pt Io n rI BS c SU THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF
40 PAGES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010
JAMADA ALAWAL 21, 1431 AH
‘Butcher of Mumbai’ awaits sentence
Tornado kills at least 22 in southern US PAGE 9
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NO: 14719
Spanish face transplant patient goes public
150 FILS
Kiwis cruise to Super Eights PAGE 18
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Lawmakers propose all-female police stations By B Izzak, Agencies KUWAIT: MPs have proposed that each governorate should have at least one allfemale police station in a bid to deter abuse and sexual harassment against women detainees. Members of the parliamentary human rights committee presented the proposal to the interior minis-
Legal panel nods ban on bank interest ter after a noticeable rise is cases of abuse against females held in police stations’ detention centers. Committee member MP Waleed AlTabtabaei said that such police stations
would be completely managed by an allfemale force. In his part, MP Faisal AlDuwaisan made a proposal for the Ministry of Interior to allow recruiting female bedoon police officers and security
guards to work at police stations in guarding female detainees. “Panel members further asked the minister to establish a department concerning with human rights, which would be consulted before
putting any suspect under arrest,” the lawmaker told Al-Watan yesterday. Tabtabaei revealed that the interior minister has called for a two months’ period to reconsider the issue of natural-
izing 14 martyrs. He further indicated that the minister had shown positive reaction to the issue that has been raised recently. The time limit is required by the ministry to study matters pertaining with the security constraints and martyrdom proofing certificates. In another development, the legal and legislative committee Continued on Page 14
Espionage case takes new turn DUBLIN: A passenger takes a nap in the flight departures area of Dublin Airport, as the return of the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud caused travel misery for thousands of air passengers with hundreds of flights canceled yesterday. — AP
Spy cells operate in Gulf states: Kuwaiti MP By B Izzak, A Saleh, Khaled Abdullah
‘Summer of uncertainty’ Volcanic ash threatens airspace DUBLIN: Iceland’s volcanic ash threatened European air space once again yesterday, forcing Ireland and some North Atlantic islands to temporarily shut down airports for the first time in 12 days. Eamonn Brennan, chief of the Irish Aviation Authority, warned of “a summer of uncertainty” in the air due to the continuing eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokul volcano. In Brussels, European
Union transport ministers held another emergency aviation meeting and emerged vowing that reforming the continent’s patchwork air traffic control system into a one seamless airspace was a “top priority.” Germany and France also demanded binding rules to determine when airspaces should be closed and planes grounded because of volcanic ash. Continued on Page 14
Settlers blamed for mosque fire NABLUS: The Palestinian president warned yesterday that a fire in a West Bank mosque he blamed on extremist Jewish settlers could endanger Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, just before they are set to resume. A statement from his office said Mahmoud Abbas called the fire a “criminal” act that “represented a threat to the efforts to revive the peace process” because the Israeli army protects the settlers. The fire ripped through the mosque in the village of Luban a-Sharkiyeh early yesterday, but by nightfall it was not clear whether it was arson, as Palestinians charged, or accidental, as Israeli media reported. The incident came as US mediator George Mitchell was working
to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace contacts after a halt of more than a year. Mitchell is set to mediate indirect talks toward a peace accord. He plans to start his mission today by meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The mosque fire destroyed holy books and prayer carpets. Although there were no witnesses, Jibril Al-Bakri, the Palestinian governor of Nablus, said it was an act of arson. The mosque has been undergoing renovations, but village mayor Jamal Daraghmeh said there was no fire in the area where the work was taking place. He added that settlers attacked village property in the past. The Israeli military said it was working with Israeli police Continued on Page 14
WEST BANK: A Palestinian man and an Israeli soldier inspect the damage caused by a fire, at a mosque in the village of Luban a-Sharkiyeh yesterday. — AP
-ROME: Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (right) greets the Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah prior to their meeting at Villa Madama yesterday in Rome. — AFP
KUWAIT: A spy network Kuwait busted for allegedly for Iran’s working Revolutionary Guards is operating in other Gulf Arab states, a hardline Islamist lawmaker said yesterday. “Investigations have indicated that the network is active and present in most other Gulf states,” MP Mohammad Hayef told reporters outside the Parliament. “High-level (security) meetings are taking place between Gulf Arab states to follow up on the latest development of the spy cells. Gulf states must take a united decisive position toward Iran,” Hayef said. The lawmaker, who did not elaborate on the source of the information, called on Gulf states to review their relations with Iran to force it to halt such practices. Hayef urged the Kuwaiti government to reveal the identity of the spy cell members and those backing it inside and outside Kuwait. He also reiterated calls for Kuwait to expel the Iranian ambassador. Hayef, who is from the ultra-conservative Salafi sect of Islam, is well known for his anti-Iranian stance. A government spokesman said on Monday that Kuwaiti security agencies have been questioning a number of suspects in connection with the spy cell. But Mohammed AlBaseeri declined to give details on the number of suspects, their nationalities or the charges against them. He Continued on Page 14
Fleeing ‘bomber’ confesses Pakistani-American seized aboard Dubai-bound plane NEW YORK: A PakistaniAmerican man arrested as he tried to flee the country has confessed to the failed bomb in New York’s Times Square and will be charged with international terrorism, US officials said yesterday. Faisal Shahzad had “provided valuable intelligence and evidence” to interrogators,” said FBI Director John Pistole. Officials suggest the plot, initially believed by analysts to resemble a “lonewolf” attack, in fact stretched all the way to Pakistan, where Shahzad, a naturalized US citizen, was born. In Karachi, security officials said they had detained two people based on telephone records connecting Continued on Page 14
BRIDGEPORT: A house at 119 Long Hill Ave in Shelton, Conn is pictured yesterday. It is the former home of the suspect Faisal Shahzad (inset) who was arrested at New York’s Kennedy airport in connection to the failed Times Square car bomb. — AP
KUWAIT: Kuwait Workers Federation held a demonstration yesterday at its premises in Maidan Hawally. The workers protested against what they called the government’s unfair selective process of giving pay raises to employees of certain ministries while neglecting others. The event was attended by MPs Salem Al-Namlan, Musallam Al-Barrak, Faisal Al-Duwaisan and Khaled Al-Tahoos. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat
Iran summons Emirate envoy ‘Iran challenging US naval power’ TEHRAN: Iran summoned the United Arab Emirates charge d’affaires in Tehran over a war of words about three Gulf islands that both countries claim as their territory, a foreign ministry spokesman said yesterday. “The UAE’s charge d’affaires was summoned to the foreign ministry and was issued a stern warning,” Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters at a weekly press
briefing in response to a question. “There was also a meeting held in the UAE, and they were conveyed the displeasure of our officials towards their unmeasured statements,” he said. The UAE’s highest diplomatic representative in Tehran is its ambassador. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahayan last month Continued on Page 14
US declares its nuclear arsenal 5,113 warheads in nuke stockpile WASHINGTON: The United States has disclosed for the first time the current size of its nuclear arsenal, lifting the veil on once top-secret numbers in an effort to bolster non-proliferation efforts. The Pentagon said it had a total of 5,113 warheads in its nuclear stockpile at the end of September, down 84 percent from a peak of 31,225 in 1967. The arsenal stood at 22,217 warheads when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. The figure includes warheads that are operationally deployed, kept in active reserve and held in inactive storage. But it does not include “several thousand” warheads that are now retired and awaiting dismantlement, the Pentagon said. “The United States is showing that it is being increasingly transparent,” a senior US defense official told reporters at the Pentagon. “It’s part of our commitment ... to set the stage for strength in non-proliferation and for further arms control.” The official declined to offer the Pentagon’s estimate for Russia’s arsenal and renewed calls for greater transparency by China, saying
there was “little visibility” when it came to Beijing’s nuclear program. The United States is also pushing for a new round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. By releasing the data during the nuclear NonProliferation Treaty review conference, analysts said the United States was trying to show it is cutting its arsenal so as to help persuade other states to tighten the global non-proliferation regime. “It is hugely important for the United States to be able to say, ‘Look we are living up to our obligations under the NPT,” said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. The disclosure comes less than a month after President Barack Obama unveiled a new policy restricting the US use of nuclear weapons and signed a landmark arms reduction accord with Russia. Obama, who won a Nobel Peace Prize in part for his vision of a nuclear free world, has also renounced the development of new atomic weapons. Continued on Page 14
NATIONAL
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Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Private sector employees decry unfair treatment
Senior expat nurses in govt hospitals await pay revision By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Many of the senior nurses employed with the Ministry of Health are patiently waiting to receive salary increments that were promised years ago. “They promised salary upgrades a long time ago. Senior expatriate nurses have been demanding salary revisions after it was reportedly noticed that newly-hired nurses were being paid higher wages. The nurse said that the Ministry of Health (MoH) has been providing assurance to rectify the matter since 2003, but nothing has happened. In early 2000, Kuwait upgraded the newlyhired nurses’ basic salaries from KD 165 to KD 360. This amount was again re-adjusted to more than KD 400. However, newly hired nurses have benefitted the most from the move, while the basic salaries of senior nurses
with years of experience have remained untouched. Many of the senior nurses view this decision as demeaning. They argued that even though more experienced than new nurses, their demands were either hotly debated or ignored by the Civil Services Commission (CSC). The senior nurses’ reactions coincides with the Kuwaiti Cabinet’s recent approval of a number of financial incentives and allowances for Kuwaiti employees of various government bodies and departments including engineers, pharma-
They said again that we would definitely receive salary increments this month. How true is this - we don’t know as yet. We were promised the same many years ago. We believed and waited for so long. Unfortunately, we have not received it to this date,” admitted a senior nurse who requested anonymity.
cists, social workers, Kuwaiti accountants holding the necessary qualifications, law professionals, Kuwaiti cabinet secretariat employees, Bachelor’s degree-level economists, port employees and workers in the Public Authority for Housing Welfare and Environment Public Authority. Monthly allowances/bonuses paid will fall between KD 70 and KD 300. Kuwaiti private workers also expressed disappointment over granting allowances to government workers. “ I am sad because we do not get the same privileges that
have been accorded to the private sector. I think, if they are really concerned about the welfare of each and every citizen, they should consider granting the same amount to private sector employees. How can they (the government) encourage citizens to work in the private sector if we are always neglected and not granted the same privileges as the government employees,” said a visibly dissatisfied Kuwaiti citizen working in the private sector. While expatriates do not compete for privileges like their Kuwaiti colleagues, they
Amendments soon to housing law
ROME: His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah speaking at a reception organized by the Kuwaiti Embassy yesterday. It was attended by Italian businessmen and economists including the chairman of the Italian industries union, chairman of the Italian chamber of commerce and the chairman of the Arab-Italy chamber of commerce. —Photos by KUNA
Kuwait pays great attention to development: Sheikh Ahmad ROME: Kuwait Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs, Minister of State for Development and Minister of State for Housing Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah said yesterday his country was paying great attention to manufacturing industries, services and infrastructure projects. Speaking at a reception organized by the Kuwaiti Embassy for Italian businessmen, Sheikh Ahmad said the government of Kuwait had approved a mega multi-billion-dinar medium-term development plan. He said the public and private sectors would join hands in the implementation of this plan. Sheikh Ahmad said the government is investing heavily in energy, transportation, communications, education, health, electricity and water. “We are very keen on
finding a relationship and partnership in fields of chemicals, defense and roads, and we welcome the newcomers who will have a chance,” he said. Sheikh Ahmad said the Kuwaiti companies would have a good competitive environment in Kuwait. Italian deputy minister of economy and finance said the economic relations with Kuwait were progressing. He said Italy has sophisticated technologies in defense and oil. He noted that both countries would sign an environmental document tomorrow. Deputy chairman of the Italian industries union called on the Kuwaiti government to concentrate on infrastructure and that Italian companies were good in infrastructure projects. He said Italian companies were ready to contribute to development in Kuwait.
Two cooperation deals were signed yesterday between Kuwait and Italy with the attendance of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Sheikh Ahmad Fahad AlAhmad Al-Sabah, signed an agreement for bolstering cooperation in the environmental and sustainable development sectors with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini. Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce and Industry Ahmad Rashid Al-Haroun signed a tourism developagreement with ment Frattini. After the signing, Prime Minister Berlusconi held a luncheon in honor of Sheikh Sabah and the accompanying delegation. —KUNA
in the news Al-Sour channel KUWAIT: The return of the controversial Al-Sour satellite TV channel to Kuwait’s airwaves was brief, with transmissions being ended within a few minutes, although on this occasion this was apparently due to technical problems rather than political intervention. Former parliamentary candidate Mohammad Al-Juwaihel, the owner of the troubled channel, which has been shut down a few times in recent months, issued an assurance that the break in transmissions was due to technical difficulties, reported Al-Anba. The prominent media figure asserted that these are due to the channel being broadcast from a country “on the other side of the planet,” although he refused to name the nation in question. Al-Juwaihel reiterated his earlier statement that the channel’s audience and those mentioned would have “an appointment with several surprises when we resume broadcasting,” apologizing for the technical problems.
KUWAIT: The parliamentary women’s affairs committee yesterday completed its amendments to Kuwait’s housing legislation (Law No. 47), which will see Kuwaiti widows and divorcees and Kuwaiti women with nonKuwaiti husbands given equal housing rights to their male compatriots. Committee chairperson MP Dr. Maasouma AlMubarak said that according to the new amendments, the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) will be compelled to provide housing for women on the same basis as it is for men. The committee chairperson said that in the event of any housing tenant’s death, a proposal to transfer residency should be preceded by notification to the surviving family members. She also proposed that ownership documents should be granted to a property’s occupant 15 years after they are given the house by the PAHW. Dr. Al-Mubarak explained that several of the new amendments had been introduced to ensure that the original occupant of the home could not deprive their children of either sex of their inheritance rights, revealing that an agreement had been reached to establish a committee for resolving disputes among the surviving family members of any deceased tenant or owner. —KUNA
Factories licenses KUWAIT: Director of the Environmental Public Authority (EPA), Dr Saleh Al-Modhhi announced that their board of directors will recommend withdrawing the licenses of several factories, reported Al-Rai. The recommendations will be issued to the supreme environmental council regarding the factories that have been found not observing safety and environmental regulations. Those factories include four that were shut down a week earlier for the same violations. Al-Modhhi added that violating factories will be closed for another week before referring the whole issue to court in order to permanently close the facilities if the same violations are repeated.
NA panel approves KFAED restructuring KUWAIT: The parliamentary committee of legislative and legal affairs yesterday approved a number of bills, including those related to restructuring the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and matching public sector workers’ salary levels, while rejecting a proposal to lift the parliamentary immunity of three MPs. Committee chairman MP Hussein AlHuraiti, said in a statement issued following the committee meeting that the proposed law concerning KFAED calls for increasing its capital from KD 2 billion to KD 10 billion, and for its duties to be expanded to include the financing of Kuwaiti shareholding companies in the
country. In the statement, Al-Huraiti explained that the committee also gave its blessing to the draft law for parity in civil service salaries, as well as supporting some amendments to the media law to ensure equal opportunities for parliamentary candidates to promote their manifestos and themselves via the audio-visual media. He further revealed that the committee rejected a bill to lift the parliamentary immunity of MPs Musallam Al-Barrak, Mohammad Hayef and Khaled AlTahous, as well as another bill calling for stricter penalties to be imposed against those who assault police officers, service-
request the concerned government agencies to monitor the prices of basic commodities. They often react to the news of salary adjustments/allowances on a pragmatic note. “We cannot compete with the blessings that Kuwaitis have been receiving from their government. It is the prerogative of the government and citizen. Concerning expats, I just hope that salary adjustments will not affect us. This is because, most of the time, for every salary revision made, the prices of basic commodities soar,” an expatriate teacher pointed out.
Women’s rights KUWAIT: MP Dr Waleed AlTabtabae said that the persistence of the Parliament’s women’s affairs committee to fragment the women’s civil and social rights bill was against the National Assembly’s instruction to study the whole bill and decide on it collectively, reported Al-Rai. Furthermore, AlTabtabae said that the Parliament would not consider any fragmentation of the bill and that they would vote on the whole bill.
men and members of the National Guards. Al-Huraiti also stated that the committee had rejected a bill for setting up a financial investigative authority, on the grounds that the Audit Bureau performs this job sufficiently well. The committee did, however, give tentative approval to proposals to ban banks from charging interest, to prevent any move to increase the number of days off due to family emergency from four to eight and to establish a support authority for small enterprises. The MP added that the committee also rejected a bill to allow prisoners’ family members visiting periods of 48 hours. —KUNA
Rights authority
KUWAIT: During a visit to Kuwait, Prince Andrew the Duke of York yesterday visited the Gatehouse Bank in Al-Dhow Tower in the Sharq district. Accompanying the Duke of York on the visit was Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Dr Ibrahim Duaij AlSabah. Prince Andrew also visited Dar Gulf Consult in the Shuwaikh industrial zone. —Photos by KUNA
CAIRO: Kuwaiti MP and Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Parliamentary Caucus Mubarak Al-Khurainij asserted here yesterday that a central international authority must be established to investigate the implementation of human rights laws worldwide. Speaking before the start of the second regional conference of Arab parliamentarians assigned with protecting human rights, Al-Khurainij said that the meeting would see discussion of human rights issues on the regional and international levels.
GDDC organizes lectures for school pupils KUWAIT: The General Department of Drug Control (GDDC) yesterday held a seminar at a local intermediate school on the subject of combating the use of drugs and raising awareness of their dangers among school pupils. The speakers at the seminar were Dr. Ayed Al-Humaidhan, an expert in drugs and psychotropic substances, and Captain Thamer Al-Ajri, the head of the GDDC’s narcotics awareness department.
The event was held as part of the activities of the Sixth Conference on Combating Drugs in Intermediate and High Schools. Dr. Al-Humaidhan said that the recent fall in demand for drugs was due to increased social awareness of their harmful effects and called on drug addicts to seek help and accept treatment to overcome their addiction, pointing out the law protects those addicts who submit voluntarily to treatment.
Captain Al-Hajri, meanwhile, listed the various types of drugs that had been seized by the GDDC and explained the methods used by drug dealers to attempt to encourage drug use among children. He urged the school pupils to avoid this destructive path by staying close to God, surrounding themselves with positive friends and being obedient to their parents, further recommending that they follow the advice of specialists in this field. —KUNA
national
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
3 No end in sight for problem
Um Al-Haiman residents to file case against polluters By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The residents of the Um Al-Haiman area are suffering from a pollution that has caused serious diseases and harm to residents for the past nine years. Residents have held many protests and strikes during these years, the most recent of which was just two days ago. The problem today
KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receiving at Seif Palace yesterday Saudi Arabia’s Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and High Commissioner for Military Affairs Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Al-Saud. — KUNA
Saudi minister visits Kuwait KUWAIT: Saudi Arabia’s Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and High Commissioner for Military Affairs Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Al-Saud arrived here yesterday on a two-day official visit. Prince Khaled was accompanied by a delegation grouping the Saudi Crown Prince’s
Advisor Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Sultan Al-Saud. The visit comes in response to an invitation from First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad AlSabah. Prince Khaled was received at Kuwait International Airport
by Sheikh Jaber, Chief of the Kuwaiti Army Chief of Staff Lt Gen Sheikh Ahmad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, Saudi Ambassador in Kuwait Abdulaziz Al-Fayiz, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Hamad Jaber AlAli Al-Sabah, and Acting Undersecretary of Defense Sheikh Ahmad Mansour Al-
Ahmad Al-Sabah. He was also received by Director of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister’s Office Lt Gen Saleh Meshari Al-Humaidi, members of the military defense council, Defense assistant undersecretaries, and members of the Saudi Embassy here. — KUNA
in the news
KUWAIT: An employee of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hazardous Materials Center in action. — Photo by Hanan Al-Saadoun
Man pours acid into sewage holes to ward off insects By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The Fire Services Operation Center recently received an emergency call about leakage of toxic substance in a house situated in Adan. The Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hazardous Materials Center responded immediately and discovered that the house owner had poured acid into the house’s sewage holes in an attempt to ward off insects. The material was highly concentrated, and emitted noxious vapors which
caused strongly affected residents, causing sewage pipes to explode. Firemen aerated the house to get rid of the poisonous fumes and evacuated people. The Mubarak Al-Kabeer Fire Center Director Colonel Walid Al-Ansari said that the material used would have led to death in some cases, and warned citizens and expats against their usage. Sabhan suicide The body of a 30-year-old Bangladeshi man was found by
colleagues hanging from the ceiling in the building in Sabhan where they worked, in an apparent suicide. The body was removed for autopsy and an investigation is underway into the case. Car accidents A seven-year-old Kuwaiti boy suffered fractures to his left thighbone and right arm when he was hit by a car. The child was first taken to Bayan Health Center and later to Mubarak Hospital.
EC activities KUWAIT: The Entertainment City (EC) will host several activities and programs in May, announced Head of the Activities and Programs Department of the Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC), Anwar Al-Nisf. The month-long celebrations will be held as part of the company’s commitment to provide visitors with the best quality services throughout the year. The programs will include several entertaining activities, as well as shows for children, in addition to an offer in which visitors receive a free entrance ticket for every two tickets bought. Furthermore, Al-Nisf noted that starting from Monday May 10, the Entertainment City will remain open from 5:00 pm until 1:00 am every day except Sunday. Entry will be restricted to female visitors on Monday. Labor cooperation KUWAIT: The National Union for Kuwait Laborers and Employees held a meeting recently with the Kuwait Society of Engineers (KSE). They discussed ways to bolster cooperation, and as a result, several decisions were made including one to come up with a joint mechanism to discuss the situations of technical workers in State facilities.
kuwait digest
Rethink needed from health minister few days ago I went to the local polyclinic to have my regular sugar level check-up since I am diabetic, writes columnist Hamad Nayef Al-Enezi in AlJarida. As I approached the receptionist’s window there, I spotted an announcement stating that only one month’s worth of medications would be dispensed at a time, with patients needing repeat prescriptions required to complete this medication prior to returning for more. After having my blood sugar level checked by a nurse, I saw the doctor, who prescribed me some new medicine based on tests carried out ten days earlier. As soon as he’d finished writing the prescription, he told me, “I hope it’s available...otherwise you’ll have to buy it from outside.” On hearing this, I asked him, “What’s going on with medicine here?” He explained, “We have shortages nowadays.” When I asked him why these shortages are happening, he only smiled enigmatically and silently handed me the prescription. I then went to the pharmacy, discovering that the doctor had prescribed one two-milligram tablet of Amaryl to be taken four times daily, as opposed to the two three-milligram and one two-milligram tablets I’d been taking. I queried the change with the pharmacist, who told me that this is all that’s available now! Two days after this, I met a friend who’s a
A
diabetes specialist. I told him what had happened to me and he told me, smiling, that these are the blessings given to us courtesy of the health minister’s latest decision, adding, “You should be grateful you found the medication, next time will be worse!” He then explained what happened over a fortnight ago when the health minister met with diabetes specialists to tell them about his latest directives. These include an order that expatriate patients receive the same medicines as Kuwaitis, with expatriates previously getting different medicines. At one time, apparently, the health ministry preferred to give Kuwaiti patients the more expensive medications, such as, for instance, longer-lasting dosages of Amaryl effective for 24 hours, while the expatriates would receive the cheaper dosage which worked for only 12 hours and had to be taken twice a day. My friend told me that when some of those specialists present at the meeting protested, saying this would create more headaches for them with troublemaking patients, the minister told them, “Those who make problems - give them [what they want].” Of course, I don’t expect that these were the minister’s exact words - I certainly hope not. I wouldn’t find it too hard to believe that he did say this, however, since this is the government’s policy, only bowing to pressure from those who cause problems and give it a headache. For this reason, the num-
bers of those with loud voices have increased since they realize that their gains will be higher and their benefits greater with a government whose “brains are loaded,” which actively seeks to avoid trouble with anyone. This is why when anyone causes a problem it gives them whatever they want and treats them wonderfully. The worst aspect of all in this matter, however, is what took place after the minister issued this decision, with doctors thereafter stopping writing down the medications prescribed in patients’ files, through which they calculated the quantities dispensed for each patient so that there was no wastage. Now things are far less strict and one day soon we’ll see the ministry’s medicine supplies leaking out to anyone who fancies them. Indeed, a few days ago customs officials smuggled an attempt to smuggle prescription medicines worth thousands of dinars in a truck travelling from Kuwait to a neighboring country! Dear minister, you are not the only one who loves, appreciates and sympathizes with expatriates, as well feel these things and more, but there are always priorities which must be observed, and the first of these is that Kuwaitis deserve the ministry’s medicines more than others, especially when there are shortages. We hope, therefore, that you will reconsider this decision or at least postpone its introduction until we’re ready to implement it.
Some wonder why the residents of Um Al-Haiman don’t just sue the government, or those who have caused the problem. “We will in fact file a case in two or three weeks,” exlained Ahmad Al-Shrei, head of the Environmental Protection Committee of Um Al-Haiman. “We waited all these years because we only had our personal evidences, without official data. Now, we have collected clear and official evidence that will strongly support our case. Some of the data we gained is from honest individuals working in the factories responsible for the pollution,” Al-Shrei stressed. Al-Hajiri stated that a resident of Um Al-
still has yet to be solved. Environmental activist Khalid AlHajiri, President of the Green Line Group, expects the problem to expand beyond just an environmental issue. “After the last strike held by the residents of Um Al-Haiman, this local problem may spread into an international one,” he told the Kuwait Times. “Many countries ignore minor problems that later grows into international issues.”
Haiman already filed a case with the court against the government regarding the harmful pollution of this area. “I think the case was transferred to the ‘experts department’ to be reviewed from a technical aspect,” he said. According to Al-Hajiri the main problem is the lack of environmental legislation. “We don’t have complex environmental laws in Kuwait and this harms our environment. Also, the other problem is the appointment of unqualified people by the Environmental Public Authority. All this increases the environmental problems in the country,” he pointed out.
The residents of Um Al-Haiman don’t trust the government, or the Parliament anymore. “We have to go to the court to find a solution to our problems,” said Al-Shrei. “We received many promises from the government and Parliament but nothing changed. They only formed committees and we didn’t see results. Also, the team of Japanese experts that visited the area about three years back issued a report not in our favor. It was a big lie by the union of factories. Today though, we have strong evidence and we believe in our case,” he concluded.
CSC set to permit allowances hike KUWAIT: The Civil Service Council (CSC) called for a meeting next week in order to permit additional allowances to employees working in state facilities, reported Al-Qabas. The adoption of the new allowances will raise the total amount of allowances to KD 170 million and benefit less than 10,000 employees annually. Official sources warned that should the Cabinet enforce the new allowances it may hurt the social security department. The Council is set to discuss
the allowances of employees with the Ministries of Information, Public Works, Social Affairs and Labor and the Municipality. According to sources, this indicates that they are giving a higher priority to unions with louder complaints. The source also added that the CSC has become unable to reject allowance appeals and that they send each application to the Cabinet without discussing its eligibility. The council’s justification for
passing the new allowances, to encourage employees to work hard during the upcoming development plan, raises suspicion. The council has ignored all previous demands from the general secretariat of the supreme council of planning and development, the main supervisor of the country’s five-year plan. In another development, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) has come up with a plan to unite the country’s coops, reported Al-Qabas. The ministry will control the prices
of goods by imposing stricter supervision and cooperating with several governmental directorates. The ministry will use this approach to further develop coops in the country and the attempt will be paired with efforts from the new co-op law to help solve several of the problems co-ops are suffering from. The ministry hopes to reinforce the true concept of the cooperatives, which is to put the social aspect of this work ahead of the financial.
KUWAIT: Participants of the beach cleaning campaign pose for a group photograph.
Agility holds beach cleaning campaign KUWAIT: As a part of the activities held to celebrate Earth Day, Agility, a leader in global logistics, recently staged a number of environmental clean-up exercises, in Kuwait and elsewhere in the world, as well as organizing an ongoing recycling awareness campaign at Al-Kout beach. For the past three years, Agility employees have participated in similar events to commemorate Earth Day, both in Kuwait and at Agility’s facilities elsewhere in the world. Each year, this event sees Agility employees come together to fulfill their commitment to giving back to the local community. For Earth Day 2010, Agility’s Kuwait offices held a whole month of activities that included not just a beach clean-up but also a carpool week, where employees commuted to the office with colleagues, and a residential recycling campaign to raise awareness among the general public of the importance and impact of recycling. On April 17, around 100 Agility employees and their families gathered at a beach on Blajat Street in Salmiya early in the morning to do their bit for the environment. As a result of this event, nonbiodegradable material, including leftovers from BBQs and meals, such as aluminum foil and wrappers, Styrofoam containers, plastic bottles and toys, cigarette butts, ropes, etc. were removed from the beach. All the recyclable material collected was separated and taken away by the Metal & Recycling Company (MRC), a leading provider of waste management services, for
processing. Although the day started off with a horrible “Sarayat” seasonal storm, with winds reaching up to 120km per hour, the spirit of all those involved could not be blown or washed away by the wind and rain. All the items collected were dutifully recorded to measure the environmental impact. This data will be provided to an international marine conservation organization for research purposes. In addition to the Blajat Beach Cleanup, Agility DDKS led an environmental awareness campaign at Al-Kout beach aimed at raising awareness amongst the general public of the importance of recy-
cling. Four recycling stations, each containing separate receptacles for plastic, paper and aluminum, were placed along the beach. Agility employees and their families also came out last Saturday, to staff these recycling stations, as well as erecting two permanent signs reading ‘Earth Day, Every Day’ which offer tips on how to recycle and keep Kuwait clean. These events also saw the participation of staff from the National Aviation Services (NAS) and the Metal & Recycling Company (MRC). Globally, Agility employees organized environmental events, including tree planting and beach clean-ups, in
Pakistan, Indonesia, Slovenia, Italy, Germany and the US. Mariam Al-Foudari, the Vice President of Agility’s Enterprise Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility Program, said: “It’s great to note that more than 1,000 Agility employees participated in our Earth Day programs around the world. By participating in such voluntary activities, our employees demonstrate their commitment to the communities that we live and work in, which is the basis of our Community Volunteer program. We look forward to doing many more such activities that increase environmental awareness in Kuwait.”
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NATIONAL
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Serious steps toward handling critical issues
Kuwait preserves progressive place in press freedom By Nisreen Zahreddine KUWAIT: The International World Press Freedom Day featured many words and speeches on the challenges the press faces in order to maintain their freedom. The press faces many challenges, such as maintaining their objectivity while informing their audience. Secretary General of United Nations, Ban KiAli Al-Alass, who works at Al-Rai newspaper, said that press freedom in Kuwait is limited by the laws and restrictions of the country. He added that this matter differs from one newspaper to another, and that some papers have a larger margin of freedom than others. In his opinion, it depends mostly on who the owner of the paper is. Ali pointed out that some issues are ‘red lined,’ meaning that no one really talks about it. Feryal Al-Attar, a journalist working with Al-Nahar newspaper, has a positive view of press freedom in Kuwait.
“Kuwait is the second best Arab country with press freedom after Lebanon” she said. She explained that one of the advantages in Kuwait is that it does not have a ‘yellow press.’ She said that Kuwait has a meaningful press which has helped establish many laws that provide freedom and development in the society. She admits though that there are some restrictions when handling certain issues, especially if it has to do with the ruling family or the regime directly. This, in her opinion, puts Lebanon ahead of Kuwait in press freedom. In Lebanon, a
Moon held a speech in honor of the day and several opinions were shared on the occasion to discuss the obstacles facing the press industry, especially in the Arab world. On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the Kuwait Times took the opinions of journalists working in Kuwaiti newspapers. Many commented on the level of restriction in newspapers while others spoke on the positive trend of the Kuwait press. journalist can criticize and affect public opinion, even if that means criticizing the regime or even the country’s president. Feryal, an expat journalist working in Kuwait, demanded changes on article 35 of the publishing law to ensure more freedom for the Kuwaiti press. She said that expat journalists should be given the right to vote in the Kuwait Journalist Association. Sleiman Al-Bzoor, another journalist working in Kuwait, talked about the companies who pay newspapers to publish their news constantly, which in his opin-
ion, opposes press freedom. On the other hand, he commented on the positive trend of open minded newspapers giving attention to cases of human rights and women’s rights. He pointed out that those new newspapers are giving Kuwait a new experience. In all cases, the Kuwaiti press has taken serious steps toward handling critical issues that are a major concern to the Kuwaiti people and the Arab world. This certainly helps make Kuwait a real competitor in the freedom of press in the Arab World.
Female funeral home staff face discrimination
KUWAIT: The organizing committee of the National Voluntary Work Program of the Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) recently conducted its second awareness seminar at Mishref Secondary School for girls. It was held under the patronage of the Hawally Governor, Retd Lt Gen Abdullah Al-Fares. Speaking at the seminar, head of the Supreme Committee for the Ideal Family Award, Sheikha Fareeha Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah hailed PAYS’ role in enhancing and boosting voluntary work, and the spirit of patriotism and loyalty to Kuwait.
KUWAIT: A Municipal Council member has asked council head Zaid Al-Ajmi about the council’s refusal to allow Kuwaiti female funeral home staff to prepare the bodies of deceased women for burial. Councilor Ashwaq AlMadhaf raised the issue with Al-Zaid after Al-Watan journalist Aziza Al-Mijref condemned the council’s policy on this matter in a column in the paper. AlMadhaf also said that the council’s funeral homes department had rejected applications from female Kuwaiti applications to work there, while accepting applications from Asian and other Arab women. Al-Madhaf asked the council head which regulations were used to justify these employment policies and whether any directive exists which bans Kuwaiti women from performing these duties.
AMMAN: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Jordan Sheikh Faisal Al-Homoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah yesterday stressed the importance of knowledge exchange between countries, which is an important priority in Kuwait and Amman. “The Jordanian experience of educational staff members has contributed to education in Kuwait and lead to renewing our educational exchange of views,” said Kuwaiti ambassador while meeting with Jordanian educational figures. Such visits between educational delegations from Kuwait and Jordan aim to update educational institutions with recent development in this sector, he added. — KUNA
NATIONAL
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
5 Illegal car racing and reckless driving
Youths stone patrol vehicles in Sulaibiya KUWAIT: Two police patrol vehicles were stoned and damaged by youths in Sulaibiya, reported Al-Rai. The patrols were assaulted after reporting to a location where illegal car racing and reckless driving was taking place. The police called for backup and arrested the assailants. Meanwhile in Jahra, two groups of youngsters got into a brawl after one group hit the other’s vehicle while driving recklessly. Knives and other light weapons were used in the brawl and several of the fighters were injured. Police responded to the scene and arrested the brawlers. The injured were taken to Jahra Hospital.
kuwait digest
Don’t worry, we’re a superpower!
‘K
uwaitis are the world’s kindest and most loving people. They naturally reject violence and prefer enjoying good relations with everybody. This is why Almighty Allah has rewarded their kindness by making Kuwait a peaceful country, preserved it against enemies and made the whole world stand up to defend it when it was invaded,’ wrote Dr Wael Al-Hasawi in his Al-Rai column. ‘However, Kuwaitis must realize that we should not be rest assured that this state would go on forever. We should not stop preparing to confront potential enemies and foil their hostile schemes and plots. Otherwise, we’d be complete idiots,’ remarked Al-Hasawi. He pointed out that members of the terrorist cell that were recently arrested in Kuwait were linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. They are a dangerous indicator of Kuwait’s vul-
nerability, particularly since the cell includes citizens (including a police officer), Iranians and a bedoon. They contained lists about other Kuwaiti officers and weaponry, and even had connections with an official in the Iranian embassy. He added that despite Kuwait’s and Iran’s denial about the cell’s connections with the revolutionary guards, what mattered was that some people were actually plotting to bomb Kuwait, stating that Kuwait’s domestic security was dangerously and strongly breached while ‘We are sound asleep and unaware of the enemy’s schemes and plots,’ he stressed. Furthermore, Al-Hasawi reminded that Yemen was so peaceful and that the Hothis tribe posed no threat to its security until ‘the enemies’ brainwashed and armed them to act as a source of trouble to the whole country. ‘It took thousands of troops from other countries to get rid of them just
like what happened in Lebanon when Iran supported Hezbollah, financed and armed it. The situation is the same in Iraq where Iran sent armed militia, and trained them to achieve its agenda. Iran also occupied three Emirati islands, claimed Bahrain, infiltrated into Sudan, Algeria, Morocco and other places. Some of us still argue that Iran has the right to possess peaceful nuclear weapons as if we don’t realize that Iranians’ real intention behind this demonstration of power,’ he concluded. He went on to recollect an anecdote about ‘an idiot who was alarmed that his country was on fire, and remained indifferent as long as the neighborhood was safe. He was then told that the fire had spread to his neighborhood and argued that his house was still safe and intact. When he was told that the fire had reached his own house, he blamed everybody for warning him when it was too late,’ Al-Hasawi wrote.
Road accident An Asian man was seriously injured in a car accident on Fahad Al-Salem Road in front of the Justice Palace, reported Al-Watan. The accident occurred when his vehicle slipped on the wet pavement and crashed into a light post. Rescue teams were forced to cut the vehicle open in order to rescue the man and paramedics admitted him to Amiri Hospital. An investigation into the accident was opened at the nearest police station. Kidnap A female citizen in her fifties was kidnapped by her non-Kuwaiti ex-husband, reported Al-Watan. The woman was kidnapped along with her maid while the two were near the Riqqa Co-op. The ex-husband forced his wife to fingerprint a number of documents and returned her and the maid to where he picked them up. The woman reported to the area’s police station and informed authorities. The ex-husband has been summoned for questioning. Egyptian injured An Egyptian man struck a citizen in the head with a can while at a supply store, reported Al-Watan. The incident occurred after the
Rights record KUWAIT: Kuwait’s record on human rights is very satisfying, said the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr Mohammed Al-Afasi. Al-Afasi added that Kuwait was very keen on stabilizing its human rights record, and that it had signed various international treaties on this regard, reported Al-Rai. He also highlighted that Kuwait had always and voluntarily supplied aid to those in distress out of humanitarian concern, without facing any external pressure.
Gulf Bank wins KBC football cup
The Gulf Bank team celebrate their victory.
KBC officials pose with the winning team.
KUWAIT: The Gulf Bank was recently crowned as the champion of the Kuwait Banks Clubs (KBC) Football Cup Tournament for the third consecutive year. It defeated the Kuwait Finance House (KFH) in the final match held at the Arabi Sports Club with a final score of 2 - 1. The KFH team began the match strong with a goal scored in the first half by Husain Abdulhafeez. However, the Gulf Bank took control in the second half, managing to score the equalizer with Abdullatif AlHamad. The winning goal was scored in the final minutes by Mohammad Amir. After the match, Head of the KBC Abdulmuhsin AlMarzouq handed the winning team with the championship trophy, while awarding the KFH team with the runner’sup trophy. The tournament’s best scorer, best player, and best goalkeeper were honored. A draw was later held for the audience in which several prizes were awarded.
A group photo with members of both teams taken before the match.
The tournament’s best scor- Bashir Nizar from the KFH KFH captain receives the run- Waleed Al-Huwailah receives er, Ali Subhi from the Gulf receives the best player ner’s-up trophy. the best goalkeeper’s trophy. Bank, receives his award. award.
Egyptian worker verbally assaulted the citizen’s wife following an altercation. While the citizen came to defend his wife, a scuffle between the two men occurred. The citizen was taken to Farwaniya Hospital with his head bleeding and filed an official report against the worker at a nearby police station. He was accused of verbal and physical assault. Musician thief A thief broke into the Ferdous Intermediate School and stole all the school’s musical instruments, reported Al-Watan. After authorities were informed about the incident, crime scene investigators responded to the scene to gather evidence. Failed theft An attempted home robbery in Naeem failed when a thief who broke into a home was injured after he slipped and fell on rain water, reported Al-Watan. The man of the house called authorities after he realized that his home was broken into and found a plastic bag containing jewelry and cash on the floor. Investigators responded to the scene to gather evidence in pursuit of the thief. Addict missing Fahaheel investigators are searching for a
drug addict who fled from an ambulance that was taking him to the hospital after he overdosed on drugs, reported Al-Watan. Authorities were called after the individual was found passed out in the parking lot of the Fahaheel Co-op. Paramedics responded to the emergency and tried to admit the man to Adan Hospital. However, the man escaped from the ambulance as soon as he regained consciousness, before it reached the hospital. Drug overdose A citizen died in his home in the Capital Governorate as a result of a drug overdose, reported Al-Qabas. He was found unconscious in his room by his brother, who placed an emergency call for assistance. Police and paramedics responded to the scene, but pronounced the man dead upon their arrival. A case was opened to investigate the matter further. Child found Hawally police found a three-year-old child who left his family’s apartment in Maidan Hawally and disappeared, reported AlSeyassah. After the family informed police about the incident, the child was found a few hours later near a local Indian restaurant.
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NATIONAL
Students discuss liberal arts in Kuwait KUWAIT: The American University in Kuwait, the country’s first private liberal arts university, faces a challenge in establishing a liberal arts curriculum in the divergent educational culture of Middle East’s Gulf Region. Yet its partnership with Dartmouth, which includes the transfer of students between the two institutions, has demonstrated the benefits of a liberal arts education and may serve as a model for other colleges and universities in the Middle East, students said in a teleconference discussion held in the Haldeman Center on Monday. In the discussion, “Reviving Aristotle in Arabia: Promoting the Liberal Arts in the Gulf Region,” two Dartmouth students interning at AUK this term, Larry Bowman ‘11 and Nicholas Knezek ‘ 12, along with two AUK students explored the practical and cultural challenges of establishing a liberal arts curriculum at AUK. The students also discussed making the philosophy of a liberal arts education relevant in the Gulf region. Matthew Forman ‘11, who spent last Fall in Kuwait, moderated the panel. By law, all private universities in the state of Kuwait are required to have international partner institutions. AUK, founded in 2003, chose Dartmouth as its partner institution “because of [Dartmouth’s] liberal arts focus,” according to a College press release. The relationship between Dartmouth and AUK has been extended until at least 2013. Anthropology professor Dale Eickelman ‘64, who serves as the relationship coordinator for the Dartmouth-AUK project, has organized video conferences between students at Dartmouth and AUK as part of the partnership.
“We have held video conferences with AUK to share classes, initiate an ongoing collaboration between the AUK Writing Center and Dartmouth’s Institute for Writing and Rhetoric and to share student views,” Eickelman said in an e-mail to The Dartmouth. “[As] part of a growing list of collaborative activities between AUK and Dartmouth, they demonstrate that globalization is reciprocal, unpredictable and dissolves boundaries of geography and time.” Most other universities in Kuwait and the region subscribe heavily to the traditional learning method of memorization and regurgitation, according to Forman. The curriculum at AUK focuses less on memorization and encourages students “explore a specific idea, create arguments and express their thoughts in writing,” Forman said. As a newly established institution, however, AUK is still struggling to define its learning environment, Forman said, adding that there may be “cultural forces working against the AUK.” For example, classrooms at AUK are segregated by gender, although men and women are allowed to interact freely outside of the classrooms. Forman said he believes gender segregation may not be the best policy for AUK to pursue in the long run, because “learning takes place both in and out of the classrooms.” Forman is one of more than 20 Dartmouth undergraduates who have held internships at AUK since 2005. While at AUK, Forman’s responsibilities included working on the Arabian Heritage Project, a cultural preservation
center at the university, according to its website. He also led a reading group in an intensive English program and helped with Voice of AUK, AUK’s student newspaper, Forman said in an interview with The Dartmouth. The main challenge of living and working in Kuwait was learning to be culturally sensitive in a very different social environment, Forman said. Forman’s interactions with AUK students and his experiences working in Kuwait helped to “[break] down some of the notions that [he had received] from the media,” specifically those pertaining to the Middle East, he said. Forman said he met an Iraqi student at AUK who described the 2003 American invasion of Iraq as “one of the best days of [his] life,” because he felt that the American troops were stationed there to provide safety and security to his community. Nur Soliman, a senior at AUK who interned at the Hood Museum of Art and audited geography and art classes at Dartmouth last Summer, said she learned what it “[meant] to be a liberal arts student” during her stay in Hanover. “Dartmouth has a very diverse academic environment,” Soliman said during the panel. “The behavior of Dartmouth students are very different from that of AUK students.” As part of the partnership, Dartmouth students can apply for internships in various academic departments at AUK. In exchange, AUK students travel to Dartmouth for internships over the Summer terms, according to Laurel Stavis, executive director of the Dartmouth-American University of Kuwait Project. — Agencies
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Focus on e-government projects
Kuwait-Singapore ties ‘deep-rooted’ SINGAPORE: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Singapore Abdulaziz Al-Adwani said here yesterday that Kuwait ties with Singapore have developed continuously. The exchange of visits between the two countries strengthened the mutual relations, he said, on the sidelines of a meeting with a Kuwaiti delegation taking part in the e-government services conference here. KuwaitiSingaporean relations at all levels are special, he said, adding that the Singaporean leadership was keen on developing ties furthermore. The visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, when he was prime minister, and the visit of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to Singapore have helped in a remarkable promotion of joint ties, he said. A number of agreements in several fields were signed during the two visits, he noted. The aim of the current visit of Kuwaiti officials to Singapore is to benefit from the country’s expertise in many fields, including electronic services, information systems, and communications, was significant, he said. Singapore is a world leading country in e-government services, he said. The Ambassador praised Kuwaiti investments in Singapore, pointing out that Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), Kuwait Finance House (KFH), National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), Agility, and several Kuwaiti businesses have remarks here. In 2004, Kuwait and Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the preparation for the e-government project in Kuwait. In 2005, another MoU was signed by the two countries on the execution of Kuwaiti projects in the e-government field. Meanwhile, visiting Kuwaiti officials affirmed here yesterday that it was important to benefit from the Singaporean experience with the cyber and electronic application field, transferring such expertise to Kuwait. The officials partaking in the e-government services conference here said that such applications would shorten the time for finalizing government transactions and would lessen bureaucratic procedures. IT official at Kuwait’s Public Institute for Social Securities (PIFSS) Ahmad Al-Haddad said the Kuwaiti participation mainly aimed at benefiting from the eapplications experience from participating states. Head of training at Kuwait Program for restructuring the State’s workforce, Tareq Al-Kanderi said on his part that hopefully the participation would lead to less bureaucratic procedures in governmental institutions,
a notion in line with the government development plans. Sabah Anan, official at the Civil Service Commission (CSC), revealed that more than 30 Kuwaiti government institutions were partaking in the event which showcased Kuwaiti eagerness for e-development. In another development, the Embassy of Kuwait in Singapore announced yesterday it has published a book titled “Singapore the State and Relations with Kuwait.” Deputy Chief of the Kuwaiti mission here Mohammad Al-Zu’abi said the book contains 80 pages, indicating that the preparation took almost a year. Al-Zu’abi said that the book deals with bilateral relations between Singapore and Kuwait and stages of development of such ties at the political, economic spheres, and Kuwaiti investments in Singapore, in addition to the agreements and memoranda of understanding and official visits between the two countries. He added that this book also contains valuable information about Singapore at all political, economic, social and health levels, besides trade agreement between the GCC and Singapore as well as its role in issues of Arab countries, neighboring and other countries. He pointed out that the book, which was directed in an exciting, smooth and simplified way to attract readers, would be distributed to the Kuwaiti missions and embassies abroad and to visitors and official delegations coming to Singapore to take advantage of its valuable content. He said that the Kuwaiti-Singaporean relations have been developing day after day on all levels, stressing the desire of political leaderships in both countries to develop relations significantly. —KUNA
SINGAPORE: The Kuwaiti delegation, taking part in the e-government services conference here, visited a private smart school in Singapore yesterday. The principal of the school said that learning in the smart school was based on providing curriculums through an integrated electronic wireless network. The network enables teachers, students and parents to interact with each other, he added. The school provided for every student a laptop and a mobile phone to get information via the internet whether in school or at home, he pointed out. — Photos by KUNA
MPW announces projects budget as councilors slam municipality KUWAIT: The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) has announced that it is set to launch a total of 115 projects, with the ministry’s projects budget for the 2010/2011 fiscal year set at KD 2.9 billion. The figures were announced on Monday by Assistant MPW Undersecretary for Financial Affairs Hamad Al-Ghareeb, who said that the budget would cover various infrastructure projects, including roads maintenance, work on sewage plants and other projects. Al-Ghareeb indicated that four of the 115 projects would be completed in the current fiscal year, namely the construction of the new MPW headquarters building and a new headquarters for the Central Investigation Department, as well as the construction of a new rehabilitation institution and preparing a new design for the Shuwaikh area’s sewage and rain drainage system. Meanwhile, several Municipal Council members have lashed out at the Kuwait Municipality’s legal department, accusing it of costing the state
budget an estimated KD 5.5 million loss due to the legal department’s lawyers’ lack of professionalism in handling a case filed by a citizen which the councilors allege led to the department losing the case. Councilor Mane’a Al-Ajmi called for the head of the legal department to be dismissed from his position, saying that the department chief’s failure to attend council meeting further proved his lack of ability in performing his duties. Another councilor, Jenan Bushehri, called on the department to respond to the accusations against it, reported AlWatan. Minister of Public Works and Municipality Affairs Dr. Fadhil Safar was not spared from the councilors’ criticism, facing renewed calls for his resignation. Councilor Faraz Al-Mutairi accused Dr. Safar of causing many of the problems currently facing the council, alleging that the minister had failed to demonstrate commitment to the government’s policy of reforms.
INTERNATIONAL
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
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US envoy in ME as hopes rise for new peace moves JERUSALEM: US envoy George Mitchell was back in the Middle East yesterday in his latest bid to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations stalled by a bitter row over settlement building. Mitchell’s return comes as the two sides were poised to resume their socalled “proximity talks”-indirect negotiations aimed at kick-starting the peace process which broke down 18 months ago. The talks are widely expected to be relaunched in the next few days.
As Mitchell touched down in Israel late on Monday, US President Barack Obama called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to press home the urgent need for fresh talks with the Palestinians. Mitchell was to hold consultations with his team yesterday ahead of talks with Israeli officials on today, a US embassy spokesman said. He is expected to meet with Netanyahu today, and with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Friday.
Mitchell hopes to get the two sides to begin indirect talks, after direct negotiations were halted in December 2008 when Israel launched a devastating 22-day military offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians had agreed in March to take part in the proximity talks but pulled out after Israel announced plans to build 1,600 homes in mainly Arab east Jerusalem. The deeply controversial move angered Washington and came as US Vice President Joe Biden was in the region to
promote the negotiations. During his 20-minute conversation with Netanyahu, Obama pressed the importance of “substantive” proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians, and on the need for direct contacts to start soon, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. Netanyahu had on Monday met with regional broker and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for talks focused on the resumption of indirect talks.
Abbas, who is currently in Saudi Arabia as part of a regional tour, is also expected to hold talks with the Egyptian leader on Thursday to discuss the peace process before returning to Ramallah. After his talks with Mitchell, the Palestine Liberation Organization is expected to endorse the resumption of indirect negotiations on Saturday, according to top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat. The Arab League gave its green light on Saturday for the indi-
rect talks to go ahead after the Palestinians received US assurances the east Jerusalem settlement expansion plan would be shelved. Israel has limited settlement construction in the West Bank, but the 10-month moratorium adopted in November does not include east Jerusalem, occupied and annexed in 1967 in a move not recognized by the international community. The Palestinians want the West Bank and Gaza for a future state, with east Jerusalem as its capital. — AFP
Palestinian police may patrol Abu Dis
Israel mulls more Palestinian security control in West Bank JERUSALEM: Israel is considering handing over security responsibilities to Palestinians in additional West Bank towns under US-backed plans for resuming peace talks, Israeli and Palestinian security sources said. The sources
NEW YORK: Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves after his address to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) conference at United Nations headquarters, Monday, May 3, 2010. —AP
Iran takes centerstage at nuclear treaty conference UNITED NATIONS: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seized center stage at the opening of a monthlong debate at the United Nations on how to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. But behind the scenes, UN Security Council powers were discussing ways to punish Iran for defying their demands that it curb nuclear activities that could be used to make bombs. The Iranian president used his platform as the only head of state to address the conference of signatories of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) to undermine growing momentum in the Security Council for a new round of sanctions. Speaking from the podium of the General Assembly Hall, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accused Iran of “flouting the rules” of the nonproliferation treaty with its suspect uranium enrichment program. “I hope that we can reach agreement in the Security Council on tough new sanctions,” Clinton told reporters, “because I believe that is the only way to catch Iran’s attention.” Earlier in the day, Ahmadinejad rejected such allegations about its nuclear program, saying Washington has offered not “a single credible proof” that Iran was seeking nuclear weapons. Iran says it only wants the technology for producing nuclear power. As the Iranian president spoke, the US delegation, of working-level staff, walked out of the General Assembly, joined by several European delegations, including the French and British. Lower-level Iranian officials sat through Clinton’s later speech. The rhetorical exchange between the United States and Iran dominated the first day of the month-long conference on how to improve the NPT. The treaty is formally reviewed every five years at a meeting of all 189 treaty members - all the world’s nations except India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea, all of which either have confirmed or are believed to have nuclear weapons.
While taking aim at Iran in her address, Clinton warned the delegates not to allow Tehran to distract them from finding ways to strengthen the enforcement of the treaty. “This treaty is weakened when a state flouts the rules and develops illicit nuclear weapons capabilities,” she said. “Potential violators must know that they will pay a high price if they break the rules, and that is certainly not the case today.” The review conference, which resumed yesterday, is meant to produce a final document pointing toward ways to better achieve the NPT’s goals of checking the spread of nuclear weapons, while working toward reducing and eventually eliminating them. Because it requires a consensus of all parties, including Iran, any final document would be highly unlikely to censure the Tehran government, which would block consensus. US officials have said they will be looking to isolate Iran at the conference and to produce an unofficial document calling for stricter enforcement of the NPT that could be signed by the overwhelming majority of signatory countries. On the conference’s first day, the United States was supported in its stance against Iran by top U.N. officials. Yukiya Amano, head of the UN watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency, leveled the specific indictment, saying his inspectors could not confirm that all of Iran’s nuclear material is devoted to peaceful activities. As delegates assess the state of the NPT in UN conference halls, American and European diplomats will be working elsewhere to reach agreement with the sometimes reluctant China and Russia on a fourth round of UN Security Council economic sanctions against Iran. In her address, Clinton proposed that the nonproliferation treaty be strengthened by introducing “automatic penalties” for noncompliance, rather than depend on such drawn-out council negotiations. —AP
Iraqis try to heal mental scars after years of war BAGHDAD: Jabar AbdulZahra’s flashbacks are so vivid he can feel the asphalt against his cheek that night six years ago when he lay pinned to the ground between his two critically wounded brothers, the three of them caught in the crossfire as American troops and local militiamen fought in a Baghdad neighborhood. The memory of waiting till dawn for the fighting to subside so he
could ferry them to hospital has overshadowed the grief he felt when one brother later died from his wounds. But the 43year-old computer engineer didn’t understand what was causing the flashbacks, or the palpitations and sheer terror that still overcome him whenever he sees people in uniform. Until he happened to get a contract to hook up the computers at a new center being set up
BAGHDAD: In this file photo, a man cries while searching for his son as smoke billows from a building after a double car bomb attack. —AP
in the backyard of the Imam Ali Hospital. There he met psychiatrist Haitham Abdul-Razaq and found out he was one of tens of thousands of Iraqis with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The mental trauma center was the first of its kind in Baghdad, part of a new push by Iraq’s Health Ministry to help Iraqis deal with the hidden stresses inflicted by the years of violence that followed the 2003 US invasion. In the past year, nine more such centers have opened across Iraq. “There is no doubt Iraqis have suffered some of the worst stress and trauma imaginable, but the hardest part is to get people to come here,” AbdulRazaq said. Since opening last fall, there have been only 200 patients at the center, in Baghdad’s Shiite slum of Sadr City. What deepens the problem in Iraq is the duration of the violence and how intertwined it has been with civilian life. Countless numbers have witnessed car bombings, when all that is left is parts of human bodies strewn about, or have endured the killings or torture of their relatives by militants and then similar attacks and violence occur repeatedly, even daily at some points in the 7year-old conflict, providing triggers for the afflicted to relive their own trauma, said Mohammed Al-Uzri, an Iraqiborn psychiatrist based at the University of Leicester, England. —AP
An Israeli security source said this week it is “an idea Israel is considering” if George Mitchell, US President Barack Obama’s Middle East envoy, succeed in resuming peace talks with Palestinians stalled since December 2008. Mitchell returned to the region on Monday in hopes of convening indirect or “proximity” talks in the coming days between the sides after an Arab League panel approved the idea at a meeting in Cairo on Saturday. Some Israelis see a handover of towns such as Abu Dis as a possible compromise after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not curb Jewish housing construction in occupied areas in and near Jerusalem, despite US calls to do so. But Netanyahu also faces pressure from pro-settler rightwing coalition allies to avoid yielding any further control over West Bank land, particularly in the environs of Jerusalem where a majority of settlers live. Israel captured East Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in a 1967 war and considers all of its Jerusalem its capital. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of the state they intend to create in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Confidence building Obama had asked Netanyahu when they met in Washington last month for a list of confidence-building steps to persuade Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has demanded a total settlement freeze, to resume peace talks. Palestinian security sources have said the United States also asked Israel to give Palestinians wider security control over some towns in occupied land, in addition to releasing prisoners and removing more roadblocks to allow freer movement. A Palestinian official quoting police in Abu Dis, who now number a handful of unarmed men, said this week they were told they would be given greater security control later this month, when they would be permitted to carry weapons. Under accords following a landmark 1993 interim peace deal, Israel carved up the West Bank into three zones, one where Palestinian police could be armed, another where security was a joint task with Israel, and an area in which Israeli forces remained solely in charge. The United States has in the last few years helped train Palestinian police now in charge of most major West Bank cities as a counterbalance to Hamas Islamist rivals of Western-backed Abbas. Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. But Israel has not permitted armed Palestinian forces to patrol in any West Bank town as close to Jerusalem as Abu Dis, and any Israeli agreement to do so could signal important progress was being made on a core conflict issue. Many Palestinians regard Abu Dis, a town of 12,000, as a part of Jerusalem, as symbolized by a university there bearing the city’s name, though the town is now isolated from the holy city by a cement barrier Israel built citing security reasons. — Reuters
named Abu Dis, a town at the edge of Jerusalem once seen as a possible Palestinian seat of government, as one of the more significant sites where Israel is weighing whether to soon permit armed Palestinian police to patrol.
CAIRO: More than 100 protestors and opposition MPs, surrounded by police, demonstrate near the parliament building in downtown to demand fair elections as well as an end to emergency laws and constitutional reforms. — AFP
Pavement becomes home for angry Egyptian protesters CAIRO: Mervat Rifai, a 34year-old mother of three, has like dozens of other civil servants and laborers been camping outside Egypt’s parliament building for weeks demanding better working conditions. She, like her fellow campers who have made the pavement their home, is determined not to leave until her voice is heard. Rifai left her children with family and neighbors in her small town in the Nile Delta governorate of Beheira to join the sit-in. “They totally ignore our claims. But we will stay here, because after all this I refuse to go home empty handed,” said Rifai, who works for an organization affiliated to the agriculture ministry. For more than a month she and her fellow demonstrators have occupied the pavement in front of the People’s Assembly 24 hours a day, sleeping on the ground and using the ablution facilities of a nearby mosque. “Our salaries are somewhere between 60 and 95 Egyptian pounds (11 and 18 dollars) a month,” Rifai lamented. The parliament building, in the heart of Cairo, has for several weeks also become the focal point for dozens of impromptu protests by Egyptians confronted with unemployment and the high cost of living. State employees, workers struggling since the privatization of their factories, and disabled Egyptians demanding respect for their rights have demonstrated tirelessly in front of the building. The protests and sit-ins, which the police have so far tolerated, reflect the profound social malaise in a country where, despite five years of economic reform, nearly 40 percent of the population lives around the poverty line. The discontent has not yet led to the wider civil disturbance that rocked the nation in the 1970s, with the phasing out of subsidies on food prices, or the strikes that affected Egypt’s industrial regions in 2007 and 2008. But inflation at around 10 percent, price spikes and a shortage of certain basic
goods, including household gas, diesel and beef, have heightened the sense of exasperation felt by swathes of Egyptians already struggling to make ends meet. On March 30, a court asked the government to agree to a
new minimum wage, which has been fixed at 35 Egyptian pounds (6.3 dollars) a month since 1984. On Sunday, several hundred protesters gathered outside government offices in central Cairo, amid a heavy police presence, to demand a
minimum monthly wage of 1,200 pounds (216 dollars). Egypt’s state minister for economic development Osman Mohammed Osman has indicated that a minimum stipend of 450 pounds (82 dollars) a month is being considered. —AFP
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New deadly scandal hits Russian prison system MOSCOW: Russia yesterday sacked a top official and opened a criminal case against another over the death in prison of an ailing woman in her early fifties, the latest negligence scandal to rock the Russian penal system. Vera Trifonova, the head of a real estate firm, died on Friday in Moscow’s notorious Matrosskaya Tishina jail while under pre-trial investigation for largescale fraud. She was suffering from diabetes and kidney failure and was also confined to a wheelchair, according to her lawyer and supporters. Her case was reminiscent of the
sudden prison death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who died of heart failure in November aged 37, also while in pretrial detention, sparking an outcry among rights campaigners. The Investigative Committee of the Prosecutor General said it had started a criminal case against Sergei Pysin, an investigator with the investigative committee for the Moscow region, who was in charge of Trifonova’s case. It said that the probe had been opened into charges of “negligence” against the official. A top official with the committee’s Moscow region
branch, Alexander Filippov, has been sacked, the committee said in a statement. President Dmitry Medvedev had ordered Saturday a full investigation into Trifonova’s death. Trifonova had been implicated in a case against a deputy from the Far East Magadan region accused of soliciting a 1.5 million-dollar bribe from a businessman. She had allegedly been involved in the talks between the two men. Her lawyer Vladimir Zherebyonkov said it was “universal indifference” that killed his client. Zherebyonkov told AFP he had sent some 30 to 40
official appeals, including to Medvedev and head of the investigative committee Alexander Bastrykin, in an effort to draw attention to Trifonova’s health problems. The judge had refused to release her on bail and Pysin, the investigator, told her she would only be released if she confessed, he said. Zherebyonkov said that he would seek punishment for the judge and other officials, adding that the charges of “negligence” against the investigator were too light. When she complained to prison doctors she had fluid building up in her lungs, Trifonova was
told she should “sleep standing up,” Zherebyonkov said. He put her age at 53, while the General Prosecutor’s Office said she was 52. Last year Medvedev pledged to overhaul Russia’s largely Sovietinherited prison system and sacked around 20 top prison officials. He has also signed a law banning the jailing of tax crime suspects. But human rights activists say the Kremlin and prison officials have not learnt any lessons from Magnitsky’s death. Valery Borshchyov, a member of one of Russia’s top rights organizations the
Moscow Helsinki Group, said he and his colleagues planned to send a protest letter to Medvedev and the chairman of Russia’s Supreme Court. “A tragedy repeated,” Borshchyov told AFP. “There was no serious investigation into Magnitsky’s death,” he added. Magnitsky’s death sparked an outcry from rights activists over the treatment of white-collar prisoners in the country’s notoriously overcrowded and virus-plagued prisons. The lawyer had repeatedly complained of “disgusting sanitation and poor hygiene conditions” and of being
denied medical treatment in jail in Moscow. His jail death cast a shadow over Medvedev’s presidency and the seriousness of his intentions to battle “legal nihilism,” a key plank of his presidential platform. Zherebyonkov said he did not blame Medvedev personally for his client’s death and emphasised he had seen some improvements in the country’s penal system over the past months. He expressed hope Trifonova’s fate would speed up reforms of Russia’s prison system. —AFP
UK parties eye deals with rivals ahead of elections Labor candidate says Brown is ‘Worst prime minister ever’
BELFAST: British opposition Conservative party Leader David Cameron (left) and Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Reg Empey (second left), talk with party supporters during an election campaign yesterday. —AFP
Tunisian woman fined for wearing veil in Italy Italy considering full veil bans like Belgium, France MILAN: A 26-year-old Tunisian woman has been fined for wearing a face veil while walking to a mosque in northern Italy, stoking an increasing debate on the integration of Muslim minorities in Europe. Police in the city of Novara, a stronghold of Italy’s anti-immigration Northern League, stopped the Muslim woman on Friday while she was walking with her husband to prayers wearing a black niqab that covered her face but left her eyes exposed. Police handed her a 500-euro fine under a bylaw introduced in January by the mayor of Novara which bans clothing in public that prevents identification by police. “We just enforced a local law that stops people from covering their face near sensitive places like schools, hospitals or post offices,” inspector Leonardo Borghesani said. “We understand the
fine is hefty, but she can appeal.” The Northern League, a coalition ally of conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, is pushing for legislation to outlaw face-covering Islamic garments in public. That would follow in the footsteps of Belgium and France, where similar laws are expected to come into force in the next few months. WOMEN’S DIGNITY Promoters of bans say the veils go against public security and negate the dignity of women. Initiatives towards a full veil ban have sparked protests from Muslim leaders in Europe, who resent laws that could discriminate against them on religious grounds. The woman’s husband defended the Islamic tradition. “I respect the Italian law. I have been living here for 10 years,” he told the Corriere della Sera newspaper. “But
Amel can’t be seen by other men.” The Northern League mayor of Novara said face-covering veils demean women. “We can’t accept cultures that destroy women’s dignity,” Massimo Giordano said in a statement. The controversy came a day after Belgium’s lower house of parliament gave initial approval to legislation that include fines of 15-25 euros and up to seven days in jail for those wearing a full facial veil. The Northern League has recently lodged a draft bill, which could be amended in parliament, that reflects the Belgian proposal but could lead to heftier fines of 250-500 euros. “Our law intends to favor people’s integration with the hosting country’s culture, not segregation,” the Northern League’s Paolo Grimoldi, who drafted the bill said. —Reuters
Tito remembered across the former Yugoslavia KUMROVEC: Across the former Yugoslavia supporters and diehard fans of Josip Broz Tito paid tribute yesterday to the late communist leader on the 30th anniversary of his death. In Tito’s birthplace Kumrovec, now in Croatia, the town was gearing up to welcome the hundreds of die-hard supporters who make the trek every year. Last morning the picturesque village in the hilly region of Hrvatsko Zagorje, near the Slovenian border was rather calm with a only group school children on a visit breaking the silence. “Who was Tito? He was a marshall, president of Yugoslavia,” said a 13-year-old boy asked about the late leader Josip Broz. In the village the elders recall Tito’s reign with nostalgia. “My generation was living better than today,” during Tito’s rule, Ivan Miksa, from Kumrovec, told AFP. “I did not feel his mistakes and we should leave it up to historians to make an evaluation of his
rule,” the 60-year-old concluded. A brief ceremony is due to take place at 3:00 pm (1300 GMT) in front of the house where he was born in 1892. The house is now a museum, with restored furniture, Tito’s pictures on the wall and a life-size statue in front. In the leafy Belgrade suburb of Dedinje, busses started arriving early at the The Yugoslav Museum of History, where Tito’s tomb is located, with people laying flowers at his grave. Long queues were forming outside. On the anniversary of his death the museum gets an average of eight delegations an hour from all over the former Yugoslavia. A woman in her 60s, who would not give her name, started crying when telling AFP what Tito meant to her. “I wish he could stand up from there and bring back the good old times,” she said. “Everything that he had given to us has been destroyed by the people who inherited it.” —AFP
LONDON: Britain’s political leaders planned to campaign through the night yesterday in a final push for votes, two days before a parliamentary election that opinion polls suggest will be the closest in nearly 20 years. Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Labor Party, in power since 1997, trails the opposition Conservatives by seven or eight points before the May 6 vote, according to the latest polls. That could give David Cameron’s centre-right party a slim majority in parliament or leave him just short of taking overall control of the lower house, depending on how the votes are spread across Britain’s 650 electoral districts. Cameron, keen to end his party’s 13 years in opposition and secure a solid majority, will campaign overnight on Tuesday, seeking support from the third of voters said to still be undecided. Brown, expected to match Cameron’s unprecedented campaign marathon, said he would “take full responsibility” if Labor loses tomorrow, but stressed his centre-left party was still in the race. “I still think there are thousands of people who have still to make up their minds,” Brown said in an interview with GMTV, a breakfast television program. His attempt to win a fourth consecutive election for Labor was undermined by one of his candidates who described him in a local newspaper interview as “the worst prime minister ever”, in part due to his crime and immigration policies. Manish Sood, standing for election in Norfolk, eastern England, told Sky News he stood by his comments: “All the policies he is bringing in are a total disaster.” Record deficit The Financial Times newspaper gave Cameron a boost, switching its support from Labor to the Conservatives. It said Cameron’s party will be better at tackling Britain’s record budget deficit and the recovery from the worst recession since World War Two. “We are taking absolutely nothing for granted,” George Osborne, the Conservatives’ finance spokesman and election co-ordinator said in a message to supporters. “I want us to fight to persuade every single voter that is still undecided.” Two of Brown’s senior ministers appeared to appeal to centre-left Labor supporters in some close-fought electoral districts to consider voting for the third party, the Liberal Democrats, to undermine the Conservatives. Welsh Secretary of State Peter Hain said Labor voters in marginal seats where either the Lib Dems and the Conservatives were likely to win, should “vote with their heads not their hearts”. Schools Secretary Ed Balls said he wanted to “keep the Tories (Conservatives) out” in very close districts. —Reuters
Mauritius polls highlight ethnic divide
KUMROVEC: A supporter of former Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito wipes her tears at his birthplace, some 100 kilometers north of capital Zagreb yesterday. —AFP
PORT LOUIS: Mauritius holds a parliamentary election today with Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam going up against the man he defeated five years ago, Paul Berenger, in a contest that highlights the nation’s ethnic divide. From 2003 to 2005 Berenger was the first Mauritius prime minister not of South Asian origin, the ethnic community that makes up more than 50 percent of the island’s population. “These elections will demonstrate that any Mauritian, irrespective of his ethnic origin or culture, can run for prime ministership on the basis of merit,” said 65-year-old Berenger. The Indian Ocean island comprises four communities: Hindus, Muslims, those of Chinese descent and Creoles-those with European roots and people of any origin other than the first three. —AFP
DONGO, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Local residents of the north western region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hold signs asking for help as they receive the top UN humanitarian official, John Holmes during a visit there on May 2, 2010. —AFP
New Congo rebel group sparks fears of unrest MBANDAKA: Eric Nkumu Bunita went to war armed only with some water and herbs he believed would protect him from gunfire. The skinny 27-yearold’s career as a fighter for Congo’s newest rebel movement lasted a mere four weeks. Captured after the group launched an attack on northwest Equateur’s provincial capital, Mbandaka, Nkumu can now only point to two gunshot wounds that mark his upper arm. Congo’s latest rebel movement, which Nkumu said is taking its orders from an exiled witchdoctor, is opening a new front in what was a relatively peaceful corner of this enormous Central African nation long brutalized by violent rebel groups. An estimated 100 people have been killed and some 200,000 others have been displaced from their homes in more than six months of fighting in which the rebels have defeated Congolese army troops several times, according to the United Nations. Experts say the country’s new rebellion is gaining support from armed militants loyal to Jean-Pierre Bemba, a warlord originally from Equateur province who is now facing trial at the International Criminal Court, as well as from disgruntled soldiers demobilized without benefits. The unrest in Congo’s poorest region began as a localized intertribal conflict in a decades-old dispute over fishing rights. Now a poisonous cocktail of local grievances in Equateur bodes ill for Congo as President Joseph Kabila demands that UN troops withdraw before the September
2011 presidential election. John Holmes, the UN chief for humanitarian affairs, visited Mbandaka over the weekend and warned in an interview with The Associated Press that the premature withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping force known as MONUC could worsen the situation in Congo. “If you withdraw that element of stability that is MONUC then other conflicts contained by the presence of MONUC may get out of control and you could find yourself in a much more dangerous situation,” Holmes said. Congo’s military says the situation in Equateur province is “under control,” downplaying the implications of attacks that have stretched the resources of the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping mission in the world and embarrassed the president. It is the latest unrest to roil Congo, whose people suffered through back-to-back civil wars from 1996-2002 that devastated the mineral-rich nation and dragged in the armies of half a dozen African countries. Adding to the misery, civilians in eastern Congo still face regular attacks from militia groups including Rwandan Hutus who perpetrated that country’s 1994 genocide. The UN reports at least 8,300 rapes were committed against women in eastern Congo last year, averaging 160 rapes a week. And in Congo’s northeast, the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army’s more than 20-year insurgency in Uganda has spilled across the border spreading terror. Human rights groups blame the LRA for massacres during
which victims were hacked to death with machetes and children were forced to kill other children. The new group, which calls itself Nzobo Yalobo according to Nkumu, has fed off of grievances about Equateur province being marginalized since its most famous son, former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, was ousted in 1997 by a rebellion that splintered the country among various warlords. The name means “new military groups” in the Lingala language, with the plural hinting at a variety of different parties involved. It’s also called the Independent Liberation Movement of the Allies. However, the Congolese government said the rebels are also known as Nzobo ya Lombo, or village bandits, and are led by the witchdoctor Ibrahim Mangbama. One month ago, this new rebel group in Equateur attacked the provincial capital of Mbandaka, defeating a small force of UN peacekeepers guarding the airport and overcoming scores of Congolese army troops to plunder other strategic targets - the main administrative compound, the governor’s office and the governor’s residence. One Ghanaian peacekeeper and a South African pilot at the airport were killed, the UN said. The government said nine insurgents, four soldiers and two police were killed. A human rights group and witnesses said it is not known how many civilians drowned as they overcrowded and upturned canoes in an attempt to flee across the river to neighboring Republic of Congo. —AP
Italy minister quits in real estate probe ROME: Italian Industry Minister Claudio Scajola, one of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s closest allies, resigned yesterday over reports that have implicated him in a shady real estate deal. Scajola, who denies any wrongdoing, announced his decision to quit at a news conference, saying: “I can no longer carry on as a minister”. The resignation was a heavy blow to Berlusconi and the first major change in his cabinet since the prime minister won the 2008 national election. Commentators said, however, that it would not lead to a government crisis, rather only a cabinet reshuffle. A number of mainstream commentators and opposition leaders had been calling on Scajola to step down after reports of questionable deals behind the purchase of his house in Rome. His position worsened yesterday after Il Giornale and Libero, two newspapers close Berlusconi, joined the growing chorus of doubters. “Scajola must clear up everything or resign,” ran the banner headline in Il Giornale, a newspaper owned by the Berlusconi family. Scajola, 62, has been an important driver behind Italy’s revival of nuclear energy and in other power schemes, including an effort to make Italy into a natural gas
transhipment hub for Europe. He also was instrumental in moving to liberalize the power and gas market. The case surrounding Scajola involves a luxury apartment overlooking the Colosseum which he purchased in 2004 when he held a different cabinet post. He says he paid 600,000 euros ($799,100), well below market value, and denies any wrongdoing. But the two sisters who sold it said they received an additional 900,000 euros in 80 cashier’s cheques. Scajola’s name surfaced in an investigation by magistrates in the central city of Perugia into irregularities in public works contracts to build the original site of last year’s G8 summit in Sardinia and other major construction projects. Magistrates believe the cheques came from funds traceable to a constructor who was one of four people arrested in February in a probe of suspected corruption in the awarding of public works contracts. Scajola was forced to resign as interior minister over a gaffe during a previous Berlusconi government in 2002, when he described as “a pain the ass” a government adviser on labor reform who was killed by Red Brigades militants. —Reuters
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Tornado, floods kill at least 22 in southern US Kentucky governor declares state of emergency
BILOXI: Violent thunderstorms unleashed tornados and flash floods over the southern United States over the weekend killing at least 22 people and forcing the Kentucky governor to declare a state of emergency. Governor Steve Beshear said Monday four people died in weather-related accidents in
ZAPOPAN, Mexico: Gold-plated, diamond-encrusted weapons are shown to the press after they were confiscated when the army seized a ranch. —AP
Five killed while playing soccer in southern Mexico Gold, diamond-encrusted guns seized MEXICO CITY: Gunmen drove up to a soccer field and shot five men to death as they played early Monday near the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco, police in southern Mexico said. It was unclear why the five men were playing so late, but the region of Guerrero state is often so hot and humid by day that athletes wait until night to compete. Many people also work unusual hours in the local tourist industry. The men were playing in the hamlet of Xaltianguis, on the northern outskirts of Acapulco, when gunmen in three vehicles pulled up beside the field and opened fire. Two of the dead were identified as local men aged 25 and 34. The other three victims had not been identified because relatives quickly took the bodies away. There was no immediate information on a possible motive for the attack. However, the area around Acapulco has been plagued in recent months by a bloody turf war between rival factions of the Beltran Leyva drug cartel. Disabled people, women, children and students have all figured among recent victims of violence in the drug war, which has killed more than 22,700 people since President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against car-
tels in December 2006. Also Monday, Mexican soldiers seized an arsenal of 31 mostly gold- or silver-plated, diamondencrusted pistols believed to belong to the Valencia gang, allies of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, prosecutors said. Photos of the weapons showed apparently flamboyant examples of the sort of gaudily customized weapons favored by some drug gangsters. Three assault rifles were almost entirely gold-plated. Identification documents were found at the home on the outskirts of the western city of Guadalajara in the name of Oscar Nava Valencia. The Attorney General’s Office said he is a leader of the Valencia gang who has worked with Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. In the northern state of Nuevo Leon, authorities announced Monday that three people had been arrested for negligence in the deaths of five people killed Sunday in a stampede at a fair in the town of Guadalupe, a suburb of the industrial city of Monterrey. Nuevo Leon state Attorney General Alejandro Garza y Garza said those arrested were a person who was in charge of security and two organizers of the fair. He said
all could be released on bail. On Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, the Mexican navy announced a big drug haul. It said a Mexican fishing boat and its five-member crew had been captured while transporting nearly 5,300 pounds (2,400 kilograms) of cocaine. The 78-foot (24-meter) boat was detained April 27 in international waters, based on information from US officials. Authorities found 105 bales of cocaine in hidden compartments in the boat’s fuel tanks. The boat presumably picked up the drugs in Colombia. On Sunday, police said they captured a man believed to be the leader of the Zetas drug gang in the southern state of Chiapas. Prosecutors in neighboring Tabasco state said suspect Pablo Martinez Rojas was detained near the border with Chiapas, along with four alleged accomplices. They said the suspects carried out killings and kidnappings for the Zetas, a gang founded by army deserters. Three assault rifles and pistols were found in the men’s possession. Drug trafficking is considered a federal crime, but the Tabasco state authorities said the detentions show that state authorities are increasingly playing a role in combating drug gangs. —AP
In Mississippi, where tornados killed 10 people nine days ago, driving rains and more tornados tore through farming regions damaging homes and destroying crops. “The month of May started off with numerous storms which caused major damage and took the lives of six people,” the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) said in a statement, adding that reports of damage continued to roll in. MEMA spokeswoman Nikki Pressley earlier told AFP the Red Cross and Salvation Army had evacuated dozens of people from their homes to area shelters. The White House said President Barack Obama called Beshear and Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen to extend “his deepest condolences” for the loss of life and pledge a prompt federal response to their requests for support, as they assess the damage. In Tennessee, two days of driving rain have caused widespread flooding, killing at least six people in Nashville and another six in the rest of the state, forcing scores more to evacuate homes and businesses, The Nashville Tennessean reported Monday. At least two more people were listed as missing. The newspaper said thousands of homes were flooded and entire neighborhoods submerged across the state. Late Sunday, Nashville announced that it was shutting down a water treatment plant and that a levee along the Cumberland River had begun to leak, the report said. After an aerial survey, Mayor Karl Dean said the damage was worse than he thought. “This situation is going to require a very large recovery process,” the paper quotes Dean as saying. “The magnitude of the damage to our community was much more than what I expected. The safety of some of our infrastructure is questionable.” Nashville fire and rescue offi-
his state and requested federal assistance to deal with storm damage. “I urge individuals who encounter high waters to use extreme caution and avoid unnecessary contact with flood waters if at all possible,” he said in a public alert.
MISSISSIPPI: Mike Lewis takes pictures with his cell phone, from his car, of the destruction a tornado that ripped through a house and double wide trailer on East Long Street early Sunday morning May 2, 2010 killing one in Abbeville. —AP cials were still searching late Sunday for two young men who went missing after they tried to raft in a creek with inner tubes, the daily said, adding that a third man had swum to safety. President Barack Obama Monday signed a disaster declaration for Alabama, releasing federal aid to help recovery efforts in two counties damaged by tornados and flooding, the White House said. No weather-related casualties have been reported in Alabama. The National Weather Service has forecast more severe weather for the next few days in the region, with several rivers at or near flood stage and nearby areas under flood warnings. —AFP
Lessons weighed from plane ditching WASHINGTON: Should airliners be tough enough to withstand collisions with big birds? What about an unexpected plunge into a river? Those are among the concerns raised yesterday when the National Transportation Safety Board met to consider safety lessons from last year’s ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 into the Hudson River. The plane collided with a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff from New York’s LaGuardia
Airport. Geese were sucked into both engines, knocking out their power. The flight’s captain, Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, made a split-second decision to glide the Airbus A320 into the river rather than risk crashing in a densely populated area by trying to reach an airport. A rupture near the plane’s tail sent water gushing into the cabin. All 155 passengers and crew aboard managed to escape the sinking aircraft. The safety
board has long been troubled by the danger to aviation posed by growing populations of many large bird species, including Canada geese, snow geese and white pelicans. The engines on the ditched airliner were designed to withstand a collision with a bird weighing up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms). Some more recent jet engines are required to withstand a bird weighing up to 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms). —AP
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Vote machine glitch heightens Philippine poll fears MANILA: Fears that national elections in the Philippines next week could descend into chaos grew yesterday after authorities said they had detected a major technological flaw with votecounting machines. The Commission on Elections admitted it now faced a race against the clock to replace memory cards for 82,000 machines that are to be used in the country’s first attempt at a computerized tallying of ballots. “We are not sugar-coating this. This is definitely a setback,” said Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ray Anthony
Chua, who is part of the commission’s advisory body. Chua and other officials said a “human error” had resulted in the memory cards, which carry software telling the machines how to read the ballots, being configured incorrectly. They said the mistake was only picked up on Monday when full-scale testing began. The election commission officials insisted that the faulty memory cards could be replaced in time for the May 10 polls and that the automated process would succeed. But the embarrassing episode fuelled widespread concerns
across all sides of politics that the computerized vote-counting experiment could prove to be a failure with extremely dangerous consequences. “Our confidence in the elections commission has been shattered,” said Gilbert Remulla, spokesman for presidential candidate Manuel Villar. “What appears now is that there is basis to believe there is a specter of failure of elections hanging over us.” Presidential frontrunner Benigno Aquino, who has been warning for weeks of problems within the automated election process, said yesterday’s
announcement showed his concerns were justified. “We have said it before and we are saying it again: we are wondering why the Comelec (elections commission) is not meeting its obligation under this election to make sure that it is a clean, clear and credible process,” he said. More than 50 million voters will go to the polls to choose a new president, as well as thousands of lower-level government positions. The government decided to introduce a computerized system in an effort to shorten the vote-tallying
process from a few weeks to a few days, and to minimize cheating that has plagued previous elections. However critics of the system have said it is too complicated for the developing Southeast Asian nation of more than 7,000 islands, and that a parallel manual count should be carried out. Bobby Tuazon, policy studies director at the Center for People Empowerment and Governance, said he doubted whether there would be enough time to correct the problem. “This will raise doubts about the winners and results. This will just
increase fears among the public,” said Tuazon. An election lacking in credibility could lead to a dizzying range of chaotic scenarios, including people taking to the streets in support of presidential candidates who may lose but challenge the result. Security analysts have also said an elections failure could lead to a power-grab by elements within the military loyal to President Gloria Arroyo, who is required by the constitution to step down on June 30. Arroyo’s critics have accused her of secretly plotting to try and stay in power, and that an election failure
would suit her ambitions. A spokeswoman for Joseph Estrada, who surveys showed is tied for second alongside Villar in the race for the presidency, also voiced concern. “It is ironic that poll automation, which is supposed to secure the sanctity of the ballot, is now the very threat to the electoral process,” Estrada spokeswoman Margaux Salcedo told AFP. Salcedo repeated Estrada’s call for a parallel manual count. The government has said it does not want a manual count as that would sow further confusion. —AFP
Thai protesters say yes to work towards end to crisis ‘Red Shirts’ object on key issue of election timing up in the middle of the Thai capital. The standoff and related clashes have killed 27 people, wounded almost 1,000 and further polarized a country that has seen a string of chaotic political protests over the past five years. The Red Shirt leaders met yesterday to discuss the five-point plan and “unanimously welcomed the reconciliation process,” said Veera Musigapong, a protest leader. He did not say, however, when they would disperse from the streets of Bangkok, and other leaders called on the government to clarify some details of the plan, including the election date. “We want to negotiate. All of us unanimously agree that we must enter into negotiations and we want to save a lot of lives. However, we want a little bit of sincerity,” said Sean Boonpracong, a protest spokesman. The protesters said they wanted clarification on the timeframe for the election, asked for unspecified confidence-building gestures from the government and demanded the monarchy not be used as a weapon in the confrontation. The government, in recent days, has accused the protesters of being anti-monarchy, a weighty accusation in a nation where the king is beloved and disparaging the royal family is a crime. “Stop using the issue of overthrowing the monarchy. You are dragging (down) the institution that is loved by Thais for political reasons. Stop that,” Sean said. Thailand’s political heavyweights had earlier pushed all BANGKOK: Anti-government demonstrators cheer during a speech at a rally yesterday. —AP sides in the crippling stalemate to mark a royal holiday today with reconciliation. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was SEOUL: South Korea’s president hinted Minister Kim Tae-Young, in a report to Lee, including special warfare units. Apart from the deposed in a 2006 coup and is a strongly yesterday that North Korea was said a “surprise attack” on the Cheonan had navy’s apparent failure to detect an impending hero to the Red Shirts, said in involved in the sinking of a warship with the revealed a loophole in the nation’s defenses. attack, critics have said it took too long to notia phone call to reporters that loss of 46 lives, and ordered a security upgrade March 26 was a “day of shame” for South fy top officials of the disaster and too much Coronation Day - which marks time to locate the ship’s sunken sections. to counter cross-border threats. The com- Korea’s military, he said. the day revered King The president told more than 150 army, The North’s leader Kim Jong-Il is visiting ments by President Lee Myung-Bak were the Bhumibol Adulyadej was officlosest he has come to blaming the communist China for the first time in more than four navy and air force chiefs the “defense poscially crowned - should mark a North for the blast which tore apart a corvette years. Analysts say the ship incident is likely ture has become loose” and South Koreans positive new beginning and the near the disputed sea border on March 26. to be discussed when he meets President Hu had forgotten that the North’s artillery batend of fighting among Thais. Lee, presiding over an unprecedented meet- Jintao, possibly today. Lee last Friday briefed teries are aimed at them, only 70 kilometers “Therefore, if there is going to ing between a South Korean president and top Hu on the sinking, apparently seeking China’s (about 40 miles) from Seoul. “The Cheonan be a good beginning for reconofficers from all armed services, said it was backing if the South asks the UN Security incident reminded us of this fact,” he said in ciliation, that’s a good thing. a speech preceded by a moment of silence for clear the Cheonan warship “did not sink due to Council to punish the North. But everyone must not try to Seoul’s Unification Minister Hyun In- the victims. a simple accident”. take petty political advantages, South Korea must reflect whether it had “As soon as this incident occurred, I had an Taek, who oversees relations with the North, because nobody is anybody’s intuition that it was a grave international issue urged China to play a “responsible role” in been dealing with defense “in terms of idealfool,” he said from his selfinvolving inter-Korean relations and ordered easing tensions on the peninsula following the ism rather than reality”, the conservative imposed exile abroad where he that the cause should be found out through sinking and problems with a joint tour project. president said in an apparent swipe at his libis avoiding a corruption convicinternational cooperation,” Lee said. He “It is requested more than ever that China eral predecessors’ “Sunshine” engagement tion. He said it was up the Red pledged “clear and resolute measures” when play a responsible role as the current state of policy with the North. The 655,000-strong Shirts to decide for themselves the cause is established following a multina- affairs on the Korean peninsula is unfolding in military, backed up by 28,500 US troops, whether to accept Abhisit’s a dynamic way,” Hyun told Beijing’s new faces off against the North’s 1.2 million-memtional probe. plan. ber military-which, according to Seoul, Lee, saying defenses had become slack, ambassador Zhang Xinsen. Chavalit Yongchaiyuth, Lee, in comments underlining his suspi- includes 120,000 commandos with expertise also announced plans to form an agency to chairman of the opposition overhaul national security and a new post of cions of Pyongyang, said Seoul must reshape in special warfare. The South has not publicly Pheu Thai party allied with special secretary for national security. military capabilities, “taking into account our ruled out a military response if the North is Thaksin, praised the prime Suspicions are growing that the 1,200-tonne special situation of two hostile forces facing proved to have sunk the Cheonan, but has minister’s plan and said he ship was hit by a torpedo from the North, each other”. The South must be better pre- said it would likely take the issue to the believed the Red Shirt protestwhich has denied involvement. Defense pared to tackle “asymmetric” military threats Security Council. —AFP ers would end their protest on Coronation Day. Chavalit said he expects that “all sides will cooperate to bring the country back to peace.” There was no immediate reaction from the government to the Red Shirts’ comments. Abhisit has said he would proceed with his reconBEIJING: A Chinese city has ciliation plan even if the proordered police to shoot to kill anyTAIPEI: Taiwan will maintain a robust defense to insisted that Taiwan’s military will always work testers reject it, but in that one attempting to harm students, deal with a possible Chinese attack, a senior offi- to keep the island safe. “No matter how crosscase he could not set a date for following a spate of violent attacks cial said yesterday in the first Defense Ministry strait relations change, our military will never the elections. against children that have stunned comment since the president’s contentious state- change its stand on bolstering its capabilities and The protesters - a mixture the nation, state press said yesterment that the island would never seek US help to maintaining national security,” Chao told day. The southwestern municipaliof rural and urban poor, as well defend itself. Vice Defense Minister Chao Shih- reporters in Taipei. ty of Chongqing, a city of over 30 as those who opposed the 2006 China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949. chang’s comment came amid a firestorm of critimillion people, issued the order coup and later court rulings cism from the opposition Democratic Beijing continues to claim the island as part of its after China’s public security minseen by many as politically Progressive Party over President Ma Ying-jeou’s territory and has threatened to invade if Taiwan istry called for stepped up security motivated - claim Abhisit came remarks, which were broadcast April 30 during moves to make its de facto independence permaaround schools and kindergartens to power illegitimately in an interview on CNN. The remarks appeared to nent. China has also reserved the right to attack nationwide. December 2008 with the help represent a fundamental shift in more than 30 if foreign forces intervene in the island’s affairs “The police have clear regulaof army pressure on legislayears of Taiwanese defense policy, which has such as when the US sent an aircraft carrier to tions in these odious cases where tors. They have previously been grounded on the assumption that the United the region in 1995 and 1996 after China fired misdirect attacks occurring at or in the called for Parliament to be disStates could come to Taiwan’s aid if China siles in the Taiwan Strait to underscore its oppovicinity of schools have injured stusolved in 30 days or less. An attacked. The policy has come into sharper focus sition to Taiwan’s first direct presidential elecdents or children,” the Chongqing election must be held within 60 in recent years as a Chinese military buildup has tion. Evening News reported. “If they days of Parliament being disOne consequence of Ma’s remarks appears to increased the possibility that Taiwan might not cannot contain the violent acts, solved. Abhisit has said he be able to withstand a Chinese attack on its own. put the United States on notice that a reprise of police can shoot to kill in accorwants enough time in office to In his remarks to CNN, Ma said that Taiwan that action - which did not lead to an attack dance with the law.” The order pass a budget for next year. would continue to seek defensive weapons from would be unwelcome, not only by China, but also comes after a series of attacks on But both sides also want to be the US, its major arms supplier. However, he by Ma’s government. Christopher Kavanagh, a children last week. On Friday, a in control of the government said, “we will never ask the Americans to fight spokesman with the de facto US Embassy in farmer armed with a hammer when a key reshuffle of top for Taiwan.” Speaking to reporters yesterday, Taiwan, did not comment directly on Ma’s injured five children and a teacher military posts occurs in Chao refused to say whether he saw Ma’s remark, but praised his efforts to reduce tension at a primary school in the eastern September so they can influremarks as signaling a shift in defense policy, but in the area. —AP province of Shandong before setting ence the outcome. —AP himself on fire. —AFP BANGKOK: Thai anti-government protesters said yesterday they “welcome” a proposed compromise to end the violent political crisis that has paralyzed central Bangkok for nearly two months, but asked for more details on the plan before wrapping up their demonstrations. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva proposed holding new elections on Nov 14 in exchange for the Red Shirt protesters dismantling the camp they have set
S Korea hints at North’s role in sunken warship
No change on China policy after Ma comment: Taiwan
China city says ‘shoot to kill’ for attackers
OKINAWA: People shout slogans against the US military presence in front of the Okinawa prefectural government building yesterday. —AP
Japan PM abandons plan to move US base off Okinawa TOKYO: Japan’s embattled premier yesterday abandoned a plan to move an unpopular US airbase entirely off Okinawa island, backtracking on a key election pledge after months of dithering that angered Washington. “I really feel sorry as I visit here today that I must ask for the Okinawan people’s understanding that part of the base operations would have to stay” on Okinawa, Yukio Hatoyama told reporters after meeting the local governor. The prime minister was confronted by flag-waving protesters on his first visit to the subtropical island since he took office in September vowing to ease the burden for the reluctant hosts of tens of thousands of US troops. The row, which has centered on the planned relocation of the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, has cost the centre-left leader much domestic support and badly strained ties with Japan’s key defense ally the United States. Previous governments in Tokyo and Washington agreed in 2006 to move Futenma from a crowded urban location of Okinawa to a quieter coastal area, but Hatoyama promised to review the plan and move the base off Okinawa altogether. However, a search for alternative sites in Japan has been met by more protests, leaving Hatoyama with few promising options ahead of a self-imposed deadline of May 31 to resolve the matter. Under the latest compromise plan widely reported in domestic media, Japan is proposing to stick with the original plan, with some modifications. Futenma would now be moved, as originally agreed, to the coastal Henoko area of Nago city near another US base, Camp Schwab. But its runways would be built on stilts rather than landfill to help protect coral reefs.
About 1,000 US Marines and their helicopter operations would be moved to the remote island of Tokunoshima, 200 kilometers (120 miles) northeast of Okinawa, although the plan has been met by protests on that island too. Hatoyama-whose approval ratings have dived into the 20 percent band ahead of upper house polls due in July-was meeting officials in Okinawa in a bid to sell the compromise plan. “We have faced the reality that it would be difficult to remove all the operations out of Okinawa prefecture,” Hatoyama said during his meeting with Governor Hirokazu Nakaima. “We need to ask for the understanding of Okinawa’s people for bearing some of the burden.” Hatoyama noted one initial argument in favour of shifting the US base out of Japan altogether. “But when we consider the Japan-US alliance and matters related to neighboring nations, it is difficult to do so from the viewpoint of deterrence. It is impossible in reality. “Therefore we have tried to find a way to move it outside of the prefecture, but have faced the reality that it would be difficult to move it out altogether.” The Okinawa governor lashed out at Hatoyama’s remarks as “a total mismatch” from the strong desire of locals. “We still have some time left before the end of May,” Nakaima told reporters. “I want him to keep working on a plan in line with his election pledge.” The issue has stirred passions on Okinawa, site of some of World War II’s bloodiest battles, and still the host of more than half the 47,000 US troops stationed in Japan under a postwar security treaty. —AFP
Mystery shrouds North Korean leader’s unusual China visit BEIJING: Reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong Il toured an industrial zone and met local officials in northeastern China yesterday, reports said, on a visit to his country’s main backer that comes amid growing tensions over the North’s suspected role in the sinking of a South Korean navy ship. No official announcements have been made about Kim’s trip, his first journey abroad in years. He is expected to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other leaders. North Korean media typically report on his journeys after he returns home, and China’s Foreign Ministry refused to confirm whether Kim was in the country. However, he was seen by reporters in the port city of Dalian yesterday getting into a car and then was driven away in a 10-vehicle motorcade. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said he visited factories in an industrial zone, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) from Dalian, where Japanese and South Korean firms have operations. Japanese and South Korean media then reported he left Dalian by highway around 4 pm (0800 GMT) headed for the city of Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province that borders North Korea. They said Kim was dining with provincial officials and would continue by train to Beijing. The trip comes amid speculation that North Korea’s absolute ruler may heed calls from Beijing and elsewhere to return to negotiations on ending
the country’s nuclear weapons program. Overshadowing the visit, however, was speculation Kim’s hardline communist regime may have torpedoed the South Korean warship in March. In Seoul yesterday, President Lee Myung-bak said the sinking of the Cheonan warship was not a “simple accident,” as officials inched closer to blaming North Korea for the incident, in which 46 sailors were killed. Lee ordered a thorough review of South Korea’s military readiness and called North Korea’s military “the most belligerent forces” while stopping short of directly naming the North as a suspect in the March 26 disaster. However, he made it clear for the first time that he saw a North Korean link in the sinking, which followed an explosion in disputed waters near the Koreas’ maritime border. If South Korea declares Pyongyang responsible for the sinking, it could look to China to back new United Nations sanctions aimed at punishing the North. China likely would be reluctant to support such measures, fearing they could spark unrest on its border. Kim’s visit may help reassert traditional ties between the communist neighbors, who once termed their relationship as close as “lips and teeth.” In Seoul, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it summoned Chinese Ambassador Zhang Xinsen Monday and asked Beijing to brief Seoul about Kim’s visit. Separately, South Korean
Unification Minister Hyun Intaek met with Zhang yesterday and called on Beijing to play a “responsible role” amid the North-South tensions, according to his spokesman Chun Hae-sung. Chun did not elaborate or say whether China was being asked to convey a specific message to Pyongyang. The sensitive timing of the visit and lack of advance notice from Beijing drew criticism from some South Koreans. “I think it’s disappointing and worrisome for China to accept Kim Jong Il’s visit,” Chung Mongjoon, head of the ruling conservative Grand National Party, told party members on Monday, according to a statement. “Chinese leaders must convey our concerns and anger” to Kim over the ship sinking, Chung was quoted as saying. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu fended off repeated questions about Kim’s presence and arrangements for the visit, saying only that: “The arrangement of receiving a foreign leader is always decided through bilateral consultations.” Rumors of a Kim trip, the first since he traveled to China in 2006 and only the fifth since he took over power from his father in 1994, have circulated for months. China, which backed North Korea with troops during the 1950-53 Korean War, is North Korea’s last major ally and biggest provider of aid, and is widely seen as the country with the most clout with Pyongyang. —AP
INTERNATIONAL
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
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India’s radiation death raises nuke safety issues NEW DELHI: The radiation-related death of a scrap metal worker has raised concerns over nuclear safety in India, at a time when the Asian power is wooing foreign players to its $150 billion civilian nuclear market. Authorities have launched a probe into the unauthorized disposal of a disused machine from the chemistry department of Delhi University, which contained the radioactive material cobalt-60 and ended up in a scrap metal hub in the capital. A man died in hospital from exposure last week, in a case a member of the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) was quoted as saying was the most serious worldwide since 2006. The death raised concerns over the handling of nuclear material in India at a time when the ruling Congress party is trying to push through legislation in parliament to help foreign players access its lucrative nuclear energy market. India, one of a handful of countries which refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, inked a landmark civilian nuclear agreement with United States in 2008, taking it out of three decades of nuclear isolation. “As a historic accord between
India and the US takes our country forward on its path to nuclear commerce, the ability to effect safeguards is going to be critical,” wrote the Financial Express newspaper in an editorial this week. “Against this backdrop, the first radiation-related death of a common man provides a wakeup-call that must be taken very seriously.” The government is due to introduce a bill in parliament by the end of this week, the last week in the current session, which underwrites the compensation liability for foreign firms in the case of industrial accidents. The
Communist Party of India (Marxist), a former government ally and vocal critic of the nuclear deal and the pending nuclear liability bill, raised the worker’s death in parliament. Safety standards are a sensitive issue in India, where a gas leak in a Union Carbide factory killed thousands a quarter of a century ago in one of the world’s worst industrial accidents. Memories of the disaster have helped shape the debate around the current nuclear bill, which had been shelved after protests by the opposition who said it favored private foreign companies.
French and Russian nuclear firms plan to set up in India, and New Delhi has offered to tender construction of two plants to US-based firms GEHitachi and Westinghouse Electric, a subsidiary of Japan’s Toshiba Corp. Om Pal Singh, secretary of India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, which is looking into the death, told Reuters the incident should be seen in the context of similar scares in Europe and the United States and not only in terms of Indian regulation. He said Indian authorities were taking measures to reduce the risk of nuclear exposure, such as scanners
at port checks for material coming from abroad, or giving scrap dealers the equipment and training to check radiation levels. “My feeling is that, with time, these incidents are decreasing, and maybe after some more time, the chances will become almost negligible. More and more people are getting sensitized,” he said by phone. “A lot of measures are being taken, and have been taken, to prevent such instances.” The apparent ease with which radioactive material could be disposed unsupervised has also raised fears such material could
fall into the hands of militants to make so-called “dirty bombs”. Ajai Sahni, Executive Director, Institute for Conflict Management, said nuclear security in India is concentrated on high-profile installations such as power plants and research facilities, but less attention was paid to low-end applications. But he said there was scant evidence of militants trying to get hold of nuclear material from discarded equipment because the process is complicated: “The handling of such materials is extremely problematic,” he said. —Reuters
Bangladeshis ‘vote’ in Brit election via donated ballots ‘Give Your Vote’ scheme takes democracy to new level
KANDAHAR: In this file photo, Afghan protesters burn tires to block a road during an anti-American protest after US troops fired on a civilian bus, killing four people and wounding more than a dozen. —AP
New NATO idea to avoid killing innocent Afghans AFGHANISTAN: NATO commanders are weighing a new way to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan: recognizing soldiers for “courageous restraint” if they avoid using force that could endanger innocent lives. The concept comes as the coalition continues to struggle with the problem of civilian casualties despite repeated warnings from the top NATO commander, Gen Stanley McChrystal, that the war effort hinges on the ability to protect the population and win support away from the Taleban. Those who back the idea hope it will provide soldiers with another incentive to think twice before calling in an airstrike or firing at an approaching vehicle if civilians could be at risk. Most military awards in the past have been given for things like soldiers taking out a machine gun nest or saving their buddies in a firefight, said Command Sgt Maj Michael Hall, the senior NATO enlisted man in Afghanistan. “We are now considering how we look at awards differently,” he said. British Maj Gen Nick Carter, the NATO commander of troops in southern Afghanistan, proposed the idea of awarding soldiers for “courageous restraint” during a visit by Hall to Kandahar Airfield in mid April. McChrystal is now reviewing the proposal to
determine how it could be implemented, Hall said. Hall’s visit came less than a week after US troops fired on a civilian bus near Kandahar City, killing four people and wounding more than a dozen. Hundreds of Afghans protested the attack, chanting “Death to America,” and President Hamid Karzai accused NATO of violating its commitment to safeguard civilians. McChrystal issued strict guidelines last year limiting the use of force in an effort to reduce civilian casualties and curb public anger. The percentage of civilian deaths attributed to NATO and Afghan forces fell as a result, according to the United Nations. But even sporadic incidents can damage the coalition’s efforts, and the problem could get worse as thousands of additional NATO troops pour into the country ahead of this summer’s planned offensive in the Taleban’s spiritual heartland of Kandahar province. There were 173 civilian deaths in Afghanistan from March 21 to April 21, a 33 percent increase over the same period last year, according to the Interior Ministry. The ministry did not provide a breakdown of who was responsible for the fatalities, but the Taleban often blame coalition forces regardless of the cause. —AP
DHAKA: Bangladeshi musician Abdul Sabuj does not own a passport and Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Ghana have used votes “donated” by members rarely ventures far from the Dhaka slum he calls home, but thanks to a new of the British public. The “Give Your Vote” scheme asks British citizens to vote-donating project, he will have a say in Britain’s elections. Ahead of pass on their votes to residents of poor countries that are heavily affected by polling day in Britain tomorrow, Sabuj and thousands of others like him in British foreign policy. Under the experimental system, British voters are matched with people in the three countries who then inform a centralized text messaging service of how they want the vote used. “I voted for the Liberal Democrats as they’ve pledged major cuts in carbon emissions by 2050,” Sabuj, 36, told AFP after casting his vote by sending a text message. “Many people, including my family who lost their house to river erosion, are suffering from climate change in Bangladesh, and I know that developing countries are most responsible for this,” Sabuj said. “When I heard of ‘Give Your Vote’ I saw this was an opportunity for me to have a say.” Bangladesh-based Give Your Vote organizer Clemmie James said she had encountered some criticism of the pioneering project from foreigners living and working in the South Asian country. “Many have told me it is naive to take the campaign to Dhaka’s slums, assuming that people will not even know or DHAKA: Activists from the group called “Give your vote” gather behind a banner as they stage a rally in front care about the UK government,” she said. “But the people I have of The National Press Club. —AFP conversed with are not ignorant of things that go beyond their everyday existence.” Londonbased organizer May Abdalla said several thousand votes had been donated, but could not KATHMANDU: Shops, schools and but the incumbent government does not the shutdown. “Everything has to be specify how many votes negotiated. They cannot demand the resoffices across Nepal were shut for a third care what the wishes of the people are.” Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Maoist guerrillas fought a bloody civil ignation of prime minister based on day yesterday as opposition Maoists Ghana would each receive until enforced a general strike that threatens war against the Nepalese state for 10 years street protests,” he said. after the vote donation line “The public want to open their shops, the Himalayan nation’s peace process. before a peace agreement was signed in closed last night. Talks between the Maoist party, which 2006, and the left-wing rebels then won go to work, and defy the strike, but we The “Give Your Vote” webhas the largest number of seats in parlia- elections in 2008 and held power for eight don’t want anything to do anything that site said it would try to pair peoment, and the ruling coalition have failed months. Lawmakers have until May 28 to would provoke the protesters. We have ple up individually but admitted to secure a breakthrough after opposition complete a new constitution that analysts not lost hope. We believe we can solve the the plan was untested. “If necessupporters massed in the capital say is crucial to ensuring lasting peace current deadlock.” Maoist leader Pushpa sary, we will calculate the probetween the Maoists and the state-but few Kamal Dahal, who led the rebels during Kathmandu at the weekend. portions for each party, randomthe decade of fighting in which at least Much of the country has been shut expect the deadline to be met. ize who to send which result to, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar 16,000 people were killed, has said the down as the Maoists, who are demanding and fire out the emails and the government stands down, stage mass Nepal, a moderate left-winger, has strike which began Sunday is indefinite. texts,” it explained. “On the eve rallies and threaten anyone defying the refused to resign and said the Maoists Dahal, known often by his nom-de-guerre of the UK election, participants general strike. “We are heading towards were damaging Nepal’s future by impos- Prachanda, was prime minister until May in the UK will receive an SMS or victory. We will not quit until we reach our ing the strike. Minendra Rijal, the minis- last year when his Maoist-led government email, indicating which party goal,” Agni Sapkota, a senior Maoist, told ter of federal affairs, said the govern- fell after the president overruled its decitheir partner in Afghanistan, the crowds. “We want this to be over soon, ment was working for a solution to end sion to sack the head of the army. —AFP Bangladesh or Ghana wishes them to vote for.” A plan for donors to take pictures of themselves voting had to be scrapped as it was illegal under British electoral law. Nick MUMBAI: Striking train drivers in Clegg’s Liberal Democrats Mumbai brought chaos to the conappeared to be wildly popular in gested streets of India’s financial Bangladesh, with Labour far capital yesterday with three-quarback in second and the ters of regular services cancelled. Conservatives struggling to The estimated seven million commake any impression, Abdalla muters who daily use Mumbai’s said. “We’re not trying to swing overcrowded rail network sought the election on the basis of these out taxis, auto-rickshaws and buses votes, the significance of it is to to get to work, bringing gridlock to prove that people outside of large parts of the city. national borders want and can be The strike, which began on involved in decisions that affect Monday evening, was to demand them,” Abdalla told AFP. higher wages. At least 20 drivers “The idea that people are have been dismissed and another ‘global citizens’ who can partici80 arrested for striking illegally, pate and make a stand for railway officials said. The drivers want an additional per-kilometer democracy resonates very much allowance calculated on the disin this interconnected world.” tances travelled each day, extra The “Give Your Vote” scheme overtime pay and a near 50-percent named Adam Elliot-Cooper as rise in salaries for assistant drivers. one British citizen who gave his Assistant drivers are currently vote away. “Our economic policy paid 1,900 rupees (41 dollars) per affects Ghana,” he told the webmonth. “We are running only 250 MUMBAI: Indian commuters crowd onto a moving public bus. —AP site. “Our climate policy affects of our 1,200 trains,” said S S Gupta, Bangladesh hugely due to the chief spokesman for Mumbai’s danger of flooding (and) of course Western Railway. The city’s other our foreign policy affects the service, Central Railway, was runpeople of Afghanistan a great ning only 25 percent of its regular tion for the investments and BEIJING: A top US official yes- Blake told reporters. deal.” services. Long-distance and goods assistance China has been pro“This is an interest that terday urged China to step up The project has been backed trains have been pressed into serits contribution to the interna- China shares, so we discussed viding for Afghanistan and for by South African peace activist vice on the commuter routes. tional effort in Afghanistan and ways China can coordinate with international efforts to help staArchbishop Desmond Tutu, who The strike also hit the 2008 assured Beijing that US troop and contribute to international bilize Afghanistan,” Blake said. described it as an idea that was Mumbai attacks trial, underway in withdrawals set for next year efforts in both of those coun- “We discussed ways we could “exciting, brave and emphasizes a high-security prison in the city would not be hasty. “One of tries.” During his two-day visit, cooperate more and coordinate our common humanity.” The centre, which was deciding yesterday whether a Pakistani man conour highest strategic priorities Blake said he held talks with our efforts more.” The two sides opportunity attracted many victed over the siege should be is to help Afghanistan and Chinese Assistant Foreign also discussed US President young Bangladeshi students, like sent to the gallows. The sentencing Pakistan disrupt, dismantle Minister Hu Zhengyue and Barack Obama’s plan to begin Mottaki Bin Kaml, who has hearing was delayed as state proseand defeat Al-Qaeda and its headed the US delegation in the withdrawal of US troops never voted in his own country’s cutor Ujjwal Nikam was unable to affiliates,” US Assistant dialogue on South Asian issues. from Afghanistan beginning in elections, but is passionate about reach court on time. —AFP “We expressed our apprecia- July 2011, he said. —AFP Secretary of State Robert Britain’s tomorrow poll. —AFP
Nepal shutdown heaps pressure on peace process
Railways strike brings chaos to Mumbai streets
COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan media activist holds a placard protesting against the disappearance of cartoonist and political journalist Pradeep Eknaligoda yesterday. It has been 100 days since Eknaligoda disappeared on the eve of the country’s January presidential election. International press freedom and human rights groups say Sri Lanka is one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists to work. —AFP
Lanka to scale back emergency laws COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s foreign minister pledged yesterday that the country’s tough emergency laws introduced in 1983 to fight a raging Tamil insurgency would be gradually withdrawn. “There cannot be a wholesale lifting of the emergency. It will be done part by part,” External Affairs Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris told parliament during a debate on the laws. He proposed that provisions prohibiting public gatherings and publications the state considered inflammatory were to be relaxed, while police powers vested with the armed forces would also
be taken away. The changes are set to be approved by the parliament today where the ruling party enjoys a near two-thirds majority. Prime Minister D M Jayaratne told parliament the easing of emergency regulations would not lead to the automatic release of some 11,700 Tamil rebel suspects who have been in detention for over a year. The UN estimates that up to 100,000 people died in Sri Lanka’s Tamil separatist conflict after the Tamil Tiger rebels took up arms in 1972. The Tigers fought for an independent homeland for the island’s 12.5 percent eth-
nic Tamil minority concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of the country. Government forces wiped out the rebels last May, bringing an end to the violence, but the emergency laws introduced to combat them have remained in place. France had led international calls to scrap the emergency laws soon after the defeat of the rebels. Since then, Sri Lanka’s parliament has kept extending the state of emergency each month as the government has argued that rebel remnants have tried to make a comeback. —AFP
US urges China to help Afghanistan
opinion
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Wednesday, May 5, 2010
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New York bomb puts Pakistan in spotlight By Michael Georgy
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ny links between Pakistan’s Taleban and a failed bombing in New York’s Times Square could put the country under renewed US pressure to open risky new fronts against Islamic militants. Tehrik-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP), the Taleban Movement of Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the failed bombing and its leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, appeared in videos on the Internet on Sunday threatening suicide attacks on major US cities. A US citizen born in Pakistan, Faisal Shahzad, is accused of driving the failed car bomb into Times Square and will appear in Manhattan court yesterday, authorities said. Questions may arise again over Pakistan’s determination to tackle militants as it juggles other problems, from a sluggish economy to power cuts that have made the government unpopular. “Pakistan may have to prepare to make more sacrifices and wage a much more intense use of force such as search and destroy operations, more systematically,” said Rifaat Hussain, head of the Department of Defense and Strategic Studies at Quaid-iAzam University in Islamabad. Pakistan, heavily dependent on foreign aid, says it is too stretched to expand security offensives to new areas such as North Waziristan, home to a complex web of militant groups that could deepen the threat to the state if antagonized. “International goodwill is going to sour unless we are seen to be doing more against the groups in North Waziristan which have not been touched, and the groups of Punjab which have not been touched,” said Taleban expert and Pakistani author Ahmed Rashid. PUNJAB A MILITANT BASE Some of Pakistan’s most dangerous militant groups are based in the country’s heartland Punjab province. They include Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), blamed for the 2008 attack on the Indian commercial capital Mumbai which killed 166 people and accused of plotting attacks in the West. LeT-once nurtured by Pakistan’s InterServices Intelligence (ISI) agency to fight India in Kashmir-is estimated to have between 2,000-3,000 gunmen and another 20,000 followers, many trained to fight and who could be mobilized against a crackdown. A major assault could drive the LeT and other Punjab groups into an alliance with the Pakistani Taleban, an umbrella group backed by Al-Qaeda that continues to stage suicide bombings despite offensives the army says have killed hundreds of fighters. Those risks may be put aside by the United States now that the failed Times Square bombing has sounded new alarm bells in a country still haunted by al Qaeda’s September 11, 2001 attacks. If the United States pushes Pakistan too hard, it could strain relations that have improved in recent months. “If Hakimullah is responsible for
what happened in Times Square and is launching a campaign against American cities, then this is the kind of thing that shakes everybody up and generates political will to really get in the Pakistani government’s grill,” said Brian Fishman, counterterrorism research fellow with the New American Foundation. “If Hakimullah is in any way providing direction to attacks on the US homeland, that changes the kind of influence the US is going to want to assert against Pakistan. That raises the stakes of the political game.” DOUBTS ON TTP ABILITY Pakistan vowed yesterday to help US authorities on the Shahzad case. “We will cooperate with the United States in identifying this individual and bringing him to justice,” Interior Minister Rehman Malik said. Long-time US ally Pakistan has proven highly capable of capturing militants, including some of Al-Qaeda’s most notorious heavyweights. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the September 11 attacks, was arrested in Pakistan in 2003. So Washington may have high expectations from the Pakistanis if new threats to US security emerge here. Law enforcement sources in the United States said Saturday’s attempted attack in Times Square may have involved more than one person and could have international ties. The New York Times said Shahzad had recently returned from a trip to Pakistan. Security experts are sceptical the TTP has the ability to stage attacks outside Pakistan, but worry it may be growing closer to al Qaeda and adopting global aims of Osama bin Laden instead of limiting itself to fighting Pakistan’s government. The United States has repeatedly called on Pakistan to do more to fight not just homegrown militancy but also AlQaeda-backed Afghan Taleban based in North Waziristan who cross the border to attack Western forces in Afghanistan. Pakistan has said it does not have the resources to go after other Islamic groups such as the Haqqani network, described by US forces as one of their biggest enemies in Afghanistan. There are strategic reasons for Pakistan’s hesitancy to attack the Haqqanis, believed to operate from North Waziristan. Pakistan sees the group as a strategic asset that will give it influence in any peace settlement in Afghanistan so Islamabad will want those militants on its side. But it may have few choices if a solid Pakistani connection with the failed Times Square bombing emerges. Other cases already show Pakistani militants have global reach. David Headley, an American arrested in Chicago last year, has pleaded guilty to working with LeT to plotting attacks in India, including surveillance of targets in Mumbai. Counter-terrorism experts say LeT poses a risk to the West in several ways, including lending its network to groups such as Al-Qaeda to conduct attacks. — Reuters
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Thailand faces turbulence as crisis rumbles on By Martin Petty
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hai anti-government protesters yesterday objected to an election proposal offered by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, shattering hopes of a swift end to an increasingly violent political stalemate. Their refusal to accept a November poll date, effectively closing the door on what may be the last offer by the government, sets Thailand on a path towards further violence and instability that will take its toll on the economy, Southeast Asia’s second biggest. Abhisit announced a five-point reconciliation “road map” on Monday for all parties to consider, saying an agreement would likely result in a Nov. 14 election-more than a year before his term expires. The timeframe remains the biggest bone of contention because of its impact on the long-term power structure in the deeply divided country, where neither side appears willing to make any substantive concessions. Here are some implications from the decision: The rejection of the government’s offer could trigger a backlash by many people in Bangkok, including rival protest groups, all of whom are becoming angered by thousands of red shirts occupying parts of the capital for eight weeks. Thailand’s stock market, which shot up 4.4 percent earlier yesterday in its biggest one-day gain since April 20 on hopes to an end to the crisis that has killed 27 people, could face nearterm selling pressure when markets re-open tomorrow after a market holiday today. The Thai baht, which firmed
BANGKOK: “Red Shirt” anti-government protesters camp at one of Bangkok’s main shopping centers, the Central World, located inside the “Red Shirt” anti-government protesters’ fortified camp in the financial central district of Silom in downtown Bangkok. — AFP nearly a quarter percent, on Yesterday before the protesters’ announcement, could also face downward pressure on expectations of stock sales and possible foreign fund outflows. Five-year bond yields could fall as prices rise on the possibility of a delay
in an expected June interest rate rise. The top condition on Abhisit’s fivepoint plan was to avoid bringing Thailand’s revered monarchy into the conflict. The protesters’ refusal to accept the entire deal could be seen as an act of disrespect to the monarchy by
a group accused by the government of having republican leanings-a powerful charge in country where the royal institution is sacrosanct. The window for dialogue seems to have closed. Both sides have now rejected each others’ offers. The gov-
ernment and the army, already accused of dithering, could come under heavy pressure to act decisively and forcibly remove the red shirts from their encampment in a plush shopping and hotel area. Hard-liners in the government, the establishment and military now have an excuse-and probably broad public support in the capital-to use all possible means to get rid of the red shirts, heightening the chance of massive casualties in a crackdown that could be severely damaging for the economy, investment climate and the reputation of all groups involved. Any crackdown risks an angry reaction from the red shirts, their rural supporters and mysterious paramilitaries who have aligned themselves with the movement. Thailand’s tourism industry, which employs about 2 million people and supports about 6 percent of the economy, will continue to wane as long as travel advisories remain in place and the hotel industry would take a big hit. The finance minister has warned that a full-year of protests could knock 2 percentage points off the economy. Consumer confidence would be depressed due to fears of political instability. It is unlikely the central bank will raise interest rates in the next quarter. It has remained at 1.25 percent since this time last year. The passing of a national budget could be delayed and the lack of stimulus spending would negatively impact economic recovery. Foreign investors drawn to the stock market by cheap shares and high dividend yields may decide political risk is too high and choose other more stable markets to trade on. — Reuters
Kyrgyzstan’s new window of opportunity By Kelima Yakupova
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fter resigning in the wake of bloody anti-government protests that left 86 dead and more than 1,500 wounded, the exiled former President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev told reporters in Belarus last month that he was still the country’s legitimate leader. The United Nations, United States, Russia, Kazakhstan and European countries, however, have brokered a deal for Bakiyev’s resignation, recognising an interim government chaired by Kyrgyz opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva in the hopes of returning Kyrgyzstan to a democratic course. Kyrgyzstan, a majorityMuslim, central Asian republic, has endured two coup d’Ètats in the last five years. The first, the Tulip Revolution in March 2005, led to the downfall of the country’s first post-Soviet president, Askar Akayev, whose 15 years in power ended amidst charges of corruption, nepotism and cronyism, and brought Bakiyev to power. During the past several years, Bakiyev took the regime in an increasingly authoritarian direction, and on 7 April Scarlet Revolution protesters in Bishkek and several other cities rose up to drive yet another head of state from
BISHKEK: Kyrgyz honor guards march after installing the national flag at Ala-Too square in central Bishkek in this file photo. — AFP power. Though lasting change eluded Kyrgyzstan in 2005, the Kyrgyz people now have an opportunity to ensure that history does not repeat itself. The head of the interim government, Otunbayeva, has been active in Kyrgyz politics since 1981, serving as the USSR’s emissary to UNESCO and
ambassador to Malaysia, the United Kingdom and the United States. In keeping with their promises to restore democracy in Kyrgyzstan, the three major opposition parties have reached a consensus to build a parliamentary state without the domination of any one individual. With Bakiyev out, and support
from the major international powers, they have a unique opportunity to lead the country to economic recovery and representative government. But the provisional government and its elected successor will have to work hard to earn back the trust of the Kyrgyz people. Thanks in part to the
Internet, which has made it easier for young Kyrgyz to form civil associations and keep one another informed, the Kyrgyz people have become more aware of government corruption. They watched as Bakiyev appointed members of his family to significant political positions and enjoyed the lion’s share of US government largesse in exchange for the use of the air base at Manas, a vital resupply point in the war in Afghanistan. Several times in the past two months, thousands have taken to the streets of major Kyrgyz cities to demand the release of political prisoners and an end to the government’s harassment of the media: more than 60 journalists have been attacked since 2006, and at least two murdered. After electricity fees increased by 200 per cent, and heat by 400 per cent over the winter, protesters demanded reductions in utility costs and called for Bakiyev’s son, Maksim - accused of embezzling at least $35 million from a Russian loan - to leave the country. Political activism does not come naturally to the Kyrgyz. Even after gaining their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, they had a lingering fear of repression, little independent media, limited political speech and, above all, a lack of faith that citizen participation could bring
about significant reforms. However, recent events have encouraged dissatisfied citizens that public dissent is necessary and could be effective in the current climate. The Kyrgyz people must continue to press the provisional government to appoint public officials transparently and restart key institutions, including the constitutional court. To address the country’s most pressing challenges, the new government will have to develop a commitment to protect freedom of speech and an independent media, as well as a longterm plan to jumpstart the economy, alleviate poverty and create new employment opportunities, which would provide a constructive opportunity for frustrated and unemployed youth. Kyrgyzstan’s Scarlet Revolution has not yet put an end to the country’s cycle of turmoil. But thanks to the actions of Otunbayeva and her colleagues in the new government, and the many citizens who have taken to the streets to demand a say in how it makes its decisions, the people of Kyrgyzstan have reason to believe that this time change is actually in the works. Kelima Yakupova is a Kyrgyz national and Junior Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. —CGNews
analysis
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
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Franco-German engine splutters over Greece By Crispian Balmer
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eeks of wrangling over a bailout for profligate Greece brutally exposed core divergences between Germany and France, raising serious questions over whether the traditional motor of closer EU integration has run out of gas. While French President Nicolas Sarkozy swiftly pledged to save Greece from the humiliation of a default, German Chancellor Angela Merkel dragged her feet and only agreed to back a salvage package when the euro zone was threatened by contagion. Berlin has defended its procrastination, arguing that the delays forced Greece to accept more effective and tougher budget rigour than if Merkel had immediately opened her chequebook. But France was stunned by her stubbornness and analysts say the crisis has shown that the days when Paris and Berlin could orchestrate EU policy in an harmonious fashion are long gone. “Franco-German relations are a pale shadow of what they once were,” said Dominique Moisi, a founder and senior advisor at the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI). “The reason is that Germany has become a normal country and is putting its national interest first, which is what France has done for sometime. This is a problem, because no one speaks today with Europe in mind.” Differing national interests across the Rhine could yet tear apart the fabric of the European single currency. In Germany, abiding by the rules and pursuing budget frugality is vital. In France, the word austerity is banned from the political lexicon and deficits have become a way of life. So while France had no problem helping Greece, despite the fact it lied about its finances, for Germany it was traumatic. “They see themselves as the ants who work and we are the crickets who sing,” said Richard Yung, a Socialist senator who lived in Germany for 14
ATHENS: A protesting teacher holds a paper that reads in Greek ‘education for sale’ in central Athens yesterday. Greece’s cash-strapped government announced sweeping spending cuts worth €30 billion ($40 billion) through 2012 on Sunday, in order to secure a vital rescue package of loans from the International Monetary Fund and the other 15 European Union countries using the euro as their currency. — AP years. “They feel they’ve been swindled ... and to a degree you can understand their reasoning.” BUDGET DISCIPLINE Germany’s borrowing limits are enshrined by law, the country’s unions have accepted wage restraint to maintain a competitive edge and families still put a premium on thrift, refusing to bow to the Western god of mass consumerism. This budget discipline made Germany the world’s biggest exporter between 2003-2008, only losing the top spot to China in 2009, and giving it the largest trade surplus within Europe.
France is the fifth-largest exporter, but has consistently run up massive trade deficits in recent years and has relied heavily on consumer spending to prop up its fragile economy. Sarkozy has promised to cut France’s runaway budget deficit, and is undertaking a reform of the loss-making pensions system to show he is serious about public finances. But tensions between the euro zone’s two economic powerhouses are building. They surfaced briefly in March when French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde urged Berlin to reduce its reliance on
exports and boost domestic consumption, saying massive German surpluses threatened the stability of the euro. Merkel slapped down the suggestion, putting her EU partners on guard not to challenge the German economic model. Analysts in Brussels say the differing visions over the economy are part of a broader malaise, with the francoGerman axis, which once powered the construction of Europe, no longer strong enough to drive the disparate, 27-nation bloc. “The franco-German tandem has been in bad shape for a
long time,” said Ulrike Guerot, head of the Berlin office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “The problem is that both France and Germany still have that blocking capacity in the European Union, meaning nothing happens without them,” she added. “The tandem ... no longer works on the creative ideas side, but on the ‘what-we-don’t-want’ side.” POLAR OPPOSITES Not all analysts have such a bleak view, arguing that France and Germany combine well in many areas, pointing to cooperation on new regulations for the financial markets and joint efforts on difficult diplomatic dossiers like Iran and Afghanistan. “They work together well on foreign policy ... and France is getting closer to the Germans over the environment, which is very important,” said Brigitte Lestrade, a professor at the CergyPontoise university and an expert on franco-German ties. “It is true the motor is turning slowly, but perhaps this is because Sarkozy and Merkel are simply too different,” she added. Although they both belong to the centre-right, Sarkozy and Merkel clearly lack the personal chemistry that flowed between some of their predecessors, with the hyperactive French leader a polar opposite of the more reserved German. Noticeably though, the outspoken Sarkozy has offered up no public criticism of Berlin during the Greek crisis, with French ministers saying in private they understood Merkel’s caution, given the fierce public German opposition to any bailout. But IFRI’s Moisi argues that you need more than compatible personalities to re-ignite the dynamism of the early years of EU integration, as the various capitals look increasingly inwards. “What is happening goes much, much beyond the fact that Sarkozy and Merkel could not be more different,” he said. “I don’t see where the good news is going to come from now in Europe. The feeling of being a European is disappearing.” — Reuters
Obama beset at once by multiple crises By Tom Raum
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npredictable and tough to solve, the stack of problems on President Barack Obama’s desk is growing unwieldy. It is presenting him with a tough juggling act. Two wars, a financial crisis, lingering high unemployment and an exhausting battle over health care. And that was just the start. Now throw in an environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and an attempted car bombing in Times Square as well as other pressing matters such as dealing with the apparent increasing menace of Iran’s nuclear program, a derailed Middle East peace process, searching for a new Supreme Court justice and trying to persuade Congress to approve the most sweeping rewrite of financial rules in 70 years. And Obama is striving to juggle these problems while he and his party brace for probable big midterm election losses in November. “Safe to say, there is a lot on the president’s plate,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said at his daily briefing on Monday when pressed by a reporter on Obama’s timetable for interviewing and select-
ing a new Supreme Court justice. He was stating the obvious. All modern presidents get bombarded with multiple problems and have to learn to multitask. But Obama seems to be getting more than his share. “These are coming at him fast. And many are things where it’s very hard for him to act. They’re not win-win propositions,” said Stephen Hess, a presidential scholar at the Brookings Institution who worked in the Eisenhower and Nixon administrations and was an adviser to Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. “Obama in a sense didn’t create any of these situations. But the public, as they do with all presidents, hold him responsible for all of them,” Hess said. The oil spill, spewing up to 200,000 gallons (757,000 liters) a day into the Gulf of Mexico and threatening major environmental damage as the slick drifts toward a fragile shoreline, comes just weeks after Obama called for expanding oil drilling in the eastern Gulf and for opening to drilling areas off the southeast Atlantic seaboard and in Alaska. The disaster raises serious questions about that initiative. Obama acted
quickly to make a show of federal involvement, a lesson no doubt learned from the Bush administration’s sluggish and at times tone-deaf reaction to Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf in 2005. Still, some of Obama’s critics, including some on the political left, have suggested Obama’s concern was not registered quickly enough. A public grown highly skeptical of government’s capabilities will likely judge Obama’s performance in a harsher light because of President George W Bush’s stumbling. The challenges have been piling up quickly. The weekend before last, Obama was in West Virginia at a memorial service for 29 miners killed in a coal mine explosion that is now at the center of an FBI criminal investigation. Suddenly, there was another major explosion to deal with, this one on a deep-water oil rig in the Gulf owned by Transocean LTD and operated by BP PLC. Eleven workers died in the explosion. Even as Obama talked with reporters about the catastrophe on Sunday during a quickly arranged visit to the Gulf, he found he also had to offer calming words over Saturday’s failed car bombing in Times Square.
“What we have here is a situation in which the president of the United States is dealing with a wide variety of problems,” said pollster Andrew Kohut, president of the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. “Economic discontent is now being augmented by concerns about what happened in the Gulf and whether we’re safe from truck and car bombs. “I think it adds to a sense of his burden. But I don’t think it’s going to deal a devastating blow to his image at this point,” Kohut said. The multiple crises weigh on Obama’s political calculus as he decides how hard to push his remaining agenda while Democrats still control Congress. The outlook is not all gloomy. The elections still are six months off, and a lot can happen between now and then. The economy does seem to be improving, if slowly and in some sectors faster than in others. Obama does face a likely confirmation fight in the Senate over his Supreme Court choice. But at least he has a chance to place a second justice on the court. For instance, Carter never had a single opening on the high court during his one-term presidency.
Some recent events, such as the government’s civil fraud suit against giant investment bank Goldman Sachs, could work in Obama’s favor on the financial regulation front by helping Democrats to harness voter anger against Wall Street. The would-be Times Square bombing could have had devastating consequences. But it did fail to detonate. It remains unclear how much environmental damage will result from the Gulf oil spill. But various government agencies appear to be working the problem and BP PLC has given some assurances to shrimpers, oil workers and scores of others that they will be paid for damage and injuries. Either way, the multiple crises will leave an indelible mark on Obama’s presidency, suggested Thomas E Cronin, a presidential scholar at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Many successful presidential candidates like Obama “go to Washington to change the way Washington does business,” Cronin said. “The fact is, once you’re there, your agenda gets changed and shaped more than you are the shaper. This again shows that events shape leaders more than leaders shape events.” — AP
Liberia faces hurdles on road to prosperity By Tim Cocks
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ining and agriculture companies are preparing to pour billions of dollars into Liberia, but the battle-scarred nation faces big hurdles if it is to turn these investments into a robust post-war recovery. After 15 years of near constant conflict that killed tens of thousands and left its infrastructure in tatters by the time it ended in 2003, the small West African nation is opening up to foreign investment, especially into its rich iron ore deposits. Since coming to power in 2006, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has tried to restore stability and woo investors to a country that was more often associated with child soldiers and conflict diamonds than billion dollar projects. “This country is so rich,” national investment commission chairman Richard Tolbert told Reuters in an interview. “Iron ore, gold, diamonds, rubber, coffee, cocoa, timber, oil palm. We’ve got the land, labor and natural resources. We need the finance, knowhow and access to markets. Better jump on this band wagon, because it’s moving fast.” Top steelmaker ArcelorMittal and the world’s biggest miner BHP Billiton have large concessions in Liberia, as does Russia’s Severstal. Officials are in talks with Brazilian miner Vale, the world’s biggest iron ore producer. The largest single investment in the country is China Union’s $2.6 billion iron ore project, which officially opened towards the end of last month. Asian palm oil companies are seeking plantation concessions in the well watered countryside. Production of rubber, still
SAPO NATIONAL PARK: A family tends to their slash and burn farm on the outskirts of Sapo National Park in Liberia. The park is one of the largest and most biologically diverse rain forests left in West Africa but is currently threatened by illegal mining, slash and burn farming, and bush meat hunting. — AFP Liberia’s biggest export until iron gets underway, is on the rise. Such things were unthinkable during war-wracked reign of former President Charles Taylor, ousted by rebels in 2003, and now on trial for war crimes in neigh-
boring Sierra Leone. ‘FRONTIER MARKETS’ The numbers look impressive, but transforming Liberia from a broken into a prosperous nation is a huge task. Around three quarters of Liberia’s 3.5
million people are unemployed, Tolbert said, and the country is heavily dependent on donor aid to help run almost every aspect of government. Liberia hosts the second largest UN peacekeeping mission in Africa, after
Democratic Republic of the Congo. UN police vehicles ply the streets of Monrovia on routine patrols for which Liberian police lack the resources. Outside the capital, warlords are kept at bay largely by UN troops. Diplomats say the mission even helps draft legislation. Few jobs will be created by the iron ore projects. Tolbert estimates each project will create between 2,000 and 3,000 direct jobs, though farming would have more of an impact on employment: a palm oil project signed with Sime Darby will bring 30,000 jobs. Another being negotiated with Indonesia’s Golden Agri Resources would create 40,000. While mining giants have been welcomed, smaller businesses complain of red tape, high taxes, corruption and harassment. “This is not a very investor-friendly place,” said Harry Greaves, a local businessman and former head of the national petroleum refinery. “The legal system is tough, laws are too favorable to debtors, people in government constantly harass business, doing all kinds of inspections. Corruption is a big problem.” Officials say efforts have been made to tackle this, pointing out that registering a business now takes 27 days, instead of 90, and that the nation has been praised by the World Bank for its reforms, moving it up the ease of doing business index to 149th this year from 173rd in 2008. But poor roads and power shortages remain a big deterrent. “The biggest challenge we have is the cost of electricity, which has made people uncomfortable about business here,” Deputy Commerce Minister Frederick Norkeh said. “But still, the potential is high. We’re one of the last frontier markets.” —Reuters
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EU wary of conservatives but expects pragmatism By Timothy Heritage
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ritain’s Conservatives will be seen by much of the European Union as unwelcome guests at a party if they win tomorrow’s election but will try to reassure their hosts quickly that they won’t start a fight. Many EU leaders are wary of the centre-right Conservatives coming to power because they are more hostile to the 27-country grouping than the other two mainstream parties, centre-left Labor and the centrist Liberal Democrats. The latest British opinion poll sees the Conservatives winning with a small majority. If he becomes prime minister, Conservative leader David Cameron will want to show more “eurosceptic” members of his party that he will defend Britain’s interests strongly in the EU and may seek a particular issue on which to take the Union on. But European officials regard him as a pragmatist who has more to gain from cooperating with the rest of the EU than in picking fights with his new partners. “I know David well and we have our differences but I believe we can always talk about these differences and can work with him,” said the centre-right prime minister of one EU member state who declined to be identified. Some of the policies Cameron has outlined have so alarmed some of his potential European partners that Pierre Lellouche, France’s state secretary for European affairs, said last year the Conservative policies were “autistic”. But experts do not expect seismic shifts in British policy on Europe if the Conservatives oust Labor, which has kept Britain out of the single European currency and sought better economic and defense ties with the bloc it joined in 1973. “Rhetoric aside, there has been consistency in British EU policy since 1973. A change of the party in power will not drastically change that,” said Sir Stephen Wall, a former British envoy in Brussels and a former government adviser. FINDING A BALANCE British business leaders have made clear they believe cooperation with the EU benefits Britain’s economy and will help cut its budget deficit and encourage employment. But the
Conservatives are widely seen as having become more eurosceptic in recent years and Cameron will face pressure from opponents of the EU to protect Britain’s sovereignty in important areas and take out a firm position in certain others. Despite being wary of the Conservatives, many other European governments would prefer them to win convincingly than by a narrow margin because otherwise Cameron could be dependent on the votes of hardline eurosceptics to push through legislation. Cameron could face a difficult balancing act of trying to appease the eurosceptics in his own party while trying to establish a reputation for cooperation in the rest of the EU. This would point to Cameron picking issues to make a stand on that will not endanger relations as a whole with Brussels. “I’m of the view that they’ll be looking for some little bone to throw their troops and then get on with the business of engaging with Europe,” said Iain Begg, a professor at the London School of Economics who specializes in Britain’s role in Europe. Cameron has said he would try to negotiate the right to opt out of some areas of EU social and employment law, claw back powers on criminal justice and seek a complete exemption from the EU’s Charter on Fundamental Rights. He has also said he would put any future treaty ceding sovereignty to the EU to a referendum. POSSIBLE AREAS OF CONFRONTATION He could try to make a mark by showing he will protect the City of London-Britain’s financial centre-against what eurosceptics would see as over-regulation by the EU. This could come in a vote on plans to regulate hedge funds and private equity, strongly opposed by London. The government will have to make a compromise or risk being outvoted. Another potential battle could be over social and employment policy, areas where Cameron has said he would like to ensure Britain regains more control from Brussels. Cameron would likely to maintain Britain’s opposition to capping the work week, blocking reforms that would prevent employees working more than 48 hours a week if they want to. — Reuters
Fatwa undercuts extremist rhetoric regarding terrorism By Rashad Bukhari
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n recent years, the words and actions of extremists claiming to commit violence in the name of Islam, time and again through the media, has arguably caused great harm to Islam’s peaceful reputation. It is in this context that Dr Tahir ul-Qadri, a prominent Islamic scholar from Pakistan, issued his 600-page fatwa (a nonbinding religious opinion in Islamic law) against terrorism from London in March. Arguably the most comprehensive document ever produced on terrorism in the over 1,400 years of Islam’s history, the fatwa categorically denounces all facets, forms and justifications of terrorism on theological grounds with irrefutable arguments from Islamic texts, history and schools of thought. I had the incredible opportunity to speak with Qadri recently to understand what motivated him: “I felt the urge to clear the name of Islam, which is being maligned and distorted by fanatics who cannot be called Muslims by any definition of the word.” One of the most enlightening parts of our two-hour discussion was Qadri’s refutation of the argument commonly used by extremists to justify terrorism on religious grounds: that the world is divided into the “House of Peace”, which includes countries living according the Islamic principles, and the “House of War” which is comprised of countries in which Muslims do not enjoy peace and security or are not free to practice their religion. However, not all Muslim scholars abide by this definition and many believe that the two “houses” need not be in a constant state of war. These terms, first used by the 8th century imam and jurist Abu Hanifah, were based on the political divisions of the time, not the Qur’an or hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad). For example, in response to the Mongol invasions of Muslim lands, 14th century Islamic scholar Ibn Taymiyyah, issued a religious opinion using these terms to justify violence against unjust and authoritarian leaders if the aim was to re-establish a system of law based on Islamic principles. Many Muslims who use this religious opinion as an excuse to commit acts of terror today are neither aware of its roots nor the geopolitical context in which it emerged. Qadri laments that terrorists claiming to act in the name of Islam today don’t consider even Muslim-majority countries as being in the House of Peace since, according to them, such countries do not fully implement Islamic laws. For them, the whole world is a House of War. Thus, they justify the killing of individuals in blatant disregard to Islamic principles, which clearly reject the killing of civilians. Qadri explains that this philosophy has no basis in Islamic texts or teachings. According to Qadri, the Islamic view of international law, as defined by many Islamic jurists, puts nations into five categories, and governs behavior towards each. In the first category fall Muslim-majority countries with Muslim rulers, considered part of the House of Peace, whether or not Islamic laws are implemented domestically. Nations with which these Muslim-majority countries engage in a temporary peace treaty fall into the second category, the “House of Truce”. Their status is equal to those in the House of Peace, as long as a treaty is intact. The third category, the “House of Promise”, includes countries with which there is a permanent peace treaty. The fourth category includes countries that are neither allies nor enemies. They are also subject to the treatment of nations in the House of Peace - including the rights to life, property, honor and freedom for all, regardless of religion, language or race. Rashad Bukhari is member of the Common Ground News Service’s editorial board and program advisor for Muslim-Western understanding at Search for Common Ground.— CGNews
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NEWS
‘Jordan River drying up’ QASR AL-YAHUD: Christian pilgrims who flock to the Jordan River to immerse themselves in the water where Jesus was baptized may have nothing left to dunk in next year. A team of Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian environmental scientists says large stretches of the biblical river could dry up by 2011. And much of what remains is nothing but a canal of sewage, they said in a report released Monday. “You can almost jump across this river. In other places, you don’t need to even jump - you can just cross it. It’s ankle deep,” said Gidon Bromberg, Israeli director of Friends of the Earth Middle East, the organization that commissioned the report. “You struggle to see the water.” Sadly, it is one of the efforts to save the river that has helped doom it, the report said. Israel and Jordan have agreed to stop dumping waste into the river and instead treat it in plants expected to be up and running in both countries in 2011. But if no wastewater enters the lower Jordan - the river’s largest section - then no water will flow in it at all, the report notes. According to Christian tradition, John baptized Jesus in the Jordan
QASR AL-YAHUD: An Orthodox Christian pilgrim immerses herself in a tub of water taken from the Jordan River after it was blessed during a baptism ceremony at Qasr-El Yahud near Jericho. —AP River. Typical of the region’s conflicting land claims, both Jordan and Israel maintain the New Testament baptismal site stands on their soil, and the sites face each other on either side of the Jordan. On the Israeli-controlled side in the West Bank, the site is called Qasr Al-Yahud, Arabic for “Castle of the Jews” or “Crossing of the Jews.” In Jordan, it is called Al-Maghtas, or “Baptism Site.” The Bible describes the river, which flows south from the Sea of Galilee into the Dead Sea,
marking the border shared by Israel, Jordan and the West Bank, as “overflowing.” In 1847, a US Naval officer visiting the area reported on the “deafening roar of the tumultuous waters.” But over the past five decades, Israel, Jordan and Syria have diverted about 98 percent of the Jordan River and its tributaries for drinking water and agricultural use. Only 700 million to about 1 billion cubic feet flow through the river today, a tiny fraction of the 45 billion cubic feet that used to
surge through before the 1930s, when the first dam was built on the river in what is now Israel. What was once the narrowest stretch of the river has now become its widest. In some spots, the Jordan is only a trickle. Otters and other creatures that used to live on its banks are long gone. Today, the lower section of the Jordan is choked with sewage from towns on the Israeli, West Bank and Jordanian sides. The report’s authors praised the Israeli and Jordanian wastewater treatment plan, while noting that it will dry up large stretches of the river by the end of next year because the treated sewage will be used for agriculture rather than being pumped into the Jordan. The report recommends that Israel and Jordan rehabilitate the river by filling it with freshwater pumped in from the Sea of Galilee and the Yarmouk river, the Jordan’s largest tributary, in addition to highly treated wastewater, to return a third of the volume that once flowed there. Today, most Christian pilgrims who visit Israel immerse themselves in the fresh waters of the Jordan river at Yardenit, a modern-day baptismal tourist site near the Sea of Galilee, 60 miles upstream. —AP
Mumbai’s ‘killing machine’ to be sentenced tomorrow MUMBAI: A Pakistani man who is the lone surviving gunman of the 2008 Mumbai attacks will be sentenced tomorrow, an Indian judge said yesterday, amid prosecution calls for the “killing machine” to be executed. Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab’s trial in a special prison court in Mumbai heard arguments from the defense and prosecution yesterday over the appropriate penalty. The judge adjourned the case until tomorrow to consider his decision. Public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam maintained his vigorous advocacy for the ultimate penalty for Kasab, who was convicted of murder and waging war against India-crimes punishable by hanging. “It would be a mockery of justice if the death penalty is not imposed,” Nikam told the court. “He is an agent of the devil himself, a disgrace to society and the entire human race.” He told reporters outside court that
the 22-year-old former laborer and school dropout was “a killing machine and the factory for the killing machine was in Pakistan”. India believes the attack was plotted and executed by the Pakistanbased Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and “elements” in the Pakistani military. The judge said in his verdict that 20 suspects, including LeT founder Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, key operative Zarar Shah and Hafiz Saeed, whose Jamaat-ud-Dawa charity is seen as a front for the LeT, were part of the conspiracy. Lakhvi and Shah are currently on trial in Pakistan. Kasab and an accomplice committed the bloodiest episode of the three-day assault by killing 52 people at Mumbai’s main railway station and 20 more as they fled, including several senior police officers. In total, the 10 heavilyarmed gunmen killed 166 people and injured more than 300 at three luxury hotels, a popular tourist restaurant and
Jewish centre. Kasab sat with his head bowed but showed little reaction as the court discussed his fate. Arguing against a death sentence, his lawyer, K P Pawar, suggested his client had been brainwashed into committing the killings while under the influence of a “terrorist organization”. That “impaired his ability to appreciate the impact of his conduct,” he told the court. “An eye for an eye should not be the basis for punishment,” he added, urging leniency as Kasab was still young and could be rehabilitated. “He’s a human being of flesh and blood. That should not be forgotten,” he said. The year-long trial has been keenly watched given the psychological impact of the “26/11” (November 26) attacks, which are often compared in India to the September 11, 2001 assault on New York and Washington. —AFP
Fleeing ‘bomber’ confesses Continued from Page 1 them to Shahzad. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the pair were related to the New York suspect. Shahzad will be charged with “an act of terrorism transcending national borders, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction,” Attorney General Eric Holder said. Asked at a press conference if Shahzad, 30, had confessed to involvement in Saturday’s attempted car bomb attack, Holder said: “He has, he has done that.” US officials say Shahzad is the driver who parked a dark green Nissan Pathfinder containing a large, crude bomb in Times Square on Saturday evening when the district was teeming with tourists and theater-goers. An alert street vendor tipped off police who ordered a mass evacuation and the vehicle was disarmed. For 53 hours police and FBI agents swarmed over the Nissan and the bomb in search of clues, finally arresting Shahzad as his Emirates Airlines flight was about to take off from John F Kennedy Airport for Dubai late Monday. Officials said he was cooperating with interrogators, who used a little-known law to delay reading him his Miranda rights, which permit a suspect to remain silent and not incriminate himself. President Barack Obama praised police for their swift work. “This incident is another sobering reminder of the times
in which we live,” Obama said, adding: “We will not be terrorized, we will not cower in fear.” New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg vowed that militants would fail to intimidate “the greatest city in the world” and warned he would not tolerate any backlash against local Muslims or Pakistanis. But the mayor also criticized Shahzad’s ability to board an international flight and said “a good look” was needed at the dramatic airport showdown. Mark Sutherland, a South African traveling on the same Emirates flight, said “we were actually ready for take off” when “a couple security persons came on.” “We weren’t told anything until we got off the plane,” he told NY1 television. Officials said they were now pursuing leads on whether Shahzad had ties to radical groups in the United States or overseas. All night, the FBI searched the suspect’s home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, hauling belongings into the street and marking evidence with yellow tags. According to US television news reports, the suspect had recently returned from a five-month trip to Pakistan and the city of Peshawar, a hotbed for Al-Qaeda and Taleban recruits. Islamabad officials pledged to assist the US investigation. “When an official request comes for that individual, we will cooperate,” Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters outside parliament. US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley also said, “We are work-
ing closely with the government of Pakistan regarding the ongoing investigation of the bomb plot in Times Square.” Michael Balboni, a former homeland security advisor to New York State, told Fox News channel that Shahzad put up no resistance when he was caught. But he had apparently driven to the airport ready for trouble. When police searched the vehicle, “a weapon was found in that car... it was a handgun,” Balboni said, citing his own sources. Luckily for police, the alleged bomber was apparently inept from start to finish as he tried to shed blood in the heart of New York’s theater district. The bomb was comprised of a bizarre concoction of fireworks, clocks, gasoline, propane gas, and fertilizer. It failed to go off, only fizzling, and the fertilizer, say police, was not even the right kind to explode. However, had the bomb managed to ignite, it still would have created a “fireball” and caused “mayhem,” officials say. An early possible indication of jihadist, or copycat links, analysts said, was the similarity to a failed double car bomb attempt in London’s entertainment districts in 2007. New York has been on constant watch since the September 11, 2001 attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center, killing almost 3,000 people. So far, the only group to claim responsibility for the would-be bombing is the Pakistani militant group Tehreek-e-Taleban. US officials quickly dismissed the credibility of the claim. — AFP
‘Summer of uncertainty’ Continued from Page 1 Airlines and airports complained bitterly that EU uncertainty during last month’s volcanic crisis grounded too many flights for too long last month. In all, more than 100,000 flights were canceled, inconveniencing 10 million travelers. Aviation authorities shut down airports throughout Ireland, Scotland’s Outer Hebrides islands and the Faeroe Islands for several hours yesterday after unexpectedly strong and unseasonal winds drove a thick cloud of ash southward from Iceland. Irish air space reopened at 1 pm and services were scheduled to return to normal as the ash drifted south into the open Atlantic at too low an altitude to pose a risk to aircraft. Britain’s National Air Traffic Service said there was no immediate threat of disruption to British airports but said the situation remained “dynamic.” Ireland said there
might be new shutdowns today. Hanging over all official statements were fears that the volcano in southeast Iceland could keep scattering ash - and travel chaos - across Europe all summer. “We remain at risk (of further shutdowns), particularly towards today,” Brennan said in a telephone interview. “We’re probably facing a summer of uncertainty because of this ash cloud.” Brennan said Ireland had no choice but to shut its air space at 7 am yesterday because a thick cloud of ash was reaching the island. The ash generally poses a risk only to aircraft at lower altitudes, when they are ascending to cruising altitude or coming in to land. Brennan said prevailing winds normally would push the ash northward to the Arctic, but turned southward this week, sending ash straight over the Faeroes, down past the Hebrides on Scotland’s northwest coast and over Ireland, which lies 900 miles southeast of Iceland.
Ireland’s temporary shutdown grounded more than 200 flights, most of them operated by airlines Ryanair and Aer Lingus. Both airlines scheduled extra flights in the afternoon and evening to clear the backlog of stranded customers. Iceland’s Institute of Earth Sciences said the volcano’s plume has risen this week to nearly 5.5 kilometers following several large explosions. It said tremors emanating from the volcano have intensified since Sunday night and the eruption that began April 14 shows no signs of ending. The last time this volcano erupted - in 1821 the eruption lasted for over a year. Among the tens of thousands of temporarily inconvenienced passengers was David Cameron, leader of Britain’s opposition Conservative Party. He was scheduled to address rallies in Northern Ireland in advance of Thursday’s British election and became one of the first to fly into the British province once air restrictions were lifted. — AP
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Lawmakers propose all-female police stations Continued from Page 1 yesterday approved in principle a draft law, which bans bank interest on loans and consider it as usury. The committee also approved a draft law calling to raise the capital of Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development from KD2 billion to KD10 billion in order to allow it to finance public shareholding companies inside Kuwait. The committee rejected a proposal to give prisoners the right to visit their families for 48 hours because of the difficulty of implementing it. It rejected requests to
lift the immunity of MPs Mussallam AlBarrak, Khaled Al-Tahous and Mohammad Hayef and also rejected the establishment of a financial control authority, saying the Audit Bureau is doing the same work. The financial and economic affairs committee meanwhile almost completed reviewing the amendments to the privatization law which was passed in the first reading last month, head of the committee said. MP Yousef Al-Zalzalah said that only a few procedural amendments remain and hoped it will be finalized today.
He said it was unanimously agreed to make mandatory for the government to have a golden share in any privatized service. The committee did not reach a final decision on whether public utilities can be privatized or not and kept the ban on the privatization of the health, education, gas and oil sectors. The women’s affairs committee approved new amendments to the women’s rights draft law. One of the amendments calls for providing appropriate house to Kuwaiti women married to foreigners, divorced, widows and those not married but are over 40 years of age.
Settlers blamed for mosque fire Continued from Page 1 and Palestinian authorities to determine the cause of the blaze. Israeli media reported evidence of an electrical short circuit in the mosque that might have started the fire. Israeli police said evidence was transferred to its forensics unit. Also yesterday, residents of the nearby village of Hawara said they saw settlers set fire to an olive grove close to the Jewish settlement of Bracha. The fire there destroyed about 50 trees before Israeli soldiers extinguished the flames. “About 20 settlers came from the settlement and they set a fire here and then they left,” Rida Mustafa, a village resident who said he witnessed the attack said. “Every couple of days, they come and
cause trouble,” Mustafa added. The military said it did not know how the fire broke out. Both Hawara and Luban a-Sharkiyeh located near the town of Nablus - are ringed by settlements. In another development, the Palestinian government said yesterday it is determined to stop thousands of Palestinians from working in Israeli settlements, but it won’t enforce the ban until the end of the year because of economic hardships. Setting the date, Economics Minister Hassan Abu Libdeh pledged harsh punishments for working in settlements after the ban takes effect. “I may not be able to place Palestinian police or a judge at the gates of the settlements, but I think that every single Palestinian working in a settlement is well known to us,”
he said. Another part of the law, forbidding sales of products made in settlements, is already in force. However, the ban on Palestinians working in settlements is harder to enforce because of high unemployment. Palestinians see the more than 120 Israeli settlements dotting the West Bank as an obstacle to their goal of a state and insist that construction there must stop. However, about 23,000 Palestinians work in the settlements, an important source of income when nearly a quarter of the Palestinian labor force is out of work. The anti-settlement law, signed last week by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, imposes fines of up to $14,000 and jail time of up to five years on violators. — AP
Espionage case takes new turn Continued from Page 1 also declined to say if the spy cell was linked to Iran. Newspapers reported yesterday that the number of people detained rose to 11 after security forces arrested four new suspects. The reports said members of the network were asked to monitor and take pictures of Kuwaiti and US military sites for the Revolutionary Guards. Iran has categorically denied any link to the Kuwaiti cell. Also yesterday, a group of lawmakers retracted earlier demands for special parliamentary session to address the security implications of busting the espionage cell allegedly having links with Iran. “After collecting the signatures of ten MPs to hold the special session, which is the number required, we (MPs) decided to delay the submitting of the request for the session due to new developments in the case,” said Hayef. Meanwhile, Chairman of Parliament’s Interior and Defense Committee MP Askar Al-Enezi said the media escalation of the espionage case is against Kuwait’s national, political, security and economic interests. “We should respect His Highness the Amir’s wish not to inflict harm on neighboring countries and their leaders,” Enezi said, adding that investigations in the case are still pending. He urged the media and the local press to avoid escalating the case and leave the entire issue to the relevant security authority. However, he called on authorities to issue a statement on the case after the completion of investigations. “There is no need to hold a special session since the case is still being investigated by the authorities. However, fellow MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan said that it was “too early to call for a special session.” “In fact, the media coverage of the case could erode social security in the country,” he warned. MP Dhaifallah Buramiah said that the
government should be clear about the case and should not issue conflicting statements. “The government should not be weak, particularly that we have common defense agreements with superpowers,” he said. The local press yesterday reported that four military men have been arrested in connection with the spy cell in Kuwait, bringing the total number of detained suspects to 11. The four men are currently interrogated by the militar y intelligence agency and will next week be moved to the state security agency before their transfer alongside the other seven suspects to the public prosecutor, AlJareeda newspaper said. All suspects could face the charge of “belonging to an illegal organization plotting to force the rupture of diplomatic ties with the US, especially that the cell was tasked with monitoring the US military sites in Kuwait and providing Iran’s Revolutionary Guards with information via satellite and other means.” However, Al-Shahed daily said that 12 people have been arrested in connection with the case. According to unnamed sources, a diplomat had given money to the suspects and provided them with the maps and devices to help them locate military sites and monitor movements. The report, however, did not mention the diplomat’s name or nationality. The report said that the sources denied claims that a man working in an Arab embassy was among the suspects, but confir med that members of the same family were implicated in the espionage ring. Al-Qabas, the daily that broke the news about the busting of the cell on Saturday, said that the cell was given special espionage devices and were trained on using them in a Revolutionary Guards training camp in Mashhad. The instruments given to the cell were initially buried in the desert and later moved to two houses in Sulaibiya and Waha, near Kuwait City. The paper added that the suspects
had given the Iranian liaison officer, through a Lebanese intermediary, a recent map of the Boubyan Island where Kuwaiti military sites are clearly indicated. The location of Patriot missiles and the US troops’ train movements towards and from Iraq were also provided, added the paper. Al-Qabas also broke new serious developments, saying that interrogation with a female citizen accused of involvement in the case of forging a check with a Bahraini minister who was ousted from his position as a result, gave the first lead that led investigators to uncover the spying cell. Further information received indicates that the cell has activities in other GCC countries, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Security services in Kuwait and other GCC countries are currently following up with the movements of the cell. (Materials from the wires are used in this report) MPs also continued to heap pressure on the government to take strong action against the cell members and backers. Yesterday, the government, under pressure since Saturday to issue a statement, said that it had detained some people in connection with a spy cell and that it was investigating the case. However, Mohammad Al Busairi, the government spokesman, said that a statement would be issued after the investigations were completed. The government spokesman did not mention the names, number or nationalities of the people under investigation. Abdul Rahman Al Atiyyah, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) secretary general, who was on a working visit in Kuwait, said that “any threat to a GCC member is a threat to all the member countries.” “The GCC is a red line that should not be approached,” Al Atiyyah said on the sidelines of a GCC ministerial meeting in the Kuwaiti capital. However, Al Atiyyah said that the meeting did not take up the spy cell case.
US declares its nuclear arsenal Continued from Page 1 Historically, the overall size of the arsenal has been kept secret to help prevent potential adversaries from using the information to more precisely neutralize US nuclear forces. Still, analysts warned the disclosure could also negatively impact perceptions of the United States-possibly dismaying other nations by demonstrating how
many nuclear weapons it retains two decades after the Cold War ended. “I think the states that are most concerned about nuclear disarmament will be more focused on the number that remains rather than the number (reduced),” said George Perkovich, director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The Pentagon said from fiscal years 1994 through 2009, the United States
dismantled 8,748 nuclear warheads. The Pentagon also declined to disclose the exact number of warheads awaiting dismantlement. It said more analysis needed to be done to make sure it did not impact US national security. The United States aims to dismantle those warheads by the early part of the next decade, another US official said, also briefing repor ters on condition of anonymity. — Reuters
Iran summons Emirate envoy Continued from Page 1 compared Iran’s control of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunb islands to Israel’s occupation of Arab territories since 1967. Tehran called the comments “brazen and impudent”. But Sheikh Abdullah repeated the comments in the Palestinian town of Ramallah, calling for Iran to end its “occupation”. Arab states broadly back the UAE claim to the islands, which lie close to shipping lanes used for oil and gas export. The UAE and non-Arab Iran have strong trade relations but diplomatic ties have been strained af ter Iran installed maritime offices on one of the disputed islands in 2008. Another source of diplomatic friction is Iran’s nuclear energy program. Gulf Arab governments share US fears that Iran could become a nuclear weapons state. Analysts say small Gulf Arab states offering facilities to the US military could become Iranian targets if the nuclear dispute turns into a military confrontation. Meanwhile, Iran announced new naval war games yesterday and revealed that one of its military aircraft had photographed a US aircraft carrier, a day after Washington said Tehran was challenging its sea power in the Middle East. The plane flew over the carrier in
the Sea of Oman and took pictures of it, a senior Iranian commander was quoted as saying yesterday. Navy commander Habibollah Sayari did not say when the incident took place, but suggested that the US ship’s crew had objected to the Iranian action. Iran also announced that it would start eight days of war games in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman today. The planned naval maneuvers coincide with rising tension between Iran and the West, which says Tehran’s nuclear work is aimed at making bombs. Iran denies this. Sayari spoke a day after US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that Iran was challenging US naval power in the Middle East with an array of offensive and defensive weapons. Fars, a semiofficial Iranian news agency, quoted Sayari as saying an Iranian S-27 aircraft had photographed the US ship and that it was the navy’s “duty and right” to identif y foreign vessels in the area. “Despite the objection of this (US) vessel, we reiterate firmly that doing this is our definite right,” he said. Al Alam, Iran’s Arabic-language satellite television station, quoted him as saying the scheduled war games would display the Iranian navy’s defense capability. They would take place less than two weeks af ter Iran’s elite
Revolutionary Guards staged four days of maneuvers in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, a waterway crucial for global oil supplies. Last month, the Pentagon said US military action against Iran remained an option even as Washington pursues diplomacy and sanctions to halt the country’s atomic activities. Iran often announces advances in its military capabilities and tests weaponry in an apparent attempt to show its readiness for any strikes by Israel or the United States. In exercises held in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz between April 22 and 25, official media said the Guards tested missiles and a new speedboat capable of destroying enemy ships. The United States is pushing for a four th round of UN sanctions on Tehran over its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear activities as demanded by the UN Security Council. Israel, widely believed to have the Middle East’s only atomic arsenal, has described Iran’s nuclear program as a threat to its existence and has not ruled out military action. Iran, a predominantly Shiite Muslim state, has said it would respond to any attack by targeting US interests in the region and Israel, as well as closing the Strait of Hormuz. About 40 percent of the world’s traded oil leaves the Gulf region through the strategic narrows. —Agencies
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
SPORTS
15
MLB results/standings Major League Baseball results on Monday: NY Yankees 4, Baltimore 1; Toronto 5, Cleveland 1; St. Louis 6, Philadelphia 3; Boston 17, La Angels 8; Cincinnati 3, NY Mets 2 (11 innings); Arizona 9, Houston 1; Chicago White Sox 5, Kansas City 1; Minnesota 10, Detroit 4; Colorado 5, San Diego 2; Texas 4, Oakland 2. American League Eastern Division W L PCT Tampa Bay 18 7 .720 NY Yankees 17 8 .680 Toronto 14 13 .519 Boston 12 14 .462 Baltimore 7 19 .269
GB 1 5 6.5 11.5
Central Division Minnesota 17 9 .654 Detroit 16 11 .593 Chicago White Sox11 15 .423 Cleveland 10 15 .400 Kansas City 10 16 .385
1.5 6 6.5 7
Western Division 14 12 .538 13 14 .481 12 15 .444 11 14 .440
1.5 2.5 2.5
National League Eastern Division Philadelphia 14 11 .560 NY Mets 14 12 .538 Florida 13 12 .520 Washington 13 12 .520 Atlanta 11 14 .440
0.5 1 1 3
St. Louis Cincinnati Chicago Cubs Milwaukee Pittsburgh Houston
Central Division 18 8 .692 13 13 .500 13 13 .500 10 15 .400 10 15 .400 8 17 .320
5 5 7.5 7.5 9.5
San Diego San Francisco Colorado Arizona LA Dodgers
Western Division 16 10 .615 14 10 .583 13 13 .500 12 14 .462 11 14 .440
1 3 4 4.5
Texas Oakland LA Angels Seattle
BOSTON: Red Sox’s JD Drew slides safely into home as Los Angeles Angels catcher Mike Napoli can’t handle the throw during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Fenway Park. —AP
Blue Jays thrash Indians, Red Sox advance CLEVELAND: Brett Cecil took a perfect game into the seventh inning for the Toronto Blue Jays before settling for a 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Monday. The left-hander allowed one hit over eight innings, striking out a careerhigh 10. Cecil (2-1) lost the perfect game when he walked Grady Sizemore with one out in the seventh. He then walked Choo Shin-soo but came back to strike out Austin Kearns before Jhonny Peralta lined a 2-2 pitch to left field, scoring Sizemore to get Cleveland within 4-1. Kevin Gregg gave up a one-out single to Sizemore in the ninth. He walked Kearns with two outs, then fired a called third strike past Peralta on a full count to complete the two-hitter. Jose Bautista’s two-run homer put
Toronto ahead in the second. Travis Snider hit his fourth of the year in the fourth and John Buck connected for his fourth in the eighth to make it 5-1.
4 with four RBIs and three doubles for Boston, and J. D. Drew had four hits and drove in three runs. Maicer Izturis hit a two-run double for Los Angeles.
Red Sox 17, Angels 8 At Boston, Dustin Pedroia’s three-run homer capped Boston’s seven-run sixth inning in a win over Los Angeles. Bill Hall and Adrian Beltre each hit their first homers in a Red Sox uniform, both two-run shots, and Kevin Youkilis had a solo blast. Boston snapped a three-game losing streak after getting swept by Baltimore over the weekend. Clay Buchholz (3-2) gave up four runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings. The Red Sox built a 5-0 lead with three runs in the second and two in the third off Joe Saunders (1-5). Mike Lowell went 4 for
Yankees 4, Orioles 1 At New York, CC Sabathia pitched eight strong innings and Randy Winn hit a threerun homer to lead New York past Baltimore. Sabathia (4-1) allowed one run — Matt Wieters’ second-inning homer — and six hits while improving to 11-1 in 16 career starts against Baltimore. Alex Rodriguez singled and scored during a four-run fourth in his return to the lineup after a day off, but catcher Jorge Posada left after five innings with right calf tightness. The extent of the injury was unclear, but the Yankees announced he was
to undergo an MRI on Monday night. Twins 10, Tigers 4 At Minneapolis, Wilson Ramos had three more hits in Joe Mauer’s place and Michael Cuddyer added a three-run homer as Minnesota snapped Detroit’s five-game winning streak. Ramos had two doubles and an RBI and Scott Baker (3-2) allowed three runs and seven hits with six strikeouts in seven innings for the Twins. Detroit starter Max Scherzer (1-2) gave up 10 runs and eight hits with four walks in 4 1-3 innings. Austin Jackson had three hits to raise his average to .377, but the Twins were up 7-0 after two innings against Scherzer, who has given up 18 hits and 16 runs in his last two starts against Minnesota. Mauer missed his third straight game
with a bruised left heel. Ramos was called up to play against Cleveland on Sunday and became the first catcher in modern baseball history (since 1900) to collect four hits in his major league debut, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. White Sox 5, Royals 1 At Chicago, Jake Peavy pitched sevenplus shutout innings in his most impressive start of the season and Alex Rios had three hits and two RBIs for Chicago. Peavy (1-2) struck out a season-high nine and gave up four hits. He didn’t allow a hit until Mitch Maier singled with two outs in the fifth. Ramirez hit a solo home run and Andruw Jones had two hits and two RBIs for the White Sox, who began a seven-game homestand after finishing a 2-4 road trip Sunday. Scott Podsednik homered against his for-
mer team in the ninth inning off reliever Scott Linebrink, snapping a 17-inning scoreless streak for the Royals. Rangers 4, Athletics 2 At Oakland, California, Rich Harden struck out a season-high nine batters in seven scoreless innings and dominated his former team as first-place Texas won its season-best fourth straight game. Harden (2-1), who spent his first 5 1/2 big league seasons with the A’s, didn’t allow a hit until Rajai Davis’ one-out double in the sixth. He gave up two hits in all and didn’t walk a batter for the first time in his six starts. Justin Smoak homered, Michael Young had an RBI double, Josh Hamilton singled in a run and Ryan Garko added an RBI groundout in the Rangers’ fifth straight road win. —AP
Reds roll over Mets
Basso experience should be warning — UCI chief
CINCINNATI: Laynce Nix hit a solo, pinchhit homer in the bottom of the 11th inning Monday to power Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets. Nix hit a drive off Manny Acosta (1-1) that barely cleared the wall in right-center field with one out for his first career game-ending homer. Nick Masset (3-1) pitched the last two innings, giving up two singles in the 11th. Then, the Reds pulled out another one at the end — eight of their 13 wins have come in their final at-bat. They are 3-0 in extra innings. Drew Stubbs also homered for the Reds, leading off the first inning with the first one allowed by Oliver Perez this season. Joey Votto had an RBI single off the left-hander, who lasted six innings and remained winless in six starts since Aug. 18.
PARIS: The experience of Italian Ivan Basso during his two-year doping suspension should serve as a salutary warning for riders who consider cheating, International Cycling Union (UCI) chief Pat McQuaid said. The UCI on Monday requested disciplinary proceedings against Franco Pellizotti, who finished second in last year’s Giro, after his biological passport revealed suspicious blood data. Basso, Pellizotti’s compatriot and Liquigas team mate, was banned from 2006-08 for his involvement in the Operation Puerto blood doping scandal. “Basso told me his world had changed,” McQuaid told Reuters in a telephone interview yesterday. “Now he has regained the respect of the fans. But during his suspension, his wife had to wear sunglasses to take their children to school. “He said that when he looked his children in the face it was difficult for him to figure out what they thought of him.” Pellizotti was the third leading Italian rider to test positive in the last two years after Riccardo Ricco and Danilo Di Luca, who finished second in the 2009 Giro. This year’s Giro starts on Saturday and McQuaid said Italian riders must understand that doping does not work. “Those riders who go into doping to make more money, they get caught and it changes their lives,” McQuaid said. “Their results show that Italian cyclists have won nothing in two years. “A few years back, Italy had seven or eight top teams, now they only have two ProTour teams.” One of those, Lampre, is being targeted in an antidoping investigation in Italy. One of their former riders, ex-world champion Alessandro Ballan, has been provisionally suspended by his new team BMC pending the result of the investigation. The latest results in the fight against doping just prove that the system is working, McQuaid said. “With two cheats (Tadej Valjavec and Pellizotti) out of the race, the other riders will be happy,” he added. “In the EPO years (the 1990s), some (blood) parameters were clearly not in order. Once the EPO test came in, things improved. It started to creep up again in the late 2000’s
Cardinals 6, Phillies 3 At Philadelphia, Jaime Garcia allowed one run in six innings, David Freese had three RBIs and Nick Stavinoha homered for St. Louis. Garcia (3-1), a rookie left-hander, gave up three hits and struck out six. Stavinoha delivered a pinch-hit homer leading off the seventh against Joe Blanton (0-1) and Freese added a bases-loaded double. Jayson Werth hit a solo shot for the Phillies and has reached base in all 25 games this season. Kyle McClellan yielded one run in two innings of relief for the Cardinals. Trever Miller allowed Chase Utley’s solo homer in the ninth to make it 6-3 and Ryan Franklin recorded the last two outs. D’backs 9, Astros 1 At Houston, Cesar Valdez won his major league debut and Chris Snyder hit a threerun homer to lead Arizona past Houston. Chris Young had three hits and drove in three runs for the Diamondbacks, who snapped a three-game losing streak and sent Houston to its seventh straight defeat. Valdez (1-0) was called up from minor league Triple-A Reno on Monday and allowed one run in five innings. He gave up five hits and walked three. Snyder’s two-out shot in the fourth gave Arizona a 4-1 lead. —AP
CINCINNATI: Reds’ Laynce Nix hits a pinch-hit home run off New York Mets reliever Manny Acosta in the 11th inning of a baseball game. Cincinnati won 3-2. —AP
but in the last two years it has changed,” McQuaid said. Since January 2008, the UCI has collected blood samples from all professional riders to create a medical profile to be compared with data registered in doping tests. “The vast majority of athletes have parameters that we expect from normal people. It’s evidence that things are improving,” McQuaid said. Meanwhile, Franco Pellizotti’s guilt in a doping case has not been proved and the announcement of disciplinary proceedings on the eve of the Giro d’Italia is unhelpful, his angry Liquigas team said yesterday. The International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Monday there was suspicious data in the biological passport of the Italian, second in last year’s Giro, and that a disciplinary case was now open. Italy’s cycling federation president Renato Di Rocco told Reuters this would almost certainly mean Pellizotti would miss the threeweek Giro, which starts in Amsterdam on Saturday. Liquigas, who showed their tough stance on doping by pursuing unprecedented damages from banned rider Manuel Beltran, were incredulous about the UCI’s decision. “According to current analyses, the evidence which has been presented does not seem to scientifically prove with certainty any improper conduct by the athlete,” a statement read. “Liquigas Sport has faith in the explanations that will be provided by Franco Pellizotti and by the experts whom he has hired. The Italian team said it would take action against the rider or the authorities, whoever was proved to be in the wrong. “Liquigas Sport is extremely disappointed about the action that has been taken, with particular reference to the untimely notification of the athlete’s alleged abnormal values. “These values actually date back to the summer of 2009 but have only now been made public on the eve of such an important engagement.” Cycling and the Giro in particular have been battling a long series of doping scandals in recent years. —Reuters
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British opposition leader vows change in N Ireland BELFAST: Britain’ opposition leader David Cameron made a flying visit to Northern Ireland yesterday, trumpeting a new political force for the province if he wins elections this week. But the thorny problems facing any British leader here-including economic woes, security threats and alleged corruption-are highlighted by locals on the streets of Belfast, long wary of politicians’ promises. Cameron made a whistle-stop visit two days before legislative elections on Thursday which his Conservative Party hopes to oust Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Labour Party after 13 years in opposition.
He was here to highlight a pact between his party and its traditional Northern Ireland allies, the Ulster Unionists, which he claims can drive through progress in the long-troubled province. “Our two parties have created a new dynamic force for Northern Ireland ... We are not just saying that we are the party of the union, we are showing that we are the party of the union,” said Cameron. In Northern Ireland-a British province of 1.8 million people voters will elect 18 lawmakers to the London parliament out of a total of 650. The province’s three decades of violence, known as The Troubles, in
which more than 3,500 people died, largely ended with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. In March, the peace accords were strengthened when the two main parties-the power-sharing Democratic Unionists (DUP) and Sinn Fein-voted to switch control over policing and justice powers from London to Belfast. But although the main paramilitary groups including the IRA have laid down their arms, sporadic violence still plagues the province, including a car bombing outside a police station on April 23 that injured three people. Among those watching Cameron closely yesterday was former rugby
star Trevor Ringland, pushing to unseat Northern Ireland’s embattled First Minister Peter Robinson in Thursday’s polls as the Ulster Unionist candidate. “There’s a certain annoyance with the Robinsons,” Ringland, a 50year-old lawyer who played rugby for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions in the 1980s, told AFP. Robinson, despite the fallout of a recent sex and money scandal linked to his wife Iris, is widely expected to retain the seat he has held since 1979 on behalf of the DUP, the province’s biggest party. The first minister temporarily stood down as Northern Ireland first minister after a BBC programme
Celtics level series as Suns win opener
PHOENIX: Suns guard Jason Richardson (23) and San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, of Argentina, eye a loose ball during the second quarter of Game One of an NBA second-round playoff basketball series. —AP
Todt says KERS system could return to F1 in 2011 MADRID: FIA president Jean Todt is intent on cutting costs and changing key regulations to improve Formula One, with the KERS power-boost system maybe returning to motor racing’s premier sport. Todt told the Associated Press he was “very serious” about KERS making a comeback when costs are cut in 2011. “We need to let the new teams live, to survive,” Todt said yesterday. “We can do this by reducing costs and by doing a lot of things to improve the show. We need to put into vigor new technologies because F1 should be an ambassador to new technology, and I have hope that sponsors will then come back. And that will allow teams to compete in F1.” The push by Todt’s predecessor, Max Mosley, for a salary cap nearly tore F1 apart in 2009 after Ferrari led the charge against it, raising the
threat of a breakaway series. Asked if he had been able to persuade his former Ferrari team about the cap, Todt said one was unlikely in 2011. “There are other ways to cut costs, it doesn’t have to come from a cap — they are two different things,” he said. “We know that F1 costs too much and that’s one of the things we’ve reflected on in our bid to cut costs. There is obviously a terrible disparity between teams.” Todt is also looking at changing aerodynamics regulations to improve the opportunities for overtaking that are currently lacking in F1. All future courses would need to be built with this in mind. “Unless there are extreme conditions or difficult meteorological conditions, logic says the car in front stays in front for the whole race and a lot of it is due to aerodynamics,” Todt said.
MADRID: FIA president Jean Todt (left) talks to Spain’s Secretary of State for Sport Jaime Lissavetzky (right) before a news conference in Madrid. —AP
“When we start to think of new rules from 2013 — with a new power train — then we have to fundamentally lower the importance of aerodynamics in the race, and that should provide a big boost to overtaking on the course. “We’ll address this problem of the construction of all new circuits in a way that they use these new parameters.” The push for change isn’t limited to F1. Former world rallying champion Carlos Sainz is to lead a review of his sport, with Todt claiming there are too many categories of racing and that changes will come within three years. “Rallies are not in the format of what they should be. Rally should be an adventure and not a tour around a city center,” Todt said. “There are too many races organized and we need to filter the quantity to the quality.” Todt described his first six months in charge as “tough” after taking over from Mosley, who led FIA for 16 years. He said this F1 season has been one of the most “passionate,” although Michael Schumacher’s unimpressive start after coming out of retirement was down to Mercedes’ car. The seventime champion has only 10 points through four races. “He has brought back some very strong interest for this season’s F1 races,” said Todt, who was team principal when Schumacher was at Ferrari. “A lot of spectators have decided to attend races because of the presence of Michael. The results are linked to the quality of car you drive. We need to wait.” —AP
CLEVELAND: The Boston Celtics responded to hasty dismissals of their NBA playoff chances by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-86 on Monday to square their second-round series at a game apiece. Rajon Rondo tied a team playoff record with 19 assists, Ray Allen scored 22 points and the Celtics showed they’re still very dangerous despite their advancing years. Having blown an 11point lead in the third quarter of Game 1, the Celtics almost squandered a much bigger one Monday. They led 91-66 with 9:08 left, but the Cavs scored 15 straight and pulled within 93-83 with 3:13 left. Boston, though, closed with an 11-3 spurt to level the series ahead of hosting Game 3 on Friday. LeBron James scored 24 and Antawn Jamison 16 for Cleveland, outscored 31-12 in the third. Two years removed from their 17th NBA title, the Celtics were given little chance of getting past James and the top-seeded Cavs. Despite beating Miami in the first round, Boston was thought to be too old, too slow and too reliant on the aging Big Three of Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. But the trio combined for 54 points with Rondo setting them up with passes from impossible angles. Rondo matched the club’s postseason record for assists set by Hall of Famer Bob Cousy. In Phoenix, the hosts fought off third and fourth-quarter comebacks to beat San Antonio in the series opener. After resting his sore hip for three days, Steve Nash had 33 points and 10 assists for the Suns. Jason Richardson scored 27 and Amare Stoudemire had 23 points and 13 rebounds. Manu Ginobili, tape across his broken nose, led San Antonio with 27, Tony Parker had 26 and Tim Duncan 20. The Spurs had won four straight Game 1s against the Suns, two of them in Phoenix. Both of those times, in 2005 and 2007, the Spurs went on to win the NBA title. In the second half, the situation seemed ripe for another of those San Antonio daggers to the Suns’ heart. Twice San Antonio rallied from 14 back, with a 12-0 run in the third quarter and a mighty 13-0 outburst that sliced Phoenix’s lead to 94-93 with 4:26 to go in the game. Stoudemire sank two free throws, then after the Spurs twice missed 3-pointers, Grant Hill made two from the line to put the Suns ahead 98-93. Parker’s 19-footer cut it to 9895 with 3:38 left, then Richardson brought the house down with a 3pointer to make it 103-95 with 1:23 left. After Parker’s two free throws cut it to 103-97, Grant Hill made a 13-foot jumper with 51 seconds left, and the Suns put it away by making six of eight free throws from there. The Spurs had to rely on their veteran big three, without much help, to stay in the game. George Hill managed just nine points on 2-of-9 shooting and struggled defensively. Richard Jefferson had five points and three rebounds in 33 minutes. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have fired head coach Vinny Del Negro following a topsy-turvy season marred by alleged internal conflict, local media reported on Monday. The Chicago Tribune said on their website (www.chicagotribune.com) that the Bulls have called a Tuesday morning news conference to announce the decision. —Reuters
claimed his wife secured 50,000 pounds (56,000 euros, 80,000 dollars) to help her young lover, Kirk McCambley, set up a cafe. The first minister was cleared of any wrongdoing. On the streets of east Belfast, home to huge economic regeneration projects, pictures of Robinson and Ringland compete for space on lamp posts. “The only party I’ll vote for is Robinson’s,” a middle-aged lady told Ringland as he sought support among the working class. “That’s who we always vote for.” Another DUP backer insisted that all politicians were “up to their neck” in sleaze. David Vance of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) — another
party looking to take east Belfastsaid “people are disgusted by the sleaze and the scandal and the unexplained link to property developers surrounding the first minister”. “People are also very concerned about employment prospects,” he told AFP. The TUV’s main aim is persuading voters that the peace process in its current format is a betrayal for unionists wishing to keep Northern Ireland part of Britain. Vance is hammering home the fact that republican party Sinn Fein which wants a united Ireland-should not be sharing power with the DUP. “There’s two types of unionist parties in east Belfast-there are the
types that approve of terrorist-inclusive government and then there is the TUV which opposes terroristinclusive government,” said Vance. Ringland accused Vance of living in the past. “We’ve been through that politics for 30 or 40 years... We need to move on. It’s about bringing the best out of people in Northern Ireland,” he said. For Cameron, the local disputes will be just a small part of the challenges facing him if he wins the keys top 10 Downing Street in Thursday’s Westminster elections. “If I become your prime minister, I’ll be back here in a week,” he said, to cheers from his Unionist partners. —AFP
MOD top swimming tourney KUWAIT: The swimming tournament for ministries which was held at the Martyr Fahad Al-Ahmad pool for water games concluded at Yarmouk Club. Five teams participated in this tournament, namely MOD, National Guards, Ministry of Education, Fire Department and Ministry of Interior.
MOD won the first position which covered back strokes and free style swimming. Ministry of Interior team came second and National Guards in third position. The final day competitions were exciting, Colonel Abdul Rahman AlHaqan deputy director of police union sports club along with Hamed Al
Hazeem, technical committee chairman at Yarmouk Club gave the tournament’s trophies along with medals to winning teams. Al Haqan congratulated the winners and hailed the efforts of organizers and the support of Public Authority for Youth and Sports.
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Venus, Serena cruise into Rome third round
SHEFFIELD: Australia’s Neil Robertson poses with his trophy after winning the final of the World Snooker Championships at the Crucible Theatre. —AP
Robertson lifts scandal gloom with world title SHEFFIELD: Australia’s Neil Robertson became the first player from outside the British Isles since 1980 to win the world snooker championship when he sealed victory over Graeme Dott in the early hours of yesterday. Resuming the evening session with a 12-10 lead, Robertson went on to beat former champion Dott 18-13 at the Crucible Theatre to claim the title and a cheque for 250,000 pounds ($381,000). “It’s an amazing feeling to be world champion after a Titanic struggle of a match,” a relieved Robertson told reporters. “The pressure before the final and during the final was absolutely unbelievable because there’s so much at stake.” However, the final showdown was somewhat overshadowed by the match-fixing allegations surrounding
last year’s champion John Higgins, which surfaced just hours before the contest got underway. Giving his reaction to the story which has rocked the sport to its core, Robertson said: “It took me by absolute surprise, but I don’t really know enough about it to comment about it.” Robertson gave his backing to new World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association chairman Barry Hearn, who reacted swiftly to the scandal by suspending Higgins and launching an investigation into the matter. “I couldn’t be more happy with Barry’s reaction so far. He is a million percent the man to take the game forward,” Robertson added. The title is part of a double celebration for the 28-year-old as his partner is due to give birth to their
first child. Higgins has vowed to clear his name but faces a future away from the glare of snooker’s spotlight if the allegations are proven with fans quick to condemn the Scot’s behaviour. “I think he should never play the game again if it is true that he was ready to throw matches,” said Mark Hamilton from Glasgow, Scotland. “I’m pretty sure that he will be found not guilty, but if he is guilty he should be banned for life,” Liverpudlian Phil Sheldrake added. Canada’s Cliff Thorborn was the last player from outside the British Isles to capture the world title thirty years ago while Robertson became the second Australian to lift the title after Horace Lindrum’s contentious victory in 1952. — Reuters
Andy Murray
Murray to defend Queen’s title LONDON: British number one Andy Murray confirmed yesterday that he will warm up for his latest bid to win Wimbledon by defending his title at Queen’s Club. Murray, 22, became the first British player since Bunny Austin in 1938 to win Queen’s last year as he went through the grass-court tournament without dropping a set. The Scot followed that moraleboosting triumph by reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon, where he was beaten by Andy Roddick. Now ranked fifth in the world after some disappointing recent results, Australian Open finalist Murray is the seventh player from the world’s top 10 to confirm his participation at Queen’s. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin Del Potro, Roddick, Fernando Verdasco and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga have all also entered. “If I play my best I’ve got a chance of successfully defending the title and doing well at Wimbledon,” Murray said. “I know it won’t be easy because they are going to have a strong field this year at Queen’s, and Wimbledon always has the best players in the world. “It’s a great time of the year though and I’m really looking forward to it.
“Last year at Queen’s I played some really good tennis to win the tournament. “The attendance every year is unbelievable and last year the final was packed out and it was a great atmosphere.” Since losing the Australian Open final to Roger Federer in January, Murray has been beaten in five of his 10 matches, with particularly lacklustre defeats coming against low-ranked players Mardy Fish and Philipp Kohlschreiber. In a bid to get his game back on track Murray has taken 10 days off to work on his technique away from the Tour spotlight. However, he remains convinced he will win a Grand Slam title eventually. “I’ve always said I’ll win one. That’s why I train hard and make sacrifices. It doesn’t have to be this year. It doesn’t have to be a rush and a panic,” he said. “If you’re mentally going in thinking ‘God, I’m not going to get another chance at this,’ I don’t really think that is beneficial to your mindset or how you play. “I’m just trying to work as hard as I can and take my time. I don’t want to be panicking. I’m 22 years old. Most of my friends haven’t finished university yet
so I’ve got a long road ahead of me and I have time on my side. “I’ve been through some much tougher moments than now, playing through injuries. “I had two very poor tournaments in Miami and Monte Carlo, but I feel good now. I’m back to practising real hard and mentally I feel good.” Murray acknowledges the emotional drain of losing another Grand Slam final to Federer-following defeat at the 2008 US Open-has been a contributory factor to his slump, but he sees no reason to panic. “Yeah, it could have been a drain, but after a bad loss in Miami I was just disappointed,” he said. “Everybody was asking a lot of questions. ‘What’s wrong? What’s going on off the court? Is there something wrong with your coaches?’ “Hang on a second, I’ve just had the best start to the year I’ve ever had in Australia. Everybody’s entitled to have a few bad days a year at the office. “Nothing major was wrong. You start to over-analyse things. “I’m not going to play well every week but I want to perform as best as I can each week and I want to win a Grand Slam. I just need to get the consistency back.”— AFP
ROME: Williams sisters Venus and Serena had few problems between them as they cruised into the third round of the WTA Rome Open at the Foro Italico here yesterday after straight sets victories. World number one Serena, the reigning Australian Open champion, overcame a tough first set to beat Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky 7-6 (7/2), 61. Before that, five-time Wimbledon champion Venus breezed to a 6-2, 6-2 dismantling of another Swiss, Patty Schnyder. Serena was playing for the first time since winning in Melbourne and she certainly took her time to adjust. In the first set she quickly found herself two breaks down at 1-4 but broke back straight away to love with a drop-shot winner on game point. Serena, the 2002 champion here, had looked lacklustre in the opening exchanges but she finally came to life in the 10th game as she saved three set points, screaming after one of those as she tore up to the net to reach a drop shot and crash a backhand winner down the line. She broke Bacsinszky to level at 5-5 and then strolled through the tie-break 7-2. That was pretty much the end of her 20-year-old opponent’s resistance, although the Swiss did hold in the fifth game from 0-40 down. Venus, playing in her first match in more than a month due to a knee problem, needed only an hour and a quarter to win her second round tie. The victory ensured the world number four maintained her 100 percent record against Schnyder with her 10th win out of 10 against the Swiss. “I think it was a pretty good performance, I felt good on court,” said the 1999 winner here. “She likes clay, it suits her type of game but I was executing pretty well. “We’ve had some difficult matches in the past although that score was a bit easy. When I play against her I have the opportunity to control the point a little more because she doesn’t hit with so much force.” Ironically, both sets followed identical patterns, with the first three games going against the server and then Williams breaking in the seventh game as well before serving out. Serving for the first set she needed four goes to wrap it up, finally doing so with a service winner. In the second she went 040 down when serving for the match but Schnyder could not take advantage of her first two break opportunities and then a lucky net cord saved Venus on the third. There was no such comfort for reigning champion Dinara Safina, the former world number one, who was stunned by Romania’s Alexandra Dulgheru 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1 in a marathon that lasted two hours 40 minutes. The world number three, who had not played since January due to a back injury, was out of sorts from the beginning. She went down 4-0 in the first set and although she battled back to 4-4, lost her serve again to give up the set. In the second she served for the set at 5-3 and had a set point but was broken before eventually levelling the match in a tiebreak. But she visibly wilted in the decider and world number 43 Dulgheru cantered away to the best result of her career. “I was too out of touch with the racket. I had only practised a little bit so this was disappointing,” said Safina. “The third set went so fast, in one second it was 5-0. “The only good thing out of this match is that my back was fine.” In other matches, Polish eighth seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland thrashed home favourite Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-0 while there were also wins for seventh seed Jelena Jankovic, 14th seed Nadia Petrova and 16th seed Shahar Peer. — AFP
ROME: Serena Williams of the US returns the ball to Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament.—AP
India proposes term limits for sports officials NEW DELHI: Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi is among several long-serving sports officials in India who may be forced out of their roles under proposed government changes. Sports Minister MS Gill says that all political parties back the introduction of new regulations limiting the tenure of leading officials in national sports federations (NSFs). The Press Trust of India quoted Gill yesterday to say the changes were “the demand of the sports people and public for long.” According to new regulation, presidents of various sports federations cannot continue to serve for more than 12 years — with or without a break. Secretaries and treasurers can serve up to eight years, but have to take a four-year gap before
they go for re-election. “I have only restored the regulation of the Indira Gandhi (former prime minister) government,” Gill said. “For the sake of the federation office-bearers, I have in fact softened the regulation and it’s milder than the 1975 direction.” The proposed regulations have met with strong opposition from sports organizations. Kalmadi, who has been in the IOA top post since 1996, attacked the proposed tenure limit and called an IOA executive committee meeting for May 18. “It is a draconian order which questions the very basis of autonomy of IOA and the NSFs,” Kalmadi told reporters. “Our constitution goes to the International Olympic Council (IOC) and no one can meddle with that. All
NSFs also send their constitution to the respective international bodies and no one can interfere there either.” He questioned the timing of the new proposal, given India is due to host the Commonwealth Games in five months time. “The games are just 150-odd days left and at this juncture the sports minister thought it right to issue such an order. We were really amazed at,” he said. Most of the appointments in the NSFs are political ones and those who are likely to be affected by the new ruling include VK Malhotra (archery), Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (cycling), VK Verma (badminton) and BS Adityan (volleyball). All these men have been at the helm of their respective sports federations for over a decade. — AP
Del Potro’s season in doubt
Juan Martin del Potro
BUENOS AIRES: Argentine Juan Martin del Potro’s chances of making the French Open and Wimbledon look doomed and even the defence of his US Open crown is in doubt after undergoing surgery to a troublesome wrist yesterday. The world number five has decided to try to resolve a nagging right wrist problem that has troubled him since before his fourth-round exit at the Australian Open in January. Del Potro announced his operation in a letter released to the Argentine media, and said his recovery would be ‘prolonged’ but he could not set a fixed time on it. “The recovery time is prolonged but it depends on many factors that can’t be measured today,” he wrote. He said a specialist was carrying out the surgery in Rochester, Minnesota. “All this year I’ve been wanting to avoid surgery with different treatments but evidently the injury is more serious,” he added. The rangy 21-year-old with a thunderously flat forehand stormed to a maiden grand slam title at the US Open in September, coming from two sets to one down against Roger Federer in the final. The 2010 US Open starts Aug 30. Argentina’s hopes of reaching a third Davis Cup final since 2006 will also diminish with Del Potro’s absence from their quarter-final in Russia in July. The Russians beat Argentina in the 2006 final in Moscow. There had been growing speculation in Argentine media, fuelled by a lack of news out of the player’s camp in his home town of Tandil, that Del Potro’s absence from the ATP Tour since January was partially down to a fear of the big stage. Del Potro’s letter was also aimed at answering those “false and malicious stories about my state of mind and physical condition. “As you will understand, this is not a happy moment in my life. But I’m used to fighting adversity and I have the strength to carry this through.”— Reuters
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Duckworth defends D/L after Collingwood blast PROVIDENCE: Frank Duckworth, the cocreator of the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method for settling rain-affected matches, has leapt to its defence after it came under fire from England captain Paul Collingwood. But he said the International Cricket Council (ICC) needs to look at the minimum length of an innings required to constitute a Twenty20 match. Collingwood was lef t fuming af ter England suffered an eight-wicket loss to the West Indies in the visitors’ tournament opener here on Monday, despite scoring 191 — a challenging Twenty20 total. Rain, though, left the West Indies with
a target of 60 from six overs. At present, five overs of the second innings of a Twenty20 international must be played in order for a winner to be declared and Duckworth told The Wisden Cricketer: “The ICC ought to look into whether five overs for a valid match is appropriate because you can get this apparent distortion.” Collingwood was damning in his assessment of D/L as it applied to Twenty20, having seen his side bow out of last year’s World Twenty20 to the West Indies in similar circumstances at the Oval. “I don’t know what equation you should have but you shouldn’t have that one,” said
Collingwood. “We’ve played a near perfect game but we’ve lost,” the all-rounder added. “There’s a major problem with this Duckworth-Lewis in this form of the game. It certainly has to be revised for this form of the game.” But Duckworth, who devised the system with fellow statistician Tony Lewis, countered by saying: “While Paul Collingwood may have been angry at Messrs Duckworth and Lewis, he might have been angry at (England bowlers) Messrs (Tim) Bresnan, (Graeme) Swann and co who added to the four wides that they bowled before the rain by adding
four more wides. “So, the West Indies target wasn’t just 60, it was effectively 52.” Duckworth added: “Since Twenty20 came into the world in 2002, there have been about 70 cases of T20 with a D/L revised target or result. “And there’s only been two moments of dissent, both by Paul Collingwood or ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) people, both following England not doing very well against the West Indies. It’s the high-profile matches that attract attention. “The other 68 matches - like the one that occur red earlier (on Monday,
Kiwis in Super Eights
PROVIDENCE: New Zealand qualified for the second round Super Eights of the World Twenty20 with a seven-run victory over Zimbabwe in a rainshortened match here yesterday. The Black Caps shot out Zimbabwe for just 84 and were then ahead of the par score they required under the Duckworth-Lewis method when rain cut short their reply at 36 for one in 8.1 overs and meant no further play was possible. Victory meant New Zealand qualified out of Group B alongside Sri Lanka, who defeated Zimbabwe in another rain-affected match here on Monday. Earlier, off-spinner Nathan McCullum took three wickets for 16 runs, including three for one in an over, and medium-pacer Scott Styris three for five in two overs as Zimbabwe collapsed in spectacular fashion. “We fought back well in the middle stages with Nathan and Scott Styris,” said New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who won the toss and fielded. “We knew it would be a difficult track to bat with Zimbabwe having so many spinners and GUYANA: New we did well to come Zealand’s opener back in the middle overs.” Brendon McCullum In a game they plays a shot off the had to win to have a bowling of chance of getting into Zimbabwe’s captain the second phase, Zimbabwe who’d beaten defending champiProsper Utseya durons Pakistan and Australia in the ing a Twenty20 warm-ups, - made a relatively Cricket World Cup sound start to be 58 for one in the seventh over when opener match. —AP Hamilton Masakadza was run out. Andy Blignaut followed soon afterwards, bowled trying to slog sweep left-arm spinner Vettori. And any hope of a Zimbabwe fightback was then wrecked by a dramatic ninth over, McCullum’s third. The bowler who’d starred by hitting the winning six in New Zealand’s opening two-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, had the dangerous Elton Chigumbura (three), caught at long-on off the over’s first ball. Two balls later, Charles Coventry was out for nought offering a simple caught and bowled chance after being beaten in the flight by a slower delivery. And off the over’s last ball Craig Ervine (one), drawn out of his crease and then beaten by a ball that dipped and turned, was stumped by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins. Zimbabwe, who’d been 62 for three at the start of the over, were 63 for six when it finished. “It is disappointing,” said Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya. “We had a good start but we didn’t play well in the middle. There is potential no doubt. But some guys have to mature as cricketers.” Styris followed up with three wickets for five runs in two overs to compound the damage. Tatenda Taibu top-scored with 21, with only fellow opener Masakadza also making it to 20. Greg Lamb was 14 not out, with 11 extras the fourth best score of the innings. —AFP
GUYANA: New Zealand’s Martin Guptill takes the catch to dismiss Zimbabwe’s batsman Timycen Maruma for four runs during a Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match. —AP
SCOREBOARD PROVIDENCE, Guyana: Final scoreboard in the Group B World Twenty20 match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe here yesterday: Zimbabwe T. Taibu c Oram b Southee H. Masakadza run out A. Blignaut b Vettori E. Chigumbura c Guptill b N McCullum C. Ervine st Hopkins b N McCullum C. Coventry c and b N McCullum G. Lamb not out T. Maruma c Guptill b Styris G. Cremer b Styris P. Utseya lbw b Styris R. Price b Vettori Extras (b1, lb1, w9) Total (all out, 15.1 overs)
21 20 8 3 1 0 14 4 0 0 2 11 84
Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Taibu), 2-58 (Masakadza), 3-60 (Blignaut), 4-62 (Chigumbura), 5-62 (Coventry), 6-63 (Ervine), 7-73 (Maruma), 8-74 (Cremer), 9-74 (Utseya), 10-84 (Price) Bowling: N McCullum 4-0-16-3 (1w); Bond 3-0-20-0 (2w); Southee 2-0-18-1 (1w); Oram 1-0-13-0 (1w); Vettori 3.1-0-102; Styris 2-05-3.
New Zealand 22 B. McCullum not out J. Ryder c Taibu b Utseya 2 M. Guptill not out 6 Extras (w6) 6 Total (1 wkt, 8.1 overs) 36 Did not bat: R Taylor, S Styris, G Hopkins, J Oram, D Vettori, N McCullum, S Bond, T Southee Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Ryder) Bowling: Utseya 4-1-21-1; Price 4-0-14-0 (4w); Lamb 0.1-0-1-0 Toss: New Zealand Result: New Zealand won by 7 runs (D/L method) Man-of-the-match: Nathan McCullum (NZL)
Twenty20 now a serious business GROS ISLET: When Australia’s Michael Clarke took part in the first ever international Twenty20 match, against New Zealand five years ago, the emphasis was very much on “fun”. New Zealand players dressed up in retro kit, with some sporting hairstyles more associated with the 1960s and 70s. Australia captain Ricky Ponting made 98 as his side won by 44 runs in Auckland but questioned whether the “novelty” of Twenty20 would endure. The emphasis in Australian cricket remained very much on Tests and oneday internationals so that the side’s defeat by outsiders Zimbabwe at the inaugural World Twenty20 in Cape Town was brushed aside by Australian fans. Australia were well beaten by India in the 2007 semi-final and at last year’s edition in England, they were knocked out in three days after defeats by the West Indies and Sri Lanka. But that exit was overshadowed by the context of an Ashes tour and when Ponting announced he was retiring from international Twenty20, there was a general sense of relief the star batsman would still be available to play ‘proper’ cricket for his country. However, with Clarke now their captain in this format, Australia began
their 2010 World Twenty20 campaign with a 34-run win over defending champions Pakistan here on Sunday. And top order batsman Clarke said the advent of the tournament had led to a change in Australian attitudes towards Twenty20. “I think now there’s a world championship, that plays a big part,” he said. “When I played in my first Twenty20 match, we played against New Zealand and they were growing moustaches, not cutting their hair and wearing 1960s outfits to play the games. “Everybody is taking the game a lot more seriously now and in tournaments like this, you want to do well. We haven’t done as well as we would like but we’ve started well.” Australia complete their group programme against Bangladesh in Barbados on Wednesday and, having seen his team lose to Zimbabwe in a warm-up fixture, Clarke was adamant he would not be underestimating Bangladesh. “It just shows in this form of the game, you have to be at your best, it doesn’t matter who you are playing against,” he said. “We certainly won’t be taking Bangladesh lightly. They’ve got some wonderful Twenty20 players who are very aggressive with the bat.” —AFP
between Sri L anka and Zimbabwe), nobody queried that and in fact the result went the other way. The side batting first (Sri Lanka) won.” Duckworth and Lewis updated their system in October last year af ter examining data that Duckworth insisted proved the method did not require wholesale revision for Twenty20 matches. “As a result of that analysis we did decide that a few changes were needed but these were only slight adjustments to the parameter of the formula. “The important thing that we did discover was that the scoring patterns in Twenty20 fit in perfectly with our original formula
derived largely from 50-over games.” Meanwhile, others were critical of the ICC’s decision to stage matches in Guyana during the rainy season, with one e-mail contributor to BBC Radio’s Test Match Special, writing: “I’m currently thinking of hosting a drinks-based event but am stumped about where to hold it. “Do you think the ICC, with their renowned timing and planning nous, so well demonstrated by staging part of a sunny weather-dependent international sporting competition in Guyana (the other venues are in Barbados and St Lucia) during the rainy season, might be able to find me a suitable brewery?” —AFP
Results/Standings At Providence Group B Zimbabwe 84 all out, 15.1 overs (S Styris 3-5, N McCullum 3-16) v New Zealand 36-1, 8.1 overs New Zealand won by seven runs (D/L method) Group D England 120-8, 20 overs, v Ireland 14-1, 3.3 overs No result Standings (seeding, played, won, lost, tied, points, net run rate) Group A Australia 1 1 0 0 0 2 Pakistan (A1) 2 1 1 0 0 2 Bangladesh (A2) 1 0 1 0 0 0 Group B *N Zealand(B2)
2 2
0
0
0
4
no result,
+1.700 -0.325 -1.050
+0.428
*Sri Lanka(B1) Zimbabwe
2 2
1 0
1 2
0 0
0 0
2 0
+0.355 -1.595
Group C *India (C2) SAfrica (C1) Afghanistan
2 1 1
2 0 0
0 1 1
0 0 0
0 0 0
4 0 0
+1.495 -0.700 -2.070
Group D *WIndies(D1) *England(D2) Ireland
2 2 2
2 0 0
0 1 1
0 0 0
0 1 1
4 1 1
+2.780 -0.452 -3.500
*Denotes qualified for Super Eights Note: Seeded teams who qualify for the Super Eights retain their seeding regardless of where they finish in the Group, but if a non-seeded team qualifies, they inherit the ranking of the eliminated seeded team.
Rain favors England As against the West Indies, GUYANA: England qualified for England lost the toss and found themthe second round Super Eights of selves being sent into bat. They the World Twenty20 following a no-result GUYANA: Ireland’s Trent struggled to 49 for four as Johnston washout with Ireland Johnston celebrates the and Dockrell choked off the supply of runs. here yesterday. wicket of England But Morgan, in a stand of 41 with Although both sides cricketer Wright, revived the innings with some lost to Group D tabletoppers the West Indies, Paul Collingwood. —AFP typically innovative shots before his 37-ball knock featuring five fours endEngland went through ed in the last over. on superior run-rate, Earlier, England’s South Africawith minnows Ireland born top three failed to get on top of paying dearly for Ireland’s attack. Michael Lumb fell first, clipping their 70-run defeat O’Brien’s first ball straight and low to Boyd Rankin by the hosts on at backward square leg.England then suffered anothFriday when they er setback when wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter were skittled out for was run out going for a rash single. a record tournament Collingwood exited in the same Johnston over, low of 68. caught at slip for a third-ball duck before Pietersen, Crucially, rain in a replay of his dismissal on Monday, was caught at meant the match failed deep mid-wicket off an attempted pull. to reach the five-oversMorgan and Wright kept Ireland at bay before played minimum in the Wright, who had just struck the only six of the second innings for a innings, was caught off a Rankin full-toss he toe-endresult to be declared, ed to extra cover. with Ireland 14 for one England can now look forward to starting their off 3.3 overs when the Super Eight campaign against either defending game was abandoned. champions Pakistan or Australia in Barbados tomorIt was tough on row. —AFP Ireland, who had given themselves a shot of qualifying and more glory in the Caribbean, having knocked Pakistan out of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, by restricting England to 120 PROVIDENCE: Scoreboard in the Group D World for eight. Twenty20 match between England and Ireland here Former Ireland yesterday: batsman Eoin Morgan topEngland scored with 45. Lumb c Rankin b K O’Brien 14 When rain fell Kieswetter run out 13 early in Ireland’s Pietersen c Mooney b K O’Brien 9 reply, England were Collingwood c Botha b Johnston 0 left fearing a second dose of Morgan c Wilson b Botha 45 Duckworth-Lewis misery in as Wright c Porterfield b Rankin 20 many days after they made 191 Bresnan c Mooney b Rankin 5 against the West Indies only to Swann not out 7 lose by eight wickets Yardy run out (Johnston) 0 after a downpour left Broad not out 0 the hosts with a far less Extras (b4, w2, nb1) 7 imposing target of 60 in Total (8 wkts, 20 overs) 120 six overs here on Did not bat: R Sidebottom Monday. Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Lumb), 2-32 (Kieswetter), 3-32 But this time the (Collingwood), 4-49 (Pietersen), 5-90 (Wright), 6weather and the rules 109 (Bresnan) worked in their favour, 7-115 (Morgan), 8-118 (Yardy) after Morgan had once Bowling: Rankin 4-0-25-2 (1w); Johnston 4-0-14-1; again repaired the early K O’Brien damage, as he had done with 3-0-22-0 (1nb); Dockrell 4-0-19-0; Botha 4-0-29-1 a 55 against the West Indies. (1w); Cusack No other England batsman 1-0-7-0 made more against Ireland than Luke Wright’s 20, with South Ireland Africa-born Kevin Pietersen Porterfield not out 4 (nine) and Collingwood Stirling c Lumb b Sidebottom 0 (nought) both falling cheapO’Brien not out 9 ly. Extras (w1) 1 Ireland’s AustraliaTotal (1 wkt, 3.3 overs) 14 born paceman Trent Did not bat: A Cusack, G Wilson, K O’Brien, T Johnston took one wicket Johnston, J, Mooney, A Botha, B Rankin, G Dockrell for 14 and seamer Kevin Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Stirling) O’Brien two for 22 while Bowling: Bresnan 2-0-5-0 (1w); Sidebottom 1.3-0teenage left-arm spinner 9-1 George Dockrell conceded a mere 19 runs from his full quota of four overs.
SCOREBOARD
SPORTS
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
19
Athletes on growth hormone sprint faster: Study SYDNEY: Australian scientists said yesterday they have shown for the first time that athletes who use a banned growth hormone can sprint faster but the substance did not improve strength, power or endurance. Using human growth hormone (hGH) can improve an athlete’s sprint speed by 4.0 to 5.0 percentpotentially turning the last-place into a gold medallist in an Olympic track event, the study found. “A 4.0 percent improvement over a 10-second period is 0.4 seconds which is a huge time interval,” Professor Ken Ho, lead researcher at Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research, told AFP. Ho said the study is the first scientific research showing improved
physical function from using hGH, a naturally occurring hormone which is important for growth and metabolism and is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The substance is thought to be widely abused by elite athletes who believe that injecting themselves with the growth hormone results in bigger muscles and therefore increases strength, power and endurance. While the new findings justify the WADA ban, using growth hormone injections may not improve performance in all areas, Ho said. “The advantage is really in the type of sporting event,” said Ho, who is also chairman of the Department of Endocrinology at Sydney’s St. Vincent’s Hospital.
“I don’t think it would help them if they were a rower or a weightlifter. But it would certainly help them if they were a sprinter.” The study examined 103 recreational athletes aged 18 to 40 over eight weeks-some of whom were given daily injections of hGH and some of whom received placebos. One group of men also received testosterone injections with hGH. In results published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the researchers found the sprint capacity of those who received the growth hormone rose by 4-5 percent, and that of those who also received testosterone jumped 8 percent. Growth hormone recipients did not increase their muscle mass but they did retain body fluid and experi-
enced swelling and joint pain, according to the WADA-funded study. The research, which used volunteers who had engaged in regular athletic training for at least a year, used lower doses of growth hormone than athletes are reported to use, and for a shorter time. “We can speculate, therefore, that the drug’s effects on performance might be greater than shown in this study, and its side effects might be more serious,” said Ho. Ho said the research, believed to be the largest scientific study on hGH as well as the first to study sprint capability, came about as a side project of Garvan’s four-year work on a test to detect hGH in athletes.
A test for hGH was first introduced at the 2004 Olympics in Athens but the first athlete believed to have tested positive to the substance is British rugby league player Terry Newton. Newton, who played for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, accepted a two-year-ban in February after he was tested in late 2009. The use of hGH is difficult to detect because it is identical to the hormone which occurs naturally in the body. Potential side effects from hGH include an overgrowth of bone which can lead to a protruding jaw and eyebrow bones and abnormal growth in hands and feet as well as the possible development of cancers and a shortened life expectancy. —AFP
Austrian athlete refuses doping test, ends career VIENNA: Austrian marathon runner Eva-Maria Gradwohl retired yesterday after refusing to take a doping test while on vacation in Croatia last week. The 37-year-old Gradwohl said she was “tired of indicating every day where I am and what I do, and wait an hour every day whether I’ll get a doping test or not.” Gradwohl, who won the Linz Marathon last month to qualify for the European championships in Barcelona in July, was aware that
her refusal would be “an obvious breach of the rules,” she said. “I skipped that doping test ... so I have to bear the consequences. I stand by my decision,” said Gradwohl, who added she was about to make a boat trip with friends when doping officials appeared. “I didn’t want to postpone (the trip). I just wanted to enjoy my holiday, enjoy my time off, but that’s impossible being a top athlete,” she said. “I am tired of putting aside family and friends all the time.” —AP
Italian football dispute becomes national case
CHICAGO: Antti Niemi No. 31 of the Chicago Blackhawks makes a save against Alexandre Burrows No. 14 of the Vancouver Canucks in Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. —AFP
Blackhawks tie Canucks CHICAGO: Kris Versteeg scored go the go-ahead goal from the left circle with 1:30 left as the Chicago Blackhawks rallied to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Monday to level the Western Conference semifinals at 1-1. Patrick Kane added an empty-netter to seal the win with 47.7 seconds left. Patrick Sharp tied the game earlier in the third for Chicago with a short-handed goal. Game 3 will be played Wednesday night in Vancouver. Vancouver scored twice in the first 5:02 of the game. Mason Raymond had a goal, and Mikael Samuelsson added a
power-play tally. Brent Seabrook brought the Blackhawks within a goal in the first. Chicago’s Antti Niemi finished with 24 saves. Roberto Luongo stopped 30 shots for Vancouver. Bruins 3, Flyers 2 At Boston, Milan Lucic scored to break a third-period deadlock with 2:57 left as Boston edged Philadelphia again to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals. Tuukka Rask made 24 saves for Boston. Brian Boucher stopped 24 shots for the Flyers, who will host Game 3 on
Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Miroslav Satan had a goal and two assists for Boston, and Johnny Boychuk also scored for the Bruins, who won Game 1 in overtime on Marc Savard’s goal. Danny Briere scored for the Flyers, and assisted on Mike Richards’ goal for his fourth straight multiple-point game of the playoffs. The Bruins have won seven in a row at home. They won just three of their last 17 in Boston during the regular season after the New Year’s Day Winter Classic against the Flyers at Fenway Park. —AP
Penguins at home in Montreal MONTREAL: The Pittsburgh Penguins might feel more at home than the typical visitors to the Bell Centre for a playoff game against the Canadiens. Owned by Montreal-born hockey legend Mario Lemieux, the Pittsburgh Penguins can expect a small share of local support when they take the ice for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal. Pittsburgh’s lineup boasts four Quebecers, including goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, defenseman Kris Letang, and forwards Maxime Talbot and Pascal Dupuis. And Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, a native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, honed his French while playing junior hockey in Rimouski. “We felt like all of Quebec was behind the Penguins last year,” said Talbot, who brought the Stanley Cup home last summer after scoring both goals in Pittsburgh’s Cup-clinching 2-1 win in the seventh game of the final in Detroit. “It will be crazy being in Montreal,” he said. “It will be crazy. Fun. Exciting. But we just need to control our emotions because it’s still an important hockey game.” Fleury, who hails from nearby Sorel on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, made a huge save on Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom to end that game. Hoisting the Stanley Cup was a dream born with Fleury’s memories of the Canadiens’ last championship in the spring of 1993. “It was very special to see them win the Cup that year, so I think that it will be fun to be there and play a game there and it will be exciting,” Fleury said Monday before the team flew to Montreal.
While Crosby and the Penguins’ young Quebecers will be making their Montreal playoff debuts, Pittsburgh right wing Bill Guerin knows firsthand the environment awaiting his team. “It’s an unbelievable experience, an unbelievable atmosphere,” said Guerin, who faced the Canadiens with Boston in the first round in 2002. “It’s something that I think we’re all going to enjoy. As long as we keep our emotions in check, we’ll be fine.” Despite the Penguins’ popularity in the province, the Canadiens will be welcomed as conquering heroes by yet another sold-out crowd on Tuesday night. Montreal evened the second-round series at 1-1 on Sunday. Michael Cammalleri scored twice and Jaroslav Halak made 38 saves in a 3-1 win in Pittsburgh in Game 2. Cammalleri has scored eight goals in nine playoff games,
including seven in his last six. “We know his number and we know what he has done for his team thus far in the playoffs,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. “He is getting opportunities and is being dangerous with those opportunities. We have to be extremely cautious when he is on the ice.” A 39-goal scorer with Calgary in 2008-09, Cammalleri signed a five-year, $30 million contract with Montreal on July 1. The 5-foot-9 left wing was leading the Canadiens with 26 goals when he was sidelined by a knee injury on Jan. 30. He returned for Montreal’s final nine games of the regular season, though he was held to two assists down the stretch. “You know, coming back from the injury obviously I would have liked to play a little better, but things happen and what do you do?” Cammalleri said. “You just
Matches on TV (local timings) English Premier League Man City v Tottenham ShowSports 1 ShowSports 2 Fulham v Stoke ShowSports 3 Italian Cup AS Roma v Inter Al Jazeera Sport +1 Spanish League Atletico v Valladolid Al Jazeera Sport +2 Racing v Sevilla Al Jazeera Sport +4 Mallorca v Real Madrid Al Jazeera Sport +2
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work harder at it and find a way to try and get better, and the playoffs have been exciting.” The Canadiens’ win Sunday was similar to their first-round victories in their upset of Washington. Halak rebounded from being pulled from Friday’s 6-3 loss and frustrated the Penguins with save after save, protecting Montreal’s one-goal lead until Cammalleri scored again late in the third. Giving all credit to Halak, Cammalleri noted the Canadiens have grown adept at being outshot. “We’ve kind of found a way to stay calm in those situations and realize that we’re going to have to defend and we’re playing against good players on good teams who are going to make good plays,” Cammalleri said. “So you’re not going to have to panic when they do that. They’re going to make good plays and they’re going to get their scoring chances.” Still, the Canadiens would prefer not to rely so much on Halak against the potent Penguins. “I think we have to try to play a little bit more in their end, you know, force them to play down there and tire them out a little bit more,” Gorges said. After raising his playoff leading points total to 16 with a pair of assists in Friday’s seriesopening 6-3 win, Crosby was held without a point in Game 2. “I think that a lot of what happens with Sid is that he is so emotional and he invests so much of himself into the game that sometimes he lets it show,” Guerin said. “I don’t see a problem in that. I think a lot of times people take it the wrong way, but inside our dressing room, we don’t. —AP
ROME: Italy is the land of divisions: Left vs. Right; North vs. South; Religious vs. Secular. In football, perhaps no division is as bitter as the one between fans of the two Rome teams, AS Roma and Lazio. Now, a dispute between the two over a crucial match Sunday has spilled into politics and become a national case. On Sunday, Lazio lost 2-0 at home to Inter Milan, the club that is locked in a fight with Roma for the Serie A title. Lazio fans packing the Stadio Olimpico cheered, happy to have hurt Roma’s chances to win the title. Lazio drew accusations of being unsportsmanlike and handing Inter an easy victory in order to deliberately hurt Roma. A Lazio victory would have kept Roma — which had won the day before — atop the standings. The loss put Inter on top again, with a 2-point lead with only two games to go. Comments on Monday ranged from “farce” to “shame” to “embarrassing.” “Inter: It’s easy that way,” said Rome daily Il Messaggero. “Lazio surrenders without a fight.” “Surreal Match,” wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport in a front-page editorial. “Those who love sports, not just football, cannot celebrate in seeing Lazio’s quiet obedience to its fans, who wanted it to lose,” Italy’s largest sports daily wrote. The status of the two teams is very different this season: Roma is a contender for the scudetto, battling neck-and-neck with four-time defending champions Inter; Lazio is fighting to avoid relegation to the lower division. However, Lazio got to have a say in the fight for the title. Untouched by the criticism, Lazio fans celebrated in the stadium when Inter scored. They showed banners that mocked Roma, with one saying: “Scudetto: Game Over.” Some even celebrated in the streets of the capital, the way fans do when their team actually wins. Roma president Rosella Sensi said she “would be ashamed to win that way.” Inter president Massimo Moratti brushed the controversy aside, simply saying: “It’s a problem between Roma and Lazio, it doesn’t concern Inter.” But he did concede: “The crowd was completely with us and that was a very odd situation.” Football in Italy has a strong political dimension, and this latest dispute has transcended sport. Politicians were quick to react Monday, and for once their opinions didn’t follow the traditional left vs right divide— but rather their football allegiances. Some lawmakers said they were seeking a parliamentary investigation lamenting the fact that games are held at different times. They say this affects a race that is down to the wire. The dispute even reached the spokesman for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s party, Daniele Capezzone, who called on team executives and players alike “to provide convincing explanations of what happened.” Berlusconi, himself a football enthusiast and owner of Serie A team AC Milan, has not publicly commented. The rivalry between teams in Italy can be ferocious, and at times deadly. Lazio president Paolo Lotito said Monday that prior to the match he had received an envelope with bullets and death threats in case his team did not beat Inter, the ANSA news agency reported. —AP
GERMANY: Picture taken on September 9, 2009 shows Germany’s goalkeeper Rene Adler. —AFP
Broken ribs end Adler’s 2010 World Cup dream BERLIN: Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler was yesterday ruled out of next month’s World Cup in South Africa as he is set to undergo an operation to repair damaged ribs. “This was the toughest decision of my life,” said the 25-yearold Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper in a statement. “But it would have been simply irresponsible of me, my club and the national team to have participated in the World Cup. “Medically speaking, it would have been possible. But the pain is so great that I would not have been able to perform at my best over the longer term both in training and during matches. “In such a long and intensive tournament, that is unacceptable. You need players who are totally fit.” Having missed the last few weeks with the rib injury, Adler
returned on Saturday for Leverkusen in their 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga wearing a special rib protector. But an examination by Germany team doctor HansWilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt has revealed the injury is worse than first thought. Adler has already suffered a complicated rib injury which needed a titanium plate and four screws to repair in 2006 and nearly ended his career. Germany coach Joachim Loew is set to name his World Cup squad on Thursday in Stuttgart and was informed of Adler’s situation later yesterday. “Of course, we are very sorry that Rene will now be operated on, but he has to have the procedure,” said Loew. “The coaching team will now
meet to discuss who will replace Rene in travelling to South Africa and we will announce our nomination in Stuttgart on Thursday.” Former Germany striker Rudi Voeller said Adler’s injury is a bitter blow for the national team. “I feel incredibly sorry for Rene,” said Leverkusen’s director of sport Voeller. “His great World Cup dream has burst, but now we must accept the doctor’s decision. “I hope and firmly believe that Rene will be between the posts for Germany’s next major tournament.” With Adler ruled out, Schalke 04’s Manuel Neuer is set to take his place in goal for Germany’s opening World Cup match in Group D against Australia on June 13 with Werder Bremen’s Tim Wiese also travelling. —AFP
LONDON: Liverpool’s Spanish forward Fernando Torres (center) walks around the pitch after their Premiership football match in this file photo. —AFP
Torres in doubt for WCup opener LONDON: Spain striker Fernando Torres could miss his team’s World Cup opener against Switzerland after undergoing knee surgery, Liverpool’s medical department said yesterday. Torres suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during the Europa League match against Benfica last month, ruling him out of Liverpool’s run-in, and the club said their priority was to make sure their leading striker was fully fit for next season. Spain, among the World Cup favorites, face Switzerland in their first match on June 16. “You can’t be absolutely certain
of anything but at this stage, if he continues to progress the way he is, he should be fit to play at some stage during the World Cup,” Peter Brukner, Liverpool’s head of sports medicine and science, told the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.tv). “Whether he’ll be fit for the first game or not is uncertain. We’re anxious not to hurry him along too much because we want the long-term benefit, but we’re aware he’s got the short-term goal of playing in the World Cup.” Torres, who has scored 23 goals in 72 internationals, said last month he was confident of
being fit for the start of the tournament in South Africa after undergoing surgery in Barcelona. “He’s certainly tremendously committed to his rehab, as are the staff here. If anyone can recover from an injury, he can,” Brukner said. “Hopefully, we can get a compromise between those two where he plays in the World Cup and he’s fit and well for Liverpool next season.” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque also has concerns over midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta who are recovering from injuries. —Reuters
www.kuwaittimes.net
Results/standings Getafe 1 (Soldado 47) Sporting Gijon 1 (De las Cuevas 17); Barcelona 4 (Messi 17, 90, Bojan 63, Pedro 77) Tenerife 1 (Roman 39); Almeria 4 (Crusat 14, Uche 28, 42, Piatti 90) Villarreal 2 (Marcano 53, Ibagaza 66) Playing later Valencia v Xerez Playing today Real Zaragoza v Espanyol, Atletico Madrid v Valladolid, Racing Santander v Sevilla, Osasuna v Deportivo La Coruna, Athletic Bilbao v Malaga, Real Mallorca v Real Madrid Spanish League table after yesterday’s early matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Barcelona Real Madrid Valencia Mallorca Sevilla Getafe Villarreal Bilbao Coruna A Madrid Almeria Espanyol Osasuna S Gijon Zaragoza Santander Malaga Tenerife Valladolid
36 35 35 35 35 36 36 35 35 35 36 35 35 36 35 35 35 36 35
29 29 19 17 17 15 15 14 12 12 10 10 10 9 9 8 7 9 6
6 2 8 8 6 7 7 8 8 7 11 11 9 12 10 12 14 8 15
1 4 8 10 12 14 14 13 15 16 15 14 16 15 16 15 14 19 14
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SPAIN: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi from Argentina (second left) celebrates with his teammates after scoring against Tenerife during their Spanish League match at the Camp Nou stadium.—AP
Messi brace pushes Barca closer to title MADRID: Lionel Messi netted his 30th and 31st league goals of the season as Barcelona inched closer to retaining their La Liga title with a 4-1 home win over relegation-threatened Tenerife at Camp Nou yesterday. The Catalans are now four points clear of Real Madrid at the summit with just two games left, but Real have a game in hand and must win at fourth-placed Real Mallorca today to keep their title hopes alive. Messi put Barcelona ahead on 17 minutes and added a second in the final minute to stay on course to win the Pichichi crown for the league’s top scorer,
as he is currently six goals ahead of his nearest rival, Real striker Gonzalo Higuain. Argentine Roman Martinez stunned the champions by equalising for Tenerife shortly before half-time following an error from home captain Carles Puyol. But second-half goals from Bojan Krkic (in the 63rd minute) and substitute Pedro Rodriguez (77) turned the game in Barca’s favour before Messi rubbed salt in the wound with his late strike. Barcelona will hope Mallorca can do them a favour against Real as they turn their focus to Saturday’s tough trip to Champions League hopefuls Sevilla.
Promoted Tenerife, who have won just once on their travels all season, stay third from bottom, although they are level on points with Malaga above them. Barcelona once again started with Xavi despite the midfielder carrying a calf injury while Zlatan Ibrahimovic was back in the fold after recent criticism. A rain-soaked night and the mid-week fixture kept some fans away and the wet surface made passing tricky for both sides.On 12 minutes Barcelona right-back Dani Alves had the first real opening but chose to pass when shooting seemed the best option and the chance went begging. Barca got the early goal they craved on
17 minutes with Ibrahimovic heading down an Alves cross and Messi chipping in from close range for his 30th league goal of the campaign. The hosts should have made it 2-0 on 34 minutes but Brazilian Maxwell chose to shoot from an acute angle rather than squaring to Ibrahimovic, who was not impressed with his teammate. The miss was punished six minutes before half-time when captain Puyol produced a rare stray pass to gift possession to Tenerife and Argentine Roman slotted the ball past Victor Valdes. Guardiola replaced the injured Pique with winger Pedro in an attacking move. However, it was Bojan, another youth-
Redknapp spurs on Tottenham
MANCHESTER: Harry Redknapp is urging Tottenham Hotspur to put the English Premier League’s top three on notice that their monopoly is over with victory over Manchester City at Eastlands today. He wants his charges to prove his theory that the stranglehold on Champions League places and the battle for the title is no longer the right of just Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. A win for Tottenham would secure them a fourth place finish at the expense of Roberto Mancini’s men and a place in next season’s Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. But Redknapp is looking beyond the chances of joining European club football’s elite and is convinced Tottenham have now closed the gap on the so-called “big three” at the top when it comes to challenging for major honours. Redknapp, who is hoping goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes (groin) and centre-half Ledley King (knee) will be passed fit to play, says Tottenham will continue to go about their quest quietly. “We’ve got closer to Arsenal this year, the points tell you that we’re not a million miles away,” the Londoner said. “Last week Arsene Wenger was saying they had to make sure they hung onto third place because it was getting close. We’ve closed the gap on all the top teams, I think. But we still have a way to go. We won’t get too carried away. “This lot are the quietest lot of lads you’ve ever seen. It takes a lot to get them excited. They are very laid back and quiet. You’ve never met a quieter bunch. They’re not going to be getting too excited about it all. “It’s the way they are. The days of having a Tony Adams have gone, they are few and far between now. Everyone would love people like that. “If you went to Manchester City, apart from Craig Bellamy, they are all probably quiet there. It’s the same everywhere.” Redknapp admits he loves to watch his own side play and is expecting them to turn on the style. “I could watch Luka Modric play all day. I
love watching him. I just think he’s a pleasure to watch and that’s why I do what I do. I love seeing him train, play and see what he can do,” he said. “I love watching good players and we’ve got some good players. Tom Huddlestone is a great passer of the ball. “If we were a team that just kicked it up the pitch I wouldn’t bother. But I enjoy the way we play. They’re as good as I’ve seen when they move the ball about. “We had a one-touch session and it was fantastic. They zipped the ball about, and you have to be a good player to do that, you have to have awareness of where the ball will run, your touch has to be fantastic. They were brilliant. “City have been dangerous though. They have good players. They are always going to be a threat with a forward line of Adam Johnson, Carlos Tevez, Bellamy and Emmanuel Adebayor. “That is a real potent forward line, but we have good forwards too and can cause them problems, hopefully.” This could prove to be Mancini’s moment of destiny. The former Inter Milan boss was drafted in to replace Mark Hughes and handed instructions to lead City into the Champions League. But despite keeping his side in the hunt for fourth place, Mancini’s long term future is far from secure and should he fail then further question marks will be raised. The significance is not lost on the Italian, who is confident his players can get the win they so badly want and has urged home supporters to play their part to the full. “We need our fans to be the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth man,” he said. “Our supporters have been fantastic and we need them to get behind the team from the first minute to the last. “This is like a cup final for us. We wanted one and now we’ve got one. We have good confidence after beating Aston Villa and now we must focus and concentrate on getting the same result against Tottenham. They are a good side and it should be an exciting game.” —AFP
team product, who restored Barca’s lead just after the hour, latching onto a neat pass from the active Alves before finishing coolly into the bottom-left corner. A lighting counter-attack then released Pedro, who chipped his shot just wide, but on 77 minutes the substitute found the net after racing onto Messi’s pass and sliding a shot under the goalkeeper. In the dying seconds of the game Messi controlled Alves’s lofted pass in the penalty area before dinking in to cap an ultimately comfortable win. Elsewhere, Almeria defeated Villarreal 4-2 to dent the visitors’ hopes of qualifying for the Europa League. Villarreal had
Argentine centre-back Mateo Musacchio sent off after just 16 minutes and Almeria took full advantage, racking up a 3-0 lead by half-time. Villarreal fall to seventh, behind Getafe on goal difference after the Madrid-based side drew 1-1 at home to strugglers Sporting Gijon. Later yesterday Valencia looked to try and cement third place further with a win over bottom side Xerez, who are fighting for their lives. Valencia are six points ahead of fourth-placed Mallorca while Xerez are four points from safety with three games left. —AFP
Battle for Europe heats up PARIS: Fallen French giants Lyon have reignited their hopes of a podium finish and a Champions League spot next season as the battle for Europe heats up in Ligue 1 this week. Lyon are just two points off third-placed Lille after their 1-0 win at Montpellier on Sunday and will be looking to maintain the momentum after their recent Champions League semi-final exit. The former seven-time champions host direct rivals Auxerre, sitting second, tonight, knowing that they have no room for error, before travelling to Valenciennes on Saturday. “For the year to be a success we have to ensure that after this Champions League semi-final we play this competition again next year,” said Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas. “A top six finish and one in the leading trio is not the same thing.” Lyon have not finished off the podium in 12 years - winning the title seven times between 2002 and 2008 - and were third last season. They will be playing for a French record 11th consecutive Champions League appearance, a feat midfielder Jeremy Toulalan is convinced they can achieve. “We’ve managed to mobilise ourselves again. We’re capable of doing it. When it comes to important games like these we’re good,” said Toulalan. But they could have their work cut out against Auxerre, who are five points ahead of them in the standings, and also targeting a Champions League spot with three games to play. Auxerre slipped up with a goalless draw at
home Friday against table toppers Marseille, and have the luxury of two days more rest than Lyon. Auxerre coach Jean Fernandez will however have to do without the services of key Romanian international striker Daniel Niculae (thigh) and midfielder Kamel Chafni (thigh). Didier Deschamps’ Marseille, on course for the title with a five-point lead on Auxerre, host eighth-placed Rennes in today’s late game, before visiting Lille at the weekend. Lille, who strengthened their grip on a place in the Champions League qualifiers with a 3-1 win over Nancy on Sunday, travel to Toulouse. “Between second and sixth anything is possible. What’s important is to win,” said coach Rudi Garcia. Bordeaux, have no chance of defending their title as they sit fifth, but their European hopes are alive after their 1-0 win over Toulouse. Midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has however been ruled out for the next two games as coach Laurent Blanc insisted he would not put his World Cup participation at risk by rushing the France midfielder back from injury. Gourcuff has been out of action for the past nine days because of a left hamstring injury, and Blanc said that he would miss today’s game at Nice and possibly Saturday’s penultimate game against Sochaux. Elsewhere, recently-crowned French Cup champions Paris Saint Germain, sitting 11th, will be looking to carry that form through to the league, when they host Valenciennes, one place above them. Beaten Cup finalists Monaco head to Brittany side Lorient. —AFP
Benzema says ‘I am hungry again’
LONDON: Tottenham’s English midfielder Tom Huddlestone celebrates in this file photo. —AFP
PARIS: Karim Benzema has regained his motivation and is ready to help France’s challenge at the World Cup, the Real Madrid forward said yesterday. Last September, the former Olympique Lyon striker said he was not motivated to give his best when brought on as a substitute with 20 minutes to go in a World Cup qualifier against Romania. With next month’s World Cup finals looming, things have changed for Benzema, who has been struggling to settle in at Real Madrid since joining in an expensive move from Lyon during the close season. “I want to do everything I can for the French team,” Benzema told French
sports daily L’Equipe. “I am ready for the challenge.” Benzema said he is now ready to play even just a few minutes per game as a substitute at the June 11-July 11 finals if need be.”Sometimes, I should have shaken myself up a bit,” he said. “When I got there (at Real), I had the passion and I realise now that I lost it a bit. But it’s back now. I am hungry, even for five minutes, even for five seconds.” Benzema will know next Tuesday if he will make the trip to South Africa when coach Raymond Domenech unveils his 23man squad for the World Cup, where France will take on the hosts, Mexico and Uruguay in Group A. —Reuters
Asia stocks lower on China fears as Thailand surges
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Wednesday, May 5, 2010
www.kuwaittimes.net
Euro market meltdown resumes ATHENS/LONDON: A renewed selling frenzy gripped euro zone financial markets yesterday as concern mounted that a record EU/IMF bailout for Greece would not stop a debt crisis spreading in the single currency area. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero dismissed as “complete madness” a market rumour that his country would soon ask for 280 billion euros in aid from the euro area. The euro sank to a one-year low of beneath $1.31 and the risk premium on Greek, Portuguese and Spanish bonds soared amid jitters about a possible Greek debt restructuring and worries over the fiscal health of other southern European countries. In Athens, striking public workers challenged Greece’s 110 billion euro ($146.5 billion) bailout-for-austerity deal, starting a 48-hour national strike that shut down ministries, tax offices, schools, hospitals and public services. “There is no faith in what the EU and the IMF have proposed for Greece,” said Dean Popplewell, chief currency strategist at OANDA, a foreign exchange brokerage in Toronto. “Capital markets are betting on a Greek default, as Greece’s own populace is not going to accept the terms of this rescue, and contagion is a real concern hurting the euro,” he said. News that Greece has appointed debt restructuring specialists Lazard to provide “general financial advice” fuelled speculation that some form of orderly rescheduling or payment moratorium may be likely, despite vehement official denials. Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou told Reuters after news of the Lazard hire: “Any form of debt restructuring is out of the question.” Lazard recently advised countries like Argentina, Ecuador and Ivory Coast on sovereign debt restructurings. The main Greek public sector union, ADEDY, rallied thousands of protesters outside parliament to reject planned wage and pension cuts and demand that the rich foot the bill. Police fired teargas at a small group of protesters who threw rocks and bottles. “We want an end to the freefall of our living standards,” said Spyros Papaspyros, the head of ADEDY, which represents about half a million workers in the Aegean nation of 11 million. The cost of insuring Portuguese, Spanish and Irish debt against default jumped as contagion worries spread, Markit data showed. Investors sought a safe haven in US Treasury bonds. Greek bond yield spreads over benchmark German Bunds spiked above 600 basis points for the first time since Sunday’s euro zone rescue deal, and Greek bank shares plunged by 10 percent on the worsening economic outlook. Jitters about whether the emergency loan package would be enough to stem the euro zone’s sovereign debt crisis also hammered Spanish stocks. “This would suggest that contagion fears have not been fully doused, with the Greece rescue terms not allaying fears of states facing similar challenges,” Nomura rate strategist Sean Maloney said. Worries that the aid package may be insufficient to meet Greece’s borrowing needs contributed to market concerns. Economists at several European financial firms calculated those needs to the end of 2012 at 120 billion euros, based on latest IMF and Greek government figures. Germany’s Bild daily cited a government estimate of 150 billion euros given to the parliamentary finance committee. European Commission officials said they expected Athens to be able to return to markets for funding in the second half of 2011 once it had won back credibility by implementing tough reforms. But that remains a big “if”, given the grim economic outlook and the scale of public opposition. Participation in anti-austerity demonstrations has so far been limited to a few tens of thousands, smaller than riots that paralysed Athens in December 2008 following the police killing of a teenager. But anger is growing, raising questions about whether Prime Minister George Papandreou’s socialist government can successfully implement what it has promised. “These government measures are destroying my life,” said Panagiota Katsagani, a 25-year-old part-time school teacher who was marching in Athens yesterday. “I was planning my future, now I have to go back and live with my parents.” “Whether Greece can actually adjust, whether their social cohesion will remain-that’s the key thing to watch,” said sovereign ratings analyst Tom Byrne of Moody’s. European policymakers kept up a barrage of soothing comment designed to calm markets and reassure voters that the bailout will work. “The tough decisions made over the past weekend have eased (the problems). We are going in a better direction,” European Central Bank Governing Council member Erkki Liikanen told Finnish public broadcaster YLE. Deutsche Bank CEO Josef Ackermann, who has been spearheading a drive in Germany to get the private sector to participate in the bailout, said fellow German firms Allianz and Munich Re had responded positively. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said that Greece may not have to tap the full amount of aid pledged to it because of contributions from the financial sector. Some newspaper editorials said the bailout was more a rescue for European banks holding Greek debt than one of ordinary Greeks. — Reuters
Bailout does not cover all Greek borrowing needs
ATHENS: A Greek demonstrator holds an anti-government baner near the parliament in Athens yesterday. Earlier, demonstrators stormed the Athens Acropolis yesterday, and thousands of civil servants launched a walkout ahead of a general strike against unprecedented austerity spending cuts. — AFP
Kuwaiti experts predict oil prices to remain unchanged KUWAIT: Kuwaiti officials and experts anticipated here yesterday that the current oil prices of USD 80/barrel could see no change in the coming period. Separately interviewed by KUNA, they even said a USD 100/barrel price level is on the cards. They ascribed the current hike in world oil prices to global economic recovery, especially in developing countries like India and China, and resumed speculations at the oil market. Assistant Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Oil for Economic Affairs Nawal Al-Fezeaa told KUNA that the present oil price level is mainly due to world economic recovery. She quoted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as having recently predicted the year 2010 to witness an estimated growth of four percent, which it said would continue until 2011. The US economy posted a growth of three percent in the first quarter of this year, which is an extension of the growth recorded in the third quarter of last year, something which is favorable to global economy and could even lead to high demand for oil, she added. The economic growth of European countries, India, China and some Middle Eastern nations is also expected to lead to high demand for crude oil and byproducts, the Kuwaiti official noted. However, she said world oil prices could be negatively affected by several factors, primarily mounting oil stockpile in industrialized countries, dealers’ concerns about looming oil output restraints and supplies from nonOPEC countries. In this respect, she also pointed to tensions between Iran and Western countries against the backdrop of the former’s controversial nuclear program, the volatile security situation in Nigeria, and climate change. For his part, Moussa Marefi, a Kuwaiti oil expert, told KUNA that oil prices are affected by a set of factors, mainly supply and demand, political situations, global economic growth.
Economic growth harbingers in the US, Europe, India, Japan and China are also involved, he said, adding that demand for oil grew by 20 percent in China last year, and that auto sales hit 116 percent in China alone, thus favorably reflecting on demand for oil and derivatives. Other key factors also include investors’ reluctance to invest in stock exchanges and real estate markets, thus pushing many investors to move to the oil market, he pointed out. Therefore, he expected global oil prices to be in the neighborhood of USD 80-90 per barrel in the coming period unless exceptional political and security developments happen in oil producing countries. Echoing Marefi’s views, Khalid Budi, also a Kuwaiti oil expert, told KUNA that the current oil price hike is owing to global economic improvement and OPEC member states’ commitment, to some point, towards oil output ceilings. The higher the oil price becomes, the more speculation happens, he regretted, believing that the real oil price should be in the vicinity of USD
45-50/barrel. But, he said OPEC member states don’t wish that global oil prices shoot up to USD 100 per barrel as this could bring negative impacts on international economic growth, and thence, on world demand for oil. Exaggerated oil prices would surely stimulate production in other regions, including polar ones, where production costs are so high, thus resulting in low demand for oil, he added. Meanwhile, oil prices slumped to below $85 a barrel yesterday as the dollar strengthened and traders anticipated another increase in US crude supplies from a government report due later this week. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark crude for June delivery was down $1.42 to $84.77 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 4 cents to settle at $86.19 on Monday. Oil touched an 18-month high of $87.15 a barrel Monday, and has jumped about 23 percent since February on investor expectations that a growing US and global economy will boost demand. — Agencies
DUBAI: Emirates Airlines hostesses stand at their pavillion at the 2010 Arabian Travel Market exhibition in Dubai yesterday. — AFP
Dubai to open ‘world’s biggest’ ‘airport for cargo next month DUBAI: Dubai’s second airport, designed to be the world’s largest when completed, will open in June for cargo only, with plans to receive passengers in spring next year, Dubai Airports chief said yesterday. “Dubai will no longer be a single airport city,” chief executive officer, Paul Griffiths, told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual Arabian Travel Market held in Dubai. He set June 27 as the date for the start of operations at Al-Maktoum International Airport. He said that the passenger terminal is scheduled to be ready by the end of the year and that it will enter service at the beginning of the summer season in 2011, towards “the end of March.” The airport, which is designed to have six runways and handle 120 million passengers when fully completed, was supposed to be operational by the end of 2008. Its runway has been ready since 2007. “We are not just creating the largest airport in the world... (It is) also the best,” Griffiths boasted, saying that Dubai expects to receive 150 million passengers by 2030 at its two airports. The new airport is planned to cover 140 square kilometres (87 square miles), part of the 33-billiondollar Dubai World Central development in Dubai’s Jebel Ali area, home also to the region’s largest port and its busiest free zone. It is being built 40 kilometres (25 miles) away from the current airport-already the busiest in the Middle East. Dubai is also continuing to expand its existing airport, building a third concourse while it plans to expand Terminal Two, which is the hub for its young low-cost carrier, Flydubai. “We want to create much better and smarter facilities (at Terminal Two)... We are trying to get that done within the next two years,” Griffiths said. Dubai airport handled 11.47 million passengers in the first quarter of this year, up 20.4 percent from the corresponding period last year, he said. Aviation in the Middle East has bucked the slowdown in the world markets resulting from the credit crunch. Regional carriers recorded the strongest growth in passenger traffic at 25.9 percent, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said last month. Meanwhile, most Dubai World creditors have agreed to the terms for restructuring the troubled conglomerate’s debts, a state-owned daily said yesterday. “Most of the banks have agreed on the offer after studying the size of the obligations remaining on the group and the amounts it will pay,” Al-
DUBAI: Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, speaks during a press conference in Dubai yesterday. —AFP Bayan said, citing an unidentified negotiator who represents the banks. It is likely “that all the banks will sign the contract presented by the company,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. He said the banks would respond within two weeks, the report added. “Standard Chartered welcomes the deal,” a senior bank official, requesting anonymity, told Dubai-based Emirates Business daily. Others, like Royal Bank of Scotland CEO Stephen Hester described the proposal as “a welcome start,” while HSBC Bank’s Middle East CEO Simon Cooper called it “fair,” the daily said. “I see no reason why it should not be signed in a few weeks. We would sign today,” Cooper told reporters on Monday. The Dubai government announced in March it would inject 9.5 billion dollars into Dubai World. After wrangling for months with creditors, the firm said it was issuing two tranches of new debt that would mature in five years and eight years. “The offer has been well-received by the financial institutions, contractors and investors,” Khaleej Times newspaper quoted Ahmed bin Humaid al-Tayer, governor of Dubai International Financial Centre, as saying at the time. Dubai World has said the total negotiated debt owed to creditors amounts to 14.2 billion dollars, out of the 23.5 billion dollars of debt up for restructuring. Dubai rocked global financial markets in late November when it said it might need to freeze debt payments by its largest conglomerate, stoking fears of a state default over sovereign debt.—AFP
S&P rates sharia fund in bid to raise transparency DUBAI: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) yesterday said that for the first time it assigned a rating to a sharia fund, in a bid to boost transparency in an industry that has come under fire after some recent defaults. S&P said it assigned a “AAf/S1+” fund
credit and volatility rating to a Luxembourg-based, US dollar-dominated fund managed by European Finance House, a subsidiary of Qatar Islamic Bank, one of the Gulf region’s biggest banks by market value. The Islamic finance industry came
under scrutiny in the aftermath of Dubai World’s debt trouble and after some highprofile defaults from Middle Eastern issuers. Investors raised questions about the structure of such Islamic deals and the risks it entailed linking it to the lack of
transparency that prevails in the sector. Experts have said that even though the defaults are mainly a credit issue rather than an Islamic one, the perception of risk has dampened investors’ appetite. “We see rating sharia funds as a way to enhance credit-risk awareness in this asset
class,” the ratings agency said in a statement. Strong economic growth combined with abundant credit available in the Gulf region has helped fuel the Islamic finance industry in the past decade making the Middle East market the biggest, but also generating
interest from Europe and the US. “Revenue growth in this region has particularly benefited the asset management sector,” S&P said. The Islamic finance industry is estimated to be worth around $1 trillion and is forecast by Moody’s to hit $5 trillion over time. — Reuters
BUSINESS
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Wednesday, May 5, 2010
No room for further interest rate cuts
Bahrain economy to grow 4% in 2010 MANAMA: Bahrain’s economy should grow around 4 percent in 2010, faster than last year, as government stimulus spending outweighs weak investment and consumption, the country’s central bank governor said yesterday.
Bahrain was unlikely to issue further sovereign bonds this year, Rasheed AlMaraj also told Reuters on the sidelines of a financial conference in the Gulf Arab state. Bahrain’s economy expanded by 3.2 percent in 2009, Maraj said. Bahrain does not release GDP data on a regular basis and had not yet issued a full-year figure for 2009. In March, Bahrain launched an oversubscribed $1.25 billion, 10-year bond, which came at a time of huge pent-up demand for Gulf sovereign issues. “No further issues are going to be this year. But we always keep our options open,” Maraj said. Unlike other oil producers in the region, Bahrain has to issue bonds to finance spending. Gulf Arab countries considerably boosted public spending after the global downturn cut output and froze credit in the world’s top oil exporting region last year. Bahrain did the same, although, with dwindling oil reserves, it showed more restraint than its neighbours. It ran a budget deficit in 2009 for the first time since at least 2005 as average oil prices remained below its estimated budget break-even of about $70 to $80 per barrel. In a Reuters poll in April, TUNIS: France’s Didier Lombard, President of France Telecom looks on during a press cenference yes- economists forecast economic terday in Tunis. Lombard was to launch France Telecom’s mobile services operator and Internet growth of 3 percent this year. Maraj also said the kingService Provider “Orange” in Tunisia yesterday. — AFP dom’s interest rates would not be cut any further. “At this level, I think we have reached a very historic low. We don’t see any room for any further cuts,” he said. “For the moment, the way we see things, interest rates will stay at this level.” Like most other Gulf Arab states, Bahrain, a small oil producer but not an OPEC member, does not have a fully independent monetary policy as its DUBAI: French hotel and services fers from a shortage of hotel units, and is ments, Karaoglanian said, adding that currency is pegged to the US group Accor, which recently posted bet- developing its hospitality sector to meet China and India are key markets for dollar. The bank’s repo rate, ter-than-expected first-quarter results, growing demand for domestic, regional expansions. which it uses to inject liquidity “A lot of Chinese investors want to said it saw room for further growth in and religious tourism. into the system via purchases “Syria, there’s real change that may invest in hotels and we regularly sign certain “hot spots” in the Middle East of deposit certificates or govbring about a new era for tourism,” said new contracts,” he said. “We can and North Africa, China and India. ernment bonds, has stood at Syria and Saudi Arabia were key areas Karaoglanian, adding the hotel market increase our presence by 20 hotels a 2.25 percent since September where Accor, which has a pipeline of 20 was undersupplied. “We see eight-10 year for the next 10 years.” 2009. India, another big focus area for hotels in the Middle East including hotels in the next five-10 years.” Gulf neighbour Qatar has a Additionally, Abu Dhabi could do with Accor, is also an undersupplied market Egypt, sees opportunity for growth, much higher benchmark rate, Christian Karaoglanian, chief develop- up to six more hotels, and Qatar up to with only 125,000 rooms, said which has attracted a flood of Karaoglanian. ment officer of Accor Hospitality told four, he said. liquidity into its banking sector. “There is a tremendous market for all Accor, the world’s fourth-largest Reuters. Inflation should average 1.5 “Saudi might be the most attractive hotel group, has a network of 33 hotels in brands. We have far fewer players than in percent this year, Maraj said. county for development in the Middle the Middle East, excluding Egypt, and China,” he said. “We should open an Meanwhile, Bahraini Islamic average of 10-12 hotels a year for the East... there’s still room for growth for targets a total of 50 hotels by end-2012. lender Al Baraka expects to In the next five years, Accor plans to next 10 years.” all brands, particularly budget,” buy a stake in Malaysian Bank Accor invests 200 million-250 million open 3,000 rooms per year in the Middle Karaoglanian said. euros ($266 million-$333 million) in “Potentially, we feel there’s room for East and Egypt, Karaoglanian said. Muamalat by year-end, its Globally, the company plans to bring hotel development per year, with 25 pera dozen of properties in the next two-tochief executive said yesterday, three years,” he added. Saudi Arabia, to the market 35-40,000 rooms per year, cent in Asia, mainly India, said as it seeks growth outside of its the Arab world’s largest economy, suf- including new and converted develop- Karaoglanian. — Reuters home market. — Reuters
Accor eyes further growth in Mideast, Asia markets Sees potential for up to 12 hotels in India in 10 years
X-cite announces winners of World Cup promotion KUWAIT: Kuwait’s most powerful World Cup promotion, hosted by X-cite by Alghanim Electronics, came to a close yesterday as X-cite announced the winners of the World Cup promotion. Ahmad Salem Al Hajery and Ali Abbas Akbar Hussein walked away with the grand prizes to witness the most exciting and anticipated games of the year, wholly due to their commitment and loyalty to X-cite by Alghanim Electronics. No other World Cup
Promotion across Kuwait offered prizes comparable to the X-cite offer which was sponsored by hp, Toshiba, Samsung, Panasonic, HTC and Canon. In a place where technology meets excitement, X-cite crafted a remarkable package for the two winners. Each package included round-trip tickets for 2 persons to South Africa, 8 nights accommodation including breakfast, and category 1 tickets to the semifinal and final match of the World Cup.
Hilal Farhat, X-cite Marketing Manager, congratulated the two winners and commented on the occasion, “We offer our sincerest congratulations to the winners, and are proud to continue our tradition of offering our customers the best and most exciting promotions and prizes in Kuwait. The World Cup Promotion is only one of the many offers that we have in store for our customers, and look forward to congratulating more winners in the future.”
Qatar opens $1.37 billion ethylene plant DUBAI: Qatar inaugurated yesterday an ethylene plant at a cost of 1.37 billion dollars and with an annual production capacity of 1.3 million tonnes in the northern city of Ras Laffan. “The total cost of the project ... has reached 1.37 billion dollars (1.05 billion euros),” Energy Minister Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiya told reporters during the inauguration ceremony. Ras Laffan Olefins Company Limited (RLOC), the owner of the plant, plans to increase its production capacity to 1.6 million tonnes per year, organisers said. The plant will push forward the petrochemical industry in the small Gulf emirate known for its wealth in gas production.
“Qatar’s production of petrochemicals reaches 85 countries and our strategic aim is to achieve a production of 28 million tonnes ... by 2014,” Attiya said. Qatar has natural gas reserves estimated at more than 900 trillion cubic feet (25 trillion cubic metres) — third largest in the world after Russia and Iran. A member of OPEC, the country also produces some 800,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The RLOC project is a joint venture of Qatar Chemical Company II Limited (Q-Chem II), which holds 53.31 percent, Qatofin Company Limited with 45.69 percent and Qatar Petroleum with one percent. — AFP
EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds
.2840000 .4370000 .3790000 .2640000 .2810000 .2640000 .0045000 .0020000 .0782350 .7622180 .4020000 .0750000 .7472220 .0045000 .0500000
US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso
CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2882000 .4392800 .3812150 .2660820 .2832660 .0512210 .0395750 .2663950 .0371130 .2098960 .0030660 .0065120 .0025360 .0034510 .0041700 .0785040 .7648380 .4075910 .0768920 .7489420 .0065490
US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals
TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2903000 .4423820 .2679660 .0773820
Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees
EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES 3.066 6.509
.2940000 .4470000 .3870000 .2720000 .2900000 .2710000 .0075000 .0035000 .0790210 .7698780 .4170000 .0790000 .7547320 .0072000 .0580000 .2903000 .4423820 .3839060 .2679660 .2852720 .0515830 .0398550 .2682760 .0373760 .2113830 .0030880 .0065580 .0025540 .0034760 .0042000 .0790050 .7697150 .4104770 .0773820 .7537160 .0065960
Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound Yemen Riyal Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham
3.451 2.545 4.076 211.800 37.330 4.180 6.509 8.986 0.301 0.292 GCC COUNTRIES 77.280 79.614 752.830 769.630 78.914 ARAB COUNTRIES 54.250 52.123 1.285 202.910 409.230 194.400 6.300 34.900
EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 289.650 Euro 383.800 Sterling Pound 443.200 Canadian dollar 286.800 Turkish lire 194.540 Swiss Franc 268.000 Australian dollar 267.500 US Dollar Buying 287.500
SELL CASH 271.200 770.110 4.440 292.200 568.600 15.800 52.300 167.800 54.510 387.000
10 Tola
GOLD 1,287.700
37.850 6.505
409.340 0.195 92.330 4.090 213.300 752.070 3.460 6.510 79.660 77.320 212.250 41.720 2.545 443.500 269.500 9.150 78.920 289.600
SELL DRAFT 269.700 770.110 4.180 290.700
212.300 52.148 385.500
US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Cyprus Pound Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees
Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees
289.500 286.566 442.052 384.220 266.190 709.585 766.276 78.800 79.498 77.169 408.525 52.139 6.513 3.453
2.537 4.186 6.503 3.074 8.937 6.315 4.062
Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Candaian Dollars
TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 443.500 289.600
Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd
Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash
38.000 6.750 0.035 0.295 0.256 3.180 411.070 0.196 92.330 47.200 4.270 214.800 1.973 49.900 752.250 3.530 6.720 80.090 77.320 212.250 41.720 2.744 445.500 40.800 271.000 6.400 9.330 217.900 79.020 290.000 1.330
Sterling Pound US Dollar
GOLD 230.000 117.000 60.500
20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram
Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal
Rate per 1000 (Tran) 289.550 3.455 6.505 2.550 4.185 6.540 78.900 77.385 769.300 52.115 446.800 0.000035000 4.200 1.550 411.200 5.750 388.500 291.900
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 289.200 382.300 442.000 287.200 3.075 6.495 52.120 2.544 4.179 6.497 3.455 769.200 78.800 77.200
business
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
23
Local banks pour vast sums of money into new projects KUWAIT: Up to the end of 2007, the Real Estate and Construction sectors in Kuwait had a buoyant market fuelled by the rising oil prices. Improved surpluses in public finances along with abundant liquidity among local banks poured vast sums of money into new projects, specifically retail, office and residential projects. In terms of contribution to GDP, total real estate and construction activities grew from KD 847 mn during 1998 to KD 1.3 bn during 2003 and KD 1.75 bn during 2008 representing an average contribution of 7.3 percent over the period 1998-2008 and growing at a CAGR of 7.53 percent over the same period. Since the start of the economic crisis in 2008, activities of both sectors have been on a downward trend with a large number of major projects either delayed or cancelled, recording a decline of 4.5 percent in 2008 as reported by the CBK. This dry up in market activity has brought liquidity levels to an all time low, thus, forcing government intervention by injecting money into the banking system, issuing guarantees for private sector deposits and reducing the CBK discount rate from 5.75 percent in the beginning of 2008 to 2.5 percent during Feb-10. As a result, these measures have helped in the short-term stability of the market by providing
sufficient liquidity in order to avoid a halt and sustain market activity. According to information published by the Ministry of Justice, the average monthly value of registered real estate transactions in 2009 decreased by around 7 percent since 2008 from KD 304 mn to KD 284 mn. Kuwait posted over KD 73 bn in oil revenues over the past five years, its budget surplus amounted to over KD 26.8 bn over the same period before accounting for reserves for future generations. In terms of market capitalization, the real estate sector in Kuwait has witnessed a significant drop from its record high of KD 5.41 bn in June of 2008 to about KD 1.97 bn as of April10, representing a staggering 64 percent drop over the period. This drop in market cap has brought the real estate sector size back to its 2004 levels. With this market cap level, the real estate sector represents about 5.8 percent of the Kuwait Stock Exchange, indicating a highly fragmented sector dominated by small to medium sized companies. Segmentation Analysis Comprising of 3 major segments; Residential, Investment and Commercial Properties; the Real Estate Sector total monthly sales saw a greater decline in 2009 than seen
KAMCO Real Estate Market Report during 2H-08, the starting stages of the crisis. Up to the end of 2009, sales averaged around KD 107 mn per month compared to a 2008 average of KD 156 mn, representing a drop of 31.4 percent. Average number of deals witnessed a drop as well of 25.6 percent from 514 transactions per month in 2008 to around 382 in 2009. Apart from the financial crisis, the enactment of Laws No. 8 and 9 of 2008, which prevent shareholding companies and establishments from doing business in the residential segment while simultaneously placing specifications for the disposition of assets in those segments, had a negative impact on the real estate market through low liquidity levels and diminishing demand, which in turn put further pressure on real estate prices. Residential Segment The Residential Segment of the Kuwaiti real estate market primarily consists of properties under the government housing program known as, the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW), thereby, making the Residential segment the largest and the most important in this sector. Growth in residential properties is
positively correlated to the growth of the Kuwaiti population, as the government program is only offered to Kuwaiti nationals, but over the last 30 years, the rate of growth in this segment has far exceeded that of the population. Yet, the residential market is still considered to be under supplied. Unmet demand in this segment has spurred the government to work with real estate companies on developing new residential areas such as Saad Al Abdullah area in South Jahra, Dahiyat Abdullah Al Mubarak in West Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, South Surra and Abu Futaira. Applications for housing have seen a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.3 percent between 1985 and 2009. However, this growth has slowed down to an average of 4.7 percent since 2000 primarily due to a drop in applications over the last three years. This drop in applications can be attributed to the over priced housing during 2007 and 2008 in conjunction with the long time frame taken to process eligible Kuwaiti citizen’s housing applications and approving them, which in some cases may reach up to 15 years and the introduction of the CBK cap on residential loans.
Investment Segment This segment encompasses the construction of residential apartments, villas and land purchases for trading and investment purposes. The residential apartments are primarily occupied by the expatriate population, which has been increasingly growing between 2003 and 2009 at a CAGR of 6.53 percent, a growth rate that’s exceptionally high compared to the Kuwaiti population CAGR of 3.2 percent over the same period. Apart from the current crisis, recent researches estimate the expatriate population to grow at a higher pace in the long term due to expected expansion in Kuwait’s economy over the next 15-20 years. Properties under the investment segment have higher return expectations due to higher residential land valuations, along with the potential for rental growth and the restrictions on foreign ownership. During the first nine months of 2009, apartment rental rates were considered marginally lower compared to a year before, with an average rental rate around KD 182 for a 1bedroom apartment, KD 214 for 2bedrooms and KD 302 for a 3-bedroom apartment, and average resi-
dential land rates remaining almost constant according to the quarterly research from Kuwait Finance House. However, with the current real estate market and tough economic conditions, rental rates are expected to decline during 2010 given the declines witnessed in rates throughout 2009. Commercial Segment Encompassed in this segment are complexes and retail establishments as well as the sale or rental of spaces in commercial buildings. Recently, there has been a new focus in this segment to target an increasing number of tourists every year through new hotels, shops and resorts. Growth in this segment started at a later stage compared to the other real estate segments due to the shortage of investors and the large capital expenditures required for each commercial project. During the last few years, however, this segment witnessed an increase in institutional investment in the construction of such projects in response to the economic boom present during the period along with the ease of access to the credit market. Kuwait currently offers around 5,000 rooms in 20 properties represented by the major international hotel chains. By 2011, the number of
rooms is expected to double, with 2,300 due to come online in 2009 alone, according to annual research by NAI Global. Due to the current market situations, vacancy rates are increasing and expected to follow an upward trend during 2010 as many tenants decide not to renew contracts or negotiate lower rates. On the corporate scale, large company layoffs reduced the space companies need to house employees, leading to higher vacancy rates not to mention the large supply from newly developed properties that is supposed to enter the market in the near future with the completion of some large real estate projects. Over the past few years, increased interest in the GCC real estate market, including Kuwait, has led to an impressive build up in the region’s retail real estate market. According to research by Retail International, about 9.5 mn square meters of mall gross leasable area (GLA) has been added in 2008 compared to 7.75 mn square meters during 2007. Mega commercial projects that are currently under construction include United Tower, Symphony Mall, Kuwait Business Town, and the Al-Hamra tower which is going to be the tallest tower in Kuwait and the first ‘sculptured’ building in the world.
Market expects pause of few months
Australia CB hikes rates, signals pause for now SYDNEY: Australia’s central bank raised its key cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.5 percent yesterday and signalled the first stage of its tightening cycle was over after six hikes in eight months. Still, investors and analysts thought it was only a matter of time before the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) would have to take rates further given the strength of the economy. “The
KARACHI: Pakistani stock dealers work at a brokerage house during a trading session in Karachi yesterday. The benchmark Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) 100 index was 10554.81, with increase of 165.35 in the morning session. — AFP
Asia stocks lower on China fears as Thailand surges SINGAPORE: Asian stocks were mostly lower yesterday on investor concerns that Chinese moves to slow a soaring property market will undermine economic growth while Thai stocks vaulted on hopes of a resolution to the country’s political crisis. European shares opened mixed. Trading was generally lackluster in Asia with Japan’s markets closed for a three-day holiday. The dollar gained against the euro and the yen while oil fell below $86 a barrel amid expectations that US crude supplies are still increasing despite an improving economy. China’s benchmark index in Shanghai led decliners, falling 35.33 points, or 1.2 percent, to 2,835.28 while Taiwan’s market dropped 0.3 percent and Australia’s index retreated 1 percent. Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 48.31, or 0.2 percent, at 20,763.05 while Indonesia gained 0.2 percent. South Korea’s Kospi, meanwhile, slipped 0.1 percent to 1,718.75. Singapore dropped 1
percent. As trading got started in Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was down 0.6 percent while France’s CAC-40 was flat and Germany’s DAX added 0.4 percent. Futures pointed to slight losses yesterday on Wall Street. In Thailand, the benchmark stock index surged 4.1 percent after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva proposed a Nov. 14 date for fresh polls if anti-government protesters occupying central Bangkok accept his reconciliation plan and peace and stability is restored. In other parts of Asia, sentiment was clouded by fears that China’s efforts to curb inflation and property prices could slow the regional economic recovery. On Monday, China increased the deposit reserve requirement ratio for most banks for the third time this year, the latest in a series of measures aimed at cooling the country’s skyrocketing property prices. The moves could help trigger a real estate price drop of more than 30 percent in the biggest cities
and cut economic growth by 3 percentage points, Citigroup said in a report. “The latest property tightening has erased all stimulus policies in the property sector, and is the toughest in history,” Citigroup said. “The property battle could challenge the 8 percent gross domestic product growth target in the second half of the year or next year.” Prices for luxury housing rose about 50 percent last year in Shanghai and Beijing. Signs of improving US economic growth helped bolster stocks overnight. The Commerce Department said Monday that personal spending rose 0.6 percent in March, the biggest increase in five months while the Institute for Supply Management said US manufacturing activity expanded last month at the fastest pace in nearly six years. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 143.22, or 1.3 percent, to 11,151.83, its biggest point and percentage gain since Feb. 16. It was the fourth largest increase of the year. — AP
Indian suitors pull out of Gulfsands bid NEW DELHI/LONDON: Oil India and Indian Oil Corp have withdrawn a preliminary approach for Syrian-focused oil explorer Gulfsands Petroleum, sending shares in Gulfsands lower. The two Indian suitors had made an approach at 315 pence per share valuing Gulfsands at 381 million pounds ($580.4 million) conditional upon being allowed to conduct due diligence, which was turned down by the company who said that the bid was “wholly inadequate”. “Since our due diligence request has not been accepted, Oil India and Indian Oil are withdrawing the offer. For six months, we are staying
away,” Oil India’s head of finance Ananth Kumar told Reuters yesterday. Shares in Gulfsands slipped 10 percent to 288 pence at 1120 GMT. The Indian companies reiterated a proposal at the same price as the original bid on Apr. 27 which Gulfsands said on Friday it continued to reject. Britain’s takeover watchdog on Thursday issued Oil India and Indian Oil Corp with a deadline of May 11 to make a formal approach for Gulfsands or walk away for a minimum of six months. — Reuters
“Eventually the RBA will shift to “Phase Two”, where policy moves into restrictive territory,” said Robertson. “That might be a few months but since Australia’s heading into its greatest-ever mining boom, it may be sooner rather than later.” After an initial dip, the prospect of more hikes later in the year helped underpin the Australian dollar around $0.9240, while interbank futures moved to price in the next hike by September, if not August. “We think they will resume raising rates around August when the next CPI is released,” said Spiros Papadopoulos, an economist at National Australia Bank. The consumer price report for the second quarter is due out on July 28. “We see rates at 5.25 percent by the end of the year, and 6.0 percent by the end of next year,” he added.
One-year swap rates were up around 5.10 percent, the highest since October 2008 when the RBA had just begun the dramatic easing campaign which took the cash rate from 7.25 percent to its historic low of 3.0 percent. Further hikes would be a headache for the Labor Government of Kevin Rudd, which is expected to go to the polls late this year. Mortgage rates are a sensitive topic in a country obsessed with home ownership and any increase whips up hysterical media tales of voters on “struggle street”. An opinion poll out yesterday showed Labor slipping behind the opposition Liberal coalition for the first time, adding an edge of political uncertainty for investors to cope with. Still, the fact the RBA has led the world in tightening merely testifies to how successful the country has been in
RBA has announced that “Phase One” of its tightening is over,” said Macquarie interest rate strategist Rory Robertson. In a statement after its monthly meeting, RBA Governor Glenn Stevens noted lending rates were now around average and the rise from 3 percent since October was a significant adjustment. dodging the global financial crisis. Aggressive fiscal and monetary stimulus, a stable banking system and strong demand for Australia’s commodity exports from Asia, especially China, all helped insulate it. Indeed, demand has been so fierce that prices for iron ore and coal, Australia’s two biggest export earners, have surged this year with iron ore almost doubling. The RBA’s own measure of Australian commodity prices jumped almost 18 percent in April alone and is rapidly approaching the record highs hit in 2008. All of which will deliver a rich windfall to profits, wages, and tax receipts in coming months, while funding a boom in mining and energy investment. This was coming while the economy was already stretched for spare capacity,
with unemployment down at 5.3 percent, inflation near the top of the RBA’s 2 to 3 percent target band and house prices surging 20 percent in the past year. The RBA’s Stevens on Tuesday conceded that inflation was now more likely to be in the upper half of its target band this year, rather than the middle. Which is why most analysts assume rates will eventually have to move into restrictive ground. A Reuters poll taken last week found most expected rates to be at 5.5 percent within 12 months. “The fundamental issue derives from the renewed commodity boom that is set to inject a sizeable amount of income into an economy already running close to full capacity,” said Michael Blythe, chief economist at Commonwealth Bank. “We are happy to hold with our call of a 5 percent cash rate by late 2010 and a move towards 6 percent in 2011.” — Reuters
Good Food Co joins NBK rewards program
MANILA: The attractive Jollibee company sign stands outside an outlet in Manila, yesterday. Philippine fastfood giant Jollibee Foods Corp. announced yesterday that it had bought a majority stake in a noodle chain as part of its strategy to expand its presence in China. — AFP
Nissan recalls Infiniti G35 sedans, coupes DETROIT: Nissan Motor Co recalled Infiniti G35 sedans and coupes affecting as many as 134,000 cars due to a connector that could cause airbags to not deploy during a crash, US regulators said yesterday. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said as many as 134,215 Infiniti G35 sedans from model years 2005-2006 and G35 coupes from model years 2005-2007 are subject to the recall. About 65 percent of the vehicles recalled are sedans and about 35 percent coupes, a Nissan spokesman said. The
affected models were made at a Nissan plant in Japan. Both the sedan and coupe are of the previous generation of G35s. Nissan spokesman Colin Price said no injuries or accidents have been reported. NHTSA said a wire harness for the airbags may wear down to the point that it could interrupt a signal to deploy the airbags in the event of a crash. Most of the vehicles involved are in the United States, but cars are also recalled in South Korea, Canada, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Guam and the Middle East, Price said.
Price said that a red warning light will be displayed on the dashboard when the connection is disrupted to signal the airbag to deploy. He said drivers should take their cars to an Infiniti dealer at that point. For cars where the red airbag signal is not lit, consumers will be notified soon by Nissan and Infiniti when to bring their cars in for service, Price said. Nissan informed federal officials of the potential problem two weeks ago, NHTSA reports show. Infiniti is the luxury brand for Nissan. — Reuters
KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the leading bank in Kuwait and highest rated bank in the Middle East has signed a partnership agreement with Good Food Company to join the NBK Rewards program which is exclusively designed since 1998 to reward the bank’s credit cardholders (Visa, MasterCard and Diners Club). Good Food Company, a subsidiary of The Sultan Center, will award NBK customers with 10% discount of Al Najran Al their bill in the form of Abdulla NBK rewards Points. Tuwaijri The new agreement will cover six restaurants which include Wasabi Japanese Restaurant, Ruby Tuesday-Avenues, Jeans Grill, Tumbleweed Southwest Grill, Karam Café. Lebanese Restaurant and Layalina Café. NBK customers will also have the opportunity to redeem their NBK Rewards Points for NBK vouchers that can be used as payment in all Good Food Restaurants. Abdulla Al Najran, Deputy General Manager, NBK Consumer Banking Group: “At NBK we thrive to provide our customers with world class benefits offering our cardholders’ base a number of unique benefits including our top of the line NBK Rewards Program which is recognized by Cardholders as the best and only Credit Cards Rewards program in Kuwait since inception in 1998 and awarded by The Banker with the best Loyalty Program in the Middle East for 2009”. NBK credit cardholders benefit from exclusive and guaranteed rewards upon using their credit cards at a collection of more than 500 outlets in Kuwait encompassing world-renowned fashion brands, jewellery, watches, furniture, hotels, restaurants, medical services, travel, health, beauty, fitness and more. The program mechanics are simple and guarantees savings in points at world-class quality outlets. When using any of their NBK credit cards (Visa, MasterCard or Diners Club) at participating outlets, customers are rewarded with up to 50% of their transaction amount in points which they can later exchange for NBK Rewards vouchers and use in the participating outlets to buy goods and services.
24
BUSINESS
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT
KSE ends day on 14.90 pt drop in price index KUWAIT: No new news regarding the Kuwait Stock Exchange’s (KSE) performance during yesterday’s session with the continuation of weak purchases by traders and portfolios. It is worth mentioning that there are seven trading sessions left before the deadline for listed companies to announce their financial statements for the 1Q-2010. To date, only 13 percent of listed companies announced their first quarter results. Market Indices GGI shed .60 points (- 0.29 percent) during yesterday’s session to reach 207.45 points. Furthermore, the KSE Price Index decreased by 14.90 points (- 0.21 percent) yesterday and closed at 7,251.50 points. Market capitalization was down KD98.36mn today to reach KD34.24bn. Market Breadth During yesterday’s session, 126 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 59 equities retreated versus 31 that advanced. A total of 121 stocks remained unchanged during yesterday’s trading session. Daily Trading Activity Trading activities ended on a positive note yesterday as volume of shares traded on the exchange increased by 15.84 percent to reach 171.13mn shares. Furthermore, value of shares traded gained by 25.43 percent to stand at KD38.47mn. The Services Sector was the volume and value leader today, accounting for 35.76 per-
investment company in the sector, ending yesterday’s trading session up 2.41 percent to close at KD0.425. Furthermore, National Investment Company also aided the index’s gain but to a lesser extent. The scrip added 1.32 percent to its value today and closed at KD0.385. Global’s special indices ended the day in the red, with Global Islamic Index being the top decliner. The index ended the day with a loss of 0.87 percent backed by heavyweight Kuwait Finance House shedding 1.85 percent from its value. Oil News The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at US$84.36 a barrel on Monday, compared with US$84.13 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.
cent of total traded volume and 41.45 percent of total market value. National Cleaning Company was the volume and value leader yesterday, with a total traded volume of 14.77mn at a total traded value of KD4.38mn. Top Gainers and Biggest Decliners In terms of top gainers, Future Kid Entertainment & Real Estate Company took the top spot for the day, adding 9.26 percent and closed at KD0.118. On the other hand, National
International Company (Holding) shed 18.75 percent and closed at KD0.065, making it the biggest decliner in the market. Sectors Wise Regarding Global’s sectoral indices, they mainly ended the day on a mixed note, except for Global Insurance Index which was unchanged during yesterday’s trading session. Global Food Index was the top decliner, down 0.93 percent backed by heavyweight Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana) being the only decliner in the sector despite
two other companies ending in the green. The scrip ended the day down 1.37 percent and closed at KD1.440. Global Industrial Index came in second place with a 0.75 percent drop backed by losses witnessed in Kuwait Metal Pipe Industries & Oil Services Company and Kuwait Cement Company which ended the day down 1.32 percent and 2.94 percent, respectively. In terms of advancers, Global Investment Index took the top spot with a 0.36 percent gain. Contributing to the index’s gain was Kuwait Projects Company (Holding), the largest
Market News Updating its announcement dated April 13, 2010 on Burgan Bank’s secondary offering, the KSE declares the following: A total of 321,733,188 shares were subscribed to during the period from April 13, 2010 till April 27, 2010. The remaining 38,266,812 shares will be reoffered as of May 02, 2010 to June 15, 2010. Being completed on the first day, the offering was closed as per the law provisions in this regard. First Investment Company (FIC) has been approved by the Central Bank of Kuwait to repurchase or sell 10 percent maximum of its issued shares for further 6 months as of yesterday. FIC should abide by the CBK buyback rules and regulations.
KUWAIT: Farwaniya Branch Manager Ali Berjaoui congratulating the Al Danah first quarterly winner Mohamed Hamdalla Mohamed Ahmed.
Gulf Bank announces Al Danah first quarterly winner KUWAIT: Gulf Bank announced the lucky winner of the first Al Danah quarterly draw prize of KD125,000 at the draw held on April 29 2010 at Gulf Bank’s Head Office. Mohamed Hamdalla Mohamed Ahmed, Gulf Bank’s Farwaniya 1 branch customer was the winner of the KD125,000 Al Danah first quarterly draw prize. Gulf Bank’s new Al Danah offers weekly draws of KD 1,000 each to ten winners. Quarterly draw winners are eligible to win KD 250,000 in the second quarter draw, KD 500,000 during the third quarter draw, and finally KD 1 million during the fourth quarter. Opening an Al Danah account is simple and easy. You need to deposit a minimum of KD200 to open an Al Danah account. Maintaining this minimum balance will automatically allow Al Danah account holders to enter the weekly and quarterly draws as well as the annual draw. To
increase the chances of winning, customers are encouraged to continue saving with Al Danah for the long term. The more you deposit and the longer you save, the more chances you have to win. Aly Shalaby, General Manager, Consumer Banking Group at Gulf Bank said, “We congratulate our first quarterly winner, Mr. Mohamed Hamdalla Mohamed Ahmed. It’s always exciting to announce our winners’ names, and this winner is evidence that everyone stands a chance to win. We are encouraging our customers to keep or increase their money in their accounts so that they can be part of this renowned draw prize. No other bank in Kuwait or across the Middle East is offering its customers the opportunity to win KD1 million in one single draw prize and the Bank is delighted to be rewarding its loyal and growing customer base in Kuwait through the draw.” Mohamed Hamdalla
Mohamed Ahmed said, “I am so happy to have won this prize. I intend keeping the whole amount in my Al Danah account. This was such a surprise, I have not really thought of what I’m going to do with the money as yet, but it will be used in good faith.” Customers have a choice of several channels to open and / or deposit money into the Al Danah account, either through branches, online, through Telebanking’s 24/7 service by simply calling 1805805 or they can even use the Al Danah ATM deposit card to deposit money directly into their Al Danah account at any of Gulf Bank’s 24/7 deposit ATM machines. You can also log on to www.egulfbank.com, Gulf Bank’s bilingual website, for more information regarding Al Danah or any of the Bank’s other products and services or directly link through for information on the Al Danah account and the names of the winners through www.e-gulfbank.com/aldanah,
business
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
25
May through October often dark months for stocks CHICAGO: The fear that US stocks are overdue for a correction has gnawed at many investors for months. Now they have new cause for concern, statistically at least. The arrival of May means the beginning of a six-month period in the stock market when returns typically are meager at best and often negative. Is it time to scale back? A seasonal timing strategy with a hardto-ignore record for reliability suggests it is. “Sell in May and go away” holds that if you shift your holdings out of stocks into bonds, return to the market in November and do the same thing again every year, you’ll come out way ahead. Investors could be forgiven for smirking at the notion. Many financial professionals do. “There’s no easy formula regarding the
best time to buy and sell investments,” says Jonathan Bergman, a certified financial planner with Palisades Hudson Financial Group in Scarsdale, New York. “And don’t try to time the markets.” Yet this is no gimmick that forecasts the market based on numerology or the Super Bowl. It has enough historical accuracy behind it that plenty of financial advisers pay attention even if they don’t agree or adhere to it, according to Austin Frye, a planner with the Frye Financial Center in Aventura, Florida. “Sell in May” is more an indicator than a strategy. You’d be hard-pressed to find investors who withdraw their holdings on May 1 and put them back into stocks Nov. 1. But it may help guide investing decisions to know the implications of buying or selling at various times of year.
The concept has compelling support: •Since 1950, the Dow Jones industrial average has produced an average gain of 7.4 percent from November through April and 0.4 percent from May through October. •An investor who sank $10,000 into the Dow during the “best” six-month period (November through April) and switched to bonds during the “worst” six months in every year since 1950 would have posted a return of $527,388, according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac. Doing the reverse would have cost the investor $474. • Applying the approach to the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, its returns from November through April have beaten those during the following May-October period 71 percent of the time dating to 1945.
• Adhering to the practice also would have reduced risk. For whatever reason, the stock market crashes of 1929, 1987 and 2008 occurred between May and October. Why does it work? While skeptics call it a random pattern or statistical anomaly, the period from Memorial Day (May) to Labor Day (September) features less market activity during vacation season, weighing on returns. And the rest of the year benefits from end-of-year bonuses, tax refunds and pension-fund contributions that translate to increased buying. This year, the approach may seem especially timely to those who believe the market is poised for a pullback after a period of remarkable gains. Roaring back from the financial meltdown of 2008 and early 2009, the S&P 500 has risen 75 percent by
the end of April since bottoming out nearly 14 months ago. The Dow Jones has rebounded 68 percent. “Should you believe this bull market has come too far, too fast, and believe a challenging period lies ahead for stocks, you may want to consider this semi-annual rotation strategy,” says Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at Standard & Poor’s. Current stock values suggest a disappointing rest of the year in the market, according to Jason Hsu, chief investment officer at Research Affiliates in Newport Beach, California. “Valuation levels across the board are pretty well stretched.” All the positive developments about the economic recovery are priced into the market, Hsu maintains, while none of the bad things are: the outlook for continued high unemployment,
rising federal debt, states’ deepening fiscal woes and the prospect for higher taxes. One problem with making a shift this May is that bonds don’t have a great outlook, either, with interest rates expected to rise as the economy strengthens. When rates increase, bond prices decrease. As Stovall puts it, “Sell in May and go where?” Then there’s the matter of the adage not having held to form in 2009, when the Dow jumped 18.9 percent from May through October. (In the just-ended Novemberthrough-April period, it rose 13.3 percent.) “Had we sold in May last year, we would have missed a huge rally on Wall Street and I would have faced a veritable client revolution in November,” says Frye. “Given how well the market has done over the past twelve months, perhaps this is the year that the theory will work like a charm.” — AP
M4 lending to business suffers biggest fall since 1997
British factory growth at 15-yr peak, lending weak LONDON: British factory activity grew at its fastest rate in over 15 years in April, but lending to consumers, home-buyers and businesses was weak the month before, leaving question marks about the sustainability of recovery.
BERNE: In this July 17, 2009 file picture the logo of Swiss bank UBS AG is photographed in Berne, Switzerland. Swiss bank UBS AG reported a firstquarter net profit of 2.2 billion Swiss francs (US$ 2 billion) yesterday on a strong performance by its trading division and lower customer withdrawals. — AP
UBS warns of uncertainty amid Europe state debt ZURICH: Swiss banking giant UBS yesterday reported broad recovery across its businesses, but warned of market uncertainty due to European sovereign debt concerns. Net profit for the first three months of the year reached 2.2 billion Swiss francs (1.54 billion euros, 2.3 billion dollars) at the bank, marking an 83 percent jump from the previous quarter. A year ago UBS recorded a first quarter loss of 2.0 billion francs. The latest earnings figures also beat analyst forecasts of 2.0 billion francs, according to a poll by economics newswire AWP. The group recorded pre-tax profits across all business groups including investment banking, which had run up big losses during the financial crisis but which now recorded 1.19 billion francs in pre-tax profits for the first quarter. The bank said its investment banking business had benefited from a “strong performance” in its fixed income, currencies and commodities business. It added in its outlook statement that in the current quarter, the securities trading market was expected to be “generally in line with the first quarter.” However, “concerns relating to European sovereign debt provide a basis for some market uncertainty,” it added. Markets have been spooked by Greece’s close brush with bankruptcy. Worries that the Greeks would fail to cut their crippling sovereign debt have spread, exposing problems faced by other heavily indebted eurozone states such as Portugal and Spain. While warning about the uncertainty posed by the sovereign debt problem to the markets, John Cryan, chief financial officer of UBS, said that his bank had “hardly any exposure whatsoever to
Greece.” “It’s immaterial,” he stressed. Cryan pointed out that the group discloses its major exposure to foreign jurisdiction in its annual report, and that “none of Greece, Spain or Portugal appears” there. As the bank has an investment banking and wealth management presence in Spain, “we have some exposure to Spain but it’s not particularly large,” he added. “We’re sleeping very well at night.” Meanwhile, the bank was still unable to stem an outflow of new money during the first quarter, which reached 18 billion francs as clients took their assets elsewhere. However, it was a sharp improvement from the previous quarter, when net outflows reached 56.2 billion francs. Cryan said that while the management had taken steps to try to stem the outflows, “we still think that they will take some time to take fruit.” Hurt by losses reaching some 21.3 billion francs at the height of the financial crisis in 2008 and 2.7 billion last year, as well as tax evasion lawsuits in the United States, the bank has struggled to repair its image. Analysts at Bank Wegelin described UBS first quarter earnings as solid, but warned investors against putting money in the banking sector due to several uncertainties. “A new chill on the financial markets—such as due to ... state debt—has new negative consequences,” they said, adding that tighter regulation on banks would also dampen future earnings. “The exit from the US banking data conflict is still open,” added the analysts. In mid-day trade, UBS was down 2.64 percent at 16.59 francs, underperforming the overall Swiss Market Index, which was down 0.49 percent. — AFP
Aberdeen profits spike as high-fee funds return LONDON: British fund firm Aberdeen said its clients moved their funds into higher margin products in the first half, resulting in a forecastbeating tripling in pretax profit, which sent its shares to a seven-month high. Fund houses have been struggling to recapture pre-crisis profits as clients have proved reluctant to exit the cheap products they had gravitated towards as markets rode the shocks of 2007 and 2008. However, Aberdeen said yesterday clients had taken money out of lower margin fixed income business and moved into better paying products in its first six months, pushing up fee income by an estimated 26 million pounds ($39.66 million) per annum. At 0900 GMT, Aberdeen shares were up 5.65 percent at 145.8 pence, its highest level in seven months and pushing it to the top of the FTSE 250 gainers. The FTSE 250 was up 0.15 percent. “Aberdeen delivered great interims today with positive news across the board,”
said analysts at Noble. “With the key concerns reducing, Aberdeen is running on track to trade at a premium to its peers.” Aberdeen Chief Executive Martin Gilbert said the firm hit record highs in profits and assets under management, due to a combination of recovering markets and strong inflows into its higher margin products. “We are seeing strong flows into equities that is paying us two or three times as much as the business going out of the door. Basically, we are putting more revenue through a largely fixed cost base,” Gilbert told reporters in a conference call. Pretax profits rose 180 percent to 92.6 million pounds beating a consensus of 81 million provided by the company. Total assets under management rose 77 percent over the year to 170.9 billion at March 31, mainly due to a net 12.1 billion pounds of acquired assets from the recent purchase of RBS’ non core fund assets in January. Net client inflows in the
first six months were 0.1 billion pounds compared to net withdrawals of 8.5 billion last year. CEO Gilbert said: “The six months to end March last year was the worst period that I have experienced in the fund management industry. We saw lot of panic and not much money coming in.” “What we are now seeing is fantastic inflows especially into equities with money being switched from lower risk assets such bonds and gilts into equities and property.” Gross new inflows for the period totalled 25.1 billion pounds, compared to 5.4 billion in the previous year. Following an acquisitions spree, Gilbert said the firm would now concentrate on organic growth, putting on hold its much touted plans to make a purchase in the United States, and focus instead on expanding its distribution in the region. Aberdeen has made 17 acquisitions since 2001, the most recent being the RBS asset buy in January. —Reuters
While April’s purchasing managers’ survey showed healthy growth, the Bank of England reported data from the month before showing the sharpest annual fall in M4 lending to non-financial firms since records began in 1997, suggesting manufacturers may struggle to keep up the brisk pace. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply/Markit manufacturing PMI rose to 58.0 in April from an upwardly revised 57.3 in March. This was well above the consensus forecast and the highest reading since September 1994, when Britain’s economy was also emerging from a deep recession. “It is another strong print. This time it appears to be led by exports which is hardly surprising after similar robust numbers from Europe and the U.S. and the weaker exchange rate,” said Amit Kara, UK economist at UBS. But, on top of weak growth in lending to manufacturing, March’s BoE figures suggested little support for consumer spending or lending for home purchases. Net lending secured on residential property tumbled to an eight-month low of 318 million pounds ($484.4 million) in March from 1.848 billion in February, a fraction of the 1.6 billion expected by economists. Consumer credit was also weak, dropping to 325 million pounds from 578 million, a three-month low and again below a forecast of 400 million pounds. The Bank of England and economists said that the fall in net lending secured on dwellings was partly due to a lagged effect from the sharp fall in mortgage approvals at the start of the year, caused by unusually snowy weather and the end of a tax break on home purchases. Mortgage approvals rose roughly in line with forecasts to 48,901 in March from 46,882 in February but are well below the levels of just under 60,000 achieved in late 2009, never mind the levels of over 100,000 seen during the boom. “The approval numbers seem to have resumed their slow upward grind, but it’s still a recovery from well below the recent peak,” said Philip Shaw, economist at Investec. “The softness of the mortgage lending numbers at least in part reflects the softness of approvals figures over the last couple of months,” he added. Nationwide Building Society’s monthly house price survey showed a 1 percent rise in April, the same as in March, but the low level of mortgage approvals reinforced some economists’ view that the past year’s rebound in prices may not last. The detail of the PMI survey showed the weakness of the pound had given exporters a fillip. New orders rose at their fastest pace in more than six years, helped by the strongest growth in export orders since the series began in 1996. In a further sign of the strength of demand, firms reported the first increase in backlogs since the series began in 1999. Output growth remained strong and employment rose for the third time in the past four months. —Reuters
Financial markets largely shrugged off yesterday’s data, which came two days before a national election in which the opposition Conservatives look like they might get a slim majority.
DUBAI: Experts from across the world discuss key commercial, legal, and regulatory issues facing the industry.
Hawkamah hosts forum on Islamic finance industry at DIFC DUBAI: Hawkamah, The Institute for Corporate Governance in cooperation with the American Bar Association International Law Section and its Islamic Finance Committee yesterday jointly organised a Forum, titled ‘Taking Stock and Moving Forward: The State of Islamic Finance and Prospects for the Future’ at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The day-long Forum featured an informative and inclusive dialogue on the vital issues facing the industry. Eminent experts from across the global industry including Shari’ah scholars, bankers, lawyers, regulators and journalists discussed key commercial, legal, and regulatory opportunities and challenges confronting Islamic Finance. International law firm King & Spalding sponsored the Forum and Zawya was the Investment Community Partner for the event. Dr. Nasser Saidi, Executive Director of Hawkamah, The Institute for Corporate Governance said: “As part of its regional work to advance corporate governance, Hawkamah, has set up a Task Force on Corporate Governance of Islamic financial institutions which has undertaken a survey of the Corporate Governance frameworks of Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions in the MENA region. The Task Force will be issuing a Policy Brief in June 2010 which aims to identify corporate governance challenges and priorities for standardization faced by the Islamic Financial Institutions in 8 MENA countries. The brief will be addressed to Central Bankers, Islamic Banking Policy makers and Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions. The principles of Islamic Finance offer fresh perspectives and potential
regulation for some of the critical systemic and regulatory reform issues we are faced with in the wake of the global financial crisis. We need to further develop market infrastructure; regulatory, legal and governance frameworks; and standardisation in the Islamic Finance industry to fully realise its potential for growth and integrate it more closely with the global economy. Our forum with the American Bar Association is a clear illustration that, increasingly, Islamic Finance is entering the legal, regulatory and financial mainstream.” Glenn Hendrix, Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of International Law, commented: “Once considered an esoteric topic among Western commercial lawyers, Islamic Finance has entered the mainstream. Fascination with the topic goes beyond the dollars in play.” The ABA Section of International Law initially covered developments in Islamic law and finance through our Middle East Committee but with the increasing profile of the topic—and insistence by members of our leadership that it would only get bigger—we created a stand-alone Islamic Finance Committee which has become one of our faster growing entities. That growth partly reflects the increasing importance of Islamic finance, but is also a function of the Committee’s leadership, which has organized several top-notch programs.” The Forum debated whether the Islamic Finance industry has the commercial, legal and regulatory tools to meet industry demands and whether regional and national Islamic Finance markets can compete globally. Experts also assessed the world’s major jurisdictions that offer legal and business environments designed
to facilitate the sustainable growth of Islamic Finance. The Forum also explored the evolution of Shari’ah compliance and governance practices across the industry. One of the highlights of the Forum was an address by Dr. Mohamad Nedal Alchaar, Secretary General of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), on AAOIFI’s efforts to engage in oversight of Islamic banking and financial products. Marwan Lutfi, Deputy CEO and Head of Business Development of the DIFC Authority spoke about DIFC’s support for the new phase of Islamic Finance development. He said: “The Forum has been a great opportunity to gather like-minded regulators, lawyers and stakeholders in the Islamic industry to discuss opportunities on how to take the industry to the next level of global standardization. Hdeel Abdelhady, Co-Chair of the American Bar Association International Law Section Islamic Finance Committee, who served as Program Chair of the May 4 Forum, commented: “Islamic Law and Finance have become increasingly relevant to the practices of legal professionals across the globe. It is clear that the demand for Islamic finance related legal services will continue to grow globally, in both Muslim majority and Muslim minority jurisdictions. As part of the American Bar Association, a non-profit entity and the world’s largest voluntary professional association, our Committee is uniquely positioned to facilitate, on a noncommercial basis, discussion and collaboration through its contribution of intellectually rigorous, relevant and timely programs, written and multi-media content, and other offerings and initiatives.
Lufthansa Q1 net loss widens HAMBURG: Model maker Marcel Bartonek works on the mockup of an Airbus A380 with the logo of German airline Lufthansa yesterday at the Miniaturwunderland model world in Hamburg, northern Germany. Lufthansa, the biggest European airline group, posted a worse-thanexpected first quarter loss owing to several factors including high fuel costs and bitter winter weather. — AFP
BERLIN: Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s net loss widened in the first quarter as the carrier faced a strike by pilots, higher fuel costs and expenses from consolidating stakes in other airlines, the company said yesterday. Lufthansa, Germany’s biggest airline, reported a net group loss of euro 298 million ($394 million) for the JanuaryMarch period — compared with a loss of §267 million a year earlier. Its operating loss increased to §330 million from euro 44 million. However, group revenue increased to euro 5.8 billion from euro 5 billion, and the company pointed to “positive demand trends in the cargo and passenger businesses.” “Overall performance to date has further strengthened the executive board’s expectations of achieving a positive operating result higher than last year’s,” Lufthansa said. It did not offer a specific figure. Lufthansa, based in Cologne, owns or holds significant stakes in airlines including Swiss International Airlines, Austrian Airlines, JetBlue of the US and Britain’s BMI. The company said one-time costs that weighed down first-quarter earnings included the first-time consolidation of Austrian Airlines and Britain’s BMI, increased fuel costs, the effects of an exceptionally severe winter and a strike by pilots in February. — AP
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US senators vow no taxpayer loss in Wall St bill WASHINGTON: A Senate measure to protect taxpayers in future government Wall Street interventions is gaining bipartisan support as pro-regulation activists and the Obama administration girded themselves for a fight over financial controls with the banking lobby. The Senate was scheduled to vote yesterday on an amendment to the sweeping regulatory overhaul that would assert that taxpayers would bear no losses from any government liquidation of a large financial firm. Taxpayers could still be called on to front billions of dollars to help cover the costs of taking down a failed firm through loans from the Treasury to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. But the legislation would require the Treasury to recover those costs over time from the sale of a firm’s assets and by assessing a fee to other large financial institutions. The amendment, proposed by Sen.
Barbara Boxer, a Democrat, was set to be the lead off vote in what is expected to be at least two weeks of debate on how to change the pending legislation. It has broad support in the Senate where lawmakers are eager to inoculate themselves against the publicly unpopular $700 financial bailout many supported at the height of the financial crisis in 2008. Backed by President Barack Obama, the Democratic Senate bill attempts to undertake the broadest rewrite of the rules that govern financial institutions since the Great Depression of the 1930s. A House-passed bill and the pending Senate version would create a mechanism for liquidating large firms, set up a council to detect systemwide financial threats and establish a consumer protection agency to police lending, credit cards and other bank-customer transactions.
“We cannot allow these reforms to be watered down,” Obama told the annual meeting of the Business Council yesterday. “And for those of you in the financial industry whose companies may be employing lobbyists seeking to weaken this bill, I want to urge you, as I said on Wall Street a couple weeks ago, to join us rather than to fight us.” Anticipating a fight on the floor of the Senate, the White House yesterday listed potential bankbacked amendments that it believes would weaken the bill. Under the headline “The 10 Most Wanted Lobbyist Loopholes,” White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer cautioned against changes that would take power away from state attorneys general to enforce federal consumer regulations and efforts to create exceptions from those rules for auto dealers that make loans and department stores with
financial services centers. The White House also was wary of any changes that would create regulatory exceptions for firms that trade in derivatives and for nonbanks that would come under Fed supervision. Banking Committee Senate Chairman Christopher Dodd, a Democrat, and the committee’s top Republican, Richard Shelby, yesterday were negotiating an amendment that would address Republicans complaints about how large failing firms would be liquidated under the bill. One likely outcome would be to eliminate a key provision in the bill — a $50 billion fund financed by large banks that would have been used to pay some of the liquidation costs. Republicans argued that the mere existence of such a fund would create incentives for large firms and their creditors to behave recklessly. — AP
Shareholders to receive $33.86 per share
Private equity to buy Pearson’s IDC for $3.4bn LONDON: Silver Lake and Warburg Pincus are to buy financial data provider Interactive Data (IDC) for $3.4 billion in cash, including a $2 billion payment to majority owner Pearson which it will use to expand. Pearson-which owns the Financial Times, Penguin Books and the world’s biggest education business-said it would use the proceeds from the sale of its most profitable unit to “Pearson and Interactive Data have extensive growth opportunities and ambitious expansion plans,” Pearson Chief Executive Marjorie Scardino said in a statement. “We believe this transaction will give both companies greater focus and opportunity to invest more in their strong market positions,” she added. Analyst Alex DeGroote of brokerage Panmure said: “The key point from Pearson’s point of view is that the money doesn’t go back to shareholders.” “Ordinarily when you do a transformational deal like this, selling 15 percent of your market cap, you’d give something back,” he added. Pearson said it would look for bolt-on acquisitions with a particular focus on technology and services that would complement its international, consumer and professional-education businesses. It has in the last year bought small and medium-sized companies to expand its education operations in India and China. Analyst Sam Hart of Charles Stanley Research wrote in a note: “The sale of the stake may lead to some increase in earnings volatility for Pearson, as IDC’s profitability was relatively predictable.” “The sale, however, is strategically
sensible, as there are few obvious synergies between IDC and other parts of Pearson.” IDC contributed 484 million pounds ($737 million) in sales and 148 million pounds in operating profit to Pearson in 2009, representing 9 percent of sales and 17 percent of profits. Its 31 percent margin was the highest of Pearson’s businesses. Pearson last week issued a trading update in which it said it was confident underlying profit would grow this year after first-quarter revenues rose 12 percent at constant currencies and all parts of the company started the year well. IDC-which provides reference data, markets pricing and trading infrastructure services to customers including mutual funds, asset managers and bankssaid its new owners were committed to supporting its global expansion. It had announced a strategic review in January and was being advised by Goldman Sachs. Silver Lake and Warburg Pincus beat bidding groups that sources have told Reuters included Kohlberg Kravis Robert and CVC Capital Partners, and Bain Capital and Advent International. A source familiar with the situation
accelerate its expansion through bolt-on acquisitions. Pearson shares were down 1.8 percent by 1234 GMT from a near nine-year high earlier after a strong trading update on Friday. The European media index fell 0.9 percent. The sale of IDC to the two private equity firms is the biggest leveraged buyout so far this year. had told Reuters on Sunday that Warburg Pincus and Silver Lake were close to buying IDC for about $3.1 billion. Yesterday’s deal values IDC at 24 times expected 2010 earnings, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine estimates. That compares with an average trading multiple of 27 for US speciality investment services, according to Reuters data. Thomson Reuters, which sells investment information and news, trades at 21 times 2010 earnings. Chief Executive Tom Glocer told Reuters the company had looked at IDC but had decided against buying it. “We’ve been doing quite well competitively, and this is just one of those times where we think it makes more sense not to spend the three billion-odd dollars that it would have taken to buy it, but instead to just keep investing in our business.” “It’s a very nice valuation, read across for our enterprise information business,” added Glocer. Thomson Reuters earlier reported a lower quarterly profit, reflecting the lingering effects of the financial crisis on its clients. McGraw-Hill, owner of the Standard & Poor’s ratings agency and publisher of US textbooks, trades at 13 times 2010
earnings. Sources briefed on the matter told Reuters last month that McGrawHill was dropping out of the IDC auction. A source familiar with the situation said yesterday private-equity firm Hellman & Friedman had pulled out of the Silver Lake-Warburg Pincus consortium about a week ago because they felt the price was getting too high. The transaction is fully financed by a combination of equity from the buyers and debt financing from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Credit Suisse and UBS, Pearson said. Credit Suisse, Barclays Capital, Morgan Stanley and UBS were financial advisers to the buyers. The deal is expected to closed by the end of the third quarter, subject to regulatory and other approvals. IDC shareholders will receive $33.86 per share, a premium of about 33 percent over the closing share price on Jan. 14, the last trading day before IDC announced its board was reviewing strategic alternatives. Shares in IDC, which grew out of a company Pearson founded decades ago that merged with Nasdaq-listed Data Broadcasting Corp in 2000, closed at $32.99 on Monday. — Reuters
Dow plummets below 11,000 pts in early trade NEW YORK: The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell sharply in early trading yesterday, dropping below the 11,000 point mark amid fears about the health of the eurozone. In early trades, the Dow fell 241.46 points (2.17 percent) to 10,910.37. The Nasdaq composite was down 77.98 points (3.12 percent) to 2,420.76 and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index was down 28.91 points (2.40 percent) to 1,173.35. The drop eroded Monday’s strong gains as investors rushed to safehaven dollar and US bonds. “Stocks are under pressure in morning action, bogged down by euro-zone contagion fears and uncertainty whether Greece will be able to enact austerity measures amid resistance among the Greek population,” said analysts at Charles Schwab. “Treasuries are higher in some flightto-quality buying.” The euro hit 12-month lows, glancing the 1.30 dollar level, and treasuries rose sharply. Stocks were down across the board with stocks as diverse as eBay and Credit Suisse down over five percent. “The stock market has come under a stiff bout of broad-based selling pressure that has put all 10 major sectors into the red,” said Briefing.com analysts. The Dow’s industrial and oil and gas
NEW YORK: Street signs February 10, 2009 outside the New York Stock Exchange. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell sharply in early trades yesterday, falling below the 11,000 point mark amid fears about the health of the eurozone. Thirty minutes after the opening the Dow fell 143.52 points (1.29 percent) recouping some earlier losses to stand at 11,008.31. — AFP
components were hit hardest as those stocks also came under pressure from concerns about drilling in the Gulf of Mexico after a massive oil spill there. ExxonMobil shares were off 2.33 percent and Chevron shares were down 3.33 percent. Other factors also fed in to the sell off. “A slowdown in China’s purchasing managers’ index and doubt spreading that European officials are doing enough” also contributed, said Scott Marcouiller of Wells Fargo. The bad news from the eurozone overshadowed positive economic news about the world’s largest economy. Factory orders for March unexpectedly rose 1.3 percent, the Department of Commerce said. Pending home sales also unexpectedly rose 5.3 percent in March, the National Association of Realtors reported. “As bank balance sheets strengthen, it is just a matter of time before lending of non-government-backed mortgages steadily opens up,” said Lawrence Yun, the organization’s chief economist. “The data hasn’t really done much to lift the stock market from its doldrums,” said Briefing.com analysts. “Instead, stocks continue to trade only slightly above their early morning lows amid widespread weakness.” — AFP
Movenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah to receive HACCP certification In a significant move, the Movenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah has been the first hotel in Makkah to receive the ‘Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point’ (HACCP) Certification. This is in accordance with the hotel working relentlessly towards achieving high quality standards for its guests. “We are proud to receive this certification and it is one of seven certifications received by the Group for this region, with still more properties to be certified by end of this year. The certification endorses our stand on the importance of quality standards and safe food handling especially for religious tourists,” said Omar Boujlid, General Manager, Movenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar
Omar Boujlid
Tower, Makkah. Religious tourism is the corner stone for Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry. Research statistics state Saudi Arabia’s religious tourism sector generated approximately US$7 billion (AED 25.7 billion) in annual revenues in 2009, and visitor traffic is expected to grow by 6.5 percent annually from over 12 million in 2009 to over 15 million in 2013. Focusing on quality and opulence, the hotel unveiled its Amiri signature suites that offer elegance and extravagance. Each suite measuring 150 square meter will have a theme and boast a master bed room and twin bedded room with a spacious living room, dinning area, kitchen and storage area. “These suites are part of the plan to
reach complete capacity of 800 rooms by August 2010, just in time for the holy month of Ramadan. “We cater to a large number of guests be it international or even from surrounding Arab regions and in terms of revenue, GCC tourists are the highest spenders,” added Boujlid. HACCP, a certification awarded by an independent company United Registrar of Systems Ltd, is an internationally recognized authority on food safety. The Company will continue to monitor and audit the hotels on an annual basis. The certification ensures that the Group can identify any breakages in the HACCP chain through strict record keeping and documentation.
WASHINGTON: US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testifies before the Senate Finance Committee full committee hearing on “The President’s Proposed Fee on Financial Institutions Regarding TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program)” yesterday on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. — AFP
StanChart shrugs off competition for Q1 LONDON: Standard Chartered Plc said it made record first-quarter earnings thanks to buoyant commercial and investment banking business and improving consumer banking in its key Asia markets, despite increasing competition. The bank said yesterday it has had “a very strong start to the year” with record income as well, despite the margin headwinds from low interest rates and “increasing competitive pressures”. Standard Chartered, based in London but deriving over four-fifths of its profits from Asia, does not report quarterly results. Profits were a record $2.84 billion in the first half of last year and income was $8 billion, giving quarterly run rates of $1.4 billion in profit and $4 billion in revenue. By 0750 GMT Standard Chartered shares were up 1.8 percent at 17.84 pounds. The shares are up 14 percent this year and, unlike most rivals after the financial crisis, are just 3 percent below their all-time high. “It’s a positive statement,” said Mike Trippitt, analyst at Oriel Securities in London. “There’s more investment in the business but there’s still income growth, so it shows this is a business that can invest and grow,” he said, adding that much of the positive news was already factored into the share price. Standard Chartered has been steered through the financial crisis relatively unscathed by Chief Executive Peter Sands, underpinned by its reliance on Asia and traditionally decent capital and liquidity positions. Sands, a 48-year-old former McKinsey director, has been CEO for three and a half years. Wholesale banking’s client income rose over 20 percent on the first quarter of 2009 and contributed over 80 percent of the unit’s revenue, as the bank attempts to deepen relationships and win a greater share of spending from its key cus-
tomers. Growth at the bank, whose history of financing trade between Europe, Asia and Africa dates back to 1853, has been driven in recent years by its wholesale arm, which last year accounted for near 85 percent of group earnings. The business includes typical investment banking activity such as debt and equity capital markets and other services to corporate clients, such as loans and trade finance. The unit’s expenses are ahead of the run rate seen in the first half of 2009 due to a rise in staff numbers and as a result cost growth exceeded income growth in the quarter. Wholesale own-account income was significantly below a year ago, as expected, but around the run rate of the second half of 2009. Its wholesale unit’s cash business has seen volumes rise, offset by margin pressure, the bank said. CONSUMER IMPROVEMENT Standard Chartered’s consumer banking has fared less well in recent years as bad debts rose and its Korea business struggled. The bank said the business turned a corner last year, however, and income momentum continued in the first quarter and was up over 10 percent from a year ago. A recovery in consumer banking earnings would provide greater balance and was a positive trend, analysts said. Good volume growth in mortgages had been more than offset by pressure on margins as competition increases, however. Bad debts in wholesale remains good, with no material new impairments, and has improved in consumer banking. That means there have been no major hits from its Middle East exposure. Standard Chartered had record annual profits of $5.15 billion last year, up 13 percent. Profits are expected to rise to $6.1 billion this year, according to the average of 19 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. — Reuters
MasterCard profit spikes as shoppers reach for plastic PURCHASE: MasterCard Inc. yesterday said its first-quarter profit jumped 24 percent with more shoppers feeling comfortable enough about the economy and their jobs to reach for the plastic again. The payment processor said yesterday it earned $455 million, or $3.46 per share, compared with $367 million, or $2.81 per share, in the year-ago period. Revenue climbed 13 percent to $1.31 billion, from $1.16 billion last year. MasterCard said it raised the prices it charges to merchants for processing purchases by about 5 percent during the quarter. The results easily topped the $3.14 per share and $1.27 billion revenue expected, on average, by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. The healthier profits reflect 5 percent growth in the number of transactions processed, and an 11 percent increase in MasterCard’s international volume. The use of credit cards in the US remains sluggish. But MasterCard saw the use of its debit cards surge everywhere. MasterCard said total debit volume using cards that draw money from bank accounts rose 18 percent worldwide, including a 7 percent jump in the US and 33 percent spike abroad. Credit card use rose 3.5 percent worldwide. In the US, that figure slumped 8 percent to $118 billion, which means it was around the same dollar volume of purchases made with its debit card products for the first time. That means that even as the economy starts to
NEW YORK: In this Dec.11, 2009 file photo, a sign for MasterCard credit cards is shown on the entrance to a bank, in New York. MasterCard Inc. said yesterday, its first-quarter profit rose 24 percent, with more people reaching for the plastic as the economy rebounds. — AP recover and consumer confidence is growing, US shoppers are still holding back from adding to their debt with everyday purchases. A year ago, credit use topped debit use by more than 16 percent in the US. Credit is still favored for larger purchases, however. While the dollar volume was roughly equal, the total num-
ber of debit transactions neared 2.1 billion, compared with 1.33 billion in the US. In the rest of the world, use of MasterCard credit cards still exceeds debit: with total dollar volume of $289 billion in credit use, compared with $107 billion in debit. In premarket electronic trading, MasterCard shares added $5.85, or 2.3 percent, to $256.59. — AP
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Wednesday, May 5, 2010
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Cybersecurity meet kicks off with calls to action DALLAS: Securing cyberspace needs more public-private cooperation and a greater ability to identify and punish perpetrators, officials and business leaders said as a conference got underway. “We have an incredibly threatening environment out there right now,” US Homeland Security Undersecretary Philip Deputy Reitinger said at a dinner kicking off the first World Cybersecurity Summit in Dallas Monday. “If we let our attention waver for a second we’re going to be in a world of hurt,” Reitinger said, calling for a sus-
tained focus on cybersecurity and not just “Band-Aids.” Udo Helmbrecht, executive director of the European Network and Information Security Agency, said it was the “responsibility of governments to make a legal framework” to help tackle threats in cyberspace. “We need to see that it’s a global threat,” Helmbrecht said, that requires a “global approach.” The Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit, hosted by the EastWest Institute think tank, features three days of discussions on ways to protect the
world’s digital infrastructure from electronic threats. Some 400 government officials, business leaders and cybersecurity experts from China, France, Germany, India, Russia, the United States and three dozen other countries are attending the gathering, which is being held in the wake of cyberattacks on Google which the Internet giant said originated in China. “Technology is definitely outpacing the creation of law and policies,” said Kamlesh Bajaj, chief executive of the Data Security Council of India. “If you
look at global cyberattacks, many of them remain unresolved,” Bajaj said. “The law enforcement effort leaves much to be desired. “The Internet is said to be the perfect platform for plausible deniability,” Bajaj continued. “Attribution is a major problem. This problem has to be solved and it’s an international problem.” Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive of US computer giant Dell, agreed that the ability of cyber criminals and others to easily hide their tracks on the Web was a major problem and one that needs to be
addressed. “We have an enormous number of bad actors who are able to be completely anonymous,” he said. “Can you think of any secure system where people can operate anonymously?” “These are important questions for governments and societies to answer,” Dell said. “But I think ultimately if you have a perpetuation of anonymous actors and an increasingly pervasive set of systems that are critical to infrastructure and commerce and everything else in the world this is a bad accommodation.”
Dell also said governments and businesses will need to work together. “It’s not just the private sector-we need all parties to be involved in this,” he said. Without identifying specific countries, Dell added that “those nations that don’t pursue these issues aggressively may find themselves as less desirable locations to do business or to do business with.” Reitinger said recognition was needed that “we’re trying to do is run our economy, our critical services, on an Internet ecosystem that is fundamentally inse-
cure.” “That doesn’t mean it’s not great, that it doesn’t give us a lot of benefits but it wasn’t designed to give us the security we need,” he said. “It’s important not to demonize the technology,” Reitinger cautioned. “The vast majority of the people using the Internet are good people, it’s just too hard to secure yourself and too hard to protect your family. “We need both publicprivate partnerships and advanced technology to make that easier to do,” the US Homeland Security official said. —AFP
Countdown begins for 520-day ‘Mars mission’ One of the biggest unknowns of an eventual manned mission to Mars will be the psychological effects of the isolation.
SHANGHAI: A visitor is seen at the Australia pavilion on the second day of the World Expo 2010. —AFP
Shanghai exhibition opening turnout low SHANGHAI: Attendance at Shanghai’s World Expo fell far short of expectations during the opening weekend, despite long lines of visitors waiting to enter the massive site, official data showed yesterday. A total of 207,000 people went through the turnstiles at the huge culture and technology show on the first day Saturday, the official Expo website said, although officials said all 500,000 tickets had been sold or distributed. Attendance was up slightly on Sunday at 215,000 and the number of people on the site on Monday-a national holiday in China-was at least 193,000, organizers said. Organizers expect 70 million visitors-most of them Chinese-to attend the biggest-ever World’s Fair over the next six months, with an average of 380,000 people expected to visit the site daily.
Although the majority of opening day tickets were unused, the 40,000 timed entry tickets for the China pavilion were gone within five minutes of the park opening, and the wait to enter US and French pavilions stretched to four hours. After the China pavilion, the most popular venues on the opening weekend were the Swiss, French, German, Spanish, British, Italian, Japanese and South Korean pavilions, organisers said. Lines remained long on Monday when temperatures neared 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), but appeared to be flowing smoothly. Ahead of the official May 1 opening, visitors to the site during a six-day trial period in April had complained of long queues, slow security checks and limited affordable food options, according to state media reports. Officials say they have taken steps to improve operations. —AFP
Ebert, Carrey among Webby Award winners NEW YORK: Though Roger Ebert lost his ability to speak after surgery for cancer, he has found a new and powerful voice online. The film critic was chosen as person of the year by the Webby Awards. The 14th annual Webbys, which celebrate Internet achievement, were announced yesterday by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 550-member group of Web experts. Ebert was singled out for “raising the bar for online journalism” with his blog on the Chicago Sun-Times’ website. He is also an avid Twitterer and is planning a new movie-review TV program that he says will have a strong presence online. The Webbys also honored the rock band OK Go, famous for their viral music videos, as video artist of the year. Amy Poehler, former “Saturday Night Live” cast member and star of NBC’s “Parks & Recreation,” was chosen as actress of the year for her online series “Smart Girls at the Party.” The honoree for lifetime achievement went to Vinton Cerf, one of the Internet’s founding fathers who pioneered its communications technology at Stanford University. He is currently “chief Internet evangelist” for Google. The Webbys have long been famous for their short speeches, which are limited to five words. (Al Gore, accepting his lifetime achievement award, said: “Please don’t recount this vote.”) This year’s winners will accept their awards June 14 in New York at a ceremony hosted by B J Novak of “The Office.” Aside from the special achievement awards, the Webbys also honor a variety of categories, each of which includes a winner picked by the academy and one picked by public voting (though the two often arrive at the same choice). In those categories, the top winners were College Humor and The
LOS ANGELES: In this file photo, Roger Ebert arrives at the Independent Spirit Awards. —AP New York Times, each with five awards, including awards from both the academy and the public. Viral video of the year went to the Muppets’ cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The best mash-up or remix video went to “Auto-tune the News” from BarelyPolitical.com. Jim Carrey’s official website (www.jimcarrey.com) won for best celebrity or fan website. Filmmaker David Lynch’s “Interview Project” won for best documentary series. Lisa Kudrow’s Web series, “Web Therapy,” won for best comedy series, though the “people’s choice” Webby in that category went to “Jake and Amir,” the College Humor series. The web-
site for the Make it Right Foundation, the nonprofit founded by Brad Pitt, was awarded the Webby for best activist website. Isabella Rossellini won for best individual performance in her “Green Porno” videos for the Sundance Channel. Twitter won for best social networking; Foursquare won for mobile social networking; and Hulu won for broadband. Frequent Webby honorees TheOnion.com and ColbertNation.com also were winners. The website for the satirical newspaper The Onion won for best humor, while the official site of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” won for best TV website. —AP
MOSCOW: A group of volunteers have started final training in Russia in preparation for being locked up in a capsule for 520 days to simulate the psychological effects of the voyage to Mars. Three Russians, two other Europeans and one Chinese national will be shut away for oneand-a-half years inside the 180square-metre (1,000-square-feet) module on the outskirts of Moscow starting late May or early June. The project, the first full-duration simulated mission to Mars, follows a similar experiment at the Russian Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) last year which saw six volunteers shut away for a mere 105 days. One of the biggest unknowns of an eventual manned mission to Mars will be the psychological effects of the isolation, and the experiment aims to garner crucial data on the participants’ state of mind and body. The volunteers are now undergoing tests and training in Moscow ahead of the final selection of the “expedition” crew and their back-up. “The biggest risk of such isolation is psychological,” said researcher Alexander Suvorov who is leading the experiment at the IBMP. “Of course relations between the crew will not always be harmonious, some will get on with others, others will not. But the priority is to be able to carry out tasks in spite of this.” The volunteers will have their days divided into eight hours of sleep, eight hours of work and eight hours of leisure. A team of three will spend one month aboard a special module meant to represent the Mars landing craft, while two will also spend time exploring a reconstruction of Mars itself.The idea is to exactly mimic the timescale of a Mars mission-250 days for the trip to Mars, 30 days on the surface and 240 days for the return journey, totaling 520 days. The two non-Russian European members of the team still have to be chosen from a shortlist of three. But the candidates all dismiss the notion they are crazy to be voluntarily locked up for such a period, underlining their enthusiasm for space travel. “I am doing this above all because this has been a passion since I was young,” said Jerome Clevers, 28, a Belgian. “The conquest of space allows humanity to live better and the next conquest is Mars,” he added. “Boredom will be one of the greatest enemies in the mission, he admitted. For Frenchman Romain Charles, 30, the hardest thing will be the disruption of contact “with the family, the girlfriend, the friends with whom the distance is going to be difficult to manage.” “And also the sun, fresh air. We will not have thisthere is not going to be a window in the module.” The diet will be no different to that enjoyed by real-life astronauts on the International Space Station and the crew will be given the food at the beginning of the experiment, forcing them to ration out their supplies. The experiment is a joint venture between the IBMP and the European Space Agency (ESA), which describes the project as a mission “to mimic a full mission to Mars and back as accurately as possible without actually going there.” “This mission might lack some of the glory and feeling of the real spaceflight, but it will be just as tough,” said ESA. —AFP
MOSCOW: A volunteer undergoes an exam at the Mars 500 capsule. A group of volunteers yesterday started final training in Russia in preparation for being locked up in a capsule for 520 days to simulate the psychological effects of the voyage to Mars. —AFP
No spying in US school laptops case: Report PHILADELPHIA: There's no evidence a Pennsylvania school district used school-issued laptops to spy on students despite its questionable policies and its lack of regard for students' privacy, according to a report issued Monday by attorneys hired by the district. Concerns about an online chat captured in a screen shot of a school-issued computer led to public disclosure of the Lower Merion School District's laptop tracking program, according to the report by the Philadelphia law firm Ballard Spahr, which was presented at a meeting of the school board Monday night. The firm recommended a ban on remote activations of webcams and remote capturing of screen shots from computers issued to students. Harriton High School student Blake Robbins and his family alleged privacy violations over webcam images taken at home without their knowledge and sued the district, which said it secretly activated the webcams only to find missing laptops but
admitted lax policies led it to capture 58,000 images. The report says Robbins turned in his laptop with a broken screen and was issued a loaner on Oct 20, but school officials quickly moved to retrieve it due to outstanding insurance fees. So the tracking program was activated from Oct 20 to Nov 4 and captured 210 webcam photographs and 218 screen shots, the report said. Although a technician confirmed on the first day of tracking that the laptop was "now currently online at home," another official in the same department instructed him to keep the tracking on and later told investigators he thought he needed authorization to terminate it, the report said. On Oct 30, the report said, a technician saw a computer screen shot that "included an online chat that concerned him." After consulting with a superior, he allowed school officials to look at the images. Although the school principal said none of the images should be discussed with Robbins or his
parents because they involved off-campus activities, Vice Principal Lindy Matsko decided about a week later it was "appropriate to discuss certain seemingly troubling images" with them, the report said. In the civil lawsuit, Robbins said Matsko approached him and warned that school officials, based on webcam photos, suspected him of selling drugs. Robbins, 15, denies the drug allegation and said Matsko mistook Mike & Ike candies for illicit pills. Robbins family attorney Mark Haltzman did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Monday. School district lawyer Henry Hockeimer declined to comment on what was in the online chat or images that concerned school officials, citing the pending litigation. The report notes Robbins "was not disciplined as a result of any images captured from his laptop." The report says the LANrev TheftTrack system was activated 177 times during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years but 101
activations involved only the IP address tracking feature and resulted in no captured images. As of Feb 23, when the system was shut down, there were 30,564 webcam photographs and 27,428 screen shots in the systems of the district's Information Services department. About 87 percent of the images recovered, however, resulted from failure to deactivate the features on a dozen laptops after they were found or recovered, the report said. The collection of images stemmed not from an effort to spy on students but from "the district's failure to implement policies, procedures and recordkeeping requirements and the overzealous and questionable use of technology by IS personnel without any apparent regard for privacy considerations or sufficient consultation with administrators," the report said. The report also criticized leaders and several members of the IS department as "not forthcoming with the Board, administrators and students about what TheftTrack could do and how they used it," citing incidents demonstrating "an unwillingness ... to let anyone outside of the IS Department know about TheftTrack's capabilities." Many of the photos show students in school, and others show walls or empty or dark rooms. Others, however, show students and family members or other people in their homes and elsewhere, but none contained nudity. The report said the tracking system was intended to help recover stolen computers and the district used it successfully for that purpose. But it said the district also used the system for missing computers and for unknown purposes and left it activated for long periods in cases "in which there was no longer any possible legitimate reason" for capturing images. The report faults administrators who had information about the program with not having appreciated the privacy concerns raised. —AP
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HEALTH & SCIENCE
wednesday, May 5, 2010
Spanish face transplant patient goes public SEVILLE: A Spanish man who received a new face in a transplant this year checked out of hospital yesterday, thanking doctors and the donor’s family for making the groundbreaking surgery possible. “I want to thank this family for the gesture they had as well as the medical team,” the patient, identified only by his first name Rafael, told a news conference with the surgical team of Seville’s Hospital Virgen del Rocio. Rafael, whose face was severely disfigured by a genetic disorder, said he felt “joy and happiness” the first time he saw his new features in a mirror after undergoing the 24-hour operation in January. Roughly two-thirds of his face-disfigured by a condition called neurofibromatosis, in which nerve tissue develops tumors-were replaced by the tissue, nerves, arteries and veins of a dead donor. Rafael will only fully recover the ability to move his tongue three months from now, and still had difficulty talking at the press conference. But doctors said he already can feel pain in his face, and distinguish between hot and cold, and has started to shave. Before checking out of hospital, the young man hugged the chief surgeon, Tomas Gomez Cia, who headed the 23-strong team that
performed the operation. Last month a hospital in Barcelona said it had in March carried out the world’s first complete face transplant, giving a man who lost his face in an accident a new nose, skin, jaws, cheekbones, teeth and other features. It was the third face transplant to be carried out in Spain and only the 11th such operation to have been staged out around the world. The first successful face transplant was performed in France in 2005 on Isabelle Dinoire, a 38-year-old woman who had been mauled by her dog. Other face transplants have been performed in the United States and China. Spain has become a world leader in organ donation since it set up a network of transplant coordinators in 1989 at all hospitals in the country which closely monitor emergency wards to identify potential donors. When they learn of a death, they tactfully talk to the grieving families to get permission to harvest organs and help save the lives of others. Only about 15 percent of families approached in Spain refused consent for organ donation, a huge drop from the 40 percent who refused in the 1980s before the system was set up. — AFP
WHO launches venom website
SEVILLE: Rafael, a man who underwent partial face transplant in January, pose for a photo with his mother, Juana, as he appears in public for the first time in a news conference at the Virgen del Rocio University Hospital in Seville yesterday. — AP
US FDA probes risks of HIV and prostate drugs
GENEVA: The World Health Organization yesterday launched an online snake guide in a bid to overcome a shortage of anti-venom for poisonous snake bites, which kill at least 100,000 people a year. An estimated five million people are bitten by snakes every year, half of them venomous, causing not only deaths but also some 300,000 amputations as well as paralysis and kidney failure, according to the WHO. Most of the victims are children, women and farmers in poor rural areas where medical
help is sparse. “Most deaths and serious consequences are preventable by making antivenom more widely available, said Lembit Rago, a WHO coordinator for medicine safety. “However, anti-venom supply failure is imminent in Africa, and in some countries of Asia and also some countries beyond those,” he told journalists. Rago said snakebites were neglected as a public health issue in many of the tropical countries where the most deadly snakes are prevalent. As a result, producers were
increasing prices of anti-venom or simply stopping production and development altogether. When it is available, antivenom is often untested or used for the wrong type of snakebite, according to the WHO. The illustrated Internet database is designed to guide the use of anti-venoms and help build up stocks in the right areas, as well as help ordinary people identify poisonous snakes in the area they live in. “You can get introduced to all 263 venomous snakes by picture,” said Rago.—AFP
Abbott’s Kaletra, Glaxo’s Avodart on FDA probe list WASHINGTON: US regulators are investigating potential risks from Abbott Laboratories Inc’s HIV drug Kaletra, GlaxoSmithKline Plc’s prostate drug Avodart and other medicines. The Food and Drug Administration said on Monday it was probing reports of liver toxicity with patients who used Kaletra to prevent HIV infection after exposure to the AIDS virus. The agency also said it was investigating cases of male breast cancer in
patients treated with Avodart as well as Merck & Co’s prostate drug Proscar and baldness treatment Propecia. The FDA releases a quarterly list of safety probes to inform the public about early investigations of potential side effects that have been reported. The list released on Monday covered issues identified between October and December 2009. Being on the list does not mean the FDA has concluded the drug causes the specific risk, the agency said. Abbott
spokeswoman Elizabeth Hoff said the company added information to Kaletra’s label last week noting that patients who took the drug to prevent HIV infection were among those who should undergo liver monitoring tests. The label says some reported cases of liver dysfunction were serious. “However, a definitive causal relationship with Kaletra therapy has not been established,” the drug label says. Merck spokeswoman Pam Eisele said the prescribing instructions for
Proscar and Propecia already mention cases of male breast cancer seen in clinical trials. Both drugs contain the same active ingredient. “A causal relationship has not been established,” she said. Glaxo spokeswoman Sarah Alspach said the company evaluates all reported cases of breast cancer in men taking Avodart. “Based on reports evaluated to date, there is not conclusive evidence of a causal association between Avodart and male breast cancer,” she said. — Reuters
Overweight kids are bullied ‘more often’ MICHIGAN: The danger of bullying has been making headlines recently, and now a new study shows heavy kids are more likely to be picked on than their normal-weight peers. The study confirms other research that chubby children are more likely to be the victims of bullying. About one-third of US kids weigh too
much. Researchers at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor analyzed the bullying incidents of 821 children ages 8 to 11. The study, reported Monday online in Pediatrics, found that obese children were more likely to be bullied than normal-weight peers, regardless of gender, race,
socioeconomic status, school demographic profile, social skills or academic achievement. “This study speaks to the deep prejudice against children who are obese,” says lead author Julie Lumeng, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan. “They are viewed as lazy and lacking in self-con-
trol, but we know the reasons for obesity are so much more complex than that.” Other studies show that obese children who are bullied experience more depression, anxiety and loneliness than their peers, Lumeng says. Parents need to talk to their children about not bullying their peers for any reason,
she says. “Didn’t we all hear from our mothers that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all?” She advises parents who have overweight or obese children to “keep the door open so that your child will feel comfortable talking to you about how other kids are treating them.” — MCT
American scores poorly on world motherhood rankings WASHINGTON: The United States has scored poorly on a campaign group’s list of the best countries in which to be a mother, managing only 28th place, and bettered by many smaller and poorer countries. Norway topped the latest Save the Children “Mothers Index”, followed by a string of other developed nations, while Afghanistan came in at the bottom of the table, below several African states. But the US showing put it behind countries such as the Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; and eastern and central European states such as Croatia and Slovenia. Even debt-plagued Greece came in four places higher at 24. One factor that dragged the US ranking down was its maternal mortality rate, which at one in 4,800 is one of the highest in the developed world, said the report. “A woman in the Unites States is more than five times as likely as a woman in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece or Italy to die from pregnancy-related causes in her lifetime and her risk of maternal death is nearly 10-fold that of a woman in Ireland,” the report said. It also scored poorly on underfive mortality, its rate of eight per 1,000 births putting it on a par with Slovakia and Montenegro. “At this rate, a child in the US is more than twice as likely as a
child in Finland, Iceland, Sweden or Singapore to die before his or her fifth birthday,” the report noted. Only 61 percent of children were enrolled in preschool, which on this indicator made it the seventh-lowest country in the developed world, it said. And it added: “The United States has the least generous maternity leave policyboth in terms of duration and percent of wages paid-of any wealthy nation.” Norway headed the list of developed countries at the top of the list of best places to be a mother, followed by Australia, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. At the bottom was Afghanistan, followed by Niger, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Sudan, Eritrea and Equatorial Guinea. “While the situation in the United States needs to improve, mothers in the developing world are facing far greater risks to their own health and that of their children,” said Save the Children’s Mary Beth Powers. “The shortage of skilled birth attendants and challenges in accessing birth control means that women in countries at the bottom of the list face the most pregnancies and the most risky birth situations, resulting in newborn and maternal deaths,” she added. — AFP
PRAGUE: Nine-day-old gorilla lays in the arms of its mother Kijivu at the Prague Zoo. — AFP
CALIFORNIA: Co-Founders of Unvarnished (from left) Peter Kazanjy, Danis Dayanov, and Jason Heidema meet in a cafe to discuss their start-up website ‘Unvarnished’ in San Francisco.— AP
Unvarnished lets unnamed peers judge you on the Web SAN FRANCISCO: It used to be that a potential employer would call your references to see whether you’d be a good fit. But what if you showed up for an interview and the employer already knew you blew an important project at your current job, just by checking on the Web? A new site called Unvarnished is making this unsettling idea real. Unvarnished lets your peers say what they really think of you. It’s similar to sites such as Yelp that let people post anonymous reviews - except in this case, it’s a person, not a business, that is getting reviewed. Unvarnished co-founder Peter Kazanjy says the idea emerged after realizing there can be a difference between job candidates’ attitudes in an interview and their attitudes after they’re hired. Time and money get wasted if a new employee doesn’t work out. Any Unvarnished user can add a profile of a person to the site or write in an existing profile. If a profile of you is on the site, you can “claim” it and respond to reviews written about you. If nobody has written about you on Unvarnished but you want to solicit reviews, you can add yourself to the site and request that others describe you. Kazanjy, previously a senior product marketing manager at VMware Inc., acknowledges that allowing people to write reviews without attaching their names entails trade-offs. Anonymity often unleashes nasty comments online. And it might make people more skeptical of the validity of Unvarnished’s reviews. But it also helps people write what they really think. “We want to empower honesty and candor and nuance in the reviews,” he says. Don’t bother hopping on your computer yet. Not just anyone can access www.getunvarnished.com because the site is in a private “beta” test. It’s not yet clear when it will be widely rolled out. That means that to write or see any reviews, you have to be invited by a user and write a review of him or her. It also means that people could be writing reviews about you, good or bad, and you’d have no idea unless someone who can access the site told you. A look around the site didn’t reveal that many negative reviews, however. Unvarnished requires users to rate people on a scale of one to five stars, and Kazanjy says more than 70 percent of the site’s thousands of reviews are four or five stars. Beyond the star rating, you can evaluate people from one to 10 on characteristics such as produc-
tivity and integrity. You can also write a short review detailing someone’s strengths and weaknesses. Although reviews on Unvarnished are anonymous in the sense that the subject and others who see that person’s profile won’t know who wrote the reviews, Kazanjy says the site has a way of checking who its writers are. It uses Facebook’s Connect identification tool to authenticate users and determine that they are not spammers. That tool asks people to log in to the website with the same username and password they use on Facebook, and lets the website obtain information from those users’ Facebook profile. Unvarnished’s founders realize this may open the door for subjects of unflattering reviews to subpoena the site for information about who wrote the reviews. But the site itself would be largely protected from defamation claims, for example, under a federal law that gives broad immunity to service providers for postings made by their users. For now, Unvarnished still has a small enough user community that it can manually sift through all reviews posted on its site, nixing those that look unreliable or responding if someone complains that a review about them is false. Unvarnished, which is funded by its three founders and operated by them out of San Francisco coffee shops, is concentrating on growing its community and making sure people are posting useful information, Kazanjy says. He and the other founders, who previously had been at eBay Inc. and career-networking site LinkedIn, think Unvarnished will limit its focus to professional reputations. Charging companies for access to some of Unvarnished’s information could be the site’s method of making money eventually. Adam Helweh, an Unvarnished user and the owner of a marketing and design company, Secret Sushi Creative, has received four five-star reviews on the site. He’s been described as a “knowledgeable, engaging and informative” speaker and “enthusiastic in helping small business owners.” But he is skeptical about Unvarnished’s prospects. He doesn’t think the site’s content is more valuable than profiles on LinkedIn. That site lets people write recommendations of colleagues or business partners on their profile pages, but unlike on Unvarnished, LinkedIn users can accept or reject recommendations they receive. And those write-ups aren’t anonymous. — AP
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
HEALTH
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Complex frozen-seafood processing can mislead consumers CHICAGO: At Super H Mart in Naperville, Ill, Nancy Jih piled a dozen packages of fresh salmon into her shopping cart that she planned to cut, wrap in individual baggies and freeze. That way, she said, she knows exactly what she is getting. She has followed this practice since last fall, when frozen pollock fillets she purchased at another store seemed to weigh less than what the label indicated. Even her husband noticed. “How come you cooked so little?” she recalled him saying. Jih said she suspected she had been charged for the ice with her fish. “How many people had the same thing happen as I did?” Jih’s experience apparently is widespread. Voluntary inspections of seafood distributors by an arm of the federal Commerce Department find nearly a third of seafood they check is mislabeled, usually because of ice being included in the weight of the fish, but more recently because of the added weight of frozen or watery marinade preservatives. Sometimes even the fish are misidentified. The Food and Drug Administration, which inspects only 2 percent of the seafood coming into the United States, last year was criticized in a Government Accountability Office report for its failure to enforce laws against fraud, such as mislabeling. The report said the FDA has rarely, if ever, taken legal action against companies in the past decade, although it does issue warning letters. As a result, the seafood industry largely relies on self-policing. Mislabeling is rampant, complained Jeff
Goldberg, director of shrimp procurement at Mazzetta Co., based in Highland Park, Ill. “It’s a frustrating problem that companies like ours deal with day in and day out,” Goldberg said. A New York company, Goldberg said, recently advertised pollock fillets at 80 percent, 90 percent and 100 percent net weight. The significance, he said, is that some distributors buy the 80 percent net weight fish and repackage and sell it as 100 percent, making a tidy profit. Other companies short-weight packages by a few ounces, which translates into a few cents per pound, and make lots of money in the distribution of millions of pounds of fish, he said. “We don’t want people to get turned off on seafood,” Goldberg said. “We believe that people should get what they paid for.” A recent Illinois investigation, part of a broader weights and measurements probe, showed distributors got about a pound more of fillets than they had paid for from Mazzetta. Jordan Mazzetta, the company’s executive vice president, said its general rule is to package more fish than what the label says. “It’s never 32 ounces. It’s always over,” said Mazzetta, who favors heavy fines against companies that cheat. Some distributors, however, contend that the issue with iced fish is more complex than it appears, and that the FDA should focus on seafood as it arrives at US ports rather than on distributors where seafood is repackaged. More than 80 percent of the seafood consumed in the US is from overseas, from countries such as
Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, and the fish is glazed with ice soon after it is caught to preserve it. Seafood can remain frozen for six to nine months before it reaches the US, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, part of the US Department of Commerce. “It’s not uncommon to see a fish caught in Alaska ... flash-frozen on either a ship or a frozen processor offshore, placed in a tramper vessel, uploaded, taken on to China, placed in cold storage, and that product may go on to be further processed by a Chinese firm or American firm in China, and there’s a chance that the product could go on to Europe or on to the United States,” said Timothy Hansen, the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program director. Once in the US the seafood is repackaged to meet the needs of supermarkets and other retailers and dealers. A single shipment of salmon, for instance, could be repackaged 10 ways, Hansen said. Hansen said it would be impossible for distribution companies to test weights of seafood they receive because that would involve opening packages, spraying off the ice glazing and weighing the fish. That process would spoil the fish, he said. It is illegal for companies to charge for the ice. To try to protect themselves against fraud, retailers and distribution companies hire NOAA to perform seafood inspections to verify that the weight and species marked on bags are accurate. They also prefer to do business with
NOAA-certified suppliers. When the weight of a bulk product is found to be short, Hansen said, the buyer and supplier usually work out a deal to credit the buyer for the short weight and the buyer will package the seafood to legal standards. The distributors’ names are on the bags, which means they’re legally responsible for mislabeling, said Lisa Weddig, director of regulatory and technical affairs for the National Fisheries Institute Inc., an industry organization. Improving coordination The inspections are voluntary. NOAA takes random samples and inspects the products using methods prescribed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NOAA, which inspects roughly 20 percent of seafood consumed in the US, has no enforcement authority other than to remove its certification from suppliers found in violation of the law. It recently agreed to share its findings with the FDA after a 2009 report by the GAO found that the FDA between 2003 and 2008 physically inspected just 2 percent of imported seafood. Only 0.05 percent of those inspections were for fraud. The report called for improving coordination and cooperation among the federal agencies whose responsibilities touch on seafood fraud the FDA, NOAA and the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection. The goal, the report said, is to stop mislabeled seafood from entering the market-
place. The agencies generally supported the report’s recommendations, and the FDA and NOAA agreed last October to try to avoid overlapping efforts. “We only see beginning steps, but we do give agencies up to four years to implement the recommendations,” said Lisa Shames, the GAO’s director for food safety and agriculture issues. Meanwhile, a recent investigation by weights and measures officials in 17 states brought the mislabeling issue to the fore after prompting by the National Fisheries Institute. The group urged the probe because some members complained that they couldn’t compete by being honest. The probe found that consumers were overpaying for seafood that included the weight of ice as part of the labeled weight of seafood - up to 40 percent of the weight of a bag. Four Illinois firms were found in violation of the law, many with multiple violations, and in some cases for underweight seafood they had shipped to other states. The weights and measures officials have sent their investigative documents to the FDA, which in March said it was conducting a review to see whether further action is necessary. In addition, the FDA’s database revealed that the agency had sent warning letters to a couple of local distributors. At Gourmet Express Marketing Inc., in Addison, Ill., warned by the FDA for mislabeled species of fish and shortweighting shrimp, a woman who answered the phone claimed the FDA letter needed interpretation. However, repeated attempts to reach the company presi-
dent were unsuccessful. At Registry Steaks & Seafood Ltd., a repackaging company in Bridgeview, Ill., Anthony Migacz said he made every attempt not to violate the law and still received a warning letter on Oct. 8, 2009, for mislabeling shrimp products by increasing their bulk or weight with a frozen “marinade” glaze containing water, citric acid and salt, among other violations. The investigation has since been closed, but Migacz said he felt his company was not in violation of FDA rules. Migacz said he bought 2-pound bags of marinated shrimp, which contained 1.6 pounds of shrimp and 0.4 pounds of the water, citric acid and salt mix. His company then opened the bags and repackaged them with a label that disclosed that the 20 percent marinade solution was included in the weight of the shrimp. Migacz said he wanted to make sure he was in compliance with FDA weight regulations so he showed the labels to FDA officials and got them approved. “I have emails from the compliance office saying that’s OK, so I thought I was doing everything correctly,” Migacz said. However, in April 2009, he was inspected and told that he was violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Migacz said he is aware that adding the ice glaze to the weight of the seafood is illegal, but there are no regulations for marinated seafood. “The marinade is completely different because it has ingredients and it’s declared right on the label,” he said. — MCT
WHAT’S ON IN KUWAIT
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Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Embassy information EmbAssy of NIgErIA The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to invite all Nigerians residing in Kuwait to come and register with the Embassy. The registration is compulsory for all Nigerians residing /visiting Kuwait. Kindly bring the following documents along with you: • A photocopy of the Nigerian passport • One passport photograph • Copy of the civil identification card or visa For additional information please call: 25620278 or visit the Embassy at Block, 4, Malik Bin Anas Street, Avenue 44, House 31, Along Al-Aqsa Road, Rumaithiya. The Consular Section opens Sunday - Thursday from 9 am - 3 pm Your prompt response is highly solicited.
ABCK 9th Annual Golf Tournament T
he American Business council held its 9th Annual Golf Tournament on April 30 at the Sahara Club in the presence of the US Ambassador Deborah Jones. The tournament hosted 100 players making 25 teams of a 4-man Texas scramble. The US Ambassador Deborah Jones distributed the trophies and prizes for
the winning teams. Sponsors of the event included Agility, KDL, KGL Holding, JTC, United Air, Kuwait Times, Supply Core, Crowne Plaza, Spa Aqautonic, Radisson BLU, and Denton Wilde Sapte. The game was followed by a BBQ buffet luncheon, and a raffle draw to conclude the event as a fun day-out.
Story telling competition: Let your kids talk to the world K
athayiloode TV program presenting by Good Samaritan through Power vision. Find & build your kid’s story telling talent in Malayalam. The Screening will be conducted on May 8, Saturday 3:00 pm at United Indian School, Abbassiya. Things to remember: 1. Register the names before May 8. 2. Participants should be below 18 yrs of age. 3. Choose your own subject, it should not exceed more than 3 minutes. 4. Story should have moral.
5. Story should be in Malayalam. 6. Video recordings for selected candidates will be conducted on 22nd May to show for every Friday kathayiloode TV programme. 7. Winners will be rewarded. 8. For registration, please visit www.gspf.org / email to gift@gspf.org / SMS to 00919947446261 9. For more details please contact our helpline 00965 - 99488365, 66456212, 66570213, 66207096, and 66672263.
Lectures at AUK Observing French products week in Marina Pharmacy
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pril 25 was the inaugural day of French Products week. Marina Pharmacy arranged for the inaugural ceremony. The entire arrangement and initiative was taken by Dr Farwaz Oumi of Ali Wahab Pharmaceutical Company. The Program was ornamented by the valuable presence of Dr Rabee Soufangi, from the Commercial Dept of French Embassy-Kuwait. Among the other distinguished Personalities were Dr Badran. Hasswang the AGM of Pharmaceutical Dept, Dr Radwan Mahfoud, the Retail Manager of Pharmaceutical Dept, Dr Ahmed Beda, The Sales Manager, Pharmaceutical Dept. Dr Essam Gouda, the operation Manager Pharmaceutical Dept, Dr. Hassan Baroudy, the Purchases Manager, Dr Ahamad Hadidi, the in-Charge of Marina Pharmacy, Dr. Walaa, incharge of Marina Pharmacy and others. The Cosmetic Products of the French Nuxe company have already attracted thousands of beauties from all over the world. In spite of the fact that the products are so costly that they are beyond the purchasing ability of the middle and lower class people. Still they are trying their best to purchase those products. The higher class is the regular consumer of NUXE. In Kuwait, Marina Mall in one of the biggest and costliest malls. Marina Pharmacy is situation in this mall. So it goes without saying that the costlies and rare medicines
from all around the world are available in Marina Pharmacy. Only because of this reason NUXE, URAGE, MUSTELA and other big companies agreed to launch their products in Marina Pharmacy and to observe the French Product Week. There is an offer going on till May 25, 2010 in all the Pharmacies of Ali Abdul Wahab Company “Buy to get one free”. This offer is valid. Urage Product has already been accepted as the prime in beautification. Mustela is the biggest companion of mother and children in their cosmetic consumption since last 60 years. Already almost all the products of this company have been accepted as the most trusted products world wide. Mustela products are well within the reach of the middle class community. Huge sale with larger profitability is the principle of Mustela and this is the secret of its success. Ali Abdul Wahab is a famous Company in Kuwait. There has been almost no effect of global recession on this company. The secret of the development of this company lies it the harmonious relationship between the workers and the owners. In this regard this must be mentioned that Ali Abdul Wahab and Sons Company is the agent of NUXE, Mustela URIAGE and other famous Companies. We cordially expect more and more development and success or this company in future.
1st lecture - organized by The American University of Kuwait - Division of business and Economics TOPIC: Globalization and Financial Disorder Was Global financial crisis Inevitable? DATE: tomorrow TIME: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm VENUE: American University of Kuwait, Auditorium 2nd lecture - organized by Kuwait Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India In association with The American University’s Finance Department TOPIC: India in an Asian Framework DATE: tomorrow TIME : 7 pm - 9 pm VENUE: American University of Kuwait, Auditorium Dr. Swamv has almost five decades of scholarly
association with Harvard University. He was awarded a doctorate in Economics by Harvard University based on his research with two Nobel Laureates Simon Kuznets and Paul A Samuelson. He worked as Assistant Economic Affairs Officer for the United Nations Secretariat in New York. Dr. Swamy has also jointly authored with Professor Samuelsori a path breaking study on Index Numbcr Theory. He was a Professor of Economics at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), served on its Board of Governors and on the Council of IIT. He went on to become the Indian Minister of Commerce, Law and Justice. Dr. Swamy is prolific writer. He i5 the author of ten books and is proficient in many languages including Mandarin Chinese (Guoyeu). Dr. Swamy is widely regarded as an expert on the Chinese economy and an advisor to the Chinese Government. Moreover, he is widely known for his heroic struggle against the authoritarian imposition of a state of emergency and his bold fight against terrorism in South India.
Najla Al-Naqqi forum honors activist
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(From left) Altaf Al-Mutawa’a, Najla Al-Naqqi and Narjis Al-Shatti.
Dr Nader Al-Naqqa delivering his speech.
he Najla Al-Naqqi Forum recently honored activist Sameeha Abudullo, the head of the women’s development society in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and that in an event attended by a number of activists including the Mauritanian ambassador, the Palestinian charge d’affaires, as well as Bassim AlHassami as a representative from the American Embassy. The wife of the Omani ambassador, media personnel Amal Abdullah, Dr. Seham Al-Afrah and Dr. Laylah Al-Sab’aan. The event also featured the inauguration of a charity exhibition for handicrafts made by widows and orphans in Jordan, which took place under the patronage of Sheikh Fahad Nayef AlJaber Al-Sabah.
EmbAssy of UKrAINE The Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait informs that it has started updating the information about Ukrainian citizens, who live and work in Kuwait. In this connection, we are asking you to refer to the Embassy and update your file in consular register in order not to be excluded from it. For additional information please call: 25318507 ext.106 or visit the embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait (address: Hawalli, Jabriya, bl.10, str.6, house 5). The consular section of the Embassy open every day from 09:30 till 14:30 except Friday and Saturday. EmbAssy of INDIA The Embassy of India has further revamped and improved its Legal Advice Clinic at the Indian Workers Welfare Center, and made the free service available to Indian nationals on all five working days, i.e. from Sunday to Thursday every week. Kuwaiti lawyers would be available at the Legal Advice Clinic daily from Monday to Thursday, while Indian lawyers would be available on Sundays. Following are the free welfare services provided at the Indian Workers Welfare Center located at the Embassy of India: [i] 24x7 Helpline for Domestic Workers: Accessible by toll free telephone no. 25674163 from anywhere in Kuwait, it provides information and advice exclusively to Indian domestic sector workers (Visa No. 20) as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. [ii] Help Desk: It offers guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal, and other issues (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iii) Labour Complaints Desk: It registers labor complaints and provides grievance redressal service to Indian workers (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iv) Shelters: For female and male domestic workers in distress; (v) Legal Advice Clinic: Provides free legal advice to Indian nationals (Embassy premises; Kuwaiti lawyers 3 PM to 5 PM, Monday to Thursday; Indian lawyers 2 PM to 4 PM on Sunday); and (vi) Attestation of Work Contracts: Private sector worker (Visa No. 18) contracts are accepted at the Embassy; 9 AM to 1 PM; Sunday to Thursday; Domestic sector worker (Visa No. 20) contracts are accepted at Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO), Hawally, Al-Othman Street, Kurd Roundabout, Al-Abraj Complex, Office No 9, Mezzanine Floor; 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday to Thursday; 5 PM to 9 PM on Friday.
Public diplomacy through music
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(From left) Najla Al-Naqqi, Nedhal Al-Musawi, Narjis Al-Shatti and Laylah Al-Sab’aan.
Abudullo honors Dr Fahad Al-Hajri.
key priority for the Obama Administration, as outlined in the President’s Cairo speech of June 4, 2009, is launching “a new beginning” in America’s relationship with the Muslim world. The State Department’s public diplomacy professionals in Washington and at US Embassies around the globe are actively pursuing a variety of cultural, education and information programs to showcase respect for diverse cultures, faiths and traditions. As part of these efforts, American country and pop singer/songwriter, Kareem Salama (http://www.kareesalama.com), will be in Kuwait tomorrow as part of a seven-country, one-month tour of the Middle East. Salama will be accompanied by three other accomplished musicians: Dan Workman, J.J. Worthen and Michael Whitebread. Kareem Salama and his band will be performing in Kuwait at the Al Zomorrada Hall on the Gulf Road. The performance is sponsored by the US Embassy, Kuwait and Zain and organized by the AWARE Center. American Pop Singer & Song Writer Kareem Salama visits Kuwait tomorrow @ 7:00p.m. Al-Zomorrada Hall on Gulf Road For complimentary tickets, please contact the AWARE Center at 25335280, 25334260
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
WHAT’S ON IN KUWAIT
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IMA: Youth Wing organizes conference I
ndian Muslim Association IMA Youth Wing - Kuwait organized a grand Youth Conference on the Quranic theme, ‘Minaz Zulumati Ilan Noor (from Darkness to Light).’ at Masjid Al Kabeer, Kuwait City under the patronage of deputy Prime Minister for legal affairs, Ministry of Justice & Minister for Awqaf & Islamic Affairs and in association with the Grand Mosque State of Kuwait. This event was the closing day concluding ceremony for the various activities IMA Youth Wing had undertaken since last three months under the same theme ‘from Darkness to Light’. Mohammad Aslam, IMA President, in his inaugural address expressed that most of the human folks at present are plunging into deep darkness and therefore it is the duty of the Muslim Ummah to step in, and in particular this responsibility rests with the youth. The President of IMA Youth Wing, Arshad Habib welcomed all the participating delegates to the conference and presented the details of the conference and said that all the activities will revolve around the Qur’anic theme, ‘Minaz Zulumati Ilan Noor (from Darkness to Light).’ Jalaluddin Ansar Umri, President Jamat Islam-eHind and also a prolific writer, thinker of our age from
India who was the chief guest to the conference addressed the guidelines to the youths in his presidential address. He spoke on the subject ‘You are the Hope of the Dawn’ and advised the youths to be beware of the twinkling temporary life in this earth and should concentrate on building faith and character. Ameenul Hasan, a noted Islamic personality from India spoke on the subject ‘Youth Psychology and the Requisite Moral Character’, where he presented a lengthy discourse and stressed that the age between 23 to 55 is a productive period. This is the age where person can contribute to the world, he appealed to the youths to work for the community in various arenas and make their life meaningful and purposeful. Later while speaking on the subject of ‘from Darkness to Light’ he meticulously explained the difference between Darkness & Light in Qur’anic perspective. Malik Motasim Khan, eminent Islamic thinker from India delivered lecture on the subject ‘Islam versus & False Ideologies’ and ‘Twenty first Century Manifesto of Youth and Priorities’. Abdul Aziz, another well known personality from India shed light on ‘The brightest way of success’ through quotes from Hadith. Animated Tarana, spot Quiz Competition, Arts &
Science Exhibition were the attractions of the Conference. Waleed Al-Shuaib - Under-Secretary, department of Mosques, Ministry of Awqaf & Islamic Affairs appreciated the good work of IMA Youth Wing. Yusuf Al-Shuaib, Manager-Communities, Ministry of Awqaf & Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Abdullatif Al-Asfoor, Manager - Masjid Al-Kabeer, Abdul Hameed Al-Bilali, Chairman - Jamiya Bashayer Al-Khair, Khalid BaderManager, Jamiya Abdullah Al-Noori, Khalid Al-Saba Manager, Communities department IPC, Shaikh Ahmed Al-Dabbous - Prominent Scholar were on the dais. Shri Vinod Kumar, First Secretary, Information & Education, Indian Embassy was the guest of honor and lauded the efforts of IMA Youths and participated in the prize distribution. Prizes were distributed to the winners of Cricket, Volley Ball, Tug of War teams. Valuable Prizes were also given to the winning students of several Indian Schools winners in Online Essay Competition, Online Quiz Competition and Photography & Drawing competitions. Trophies were given to the winning schools. Zabi Khan supervised the prize distribution; Mujahid Umri convened the public program on the concluding day.
‘Castelli in Kuwait’ at Arraya Center Creativity and innovation in the premiere ceramic exhibition
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Flex Resorts holds F2F graduation ceremony
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lex Resorts, a pioneer in the health industry dedicated to combat the increasing health-related problems in Kuwait, recently held its Face2Face graduation ceremony for its members at its Flex Executive premises. Present at the ceremony were the program graduates along with Flex Resorts staff. Certified by the IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sports club Association, Face2Face, one of Flex’s fitness programs, is a rigorous and effective course designed to suit every member’s specific requirements. Supervised by certified instructors the program consists of five steps which include physical and dietary aspects; measurement, a fitness program, appraisals and the final graduation. “Flex Resort’s goal is to provide wholesome healthy lives through our unique and tailored fitness programs.” said Samuel Ghaly, Business Development Manager of
Flex Resorts. “Considering the recent studies held in Kuwait that display alarming statistics with obesity topping the list, Flex Resorts has focused to serve its people with the Face2Face programs that facilitate every aspect of a person’s mental and physical well-being and helps to fight weight problems Successfully running since August 2008, the Face 2 Face program has so far proudly rolled out 416 including 59 graduates in the recent ceremony with successful and astounding results and positive feedback. According to the World Health Organization, Kuwait leads in obesity rankings in the Gulf region. The F2F program is one of the many initiatives Flex Resorts offers its members and the public in an effort to offer innovative and interactive programs that raise awareness, motivate and encourage a healthy lifestyle.
haikha Muneerah S J Al Sabah and Enrico Granara, Ambassador of Italy to Kuwait, will inaugurate next week’s premiere exhibition for various fine Italian ceramic arts entitled “Castelli in Kuwait”. Organised by “Sartoria Italia”, the 4-day unusual and exciting event will be open to the public on May 9 until 12, from 10AM to 9PM, at the Arraya Center. The exhibition will showcase precious ceramic works brought straight from Italy. Around 100 artworks entirely handmade with mixed colors requiring the greatest technical skills and a deep knowledge of traditional techniques will be exhibited to the public. Exclusive pieces from the international collection of ceramics that are originally displayed in Castelli’s Institute of Art, the Grue Museum, will be also exposed. Meanings, details and precision will play an impor-
tant role in this exhibition where the Italian artists will be present as well as other personalities who will be visiting Kuwait for the first time especially for this event. Authorities from Castelli’s Museum have earlier announced that they are delighted to send these artworks to Kuwait and hope that the various expressions of the Ceramic Arts will be a success. The event is under the patronage of the Italian embassy and with the cooperation of the loYAC. It is also sponsored by Salhiya Real Estate, Burgan Bank, TOTAL General Trading & Contracting Co. W.L.L., Wataniya Airways, Courtyard Mariott Hotel, Kharafi National, Armani/Fiori, Home Selection and D1 Shows. For more information, visitors can download the brochure of the event on www.sartoria.progitalia.com.
Thuraya Al-Baqsami takes part in European Artist Symposium
Al-Baqsami is seen with the Japanese participant, in addition to the Omani and Saudi participants.
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KES Jordan Trip, April 2010
rtist Thuraya Al-Baqsami founding member of the European Artists Association, took part in the 18th international European artists symposium that took place in Essen, Germany in the period between April 11 - 25, 2010, which featured various artistic activities and displays presented by 32 artists from Germany, Poland, Hungry, Serbia, Finland, Australia, Turkey, Japan, and Scotland. The event further featured first participation from Saudi Arabia with artist Olla Hejazi, as well as from Oman with the head of the Omani Arts Foundation, Maryam Al-Zadjali, and artist Yousuf Al-Nahwi.
Furthermore, the event featured activities for children arts, in which several gifted kids displayed portraits for artists taking part in the event, while others painted wooden sculptures made by German sculptor Ralf Clement. An exhibition for the works that were displayed in the event was held at the House Ondtom starting from the end of April, which will take place there until May 9th before touring several German cities. The efforts of the President of the Association, Karola Teschler were played a significant role and making the event successful.
Al-Baqsami poses with one of her portraits in the event.
A group photo of a number of the participants.
from Kuwait English School Green Unit enjoyed their overseas trip to Jordan. Visiting the breathtaking city of Petra also known as ‘The Rose Red city’, camping in Wadi Rum, swimming in the Dead Sea, visiting Mount Students Nebo the site of Moses death and burial place and sightseeing in Amman. The students and teachers enjoyed their trip and the amazing weather and look forward to next year’s overseas trip.
TV PROGRAMS
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Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Orbit / Showtime Listings 18:00 Iron Man: Armoured Adventures 18:25 Kid vs Kat 19:00 Zeke & Luther 19:25 NEXT X WINTER SHORTS 19:30 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 20:00 American Dragon 20:30 I’M IN THE BAND 21:00 Phil Of The Future 21:25 Iron Man: Armoured Adventures 21:50 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 22:15 Aaron Stone
00:00 House 01:00 Dawson’s Creek 02:00 Bones 03:00 Kathy Griffin 04:00 Dawson’s Creek 05:00 CSI Miami 06:00 CSI New York 07:00 House 08:00 Dollhouse 09:00 FlashForward 10:00 Bones 11:00 ER 12:00 CSI New York 13:00 CSI Miami 14:00 Bones 15:00 Dawson’s Creek 16:00 Dollhouse 17:00 FlashForward 18:00 House 19:00 CSI New York 20:00 Lie to Me 21:00 Law & Order 22:00 CSI Miami 23:00 Rescue Me
00:15 Dark Days in Monkey City 00:45 Animal Cops Houston 01:40 Untamed & Uncut 02:35 Cell Dogs 03:30 Animal Cops Houston 04:25 Animal Precinct 05:20 Animal Battlegrounds 05:45 Monkey Business 06:10 E-Vets: The Interns 07:00 Wildlife SOS 07:25 Pet Rescue 07:50 Orangutan Island 08:15 Dark Days in Monkey City 08:45 Austin Stevens Adventures 09:40 Monkey Business 10:05 All New Planet’s Funniest Animals 10:55 Monkey Life 11:20 SSPCA: On the Wildside 11:50 Animal Precinct 12:45 E-Vets: The Interns 13:40 Animal Cops Houston 14:35 Wildlife SOS 15:00 SSPCA: On the Wildside 15:30 Orangutan Island 15:55 Dark Days in Monkey City 16:25 All New Planet’s Funniest Animals 17:20 Monkey Business 17:45 Monkey Life 18:15 The Animals’ Guide to Survival 19:10 Orangutan Island 19:40 Dark Days in Monkey City 20:10 Animal Cops Houston 21:05 Untamed & Uncut 22:00 The Animals’ Guide to Survival
00:25 Silent Witness 01:20 The Weakest Link 02:05 Model Gardens 02:30 2 Point 4 Children 03:05 Teletubbies 03:30 Me Too 03:50 Fimbles 04:10 Teletubbies 04:35 Me Too 04:55 Fimbles 05:15 Teletubbies 05:40 Me Too 06:00 Fimbles 06:20 Teletubbies 06:45 Me Too 07:05 Fimbles 07:25 Teletubbies 07:50 Me Too 08:10 Fimbles 08:30 Teletubbies 08:55 Me Too 09:15 Fimbles 09:40 Bargain Hunt 10:25 The Monastery 11:15 2 Point 4 Children 12:15 The Weakest Link 13:00 Eastenders 13:30 Doctors 14:00 Cash In The Attic 14:30 Bargain Hunt 15:15 2 Point 4 Children 16:15 The Weakest Link 17:00 Doctors 17:30 Eastenders 18:00 Silent Witness 19:00 Coast 20:00 The Weakest Link 20:45 Doctors 21:15 Eastenders 21:45 Jane Hall’s Big Bad Bus Ride 22:45 Casualty
00:20 Chuck’s Day Off 01:10 Bargain Hunt 01:55 10 Years Younger 02:55 Come Dine With Me 03:45 Daily Cooks Challenge 04:15 Cash In The Attic USA 04:45 Hidden Potential 05:10 10 Years Younger 06:00 MasterChef Goes Large 07:00 Cash In The Attic USA 07:25 Bargain Hunt 08:10 Antiques Roadshow 09:50 Cash In The Attic USA 10:10 Hidden Potential 10:35 Chuck’s Day Off 11:25 Bargain Hunt 12:10 10 Years Younger 13:00 Come Dine With Me 13:50 Bargain Hunt 14:40 Antiques Roadshow 15:30 Cash In The Attic USA 16:00 Hidden Potential
White Lightnin on Super Movies 16:25 Chuck’s Day Off 17:15 Bargain Hunt 18:00 Antiques Roadshow 18:50 Come Dine With Me 19:40 MasterChef Goes Large 20:05 Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen 20:30 Gino D’Acampo - An Italian In Mexico 21:00 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 21:50 Here’s Looking At You 22:40 Come Dine With Me 23:30 MasterChef Goes Large
01:00 Le Passager De L’ete-PG15 03:00 In Tranzit-18 05:00 A Thousand Acres-PG15 07:00 Janis-PG 09:00 O Casamento De Romeu E JulietaPG 11:00 Heights-PG15 13:00 A Walk In The Clouds-PG15 15:00 Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired-PG15 17:00 Grace Is Gone-PG15 19:00 Ce Soir Je Dors Chez Toi-18 21:00 Romulus My Father-PG15 23:00 The Babysitters-PG15
00:00 Border Security 00:30 Destroyed in Seconds 01:00 Miami Ink 02:00 Overhaulin’ 02:55 Mighty Ships 03:50 Extreme Engineering 04:45 Mythbusters 05:40 How Does it Work? 06:05 Dirty Jobs 07:00 Extreme Engineering 07:55 Wreck Rescue 08:20 Overhaulin’ 09:15 Mythbusters 10:10 Ultimate Survival 11:05 Mighty Ships 12:00 Border Security 12:30 How It’s Made 12:55 How Does it Work? 13:20 American Chopper 14:15 Miami Ink 15:10 Mythbusters 16:05 Dirty Jobs 17:00 World’s Toughest Jobs 18:00 Border Security 18:30 Overhaulin’ 19:30 Destroyed in Seconds 20:00 How It’s Made 20:30 How Does it Work? 21:00 X-Machines 22:00 Prototype This 23:00 Mythbusters
00:30 Mighty Ships 01:20 Ultimate Power Builders 02:10 Mean Green Machines 03:00 Beyond Tomorrow 03:50 Scrappy Races 04:45 How Does That Work? 05:10 Weird Connections 05:40 Sci-Fi Science 06:10 Mighty Ships 07:00 Scrappy Races 08:00 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 09:00 Space Pioneer 09:55 Stunt Junkies 10:20 Weird Connections 10:50 Mighty Ships 11:45 How Does That Work? 12:15 World’s Biggest Airliner - A380 13:10 Sci-Fi Science 13:35 Space Pioneer 14:30 Engineered 15:25 How Does That Work? 15:55 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 16:50 Brainiac 17:45 Monster Moves 18:40 How It’s Made 19:30 What’s That About? 20:20 How It’s Made
21:10 Mythbusters Specials 22:00 How It’s Made 22:50 What’s That About? 23:40 Monster Moves
00:00 Jungle Junction 00:20 Special Agent Oso 00:45 Handy Manny 01:10 Imagination Movers 01:35 Jungle Junction 02:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 02:50 Handy Manny 03:10 Jungle Junction 03:20 Special Agent Oso 03:35 Fairly Odd Parents 04:00 Phineas & Ferb 04:25 Suite Life On Deck 04:45 Wizards Of Waverly Place 05:10 Hannah Montana 05:35 Jonas 06:00 Handy Manny 06:10 Jungle Junction 06:35 Special Agent Oso 07:00 Handy Manny 07:20 Imagination Movers 07:45 Jungle Junction 08:10 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 09:00 Handy Manny 09:20 Jungle Junction 09:35 Special Agent Oso 09:45 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 10:10 Fairly Odd Parents 10:35 A Kind Of Magic 11:00 I Got A Rocket 11:25 Wizards Of Waverly Place 11:45 Phineas & Ferb 12:10 Suite Life On Deck 12:35 Replacements 12:55 Hannah Montana 13:20 Kim Possible 13:40 I Got A Rocket 14:05 Fairly Odd Parents 14:30 Phineas & Ferb 14:55 Replacements 15:15 A Kind Of Magic 15:40 Wizards Of Waverly Place 16:00 Hannah Montana 16:25 Sonny With A Chance 16:45 Fairly Odd Parents 17:10 Phineas & Ferb 17:35 Suite Life On Deck 18:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place 18:25 Hannah Montana 18:45 The Replacements 19:00 Jonas 19:25 Suite Life On Deck 19:50 Sonny With A Chance 20:15 Hannah Montana 20:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 21:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 21:45 The Replacements 22:00 Phineas & Ferb 22:25 Replacements 22:50 A Kind Of Magic 23:15 Wizards Of Waverly Place 23:35 Hannah Montana
06:00 American Dragon 06:25 Kid vs Kat 06:50 Phineas & Ferb 08:05 American Dragon 08:30 Pokemon DP: Battle Dimension 09:00 Phineas & Ferb 09:30 Zeke & Luther 10:00 Phil Of The Future 10:30 Suite Life On Deck 11:00 Kid vs Kat 11:30 Iron Man: Armoured Adventures 12:00 Aaron Stone 12:30 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 13:00 Pokemon DP: Battle Dimension 13:30 Phineas & Ferb 14:00 Zeke & Luther 14:25 NEXT X WINTER SHORTS 14:30 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 15:00 American Dragon 15:30 Kid vs Kat 16:00 Phineas & Ferb 16:30 I’M IN THE BAND 17:00 Suite Life On Deck 17:30 Aaron Stone
00:15 Streets of Hollywood 00:40 E!ES 01:30 25 Most Stylish 02:20 Sexiest 03:15 THS 05:05 Dr 90210 06:00 THS 07:45 Style Star 08:10 Style Star 08:35 E! News 09:00 The Daily 10 09:25 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 10:15 THS 11:05 E!ES 12:00 E! News 12:25 The Daily 10 12:50 Pretty Wild 13:15 Pretty Wild 13:40 Dr 90210 14:30 30 Best & Worst Beach Bodies 16:15 Behind the Scenes 16:40 Behind the Scenes 17:10 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 18:00 E! News 18:25 The Daily 10 18:50 Streets of Hollywood 19:15 Battle of the Hollywood Hotties 19:40 THS 20:30 THS 21:20 Bank of Hollywood 22:10 E! News 22:35 The Daily 10 23:00 Dr 90210 23:50 Wildest TV Show Moments
00:00 Chopped 01:00 Food Network Challenge 03:00 Iron Chef America 04:00 Teleshopping 07:00 Food Network Challenge 08:40 Iron Chef America 10:30 Chopped 11:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 12:00 Great British Menu 12:30 Daily Cooks Challenge 13:00 30 Minute Meals 14:00 Barefoot Contessa 15:00 Nigella Express 15:30 Daily Cooks Challenge 16:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:00 Grill It! with Bobby Flay 18:00 Tyler’s Ultimate 18:30 Great British Menu 19:00 Daily Cooks Challenge 19:30 Barefoot Contessa 20:30 Nigella Express 21:00 Food Network Challenge 22:00 Iron Chef America
00:30 A Haunting 01:20 FBI Files 02:10 Deadly Women 04:00 Forensic Detectives 04:55 Crime Scene Psychics 05:20 Dr G: Medical Examiner 06:10 Ghosthunters 07:00 Forensic Detectives 07:50 FBI Files 08:40 Fugitive Strike Force 09:30 Diagnosis: Unknown 10:20 Forensic Detectives 11:10 FBI Files 12:00 Solved 12:50 Real Emergency Calls 13:40 Royal Inquest 14:30 Forensic Detectives 15:20 FBI Files 16:10 Fugitive Strike Force 17:00 Diagnosis: Unknown 17:50 Forensic Detectives 18:40 FBI Files 19:30 Solved 20:20 Real Emergency Calls 21:10 Royal Inquest 22:00 Murder Shift 23:40 Dr G: Medical Examiner
01:25 Year Of The Dragon 03:35 House Of Games 05:15 The Favorite 06:55 The Moderns 08:20 Mr. Accident 09:50 The Hawaiians 12:00 I Could Go On Singing 13:40 Cooley High 15:25 Doc 17:00 Teen Wolf 18:30 Mr. North (Goldwyn) 20:00 Some Like It Hot 22:00 Signs Of Life 23:30 F.I.S.T
00:00 VH1 Rocks 00:30 So 80’s 01:00 Greatest Hits 02:00 Vh1 Music 05:00 Chill Out 07:00 Vh1 Hits 09:00 Vh1 Music
11:00 Aerobic 12:00 Top 10 Best Of Rock 2010 So Far 13:00 Music For The Masses 14:00 Vh1 Pop Chart 15:00 Vh1 Music 17:00 (P) VH1 Weekly Album Chart
00:00 Bondi Rescue 00:30 Lonely Planet 01:30 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 02:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 03:30 Jailed Abroad 04:30 Chasing Che 05:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 05:30 Word Travels:The Truth Behind 06:00 Bondi Rescue 06:30 Lonely Planet 07:30 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 08:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 09:30 Jailed Abroad 10:30 Chasing Che 11:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 11:30 Word Travels:The Truth Behind 12:00 Bondi Rescue 12:30 Lonely Planet 13:30 Jailed Abroad 16:30 Chasing Che 17:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 17:30 Word Travels:The Truth Behind 18:00 Bondi Rescue 18:30 Lonely Planet 19:30 Jailed Abroad 22:30 Chasing Che 23:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 23:30 Word Travels:The Truth Behind
00:00 Scrubs 00:30 The Office 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 03:00 Headcases 03:30 Party Down 04:00 Saturday Night Live 05:00 Scrubs 05:30 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 06:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 07:00 Just Shoot me! 07:30 Simpsons 08:00 Frasier 08:30 Yes dear 09:00 The Nanny 09:30 Drew Carey 10:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30 Just Shoot me! 11:00 Frasier 11:30 Hope & Faith 12:00 Saturday Night Live 13:00 The Office 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 14:00 The Nanny 14:30 Simpsons 15:00 Scrubs 15:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Drew Carey 17:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:30 Frasier 18:00 Hope & Faith 18:30 Just Shoot me! 19:00 Community 19:30 Rita Rocks 20:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Cleveland Show 22:30 Headcases
00:00 The Martha Stewart Show 01:00 10 Years Younger 01:30 Eat Yourself Sexy 02:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 03:00 The Monique Show 04:00 The Tonight show with Jay Leno 05:00 GMA (repeat) 07:00 GMA Health 07:30 What’s the Buzz 08:00 The Martha Stewart Show 09:00 Eat Yourself Sexy 09:30 10 Years Younger 10:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live! 11:00 The View 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 The Martha Stewart Show 14:00 GMA Live 16:00 GMA Health 16:30 What’s the Buzz 17:00 The Tonight show with Jay Leno 18:00 Look A Like 18:30 10 Years Younger 19:00 The View 20:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 21:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live! 22:00 The Tonight show with Jay Leno 23:00 The Monique Show
00:00 Battle In Seattle-18 02:00 Clean Break-18 04:00 Meet Bill-PG15 06:00 Skin-PG 08:00 Honeydripper-PG15 10:15 Quid Pro Quo-PG15 12:00 Ghost Town-PG15 13:45 The Incredible Hulk-PG 15:45 Honeydripper-PG15 18:00 Valkyrie-PG15 20:00 Sex And The City The Movie-18 22:30 Wild Child-PG15
00:00 Clear Lake, Wi-18 01:45 The Mist-PG15 04:00 The Patriot-PG15 07:00 Bionicle: The Legend Reborn-PG15 09:00 Boa-PG15
11:00 Player 5150-PG15 13:00 Resident Evil: Degeneration-PG15 15:00 Boa-PG15 17:00 Anaconda 3: The Offspring-PG15 19:00 Hush-PG15 21:00 Shoot ‘em Up-18 23:00 The Blackout-PG15
00:00 Griffin And Phoenix-PG15 02:00 The Foot Fist Way-PG15 04:00 The Odd Couple 2-PG15 06:00 Lucky Break-PG15 08:00 City Slickers-PG15 10:00 Going Berserk-PG15 12:00 Parenthood-PG15 14:00 The Salon-PG15 16:00 Griffin And Phoenix-PG15 18:00 How High-18 20:00 Super Troopers-18 22:00 Idle Hands-18
00:00 Simba Junior To The World CupFAM 02:00 Hey Arnold! The Movie-PG 04:00 Peter Cotton Tail - The Movie-FAM 06:00 Au Pair 3: Adventure In ParadisePG 08:00 Barbie And The Three MusketeersPG 10:00 Peter Cotton Tail - The Movie-FAM 12:00 Yogi Bear and the Magical Flight of the Spruce Goose-PG 14:00 Hey Arnold! The Movie-PG 16:00 The Gold Retrievers-PG 18:00 Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything-PG 20:00 Aussie And Ted’s Great AdventurePG 22:00 Yogi Bear and the Magical Flight of the Spruce Goose-PG
00:00 Lost 01:00 Lost 02:00 Spooks 03:00 Saving Grace 04:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 04:30 Coach 05:00 Repear 06:00 Emmerdale 06:30 Coronation Street 07:00 Spooks 08:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 08:30 Coach 09:00 Saving Grace 10:00 Repear 11:00 Spooks 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 13:30 Home Improvement 14:00 Lost 15:00 Lost 16:00 Repear 17:00 Saving Grace 18:00 Emmerdale 18:30 Coronation Street 19:00 Grey’s Anatomy 20:00 Private Practice 21:00 Criminal Minds 22:00 Reaper 23:00 Saving Grace
01:00 White Lightnin’-PG15 03:00 Sticks And Stones-PG 05:00 The Memsahib-PG15 07:00 Stan Lee: Mosaic-PG 09:00 High School Musical 3: Senior YearPG 11:00 Bring It On 5: Fight To The FinishPG15 13:00 The Good Heart-PG15 15:00 Tribute-PG15 17:00 High School Musical 3: Senior YearPG 19:00 Reservation Road-PG15 21:00 Obsessed-R 23:00 Silk-R
12:00 NRL Premiership 14:00 Futbol Mundial 14:30 Super 14 16:30 Sea Master 17:00 ICC Cricket World 17:30 World Sport 18:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 19:00 FEI Equestrain World 19:30 European Tour Weekly 20:00 AFL Highlights 21:00 Premier League World 21:30 Live Toshiba Mid-Week Special 22:00 Live Premier League
00:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 01:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 01:30 Barclays Premier League Highlights 02:30 Premier League Darts 06:30 Premier League Classics 07:00 World Sport 07:30 Super 14 09:30 Brazil League Highlights 10:00 Futbol Mundial 10:30 World Sport 11:00 ICC Cricket World 11:30 NRL Full Time 12:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 13:00 Portuguese Liga 15:00 Futbol Mundial 15:30 Snooker World Championship 19:30 Futbol Mundial 20:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 21:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 21:30 Premier League World 22:00 Live Premier League
00:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 01:00 UFC 113 Countdown 02:00 WWE Bottomline 03:00 Bushido 04:00 NCAA Basketball 06:00 UFC Unleashed 07:00 WWE Vintage Collection 08:00 LG Action Sport 09:00 Rat Race 09:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 10:00 V8 Supercars 12:00 WWE NXT 13:00 NCAA Basketball 15:00 FIM World Cup 15:30 UAE National Race Day 16:00 V8 Supercars Highlights 18:00 WWE Vintage Collection 19:00 UFC 113 Countdown 20:00 Australian Ironman 21:00 UFC Wired 22:00 UFC Unleashed 23:00 UFC Unleashed
01:05 Point Blank 02:35 The Honeymoon Machine 04:00 Vampira 05:25 Angels With Dirty Faces 07:00 Captain Nemo And The Underwater City 08:45 Raintree County 11:25 Born Free 13:00 Mogambo 14:55 The V.I.P.s 16:50 After The Fox 18:35 Travels With My Aunt 20:20 Forbidden Planet 22:00 Vampira 23:30 The Last Run
00:00 Dr 90210 01:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 01:30 Dallas Divas & Daughters 02:00 How Do I Look?
03:00 Split Ends 04:00 Dr 90210 05:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 05:30 Area 06:00 How Do I Look? 07:00 Style Star 07:30 Style Her Famous 08:00 My Celebrity Home 09:00 Style Star 09:30 Dress My Nest 10:00 Peter Perfect 11:00 Whose Wedding Is it Anyway? 12:00 Ruby 13:00 Clean House 14:00 Clean House Comes Clean 14:30 Dress My Nest 15:00 What I Hate About Me 16:00 Split Ends 17:00 Style Special 18:00 Running in Heels 18:30 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 19:00 Split Ends 20:00 Clean House 21:00 Dress My Nest 21:30 Style Her Famous 22:00 Clean House 23:00 Ruby
01:00 Code 01:04 French Only 01:45 Playlist 02:00 Urban Hit 02:45 Playlist 05:00 Code 05:04 Focus 06:04 Playlist 08:00 Code 08:04 Hit Us 09:00 Code Compilation 09:24 Playlist 13:00 Code 13:04 Urban Hit 13:50 Playlist 16:00 Code 16:04 Sound System 10 16:45 Playlist 18:00 Urban Hit 18:45 Guest Star 19:00 Playlist 20:00 Code 20:04 Rnb 10 20:45 Playlist 21:00 Legend 22:00 Playlist
00:00 Angry Planet 00:30 The Thirsty Traveler 01:00 Spring 01:30 Chef Abroad 02:00 Chef Abroad 02:30 Top Travel 03:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 04:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 Planet Food 06:00 The Thirsty Traveler 06:30 Angry Planet 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Essential 08:30 Distant Shores 09:00 Spring 09:30 Grannies On Safari 10:00 Planet Food 11:00 The Thirsty Traveler 11:30 Angry Planet 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 Chef Abroad 13:30 The Thirsty Traveler 14:00 Journey Into Wine-South Africa 14:30 Entrada 15:00 Spring 15:30 Grannies On Safari 16:00 Globe Trekker 17:00 Essential 17:30 Chef Abroad 18:00 Planet Food 19:00 Globe Trekker
01:00 Premier League 03:00 Brazilian League Highlights 03:30 Barclays Premier League Review 05:00 Premier League 07:00 Portu-Gol 07:30 Brazilian League Highlights 08:00 Premier League 10:00 Premier League 12:00 Goals Goals Goals 12:30 Portu-Gol 13:00 Brazilian League Highlights 13:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 14:00 Premier League 16:00 Futbol Mundial 16:30 Goals Goals Goals 17:00 Premier League 19:00 Premier League 21:00 Goals Goals Goals 21:30 Premier League Classics 22:00 Live Premier League
01:00 Futbol Mundial 01:30 Super League 03:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 04:00 Super 14 06:00 World Sport 06:30 Futbol Mundial 07:00 NRL Full Time 07:30 Portuguese Liga 09:30 Goals On Monday 11:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 11:30 World Hockey
Battle In Seattle on Show Movies
Star Listings (UAE Timings) STAR Movies 20:20 Christmas Caper 21:50 Happy Texas 23:30 Yeti 00:55 City On Fire 02:20 7-10 Split 03:55 Ground Zero: The Deadly Shift 05:20 Christmas Caper 06:50 Happy Texas 08:30 7-10 Split 10:05 Comebacks, The 11:30 Yeti 12:55 No Bad Days 14:35 Solar Destruction 16:05 Urgency 17:30 Keeping The Faith STAR World 20:00 Australia’s Next Top Model 20:50 Charlie’s Angels 21:00 Boston Legal 21:50 Who’s The Boss? 22:00 Grey’s Anatomy 23:00 [V] Tunes 00:00 [V] Tunes 01:00 [V] Tunes 02:00 Kyle XY 03:00 Scrubs
03:30 Scrubs 04:00 Stone Undercover 05:00 American Idol 06:00 Grey’s Anatomy 06:50 Charlie’s Angels 07:00 American Idol 08:00 Australia’s Next Top Model 08:50 Jackie Chan Adventures 09:00 The King Of Queens 09:30 The Bold and the Beautiful 10:00 Kyle XY 10:50 Charlie’s Angels 11:00 Grey’s Anatomy 11:50 Who’s The Boss? 12:00 [V] Tunes 13:00 American Idol 14:00 Scrubs 14:30 Scrubs 15:00 Stone Undercover 16:00 American Idol 17:00 East West 18:00 Cops S19 18:25 Cops S19 18:50 Who’s The Boss? 19:00 American Idol Granada TV 20:00 The Paul O’Grady Show
21:00 Warzone 22:00 Emmerdale 22:30 Coronation Street 23:00 Warzone 00:00 The Chopping Block (Series 1) 01:00 Parkinson (Series 7) 02:30 Romance Wednesday: William And Mary (Series 3) (Double Bill) 04:00 Homes From Hell 05:00 Emmerdale 05:30 Coronation Street 06:00 The Chopping Block (Series 1) 07:00 Romance Wednesday: William And Mary (Series 3) (Double Bill) 08:30 Parkinson (Series 7) 10:00 Holiday Homes From Hell 11:00 Emmerdale 11:30 Coronation Street 12:00 Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 2) 13:00 Romance Wednesday: William And Mary (Series 3) (Double Bill) 15:00 What Katie Did Next (Series 1) 16:00 Emmerdale 16:30 Coronation Street 17:00 Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 2) 18:00 Romance Wednesday: William And
Mary (Series 3) (Double Bill) Channel [V] 21:00 [V] Countdown 23:00 Backtracks 23:30 Double Shot 00:00 Loop 00:30 [V] Tunes 01:00 [V] Plug 01:30 Loop 02:00 Backtracks 03:00 XO 03:30 [V] Tunes 04:00 [V] Plug 04:30 The Playlist 05:00 [V] Countdown 07:00 Backtracks 07:30 Double Shot 08:00 Loop 08:30 [V] Tunes 09:00 [V] Plug 09:30 Loop 10:00 Backtracks 11:00 XO 11:30 [V] Tunes 12:00 [V] Plug 12:30 The Playlist - Mother’s Day Special 13:00 Keys To The VIP Double Bill
14:00 [V] Tunes 14:30 [V] Tunes 15:00 Backtracks 15:30 Double Shot 16:00 Loop 16:30 [V] Tunes 17:00 [V] Plug 17:30 Loop 18:00 Backtracks 19:00 XO 19:30 [V] Tunes 20:00 [V] Plug 20:30 The Playlist Fox News 20:00 Happening Now 21:00 The Live Desk 23:00 Studio B with Shepard Smith Live 00:00 Your World with Neil Cavuto 01:00 Glenn Beck with Glenn Beck 02:00 Special Report with Bret Baier 03:00 The FOX Report with Shepard Smith 04:00 The O’Reilly Factor 05:00 Hannity 06:00 On the Record with Greta Van Susteren 07:00 The O’Reilly Factor 08:00 Hannity
09:00 On the Record with Greta Van Susteren 10:00 Glenn Beck with Glenn Beck 11:00 Fox Report 12:00 Special Report with Bret Baier 13:00 The O’Reilly Factor 14:00 FOX & Friends First Live 15:00 FOX & Friends Live 17:00 America’s Newsroom 18:00 America’s Newsroom 19:00 Happening Now National Geographic Channel 20:00 Inside -Inside The Legion : 1 21:00 Don’t Tell My Mother... -Don’t Tell My Mother : Pakistan S2 22:00 4Real - Peru 22:30 4Real - Vancouver 23:00 Theme Week -World’s Deadliest Animals : Asia: Land Of Extremes 00:00 Seconds From Disaster -Russia’s Nuclear Sub Nightmare S2.5 - 6 01:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Bettle Battles: Kwang Bang 02:00 Trapped -Hurricane Hospital 03:00 DogTown -New Lives S2-4 04:00 Monkey Thieves -Beggar’s Banquet 20 04:30 Monkey Thieves -Cops And Robbers
21 05:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Bettle Battles: Kwang Bang 06:00 Lockdown -Inmate University 07:00 Guardians Of Nature -Italy 08:00 Trapped -Hurricane Hospital 09:00 Wild Detectives -Turtles 09:30 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet Making Scents 18 10:00 Theme Week -World’s Deadliest Animals : Asia Pacific 11:00 Seconds From Disaster -Russia’s Nuclear Sub Nightmare S2.5 - 6 12:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Bettle Battles: Kwang Bang 13:00 Wild Wednesday -Monkey Thieves : Missing In Action 22 13:30 Wild Wednesday -Monkey Thieves : Drug Raid 23 14:00 Wild Wednesday -Rescue Ink : Rebels With A Cause 1 15:00 Theme Week -World’s Deadliest Animals : Asia Pacific 16:00 Inside -Inside The Legion : 2 17:00 Seconds From Disaster -Russia’s Nuclear Sub Nightmare S2.5 - 6 18:00 Wild Wednesday -Monkey Thieves : Missing In Action 22
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
33 Flight Schedule Arrival Flights on Wednesday 05/05/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 263 Beirut Wataniya Airways 188 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 306 Cairo Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Turkish A/L 772 Istanbul DHL 370 Bahrain 853 Dubai Emirates Etihad 305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 138 Doha Kuwait 802 Cairo Cargolux 792 Luxembourg Falcon 201 Dubai Jazeera 503 Luxor Jazeera 527 Alexandria Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok 529 Assiut Jazeera British 157 London Kuwait 382 Delhi Kuwait 302 Mumbai Fly Dubai 053 Dubai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 352 Cochin Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 344 Chennai Kuwait 362 Colombo Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 121 Sharjah Qatari 132 Doha Iran Air 603 Shiraz Etihad 301 Abu Dhabi Iran Aseman 6791 Mashad Falcon 203 Dubai Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 182 Bahrain Middle East 404 Beirut 711 Baghdad/Najaf Alnaser Wataniya Airways 102 Dubai Jazeera 165 Dubai Mahan Air 5066 Mashad Egypt Air 610 Cairo Kuwait 672 Dubai Oman Air 645 Muscat Saudi Arabian A/L 508 Riyadh Royal Jordanian 800 Amman Damascus Wataniya Airways 432 United A/L 982 Washington Dc Dulles Egypt Air 621 Assiut Fly Dubai 057 Dubai Jazeera 525 Alexandria Jazeera 693 Shiraz Wataniya Airways 422 Amman Kuwait 562 Amman Saudi Arabian A/L 9370 Jeddah Saudi Arabian A/L 500 Jeddah Kuwait 552 Damascus Nas Air 745 Jeddah Qatari 134 Doha Kuwait 546 Alexandria Kuwait 544 Cairo Nas Air 703 Riyadh Bahrain Air 344 Bahrain 061 Baghdad Rovos Etihad 303 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 427 Bahrain Emirates 857 Dubai Gulf Air 215 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 402 Beirut Saudi Arabian A/L 510 Riyadh Jazeera 493 Jeddah Arabia 125 Sharjah Jazeera 239 Amman Srilankan 227 Colombo/Dubai Jazeera 497 Riyadh Wataniya Airways 304 Cairo Yemenia 824 Sanaa/Doha Kuwait 166 Paris/Rome Wataniya Airways 106 Dubai Kuwait 542 Cairo 502 Beirut Kuwait Wataniya Airways 202 Jeddah Kuwait 618 Doha Kuwait 786 Jeddah Kuwait 674 Dubai Jazeera 177 Dubai Kuwait 614 Bahrain Kuwait 774 Riyadh Kuwait 102 New York/London Indian 575 Chennai/Goa Fly Dubai 061 Dubai Middle East 402 Beirut Rovos 081 Baghdad Jet A/W 572 Mumbai Wataniya Airways 404 Beirut Jazeera 459 Damascus DHL 372 Bahrain Gulf Air 217 Bahrain Emirates 859 Dubai Qatari 136 Doha United A/L 981 Bahrain Jazeera 429 Bahrain Lufthansa 636 Frankfurt Jazeera 449 Doha Jazeera 185 Dubai Shaheen Air 441 Lahore/Karachi Kuwait 548 Sharm El Sheikh/Luxor India Express 393 Kozhikode/Cochin KLM 0447 Amsterdam/Bahrain Egypt Air 606 Luxor Pakistan 215 Karachi Wataniya Airways 108 Dubai
Time 00:10 00:30 00:50 01:05 01:15 02:15 02:25 02:55 03:25 04:45 04:50 05:25 05:30 06:10 06:15 06:20 06:30 07:20 07:50 07:55 08:00 08:05 08:10 08:20 08:20 08:25 08:40 09:00 09:20 09:25 09:55 10:30 10:45 10:45 10:50 10:55 11:05 11:15 12:20 12:55 13:15 13:15 13:30 13:35 13:35 13:35 13:40 13:50 13:50 14:00 14:10 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:55 15:05 15:30 15:30 15:45 16:40 16:50 16:50 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:15 17:20 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:05 18:35 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:50 18:50 18:55 18:55 18:55 19:00 19:05 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:30 20:05 20:20 20:30 20:30 20:50 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:35 21:55 22:10 22:30 22:30 22:40 23:00 23:10 23:10 23:10 23.15 23:55 23:55
Departure Flights on Wednesday 05/05/2010 Airlines Flt Route Time Jazeera 528 Assiut 00:05 India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode 00:25 994 Mumbai/Chennai 00:50 Indian Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt 00:50 Pakistan 206 Lahore 01:10 Turkish A/L 773 Istanbul 02:15 DHL 371 Bahrain 03:15 Emirates 854 Dubai 03:45 Etihad 306 Abu Dhabi 04:00 Qatari 139 Doha 05:00 Wataniya Airways 101 Dubai 06:50 Jazeera 524 Alexandria 07:00 Jazeera 164 Dubai 07:00 Gulf Air 212 Bahrain 07:45 Wataniya Airways 181 Bahrain 07:50 Wataniya Airways 431 Damascus 08:10 British 156 London 08:25 Kuwait 545 Alexandria 08:35 Fly Dubai 054 Dubai 08:40 Kuwait 543 Cairo 08:45 Kuwait 177 Frankfurt/Geneva 08:55 671 Dubai 09:00 Kuwait Wataniya Airways 421 Amman 09:10 Kuwait 551 Damascus 09:10 Kuwait 561 Amman 09:15 Arabia 122 Sharjah 09:20 Cargolux 792 Hong Kong 09:35 Emirates 856 Dubai 09:40 Kuwait 117 New York 10:00 Qatari 133 Doha 10:00 Etihad 302 Abu Dhabi 10:10 Iran Air 602 Shiraz 10:20 Iran Aseman 6792 Mashad 10:55 Jazeera 692 Shiraz 11:15 Wataniya Airways 401 Beirut 11:35 Gulf Air 214 Bahrain 11:35 Falcon 204 Baghdad 11:45 Wataniya Airways 303 Cairo 11:50 405 Beirut 11:50 Middle East Kuwait 541 Cairo 12:00 Rovos 062 Najaf/Baghdad 12:00 Jazeera 492 Jeddah 12:15 Alnaser 712 Najaf/Baghdad 12:15 Jazeera 238 Amman 12:25 Kuwait 103 London 12:30 Kuwait 501 Beirut 13:00 Kuwait 785 Jeddah 13:30 Mahan Air 5065 Mashad 13:40 Wataniya Airways 201 Jeddah 13:45 Jazeera 426 Bahrain 13:55 Egypt Air 611 Cairo 13:55 Oman Air 646 Muscat 14:15 Kuwait 673 Dubai 14:30 Royal Jordanian 801 Amman 14:30 Wataniya Airways 105 Dubai 14:30 Fly Dubai 058 Dubai 14:35 Egypt Air 622 Assiut 14:40 Medinah 14:45 Saudi Arabian A/L 509 United A/L 982 Bahrain 14:50 Jazeera 176 Dubai 14:55 Jazeera 496 Riyadh 15:00 Beirut 15:10 Wataniya Airways 403 Kuwait 617 Doha 15:35 Kuwait 547 Sharm El Sheikh/Luxor 15:40 Saudi Arabian A/L 501 Jeddah 15:45 Nas Air 746 Jeddah 15:45 Jazeera 458 Damascus 15:50 Saudi Arabian A/L 2370 Jeddah 15:55 Kuwait 773 Riyadh 16:05 Qatari 135 Doha 16:20 Kuwait 613 Bahrain 16:20 Nas Air 704 Medinah 16:35 Rovos 082 Baghdad 17:00 Bahrain Air 345 Bahrain 17:25 Etihad 304 Abu Dhabi 17:35 Gulf Air 216 Bahrain 18:05 Cairo 18:05 Wataniya Airways 305 Emirates 858 Dubai 18:05 Arabia 126 Sharjah 18:20 Jazeera 262 Beirut 18:20 Saudi Arabian A/L 511 Riyadh 18:35 Jazeera 184 Dubai 18:35 Jazeera 448 Doha 18:50 Jazeera 428 Bahrain 19:10 Srilankan 228 Dubai/Colombo 19:10 Yemenia 824 Sanaa 19:40 Wataniya Airways 107 Dubai 19:40 Kuwait 283 Dhaka 20:00 Kuwait 361 Colombo 20:20 Fly Dubai 062 Dubai 20:50 Kuwait 331 Trivandrum 21:00 Middle East 403 Beirut 21:20 Jet A/W 571 Mumbai 21:30 Wataniya Airways 187 Bahrain 21:35 Gulf Air 218 Bahrain 21:55 Kuwait 801 Cairo 22:00 DHL 373 Bahrain 22:00 Kuwait 675 Dubai 22:10 Emirates 860 Dubai 22:25 Falcon 102 Bahrain 22:30 Qatari 137 Doha 22:35 Kuwait 203 Lahore 22:40 Kuwait 301 Mumbai 22:45 Jazeera 612 Lahore 22:55 Jazeera 526 Alexandria 23:20 Jazeera 502 Luxor 23:30 Jazeera 636 Aleppo 23:35 United A/L 981 Washington Dc Dulles 23:40 Kuwait 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 23:50
FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161
ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya behind Caesars bakery one room and separate bathroom only Keralite Christian bachelors. Call 66452684. (C 2216) Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya from May end onwards, for executive bachelors or a couple, in a CAC bldg with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, near Integrated School, Noor stores bldg, spacious rooms and big hall. Call 66752359, 97635928. (C 2218) 5-5-2010 Sharing available for a single decent Filipina lady to share with a single lady (Filipina) in Hawally, Fourth Ring Road, opposite Jabriya, rent KD 58. Tel: 66189873. (C 2202) 4-5-2010 Sharing accommodation available in Salmiya with a Keralite Christian family. CAC building, one room and separate bathroom. Rent KD 90. Contact: 99412052. (C 2212) Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya for
visiting family or two working ladies or couples in new CAC fully furnished two bedroom, two bathroom (attached) flat from 7th June 2010. Contact: 99494359. (C 2207) Furnished sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya with Keralite family, for a decent bachelor or couple. Contact 66576595 or 24346903 after 6 pm. (C 2206) 3-5-2010
FOR SALE Hummer H2, 2003, bronze color, very good condition, Price KD 5,250. Call: 97487676. (C 2217) Honda Accord, 2004 model, 4 doors, full options, 12,000 km, golden color. Call: 55522942. (C 2215) Pentium 4, Intel, 30 GB HDD, 256 MB RAM, CD ROM, 56K modem, sound card, speakers, 17” CRT monitor, ready for Inernet KD 25. P III, with 17” CRT monitor KD 15. Contact: 66244192. (C 2214) 5-5-2010 Toyota Corolla XLi, 1.8L, model 2007, golden beige color, excellent condition, done 61,000 kms only, cash
price KD 2,850. Contact: 97213518. (C 2202) 4-5-2010 Toyota Corolla for sale from middle of May, white, 1.8, 2002, 169,000 kms, excellent condition, price KD 1,600. Contact: 99593162 after 5 pm. (C 2211) 3-5-2010 SITUATION WANTED
I need job as accountant, I have 3 years experience in Kuwait. I can use difficult packages, good MIS skills (Oracle reporting system). I also have driving license. Call: 55355954. (C 2210) 3-5-2010
SITUATION VACANT
Housemaid wanted for British family, must speak English and like dogs, own
residency, full-time and livein, Salwa. Tel: 99301909. (C 2208) 3-5-2010
CHANGE OF NAME I, Maru Thappan Murugan holder of Indian Passport No: B5516428, have embraced Islam and hereby change my name to Mubarak. (C 2209) 3-5-2010
MIDCELLIANEOUS NYF Kuwait offers a rare and golden opportunity of 3 days silence meditation course from 13th May to 15th May at Salmiya by well experienced visiting master from India. For details contact: 25635450/ 99838117/ 99315825. (C 2213) 5-5-2010
SPECTRUM
34 CROSSWORD 979
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Calvin Aries (March 21-April 19) There is a desire to free yourself from the hard work you may have set up for yourself this week. You will, however, need to pay attention to your mood so that you do not become impatient with others. If you can just focus on the business at hand, you may learn some new techniques that you can use for yourself. The more you learn, the more opportunities open up for you to help you step up the corporate ladder. Monetary rewards are forthcoming. Talking and writing keeps you informed and you enjoy the connection with others that comes with writing, it draws out everyone’s imaginative talents. A social event involving friends and associates is quite fun this evening. You may be dancing to exotic music. Do not hesitate to network this evening. Taurus (April 20-May 20) You show a propensity to engage in hard work and to obtain financial security these days. If you do not have a family to care for, you may find yourself working at a couple of jobs. Setting up a good foundation is something you actually have fun doing. You may also perceive how to proceed with plans and decisions regarding your life goals. This is a good time to examine and think about what is important and of lasting value. This may be one of those times when you can be home early enough to enjoy a sunset. You enjoy your home and the friends that are around you. Any emotional bridge has a short stay with your positive attitude. Movies and music are your choices for entertainment this evening. A good Italian dinner may be in order tonight.
Pooch Cafe
ACROSS 1. A conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures. 4. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. 8. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects. 11. A self-funded retirement plan that allows you to contribute a limited yearly sum toward your retirement. 12. God of death. 13. A Kwa language spoken by the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria. 14. (Middle East) An ornamental metal cup-shaped holder for a hot coffee cup. 15. Having undesirable or negative qualities. 16. A light touch or stroke. 17. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural). 20. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group. 21. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. 23. A large Yoruba city in southwestern Nigeria. 25. Gather, as of as crops. 26. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine. 27. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods. 30. 1 species. 33. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey). 34. Ulcerated chilblain on the heel. 37. A lyric poet. 42. (Scotland) A small loaf or roll of soft bread. 43. A primeval personification of air and breath. 44. A white linen liturgical vestment with sleeves. 45. An international organization based in Geneva that monitors and enforces rules governing global trade. 46. A quantity of no importance. 47. The cry made by sheep. 48. An associate degree in applied science.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) Your ability to think logically may be suppressed today so be careful of irrational actions. Your intuition is sharpened and if you listen to that inner voice, it could save you from getting into areas of business, or issues that are sensitive. If you need to talk about your concerns, look for someone that has insight into the subject matter. Look for new opportunities to grow. The spirit of cooperation and a sharp mental attitude makes it easy for you to move forward. You can relax this evening at a social event. Tonight may be the best time to gather information that will help you politically in your community. Don’t be afraid to network; there are associations available now that makes all sorts of opportunities and possibilities available.
Non Sequitur
Cancer (June 21-July 22) You are apt to obtain success financially through the power of attraction. You may also spend a great deal of time interested in beautifying your surroundings at work and at home. You may be planning a party to improve your position in the world of money-making through a business associate or friend. Because of financial gains, you could also spend money very quickly. Be aware of this and take an attitude of easy-does-it. There could be sudden upheavals in your romantic sphere today. You may feel the urge to break out of monotonous patterns and engage in a spontaneous relationship with someone new. You could find that you are appreciated or valued for your feelings or your ability to act and get things done. This is a happy time. Leo (July 23-August 22) Someone older today may threaten your own inner need for change and growth. Be watchful and look for a motive, there could be some confusion behind the scenes. Tension of a psychological or political nature may be present. Financial responsibilities and investments need close attention. Play it safe where such things are concerned or you could find yourself in a hole. You may feel you are making slow progress, but remember that patience and hard work really does pay off in the long run. You could be most persuasive with others, through your intelligent ways of communication. A good conversation with close friends can be enjoyed when the workday is at an end. You draw emotional sustenance from ideals, friends and social involvement.
Zits
Virgo (August 23-September 22) This fast moving day
DOWN 1. An ancient Egyptian city on the west bank of the Nile opposite Cairo. 2. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa. 3. The 3 goddesses of fate or destiny. 4. Before noon. 5. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 6. A peninsula between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. 7. An informal term for a father. 8. A boy or man. 9. Jordan's port. 10. Of or relating to or characteristic of Cuba or the people of Cuba. 18. Ancient city is southeastern Italy where Hannibal defeated the Romans in 216 BC. 19. A room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter. 22. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples. 24. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan. 28. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens. 29. A member of an Algonquian people who lived west of Lake Superior. 31. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World. 32. Having the head uncovered. 35. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 36. A body of poetry that conveys the traditions of a society by treating some epic theme. 38. A nucleic acid consisting of large molecules shaped like a double helix. 39. A sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow). 40. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism. 41. A master's degree in business.
may require a bit of wit to navigate. You are able to influence someone that needs encouragement. Clear decisions affecting others could also be successful. This is a period of great mental activity and heightened communication with others. Intellectualism and the exchange of ideas are the things that have special appeal today. Put your mind to work and take care of any details that you may have mental discipline should come easily. You have lots of enthusiasm today and can easily accomplish anything you put your mind to now. It is fortunate that you are capable of keeping up with all the activities today. There are opportunities for outdoor activities and perhaps some group sports with your friends later in the afternoon.
Libra (September 23-October 22) Your attention to detail makes today a perfect day for working out contracts or other complex business negotiations. Difficulty comes with emotional plunges. The facts will usually clear up any confusion. Make sure the written word is understandable. If someone is just annoying, you try to get along, particularly if there are multiple distractions. Avoid needless stress to either body or psyche, whenever possible. You may find plans are being changed for some social affair this evening. Offer to do what you can to help. You are sure to make some new friends as well as a few new business contacts through this effort. There are special moments in a romantic involvement or in a marriage this evening.
Mother Goose and Grimm
Scorpio (October 23-November 21) A project in the work place today will benefit from your input. You feel strongly about expressing your thoughts and you might consider a quick memo to the person in charge. Keep a record of your memo. Remember, no good deed goes forward without some responsibility. You may find yourself in charge of the next project if your ideas are approved, think about it. You find yourself talkative and quick-witted. Ideas are clear and easy to process. This afternoon, enjoy a bit of time in seeing the world through a child’s eyes. It is wonderful how simple and true their thinking can be. Read to a child or look through a book of poems and find one to enjoy. Perhaps together, you can create a little poem. What fun it would be to record the end result.
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) A vital day is ahead with lots of action. You feel focused and clear-minded. You know just exactly what is needed and you set about tending to those things. You will find your best opportunity for success this afternoon may come from applying your writing, speech and intellectual skills while making a summary or report. This may mean you are taking a class at a Junior College or perhaps you are creating instructions or results from some difficult project. Use your powers of self-expression wisely as you talk about some memory of the past. Someone you may not know very well may want to know all about an old neighbor or boss. Someone else may cook for you this evening so change clothes and really relax and enjoy.
Yesterday’s Solution
yester
Yesterday’s Solution to
INTERNATIONAL CALLS Kuwait Qatar Abu Dhabi Dubai Raas Al Khayma Al-Shareqa Muscat Jordan Bahrain Riyadh Makkah - Jeddah Cairo Alexandria Beirut Damascus Allepo
00965 00974 009712 009714 009717 009716 00968 009626 00973 009661 009662 00202 00203 009611 0096311 0096321
Tunisia Rabat Washington New York Paris London Madrid Zurich Geneva Monaco Rome Bangkok Hong Kong Pakistan Taiwan Bonn
0021610 002127 001212 001718 00331 004471 00341 00411 004122 0033 00396 00662 00852 0092 00886 0049228
Word Sleuth Solution
Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You can’t feel blocked or frustrated today, there are too many things that need accomplishing. Because of allergies or the temperature of the room or some other source, there may be some reason for a slowdown in productivity. Step back and check out the cause, perhaps if you work with other people, they may also be having some problems. By making a conscious effort to adjust environmental problems, you may be very helpful in stepping up production. Communicating is at a high this afternoon. Your timing should be perfect, much better than this morning. Those around you should be responding in positive ways as well. Perhaps it just needed to stop raining. It is time to enjoy your friends in laughter this evening; pizza time.
Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Talking, writing, keeping a finger on the pulse of all that’s happening is fun and fast moving. A reporter or writer type of job keeps you very busy. Practice diplomacy when dealing with the public. Try to be fair. Of course, keeping with the truth is where you feel the best. You enjoy your job the best when you can obliterate any narrow-mindedness and again, that is done with truth and facts. There is personal confidence and optimism regarding the subject of your attention today. This afternoon you may set up your own web site or begin to learn about writing a computer program that could help make things more convenient for the things you do on a computer. Energies are building toward a new or deeper love relationship, pay attention.
Pisces (February 19-March 20) Conversations may be hard to understand today; people keep forgetting to include the subject matter. It doesn’t hurt to ask questions, unless someone is impatient. Give the difficult people feed back with a sentence that asks them to repeat their instructions or comments differently. And then mimic back the instructions or comments the way you understand them. This will help draw out anything out that you may have missed. Make it a point to be as low-key as possible and limit decision-making until much later this afternoon. You may have animals to care for this afternoon and they are wonderful distractions to lift the mood and they are a great way to relax. A quiet evening can create a more rewarding end to a most busy workday.
INFORMATION
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
35 FIRE BRIGADE Operation Room 112 Al-Madena 22418714 22545171 Al-Shohada’a Al-Shuwaikh 24810598 22545171 Al-Nuzha Sabhan 24742838 22434853 Al-Helaly Al-Fayhaa 22545051 24711433 Al-Farwaniya Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983 23927002 Al-Fahaheel Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983 23980088 Ahmadi Al-Mangaf 23711183 23262845 Al-Shuaiba Al-Jahra 25610011 25616368 Al-Salmiya
Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw
For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 HOSPITALS 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
POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station
24874330/9 CLINICS
Roudha
22517733
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22517144
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24848075
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24849807
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24848913
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24814507
Abdullah Salim
22549134
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22526804
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24814764
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22515088
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22532265
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22531908
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22518752
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22459381
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22451082
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22456536
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22465401
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25746401
Jabriya
25316254
Maidan Hawally
25623444
Bayan
25388462
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25381200
W.Hawally
22630786
Sabah
24810221
Jahra
24770319
New Jahra
24575755
West Jahra
24772608
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24775066
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24775992
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24311795
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24884079
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4892674
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4719048
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4710044
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4732263
Fintas
3900322
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988 AIRLINES
PHARMACIES ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE Ahmadi
PHARMACY Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan
ADDRESS Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd
PHONE 23915883 23715414 23726558
Jahra
Modern Jahra Madina Munawara
Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92
24575518 24566622
Capital
Ahlam Khaldiya Coop
Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop
22436184 24833967
Farwaniya
New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan
Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11
24734000 24881201 24726638
Hawally
Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy
Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B
25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554
EMERGENCY 112
PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists: Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea Dr. Masoma Habeeb Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy Dr. Mohsen Abel Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly
25622444 25752222 25321171 25739999 25757700 25732223 25732223
Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT): Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners: Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists: Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Plastic Surgeons: Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272
22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801
Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari Dr. Abdel Quttainah
22617700 25625030/60
Family Doctor: Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581
Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.
Zahra Qabazard Sohail Qamar Snaa Maaroof Pradip Gujare Zacharias Mathew
25710444 22621099 25713514 23713100 24334282
(1) Ear, Nose and Throat Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians: Dr Adrian Harbe 23729596/23729581 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 General Surgeons: Dr. Abidallah Behbahani 25717111 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148
(2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)
25655535 Dentists:
Dr Anil Thomas
3729596/3729581
Dr. Shamah Al-Matar
22641071/2
Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed
22562226
Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer
22561444
Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan
22619557
Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash
22525888
Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan
25653755
Dr. Bader Al-Ansari
25620111
Neurologists:
Paediatricians: Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300
Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Internist, Chest & Heart: DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Tel: 25339667 Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Consultant Cardiologist Tel: 2611555-2622555 Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123
Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan
Internists, Chest & Heart: Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3
Physiotherapists & VD: Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288
25345875
Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman
22636464
Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali
22633135
Endocrinologist: Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari
25658888
Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr
25329924
Psychologists/Psychotherapists Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677 William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677
Kuwait Airways Wataniya Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines
22433377 24379900 177 22477631 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22425566 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/2433141 22456700 22412284/5 22453820/1
INTERNATIONAL CALLS Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK)
0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345 00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044
Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Holland (Netherlands) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Ibiza (Spain) Iceland India Indian Ocean Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia
00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689 00241 00220 00995 0049 00233 00350 0030 00299 001473 00590 001671 00502 00224 00592 00509 0031 00504 00852 0036 0034 00354 0091 00873 0062 0098 00964 00353 0039 00225 001876 0081 00962 007 00254 00686 00965 00996 00856 00371 00961 00231 00218 00370 00352 00853 00389
SPECTRUM
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
he Hollywood beauties are currently filming upcoming romantic comedy ‘Just Go With It’ on the island of Maui, and they can’t stop “goofing off” on set and even challenged each other to an exotic dance competition involving hula hoops - which, after a close battle, was eventually won by Nicole. A set source said: “They are totally bonding together and look like absolute best friends, hanging out between takes, laughing, joking and goofing off together. “Friday was absolutely hilarious, the two of them decided to have a hula dance-off competition. We all had to judge who was the best hula dancer, and they performed for like five minutes each. They were both amazing and it was declared a tie, but they wouldn’t accept that ruling and both insisted on going another round, this time with a hula hoop! Nic just managed to pip Jen to the post, keeping going for around 30 seconds more. It was a tight one, but she just won by the skin of her teeth!” The pair have kept this light-hearted approach to their work up throughout filming, and fellow cast and crew are amazed by how well they have bonded. The source added to RadarOnline.com: “That’s completely what filming has been like the whole time, just fun and games, it’s amazing. “This has to be one of the most fun film sets I’ve ever been on, and I’m sure that’s going to come over on the finished movie. “Both Jen and Nic are absolutely awesome. They are totally down to earth and really approachable and friendly.” ‘Just Go With It’ stars Adam Sandler as a plastic surgeon called Patrick who is so afraid of commitment he tells his young girlfriend Beverly, portrayed by model Brooklyn Decker, he is already married. Jennifer will play his fake wife Palmer, while Nicole stars as Rea Ann Devlin. Nicole, 42, and 41-year-old Jennifer have been getting on so well, they have even started offering each other fashion advice. The source added: “It was so sweet, they were just like two regular girlfriends shopping together!”
T
in a ‘hula dance-off’ in Hawaii
Kidman beats Aniston
36
Paltrow’s hard marriage
Difficult old lady Brooke Shields
wyneth Paltrow admits her marriage isn’t always easy. The ‘Iron Man 2’ actress - who wed Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in 2003 - says they have to work at their relationship like everyone else but both respect the commitment they made to each other. Gwyneth - who has two children, Apple, five, and four-year-old Moses, with the ‘Fix You’ rocker - said: “It’s honesty and support and respect. I really have an incredible amount of respect for him as a man, as a human being and as an artist. We have our ups and downs like every couple, but I think you have to make that commitment to invest in a life together and then you don’t get that thing if you’re single and dating or whatever.”
G
rooke Shields intends to be very “difficult” for her children when she gets older. The ‘Furry Vengeance’ star who has two daughters, Rowan, six, and fouryear-old Grier, with husband Chris Henchy says she always wanted at least two children because they would both be able to look after her in her advancing years rather than just having one to cope with all the pressure. Brooke - who was an only child - told You mag-
B
Davis has body confidence ristin Davis has never been asked to lose weight by her ‘Sex and the City’ bosses. The 45-year-old actress - who plays Charlotte York Goldenblatt in the
K
films and TV series - is happy with her figure and insists she and her costars, Kim Cattrall, Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon, have never been pressurized to look a certain way. She said: “You get a lot of criticism out in the world or on the internet about how you look. ‘Fat here, fat there. Hippy this, hippy that.’ That has been my entire career. “But never at work. No one
azine: “One of the reasons I wanted to have more than one child was so there wouldn’t just be one to deal with me. because I intend to make it very difficult for them when I’m older. Why not?” Although the 44-year-old actress would love another baby, she is worried time is running out on her biological clock. She said: “I’d love more kids. I don’t know how much longer my clock is going to tick, so it’s going to depend on my egg age.” Brooke - who had a
at ‘Sex and the City’ has ever asked any of us four girls to lose weight. Thank God.” Kristin is also very grateful to ‘Sex and the City’ for giving her an incredible career. The brunette star believes she is still being offered roles and opportunities because of her portrayal of Charlotte and says her career has never been in a better place. She added in an interview with the new edition of Red magazine: “Remember when we were young, the actresses that we liked? They were young, even though they seemed older to us. And you thought that you had to make it in your 20s, like if you weren’t going to make it in your 20s, you weren’t going to make it. “So the fact I would be turning 45 and be the busiest, most successful I’ve ever been is very, very odd. And it is all because of Sex and the City, really.”
difficult childhood which involved having an alcoholic mother - claimed her own experiences had made her work hard to ensure her kids had the best childhood. She said: “What I’ve built for myself with my husband and my children, I feel so strong with it. I made really healthy choices. My mum was. great, you know. she was a crazy alcoholic but she was also fierce in protecting me. What I could rely on was her commitment to me.”
heryl Cole and will.i.am are being mocked over their closeness on the road. The ‘Fight for This Love’ singer is currently opening for the Black Eyed Peas on their European tour and the group’s other three members, Fergie, Taboo and apl.de.ap, have been teasing will and Cheryl about the amount of time they have been spending together. The ‘Where Is The Love?’ hitmakers have even been teasing the pair by singing “will and Cheryl sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g”. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Between shows, the slog of touring is a dull business. Cheryl’s presence has spiced things up during the first two nights in Dublin. Everyone has been teasing will and Cheryl about being an item and generally ripping the p**s. It’s playground
C
stuff. “The backing dancers have been getting in on the act with the most childish stuff.” Although rumors have surfaced the pair could be more than friends since Cheryl split from her soccer star husband Ashley Cole in February, pals insist their private tour meetings are innocent. The source added: “will has a mobile studio with him and he and Cheryl are planning to spend even more time in their making music during the 17 upcoming UK and European dates. “Cheryl’s been laughing about the ribbing though, saying will.i.am is more like a brother and he’s simply been showing off new beats.” will.i.am, 35, produced most of 26-year-old Cheryl’s ‘3 Words’ solo LP and has previously claimed he would move to the UK “if it meant being with” “so sexy” Cheryl.
Osbourne hungry for ‘harvest’
Cheryl Cole and will.i.am are being mocked
elly Osbourne can’t wait to “harvest” her vegetable garden. The 25-year-old star and her fiance, 20-year-old model Luke Worrall, have planted a host of edible delights at her Los Angeles home and she can’t wait to
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to be patient while we wait for it all to grow. Apparently it’s going to take eight weeks. I can’t wait to cook my first dinner with our harvest!” As well developing green fingers, Kelly’s culinary talents also stretch to baking and she has
Bullock wants James in son’s life andra Bullock still wants Jesse James to play a role in her adopted son’s life. The Oscarwinning actress has filed for divorce from the motorcycle entrepreneur following allegations he cheated on her with a string of women but says she would like him to be involved with three-month-old Louis because she knows what a great father he is. She told Britain’s Hello! magazine: “I will be adopting as a single parent. Anything else will be taken day by day. “I have a different relationship with Jesse now. A bittersweet one. One of new understanding. One of forgiveness. One of support for his recovery. One that changed my life. I don’t really know how our paths will intersect in the future, but the father I have known Jesse to be with all the kids is one that I hope Louis can experience one day, no matter how Jesse and I go on with our lives.” Jesse who recently left rehab following treatment for sex addiction - has three children, Chandler, 15, Jesse Jr., 12, and six-year-old Sunny, from previous marriages and Sandra would also like the kids to be involved in Louis’ life. She said: “I know my role is not one that exists on paper, but Louis is their brother, and Jesse and I will do whatever it takes for them to know that their world will not change and still be protected and safe and full of love. It will just have a slightly different dynamic now.”
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reap the benefits of her hard work. She revealed in her Closer magazine column: “Luke and I have spent the past week planting a vegetable garden at my house in Los Angeles. It’s been so much fun we’ve planted tomatoes, onions, carrots, garlic, chilli peppers and loads of herbs. Now we’ve just got
mastered how to make “perfect” sweet muffins. She explained: “I’ve also been baking lately - I’ve learned to make the perfect blueberry muffins, yum! I’ve been told if you’re going to eat treats you’re best off making them yourself so you know exactly what goes into them.” —Bang Showbiz
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Music & Movies
Stars nominated for 2010 Tony Awards tar wattage will burn bright at the 2010 Tony Awards with Denzel Washington, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Kelsey Grammer among those receiving nominations yesterday. Washington and Law were each cited for best actor performances in “Fences” and “Hamlet,” respectively. Zeta-Jones was nominated for best performance by a leading actress in a musical, “A Little Night Music,” and Grammer was nominated for lead actor in a musical, “L a Cage aux Folles.” “Fela!” — nominated for best musical-and “La Cage aux Folles” — nominated for the best musical revivaleach received 11 nominations, followed by “Fences”
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tions mean to her? “That I have to be forced to wear dresses, that’s what this means,” said Scott. “I’m really happy for this one, actually, because we created from nothing.” Besides Grammer, the actor-musical nominees were Sean Hayes, “Promises, Promises”; Douglas Hodge, “La Cage aux Folles”; Chad Kimball, “Memphis”; and Sahr Ngujah, “Fela!” Nominees for featured actress in a play: Maria Dizzia, “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play”; Rosemary Harris, “The Royal Family”; Jessica Hecht, “A View From the Bridge”; Scarlett Johansson, “A View From the Bridge”; Jan Maxwell, “Lend Me a Tenor.”
Scott Caan, second from right, writer/ producer/star of the film ‘Mercy,’ poses with the film’s director Patrick Hoelck, far left, and fellow cast members James Caan and Wendy Glenn at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Monday. James Caan is Scott’s father. —AP
Ellen Pompeo launches cancer prevention campaign ctress Ellen Pompeo, star of the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy,” is stepping beyond her surgeon’s role in the hit medical drama to encourage women to make their own health a priority to prevent cancer. The disease affects one in three women in the United States during their lifetime. Pompeo, a new mother and the daughter of a cancer survivor, said women are vital to battling and stopping the illness. “Cancer is something that touches everyone’s lives,” Pompeo told Reuters. “Women are
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with 10 nods. Nominated for best play were “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)” by Sarah Ruhl; “Next Fall,” by Geoffrey Nauffts; “Red,” by John Logan; and “Time Stands Still,” by Donald Margulies. Best musical nominations went to Green Day’s “American Idiot”; “Memphis”; “Million Dollar Quartet”; and “Fela!” “I am very proud and humbled by this extraordinary recognition of our work today,” said Michael Grandage, artsitic director of Britain’s Donmar Warehouse, who was nominated for directing “Red.” John Logan’s engrossing, of ten enthralling new play about art, an artist and the act of creation, received seven Tony nominations. Besides Washington and Law, the actor-play nominees include Alfred Molina, “Red”; Liev Schreiber, “A View From the Bridge”; and Christopher Walken, “A Behanding in Spokane.” In the actress-play category, the nominees were Viola Davis, “Fences”; Valerie Harper, “Looped”; Linda Lavin, “Collected Stories”; Laura Linney, “Time Stands Still”; and Jan Maxwell, “The Royal Family.” Harper, whose play has closed, said the nomination was “bittersweet.” “That was sad and disappointing but boy does this sweeten the pot,” she said. “And we have a 10-week commitment in Toronto. So there is an afterlife for the play, and that’s exciting.” The performers competing with Zeta-Jones for the actressmusical prize were Kate Baldwin, “Finian’s Rainbow”; Montego Glover, “Memphis”; Sherie Rene Scott, “Everyday Rapture”; and Christiane Noll, “Ragtime.” Scott, also nominated with Dick Scanlan for best book of a musical for “Everyday Rapture,” got the news Tuesday from her husband and she said they had a “celebratory vegetable juice” and soy muffin. What do the nomina-
Featured actor in a play nominees included David Alan Grier, “Race”; McKinley Stephen Henderson, “Fences”; Jon Michael Hill, “Superior Donuts”; Stephen Kunken, “Enron”; Eddie Redmayne, “Red.” Redmayne said Tuesday that working in New York has been a great experience for a “newbie” British actor. “From the beginning, I felt a sort of fear of being an impostor, of being a Brit bringing a New York play to New York,” he said. “The way it’s been embraced by people has been completely overwhelming.” Nominees for featured actor in a musical were: Kevin Chamberlin, “The Addams Family”; Robin De Jesus, “La Cage aux Folles”; Christopher Fitzgerald, “Finian’s Rainbow”; Levi Kreis, “Million Dollar Quartet”; Bobby Steggert, “Ragtime.” Nominees for featured actress in a musical were: Barbara Cook, “Sondheim on Sondheim”; Katie Finneran, “Promises, Promises”; Angela Lansbury, “A Little Night Music”; Karine Plantadit, “Come Fly Away”; Lillias White, “Fela!” Twyla Tharp, who choreographed and conceived the dance musical “Come Fly Away,” set to Frank Sinatra songs, competes for best choreography with Rob Ashford, “Promises, Promises”; Bill T. Jones, “Fela!”; and Lynne Page, “La Cage aux Folles.” Special Tony Awards for lifetime achievement were given to playwright Alan Ayckbourn (“The Norman Conquests,” a trilogy of three plays that won the best play revival Tony last year), and actress Marian Seldes (“A Delicate Balance,” “Three Tall Women,” “Tiny Alice”). The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut, will receive the regional theater award. Winners will be announced June 13 during a ceremony televised by CBS from Radio City Music Hall. —AP
Black Eyed Peas break digital sales record he Black Eyed Peas continue to steamroll their way into the record books. This week the group’s “I Gotta Feeling” surpassed Flo Rida’s “Low” as the best-selling digital song of all time, according to Nielsen SoundScan. “Feeling,” which spent 14 weeks at No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart last year, has now sold 5.56 million digital downloads, ahead of “Low’s” 5.54 million. The latter had been the biggest-selling song since March 2008, when it trumped Soulja Boy Tell’em’s 2007 hit
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Actor Jeff Daniels is joined by actress Lea Michele as he reads the nominees for ‘Best Musical’ during a news conference announcing the 64th annual Tony Award nominations yesterday in New York. —AP
Cancer Society online survey of about 2,000 women in March showed that 90 percent said they fall short of eating a healthy diet. About 85 percent do not get the minimum daily exercise of 30 minutes a day, five days a week, and 76 percent do not always protect their skin from the sun. “Women hold the keys to cancer prevention because they are the chief medical and chief operating officers of their individual households,” said Elizabeth Fontham, of the American Cancer Society. “But they really struggle to make their own health a priority.” —Reuters
busy taking care of other people. This is about choosing yourself.” Together with the American Cancer Society, Pompeo will launch a national campaign yesterday about cancer prevention. About half of all cancer deaths could be prevented by early detection, maintaining a healthy weight and diet, wearing sunscreen and avoiding tobacco products, according to the American Cancer Society. “My daily schedule is quite hectic, but I have to put my health first in order to be the best mom and wife I can be,” Pompeo said. A national American
‘Mademoiselle Chambon’ tells simple story expertly he simplest of stories can be elevated by first-rate acting and directing. Consider Stephane Brize’s “Mademoiselle Chambon,” a French film that achieves a subtle but devastating impact. It tells a familiar story of an extramarital romance, but what makes it unusual, especially among French films, is that the couple spend most of the movie fighting rather than surrendering to their attraction. Think of it as a latter-day “Brief Encounter,” another repressed romantic classic with lots of classical music on the soundtrack. The film, which screened in Los Angeles recently at the City of Lights, City of Angels festival, will earn fine reviews wherever it plays, but given its deliberate pacing, this may not be enough to captivate a restless American audience. Jean (Vincent Lindon) is a construction worker happily married to Anne-Marie (Aurore Atika). But when he happens to meet his son’s teacher, Mademoiselle Veronique Chambon
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(Sandrine Kiberlain), his whole universe is turned upside down. The teacher is also a violinist, and when Jean hears her play, he is enchanted. The fragile, ethereal Veronique is quite unlike his earthy wife, and Jean has a rugged masculinity that obviously intrigues the sheltered schoolteacher. Both Jean and Veronique resist the attraction, especially when Jean learns that his wife is expecting a second child. Shattered by his apparent rejection, Veronique decides to leave town, and this brings the romantic triangle to a climax. Brize favors static compositions involving very long takes, and while such a measured style can often be deadly, “Chambon” is riveting. This is partly because of sharp, unexpected touches in the writing. (The adaptation of Eric Holder’s novel is by Brize and Florence Vignon.) All of the characters burst out of stereotype. The apparently macho Jean proves to have a gentle, hesitant side that only makes him more appealing. —Reuters
“Crank That.” The Peas own two out of the top five best-selling digital songs in history. The group’s other ubiquitous 2009 hit, “Boom Boom Pow,” is in fourth place with 5.3 million. Behind Flo Rida is Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” (No 3 with 5.36 million) and rounding out the top five is Gaga again with “Poker Face” (5.13 million). SoundScan began tracking digital song sales in July of 2003, a little more than two months after Apple launched its popular iTunes Store. —Reuters
Louis-Dreyfus to receive Walk of Fame star ulia Louis-Dreyfus will receive a star yesterday on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The actress is the first “Seinfeld” cast member to receive the honor. The star unveiling comes eight days before the fifth season finale of Louis-Dreyfus’ CBS comedy “The New Adventures of Old Christine.” Louis-Dreyfus, 49, was born in New York City. She dropped out of Northwestern University in 1982 when she became a cast member of “Saturday Night Live.” She spent three seasons on “Saturday Night Live” before costarring in the NBC comedy “Day by Day.” LouisDreyfus has won two Emmys, one for “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and one for her portrayal of Elaine Benes on NBC’s “Seinfeld,” which aired from 1990 to 1998. —AP
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of her career. atin pop queen Gloria “I never should have Estefan is planning to opened that can of stage an autobioworms,” said Estefan, graphical musical in L as the Cuban-born sevenVegas scored by her hits, time Grammy Award multiple sources told AFP winner who has sold on Monday. The show, more than 90 million which is being backed by albums worldwide. “I legendary Vegas show procan’t talk about it right ducer Bernie Yuman, now but it’s going to be would take up residence at really different, that’s the Tropicana Hotel-Casino all I can say.” Yuman and would not feature perGloria Estefan and Tropicana hotel formances by the 52-yearold singer herself, the sources indicat- spokeswoman Brandie Feuer would not ed. Estefan, who hinted at “something confirm or deny the report over the big in Vegas” on Friday during an weekend. But sources with knowledge acceptance for a star on the Las Vegas of the situation confirmed the producWalk of Stars, later said she was plan- tion to AFP. No timeline was available ning “one of the most exciting things” for the production. —AFP
Actress Lynn Redgrave dies in Connecticut at 67 ynn Redgrave, a leading member of a British acting dynasty who was nominated for Oscars in 1966 for “Georgy Girl” and in 1998 for “Gods and Monsters,” has died of breast cancer, her family said Monday. Redgrave died at the age of 67 on Sunday night at her home in Connecticut, her publicist Rick Miramontez said. “Our beloved mother Lynn Rachel passed away peacefully after a seven-year journey with breast cancer,” her three children Ben, Pema, and Annabel said in a statement. “The endless memories she created as a mother, grandmother, writer, actor and friend will sustain us for the rest of our lives.” Redgrave, the London-born youngest child of actors Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, brought to the stage her reflections on one of Britain’s most celebrated and complicated theatrical families. Her elder brother Corin Redgrave, also an actor, passed away less than a month earlier and her niece, Natasha Richardson, died after a skiing accident in 2009. She is survived by her sister, the actress Vanessa Redgrave. She made her professional debut in London’s Royal Court Theatre’s 1962 production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and her Broadway debut in 1967 in “Black Comedy” with Michael Crawford and John Clark, whom she married soon after.
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Distinguished career Her first feature film appearance was in the bawdy comedy “Tom Jones” in 1963, but her breakout role came with a starring performance as the naive young Georgy in the 1966 movie “Georgy Girl,” which earned her an Oscar nomination for best actress. With her tall frame, striking dark red hair and blue eyes, her notable roles in the 1970s included playing The Queen in Woody Allen’s “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex” and the title role role in “The Happy Hooker” in 1975. She returned to further critical acclaim in a series of films in the late 1990s, including a small role in the independent film “Shine” and then “Gods and Monsters,” for which she was nominated for an Oscar as best supporting actress. Although lacking the stature of her more famous older sister Vanessa, she enjoyed a distinguished and varied career that included television and radio performances in Britain and the United States, including her last TV credit for an appearance on “Ugly Betty” last year. Redgrave also lent her voice to many audio books. She received one of several Tony nominations for her 1993 play, “Shakespeare For My Father,” in which she delves into her efforts to bridge the gap with her aloof father. Corin Redgrave revealed in a later biography that their father was bisexual. She subsequently wrote and performed other plays, including a one-woman show “Nightingale,” inspired by the life of her maternal grandmother. Her private life hit headlines in the late 1990s and 2000s, when she discovered that her husband had fathered a child with the future wife of their son, Benjamin. She and Clark, who had also acted as her agent and manager, divorced in 2000. She was also known for openly discussing her emotional and weight problems, including a battle with bulimia as a young girl, and served as a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers. After undergoing a mastectomy for breast cancer in 2003, she released a book in 2004 with her daughter Annabel called, “Journal: A Mother and Daughter’s Recovery From Breast Cancer.” A private funeral will be held later this week. —Reuters
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wo of the most powerful women in entertainment and fashion teamed up to throw a party in New York City. TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and Gap creative director Patrick Robinson co-chaired the annual Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala Benefit on Monday night in New York. This year’s theme celebrated the American woman. Stars like Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Lopez were there. Many were accompanied by the designer who dressed them. Winfrey walked the arrival line with Oscar de la Renta, wearing a navy couture gown by the designer. She said she looked forward to going into the party and having a few shots of tequila. “Harry Potter” actress Emma Watson took a break from studying for her final
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
exams at Brown University to attend, wearing a white custom gown by Burberry. “I’m pretty lucky I get the best of both worlds and that’s why I’m so blessed,” the teenager said. When asked what goes on inside the Met Gala, Anna Wintour responded with a laugh, “Oh, we’re very, very well behaved.” Lady Gaga was slated to perform at the ball but didn’t walk the red carpet. Instead, the famous face with the most unusual dress was Kristin Davis singer Katy Perry. She wore a dress that literally lit up with LED lights. “I feel like I really have to represent those girls that just go for it and do their own thing and, you know, have their own bit of spontaneity and self confidence,” Perry said. “I think sometimes in fashion it can get a little stuffy so I wanted to lighten up!”—AP
Maggie Gyllenhaal
(From left) Model Alessandra Ambrosio and Karolina Kurkova. — AFP photos
British fashion editor and the editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour.
Taylor Swift
Designer Donatella Versace Jennifer Lopez Anne Hathaway
Eva Longoria Parker
Tina Fey
Renee Zellweger
(From left) Designer Stella McCartney, actress Kate Hudson and actress Liv Tyler.
Jessica Alba
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Designer Oscar de la Renta and Oprah
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he ‘Toxic’ singer has teamed up with fashion house Candie’s - who she has previously modeled for - to create a limited-edition collection of apparel and accessories for the teen and tween brand, which go on sale this summer. Britney tweeted: “At my photo shoot for the limited edition collection I designed for Candie’s! I think you guys will love it!”
A spokesperson for the label confirmed the Britney Candie’s collection - which will be available from Kohl’s stores in the US and kohls.com - and said the pieces will reflect Britney’s personal style, with prices ranging from $24 to $58. Britney will also continue to model for Candie’s and will appear in her own clothes in another set of ads for her collection, which will be due in the autumn. Other
celebrities to successfully start clothing lines include Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen; Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B line; Jennifer Lopez’s Sweetface brand; Kate Moss, who designs for Topshop and Justin Timberlake, who has his William Rast clothing line. — Bang Showbiz
Alex Perry walks down the runway after his ‘Arabian Princess’ show.
Models parade evening gowns during Alex Perry’s ‘Arabian Princess’ show at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney yesterday. The event highlights Australia’s leading apparel designers as well as the up and coming talents.—AFP photos
Taylor Swift gets her style inspiration from her fans
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he ‘Love Story’ singer - who was recently named as the new face of cosmetic brand CoverGirl - says she looks at what other girls are wearing and gets ideas from them. She said: “I’m a big people-watcher. When I see a girl walking down the street wearing a really cool necklace or an outfit that’s put together in a way I wouldn’t have thought of, it’s inspiring to me. Also, girls come through my meet and greet lines every night wearing dresses or outfits I love.
That’s really my favorite way to be inspired by fashion.” Taylor, 20, was thrilled to sign-up to front the CoverGirl campaigns as make-up is something she has always loved as it can transform her look. She told People magazine: “I love make-up. When I go on stage, I get to play with my look and try on all kinds of different colors - try red lips tonight, purple eyeshadow tomorrow. You get to play around with all these different characters,
and I think that’s one of my favorite things about makeup - you can put on a new character.” Although she is promoting cosmetics, Taylor has no plans to launch a clothing range. She said: “I’m not planning on a fashion line right now. I’m really wrapped up in recording and writing my next album, so I’ve only taken on a few extra things lately. I love fashion and dressing up for red carpets, but I want to wait until I have enough time to dedicate to something like that.”
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ary J Blige’s debut perfume pays tribute to confident woman. The ‘Stronger’ singer has teamed up with beauty brand Carol’s Daughter to create her first fragrance, My Life, and says it has been inspired by her personality. She said: “It is the epitome of a confident woman. It doesn’t scream out for attention - it’s feminine but strong, powerful yet humble. It is . my life.” She also wanted to design the scent for her fans and pay homage to her female followers. She said: “It’s a special tribute to us as women
. . . we’re soft, we’re edgy - we’re all those things. And I wanted this perfume to represent every female’s everyday life.” The fragrance is described as a fruity floral and its ingredients include gardenia, pear, freesia, tuberose, jasmine, and lily. The scent will be sold exclusively on online shopping website HSN.com for $46, with one dollar from the purchase of each bottle donated to her charity, FFAWN, which helps women succeed through scholarships and grants. — Bang Showbiz
www.kuwaittimes.net
Life-size model baby elephants sit on steps leading up to The National Gallery, during a photocall for the launch of ‘The Elephant Parade’, in Trafalgar Square, central London yesterday. The 260 handpainted models, which have been created by leading figures from the art and design world, including Paul Smith, Marc Quinn and Julien Macdonald, will be placed across London until July. —AFP
NY auctions to signal return of good times ew York’s spring art auctions kicked off yesterday with prices being watched for signs that the art market is clawing its way back along with the overall economy. Christie’s opens the season with 72 lots yesterday, including the collection of Frances Lasker Brody, a philanthropist from Los Angeles who died last year. Brody’s collection includes the main feature of the sale, Picasso’s “Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust,” estimated to sell for between 70 and 90 million dollars. That could put the Picasso within range of the world record for his works, which was 104 million dollars paid for “Garcon a la Pipe” in New York in 2004. Christie’s and Sotheby’s, the two big rival auction houses, will hold impressionist and modern sales first, followed by contemporary sales the following week. With Wall Street profits back from the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the auctions will feature a string of top-
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A painting titled ‘Self Portrait’ by Andy Warhol.
end works aimed at big-spending collectors. “The Brodys bought it in the ‘50’s. It was only exhibited once in 1961. When we got into Brody’s house in November it was quite an experience,” said Conor Jordan, head of the impressionist department for Christie’s. The New York Times reports that Christie’s and Sotheby’s battled for four months to win the Brody sale, with the winner coming away after offering an undisclosed guaranteed sum to be paid to the sellers, whatever the result of the auction. This revives a practice largely abandoned when the late 2008 financial meltdown hit the art market. Other Christie’s auction stars are the rural scene “Fertility” by German Edvard Munch, which is estimated at 25 to 35 million dollars, and a Matisse called “Nu au coussin bleu,” estimated to sell for 20 to 30 million dollars. Sotheby’s may have missed out on the Brody collection but today will sell a string of masterpieces including a
Matisse called “Bouquet pour le 14 juillet 1919,” estimated at 18 to 25 million dollars. A comparable painting named “Les coucous, tapis bleu et rose,” sold for 45.2 million dollars in Paris in 2009, setting a Matisse record. During contemporary art week, Christie’s is selling a collection from the late thriller writer Michael Crichton, author of “Jurassic Park.” The author’s collection also includes an astonishing range of contemporary art, including “Flag,” by Jasper Johns, as well as paintings from David Hockney, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. Sotheby’s will be offering a huge self-portrait of Andy Warhol at an estimated price of 10 to 15 million dollars and a red canvas from Mark Rothko for 18 to 25 million dollars. “Three years ago (the Rothko) would have been proposed at between 30 and 40 millions,” said Tobias Meyer, head of contemporary art at Sotheby’s. The record for a Rothko was set in New York in 2007 at 72 million dollars. —AFP
People walk past a sculpture titled ‘Figure Germe dite l’aprsmidinette’ by Jean Arp. —AFP photos
Egypt unearths Ptolemaic statue World’s oldest in hunt for Cleopatra tomb person dies in Japan he world’s oldest person, Japanese woman Kama Chinen, has died a week short of her 115th birthday after a life spanning three centuries, Guinness World Records said yesterday. Chinen lived on Okinawa in Japan’s far south, a subtropical island whose inhabitants are well known for their robust health into advanced age. “Guinness World Records is saddened to learn the news of the death of the oldest living person, Kama Chinen from Japan, who died on May 2, 2010 aged 114 years 357 days,” the organization said.
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Chinen became the world’s oldest known person when Gertrude Baines died in a Los Angeles hospital at age 115 in September. —AP “Though confined to a wheelchair in her later years, Chinen still enjoyed the wonders of nature and being outside.” Chinen’s death hands the title of world’s oldest person to Eugenie Blanchard, a 114-year-old French woman living on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, according to the Gerontology
Research Group (GRG). Blanchard was born on February 16, 1896, the group said. Chinen’s reign as the oldest living person began on the death of US woman Gertrude Baines, who passed away in September 2009. Kyodo News agency, citing Japan’s health ministry, said an unidentified 114-year-old woman had died Sunday afternoon on Okinawa after being taken to hospital from a nursing home. The woman was using a wheelchair but still enjoyed taking a walk on sunny days, the ministry said, adding that her relatives had asked for her name and personal details to be withheld. Kyodo said Chiyono Hasegawa, 113, in southern Japan’s Saga prefecture was now the country’s oldest person. Japan has the world’s highest life expectancy, and Okinawa has been home to many centenarians, a fact variously attributed to the healthy diet and environment of the island. Elderly Okinawans have among the world’s lowest mortality rates from many chronic diseases of ageing, due to both genetic and lifestyle factors, according to the Okinawa Centenarian Study, a project that began in 1975. Its researchers found elderly Okinawans “have impressively young, clean arteries” and low cholesterol compared to Westerners, reducing the risk for coronary heart disease by up to 80 percent and keeping stroke levels low. The group attributes the healthy arteries to common lifestyle factors-a healthy diet, regular exercise, moderate alcohol use, avoidance of smoking, blood pressure control, and “a stress-minimizing psycho-spiritual outlook”. Old Okinawans also have lower rates of many cancers, in part due to a generally low caloric, low-fat and high-fibre diet that is rich in vegetables and fruits, and to their physical activity, the study found. Japan’s population is ageing much faster than Western European countries or the United States, official data show, stoking concerns about how the elderly will be cared for as the tax base shrinks after years of economic malaise. Average life expectancy in Japan climbed sharply after World War II and is today the world’s highest. In 2008, life expectancy at birth was 86.05 years for women and 79.29 years for men, according to government statisticians. In 2008, Japan’s population of elderly citizens-those 65 years and over-reached 28.22 million, or more than 22 percent of the total population-a ratio projected to rise to nearly 32 percent by 2030.—AFP
rchaeologists trying to locate Cleopatra’s tomb in Egypt have unearthed a huge black granite Ptolemaic statue, the country’s antiquities chief said yesterday. The find near the Mediterranean city of Alexandria was “one of the finest Ptolemaic royal statues (to have been discovered), although without a head,” said Zahi Hawass, the head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.
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“This huge statue is probably King Ptolemy IV, especially since it was he who built this temple” more than 2,000 years ago, Hawass added without specifying its exact proportions. The mission hunting for Cleopatra’s tomb, which also includes Dominican Egyptologist Kathleen Martinez, had also found the original entrance to the temple of Taposiris Magna, said Hawass. The Ptolemaic dynasty was of Greek origin and ruled Egypt between 323 and 30 BC. It was
the last pharaonic dynasty before Egypt came under Roman rule, and Cleopatra was its last sovereign. Cleopatra and her lover, the Roman general Mark Antony, committed suicide after their defeat at the battle of Actium, which consolidated Octavian’s rule of Rome. Archaeologists hope that their dig of the ancient temple of Taposiris Magna, erected to honor the Egyptian god Isis in around 300 BC, will soon reveal the pair’s resting place. —AFP
Shazam! Berlin looks at superheroes’ Jewish roots f Superman had had his way, Hitler would have wound up begging for mercy before the League of Nations in Geneva in 1940, and there would
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New exhibition in Berlin argues it was no coincidence that the biggest superheroes were created by Jewish comic artists. —AFP
never have been an Auschwitz. A major new exhibition, which opened at Berlin’s Jewish Museum, argues it was no coincidence that the biggest superheroes including Superman, Spiderman, Batman and the Hulk were all created by Jewish comic artists. “Heroes, Freaks and Superrabbisthe Jewish Color of Comics” looks at 45 of the most successful comic creators, overwhelmingly children of European Jewish families who had emigrated to New York. As comic books entered their golden age in the 1930s and 1940s, the most iconic superheroes were products of those troubled times, even taking on Adolf Hitler and his Nazi henchmen before the Americans did. “The point of the exhibition isn’t to say comics are a Jewish specialty,” said Anne Helene Hoog, one of the curators. “Rather, it looks at the question why so many Jews became comic artists, and what issues preoccupied them.” In February 1940, nearly two years before Pearl Harbor, “How Superman Would End the War” by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster has the Man of Steel making quick work of the diminutive Nazi leader. “I’d like to land a strictly nonAryan sock on your jaw, but there’s no time for that!” Superman tells a grovelling Hitler as he dispatches him to Switzerland to face justice, along with Stalin to boot. —AFP
KATARINA PEERS
‘He was born in Poland’ featured by Katrina peers ast Monday, Pianist Katrina Peers performed a Chopin recital titled ‘He Was Born in Poland’. The event was well attended by music enthusiasts and was held at the Dar Al-Athar AlIslamiyyah. The event featured the classical Chopin pieces; Polonaise G Minor Op. posthumous, Polonaise A Major Op.40 Nr 1,
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Mazurka A Minor Op.68 Nr 2, Mazurka B Flat Major Op.7 Nr 1, Etude E Major Op.10 Nr 3, Etude C Minor Op.10 Nr 12, Nocturne C Sharp Minor Op. posthumous, Waltz E Minor Op. posthumous, FantaisieImpromptu C Sharp Minor Op.66, Marche Funebre from Sonata B flat Minor op.35, Scherzo B Flat Minor Op.31.