deal volume has yet to return to the levels from before the financial crisis.

Healthy IPO markets can reflect overall economic conditions and investor sentiment. They’re often used by small, new companies to generate the cash they need to expand. HD Supply Holdings Inc. raised $957.6 million in its IPO, marking at least the fifth-largest deal of the year. The Atlanta-based industrial distributor, formed in 2007 after a group of investors bought Home Depot Inc.’s former wholesale distribution business, had hoped to draw investors upbeat about the recent rebound in the construction industry. But HD Supply sold 53.2 million shares at $18 each. The company had hoped to fetch $22 to $25 per share. Shares added 3.8 percent to $18.68 Thursday afternoon.

CDW Corp., which provides information technology services for businesses, universities and government agencies, raised about $396 million. It sold 23.3 million shares for $17 each, the low end of the Vernon Hills, Illinois-based company’s revised range of $17 to $18.

In mid-June, CDW had said it hoped to sell 27.9 million shares for $20 to $23 apiece. The stock rose 8.1 percent to $18.38.

Demand for the company’s stock was probably hurt by recent reports of IT spending cuts, Leffert said. Both HD Supply and CDW plan to use the proceeds from their IPOs to pay down debt.

Several other companies also traded higher after pricing below expectations. Pet medicine developer Aratana Therapeutics Inc. gained 39 percent after raising about $35 million. —AP

KATHMANDU: Nepalese farmers and youths throw mud at each other in a rice paddy field in Pokhara, some 200 kms west of Kathmandu yesterday. Farmers are celebrating National Paddy Day on ‘Asar 15’ of the Nepali calendar as the annual rice planting season begins. —AFP

Gulf Bank announces winners of Al-Danah wekly draws KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its Al-Danah daily draws on June 23, 2013, announcing the names of its winners for the week of June 16 to June 20 th. The Al Danah daily draws include draws each working day for two prizes of KD1000 per winner.

The winners were: (Sunday16/6): Ahmad Waleed Ahmad Al-Kindary, Amal Ghathith Khalaf Kraidi (Monday 17/6): Maryam Sabhan Ismaeel Saleh, Moneera Khalifah Farhan Dokhi (Tuesday 18/6): Zainab Bader Omran Ahmad Al-Jumaa, Mona Mohammad Abdullah Bin Ghaith ( Wednesday 19/6): Abdulaziz Abdulmohsin Nasser Al-Herz, Rema Ahmad Al-Tabaji ( Thursday 20/6):Mohammad Zaki Arnaout, Hiyam Habib Hussain Mohammad Gulf Bank’s Al Danah 2013 draw lineup includes daily draws (2 winners per working day each receive KD1000), as well as three draw prizes per quarter. Al Danah’s 3rd Quarterly draw will be held on - 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.

Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah allows customers to win cash prizes and simultaneously encourages them to save money. Chances increase the more money is deposited and the longer it is kept in the account.

Al-Danah also offers a number of unique services including the Al-Danah Deposit Only ATM card which helps account holders deposit their money at their convenience; as well as the Al Danah calculator to help customers calculate their chances of becoming an Al-Danah winner.

To be part of the Al-Danah draws, customers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches, transfer on line, or call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805 for assistance and guidance.

Customers can also log on to www.egulfbank.com/aldanahwinners, to find out more about Al-Danah and who the winners are.

KUWAIT: What is the secret of making your way on top of a recruiter’s wish list? When the career experts at Bayt.com, the Middle East’s #1 job site, are asked this question, the answer is always one word: preparation.

In fact, there’s no simpler way for recruiters to love you than being prepared.

Recruiters love candidates who are wellprepared. In fact, 20 percent of recruiters who took part in the Bayt.com ‘Hiring Practices in the MENA region’ poll, February 2012, said that poor preparation was the most common mistake that job seekers do during an interview.

So, before you meet with a recruiter make a checklist of these 5 ways of being prepared in order to win their hearts and minds: 1. Do your research Usually, the first question asked in most interviews is “What do you know about our company?” This is the first real test when discussing a potential position. Employers want to hire professionals who have taken the time to research the company’s products, mission, vision, and business model.

Doing your research about the company, the role for which you’re applying, and your interviewer shows the employer that you are interested and excited about the opportunity and would be ready to hit the ground running on your first day. Doing your research also helps you better formulate your answers to interview questions that directly relate to the job requirements.

2. Brush up your CV One of the biggest complaints by recruiters is that many candidates lack the ability to write a professional CV. Too often, the writing skills of today’s job seekers are well below average and may stand in the way of landing their dream job. In fact, according to the Bayt.com ‘Hiring Practices in the MENA region’ poll, 21.3 percent of recruiters in the MENA region said sloppy grammar and spelling were the most common mistakes they encountered on job seekers’ CVs. On the other hand, 19.7 percent of them said that candidates’ CVs were not customized for the role.Your CV is often the first impression a recruiter has of you and more often than not you will only have a few seconds to grab their attention and leave them wanting to read more and invite you in for an interview. It is essential that you get this vital piece of communication right and use it as a springboard to the next stage of the job search.

3. Look good Eight in 10 professionals agree that hiring decisions are influenced by a candidates’ appearance, according to Bayt.com’s ‘Influence of Personal Appearance on Hiring Decisions’ poll, March 2013.

Moreover, 83.4 percent claim that there is a link between appearance and success.

Therefore, if you dress contrary to company and industry norms from the outset, don’t expect to go far in the hiring process.

Your outward appearance is part of the impression you make on people and is a reflection of your inner qualities. 7.5 percent of recruiters who took part in the Bayt.com ‘Hiring Practices in the MENA region’ poll said that an ‘inappropriate attire’ was the most common mistake that jobseekers make in an interview.

4. Be confident When interacting with a potential employer, whether by phone, e-mail, or in person, it’s important to emanate confidence about your experience and ability to succeed in a new position. It’s natural to be nervous when being grilled by a recruiter but you must be able to put a cohesive thought together. Rather than blurt out the first thing that comes to your mind, pause for a while and gather your thoughts before you speak. The position you are interviewing for may include public speaking or even conducting staff meetings and the recruiter needs to know that you can speak proficiently.

5. Show some drive Sometimes when you’re job searching, the wait at each step in the hiring process can feel interminable. No matter how tired you are or how tough the interview questions are always show enthusiasm and drive. In fact, according to the Bayt.com’s Hiring Practices in the MENA region poll, 28.8 percent of recruiters in the MENA region chose hunger, drive and ambition as the most important thing to them when making a hiring decision.

You need to demonstrate to the recruiter that you are extremely interested in the position and have the drive and ambition and keenness it takes to succeed.

Your positive attitude will impress your interviewer as long as it is genuine and not overplayed, and they will leave the interview with a favorable ‘feel’ about you. These are all ways to ensure that you stand out from the crowd and stick in the recruiter’s mind. If you walk into the room with the right attitude, image and skillset then you may not be too far from the finish line! K

ENOC probing Sri Lanka diesel cargo quality RIYADH: Emirates National Oil Co (ENOC) said yesterday a cargo of its diesel which was returned by Sri Lanka on Thursday as below standard was inspected before shipment by an independent inspector. Sri Lanka’s oil minister said on Thursday ENOC had been removed from its approved supplier list after Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) returned the 40,000-tonnes cargo, which he described as “not up to the required specifications”.

“The gas oil cargo for Ceypetco was loaded and dispatched from Jebel Ali, after the cargo was inspected and verified as conforming to contractual specifications by

an independent inspector mutually agreed

by ENOC and Ceypetco,” ENOC said in an emailed statement. It added that a cargo inspection at the discharge port in Colombo found the fuel did not meet the specifications and that it was investigating the reason for the discrepancy between the test results. Sri Lanka has had to import more refined products after Western sanctions on Iran have hit imports of the main crude used for the country’s only refinery, which has a 50,000 barrel-per-day capacity.

Ceypetco’s managing director said on Thursday the return of ENOC fuel would not cause a shortage. —Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Irani Riyal

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

.2770000 .4310000 .3680000 .3020000 .2780000 .2940000 .0040000 .0020000 .0771240 .7513970 .3930000 .0720000 .7366120 .0370000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2841000 GB Pound/KD .4338920 Euro .3707360 Swiss francs .3043390 Canadian dollars .2795430 Danish Kroner .0497330 Swedish Kroner .0443660 Australian dlr .2963730 Hong Kong dlr .0365940 Singapore dlr .2291130 Japanese yen .0029600 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0773800 Bahraini dinars .7538810 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0757800 Omani riyals .7382100 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Malaysian ringgit Irani Riyal

ASIAN COUNTRIES 2.884 4.822 2.876 2.189 2.989 226.940 36.868 3.666 6.614 9.203 94.271 0.271

.2880000 .4470000 .3760000 .3170000 .2920000 .3020000 .0069000 .0035000 .0778990 .7589480 .4110000 .0770000 .7440150 .0440000 .2862000 .4370990 .3734770 .3065880 .2816100 .0501010 .0446940 .2985640 .0368650 .2308060 .0028810 .0052870 .0022880 .0029190 .0036810 .0779520 .7594530 .4048090 .0763400 .7436660 .0069870

0.273

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

GCC COUNTRIES 76.284 78.601 743.020 759.800 77.905

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 39.950 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.148 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.335 Tunisian Dinar 174.730 Jordanian Dinar 403.970 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.919 Syrian Lier 3.108 Morocco Dirham 34.123 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 285.950 Euro 375.740 Sterling Pound 438.930 Canadian dollar 274.420 Turkish lira 148.850 Swiss Franc 305.180 Australian Dollar 264.220 US Dollar Buying 284.750 GOLD 239.000 121.000 63.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

SELL DRAFT 266.58 275.63 310.16 377.86 285.10 441.75 2.97 3.684 4.777 2.216 2.986 2.888 77.69 758.81 40.15 405.76 741.44 78.73 76.16

Selling Rate 283.750 280.895 445.920 380.130 300.705 751.230 77.230 77.885 75.630 399.990 39.942 2.223 4.857 2.877 3.643 6.561 696.050 4.000 9.785 4.055 3.325 95.150

Bahrain Exchange Company CURRENCY

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 Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

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

SELL CASH 266.000 275.000 310.000 380.000 287.800 445.000 3.000 3.700 5.110 2.800 3.600 2.990 78.200 760.700 40.200 410.900 747.600 79.100 76.400

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

BUY Europe 0.4333738 0.0066933 0.0460088 0.3681020 0.0429605 0.4311265 0.0385448 0.2995408

SELL 0.4423738 0.0186933 0.0510088 0.3756020 0.0481605 0.4386265 0.0435448 0.3065406

Australasia 0.2545264 0.2139138 0.0001119

0.2665264 0.2229138 0.0001119

America 0.2648646 0.0001453 0.2834000

0.2738648 0.0001633 0.2855500

Asia 0.0036333 0.0031680 0.0455768 0.0165033

0.0036883 0.0033980 0.0505768 0.0196033

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

0.0000443 0.0342589 0.0047107 0.0000237 0.0028535 0.0028406 0.0032683 0.0846384 0.0028354 0.0028595 0.0061301 0.0000729 0.2208028 0.0021748 0.0088100

0.0000503 0.0373569 0.0047757 0.0000289 0.0038535 0.0030206 0.0034983 0.0916384 0.0030354 0.0028995 0.0066001 0.0000759 0.2268028 0.0022168 0.0094100

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

Arab 0.7510005 0.0381338 0.0128007 0.1451895 0.0000794 0.0001780 0.3971825 1.0000000 0.0001752 0.0220305 0.0012146 0.7306782 0.0777782 0.0751467 0.0464295 0.0019461 0.1724154 0.0763174 0.0012883

0.7595005 0.0401638 0.0193007 0.1469795 0.0000799 0.0002380 0.4046825 1.0000000 0.0001952 0.0460305 0.0018496 0.7416782 0.0785612 0.0757867 0.0469795 0.0021661 0.1784154 0.0777674 0.0013883

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) 285.350 374.850 437.200 273.850 2.950 4.815 40.135 2.189 3.665 6.610 2.875 760.450 77.750 76.250

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

BUSINESS

Pickup in business credit gains traction in Kuwait NBK ECONOMIC REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait’s bank credit maintained its healthy growth in April. Household credit continued to show strength, while non-financial business sectors experienced a third consecutive month of solid growth. If this pace is maintained, we expect credit growth to approach 7 percent in 2013, its strongest since 2009.

Despite this, private deposit growth continued to outpace credit growth, boosting bank liquidity.

Total bank credit rose by a solid KD 169 million in April to KD 27.51 billion, up 5.8 percent year-on-year (y/y). Net credit gains thus far in 2013 averaged KD 173 million a month, up from an average of KD 100 million a month during 2012. Household credit (personal facilities excluding lending for the purchase of securities) remained the key driver of credit growth, though there has also been a clear pick up in non-financial business activity.

Growth in the household sector was healthy, with personal facilities (ex-securities) up by KD 119 million in April. The monthly gain was notably larger than in previous months, suggesting household borrowing remains solid. The y/y rate of growth accelerated to 17.9 percent.

In the coming months, with the implementation of the Family Fund law, reported household debt may actually decline as some debt will be transferred to the government.

The strong growth in household credit has boosted its share of total credit, raising it by nearly 3 percentage points in the last 12 months to reach 28 percent. This came at the expense of non-bank financial (NBF) credit, which saw its share decline to 6.5 percent on the sector’s ongoing deleveraging. The sector saw the decline of NBF credit resume following a modest rise in March, falling by KD 51 million.

Non-financial business activity saw its growth pickup sustained in April, with its third consecutive month of healthy growth. April saw credit up KD 101 million. Gains during the month were led by real estate and other credit facilities. Meanwhile, oil & gas, trade, and industry saw declines in total credit.

Private sector deposits saw a fifth strong consecutive monthly gain. Deposits were up a total of KD 351 million, exclusively in local currency sight and saving accounts. Gains have averaged KD 450 million per month since December 2012, helping reduce the loan-to-

deposit ratio by 2.8 percentage points to 91.6 percent over the last five months. Saving and sight deposits saw strong increases in April (+KD 319 mn and +KD 164 mn, respectively), while time and foreign currency deposits declined (-KD 78 mn and KD 54 mn, respectively). The broader measure of money (M2) expanded by KD 337 million during the month, with double digit growth maintained at 10.3

percent (y/y). The narrower measure (M1) increased by KD 150 million.

Deposit rates on dinar time deposits remained steady at current low levels. Average rates fell by a basis point across all maturities except for the 3-month rate. The 1-month, 3month, 6-month and 12-month deposit rates averaged 0.56 percent, 0.75 percent, 0.96 percent and 1.16 percent respectively.

US stocks fall in quiet end to a bumpy month NEW YORK: Given the wild trading of late, it was a calm close to the month. After flitting between tiny gains and losses most of Friday, the stock market closed mostly lower, a peaceful end to the most volatile month in nearly two years.

“It’s a dull Friday,” said Gary Flam, a stock manager at Bel Air Investment Advisors. A bull market, he added, is “rarely a straight march up.” The Standard & Poor’s 500 index ended its bumpy ride in June down 1.5 percent, the first monthly loss since October. Still, the index had its best first half of a year since 1998.

Investors seemed unsure how to react to recent statements by Federal Reserve officials about when the central bank might end its support for the economy. Mixed economic news added to investors’ uncertainty Friday. An index of consumer confidence was up but a gauge of business activity in the Chicago area plunged.

“Investors don’t know what to make of the news,” said John Toohey, vice president of stock investments at USAA Investment Management. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see more ups and downs.”

The S&P 500 stock index closed down 6.92 points, or 0.4 percent, to 1,606.28. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 114.89 points, or 0.8 percent, to 14,909.60.

The Nasdaq composite index rose 1.38 points, or 0.04 percent, to 3,403.25.

Stocks have jumped around in June. By contrast, the first five months of the year were mostly calm, marked by small but steady gains as investors bought on news of higher home prices, record corporate earnings and an improving jobs market.

By May 21, the S&P 500 had climbed to a record 1,669. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke the next day, and prices began gyrating. Investors have long known that the central bank would eventually pull back from its bond purchases, which are designed to lower interest rates and get people to borrow and spend more.

Last week, Bernanke got more specific about the timing. He said the Fed could start purchasing fewer bonds later this year, and stop buying them completely by the middle of next year, if the economy continued to strengthen.

Investors dumped stocks, but then had second thoughts this week as other Fed officials stressed that the central bank wouldn’t pull back on its support soon. The Dow gained 365 points over the previous three days this week. The Dow has had 16 triple-digit moves for the month, the most since September 2011.

Bonds have also been on a bumpy ride in recent weeks, mostly down. The prospect of fewer purchases by the Fed sent investors fleeing from all sorts of bonds - municipals, US Treasury securities, corporate bonds, foreign government debt and high-yield bonds. Investors pulled a record $23 billion from bond mutual funds in the five trading days ended Wednesday, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Bond yields, which move in the opposite direction of bond prices, have rocketed. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.49 percent from 2.47 percent late Thursday. Last month, the yield was as low as 1.63 percent. Treasury yields help set borrowing costs for a large range of consumer and business loans.

It’s been a rocky month in foreign markets, too.

Major indexes in France, Germany and Britain have lost about 5 percent in June. In U.S. economic news Friday, the University of Michigan said its index of consumer sentiment dipped to 84.1 in June from 84.5 the previous month. But that was still relatively high. May’s reading was the highest since July 2007. Meanwhile, the Chicago Business Barometer sank to 51.6 from a 14-month high of 58.7 in May. —AFP

HONG KONG: A cargo ship loaded with containers leaves Hong Kong yesterday. In May 2013, the value of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods decreased by one percent whereas the value of imports of goods increased by 1.7 percent over a year earlier, the Census and Statistics Department reported. —AFP

S&P downgrades Cyprus ratings over debt swap NICOSIA: Cyprus’s bond ratings have been downgraded by Standard & Poors Ratings Services and Fitch following Nicosia’s announcement that it would swap one billion euros in local bonds for longer maturities. On Thursday, the finance ministry said that government bonds maturing in 2013 through the first quarter of 2016 would be replaced with five new issues holding the same coupon rate and at five-10 year maturities.

The move was required under the terms of a bailout deal with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. But S&P said on Friday that the “exchange materially changes the terms of the affected debt and constitutes what we consider a distressed exchange”.

“We view the extension of maturities without what we find to be adequate offsetting compensation as the exchange of new debt on less favourable terms to the existing debt.”

It lowered the long- and short-term sov-

ereign credit ratings to SD (selective default) from CCC/C. After the exchange, which is expected on July 1, S&P said liquidity strains on the government should be alleviated, and that the rating is expected to rise to CCC+.

However, it noted that the “government will still need to deal with the forthcoming rollover of a stock of 950 million euro Treasury bills,” equivalent to five percent of GDP. Fitch also said on Friday it had lowered its long-term local currency rating to RD (restricted default) from CCC. “This transaction constitutes a DDE (distressed debt exchange)... as the maturity extension at existing coupon rates represents a material reduction in terms for bondholders,” the agency said. In exchange for a 10-billion-euro loan from the EU and the IMF, Cyprus agreed in March on 13 billion euros in measures to cut its budget deficit and to restructure its bloated banking system. — AFP

FRANKFURT: The chart of Germany’s share index DAX is displayed on a board at the stock exchange in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany. The Frankfurt stock exchange will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the DAX on July 1, 2013. — AFP

Bayt.com poll

Education inadequate for workplace success DUBAI: The Bayt.com ‘Middle East Workplace Dynamics’ poll conducted by Bayt.com, the Middle East’s number one job site, has revealed that a fifth of professionals in the Middle East and North Africa do not believe that their education adequately prepared them for success in the workplace. This is seen as a major impediment to career growth, as education and professional training are necessary to thrive in an increasingly competitive global arena. Other major impediments are seen to be bad managers (13.7 percent) and the bad economy (14.9 percent). Nine out of every 10 respondents (87.7 percent) state that they have friends and family in the MENA region who have been affected by unemployment. However, 62.7 percent believe that the job market in their countr y of residence is picking up, among which 30.3 percent state that it is doing so ‘very quickly’.

“In total, 21.2 percent of respondents state that lack of education preparation is the biggest roadblock for career growth,” said Suhail Masri, VP of Sales, Bayt.com. “Professionals should start seriously looking at other methods of gaining knowledge to stay relevant, whether through further education, online resources, or training and workshops. In fact, our poll shows that professionals are searching for opportunities where they can learn and grow, so training programs in companies can help attract top-quality candidates. At Bayt.com, our mission is to empower people with the tools and information they need to lead their lifestyle of choice, so we are constantly creating innovative new solutions to make it easier for professionals from all industries and experiences to succeed in their careers.”

The industries that are seen to attract the most talent are oil, gas and petrochemicals (30.2 percent), followed by information technology (IT ) and telecommunications (24.1 percent).

Respondents have a preference for fulltime employment in a company (78.1 percent), with only 7.9 percent claiming to prefer entrepreneurship and 7.5 percent preferring part-time employment in a company. A further 6.5 percent prefer freelancing.

According to the respondents, the main reasons they left their previous job was bad pay (19.8 percent), finding a better role (18.1 percent), and no clear advancement path in the organization (17.5 percent). In their next job, the majority of professionals (20.3 percent) are looking for companies that will help them develop their skills and provide learning opportunities and training programs. A good work environment (18.8 percent) and better pay (16 percent) follow as important factors as well. Ideally,

respondents would like to stay in a job for ‘as long as possible’ (44.2 percent), though a fifth (19.5 percent) claim to like to stay 3-to-5 years before moving on.

Eight out of every 10 respondents (81.6 percent) have an online CV and professional public profile, and 96.6 percent are always open to new career opportunities. The majority (54.2 percent) apply for jobs regularly, though 45.8 percent prefer to take a more passive approach to their job search and wait for employers to find them based on their online CV. “It is very telling that in today’s connected world professionals are increasingly choosing to park their online CVs on a leading jobsite such as Bayt.com at all times whether or not they are immediately looking for a job and whether or not they are actively applying to jobs at present. At Bayt.com we have especially seen this with the fast growth of our Bayt.com People platform which is the ideal vehicle for professionals at all career levels and from all walks of life who desire to be seen by their peer community and interact with peers in other companies and countries and industries while at the same time keeping their options open for a career change and ensuring the best opportunities do not pass them by. Professionals today are very cognizant of the huge opportunity costs of not having a searchable online CV on a leading regional jobsite and an activated public profile” continued Suhail Masri.

In terms of what professionals want most in a manager, respondents believe that the best managers are the ones who are good at mentoring and coaching (with 12.3 percent of respondents stating so), are leaders by action (11.3 percent), are true visionaries (10 percent), are regular performance appraisers (8.4 percent), are team players (5.4 percent), are democratic consensus builders (4.2 percent), and are strong, assertive commanders (3.6 percent).

Meanwhile, 42.9 percent of respondents believe that a great manager should have all the above qualities.

Respondents are put off by managers who have a lack of vision (29.7 percent), who have a command and control style (20 percent), and who have poor mentorship and coaching skills (11.2 percent). On the other side of the spectrum, professionals in the MENA believe that employers today are looking for candidates with great technical skills (27.3 percent), who are team players (16.2 percent), and who have strong character and integrity (15 percent).

Data for the Bayt.com “Middle East Workplace Dynamics” poll was collected online from May 28 to June 20 2013, with 9,845 respondents covering 12 countries in the MENA region.

WB chief faces challenges as he makes his mark WASHINGTON: In his first year as president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim has tried to refocus the institution on fighting poverty and climate change-but challenges lie ahead.

The pick of the Korean-American, an academic and doctor by training, marked a radical departure from other recent heads of the Washington-based global body. Both Robert Zoellick and Paul Wolfowitz-fellow Americans recruited when George W Bush was in the White House-did not have development experience on their resumes.

Less well-known and controversial than those before him, “Doctor Kim” quickly tried to make his mark on the development giant amid competition from new players, such as China, willing to drop large sums, especially in Africa. “Dr Kim has been a welcome breath of fresh air compared to some of past World Bank presidents who had no experience in development but we can’t yet assess if he will change the bank for the better,” said Peter Chowla of the Bretton Woods Project that keeps a close eye on the institution.

But according to an insider at the Bank, people are split on the director’s personality and his actions.

“There are those who admire him and others feel he is too focused on talking,” the source said. Under his leadership, the Bank garnered attention when it published a report warning of “cataclysmic” climate change, unfamiliar territory usually occupied by the United Nations.

“I feel that the World Bank has an enormous responsibility to first tell the world about climate change, but then really move our investments in a direction so that we can limit carbon emissions and really slow down the pace of climate change,” Kim told AFP in an exclusive interview.

This new approach is not without contradictions. Intent on helping the 1.2 billion still living without electricity, the Bank continues to finance development projects based on fossil fuels, such as a coal plant in Kosovo-much to the chagrin of environmentalists.

“It’s going to be impossible for us to move right now to a completely fossil free world,” Kim acknowledged. His other big project won’t be easy to tackle either.

In early April, he set the goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 by reducing the proportion of people living on less than

Jim Yong Kim $1.25 a day from 21 percent to 3 percent.“We expected that the Bank set a strategy and refocus its mission on reducing poverty. It’s already a big success,” said Nicolas Mombrial, head of the Washington office of Oxfam International.

It’s an admirable goal but the challenge is immense. Going forward, the Bank has to find ways to increase economic growth to reduce poverty without further damage to the environment.

Kim is “in a difficult position,” said Lawrence MacDonald of the Center for Global Development. “He’s right to sound the alarm on climate but I’m afraid that the poverty goal and climate change could be conflicting.” The president is confident solutions exist but he has to convince the Bank’s 188 member countries and some 10,000 employees.

It won’t be an easy task.

In a recent internal document obtained

by AFP, Kim denounced the “culture of fear” that allegedly curbs initiatives at the heart of the institution and is used to justify inaction. Certain reactions, published on the Bank’s intranet, reflect a climate of mistrust.

“The bank has never been an honest organization, either with itself or with the clients,” said one unnamed Bank employee. “Is the Bank willing to take the risk of offending member nations by telling them that they are corrupt and that many nations are themselves the s ing le big g es t obs tacle to develop ment?” added another. — AFP

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

BUSINESS

KSE investors cautious amid selloff BAYAN WEEKLY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended last week in the red zone. The price index ended last week with a decrease amounted to 1.82 percent, and the weighted index retreated by 1.49 percent compared to the closings of the week before. In addition KSX-15 index decreased by 1.96 percent.

Furthermore, last week’s average daily turnover decreased by 29.53 percent, compared to the preceding week, reaching KD 42.11 million, whereas trading volume average was 403.33 million shares, recording decrease of 43.55 percent.

Most of Kuwait Stock Exchange losses came as a result to the selling trend that the market has been witnessing since the beginning of this month, and focused on many listed stocks of both blue-chip and small-cap stocks, especially that many of such stocks increased rapidly since the beginning of the current year, due to the speculation operations during that period. In addition, the stock market performance was unstable during most of last week’s sessions with a downward slope, being affected by speculative activity that has been controlling the stock market trading activity for quite some time.

Moreover, the stock market losses are coming in parallel with the current watch and cautious state of the traders, waiting for the semi-annual financial results of the listed companies, which is expected to be positive for most of the companies when compared to the previous years, since most of the companies have relatively improved and some recovered from the 2008 financial crises effects,

which in turn pushed the stock market to continue its positive performance that started end of last year.

Furthermore, the random purchasing operations were not absent during last week’s sessions. It was sometimes present due to few investment portfolios focus on supporting its stocks prior to the end of the first half of the year period, which limited the stock market weekly losses to a certain point.

For the annual performance, the price index ended last week recording 33.34 percent annual gain compared to its closing in 2012, while the weighted index increased by 8.14 percent, and the KSX-15 recorded 3.08 percent increase.

By the end of the week, the price index closed at 7,912.85 points, down by 1.82 percent from the week before closing, whereas the weighted index registered a 1.49 percent weekly loss after closing at 451.66 points. Moreover, the KSX-15 index closed at 1,040.20 points, decreasing by 1.96 percent.

Sectors’ indices Ten of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the red zone, while the other two recorded increases. The Oil & Gas sector headed the losers list as its index declined by 3.84 percent to end the week’s activity at 1,235.44 points. The Technology sector was second on the losers’ list, which index declined by 2.58 percent, closing at 1,100.38 points, followed by the Industrials sector, as its index closed at 1,202.17 points at a loss of 2.34 percent. The

Brent posts Q3 loss NEW YORK: Brent crude oil futures fell in choppy trading on Friday to close lower for the third straight quarter, the longest stretch of quarterly declines in 15 years.

Trade ended Friday with the premium of Brent to US oil futures at the $5.57 a barrel, the narrowest level since January 2011, marking a near $15 drop in the spread since the start of the year.

Growing capacity to ship crude from the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery point for the US oil futures contract has alleviated some of the pressure on West Texas Intermediate crude, allowing it to rebound relative to Brent. Trade of the spread was heavy over the first half of the year when the new pipeline capacity came online as part of industry efforts to realign the market to get booming production from US shale and Canadian oil sands plays to the Gulf Coast refining hub.

The US infrastructure changes came against a backdrop where traders were weighing demand concerns and changes to monetary policy in top consumer nations such as the United States and China.

“We’re definitely going through an adjustment period in this market. We’re not only going through changing of the guard of the benchmarks but we are looking towards the world beyond stimulus,” said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that this taper up/taper down was affecting the price of oil. Does anyone believe oil would be at $90 a barrel if the Fed wasn’t buying this $80b a month?” Brent crude oil futures shed 66 cents a barrel to settle at $102.16 by 12:45 pm EDT (1645 GMT), closing the quarter down $7.86 a barrel and down $8.95 a

barrel for the first half.

US crude oil gained 8 cents on the day to $97.13 a barrel, ending the quarter down 10 cents but up $5.31 from the close of 2012.

On Friday, oil came under pressure from the stronger dollar as investors resumed pricing in the possibility that the Federal Reserve will begin to pare back its bond-buying program as soon as its September policy meeting.

Fed Governor Jeremy Stein on Friday highlighted September as a possible time when the US central bank will need to consider reducing its ‘quantitative easing’ economic stimulus program.

A strong US currency makes dollardenominated commodities such as Brent crude oil more expensive for holders of other currencies, and weighs on commodity prices. Traders were also watching ongoing turmoil in Libya and other oil-producing regions, as well as a North Sea outage.

Britain’s Buzzard oilfield output is expected to stay at a reduced rate of around 170,000 barrels per day (bpd) for around five days, an industry source said on Thursday.

Russian Urals crude values spiked to near a record high on Friday as oil producer Surgut sold barrels at a healthy premium due to a shortage of supplies from the world’s largest oil producer from Baltic ports.

Hedge funds and other large speculators slashed their bets on rising US crude oil prices in the seven days to June 25, cutting their net long futures and option positions by more than 40,000 US crude oil contracts, the equivalent of over 40 million barrels of oil, from a two year high hit the previous week, data from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed on Friday. — Reuters

Consumer Services sector was the least declining as its index closed at 1,117.16 points with a 0.17 percent decrease.

On the other hand, last week’s highest gainer was the Basic Materials sector, achieving 1.04 percent growth rate as its index closed at 1,151.25 points. Whereas, in the second place, the Consumer Goods sector’s index closed at 1,175.95 points recording 0.32 percent increase.

Sectors’ activity The Real Estate sector dominated total trade volume during last week with 857.55 million shares changing hands, representing 42.52 percent of the total market trading volume. The Financial Services sector was second in terms of trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 37.43 percent of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of 754.83 million shares.

On the other hand, the Real Estate sector’s

stocks were the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of KD 59.54 million or 28.28 percent of last week’s total market trading value. The Banks sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover of KD58.35 million represented 27.71 percent of the total market trading value. — Prepared by the Studies & Research Department Bayan Investment Co.

Stone Energy bags contacts to buy two drilling rigs for $30m Stone Energy Holding Company, (a subsidiary of Al-Salam Group Holding Co) in cooperation with (Kerui Group) company a contract for purchasing two drilling rigs with an operational power equivalent to 1500 hp and 2000 hp with a total value of $30 million and for the implementation of contracts of drilling exploratory deep oil wells in the Republic of Iraq on depths of up to 7000m.

Hassan Al-Shamali (Chairman and the Managing Director of Stone Energy Holding Co) stated that under this agreement with Kerui Group company, which is one of the largest companies in the manufacture of drilling rigs for oil or gas exploration, Stone Energy will start transferring the new drilling rigs this year to begin work directly in the execution of operational long-term contracts, pointing out that it was taken into account in the design of these new rigs to be able to work in the oil fields in the south or in the north of Iraq.

Al-Shamali added that the new drilling rigs are the latest in the world as it can work as rigs for exploratory well or for development of preexisting wells in the oil fields southern of Iraq.

They are designed in a way that allows moving rapidly between the wells, particularly in the fields of the south, which are located at close distances. This contributes to the activation of the strategic plan of the company approved by the Board of Directors for the expansion of oil well drilling operations in cooperation with international oil companies and using the latest drilling equipment and oil services.

Al-Shamali added that Stone Energy Holding company proved excellent presence in the implementation of the drilling works of exploratory oil wells in the Arab Republic of

Egypt and the Republic of Iraq for a number of large international companies such as Centurion and Dana Gas, Crescent Petroleum, Shamaran and Oil Search, which has increased confidence in Stone Energy as a Kuwaiti company.

Al-Shamali Pointed that Stone Energy Company seeks to activate the instructions of the Board of Directors, and the implementation of the recommendations of the Executive Committee of the company stating the need to work on the implementation of the strategic plan of Stone company, which had been approved, including the expansion in the operations of drilling oil and gas wells, and increasing the number of company operating drilling rigs with a number between 2 to 3 drilling rigs annually.

Al-Shamali stressed the completion of the agreement with the Kerui ”the supplier of the Rigs“ to ship the spare parts necessary for these rigs and all the equipment attached thereto, with a stock enough for one year of periodic maintenance as of the date of operation, pointing out that the agreement stipulated that the company producing drilling rigs shall provide technical support and supervision of installation and actual operation tests of the rigs in the specified location of operation in addition to providing technical advice necessary for the operating crew as part of the keenness of Stone Energy Holding Company toward applying the contracts it will conclude with the contracting companies (Southern Oil Company in southern Iraq, and the Ministry of Natural Resources in northern Iraq).

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

BUSINESS

Middle East aviation industry in advantageous position: Experts Third AAM summit concludes in Salalah

By Hussain Al-Qatari SALALAH, Oman: The aviation and media sectors are still a very safe environment for investors, according to participants at the third edition of Arab Aviation and Media Summit, which took place last week in Salalah, Oman.

Titled ‘Aviation and Tourism: Enabler of Economic Growth,’ Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2013 was organized by Air Arabia under the patronage of Oman’s Ministry of Tourism, in association with CNBC Arabiya, Airbus and CFM. During the two-day event, eminent speakers from across the region as well as from global markets shed light on the rapid growth of the aviation and tourism sectors in the region. According to the leading names in the business sector, the Middle East region being a hub for both leisure and business travel is in an advantageous position and the future growth potential is tremendous for emerging economies such as the UAE and Oman. The market forecast of giant aircraft manufacturer Airbus expects a steady growth for the aviation market in the region.

“The Middle East market will witness significant growth in the aviation industry over the next 20 years,” said Andrew Gordon of Airbus in a presentation forecasting the coming years in aviation in the region. “Growing economies, increasing numbers of tourists and ongoing economic diversification will drive the development of passenger traffic.”

In her opening remarks, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism of Oman, Maitha bint Saif bin Majid Al-Mahrouqi, noted: “Salalah has long been considered as a tourist destination, with the city’s charming beauty and splendid weather attracting travelers from across Arabia and beyond. Aviation has helped open Salalah up to new in-bound markets, and plays a crucial role in the ongoing success of Oman’s tourism sector, which is expected to contribute at least 8 percent to Sultanate’s GDP over the next few years. Moreover, increased connectivity contributes to increased investments, bilateral trade and job creation. Going forward, we will focus on attracting more international airlines to fly into and out of Salalah Airport.”

Andrew Gordon, Director Strategic Marketing and Analysis Market Forecast, Airbus, who delivered a special presentation on “The future of Aviation,” said: “The aviation sector is a major driver of global economy. In fact, if aviation were a country, it would be a member of the G20, with the 19th largest economy in the world. By 2031, Airbus expects global passenger traffic and airplane numbers to double globally. The Middle East aviation market will witness significant growth over the

next 20 years with passenger traffic forecast to grow 6.2 percent annually. Airlines from the region are expected to receive delivery of 1,963 new passenger and cargo aircraft. As a hub for both leisure and business travel, the Middle East is in a particularly advantageous position to benefit from this growth, with emerging economies such as Oman likely to see significant expansion of their aviation sectors in the coming years.”

The panel of experts discussed key challenges faced by the industry and what more needs to be done to fully realise the true potential of aviation and tourism sectors. Adel Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “Nobody doubts the tremendous potential of the aviation and tourism sectors in the Arab world, but there are a number of significant challenges that still need to be addressed if it is to be fully realised. The starting point is the implementation of a full open skies policy, the introduction of more liberalised regulations allowing the free-flow of cross-border movements, and the proliferation of privately owned airlines. Together, this approach would help the Middle East aviation and tourism sector to reach its full potential, which is estimated to be equal to the size of the US economy.”

Additionally, the experts have placed a greater emphasis on the need for increased skilled and trained manpower availability, which is seen as a crucial challenge for the Middle East aviation industry.

Micheal Herrero, Area Manager Gulf, IATA, said: “The enormous social benefits to the region of a thriving aviation industry means there is a real urgency to overcome obstacles such as a lack of skilled aviation professionals. In addition to investing in technology and aircraft, we should also invest in the workforce. We face an unusual situation where the growth of aviation is creating jobs which we will soon not be able to fill because we do not have enough people with the right skills.

More engineering-focused education programs are a must, and we need to encourage more young people across the region to think about a career in the sector. Dedicated aviation academies are an important part of the solution, and will help to ensure people receive the training they need to strengthen their skill-set and add to the talent pool.”

Conceptualized and launched by Air Arabia in 2011, the Arab Aviation and Media Summit is the only aviation industry conference dedicated for media representatives in the Arab region. This year’s summit was attended by over 100 editors and media representatives and approximately 100 delegates from the aviation and tourism industry.

SALALAH: Speakers address the two-day ‘Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2013’ in Salalah.

MasterCard, EBC launch Egypt’s mobile payment gateway

Joy Alukkas - Setting the gold standard The esteemed Forbes Magazines, Middle East edition has honored Joy Alukkas, Chairman and Managing Director of Joy Alukkas Group, as one among the ‘Top 100 Indian leaders in the UAE’.

The prestigious magazine has recognised him as one of the Indian ‘founding forces’ in the UAE. The recognition was awarded to Joy Alukkas by the Honorable Indian Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shashi Tharoor in the presence of Dr Nasser Bin Aqeel Al-Tayyar, President of Forbes Middle East, at a glittering function organized by Forbes in Dubai.

“I am honored to receive this prestigious recognition but none of this would have been possible without backing of the visionary leadership of UAE. The UAE rulers have the foresight and enterprising spirit to encourage and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of individuals and have created the necessary regulations and infrastructure for people like me to grow and make it big in this great nation. I would hence like to dedicate this honor to the founding fathers and the current leadership of the UAE,” said Joy Alukkas, Chairman & MD Joyalukkas Group.

From its inception as a single jewelry show-

room to its current stature of a multi-billion dollar global conglomerate with 85 jewelry showrooms world-wide, Joyalukkas has revolutionized the jewelry retail industry through innovative schemes, as well as a distinct offering. In a short span of around two decades, Joyalukkas has transformed the way the world looks at jewelry and made itself a household name. Today, the global retail chain operates across nine countries and has a loyal customer base of over ten million customers worldwide.

A global conglomerate, Joyalukkas’s current business interests include Jewelry, Fashion and Silks, Money Exchange, Luxury Air Charter, Malls & Realty. The jewelry business of Joyalukkas is one of the most awarded and recognized jewelry retailing chains.

Joyalukkas is also the first jeweler to be awarded the ISO 9001: 2008 and 140001:2004 certifications. Joyalukkas has also been recognized under the Dubai Quality Appreciation Program for strong adherence to quality across all its departments. The rapidly expanding jewelry retail chain has plans to open 20 new showrooms across various parts of the world in the current financial year.

CAIRO: MasterCard, National Bank of Egypt (NBE) and Etisalat yesterday announced the launch of the mobile payment wallet in Egypt, which will bring Etisalat Egypt’s subscriber base safe and convenient payment services through the power of their mobile phones. The newly introduced program is an early implementation of the Mobile Payment Solution that MasterCard and Egyptian Banks Company (EBC) introduced to this 94 million mobile users market and represents the world’s first ever interoprable Arabic mobile money program.

“Flous”, which means money in Arabic, will use the Etisalat mobile network and can be deployed on any mobile phone. The first phase of this program will allow subscribers to transfer money to anyone participating in the service using their mobile phones, and to load cash on their phones or take out cash through over 100 of Etisalat’s branches and 305 of NBE’s branches across Egypt. This represents a new era for mobile users as the service will be the fastest, most convenient and secure money transfer channel in Egypt. The second phase of the program will allow subscribers to pay their bills through their mobile phones, top up their mobile prepaid lines, and pay for goods and services at several merchants’ locations in Egypt, in addition to using it for ecommerce payments globally.

Commenting on this landmark announcement, Mohamed Kamel Bayoumi, Managing Director, EBC said “We have chosen MasterCard to par tner with us on this transformative mobile money program to benefit from their global experience as they have successfully implemented more than 30 such programs around the world. Our objective, together with the Central Bank and the Government, is to bring financial services to the fingertips of each and every Egyptian. This collaborative initiative will allow us to achieve that.”

“Etisalat connects people from around the world, and we have developed some of the world’s most advanced networks by constantly

adding value to the infrastructure. Mobile phones can be used for far more than calls and messages. In a world where smartphones and mobile browsing have become commonplace, it is only natural that mobile devices be used to conduct everyday transactions, especially with their current levels of penetration in the Egyptian market,” said Eng Saeed AlHamli, CEO, Etisalat Egypt.

“As the largest commercial bank in Egypt, NBE has been working with our partners for many years to ensure that Egyptians have access to the latest and most advanced payment methods. We are now reaching the threshold that will change the way consumers go about their everyday banking needs. We are pleased to announce that we are opening the doors for consumers to utilize the power of mobile payments as an alterna-

tive to traditional payment solutions to conduct faster and more convenient transactions,” said Sherif Elwy; Vice Chairman, NBE. “MasterCard is committed to providing the Egyptian market with payment solutions that meet the needs and expectations of all consumer segments. With 65 percent of the population lacking access to formal banking, the mobile phone is rapidly becoming the method of choice for making payments and managing money. MasterCard customized this solution in cooperation with EBC and in accordance with the Central Bank’s mobile payment regulations, thus creating a world of opportunities for underserved communities.

MasterCard congratulates both Etisalat and NBE for being the first movers in Egypt to leverage this landmark solution” said Michael Miebach, President, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts reopens an art deco icon PARIS: The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc reopened the doors to the legendary Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris, following a meticulous two-year restoration. The restoration, which has brought the hotel back to its original Art Deco splendor, is part of a larger strategy to invest more than $200 million in some of Starwood’s most celebrated Luxury Collection hotels throughout Europe: Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville and Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian, which reopened in 2012, and most recently, The Gritti Palace in Venice, which was unveiled in February 2013.

“As Starwood continues to strengthen The Luxury Collection brand portfolio, we have made major investments to restore some of our most iconic European hotels together with our owner partners,” comments Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and

Middle East.“The restoration of Prince de Galles reinforces our commitment to welcoming global explorers to discover or rediscover the City of Light, its hidden treasures and its rich heritage.”

Situated in the city’s most desirable quarter, the Golden Triangle by Champs-ElysÈes, Prince de Galles has been an iconic jewel on Avenue George V since its opening in 1928. Originally designed by architect AndrÈ Arfvidson, the extensive two-year restoration project was led by internationally acclaimed French designers, Pierre-Yves Rochon and Bruno Borrione. In collaboration with ERTIM Architectes SA, the designers reimagined the hotel to harken back to the whimsically opulent era of the Parisian Art Deco 1930s.

“Prince de Galles has enchanted guests for generations, so it was essential

that we involved local artisans, architects and craftsmen to reinvigorate its romantic allure,” said Paul James, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection, St Regis and W Hotels Worldwide. “After two years, we are thrilled to reintroduce this landmark - synonymous with Parisian style - to unlock exceptional experiences for our most discerning guests, as only

The Luxury Collection can.” Prince de Gallesoffers discreet residential luxury in each of the 115 guestrooms and 44 suites as well as in the hotel’s public spaces, which Pierre-Yves Rochon designed to be reminiscent of an intimate salon: adorned with black marble, Macassar ebony, armchairs and exquisite textiles inspired by the 1920s and a handcrafted chandelier by Delisle as the lobby’s centerpiece. Cloaked in silken celadon fabric, the luxuriously appointed guest rooms celebrate the hotel’s distinct personality while preserving its authentic elegance and rich heritage. Rochon selected customdesigned Art Deco furniture and elegant furnishings in Macassar ebony wood to contrast the Saint Laurent marble floors with intricate mosaics created by Italian artisans.

The 23 Mosaic and 18 Macassarsuites

feature plush chairs and chaises lounges set against geometrically-patterned black Saint Laurent marble.

The fine arabesques on the carpet are inspired by the mosaic scrolls surrounding the hotel’s famous courtyard, visible from the windows. A grand Macassar work desk and a spacious sycamore dressing room will complete the residential ambience of the suites. The two royal suites located on the hotel’s seventh floor juxtapose traditional Parisian elegance with exotic accents in black and gold, dark marble and rich leather, leopard-print armchairs and lacquered furniture. The sophisticated Suite d’Or (Gold Suite) features an exquisite gold-leaf mural over the headboard created by French artist Manuela PaulCavallier and a boudoir inspired by some of the hotel’s most glamorous guests, while the Suite Saphir (Sapphire Suite), finished with beige and blue detailing, features an intimate living room with Persian tailor-made rugs.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

BUSINESS

Middle East aviation industry in advantageous position: Experts Third AAM summit concludes in Salalah

By Hussain Al-Qatari SALALAH, Oman: The aviation and media sectors are still a very safe environment for investors, according to participants at the third edition of Arab Aviation and Media Summit, which took place last week in Salalah, Oman.

Titled ‘Aviation and Tourism: Enabler of Economic Growth,’ Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2013 was organized by Air Arabia under the patronage of Oman’s Ministry of Tourism, in association with CNBC Arabiya, Airbus and CFM. During the two-day event, eminent speakers from across the region as well as from global markets shed light on the rapid growth of the aviation and tourism sectors in the region. According to the leading names in the business sector, the Middle East region being a hub for both leisure and business travel is in an advantageous position and the future growth potential is tremendous for emerging economies such as the UAE and Oman. The market forecast of giant aircraft manufacturer Airbus expects a steady growth for the aviation market in the region.

“The Middle East market will witness significant growth in the aviation industry over the next 20 years,” said Andrew Gordon of Airbus in a presentation forecasting the coming years in aviation in the region. “Growing economies, increasing numbers of tourists and ongoing economic diversification will drive the development of passenger traffic.”

In her opening remarks, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism of Oman, Maitha bint Saif bin Majid Al-Mahrouqi, noted: “Salalah has long been considered as a tourist destination, with the city’s charming beauty and splendid weather attracting travelers from across Arabia and beyond. Aviation has helped open Salalah up to new in-bound markets, and plays a crucial role in the ongoing success of Oman’s tourism sector, which is expected to contribute at least 8 percent to Sultanate’s GDP over the next few years. Moreover, increased connectivity contributes to increased investments, bilateral trade and job creation. Going forward, we will focus on attracting more international airlines to fly into and out of Salalah Airport.”

Andrew Gordon, Director Strategic Marketing and Analysis Market Forecast, Airbus, who delivered a special presentation on “The future of Aviation,” said: “The aviation sector is a major driver of global economy. In fact, if aviation were a country, it would be a member of the G20, with the 19th largest economy in the world. By 2031, Airbus expects global passenger traffic and airplane numbers to double globally. The Middle East aviation market will witness significant growth over the

next 20 years with passenger traffic forecast to grow 6.2 percent annually. Airlines from the region are expected to receive delivery of 1,963 new passenger and cargo aircraft. As a hub for both leisure and business travel, the Middle East is in a particularly advantageous position to benefit from this growth, with emerging economies such as Oman likely to see significant expansion of their aviation sectors in the coming years.”

The panel of experts discussed key challenges faced by the industry and what more needs to be done to fully realise the true potential of aviation and tourism sectors. Adel Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “Nobody doubts the tremendous potential of the aviation and tourism sectors in the Arab world, but there are a number of significant challenges that still need to be addressed if it is to be fully realised. The starting point is the implementation of a full open skies policy, the introduction of more liberalised regulations allowing the free-flow of cross-border movements, and the proliferation of privately owned airlines. Together, this approach would help the Middle East aviation and tourism sector to reach its full potential, which is estimated to be equal to the size of the US economy.”

Additionally, the experts have placed a greater emphasis on the need for increased skilled and trained manpower availability, which is seen as a crucial challenge for the Middle East aviation industry.

Micheal Herrero, Area Manager Gulf, IATA, said: “The enormous social benefits to the region of a thriving aviation industry means there is a real urgency to overcome obstacles such as a lack of skilled aviation professionals. In addition to investing in technology and aircraft, we should also invest in the workforce. We face an unusual situation where the growth of aviation is creating jobs which we will soon not be able to fill because we do not have enough people with the right skills.

More engineering-focused education programs are a must, and we need to encourage more young people across the region to think about a career in the sector. Dedicated aviation academies are an important part of the solution, and will help to ensure people receive the training they need to strengthen their skill-set and add to the talent pool.”

Conceptualized and launched by Air Arabia in 2011, the Arab Aviation and Media Summit is the only aviation industry conference dedicated for media representatives in the Arab region. This year’s summit was attended by over 100 editors and media representatives and approximately 100 delegates from the aviation and tourism industry.

SALALAH: Speakers address the two-day ‘Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2013’ in Salalah.

MasterCard, EBC launch Egypt’s mobile payment gateway

Joy Alukkas - Setting the gold standard The esteemed Forbes Magazines, Middle East edition has honored Joy Alukkas, Chairman and Managing Director of Joy Alukkas Group, as one among the ‘Top 100 Indian leaders in the UAE’.

The prestigious magazine has recognised him as one of the Indian ‘founding forces’ in the UAE. The recognition was awarded to Joy Alukkas by the Honorable Indian Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shashi Tharoor in the presence of Dr Nasser Bin Aqeel Al-Tayyar, President of Forbes Middle East, at a glittering function organized by Forbes in Dubai.

“I am honored to receive this prestigious recognition but none of this would have been possible without backing of the visionary leadership of UAE. The UAE rulers have the foresight and enterprising spirit to encourage and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of individuals and have created the necessary regulations and infrastructure for people like me to grow and make it big in this great nation. I would hence like to dedicate this honor to the founding fathers and the current leadership of the UAE,” said Joy Alukkas, Chairman & MD Joyalukkas Group.

From its inception as a single jewelry show-

room to its current stature of a multi-billion dollar global conglomerate with 85 jewelry showrooms world-wide, Joyalukkas has revolutionized the jewelry retail industry through innovative schemes, as well as a distinct offering. In a short span of around two decades, Joyalukkas has transformed the way the world looks at jewelry and made itself a household name. Today, the global retail chain operates across nine countries and has a loyal customer base of over ten million customers worldwide.

A global conglomerate, Joyalukkas’s current business interests include Jewelry, Fashion and Silks, Money Exchange, Luxury Air Charter, Malls & Realty. The jewelry business of Joyalukkas is one of the most awarded and recognized jewelry retailing chains.

Joyalukkas is also the first jeweler to be awarded the ISO 9001: 2008 and 140001:2004 certifications. Joyalukkas has also been recognized under the Dubai Quality Appreciation Program for strong adherence to quality across all its departments. The rapidly expanding jewelry retail chain has plans to open 20 new showrooms across various parts of the world in the current financial year.

CAIRO: MasterCard, National Bank of Egypt (NBE) and Etisalat yesterday announced the launch of the mobile payment wallet in Egypt, which will bring Etisalat Egypt’s subscriber base safe and convenient payment services through the power of their mobile phones. The newly introduced program is an early implementation of the Mobile Payment Solution that MasterCard and Egyptian Banks Company (EBC) introduced to this 94 million mobile users market and represents the world’s first ever interoprable Arabic mobile money program.

“Flous”, which means money in Arabic, will use the Etisalat mobile network and can be deployed on any mobile phone. The first phase of this program will allow subscribers to transfer money to anyone participating in the service using their mobile phones, and to load cash on their phones or take out cash through over 100 of Etisalat’s branches and 305 of NBE’s branches across Egypt. This represents a new era for mobile users as the service will be the fastest, most convenient and secure money transfer channel in Egypt. The second phase of the program will allow subscribers to pay their bills through their mobile phones, top up their mobile prepaid lines, and pay for goods and services at several merchants’ locations in Egypt, in addition to using it for ecommerce payments globally.

Commenting on this landmark announcement, Mohamed Kamel Bayoumi, Managing Director, EBC said “We have chosen MasterCard to par tner with us on this transformative mobile money program to benefit from their global experience as they have successfully implemented more than 30 such programs around the world. Our objective, together with the Central Bank and the Government, is to bring financial services to the fingertips of each and every Egyptian. This collaborative initiative will allow us to achieve that.”

“Etisalat connects people from around the world, and we have developed some of the world’s most advanced networks by constantly

adding value to the infrastructure. Mobile phones can be used for far more than calls and messages. In a world where smartphones and mobile browsing have become commonplace, it is only natural that mobile devices be used to conduct everyday transactions, especially with their current levels of penetration in the Egyptian market,” said Eng Saeed AlHamli, CEO, Etisalat Egypt.

“As the largest commercial bank in Egypt, NBE has been working with our partners for many years to ensure that Egyptians have access to the latest and most advanced payment methods. We are now reaching the threshold that will change the way consumers go about their everyday banking needs. We are pleased to announce that we are opening the doors for consumers to utilize the power of mobile payments as an alterna-

tive to traditional payment solutions to conduct faster and more convenient transactions,” said Sherif Elwy; Vice Chairman, NBE. “MasterCard is committed to providing the Egyptian market with payment solutions that meet the needs and expectations of all consumer segments. With 65 percent of the population lacking access to formal banking, the mobile phone is rapidly becoming the method of choice for making payments and managing money. MasterCard customized this solution in cooperation with EBC and in accordance with the Central Bank’s mobile payment regulations, thus creating a world of opportunities for underserved communities.

MasterCard congratulates both Etisalat and NBE for being the first movers in Egypt to leverage this landmark solution” said Michael Miebach, President, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts reopens an art deco icon PARIS: The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc reopened the doors to the legendary Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris, following a meticulous two-year restoration. The restoration, which has brought the hotel back to its original Art Deco splendor, is part of a larger strategy to invest more than $200 million in some of Starwood’s most celebrated Luxury Collection hotels throughout Europe: Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville and Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian, which reopened in 2012, and most recently, The Gritti Palace in Venice, which was unveiled in February 2013.

“As Starwood continues to strengthen The Luxury Collection brand portfolio, we have made major investments to restore some of our most iconic European hotels together with our owner partners,” comments Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and

Middle East.“The restoration of Prince de Galles reinforces our commitment to welcoming global explorers to discover or rediscover the City of Light, its hidden treasures and its rich heritage.”

Situated in the city’s most desirable quarter, the Golden Triangle by Champs-ElysÈes, Prince de Galles has been an iconic jewel on Avenue George V since its opening in 1928. Originally designed by architect AndrÈ Arfvidson, the extensive two-year restoration project was led by internationally acclaimed French designers, Pierre-Yves Rochon and Bruno Borrione. In collaboration with ERTIM Architectes SA, the designers reimagined the hotel to harken back to the whimsically opulent era of the Parisian Art Deco 1930s.

“Prince de Galles has enchanted guests for generations, so it was essential

that we involved local artisans, architects and craftsmen to reinvigorate its romantic allure,” said Paul James, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection, St Regis and W Hotels Worldwide. “After two years, we are thrilled to reintroduce this landmark - synonymous with Parisian style - to unlock exceptional experiences for our most discerning guests, as only

The Luxury Collection can.” Prince de Gallesoffers discreet residential luxury in each of the 115 guestrooms and 44 suites as well as in the hotel’s public spaces, which Pierre-Yves Rochon designed to be reminiscent of an intimate salon: adorned with black marble, Macassar ebony, armchairs and exquisite textiles inspired by the 1920s and a handcrafted chandelier by Delisle as the lobby’s centerpiece. Cloaked in silken celadon fabric, the luxuriously appointed guest rooms celebrate the hotel’s distinct personality while preserving its authentic elegance and rich heritage. Rochon selected customdesigned Art Deco furniture and elegant furnishings in Macassar ebony wood to contrast the Saint Laurent marble floors with intricate mosaics created by Italian artisans.

The 23 Mosaic and 18 Macassarsuites

feature plush chairs and chaises lounges set against geometrically-patterned black Saint Laurent marble.

The fine arabesques on the carpet are inspired by the mosaic scrolls surrounding the hotel’s famous courtyard, visible from the windows. A grand Macassar work desk and a spacious sycamore dressing room will complete the residential ambience of the suites. The two royal suites located on the hotel’s seventh floor juxtapose traditional Parisian elegance with exotic accents in black and gold, dark marble and rich leather, leopard-print armchairs and lacquered furniture. The sophisticated Suite d’Or (Gold Suite) features an exquisite gold-leaf mural over the headboard created by French artist Manuela PaulCavallier and a boudoir inspired by some of the hotel’s most glamorous guests, while the Suite Saphir (Sapphire Suite), finished with beige and blue detailing, features an intimate living room with Persian tailor-made rugs.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

technology

For professional gamers, a dress rehearsal SANTA MONICA: Past desks covered with extreme sports magazines and refrigerators stocked with energy drinks, a small isolation booth has been erected smack dab in the middle of Red Bull’s airy offices in Santa Monica, Calif. It’s not for hosting meetings or employee breaks. It’s for playing video games very competitive video games.

The beverage company ’s Nor th American headquarters played host recently to the chummy Red Bull Training Grounds ahead of this weekend’s Major League Gaming Spring Championship in Anaheim, Calif. Red Bull is betting this new take on training for competitive gaming - or e-sports, as it’s known - will give its players, to borrow Red Bull’s slogan, wings.

The company, which is probably better known for sponsoring action sports stars and race cars than gamers, has previously hosted other e-sporting events, but Training Grounds marked the first time it focused on schooling players.

Despite being stationed amid cubicles, the inaugural Training Grounds event had most trappings of a typical mammoth e-sports event: lights, cameras, competitors, commentators and prize money. However, there was no live audience to cheer on the eight international e-athletes, and the gamers were only competing in one title, the real-

time strategy game “StarCraft II.” “The idea behind Training Grounds is to find that happy medium between competition and training,” said Rob Simpson, Red Bull’s e-sports program manager. “While we do have a prize pool on the line ... focus is really on analysis and growing as players. I think it’s a positive thing that people want to consume this kind of information.”

Simpson isn’t just referring to the eight “StarCraft II” players who were gearing up for the MLG championship but also the 200,000 spectators who watched more than 20 hours of matches broadcast online by Red Bull. The inaugural event was as much of a promotional affair as it was preparation for players who will be battling in this weekend’s MLG contest.

Since the e-sports genre first pressed start with arcade face-offs in the 1980s and LAN parties in the 1990s, there are more competitors than ever before, with a growing gap between seasoned pros and newbs.

Those involved agree the more time gamers play in championship settings, the better they fare against the ruthless Zerg alien race in “StarCraft.”

“I think the biggest issue for players is that no matter how much they practice at home, once they get up on a stage and have those lights and cam-

eras in their faces, they get distracted,” said Sean “Day(9)” Plott, a former competitor who now serves as an e-sports commentator. “They choke and start playing at a level far below what they usually do at home.”

Besides providing a mock-up of a big-time competition, Red Bull applied the science it uses on other athletes to the gamers participating in Training Grounds.

“We’re not just sponsoring them,” said Lukas Cudrigh, Red Bull’s head of digital media. “We’re actually trying to make them better athletes by providing an environment where they can do things like increase their physical strength and learn about how better nutrition can impact their performance.

No one is really treating these guys in that same way.”

While e-sports has been around for more than 15 years, the genre is still considered niche in North America, though it’s practically a national pastime in places like South Korea. That’s been changing over the past few years, as technology has evolved, online spectating has skyrocketed and studies have shown professional gamers have sharper senses.

“It’s not something you can necessarily practice for and measuring it tends to be gimmicky,” said Michael Sepso, MLG’s

SANTA MONICA: In this photo taken Friday, June 21, 2013, Bae “Sound” Sang Hwan, from South Korea (left) faces legendary “WarCraft 3” player, Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen, at a player vs. player match inside an “isolation booth,” as eight of the world’s best “StarCraft II” video game players compete at Red Bull Training Grounds. —AP president and co-founder. “At the end of the day, I don’t need to know Peyton Manning’s visual acuity score to know he’s better at seeing his receivers downfield. It’s the same for pro-gamers. They see and respond to things quicker.”

Sepso said he expects this weekend’s MLG Spring Championship to top last

year’s contest, which drew more than 4.7 million online viewers and 20,000 spectators at the Anaheim Convention Center. During this year’s competition, players will compete for more than $100,000 in “StarCraft II,” “League of Legends” and “Call of Duty: Black Ops II” matches. —AP

Microsoft wants to disclose data on orders of FISA

ANTOFAGASTA: View of NASA robot called Zoe, at the Atacama desert near Domeyko range, about 2300m high in the Antofagasta region. Zoe has started its tests in view of a Mars mission in 2020. The robot which was assembled at the Universidad Catolica del Norte in Chile is remote controlled from the United States. — AFP

NASA telescope to probe long-standing solar mystery CAPE CANAVERAL: A small NASA telescope was launched into orbit on Thursday on a mission to determine how the sun heats its atmosphere to millions of degrees, sending off rivers of particles that define the boundaries of the solar system.

The study is far from academic. Solar activity directly impacts Earth’s climate and the space environment beyond the planet’s atmosphere. Solar storms can knock out power grids, disrupt radio signals and interfere with communications, navigation and other satellites in orbit.

“We live in a very complex society and the sun has a role to play in it,” said physicist Alan Title, with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, California, which designed and built the telescope. Scientists have been trying to unravel the mechanisms that drive the sun for decades but one fundamental mystery endures: How it manages to release energy from its relatively cool, 10,000 degree Fahrenheit (5,500 degree Celsius) surface into an atmosphere that can reach up to 5 million degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 million Celsius). At its core, the sun is essentially a giant fusion engine that melds hydrogen atoms into helium. As expected, temperatures cool as energy travels outward through the layers. But then in the lower atmosphere, known as the chromosphere, temperatures heat up again.

Pictures and data relayed by the Interface

Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, telescope may finally provide some answers about how that happens.

The 4-foot (1.2-meter) long, 450-pound (204-kg) observatory will be watching the sun from a vantage point about 400 miles (643 km) above Earth. It is designed to capture detailed images of light moving from the sun’s surface, known as the photosphere, into the chromosphere. Temperatures peak in the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona.

All that energy fuels a continuous release of charged particles from the sun into what is known as the solar wind, a pressure bubble that fills and defines the boundaries of the solar system.

“Every time we look at the sun in more detail, it opens up a new window for us,” said Jeffrey Newmark, IRIS program scientist at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. The telescope was launched aboard an Orbital Sciences Corp Pegasus rocket at 10:27 p.m.

EDT Thursday (0227 GMT Friday). Pegasus is an air-launched system that is carried aloft by a modified L-1011 aircraft that took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California about 57 minutes before launch. The rocket was released from beneath the belly of the plane at an altitude of about 39,000 feet (11,900 meters) before it ignited to carry the telescope into orbit. IRIS, which cost about $145 million including the launch service, is designed to last for two years. —Reuters

Facebook to pull ads from pages with sex, violence SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook Inc said it will no longer allow ads to appear on pages with sexual or violent content, as the online social network moves to appease marketers being associated with objectionable material. The moves come a month after several businesses pulled their ads from Facebook amid reports of pages on Facebook that promoted violence against women.

Facebook said at the time that it needed to improve its system for flagging and removing content that violated its community standards, which forbid users from posting content about hate-speech, threats and pornography, among other things.

Ads account for roughly 85 percent of revenue at Facebook, the world’s largest social network with 1.1 billion users.

Facebook said the changes would not have a meaningful impact on its business.

On Friday, Facebook said it also needed

to do more to prevent situations in which ads are displayed alongside material that may not run afoul of its community standards but are deemed controversial nonetheless.

A Facebook page for a business that sells adult products, for example, will no longer feature ads. Previously such a page could feature ads along the right-hand side of the page so long as the page did not violate Facebook’s prohibition on depicting nudity. The move underscores the delicate balance for social media companies, which features a variety of unpredictable and sometimes unsavory content shared by users, but which rely on advertising to underpin their business. “Our goal is to both preserve the freedoms of sharing on Facebook but also protect people and brands from certain types of content,” Facebook said in a post on its website on Friday. —Reuters

WASHINGTON: Microsoft has asked a court to let it disclose data on national security orders the company has received under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Microsoft made the request in a motion filed June 19 with the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and unsealed this week. The company’s action comes after Google filed a similar motion asking permission to disclose the number of data requests that come from secret orders approved by the court. Both companies argued that they should be allowed to do so under the First Amendment.

Google and Microsoft were among several US Internet companies identified as giving the National Security Agency access to customer data under the program known as PRISM. Microsoft says it wants to correct misimpressions about what it provides to the government.

Revelations about the program by former NSA contractor Ed Snowden have prompted a broader debate about government monitoring and the privacy of Americans’ communications.

In its motion, Microsoft said has sought to correct the misimpression “that it provides the United States government with direct access to its servers and network infrastructure and, thereby, indiscriminately discloses Microsoft users’ information to the government.” The company said it had gotten permission from the FBI and the Justice Department to publish aggregate data that includes FISA orders along with law enforcement requests from all other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

But Microsoft says it wants to be able to report the FISA orders separately, which it has not received permission to do. Microsoft said that national security laws do not prohibit it from disclosing the data, and if the laws did, that would violate the First Amendment. —AP

WASHINGTON: in this July 10, 2008, file photo President George W Bush is applauded after signing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) at the White House in Washington. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court hears cases inside vaults in a federal courthouse. Legal justifications are classified, there’s no lawyer countering the government’s case for authority and the decisions are rarely made public. —AP

Hacker sentenced in two ATM heists that targeted prepaid cards NEW YORK: A Pakistani man who participated in two multimillion-dollar ATM heists targeting debit card processors was sentenced in Brooklyn federal court on Friday to 18 months in prison.

Imran Elahi pleaded guilty last year to access device fraud and conspiracy, largely for his involvement in two precision strikes: a $9 million heist in 2008 involving RBS WorldPay and a $14 million hack in 2011 against Fidelity Information Services. The cybercrimes were strikingly similar to the $45 million global ATM heist that Brooklyn federal prosecutors revealed last month, when U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch charged eight defendants with using stolen debit cards at thousands of automated teller machines worldwide over a period of hours in a coordinated attack.

That effort involved MasterCard Inc prepaid debit cards issued by Bank Muscat of Oman and National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah PSC, or Rakbank, of the United Arab Emirates.

In court on Friday, prosecutors praised Elahi for immediately waiving extradition upon his arrest in the Netherlands last May and agreeing to cooperate with the government. Elahi’s case was sealed until recently, and details of his cooperation remain under wraps.

Lynch’s office has not indicated whether there is any connection between Elahi’s assistance and the case in May. The ringleaders of the Middle East heist, and the country in which they are based, have not been charged or publicly identified by authorities.

Assistant US Attorney Cristina Posa said Elahi had provided “significant assistance” to investigators. When asked by U.S. District Judge John Gleeson what sentence seemed appropriate, she said, “If he was to go home to his family this weekend, I wouldn’t be bothered by it.”

In so-called “unlimited operation” heists, like those Elahi admitted to joining, hackers gain access to the computer systems of payment processors that handled prepaid debit cards for various financial institutions and dramatically increase the available balance and withdrawal limits on a handful of cards. Co-conspirators in countries around the world then fan out to ATMs and take out money using the stolen debit card numbers in a coordinated global operation.

The operations can net cybercrime rings enormous sums of money in short amounts of time. In the case revealed in May, “casher crews”

were able to withdraw $40 million in just over 10 hours.

Authorities said Elahi was responsible for disseminating the debit card numbers to casher crews in Mexico and elsewhere. Between 2005 and 2012, Elahi’s activities earned him roughly $250,000 to $300,000. All told, Elahi’s actions vic-

timized more than 350 financial institutions, according to the government. In sentencing Elahi, Gleeson noted his remorse and the aid he provided to the government. With time served and good behavior, Elahi could be released almost immediately and sent back to Pakistan to rejoin his family. —Reuters

Pricey but worth it: Cubans finally get to surf the Web HAVANA: Cuban teacher Nancy Garcia would love to surf the Web at home. But since that is restricted in this communist country, she now logs on from new hotspots-at a price few can afford.

“I don’t stay long so as not to throw money out the window,” said the 53-year-old as she checked her email near the Havana waterfront at one of the island’s 118 new public access Internet points, open for several weeks now.

With only doctors, journalists and certain other professionals able to connect from home, Cuba has one of the lowest numbers of Web users in all of Latin America: just 2.6 million in 2011, out of a population of 11.1 million.

With few other options, Garcia and hundreds like her have been flocking to the new government-created hotspots to check email, connect to social media and browse websites.

That’s if they can pay for it. At the cost of $4.50 an hour, down from $6 previously, the Internet remains out of reach for most Cubans whose monthly salary barely scratches the $20 mark.

“There will always be those who can afford to pay but there will always be more who can’t,” said Garcia, who previously trekked to one of the city’s hotels to go online, forking out over $10 an hour for a painfully slow connection.

“It’s incredibly expensive,” agreed Deisy Perez, an actress and owner of a private restaurant who came to see if she could order audio and video material for her establishment.

“Today I took a look at what’s on offer, on another day I’ll do some advertising for the

restaurant,” she said. “But I have to be quick, it’s just too costly.”

Authorities say their goal is to provide home Web access. But despite the switching on of an undersea fiber-optic cable from Venezuela to replace costly satellite hookups, the government has said it is forced to “prioritize” it for it for “social use” purposes, with universities, companies and research centers given preference.

Recently, a senior official insisted that limited access was due to “technological and financial” considerations. Dissidents, however, claim the government’s goal has been to control access to information and that restricting Internet access is just another form of censorship in a country where all media outlets are state-controlled.

At the public access point frequented by Garcia and Perez, located in the landmark FOCSA skyscraper, turnout is steady.

“There’s a good crowd, more than I had expected,” said manager Dilia Ortega, who oversees the nine terminals. “Sometimes there’s a line,” she noted, adding that “clients are satisfied.”

Since succeeding his brother Fidel in 2006, Cuban President Raul Castro has allowed citizens to own a laptop and a cell phone, although here too, cost keeps the poor-most of the population-from partaking in this privilege.

“We’re moving forward,” said Perez as she took a breather from her online shopping. “But even as more and more people have access to new technologies, there are still many more Cubans who don’t even know it exists.” —AFP

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

US sets birth control rule for employers with religious ties WASHINGTON: The Obama administration on Friday made it final that employees of religiously affiliated, nonprofit institutions would receive insurance coverage for birth control amid mounting legal challenges to a rule in the recent healthcare law. The White House proposed in early 2012 an arrangement that allows universities, hospitals and other employers with a religious affiliation to avoid paying directly for contraceptives. Instead, insurance companies provide coverage and foot the bill under the law.

The rule requires an institution’s health insurer or third-party insurance administrator to notify employees about birth control benefits and provide beneficiaries with direct payments that cover the cost of contraceptive services.

The announcement was made by the US Department of Health and Human

Services. It puts into effect a requirement that has been beset by more than a year of talks between administration officials and religious employers.

The US Roman Catholic bishops and other denominations oppose contraception on religious grounds and have protested against the requirement as have conservatives. “Today’s announcement reinforces our commitment to respect the concerns of houses of worship and other non-profit religious organizations that object to contraceptive coverage, while helping to ensure that women get the care they need, regardless of where they work,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.

The rule formally takes effect on August 1. Thanks But the administration gave nonprofit employers an additional five months to adjust to the new regulations

by having it apply to plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1. Other employers have been required to make contraceptives coverage available to their workers since last August. Women’s advocates applauded the regulations as a milestone that could have profound impact on the education and economic opportunities of women including college students.

“Birth control is basic healthcare for women, and this policy treats it like any other kind of preventive care,” Planned Parenthood President Cecile Roberts said in a statement.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has spearheaded opposition to the policy, responded to the ruling.

“We have received and started to review the 110-page final rule,” New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan said in a statement. “It will require more careful analysis.

We will provide a fuller statement when that analysis is complete.”

Opponents say the policy, part of President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, violates religious tenets of nonprofit and forprofit employers alike, particularly coverage for the morning-after pill to stop pregnancy and other types of contraceptives, which they view as tantamount to abortion.

Employers have had legal successes, raising speculation that the lawfulness of the rule may eventually be tested by the US Supreme Court. More than 60 lawsuits have been filed by religious organizations and businesses against the requirement, and courts have granted some 20 for-profit businesses temporary relief from the law while their cases proceed in court.

Earlier this month, a federal judge in

Pennsylvania granted the same relief to a religiously affiliated nonprofit for the first time in the case of Geneva College, which was established by the Reform Presbyterian Church.

Friday’s regulations came a day after a federal appeals court in Denver ruled that Hobby Lobby, family-owned arts and crafts chain may be exempt from offering contraceptive benefits to its 13,000 full-time employees.

Hobby Lobby’s lawyer, Kyle Duncan of the Becket Fund, said his organization filed an emergency request late Thursday asking the district court to take immediate action on the company’s request for an exemption from the mandate.

On Friday, the retailer was excused by a federal judge from paying up to $1.3 million a day in fines for not providing coverage. — Reuters

AIDS scientists at Malaysia meet express hopes for cure More funding, research breakthroughs KUALA LUMPUR: AIDS scientists expressed optimism over their search for a cure for the disease Saturday ahead of a major conference in Kuala Lumpur, with more funding and research breakthroughs boosting their hopes. Thousands of delegates will attend the four-day International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference which starts on Sunday in the Malaysian capital, the first time the bi-annual meeting will be held in Asia.

Sharon Lewin from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, said funding for cure research had gone from millions to tens of millions of dollars per year.

“I think we are a long way off, but what has changed in the last three years is a realisation, that there needs to be a commitment (to this),” she told AFP in a telephone interview.

“In 2010, at that time, very few people really believed it was possible... Between that time

BARCELONA: A researcher manipulates samples at Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona on June 20, 2013. The Confederation of Scientific Associations of Spain said in a recent report that public investment in scientific research fell by 45 percent from nine billion to five billion euros between 2009, the year after the crisis started, and 2013. — AFP

Financial crisis cripples Spain’s top medical research VALENCIA, Spain: In blue gloves and goggles, Maria Jesus Vicent’s team of young researchers busily mix chemicals in their laboratory, where they work at improving medications for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Theirs is a well-equipped lab, but like researchers across Spain, they warn that steep funding cuts made during the financial and economic crisis are threatening to ground their potentially life-saving workand driving the country’s most talented scientists away.

Vicent’s team at the Prince Felipe Research Centre (CIPF) in the eastern city of Valencia specialises in nanomedicine, a way of developing compounds that boost the efficacy of vital drugs.

“We were set to be among the best in this field in Spain,” she said. “We have made great advances in prostate cancer research.

We wanted to go to the next stage with animal tests,” she added.

“But I am waiting to get specific financing for that because I don’t have enough money and it’s much more expensive than chemical research.”

The 52,000 square-metre centre was opened in 2005 at the height of the boom that preceded Spain’s economic bust, with 60 million euros ($78 million) of investment.

But as Spain scrambled to shore up its public finances, the centre’s state subsidies were slashed in 2011 from just under 10 million euros ($13 million) to less than five million, forcing Vicent to rely on European Union funds to continue.

The centre had to close half of its 28 labs and fire 114 of its 244 workers. “It was tragic to see such talented people having to leave,” Vicent said.

Now the centre’s hi-tech installations are falling into disuse, with its two mechanised operating theatres for animal research now being used for training courses instead.

The Confederation of Scientific Associations of Spain (COSCE) said in a recent report that public investment in scientific research fell by 45 percent from nine billion to five billion euros between 2009, the year after the crisis started, and 2013.

Scientists warn this leaves much hard-

won progress in a crucial sector at risk of evaporating.

“It is a mistake that will cost us very dear,” said Josep Maria Gatell of IDIBAPS, a leading biomedical research centre in Barcelona, who has spent the past five years developing a vaccine against AIDS. “In the past 10 or 15 years Spain has made a major effort, which has borne fruit.

We had a very good position internationally in research. And with these budget cuts we risk losing gains that took 20 years to achieve. It could take another 20 years for us to catch up again.”

Three of Gatell’s products are being tested on humans, but their progress has slowed due to a lack of funds.

“If you have more money you can develop three products at the same time.

With less, you have to do one at a time.

That delays things,” he said.

The renowned Vall d’Hebron Research Institute in Barcelona is surviving with three-quarters of its funding coming from international and private investors, according to its director, Joan Comella.

Biomedical research, he said, “generates wealth, jobs and companies. It creates links with big industry, which allow you to develop new drugs.” The lack of subsidies is causing a chronic brain drain as scientists leave Spain to work abroad, he added.

“When a leading scientist decides to leave, he takes with him his team, his knowledge and his capacity to draw funding,” Comella warned. The funding problem extends beyond the medical sphere to all sectors of scientific research, observers said.

According to COSCE the number of public sector scientific researchers in Spain fell from just under 130,000 in 2010 to 117,000 this year.

A Spanish physicist, Diego Martinez, made headlines recently when he was denied a public contract to come back and work in Spain-despite having won a prize as the best young physicist in Europe.

“In my field there were very few such contracts,” said Martinez, 30, speaking from Geneva where he works at the groundbreaking European Organization for Nuclear Research. “Basically, when you leave, you won’t come back.” — AFP

Spain police seize illegal Chinese medicine MADRID: Spanish police said yesterday they had seized hundreds of thousands of packets of unlicensed medicine illegally imported from China and India, including erection aids and slimming products.

The Civil Guard “seized more than 250,000 units of illegal medicine, mostly related to erectile dysfunction, slimming and abortion practices,” it said in a statement. About a quarter of the drugs seized came from India and more than half from China, which the police said were mainly destined for the large Chinese community resident in Spain.

Police seized the medicines in three

weeks of raids at shops and airports in Spain after an operation in 30 countries coordinated by the international and European agencies Interpol and Europol.

They shut down 26 websites selling unauthorised medicines, which the police said were “potentially harmful to health”.

On June 23, police said they had broken up a network selling sports doping products imported to Spain from China, Portugal and Greece. They arrested 84 people and seized hundreds of thousands of doses of anabolic steroids and other drugs. — AFP

and now, there has been a major shift. There’s evidence that things have really been moving.”

Deborah Persaud of the US Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, Maryland, said the case of the “Mississippi baby” that her team worked on presented a “ray of hope”.

The baby, born in the US state of Mississippi, was apparently cleared of the virus after being given aggressive anti-retroviral treatment within 30 hours of her birth. She is now almost three years old.

“There needs to be a lot of work done... We have to replicate the case; we need to understand the case,” she told reporters ahead of the conference. “The key thing for us that we should focus on is to do what we know how to do-and that is identify kids who are infected and treat them early.” Children below the age of 15 make up 10 percent, or 3.3 million, of the estimated 34 million people infected with HIV worldwide. In

total, the global pandemic has claimed 30 million lives.

The World Health Organisation ( WHO) is expected to release new medical guidelines at the conference today, which could make more people infected with HIV eligible to receive drugs. Last month, scientists meeting in Paris to mark the 30th anniversary of the discovery of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, said they have high hopes for a treatment that will be given at an early stage of infection.

But they said people with a long-running, untreated infection and a compromised immune system may never benefit from an envisioned “functional cure”-through which a person would retain traces of the virus but no symptoms.

About 1.8 million people die every year from AIDS, a disease in which the immune system is destroyed, with sufferers exposed to pneumonia, TB and other illnesses. — AFP

Voyager 1 craft enters unfamiliar space LOS ANGELES: New research pinpoints the current location of NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft: It’s still in our solar system.

Since last summer, the long-running spacecraft has been exploring uncharted territor y where the effects of interstellar space, or the space between stars, can be felt.

Scientists don’t know how thick this newfound region in the solar system is or how much farther Voyager 1 has to travel to break to the other side.

“It could actually be anytime or it could be several more years,” said chief scientist Ed Stone of the NASA

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which manages the mission.

Stone first described this unexpected zone at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union last year. A trio of papers published online Thursday in the journal Science confirmed just how strange this new layer is.

Soon after Voyager 1 crossed into this region last August, lowenergy charged particles that had been plentiful suddenly zipped outside while high-energy cosmic rays from interstellar space streamed inward. Readings by one of Voyager 1’s instruments showed

an abrupt increase in the magnetic field strength, but there was no change in the direction of the magnetic field lines - a sign that Voyager 1 has not yet exited the solar system.

Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, were launched in 1977 to visit the giant gas planets, beaming back dazzling postcards of Jupiter, Saturn and their moons. Voyager 2 went on to tour Uranus and Neptune. After planet-hopping, they were sent on a trajector y toward interstellar space.

Voyager 1 is about 11 1/2 billion miles from the sun. Voyager 2 is

about 91/2 billion miles from the sun. The nuclear-powered spacecraft have enough fuel to operate their instruments until around 2020. In the meantime, scientists are looking for any clues of a departure. Given the time it takes to process the data, mission scientist Leonard Burlaga said there will be a lag between when Voyager 1 finally sails into interstellar space and when the team can confirm the act.

Then there’s always the possibility of surprises beyond the solar system. “Crossing may not be an instantaneous thing,” Burlaga said.

“It may be complicated.” — AP

COUFFE: (Left) A picture taken on June 14, 2013 in Couffe, western France, shows Lupin (Lupinus polyphyllus) flowers. Terrena, a leading French cooperative group,wants to launch a Lupin industry in France. The Lupin plant can replace soy in animal feed, but can also partially substitute eggs or fat in human nutrition, all without gluten. (Right) Yoann Goubaud, farmer in the commune of Couffe, western France, holds Lupin beans. —AFP photos

Girl doing well after second lung transplant PHILADELPHIA: A 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl whose parents sued to challenge national lung transplant rules received a second set of lungs after the first failed, and her family said she has taken some breaths on her own.

However, she faces another operation because of complications from previous procedures.

The mother of Sarah Murnaghan said Friday that the first set of lungs failed within hours of the June 12 transplant at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and her daughter was placed on machines. She was placed back on the lung transplant list the night after her surgery and received a second set of lungs on June 15.

“We were told ... that she was going to die,” Janet Murnaghan said Friday as she explained why Sarah’s second transplant was not publicly disclosed. “We weren’t prepared to live out her dying in public.”

Sarah’s mother said the second transplant was a success and the girl was able to take a few breaths on her own.

But, Sarah was placed back on a ventilator due to partial paralysis of her diaphragm, a complication of surgery that is not allowing her lungs to expand, her mother said.

She is scheduled for surgery on Monday in an effort to repair her diaphragm.

“There’s still a lot in front of us,” Murnaghan said, but then added: “Sarah’s a fighter. She’s always been a fighter.”

The suburban Philadelphia girl initially received lungs from an adult donor after her parents sued over national rules that place children behind adolescents and adults on the priority list for adult lungs - even if the children are sicker and are capable of accepting adult organs.

The action spurred a national debate over the organ allocation process. The Murnaghans and the family of 11-year-old Javier Acosta of New York City challenged the policy making children under 12 wait for pediatric lungs to become available or be offered adult lungs only after adolescents and adults on the waiting list had been considered. Both children have end-stage cystic fibrosis.

A federal judge ruled they should be eligible for adult lungs after US Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius declined to intervene. Janet Murnaghan said Sarah’s condition began to “spiral out of control” shortly after the first surgery. A second set of lungs was found and transplanted even though the donor once had pneumonia, making the surgery extra risky. The second set was also from an adult donor. The failure of the first transplant is not uncommon. A 2005 University of Pennsylvania study found nearly 12 percent of lung transplants experienced what’s called primary graft failure, where the organ almost immediately begins to fail.

But the timing - she received a second set of lungs just three days after her first - was narrow.

Of 5,081 lung transplants per formed between 2010 and 2012, there were only seven retransplants within a week of the initial operation, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, the private nonprofit group contracted by the government to manage the transplant list.

“I think this very clearly illustrates that the decision needs to be scientific and medical, rather than judicial,” said Lawrence O. Gostin, a health law professor at Georgetown University who questioned the legal basis of the rulings.

“UNOS was under pressure from the publicity surrounding this case and the court’s decision. It is highly unusual to get two transplants within days.”

According to UNOS, a graft failure does not automatically propel someone to the top of the waiting list of potential recipients, who have been assigned scores based on need. But Sarah’s new score made her eligible for the second set of lungs. Earlier this month, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, which is overseen by UNOS, resisted making rule changes for children under 12 seeking lung transplants, but created a special appeal and review system to hear such cases. The special review option will expire on July 1, 2014, unless the full board of directors votes to keep it in place. Of the 1,663 people currently seeking a lung transplant in the U.S., 12 are between the ages of 6 and 10. —AP

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

“W

e are physicians from different specialties with a specific interest in public health advocacy and promotion. We, also, aim to increase awareness among the Kuwaiti pub-

lic regarding a variety of diseases and conditions and to rectify the misconceptions they may have. Since our group consists of multiple physicians we decided to write under the pen name of L’homme en Blanc.”

Common myths about breastfeeding KUWAIT: Breastfeeding is a natural instinct in female. It is the process in which a newly born baby is recommended.

The benefits of breastfeeding are indubitable and surpass that of bottle-feeding.

Unfortunately,nowadays there are several myths and misconceptions about breastfeeding. Today I am not going to discuss the benefits of breast milk or breastfeeding; on the contrary, I am going to discuss the common misconceptions that surround it. There was a study conducted in Kuwait and was published in the year 2012 in a well-known, prestigious journal (journal of human lactation). This study revealed that the benefits of breastfeeding were well known among Kuwaiti women; however, their knowledge on the specifics of the process were highly deficient. the former issues is what i am going to address today.

The first misconception regarding breastfeeding was perceived reasons to temporarily stop breastfeeding. Surprisingly there was a huge deficiency in the knowledge in that area. Female participants in the research stated that they would temporarily stop breastfeeding if the mother developed a fever, rash, or sore throat. In addition, mothers would stopbreastfeeding if the infant developed any medical illness. These included vomiting, diar-

rhea, skin rash, or fever. These misconceptions stem from the fear that the mother or the infant might be able to infect one another; however, this was proven wrong in several studies. Needless to say that if breastfeeding were to be temporarily stopped this would lead to a decrease in the production of breast milk, leading to a deficiency in the amount of breast milk necessary to fulfill an infants needs The second misconception was about the exclusiveness of breastfeeding. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommendsthat an infant be exclusively breastfeed for the fist 6 months of life. This means that even water is not allowed. Needless to say that other foods like gripe water, herbs and honey are also not allowed. the nutrients in breast milk are idea for an infant and thus it should be his/her only source of energy for them to develop. In summary, we all know the benefits of breast milk and breastfeeding for both the mother and the infant. However, we need to increase the awareness about the general myths and misconceptions of breastfeeding. I would like to attract your attention to the fact that there are breastfeeding clinics in Kuwait that will be willing to receive any mother that has any questions or concerns about breastfeeding.

Stay healthy Kuwait! — L’homme en Blanc

Mapping genes of a horse from 700,000 years ago HELSINKI: From a tiny fossil bone found in the frozen Yukon, scientists have deciphered the genetic code of an ancient horse about 700,000 years old - nearly 10 times older than any other animal that has had its genome mapped.

Scientists used new techniques and computing to take DNA from a 5-inch fossil fragment - most of which was contaminated with more modern bacteria - and get a good genetic picture of an ancestral horse. The work was published Wednesday in the journal Nature and discussed at a science conference in Helsinki.

The research gives a better insight into the evolution of one of the most studied mammals. Perhaps more importantly, it opens up new possibilities for mapping the genetic blueprints of all sorts of ancient animals from early human ancestors to mastodons to mammoths to bison, said study lead authors Ludovic Orlando and Eske Willerslev of the University of Copenhagen.

This “is breaking the time barrier,” Willerslev said.

The previous oldest animal fossil genetically mapped had been an ancient relative of Neanderthals called the Denisovans, from about 75,000 years ago, found in a Siberian cave.

The ancient horse was probably about the size of current Arabian hors-

es, the researchers said. It didn’t have the same genes for large muscles that make today’s breeds good for racing, and it was larger than researchers once thought, Orlando and Willerslev said.

The new mapping techniques, which involve all sorts of technical changes, could be used not just with fossils from frozen areas like Canada’s Yukon and Russia’s Siberia, but also from more temperate climates, and may eventually allow researchers to map animal genomes from 1 million years ago, Orlando said.

Ross MacPhee, curator of mammals at the American Museum of Natural History, who wasn’t part of the research, said the accomplishment suggests “there’s no reason in substance why we couldn’t go back further.”

“I think it’s cool,” said another outside expert, Edward Rubin, who heads the US Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute and has deciphered Neanderthal and cave bear DNA. “We can always keep our fingers crossed that (DNA from) an ancient hominid will be found in one of those environments that have been cold,” perhaps even the last common ancestor of Neanderthals and modern humans, he said. Orlando and Willerslev said it doesn’t have to be that cold, but much of the most ancient human development was in

Africa where the hotter climate makes DNA disintegrate faster. Still, there were enough hominids in temperate climates to give hope for older genome sequencing of some of our ancestors, they said.

There was a lot of junk in the Yukon fossil that wasn’t horse but bacteria, Orlando said. He said for every 200 DNA molecules they sequenced, only one was from the horse.

The research estimated that the evolutionary tree split that led to horses on one branch and donkeys on the other happened about 4 million years ago.

The analysis also found new evidence that an endangered animal called the Przewalski’s horse, found in Mongolia and China, is the last surviving wild horse. It is genetically distinct from domestic horses. —AP

BANGKOK: A Thai traffic policeman directs traffic on a street in Bangkok. Bellies wobbling and chubby limbs swinging, dozens of sweaty traffic cops exercise to the rhythm of Thai pop songs as part of a scheme to reduce the number of overweight police in Bangkok. —AFP

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

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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

Announcements Issue of online visa

by Indian embassy oreigners requiring visas for India need to apply it online from 16th June 2013. Applicants may log on to the Public portal at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in. After successful online submission, the hard copy, so generated, has to be signed by the applicant and submitted with supporting documents in accordance with the type of visa along with the applicable fee in cash at any of the two outsource centres at Sharq or Fahaheel. It is essential that applicants fill in their personal details as exactly available in their passports. Mismatch of any of the personal details would lead to non-acceptance of the application. Fees once paid are non-refundable.

All children would have to obtain separate visa on their respective passports.

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Indian Embassy sets up helpline he Indian Embassy in Kuwait has set up helpline in order to assist Indian expatriates in registering any complaint regarding the government’s ongoing campaign to stamp out illegal residents from the country. The embassy said in press release yesterday that it amended its previous statement and stated if there is any complaint, the same could be conveyed at the following (as amended): Operations Department, Ministry of Interior, Kuwait. Fax: 22435580, Tel: 24768146/25200334. It said the embassy has been in regular contact with local authorities regarding the ongoing checking of expatriates. The embassy has also conveyed to them the concerns, fears and apprehensions of the community in this regard. The authorities in Kuwait have conveyed that strict instructions have been issued to ensure that there is no harassment or improper treatment of expatriates by those undertaking checking. “The embassy would like to request Indian expatriates to ensure that they abide by all local laws, rules and regulations regarding residency, traffic and other matters,” the release read. It would be prudent to always carry the Civil ID and other relevant documents such as driving license, etc. In case an Indian expatriate encounters any improper treatment during checking, it may be conveyed immediately with full details and contact particulars to the embassy at the following phone number 67623639.

These contact details are exclusively for the abovementioned purpose only.

Former Parliament Speaker Ali Al-Rashid recently received Kuwaiti writer, Abdullah Bowair who presented copies of his books on Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed AlSabah and Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as gifts to Al-Rashid. Bowair received a dhow-shaped memento on the occasion.

Enjoy Safir Hotel & Residences Kuwait - Fintas’ special summer and Ramadan package

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8th Expo Pakistan to commence in September he 8th Expo Pakistan will be held from Sept 26 to 29 in Karachi. Held annually, Expo Pakistan is the biggest trade fair in the country showcasing the largest collection of Pakistan’s export merchandise and services.

Foreign Exhibitors also use the event to launch their products. Expo Pakistan 2012 was visited by delegates from 52 countries and generated a business of over $ 518 million. A 16 member delegation from Kuwait including reputable companies like Al-Yasra Foods also took part in the last exhibition.

Expo Pakistan 2013 is being held under the auspices of the Trade Development Authority Pakistan. Details about the event can be viewed www.~pop~dstaii~gpy.pk. Further information and details of sponsorship can be obtained from the office of Commercial Secretary, Pakistan Embassy, Jabriya (25356594) during office hours.

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The Embassy of Russia he Embassy of Russia has launched its official page on Facebook social network which can be found by following address: http://www.facebook.com/RussianEmbassyKu wait All necessary information about Russia, bilateral relations between Russia and Kuwait and information for those who are going to apply visa can be found there. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We’ll be happy to help you.

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he Summer and Ramadan seasons are fast approaching and Safir Hotel & Residences, Kuwait - Fintas is shaping up early to ensure a blissful back-to-back summer experience and a serene Ramadan atmosphere for all its valuable patrons.

Covering the periods from the 30th of May to the 8thof July 2013 and from the 15th of August to the31st of August 2013, Safir Hotel & Residences, Kuwait - Fintas is offering special packages that will guarantee a wellspent Summer & Ramadan holiday for the whole family.

Experience a luxurious stay and take advantage from our special room packages starting from KD 55+ 15 percent service charge for a deluxe room. Families can enjoy home comfort with our spacious 1 bedroom apartment starting from KD109 + 15 percent service charge or for bigger families a 2 bedroom apartment for KD149 + 15 percent service charge. These rates are

inclusive of a complimentary buffet breakfast during the summer or a ‘Sohour” during the Ramadan period at Flavors Restaurant. In addition, kids under 6 years can dine-in and stay with their families for free, and those between 7 to 12 years of age get 50 percent discount on restaurants.

Making Ramadan an extra special occasion this year, Safir Hotel & Residences Kuwait - Fintas is also offering a varied selection of cuisine tailored to cater to Ramadan tradition. Al Roshinah Restaurant is offering an exclusive venue for Iftar and Ghabka, offering a traditional Kuwaiti Iftar and Ghabkha set menu for KD11 per person. Open from sundown until sunrise for daily Iftar and Sohour, Flavors Restaurant is an ideal place to start and break the fast, serving Iftar buffet from 6:00pm until 8.30 pm for KD13 per person and Sohour starting 1.30 am for KD6 per person. Hilal Al-Fintas Ramadan Tent is

your ideal indoor venue set in a traditional Ramadan Tent setting with daily live Oud Band and serves Ghabka buffet for KD9 per person. Shisha is available right after Iftar. Also, avail a special discounted Prepaid Voucher for Iftar or Ghabka Buffet at KD7 per person for a minimum of 20 persons. For a more private venue, relax and enjoy shisha with light snacks and refreshing drinks at the Anchor Beach Garden’s air-conditioned tents open from 8 pm until 4 am.

Lastly, we bring the traditional flavors of Ramadan straight to your home. For private Ramadan events and take away, please contact us for more details or call our hot line number +9659002 5086for inquiries and reservations. Make this Summer and Ramadan holiday a memorable one for the whole family, stay at Safir Hotel & Residences Kuwait — Fintas.

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The Touristic Enterprises Company will conduct an open Ramadan Football Tournament for children aged between 11 and 15, to be hosted at the Touristic Parkís playground. Touristic Park supervisor Nader Imam explained that the tournament will take place in the playoffs format for teams consisting of five players and two substitutes for each team.

IMAX IMAX film program Sunday ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups Tornado Alley 3D 10:30am, 6:30pm, 9:30pm To The Arctic 3D 11:30am, 8:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 12:30pm, 5:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 7:30pm Monday: ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups Flight of Butterflies 3D 10:30am, 8:30pm Tornado Alley 3D 11:30am, 5:30pm, 7:30pm To The Arctic 3D 12:30pm, 9:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 6:30pm An interactive camp for children titled Venalthanima was conducted by Thanima Kuwait at Indian Central School, Jleeb recently.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 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-gcccom 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 he 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, U.A.E. 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-im-enquiry@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 will be closed on Monday July 1st 2013, for Canada Day, and will resume its duties on Tuesday 2 July 2013. 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.

T EQUATE hosts the Netherlands Ambassador

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QUATE Petrochemical Company hosted a visit by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the State of Kuwait Nicolaas Beets.

On this occasion, Ambassador Beets said, “This visit underlines to me that EQUATE is a world class company. Its success reflects the strength of Kuwait’s petrochemical sector. I am impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities here in Shuaiba, and the health and safety standards that EQUATE implements. The Netherlands also has a strong oil and gas sector, with many companies providing innovative solutions to customers world-wide. My visits to companies such as EQUATE support existing and future business relations between the Netherlands and Kuwait.”

On his part, EQUATE President & CEO Mohammad Husain said: “As Europe presents one of the main global markets, EQUATE has a history with a number of customers in the Netherlands. The

visit of His Excellency Ambassador Beets to EQUATE is a part of our ‘Partners in Success’ tagline with all relevant stakeholders within and outside Kuwait.”

The visit included a comprehensive presentation on EQUATE’s human resources, history, global markets, operations, achievements, products, as well as a tour of Greater EQUATE facilities.

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.

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Ogilvy & Mather retains Network of Year title at Cannes Lions 2013

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emac Ogilvy & Mather has been honored with 9 awards at the 60th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, celebrating outstanding creative strength across its regional network and in particular its Tunis and Dubai offices. With nine Lions and further three shortlisted campaigns, the agency strengthened its position as the Middle East’s leading communications agency.

This year, Ogilvy and Mather was named Network of the Year for the second year in a row, after winning a record-breaking 155 Lions overall across 29 countries, reinforcing the global network’s creative credentials.

From a regional perspective, Memac Ogilvy Dubai was awarded 2 Lions for Rescue Radio and the Tunisian office was awarded 7 Lions for the “12th Man” campaign in the Promo and Activation, Outdoor, Media, Mobile and Branded Content categories.

Edmond Moutran, Chairman and CEO of Memac Ogilvy Middle East and North Africa, praised the net-

work’s triumph for raising the creative bar: “I am extremely proud to be part of such an amazing network and thrilled that Ogilvy & Mather was awarded Network of the year for the second year running. Our performance tops a historic week for Ogilvy.”

The Lions at Cannes are just the latest in a steady stream of highly-regarded awards to the agency. “I am very proud of everyone who has contributed to our success. Thank you to all our clients and to all of our employees around the region. The Lions not only further confirm our standing in the industry but, more importantly, show the world that enthusiasm, leadership and creativity are alive and well throughout the MENA region,” he concluded.

Worldwide Chief Creative Officer, Tham Khai Meng, at Ogilvy & Mather, said: “We are all stunned, shocked and thrilled to be awarded this honor for the second year running. It ranks alongside being struck by lightning twice. I would like to thank everybody who con-

tributed: the juries for their hard work and long hours; the winning teams for their passion and daring; our clients for their courage and trust; the organizers of the Cannes Lion festival for championing the creative industry with such panache. And finally, our thanks to the gods for smiling on us and providing the lightning.

Winning Network of the Year, Agency of the Year, four Grand Prix - including Titanium - and a Creative Effectiveness Lion is astonishing. 155 Lions doesn’t happen everyday!”

Pathanamthitta (PDA) new executive committee

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athanamthitta District Association (PDA) Kuwait elected its office bearers and Executive Committee for the year 2013-2014 at the Annual General Body Meeting held on Friday 21st June 2013 at Hi-Dine Auditorium. Oommen George (Jose Mannil) was re-elected as the President. Other Office Bearers are:- General Secretary - Benny Pathanamthitta, PT Samuelkutty - Treasurer, Vice President - Abraham Daniel, General Convenor - George Thomas, Advisory Board Chairman - Jayakumar, Auditor & IT Services Lalu Jacob, Area Committees Coordinator - Jomy George, Secretaries - Eng. Biji Murali, Thomas John, Publicity Convenor - Eng. Harish Kumar, Sponsorships & Advertisement Convenor - Lethy Konni, Charity & Welfare Committee Convenor Biju Kumbazha, Area Convenors - Alexander K.V. (Kuriakose), C.P. Mohandas, Aji Philip, Vijesh Kumar, M.K. George, Gibi Abraham, and Aneesh Kumar.

Committee Members are :- Abu Peter Sam, Eng. Girish KumarMr. Muralee S. Panicker, PS Satheesh, Biju Varghese, Eng. Joseph George, Aby Varghese, Eng. Rendeep George Mathew, Eng. Jithin Jose, Eng. Shiphin Philip, T.K. Jayaprakash, and Sam Abraham.

Advisory Board Members include prominent business and social & cultural personalities and top business executives belonging to Pathanamthitta Distirict - Eng. Binu John Philip, Eng. Geethakrishnan, Raju Varghese, Eng. Ajith Panicker, Mathew Daniel, Christy Kulathooran, John Mathew, George Easow, George Mathew, Raju Zachariah and Mr. Sabu Olickal. The Presiding Officer who conducted the election was the Senior Advisory Board Member and a Senior Manager at Mohammed Naser Al-Sayer & Sons Co. (Toyota), Raju Varghese, who also felicitated the newly elected Executive Committee.

The General Body meeting decided to have Area Committees in the various locations of Kuwait with Area Convenors and Unit Committees to coordinate Association’s activities more closely with the members in those areas. The General Body also decided to have a local support unit at the District Head

EMBASSY OF US Parents of Kuwaiti citizen children may drop off their sons’ and daughters’ visa applications - completely free of an interview or a trip inside the Embassy. The children must be under 14 years of age, and additional requirements do apply, but the service means parents will no longer have to schedule individual appointments for their children, nor come inside the Embassy (unless they are applying for themselves). The service is only available for children holding Kuwaiti passports. To take advantage, parents must drop off the following documents: Child Visa Drop-off cover sheet, available on the Embassy website (http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/child_visas.htm) - Child’s passport; The Child’s previous passport, if it contains a valid US visa; 5x5cm photo of child with eyes open (if uploaded into DS160, photos must be a .jpg between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels, less than 240kb, and cannot be digitally altered); A completed DS160 form; Visa Fee Receipt from Burgan Bank; A copy of the valid visa of at least one parent. If one parent will not travel, provide a visa copy for the traveling parent, and a passport copy from the non-traveling parent with a letter stating no objection to the child’s travel. - For children of students (F2): a copy of the child’s I20.

Children born in the US (with very few exceptions) are US citizens and would not be eligible for a visa. Parents may drop off the application packet at Window 2 at the Embassy from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, Monday to Wednesday, excluding holidays. More information is available on the U.S. Embassy website: kuwait.usembassy.gov/child_visas.html nnnnnnn

Quarters as a liaison centre to help and support the current and former Members of the Association whenever they face any legal, security or other problems locally and to coordinate with the State and Central

Government authorities in India when any unfavourable situation arise in the country of their employment.

Prathibha literary meet

EMBASSY OF GREECE 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, AlQibla 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

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rathibha Kuwait has conducted its 27th monthly meeting at Fahaheel to discuss about Malayalam Literary update. Hari Paravur has Released “Annam” (Food) , its little magazine for the

month of June by handing over a copy to Praveen Krishna, Editor-incharge. Detailed discussions held on the articles of the little magazine.

Preman Illath presided the function.

Abdul Latheef Neeleswaram,

Jawahar.K.Engineer, Girimandiram Sasikumar, Satheesan Payyannur, Erampuram Kottappuram, Xaviour Antony and KM Reaz participated in the discussions.

EMBASSY OF VATICAN The Apostolic Nunciature Embassy of the Holy See, Vatican in Kuwait has moved to a new location in Kuwait City.

Please find below the new address: Yarmouk, Block 1, Street 2, Villa No: 1. P.O.Box 29724, Safat 13158, Kuwait. Tel: 965 25337767, Fax: 965 25342066.

Email: nuntiuskuwait@gmail.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

14:35 15:05 15:30 16:00 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:25 23:20 00:15 01:10

Border Security Auction Hunters Auction Kings Discovery Saved My Life Heroes Of Hell’s Highway Mythbusters Sons Of Guns Industrial Junkie How It’s Made Auction Hunters Storage Hunters Unchained Reaction Skywire With Nik Wallenda Mythbusters Unchained Reaction Skywire With Nik Wallenda

14:50 15:45 16:40 17:35 18:00 18:25 19:20 20:10 21:05 22:00 22:55 23:50 00:45 01:10 01:35

Real Gangs Of New York Reign Of The Dinosaurs Great Planes Chasing Classic Cars Chasing Classic Cars Marine Corps Survival School Combat Countdown Living With The Kombai Tribe What The Ancients Knew Combat Countdown Legend Detectives Most Evil Chasing Classic Cars Chasing Classic Cars Combat Countdown

14:20 14:45 15:10 16:00 16:55 17:45 18:35 19:00 19:30 20:20 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:50 23:15 23:40 00:05 00:30 01:00 01:50

Food Factory Food Factory Thunder Races Nextworld Mega World Mars: The Quest For Life The Gadget Show How Tech Works Through The Wormhole How The Universe Works Food Factory Food Factory Through The Wormhole Stuck With Hackett Stuck With Hackett Food Factory Food Factory How Do They Do It? How The Universe Works Stuck With Hackett

14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00 00:30 01:00 02:00

Ancient Aliens Ancient Aliens Ancient Aliens Ancient Aliens Ancient Aliens Ax Men Pawn Stars Storage Wars Ancient Aliens Ancient Aliens Soviet Storm: WWII In The East Pawn Stars Storage Wars Ancient Aliens Ancient Aliens

14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00 02:00

C.S.I. Glee Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show C.S.I. Touch Bones Castle Breakout Kings Greek Glee Castle

03:00 Last Man Standing 03:30 Raising Hope 04:00 Seinfeld 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Two And A Half Men 06:00 All Of Us 06:30 Til Death 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Seinfeld 08:30 Two And A Half Men 09:00 Last Man Standing 09:30 Hot In Cleveland 10:00 Men At Work 10:30 Til Death 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 All Of Us 12:30 Seinfeld 13:00 Two And A Half Men 14:00 Raising Hope 14:30 Men At Work 15:00 Hot In Cleveland 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 All Of Us 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Ben And Kate 18:30 The Simpsons 19:00 Modern Family 19:30 The Mindy Project 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 South Park 22:30 South Park 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 South Park 02:00 South Park

05:15 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 05:35 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 06:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 06:30 Doc McStuffins 06:45 A.N.T. Farm 07:10 A.N.T. Farm 07:35 Jessie 07:55 Jessie 08:20 Shake It Up 08:45 Shake It Up 09:05 Austin And Ally 09:30 Geek Charming 11:05 A.N.T Farm 11:25 Jessie 11:50 Jessie 12:15 Austin And Ally 12:35 Austin And Ally 13:00 Shake It Up 13:25 Shake It Up 13:45 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 14:10 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 14:35 Suite Life On Deck 15:00 Gravity Falls 15:25 Good Luck Charlie 15:50 Jessie 16:10 Shake It Up 16:35 A.N.T. Farm 17:00 Austin And Ally 17:20 Gravity Falls 17:45 Suite Life On Deck 18:10 Good Luck Charlie 18:30 That’s So Raven 18:55 Austin And Ally 19:20 Jessie 19:40 Gravity Falls 20:05 A.N.T. Farm 20:30 Shake It Up 20:50 Suite Life On Deck 21:15 Austin And Ally 21:40 That’s So Raven 22:00 Shake It Up 22:25 A.N.T Farm 22:50 Austin And Ally 23:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 23:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 00:00 Hannah Montana Forever 00:20 Hannah Montana Forever

00:45 01:05 01:30 01:50 02:15 02:35

Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Replacements Replacements

14:30 Style Star 15:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 16:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 17:00 Ice Loves Coco 17:30 Ice Loves Coco 18:00 E! News 19:00 Fashion Police 20:00 THS 21:00 Kourtney And Kim Take Miami 22:00 What Would Ryan Lochte Do? 22:30 E! News 23:30 Chelsea Lately 00:00 Scouted 00:55 Style Star 01:25 THS

03:05 Coastal Kitchen 03:30 Food Poker 04:15 Bargain Hunt 05:00 Mitch And Matt’s Big Fish 05:25 Mitch And Matt’s Big Fish 05:50 Cash In The Attic 06:35 Coastal Kitchen 07:00 Food Poker 07:45 Home Cooking Made Easy 07:55 The Hairy Bikers Come Home 08:15 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 09:05 Bargain Hunt 09:50 Antiques Roadshow 10:45 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 11:30 MasterChef Australia 12:15 Come Dine With Me 13:00 The Hairy Bikers Come Home 13:55 Bargain Hunt 14:40 Cash In The Attic 15:25 Antiques Roadshow 16:15 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 17:00 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 17:55 Planet Cake 18:25 Tareq Taylor’s Nordic Cookery 18:55 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 19:20 New Scandinavian Cooking With Claus Meyer 19:45 Come Dine With Me 20:35 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 21:20 Antiques Roadshow 22:15 Bargain Hunt 23:00 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 23:55 Food Poker 00:40 Come Dine With Me 01:30 MasterChef Australia 02:20 Cash In The Attic

03:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 03:25 Food Wars 03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 04:15 Unique Eats 04:40 Chopped 05:30 Iron Chef America 06:10 Food Network Challenge 07:00 Guy’s Big Bite 07:25 Guy’s Big Bite 07:50 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 08:15 Unique Sweets 08:40 Red, Hot And Yummy 09:05 Barefoot Contessa 09:30 Food Network Challenge 10:20 Extra Virgin 10:45 Kid In A Candy Store 11:10 Charly’s Cake Angels 11:35 Unique Sweets 12:00 Amazing Wedding Cakes 12:50 Red, Hot And Yummy 13:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 13:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics

14:05 Food Wars 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 Red, Hot And Yummy 17:25 Food Wars 17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:40 Charly’s Cake Angels 19:05 Unique Sweets 19:30 Amazing Wedding Cakes 20:20 Chopped 21:10 Chopped 22:00 Charly’s Cake Angels 22:30 Charly’s Cake Angels 22:55 Unique Sweets 23:15 Unique Sweets 23:40 Food Wars 00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:55 Unwrapped 01:20 Unwrapped 01:45 Charly’s Cake Angels

04:00 The Wild Girl-PG15 06:30 Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close-PG 09:00 The Makeover-PG15 11:00 Think Like A Man-PG15 13:00 Certain Prey-PG15 15:00 Teen Spirit-PG15 17:00 The Makeover-PG15 18:45 Why Did I Get Married Too?PG15 21:00 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel-PG15 23:15 The Raven-18 01:15 The River Why-PG15

07:00 The Dragon Chronicles: Fire & Ice-PG15 09:00 Just Crazy Enough-PG15 10:45 We Bought A Zoo-PG 13:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2-PG 15:00 A Dog Named Duke-PG15 17:00 Love Will Keep Us TogetherPG15 19:00 How I Spent My Summer Vacation-PG15 21:00 What’s Wrong With VirginiaPG15 23:00 Shadow Dancer-PG15 01:00 Love Will Keep Us TogetherPG15

04:00 12 Dates Of Christmas-PG15 06:00 Frankenweenie-PG 08:00 Source Code-PG15 10:00 Batman: Year One-PG15 12:00 Frankenweenie-PG 14:00 A Mother’s Choice-PG15 16:00 Source Code-PG15 18:00 Johnny English Reborn-PG15 20:00 The Girl-PG15 22:00 Love And Other Impossible Pursuits-PG15 00:00 Source Code-PG15 02:00 Johnny English Reborn-PG15

04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 19:45 21:45 23:30 02:30

Ip Man 2-PG15 Soldiers Of Fortune-PG15 Ice Quake-PG15 Boiler Room-PG15 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider-PG15 Ice Quake-PG15 Romancing The Stone-PG15 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider-PG15 The Big I Am-18 The Crazies-18 The Godfather III-18 The Crazies-18

08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 00:00 02:00

Scrooged-PG15 3 Holiday Tails-PG Beethoven’s Second-PG Rookie Of The Year-PG 3 Holiday Tails-PG Larry Crowne-PG15 Friends With Benefits-18 Extract-PG15 30 Minutes Or Less-18 Friends With Benefits-18

10:00 Project Nim-PG15 11:45 Courage-PG15 13:15 The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom-PG 15:00 Project Nim-PG15 16:45 Win Win-PG15 18:45 Money For Nothing-PG15 21:00 Columbus Circle-PG15 23:00 Roadie-18 01:00 L.A I Hate You-PG15

00:00 AFL Highlights 01:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 02:00 PGA Tour 07:00 Super League 09:00 NRL Premiership 11:00 Trans World Sport 12:00 ICC Cricket 360 12:30 Live British & Irish Lions 14:30 International Rugby Union 16:30 ICC Cricket 360 17:00 PGA Tour Highlights 18:00 AFL Highlights 19:00 British & Irish Lions 21:00 NRL Full Time 21:30 Futbol Mundial 22:00 Trans World Sport 23:00 PGA European Tour Highlights

THE RAVEN ON OSN MOVIES HD

00:00 NRL Premiership 02:00 Super League 04:00 International Rugby Union 06:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 07:00 Trans World Sport 08:00 PGA Tour Highlights 09:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 10:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 11:00 Futbol Mundial 11:30 UK Open Darts 15:30 Futbol Mundial 16:00 British and Irish Lions Tour 18:00 PGA European Tour

Highlights 19:00 PGA Tour Highlights 20:00 ICC Cricket 360 20:30 Live Cricket International Twenty20 23:30 UFC The Ultimate Fighter

00:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 10:00 10:30 11:30 12:30 13:30 14:30 16:30 18:30 19:00 21:30 23:30

UK Open Darts World Cup Of Pool World Cup Of Pool Trans World Sport Golfing World International Rugby Union Futbol Mundial World Cup Of Pool World Cup Of Pool Trans World Sport Golfing World Super League NRL Premiership Futbol Mundial AFL Premiership Super League NRL Full Time

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:30 17:30 18:30 20:30 21:00

UFC The Ultimate Fighter NHL Mass Participation Motor Sports 2013 NHL WWE NXT WWE Bottom Line Ping Pong World US Bass Fishing NHL Mass Participation Mass Participation Mobil 1 The Grid WWE Experience Ping Pong World US Bass Fishing NHL Mobil 1 The Grid Prizefighter

SHADOW DANCER ON OSN CINEMA

TV drama ‘Ray Donovan’ delivers flawed man as Hollywood’s ‘fixer’

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roken arms, baseball bat beat-downs, bugged hotel rooms, and a drag queen prostitute blackmailing the star of an upcoming blockbuster action film.

That is a typical week for Ray Donovan, a Hollywood “fixer” and latest anti-hero persona to land on US cable television in Showtime drama “Ray Donovan” that debuts on Sunday after the final season premiere of popular serial killer drama “Dexter.”

Like antecedents Tony Soprano from HBO’s mob drama, “The Sopranos,” and Don Draper from AMC’s ad world series, “Mad Men,” Ray Donovan, played by Tony-winner Liev Schreiber, is a man of countless dilemmas, ensnared by work and family. The series follows Ray as he serves as Hollywood’s go-to enforcer, helping movie stars, film studios and athletes “fix” their private problems before they turn into public relations disasters.

But a thunderbolt upends Ray’s already unpredictable life when Mickey, his mafia father played by Jon Voight, is suddenly released from prison. “That exploration of men in particular, fathers and sons, is something that was very compelling to me,” Schreiber, 45, told Reuters. “The thing I like about Ray is, as horrible as he behaves, he seems to have a very moral epicenter.” “Ray Donovan” creator, Emmy-winning writer Ann Biderman, said that she had always been interested in Hollywood’s dark side.

She pointed to past real-life fixers Fred Otash, a private investigator from Hollywood’s 1950s golden age, and Howard Strickland, MGM studio’s publicity chief in the 1930s, both of whom notoriously shielded high-profile figures from public scandal. “I’m interested in crime,” said Biderman, 61, also the creator of cable TV police drama “Southland.” “These figures have been around since the beginning, where there is a lot of money and the stakes are very high.” But Ray, who can get his A-list clients out of the worst circumstances, has little recourse for his insidious father who is looking to reconnect with his family in Los Angeles.

‘DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF MASCULINITY’ The series is a tangle of plots and personal moral codes in which characters try to make things right in the wrong ways. “I think that (morality) drives Ray and he’s got a distorted but intact sense of what is just and what is right,” Schreiber said. “He’s trying to understand how to coexist with that in a society that doesn’t necessarily value it, and still make a living and be a good father to his children.”

The pilot episode begins with Ray receiving a panicked call: the male star of an upcoming action film was caught with a transvestite prostitute and a pro football player woke up in a hotel room with a woman dead from a drug overdose. It is a easy switch for Ray, putting the actor in place of the athlete - after all, as one of Ray’s clients says, it is easier for an action movie star to rebound from a trip to rehab than getting pushed out of the closet. The series also takes a dip into deep end of the male psyche as Ray’s brother, Terry, struggles to get by as a boxing instructor with Parkinson’s disease and his other brother, Bunchy, uses booze to cope with childhood sexual abuse by a priest.

“I think Ann has a really deep understanding of masculinity and the facade of machismo,” Schreiber said. “It’s almost like the models most men are working off of are antiquated in terms of how to behave and what to expect from relationships and how to interact socially with women,” Schreiber added. “It may be Ann’s point that at some level all men are difficult,” the actor explained. “So many people ask how a woman could have such deep insight into male behavior - they’re sort of the experts, aren’t they?” Showtime is owned by CBS Corp. — Reuters

OJ Simpson movie An American Mystery to star Charlotte Ki

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ritish filmmaker Joshua Newton has cast rising British actress Charlotte Kirk (“Non-Stop”) to play Nicole Brown Simpson in “An American Mystery,” a $65 million thriller that will take a fair and balanced look at the OJ Simpson saga. It could be ready for release next summer, in time for the 20-year anniversary of the infamous 1994 crime.

A representative for Kirk told TheWrap that she is attached to the sure-to-be controversial project, which Newton will write and direct. Kirk will portray Brown Simpson from when she first met the famous football star as an 18 year-old in 1977 to her untimely death alongside Ron Goldman. Newton claims to have discovered startling new evidence in the sensational case, which featured a gruesome crime scene, an infamous car chase, a celebrity defendant and a televised trial fraught with racial sensitivity that was the most viewed judicial proceeding in the history of American television.

Several prominent individuals from across the sports and political spectrums are lending their celebrity to the project, which is backed by an Anglo-European-American group of venture capitalists and hedge fund managers.

Executive producers include former NBA star Bo Kimble and Diane Watson, the former US Representative for California’s 33rd Congressional district who has been an inspirational force behind the project ever since she and Newton began discussing the concept nine months ago when development started.

Other individuals supporting the effort to re-examine the facts and circumstances of the Brentwood murders include NFL legend Rosey Grier, Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, Washington lobbyist Spencer Hathaway and NAACP Board member Ron Hasson. According to Newton, Simpson himself expressed a desire to be involved with the project upon learning of its existence, though the filmmaker turned him down. “‘An American Mystery’ has the capacity to challenge entrenched attitudes on a topic that has inspired visceral reactions for almost a generation,” said Newton. “While we are creating an artistic work, the essence of the film is the search for truth. It was easy to determine that OJ’s partici-

pation is not consistent with our standards. Our goal is to lay bare the facts and have the audience reach their own conclusions,” he added. While Simpson was acquitted of the double homicide, passion and controversy still surround the topic of his innocence, which remains at odds with the wrongful death verdict at the ensuing civil trial.

“An American Mystery” will present several other suspects with both motive and opportunity to commit the crime, resulting in a “whodunit” thriller about one of the most controversial criminal cases ever. The film aims to provide a fresh perspective that will allow audiences to reconsider the merits of the case and the likelihood of Simpson’s innocence or guilt. Newton said he will present newly-discovered facts, though details remain shrouded in secrecy for now.

Project is especially timely in the wake of recent murder charges against current NFL star Aaron Hernandez. Kirk, who does bear a resemblance to Brown Simpson, will soon be seen alongside Liam Neeson in the airplane thriller “Non-Stop,” which flies into theaters next February. She also co-starred alongside James Franco and Olivia Wilde in “Black Dog, Red Dog,” Kirk is represented by Clear Talent Group and Raymond J. Markovich of 4PIX. Newton’s “Justice/Vengeance,” formerly titled “Iron Cross,” bills itself as Roy Scheider’s final film and is scheduled for release in October. The $27 million Holocaust thriller was called “the most impor tant film since ‘Schindler’s List’” by Rabbi Marvin Hier, the dean and founder of Los Angeles’ Museum of Tolerance, which honored Newton at its film festival along with Clint Eastwood.— Reuters

Classifieds SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Kuwait

SHARQIA-1 WORLD WAR Z (DIG) MAN OF STEEL (DIG) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) MAN OF STEEL (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

SHARQIA-2 WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 10:00 PM 12:45 AM

SHARQIA-3 THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) TATTAH (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) TATTAH (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:30 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

MUHALAB-1 MAN OF STEEL (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) MAN OF STEEL (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG)

1:15 PM 4:00 PM 5:45 PM 8:30 PM 10:15 PM

MUHALAB-2 WORLD WAR Z (DIG) TATTAH (DIG) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) TATTAH (DIG) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) MUHALAB-3 MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) FANAR-1 DARK TIDE (DIG) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) DARK TIDE (DIG)

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (27/06/2013 TO 03/07/2013) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) DARK TIDE (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

10:15 PM 12:45 AM

DARK TIDE (DIG) DARK TIDE (DIG) DARK TIDE (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

FANAR-2 MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG) MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 11:30 PM 1:15 AM

AVENUES-2 MAN OF STEEL (DIG) MAN OF STEEL (DIG) MAN OF STEEL (DIG) MAN OF STEEL (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

2:15 PM 5:15 PM 8:15 PM 11:15 PM

FANAR-3 MAN OF STEEL (DIG) MAN OF STEEL (DIG) LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) MAN OF STEEL (DIG) LAY THE FAVORITE (DIG) MAN OF STEEL (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

12:30 PM 3:15 PM 6:00 PM 7:45 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-3 TATTAH (DIG) TATTAH (DIG) TATTAH (DIG) TATTAH (DIG) TATTAH (DIG) TATTAH (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:30 PM 1:00 AM

MARINA-1 THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) TATTAH (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) TATTAH (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:30 PM 4:15 PM 6:45 PM 8:30 PM 11:00 PM 12:45 AM

360ยบ- 1 THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) THE PURGE (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

MARINA-2 MAN OF STEEL (DIG) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:15 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

360ยบ- 2 WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:30 PM 6:15 PM 9:00 PM 11:45 PM

360ยบ- 3 WORLD WAR Z (DIG-3D) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) WORLD WAR Z (DIG-3D) WORLD WAR Z (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

2:30 PM 5:00 PM 7:30 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM

AL-KOUT.1 MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) WORLD WAR Z (DIG-3D) WORLD WAR Z (DIG-3D)

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM

MARINA-3 MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (DIG-3D) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) WHITE HOUSE DOWN (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-1 DARK TIDE (DIG) DARK TIDE (DIG)

2:30 PM 4:45 PM

7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

Prayer timings Fajr: Shorook Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:16 04:51 11:51 15:25 18:51 20:24

112 Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

Airlines BBC QTR JZR BBC QTR JZR RJA RJA THY JZR ETH GFA UAE ETD FDB MSR QTR KAC JZR JZR JZR THY DHX FDB BAW FDB QTR MEA KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR JZR UAE ABY QTR FDB IRA ETD IRC GFA MEA UAE MSR THY KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR QTR

Arrival Flights on Sunday 30/6/2013 Flt Route 43 DHAKA 148 DOHA 267 BEIRUT 43 DHAKA 148 DOHA 539 CAIRO 644 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 642 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 764 SABIHA 539 CAIRO 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 544 CAIRO 555 ALEXANDRIA 1541 CAIRO 529 ASSIUT 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 69 DUBAI 157 LONDON 53 DUBAI 6130 DOHA 406 BEIRUT 302 MUMBAI 382 DELHI 412 MANILA 206 ISLAMABAD 241 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 165 DUBAI 561 SOHAG 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 603 SHIRAZ 301 ABU DHABI 6666 AHWAZ 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 871 DUBAI 610 CAIRO 766 ISTANBUL 284 DHAKA 672 DUBAI 742 DAMMAM 352 COCHIN 332 TRIVANDRUM 284 DHAKA 742 DAMMAM 352 COCHIN 332 TRIVANDRUM 787 RIYADH 777 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 535 CAIRO 177 DUBAI 189 DUBAI 481 SABIHA 140 DOHA

Time 0:05 0:05 0:20 0:05 0:05 0:40 0:30 1:10 1:40 0:40 1:45 1:55 2:25 2:30 3:10 3:15 3:30 4:10 6:20 6:25 6:40 4:35 5:10 5:50 6:30 7:45 6:35 7:30 7:50 7:30 6:15 7:25 12:35 11:35 12:00 8:25 8:50 9:00 9:15 9:20 9:30 10:10 10:40 10:55 12:45 13:00 13:10 8:15 13:40 13:30 8:05 7:55 8:15 13:30 8:05 7:55 16:15 17:50 14:30 16:10 17:30 20:10 20:10 13:45

FDB IRC SVA UAE ETD QTR GFA QTR JAI FDB FDB SVA RBG KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KNE OMA RJA QTR ETD SYR UAE ABY UAL SVA GFA NIA QTR FDB GFA AXB MSR JAI AFG FDB OMA ABY MEA KLM ALK UAE ETD QTR GFA QTR JAI CKS JZR JZR JZR AIC UAL DLH JAI MSR

57 6507 500 859 307 136 217 146 576 59 8053 6837 557 788 166 774 172 1802 562 786 618 502 102 542 514 674 472 645 640 134 303 341 857 127 982 510 215 251 144 63 219 393 606 572 415 61 647 129 402 417 229 859 307 136 217 146 576 625 185 239 135 981 981 636 574 614

DUBAI SHIRAZ JEDDAH DUBAI ABU DHABI DOHA BAHRAIN DOHA COCHIN DUBAI DUBAI MALPENSA ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH PARIS RIYADH FRANKFURT CAIRO AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA JEDDAH DOHA BEIRUT NEW YORK CAIRO TEHRAN DUBAI JEDDAH MUSCAT AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA DOHA ABU DHABI DAMASCUS DUBAI SHARJAH WASHINGTON DC DULLES RIYADH BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE LUXOR MUMBAI KABUL DUBAI MUSCAT SHARJAH BEIRUT AMSTERDAM COLOMBO DUBAI ABU DHABI DOHA BAHRAIN DOHA COCHIN LIEGE DUBAI AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA BAHRAIN CHENNAI BAHRAIN FRANKFURT MUMBAI CAIRO

13:50 14:10 14:30 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:45 22:00 22:05 22:20 21:30 16:20 18:20 15:00 18:40 13:45 21:15 16:40 20:45 18:30 19:10 18:50 19:35 18:15 20:50 19:25 14:35 14:40 15:55 16:15 16:35 16:45 16:55 17:10 17:15 17:20 17:20 18:00 18:25 18:55 19:05 19:15 19:30 19:35 19:45 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:15 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:45 22:00 22:05 16:00 22:40 22:30 23:00 22:25 22:40 23:10 23:20 23:30

PIA THY FDB AIC UAL DLH JAI MSR PIA THY JZR JZR JZR

205 772 59 981 981 636 574 614 205 772 185 239 135

LAHORE ISTANBUL DUBAI CHENNAI BAHRAIN FRANKFURT MUMBAI CAIRO LAHORE ISTANBUL DUBAI AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA BAHRAIN

Airlines AIC AXB JAI UAL DLH MSR BBC RJA THY THY ETH UAE FDB MSR ETD QTR QTR JZR FDB RJA GFA THY JZR JZR QTR BAW FDB MEA JZR KAC KAC JZR KAC ABY KAC UAE FDB QTR KAC ETD IRA KAC KAC KAC IRC GFA KAC MEA JZR KAC

Departure Flights on Sunday 30/6/2013 Flt Route 976 GOA/CHENNAI 490 MANGALORE 573 MUMBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 44 CHITTAGONG 645 AMMAN 773 ISTANBUL 765 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 70 DUBAI 643 AMMAN 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 240 AMMAN 164 DUBAI 6131 DOHA 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 407 BEIRUT 256 BEIRUT 171 FRANKFURT 117 NEW YORK 534 CAIRO 671 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 787 JEDDAH 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 1801 CAIRO 302 ABU DHABI 602 SHIRAZ 773 RIYADH 741 DAMMAM 501 BEIRUT 6667 AHWAZ 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 405 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 103 LONDON

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

23:40 23:45 22:20 22:25 22:40 23:10 23:20 23:30 23:40 23:45 22:40 22:30 23:00 Time 0:05 0:15 0:20 0:25 0:30 0:30 1:30 1:30 2:20 2:40 2:45 3:45 3:50 4:15 4:20 4:25 5:15 5:35 6:30 6:35 7:00 7:10 7:10 7:25 8:05 8:25 8:25 8:30 8:50 8:55 9:05 9:10 9:25 9:30 9:35 9:50 9:55 10:00 10:05 10:15 10:20 10:20 10:30 11:10 11:10 11:25 11:30 11:55 12:25 12:30

JZR JZR KAC JZR MSR THY UAE FDB QTR KAC IRC KNE KAC OMA SVA KAC JZR KAC RJA JZR QTR ETD JZR SYR ABY CKS UAE SVA GFA UAL JZR JZR NIA RBG QTR FDB GFA JZR KAC AXB SVA MSR JAI FDB AFG ABY OMA MEA DHX KLM FDB ETD ALK UAE KAC QTR KAC GFA FDB KAC QTR JAI KAC JZR KAC KAC JZR

480 786 785 176 611 767 872 58 141 673 6508 473 561 646 503 617 188 513 641 238 135 304 538 342 128 625 858 511 216 982 184 266 252 558 145 64 220 134 283 394 6830 619 571 62 415 120 648 403 171 417 8054 308 230 860 343 137 301 218 60 205 147 575 351 554 411 415 528

ISTANBUL RIYADH JEDDAH DUBAI CAIRO ISTANBUL DUBAI DUBAI DOHA DUBAI SHIRAZ JEDDAH AMMAN MUSCAT MADINAH DOHA DUBAI IMAM KHOMEINI AMMAN AMMAN DOHA ABU DHABI CAIRO LATAKIA SHARJAH BAHRAIN DUBAI RIYADH BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DHAKA KOZHIKODE JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI DUBAI JEDDAH SHARJAH MUSCAT BEIRUT BAHRAIN DAMMAM DUBAI ABU DHABI COLOMBO DUBAI CHENNAI DOHA MUMBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI ISLAMABAD DOHA ABU DHABI KOCHI ALEXANDRIA BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR ASSIUT

12:30 12:50 13:00 13:20 14:00 14:10 14:15 14:30 14:55 15:05 15:10 15:30 15:30 15:40 15:45 15:45 16:00 16:20 16:55 17:05 17:20 17:20 17:40 17:45 17:50 18:00 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:30 18:30 18:40 19:00 19:00 19:25 19:35 19:50 20:05 20:15 20:15 20:20 20:30 20:35 20:40 20:45 20:45 20:55 21:15 21:50 22:05 22:10 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:05 23:10 23:20 23:40 23:50 23:55

34

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

stars CROSSWORD 236

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) You are able to act quickly and get things done faster than most. You may find people coming to you for those odd jobs that nobody wants and that need completing and out of the way quickly. You may like to be depended on in this way, but it could cause some difficult moments in getting your own work accomplished. So that others will respect your time, you must learn to politely say no—at least, occasionally. Your organizational abilities and sense of responsibility will be what guides you and proves successful. Your career could assume a much more determined and solid form—a firm foundation. A born psychologist, you may find that you enjoy.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You are very appreciative of your career and practical skills. You might enjoy solving puzzles and finding solutions to problems. There is a renewed appreciation for your work that may be apparent to your superiors—in fact, to everybody. Things are happening, and your career or path depends upon your own ambition and drive, which is always strong. You are able to use your good sense and you can feel trends and make the right moves. This is a time to get ahead by taking action. Your system of values may deepen, providing you with a better sense of discrimination. Purchasing, selecting colors, etc., are easy for you today. If you have no social obligations for now, plan a future get-together with your friends.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. The basic unit of electric current adopted under the System International d'Unites.

4. The condition of having no arms.

12. The compass point that is one point east of due south.

15. Primitive predaceous North American fish covered with hard scales and having long jaws with needle-like teeth.

16. Of or relating to or characteristic of Bahrain or its people or language.

17. Of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand of its people.

18. A resident of Ohio.

20. Many times at short intervals.

21. A graphical recording of the cardiac cycle produced by an electrocardiograph.

22. (British) Colloquial terms for an umbrella.

23. Willing to face danger.

26. Annual to perennial herbs of the Mediterranean region.

28. A large Yoruba city in southwestern Nigeria.

30. Tropical Asian tree with hard white wood and bark formerly used as a remedy for dysentery and diarrhea.

35. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

38. Slightly wet.

42. Polish filmmaker (born in 1929).

44. (sometimes followed by `of') Having or showing realization or perception.

45. United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters.

46. Any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent.

47. (Islam) The man who leads prayers in a mosque.

50. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

52. A public promotion of some product or service.

56. A daughter of your brother or sister.

59. A lake in northwestern Russia.

61. United States space station.

63. Not having or covered with a lid or lids.

67. A Russian river.

68. Away from the mouth or oral region.

72. United States tennis player who was the first Black to win United States and English singles championships (1943-1993).

73. A large vase that usually has a pedestal or feet.

75. Horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits.

76. The compass point midway between northeast and east.

77. The major mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula.

78. Consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs.

DOWN 1. Highly excited.

2. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

3. Affectedly dainty or refined.

4. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

5. The capital and largest city of the Central Africa Republic.

6. A blood group antigen possessed by Rhpositive people.

7. Any property detected by the olfactory system.

8. A small restaurant where drinks and snacks are sold.

9. A successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball).

10. Not suitable for food.

11. Belonging to or on behalf of a specified person (especially yourself).

12. The function or position properly or customarily occupied or served by another.

13. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy wall or pericarp.

14. German chemist who did research on high-speed chemical reactions (born in 1927).

19. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

24. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

25. King of Saudi Arabia since 1982 (born in 1922).

27. Fertility goddess in ancient Greek mythology.

29. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

31. Not subjected to an aging process.

32. The seventh month of the Moslem calendar.

33. Winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge.

34. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

36. A guided missile fired from shipboard against an airborne target.

37. A grant made by a law court.

39. Moving quickly and lightly.

40. Affected with or marked by frenzy or mania uncontrolled by reason.

41. Repetition to gain special emphasis or extend meaning.

43. Comprises tropical American species usually placed in genus Masdevallia.

48. (of complexion) Blemished by imperfections of the skin.

49. The main land mass of a country or continent.

51. A wicked or evil person.

53. An esoteric or occult matter that is traditionally secret.

54. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

55. The branch of computer science that deal with writing computer programs that can solve problems creatively.

57. English comedienne and mistress of Charles II (1650-1687).

58. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

60. (Greek legend) The greedy king of Phrygia who Dionysus gave the power to turn everything he touched into gold.

62. United States composer of musical comedies (1885-1945).

64. (Old Testament) The eldest son of Isaac who would have inherited the Covenant that God made with Abraham and that Abraham passed on to Isaac.

65. One of the two main branches of orthodox Islam.

66. The activity of persuading someone to buy.

69. Any of various units of capacity.

70. Consisting of or made of wood of the oak tree.

71. A nucleic acid that transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm.

74. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

Do not force things today. Focus is most important and a little note taking can bring any distractions back into focus. Be patient and let the chaos of others have time to dissolve. It is time to dive into work now as you seem to shine when it comes to practical matters. You have an easy way with superiors or those in authority and you are good at getting the most out of any skill you have. You may join in and assist with a group project this afternoon. Your expertise will be greatly appreciated. There is a need for compromise, for coming to an understanding. This is a time of decision, when small changes can have big effects later on down the road. Enjoy the attention you receive from your loved ones this evening. Smile that beautiful smile of yours.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You enjoy working hard and being organized and you exercise skill and discipline in anything that affects your career and reputation. You could become engaged in nonconformist causes today, always ready to promote what is innovative. You like radical approaches and may become supportive of whatever new-wave product or breakthrough advance is next in line.

Communication, computers, electronics, excite you and these are the areas in which you excel now.

You may soon discover new ways of working with traditional materials. This is a great time to reflect and understand your own situation, just how you feel about your goals. Perhaps you are thinking of a better career. Your emotions and feelings of those around you are clear.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Someone could challenge you on a very sensitive issue. This could result in an argument or, at the least, a very intense discussion. You may touch upon emotional parts of yourself and find you like analyzing situations. Too much time spent in serious thought could undermine your progress. Lighten up! Tell some jokes—enjoy lighthearted conversations. You may become very interested in some research into the nature of a subject—be it life, scientific research, or what-have-you. There is a passion for searching, finding out and communicating your discoveries. This may turn out to be a very interesting day with perhaps a renewed appreciation for all that is beautiful and fine. Good feelings and smiling faces are easy to find.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) A renewed and positive attitude in the workplace seems to be enjoyed today. Things are happening and your career or path depends upon your own ambition and drive, which are strong now. There could be some discussions over business affairs but, if needed, a compromise can be reached. You are able to use your good common sense—you can feel the trends and make the right moves. This is a time to get ahead by taking action. A wish is about to come true today. Be careful that you do not overspend or indulge too much this afternoon. You really do not have to have new clothes for this party; the people at this party have not seen many of your evening outfits. Enjoy. Networking is beneficial. Charm and romance are strong tonight.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) As a good detective or research person, you have a passion for answers.

Questioning and searching finds you in pursuit of some piece of useful information. Asking too many questions, you may not appreciate the emotional energy of someone you meet today. Other people may be watching the way you handle certain situations—you set the example. You enjoy fair, just, frank and broad-minded persons. You are gregarious and sports-minded. You dare to dream big and may find yourself betting against the odds this afternoon. This may mean a sports game or your own abilities in some project. This evening you may want to dive into some interesting philosophical ideas with a love partner. You may enjoy a good book or article.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You are focused to get at the heart of things today, whatever is under the surface or behind the scenes. Your determined pursuit of anything hidden or secret makes you a great researcher or investigator. Emotionally, you are also hot stuff, handling subject matters that others would never come near. You may not like displays of emotion and pushy people, or at least find them thought provoking. Your basic drive and ambition may tend to ignore or brush off your more caring and loving qualities.

Emotional tension may exist today. Your drive to succeed is strong, but you may push yourself in a direction against your own best interests. Make it a point to create new habits that allow you to balance this energy.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) The word here is accomplishment. If there is a job, you can do it. You enjoy discipline and limitations are seen as opportunities rather than handicaps.

Home and family matters can also play a big part in your life. Relatives may decide it is soon time for a reunion and real estate becomes important for investing and enjoyment. A feeling of being at peace and stable on the emotional level is strong at this time. Music gains your attention, possibly leading you to decide to learn how to play an instrument or learn to write music.

You want to broaden your knowledge and enhance your skills. You may also find yourself grinning from ear to ear over a relative’s accomplishments this evening—perhaps a child. You are appreciated as you encourage others.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) CAPRICORN Circumstances can throw you into positions today where you must use your mind and deal with communications, service or hidden interests. You are able to cut through the red tape and get at what is hidden. You may deal with education, psychology, spiritual enlightenment or teaching principles and techniques. Your sense of concern for everything makes you valuable when anything needs doing and, if left unoccupied, you have been known to worry for worry’s sake. Given only a few facts, you are able to take in a situation and come up with a real picture of what is happening. You can rise above the competition for a promotion or increase in pay now. Stay away from gossip and rumors—they seem to be strong.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) It will be hard for you to do wrong, for all the cycles are working in your favor. This is also a time when you may decide to marry or take on a new role in the community. You will be in demand; recognition will be forthcoming—go for it. You may feel focused and even a bit radiant at this time. You could be in the limelight or able to really communicate and get your ideas across to others. Friends and a social life are in order and, in general, so is an easy and untroubled life. These are good years to grow up, be social and be recognized. Pay attention to hidden messages in your dreams or through intuitive impressions you may have had recently. Use your own intuitive impressions to find the answer you are looking for today.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You have more than just the gift of gab. Your words and ideas can transport and enchant listeners, carrying them beyond the world as they know it into the world as they wish it could be. Your imagination and sense of what connects all of life are felt in your speech. You love a good story; a sense of the mystical pervades every one you tell.

You are at home in the world of myths and dreams—for your mind soars on wings of the imagination. You cherish whatever is different and out of the ordinary—the commonplace is not for you. Your friends and surroundings, everything around you, must be unconventional to the point of being controversial. This day has the possibility of being quite interesting—and a little bit fun!

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 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

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

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25654300/3

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25633324

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25345875

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24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

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SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

T

-Pain says he has no plans to splash out on a present for Kanye and Kim Kardashian’s daughter North, who was born on June 15, because Kanye has no refinement and wouldn’t hesitate to throw a strop if he was unhappy with the gift. He told Us Weekly: “Kanye is much richer than me so I’m not even going to try getting him and Kim Kardashian a gift. Kanye has no couth when it comes to things like that, so when you bring him something, he’d be like, ‘What the f**k is this?’ “You don’t want to be that person because he’ll make a big scene about that. You don’t want that.”

However, T-Pain does think his pal will be a fantastic father to his little girl. He added: “I think it’s gonna be good. I think he’s going to

be great. If he has the child around enough - and I don’t know how that works with flights and stuff - but he’ll figure it out.” Meanwhile, it was recently revealed that Kim, 32, and Kanye, 36, are so paranoid about friends leaking information on the baby to the press that they are making everyone who comes to visit sign a confidentiality agreement.

T

he troubled actress - who is currently serving a courtordered 90-day stint in rehab - became friends with the ‘Walks Like Rihanna’ singers after meeting on the party circuit last year, and band member Max George has revealed they took her for a drink to cheer her up before a recent court appearance in Los Angeles. Lindsay was in and out of court earlier this year on suspicion of DUI and was later ordered to rehab. Max told new! magazine: “She did pop over to the house to see us all one day, but it was really brief. She was in town and just wanted a bit of support before her court case.

“We bumped into her ex-boyfriend when we were in the pub and he told us she needed a bit of support. So we invited her over for a bit for a drink, which probably wasn’t the best idea.

We put our vodka in water bottles.” Band mate Siva Kaneswaran then joked: “Get her off her head before she saw her lawyers!” Lindsay, 26, is currently seeking treatment at the Cliffside rehab centre in Malibu, California, after checking out of the Betty Ford Clinic earlier this month.

T

he 27-year-old singer took to the stage at New York City’s Gay Pride kick-off rally at Pier 26 on Friday night and gave a passionate speech in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The star has been avoiding the public eye since cancelling her ‘Born This Way Ball’ world tour to undergo surgery for a labral tear on her right hip in February, which left her temporarily wheelchairbound. Waving a rainbow flag in the air, Gaga broke into an acappella rendition of the National Anthem during her surprise on-stage appearance, which came the same day as an appeals court in California ruled that same-sex marriages in the state can begin immediately. She told the crowd:

“I’m here tonight to honour my heroes and luckily I have many to look up to - and many to look at tonight ... We want nothing less than every other American. “We are not a niche, we are part - a big giant part - of humanity. We are the continuum. We are ongoing. We continue the spirit of the first official Gay rally in 1970 in New York, one year after Stonewall.

T

he 50-year-old actor has people watching his seven-year-old child 24-hours-a-day while she is living in New York City with her mother Katie Holmes and he is more than happy to splash the cash to keep her safe. One of the ‘Oblivion’ star’s motivations for hiring security is the constant paparazzi that follow Suri and his ex-wife around at all times. A source told the new US issue of OK! magazine: “Tom is always surrounded by two rings of plain clothed security agents. That goes double for his precious daughter. Katie believes money is no object when it comes to the safety of Suri and insisted Tom handle that side of things. She’d go broke if she had to pay for it and it’s a total necessity with the enormous interest in Suri. “These guys are highly trained. They legally carry weapons. When in LA they keep guns in the trunks of Katie’s SUV limos.

When in New York, they have licenses to carry firearms on their person.”

Katie is appreciative of her former husband’s gesture and the security guards give the high profile actress peace of mind.

T

he ‘America’s Got Talent’ judge keeps a needle and thread in her bag along with safety pins in case she rips a gown on the red carpet. She said: “I carry a little sewing kit because I’ve had dresses fall off before, and I always have safety pins too, just in case.” The former Spice Girls star recently celebrated her 38th birthday with husband Stephen Belafonte and marked the occasion with a big bash in Las Vegas, where she was filming ‘America’s Got Talent’. She said: “It’s a birthday celebration and work combined. “It’s the perfect test of how life could actually be [for the contestants]. If you haven’t been to Las Vegas already, everyone needs to go

to Las Vegas in their lifetime. “I’ve always enjoyed my time in Las Vegas a lot.” After her work duties, Mel and Stephen enjoyed a special birthday dinner at eatery Andrea’s. There they enjoyed an enormous platter, which included chef Joseph Elevado’s shishito peppers, shellfish platter, wagyu and lobster roll, and five-spice lobster before Mel was presented with a birthday cake.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

T

he ‘Young’ singer - who has been arrested and bailed over suspicions she set up a deal for one of her friends to supply cocaine, pending further enquiries - is planning to move on from the UK and start again in the US. A source told Closer magazine: “Tulisa says as soon as all this drama is over, she wants to move to Miami to start a new life. She loves it there and has friends there who say they will help her out. “With her career hanging in the balance, she may need to leave her mansion, and it holds bitter memories for her now anyway.” As Tulisa is on bail, she is not

allowed to leave the country, but she is confident once she makes it t the US she will be able to concentrate on her music career. The friend added: “She said she feels ‘trapped’ and ‘suffocated’ in England, she wants a new life in the US, where she hopes to establish herself as a solo artist.” Tulisa is also making sure she is only surrounded by her closest family and friends she can trust, such as her N-Dubz bandmates Dappy and Fazer, who she rose to fame with.

T

he ‘Heat’ actress says she wouldn’t ever try to be sexy on screen but thinks nakedness can be hilarious in movies. Speaking on ‘The Graham Norton Show’, she said: “There’s nothing sexy about it at all-it’s funny. It’s not intimate. “I don’t do naked for sexy. Naked only works for me in the funny. On film, not in real life!” Along with stripping off for ‘The Proposal’ with Ryan Reynolds, Sandra also filmed a funny video in October 2012 which showed her and chat show host Chelsea Handler getting into a fight while they were in a shower. Sandra also claimed she would never make a sex tape because she doesn’t look good during sex. She added: “If you’re having sex and you get recorded, and you don’t know you’re being recorded, my guess - not that I’ve ever done this - is that you don’t look good doing it! “I can’t imagine, that someone would look good whilst having intercourse not knowing they’re filmed. But you notice, anytime someone has a sex tape, it’s beautifully lit, they got the good angles, it’s like, ‘that’s right,’ over the shoulders are great...Who does that? Who does that?!”

T

he ‘30 Rock’ creator has revealed that she will encourage her two girls - Alice, seven, and 22-month-old Penelope - to pursue a behind the scenes career if they want to follow in her footsteps in TV because she thinks writing is just as important as acting. Speaking to HELLO! magazine, she said: “I once showed Alice a clip from the Broadway production of a ‘Little Mermaid’. About five seconds in, she pointed to one of the actresses saying, ‘I want to be her!’ “I was saying, ‘Oh no honey, you don’t want to be her, you want to be the person who writes the lines she says!’ “ When asked what she tells her girls about her professional life, Tina said: “That it’s at least as interesting to be working behind the scenes as it is in front of them.” The ‘Mean Girls’ writer and star believes she has former United States governor Sarah Palin - who became a notorious figure in the 2008 presidential election - to thank for her success in Hollywood because they look so much alike.

T

he 27-year-old actress has asked rapper Waka Flocka Flame to help guide her fledgling rap career and he believes she has the potential to be huge success. He told E! News: “She wanted to produce a single so that she could potentially have an album. So she was like, she wanted to go to the club and she wanted to be inside the club. So I’m like, you know I’m the king of the club, not to be all arrogant, but that’s just what the fans voted me. So I might as well go ahead and take her to the club and...introduce her to the lifestyle.” Waka also believes Amanda - who has upset her friends and family with a series of bizarre incidents including being charged with attempted

evidence tampering, reckless endangerment and marijuana possession recently, after being arrested at her New York City apartment, is simply misunderstood. He said: “Yeah, she’s a cool person, man. She’s actually cool, like, I don’t know, I felt like I guess she’s misunderstood, or I guess she is probably just doing it just to make people, like, I don’t know...she’s cool man, it ain’t nothing like that, she’s ultimately cool.

T

T

he singer has planned an extravagant two-day fiesta to celebrate her 30th birthday this weekend, and is treating her best friends and family to an all-expenses paid trip to the US. A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Cheryl’s been through so much in the past few years, and she’s actually really proud to reach the age of 30. She’s not one of these girls to mope about her age, instead she sees it as a great chance to celebrate. “So, along with Tre [Holloway] she’s been planning this party for ages.

She wanted to treat those closest to her, that’s why she’s paying for their flights and five-star accommodation out there.” Aside from her dancer beau Tre, Cheryl will be joined by her former Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh as well as close family members as they hit the town for a wild night out. The insider added: “She’s got the whole weekend worked out - slap-up meals, cocktails, champagne, shots and lots of dancing. It’s a chance for everyone to let their hair down and go a bit wild.”

he ‘White House Down’ actress has daughter Ramona, six and 14-month-old Gloria Ray with husband Peter Sarsgaard and while she admits she isn’t perfect, she says she now makes much less mistakes than she used to when she first became a mother. She told People: “When my first daughter was born, I remember going out without a diaper and she had pooped all over herself. I had nothing to change her into, nothing to clean her with. I don’t know why no one told me I would need a diaper bag. “I feel like having things thought through actually let’s you be a much more relaxed and cool mother. “I have learned to have things together, and always check my bag before I leave the door.” Maggie also baby proofed her homed, which helps her to feel more relaxed about parenthood. She said: “If you baby proof, you can relax.

Like the kitchen area in my house. I know that if I close the bathroom door, then there is pretty much nothing that my daughter can get into that will be harmful.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

lifestyle

Drake performs at the ‘Made In America’ music festival, in Philadelphia. The rappersinger is up for 12 honors at the 2013 BET Awards, including five nominations for video of the year, which has 10 nominees. — AP photos

S

inger Beyonce will kick off the first BET three-day music festival on Friday, ahead of the BET awards this weekend, as the network hopes to attract more fans to music and comedy by black artists. The annual BET awards, now in its 13th year, celebrate black musicians, actors and athletes across a variety of categories spanning music, film and sport. It is televised on the cable TV network BET, Black Entertainment Television, part of Viacom Inc. The BET Experience is the first weekend music festival to be hosted by a television network, BET said in a statement.

Stephen Hill, president of music programming and special events at BET Networks, said the music festival aims to give

Nicki Minaj performing at the O2 in London. Minaj, who has won best female hip-hop artist for three consecutive years at the BET Awards, is up for the honor again with little competition.

fans a more inclusive experience. ìWhat we noticed through the years was that people would come out. They had tickets to the awards and theyíd come for the weekend ... and people came just to be in the atmosphere of the awards, even if they didnít have tickets,î Hill said.

Male artists lead this yearís BET awards nominees with R&B singer Drake landing 12 nominations, followed by rappers Kendrick Lamar and 2 Chainz with eight nominations each, and rapper A$AP Rocky with five. Rapper Jay Z, singer Justin Timberlake and R&B crooner Miguel picked up four nominations each, while Rihanna led the female artists with three nominations. Beyonce and Nicki Minaj scored one nod each.

Melanie Fiona opens for Beyonce during the ‘Mrs Carter Show World Tour 2013,’ at the BET Experience music festival on Friday June 28, 2013, in Los Angeles.

Film nominees include Jaden Smith, Oscar-nominated newcomer Quvenzhane Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson, Halle Berry and Kerry Washington. Olympic gymnast Gabrielle Douglas, tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams, and basketball star Kevin Durant are among the sports nominees. Ahead of Sundayís awards ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, the network will host numerous events at the LA Live collection of venues ranging from small clubs holding a few hundred people to the Nokia Theater, which can host an audience of more than 2,000.

BET said it is expecting about 100,000 people to attend events during the festival, which will include film screenings, comedy concerts, celebrity appearances and musical

performances. Snoop Dogg, Miguel, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole are among the top-billed performers at the BET Experience. Tickets start at $49 for individual performances to almost $4,000 for an all-access package. Hill said he hopes the variety of artists and performances will entice fans. ìPeople have encouraged other people to sample more music from different genres, different eras. Festivals are catered to that,î Hill said. — Reuters

Lebanese women pose with their dogs during the Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) dog show in Beirut yesterday.

A Lebanese man stands with his dog in the arena during the Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) dog show in Beirut, which holds contests to name ‘best dog’, ‘cutest puppy’, and ‘best dog costume’ in addition to 12 other categoriesyesterday. The show is one of BETA’s major fundraisers to try to improve the welfare of animals in the region and to stop the abuse against them. — AFP photos

L

ooking to tap into the Chinese entertainment industry? If you’re going to succeed, you’d better go native. Larry Namer, co-founder and president-CEO of Metan Development Group - which delivers Western entertainment to China and produces content in China to be sold to the international market - explained the importance of immersing yourself in Chinese culture at TheWrap’s conference TheGrill on Friday at the AFCI Locations Show.

“There are huge cultural differences,” Namer told Sharon Waxman, the site’s editor-in-chief, who hosted the keynote interview. “The one thing we found when we decided to go there, when they invited me to start doing stuff, I first looked and asked why have most western media companies failed in this market. “It’s not hard to figure out that if you don’t really plan on being in China and plan to manage it from Australia, it’s not gonna work,” Namer told Waxman. “If you’re going to do business in China, you have to be in China, you have to immerse yourself in the culture, you have to have an incredible amount of patience. They don’t do stuff the way we do. They’re not going to do it just because we say, ‘This is the way we do it.’”

Namer noted that companies “got spoiled in that post-Soviet era where, in eastern Europe and Russia, everybody wanted to either be American or be in America or move to America.” Such is not the case in China, he assured attendees at TheGrill. “I can guarantee you, people in China are really, really happy being Chinese. They don’t want to be America; they want to learn about America, they want to learn about the things we do, they want to learn about our places, but they are not sitting there

A Lebanese woman walks with her dogs in the arena yesterday.

going, ‘Boy, I cannot wait to become like an American.’”

As to the specific differences between the western and Chinese way of doing things, Namer offered, “they work on different time frames.” He noted his experience on one project, where he visited the set three days before the shoot was scheduled to begin and was surprised that nothing had been built and that the crew didn’t seem to be concerned. By the day before the shoot, the set had been completed. “Sometimes you just learn close your eyes and somehow they manage to get it done,” Namer said. “If you’re looking at it from western standards you kind of lose your mind ... but at the end of the day, it still gets done.”

Namer also noted that, whereas western productions prefer to use computerization to minimize labor, “in China it’s like, ‘Why invest in computers when you can just have an extra 100 people work on a project?’” Content approval is also an issue.

He noted that scripted dramas need to be submitted for approval at various stages but that the process “is not terribly difficult if you understand” it. “If that’s your goal is to go in there and tell them to free Tibet, that’s not your place,” Namer admitted. Still, Namer said, the differences are matched by the opportunities in China. Namer sees a particular need for writing talent in China (“there are certain skills that are not developed there; writing skills are incredibly worshipped there”), and believes that Metan could grow into a billion-dollar business in the next few years. —Reuters

“I

ron Man 3” has made more money in China than any other US production this year, grossing more than $125 million at the box office to-date. That’s almost double what “Man of Steel,” which opened to $117 million in the US, is on track to make.

SO WHAT WAS THE SECRET? Chris Fenton, president of the movie’s co-financier and coproducer DMG Entertainment, credited pressing the right levers with the Chinese film commission. “‘Iron Man 3’ was as much an act of diplomacy as a movie or a piece of business,” Fenton said Friday during a keynote speech at TheWrap’s TheGrill @Locations Conference. DMG is one the top companies producing movies in China, partnering with Hollywood studios and production companies to secure release for its movies in the world’s secondbiggest market. That means consulting with Chinese officials in advance, casting Chinese actors and, in the case of “Iron Man 3,” releasing a different version of the movie in that country. “As a conglomerate of partners, we decided let’s do what’s for the best of the movie around world, but put in extra bonus footage for the Chinese to say, ‘Hey look, this stuff was great but didn’t perfectly fit into what we were trying to get in there - but it was too good not to use,’” Fenton said.

Yet Fenton emphasized there is no universal solution. Every film requires a different approach, which is where DMG’s background in advertising and marketing proved vital. Selling the

A Lebanese man holds his dog and a prize during the Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) dog show in Beirut yesterday.

Chinese on “Twilight” required looking at the success of movies like “Titanic” and playing up the Romeo and Juliet nature of the love story. With “Resident Evil 4,” DMG pointed to the volume of pirated DVDs sold from earlier movies in the franchise.

When it came to “Looper,” Rian Johnson’s time travel thriller, DMG suggested a much bigger alteration, pushing Johnson and his producers to change a major part of the movie. The future was going to take place in France. DMG suggested changing that to China. While the producers were initially wary, the suggestion paid off when they began to show tests of the movie. One of the crowds’ favorite lines came when Jeff Daniels advised Joseph Gordon-Levitt not to move to France. “He says, ‘I’m from the future, you don’t wanna go to France you wanna go to China.’ It was great to see that test well,” Fenton said.

While most in the United States view the Chinese as being repressive and restrictive in limiting what movies can play- and what they say - Fenton argued there was nothing unique about China’s behavior. “If the roles were reversed, the US would be using the leverage they have,” Fenton said. “You see it every day with different trade issues - tires, chicken meat, auto parts - all kinds of little trade imbalances. They do like western movies, but they also give an edge to its own industry so it can get on solid footing.” Yet, as with everything, there are limits. “We’re not telling Marvel to call [Captain America] Captain China.”— Reuters

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

lifestyle

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ox’s “Glee” is saying goodbye to several fan favorites. Original cast members Dianna Agron, Heather Morris, Mark Salling, Amber Riley and Harry Shum, Jr won’t be returning as series regulars next season, though they may make guest appearances, individuals close to the production confirmed to TheWrap. A representative for show producers, 20th Century Fox Television, declined to comment. All five actors started with the musical series back in 2009. On the last season, “Glee” saw some big changes as new students joined and several characters moved on to their lives after McKinley High. The series was partially set in New York City to accomodate new storylines for stars Lea Michele and Chris Colfer.

Quinn (Agron), Puck (Salling), Mercedes (Riley) and Mike (Shum) graduated on

Season 3. Heather (Morris) graduated this past season and the undercover brainiac accepted an offer to attend M.I.T. in Cambridge, Mass. In April, Fox granted an early renewal to the Ryan Murphy production for an additional two seasons. While the series still performs well on the network and reached cult status among viewers very quickly, its viewership has flagged some over its run. At its height during Season 2, “Glee” averaged 10.11 million viewers per episode versus Season 4’s 8.26 million. TVLine was the first to report the cast changes.— Reuters

A woman holds an inflatable banana as she watches Dizzee Rascal perform on the Pyramid main stage at Glastonbury, England. Thousands of music fans have arrived for the festival to see headliners, Arctic Monkeys, Mumford and Sons and the Rolling Stones.— AP

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Toddlers Annabel (left) aged three and Olivia Green, aged five, enjoying ice-cream while being pushed along in a wheelbarrow by their father David, at the Glastonbury Festival. — AP

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ritish indie rock band Arctic Monkeys cranked up the volume to end the first day of the Glastonbury festival on Friday when the sun emerged after 18 hours of rain to brighten up the mood. The band from Sheffield in northern England began by blasting their new single “Do I Wanna Know?” to about 100,000 high-spirited revelers from the main Pyramid stage at the world’s largest greenfield music festival in southwest England. “We’re going to play all night long Glastonbury. Does that sound good?” yelled frontman Alex Turner to the screaming crowd which has been arriving at the sprawling 900 acre (365-hectare) farm site since Wednesday.

The band was the headline act of the day which started at 11 am when Liam Gallagher, who led the 1990s supergroup Oasis with his brother Noel, kicked off three days of music with his band Beady Eye at one of the event’s 58 stages. Beady Eye’s appearance was meant to be a surprise but ended up being one of the worst kept secrets of the 2013 festival after Gallagher was spotted arriving earlier in the week. Despite vowing never to play at Glastonbury again after criticizing the event in 2004, Gallagher began an hour-long set with the hit “Flick of the Finger” and pulled out crowd pleasers like “Morning Glory”.

“It’s never too early for a bit of rock ‘n roll aggro, is it?” said a black-clad Gallagher wearing a pair of sunglasses despite the overcast skies. Other acts on Friday included Sinead O’Connor, Dizzee Rascal, a red-clad Rita Ora, and up-and-coming Bastille. The year’s main act, the Rolling Stones, will play on Saturday, with frontman Mick Jagger and his designer girlfriend L’Wren Scott tweeting their arrival on Friday, including Jagger posing outside his yurt, a Mongolian-style tent favoured by well-heeled campers known as glampers.

British folk rockers Mumford & Sons will play the main stage on Sunday. About 135,000 music fans have paid 205

t might only be rock’n’roll but, 50 years on, Mick Jagger still likes it - and insists he will keep going as long as fans want to see the Rolling Stones, set to headline the Glastonbury festival. Jagger, who turns 70 next month, said the once-controversial band still had comment to make on what was going on in the world, even if its voice seemed tamer than it once did.

He said the Rolling Stones actually never set out to make waves in the 1960s, when their drug use, love tangles and rebellious stage attitude shocked audiences and the band was blamed for fuelling social unrest and falling moral standards.

“We just set out to be a blues band and just behaved as we always had and like kids always behave,” Jagger told BBC’s Radio 4 Today show, ahead of the Stones’ debut performance at Glastonbury. “We were sort of sidetracked into this social thing by the mood of the times and of the times themselves, which were galloping on,” he said. “The last song that I wrote, that I put out, called ‘Doom and Gloom’ is actually mostly social comment. It’s very tongue-in-cheek social comment but it’s still social comment,” he said.

pounds ($315) a ticket to attend the festival about 130 miles southwest of London. It began as a retreat for 1,500 hippies in 1970 who paid one pound and got free milk.

True to Glastonbury’s alternative roots, the festival includes music of all genres. This year there are 2,000 acts, with surprising choices including US country star Kenny Rogers, octogenarian British TV presenter Bruce Forsyth, and chanting monks.

Performers dance at the Shangri-La late night party zone during the third day of the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts near Glastonbury, southwest England. — AFP

The Rolling Stones’s appearance at Glastonbury, the world’s largest greenfield music festival, comes as the band celebrates 50 years in the music business, which involved a North American tour this year and some sell-out dates in the UK this summer. Festival founder Michael Eavis, who started Glastonbury as a gathering of about 1,500 hippies on his farm in 1970, has publicly delighted in finally persuading the band to play the festival that now attracts 135,000 fans or more.

As the headline act, the Rolling Stones will top a day that also includes performances by Billy Bragg, Elvis Costello, Primal Scream and Noah and the Whale. Glastonbury is known for megastars but also for variety, with 2,000 acts on 58 stages over the three days. Some of the more surprising acts this year include US country music star Kenny Rogers, octogenarian British TV presenter Bruce Forsyth and a group of chanting Tibetan monks.

In the lead-up to the festival, Jagger tweeted that he would be staying in a yurt, a Mongolianstyle tent, at Glastonbury, where a working farm turns into a tent city for five days, but his loca-

Solange Knowles, younger sister to 2011 headliner Beyonce, played one of the smaller stages on Friday.

Glastonbury was not held in 2012 due to the London Olympics. But not all the performers were so keen on the rural setting or the 18 hours of rain that temporarily turned the site into a massive mudpit as is tradition at Glastonbury which frequently falls foul of Britain’s fickle summer weather. British rapper Wiley arrived but quickly turned around

Festivalgoers walk around the camping site on the fourth day of the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts near Glastonbury, southwest England yesterday. — AFP

tion remained a secret ahead of the band’s performance. Asked if his hyperactive stage performance tired him now that he is knocking 70, Jagger admitted, “occasionally”, but said he had no plans to quit and would go on as long as people wanted.

But while still enjoying his career, Jagger said he had wondered in the past about doing something else, such as dancing, being a teacher or even a journalist. “I don’t feel frustrated ... but obviously, you would have liked to have done, everyone wants to have done, more things in their lives,” Jagger said. “But it’s a slightly intellectually undemanding thing to do, being a rock singer but, you know, you make the best of it.”—Reuters

and left, apparently abandoning his one-hour DJ-slot on Saturday, tweeting complaints about the weather and his payment. “Ya know what .. en route to heathrow realtalk ..

Lol,” he tweeted. “I don’t have to play there.” — Reuters

Nile Rodgers of Chic performs at Glastonbury Music Festival site at Glastonbury, England on Friday, June 28, 2013. — AP

‘Glee’ Cast Shakeup: Five original cast members out

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

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his July, and throughout the Holy month of Ramadan, Jumeirah Dhevanafushi and Jumeirah Vittaveli will be inviting guests to mark the month with an exclusive stay in the Maldives. Those looking to observe the occasion with family or friends in idyllic surroundings can take advantage of a range of additional services and enjoy specially arranged Iftar evening meals to break each day’s fast.

Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, situated in a privileged and secluded location at the southernmost tip of the Maldives, is an ideal location for reflection during Ramadan. Guests will be treated to complimentary dates and Arabic sweets to enjoy between dusk and dawn, and Ramadan juices including flavors such as date, apricot, rose and kamardine - will also be available upon request. For the Iftar meal, fine-dining restaurant Johara will feature an Arabic area, whilst a family-style dinner menu will run at beachside restaurant Azara.

An Arabic style Suhoor menu is available from in-villa dining at any time of day for those who wish to dine early in the morning before the fast begins again at sunrise.

Guests can also mark the end of each day’s fast with a trip to Khibar to enjoy a sunset selection of shisha prepared by the barman, as well as fresh juices and dates. And to celebrate Eid, a special Arabic Buffet will be held on Saturday 10 August.

Guests wishing to celebrate Ramadan a little closer to MalÈ can choose Jumeirah Vittaveli, a stunning resort just a 20-minute boat ride from MalÈ International Airport.

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oul music legend Stevie Wonder says he’s toying with the idea of including a gospel song in Arabic on an upcoming album dedicated to his mother. “Gospel Inspired by Lula” is among several projects that Wonder, 63, has going right now, he told Rolling Stone in an interview posted Tuesday on the pop culture magazine’s website.

“We’re going to do some traditional gospel stuff, but I’m thinking about doing a gospel song in Arabic,” he revealed.

“I’m going to twist it all up in different ways, because I think everyone needs to hear the word of the gospel ...

whether they read the Koran, the Torah or the Bible, whatever they read.” Wonder’s mother, Lula Mae Hardaway, the daughter of a poor Alabama sharecropper, was credited as a co-writer on several of Wonder’s songs including “I Was Made to Love Her” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.”

She died in Los Angeles in May 2006 at the age of 76. “I promised her I would do it,” said Wonder, who hosted singer John Legend’s induction into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame on Saturday. “She always wanted me to do it before she passed away.” Wonder’s other projects include a collaboration

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Guests can break each day’s fast in-room with complimentary Ramadan essentials such as dates, buttermilk & watermelon juice. Then continue the evening at BAR-EE as dates, Arabic sweets, fresh juices, Turkish coffee and shisha are served to accompany the sunset.

Those staying on half or full board can choose to dine on a specially created Iftar menu served in Samsara from 7pm to 10.30pm, or indulge with in-villa dining between 6pm and 11pm. And, instead of a traditional breakfast, guests can opt for a Suhoor menu served in-villa between 12 am - 6 am before the fast begins again.

To mark the end of Ramadan, guests will also be treated to two nights of celebrations. On August 7, an ‘Arabian Night’ will take place at Samsara with a live four piece band, local belly dancers and a fire dancer. Half and full board guests can also enjoy a complimentary Arabian style buffet. Then, on August 8, an ‘Arabian Tribal Night’ will take place at signature restaurant Mu with traditional Arabian food and plenty of entertainment. The Ramadan room and dining services are available from 9th July until 7th August at both Jumeirah Dhevanafushi and Jumeirah Vittaveli.

with Canadian producer David Foster that will see him recording both old and new material with a symphony orchestra. “All of these are coming out relatively soon,” the entertainer said, “but I never put a time on things, because the most important thing is that it’s good.”— AFP