2 Aug

RI PT IO N BS C SU THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF

40 PAGES

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2010

Four dead as thousands defy curfew in Kashmir

SHAABAN 21, 1431 AH

Bedbugs take bite out of Big Apple

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conspiracy theories

Where are we 20 years later?

By Badrya Darwish

T

oday is a dark day in the history of Kuwait. It is a day a Kuwaiti or an expat who lived in Kuwait in 1990 will never forget. August 2nd. The nightmare! I call it a nightmare because all of a sudden people in the country woke up on a Thursday morning to the rumbling of tanks rolling over the streets of Kuwait.

People were flabbergasted and seized by shock. One friend of mine who worked in the Ministry of Information swore to me that till midday she didn’t know they were Iraqis. So when she was driving to the exit of the ministry at 1 pm, she thought the tank was Kuwaiti. She saluted the tank and when the answer came in an Iraqi accent, she almost fainted in the car.

Another Kuwaiti friend of mine who was near Bneider thought the tanks were Kuwaiti and she went to give them water.

To her shock, when she found out they were Iraqi soldiers, she fell to the ground.

There are hundreds of similar stories or even worse that took place across Kuwait. I need as many as 100,000 newspapers to recollect them all. The shock, however, was that a neighboring Arab brother had invaded Kuwait.

Twenty years on, that day is still on the minds of everyone. Imagine the kid who was five years old, or another teenager who was 13, or a youth. Will he ever forget this? What about the hundreds of casualties, the hundreds of demolished houses, the dilapidated infrastructure and the transformation of a tiny, beautiful and peaceful state that was ripped apart. People were shattered.

The war got over, Kuwait was liberated, hamdullilah, but the psychological impact has remained in the hearts of everyone regardless if they were a teenager, an adult or a child. And what for? We remain unaware of who needed the war and why? Even 20 years later, nobody knows who is the beneficiary of all this disaster? Next came the environmental impact. Related to that was the health issue which was a result of the spread of uranium and chemicals left over from the war. Nobody talked, cared or admitted about that impact.

The feeling of insecurity, which prevailed all over, has become a legacy too.

The worst part of all is that the situation in Iraq has not settled down. Iraq itself is demolished and shattered now between militias. The Arab world is divided. The region is in turmoil. We exchange ambassadors and have good relations on a formal level. But what about the human-tohuman level? When will Iraq settle and be back to normal just like any other country? When will Iraq have relations with its neighbors?

It remains to be seen if there is a need for another 20 years, just like the Iraqi ambassador mentioned when he first arrived in Kuwait, for things to calm down.

7 hours magic sleep number WASHINGTON: People who sleep more or fewer than seven hours a day, including naps, are increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, a study published yesterday shows.

Sleeping fewer than five hours a day, including naps, more than doubles the risk of being diagnosed with angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke, the study conducted by researchers at West Virginia University’s (WVU) faculty of medicine and published in the journal “Sleep” says. And sleeping more than seven hours also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, it says.

Study participants who said they slept nine hours or longer a day were one-and-a-half times more likely than seven-hour sleepers to develop cardiovascular disease, the study found. The most at-risk group was adults under 60 years of age who slept five hours or fewer a night. They increased their risk of developing cardiovascular disease more than threefold compared to people who sleep seven hours.

Women who skimped on sleep, getting five hours or fewer a day, including naps, were more than two-and-a-half times as likely to develop cardiovascular disease. Short sleep duration was associated with angina, while both sleeping too little and sleeping too much were Continued on Page 14

NO: 14808

Webber wins in Hungary to take F1 lead

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150 FILS

Walcott makes point as Arsenal win Emirates Cup PAGE 20

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Invasion still hurting Iraq-Kuwait ties 20 years on, US set to leave Iraq WASHINGTON: Twenty years ago, Saddam Hussein’s forces invaded Kuwait, setting in motion US military action that is only now coming to a close, as American troops prepare to withdraw from Iraq.

The ill-advised move by Saddam triggered a US-led response that quickly pushed his army out of Kuwait, followed by years of military

tension culminating in the American invasion of Iraq seven years ago.

The 1990-1991 Gulf war, dubbed “Operation Desert Storm”, enjoyed wide international support, even among Arab countries, while the 2003 invasion stirred controversy and bitter opposition around the world.

Continued on Page 14

BAGHDAD: Wounds from Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait 20 years ago still run deep and mar ties between the two neighbours despite efforts to overcome what has been described as the Iraqi ex-dictator’s worst mistake. The Aug 2 assault was rapidly met with a concerted international military response that pushed Saddam’s forces out of the emirate and eventually led to his ouster by a US-dominated coalition in 2003. As a result of that invasion, Iraq continues to pay war reparations to Kuwait, and disagreements over the two countries’ land and maritime borders persist.

“This was one of the most dreadful decisions he (Saddam) ever, ever took,” Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told AFP. “Really, Iraq has been suffering from that decision ever since - the sanctions, the (UN) Security Council resolution. Over the last seven years, I, as a foreign minister, have been struggling to Continued on Page 14

KUWAIT: Iraqi soldiers cross a highway carrying white surrender flags in this Feb 25, 1991 file photo. — AFP (See Page3)

BlackBerry faces squeeze in Gulf UAE to suspend services • Saudi Arabia to block Messenger

DUBAI: A man walks past a sign advertising the BlackBerry service at a shopping mall yesterday. — AFP

DUBAI/RIYADH: Over a million BlackBerry users face being cut off from key services in Saudi Arabia and the UAE after authorities stepped up demands on maker Research In Motion for access to encrypted messages sent on the smartphone.

BlackBerry’s Messenger application has spread rapidly in the Gulf Arab region but because the data is encrypted and sent to offshore servers, it cannot be tracked locally.

“Certain BlackBerry services allow users to act without any legal accountability, causing judicial, social and national security concerns,” the United Arab Emirates’ Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Regulatory Authority (TRA) said in a statement. The UAE said it would suspend BlackBerry Messenger, email and web browser services from Oct 11 until a fix was found while industry sources said Saudi Arabia had ordered local telecom firms to freeze Messenger this month.

Yesterday’s moves Continued on Page 14

Mullen: US has Iran attack plan WASHINGTON: The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said the US military has a plan to attack Iran, although he thinks a strike is probably a bad idea. Adm Mike Mullen, the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, has often warned that a military strike on Iran would have serious and unpredictable ripple effects around the Middle East. At the same time, he says the risk of Iran developing a nuclear weapon is unacceptable. Mullen would not say which risk he thinks is worse. But he told NBC’s “Meet The Press” that a military strike remains an option if need be. And he said that, should it come to that, the military has a plan at hand.

He didn’t elaborate. — AP

Pak floods death toll rises to 1,100 Amir sends condolences PESHAWAR: The death toll from Pakistan’s worst floods in living memory topped 1,100 yesterday as outbreaks of water-borne disease emerged and penniless survivors sought refuge from the raging torrents. More than 1,100 people have been killed and over 1.5 million affected by monsoon rains, flash floods and landslides in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and at least another 47 have died in Pa k i s t a n i - a d m i n i s t e r e d Kashmir, officials said.

Thousands of homes and vast

swathes of farmland have been destroyed in a region of Pakistan reeling from years of extremist bloodshed.

HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of condolences yesterday to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, on the victims of the floods. HH the Amir prayed that Almighty Allah would have mercy on the souls of the deceased, and that the wounded would recovery swiftly. He also hoped that Pakistan would overcome this natural disaster.

Continued on Page 14

Chelsea Clinton weds in white

RHINEBECK, New York: Former US president Bill Clinton (right) and wife US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (second left) are pictured with Chelsea Clinton during her marriage ceremony with Marc Mezvinsky on Saturday. — AFP

RHINEBECK, New York: A radiant Chelsea Clinton wearing a traditional white dress and veil married her longtime boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky in a ceremony that filled her powerful parents with “overwhelming emotion”.

Bill Clinton walked Chelsea, 30, down a white aisle laid in the gardens of Astor Courts estate, overlooking the Hudson River in upstate New York on a balmy Saturday evening. The former Democratic president previously admitted worrying he might choke up as he gave away his only child to Mezvinsky, 32. But a photo handed out by the family showed him solemn in his dark suit as he guided the bride through rows of smiling guests.

Mezvinsky, who works at a Manhattan hedge fund, and Chelsea were married under a vine trestle in an inter-faith ceremony presided over by a rabbi and minister. The Clintons are Methodists while Mezvinsky, who wore a black suit, white shirt, straight black tie, and a prayer shawl over his shoulders, is Jewish. High security was imposed with a police helicopter enforcing a no-fly zone, patrol cars blocking road access, and 400-500 guests arriving at the secluded estate in a convoy of charter buses, while the Clinton entourage travelled in a black van and SUVs. After the wedding, Bill and Hillary Clinton spoke of their “great pride and overwhelming emotion”. “We could not have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate the beginning of their life together, and we are so happy to welcome Continued on Page 14

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s top “Young Imam” Muhammad Asyraf talks on an Islamic topic on the final day of the competition on July 30, 2010. — AFP

‘Imam Idol’ seeks to energize youth KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s top “Young Imam” has vowed to soften the stern image of clerics and energise young Muslims af ter winning a hugely popular TV talent show search for a top young Islamic leader. The show, which attracted worldwide attention, saw 10 finalists tackle tasks such as reciting verses from the Holy Quran, washing corpses and slaugh-

tering sheep according to Islamic rules. Following the reality TV formula of shows such as “American Idol” and “The X Factor”, one contestant was eliminated each week until the series drew to a close on Friday night.

Religious scholar Muhammad Asyraf Mohammad Ridzuan, who saw off nine rivals to win the Continued on Page 14

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NATIONAL

Monday, August 2, 2010

Healthy, happy life important

Kuwaitis live longer than other Arabs

By Ahmad Saeid KUWAIT: A recently published study shows that Kuwaitis are likely to live longer than any other Arab peoples. With an average life expectancy of 77.6 years, Kuwait came the first in the Arab world, followed by the UAE and Bahrain with 77.4 and 65.4 years respectively. The study, carried out by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) measured life expectancy rates in these countries in the period between the 2005 and 2010, predicting that life expectancy rates at birth in "both Kuwait and UAE [will] continue rising to reach 82 years by mid-century."

It also revealed that the lowest life expectancy rates in the Arab world are in Somalia and Djibouti, whose citizens have an average life expectancy of 49.6 and 55.3 respectively. The study found that the average life expectancy in the Arab world over the last five years was 69.2 years, with females living on average almost four years longer at 71.2 to 67.5 for males.

A senior Ministry of Health (MoH) official said that the study's positive results were a consequence of Kuwait's good health infrastructure, relatively high GDP, prosperous lifestyle and high level of literacy and education. At the same time, said MoH Public Health Consultant Dr. Ahmad Al-Shatti, while the life expectancy index is

one life quality indicator, it is not the only one that should be looked at.

"What is most important is that people live a healthy and happy life, not only a long one," Dr. Al-Shatti stressed.

"The focus must be on investing in health, rather than spending on ill people," he asserted. "I'm talking about chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and combating smoking, which form the real challenges facing the health authorities in Kuwait."

Al-Shatti noted that Kuwait still has a long way to go in increasing the life expectancy of Kuwaiti people to the level of those in developed nations, and to do this, it has to work on different levels.

"First of all is to promote a healthy lifestyle and invest in public health, and reduce risk factors as I said before; on the other hand, we should concentrate on developing health facilities, which is already in not a bad situation in Kuwait," he explained.

Al-Shatti stressed that health is a collective public responsibility. "Everyone is responsible for this," he emphasized. "We need to know what we eat, how to eat, and when to eat; for example, we can't just eat whatever we want and not move and burn those calories we consume. That's why knowledge is a key challenge in both promoting a healthy life and increasing life expectancy."

Watch out for Ramadan 'charity' fraudsters KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah receiving Brunei's Prince Haj Al-Muhtadee Billah at the Kuwait International Airport yesterday.

Brunei prince arrives in Kuwait KUWAIT: The Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office in Brunei Darussalam, Prince Haj AlMuhtadee Billah, arrived here yesterday, beginning a four-day official visit to the State of Kuwait. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold talks on means to bolster political relations and cooperation in other areas between the two nations.

The prince and his accompanying delegation were greeted upon their arrival by

His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Deputy National Security Chief Sheikh Mishaal AlAhmad Al-Sabah, Acting Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah, Acting Parliament Speaker Hussein Nasser Al-Huraiti, and the head of the accompanying delegation of honor Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid AlSabah.

The official welcoming delegation also

included ministers, governors, senior state officials, and commanders of the Army, Police, and National Guards.

The delegation of honor accompanying the visiting dignitaries is presided over by the President of Kuwait’s National Security Bureau, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid AlSabah.

The Bruneian Prince is accompanied on his visit by Prince Abdul Qawi, and other senior state officials. — KUNA

US-born citizens investigated over dual citizenship KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior's general department for citizenships and passports is currently investigating the cases of several children of Kuwaiti citizens who were born in the United States of America and only applied for Kuwaiti citizenship after reaching 18 years of age.

Detectives are attempting to ascertain whether or not these individuals hold valid US citizenship, since US naturalization laws state that American citizenship is granted to any person born on American soil, although the individuals' parents insist that their children do not hold any other citizenship but Kuwaiti.

According to the MoI department's regulations, a Kuwaiti citizen can face major penalties, up to and including the cancelation of their Kuwaiti citizenship, if it is proven that they have provided false information regarding the status of their children during the citizenship application process.

The current investigation is part of the department's determination to detect dual citizenship cases, with the Supreme Council on Citizenship being the body entitled to make any final decisions on withdrawing citizenship, reported Al-Qabas.

The ministry department is also currently in the process of completing an investigation into 24 other citizens suspected of having dual citizenship and is also looking into a recent case in which a female dual citizen was arrested at the Nuwaiseeb border checkpoint in possession of an expired Kuwaiti passport, in addition to a Saudi one, which she said she had obtained after marrying a Saudi citizen in Saudi Arabia where she now lives.

Investigations into the case revealed that her husband is wanted in connection with a number of criminal cases in Kuwait.

KUWAIT: A delegation from the Saad Al-Abdullah Police Academy recently visited the field where graduate officers from the Faculty of Social Sciences were undergoing training. They discussed the report released by the faculty on the rising drop-out rate in the Academy. The report focused on assessing the planning measures adopted, among other proposed solutions.

kuwait digest

Citizenship victims and frauds

By Abdulwahab Al-Sinan

M

any people in Kuwait are suffering because they live without any nationality. They are usually ready to give everything to obtain nationality of the country in which they've lived all their lives.

At the same time, we also read and hear every day of individuals among us who hold dual nationality and more.

This strange situation has become the norm.

A friend of mine told me a story about a Kuwaiti friend of his who also holds another GCC nationality and has two passports one of them Kuwaiti and other from the other country; this may not be unusual, but what surely is strange is that this man lives in his nation of origin while renting out the home in Kuwait which he received

from the Kuwaiti government!

This man is employed by a Kuwaiti ministry and receives a monthly salary, despite no longer living in the country.

It gets worse - while his mother, who also had dual nationality, died 20 years ago, this man continues to cash her Kuwaiti state pension in full as he continues to hold documents from her that officially authorize him to do so, among other things.

Also in the name of his dead mother, he trades in residency visas and distributes licenses to companies!

Where is the NA committee for government oversight and why don't they hold the government responsible for such gross abuses? And where is our government when such things are taking place?! — Al-Anba

MoC waiting for retirement policy notification from CSC KUWAIT: The Ministry of Communications’ (MoC) administrative affairs department has apparently yet to receive official notification from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) regarding the enforcement of a mandatory retirement policy for all ministry personnel who have worked there for over 30 years.

According to one ministry insider, a list of all those affected by the new ruling is to be submitted to communications minister Dr. Mohammed Al-Busairi as soon as the MoC receives official notification from the commission.

The insider revealed that around 1,000 MoC

staff members are expected to be included on the list, all of whom have occupied their positions for 30 years or more. Some of those listed reportedly include assistant undersecretaries and department heads.

The CSC has already notified several other ministries of the new retirement policy, asking them to issue retirement notices to all those staff affected.

In other news, the MoC has announced that it is opening an investigation into 22 violations recorded at the ministry by the Audit Bureau and included in its 2009 report.

KUWAIT: A senior Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) official has warned those wishing to donate to charity during Ramadan against being swindled by fraudsters posing as charity collectors who visit homes claiming to be collecting financial and material donations for charitable causes during the holy month.

Ahmad Al-Sane, the Acting Director of the MSAL's Charitable Societies and Mabarrah

(benevolent funds for orphans) department, appealed to Kuwaiti and expatriate donors to immediately inform the police or contact the ministry if anybody posing as a charity collector comes to their homes to ask for donations, which is a violation of the country's charity collection law.

Al-Sane told Al-Jarida that the MSAL and Ministry of Interior are taking strict measures

against individuals who abuse visit visas during Ramadan to fraudulently collect money, warning that any individual caught doing so will immediately be referred to the concerned authorities, along with their sponsor, to face legal action.

The senior MSAL official emphasized that cash could only be donated at registered charitable societies' offices.

Plans to end Ghazali sewage issue KUWAIT: The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) has developed a comprehensive plan to eliminate the problem of effluents being drained into the Ghazali street's sewer, which also augments the Free Trade Zone's waste disposal problem.

A detailed report on this matter has been referred by Minister Dr Fadhel Safar to the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister of Defense, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak AlSabah, who serves as the Head of the Supreme Council of Environment.

According to the report, the main reasons behind the Ghazali waste disposal problem are the fissures present in the sewage network, as well as the fact that some pipelines have been damaged due to overload.

Furthermore, faulty construction has affected rainwater drains, reported Al-Rai. With regard to the steps taken to solve the problem, reports indicate that the ministry will work toward renewing the sewage network, by dividing it into 16 stages that will end in three years. The process will also include extending the network's capacity as much as possible, in order to avoid dumping sewage into the sea.

701 forced to work outside during daytime KUWAIT: Recent inspections by Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) staff of 626 building sites in Kuwait found 701 construction workers working on outdoor building sites in the swelteringly hot period between 12 PM and 4 PM, between June 1 and Aug 21, when such outdoors work is prohibited under recently introduced legislation.

Hussein Al-Mutairi, the head of the MSAL's inspection team, told Al-Qabas that the legislation had helped to protect the rights of construction workers and reflects Kuwait's commitment to maintaining worker safety as per international treaties on this issue which Kuwait is signatory to. Al-Mutairi pointed out that the number of violations of the regulations recorded had fallen significantly following a number of unannounced checks of building sites by inspection teams.

He said that the new ruling had been welcomed by both employers and workers, adding that the inspection teams will continue visiting building sites to ensure that the legislation is adhered to.

He explained that statistics on this month's inspections would be collected and submitted to the inspection department manager at the end of the month.

KUWAIT: Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received at Seif Palace yesterday journalist Ali Baji Al-Enezi who presented him with a copy of his book entitled "Nasser AlMohammad: Resistance and Reform."

kuwait digest

Suspended newspapers!

By Abdul Rahman Al-Najjar

W

hen we say that the publication of newspapers was suspended, we do not mean that it is a one-day event where it faced temporary de-registration. We really mean that the newspaper was forced to halt printing, taking regular readers by surprise. They will not be able to read the pages they had grown accustomed to.

The closure of Kuwait local daily, Arrouiah, as of July 29, 2010 was one such incident.

Two poignant front page articles written by Board Chairman Shereidah Al-Moasherji and its Editor in Chief, Soud Al-Subaie respectively titled 'Farewell' and 'Writing In Pain' marked the end of the newspaper's publication history. The moving articles touched a cord with readers. They were pained to learn that a moderate newspaper's publication was sus-

pended. It covered accurate news, and gained a lot of respect and readership within a short span.

On other example is that of Kuwait local daily, Awan. Its publication was suspended three months earlier on May 3rd, 2010. Its last issue had a touching editorial written by Editor In Chief, Dr Mohammed Al-Romaihi titled 'A Farewell Stop.'

A third well-read newspaper, Al-Soutt headed by veteran media personality and journalist, Editor In Chief Yousif Al-Sumaitt was also suspended in January 2009.

So many good newspapers have disappeared due to reasons they could not be avoided by publishers or altered by its readers. We really expected the Kuwait Journalists Association (KJA) to react strongly on the shutting down of the three newspapers, but they have not done so!

NATIONAL

Monday, August 2, 2010

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‘It seemed impossible to live a normal life’

Kuwaitis reminiscent of the 1990 Iraqi invasion

By Hussain Al-Qatari KUW AIT: Toda y m a rk s the 20th a nn iversa ry of the Ira qi inva sion of Kuw a it, a n event tha t is often quoted to be the m a in rea son behind Kuw a it slink ing into regression in m a ny a sp ects. The tra um a tic exp erience still ha un ts m a ny Kuw a itis w ho a re old enough to rem em ber

KUWAIT: The Moroccan Ambassador to Kuwait, Mohammed Balyaeesh, celebrated the anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s ascension to power. The celebration was held on Saturday at the Kuwait Sheraton hotel in the presence of several dignitaries and members of the diplomatic community.

—Photos by Joseph Shagra

No plans to form Islamist bloc in parliament: Al-Tabtabae KUWAIT: A prominent Islamist parliamentarian has ruled out the possibility that the next parliamentary term could feature efforts to form an Islamic parliamentary bloc, although he emphasized the importance of strengthening coordination between Islamist MPs regarding local political issues.

“The true test for Islamist MPs begins at the start of the next term during the process of electing the parliamentary committees”, said MP Dr Walid Al-Tabtabae in a press release issued on Saturday.

He revealed that the Islamist parliamentarians are focusing primarily on ensuring that they are represented on the parliamentary education, health, human rights and negative phenomena committees.

In the past few days, news reports have suggested that a proposal to establish a cross-party Islamist bloc was put forward during a meeting at MP Khalid Al-Sultan’s diwaniya held prior to the end of the last parliamentary term. It’s believed that during the meeting, some of the MPs present called for the creation of a conservative bloc, rather than an Islamist one, since the latter might

be more problematic due to the differences between the parliament’s Islamist coalitions.

On a separate issue, meanwhile, a number of former members of the Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC) have issued a joint statement calling for an official apology from veteran MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun “for questioning the allegiance of the council’s members and calling for criminal investigation to be launched concerning suspicious actions which he claimed had been perpetrated by them.”

The statement, signed by Dr. Abdurrahman Al-Muhailan, Mussa Marafi and Abdurrahman AlHaroun, states, “The questioning party hinted in his questions that the council’s members have authorities through which they can abuse their position and carry out activities which are suspected to be linked to manipulating public funds.”

The former SPC members also accused the oil minister of providing inaccurate and false information in his responses to ministers’ questions during the previous grilling, however, “despite his great knowledge of the details of the contracts in question, which were mentioned in the MPs’ inquiries.

The 54-year-old retired teacher says, “It happened all of a sudden; the night before I was thinking of what I should cook for lunch the next day. Before the next day began at about 2 in the morning, I heard the news.

I felt as if I had lost my balance.

‘Saddam invaded Kuwait’ sounded like a string of words that made no sense.”

Zahra and her husband sat in the living room and listened to the radio, “I felt immobile; I knew I needed to pack what I can pack and go see my mother, but I couldn’t move.” Relatives called and agreed to meet in Zahra’s parents house. Soon it was dawn, and Zahra took a few essentials; some clothes for her kids and they all headed to her parents’ house. She spent about two weeks there before leaving to Bahrain. “We could see the shock on everyone’s face as we were driving. People were agitated, taken by surprise.”

Many disturbing stories were circulated during those days, Zahra recollected, “We heard stories about young men who were tortured and women who were raped. This only made our stay in Kuwait more unbearable,” says Zahra.

Zahra’s daughters Shaimaa, Hussah and Nora were 13, 10 and 6 have recollections of the invasion.

The most painful aspect of the war was the fact that many people who were neighbors and friends were unable to trust one another, “We read articles and heard reports on radio channels about people from other Arab countries cheering Saddam for invading Kuwait. It was not easy for us to accept others from that point onwards,” admits Zahra.

Returning to Kuwait after the invasion and during the Gulf War was more painful, says Zahra. “We saw our houses damaged, our cars wrecked, our valuables stolen, legal documents were lost, family albums were thrown away and it was very painful to think of all the people that were lost during the war. Two of my brothers were held hostage,” she says. One of Zahra’s brothers was released, but the other was found dead.

He was badly mutilated.

Despite the fact that a generation was born after the war, Zahra says it is important that people learn about their history.

She concludes, “It’s very important that we learn about the reasons that set us back, and it is important that we learn to defeat them and re-build ourselves again, as difficult as that sounds.”

w ha t ha d ta k en pla ce. Despite the fa ct tha t tw enty yea rs ha ve pa ssed, the m em ory is still vivid. Kuw a it lost m a ny lives, a nd in the course of the w a r, quite a lot of the country’s infra structu re w a s da m a ged. Som eone w ho lived through the w a r a nd lost a sibling, Za hra Al-B eloushi, sa ys tha t the tra um a tic seven m onths a re difficult to forget.

PORTO-NOVA: HH the Amir’s envoy and Deputy Minister of State for the Amiri Diwan Affairs, Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah recently attended a ceremony to celebrate the 50th National Day Anniversary of Benin.

‘Incompetent ministers should step down’ KUWAIT: Carrying out a Cabinet reshuffle will not help correct the flaws that were detected in the work of a certain minister, a lawmaker remarked. He opined that any minister who is incapable of meeting demands during the current term should step down from his position.

“The Cabinet is required to complete at least 50 percent of the plan, while their failure in garnering such an achievement would prove that flaws in the government’s work,” MP Abdurrahman Al-Anjari said in an interview that was published in Al-Rai daily.

He asserted that MPs would question the government and claimed that a lack of coordination exists between members of the Cabinet. He noted that the government’s performance was not gauged as per a unified arrangement which makes assessment a difficult task.

Meanwhile, Al-Anjari rejected claims which accused the Parliament’s financial committee of ‘flattering’ the Cabinet, insisting that the panel’s members and the Cabinet have decided to work jointly on implementing certain laws, reported Al-Rai. On another issue, the MP reiterated that

the National Action Bloc’s commitment to refrain from rejecting an interpellation motion that was filed against the Commerce Minister in case a lapse is detected on his part. They also rejected that the Chamber of Commerce be used as a “trump card during the negotiation process.”

In another issue, Al-Anjari predicted that a draft law to write-off citizens’ loans will fail to receive approval if presented during the upcoming term of the Parliament “since most MPs have withdrawn support in favor of new amendments made to the insolvency fund law.”

Ministers to discuss development KUWAIT: The Council of Ministers will hold its ordinary session today to be headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak AlSabah.

Officials said that the Cabinet would continue to hold discussions on the development plan and government program for the current year, and the ministries’ readiness to prepare projects for the next year.

The Cabinet will be briefed with a report from Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Housing Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah about obstacles that hinder the development project in the first year and the manner they can be overcome.

They will discuss plans that relate to the project’s requirements, especially in finance-related matters, reported Al-Anba.

The government intends to set up an independent fund to support the private sector. On the other hand, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Mohammad AlAfasi will brief the Cabinet on steps taken to implement law number 8 for the year 2010.

Gunshot death KUWAIT: Preliminary investigations into the death of a 33-year-old Special Forces officer indicate that he died from a single gunshot wound to the heart. Members of the man’s family apparently rushed to his room on hearing the gunshot, finding a Colt pistol next to his body, reported Al-Anba. Ministry of Interior Assistant Undersecretary Tariq Hamada was quickly at the scene, along with investigators, with the body of the man being removed for autopsy to help determine whether the death was a suicide or simply a tragic accident.

In another case, a soldier with Special Unit 35 was rushed to Jahra Hospital after a colleague mistakenly shot him in one foot with an M16 rifle at the military camp where they were deployed.

New AC systems at local hospitals

KD1,780 for two nights umrah pilgrimage KUWAIT: Average prices for performing the Ramadan umrah pilgrimage have leapt to record levels this year, reaching KD1,780 per person for return flights from Kuwait and a two-night stay (bed only) in a hotel overlooking the Kaaba. Al-Watan further reported that these prices are only quoted for the first part of Ramadan and may even double during the last part of the holy month, particularly in the last ten days.

Local observers in Saudi Arabia told Al-

Watan that the soaring prices are the result of last year’s sluggish Ramadan Omrah season due to concerns at the time over the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic combined with the global economic crisis.

Demand for seats on all five airlines’ flights travelling between Kuwait and Jeddah is soaring, with Kuwait Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Wataniya Airways, NAS Air and Jazeera Airways all reporting steep growth in ticket sales on the route and the

first three carriers scheduling a total of 84 extra flights to cope with the 40 percent leap in demand.

Meanwhile, temperatures will remain high during the holy month of Ramadan, reaching 46 degrees to create ‘perfect summer weather,’ said Kuwaiti meteorologist Dr Saleh AlOjairi, reported Al-Watan. Furthermore, Ojairi added humid weather conditions would ease during Ramadan but visibility-reducing sand storms may occur occasionally.

KUWAIT: Kuwait University Director Dr Abdullah Al-Fuhaid inaugurated the new multi- purpose building built for the College of Education at Kaifan.

The two-storied structure was constructed at a cost of KD1.8 million and covers an area of 3,200 square meters. It has several educational halls and is also equipped with state-of-the art laboratories.

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has awarded a tender to import advanced air conditioning units to be installed at local hospitals and other medical facilities in the country, replacing the existing outdated air-conditioning equipment.

The move was announced by MoH Assistant Undersecretary for Public Services and Maintenance Affairs Samir Al-Asfour, reported Al-Rai. The senior official also revealed that the health ministry is currently coordinating with several local maintenance firms to help reinforce AC units with ice blocks in order to enable them to overcome the recent increased humidity rates.

INTERNATIONAL

4

Monday, August 2, 2010

Baby found abandoned near mall

Fire breaks out in Jouhara Complex, six injured

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A fire that broke out on the fif th floor of Jouhara Complex in Salhiya yesterday was quickly brought under control, with its proximity to the local Kuwait Fire Ser vice Directorate (KFSD) building, which sits a few meters away, helping to ensure that firefighters were very quickly at the scene. Firemen from other local brigades also helped in putting out the blaze, with paramedics treating six individuals at the scene for the effects of smoke inhalation. The complex’s advanced sprinkler system also helped firefighters to contain the blaze quickly and easily.

Ba by found A newborn baby boy was rushed to Farwaniya Hospital after passersby found him abandoned near a mall in the area. The baby is reportedly in good health.

Ca r a ccidents Two Kuwaitis were rushed to hospital after being injured in a car accident on Gulf Road. In a separate incident, a 22-year-old Syrian man suffered an open fracture to one knee when he was hit by a car in Salmiya.

He was quickly taken to Mubarak Hospital. In a third case, a 19-year-old Kuwaiti man suffered a broken kneecap, while a 56-year-old compatriot sustained heavy bruising to his right hand in a car crash near Saad AlAbdullah College. Both were taken to Sabah Hospital.

KUWAIT: Demonstrating its customary enthusiasm for helping its staff stay fit and healthy, KPC subsidiary Petrochemicals Industries Co. (PIC) recently organized a health day for all personnel, in coordination with the Equate Company’s blood pressure and diabetes awareness campaign. The event, which saw staff members receiving free blood pressure and diabetes tests, was organized on the instructions of PIC’s Chairperson and Managing Director, Maha Mulla Hussein.

MoI investigating poet’s case KUWAIT: The Minister of Interior (MoI) has formed an investigations committee to investigate the case of dual Kuwaiti-Saudi citizen Khalid Al-Marreekhi who, during a recent TV interview, announced his willingness to surrender his Kuwaiti citizenship.

Interior minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah has called on the state security service, the General Department of Citizenship and the Criminal Investigation Department to provide him with detailed data on AlMarreekhi.

Poet Khalid Al-Marreekhi indicated in his announcement that he chose to maintain his commitment to his Saudi nationality, while relinquishing his Kuwaiti one in protest at the manner in which he claimed dual citizens are treated in Kuwait. In a recent phone interview with Al-Rai, Al-Marreekhi asserted that he still appreciates Kuwait in the same way that he appreciates

Saudi Arabia. He insisted at the same time, however, that he doesn’t plan to visit Kuwait in the future.

Also speaking to the paper af ter the news about AlMarreekhi was made public, Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid indicated that the now-former dual citizen “not only offended Kuwait, the country that honored him with its citizenship, but also offended Saudi Arabia with his statement that he made in total disregard to the deep-rooted relations between the two countries.”

The interior minister strongly condemned the poet, accusing him of being ignorant of Kuwait’s history, in commenting about the latter’s statement in which he compared between Kuwait’s and Saudi Arabia’s treatment of the issue of dual citizenship.

“Ignorant is the one who talks about the history of Kuwait while desperately attempting to damage its image or the unbreakable relations that it has with its broth-

erly Gulf nations,” he asserted.

Al-Marreekhi also revealed in the recent phone interview that he had only obtained Kuwaiti citizenship in 2003, although he was a Saudi citizen by birth. He also expressed willingness to hand over his Kuwaiti passport and other legal documents and identification “the minute the ministry contacts me in that regard.”

Asked about the nature of the reasons behind his decision to surrender his Kuwaiti citizenship, the poet indicated that this decision was made for personal reasons.

Meanwhile, the interior ministry is reportedly preparing to take a number of steps against Al-Marreekhi, with one ministry insider insisting that “such disrespect for the status of Kuwaiti citizenship will not be tolerated.” Among the suggested penalties is one proposal to ban Al-Marreekhi from entering Kuwait in the future.

Fight club Two Egyptian men were taken to Adan Hospital after sustaining various injuries in a fight in the Fahaheel area.

In a separate case, a 33-year -old Pakistani man was taken to Farwaniya Hospital after being injured in a fight in the Hassawy area.

DUI Police arrested a 22-yearold Kuwaiti man after discovering him in a drunken state in his car near Mubarak AlKabeer.

Child a buser The Criminal Court has sentenced a former private school principal who was found guilty of sexually abusing a 12-year-old pupil at the school he ran to life imprisonment. The school head had apparently summoned the pupil to his office on a number of occasions, locking the door in order to prevent others from coming in before sexually abusing the boy, and threatening his victim with expulsion from the school or failure in his exams if he told anybody what had taken place. The boy’s father, who testified during the trial, told the court that the principal had carried out several sexual assaults on his son, reported Al-Anba, with the boy afraid to tell anyone of the attacks due to being scared by the head teacher’s threats.

KUWAIT: Firefighters near the Jouhara Complex in Salhiya yesterday. — Photo by Hanan AlSaadoun

kuwait digest

What would happen if Kuwait were invaded again?

By Saud Al-Asfour

F

ifty years since Kuwait’s independence, which followed hundreds of years of historical settlement and meant vast amounts of hard work to entrench true patriotism among the Kuwaiti people, are now being threatened by the actions of our government.

The people of Kuwait are raised on loving their country. From chanting the national anthem at morning assembly in school to the various patriotic displays broadcast daily, all these things are part of a comprehensive system to establish a cooperative, cohesive society that puts patriotism and national unity above all other priorities. This type of effort in

realizing the concepts of patriotism among citizens is what is currently being overlooked by our government, which is causing that patriotism to die out among citizens in light of the increasing numbers of cases of questioning people’s loyalty to their country.

As the 20th anniversary of the Iraqi Invasion arrives today, Kuwaitis remember an event that has never been seen before in the old or recent history. Of course I’m not talking about the invasion itself since human history is strewn with such incidents, but the unprecedented incident that I’m talking about is the failure of the invading Iraqi regime to find any Kuwaiti people in Kuwait to cooperate with them during the inva-

sion, which prompted them to force a number of imprisoned military personnel to handle the duties of the temporary government.

In the present day, however, the story has changed, as we see an increase in the number of cases in which the patriotism of a significant part of the Kuwaiti people is questioned, while these actions are supervised by state officials.

The important question that we have to ask ourselves as we remember the invasion is, given all this, would Kuwaitis now show a similar high level of patriotism to that which they expressed during the 1990 invasion, if the country fell under another invasion? — Al-Ra i

NBK Kuwait Equity Fund best performing fund in 2010 KUWAIT: NBK Capital announced that the NBK Kuwait Equity Fund was the best performing fund in a comparison to 32 other all-sector funds of equities listed only in the Kuwait Stock Exchange.

The fund achieved a +13.28% gain for the first half of the year, surpassing the Kuwait Stock Exchange’s performance, in which the price index registered a -6.60% loss and the weighted index registered a +3.02% gain for the same period.

The NBK Kuwait Equity Fund is managed by NBK Capital, and seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in stocks listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange. The Fund realized

best in - class returns achieving +13.28% gain for the first six-month period ending 30 June 2010.

Nabil Maroof, Managing Director of Asset Management at NBK Capital, stated “the achievement of the NBK Kuwait Equity Fund is evidence of the successful strategy pursued by the Fund, where its continued success is proven by the consistent ranking of the fund as the best performing fund for the first quarter in 2010 and again now for the first half of the year.”

The Fund’s management is based on sophisticated risk management systems and an emphasis on detailed analysis of the market. It carefully targets the best stocks after

Nabil Maroof intensive research on listed companies and their stocks through regular visits to grasp a deeper understanding of the

target companies’ long term strategies.

Maroof reiterated that the Fund’s success comes from the efficiency of the management team and the successful strategies implemented by the Fund Manager. These strategies are a reflection of NBK Capital’s long term strategy, which seeks to provide the best services and products to clients.

NBK Kuwait Equity Fund is one of three local and regional equity funds managed

by NBK Capital, which include the NBK Gulf Equity Fund and the NBK Qatar Equity Fund.

Subscription and redemption to NBK Kuwait Equity Fund is on a weekly basis and the minimum investment is KD 1,000.

Student head slams admissions limit

KUWAIT: Ahmadi governorate and the governorates council follow-up and coordination manager, Sheikh Duaij Ibrahim Al-Duaij recently toured Al-Mangaf area to inspect various public construction and infrastructure projects.

KUWAIT: The head of the Egyptian branch of the National Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS) has condemned the Kuwaiti Ministry of Higher Education’s decision to allow a maximum of fifty Kuwaiti students to study at any Egyptian further education institute at any one time.

Nasser Al-Otaibi asserted that this would place an obstacle in the path of Kuwaiti citizens seeking to continue their studies for the benefit of their country.”

It’s illogical, for example, for a faculty like the law school at Cairo University, which hosts more than 4,000 new students annually, to only have 50 seats allocated for Kuwaiti students,” Al-Otaibi told Al-Rai. The senior NUKS official also noted that due to the decision being imposed retroactively, it would mean that several Egyptian further education institutes will be unable to enroll more Kuwaiti students.

NATIONAL

Monday, August 2, 2010

5 Minor girl attacked in Jleeb

Man in police net for sexual assault KUWAIT: Police have apprehended a man who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a minor in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. The victim's father told police that the man had sexually harassed his young teenage daughter in the area outside the building where the family live before fleeing the scene. Police immediately launched a hunt for the accused man, finding him in a nearby building, reported Al-Rai. The girl subsequently positively identified the man as her attacker and he is currently being held for questioning.

Cabbie mugged An Iranian taxi driver was attacked and robbed by three thuggish customers after picking them up at the Jabriya Coop, with the robbers escaping with his entire takings, KD 140.

The victim immediately informed police of the incident, reported Al-Sessayah, and a hunt is underway for the culprits.

kuwait digest

An invasion of expats' privacy

By Saud Al-Samaka

A

ccording to recent reports, a group of citizens raided bachelors' places of residence and proceeded to place them under house arrest accusing them of carrying out illegal activities. These acts were not legally authorized, as citizens claim that security officers failed to perform duties by nabbing criminals.

Furthermore, reports state that authorities first cooperated with citizens only after they registered complaints.

However, they began issuing warning messages only after citizens began resorting to violence against expatriates by raiding their homes. Their actions form a clear violation of principles of law.

First and foremost, in respect to the sovereignty and regulations of the country, security authorities do not have the right to impose their authority over and arrest an individual based on mob rules. They are not affiliated to any security authority.

Moreover, the law obliges security personnel to obtain warrants issued from the General Prosecution before carrying out raids at suspicious places.

So, the act of allowing normal people to raid other's homes and assisting them to accomplish that task, is a clear violation of laws.

Secondly, the actions carried out by citizens are an indication of the lack of respect to the state's security system, which has deteriorated as a result of the

government's inability to fulfill obligations and pursue those who flout the law. For example, they fail to curb the activities of those who propagate radical religious beliefs. The spread of extremist views eventually result intolerance among people who profess different faiths.

The act of intruding into other people's homes without legal authorization should addressed before it escalates. The state should effectively eliminate any cases where people try to enforce law and order according to their will, completely disregarding the country's laws. More effective laws need to be enforced in the country; rules that replace existing regulations are "not in accordance with" the country's value system. — Al-Qabas

in the news

KUWAIT: A number of Interior Ministry personnel and their families recently took part in a trip to Kubbar Island. It was organized by the Public Relations Department as part of its summer activities. Several entertainment activities were also held.

Coupons distributed to minors KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Minors' Affairs has begun distributing around 1,100 coupons to minors who are under their care.

These can be exchanged for food items ahead of the holy month of Ramadan. This announcement was made by Assistant Manager Anwar Burahma, who pointed out that cost involved amounts to KD15,000.

Furthermore, he also said that plans were

under the pipeline to organize an Umra trip for 24 minors who will be accompanied by mothers during Ramadan, in honor of their excellent academic results, reported Al-Qabas.

The authority provides periodic financial aids to low-income families once in three months. Burahma also said that that approximately KD1.349 million was paid to 2,500 families last year.

KD60 million debts KUWAIT: A number of Kuwaiti citizens owe more than KD60 million in total to the state in fines and traffic tickets, as well as in civil and criminal penalties, according to new statistics from the Public Prosecution Service.

A committee established by a cabinet decree has proposed a strategy to collect the monies owed promptly and effectively by taking the funds direct from the debtors' bank accounts and seizing their financial resources and possessions until the debts are repaid in full, reported Al-Qabas. A number of other unprecedented measures are also expected to be taken against non-paying debtors, including the suspension of all renewal of official documents, such as passports and civil ID cards, as well as suspending all transactions with government bodies until the monies are repaid in full. Those who sponsor expatriate workers in the country would also be prevented from renewing any sponsorship visas until their debts are settled.

MPW projects KUWAIT: A consortium of leading multi-national companies have expressed interest in carrying out the Ministry of Public Works' projects that have been listed in the government's development plan. These companies have made queries about the eligibility criteria to enter the bidding process and claim some tenders, reported Al-Rai. The ministry has already obtained permission from the Central Tenders Committee(CTC) to allow several leading global real estate companies to participate in the bid for several major future projects including road construction projects. The CTC grants permission assessing the company's offer in comparison with actual requirements for the project.

Irrigation systems KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources announced here on yesterday that it seeks to solve the water shortages by using the latest scientific methods through the modernization of irrigation systems currently used in cosmetic implants locations.

PAAAFR said in a press statement today that it will follow the systems and methods of crop irrigation in order to ensure their full supply of water especially in summer when rising temperatures negatively affect the growth and vitality of plants.

House fire A Kuwaiti woman in her forties and two maids were hurt in a fire that broke out in the family's home in Waha. Three of the firefighters tackling the blaze suffered from smoke inhalation while fighting the fire. All the injured were taken to the hospital, reported Al-Watan. Initial investigations indicate that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. In a separate incident, firefighters helped a number of Asian workers to escape from a bus which caught fire

after its engine exploded while it was carrying them to their workplace. The firefighters smashed a number of windows on the bus, allowing the workers on board to escape. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Thugs escape police A drunk driver who had been harassing female motorists escaped from police arresting him following a series of complaints from his victims.

The incident on the Gulf Road happened as the officers were escorting the obnoxious motorist to their patrol vehicle, when a friend of his arrived and attacked the officers, allowing his buddy to wriggle free and jump into the friend's car.

Thereafter, the friend also leapt into the vehicle and the two thugs drove away, reported AlShahed. A search is underway for both men.

Dealer busted Mubarak Al-Kabeer police recently arrested a drug dealer after catching one of his customers in possession of a quantity of hashish. The customer, also Kuwaiti, eventually informed the arresting officers of where he had obtained the drug, reported Al-Watan, with a team of officers quickly going to the dealer's home address and arresting him, as well as recovering six rolls of hashish from the property. Both men were taken into custody.

a number of injuries and was also taken to hospital, reported Al-Qabas. Charges have been filed regarding the three incidents.

Three fights Four people were injured in three separate fights that took place in South Surra, Hawally and Sharq respectively. An Asian man was hospitalized after being injured in the first confrontation, while two Arab men sustained various injuries in the second and were taken to Mubarak Hospital. In the third fracas, an Asian man sustained

Drunks arrested Police arrested three people in a vehicle they pulled over on Mina Abdullah Street after finding that all the occupants, including the driver, were extremely drunk. The officers also recovered two bottles of imported liquor in the vehicle, reported Al-Rai. The three drunkards were referred to the relevant authorities.

Ex trouble A woman has filed charges against her former husband, accusing him of physically assaulting her when he saw her in a street in Salmiya. Al-Rai reported that police have summoned the accused man for questioning over the alleged incident.

Disabled citizens 'deeply distressed' KUWAIT: Disabled citizens face more hardships at present than they did before the new law for the disabled was passed.

A failure in enforcing this law has been cited as the main reason for their woes.

This statement was issued by the Head of the Kuwaiti Society for People with Special Needs, Ayed Al-Shemmary in a press conference that was recently held at the headquarters of the 11/11 political group.

According to Al-Shemmary, disabled citizens are deeply distressed after several materials that were provided to them

by the state were withdrawn pending the enforcement of the new law.

He went on to say that the situation has had an emotional and financial impact on the disabled as well as their families, reported Al-Qabas.

Furthermore, Al-Shemmary criticized the 'intensified' measures that were recently adopted to issue certificates for the disabled, thereby quashing claims that applicants will not be able to file grievances in case their applications are rejected. In addition, Al-Shemmary brought the issue by comparing it with the 'decaying'

buildings that have been reserved for disabled citizens.

"All these problems have taken place owing to the lack of a proper authority that looks into disabled citizens' matters", Al-Shemmary concluded, further criticizing the failure to nominate qualified personnel to head the proposed government body, while blaming MPs for 'failing to take follow up action on this issue. ' Also, Al-Shemmary has launched a campaign to push for the resignation of Members of Parliament who are part of the disabled citizens' committee.

6

NATIONAL

Monday, August 2, 2010

Keen on furthering cooperation

Kuwait-Russia relations ‘constantly growing’ MOSCOW : Rela tions betw een the Sta te of Kuw ait a nd Russia are strong and a re a lso consta ntly grow ing, ba sed on solid basis of mutua l respect, the Kuw a iti Amba ssa dor here sa id yesterda y. Member of the Russia n-Kuw a iti J oint Com mittee, Amba ssa dor Al-Mza yya n sa id both sides a re keen on furthering coopera tion in a ll a rea s, a nd most im porta ntly in oil-related sectors, in investment,

DUBAI: The Kuwaiti Consulate in Dubai yesterday held an awards ceremony to honor the outgoing Director of the Cultural Office Masad Shalash and Cultural Attache Meshaal Al-Hamili. Kuwait’s General Consul to Dubai Tariq Al-Hamad said that the awards were presented on behalf of the members of the Kuwaiti mission in recognition of the two officials’ contributions to Kuwaiti students currently studying at further education institutes in the United Arab Emirates. ‘There has been constructive cooperation between the Cultural Office and the Consulate, through the verification of student certificates on various occasions,’ said Al-Hammad.

Sheikha Hussa leaves Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: Director General of Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah (DAI), Islamic Antiquities House, left Malaysia yesterday after taking part in the opening of the “Treasury of the World” Exhibition and giving a lecture about the role of the house in the cultural scene.

Sheikha Hussa Sabah Al-Salem AlSabah and her accompanying delegation were seen off at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Acting Charge d’Affaires at the Kuwaiti Embassy

Hamad Al-Hazim and a host of Malaysian state officials.

Malaysia’s King Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin ibn Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah had opened the exhibition on Friday with participation of the Kuwaiti Minister of Oil and Minister of Information Sheikh Ahmad AlAbdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

The opening ceremony was attended

by Malaysian Minister of Information, Communications, and Culture Rais

Yatim, and Kuwaiti Ambassador Munther Bader Al-Essa.

Sheikha Hussa had given a lecture which reviewed the history and value of the artifact displayed in the Treasury of the World Exhibition and reviewed the roving exhibit’s journey starting in Europe and moving on to the US, Russia, Singapore, and then Malaysia. The exhibition runs in Kuala Lumpur between July 30 and Dec 30, 2010. — KUNA

Giving glimpses of aspects of interaction between the two countries, the ambassador recalled that Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) had extended a major loan to finance an important sea port in 1997. Payment for this loan was agreed to be cash, while payment of interest is to be in form of goods produced

by Russia, and the agreement was stressed in October 2005 during a visit by a Russian financial delegation.

The diplomat also recalled that Kuwait was the first country in the Gulf to establish relations with Russia shortly after the state’s independence in 1963.

Relations continued to prosper since then, and as the legitimate heir of the broken down Soviet Union, Kuwait’s relations with Russia gained more impetus and agreements were signed in various fields.

Most important of these agreements was one on military cooperation and for procurement of Russian weapon systems.

Meanwhile, the Russian-Kuwaiti Joint Committee for economic, trade, scientific, and technical cooperation is to hold its third session today and review issues related to cooperation in these fields.

Kuwaiti Minister of Oil and Minister of Information and head of the Kuwaiti side Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad is

a nd in economic and tra de exchange. He a dded the official visit of the Deputy Prim e Minister a nd Foreign Minister Sheik h Moham ma d Sa ba h Al-Sa lem to Russia ba ck in Ma y and his m eeting w ith Russia n FM La vrov bolstered the level of coopera tion a nd resulted in agreement over the expected visit of His Highness the Amir to Moscow soon.

due here later yesterday evening.

The two-day third session is expected to focus on bolstering cooperation in the areas of economy and trade, oil, investment, cultural exchange, tourism, and renewable and clean energy applications and technology.

The meetings come in view of an agreement signed between the two states in 1994 on forming a cooperation committee and of decree 91 issued in 1995 approving this step.

The first session included two meetings in the Russian capital, Moscow, in 2002.

Sheikh Ahmad had presided over the Kuwaiti part at the meetings.

The second session was hosted in Kuwait in 2006 and the Kuwaiti side was presided by Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Minister of Energy.

Both sessions focused on political cooperation as well as economic and cultural exchange and cooperation between the two states.

In addition to cooperation in these fields, the two sides agreed to increase cooperation in the areas of health, education, and organizational aspects of forming three joint committees for oil and gas and energy, for economic and trade cooperation and exchange, and for scientific and tech-

nological interaction and cooperation.

The third session comes to stress keenness on both sides on boosting cooperation, and gets added importance as it coincides with preparations for the historical visit His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is to pay to Moscow soon.

The Russian side is interested in signing agreements related to fighting drugs, exempting diplomatic passports from visas, and to civil aviation services, as well as amending signed agreements on the cultural cooperation agreement and the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

The Kuwaiti oil sector is of great interest as weel, as the Russian hope Kuwaitis would seek advanced and tried Russian technology and expertise in areas such as utilizing associated gas, which is a common practice in Russia.

A project of investment into a bloc of sorts which enables those participating to get set quotas of Russian gas through a special pipeline is also expected to come under the spotlight.

The Russian side is interested in general in the Kuwaiti state development plan which includes immense possibilities for investment and cooperation for Russian institutions and personnel. — KUNA

UAE’s development dream comes true DUBAI: UAE’s developmental experience is an international model in transferring dreams into reality, a Kuwaiti development expert said.

The co-existence ability that characterizes UAE’s society along with the privileges that the law granted women are to account for the miraculous development of which the country is witnessing in all domains, Development Advisor Dr. Bashir Al-Rashidi said at a lecture held on the sidelines of a UAE “Watani” national program.

Individuals are the core of society as society’s success is bond to individuals’ self-management and co-existence skills, Al-Rashidi said at the program aimed at integrating individuals’ objectives and expectation with that of UAE’s National Document 2021.

Success relies on five factors: health that is reached through proper nutritional and sporting regimens, religion that offers happiness and intimacy with one’s Creator, leisure such

practicing hobbies, relations including familial ones, and finally money and the skill of managing it, he said.

He added that the only obstacle separating people from getting rich is a mere psychological barrier and inherited misconceptions such as categorizing rich people as greedy, thieves and cunning individuals; the solution however lied in shutting out negative images towards money.

Financial security is another psychological hurdle that leaves individuals doubtful and hesitant towards getting involved in businesses as the hesitation is driven by fear of the future, he said.

“Watani” program launched in 2005 enters its fourth year as part of Dubai Summer Surprises organized by Dubai’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The program aims at achieving the national documents’ objectives issued by UAE’s cabinet concerned with reaching societal development and boosting patriotism. — KUNA

Khalid Al-Ghanim

Policewomen maintain order at TEC facilities KUWAIT: Female security personnel play a significant role in maintaining security at places where families usually gather.

This is because of the fact that they are more adept at handling issues that concern women and children, said the CEO and Managing Director of the Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC), Khalid AlGhanim in a press statement that was released to acknowledge the successful cooperation achieved between the TEC and the Interior Ministry.

He highlighted that police-

women were deployed at the TEC’s facilities on days that are exclusively reserved for female visitors.

“The policewomen’s presence spread comfort and security among women and children that visit out facilities,” AlGhanim said. He expressed hope that cooperation would be extended to include other facilities, including the Entertainment City, Messilah Beach and the Ice Skating Rink. He asserted that all TEC personnel were instructed to facilitate the work of female police officers.

Foodstuff stores, restaurants raided KUWAIT: The Capital Municipality raided food stuff stores and restaurants recently. Atleast 500 kilograms of inedible foodstuff were destroyed. 40 citations were issued to owners. The raid began at 6pm and lasted until midnight and mainly concentrated on outlets situated in the Shuwaikh industrial area and the Friday market.

Monday, August 2, 2010

7

INTERNATIONAL

Israel’s Barak fears Turkey spy chief is ‘supporter of Iran’ JERUSALEM: Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has expressed concern over Turkey’s appointment of a new spy chief he called a “supporter” of the Jewish state’s archfoe Iran, army radio reported yesterday.

“Turkey is a friendly country, a strategic ally, but the nomination in recent weeks of a new chief of the Turkish secret services who is a supporter of Iran worries us,” he told a meeting of his centre-left Labour party.

Barak added that the appointment could result in “the Iranians having access to secret information,” in a recording of his remarks broadcast by military radio.

The Turkish official, Hakan Fidan, 42, was appointed to head the National Intelligence Organisation, known by its Turkish acronym MIT, on May 27 after serving as undersecretary for foreign affairs to the prime minister and representing Turkey at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The latter position placed him at the forefront of Turkey’s efforts to resolve the international standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme, according to the Turkish press.

Israel has viewed Turkey’s efforts with suspicion, especially a deal brokered with Iran and Brazil in May that would have seen Iran ship some of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for high-enriched uranium.

The deal was promptly rejected by other world powers, which backed a fourth round of sanctions against Iran on June 9 over its refusal to halt its controversial uranium enrichment programme.

Turkish-Israeli relations plunged to an all-time low following the deadly May 31 Israeli raid on a Gazabound aid flotilla in which naval commandos shot dead nine Turkish activists, one of whom was also a US citizen.

Israel views Iran as its greatest strategic threat because of the nuclear programme, which it believes is aimed at developing weapons, and the frequent predictions of the demise of the Jewish state by Iran’s leaders. Like the United States, Israel has said it prefers to resolve the nuclear standoff peacefully but has not ruled out a military strike. Iran has always said its nuclear enrichment programme is for purely civilian purposes. — AFP

Peres in Egypt to discuss peace efforts with Mubarak

Israeli warplanes hit Gaza after new rocket attack GAZA CITY: Israel a nd Ga za’s Hama s rulers rattled sabres yesterda y a fter milita nts fired rockets into southern Israel, prompting a series of retaliatory air raids. Israeli w arplanes launched two pre-daw n ra ids on tunnels in the southern Ga za Strip yesterday after a Palestinia n rocket struck the southern

FALLUJAH: An Iraqi police officer guides one of several handcuffed and blindfolded men in the mainly Sunni Muslim western city of Fallujah yesterday, after being arrested for allegedly taking part in attacks on Shiite Muslims in northern and southern areas of Iraq. — AFP

US ‘refutes’ July death toll in Iraq BAGHDAD: The US military yesterday took the unusual step of refuting Iraqi figures released a day earlier which showed July was the single deadliest month in the war-torn country since May 2008.

The American decision to release their own toll came after the Iraqi figures showed a sharp upswing in the level of violence nearly five months after parliamentary elections which have yet to result in the formation of a new government and as the United States carries out a major troop withdrawal.

While overall casualty tolls are compiled by Iraq’s ministries of health, interior and defence and released every month, the US military usually does not publicly contest them. “USF-I (United States Forces-Iraq) refutes the reported figures of violence that claims that July 2010 is ‘the deadliest month in Iraq since 2008’,” the US military said in the statement.

According to US data, 222 people were killed in Iraqi violence last month, less than half the Iraqi figure, and added that 782 people were wounded.

“The claim that July 2010 was the deadliest month in Iraq since May 2008 is incorrect,” the statement noted.

Major General Stephen Lanza, spokesman for US forces in Iraq, did not immediately respond to emailed questions regarding why July’s figures were contested but not those for previous months.

Saturday’s figures from the Iraqi government put the death toll at 535 overall — 396 civilians, 89 policemen and 50 soldiers-with an additional 1,043 people wounded.

That figure was the highest for a single month since May 2008 when 563 people were killed in violence.

The dispute over the latest figures come as the US military carries out a steady drawdown of its forces in Iraq, before it concludes combat operations in the country at the end of this month.

There are about 65,000 US soldiers currently stationed in Iraq, but that is set to drop to 50,000 by September 1. All US troops must withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011, in line with the terms of a US-Iraq pact.

July’s data released by the Iraqi ministries was significantly higher than that for June, when 284 people died, and is nearly double the toll from the same month a year ago, when 275 people were killed.

“We receive, as usual, the number of civilian victims from the ministry of health, the number of policemen from the ministry of interior and we compile the number of soldiers,” a defence ministry official said in response to the US statement.

“It’s the same procedure every month,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

A string of attacks against Shiite pilgrims in a threeday period up to July 8 killed 70 people in Baghdad, as tens of thousands commemorated the death of Musa Kadhim, the seventh of 12 revered imams in Shiite Islam, in 799 AD. On July 18, a suicide bomber targeting anti-Qaeda militiamen being paid their wages killed 45 people west of Baghdad, and left 46 others wounded, the country’s single deadliest attack in more than two months. —AFP

BEIRUT: In this handout made available by Dalati and Nohra, Lebanon’s First Lady Waffa Sleiman (L) and Sheikha Moza (R), the wife of Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, visit the St Jude Cancer Center in Beirut. — AFP

Brazil offers asylum to Iran woman facing stoning BRASILIA: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to allow a woman sentenced in Iran to death by stoning to accept an offer of asylum in Brazil, local media reported.

The sentence imposed on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani for an extra-marital relationship, which she denies, has caused an international outcry. It has been suspended pending a review by Iran’s judiciary but could still be carried out.

“I call on the supreme leader of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to permit Brazil to grant asylum to this woman,” state radio reported him as saying on Saturday.

The two nations have drawn closer this year after Brazil pioneered diplomatic efforts backing Iran’s uranium enrichment work, which Tehran says it needs to produce power and for medical purposes. Many Western nations believe it is a front for developing a nuclear bomb.

Human rights group Amnesty International said Mohammadi Ashtiani was convicted in 2006 of having an “illicit relationship” with two men and received 99 lashes as her sentence.

Despite this, the rights group said she was subse-

quently convicted of “adultery while being married,” which it said she denied, and for which she was sentenced to death by stoning.

The United States, the European Union, Britain and international human rights groups appealed for a stay of execution.

Earlier last week, in response to an online campaign in Brazil calling on him to intervene, Lula said he could not call on other leaders to disregard the laws of their country.

But his comments on Saturday suggested he was willing to use his strengthened ties with Ahmadinejad to push for clemency for Mohammadi Ashtiani.

“If my friendship with the president of Iran is worth anything and if she is causing unease there, we will willingly receive her here,” Agencia Folha reported Lula as saying, adding he said he would call his Iranian counterpart to discuss it.

Lula was speaking during an electoral campaign event for his party’s chosen presidential candidate, Dilma Rousseff.

Lula will complete his second term in December and cannot run a third consecutive time in the elections due on Oct 3. — Reuters

That incident also prompted several Israeli air strikes late on Friday, one of which killed a senior Hamas military commander and wounded another eight people, drawing threats of revenge from the Islamists.

Hamas yesterday linked the flare-up of violence to Arab foreign ministers’ support for the principle of direct talks with Israel, saying Palestinians were “paying the price for (their) great error.”

A spokesman for the Israeli military said yesterday’s strikes targeted two tunnels used to smuggle arms into the Islamist Hamas-run enclave.

Palestinian medics said one person had been lightly injured in the raids.

Israeli cabinet minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer told army radio that the military was “not going to sit there with its arms crossed in the face of these attacks,” but that its response would be measured.

“We do not want to set off an escalation because that is exactly what Hamas wants, which is why our response is hard but limited,” he said.

Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he held the Islamist movement “directly responsible” for the attacks.

“Israel reserves the right to defend its citizens, and we shall continue to take all steps necessary to defend the state of Israel,” he said.

Hamas, meanwhile, condemned the “Israeli aggression” and reiterated its opposition to the relaunch of direct peace talks between the Western-backed Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and Israel.

Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo last week said they would support direct negotiations if and when Abbas agreed to them, as international pressure mounted on the Palestinians to return to face-to-face talks.

Israeli President Shimon Peres meanwhile was in Egypt yesterday to discuss peace efforts with President Hosni Mubarak.

“Our people in Gaza are paying the price for the great error and political mistake committed by the Arab Peace Initiative follow-up committee against the Palestinian people,” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said.

He also criticised a letter from US President Barack Obama warning that Abbas’s failure to return to direct talks could harm US-Palestinian relations. Palestinian officials had revealed the contents of the letter on Saturday.

“The letter from Obama to Abbas revealed the falsehood of Obama’s policies and disappointed the Palestinian people. It deliberately harms the interests of our people in favour of those of the Zionist enemy and America.”

Hamas, which is blacklisted as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and the European Union, is pledged to Israel’s destruction and has adamantly opposed peace talks since they began in the early 1990s.

The Islamist movement has ruled Gaza since it drove out forces loyal to Abbas in June 2007, splitting the Palestinians into hostile rival camps. — AFP

town of Sderot, da ma ging a university building without causing casua lties.

Also over the w eekend, Gaza militants fired a ra re military-gra de rocket into the southern Israeli port city of Ashkelon, da maging parked ca rs a nd shattering the w indow s of an apartment block w ithout wounding a nyone.

CAIRO: In this hand out made available by the Israeli Government Press Office yesterday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) meets with his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres in Cairo, during a meeting to discuss the Middle East peace process. — AFP

Syria says no compromise with Israel on occupied land DAMASCUS: Syria will not negotiate with Israel over letting the Jewish state keep occupied territory, President Bashar al-Assad said, days after Israel’s prime minister expressed interest in resuming talks with Damascus.

In a statement on Syrian army day published in official media yesterday, Assad repeated his assessment that the possibility of another Middle East war was rising in the absence of what he called Israel’s willingness to make peace.

“If anyone thinks that Syria might negotiate over its occupied land then they are mistaken,” Assad said.

“The liberation of the Golan is a deeply ingrained right. Peace requires restoring all the occupied soil until the line of June 4, 1967,” he added.

The Middle East War broke out a day after this date and Israel swiftly defeated the armies of Syria, Jordan and Egypt.

Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel, which annexed the territory in the early 1980s but did not build settlements on it as heavily as in the West Bank. A United Nations Security Council resolution declared the annexation illegal.

Assad said that while Syria was sticking to its pursuit of peace with Israel the army had to be prepared for war.

“The world is certain now that Israel is the one putting obstacles in front of peace and its requirements,” Assad said.

“The spectre of real peace in the region is disappearing and the possibility of war is increasing,” he added.

Tension between Syria and Israel rose this year after Israeli President Shimon Perez accused Syria of supplying Scud missiles to the Lebanese Shi’ite movement Hezbollah, which is also supported by Iran.

The Israeli foreign minister went further, saying Assad would lose power in any future war.

Syria said it could target Israeli cities next time and that while it was not arming Hezbollah, the Damascus government will not guarantee the security of the Jewish state.

Israeli leaders have stepped up their accusations about suspected military cooperation between Hezbollah and Syria, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel remained interested in negotiating peace with Syria.—Reuters

Monday, August 2, 2010

8

INTERNATIONAL

African island nation of Sao Tome votes for parliament SAO TOME: Sao Tome and Principe votes for a new parliament with little prospect of any party winning a majority of seats, prolonging political instability plaguing the island nation off West Africa.

The vote comes with the national election commission yet to make clear who won July 25 municipal polls: its president declared last week one party the winner, and then separately announced that another had come out top.

Both parties-the ruling Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD), and the Independent Democratic Action (ADI) — are also seen as the favourites in the parliamentary vote.

Each hopes to take most of the 55 parliament

seats on offer yesterday, enabling them to govern the potentially oil-rich, Portuguese-speaking country off Africa’s west coast without concessions.

“We believe that an absolute majority is a difficult scenario but not impossible,” said Alcino Pinto, head of the campaign for the MLSTP/PSD party of Prime Minister Rafael Branco.

“But if the people say at the ballot boxes ‘no to an absolute majority’, we must respect their choice and negotiate a coalition government,” he said.

The ADI is aiming to win over voters from the Force for Democratic Change Movement/Liberal Party (MDFM-PL) of President Fradique de Menezes.

“We are convinced that the majority of voters

from the MDFM-PL are going to vote for us, and we will in that way reach an absolute majority,” said Levy Nazare, spokesman for the party of former prime minister Patrice Trovoada.

It would not consider a coalition should it not win outright, he said.

In that case, “We are going to govern without sufficient parliamentary support. If the other parties try to make the government fall in the National Assembly, we will ask the people to defend us,” he said.

Only once since 1991 — when democracy was established in the country, Portugal’s first colony in Africa-has a party won an outright majority in parliamentary elections: the MLSTP/PSD in 1998.

The president however dismissed the government in 2001, one year before the end of the fouryear parliamentary term.

Since 1991, Sao Tome and Principe has had 14 prime ministers at the head of various governments, often crafted from fragile coalitions. No coalition has lasted the parliamentary term.

“No party, not the MLSTP or the ADI, is going to have an absolute majority in these elections,” said political analyst Edmar Carvalho, head of the country’s lawyers’ association, pointing to vote-buying and corruption.

“Party agents offer money to voters so they will vote for their party. It is a technique used by all the political parties in our country. I believe that will

cause the imbalance in Sunday’s elections,” he said.

In this context, the score of the country’s third political force-the Democratic Convergence Party that is a MLSTP/PSD partner in the current government-will be crucial, he said.

Other observers have said the election could lead to a change of government.

There are 79,000 registered voters in the nation of 175,000 people, one of Africa’s smallest countries and one of the world’s poorest.

The country relies mainly on fishing and subsistence farming and it is one of the few in the Gulf of Guinea that has not yet developed an oil industry, although this year it invited tenders for drilling in 19 areas. — AFP

Vote on junior minister may be held this week

Berlusconi awaits own stress test after break-up ROME: The first stress test for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s coalition following a break-up w ith a key ally may come as early as this week when parliamentarians decide whether to censure a colleague suspected of corruption.

While Berlusconi continued to exude his usual confidence over the weekend,

VORONEZH: Russian Orthodox believers march past burnt out homes in Voronezh yesterday during a procession of the cross ceremony to pray for assistance. Firefighters fought an uphill battle against spreading forest fires that have already killed 30 people, destroyed thousands of homes and mobilised hundreds of thousands of emergency workers. — AFP

Death toll climbs as Russia fires spread MOSCOW: Firefighters yesterday fought an uphill battle against spreading forest fires that have already killed 30 people, destroyed thousands of homes and mobilised hundreds of thousands of emergency workers.

The emergency ministry said yesterday that forest fires had engulfed more than 114,000 hectares across Russia. It mobilised almost 240,000 emergency workers to fight the blazes, along with 2,000 members of the armed forces.

Fires in the sparsely populated Far Eastern region grew three times in size over the last 24 hours, with the remote Kamchatka peninsula being hardest hit, the ITAR-TASS news agency reported yesterday, citing the region’s forestry department. The emergency situations ministry gave a death toll of 28 on Saturday, including seven in the Moscow region.

Two more bodies were found yesterday in a burnt-out village in the Nizhny Novgorod region, the regional emergency ministry said, raising the official death toll to 30.

Nizhny Novgorod emergency services said yesterday that the firefighters had managed to stop fires spreading further overnight.

In the Voronezh region, one of those worst-hit, almost 600 people have been left homeless, Russian television reported, showing residents evacuated to a hotel and bags of clothes brought by volunteers.

Local resident Galina Shibanova told of escaping from her home, where she lived with seven members of her family, and moving to a cramped hotel with 148 other residents.

“It was impossible to go out into the street,” Shibanova said in an interview on television.

“There was a lot of smoke and the children were choking. We covered their mouths with cloths and hankerchiefs and quickly put them in the car.”

“There has never been a fire like this,” fireman Maxim Korolyov told AFP in the village of

Maslovka, where all but five of the 150 houses burnt down on Friday. “It’s the first time that I have had to fight a fire of this size.

An elderly resident, Vera Sakharova, complained that firefighters had come too late. “We did not have any help,” she said. “We had to do everything ourselves.”

Sceptical of promises of state help, Sakharova predicted: “They have given us nothing, and they won’t give us anything.”

“I don’t know what we are going to do after this,” she said.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday visited a village in the Nizhny Novgorod region where more than 300 houses burnt down, leaving more than 500 homeless. Angry residents confronted the strongman leader, who promised to rebuild their homes and embraced one tearful woman.

Putin said on television on Saturday that 1,257 houses had burned down across Russia and promised that they would all be rebuilt by October, after allocating a total of five billion rubles (165 million dollars).

Speaking via video link with regional governors, Putin called the situation “extremely tense” and berated officials for their tardy response, saying: “Not everything was done in a timely way, but now is not the time to squabbling.”

In an earlier broadcast from Sochi Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called the situation a “natural disaster of the kind that probably only happens every 30 or 40 years.”

The fires unleashed by one of Russia’s worst heatwaves have devastated the regions in the centre and the Volga river basin, to the east and southeast of Moscow.

Temperatures were forecast to hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) over the next few days in affected regions, with the emergency ministry warning of an “extreme risk” of more forest fires. — AFP

ANKARA: Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (C) leaves after a wreath-laying ceremony with members of the High Military Council at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara yesterday.— AFP

Today group leaders in the lower house are due to meet to decide when to schedule a noconfidence motion against Giacomo Caliendo, a junior justice minister suspected of being part of a secret group which aimed to manipulate political and judicial appointments and decisions.

The vote itself will be held either this week or when parliament resumes in September.

Either way, Berlusconi will be watching it keenly because it will be a first test on how much voting strength his coalition has lost due to the rupture.

Fini has said that any politician under investigation should resign but Caliendo has protested his innocence and refused. Berlusconi says the whole centre right should support Caliendo.

“Whenever the vote is held, it will be a very significant test,” said Fabrizio Cicchitto, leader of centre-right parliamentarians in the lower house, where the no-confidence motion against Caliendo was presented by two opposition parties.

The new faction headed by Fini numbers 33 members plus him, enabling it to deprive Berlusconi of a majority in the lower house. It has 10 supporters in the Senate, which could cut Berlusconi’s majority there to just two votes.

If the motion against Caliendo passes, Cicchitto said, it could have “an immediate and strong deteriorating effect on the situation”.

In comments published in the Turin newspaper La Stampa yesterday, Berlusconi said “I have no worry about the holding power of the majority and the government” and that it made no sense to hold early elections because his government commanded respect.

In an attempt to shore up his numbers in parliament after the break-up with Fini, whose followers say they will vote with the government on a caseby-case basis, Berlusconi has sent out signals courting two small centrist parties to join him.

But both the Union of Christian Democrats and the Alliance for Italy party have spurned him, saying they would not take part in “two-bit governments”.

Berlusconi and his new main ally, Northern League leader Umberto Bossi, say they are firmly opposed to an interim government whose cabinet would be made up of mostly non-party technocrats, such as business leaders and academics.

Commentators say this is because they fear that the intermission would weaken his power and give time to the fragmented centre-left opposition to seek the unity that has eluded them so far.

The decision whether to dissolve parliament and go to early elections or seek the formation of a an interim government rests squarely with President Giorgio Napolitano.

There is little love lost between Napolitano and Berlusconi. The prime minister has accused the president, a former communist, of not being impartial and once went as far as saying that “communists” controlled the presidency. — Reuters

commentators said the rupture with lower house speaker Gianfranco Fini was too dramatic to be papered over. Most expect a government collapse after the August holiday, followed by either quick early elections in the late fall or an interim government to lead the country to spring elections.

ROME: Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (L) and Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti attend a Parliament session in Rome. — AFP

Zimbabwe diamonds not for Merkel coalition greedy politicians: Mugabe truce falls apart, HARARE: President Robert Mugabe yesterday said Zimbabwe’s diamonds should benefit the entire country, as he urged greedy politicians to blunt their appetite for individual wealth.

“Diamonds should not be pocketed by some individuals,” Mugabe told thousands at the funeral of his sister Sabina at a shrine for heroes of Zimbabwe’s war of independence.

“They should help to improve the whole country. Those with an appetite for individual aggrandisement, please blunt your appetite. We will ensure there is collective benefit and not individual benefit,” he said.

“Leaders must be people-oriented.

It’s the demands of the people that must be looked at and not those of our pockets.” The diamond watchdog Kimberley Process last month approved the export of rough diamonds from the Marange diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe, which had been suspended over human rights abuses at big diamond fields.

Mugabe said two weeks ago that Zimbabwe was projected to contribute around 25 percent of the global diamond output.

Yesterday, he added that “there are huge prospects for the diamond subsector to emerge as a major driver of the country’s economic turnaround”.

Mining is Zimbabwe’s main foreign currency earner. Finance Minister Tendai Biti on July 7 urged Kimberley Process members to clear Zimbabwe to sell its diamonds, saying the government desperately needed the income.

Mugabe also lashed out at the west for maintaining sanctions on Zimbabwe and meddling its politics.

“We have sent an inclusive delegation to the European Union to seek the removal of the sanctions,” Mugabe said. “The delegation came back empty-handed.”

“Sanctions must go. They are hurting our people regardless of political affiliation. We are still treated as if we do not own our country, as if Zimbabwe is owned by Europe cum America,” he added.

“They say ‘remove so and so,’ Of course they mean ‘Mugabe must go before we can assist you.” To hell with them. Hell, hell, hell with them whoever told them they are above the people of Zimbabwe that they decide what Zimbabwe should be and by who it should be ruled.”

Zimbabwe enjoys the support of the world, he said, despite sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States over land reforms.

“It’s just this EU clique getting support from America,” Mugabe said.

“The majority of the people are in Asia and Africa. We constitute the majority of this world.”

Mugabe’s sister died at a private clinic in Harare after years of ill-health.

She was 80. Her body was brought on a gun-carriage before her burial with full military honours.

Mourners lined on the sides of the streets leading to the burial place with some wearing shirts with Sabina’s portrait and colours and symbols of Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party.

Among those at the burial were several diplomats, ministers from parties in the power-sharing government, the security top brass and ZANU-PF supporters. — AFP

bickering resumes BERLIN: Any hopes Chancellor Angela Merkel may have had that her troubles would fade over the summer holiday season and give her centreright coalition some relief were dashed by a fresh outbreak of infighting at the weekend.

After agreeing a brief truce in recent weeks to end bickering that had cost Merkel’s government support in voter surveys, coalition partners started quarrelling again over the slow pace of reforms, pension levels and immigration policy.

The coalition has left a host of other isssues on the table that are fuelling tensions and putting off voters: nuclear power, welfare reform steps and tax cuts. Parliament is in recess until September and Merkel has taken three weeks holiday in the Italian Alps.

“The government has no plan,” wrote Bild am Sonntag columnist Michael Backhaus yesterday. “It’s coming apart at the seams with petty fights about every issue imagineable. The big question is ‘What does this government want?’.”

Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle, a leader within the pro-business Free Democrats coalition party, attacked the slow pace of reform

by Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and criticised the guaranteed minimum pension levels passed in 2009.

Bruederle, long belittled by German media for being almost invisible politically, has taken advantage of Merkel’s absence to give interviews to newspapers to push cherished FDP ideas.

“We (FDP) were surprised to discover that the CDU/CSU has moved so far away from its earlier willingness for reforms and from its earlier direction on economic policy,” Bruederle said.

That prompted Horst Seehofer-leader of the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union-to criticise Bruederle for stirring trouble.—Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Monday, August 2, 2010

9

Zanzibar approves power-sharing in referendum ZANZIBAR: Zanzibar has opted to enshrine power-sharing in the constitution in a bid to end decades of crippling political feuds, according referendum results released yesterday.

Two thirds of the semi-autonomous Tanzanian territory’s voters approved the idea of a coalition government being formed after the upcoming October 31 polls, the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced.

The “yes” vote, supported by both the ruling CCM and the opposition CUF parties, mustered 66.4 percent while the “no” vote

took 33.4 percent in the referendum held on Saturday.

Tallying from polling stations on the two islands of Unguja and Pemba lasted through the night and official results were announced at a central results centre set up in a hotel in the capital Stone Town.

“With these results, there is no loser and there is no winner. Let us believe that we have all won,” ZEC chairman Khatib Mwinyichande said.

The referendum will bring an amendment to the constitution to create two vicepresident positions to be split between the

parties that come first and second in parliamentary polls.

Ministries will be allocated on a proportional basis.

“The peace and stability which prevailed during the referendum should continue,” Mwinyichande added.

Zanzibar declared independence on January 12, 1964 after a revolution that ended several centuries of rule by Arab sultans.

Three months later, it merged with mainland Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania, but maintained a

semi-autonomous government with its own president, constitution, flag and national anthem.

Rivalry between the main CCM and CUF parties has been bitter and often bloody since the re-introduction of multi-party politics in 1992 but both movements rejoiced yesterday at the “yes” vote’s convincing win.

“I’m really happy with the results and I hope that what we’ve been building since November last year will benefit all Zanzibaris,” opposition CUF leader Seif Sharif Hamad said after witnessing the

results being read out.

“The people have expressed their opinion that they need unity in Zanzibar. I hope the next elections will be peaceful and we shall continue to work together with the opposition,” ruling CCM secretary general Saleh Feruz said.

Opposition bastions overwhelmingly voted yes while the no vote had a slight edge in most CCM-dominated areas, where some ruling party faithful remained opposed to relinquishing any power to their old foes.

Youth groups celebrated the result of the referendum in the streets of Stone Town

yesterday, waving flags to the effigy of President Amani Karume as well as the colours of the CUF. Zanzibar is home to around 1.2 million people and is known around the world as an idyllic travel destination with spices, palmfringed beaches and a rich history that inspired famous writers.

But at least 30 people were killed in January 2001 during clashes between police and CUF supporters and almost every other election has been marred by violence, tarnishing the archipelago’s image and slowing foreign aid. —AFP

Activists rally for Arizona immigration law, appeal 200 supporters of immigration crackdown rally in Phoenix

DURANGO: Handout picture released by Mexico’s Federal Police showing a member of the Mexican Federal police taking care of reporter Javier Canales Fernandez of Multimedios Torreon, after his rescue from his kidnappers in Durango, Mexico on July 31. Police rescued two journalists the Pacifico drug cartel had kidnapped days ago to demand television stations to broadcast a video linking the Durango state government to a rival drug gang, officials said. — AFP

Mexico rescues two kidnapped journalists in drug gang row MEXICO CITY: Police Saturday rescued two journalists the Pacifico drug cartel had kidnapped days ago to demand television stations broadcast a video linking the Durango state government to a rival drug gang, officials said.

The two reporters, one of them a cameraman for Televisa, were rescued by police without firing a shot from a house in Durango state capital, Secretary of Public Security Garcia Luna told a press briefing.

He said the kidnappers managed to escape during the police raid.

Run by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, Mexico’s most wanted criminal, the Pacifico drug cartel on Monday kidnapped four journalists from different media, two of whom were released by their captors later in the week, Luna said.

The criminals were demanding that televisions broadcast a video on alleged corruption linking the Durango government with the Zetas, a rival drug cartel formed by former military and hitmen who

worked for Guzman.

The television stations during the kidnapping held moments of silence, with blank screens, during news broadcasts to raise awareness about what was happening.

Both rescued journalists gave account of their harrowing experience in a Televisa interview alongside Luna.

“They intimidated us night and day... we’ve got the signs to prove it,” said the Alejandro Hernandez showing a gash on his head where he said a kidnapper had hit him with a board.

The Inter-American Press Association lists Mexico as the Latin America’s most dangerous country for journalists, with nine murdered so far this year. Around 25,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since 2006, when President Felipe Calderon launched a military crackdown on violence across the country; some 7,000 people have been murdered since the start of the year. — AFP

MANAGUA: A man with his daugther knees walk in a Catholic church during festivities in honor of the capital patron Santo Domingo (St Dominic) in Managua, on July 31 2010. Thousands of parishioners celebrate yesterday the day of patron of Managua Santo Domingo. — AFP

Firefighting plane crashes in Canada VICTORIA: A wildfire in British Columbia has prevented a search and rescue team from reaching a Canadian waterbombing plane that crashed while fighting the blaze, officials said yesterday.

The plane, which went down Saturday night, was carrying two crew members and their fate was unknown, officials said.

“Witnesses reported seeing the plane drop from the sky and seeing it crash,” Dan Moskaluk of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said yesterday.

The plane was chartered by the provincial government from Conair in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Conair had a second plane shadowing the one that crashed and was able to pinpoint the location of the site.

The first rescue crew to reach the scene got within 500 meters (yards) of the crash site but had to turn back because a fire was raging through the steep terrain, Moskaluk said.

As of Saturday, 318 forest fires were burning across British Columbia, with the largest covering 25 square kilometers (10 square miles).

Air tankers along with helicopters and heavy machinery were supporting as many as 1,000 firefighters on the ground. Residents were under evacuation orders or an alert in six parts of the Kamloops area and the Cariboo region.

Due to dry conditions across the region, a campfire ban extended to about 70 percent of the province, with violators facing potential fines and jail sentences.— AP

PHOENIX: A few hundred supporters of a new Arizona law that cracks down on illegal immigrants rallied in central Phoenix on Saturday, as tensions over the measure simmered.

Around 200 to 300 activists from several US states, some with placards that read “No amnesty” and “Secure our borders now,” gathered outside the state capitol to support the law, a weakened version of which came into effect on Thursday.

“We are here to fully support Arizona, support the Arizona citizens and support the United States citizens who would benefit from a similar law across the nation,” said Katrina Pierson, 34, a a conservative Tea Party activist who traveled from Texas to attend the event.

Arizona’s Republicancontrolled legislature passed the measure three months ago to try to drive nearly half a million illegal immigrants from the state and stem the flow of human and drug smugglers over the border from Mexico.

It drew wide popular support in Arizona and across the United States but was opposed by President Barack Obama and human rights groups. A federal judge blocked the most intrusive elements hours before it came into effect.

Tensions over the law have inflamed a decadeslong debate over immigration, which is playing into elections in November as Obama’s Democrats fight to retain control of Congress.

A few dozen Hispanic and rights activists staged a counter protest on Saturday. Supporters and opponents of the Arizona law shouted at one another across a police line but there were no arrests.

On Wednesday, US District Court judge Susan Bolton blocked the law’s most controversial elements, arguing that immigration matters are the federal government’s responsibility.

The ruling handed a victory to Obama, who is trying to take control of the issue.

Lawyers for Arizona and Republican Governor Jan Brewer asked the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to lift an injunction on the law and grant a swift appeal.

The court denied the request for an expedited hearing on Friday and set a November court date.

“I think the governor should take this appeal right the way to the Supreme Court,” said Anita Hynds, a retiree who traveled from Orange County, California, for the rally. On Saturday, Obama warned US leaders not to use the divisive issue of illegal immigration as a way to gain power and name recognition, in an interview with CBS television. —Reuters

PHOENIX: Conservative Republican candidate J.D. Hayworth, currently running against John McCain for the Republican nomination for Arizona’s Senate seat, greets the crowd at a demonstration against illegal immigration on July 31, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. Hundreds of supporters of Arizona’s immigration enforcement law SB 1070 and Tea Party supporters rallied and listened to speeches in favor of the contraversial law at the state capitol building. — AFP

Obama’s security stands raise eyebrows to his left WASHINGTON: From indefinite detention of terror suspects, to closed military commissions, low transparency, and targeted drone hits: Barack Obama’s administration and its security stands have raised eyebrows of many of those to his own left.

Indeed, some fear he is following in the footsteps of his predecessor George W. Bush, a national security hardliner.

In a review of Obama’s first 18 months in office, the influential American Civil Liberties Union warned the Obama administration was “in danger of establishing ‘new normal’ with the worst Bushera policies” on national security.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs hit back at the report, arguing that there “are very different evaluations” on the steps the administration has put in place since January 2009.

Gibbs added: “at almost every opportunity, somebody, I think wrongly, suggests that our policies are markedly different from (those of Bush) or our policies are such that they won’t keep us safe, and criticize the positions that the president has taken.

“So it’s ironic now that, in the same argument, there’s somebody who says they’re completely the same,” the White

House spokesman said.

In its review, the ACLU said the good intentions of candidate Obama-to bar torture; close the US detention facility for terror suspects the US operates on its naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba; and bolster his government’s transparency across the board-have been eroded to the point of being dropped in some cases.

“Regrettably, in a pattern that has repeated itself throughout the administration’s first eighteen months, a significant achievement was followed by a step back,” the ACLU charged.

Obama has chalked up some achievements, the ACLU said. It cited decrees to ban torture, ordering the closures of the Guantanamo detention center and secret CIA detention facilities, signed just after he was sworn in as president. It also lauded his release of some sensitive security documents from the Bush era shedding light on a system authorizing torture of which senior officials knew.

But the ACLU slammed as unacceptable the unlimited detention without prosecution of about 50 detainees in Guantanamo.

That despite the fact the organization also praised the administration for releasing some 67 detainees from Guantanamo.

The ACLU condemned the reestablishment with some reforms of military commissions, to be used in cases of war crimes.

The administration does not accept the criticism.

“The military commissions were radically reformed,” argued Greg Craig, a former Obama legal chief who told NPR radio, “There was enormous amount of additional process added and there was a bipartisan majority in the Senate and the House.

“I can’t say that for many pieces of legislation, but that piece of legislation strengthened due process. It shows a break with the Bush administration policy rather than a continuity,” Craig insisted.

Among the backsliding and deepening trouble spots, the ACLU has claimed, are the increase by the Obama administration in military strikes with drones, even against US citizens.

Also on its list of deepening concerns were the administration’s refusal to prosecute those who came up with and ordered the use of torture on the heels of the September 11 terror strikes on US targets, and the extension of FBI monitoring of electronic communications.— AFP

URENA: A Venezuelan National Guard officers inspects a vehicle at a gas station in the border city of Urena, Tachira department, Venezuela on July 31. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe denied Saturday that he planned to launch a military attack on neighboring Venezuela, denouncing President Hugo Chavez after Caracas ordered troops to the border. — AFP

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INTERNATIONAL

Monday, August 2, 2010

N Korea renews retaliation threats ahead of US envoy trip SEOUL: North Korea renewed its threats of military retaliation yesterday ahead of a visit to South Korea by a US envoy as Seoul and its allies look to impose fresh sanctions on Pyongyang.

The North will "sternly and mercilessly" punish South Korea over its joint military exercise with the United States, its ruling party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said in a commentary referring to a recent show of

strength in the waters off the divided peninsula.

"As declared already, we will strongly counter with a retaliatory sacred war of our own based on nuclear deterrent," it said, accusing Seoul of pushing the situation to the brink of war.

Cross-border tensions have risen sharply since South Korea and the United States accused the North in late May of tor-

pedoing a warship near the disputed sea border with the loss of 46 lives.

US and South Korean forces last week wrapped up a four-day naval and air exercise-the first in a series-which they said was intended to warn the North against further attacks. Robert Einhorn, the US State Department's special adviser for non-proliferation and arms control, is set to arrive in Seoul late Sunday for talks on how to

enforce sanctions against the North, foreign ministry officials said.

Einhorn will hold a series of talks with South Korean officials Monday, they said.

Washington blacklisted a Macau-based bank that held more than 25 million dollars in North Korean accounts in 2005, accusing the bank of helping Pyongyang launder money. The blacklisting effectively cut off Pyongyang's access to the international

financial system.

The United Nations in June last year tightened sanctions following missile launches and a nuclear test carried out in the North.

Washington announced further sanctions last month to stop the North from selling nuclear weapons or related material as well as blocking money laundering and other illicit activities.

South Korean newspapers, however, say the North's economy is already feeling the pinch from a variety of sanctions and nothing much can be achieved through any further sanctions.

Commentators also doubt the effectiveness of fresh sanctions without cooperation from China, the major provider of fuel, food and other necessities to its impoverished communist neighbour. — AFP

'The clamour for our people for change is so deep'

Philippines remembers Cory, democracy icon

MANILA: Philippine President Benigno Aquino (L) attends a mass at the grave site of his parents in Manila yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the death of his mother, democracy icon and former president Corazon Aquino. — AFP

Philippines says arrests key massacre suspect in south MANILA: Philippine security forces arrested a key suspect who has been charged in the massacre of 57 people last year, the country's worst incident of political violence, after he was shot by rival clan members, police said yesterday.

Edris Kasan, who has a 200,000 pesos ($4,400) bounty for his capture, was arrested early yesterday after he was admitted to a hospital in a southern island with gunshot wounds.

Police spokesman Agrimero Cruz said Kasan, who has been on the run since he was charged late last year in connection with the massacre, would be moved to a military hospital.

"He's under heavy guard at a hospital after we confirmed his identity," Cruz said, adding that Kasan had checked into hospital with a false name.

"Some witnesses were also brought to the hospital to make sure we got the real suspect. We will move him to a hospital at an army base for security reasons."

Kasan was wounded in a gunbattle with a rival clan in Datu Hoffer town, Cruz said.

Security forces have stepped up efforts to locate and arrest more than 130 suspects still at-large, including 20 members of the powerful Ampatuan clan, who were charged with the mass killings. Only 62 are in custody.

Filipinos expect the government of President Benigno Aquino III, in office since June 30, to be more aggressive than the previous administration in prosecuting the case. A total 197 people had been charged in court for the murders.

The trial of the main suspect, Andal Ampatuan Jr, has been suspended since

February, held up by defence motions including one seeking to disqualify the judge. Ampatuan and 17 of his followers had pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial.

The Ampatuan clan had ruled southern Maguindanao province on Mindanao island for a decade and were strong supporters of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The massacre happened on Nov. 23, 2009, when about 100 armed men attacked a convoy on their to way to witness the filing of nomination papers for a member of the Mangudadatu family, rivals to the Ampatuans, to stand in local elections.

The armed men also killed people who were not in the convoy but had seen the attacks, and then tried to bury the bodies and their vehicles in mass graves. The dead included some 30 journalists. — Reuters

Australia's Greens launch election bid CANBERRA: Australia's Greens launched their election bid yesterday to win the balance of power in the upper house and a chance to put their stamp on policy whichever of the major parties takes office after the Aug. 21 vote. Opinion polls show the Greens on track to win at least two extra Senate seats in the election, which could give the party at least seven Senators and the deciding vote over contentious legislation. That could force a returned Labor government to harden its tax plans for big miners and undermine opposition plans on climate and to re-establish an offshore refugee processing centre on the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru.

"I and my team will work with whoever is the government of the day, and we will get the Australian people a dividend from that work," Greens leader Bob Brown told reporters after a spirited campaign launch in Canberra. A Nielsen poll on Saturday found Prime Minister Julia Gillard heading for shock defeat as infighting and damaging cabinet leaks undermine her campaign, with government support at 48 percent compared to 52 percent for Tony Abbott's opposition.

Opinion polls have been erratic but have generally favoured Gillard. The latest Reuters Poll Trend on Friday found her still ahead and on track for a slightly increased majority, although analysts expected the poll lead to narrow.

The Greens, with about 12 percent of the national vote, are running candidates in all 150 lower house seats. But the party's campaign is focused on extra seats in Senate, where the Greens currently share the balance of power with two independents.

Brown said he wants the government to firm up its planned 30 percent tax on big iron ore and coal mines, and big mining companies to pay more for crucial infrastructure projects.

After she replaced Kevin Rudd as prime minister in late June, Gillard negotiated a compromise 30 percent mining tax with BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata, to apply only to companies with profits of A$50 million ($45 million) or more. "We want Labor to hold firm on the resources tax," Brown said. "We'll be A$10 billion or more worse off because of Prime Minister Gillard's backdown to Xstrata and BHP Billiton. We will negotiate that." He also pushed the Greens plan for an interim carbon tax to put a price on pollution and curb emissions until Labor can introduce its plan for carbon trading after 2102. Both the government and opposition have promised to cut Australian carbon emissions by five percent by 2020, but the opposition has rejected any carbon trade scheme. It instead proposes direct investment to industry to cut emissions. Brown said Abbott's plan would see taxpayers giving money to big polluters to help them shut down dirty coal-fired power stations. "Ought not we have a carbon tax, which will give us that result, but also have the money coming from the polluters to give to those people doing the right thing in renewable energy and energy efficiency?" he said. —Reuters

SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard (L), with Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett (R), makes policy announcements at Maroubra Beach near Sydney yesterday. Gillard's popularity has dropped after former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd was accused by opposition politicians and political pundits of being behind a series of damaging leaks against his former deputy Gillard, that have seriously undermined her campaign to be elected as Australia's first woman prime minister in her own right. — AFP

MANILA: The Philippines yesterday remembered the late Corazon Aquino, who led the nation in crushing a brutal dictatorship and whose death exactly a year ago propelled her son to the presidency.

President Benigno Aquino led family and friends in a special mass that celebrated the heroism of his mother, who in her trademark yellow dress led the "people power" uprising to end the 20-year regime of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

"It is still quite difficult to grasp how one person's death could have such a huge impact on our nation in such a short time," Aquino told the crowd that gathered at a Catholic school in Manila where her wake was held last year.

"However, Cory Aquino was one extraordinary woman who in so many milestones in her life had already made the impossible possible."

He acknowledged that were it not for her death, he would not have run for president.

"For those who came before us and taught us by words and deeds how to love, live and believe, it is our duty to bear that torch forward," he said.

"The clamour for our people for change is so deep and so widely expressed that none of us can afford to be bystanders."

Huge television monitors were set up around the gymnasium, the mass bringing back poignant memories when tens of thousands of people gathered to pay their respects after the democracy icon succumbed to colon cancer aged 76 last year.

Ordinary Filipinos also trooped to a cemetery in the capital where Aquino was buried beside her husband, Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino, the anti-Marcos namesake of the current president.

"We felt she was also our mother," said Carmen AmadoCruz, who lay flowers at her grave.

Fondly called Aunt Cory, Aquino was a housewife until her husband was gunned down by assassins at Manila airport upon arriving from the United States in 1983 to resume the political fight to oust Marcos.

Marcos had declared martial law in 1972 and cracked down on all opposition figures including Ninoy Aquino.

Ninoy was later allowed to leave for medical purposes, but used his exile to attack Marcos, whose rule was marked by massive rights abuses and corruption that left the national coffers virtually empty.

In the wake of the killing, the opposition united behind the widow of the martyred Ninoy and she reluctantly agreed to lead them.

She ran for president against Marcos in the 1986 elections.

Rampant election cheating by Marcos forces triggered the "people power" revolt that toppled him from power and installed the housewife as president.

During her six years in office, Aquino restored democracy and earned a reputation for honesty, modesty and religious piety.

"She remained detached and unaffected by the trappings of power and prestige. God alone for Cory was enough," said Bishop Socrates Villegas, a long-time family friend.

She quietly stepped down in 1992, but had continued to remain an outspoken anti-corruption advocate until her death.

Her son used the outpouring of grief and public support to launch his campaign that transformed him from a political lightweight to the country's 15th president. — AFP

HONG KONG: A man holds a sign professing his love for Cantonese, the main language used in the city, as he attends a Hong Kong rally to help stop Mandarin being promoted to the detriment of Cantonese in mainland China yesterday. — AFP

Hong Kong people rally to save Cantonese language HONG KONG: More than 1,000 protesters rallied in Guangzhou and Hong Kong yesterday against what they say is China's bid to champion the national language Mandarin over their local dialect Cantonese.

Hundreds of mainland police officers were deployed to disperse protesters who gathered in People's Park in Guangzhou to call on authorities to preserve the Cantonese language and culture, Hong Kong broadcasters RTHK and Cable TV reported.

"Guangzhou people speak the Guangzhou language!" some angry protesters chanted as the size of the crowd grew to about 1,000, RTHK said.

Videos from Cable TV and YouTube showed that some of the rally participants were forcefully carried away. A number of Hong Kong journalists were taken for questioning, according to Cable TV. Chinese authorities have been anxious to suppress the growing pro-Cantonese movement, sparked after a political advisory body in Guangzhou proposed this month that local TV stations broadcast their prime-time shows in Mandarin instead of Cantonese ahead of the Asian Games there in November. Adopting China's official language, also known as Putonghua, would promote unity, "forge a good language environment" and cater to nonCantonese-speaking Chinese visitors at the huge sporting event, authorities were quoted as saying.

Hundreds of Guangzhou residents defied government orders and staged their first demonstration last Sunday. But the protest was soon suppressed by the authorities, according to reports.

To echo the Guangzhou campaign, about 200 protesters marched to the government headquarters in Hong Kong yesterday.

"We want to show our support to our Guangzhou friends in their campaign to protect Cantonese against any threat of elimination," said Choi Suk-fong, organiser of the rally.

Participants wore white T-shirts with a logo which said: "You want us to shut up! We will speak louder in Cantonese!" A number of Guangzhou residents crossed the border to take part in the Hong

Kong rally, saying that authorities there were trying to silence the protesters.

"I really regretted not going to the rally in Guangzhou last week. I came to Hong Kong today because I want to protect my own culture. Unlike on the mainland, here I can voice my view more directly," said 21-year-old Wyman, who refused to give his family name for fear of retaliation by the Chinese authorities.

Instances of mainland protests spilling over into Hong Kong, which was returned to China in 1997, are rare since China's 1989 Tiananmen crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.

Cantonese is the mother tongue for an estimated 70 million people in Hong Kong, Macau and China's southern Guangdong province, and is widely spoken in overseas Chinese communities.

The Guangzhou city government on Thursday sought to deny rumours that they planned to ditch Cantonese in favour of Mandarin, according to the state-run Guangzhou Daily.

Its spokesman Ouyang Yongsheng was quoted as saying that the government had a responsibility to protect and promote Cantonese culture, including the language. "The citizens and concerned people can be reassured that Guangzhou would... not go for the socalled cause of 'abolishing Cantonese to promote Mandarin'," he said. China has long been a patchwork of often mutually unintelligible dialects. Beijing made Mandarin the country's official language in 1982, leading to bans on other dialects at many radio and television stations.

The dialect has been further promoted in recent years as migrant workers moved to China's coastal areas to find jobs. Mandarin language lessons became compulsory in schools in Hong Kong after its return to Chinese rule in 1997 and an increasing number of professionals began to learn the dialect after the handover as Hong Kong's business links with the mainland intensified. However, many Hong Kongers are fiercely proud and protective of Cantonese and see Mandarin only as a language of convenience. —AFP

Chinese rescuers battle to save 24 trapped in mine BEIJING: Rescuers raced yesterday to free 24 people trapped in a flooded mine in northeastern China, state media reported.

Heilongjiang provincial governor Li Zhanshu met coal industry and work safety officials at the scene in Jixi City, ordering them to speed up efforts to pump water out of the mine, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The Hengxinyuan Mine had been slated to close by the end of the year and it was not immediately clear whether the trapped workers were mining or using demolishing equipment, the report said. The incident was the second major mining accident to occur on Saturday after 17 people were killed and 68 injured in a blast at a mine

near Linfen city in the northern province of Shanxi, officials said.

The early morning explosion destroyed more than 10 dormitories at the Liugou coal mine near Linfen, the State Administration of Work Safety said on its website.

China's vast coal mining industry is notoriously accident-prone, plagued by lax regulation, corruption and inefficiency as mines rush to meet soaring energy demand.

A total of 2,631 miners were killed in China last year, according to official figures, but independent labour groups say the actual figure could be much higher as many accidents are covered up to avoid costly mine shutdowns. — AFP

SEOUL: South Korean soldiers with metal detectors search for North Korean mines washed away along a border river in Yeoncheon, 60 kms northeast of Seoul yesterday. A North Korean mine that drifted along a river into the neighbouring South killed a man and badly injured another when it exploded, military officials said yesterday. — AFP

INTERNATIONAL

Monday, August 2, 2010

11

Dutch troops leave Afghanistan after four 'proud' years KABUL: Dutch troops ended their mission in Afghanistan yesterday after four "proud" years, in a departure experts say signals the beginning of a drawdown of foreign forces that will leave a worrying void. The pull-out is the first significant drawdown of troops from the Afghan war, now in its ninth year, and comes as Taleban-led violence worsens and US forces suffered their worst month for casualties.

Troops held a "change of command" ceremony at the main military base in central Uruzgan province where most of the country's 1,950 soldiers have been deployed, said a Dutch embassy official.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which had asked the Dutch to extend their mission by a year, paid tribute to the Netherlands' contribution and said it would maintain its current capacity in the area.

"Dutch forces have served with distinction in Uruzgan, and we honor their sacrifice and that of their Afghan counterparts during the Netherlands' tenure in the province," Major Joel Harper, an ISAF spokesman, said in a statement.

"We have planned for the transfer to the new multi-national operation to

ensure a smooth transition... We will maintain current capabilities," he said.

The Netherlands' deployment began in 2006 and has cost the lives of 24 soldiers.

NATO's request for an extension of the mission sparked a political row that led to the Dutch government's collapse in February, and the announced drawdown.

NATO and the United States have close to 150,000 troops in the country, but a mounting death toll for foreign troops has piled political pressure on the United States and its allies as voters grow increasingly weary of the blood price of the war.

The death toll for US soldiers in July was an all-time high of 66. A total of 408 foreign troops have died in the Afghan war so far this year, according to an AFP tally based on that kept by the icasualties.org website. Switzerland is the only country to have withdrawn its force until now, bringing its two soldiers home from Afghanistan in March 2008, NATO said.

A Netherlands foreign ministry official said all soldiers would return home

by September, while most hardware, including four F-16 fighter jets, three Chinook and five Apache helicopters would be back by the year's end.

In central Uruzgan province the Dutch forces' focus has been less on combat operations, and more on their "3D" approach of defence, development and diplomacy, which has been held up as a benchmark for other missions.

"The international community and NATO are helping Afghanistan stand on its own legs... The Netherlands has done its duty and fought for the security and reconstruction of Afghanistan," said Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen in a statement.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has thanked the Netherlands "for the work that Dutch soldiers and development workers have done, and are still doing, in building the country".

But the Taleban remain very active in the province, where opium production is high, and the insurgents have welcomed the Dutch withdrawal, urging other countries to follow suit.

Canada is set to withdraw its entire force of 2,800 troops in Afghanistan next year, while Britain and the US have signalled that some troops will also leave in 2011 with an overall aim to end combat operations in 2014. "This is the start. It's a chain-the Dutch forces start to with-

Indian media industry doyen KM Mathew passes away KOTTAYAM: KM Mathew, chief editor of Malayala Manorama, passed away early yesterday at his residence in Kerala, India. He was 93.

Mathew served as a pathfinder for the Indian print media. Many journalists looked up to him as the patriarch of Indian journalism, and the nation honored him with Padma Bhushan in 1998. In the process, he became chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC), president of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), and founder trustee and chairman of the Press Institute of India and Research Institute for Newspaper Development (RIND).

As Mathew takes everlasting rest after half a century of dedication to the Malayala Manorama, the paper has a bouquet of achievements to place at his feet: 17 editions across India and Gulf and 1.8 million copies a day, four dozen highly popular publications in five languages. Moving with the times, Mathew led Manorama into electronic publishing, online edition and FM Radio.

He accepted a few awards related to journalism including the B D Goenka Award for the best editor, Ramakrishna Jayadayal Harmony Award for national integration, Foundation for Freedom of Information Award, Kerala Press Academy Honor for Excellence in Journalism, Durga Prasad Chaudhary Award, Swadesabhimani award, and Kerala Management Association's Leadership award.

Mathew is survived by three sons and a daughter. In 1942, he married Annamma, better known as Mrs. K M Mathew, who was the Chief Editor of Vanitha titles till her death in

KM Mathew, chief editor of Malayala Manorama 2003.Their children: Mammen Mathew (Editor, Malayala Manorama), Philip Mathew (Managing Editor), Jacob Mathew (Executive Editor) and Thankam Mammen.

India's President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, The UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other national and state leaders have expressed their condolences.

KABUL: Afghan demonstrators hold placards and use a megaphone as they take part in a rally in Kabul yesterday, to protest recent civilian casualties caused by an alleged NATO strike in the restive Afghan province of Helmand. Some two hundred men and women marched in the city centre chanting "Death to America, death to Iran and Pakistan" to condemn what is believed to be the deadliest such incident in southern Afghanistan in recent months, an AFP reporter on the scene said. —AFP

Afghans protest alleged NATO civilian deaths KABUL: Afghans held a rally in the capital Kabul yesterday to protest the alleged NATO killing of 52 civilians in the volatile south, but the coalition said it had still found no evidence of the deaths.

More than 200 people demonstrated over the July 23 incident in the Sangin district of Helmand province, when President Hamid Karzai says a rocket strike by a helicopter gunship on a residential compound took place.

The protesters shouted "Death to America" and carried banners calling for justice and pictures of children they say were killed in the strike in Regey village, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene.

But NATO and government investigations have not resolved conflicting accounts of the alleged incident. The Afghan National Security Council conducted its own investigation at the president's behest and found that a NATO rocket had hit a house in Sangin "leaving 52 civilians dead, including women and children", Karzai has said.

But assessments carried out by coalition and Afghan officials, including imagery of the scene and interviews with witnesses, have produced "no

substance in terms of proof or evidence" said NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) spokesman, Brigadier General Josef Blotz.

Blotz said that on July 23 there was a firefight between coalition troops and insurgents lasting several hours in an area "a couple of kilometres" away from Regey village.

There, he said, precision munitions had been used on a compound where six to eight people, mostly insurgents, had been killed, although "one to three civilians may have been inadvertently killed". Blotz said that resolving the dispute was a matter of urgency for NATO but that there was no timeline for a conclusion of the investigations.

"We need to close the case sometime soon, it's urgent," said Blotz.

The issue is sensitive in Afghanistan, where many people blame the presence of foreign forces for the violence of the nearly nine-year-old Taliban-led insurgency. Close to 150,000 US and NATO troops are deployed in Afghanistan.

The United Nations said this year that 2,412 civilians were killed in the war in 2009, making it the deadliest year for ordinary Afghans since the 2001 US-led invasion. — AFP

draw, followed by the Canadians, then the British by 2014. In the middle I think we will see a number of other NATO members... setting a timetable to leave," said Afghan political analyst Haroon Mir. The Dutch will be replaced by an American-led coalition force including Australian, Slovak and Singaporean soldiers. But Mir said that local residents' resistance to the Taleban was unlikely to toughen in Uruzgan, where he said security was worsening.

"In some districts people have risen against the Taleban but the problem is the Taleban have become very strong there so the local resistance will not do anything against them," said Mir. Despite that, Dutch chief of defence, General Peter van Uhm, whose son was among the 24 Dutch casualties during the mission, has said his troops had achieved "tangible results that the Netherlands can be proud of". Since the start of its lead role in Uruzgan at a cost of some 1.4 billion euros (1.8 billion dollars) to the Dutch state, the number of NGOs doing development work in the province has risen from six to 50, according to a Dutch embassy document. — AFP

TARIN KOWT: In this photograph taken on January 17, 2010, Dutch soldiers of Regional Command-South with Joint Task Force-Uruzgan patrol through the streets of Tarin Kowt. Dutch troops were to leave Afghanistan after four years yesterday, handing over control of military operations in central Uruzgan province after a political row at home forced their draw-down. — AFP

Latest unrest is the worst in two years

3 dead as thousands defy curfew in Indian Kashmir SRINAGAR: Three young men were killed yesterday after security forces opened fire at thousands of protesters who defied a curfew in Indian Kashmir, police said, as popular unrest continues to roil the region.

The deaths took to eight the number of protesters killed by Indian troops in three days of street clashes in Muslim-majority Kashmir, police said.

The latest casualties mark the deadliest phase in the Himalayan territory since June 11, when turmoil erupted after a 17-year-old student was killed by a police tear-gas shell.

The latest deaths took place in Pampore town, about 13 kilometres (eight miles) south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir.

"Two protesters were killed and three others injured when security forces opened fire at thousands of violent protesters in Pampore," said a police officer who did not want to be named.

Security forces opened fire with rifles when thousands of residents in Pampore defied a strict curfew, blocked the region's main highway and attacked security personnel.

"Security forces opened fire after tear gas and a baton charge had no impact on the rioting crowd," the officer said.

Residents said they were holding a peaceful protest against Indian rule when security troops fired on them.

The shooting brought even more people out on to the streets. They attacked police with rocks and sticks, witnesses said, and set fire to three government buildings and two vehicles.

They carried the two bodies through the streets of Pampore, chanting pro-freedom and antiIndia slogans, witnesses said.

A total of 25 civilians, mostly young men in their teens or early 20s, have died in clashes with Indian security forces in the Muslim-majority Kashmir since June.

Earlier, police and paramilitary troops enforced a strict curfew in Kashmir yesterday for the second day running.

Riot police were out in large numbers on the streets of Srinagar and other areas that have witnessed a rolling series of violent protests over the past two months.

The violence on Friday and Saturday was focused on the northern district of Baramulla, a traditional hotbed of Muslim separatism in the valley. It spread to south Kashmir yesterday.

Last week, the Kashmir state government ordered a judicial probe into the recent spate of police shootings. The inquiry will be led by two retired judges and has been tasked with submitting a report within three months.

A 20-year insurgency against Indian rule in Kashmir has claimed tens of thousands of lives. The latest unrest is the worst in two years. — AFP

PAMPORE: A masked Kashmiri protestor shouts anti-Indian slogans as he stands beside a burning police vehicle in Pampore, some 13kms south of Srinagar yesterday. Two protesters were killed in revolt-hit Indian Kashmir, taking to eight the number of young men shot dead by security forces in three days of street clashes, police said. — AFP

Pakistan president to visit Britain amid terror row ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will visit Britain this week for talks overshadowed by a row over remarks by British Prime Minister David Cameron suggesting Islamabad was not doing enough to fight terrorism.

Pakistan's spy chief, who had been due to visit London today for talks on counter-terrorism, cancelled his trip in protest at Cameron's remarks, a spokesman for the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) agency said on Saturday.

Cameron, speaking in Pakistan's rival India on Wednesday, told Islamabad that it must not become a base for militants and "promote the export of terror" across the globe, raising the ire of several officials and many people in the key US ally.

Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Zardari should cancel his visit to Britain. "I think it's inappropriate and an insult to the sentiments of the Pakistani people," he told reporters during a visit to flood-hit areas in the northwest.

Images of protesters in Karachi burning an effigy of Cameron have received widespread television coverage in Britain and dominated the front page of at least one newspaper.

Pakistan's envoy to Britain, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, said he had personally dissuaded Britons of Pakistani descent from demonstrating against Cameron's remarks before Zardari's visit.

The Pakistani leader travels to London from Paris, where he flew yesterday for talks with President Nicholas Sarkozy on security and economic issues as part of a three-day visit.

Zardari is expected to meet Cameron on Friday at the British prime minister's official country residence, Chequers, before addressing a rally of political supporters among Britain's millionstrong Pakistani community on Saturday.

Pakistani Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, who is already in London, said Zardari would focus on informing Cameron about Pakistan's fight against "violent extremism", and sought to play down the row's impact on BritishPakistan relations.

"If we go back into history, our relations with the UK are very good. And we want to keep up

those relations, strengthen those relations," Kaira told reporters on Saturday.

"This statement from the prime minister of the UK is contrary to the facts and is not in good taste, but our reasonable reaction is we will discuss this matter at the highest level of the leadership and give them the facts."

Pakistan's help is crucial for US and Western efforts to stabilise neighbouring Afghanistan.

Pakistan has launched a large military offensive against al Qaeda and Taleban militants in its northwestern provinces bordering Afghanistan, but recent criticism of its alleged ties to the insurgents have put the government on edge.

Cameron's remarks came days after classified US military reports published on the WikiLeaks website detailed concerns that the ISI had aided the Taleban while Pakistan's government was taking billions of dollars in US aid.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on a recent visit to Pakistan, said she believed al Qaeda leaders were still hiding in Pakistan and that some elements in the Pakistani government knew where they were.

India accuses Pakistan of supporting militants operating on its soil and peace talks between the two countries have been deadlocked since 2008 attacks in Mumbai.

In London, David Miliband, foreign minister in the previous Labour administration, criticised Cameron's remarks about Pakistan's ambivalent attitude towards Islamist extremism.

"Like a cuttlefish squirting out ink, his words were copious and created a mess... the prime minister's (comments) have been destructive," Miliband wrote in an opinion piece in Britain's Independent on Sunday newspaper.

Miliband, who is standing for the leadership of the Labour Party, also said it was "an open secret" over the past 20 years that militant groups had had links into parts of the Pakistani state, despite Pakistan itself being a victim of terrorism too. Pakistan's economic losses have been estimated by the government at more than $68 billion since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and toppling of the Taleban government in 2001. — Reuters

15 die as truck falls into gorge in India NEW DELHI: At least 15 Hindu devotees on a pilgrimage to a Himalayan town were killed and four other injured yesterday when a truck in which they were travelling fell into a gorge in northern India, officials said.

The truck carrying 20 people lost control on a hilly road in Uttarakhand state's Dabrani district and plunged into a 150metre (495-foot) deep gorge, United News of India reported, quoting officials.

The victims were on their way to an annual monsoon pilgrimage to the Himalayan town of Gangotri when the accident occurred, state emergency services officials told the news agency.

The injured were hospitalised in a serious condition.

The fate of the truck driver was not immediately known. India has the highest annual road death toll in the world, according to the World Health Organisation, with accidents caused by careless driving, poor roads, overcrowding and bad vehicle maintenance. — AFP

OPINION

12

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Afghanistan and US' troubled backyard

By Bernd Debusmann

T

he United States is spending around $6.5 billion a month on the war in faraway Afghanistan, where a large part of its effort is meant to help the government assert its authority, fight corruption and set up functioning institutions. Closer to home, the US has allotted $44 million a month to help the governments of its closest neighbours - Mexico and Central America - assert their authority, fight corruption and set up functioning institutions.

The two cases raise questions about American priorities. If money were the only gauge, one might draw the conclusion that it is 147 times more important for Washington to bring security and good governance to Afghanistan than to America's violence-plagued next-door neighbours Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. In the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez alone, 6,000 people have died in the past two and a half years, a number that dwarfs the military death toll of Afghanistan since the war there began in 2001. Central America, according to a UN report, has become the region with the world's highest murder rate, an average of about 1,300 a month.

Official statistics list 4,635 murders in El Salvador in 2009. Honduras notched up 5,265 and Guatemala 6,498.

Mexico topped the 2009 list with almost 8,000. Since President Felipe Calderon declared war on his country's drug trafficking organizations in December 2006, more than 25,000 people have been killed. Most of the blood-letting is blamed on drug traffickers fighting each other and the state, and on armed disputes between rival criminal gangs. To help the governments in America's backyard tamp down the violence, then President George W Bush signed into law, in June 2008, a three-year $1.6 billion security cooperation agreement, the so-called Merida Initiative. (So named after the Mexican city where it was hatched).

What effect has it had, so far? Virtually zero, largely because very little of the assistance in training and equipment the US promised has been delivered. In July, a report by the Government Accountability Office, the research arm of congress, found that just nine per cent of the agreed total had been "expended".

"Deliveries of equipment and training have been delayed by challenges associated with insufficient number of staff to administer the program, negotiations on interagency and bilateral agreements, procurement processes, changes in government, and funding availability," the GAO said. In other words: things got stuck in red tape.

But even once all the aid from helicopters and drug sniffing dogs to X-ray scanning devices and police training is dispensed - there is reason to doubt that the program will make much of a difference either to the flow of drugs to the United States or to the violence tearing at the fabric of society in Mexico and Central America. Like most initiatives since President Richard Nixon first declared "war on drugs" 39 years ago, Merida is heavy on equipment and geared more towards tactical victories in suppressing the cultivation and flow of drugs than on the long-term reforms that would make government institutions, most of all the justice systems, corruptionresistant.

The Merida initiative evokes memories of SMexican anti-drug efforts in the late 1990s, when Mexico was also torn by a wave of violence as rival cartels fought for dominance. Then as now, the military were seen as less prone to corruption and abuse than the police. Then as now, this is a questionable assumption. In the 1990s, the US provided a large fleet of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and other equipment. It trained thousands of Mexican special forces to attack the drug networks. An army general, Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo, became Mexico's drug czar.

He was arrested a year later and tried for working for the drug lords he was supposed to fight.

That the latest program does not quite capture the complex nature of the problem is apparent from its title: The Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime.

Both illicit drugs and organized crime play a major role in the Mexican and Central American mayhem but they are not the only forces.

Common crime is up throughout the region - from robbery and rape to extortion, car theft and kidnapping for ransom. In a climate of criminal anarchy, life is cheap, arrests are rare, and impunity is the rule rather than the exception.

This is not how President Calderon tells it. According to him, 90 percent of the dead are connected to drug organizations - bad people killing bad people. One Mexican army general, Jorge Juarez Loera, echoed the thought and phrased it differently. Reporters covering the killings should refer to "one less criminal" instead of "one more murder victim".

Charles Bowden, the author of Murder City, a gripping book on the decline of Ciudad Juarez into a killing field, scoffs at such assertions. "Most of the murder victims (in Juarez) are ordinary Mexicans who magically morph into drug cartel members before their blood dries where they fall dead, riddled with bullets." Is there an end in sight? Bowden's reply: "I don't see any way to put the lid back on." — Reuters

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

Mideast deserves better than 'City' sequel F

By Carla Haibi

or fans of Sex and the City - a television series and movie centred on the lives of four single women living in New York City - the summer movie sequel Sex and The City 2 promised fashion, fun, friendships and more. Viewers who watched it when it premiered on 15 July in Lebanon felt it delivered on these fronts, evidenced by the soaring laughter throughout the cinema. Yet despite its humour, I found it followed the lead of a plethora of Hollywood movies that stereotype Arabs and the Middle East. Sadly, such stereotypes only widen the gulf between the West and the Arab world.

The film's storyline takes the four main characters on a journey to Abu Dhabi, where they've been invited by a rich sheikh. These American women, who are extremely candid about their sexuality, find themselves in a country where conservative religious values rule. Obviously, trouble is around the corner. Samantha, the sexually open publicist, is arrested for kissing a man in public, only one instance of the provocation of conservative Muslim Emiratis' sensibilities.

Throughout the film, the characters refer to the Middle East as one entity.

For instance Carrie, a writer on relationships, says that the Middle East is a place that always fascinated her. She describes it as "Desert Moon, Scheherazade, Jasmine and Aladdin", stereotypical references routinely employed in Hollywood films. In an effort to understand the traditions of the country, Miranda, a lawyer, declares: "Men and women don't embrace in public in the Middle East."

While this might be true in some parts of the Middle East, this claim is a sweeping generalisation. The Middle

East comprises over 24 countries, and multiple religions, cultures, languages and ethnic groups. It's a culturally rich and diverse region that deserves a more accurate representation in movies.

The film eventually brings Emirati women and American women together at the end over commonalities such as fashion, books, problems with men and the challenges of overcoming menopause. And despite the superficial nature of this film, and the prejudiced representation of Emirati culture, some viewers in both the Middle East and North America may still learn they have things in common even though they are worlds apart.

Yet although the movie highlights new and exotic experiences in Abu Dhabi for the American women, it mostly highlights the differences between American and Emirati women's lifestyles and mentalities. Some fans of the series defend it as being a comedy and it does have some hilarious sequences in it, but comedy can still be funny without resorting to stereotypes or generalisations.

With more thorough research about the people and the societies involved, and additional effort to write a wittier, more intelligent script, humour could have been used in a more constructive fashion to bridge the cultural divide. Sex and the City has a large following in the United States and around the world.

Thus, the film had the potential to introduce millions of fans to the positive aspects of Emirati people, society and traditions.

Some Hollywood films have portrayed characters of Arab origin in a positive matter and can serve as models for other filmmakers, such as Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, a 1991 film in which Morgan Freeman's character, Azeem, returns from Jerusalem with

Robin Hood after the Crusades and becomes his respected comrade and friend. Additionally, in Kingdom of Heaven, a 2005 film about the siege of Jerusalem during the Crusades, Syrian actor Ghassan Massoud plays the role of Saladin. Though he is the enemy of the Crusaders, he is presented as an

upright and respectful man.

Moviemakers have a responsibility, especially in these times of tense relations between the Muslim world and the West, to avoid shallow representations of others. Visual media is very powerful in conveying messages and should be taken seriously. When these

messages are both entertaining and informative, they can help viewers understand their differences, a key ingredient for ultimately establishing common ground.

NOTE: Carla Haibi is a Lebanese freelance journalist — CGNews

This is an unjust war

By Mark Vernon

T

wo things last week have made the hellishness of military violence painfully clear. The first, WikiLeaks' Afghanistan war logs, describes in detail the horror of civilian casualties and "friendly fire" incidents. The second, from the same theatre, is Sean Smith's chilling video on guardian.co.uk of American marines in southern Helmand.

Faced with these portraits of war, empathy for the people caught up in it has been unavoidable.

But empathy alone is not enough. If you're not a pacifist, you accept that war is vile, but at times an inevitable part of life on Earth. The question is when and how it can be morally justified. Hence the importance of the just war tradition.

Thinkers like the theologian Thomas Aquinas sought a way of containing war, by thinking through the desperate feelings that combat does and should evoke. The aim is to keep a steady view on the demands of natural justice, even when the fog of war threatens to blur everything.

The war logs in particular afford us a steady view on this current conflict, and what's as unsettling as the tragedy they reveal is the possibility that we lost sight of those demands, at least on occasion. The crucial issue is whether that's happened. An answer can be found by thinking about the relationship between jus ad bellum and jus in bello - the justification for the war itself, and the principles that should operate during the conduct of war. Both matter.

Let's assume the war in Afghanistan is justified, and focus on the jus in bello. One of Aquinas's major contributions was the notion of proportionality: how to assess the bad consequences of otherwise well-intended military action. Michael Walzer, a leading modern just war theorist, notes that simply not to intend the death of civilians is not enough. That's "too

easy". Instead, there must be a positive commitment to saving civilian lives, rather than just killing no more than is militarily necessary. "Civilians have a right to something more," he concludes. "And if saving civilian lives means risking soldiers' lives, the risk must be accepted." This highlights a further painful question: how much extra risk must soldiers bear in order to save civilian lives? It's not a balance that can be determined ahead of time. Individual cases must be considered, as the Afghanistan war logs afford, and again give rise to concern. It's with the use of heavily armed drones that this comes into particularly sharp focus. In Wired for War, Peter Warren Singer notes that "going to war" has become not so different from "going to work" for many robot operators, in the sense that the risk they face is virtually zero. They might be destroying a target at 4.30 pm from the office, and be home by 6 pm to read the kids a bedtime story.

Soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan face grave risks.

That too is devastatingly obvious. But their sacrifice is undermined when jus in bello is not considered in the round. For what distinguishes war from mass murder is precisely respecting the rights of civilians. Has due care been taken?

Have all feasible precautions been made to protect non-combatants, even when the Taleban and Al-Qaeda erode the distinction between civilians and military by placing combat facilities in residential areas? What the war logs confirm is that remote aerial bombardments cannot always verify targets. Jus in bello is under threat. This isn't just an abstract argument.

As civilians die, so conflict deepens interminably. To ignore the just war tradition now is to run the real danger that automated 21st-century conflict will turn into perpetual war.

NOTE: Mark Vernon is a journalist and the author of The Meaning of Friendship — Guardian

By dumping ally, Berlusconi scores 'own goal'

By Michele Leridon

I

talian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi looks to have scored an "own goal", emerging weakened by his tempestuous split from longtime ally Gianfranco Fini, analysts said Saturday, no longer ruling out early elections. "The numbers seem to argue for Fini and against Berlusconi," said Angelo Panebianco of the leading Italian daily Corriere della Sera after 33 lawmakers deserted the prime minister to support Fini, the speaker of parliament, on Friday. The drama capped months of feuding between the billionaire prime minister and the former neofascist, who had been allies since the media tycoon entered politics in 1994.

On the strength of an emphatic election win in 2008, Berlusconi and Fini's centre-right People of Freedom (PDL) party, in coalition with the anti-immigration Northern League, enjoyed an unassailable majority in parliament.

Now, without the 33 deputies loyal to Fini, Berlusconi is left with much less room for manoeuvre and will have to "navigate through a parliament strewn with obstacles," Panebianco wrote.

Berlusconi, already plummeting in opinion polls, has now "scored an own goal," political scientist Giacomo Marramao said. He praised Fini, 58, for standing firm and presenting himself as the guarantor of Italy's institutions and the rule of law when several high-ranking members of Berlusconi's govern-

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gestures during a conference of Italian Ambassadors on July 28, 2010 at Farnesina Palace in Rome. – AFP ment are embroiled in scandal.

Marramao, who teaches political philosophy at the University of Florence, said hunger was growing among the electorate, including on the right, for an end to "populist excesses". "For the first time, Berlusconi has shown his weakness. He is very attractive when he wins, but when he comes under criticism he has a lot of trouble controlling

the situation," Marramao told AFP. Several media reports say the ebullient Berlusconi, 73, decided on his own to go on the offensive against his recalcitrant ally, against the advice of his closest aides. He will face an uphill struggle to pursue a legislative agenda that includes justice reforms to help him avoid prosecution on and a controversial bill limiting the use of wiretaps

- which has already been watered down under Fini's leadership.

In addition to Berlusconi's recurrent legal troubles connected to his sprawling media empire, corruption scandals among his team have seen three resignations, including those of two ministers, in recent months. A vote of confidence - a manoeuvre that Berlusconi has used with growing frequency to

smooth passage of legislation - will now be fraught with risks. Even Il Giornale, the newspaper of the Berlusconi family, is warning of the "risk" facing Berlusconi, especially if President Giorgio Napolitano - the chief guarantor of Italy's institutions-sides with Fini. So far, Napolitano has maintained a discreet distance from events. A possible scenario is for Berlusconi to apply shock treatment, calling a confidence vote on a controversial bill with the intention of losing so as to precipitate snap polls. "Early elections are no longer just a hypothesis," said analyst Stefano Folli of the business daily Il Sole 24 Ore. "They seem the natural outcome of a political shambles brought about by a misfire," he wrote, adding that he felt as if he were witnessing "the convulsions of the end of a reign".

Folli wrote of Berlusconi: "It's his style to look to the polls as a way out of the endless difficulties of governing effectively."

Marramao agreed, saying Berlusconi's "only way of doing politics is to live in a perpetual election campaign." Philosopher Paolo Flores d'Arcais sees a method to the madness.

"Berlusconi knows very well what he's doing," said the editor of the intellectual Micromega magazine. The indefatigable Berlusconi would win his fourth mandate thanks to the electoral system, his domination of the airwaves and "because there is no other credible alternative," Flores d'Arcais said. — AFP

ANALYSIS

Monday, August 2, 2010

13

Obama reviving US clout in Asia as China stumbles

By Lachlan Carmichael

T

he Obama administration is now reviving much of Washington's old clout in Asia as missteps by rising giant China prompt its smaller neighbors to turn to the US as a counterweight, analysts say. Experts said the United States, China as well as the rest of Asia -whether it's South Korea and Japan in the northeast or Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Laos in the southeast - all seek and stand to gain from cooperation. "I don't see this as a contest. It's not a zero-sum game," said Kenneth Lieberthal, a top Brookings Institution analyst in Washington who served on former president Bill Clinton's National Security Council.

Nonetheless Lieberthal told AFP that Washington's return to its traditional robust role in the Pacific could irk China to the point that it harms bilateral relations, a situation where both nations would lose. "The concern obviously is whether this is having a serious negative impact on our ties with China, or whether these are kind of bumps in the road," Lieberthal

said. He suspects some in Beijing's leadership believe that the Obama administration will boost the confidence of China's smaller neighbors to the point it becomes harder for the Asian power to have its way in the region.

The USChina balance, experts said, has shifted since President Barack Obama took office last year promising to "re-engage" with a region which predecessor George W. Bush's administration had neglected as it focused on the war on terror. The Asia-Pacific has

since seen a flurry of visits by not only Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and other cabinet members but also senior officials from various government agencies.

Obama, who calls himself the first "Pacific" US president as he was born and raised in Hawaii, has also visited the region although he has twice postponed plans to travel to Indonesia, where he spent part of his childhood. "We haven't seen this kind of diplomatic attention by the United States to the region at senior levels, where it counts, for a long time," said Douglas Paal, who has served in previous US administrations. "It reminds me of what the Chinese did after 1998, when they sort of woke up and

thought Southeast Asia was important," said Paal, now a leading analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "More recently China's game has slipped," he said.

Not only is China no longer sending its "cream of the crop" of diplomats to Southeast Asia, he said, it has worried neighbors like Vietnam with unilateral steps on disputed islands in the South China Sea. The United States has now stepped into the tangle. On a visit to Hanoi last week for the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Regional Forum, a 27-member grouping, Clinton said Washington had an interest in guaranteeing open navigation and free trade in the South China Sea. In remarks apparently coordinated with her ASEAN partners, the chief US diplomat also said Washington would be willing to facilitate multilateral talks on the islands.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi later warned the United States not to internationalize the issue, saying direct bilateral talks were the path to take. What Clinton did was burnish US credentials as a counterweight to China. The United States is

"getting back into the game of balancing China in the eyes of many of the states in the region who feel they can't stand up to China alone and they need someone to pull them together collectively," Paal said. China, he said, has also bolstered Washington's own alliance with South Korea and Japan by failing to take a stronger stand on the sinking in March of a South Korean warship by what Seoul says was a North Korean torpedo.

Bonnie Glaser, a China expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies who has been a consultant for the State and Defense Departments, said Asian nations have cooled toward China and warmed to the United States. "Most of the states in the region really welcomed China's rise," she said, citing new trade and investment opportunities there. "But increasingly countries think that China has been given a little bit too much running room, that there does need to be more balance and that the best power to do that is the United States," Glaser told AFP. "I think the Chinese really got out in front of us in the last decade and the US is really now sort of catching up," she added. — AFP

Brazil's Serra losing 'market favorite' status

By Raymond Colitt

J

ose Serra began his campaign for Brazil's president as the clear favorite of financial markets, but his recent heavy hand on economic policy is now raising doubts with many investors. Several investors and political experts told Reuters they are now more wary of Serra than his main rival, ruling party candidate Dilma Rousseff.

Serra, a 68-year-old veteran politician from the opposition PSDB party, has concerned many with talk of exerting control over the central bank, cutting interest rates, and boosting the state's role in the economy.

The apparent shift in sentiment turns the conventional wisdom in Brazil's presidential race upside-down, and could move currency and debt markets if Serra remains strong in polls as the October vote approaches, investors said. "The financial system secretly prefers Rousseff," said Tony Volpon, head of Americas emerging market

research at Nomura Securities in New York. By most measures, Serra should be the investor favorite. He boasts a doctorate in economics from Cornell University, a laundry list of executive experience, and a party that championed privatization and market reforms under Lula's predecessor, President Fernando Henrique Cardoso (19952002). Rousseff, a career civil servant, by contrast, was once an urban guerrilla and never held an elected office before. However, Rousseff has gone out of her way to win over investor support, distancing herself from some of her party's more leftwing proposals.

She also pledged to continue the largely market-friendly policies of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that helped fuel Brazil's economy in recent years.

"Neither candidate is Wall Street's dream but Serra is the bigger risk. He brings more uncertainty and chance for change," said Alexandre Barros, a political analyst who followed Serra since they were both student activists in Sao

Paulo in 1962. Xico Graziano, a senior aide to Serra, played down the investor concerns, telling Reuters: "Investors know Serra's qualities and how he sees the economy. It's no surprise to anyone."

So far, few investors have been concerned with the Oct 3 vote, content that neither of the leading candidates is a populist threatening economic stability. But that sense of calm is at risk as the vote grows closer and the candidates more clearly articulate their platforms. Serra this week said that interest rates needed to be cut and that the real was "mega overvalued".

"Regarding Serra there is concern over interest rates and currency, though I do think he'd be tougher on fiscal discipline than Dilma," said Reginaldo Alexandre, head of the Association of Capital Market Analysts in Sao Paulo.

Rousseff has steadily climbed in opinion polls on the back of a booming economy and support from the hugely popular Lula, though she has still not

established a clear lead. "The market has not priced in Serra risk because it thinks Rousseff will win," said Rafael Cortez, a political analyst at Tendencias, one of the country's largest consulting firms. If Rousseff doesn't establish a clear advantage over Serra by August, Volpon said "you could see some pretty violent (market) moves, especially the foreign exchange rate."

Serra has also given mixed signals on the role of the state in the economy.

He has criticized the creation of a new state oil company, the use of state funds to build a high-speed train, and pledged to restore powers to industry regulators. But he has also applauded Lula's economic stimulus measures and proposed more state-led economic development. "I favor a national development project for Brazil with government activism," Serra said. While Serra wants to cut government fat, he also wants to double Lula's flagship welfare program, Bolsa Familia, which many of

his supporters criticized for years.

Some analysts say Serra's policy mix reflects his campaign strategy. He wants to be seen as proposing change but not abandoning policies that made Lula hugely popular. "Dilma tells the market what it wants to hear. Serra's message is more political because he needs to win votes," says Dany Rappaport, partner in InvestPort financial consultancy. But Serra has a history of government intervention and is linked to a school of thought that advocates economic planning, a strong state, capital controls and import-substitution.

As planning minister, he clashed with the pro-market wing in the Cardoso government and was quickly moved to the health ministry. There he forced Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche to slash its prices under threat of breaking its patent. "His proposals reflect his beliefs - it's not marketing.

But either way it generates uncertainty," said Barros. — Reuters

Action on global climate may drift for years

By Gerard Wynn

I

nternational action on climate change looks set to drift for the next two years as politicians waver in the wake of the financial crisis, despite a new report which says the last three decades were the warmest on record. Recession in industrialised countries has focused attention on the cost of cutting carbon emissions. And green motivations suffered a huge blow with the failure of UN negotiations to deliver a deal in Copenhagen in December.

Talks resume this week in Bonn, Germany, but a new draft text is as vague as ever on targets or a timetable to cut emissions. "I suspect that we're in for a fairly long period of slowdown, you're talking about a two to three years' timeframe before you restore the political momentum," said Tom Burke of Imperial College London. The global renewable energy market is tipped to have a record year in 2010, thanks to existing support and subsidies, but a climate deal would boost investment above the current level of about $200 billion annually.

Global consensus would add pressure to introduce national carbon caps. The United States and Australia each confirmed last week legislative delays on industry carbon emissions caps.

"Domestically, there is going to be (US) climate policy, in terms of congressional action it's less likely," said Harvard University's Robert Stavins, referring to state regulations which will likely apply in lieu of a stalled climate bill.

The most likely scenario for approval of a bill could be if US President Barack Obama won a second term, from 2013, when recession was well over, Stavins added.

The US delay would come as a "major disappointment" to governments and environmental groups, said Robert Watson, chief scientist at Britain's environment ministry.

"What signal does that send to other governments as they go into negotiations leading up to Cancun and beyond?" he said, referring to the next major UN climate meeting in Mexico at the end of the year. The UN negotiations are meant to deliver a new deal to succeed the Kyoto Protocol whose present round expires in 2012.

The negotiation doldrums are partly a failure of nerve.

"Governments have taken a look

over the cliff and seen what's really involved in getting to a carbon neutral energy system by 2050 and have thought - 'Whoops, do we really know how to do this?'," said Tom Burke. "You're talking, in terms of making the changes necessary to deal with climate change, of unzipping the business model of the oil companies."

The latest delays to US and Australian legislation will only spur opposition from the fossil fuel industry, for instance in Europe over a decision on whether or not to strengthen carbon curbs through 2020.

China and other emerging economies may face less opposition from their fossil fuel industries, because increasing power demand is such that the priority is simply to add new capacity. "It's that much harder in mature economies because it's about substitution, which puts you up against incumbents," said HSBC analyst Nick Robins. It means replacement of ageing power plants rather than building additional capacity.

For all its renewable energy ambition, China's carbon emissions are surging, but it says the onus of action is on developed countries, a longrunning bone of contention in the UN process. A long-term global goal to limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius, aspired to in Copenhagen, appears out of reach. The target was "essentially infeasible for technical reasons", said Richard Tol, research professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin.

Harvard's Stavins also called it "politically infeasible".

The "climategate" furore over the reliability of climate science, following leaked emails and disclosure of two errors in a UN report, may be blowing over, however. A "State of the Climate report" published on Wednesday found that evidence from a wide range of sources including land, ocean and air temperatures as well as ice cover pointed to a warming world, culminating to make the last decade the hottest on record.

The report did not focus on the cause of warming but, when asked, contributors said humans were to blame. "The consistent picture from numerous studies looking at that particular question is that you can only explain all these changes at the global and regional scales by invoking human causes," author and editor Peter Thorne told Reuters. — Reuters

focus

Colombia dispute helps Chavez distract voters

By Christopher Toothaker

V

enezuela's diplomatic fight with Colombia comes at an opportune time for Hugo Chavez, who could benefit politically if he manages to shifts voters' attention away from a recession, Latin America's highest inflation and rampant crime.

Venezuela's socialist president is playing up his dispute with US-allied Colombia in an apparent attempt to rally nationalist sentiment against foreign enemies ahead of legislative elections in September.

He severed relations with Colombia last week in response to allegations that Venezuela has become a haven for Colombian rebels - and without missing a beat he sought to portray those accusations as a plot against him by Bogota and Washington. It's a theme likely to be repeated Thursday at a meeting of South American foreign ministers in Ecuador. The narrative helps Chavez play on supporters' patriotism and redirect attention away from potentially damaging accusations. But even for a leader accustomed to making claims of conspiracies, his rhetoric has been particular strong.

"The possibility of an armed attack from Colombian territory on Venezuela's territory has a probability that it's never had before in many years. I'd say 100 years," Chavez told a rally of supporters over the weekend. "I'm obliged to tell the people the truth: We are threatened by the Yankee empire." Chavez has long accused the US of trying to oust him since he survived a 2002 coup, and he insists his concerns about a possible armed conflict are genuine. Yet Chavez's forceful verbal counterattack - from threatening to cut off US oil shipments to talking of a threat of war - also seem politically expedient. He has plenty to be concerned about at home: 31 percent inflation, a recession that saw the economy contract 3.3 percent last year, unchecked crime and a scandal involving thousands of tons of food found rotting or beyond expiration dates in government storage.

Chavez often says that in politics, the best attack is the coun-

terattack. He had already stepped up his televised speeches at state-run stores to counter the food scandal before the latest escalation of tensions with Colombia. Chavez is a savvy political strategist and is adept at deflecting attention from potentially damaging issues. He has also found ways to defuse situations that might otherwise turn against him.

In December, he quickly corked up a banking scandal involving a Cabinet minister's brother and several wealthy businessmen with ties to his administration by firing a close aide, vowing to bring other suspects to justice and labeling them "revolting rats that wear ties." Now Chavez is focused on holding on to majority control of the National Assembly in the Sept. 26 elections. The legislature has been dominated by Chavez allies since the last congressional vote in 2005, when major opposition parties boycotted the elections. ProChavez lawmakers have done their leader's bidding ever since, approving laws reducing the power of opposition mayors and governors while stonewalling calls for investigations into alleged official corruption.

Opposition leaders hope to dramatically increase their presence in the 165-seat assembly to rein in Chavez, who they accuse of becoming increasingly authoritarian and ruining the economy. How Chavez looks in the eyes of his supporters during the next two months, and how he handles issues like the Colombia dispute and the food scandal, could have an impact on what is likely to be a hardfought political contest. Chavez has already started lashing out at opposition governors in border states who are demanding an investigation into Colombia's claims about havens for rebels.

But even while warning of a conflict with the government of outgoing Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Chavez is keeping his options open, saying he hopes President-elect Juan Manuel Santos will take a different approach once he takes office Aug 7. Chavez may not be the only one trying to play the dispute to his political advantage. —AP

Cameron in fresh start with India

By Giles Hewitt

T

he rules of engagement for the top-level delegation British Prime Minister David Cameron brought to India were clear: Be humble, keep looking forward and, whatever you do, don't mention Kashmir. For a short visit, just two days, it had lofty ambitions of rejuvenating and redefining a historical relationship that had drifted towards indifference, and analysts Friday suggested the effort had, for the most part, paid off. The unprecedented size and profile of the delegation, which included a sizeable chunk of Cameron's senior cabinet and a small army of top business leaders, was a statement of intent that was not lost on its hosts.

The underlying tone of the visit, aimed at pitching for investment and increased trade to create jobs and boost Britain's postrecession recovery, was set in a piece Cameron wrote for The Hindu newspaper in advance of his visit. "I have come to your country in a spirit of humility," wrote the Conservative leader, who came to power in May. "I know that Britain cannot rely on sentiment and shared history for a place in India's future."

Such self-effacement appeared aimed at distancing Cameron from a series of past visits by top British politicians that had prompted Indian complaints of being "lectured to" by the former colonial ruler. In 1997, then foreign minister Robin Cook infuriated his hosts by suggesting that Britain could mediate in India's long-standing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir. And last year, then foreign minister David Miliband ignited a diplomatic furore when he linked the 2008 Mumbai attacks to the lack of a solution in Kashmir. India and Pakistan have fought two wars over the divided Muslim-majority region and New Delhi is staunchly opposed to any third-party interference.

"There is a strong feeling in India that in the past British lead-

ers have talked down to us," said Lalit Mansingh, a former Indian foreign secretary and ambassador to Britain. "This time, I think Cameron got the tone absolutely right," Mansingh said. Cameron's unexpectedly blunt warning to India's arch-rival Pakistan about promoting "the export of terror" also played well, while eliciting an angry response from Islamabad.

Whether there was any real substance to back up the charm offensive was more open to question.

A decade ago, Britain was India's third largest trade partner.

Now it doesn't even make the top 10 and, in its new drive to court one of the world's fastest-growing economies, faces stiff competition from wealthier rival suitors like the United States and Japan. "The fact is that Britain needs India much more than India needs Britain," said political analyst Paranjoy Guha Thakurta. An editorial in the Hindustan Times noted that for all his talk of British expertise in finance, education, research and military technology, Cameron was unable to bring a "big-ticket item" to the trade table with India.

"Instead, not unlike a real estate agent selling the idea of a yet-to-be-constructed apartment block, Cameron made a pitch for something more substantial that is yet to come," the Times said.

The only major deal signed during the visit was for BAE Systems to sell 57 Hawk trainer jets to India at a cost of around $780 million.

And Cameron also failed to allay concerns over his government's proposed cap on non-EU immigration, which Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma has warned will have an adverse effect on trade relations.

But R K Jain, a professor of European Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, argued that it was unrealistic to expect too much from just one visit. "Cameron wanted to make a strong pitch, and he did that.

The primary thrust was economic and that is going to be the main definer of future relations," Jain said. —AFP

NEWS

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Monday, August 2, 2010

‘Imam Idol’ seeks to energize youth Continued from Page 1 “Young Imam” title, said he wanted to reach out to youngsters to spark their interest in the religion. “I want to be an imam who is friendly to the youth, cool, relaxed, able to play with children and engage the elderly,” the 26-yearold said after the finale, as he hailed the show as a “victory of Islam”. “I want to play football with the kids in my neighbourhood and still be a spiritual leader among them,” said the soft-spoken Asyraf, clad in a black long robe over a suit and wearing a white Islamic skullcap.

Religious authorities in Malaysia, where more than 60 percent of its 28 million population are Muslim, regularly make headlines with morality raids on hotels and nightclubs, looking for illicit drinking and sex. In a development that alarmed rights activists, three women were caned in February for having sex out of wedlock - the first time the punishment under Islamic law had been carried out on women in Malaysia.

But there is a debate even among Muslim

leaders over whether the punishment-based approach is appropriate, or whether they should instead seek to persuade and inspire. The shows’ creators said a main reason for the success of the program was that it has sought to make Islam more appealing to young people. “I think it’s because it’s breaking a lot of traditions and a lot of stigma about the religion partly because of the title itself, ‘Young Imam’,” said Zainir Aminullah, editor of pay-TV operator Astro which airs the show. “There is a certain image of an imam, but these boys are handsome, they are well-groomed, they speak well, they are extremely articulate,” added Zainir, who said he would consider continuing the show next year.

Imams play a broad role in Muslim society, including leading prayers at the mosque and counselling troubled individuals. The 10 finalists, who were chosen from 1,000 candidates, faced written and practical tests on religion each week. They were quarantined in a mosque dormitory and banned from using phones, the

Internet and television. They also had to persuade youngsters away from sex and drugs.

Even as the show ended, the popularity of the program continues to rise. Its official Facebook page added 7,500 fans overnight to nearly 60,000 after Friday’s finale.

“People always tend to associate Islam with terrorism, jihad (holy war) or something very rigid, but look at these young imams and you will realise that perception is wrong,” said Fadhilah Salleh, a 25-year-old student. “This is a new phenomenon and it is taking us to somewhere positive,” she told AFP. For winner Asyraf, whose immediate plan is to set up a “Young Imam” club to engage the youth through arts and motivational classes, also promised to ditch the traditional, stern image that youths often shy away from. “We represent the first generation of young imams.

We want to attract the young, we want to be more open, flexible and approachable as young imams,” he said. “All of these are now my new objectives,” Asyraf added with a smile. — AFP

BlackBerry faces squeeze in Gulf Continued from Page 1 cap wrangling with regulators over the issue which began in 2007.

India raised similar security concerns last week and Bahrain in April warned against using BlackBerry Messenger to distribute local news. As far back as 2007, France cautioned officials about using the services. Indian security officials are concerned that BlackBerry’s encrypted data could be used to coordinate acts against the state. They have clamped down on mobile phone operators in the wake of attacks on Mumbai in 2008 which killed 166 people.

The UAE, home to Gulf financial hub Dubai, said it would halt BlackBerry services until an “acceptable solution” is developed and applied. Users of the device said that could mean disruptions for companies and individuals who rely on the services, including almost 700,000 in Saudi Arabia and some 500,000 in the UAE. “It’s a final decision but we are continuing discussions with them,” Mohammed Al-Ghanem, director general of the UAE’s TRA told Reuters. “Censorship has got nothing to do with this,” he said, calling it instead a suspension due to RIM’s lack of compliance with UAE regulations. Authorities noted there is no such problem with services on smartphones from Nokia or Apple’s iPhone.

RIM officials were not immediately available for comment. The Canadian firm has over 41 million BlackBerry subscribers, meaning the Gulf bans could affect less than 3 percent of its users.

In anticipation of communication problems that would arise from cutting the service, Ghanem said providers Etisalat and Du have been told they should offer alternatives. “Providing alternative offers that would guarantee the continuity of messenger, email and web browsing to personal and business clients is at the top of our priorities,” he said.

The UAE’s largest telecoms provider, Etisalat, acknowledged the decision and pledged to provide solutions for users.

“Etisalat’s focus at the current time is to make sure its valued customers experience continuity of mobility services,” the state-majority-owned operator said in a statement. “In line with its commitment

towards its customers, Etisalat will soon be announcing a range of alternative mobility products and services for its existing BlackBerry customers,” it added. Du also said it would respect the decision. “As a communication provider in the country, we have to always operate within the regulations of TRA,” it said in a statement carried by state news agency WAM. In Saudi Arabia, BlackBerry handsets have become the must-have gizmo for Saudi youths, enabling them to connect with members of the opposite sex in a deeply conservative society. “About 80 percent of Saudi-based BlackBerry users are individual users and 20 percent are enterprises, while these ratios are basically reversed in developing nations,” said one industry source. “This problem would not have emerged if the bulk of BlackBerry users were enterprises.” The governor of Saudi Arabia’s telecom regulator declined comment. An Interior Ministry spokesman could not immediately be reached comment.

In the UAE, which is slowly emerging from an economic slowdown brought about by the global financial crisis and Dubai’s property crash, some worried the move was aimed at curbing free speech.

Wrangling over the issue included an incident last year in which the state-controlled Etisalat introduced what it called a software upgrade. RIM said it was an unauthorised “telecommunications surveillance application” and that enabled access to information stored on the user’s smartphone.

“I think there will be such an uproar, it probably won’t happen and a solution will be found,” said Irfan Ellam, Al Mal Capital telecoms analyst, referring to the mooted BlackBerry services ban.

“BlackBerry is seen as essential by many companies, so if you want to attract business to your country it doesn’t make much sense to ban these Blackberry services,” said Ellam. He said RIM had been asked to set up a proxy server in India to allow the government there to monitor traffic from a security perspective and the same approach might resolve the issue in the UAE and elsewhere.

“The UAE is asking them to have a server here and they are offering solutions other than that,” a UAE source

20 years on, US set to leave Iraq familiar with the matter told Reuters.

“BlackBerry appears to be compliant in similar regulatory environments of other countries, which makes non-compliance in the UAE both disappointing and of great concern,” UAE’s regulator said.

RIM shares rose last week on speculation that it might unveil a new touchscreen BlackBerry 9800 this week to compete more effectively with the iPhone and models.

The decision comes as Paris-based media watchdog Reporters without Borders accused the UAE of “harassing and arresting users of BlackBerry Messenger who allegedly tried to organise a protest” against an increase in petrol prices. “We call for an end to this government witch-hunt against BlackBerry Messenger users who tried to get their fellow citizens to join them in a protest,” it said on Thursday, claiming that one of the organisers, Badr Ali AlDhohori, 18, has been in custody in Abu Dhabi since July 15.

Unlike many other smart phones, BlackBerry devices use a system that updates a user’s inbox by sending encrypted messages through company servers abroad, including RIM’s home nation of Canada. Users like the system because it is seen as more secure, but it also makes BlackBerry messages far harder to monitor than ones sent through domestic servers that authorities could tap into, analysts say.

“This is the irony, that it’s the device with the highest security features,” said Simon Simonian, an analyst at Dubaibased investment bank Shuaa Capital who follows telecommunications. “These same security features corporations like have become an issue of national security for the government.” Emirati authorities are eager to portray an image of the country as a safe, stable society free from the extremism found elsewhere in the region.

They have taken steps to crack down on terror financing and efforts by neighbor Iran to sidestep international sanctions over its nuclear program. Regulators said they have sought compromises with RIM on their concerns, but failed to reach an agreement on the issue. “The UAE doesn’t want to take any chances and they want to monitor what is going on in the country,” Simonian said. — Agencies

Invasion still hurting Iraq-Kuwait ties Continued from Page 1 get my country back to where it was before August 2nd.” Since 1994, when the United Nations set up a reparations fund, Iraq has repaid $30.15 billion to Kuwait, with a further $22.3 billion in compensation still due.

Baghdad is required to put five percent of its oil and gas revenues into the fund. That is in addition to an estimated eight billion dollars in bilateral debt and around one billion dollars owed to Kuwait as a result of a court judgment over a dispute between the two countries’ state airlines. Those obligations remain crippling to a country where infrastructure and the economy are in dire need of rebuilding after having been hammered by years of violence and sanctions.

“Until Iraq achieves internal stability and the government is capable of achieving a unitary foreign policy... Iraq-Kuwait relations will remain a controversial subject,” Maasouma Al-Mubarak, the chair of the Kuwaiti parliament’s foreign affairs committee, told AFP. “The wounds are very deep,” she added. “It is very difficult for us to forget, but we are trying to turn a new page in Kuwait-Iraq relations.”

Crucial issues between the two coun-

tries remain unresolved, chief among which is the agreement of land and maritime borders which the United Nations officially demarcated in the early 1990s.

While Saddam accepted those borders, set out in Security Council Resolution 833, the current Iraqi government has yet to do so, a decision described by Zebari as “political”. “I was hoping... to resolve this before the end of this year, to close this chapter,” he said. The minister noted that “the government felt it would not be well-received by the public” because of elections that took place on March 7. There was concern the decision would “backfire” and so “we left it for the next government to come and decide.”

Diplomats question, however, whether Iraq’s foot-dragging over its acceptance of Resolution 833 has more to do with its desire to use it as a bargaining chip in talks with Kuwait. “Kuwait is radically opposed to any revision of the border,” a senior diplomat based in Baghdad said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The present reticence of Iraq only reinforces Kuwait’s defiance and its hostility to any initiative which could put in question the present demarcation of the border.”

The two countries are cooperating, though, on issues related to the return of

the remains of Kuwaitis and Iraqis killed during the conflict, and on Kuwait’s demands that its property and archives be handed back. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the fates of more than 300 missing persons - 215 Kuwaitis, 82 Iraqis and several people of other nationalities - have been clarified as of November 2009.

Zebari said the remains of 265 people out of about 600 declared missing since the invasion have been returned to Kuwait, while Iraq has cooperated in returning Kuwaiti archives and documents.

Improved ties, which must include the acceptance by Baghdad of their shared border, will be key to the lifting of sanctions related to Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which label Iraq a threat to international security. But while Iraq insists it is fulfilling its international obligations, the ultimate decision on its Chapter 7 status lies with the Security Council. The Security Council’s “current line is to move on Iraq’s request for exit from Chapter 7, but not at the expense of Kuwaiti security and interest,” the senior Baghdad-based diplomat said. “It is not inclined today to compromise its longterm interests in a stable and rich Kuwait for still uncertain gains in Iraq.” — AFP

7 hours magic sleep number Continued from Page 1 associated with heart attack and stroke, the study says.

A separate study, also published in “Sleep”, showed that an occasional long lie-in can be beneficial for those who can’t avoid getting too little sleep. In that study, David Dinges, who heads the sleep and chronobiology unit at the University of Pennsylvania school of medicine, found that 142 adults whose sleep was severely restricted for five days - as it is for many people during the workweek - had slower reaction times and more trouble focusing.

But after a night of recovery sleep, the sleep-deprived study participants’ alertness improved significantly, and the greatest improvements were seen in those who were allowed to spend 10 hours in bed after a week with just four hours’ sleep a night. “An additional hour

or two of sleep in the morning after a period of chronic partial sleep loss has genuine benefits for continued recovery of behavioral alertness,” Dinges said.

In the study about sleep and cardiovascular disease, researchers led by Anoop Shankar, associate professor at WVU’s department of community medicine, analyzed data gathered in a national US study in 2005 on more than 30,000 adults. The results were adjusted for age, sex, race, whether the person smoked or drank, whether they were fat or slim, and whether they were active or a couch potato. And even when study participants with diabetes, high blood pressure or depression were excluded from the analysis, the strong association between too much or too little sleep and cardiovascular disease remained.

The authors of the WVU study were unable to determine the causal relation-

SAUDI ARABIA: A picture taken on Aug 30, 1990 shows US marines unloading material from a transport plane on a military base a few days after the Iraqi army entered Kuwait.

– AFP

ship between how long a person sleeps and cardiovascular disease. But they pointed out that sleep duration affects endocrine and metabolic functions, and sleep deprivation can lead to impaired glucose tolerance, reduced insulin sensitivity and elevated blood pressure, all of which increase the risk of hardening the arteries.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that most adults get about seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Shankar suggested that doctors screen for changes in sleep duration when assessing patients’ risk for cardiovascluar disease, and that public health initiatives consider including a focus on improving sleep quality and quantity.

“Sleep” is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society. — AFP

Continued from Page 1 As Saddam’s regime was left intact, the first conflict helped plant the seeds of the second, with far-reaching consequences for the balance of power in the Middle East.

As the United States gradually withdraws from Iraq over the next year under a security pact, the US legacy in Iraq remains the subject of intense debate.

Critics question if it was worth the terrible cost in human life and the damage done to Washington’s image abroad. “On balance the costs of our policy have been very high - higher than need be, perhaps higher than the benefits will warrant,” said Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think-tank.

“But there are indeed huge benefits and huge potential benefits,” O’Hanlon said.

With Saddam’s regime toppled, the United States can look to Iraq as an ally, albeit still plagued by serious ethnic and sectarian divisions.

Moreover, Washington no longer has to worry about a dangerous dictator in the region hostile to America and its allies. But former president George W Bush’s vision of a new democratic Iraq transforming the Middle East looks unrealistic and naive, said Stephen Biddle of the Council on Foreign Relations.

The end of Saddam’s dictatorship lift-

ed the lid on a Pandora’s box of tensions between Kurds and Arabs and Sunni and Shiite communities, he said. “I wonder whether the demonstration effect would be the opposite of what we hoped it would be,” said Biddle. The best the United States can hope for is an Iraq that is “imperfect but stable”, he said. In another unintended consequence, the removal of Saddam bolstered Washington’s arch-foe Iran, with Tehran forging links with leading Shiite parties amid a political vacuum.

For the American military, Iraq under Saddam preoccupied the top brass for two decades. The decisive victory in the first Gulf war came as a vindication, burying the ghosts of the Vietnam War as hi-tech weaponry quickly rolled over Iraqi forces.

The Gulf war represented “the phoenix rising from the ashes of Vietnam,” said David Johnson, a retired colonel and an analyst at the Rand Corporation.

Although America’s public faith in the US military was restored, success in 1991 may have contributed to the Bush administration’s over-confidence before the 2003 invasion, with little thought given to what would follow the fall of Saddam’s regime. As sectarian violence spiralled out of control in the years after the invasion, Bush sent in yet more US forces as commanders embraced a radically different approach, drawing on counter-insur-

gency doctrine that had been discarded after Vietnam. “It took a superpower within a millimeter of its capacity to get it under control,” Biddle said.

Fighting the war in Iraq required repeated combat tours for the all-volunteer US force, putting unprecedented strain on the armed forces. The war also drained resources from the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan, and as a candidate, Barack Obama called the Iraq conflict a dangerous distraction from the fight against Al-Qaeda and its associates. As US president, Obama inherited a security agreement with Baghdad that calls for all US forces to pull out by the end of 2011.

He has ordered the force to draw down to 50,000 by September 1.

It is too early to gauge the effect of the Iraq wars, though most analysts judge the 2003 invasion as an unnecessary disaster that permanently dented US influence, particularly among Islamic countries.

Some experts, however, say any assessment has to take into account what might have evolved without the US intervention. According to Biddle, Saddam likely would have pursued nuclear weapons with relentless determination. “There is some reason to speculate that he would eventually have been in the same position that Iran is in now,” suspected of being poised to secure atomic weapons, he said. — AFP

Pak floods death toll rises to 1,100 Continued from Page 1 HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent similar cables.

“The floods have killed more than 1,100 people in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and affected over 1.5 million,” Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the information minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told AFP. “We are receiving information about the loss of life and property caused by the floods all over the province,” he said, adding that he feared the death toll could rise. A senior official at the provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed the toll. Hussain said more than 3,700 homes had been swept away in the floods, and the number of people made homeless was rising.

Hundreds of survivors sought shelter in schools in Peshawar, the main city in northwest Pakistan, and in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, after escaping the floods with children on their backs. The US government is rushing helicopters, boats, bridges, water units and other supplies to Pakistan as part of an $10-million aid pledge. “The Pakistani people are friends and partners, and the United States is standing with them as the tragic human toll mounts from flooding in northwest Pakistan,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement.

China, which has also been hit by severe flooding, announced a 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) donation, according to the official Xinhua news agency, which cited a government website.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said it had airlifted more than 500 stranded people, including six foreigners, as part of relief operations and was carrying out reconnaissance missions to assess the damage to infrastructure. Floods also ravaged parts of Afghanistan, killing at least 65 people and affecting more than 1,000 families, officials said.

Pakistani television footage and photographs taken from helicopters showed people clinging to the walls and rooftops of damaged houses as water rushed through villages. More than 300 people affected by the floods rallied in Peshawar yesterday, chanting slogans criticising the provincial government for not providing them with adequate shelter. “I had built a two-room house on the outskirts of Peshawar with my hard-earned money but I lost it in the floods,” said 53-yearold labourer Ejaz Khan, who joined the rally. “The government is not helping us... the school building where I sheltered is packed with people, with no adequate arrangement for food and medicine,” Khan told AFP. Waseyullah, 33, said his two brothers had worked as labourers in Saudi Arabia for the money to build a small furniture factory which he lost in the floods. “I expect the provincial government to help me financially to rebuild this factory,” he added. Information Minister Hussain said rescue teams were trying to reach 1,500 tourists stranded in Swat district, which was the scene of a major anti-Taleban offensive last year. “We are also getting confirmation of reports about an outbreak of cholera in some areas of Swat,” he said. The army said it had sent boats and

helicopters to rescue stranded people and its engineers were trying to open more roads and divert swollen rivers.

In Pakistani Kashmir, officials said army helicopters had been urgently requested in the worst-hit Neelam valley.

“It has been cut off from the rest of Kashmir and we still don’t know how many people are killed, injured and displaced there,” State Disaster Management Authority chief Farooq Niaz said. However, authorities said they had repaired a damaged portion of the Islamabad-Peshawar motorway to restore the northwest region’s road links with the rest of Pakistan.

Downstream, parts of the central province of Punjab were flooded and emergency crews aided by soldiers airlifted people from hundreds of submerged villages yesterday in the area of Taunsa, a town on the Indus river about 388 km southwest of Islamabad. Officials said huge surges were expected in the southern province of Sindh between tomorrow and Thursday, expected to cause widespread damage to property and farmland near river banks and in low-lying areas.

“A super flood of this magnitude will be the first in 18 to 20 years to hit Sindh, but major cities like Karachi and Hyderabad were unlikely to be affected,” Jameel Soomro, a spokesman for the provincial Sindh government, told Reuters. “The risk is there, danger is there but we are doing our best to minimise losses as much as can.” he said.

The flooding capped a week of tragedy for Pakistan after an airliner crashed into hills near Islamabad on Wednesday, killing all 152 people on board. - Agencies

Chelsea Clinton weds in white Continued from Page 1 Marc into our family,” they said in a statement. The few official photos released by the Clintons showed a joyful occasion in the perfect setting of the mansion built a century ago for tycoon John Jacob Astor IV. One picture shows the newly married couple beaming as they return up the aisle. Chelsea, wearing a strapless white Vera Wang dress with silver beading around the waist, smiles broadly to the guests, while holding Mezvinsky with her right arm, a white bouquet in her left.

Later, the newlyweds gazed into each other’s eyes, with the broad Hudson providing a magnificent backdrop. Another picture shows Hillary Clinton, wearing a magenta Oscar de la Renta dress, joining a family photo with Marc, Chelsea and Bill Clinton. Marc’s parents, former Democrat politicians Marjorie MargoliesMezvinsky and Ed Mezvinsky were absent in the official pictures. Neither were they mentioned in the brief Clinton statement af ter the wedding. Ed Mezvinsky recently completed a nearly five-year sentence for fraud, but is a longtime friend of the Clintons.

The wedding was billed as something between a celebrity bash and - since Bill and Hillary are arguably the most powerful couple in the country - US politics’ version of a royal wedding.

Extraordinarily tight secrecy in the runup fed ever-growing speculation with seasoned celebrity watchers painting an extravagant picture of the party plans. In the end, many of the details remained under wraps. However, most of the A-list celebrities who had been reported to be coming did not appear, including Oprah Winfrey and Hollywood mogul Steven Spielberg.

Vera Wang was there, as was former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, and also actors Ted Danson and his wife Mary Steenburgen. Reporters, who had been searching for celebrities in vain for most of the day, quickly zeroed in on Danson and Steenburgen, prompting Danson to ask, “Are we the only celebrities in town?” Also spotted was real estate scion and movie producer billionaire Steve Bing. Bing lent Bill Clinton his jet to fly to North Korea in August of last year to bring home American journalists L aura Ling and Euna Lee after they spent four months imprisoned in the reclusive communist state.

Hillary Clinton’s boss, President Barack Obama, wasn’t there - he says he wasn’t actually invited and that in any case two presidents would be one too many at a wedding. “Hillary and Bill properly want to keep this as a thing for Chelsea and her soon-to-be husband,” Obama said on “The View” talk show on Thursday. “It would be tough enough to

have one president at a wedding. You don’t want two presidents.”

A short distance from Astor Courts in the quaint town of Rhinebeck, throngs of well-wishers gathered at the main crossroads. “This is exciting. There’s so much trouble in the world but this Saturday everything stops just for this wedding,” said Anne McConnell, who’d secured a strategically placed bench opposite the 18th century Beekman Arms hotel in hopes of seeing members of the Clinton family. The secrecy surrounding the event frustrated many, but also added to the sense of intrigue. Local resident Chris Madden posed the same question as many others: “I want to know what dress Chelsea’s wearing - and Hillary too.” “I want to know what’s on the menu,” said Walter Mullin.

Chelsea Clinton, who worked at a New York hedge fund and has more recently studied health policy at Columbia University, has kept a low profile since her father lef t the White House in Jan 2001, although she campaigned for her mother during her failed run for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Signs and pictures congratulating the newlyweds hang in many shop windows in Rhinebeck, which has been swarmed by media around the world for an event that experts estimate to have cost between $3 million and $5 million. — Agencies

Monday, August 2, 2010

15

SPORTS Mendy gets title chance as Bika hits downed foe

Boxing

Marquez calls out Pacquiao after thrashing Juan Diaz

LAS VEGAS: WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (left) hits Juan Diaz in the 11th round of their bout at the Mandalay Bay Events Center July 31, 2010. — AFP

Rice fears for Pietersen over county rebuff NOTTINGHAM: Kevin Pietersen’s attitude towards county cricket is threatening his international place, according to the man who helped kickstart the batsman’s career in England. Former South Africa allrounder Clive Rice was a key figure in persuading the now 30-year-old Pietersen to join Nottinghamshire in 2001. South Africa-born Pietersen quit the Midlands county in 2004 for south coast side Hampshire.

But in June the England star announced his intention to leave Hampshire at the end of this season for a team based nearer his London home. Pietersen has not appeared in a first-class match for Hampshire since 2008 and the club refused a request from the England hierarchy to play him in a one-day match last weekend because he planned to be elsewhere next season.

Since becoming an England regular, Pietersen’s lack of county cricket has rarely been an issue. But he has now gone 21 innings in a row without a Test century after his dismissal for 22 in the second innings of the ongoing series opener against Pakistan at Nottinghamshire’s Trent Bridge headquarters here on Saturday. “You cannot play on the basis that you think you can just turn up at international level,” Rice told Britain’s Sunday Express newspaper.

“You have to do the work at first-class level to set yourself up and know that you’re in form and confident,” added Rice. “Nothing can replace time in the middle, there’s no substitute for it,” added Rice, one of the world’s leading all-rounders in the 1980s who captained both Nottinghamshire and South Africa’s Transvaal to domestic honors.

Hampshire’s decision to do without Pietersen last weekend meant he came into the first Test against Pakistan not having played since suffering a thigh injury during a one-day international against Australia at Lord’s on July 3. “By the time a Test comes around it’s too late to find your form if you haven’t been playing,” said Rice. “Everyone else in that side is playing regularly and if you’re a selector you’re picking guys that are in form today for tomorrow’s game-it’s that simple. “He has had a number of injuries in the last 18 months, which makes it even more important for him to prove his fitness in the county game.” —AFP

Since losing to Marquez in his hometown of Houston, Diaz split two fights against countryman Paul Malignaggi, winning a unanimous decision last August but losing by unanimous decision four months later. The only fight for Marquez since beating Diaz some 17 months ago came last September when he stepped up to welterweight and lost to undefeated US star Floyd Mayweather by unanimous decision.

Meanwhile, French southpaw Jean Paul Mendy won the chance to fight for a super middleweight world title, even though he was knocked out flat on the canvas when it happened on Saturday. Mendy was awarded a disqualification victory over Cameroon-born Australian Sakio Bika in their elimination fight to decide the next mandatory challenger for the International Boxing Federation crown in the division. Bika, 31, landed an early flurry against Mendy, 36, that had the Frenchman backed into a corner, then landed a left hook that put Mendy down on his right knee.Bika, who had not fought in a year, followed with a powerful right uppercut to the jaw that slammed into Mendy and knocked him face-first onto the canvas, where he was motionless.

Referee Joe Cortez disqualified Bika after only 79 seconds, awarding the victory to still-unbeaten Mendy, who rose to 29-0 with one drawn. Bika fell to 28-4 with two drawn. “I’m really disappointed,” Bika said. “I was excited. I never saw that his knee was on the canvas.” Mendy eventually rose and sat on his stool for several minutes being examined by medical personnel before being taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

Gabriel Gaide, Mendy’s manager, said Mendy was fine and ready for his first chance at a major world crown. The victory makes Mendy the mandatory challenger for the winner of an October 15 fight between champion Lucian Bute, a Canadian-based Romanian southpaw who is 26-0 with 21 knockouts and five title defenses, and American Jesse Brinkley, 35-5 with 2 knockouts. — Agencies

Cricket

India seek dose of luck in final Sri Lanka Test COLOMBO: Top-ranked India will pray the coin drops in their favor as they attempt a series-leveling win in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka starting at the P Sara Oval tomorrow. India, who trail 1-0 in the series, were forced to bowl first in batting-friendly conditions in the previous two matches after skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost the toss both times. It meant a punishing struggle for an attack shorn of injured pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, as Sri Lanka ran up 520-8 in the first Test in Galle and 642-4 on a featherbed wicket at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo.

Dhoni, who has now lost seven tosses in a row, refused to blame his bowlers even though they claimed just 15 wickets in the first two Tests. “We have bowled first both times where there was nothing in the wicket for the bowlers,” he said. “In such conditions, it is difficult to either take wickets or contain the runs.”

Dhoni defended leading off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has managed only two wickets in the series so far at an unflattering average of 152, saying flat pitches rarely helped slow bowlers.

“There was no turn or bounce for him in both games,” the Indian captain said. “But he is a match-winner and if he gets favorable conditions, he will be a different bowler.” Harbhajan, whose 357 wickets make him the world’s leading Test bowler now that Muttiah Muralitharan has retired, may find solace in an Oval pitch regarded as the most bowler-friendly in Sri Lanka.

Conditions are expected to be different from the drawn match at the SSC last week where 1,478 runs were scored for the loss of just 17 wickets on a pitch that offered no assistance to the bowlers. Sri Lanka Cricket curator Anurudda Polonowita was confident the Oval wicket would yield a better contest between bat and ball. “There will be more life in this pitch for both fast bowlers and spinners,” he said.

“That’s the natural character of the pitch.

There will also be enough runs to be had for the

COLOMBO: Indian cricketers play football during a practice session at The P Sara Oval International Cricket Stadium yesterday. — AFP batsmen.”

Of the 14 Tests played at this ground, 10 have produced results with the hosts winning seven, including the last five in a row. Sri Lanka, whose new-look attack in the second Test was hammered for 707 runs by the Indians, will be bolstered by the expected return of sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga

from a knee injury. Malinga and Muralitharan claimed 15 of the 20 scalps during the 10-wicket win in Galle, before the off-spinner bowed out of Test cricket with an unprecedented haul of 800 wickets. “Malinga’s knee was stiff and sore after Galle, but he is much better now,” said Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara.

“His return will be a real bonus for us.” India

Most Spaniards dislike bullfighting, says poll MADRID: Sixty percent of Spaniards do not care for bullfighting, but nearly as many — 57 percent-oppose its banning in Catalonia, an opinion poll in the El Pais newspaper yesterday suggests. Fifty-eight percent thought its prohibition in the semiautonomous region had more to do with bullfighting being “an exclusively Spanish festival,” compared to 36 percent who thought animal welfare was the driving issue. To the question, “Do you like bullfights?” 37 percent of those polled said yes, but 60 percent said no. The survey of 500 adults, with a margin of error of 4.5 percent, appeared four days after Catalonia’s parliament voted to outlaw bullfighting from January 1 in the separatist-minded region that includes Barcelona.

Catalonia becomes the first part of mainland Spain to ban the centuries-old tradition, after it was outlawed on the Canary Islands in 1991. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has said that his government would have “preferred” that Catalonia not outlaw bullfighting, but added that the issue should not be politicized. — AFP

LAS VEGAS: Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez kept his World Boxing Association lightweight throne on Saturday with a unanimous 12-round decision over Juan Diaz, then called out Filipino star Manny Pacquiao. Marquez took a rematch of a slugfest from last year by judges’ scores of 118110, 117-111 and 116-112, improving the 36-yearold fighter’s record to 51-5 with one drawn. Diaz fell to 35-4. Marquez twice lost to Pacquiao and while the Asian superstar has been unable to land a blockbuster fight with unbeaten US veteran Floyd Mayweather, Marquez is hoping he might have a chance at a third swing in the ring with “Pac-Man”.

“The trilogy is what I want. It’s what the people want,” Marquez said. “I will be ready for another fight in December, hopefully Pacquiao.”

While Pacquiao looks to fight Mexican Antonio Margarito in November, Marquez said his hunger to face the Filipino legend is greater than his desire to rule as World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization lightweight king.

“That’s true. That fight is more important for me,” Marquez said. Marquez dispatched Diaz in the ninth round in February of last year and this time was faced with a more tactical boxer-styled foe. The result, however, was the same. “That first fight was a war. This was a bit more tactical,” Marquez said. “He wanted to box a bit more but we came out ahead. He’s a great fighter. He knows some technique. But tonight technique was in our favor.”

Marquez staggered Diaz with a left uppercut in the fourth round, cut the challenger’s lower lip in the ninth and owned the fight almost from start to finish. “I fulfilled the game plan, used my jab, but Juan Manuel Marquez is a great fighter,” Diaz said. “He was the better man.” Having lost four of his past six fights and with plans to start law school in October, Diaz might be looking at the end of his ring career at age 26. “I have to reconsider all the facts,” he said. “We will have to see.

I have put up a hell of a fight for 10 years.”

faced a tricky selection issue after Suresh Raina, a last-minute inclusion in place of the indisposed Yuvraj Singh, hammered 120 on debut in the second Test.

The two left-handers will contest the number six spot, while opener Gautam Gambhir is likely to replace Murali Vijay at the top of the order after recovering from a

knee injury. India go into the match buoyant by their batting form at the SSC. Veteran Sachin Tendulkar hammered his fifth doublecentury, and opener Virender Sehwag hit 99 after making 109 at Galle. The only batting concern for the tourists remains the seasoned Rahul Dravid, who has managed just 65 runs so far in three innings. — AFP

Baseball

Yankees deal for pitcher and slugger NEW YORK: The reigning World Series champion New York Yankees completed deals for Houston slugger Lance Berkman and Cleveland pitcher Kerry Wood ahead of Major League Baseball’s nonwaiver trade deadline Saturday. One deal brings the Yankees a new designated hitter and four million dollars from the Astros in exchange for relief pitcher Mark Melancon and minor leaguer Jim Paredes.

The other gives New York a 33-year-old righthanded reliever who joins Joba Chamberlain as a setup man for superstar closing relief pitcher Mariano Rivera in exchange for money or a player to be named later. South Korean veteran right-handed pitcher Park Chan Ho was designated for assignment to the minor-leagues by the Yankees to make room for Wood, likely ending his tenure with the club.

Berkman, 34, is batting .245 with 13 home runs and 49 runs batted in with 70 strikeouts and 60 walks. He fills a hole that has nagged the Yankees when Nick Johnson went out in May with a right wrist injury. “If there are teams that still want me to play for them, that makes me feel pretty good,” Berkman said. “I still have confidence that I could play at a high level.”

Berkman, who had to waive a no-trade clause to finalize the deal, has 7.15 million dollars remaining to be paid on a 14.5 million-dollar contract, but the Astros payment means the Yankees will only pay 3.15 million of that total. The deal came a day after

the Yankees added outfielder Austin Kearns from Cleveland, where he was hitting .272 with eight homers and 42 runs batted in.

“They are both great guys,” Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said. “It’s going to be good for the clubhouse.” Other playoff contenders raced Saturday afternoon’s deadline to make deals without having to waive a player, meaning they would be available to be claimed by any club. St Louis, leading the National League Central division, obtained righthanded pitcher Jake Westbrook from struggling Cleveland and sent outfielder Ryan Ludwick to San Diego, the NL West division leaders.

Westbrook, 32, was 6-7 with a 4.65 earned-run average for the Indians while Ludwick, 32, batted .281 with 11 homers and 43 runs batted in. The Los Angeles Dodgers, trailing San Diego by seven games at third in the NL West, obtained southpaw pitcher Ted Lilly from the Chicago Cubs along with Ryan Theriot and 2.5 million dollars in exchange for infielder Blake DeWitt and minor-leaguers Kyle Smit and Brett Wallach.

“We’ve been looking to improve our rotation and with Ted we feel like we’ve got a very good group of starting pitchers for the stretch run,” said Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti. Arizona sent righthanded relief pitcher Chad Qualls to Tampa Bay and made a multi-player deal with Pittsburgh, obtaining outfielder Ryan Church in the highlight of a fiveplayer swap.—AFP

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Webber wins Hungarian Grand Prix to take series McLaren’s Hamilton in second place

BUDAPEST: Red Bull’s Australian driver Mark Webber celebrates on the podium of the Hungaroring circuit yesterday. —AFP

Mercedes go back to drawing board BUDAPEST: Mercedes have gone back to the drawing board to make their car more competitive for this month’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa after struggling again in Hungary. Team principal boss Ross Brawn said the floor, a key element of the new ‘blown’ diffuser that channels hot exhaust gases down low and out of the rear of the car to increase grip, was being re-designed. “We’ve put some extra instrumentation on the car this weekend to get a better understanding of what’s going on,” he told reporters at the Hungarian Grand Prix after a disappointing qualifying on Saturday.

“We can see some of the areas which are still not functioning properly. “The problem we had in Hockenheim (the previous race in Germany) was the exhaust heat was affecting some areas and allowing them to distort, losing performance. “So we left that floor behind this time and it’s being re-designed and re-made in time for Spa.” Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, 12 races into his comeback with Mercedes at the age of 41 and after three years out, qualified only 14th at the Hungaroring while fellowGerman team mate Nico Rosberg was sixth on the grid.

Schumacher has already said he was focused on next season while Rosberg said in Hungary that “we can see that we can’t win the championship this year any more”.

Mercedes, who bought champions Brawn GP last year, have been left behind by rivals Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari in the championship. They arrived in Hungary fourth overall and 168 points adrift of leaders McLaren.

Red Bull have pioneered the blown diffuser and also an intriguing front wing that appears to flex notably despite passing scrutinizing, while McLaren introduced the ‘F-duct’ that stalls the rear wing and gives greater speed on the straights. —Reuters

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE: Cal Crutchlow of Britain waves to the crowd after finishing first in the World Superbike race one at the Silverstone circuit yesterday. — AFP

BUDAPEST: Australian Mark Webber took back the Formula One championship lead from Lewis Hamilton yesterday after snatching victory in a Hungarian Grand Prix that Red Bull team mate Sebastian Vettel had been favorite to win. McLaren’s Hamilton retired with a suspected gearbox failure, only his second blank this season, and dropped to second place overall, four points adrift.

Vettel, starting on pole position for the seventh time in 12 races but again failing to convert the advantage, fell foul of the safety car rules and finished third behind Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

Webber now has 161 points to Hamilton’s 157, with Vettel on 151 and McLaren’s world champion Jenson Button on 147. In one of the closest battles in years, Alonso has 141.

Hamilton pulled over on lap 24, saying there was something wrong with the car. McLaren had expressed concern about his car’s brakes before the start but his retirement appeared to be unrelated to that. “I went through turn one and basically lost drive,” he told BBC television. “I think the gearbox went. That’s motorsport.

When you push cars to the limit these things can happen. We’ve lost a lot of points today.”

Webber, celebrating his fourth win of the campaign, did everything right after going against the flow and staying out when the other frontrunners pitted for fresh tires when the safety car was deployed on the 15th of 70 laps. His hopes were handed a massive boost when the stewards then slapped a drive-through penalty on Vettel for a safety car infringement, which dropped him behind double world champion Alonso.

Vettel rage While Vettel cruised through the pitlane shaking his fists in the air with obvious rage at the officials, the Australian streaked away to build up a sufficient advantage to pit and retain the lead. Button had a miserable start and languished in 14th place until the safety car deployment, due to debris on the track, triggered chaos in the pitlane and allowed him to get into the points.

The Briton, who had pitted before the safety car, finished eighth-and lapped.

Mercedes’s Nico Rosberg was released from his stop with a loose wheel that then bounced high among the mechanics as cars were coming in. In the mayhem, with a Sauber mechanic luckily catching the wheel, Renault’s Robert Kubica drove into Force India’s Adrian Sutil-fortunately without injuring any of the pit crew.

Kubica, in what amounts to a home race for the Pole, was handed a 10-second stop-go penalty with a further investigation to be held after the race. Renault team mate Vitaly Petrov came good for the team, however, with the Russian rookie chalking up his best result in fifth place.

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, back in Hungary a year after an accident that nearly killed him and ended the Brazilian’s season, was fourth.

Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg was sixth for Williams, with Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa collecting his first points of the season for Sauber in seventh.

Japanese team mate Kamui Kobayashi was ninth and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello 10th for Williams after passing former Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher despite the German pushing him perilously close to the wall. The incident was under investigation by stewards. — Reuters

MELBOURNE: New Zealand All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko (second right) is tackled by Australian Wallabies players Drew Mitchell (left) and Nathan Sharpe (center) in their Tri-Nations and Bledisoe Cup rugby union Test match. —AFP

Red-carded Mitchell escapes suspension Hard referees better than soft, says NZ coach Henry SYDNEY: Remorseful winger Drew Mitchell said yesterday he had let his teammates down in becoming the first Wallaby to be sent off in 23 years of Test rugby against the All Blacks this weekend. Mitchell was cleared yesterday of further punishment by SANZAR judicial officer Peter Ingwersen, who deemed his 48 minutes off the field was sufficient punishment for his two yellow cards in Saturday’s 49-28 loss to New Zealand in Melbourne.

South African referee Craig Joubert showed Mitchell the red card three minutes into the second half after the winger intentionally prevented a quick lineout throw with the All Blacks on the attack. Joubert had been heard to previously warn both captains that he had run out of patience for deliberate slowing tactics in the attacking zones.

The contest appeared over at the time Mitchell left the field with the Wallabies trailing 32-14 and the All Blacks well in control of proceedings. But the Wallabies still added 14 points in Mitchell’s absence as they played only for pride. Mitchell, who had never previously been sent off in his career, became the first Wallaby sent off since backrower David Codey during the 1987 World Cup against Wales.

Mitchell had started the match brightly when he charged down Dan Carter’s clearing kick for an eighth-minute try, but it went downhill from there. “It’s hard for me to take any joy from that at the moment, watching the game unfold the way it did is not a pleasant feeling,” Mitchell said. “It was gut-wrenching. I let everyone down out there and it’s not a nice feeling.”

Wallabies’ coach Robbie Deans said the red carding turned the contest into”nonsense” as it effectively ended any hope the home side had of fighting back. “It was a bizarre feeling when it went down to 14 men. It didn’t feel like a Test match,” Deans said yesterday.

“He (Mitchell) is very remorseful. He’s aware it made an impact on the group and he was very uncomfortable about that.”

Mitchell was initially sinbinned for a shoulder charge on New Zealand captain Richie McCaw in the 28th minute. New Zealand also lost prop Owen Franks to the sinbin in the 21st minute for a shoulder charge on Wallabies’ number eight Richard Brown.

All Blacks’ hooker Keven Mealamu said the Franks’ yellow card emphasized how vigilant players had to be at the collision.

“Over the last couple of Tests it seems to be a lot tougher with the cards. It’s been put back on the players to make sure we’re squeaky clean,” he said. All Blacks coach Graham Henry said he supported Joubert’s approach.

“The referee’s pretty tough but I think that’s important you get a decent game of footy,” he said.

“If he is grey on the tackle area or grey on people throwing the ball away when the other side wants it then you’ve got a shambles on your hands.” Mitchell, Australian fly-half Quade Cooper plus South Africans Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, BJ Botha and Jacque Fourie have also spent 10minute stints on the sidelines during this year’s Tri-Nations.

Meanhwile, New Zealand coach Graham Henry has praised Craig Joubert’s hard-line refereeing that resulted in three yellow cards and left Australia reeling with 14 men during their 49-28 loss to the All Blacks on Saturday. Joubert sin-binned All Blacks prop Owen Franks and Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell for seemingly innocuous tackles in the first half, then red-carded Mitchell two minutes after the break for deliberately holding up play. “I think it’s good they’re strict. Okay, there might be some debate about some of the decisions, there’s always going to be some debate about the decisions,” Henry told reporters yesterday.

“What you don’t want is referees being soft and therefore you get a game that doesn’t flow and there’s a lot of illegal stuff happening at the tackle. “If he’s grey at the tackle area or he’s grey on people throwing the ball away when the other side wants it, you’ve got a shambles on your hands. “So I think it’s good that he’s strict and he sticks to what he says he’s going to do.” Henry said his team had played “exceptionally” well in the crushing win that delivered the All Blacks their eighth successive victory over their trans-Tasman rivals and propelled them 11 points clear of Australia on the Tri-Nations table.

“There were some dull patches and some mistakes and we’d like to eradicate those if possible but you have to be pleased with seven tries,” said Henry, whose team notched a bonus point before halftime. The All Blacks head to Christchurch this week for their next Tri-Nations match, against the Wallabies, with only one fitness concern clouding scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan, who came off the ground early with a rib cartilage injury.

“Apart from that I think we’re pretty good,” Henry said. “I think it’d be a miracle if (Cowan) played next week. He’ll probably be right for South Africa (on Aug 21).”

Cowan’s injury could open the door for Auckland Blues scrumhalf Alby Mathewson to be recalled to the squad for the Christchurch match, where New Zealand could possibly seal their fifth Tri-Nations title in six years. — Agencies

Li fails doping test in China BEIJING: China’s cycling authority has confirmed Lance Armstrong’s RadioShack team mate Li Fuyu has failed a doping test after his ‘B’ sample was returned positive, local media reported yesterday.

“Now there is no doubt of him being not positive for doping,” Zhang Bin, secretarygeneral of the Chinese Cycling Association, was quoted as saying on the China Daily’s website (www.chinadaily.com.cn).

“No matter what his excuse was, and no matter how prominent he is in China cycling, the result has been confirmed and it is impossible to change.”

The 31-year-old rider was provisionally suspended by the International Cycling

Union (UCI) in April after Clenbuterol was found in his ‘A’ sample following an in-competition test during the Dwars Door Vlaanderen in Belgium the previous month.

China had yet to hand down punishment but their decision would be passed to the UCI this month, the paper said. Li, who had denied the charges at a recent hearing, faces a two-year ban according to China’s anti-doping policy.

China’s first professional cyclist, Li joined RadioShack in the close season. His team said in April that he would be removed if the test were confirmed. Both the UCI and RadioShack were unavailable for comment. — Reuters

SPORTS

Monday, August 2, 2010

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Mo-go zone as Britain sees triple gold rush Clinical Ennis pips Dobrynska for heptathlon gold BARCELONA: Mo Farah completed the first distance double at the European championships for 20 years with a dominant victory in the 5,000 meters as Britain won a hat-trick of golds at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Farah gained revenge for his

Athletics

BARCELONA: Switzerland’s Viktor Rothlin celebrates with the national flag after winning the men’s marathon at the 2010 European Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium yesterday. — AFP

Swiss ecstasy as Rothlin powers to marathon win BARCELONA: Swiss Viktor Rothlin put an end to several spells of injury woe by powering to a comprehensive victory in the men’s marathon at the European Championships yesterday. Rothlin, the silver medalist four years ago in Gothenburg, went one better as he coped best with the oppressive heat in Barcelona and romped home a considerable distance ahead of the rest in a time of 2hrs 15min 31sec.

Spain’s Jose Manuel Martinez, the strongest European at last year’s World Championships coming in eighth, took silver and bronze went to Dmitriy Safronov, of Russia. “Rothlin set a really tough pace ahead but I just tried to hold a steady rhythm and not get involved with any counterattacks as I’ve tried in the past and I’m very satisfied with my silver,” said Martinez.

Rothlin was the top European runner in 2007 and 2008 but has since struggled with injury. The marathon was one of the most open events at the championships with almost 20 runners contenders for a medal, but still Rothlin was among the favourites along with Spain’s Jose Rios and

Stefano Baldini of Italy.

The race was billed as the return of the veteran Baldini who won his first European Championship back in 1998. Since then the Italian has compiled one of the most consistent records in the history of the competition. Best known for his Olympic title in Athens, Baldini also twice won bronze medals at the World Championships and then was victorious at the European Championships again four years ago in Gothenburg.

After finishing 12th at the last Olympics in 1998 he decided to stop running competitively.

However, the lure of one last run at the European championships was too great for the 39-year-old.

It proved to be a bridge too far though as he struggled with the speed and dropped out early on.

Russia’s Yuriy Abramov, who won the Moscow marathon this year, made the first break away but he soon faded and that was when Rothlin came to the fore. He set a steady pace, which the other athletes could not match and ran the last quarter of the race unchallenged. — AFP

Kenya’s Wanjiru sets new African 20km walk record NAIROBI: Kenya’s Grace Wanjiru set a new African 20kilometre walk record here yesterday to successfully defend her title on the fifth and last day of the African Athletics championships.

Wanjiru completed the race in 1hr 34mins 19secs, clipping over four minutes off her old mark set in Addis Ababa in 2008. Tunisian and Arab games champion, Chaima

Trabelsi (1:35:33) also finished under the old record in taking the silver with Aynalem Eshetu of Ethiopia winning the bronze in 1:41:46.

The Kenyan, who took a year off to have a baby in 2009, and just returned to training earlier this year, said she didn’t think it could happen. “I am surprised to have won this race,” she said.

“Having had a full year

away from training, I didn’t think I would be in the right shape to be competitive at all.

It feels great.” Tunisian champion Hassanine Sebei won men’s gold in a personal best time 1:20:36, pipping former African champion David Kimutai of Kenya who finished second in 1:22:07. Algeria’s Hichem Medjeber took the bronze in his best performance of 1:22:53. — AFP

Overton keeps PGA lead despite rivals’ runs at 59 WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS: American Jeff Overton fired a four-under par 66 to remain in the lead after Saturday’s third round of the US PGA Greenbrier Classic despite a pair a low-shooting rivals.

Compatriots D A Points and J B Holmes flirted with historic rounds of 59 before faltering at the finish, Holmes completing a 10-under 60 with Points on 61, as Overton enjoyed a threestroke edge through 54 holes on 18-under 192.

Overton, who began the day four strokes ahead, struggled at the start with birdies at the second and fifth, pulled one back with a birdie at the par-3 eighth, then birdied five of six holes starting at the 12th. “It was kind of brutal there at the start. I was not quite in my element,” Overton said. “You have got to hang in there tough mentally and I was able to hang in there.”

Overton is seeking his first PGA title in a season that has seen him record four top-five finishes. Points also seeks his first tour crown. Points was second on 195 with Boo Weekley third, five strokes off the pace after a third-round 67, and Holmes joining countrymen Jimmy Walker, Jonathan Byrd and Zimbabwe’s Brendon de

Jonge on 198.

The low rounds showed Overton, who fired a 62 on Friday, that his lead is far from safe. “If you get it going you can really go low out here and somebody back there behind me is going to go nuts tomorrow,” Overton said. “I’m going to have to come out and play well and have a lot of fun. We will see what happens.”

Points opened and closed the front nine with birdies and birdied four holes in a row starting at the fourth to begin his

Golf surge. He added birdies at the 10th and par-5 12th, sank a 20foot birdie at 13 and a 12-foot birdie at 16. That put visions of a record-tying 59 or better into his mind. “I was trying really hard not to think about it,” Points said. “If I’m going to try shooting 59, playing great, I’m going to go down trying, not laying up.”

That’s what Points did at 17, taking a bogey six when a fivefooter for par lipped out as he “tentatively wacked it around the green three times”. “It was a lot of fun,” Points said. “I got a

little nervous coming down the stretch. When I got in that bunker at 17, I got nervous. I didn’t want to get too greedy.

There’s still a tournament to be won.”

Points missed an 18-footer for birdie at 18 but tapped in a par from four feet to close on 61.

“We all have opportunity for stuff like this,” Points said.

“There has been a couple guys, and there’s going to be somebody (Sunday) that will probably have an opportunity.” Holmes opened with a birdie but took his lone bogey at the third, then answered with birdies at four, five, seven and nine. He then birdied three of the first four on the back nine and closed with three birdies in a row.

After making the cut on the number, Holmes liked his chances of repeating the feat that Sweden’s Carl Pettersson achieved last week, making the cut on the number but rallying at the weekend to win. “You know, it’s possible,” Holmes said.

“Maybe I get hot two days in a row and shoot 60-60.” The only 59s in US PGA history were all

by US players - Al Geiberger in 1977, Chip Beck in 1991, David Duval in 1999 and Paul Goydos just three weeks ago at the John Deere Classic. — AFP

defeat four years ago by Spain’s Jesus Espana, comprehensively outsprinting the home favourite and Azerbaijan’s Hayle Ibrahimov to add the 5,000 crown to the 10,000 title he won on Tuesday.

His victory came hot on the heels of Jessica Ennis’s heptathlon gold in a championship record points tally and David Greene completed the country’s golden trio by leading home Rhys Williams for a British one-two in the 400 hurdles. The 5,000 was a slow tactical affair until Farah, watched by Britain’s marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe, hit the front with three laps to go and steadily increased the pace.

At the bell, only defending champion Espana and Ibrahimov had stayed with him but, as the cheers of 38,000-strong crowd drowned out the sound of drums playing over the tannoy, Farah kicked for home coming into the final bend. His two rivals had no response and a grimacing Farah was left with a clear run to the line to win in 13:31.18. Espana, head lolling, overtook Ibrahimov for the silver in 13:33.12.

“There was a point when I thought my chance of gold was under threat but I pulled through,” an emotional Farah said. Ennis’s heptathlon, by contrast, went right to the wire after Olympic champion Nataliya Dobrynska closed to within 18 points going into the last of the seven events, the 800 meters.

Ennis kicked coming into the final bend and sprinted away from the tired Ukrainian to take her points tally to 6,823, 45 more than Dobrynska. Germany’s Jennifer Oeser was third. Dobrynska had slowly eaten away at Ennis’s lead throughout the day’s three events as the two athletes brought out the best in each other during their battle for gold.

Gold trail As the fastest European this season, Greene was the overwhelming favorite for the 400 hurdles and was never under pressure, finishing some 10 meters ahead of Williams in 48.12.

Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski lived up to his billing as Europe’s fastest 800 runner this year and prevented Britain from celebrating a fourth gold when he overtook Michael Rimmer on the home straight to win in 1:47.07.

France were also on the trail of more golds and took their tally to six, including their seventh medal in the sprints, when fastfinishing Myriam Soumare surprised the favorites from lane eight to win the 200 in a European leading time of 22.32.

Ukrainian Yelizaveta Bryzhina, daughter of the 1988 Olympic 400 champion Olga Vladykina, edged out Russia’s Aleksandra Fedoriva for silver in a photo finish although both athletes were given the same time, 22.44. Soumare, the 100 bronze medalist, lay on her back screaming in delight and was then congratulated by compatriot Veronique Mang, who had been disqualified for a false start. “I cannot believe what happened tonight,” an excited Soumare said. “I gave all I had inside to push myself to that line.”

Form vaulter France’s Renaud Lavillenie has been the form pole vaulter this year and it came as no surprise when he took the title with a clearance of 5.85 metres. The men’s javelin gold also went to the hot favorite, with Norway’s world and Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen retaining his European title with a throw of 88.37 meters. Matthias De Zordo of Germany threw a personal best of 87.81 for the silver medal and Finland’s Tero Pitkamaki took bronze.

Turkey’s Nevin Yanit won the women’s 100 hurdles in 12.63 for her second national record in as many races. The world student champion pipped Derval O’Rourke, who took her second European silver and Ireland’s first medal of these championships when she finished 0.02 seconds off the pace with Germany’s Carolin Nytra in third. —Reuters

BARCELONA: Great Britain’s Mo Farah (bottom) reacts after winning as Spain’s Jesus Espana comforts him during the men’s 5000m final at the 2010 European Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium. — AFP

Siddikur beats Kruger to make Asian Tour history BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Siddikur became the first Bangladeshi to win on the Asian Tour after defeating South Africa’s Jbe Kruger in a nerve-racking play-off at the Brunei Open yesterday.

Siddikur secured his career breakthrough with a par on the first extra hole as Kruger missed a 10-foot putt on the par four 18th hole at the Empire Hotel and Country Club.

Co-overnight leader Siddikur bogeyed the last hole in regulation play for a fourunder-par 67 to slip into the play-off after Kruger established the clubhouse target of 16-under-par 268 in the 300,000-dollar tournament.

Filipino Juvic Pagunsan secured third place after a sizzling 64 for 269 while India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, last year’s runner-up, was one stroke back on 270.

English duo Nick Redfern and Simon Griffiths shared fifth place on 271 while Malaysia’s Ben Leong, tied for the third round lead with Siddikur, finished a disappointing tied 10th after a closing 73. “It is very exciting. I’m the first Bangladeshi to play on the Asian Tour and in the two years that I’m on Tour, I have

finally won a tournament,” said the unheralded man from Dhaka. Siddikur grew up from humble beginnings and worked as a ball boy at a Dhaka golf club to pay for his school fees.

He learned the game by fashioning his first golf club with a seven iron head on a piece of metal rod.

Siddikur showed signs of a breakthrough at the Queen’s Cup in Thailand in June where he was in contention before settling for a career first top-10 on the Asian Tour, the region’s elite professional circuit.

Siddikur, who shot a hole in one in the second round, got off to a strong start on the final

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: This photo from the Asian Tour shows tournament winner Siddikur of Bangladesh posing with the trophy after the final round of the 2010 Brunei Open at Empire Hotel and Country Club yesterday. — AFP

day, when he eagled the par four first hole followed by birdies on two, four and 13. His only blemish came on the last hole when he failed to sink a 15-foot putt for the outright victory.

A battling Kruger, playing in the penultimate group behind Siddikur, charged up the leaderboard after turning in 30 but posted a double bogey on the 11th hole before battling back with birdies on 12 and 17 to set the clubhouse mark.

The diminutive South African, who claimed his best Asian Tour finish, was disappointed to finish second but was gracious in defeat.

“It is always disappointing when you lose in a play-off but to finish second is a good result in any tournament. I feel that I’m getting better and I’m confident of landing my first win in Asia soon,” said Kruger.

Pagunsan claimed his second successive top-10 finish on the Asian Tour and credited his hot putter after sinking seven birdies and making only 25 putts. “I think I could have gone lower. My putting was very good. I have always performed well on this golf course and I hope that my next Asian Tour victory will come soon,” said Pagunsan. — AFP

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Top seed Andy Murray advances to ATP finals Scotsman to face Querrey

LOS ANGELES: Britain’s Andy Murray returns a shot against Feliciano Lopez of Spain in their semifinal match at the ATP LA Tennis Open tournament. — AFP

Sharapova rallies to reach WTA final against Azarenka STANFORD: Russian star Maria Sharapova is poised to capture her third title of the year and a rankings milestone after beating Agnieszka Radwanska on Saturday in a WTA Bank of the West semifinal. Fifth seed Sharapova rallied for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 triumph over the Polish third seed, advancing to yesterday’s championship match of the 700,000dollar hardcourt event against eighth seed Victoria Azarenka.

If Russian beauty Sharapova defeats the Belarus star who turned 21 on Saturday, she will rise from 15th in the world and achieve her best ranking since returning from a shoulder injury in May of last year.

Azarenka ousted Australian top seed Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-3, to qualify for her third final of the season. Azarenka has yet to win a title in 2010 and is 1-2 lifetime against Sharapova. “I will have to be prepared,” said Azarenka, who has won 10 of her past 12 matches.

Sharapova has won 17 of her past 20 matches and overcame a sluggish start with a sizzling finish, firing four aces and making all eight of her unforced errors on double faults but none of them coming in the third set.

Azarenka, who ousted 2009 Stanford winner Marion Bartoli of France in the quarter-finals, improved to 18-5 this season on hardcourts, the surface where she has won her three career WTA titles.

Azarenka, ranked 18th, has stressed her return skills and pounced upon French Open runner-up Stosur’s second serves to take command. “I’m pretty good on the return,” she said. “That’s the big key. I have been practicing reaction on the return. If you react well you can return well.” Stosur, in her sixth 2010 semi-final, leads the WTA with 37 match triumphs this year but could not claim the crown in her first event since cracking the rankings top five, losing to Azarenka for the fourth time in as many meetings.

“She has had such good results. I’m so happy at how I played against her,” Azarenka said. “I started to move a litle better as the match went on and I improved my defensive game and that helped my offensive game move forward.” Azarenka broke Stosur three times in the first set for a 5-2 edge and held at love to claim the set, then kept the Aussie at bay in the second as well. “She played well and it wasn’t my best day,” Stosur said. “She punished me when I was being too conservative.” — AFP

STANFORD: Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts after missing a shot against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during the semifinals of the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford University. — AFP

Ferrero to meet Starace in Umag final UMAG: Former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero coasted into the final of the ATP Croatia Open on Saturday with a straight sets win over Italy’s Andreas Seppi. Ferrero, ranked 22, scored a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win over Seppi to reach the final for the second straight year after being runner-up in 2009 to Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko.

The Spanish fourth seed will meet Potito Starace in the final after the 64th-ranked Italian earlier rallied past eighth-seeded Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela 6-7, (4/7), 6-3, 6-2. “I’m so happy that I’m in the final and I hope that I’ll become the fifth Spanish player to win this tournament,” said the 2003 Roland Garros winner, who will be looking to add to the claycourt trophies he won in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil and Buenos Aires this year.

Ferrero twice threw away a break advantage in the first set before breaking serve again in the ninth game

and closing out for a one-set lead. The 30-year-old race to a 5-1 lead in the second set before sealing victory in 80 minutes. In the final Ferrero will meet Starace against whom he has a 5-1 record. Starace had a harder task against Chela. The Italian opened a 5-2 lead in the first set before Chela came back to level 5-5 before winning the tie-break. The Italian bounced back in the second set to take a 5-2 lead but this time he held his advantage to level proceedings at one set all. In the third set, Starace continued to dominate, winning the final four games from 2-2, to wrap up the tie in just under two and a half hours. “Although the result maybe doesn’t show it for me it was a very difficult and exhausting match since I had a great opponent,” said the 29-year-old Italian, who is bidding for his first title in his third final after finishing runner-up in Valencia and Kitzbuhel in 2007. —AFP

LOS ANGELES: British top seed Andy Murray advanced to the final of the ATP Los Angeles Open on Saturday by outlasting Spanish fourth seed Feliciano Lopez 6-0, 1-6, 6-4. The Scotsman will face second-seeded defending champion Sam Querrey of the United States in the first championship match at Los Angeles between the top seeds since Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi for the 1999 crown.

Querrey saved a match point in outlasting Serbian sixth seed Janko Tipsarevic 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4. Hometown favorite Querrey has won three titles on three different surfaces this season and could become the first back-to-back champion at the 700,000-dollar hardcourt event since Andre Agassi defended his crown in 2002.

But Murray has a 4-0 lifetime record against Querrey, having won all nine sets they have played, including a straight-set triumph in the fourth round at Wimbledon. “It was a tough match,” Murray said. “He enjoys this court and he will receive good support so it’s going to be another tough match.” Murray dominated the first set but struggled through the second, each loser being broken three times to force a third set. Murray broke to open the third set and held serve to the finish to claim the match.

“Throughout the match, right until the end, there wasn’t one point where we both played very well,” Murray said. “Neither of us played much since Wimbledon.

Maybe that explains the inconsistency.” Murray joked that his ability to match Lopez’s speed and quickness came from his mother’s big calves, but added, “I’ve always had quite good anticipation.” Tipsarevic opened the third set with the first break of the match, denied Querrey on three break points in the second game after falling behind 0-40, then held to 2-0 on a net cord winner and a Querrey lob that landed wide.

Querrey broke back to 3-3 when Tipsarevic netted a forehand in the sixth game to surrender his first break of the match.

Tipsarevic squandered four break-point chances in the ninth game as Querrey held for a 5-4 lead and then the Serbian sent a backhand wide to give Querrey a break and match point in the 10th game.

Querrey netted a forehand but a double fault by Tipsarevic gave Querrey a second match point and this time he did not falter, taking the match after two hours and 47 minutes when the Serbian sent a backhand beyond the baseline. “That was an awesome match, a lot of fun, a lot of drama,” Querrey said. “When I got it back on serve, I felt I had the momentum. I got in a good rhythm.”

Querrey squandered five set points in Tipsarevic’s final service game of the first set, which went into a tie-breaker that the Serb dominated, bashing two service winners for a 6-1 lead. After becoming upset over an umpire’s call that one of his serves nicked the net, Querrey responded with a pair of forehand winners, but Tipsarevic then bashed a forehand winner to claim the opening set.

Tipsarevic had a match point with Querrey serving at 4-5 in the second set but three service winners in a row from the hometown favorite ended the threat and leveled the set.

The second set went to a tiebreaker as well and once again Tipsarevic jumped ahead, a pair of forehand winners giving him a 51 edge. But this time, the American answered the challenge, swatting a forehand winner, two backhand winners and a service winner to level the tiebreaker. Tipsarevic sent a backhand long to give Querrey a chance to claim the set and the Serbian then netted a backhand to send the match to a third set.

“I am happy by the way I played, but I should never lose this match,” Tipsarevic said. “I didn’t use the chances I had. I just missed too many easy balls trying to make a direct winner on them.” It was the third three-set escape of the week by Querrey, who needed a third-set tie-breaker to defeat Germany’s fourthseeded Rainer Schuettler in the quarter-finals. “He managed to get out of two matches he should’ve lost,” Tipsarevic said.

“When it’s important, he has coming up with big shots.” — AFP

LOS ANGELES: Mike Bryan (left) and Bob Bryan chest bump to celebrate their men’s double semi-final victory over the team of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi during the Farmers Classic at the Los Angeles Tennis Center — UCLA. — AFP

Bryan siblings to break Woodies’ doubles record LOS ANGELES: Hometown heroes Bob and Mike Bryan advanced to their 100th career ATP Tour doubles final on Saturday, giving the American siblings a chance to win an all-time ATP doubles record 62nd title.

The Bryans defeated India’s Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi 6-2, 6-4 in 53 minutes a semi-final at the Los Angeles Open, marking the 15th win in a row at the event for the twin brothers. The Bryans, who seek a sixth Los Angeles doubles crown, are already level with

Australian stars Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde for the all-time record for ATP titles by a doubles pairing at 61 crowns each, The US duo, 5-0 in finals this year, would move past the Woodies to claim the mark alone with a victory yesterday over American Eric Butorac and JeanJulien Rojer of Netherlands Antilles, who ousted Britain’s Ross Hutchins and Aussie Jordan Kerr 6-3, 6-2 in the later semi-final. “There will be some nerves,” Mike Bryan said. “We want it bad.” —AFP

GSTAAD: Spain’s Nicolas Almagro raises the trophy after he won 7-5, 6-1 against France’s Richard Gasquet at the Swiss Open ATP tennis tournament yesterday. — AFP

Almagro wins Swiss Open GSTAAD: Spain’s Nicolas Almagro won the Swiss Open yesterday with a comprehensive straight sets defeat of Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Almagro’s 7-5, 6-1 win means he lifts the seventh trophy of his career on the ATP circuit and thus hands Spain their first Swiss Open crown since Alex Corretja in 2002. All of Almagro’s victories have been won on clay courts, with the previous just two weeks ago at

Sweden’s Bastad.

Almagro raced to a 5-3 lead in the first set only for Gasquet to battle back to 5-5.

The Spaniard then dug deep, producing two timely aces to seal the set. In the second the Spaniard gave no quarter to Gasquet, who had missed Wimbledon because of a back injury, and the Frenchman struggled to win just one game as Almagro raced ahead to seal the match. — AFP

19

SPORTS

Monday, August 2, 2010

HOUSTON: (Left) Andrew Hainult #31 of the Houston Dynamo is tripped up by Tim Ream #5 of the New York Red Bulls in the first half at Robertson Stadium. (Right) Security personnel as well as fans help to secure a fan that had run onto the playing field and jumped on the back of New York Red Bulls’ Thierry Henry. — AFP

Henry scores two goals, gets two on-field greeters HOUSTON: French star Thierry Henry was grabbed and jumped upon by two spectators who ran from the stands during the New York Red Bulls’ 2-2 Major League Soccer draw with 10-man Houston Dynamo on Saturday. The former Barcelona and Arsenal star, who set up Colombian Juan Pablo Angel on both New York goals, received his greeting from over-exuberant fans after Houston’s Brian Mullan equalized in the 90th minute to lift Dynamo to a draw.

Moments after the goal, the spectators ran onto the field and confronted Henry at midfield in his US league debut, having already played twice for the Red Bulls in international exhibition matches last week. “I don’t even know what happened,” Henry told the Houston

Fan climbs onto Thierry’s back during game Chronicle. The crowd began laughing as stadium security guards tried in vain to grab the men who ran onto the field, one of them jumping on Henry’s back and both evading capture for a while with speed and elusive feints.

Eventually they were apprehended but the comical scene could have easily been a nightmare similar to the infamous incident involving tennis star Monica Seles being stabbed in Germany had the trespassers been wanting to harm Henry. “It’s a good thing that they

weren’t coming to harm (Henry),” said New York midfielder Dane Richards. “That (guard) missed so many tackles from those guys. They are there to protect the players, but it wasn’t there.”

Even with the incident, Henry said he was pleased at the atmosphere of excitement that surrounded the match. “It was great,” he said. “The pitch was great, the grass amazing. I saw some people were in the Arsenal jerseys and some people were in the Barcelona jerseys. It is great. It was a great atmosphere.”

Henry made the key pass to spark goals from Colombia’s Angel in the 10th and 58th minute, put two shots on goal and another off the crossbar in the 42nd minute but he could not claim a victory over a team that has not won since May. “The result was a bit bad for us because of the late goal,” Henry said. “I think Juan Pablo and I played well.”

The Red Bulls, now 8-6 with three drawn, opened the scoring when Henry set up Angel in the 10th but the Dynamo equalized on a Brad Davis penalty kick in

the 24th minute. Davis went high on a second penalty kick in the 39th minute as the teams reached half-time deadlocked, although Houston’s Lovel Palmer was ejected in the 44th minute for a hard foul, leaving Dynamo a man down for the second half.

Angel’s second goal put the Red Bulls ahead 2-1 with 32 minutes remaining but Mullan snatched a victory for the visitors away at the death, Houston moving to 5-8 with five drawn. The match came amid reports New York will sign Mexican defender Rafael Marquez, released Saturday from his contract by Spanish champion Barcelona. The Red Bulls have called a news conference tomorrow to announce a player signing. — AFP

Inter blank Man City 3-0 in friendly

BALTIMORE: Manchester City’s Adam Johnson (left) vies with Inter Milan’s MacDonald Mariga (center) and Marco Materazzi during a friendly match.

Inter won 3-0. — AFP

Winds of austerity blow through European clubs PARIS: Anyone in doubt as to the lingering effects of the global economic downturn on the world’s top football teams need only cast a glance at the sleepy state of the current European transfer market. The astronomical sums of last summer, when Real Madrid broke the world transfer record twice, have given way to caution and prudence as clubs contend with mounting debts and uncertain futures.

Barcelona, the world’s most fashionable club, are currently saddled with a record debt of 442 million euros and announced in early July that they had taken out a loan of 155 million euros to ease their cash-flow problems. They began the summer by bringing in Spain striker David Villa from heavily indebted Valencia for around 40 million euros, but that purchase had to be offset by the sales of Yaya Toure and Dmitryo Chygrynskiy and the release of Thierry Henry.

An external audit by Deloitte revealed that the Spanish champions posted a loss of 77.1 million euros last season, their first in seven years, and left the club’s newly-installed hierarchy struggling to placate worried supporters. “The figures presented by the former board don’t reflect the real image,” said Barcelona’s vice-president for economic affairs, Javier Faus. “There is a structural problem. The sporting excellence in the last few years has not been reflected in economic excellence.”

Barca’s rivals Real appeared to be ushering in a new age of consumption when they brought a wealth of world-class stars including Kaka (65 million euros), Cristiano Ronaldo (93.5 million euros) and Karim Benzema (35 million euros rising to 41 million euros) to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu last summer. The re-building project failed to yield any silverware in 2009-10, however, and their spending under new coach Jose Mourinho this summer has

been conservative by comparison.

In Italy, neither European champions Inter Milan nor neighbours AC Milan have made significant additions to their playing staff, with Juventus the only top Serie A team to have spent above 10 million euros on a player. German heavyweights Bayern Munich have yet to sign anyone since last year’s double triumph, while the biggest transfer to date in France has been Marseille’s capture of Spanish right-back Cesar Azpilicueta from Osasuna for a fee rising to 9.5 million euros.

“It’s the economic reality, lots of clubs are suffering,” said Marseille coach Didier Deschamps.

The one team still readily able to flex their financial muscle is Manchester City, who are backed by the vast personal wealth of their owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan. Since taking over the club in August 2008, the Abu Dhabi royal has ploughed 284 million pounds (339 million euros) into the development of the squad in transfer fees alone.

The spending has continued apace in recent weeks, with World Cup stars Toure, Jerome Boateng, Aleksandar Kolarov, and David Silva all arriving at Eastlands since the end of last season.

City’s financial might means asking prices for potential signings are liable to soar as soon as their interest becomes public, but coach Roberto Mancini believes their rivals have every reason to be fearful.

“Are they scared? I think so. At the moment only Manchester City are buying players,” he said.

“But that is normal because Manchester City want to improve and the other teams are just big teams who would like a lot of people. “I think all these teams over the years have spent a lot of money-Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool — but now City do.” —AFP

BALTIMORE: Nigerian winger Nsofor Victor Obinna scored one goal and set up another to lead reigning European champion Inter Milan past 10-man Manchester City 3-0 in a football friendly on Saturday.

Obinna opened the scoring in the 38th minute and fired a shot in the 54th minute that deflected off the leg of Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott and into the net, the Englishman helpless to deny the goal. Cristiano Biraghi finished the scoring in the 74th minute, blasting home a 35-meter shot into the upper left corner of the goal. “I am really pleased with the performance of the team.

They played really well,” Inter manager Rafael Benitez said. “Our idea is to improve our fitness and also give time to our young players on the pitch. We got to do both.”

Manchester City, which will open the Premiership campaign against Tottenham in two weeks, was without manager Roberto Mancini, who departed Friday because of a family illness and was replaced by assistant Brian Kidd. The English Premier League side went down a man in the 21st minute when Patrick Vieira, a Senegaleseborn Frenchman, was given a red card for a hard foul against Marco Materazzi.

“Pat was going for the ball,” Kidd said. “It’s difficult for the referees. It’s split-second. But there was no intent there.” City, playing the final match of a pre-season US tour, used reserve goalkeeper Joe Hart in the first half and starter Shay Given in the second. “Certainly playing a man down was too hard too overcome,” Given said. Inter forward Mario Balotelli, the 20-year-old striker whom reports have linked to a possible move to City, was not in uniform. The match attracted 36,569 spectators, the largest crowd of City’s US tour, to the home pitch of American football’s Baltimore Ravens. — AFP

BIELEFELD: Germany’s players celebrate with the trophy after winning the final of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2010 yesterday. Germany defeated Nigeria 2-0. — AFP

Extras Song announces int’l retirement YAOUNDE: Cameroon’s veteran centreback Rigobert Song announced his retirement from international football yesterday. The 34-year-old, the first African to play in four World Cups and eight African Cup of Nations, said that the time was right to call it a day. “You have to know when to quit when the time comes,” said the 136-times capped Song, who plays for Turkish first division side Trabzonspor. “I leave this team with pride ... and think I have accomplished a duty.” During the press conference, the former Metz, Lens and Liverpool player had a special word for his “brother in arms” Marc Vivien Foe, who died on the pitch playing a Confederations Cup match in June 2003.

Song had been under fire for recent performances and had to settle for a substitute’s role at the World Cup in which Cameroon were eliminated after three straight defeats.

Mourinho says Real won’t peak until 2012 MADRID: New Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has sent a potential warning to fans of the Spanish giants by claiming the teams he has coached do not reach their peak until his second season in charge.

Mourinho, speaking to Spanish newspaper El Mundo yesterday, made the claims despite having won domestic championships with Inter Milan, Chelsea and

Porto during in his first season in charge with the respective clubs. “The process of assimilation means it is only really in the second season that a team has acquired the right systems and a philosophy of play,” said the 47-year-old Portuguese, who led Inter to the Champions League triumph last season before signing a fouryear deal with Real. “I have always said that my teams were at their peak from the second season. By chance, each of them won something from the first season. I hope that will be the same at Real.”

Mourinho, who is in Los Angeles with Real for a pre-season tournament, also admitted he has made mistakes in evaluating the quality of some players over the years. “I have come across players who were better than I was expecting and for others it was quite the opposite,” said Mourinho without naming names.

Ugandan int’l striker Sepuya joins Fury SYDNEY: Ugandan international striker Eugene Sepuya has signed a one-season deal with Australian A-League club North Queensland Fury, the club said yesterday.

Sepuya, 27, joins the Fury from Lithuanian club FK Sudova and has extensive experience playing for teams in Serbia and the United States. Sepuya, who has played six times for Uganda, arrived at the club on Saturday and passed a medical examination, officials said. Fury are hoping Sepuya

will be ready to play in their first home match of the season against champions Sydney FC on August 14. “Eugene came highly recommended to us from our overseas contacts and from our head coach Franz Straka,” club official Robbie Middleby said. Former Czech Republic international Straka said: “He will provide more competition and further options for us up front, and hopefully we’ll see this translate into goals for the team this season.”

Liverpool re-sign defender Aurelio LIVERPOOL: Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio has been re-signed by Liverpool, just two months after being told he had no future at the Premier League club. The 30-year-old left in May, but manager Roy Hodgson offered him the chance to train with the Reds in a bid to earn a return and he has now been offered a two-year contract. “I asked the club to find out whether Fabio had found a new club. When we ascertained that he hadn’t, we invited him back so we could properly assess the player,” Hodgson told www.liverpoolfc.tv.

“We were very impressed and I am delighted we were able to re-sign Fabio.”

Aurelio, who played 71 times in four seasons at Anfield and scored three goals, has been included in the travelling party for yesterday’s friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach.

www.kuwaittimes.net

Arsenal win Emirates Cup Lyon warm up for season-opener with Milan draw

LONDON: Theo Walcott made a point to England coach Fabio Capello as the Arsenal winger inspired his side to a 3-2 victory over Celtic that clinched the Emirates Cup yesterday.

Walcott spent the close-season nursing a bruised ego after being left out of England’s World Cup squad and the winger played as if determined to show Capello what he could have brought to the team. While it is clearly much easier to shine in a pre-season tournament at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium than the World Cup, this was the kind of vibrant display that makes Walcott such a formidable force at his best.

He created goals for Carlos Vela and Samir Nasri and played a key role in Bacary Sagna’s strike as well. On this evidence, Capello would be wise to recall Walcott for England’s friendly against Hungary on August 11.

Despite Walcott’s starring role, Celtic nearly snatched a draw as late goals from Daryl Murphy and South Korea’s Ki SungYueng set up a tense finish.

With unsettled captain Cesc Fabregas not scheduled to return to training until later this week and Abou Diaby injured, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger picked youngsters Jack Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong in central midfield, while Manuel Almunia was back in goal after missing Saturday’s game with Milan. Lyon’s 1-1 draw with AC Milan earlier yesterday meant a victory for either side would win the tournament.

It was Arsenal who seized the initiative as they took the lead in the third minute. Walcott curled a low cross into the sixyard box and Mexican forward Vela beat Celtic’s unconvincing offside trap to slide his shot past Lukasz Zaluska. Only a fine save from Zaluska denied Walcott the goal his display

deserved when the winger’s fierce free-kick was palmed over.

Wilshere also gave a confident performance and the teenager struck the bar twice in quick succession late in the first half. His first effort was pushed onto the woodwork by Zaluska, while the second, a sublime volley from a corner, flashed past the keeper but once again cannoned off the bar. Walcott won a corner on the stroke of halftime with another rampaging run and the Gunners increased their lead from Tomas Rosicky’s set-piece as French defender Sagna drove a longrange shot past Zaluska’s weak attempted save.

Wenger sent on new signing Marouane Chamakh and French winger Nasri at half-time and the pair combined with Walcott to increase Arsenal’s lead in the 51st minute. Chamakh’s backheel gave possession to Nasri 20 yards from goal and he slipped a pass to Walcott, who cut the ball back for Nasri to clip a perfectly-placed shot into the far corner. Celtic boss Neil Lennon could at least take heart from the way his side fought back ahead of the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Braga on Wednesday.

The Hoops, in severe danger of being knocked out of Europe after losing 3-0 in the first leg in Portugal last week, missed a penalty when Georgios Samaras blazed over after Wilshere fouled Marc-Antoine Fortune.

They didn’t throw the towel in and reduced the deficit after 73 minutes when Murphy seized on a deflection to shoot past Almunia. Ki got Celtic’s second goal when he tapped in Fortune’s cross with seven minutes left but there wasn’t quite time to complete the comeback. — AFP

Esperance, Kabylie retain flawless African records

LONDON: Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen (right) vies with Celtic’s Shaun Maloney during their Emirates Cup football match at Emirates Stadium yesterday. — AFP

England beat Pakistan to win first Test Pakistan capitulate to Anderson for record low

NOTTINGHAM: James Anderson of England (right) bowling is watched by Kamran Akmal, wicketkeeper of Pakistan on the fourth day of the first NPower Test match at Trent Bridge yesterday. — AFP

SCOREBOARD NOTTINGHAM, England: Final scoreboard on the fourth day of the first Test between England and Pakistan at Trent Bridge here yesterday.

England 1st Innings 354 (E Morgan 130, P Collingwood 82; Mohammad Asif 5-77, Mohammad Aamer 3-41) Pakistan 1st Innings 182 (Umar Gul 65 no; J Anderson 5-54, S Finn 3-50) England 2nd Innings 262-9 dec (M Prior 102 no; Umar Gul 3-41) Pakistan 2nd Innings (overnight: 15-3, target 435) Imran Farhat c Strauss b Anderson 15 Salman Butt c Collingwood b Broad 8 Azhar Ali lbw b Broad 0 Umar Amin lbw b Anderson 1 Mohammad Aamer c Pietersen b Finn 4 Umar Akmal lbw b Anderson 4 Shoaib Malik c Collingwood b Anderson 9 Kamran Akmal lbw b Finn 0

Umar Gul c Collingwood b Anderson 9 Danish Kaneria not out 16 Mohammad Asif c Swann b Anderson 0 Extras (b4, lb8, w1, nb1) 14 Total (all out, 29 overs, 139 mins) 80 Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Butt), 2-10 (Ali), 3-11 (Amin), 4-31 (Farhat), 5-37 (U Akmal), 6-41 (Aamer), 7-41 (K Akmal), 850 (Gul), 9-65 (Malik), 10-80 (Asif) Bowling: Anderson 15-8-17-6 (1nb); Broad 8-2-23-2; Finn 6-3-28-2 (1w) England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wkt), Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn Result: England won by 354 runs

NOTTINGHAM: James Anderson’s inspired swing bowling gave him a match haul of 11-71 and helped to wrap up a comfortable 354-run victory for England over Pakistan in the first test yesterday.

Pakistan slumped to their lowest test innings total against England, bowled out for 80 in 29 overs. “When the ball is swinging there is not a better bowler in the world than Jimmy Anderson,” England captain Andrew Strauss told reporters. England needed just under two hours to take Pakistan’s last seven wickets. Pakistan, set a world-record 435 to win, had resumed on 15 for three on the fourth day at Trent Bridge.

Number ten Danish Kaneria topscored with 16 not out and was one of only two batsmen to reach double figures as the Pakistanis struggled to play the moving ball throughout. The total fell short of Pakistan’s previous low against England, which was 87 at Lord’s in 1954.

Fast bowler Anderson followed his five for 54 in the first innings with another excellent spell in cloudy conditions, in front of a stadium about a quarter-full. His second innings analysis was 15-8-17-6 as he bowled 11 consecutive overs yesterday. “I’m very satisfied with what we have done over the last three or four days,” Strauss said. “We had to work hard at stages in the game and the encouraging thing for me was that we got through those tight situations and came out the other side very well. “Huge credit must also go to Eoin Morgan and Paul Collingwood for their runs in the first innings and Matt Prior in the second.”

The shell-shocked Pakistanis will need to rally quickly as the second test in the four-match series begins at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Friday.

“It was disappointing, nobody expected this (to lose seven wickets so quickly),” Pakistan captain Salman Butt said.

“We were certainly expecting better things of ourselves and we need to improve. “(But) we must remember the second game that we won last week against Australia came only a few days after losing heavily to them at Lord’s,” he added, searching for something to boost morale. “It is not much different between

the two sides in terms of batting. If we had held our chances they could’ve been out below 200. I fully trust my team will be back.”

Morgan century

England set up the win with a firstinnings 354 courtesy of 130 by Morgan.

Pakistan then slumped to 182, before England’s 262 for nine declared when Prior made an unbeaten 102. Pakistan, who lost their 2006 series in England 3-0, avoided their lowest test total of 53 — made against Australia in Sharjah in 2002 — when Kaneria clipped Anderson through midwicket for a boundary. He also pulled Finn for a six and a four as England’s fielders smiled wryly.

For the first half-hour England bowled without the discipline of the previous evening when their lines and lengths were perfect. Instead, Anderson and Stuart Broad often bowled wide of the mark as the batsmen rarely had to play a stroke. Anderson soon improved his accuracy and struck in the eighth over of the day when Imran Farhat (15) edged him to Strauss at first slip. That was 31 for four, which was soon to become 37 for five.

Anderson surprised right-hander Umar Akmal (4) by swinging the ball into his pads as opposed to bowling his stock out-swing delivery. Umar chose to review the dismissal but Asoka de Silva’s decision was upheld by the third umpire.

Pakistan slumped to 41 for seven when night-watchman Mohammad Aamer’s stubborn innings of 4 from an hour at the crease ended when he drove Steven Finn to Kevin Pietersen low down in the gully.

It was Finn’s fourth ball of the morning, and he struck again in his next over by snaring Kamran Akmal (0), though the wicketkeeper-batsman was unlucky to be given lbw. Umar Gul, who slapped a career-best 65 not out in the first innings, was the eighth man to perish when he was brilliantly caught by Collingwood above his head at third slip. Anderson’s maiden 10-wicket test haul came when Shoaib Malik edged him to Collingwood, at ankle height. He added an 11th victim when last man Mohammad Asif (0) edged him to Graeme Swann at second slip. — Reuters

JOHANNESBURG: Former title holders Esperance of Tunisia and JS Kabylie of Algeria maintained perfect records in the African Champions League group phase with narrow weekend victories.

Midfielder Oussama Darragi converted a penalty eight minutes from full-time to give 1994 champions Esperance a 1-0 victory against Dynamos of Zimbabwe at Rades on the outskirts of Tunis. Striker Fares Hemitti pounced on a rebound 10 minutes into the second half and scored the goal that earned 1981 and 1990 winners Kabylie a 1-0 win over Heartland of Nigeria in eastern town TiziOuzou.

Esperance launched their six-match campaign by collecting maximum points at Entente Setif of Algeria two weeks ago and now have six in Group A three more than defending champions TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kabylie also have six points having won away in the opening round and cannot be overtaken in Group B this weekend as record six-time champions Al-Ahly of Egypt have one and Ismailia none ahead of an Egyptian showdown in Cairo.

Esperance overcame the absence of injured goalscorers Wajdi Bouazzi and Nigeria-born Michael Eneramo to dominate possession against Zimbabwe opponents desperate to dodge defeat having lost at home to Mazembe in mid-July. But as time ticked away at the 60,000capacity National Stadium striker Khaled Ayari was fouled inside the area, the Togolese referee pointed to the penalty spot and Darragi became the ‘Blood and Gold’ hero.

The match in Algeria followed a similar pattern with Kabylie continually pressing to try and unearth defensive holes while 2009 runners-up Heartland retreated in depth at the slightest hint of danger.

Mohamed Aoudia came close to breaking the deadlock, forcing a superb first half save from Augustine Brown and later being let down by his first touch when a Saad Tedjar cross dropped invitingly inside the six-yard box.

Another cross led to the only goal with Brown and his defenders failing to cut off the threat created by Sid Ali Yahia-Cherif and when the ball came back off the far post, Hemitti was perfectly placed to stab it into the net.

Heartland, regularly accused by visiting teams of treating them badly with one forced to eat a bread-only lunch and another reduced to training in a hotel garden, have one point

from a home draw with Ahly.

Meanwhile, Egyptian paramilitary club Harras Al-Hodoud went on an eight-goal rampage this weekend to reach the African Confederation Cup group phase.

The victims were Gaborone United of Botswana, who crumbled 8-1 in the ancient Mediterranean city of Alexandria after taking a 1-0 advantage into the second leg of the final-round qualifier.

Hodoud wasted no time overcoming the first leg deficit with Mohamed Hamed and Ahmed Abdulghani scoring twice each within 30 minutes at Max Stadium as United reeled under the attacking onslaught.

It was 6-0 by half-time thanks to a brace from Ahmed Mekki and after Stephen Maposa reduced arrears two minutes into the second half, Mohamed Halim and Mahdi Sobhi added another couple of Egyptian goals. Hodoud have amassed an awesome 18 goals in three home qualifiers after notching five each against Banks of Ethiopia and Simba of Tanzania in previous rounds.

But the huge victory margin was not a record for the secondtier African club competition that distinction belongs to SuperSport United of South Africa who whipped Red Star of Seychelles 9-0 in Johannesburg five years ago.

Al-Ittihad of Libya and AS FAN of Niger created history by becoming the first clubs from the countries to reach the lasteight phase of the competition, which offers a 660,000-dollar first prize.

Both teams go into Group A with Djoliba of Mali, hoping to emulate fellow Bamako club and shock 2009 Confederation Cup winners Stade Malien, and CAPS United of Zimbabwe or Al-Hilal of Sudan. Ittihad lost 2-1 to Angolan military club Primeiro Agosto in Luanda, but an early goal from Niger-born striker Daouda Kamilou proved crucial for the Tripoli outfit who advanced 3-2 on aggregate. AS FAN made the perfect start with Ibrahim Aboubacar scoring in the first minute and Mohamed Abdoulaye added a second before half-time en route to a 2-1 Niamey victory over AlMerreikh of Sudan after a drawn first leg. Belouizdad of Algeria were another team to strike early with Islam Slimani on target inside two minutes only for Djoliba to force a 1-1 draw via Yahaya Coulibaly and that proved sufficient following a goalless first meeting. —Agencies

RADES: Tunisia Esperance’s players hug their teammate Oussama Darragi (center) after scoring against Zimbabwe Dynamos FC during their African Champions League football match group B. —AFP

KAMCO posts KD 1.32m net profit

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Sharia investing: Resilience through Europe

25

With a vision, Fiat boss shakes up Italian labor

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Monday, August 2, 2010

www.kuwaittimes.net

Osborne urges banks to lend, curb bonuses Tougher capital rules crimp lending capacity: BBA LONDON: British Finance Minister George Osborne urged the country’s banks in a newspaper interview to use strong first-half profits to boost business lending rather than pay large bonuses.

Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland are all due to report firsthalf earnings next week, and many analysts expect hefty profits as the banks begin to put the financial crisis behind them.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, Osborne said his stance was backed by the Bank of England, which has called on banks to set aside profits in preparation for the repayment of emergency central bank loans due next year.

“We have got to be pretty clear with the banks, as I was when I got them into my office a couple of weeks ago, that we will not tolerate banks piling the pressure on SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises). They have an economic obligation to assist that sector and give it all the assistance that they got,” Osborne continued.

“If you maintain the remuneration and dividend levels of what they were a year or two ago then that would allow additional borrowing capacity,” he said.

The British Bankers’ Association, the industry’s main lobby group, said that while banks were committed to providing finance to soundly managed companies, tough new capital requirements introduced in the wake of the crisis had left them with less cash to spare.

“There are funds available to firms with a viable business plan,” BBA Chief Executive Angela Knight said in a statement yesterday.

“But the industry’s ability to support the economy needs to be considered as the increased capital and cash we are required to hold cannot be set aside and used to finance lending.”

Knight added that the banks’ anticipated return to profitability “indicates that the sector is helping the UK economy move out of recession”. Britain’s government owns large stakes in Lloyds and RBS, which together with Barclays and HSBC dominate the country’s banking landscape. However, the bank stakes are held at arm’s length and Osborne does not have direct control over Lloyds’ and RBS’s pay and lending policies.

The BoE lent British banks almost 200 billion pounds ($312 billion) during the height of the financial crisis in 2008. If banks reduce lending to businesses in order to make these repayments, this could derail Britain’s private-sector economic recovery just as sharp public-sector cuts will start to bite.

Osborne said banks’ business lending was already highly restrictive, echoing comments from business minister Vince Cable.

“Every small and medium-sized company that I have visited in recent weeks has had some problem with their bank-either they have found it difficult to renew their overdraft or they demanded additional collateral, often someone’s house,” Osborne said.

“The danger is that, particularly next year, when there is a huge amount of refinancing required, that the small and medium-sized businesses suffer from a lack of access to working capital.” — Reuters

Oil explorer Dana and suitor KNOC to meet LONDON: London-listed oil explorer Dana Petroleum and would-be buyer Korea National Oil Corp have agreed to meet, ending a tense stand-off between the two sides, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday.

Dana and KNOC are scheduled to hold a meeting this week, the source said, in what will be the first direct talks between the pair since KNOC tabled a revised 18 pounds ($28.12) per share indicative cash offer for Dana on July 23. The talks are expected to result in an agreement by Dana to open its books and begin talks on a takeover that would value the Aberdeenbased oil explorer at 1.7 billion pounds, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

KNOC has provided Dana with evidence that it would be able to fund its offer, removing a major reason given by Dana for not engaging with its suitor, the paper said.

Last week, leading Dana shareholders Schroders, BlackRock and JP Morgan Asset Management were reported to be pushing Dana to enter formal takeover discussions.

KNOC declined to comment, while Dana could not immediately be reached.

Dana shares closed at 17.12 sterling on Friday, valuing the company at about 1.6 billion pounds. — Reuters

Weekly commodity update

Gold bulls reduce their exposure

By Ole S Hansen ith global stock markets heading for the best monthly performance since last July, gold has found it increasingly difficult to hold onto recent gains.

The MSCI World index which monitors stocks from around the world rose more than eight percent during July as better economic and corporate data helped sentiment. Consumer confidence readings are still on the low side which continues to indicate a bumpy recovery ahead. Robert Schiller, a well known professor at Yale University, sees the risk of a US double dip recession as being above 50 percent.

The positive sentiment from stocks, where more than 77 percent of companies in the S&P 500 Index reported earnings above expectations, helped drive the yield on corporate bonds to a six year low. This according to Bloomberg triggered a record $85.7 billion issuance of debt in July with investors snapping up the relative high yield compared to governments bonds.

The Reuters Jefferies CRB index rose 1 percent on the week and returned 4 percent in July, the best monthly performance since May 2009. Gains were recorded across different sectors. The best performing markets were sugar, coffee, wheat, natural gas and palladium with losses in other energies and gold pulling in the opposite direction.

The price of gold dropped below the May low and has come close to the important 200 day moving average support at 1,150. This is the level that many long term investors view as the level that needs to hold. The speculative long position on Comex has been reduced by 27 percent over the past three weeks and another reduction is expected this week.

Meanwhile Gold held in Exchange Traded Funds also saw a reduction albeit only by one million ounces, a mere 1.5 percent of total known holdings.

The next couple of weeks will be very important as to the near term direction of gold. The worry is that a move below 1,150 could trigger a much larger correction than $100 seen so far. Supportive news this week was a pick-up in physical demand with jewelers taking advantage of the recent drop in the price of both gold and the dollar. The strength of the global recovery is still debatable as the Yen, often viewed as a safe haven, strengthen against the dollar and the euro.

Technically 1,150 on spot gold should provide strong support followed by 1,124 while resistance levels are 1,176 and 1,185. During this recent sell off silver has managed to outperform gold which is unusual during a correction phase as silver tends to get hurt more due to lower liquidity. Meanwhile platinum is still finding support both outright and on a relative basis to gold with the ratio indicating further support near term.

Investors’ love affair with Palladium continues having rallied ten percent during July and despite the violent sell off in May shows a year to date return of 19 percent. Spot palladium has now recovered more than 50 percent of the May sell off trading at $490 per oz. and as such should find resistance towards 505 where either profit taking or a switch into platinum could be viewed as reasonable suggestion.

Crude oil continues to trade sideways having failed to find any traction recently. A weaker dollar and higher equity market has been offset by worries that the global recovery will not be strong enough to boost demand.

The weekly US crude inventory data showed another surprise increase, this time by 7.3 million barrels versus an expected drop of 1.7 million. One of the reasons behind this surge in inventory was triggered by record imports into the Gulf of Mexico region as crude came onshore from floating storage. Profits from storing crude oil for future delivery has almost disappeared as forward prices have dropped. Last year up towards 100 million barrels was kept on floating storage but this has now dropped to around 10 million. Since April the spread or Contango between the two nearest futures contracts has dropped from $4.58 down to 45 cents today removing the profitability of this strategy.

Technically WTI crude oil for September delivery is stuck in a wide 72.60 to 81.00 range with the latter being 50% retracement of the May sell off. Inside this range further resistance can be found at 79.70 and support at 75.90.

Talk of another global food crisis has begun to emerge on the back of the heat wave that has hit Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine this past month. Temperatures have reached highs that have not been seen since record began 130 years ago and so far the damaged crop area covers some 103,000 square kilometer or 25.5 million acres. In Chicago wheat futures have had the biggest monthly gain since 1973 while European milling wheat have rocketed by 40 percent this month reaching a high of 194.50 Euro per metric tons.

Analysts fear prices could rise further in the coming weeks as the region continues to cut its estimated wheat crop production. Being the third largest exporter globally any news of a reduced crop will increase prices from other regions as fewer countries will compete for export tenders.

The International Grains council has revised global stockpiles down by 2.5 percent to 192 million metric tons by June 2011 reversing a forecast for higher inventories just last month.

While this uncertainty persists technical levels have little use as momentum and fear more than anything drives prices.

September wheat on CBOT trades close to the November 2009 high at 639.75 but whether that will provide any resistance remains to be seen. Weather forecast from Europe, Russia and even Canada, where they are struggling with too much rain, will be watched closely as any signs of change should remove some of the recent support.

The price of the high quality Arabica coffee future rose more than six percent on the week, reaching a 12 year high at 178.75 dollars per pound due to a tight supply situation stemming from a step drop in Columbian production. Tightness in the spot market could persist until an expected record Brazilian crop hits the market in a few months time. — Saxo Bank

W

DAMASCUS: Newly-minted 50, 100 and 200 pound banknotes are seen following their release by the Central Bank of Syria in Damascus to reinforce the local currency and resist counterfeiting last week. —AFP

Bangladesh police break up textile workers protest DHAKA: Some 80 people were injured yesterday as Bangladeshi police fired rubber bullets and teargas, and used batons to disperse angr y textile workers protesting for a third day against a new minimum wage they say is too low.

Bangladesh’s garment industry employs more than 3.5 million workers, the majority of them women, and is the second biggest employer after agriculture.

Factories in Bangladesh make garments for international brands such as JC Penney, Wal-Mart, H&M, Kohl’s, Marks & Spencer, Zara and Carrefour. But the sector has been hit by frequent violence and shutdowns in recent months.

The latest protests were called by unions rejecting a new mini-

mum wage of 3,000 taka ($43) a month announced by the government on Thursday. The new minimum is nearly double the previous amount, but still far short of the 5,000 taka the workers demanded. Police said a violent mob gathered at Ashulia and Savar, in the capital Dhaka’s nor ther n suburbs, blocking a highway for several hours, jeering at police and pelting them with bricks.

Protesters also barricaded a highway at Narayanganj, east of the capital, and battled with police, witnesses said. Dozens of factories were closed yesterday, a police officer at Ashulia said, adding that protesters attacked vehicles and broke into shops and looted goods.

Witnesses said nearly 80 peo-

ple were injured in clashes as police dispersed hundreds of angry protesters.

Nearly 250 people, including policemen, were injured in similar violence over the past two days at Ashulia and other areas near the capital. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged workers not to indulge in activities that might destroy the key export sector which contributes some 80 percent of the country’s annual $16 billion export income.

She said continuing unrest, that often disrupted production and damaged manufacturing plants, would not benefit workers, but instead could threaten their livelihoods.

Hasina asked workers to return to work peacefully while factory owners said they would

reopen closed plants if order was restored. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Expor ters Association, representing more than 4,500 garment factories said they would be compelled to close down factories permanently if the situation did not improve.

Home Minister Sahara Kahtoon accused unnamed conspirators of trying to “destroy the vital employment and export sector as part of a bigger plan to destabilize the countr y and detract democracy.”

“We will find out the conspirators and give them exemplary punishment,” Sahara said yesterday. “I urge all Bangladeshis to remain vigilant against conspiracies by vested quarters,” she said in a reference usually made to opposition political parties. — Reuters

UAE’s Aldar hits 16-month low after Q2, downgrade DUBAI: Aldar Properties, the largest Abu Dhabi developer by market value, fell to a 16-month intraday low yesterday af ter reporting a hefty quarterly loss and being hit by a ratings downgrade.

Other markets in the Middle East were mixed, with Dubai and Qatar edging lower, while Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia rose. On Thursday, Aldar posted a secondquarter net loss of more than $129 millions, due to lower property sales and investment values.

In addition, it was also hit by a rating downgrade by Standard & Poor’s.

The company’s shares ended 1.6 percent lower, recovering slightly after hitting a 16-month low.

“The downgrade reflects our view of the very challenging real estate market conditions in Abu Dhabi,” said Standard & Poor’s credit analyst Tommy Trask, “and the reliance of Aldar’s future earnings and cash flow on continued demand for both sale and

MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS rental of property and land”.

“Moving into H2 10, Aldar will witness a spike in unit deliveries and the commercial launch of new investment properties - positively impacting the income statement,” said Shuaa Securities analyst Roy Cherry. “However, with the prevailing real estate market conditions, the fact that Aldar remains the most leveraged among the top-three listed UAE developers and the connotations of the premature partial settlement of the AD (Abu Dhabi) government loan - lead us to remain cautious on this name,” he added.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank also disappointed investors after reporting a loss for the quarter.

Its shares fell 1.2 percent.

The bank said it holds 6.6 billion dirhams worth of exposure to indebted state conglomerate Dubai World. “ADCB’s top-line trajectory, though out of momentum remains satisfactory yet its

asset quality and subsequent provisioning remain worrisome,” said Global Investment House.

“The bank has nevertheless taken in full the provisions required for DW (and related entities), which being much lower than our expectations, does lead us to subscribe to the idea that better than previously estimated results may ensue for 2010.” it added.

Other banks in the UAE also finished lower, despite a report from Shuaa Capital saying the lenders are on average well capitalized.

Still, Shuaa said, the country’s largest banks would need between 2.5 billion dirhams and 15.8 billion dirhams in additional Tier 1 Capital in a best-to-worse case scenario to absorb any potential future losses and that the UAE authorities would likely step in if necessary.

Oman’s bourse ended higher

for a four th straight session, climbing to a two-month high at 6,331 points. “Global markets, petroleum prices between $70 and $80, trade surplus: all these things are fuelling sentiment,” said Shailendra Singh, investment manager at Al-Shurooq Securities. “We expect that in near-term the index will trade between 6,290 points and 6,355 points,” said Gunjan Gupta, head of research at Oman Arab Bank.

Egypt’s main index ended 0.7 percent higher, with Mobinil climbing 2.2 percent after hitting a 15-month low last week on poorly received ear nings and Orascom Telecom rising further as Algeria talks loom.

Traders said eyes are turning to blue-chip results due out in the next two weeks, including those of Commercial Inter national Bank, Orascom Construction, EFG-Hermes and Ezz Steel. Saudi Arabia’s index gained 0.5 percent to 6,317 points, led by banks and industrial stocks. — Reuters

BUSINESS

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Monday, August 2, 2010

Foresight-based business approach to continue: Sadoun Ali

KAMCO posts KD 1.32m net profit in H1 of 2010 KUWAIT: KIPCO Asset Management Company KSC (KAMCO) reported its financial results for the first half of 2010. During the first half, KAMCO posted a net profit of KD1.32 million w hich has resulted in earnings-per-share (EPS) of 5.52 fils, w hile mid-year revenues stand at KD 5.60 million.

KAMCO’s Managing Director and CEO, Sadoun A Ali said, “Our mid-year

results come as a consequence of local and global micro-economic and macroeconomic factors. During the year, w e refocused our efforts on specific financial services and investment opportunities w hich are unique to the global phase of economic recovery. These include corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, investment advisory and diversified asset allocation.

KAMCO CEO and MD Sadoun A Ali

10 most popular applications at Samsung apps on Bada platform Most-downloaded apps from June 1 to mid-July KUWAIT: Utility and entertainment apps dominated the list released yesterday by Samsung Apps, the application hub for leading mobile phone provider Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. Magic Torch, which transforms your phone into a flashlight with four different screens - standard light bulb, ecological light bulb, neon light bulb, and white screen - topped the chart as the most-downloaded application throughout all countries.

Another utility app, MyMirror, which turns the phone into a mirror using the camera device, featured on the list at No. 7, while entertainment programs filled out the rest of the field. The top 10 apps for the Wave were: Need For SpeedTM Shift (games), Illusions (entertainment), SouthAfrica2010 (entertainment), Real Football 2010 (games), BatteryLife (productivity), Basketball (entertainment), Shot Gun (entertainment) and Exciting Freekick (games).

“Response to Samsung Apps has been tremendous in our target markets, and a lot of it is because of the popularity of utility and entertainment apps,” said Kanghyun Kwon, vice president, Media Solutions Center, Samsung Electronics. “The days of using a phone just for talking are long gone - functionality is key now. With Samsung Apps, we aim to fill the need for functionality and practical apps for all of our existing Samsung customers, as well as attract new

customers by adding more unique applications. We’re excited with what the future holds for Samsung Apps.”

While a utility app held the top spot, entertainment apps were a heavy presence

throughout the list. The third-most downloaded program, Illusions, offers visually stimulating puzzles and screenshots. At No 4, SouthAfrica2010 gained popularity during the recent football tournament. Freethrow practice app Basketball ranked No. 8 on the list, while arcade-style shooting program Shot Gun was No. 9.

Auto-racing program Need For SpeedTM Shift led in the games category, cracking No. 2 on the list, while football game Exciting Freekick was No. 10.

Productivity app BatteryLife, which calculates remaining battery power based on factors such as Wi-Fi use, call time, listening to music and use of 2G or 3G Internet connections, ranked No. 6 on the list.

Created in September 2009 to provide Samsung smartphone users a dedicated online application destination, Samsung Apps has more than tripled the size of its stores in most European and Asian markets - and now offers a multitude of new applications, including games, social networking, e-books and health-related tools. Samsung Apps was created by and is overseen by Samsung’s Media Solutions Center (MSC), which is also responsible for bada platform development, Social Hub and various other contents. After recognizing the growing importance of content and applications, the MSC was established to develop content strategy and tools across the company’s business divisions.

Our staff will carry forward our foresight-based business approach into the rest of 2010 and beyond. On behalf of the Board of Directors of KAMCO and its Executive Management, I thank our shareholders, business partners, clients and staff for their support through the years and we look forward to achieving better results.”

Despite the financial setbacks, KAMCO continued to make significant accomplishments in 2010. For example, it acted as a joint lead manager with NBK Capital in issuing KD 40 million worth of bonds for United Real Estate Company in June.

Furthermore, KAMCO prolongs to fulfill its corporate social responsibility agenda by creating the KAMCO Stock Simulator - a trading simulator which was created for members of the Finance Club at Kuwait University to practice and test their trading skills without the risk of actually losing any money.

Established in 1998 with the mission to significantly alter the local and regional investment landscape, KAMCO is a premier investment company based in Kuwait. A subsidiary of United Gulf Bank (UGB) - the investment banking subsidiary of Kuwait Projects (Holding) Company (KIPCO) - KAMCO was listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) in 2003.

After eleven years of conducting business in Kuwait’s dynamic investment industry, KAMCO has successfully established a robust reputation for solidity, characterized by its prudent, conservative investment philosophy which has consistently commanded the goodwill of a wide patron-base.

KAMCO’s Asset Management Division specializes in customized portfolio management, forward trading, access to IPOs, and local and international fund management. The Investment Advisory and Research Division tracks the latest directions and trends across regional and local economies as well as equity markets and offers a range of customized services that focus on maximizing returns, mitigating risks, and maintaining capital appreciation for individual and institutional clients. The Company’s Financial Services and Investment Division offers a full range of advisory services on mergers and acquisitions, underwriting, private placements, debt issuance and restructuring, and private equity management.

In 2010, the Company will further aggressively build upon its core competencies to offer MENA-wide investment management consultancy and services, backed by its proven trackrecord in stringent risk mitigation, investment product innovation, and a cautious investment approach towards local, regional and international capital markets.

Gulfmart to open second branch in Abbassiya Supermarket chain’s eighth branch in Kuwait KUWAIT: Gulfmart, Kuwait’s popular onestop supermarket chain opens its eighth branch in Kuwait, and the brand’s second branch in Abbassiya, on August 4 at the Saud Saad Al-Shallahi Complex in Jleeb AlShuyoukh, Abbassiya.

Speaking at a press briefing to announce the inauguration of the new branch, T A Remesh, Gulfmart Country Head, said that the overwhelming popularity of the brand among customers and their consistent demand for even more convenience, had led to the decision to open a second branch in Abbassiya.

At the press conference attended by senior management of Gulfmart, including Fakrudeen Kabeer (Senior Purchase Manager), Jozer Sifee, Sameer Sheikh and Imran Sheikh, Remesh elaborated by saying, “At Gulfmart we are committed to the convenience of our customers and to providing them with the best shopping experience.

Anything that eases the stress of shopping and brings us closer to our patrons is of paramount importance to us. Having found that current facilities at our first branch in Abbassiya were not capable of coping with the increased demands from customers, we decided to open a new branch in close proximity to our first branch.” He added that the synergies of two branches existing next to each other will no doubt be beneficial to customers.

Remesh described the large floor space and ample car parking available at Abbassiya 2 branch, located next to National Bank of Kuwait, near to Indian Central School and opposite Pakistani English School, as a new shopping experience for residents in Abbassiya. Fitted out by Havelock Consultants, the international specialists in super-market outfitting, the interior layout of the new super-market is designed to allow customers to find and select items with the utmost convenience.

Elaborating on the Gulfmart brand, the Country Manager added that they have consistently maintained the quality of products and pricing structure to offer customers the best deals in town. “Gulfmart has an unbelievable array of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, meat, eggs and an array of frozen and packaged food products along with a variety

T A Remesh, Gulfmart Country Head of cosmetic products and household items, as well as ethnic products from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan as well as from Arab countries all under one roof,” said Remesh. We source our products directly from these countries and as such are able to offer customers the best price and the freshest products, he added.

Gulfmart currently has 7 retail branches in Kuwait at Shuwaikh, Abbassiya, Salmiya, Hawally, Fahaheel, Farwaniya and Khaitan.

The second outlet opening in Abbassiya will provide the large number of residents in this area with even more shopping convenience, said Remesh. Speaking on the latest branch opening, Arif Sheikh, Director of Gulfmart Group added, “Due to very good customer response, Gulfmart also aims to open a second branch in Nugra-Hawally in September, and reach a target of 25 branches in Kuwait by the end of 2012.”

Damas sees full-year loss after huge provisions DUBAI: Jeweler Damas International said yesterday it made a full-year net loss of 1.91 billion UAE dirhams ($520 million), after provisions and non-recurring charges of 1.9 billion dirhams.

Before the expenses and impairments, the company made a net profit of 9.7 million dirhams for the period ending March 31, it said in a statement on the bourse website.

The Dubai-based jeweler said in July it had extended to Sept. 30 a standstill agreement with lenders on $872 million in debt, after banks approved the extension.

The firm said yesterday it maintained a gross profit margin of 17 percent during the full-year period, while revenues of 3.3 billion dirhams were down 31 percent.

Damas said it was focused on “recovering outstanding receivables held by counterparties”.

The jeweller has been in talks with banks to restructure its debt. Its some 20 banks include Barclays and BNP Paribas.

The firm is attempting to recover $165 million lost in “unauthorized transactions” with its founders, the Abdullah Brothers. — Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals

.2825000 .4470000 .3710000 .2730000 .2760000 .2570000 .0045000 .0020000 .0785460 .7652530 .4020000 .0750000 .7501980 .0045000 .0500000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2865500 .4493910 .3738500 .2751960 .2782420 .0501570 .0397180 .2590560 .0368910 .2106450 .0033140 .0061950 .0025530 .0033710 .0041520 .0780560 .7604670 .4052620 .0764520 .7446610 .0063320 TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2886500 .4525650 .2771450 .0769400

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.373 6.211

.2920000 .4560000 .3790000 .2810000 .2840000 .2650000 .0075000 .0035000 .0793360 .7729440 .4180000 .0790000 .7577370 .0072000 .0580000 .2886500 .4525650 .3764900 .2771450 .2802130 .0505120 .0399990 .2608860 .0371530 .2121380 .0033370 .0062390 .0025710 .0033950 .0041820 .0785530 .7653170 .4081320 .0769400 .7494100 .0063770

Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.379 2.556 3.891 212.400 37.124 4.155 6.341 8.958 0.296 0.310 GCC COUNTRIES Saudi Riyal 76.902 Qatari Riyal 79.228 Omani Riyal 749.140 Bahraini Dinar 765.860 UAE Dirham 78.522 ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 53.700 Egyptian Pound 50.586 Yemen Riyal 1.231 Tunisian Dinar 199.330 Jordanian Dinar 407.190 Lebanese Lira 193.400 Syrian Lier 6.218 Morocco Dirham 34.313 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 288.230 Euro 380.460 Sterling Pound 455.400 Canadian dollar 283.130 Turkish lire 191.390 Swiss Franc 279.830 Australian dollar 260.560 US Dollar Buying 287.025 GOLD 20 Gram 230.000 10 Gram 120.000 5 Gram 61.000

Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria 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 10 Tola Sterling Pound US Dollar

SELL CASH 264.200 765.340 4.230 283.100 585.100 14.100 49.200 167.800 53.320

378.000 37.590 6.195

406.790 0.194 92.330 3.890 210.700 747.390 3.370 6.315 79.170 76.840 212.560 41.900 2.550 454.000

9.110 78.430 287.800

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

379.500 37.740 6.450 0.035 0.273 0.254 3.420 406.820 0.195 92.330 46.400 4.500 212.200 1.961 46.500 747.570 3.470 6.540 79.800 76.840 212.560 41.900 2.727 456.000 39.400 279.700 278.200 6.300 9.270 198.263 78.530 288.200 1.260 GOLD 1,268.950 TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 454.500 287.800

SELL DRAFT 262.700 765.340 4.150 281.600

212.600 50.525

Rate for Transfer 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

Selling Rate 288.150 280.799 450.263 377.664 274.314 706.271 762.697 78.432 79.127 76.809 406.617 50.574 6.160 3.372

Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees

2.552 4.167 6.268 3.310 8.903 6.286 3.846

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

Rate per 1000 (Tran) 288.800 3.385 6.120 2.570 4.170 6.250 78.730 77.220 767.700 50.725 445.600 0.00003280 3.890 1.550 410.200 5.750 377.800 283.300

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) US Dollar 287.400 Euro 377.850 Pound Sterling 453.800 Canadian Dollar 281.400 Japanese Yen 3.350 Indian Rupee 6.196 Egyptian Pound 50.500 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.551 Bangladesh Taka 4.145 Philippines Peso 6.315 Pakistan Rupee 3.369 Bahraini Dinar 765.290 UAE Dirham 78.400 Saudi Riyal 76.800 *Rates are subject to change

BUSINESS

Monday, August 2, 2010

23

Greenback down on Europe’s stress tests results KUWAIT: The announcement of the European banking stress test results at the end of the preceding week opened the route for stronger European currencies against the US dollar. Benefiting from relatively weak figures in the US, the euro rose progressively during the week to reach a high of 1.3107 on Thursday before giving up part of its profits on Friday and closing at 1.3052. The Sterling pound continued its bull rally since mid May, opening the week at 1.5425 before recording a month-high of 1.5721 on Friday and closing the week at 1.5689, up 1.71% for the week. Last, the Japanese currency strengthened further to 85.95 against the greenback, the highest level since last November. The stronger yen comes despite growing concerns about Japan’s economic outlook where a group of ruling party lawmakers renewed calls for the Bank of Japan to target inflation and weaken the yen with monetary policy. The Yen closed the week at 86.47.

Economy still growing The US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded at a 2.4% annual rate, below market expectations of 2.5% and the newly revised 3.7% growth pace in the January-March quarter. Growth in the last quarter was held back by a 28.8% surge in imports, which eclipsed a 10.3% rise in exports. This surge in imports cre-

ated a trade deficit, which lowered growth by 2.78% points, the largest subtraction since the third quarter of 1982. Outside the trade sector, business investment rose at a 17% rate while growth in consumer spending was at a 1.6% rate in the second quarter after increasing from a revised 1.9% in the first quarter.

Sales of US new homes rose by 23.6% in June to an annual pace of 330,000 homes. The hike was above market consensus following an unprecedented collapse in sales during the prior month, signaling that the worst of the slump triggered by the end of a government tax credit might be over. On another front, the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index showed a 0.47% increase in May. On a year-on-year basis, prices are up by 4.61%.

Consumer confidence slips American consumers’ confidence was lower in July, shaken by mounting concerns over jobs and wages that threaten to constrain the economic recovery. The Conference Board’s sentiment index fell to 50.4, its lowest level in 5 months, and below the median forecast of 51. In parallel, the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment index fell from 76 in June to 67.8, the lowest since November, adding to the bleak prospects originating from consumers.

NBK WEEKLY MONEY MARKETS REPORT

The Federal Reserve said US economic growth slowed in some areas over the past 2 months, dragged down by commercial real estate and the expiration of a tax credit for homebuyers. The central bank said in its Beige Book business survey that the “economic activity has continued to increase, on balance, since the previous survey,” while noting that 2 of the Fed’s 12 districts reported the economy “held steady” and 2 said the pace of expansion slowed. The report underscored the Fed’s view that the recovery, while still moving forward,

VIVA Kuwait offers extensive in-flight roaming services Stay connected miles off ground with wide range of airlines KUWAIT: VIVA Kuwait yesterday announced that postpaid customers flying Wataniya Airways, Royal Jordanian Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Saudi Arabia Airlines, and TAP of Portugal, can now have inflight roaming services that enables them to make voice calls and send SMS. Prepaid customers can receive calls and send SMS. And, our BlackBerry service is available for both postpaid and prepaid customers.

VIVA Kuwait is also providing customers with the exclusive service of using GPRS on AeroMobile, which is a global independent cellular provider serving the aviation sector, VIVA Kuwait makes it possible to make voice calls, and SMS as well as GPRS usage on aircrafts of Emirates Airlines, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines and V Australia.

Being able to stay connected to family members and friends anywhere is fulfilling to the commitment VIVA Kuwait made to their customers. VIVA Kuwait customers, on flights offering this service, will be notified by the cabin crew when it is appropriate to use mobile devices. The system is available during the “cruise” phase of flights only (ie after take-off and before landing). Passengers must continue to ensure that their mobile phones and PDAs are switched off at all other times such as takeoff and descent prior to landing as safety during flights is a priority to VIVA Kuwait.

“VIVA Kuwait is proud to be the leader of InFlight Roaming Services,” said Rana AlRasheed, VIVA Kuwait Marketing Director.

“By providing our customers with an innovative range of products and services, combined with a

Rana Al-Rasheed, VIVA Kuwait Marketing Director state of the art network, VIVA Kuwait is a first class telecommunication provider, and this new addition to roaming services means VIVA Kuwait customers will never be out of touch,” added Al-Rasheed.

VIVA Kuwait makes it possible for their customers to have the newest technologies to facilitate communications. Having the ability to make voice calls, check messages and surf the net and use GPRS during a flight is convenient and makes staying in touch effortless.

LG unveils ‘Smart +’ LED LCD monitors, the E50series Opening a new era for computer monitors DUBAI: LG Electronics Business Solutions, a perfect solution partner for businesses and individuals, announced the launch of its brand new LED LCD E50 monitor series, which boasts green technology, a range of smart functions and a super high-resolution picture.

“With the LED monitor market growing so quickly, LG has responded with the innovative, eco-friendly and smart function-embedded E50 series,” said H.S Paik, President of LG Electronics Gulf FZE. “In particular, the E50V model of the E50 series has been awarded environmental certification from UL - a first for the monitor industry. The E50V model uses LG’s super resolution technology to produce a super-sharp picture to rival anything on the market.” The flagship of LG’s LED computer monitors, the E50 series offers Full HD picture quality with mega contrast ratio. Along with such high-performance entertainment features that customers expect from LG’s LED technology, the E50 series also delivers the functionality they need in a computer monitor. The picture quality gets even better on the E50V. Thanks to its mold-breaking Super Plus Resolution technology, the E50V produces an even more realistic picture while also enhancing SD-level content to HD standard. The secret behind LG’s Super Plus Resolution is the IC (Image Clear) Engine chip, which uses a Full HD-compatible single-frame algorithm to get rid of frame delay without the need for any external memory or software. The IC Engine also includes a shoot control function that suppresses overexposure in photographs to produce a more natural and refined finish. Altogether, Super Plus Resolution converts mediocre pictures into the highest resolution, while delivering realistic images for both games and movies. Besides their outstanding technical features, LG’s E50 monitors are also more eco-friendly: they contain no halogen or mercury at all. In addition, the E50 series also uses up to 45 percent less power than previous models and being extremely light and slim, means far less e-waste. The 23-inch E50V’s outstanding ecological credentials have recently been endorsed

by UL, which awarded the monitor Sustainable Product Certification. After rigorous, independently monitored testing, the E50V was deemed to meet the IEEE 1680 environmental requirements for consumer electronics, which includes ENERGY STAR requirements for energy efficiency. The E50 series is designed for conve-

is progressing at a slower pace than earlier in the year. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said in congressional testimony in the prior week that the central bank expects “continued moderate growth” and noted that the economic outlook remains “unusually uncertain”.

Europe European inflation accelerated to the fastest pace in more than a year and half on rising energy costs, according to the official initial estimate. The euro-zone consumer prices rose 1.7% from a year earlier

output slid 1.5% from May, below both market expectations and prior the previous month’s figure. The industrial production is still up by 17.0% on a year-on-year basis.

Deflation hurting Deflation continued as Japan’s core consumer price index fell 1% from a year earlier.

The government’s new high school tuition breaks weighed heavily on prices, dragging education costs down 13%. The headline inflation is still in negative territory at -0.7%.

Japan’s exports rose faster than economists estimated sustaining a boost to the recovery that may diminish as global growth cools and the yen strengthens.

Shipments abroad advanced 27.7% in June from a year earlier while the median estimate of economists was for 23.2%.

India rates The Reserve Bank of India raised the reverse repurchase rate to 4.5% from 4% and the repurchase rate to 5.75% from 5.5%. The rate increase is above economists’ estimates, as the Central Bank battles to contain a surge in inflation that triggered labor strikes and opposition-party organized public protests.

Kuwait Dinar at 0.28710 The KWD opened at 0.28710 yesterday morning.

Markets end Q2 in the red Markaz GCC Equity Mutual Funds KUWAIT: In a recently published quarterly report by Kuwait Financial Centre “Markaz”, which aims to analyze the performance of equity funds across the region, GCC markets sustained heavy losses in 2Q10, completely reversing the 1Q gain of 12%. All markets saw declines; the heaviest being a 22% loss in MSCI UAE as the market continues to grapple with the Dubai World dent issue

in addition to other corporate weaknesses. Investor sentiment was also dampened by signs of a slowing global economic recovery. May was a particularly vicious month as negative global cues and tumbling oil prices (crude oil lost 15% in the month) led to panicked selling by investors leading the MSCI GCC to tumble 11% in the month which was the first monthly decline of the year.

The quarter’s best performer was MSCI Qatar which limited the loss to 4% for 2Q10 after gaining 6% in the previous quarter. GCC Equity funds had an asset weighted loss of 8% in June 2010 as negative markets dragged down performance across the region.

AUM’s was $10.8bn in 2Q10 representing an institutionalization rate (AUM/Mcap) of 1.5%.

Both Saudi Arabia saw its AUM contract 14% in the quarter.

Fund managers continue to favor Saudi Arabia, with an allocation of 45%. Confidence in the Kuwait market remains at 12%; UAE allocation was up to 13% in June after declining to 10% in December 2009.

Risk aversion increased in June as fund managers upped Cash allocation to 11% from 7% in March while exposure to equity was down to 89% from 93% in March.

Saudi Arabia Equity Funds The Tadawul index lost 10% in 2Q10 due to an 11% decline in May as crude oil prices tumbled, leading to aggressive selling. All sector indices saw quarterly declines except Retail which managed to gain 3%.

Consequently, AUM’s contracted 14% to $4.66 bn.

Fund managers maintained their exposure to equities at 98% in June 2010 versus a low of 96% in June 2009, while allocation to Cash & Equivalents remained at 2%.

Kuwait Equity Funds The Kuwait market lost 13% in 2Q after gaining 8% in the previous quarter. Losses were led by the investment sector, down 20% and real estate with a loss of 17%. AUM’s contracted 8% to $3.6bn in 2Q10.

Qatar Equity Funds After losing 6% in 4Q09, Qatar’s Doha Securities Market (DSM) lost 7.5% in 2Q, reversing its first quarter gain. Only insurance saw a positive performance, gaining 25% for the quarter. Value traded fell 48% YoY to $5.1bn for the quarter.

AUM’s for Qatari equity funds were down 5% to $149 mn.

nient use with Ez control OSD and has a smart package featuring Dual web, Auto bright, Cinema mode and Original ratio. Their Dual Web feature, meanwhile, allows users to divide the screen in two, making it possible to check multiple online sources while working on Microsoft Office(tm) documents at the same time. In addition, thanks to LG’s LED technology, the LED E50 monitors are 17.5mm in depth and up to one-third lighter than other CCFL-backlit monitors on the market. Their ergonomic design makes for a sophisticated shape, while the detachable two-way stand allows for easy use of the monitor at table level with a laptop. LG’s E50 monitors are currently available in the UAE. Prices range from AED999 for the E2250V and AED1399 for the E2350V.

in July after increasing 1.4% in June.

Separately, unemployment held at 10.0%, the highest in almost 12 years; 15.8 million people were unemployed in June, up 6,000 from May and 788,000 higher on an annual basis.

European stocks were supported this week as UBS AG and Deutsche Bank AG reported earnings that beat estimates and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision softened its proposed capital rules. UBS, Switzerland’s largest bank, reported a net income of 2.01 billion francs,

after a net loss of 1.4 billion francs a year earlier. Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest lender, reported a second-quarter net income of €1.16 billion as gains in retail and transaction banking helped offset a decline in sales and trading.

Spain’s debt Spain sold €3.4 billion ($4.42 billion) of Treasury bills as its borrowing costs fell in the first debt sale since the European Union stress tests of banks.

The €971.4 million three-month bills were issued at an average rate of 0.672%, compared with a yield of 0.913% at an auction in June. Spain also sold €2.46 billion of 6-month debt at an average rate of 1.144%, down from 1.577% last month.

The Nationwide survey reported a 0.5% decrease in UK house prices during the month of July, after increasing 0.1% in the prior month.

On an annual basis, home prices in UK are still up by 6.6%, below the market expectations of 7.0% Japan Unemployment unexpectedly rose for a fourth straight month and industrial production fell the most in more than a year, signaling the economic expansion is poised to slow.

The jobless rate climbed to 5.3% in June up for the sixth consecutive month and hitting its highest level since November. Separately, factory

Other GCC Equity Funds UAE Equity Funds - Dubai (DFM) underperformed the Abu Dhabi Exchange (ADX) for the quarter, losing 21% versus a loss of 13.5% for the ADX. The DFM’s loss was led by Telecom and Investments, down 29% and 27%, respectively. Abu Dhabi’s loss was led by Real Estate, down 36% for the quarter.

Liquidity in the UAE was down; value traded declined 68% YoY to $7.35 bn. AUM’s for UAE equity funds continue to contract, declining 3% in 1Q10 to $592mn.

ExxonMobil, LoYAC help shape Kuwait’s leaders of tomorrow KUWAIT: ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Kuwait Limited announced yesterday it has partnered with Lothan Youth Achievement Center (LoYAC), making a significant donation to Kuwait’s leading non-profit organization that works on developing professional, leadership, and competitive skills in students between the ages of 6 and 28.

Established in 2002, LoYAC aims to empower high school and college students with the skills needed to grow into highly effective leaders by engaging them in leadership programs, self-reliance programs, and team work initiatives in cooperation with leading global companies in the private sector.

Since 2006, ExxonMobil has been a supporter of LoYAC by offering students internship opportunities with international perspectives in the oil and gas sector, the leading sector in Kuwait. ExxonMobil’s donation will help support LoYAC’s self development programs that aim at engaging Kuwait’s youth in their field of interest and become the leaders of

tomorrow. ExxonMobil Kuwait President, John Hoholick, said: “We believe in the importance that educational initiatives and selfdevelopment programs have on building the youth of today to become a generation of leaders for tomorrow, which is why we continuously invest in engaging young minds in their field of interest and especially in math and science.

LoYAC continues to play a very active role in building Kuwait’s future leaders. We are proud to be an active LoYAC partner and look forward to further collaboration in the future.”

LoYAC Vice Chairperson and Managing Director, Fareah Al-Saqqaf said, “We are honored to have ExxonMobil partner with us this year after several years of continuous support.

It is very exciting to have international companies in Kuwait invest in local talents and offer opportunities that will lead them through their professional careers.”

In Kuwait, ExxonMobil is an active supporter of youth educational programs and social activities, providing opportunities for

students to expand their knowledge and capabilities in math and science as well as supporting social initiatives that contribute in raising health and social awareness in the community.

ExxonMobil Kuwait is a founder of the annual Kuwait Science Fair competition, Kuwait’s largest math and science competition launched in 2008. The company also organizes yearly educational trips for students, and for the last two years, about 40 students have visited Qatar’s LNG projects. This year, ExxonMobil launched the “ExxonMobil Science Trip Essay Competition” in which students at Bayan Bilingual School were required to write about what they deem as the most significant scientific achievement that has taken place in the last decade, defend its significance by arguing its impact on society and its effect on people’s daily lives. Finalists were rewarded a five-day trip to London in April 2010, to visit Imperial College, one of the UK’s most prestigious universities, in addition to ExxonMobil’s UK refinery.

Open an Al-Danah account or increase your deposits today Seize the opportunity of becoming the next millionaire KUWAIT: Gulf Bank advises its new and existing customers to open an Al-Danah account and increase their money in order to maximize their chances of being a winner in the next Al-Danah Millionaire draw.

Al-Danah account holders need to maintain the money in their accounts for as long as possible, and new customers need to deposit their money as soon as possible in order to be eligible for the draw. Withdrawing any amount before the draw date will reduce chances of winning. The longer customers save their money with Al-Danah, the more chances they accumulate.

As Kuwait’s truly local bank, Gulf Bank is proud to be offering through its Al-Danah Millionaire promotion, the biggest single banking prize draw of its kind in the region.

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 its weekly, quarterly and annual draws. To qualify for the draw, Al-Danah customers need to keep a minimum deposit of KD200 in their account two months prior to the draw date to have the chance of winning

the One Million Kuwaiti Dinars, and two days prior to the draw date for the weekly draws.

Gulf Bank is not only offering customers the biggest single prize draw but provides a convenient way to open an Al-Danah account and deposit their money, through the 51 branch network, online banking, telebanking at 1805805 or through the Bank’s “Al-Danah Deposit Only ATM Card” service at any of Gulf Bank’s deposit ATM machines.

Customers can also log onto Gulf Bank’s bilingual website, www.e-gulfbank.com to receive more information on Al Danah or any of the Bank’s products and services.

BUSINESS

24

Kuwait stocks eke out gains KUWAIT: The Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended its first session of the week showing a positive performance. This was due to last minute trading, during yesterday’s session, whereby most sectors showed minor gains, being led by the Banking sector.

Global General Index (GGI) rose by 0.43 points (0.22 percent) during yesterday’s session to reach 194.79 points.

While, KSE Price Index, rose 3.40 points (0.05 percent) yesterday and closed at 6,658.3 points. Market capitalization added KD71.52mn to its value to reach KD32.20bn.

Market breadth During the session, 107 companies were traded.

Market breadth skewed towards advancers, as 40 equities advanced versus 27 that retreated. A total of 145 stocks remained unchanged during the trading session.

Trading activities was negative yesterday as volume of shares traded on the exchange plunged by 19.31 percent to reach 254.15mn shares, and value of shares traded decreased by 24.46 percent to stand at KD30.22mn. The Real Estate Sector was the volume leader, accounting for 42.71 percent of total market volume.

Investors Holding Group topped the volume list with a total traded volume of 69.36mn shares. On Value side, Bank sector was the value leader contributing 34.66 percent of the total traded value yesterday. Kuwait Finance House (KFH) witnessed intensive value with a total traded value of KD5.08mn.

In terms of top gainers, Investors Holding Group took the top spot, adding 6.00 per-

Monday, August 2, 2010

Firms seek suspension of shares over slow trading KUWAIT: Slow trading and meager profiting have prompted some companies to seek suspending the trading of their shares at foreign stock exchanges, financial analysts opined here yesterday. The suspension request is not only restricted to Kuwaiti companies listed with the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE), as Gulf, Egyptian and Lebanese companies have taken the same approach by suspending the trading of their stocks at the KSE, they told KUNA. The main reason for most listed companies to seek the listing of their shares at foreign markets is the broadening of the finance base, Maytham Al-Shakhs said.

Companies go outside and have their shares listed in order to enjoy special treatment from the banks of their host countries with a view to increasing their activities, he said. Suspension requests are mainly due to global shrinkage, infertile expansion and scarcity of opportunities, he said, adding that they resort to such a step in a bid to reduce

spending.

But, Mohammad Al-Hajri, another financial analyst, ascribed the corporate move to an effort to ease out annual duties, slow trading and administrative restrictions.

These companies resort to listing their shares at foreign companies with the goal of diversifying their investments so that they could attract more strategic investors and signal that they are carrying out expansions.

He even expected Kuwaiti firms listed at the Dubai market to suspend the trading of its stakes there owing to the current hard circumstances of investment companies, just as did the Bayan Investment Company.

For his part, Naif Al-Enezi cushioned the negative implications of Bayan Investment Company’s suspension of shares as of August 5 on the stakes of 15 Kuwaiti companies listed at the Dubai financial market. The move is chiefly owing to lack of cash fluidity or the inability of market-makers to support shares, he added. — KUNA

Egypt court postpones Madinaty ruling to Aug 5 GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT cent and closed at KD0.0265.

On the other hand, Al-Madina for Finance & Investment Co decreased by 8.47 percent during the session, to be the biggest loser. The scrip closed at KD0.054.

Sectors Regarding Global’s sectoral indices, five sectors reported daily gains, while two retreated.

On gainers’ front, Global

Banking index to be the highest gainer adding 0.46 percent to its value reaching 297.33 points.

Heavyweight, Kuwait Finance House (KFH) soared 3.85 percent.

On decliners’ front, Global Non Kuwaiti Index took the lead losing 0.07 percent from its value.

Fujairah Cement Industries Co was the biggest decliner shedding 5.45 percent.

All Global’s special indices

ended the day on a positive note, with Global Small Cap adding 0.27 percent. Global Large Cap Index rose 0.22 percent. While, Global Islamic Index rose 1.85 percent from its value.

Oil News The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $74.19 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $73.26 the previous day, according to OPEC

Secretariat calculations.

Updating its announcement dated June 20, 2010, Kuwait StockExchange (KSE) announces that the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and Dubai Financial Market (DFM) have given the go-ahead for Bayan Investment to delist from DFM. Bayan also stated that the stock would be suspended as of August 5, 2010.

CAIRO: Egypt’s High Administrative Court will rule on Thursday on the legality of a land sale struck by the housing ministry and Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) after a court-assigned body advised cancelling the deal.

TMG is building its flagship Madinaty project of homes, schools, shops, hotels and a golf course on 8,000 feddans (8,304 acres) of land on Cairo’s outskirts.

A lower court ruled last June that the contract should be scrapped because the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA), a body under the ministry, sold the land directly to a TMG unit without an open auction. NUCA and TMG both took appeals to the High Administrative Court, Egypt’s highest court for such disputes, which asked a state commission to study the deal’s legality.

The commission filed its report recommending scrapping the contract hours before the court merged the two appeals and set Aug. 5 for a ruling.

When the lower court first ruled against the deal on June 22, both the firm and the housing minister said building would continue. The developer said

the ruling could slow residential sales at the project and hurt the company’s share price, but the effects would be short-term.

Analysts played down the risk to TMG and said it is unlikely any decision will affect people who already bought property or live in the project, where construction is under way and many homes are already sold.

The cost of the land deal has not been made public by TMG or the ministry. Talaat Moustafa shares, a high-volume favorite of retail investors, ended down 0.6 percent at 7.28 Egyptian pounds ($1.28), valuing the company at $2.6 billion. The benchmark index closed 0.6 percent higher.

NUCA also filed a second lawsuit against the ruling in front of a misdemeanor court, but legal experts say such cases are outside its jurisdiction and the court, due to rule on Sept. 18, will likely defer to the administrative court. “The verdicts issued by administrative courts do not get seen by other courts. This is illegal,” said Ahmed Mekkay, deputy head of Egypt’s Cassation Court. — Reuters

BUSINESS

Monday, August 2, 2010

25

Sharia investing: Resilience through Europe

By Jahangir Aka

T

he past few weeks have been challenging for the market with uncertainty leading to high market volatility and increasing investor anxiety. This uncertainty has marked the second quarter of 2010 with global equity markets slumping on sovereign debt troubles and continued doubts about economic recovery. At the midway point into 2010, what is clear is that the road to recovery is not a smooth curve. What also continues to hold true is that throughout the crisis, Sharia investing has displayed strengths over Conventional investing, especially in these volatile times.

2010 Halfway Point Year to date, as at end June 2010, the MSCI World Index had returned 10.88% and the MSCI World Islamic Index returned -11.23% with the conventional outperforming the Islamic by 0.35%. However at the end of June 2010, the MSCI World Islamic Index has again continued outperforming the MSCI World Index and the Sharia Index continued to be the stronger performer over the last 13 challenged quarters.

Throughout the first half of 2010, the MSCI World Islamic Index's allocation to low-debt companies and non-financial stocks continued, again, to work in its favor. Financials remained among the worst-performing sectors as they have been across the last 3 years and the Sharia Index continued to benefit strongly from its lack of exposure to troubled sectors.

From a sector perspective, performance was negative for most sectors

Jahangir Aka, SEI Investments, Middle East in the MSCI World Index, with investors' lack of confidence reflected in the avoidance of riskier assets and increased demand for more defensive assets, which are less sensitive to broad market movements.

Financials, Information Technology, Materials and Industrials lagged the broader market and BP's difficulties in handling the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico added to downward pressure in the equity markets.

The MSCI World Islamic Index's allocation to low-debt companies and non-financial stocks continued to be

the key drivers of its outperformance of the Conventional. Throughout the credit crisis, Sharia indices have consistently benefited from limited allocations to the financial sector and avoidance of some of the more volatile securities.

Performance prior to July 2007 is simulated performance, provided by MSCI. These results may or may not have been obtained if the index had actually been running during that time period.

Europe Turmoil Sovereign debt troubles in Greece

and other parts of peripheral Europe have resulted in volatile global markets and heightened anxiety and as uncertainty about the situation persists, it has begun to affect the European banking system as well. It is not only direct exposure to Greece that may be cause for concern, but also it is indirect exposures in the form of international banks which is likely to continue to leave the financial sector as a whole less stable over the coming months. The higher market volatility that characterized the second quarter was epitomized by

the "Flash Crash" on 6 May, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average of large-company US stocks slid 700 points in just 10 minutes. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index (VIX), a measure of implied volatility in the S&P 500 Index that is also known as the "fear index," began the quarter at around 17 but then rose to over 34 at the end of the quarter, as investors became increasingly nervous. However, although by no means immune to market dips, due to the more stringent stock selection criteria Sharia

investing generally reacted with less volatility than Conventional so as the uncertainly about the future of the markets continues, Sharia investors may be advantaged because of this.

Avoidance of riskier assets The favoring of low-debt companies and high-quality stocks remains a positive investment strategy for Sharia and non-Sharia investors alike. Although the less risk-averse investor may believe that companies with sound underlying fundamentals and valuations will not offer as great a potential return, the consistent and

conservative Sharia approach has proven to offer benefits in volatile times. One key message to re-iterate is that conventional indices are likely to perform better than their Islamic counterparts if assets that are perceived to be riskiest continue to stoke positive rallies and as economic activity revives and corporate profitability improves, the magnitude of the current outperformance of the Islamic Indices should diminish.

Summary: Seeing out 2010 Although there is negativity surrounding the global markets, it can be argued that the bearish sentiment permeating the market at this point is somewhat overblown. There are many positive signs that may result in a more positive outcome. Market volatility should eventually abate in the face of solid economic fundamentals and reasonable equity valuations and all in all, long-term outlook for growth is positive, although setbacks along the way are expected. In general, SEI continues to have a favorable outlook, particularly toward highquality assets in both the fixedincome and equity markets.

The coup for Sharia investors is that high quality assets with strong fundamentals and low debt-to-equity ratios are one of the criterion for Sharia stock selection. It is those stocks with stronger financial positions and limited direct exposure to the financial crisis which should be better positioned to take advantage of the improving conditions and this should mean the positive story of Sharia Investing could continue for some time to come. — Jahangir Aka; SEI Investments, Middle East

Governors could take summer break as no danger looms

Some clouds clear ahead of ECB interest rate decision FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank governing council might breathe a sigh of relief this week as no potential disaster hangs over its monthly meeting for the first time in a while. The main ECB interest rate is sure to remain at a record low of 1.0 percent for the 16th month running and governors can take a

MANILA: Passengers wait for their Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila on July 31, 2010. Flagcarrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said Saturday it had to cancel several domestic and international flights after some of its pilots quit without giving enough notice. Three flights to Hong Kong and at least eight domestic flights were cancelled after pilots left to join airlines abroad, PAL said in a statement.— AFP

Philippine president steps into airline row MANILA: President Benigno Aquino said yesterday his government would intervene in a labor dispute between pilots and flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) which had caused flight cancellations. Aquino said ministers from the departments of justice, transportation, labor and his chief aide would today meet separately with airline executives and representatives from the pilots' union to resolve the row.

"Hopefully we will be able to come up with a resolution so that the riding public is not inconvenienced and the economy does not suffer because of what is an inter-company dispute," Aquino told reporters. In a statement yesterday, PAL said it rejected the resignations of more than two dozen pilots and gave them a week to return to work or face civil and criminal charges.

At least 16 domestic and international flights had been cancelled, including three to Hong Kong, after 13 captains and 12 first officers flying its

Airbus A319s and A320s that form the backbone of its fleet quit.

"They left without giving PAL ample time to train replacements," the airline said. "Some of them even owe PAL millions of pesos for the cost of training (them)."

PAL apologized to the public for the inconvenience, but said the resignations were unforeseen. "Many of them simply did not show up for work and just handed in their resignation letters," PAL said. It said most of those who quit had been poached by foreign airlines it did not name, at salaries three times those offered by PAL. Aquino said labor officials would study whether the pilots had breached their contracts. "If this was not warranted, then they lay themselves also open to appropriate charges," Aquino said.

The Association of Airline Pilots of the Philippines, which represent the PAL pilots, could not be reached immediately for comment. — AFP

Though all is not clear on the economic front, the situation looks brighter, and the ECB has curtailed controversial public debt purchases that had raised questions about its independence.

"However, ECB president (Jean-Claude) Trichet will not announce the formal end of the bond purchase program" at a press conference following the rate decision on Thursday, Commerzbank economist Michael Schubert predicted.

"If the ECB keeps the option of further buying open, this should calm the markets because the central bank could intervene to give support if push came to shove."

Financial conduits the operation was designed to unblock are running more smoothly, as are parts the wider euro-zone economy. Last week, the European Commission's Economic Sentiment Indicator hit its highest level in more than two years, led by euro-zone locomotive Germany, wellpadded order books and a rise in consumer confidence.

The euro has rebounded on foreign exchange markets, trading on Friday around 1.30 dollars, which cuts two ways in fact because euro-zone exporters were key beneficiaries of its drop from near 1.45 early this year to below 1.20 in June.

FRANKFURT: The main ECB interest rate is sure to remain at a record low of 1.0 percent for the 16th month running and governors can take a summer break in the wake of some positive economic indicators and amid relative calm on financial markets.

That fall fueled inflation however, believed to have shot up to 1.7 percent in July, European Union figures showed Friday, the highest level since November 2008.

Unemployment across the 16 countries that share the euro remained stuck meanwhile at a record 10 percent in June for the

the law expires in 2011, putting the tax back into effect at 2001 levels, with rates up to 55 percent.

Lawmakers and others claim it is folly for the government to allow such dramatic changes in the inheritance tax depending on the year of death, and are pressing for quick reform.

Some activists say the estate tax is progressive because it distributes wealth from the richest; but critics deride it as a "death tax" and claim it hurts farms and family businesses when an owner dies. Senator Bernie Sanders called on fellow lawmakers to restore the tax quickly, while offering a compromise with an exemption at 2009 levels of $3.5 million and with extra protections for family farms. "For the first time since 1916, the heirs to multimillion and billion-dollar fortunes are able to receive their

entire inheritance free of federal taxes, costing at least 14.8 billion dollars in lost revenue in 2010 alone," Sanders said in a letter to fellow senators.

"At a time when we have a record-breaking $13 trillion national debt and an unsustainable federal deficit, people who inherit multimillion and billion dollar estates must pay their share in estate taxes."

Some wealthy Americans have been supporting a new estate tax, even if it may cost them a hefty sum. A group of millionaires and heirs to major fortunes joined a call in July by United for a Fair Economy, a group fighting economic inequality, for a new estate tax.

Among those joining the call were hedge fund manager Julian Robertson and Abigail Disney, grandniece of Walt Disney.

Disney said her family amassed

fourth consecutive month.

Economists are comparing growth prospects for Europe and the United States to determine whether the ECB or US Federal Reserve is likely to begin raising interest rates first.

Commerzbank economist Bernd Weidensteiner expected the US economy "to grow twice

as quickly as the euro zone in both 2010 and 2011."

"Against this background, the Fed will most likely hike rates earlier than the ECB," he forecast. The US federal funds rate target now stands between zero and 0.25 percent, while in Britain the Bank of England is also tipped to maintain its

record low rate of 0.50 percent this week.

A key criteria for euro-zone growth prospects is credit availability, for banks to begin with and for their clients later on.

"Some banks, most notably in the peripheral economies, are still heavily reliant on central bank funding," Capital Economics senior economist Jennifer McKeown said in reference to countries like Greece, Portugal and Spain.

"Euro-zone commercial bank lending to the private sector remains extremely weak, rising by just 0.3 percent in the year to June," she added.

The ECB's latest bank lending survey showed credit standards for businesses were tightened in the second quarter, and banks forecast further tightening in the third.

A question mark hangs therefore over growth prospects for the rest of 2010, in Europe and in the United States where economic growth slowed sharply to 2.4 percent in the second quarter. The ECB will keep providing unlimited supplies of cash to banks through the end of the year but is keen to unwind such measures as soon as possible. "The ECB expects (as we do) a moderate and mixed economic recovery overall," Commerzbank's Schubert said. — Reuters

Iraq delays gas bidding round to Oct 1: Report

Debate on death and taxes heats up as billionaires fall WASHINGTON: The question of death and taxes has risen to the fore in Washington as the demise of prominent billionaires has underscored a fluke which allows big estates to escape taxes, but only for this year.

Highlighting the conundrum has been the death of wealthy Americans including oil tycoon Dan Duncan and New York Yankees baseball owner George Steinbrenner, who can pass on their fortunes to heirs with no taxes. Duncan's fortune was estimated at nine billion dollars and Steinbrenner's at 1.1 billion by Forbes magazine.

If they had died in 2009 or 2011, their estates would have paid huge amounts of taxes to the US Treasury. The heirs avoided the tax man because a law enacted in 2001 under president George W Bush phased out the estate tax entirely in 2010. But

summer break in the wake of some positive economic indicators and amid relative calm on financial markets. Recent ECB meetings have been held as the Greek debt crisis festered, record one-year bank loans were coming due or markets braced for the results of stress tests on European financial institutions.

Highlighting the conundrum has been the death of wealthy Americans including oil tycoon Dan Duncan its fortune "not in spite of, but because of the American system of taxation" and said the country needs "reliable and safe roads" and "functioning legal systems" funded by tax dollars.

But others want to bury the estate tax permanently, saying it often destroys businesses and farms. "The death tax is an unfair, immoral double tax on property and assets that folks have already

paid taxes on throughout their lives," said Senator Jim DeMint, who is proposing a permanent repeal.

DeMint said that by doing nothing, President Barack Obama and his Democratic Party allies are effectively putting the old estate tax back into effect, which has rates of 55 percent for amounts above one million dollars. — AFP

ISTANBUL: Iraq has pushed back by a month the date of an auction for international firms that want to develop three of its gas fields, company executives said yesterday. Baghdad had said it will invite all 45 international companies which were prequalified in the two oil auctions last year to bid for Akkas field in the western desert, Siba in the southern hub of Basra and Mansuriyah in eastern Iraq. The auction was to have taken place on Sept. 1. Executives from foreign firms who were interested in bidding in the gas auction said they were told by Iraqi oil officials the new date is Oct. 1. "It's such a short delay, it's not really a problem," Ahmad Haidar Ahmad, business development manager at Kuwait Energy, a privately held company, told Reuters on the sidelines of a gas workshop in Istanbul. The Iraqi Oil Ministry was holding the workshop in Istanbul yesterday and Monday to discuss details of the gas bidding round and contract terms with interested bidders. The ministry had said it was considering postponing the gas auction to give companies more time.

Ahmad said the delay in forming a new Iraqi government has not deterred his company from taking part in the bidding round. Iraq has had no new government since a March election produced no outright winner. Many Iraqi politicians have said it

could be mid-September or later before a government is formed.

Murat Yazici, an executive from state-run Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) who attended the workshop, also said the auction had been delayed to Oct. 1.

He said one of the main contract points under discussion in the workshop is allowing companies to export half of the gas produced from the fields.

In addition to Kuwait Energy and TPAO, officials from Italy's Edison, South Korea's KOGAS, India's Oil & Natural Gas Corp, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp (JOGMEC) and Itochu Corp were also seen at the workshop in Istanbul.

Two of the gas fields to be tendered-the 2.1 trillion cubic feet Akkas field, and Mansuriyah with estimated reserves of 3.3 trillion cubic feet of gaswere unsuccessfully put on the auction block last year. The third field-Siba-had initially been included in Iraq's second oilfield auction but was taken off the list of reservoirs on offer because the ministry decided it was small enough for Iraq to develop on its own. Iraq has said companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, Total and KOGAS were favored because of their experience in the industry. In May, Italy's Edison said it was planning to take part in the gas auction. — Reuters

BUSINESS

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Monday, August 2, 2010

Economy rebounds, but strong yen overshadows Japan Inc

MIYATA: A worker at Japan’s auto giant Toyota Motor assembles a Lexus car at the company’s plant in Miyata City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Post-crisis global demand has driven up profits at Japan’s top companies, but the yen is also rising owing to fears for the recovery’s durability—casting a shadow over future earnings, analysts say. — AFP

TOKYO: Post-crisis global demand has driven up profits at Japan’s top companies, but the yen is also rising owing to fears for the recovery’s durability-casting a shadow over future earnings, analysts say.

The safe-haven unit has strengthened beyond the trading levels assumed earlier by many exporters who have eyed its rise with anxiety, as investors seek a refuge from dollar and euro volatility.

If sustained, a stronger yen could erode repatriated overseas profits and make goods more expensive overseas, threatening the export sector that Japan depends on to offset its weak domestic picture, say analysts.

“A higher yen is a risk for exporters in the future,” said Yasuo Yamamoto, senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute. “With production turning softer, the general recovery will possibly weaken toward the end of the year.”

On Friday government data showed that shipments of cars, gadgets and components-crucial in offsetting a weaker demand picture back home-unexpectedly slipped 1.5 percent in June.

Concern is mounting that Beijing’s efforts to cool China’s economy and

doubts over the health of euro-zone and US economies may hit Japan. “Rising exports lead to stronger industrial output, which drives other positive changes across the domestic economy, said investment bank Macquarie in a research note.

But “the process works equally well in reverse, as seen in the second half of 2008,” the bank added, referring to the moment a global credit crunch threw world trade into a tailspin, sending Japan into deep recession.

Such uncertainty has enabled the yen to maintain its strength against the dollar and the European single currency, which fell 14 percent against the yen in the April-June quarter, as investors seek the safe-haven currency.

Meanwhile the Japanese currency has continued to surge against the dollar, which has been dogged by a run of disappointing US economic indicators. The greenback slid to more than a sevenmonth low of 86.27 yen on July 16. Last month Toshiyuki Shiga, chairman of the Japan Auto Manufacturers Association, urged the government to deal with the yen’s strength, saying its seemingly relentless strength could hurt the country’s economy.

Earnings reports for the April-June quarter hinted that such an outcome could be on the horizon, with a strong currency eroding overseas profits and mitigating a recovery in consumer demand.

“Many Japanese electronics makers are on a recovery track. But there are some uncertain elements, notably the appreciation of the yen,” said Hiroshi Sakai, chief economist at SMBC Friend Research Centre.

“The present rate is tough.” Video game giant Nintendo fell into the red with a net loss of 25.2 billion yen, on the currency’s strength hurting its overseas operations. Sales outside Japan make up 87 percent of its total.

And electronics giant Sony warned that “further appreciation of the yen against the euro is expected” and revised its exchange forecast to 110 yen versus the euro, compared with 125 forecast in May. It maintained its previous forecast of 90 yen to the dollar.

However, the greenback is currently hovering around the 87 yen mark, while the euro is around 113 yen.

Europe comprises a quarter of Sony’s business, and chief financial officer Masaru Kato urged caution. “We cannot

let our guards down regarding our future prospects,” he told reporters.

Canon posted a sharp rise in profits due to healthy demand for consumer gadgets, but was nevertheless reluctant to raise its profit forecast for the year due to uncertainty over the yen.

“Had it not been for the strong yen, we would have raised our earnings forecasts,” said Canon vice president Toshizo Tanaka at a news conference.

Japan’s number three automaker Nissan Motor on Thursday announced a soaring quarterly net profit of 106.6 billion yen on sales of cars in Asia, stronger auto demand in the United States and cost cuts.

But despite painting a more upbeat outlook for a sector that was ravaged by the global downturn, Nissan maintained its May forecast of a profit of 150 billion yen for the year, with the maker wary of exchange rate volatility.

Japan’s Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Friday he was carefully monitoring financial markets “every day,” suggesting possible discomfort about the persistently strong yen, in comments cited by Dow Jones Newswires.

Japan has not intervened in currency markets since 2004. — AFP

Global meg-group with Chrysler in making

With a vision, Fiat boss shakes up Italian labor MILAN: Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne is shaking up labor relations in Italy by strong-arming unions as he aims to create a global megagroup w ith US automaker Chrysler. “Marchionne is making labor relations in Italy take a sharp turn,” labor law professor Maurizio Del Conte of Milan’s Bocconi

University said. The Canadian-Italian credited w ith rescuing the group from the brink of bankruptcy in 2004 said he w ould go ahead w ith a massive investment plan to double car production in Italy only if unions agreed to longer w orking hours and shorter breaks to keep plants running 24 hours a day.

MILAN: The Fiat UNO 2011 model. Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne is shaking up labor relations in Italy by strong-arming unions as he aims to create a global megagroup with US automaker Chrysler.

Greek tourism reels from fuel shortage, strike blows ATHENS: Disaster has struck Greece’s crucial tourism industry at the peak of a summer season badly needed by its recession-hit economy with a national fuel shortage compounding weeks of on-off work unrest.

A strike wave against austerity policies, a violent May protest in which three people died in a firebombed bank and unionist action targeting cruise ships and flights have made for a calamitous season, operators say.

And additional disruption caused to tens of thousands of travelers by the fuel holdup caused by a trucker walkout could not have come at a worse time for a sector which makes up nearly a fifth of the troubled Greek economy.

“The situation is absurd... we face a barrage of cancellations,” said Andreas Andreadis, chairman of the Panhellenic Hotel Confederation. The strike came as thousands of Greeks embarked on vacation with many of them unsure whether they would be able to return.

“I’m going to the island of Lefkada but I don’t know whether I’ll be back, maybe I’ll have to leave my car behind,” said one motorist filling up at a gas station.

A broad range of businesses from tourism car rentals to fruit growers were badly hit by the trucker protest which began last Sunday against plans by the government to liberalize the tightly-controlled freight sector.

The truckers on Friday decided to maintain their protest, ignoring warnings by the government that strikers who continue to defy the law would be prosecuted and that their operating licenses could be forfeit.

The authorities were forced to use military vehicles and petrol station trucks to alleviate the shortage but supplies were unlikely to return to full capacity before Monday. The truckers say that boosting

competition in the freight sector by reducing new license charges is unfair to existing operators who have already paid high startup fees running up to 300,000 euros ($391,000).

The plan is part of a reform program that the government committed to in May in exchange for a 110-billion-euro ($143 billion) bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund and European Union to stave off debt default.

The country’s leading unions have staged six general strikes and several protests since the start of the year against wage and pension cuts ordered by the Socialist government which came close to bankruptcy earlier this year.

The main Greek port of Piraeus that links the mainland with islands popular with holidaymakers has also been repeatedly blockaded by protesters this year while a work-to-rule action by air traffic controllers in late July caused widespread flight delays.

With its back against the wall, the Greek government in June promised to compensate travellers stranded in the country by labor unrest. But officials have so far given no details on the level of compensation nor how it would be paid.

“The present situation is turning into a disaster for the country, the economy and tourism,” the association of Greek tourism enterprises (SETE) said in a statement this week. — AFP

ATHENS: Trucks left by striking truckers are parked along a highway in Athens. Ignoring a civil mobilization order, Greek truckers said they would maintain a strike which has caused severe fuel shortages across the country at the height of the busy tourism season. — AFP

“We want to run the plants, there’s nothing obscene about that. Here in Italy it seems like we’re asking for the moon,” Marchionne said recently.

In a country where oncepowerful unions are now seeing their influence wane, Marchionne has gone as far as to suggest the scrapping of the national steelworkers’ collective agreement governing labor relations.

While more moderate unions voiced willingness to negotiate, the hardline FIOM union called the idea the “most serious attack on workers’ rights since 1945.”

Marchionne, who has also been the chief executive of Chrysler since Fiat acquired 20 percent of the US automaker last year, is hoping the two companies will be able to produce six million cars per year by 2014 compared with the some four million produced today.

Marchionne identified Italy as a weak spot for the group, noting that it was the only place in the world where Fiat had lost money over the past year and a half.

“Italy’s industrial network, as it is, cannot compete,” Marchionne said at a meeting with unions and government representatives at its headquarters in Turin, northern Italy, last week.

The Canadian-Italian maverick industrialist said Fiat would invest 20 billion euros ($26 billion) to double car production in Italy by 2014, but only if unions embraced his vision.

“By now, he is perceived (by unions) as a brute who says ‘my way or the highway’,” said industrial historian Giuseppe Berta.

The company and unions have clashed over working conditions at a southern plant where one of Fiat’s best-selling models-the Panda — is to be built once the production line is repatriated from Poland.

Soon after, tensions arose when Fiat announced it would produce a new model in Serbia instead of at the group’s flagship Mirafiori factory in Turin.

“His strategy goes beyond Italy,” Del Conte said of Marchionne, adding that “by now, Fiat is not only Italian but American.”

Fiat is Italy’s leading private employer with a domestic workforce of some 80,000.

Marchionne met Friday with US President Barack Obama at a Chrysler plant near Detroit, the midwestern hub of the US auto industry.

Obama’s government bailed out the automaker in 2009, orchestrating its tie-up with Fiat. — AFP

Mozambique, the southern African country has spent billions of dollars to build and repair roads, enlarge harbors and rehabilitate railways.

Building boom transforms Mozambique, not for poor MAPUTO: Heavily pregnant Adelaide Mangwel balances 18 kilos of prawns on her head as she slowly descends the crowded ferry that carried her across Maputo Bay to sell her seafood in Mozambique’s capital. It’s a daily journey that could be made easier as a bridge spanning the bay goes under construction later this year, part of the $1.5 billion (1.2 billion euros) that Mozambique is pouring into rebuilding its war-shattered infrastructure over the next five years.

“It will help. I won’t have to wait for a ferry,” the 29-year-old says. “In November, when it’s raining, the small ferry doesn’t work. There are too many people.

The bridge will be cheaper,” she says, an optimism not borne out in Mozambique’s recent experience.

Since its civil war ended in 1992, the southern African country has spent billions of dollars to build and repair roads, enlarge harbors and rehabilitate railways.

Much of the construction has surrounded foreign investment in “mega-projects” like aluminum giant Mozal’s $1.3-billion smelter outside Maputo and vast new mines to exploit the world’s largest untapped coal reserves in central Mozambique.

The big investments are transforming the country’s economy, with aluminum now accounting for more than half of exports. As coal mines begin work over the next year, exports will shoot up again. But grinding poverty remains the reality of life for most Mozambicans like Mangwel, raising questions about the building boom’s pay-off for a nation still among the world’s poorest.

“Mega-projects represent a large share of exports and GDP but have made a minimal fiscal contribution and resulted in relatively low job creation and spillover effects into the rest of the economy,” said Victor Lopes, an economist with Standard Chartered Bank.

Mozambique’s per-capita gross domestic product doubled over the last decade to 440 dollars. Despite the growth, poverty levels have hardly changed, mired at

around 65 percent of the country’s 20 million people.

Without doubt, the construction has quite literally helped the country bridge its war-time divisions. Last year a bridge over the mighty Zambezi River connected northern and southern Mozambique, linking the capital to northern areas that were once rebel strongholds.

Last month construction began on another Zambezi bridge, while over the last year new bridges have also linked Mozambique to neighboring Tanzania and Malawi. Those developments are just part of an ambitious construction spree.

A railway destroyed during the civil war has been restored, plans are under way for a new deep-water port south of Maputo, and a new railway to Botswana has been proposed.

But much of the latest building is aimed at facilitating new coal exports or serving landlocked nations in the region. Improved roads and bridges do help the population by making transportation easier, said investor Adrian Frey.”If you grow maize or potatoes, you get faster to the market.

Transport costs are lower. It is quicker, cheaper,” he said. And infrastructure construction has created jobs, said analyst Steve Ombati from Frontier Advisory consultancy. “Local populations largely benefit through employment in infrastructure projects and the maintenance of the facilities,” he said.

But the number of jobs created remains minuscule relative to the size of the workforce, and the new investments focus on big commodity exports, rather than labor-intensive manufacturing.

Foreign investment “has been important for Mozambique’s economy and, to use the World Bank’s words, has helped to ‘put Mozambique on the investment map’,” said Lopes. “So far, however, its contribution to the overall economy has not been that significant.” — AFP

Call to review Guinea mining deals CONAKRY: Guinea must review billions of dollars worth of mining deals signed since a coup in 2008 to make sure the West African state is getting its fair share of revenue, election front-runner Cellou Dallein Diallo said.

Contracts signed by multinationals such as Rio Tinto, Vale, and Chalco should be reviewed fairly, in a way that encourages foreign investment vital for the country’s development, he said.

“We will do things in a calm manner. And if we find Guinea has been taken advantage of we will open talks with our partners,” UFDG party head Diallo told Reuters late on Saturday.

“We must protect (investors) because we need them to create employment, to create wealth in the country. These investors should be encouraged, protected and reassured by a government that does not discriminate but which is transparent and fair.”

Guinea’s election is seen as its best chance at drawing a line under decades of authoritarian rule since independence from France in 1958, and could help cement fragile gains in stability in a region rocked by three civil wars in a decade.

Diallou, who took nearly 44 percent of the vote in first round elections held in June, will face secondplace finisher Alpha Conde, head of the UFR party, in run-off elections expected later this month.

But Diallo said he expects an easy road to the presidency after negotiating a political alliance with thirdplace finisher Sidya Toure and sixth-placed Ibrahima Abe Sylla that would bring him another 13 percent of the vote.

“I am confident,” he said. “I am approaching the second round with a comfortable margin compared

with my adversary. In political terms, it is good to join up, to demonstrate a spirit of governing with others instead of just with the core UFDG.” Months before Guinea’s election process began Rio Tinto and Vale surprised many by saying they would spend billions on iron ore projects there, betting that contracts would be upheld by the next government. “The issue is to ensure the interests of Guinea are protected by the deals,” said Diallo. “That requires verification, an audit to ensure that Guinea is not taken advantage of in these deals, and we need to do that.”

Last week, Rio signed a $1.35 billion joint venture deal with Aluminum Corp of China Ltd, known as Chalco, for Guinea’s huge Simandou iron ore deposit.

Diallo said that, if he wins the presidency, he will push continued reforms needed in the military-notoriously rife with alcoholism and prone to random violence. A faction within Guinea’s army took power in a coup in December 2008 after the death of strongman president Lansana Conte, and forces under coup leader Moussa Dadis Camara earned pariah status after killing 150 protestors in September 2009.

Camara was since shot in the head by one of his soldiers and evacuated for medical treatment. His deputy, General Sekouba Konate took control, stressing military discipline forming a transitional government charged with setting up elections.

“I think the general has already started the reform.

It must continue,” said Diallo. “The state must try to provide this army with the conditions of a republican army, a good structure, good equipment, discipline. I think this reform is absolutely indispensible for the stability of the country.” — Reuters

TECHNOLOGY

Monday, August 2, 2010

27

Hack attack hits ATM jackpots LAS VEGAS: Computer security researcher Barnaby Jack jokes that he has resorted to hiding cash under his bed since figuring out how to crack automated teller machines remotely using the Internet. The New Zealand native on Saturday demonstrated his “ATM jackpotting” discovery for an overflow crowd of hackers during a presentation at the infamous DefCon gathering in Las Vegas.

“You don’t have to go to the ATM at all,”

Jack told AFP after briefing fellow software savants.

“You can do it from the comfort of your own bedroom.” Jack proved his findings using two kinds of ATMs typically found in corner stores, bars or other “stand-alone” venues in the United States but said the flaw likely exists in machines at banks. Banks use “remote management” software to monitor and control their ATMs, and Jack used a weakness in that kind of code to take

control of machines by way of the Internet.

He found a way to bypass having to submit passwords and serial numbers to access ATMs remotely. Once in the machines, he could command them to spit out cash or transfer funds.

He could also capture account data from magnetic strips on credit or bank cards as well as passwords punched in by ATM users. “When you think about ATM security you generally think about the hardware side;

is it bolted down and are the cameras in position,” Jack said.

“This is the first time anyone has taken the approach of trying to attack the underlying software. It is time to find software defenses rather than hardware defenses.”

Jack did his research on ATMs he bought on the Internet. He also found master keys for stand-alone machines available for purchase online, meaning hackers could walk up and tinker with ATM software, he added.

“We shouldn’t dwell on the walk-up attack, because no physical access is required,” Jack said. “They have a flaw that lets me bypass all authentication on the device on the Internet, and I am the ATM at that stage.”

He didn’t reveal specifics of the attack to hackers even though the ATM makers were told of the flaw and have bolstered machine defenses. “I might get my butt in hot water if I released the code,” said the IO Active

software security researcher who did the ATM hack ‘as a hobby.’

“I was careful not to release the keys to the kingdom.” Jack said he doesn’t know if criminals have exploited the software flaw “in the wild” but that it is tough to be certain. “It is not an easy attack to replicate but I am not naive enough to think I am the only one who can do it,” Jack said, admitting he has grown wary of ATMs. “I just keep my cash under the bed now, mate.”—AFP

Amazon looking to go ‘mass market’with Kindle price cut Amazon unveiled 139-dollar wireless-only version of Kindle NEW YORK: Amazon, by slashing the price of the Kindle, is hoping to turn its electronic book reader into a device with mass market appeal, one for “serious readers” distinct from Apple’s multi-purpose iPad. Amazon, the pioAmazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos said sales growth for the Kindle “tripled” following the price cut to 189 dollars and the company is anticipating that the even-lower price will spur further sales. “The WiFi only device for 139 dollars clearly targets a mass market audience,” said Bank of America analyst Justin Post. At 139 dollars, the Kindle is “edging closer to a tipping point price of 99 dollars” which could trigger widespread adoption, Post said.

“It’s a very compelling price point for someone who’s looking for a single purpose device which has a rich functionality,” agreed Shawn DuBravac, chief economist with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

US bookstore chain Barnes & Noble sells a version of its ereader, the Nook, for 149 dollars while Sony’s cheapest e-reader is 150 dollars and the iPad is going to set a buyer back at least 499 dollars.

Amazon does not release sales figures for the Kindle but says it has been the online retail giant’s best-selling item for two years. Research firms and analysts estimate the number sold at more than three million units.

Apple sold nearly 3.3 million iPads in just the first three months since it hit store shelves but the competition from the trendy California gadget maker has Amazon unfazed. The tablet computer from Apple allows users to watch video, listen to music, play games or surf the Web in addition to reading digital books but the Kindle, as Amazon founder Bezos has stressed repeatedly, is “all about reading.”

“The Kindle device will succeed by being the best dedicated e-reader in the world,” Bezos told Amazon shareholders in May, comparing it to a camera on a phone and a dedicated cam-

neer of the e-book business, last week unveiled a 139-dollar wireless-only version of the basic Kindle, less than six weeks after dropping the price of the e-book reader to 189 dollars from 259 dollars.

NEW YORK: (FILE) Photo dated May 6, 2009 shows online retail giant Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos unveiling the Kindle DX in New York. Amazon, by slashing the price of the Kindle at the end of July 2010, is hoping to turn the electronic book reader into a device with mass market appeal. —AFP

era. “If activities are important, then (people) end up getting dedicated devices because they’re always going to do the job better,” he said. “Serious readers, they’re going to want a purpose-built device.” CEA’s DuBravac said Amazon’s approach may succeed.

“One of the things that’s happened over the last several decades is that consumers have adopted technology,” DuBravac said, adding that there are now “roughly 24 products per household.” “What that enables the consumer to do is go to the device that is most meaningful for the experience that they’re looking for,” he said. Amazon insists that when it comes to reading e-books, the device that does it best is the Kindle and its black-and-white electronic ink screen is better than the iPad’s backlit color LCD display, which Bezos says causes eye strain.

When Amazon introduced the Kindle nearly three years ago it was selling for 359 dollars and industry analysts believe the company may now be selling the devices at below manufacturing cost. “Following the razor-blade model, Amazon appears to be taking a small margin on the razor (the Kindle) and planning to make it up on the blades (the e-books),” wrote analyst Paul Ausick of website 247WallSt.com. Amazon’s US Kindle store currently offers more than 630,000 titles and the company announced this month that it was now selling more ebooks a month than hardcover books, a trend that Bezos expects to accelerate.

“I predict we will surpass paperback sales sometime in the next nine to 12 months,” the Amazon founder said in an interview with USA Today.

“Sometime after that, we’ll surpass the combination of paperback and hardcover.”—AFP

SPACE: This image released July 30, 2010 shows the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite natural-color image. Around the location of the oil leak, and around the Mississippi Delta, relatively light swirls and patches appear on the ocean surface. —AFP

Mysterious ‘insurance file’ posted on WikiLeaks WASHINGTON: Whistleblower website WikiLeaks has posted a mysterious encrypted “insurance file,” touching off speculation about what it contains. Wired magazine said the 1.4gigabyte “insurance file” appeared on WikiLeaks’ “Afghan War Diary” page several days after the site released tens of thousands of classified documents related to the war in Afghanistan.

Cryptome, another whistleblower site, said it may have been “pre-positioned for public release” in the event of a “takedown” of WikiLeaks by US authorities or if something happens to its founder, Julian Assange, an Australian national. “In either scenario, WikiLeaks volunteers, under a prearranged agreement with Assange, could send out a password or passphrase to allow anyone who has

downloaded the file to open it,” Wired said.

The file is also available on a file-sharing site in addition to the WikiLeaks page. Cryptome.org speculated the “insurance file” may contain the 15,000 Afghan files whose release WikiLeaks said it had delayed “as part of a harm minimization process demanded by our source.” WikiLeaks has never identified the source of the Afghan files but suspicion has fallen on Bradley Manning, a US Army intelligence analyst who is under arrest for allegedly leaking video of a 2007 US Apache helicopter strike in Baghdad in which civilians died.

Wired said the “insurance file” may contain more material from Manning, including war logs from Iraq, video from Afghanistan and 260,000 US State Department cables.—AFP

Hackers crack high-tech locks NEVADA: Security maverick Marc Tobias showed hackers on Saturday how simple it is to defeat some of the world’s top high-tech locks.

“These locks might be winning awards but they are forgetting the basics,” Tobias said while giving AFP a first-hand look at how to crack several models. “They might be clever, but they aren’t secure.”

A Biolock model 333 designed to scan fingerprints and unlock for chosen people was opened by simply pushing a paper clip into a key slot. An Amsec ES1014 digital safe was breached by sliding a flat metal file folder hangar through through a crack at the edge of the door and pressing an interior button allowing the access code to be reset.

Tobias grew passionate when it came to an award-winning electromagnetic lock made in China for Finland-based iLoq. The innovative iLoq used the action of a key being pushed into the lock to generate power for electronics that then checked data in a chip on the key to determine whether the user is cleared for access. Tobias and lock-cracking colleague Tobias Bluzmanis pointed out that the iLoq design counted on a small hook being tripped to reset the devices as a key was removed.

In what they referred to as a viable inside attack possible on locks geared for office settings,

someone could borrow a key and shave tiny bit of metal from the tip and it would no longer catch the iLoq reset hook. A pocket-sized tool available in US stores for about 60 dollars could be used to grind down the hook in seconds, the men demonstrated.

With either method, the result would be that once a valid key is used to open the iLoq it will yield to any key or even a screw driver stuck in the slot because it remains stuck in the unlocked position. An audit trail left by a compromised iLoq would stop at the person whose key legitimately opened the lock. “It is really clever, but it is also very defective,” said Tobias, a longtime advocate for tougher standards in the lock industry.

“Electromechanical locks are more secure if done right. The question is whether the technology is implemented properly.” The security.org crew opened a Kwikset programmable “smartkey” lock with a key blank, a screw driver and a vice grip tool. Tobias and his team consistently show up at the annual DefCon gathering in Las Vegas to pop locks with wires, magnets, air, shock, screw drivers and other improvised tools.

Their presentation this year was met with hoots and applause.

Lock-picking holds a natural appeal to hackers, who thrive on bending hardware or software to their wills.— AFP

New global positioning satellite launched by China

TOKYO: Picture taken on July 14, 2010 shows an employee of Japan’s second largest mobile communicator KDDI displaying the prototype model of an Augmented reality (AR) mobile phone at the Wireless Japan exhibition in Tokyo. —AFP

BEIJING: China took a further step yesterday towards ending its dependence on US satellites to provide navigation and positioning services. A rocket carrying the fifth of a planned array of 35 orbiters blasted off from the Xichang space launch centre in Sichuan, southwest China, the official Xinhua news agency

reported. Beijing started a drive to end its reliance on the US Global Positioning System in 2000, when it sent an experimental pair of positioning satellites into orbit.

China’s necklace of satellites aims to provide navigation, time and short message services in the Asia-Pacific region before

2012 and will be capable of offering global navigation by 2020, Xinhua said. The system, codenamed “COMPASS”, will be crucial for the transport and oil exploration industries as well as for weather and disaster forecasting, telecommunications and public security, the news agency said.—Reuters

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TECHNOLOGY

Monday, August 2, 2010

Howcast, or 'How to Build a New Media Company' WASHINGTON: How do you build a New Media company in the digital era? Former Googler Jason Liebman thinks his startup, Howcast Media, which hosts one of the largest collections of instructional or "How To" videos on the Web, is the way to go.

Launched in February 2008, Howcast.com offers 200,000 videos ranging from the prosaic "How to Paint a Wall" to the piquant "How to Kiss With Passion," its most popular video ever with 20.8 million views on YouTube.

Among Liebman's personal favorites: "How to Survive a Bear Attack" featuring claymation figures ("keep a cool head and slowly and quietly begin walking in the opposite direction") and "How to Build a Shot Glass Out of Ice." Liebman, a tall, lanky New Yorker who is Howcast Media's

chief executive, founded the company after leaving Google, where he spent four years working on the Google Video, YouTube and AdSense projects.

"I had the opportunity at Google to work with a lot of the large media companies-the News Corps., the Time Warners, the Viacoms of the world," Liebman said in an interview with AFP. "From a video standpoint they were focusing on news content, on sports content, on entertainment content which is all very expensive to produce and not particularly evergreen," he said.

"With all the disruption happening in the media world the question for us was 'If you were to start a media company today what would it look like?'" said Liebman, whose venture includes former Yahoo! and

News Corp. employees. "We look at ourselves as very much a next-generation media company," said Liebman of Howcast Media, which has offices in New York and San Francisco.

"What that means to us is that we produce original, high-quality content, we aggregate content and we aggressively distribute that content to different platforms," he said. Howcast is producing over 300 videos a month but Liebman's goal is 10,000 a month. Most videos are produced in-house through an "Emerging Filmmakers Program" which pays budding videographers 50 dollars to 300 dollars per video. Liebman said Howcast "uses technology to drive everything that we do" and the choice of what videos to make is itself data-driven. "If we're going to do, say, a

bartending video, we ask 'Should we do 'How to Make a Margarita' or 'How to Make a Cosmopolitan?'" he said. "We've been developing lots of tools to help us be really smart about those decisions based on what people are searching for, what people are viewing, what advertisers (want)," he said. Liebman said Howcast makes money through targeted advertisements and is "on track to be profitable this year." "Literally every one of our videos has a natural advertiser," he said. "If we have a video like "How to Get Over Jet Lag" that might be something that Jet Blue might want to advertise against." As for distribution, Howcast streams over 25 million videos a month and has relationships with large Web portals such as Yahoo!, AOL, Hulu and Microsoft's MSN. Blogs

and other sites are encouraged to embed Howcast videos.

"We're trying to put a lot of innovation into mobile," Liebman said. "We've done a couple of million mobile downloads across everything from the iPhone to the Android to the Blackberry to the iPad." "It's sort of intuitive. You have a mobile device and you're driving around and you car breaks down. You're able to pull up information," he said. Liebman said Howcast is also offered on airlines such as Virgin and he is looking towards the upcoming wave of Web-connected televisions and products such as Google TV. Liebman said a "growing and profitable" part of Howcast's business is working with companies such as Home Depot and General Electric to help them produce and

distribute content. "Historically, if you needed videos to show people how to use your products, for a brand-building campaign or customer support pages or employee training you would go to the ad agencies," he said.

Advertising agencies, however, "are more expensive per second than movies," he said, while Howcast offers a cheaper alternative. Liebman's Howcast faces competition from rivals such as Demand Media's eHow.com and he is well aware that a number of online video companies have crashed and burned in recent years.

"A lot of them haven't been successful because they haven't been able to find the niche and the model that makes sense," he said. "We're excited about cracking the code in this world."—AFP

Robot mimics speech, gestures sent by phone

Japan's new robot brings visitors home by video-phone OSAKA: Japanese researchers yesterday unveiled a robot that can mimic speech and gestures sent to it by video-phone, replicating a distant caller's presence. Dubbed the Telenoid R1, the robot will allow "people to feel as if an acquaintance in the distance is next to you," according to its developers, Osaka University and the

Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute.

A sensor will transmit the caller's sounds and movements of the head, face and arms to a robot near the recipient, the developers said. In one demonstration, the robot relayed the voice and movements of a grandchild speaking to a grandfather, saying "I'd

like to visit your place... but now my private tutor is here to teach me." In another demonstration, the same robot, transferring a doctor's presence, asked the same old man: "How are you feeling lately?"

The developers expect the robot to be used in real-life situations, for example in homes to provide company

to elderly people living alone.

The robot has been made to look similar to a human but without hair, to appear "as both male and female, as both old and young," the developers said. The robot is expect to sell for about three million yen (34,000 dollars) for research purposes and 700,000 yen for general purposes.—AFP

Soaring e-book sales speak volumes

OSAKA: A girl hugs and communicates with a new humanoid robot called "Telenoid R1", shaped like a child and composed of minimal human features such as a head, a face and upper body, developed by Osaka University's professor Hiroshi Ishiguro in Osaka, western Japan yesterday. —AFP

Hacker makes phone snooping affordable LAS VEGAS: A hacker on Saturday brought mobile phone snooping to the modestly financed, showing how to build a call-catching system for about 1,500 dollars (US). Chris Paget demonstrated his creation for more than a thousand people crammed into a grand room at a DefCon gathering of hackers in Las Vegas, warning them to turn off their phones if they wanted to be spared.

"I can intercept cell phone calls with 1,500 dollars worth of radio gear and a laptop," Paget said after the talk. "You handset thinks I'm your cell phone tower and I get to control your calls.

These attacks used to cost millions of dollars, now you can do it for a lot less." The gear included an antenna and radio equipment and broadcast a GSM signal that imitated a legitimate telecom service tower, prompting handsets to automatically connect.

A hacker could then pretend to be the telecom service provider, forwarding calls to intended recipients and listening in. "I can target specific people if I want to spy and I can command only certain types of phones to connect," Paget said. "An attacker could easily take advantage of this." Mobile phone snoops with this gear could snag credit card or account information from calls made to shops or banks. Companies could be staked out in the hope insiders would reveal valuable information during calls.

His creation worked only on mobile phones

using the GSM network and not more secure 3G, third generation, networks. "GSM is broken," Paget said. "It is up to telecom providers when to shift from GMS to 3G networks. GMS is widely deployed with millions of handsets in use."

However, someone could use a noise generator and a power amplifier could easily jam a 3G network and prompt handsets to resort to GSM systems commonly used as backup systems, according to Paget.

He gestured to a noise generator he bought online for 450 dollars and a power amplifier purchased on the Internet for 400 dollars. "I'm not turning this thing on," Paget said. "It would knock out pretty much every cell phone there is for most of Las Vegas." The system only grabs outgoing calls since it has fooled handsets.

Since the phones have disconnected from real telecom service providers, they are considered gone from the networks and incoming calls are routed directly to voice mail boxes. There is a way for hackers to use credentials from duped handsets to impersonate the phones to carriers, according to Paget. His talk was almost scuttled by the US Federal Communications Commission, which reached out to him with concerns about the danger it might pose or statutes it might violate. "There was so much shenanigans involved making sure I could get on stage," Paget said after the DefCon briefing. "The good news is that it is all over and I haven't been arrested."—AFP

BANGALORE: Indian Information Technology (IT) professionals work on their laptops during an 'Open Hack Day' program organized by the global search engine Yahoo! in Bangalore on July 25, 2010. —AFP

HONG KONG: After years of lurking in the literary wilderness, the e-book market has exploded with online retailer Amazon.com's digital volumes recently overtaking sales of their hardcover counterparts.

The increase in sales has come as Amazon slashes the price on its Kindle device amid heavy competition from Apple's multipurpose iPad and e-readers from Sony and bookstore giant Barnes & Noble.

Underscoring the growth, Hong Kong's massive book fair, an annual event attended by almost one million people, wrapped up last week with visitors exposed to a brand-new section: digital reading. Beijingbased Hanvon Technology unveiled a black-and-white tablet reader that comes with 5,000 Chinese and English book titles pre-installed for about 3,400 Hong Kong dollars (440 US).

Readers can download thousands more titles for as little as 20 Hong Kong dollars each on the device, which also lets users enlarge the typeface, take notes and look up words in the dictionary. "One (print) book might cost you 100 Hong Kong dollars or more, and then you have to find a place to store it," Hanvon employee Bo Bo Wong told AFP. "With this, you can have thousands and thousands of books in one place," she said.

Mainland companies such as Hanvon, Acuce and Tianjin are taking on the likes of Apple and Amazon by pushing content tailor-made for the vast and rapidly growing Chinese digital market.

The total value of digital publications across all platforms overtook that of traditional print publications in mainland China for the first time last year, the General Administration of Press and Publication said last week.

According to the South China

Morning Post, a recent survey by the Chinese Institute of Publishing Science found that nearly a quarter of the 20,000plus people it surveyed now do most of their reading digitally.

The newspaper quoted Chen Fuming, a manager of a major bookstore chain in Guangzhou across the border from Hong Kong, as saying Chinese book shops were in crisis. "Even I myself now prefer to read fiction with my mobile phone," Chen said. "It's cheap and convenient."

New Zealand's Kiwa International, another company showing off its wares at the Hong Kong book fair, is using Apple's iPad as a platform for its child-targeted software. The Auckland firm's technology lets children interact with books downloaded onto the iPad by coloring in story characters and swiping words that are then repeated aloud-in nine languages. "They can totally personalize the book," Kiwa's creative director Derek Judge told AFP. "And we provide a service to (traditional) publishers who want to enter into the digital arena."

Amazon temporarily sold out of its 189-dollar Kindle e-reader last week and on Thursday unveiled a new 139-dollar model that connects online by WiFi instead of via 3G networks.

"Amazon.com customers now purchase more Kindle books than hardcover books-astonishing when you consider that we've been selling hardcover books for 15 years, and Kindle books for 33 months," Amazon boss Jeff Bezos said last month.

US bookstore chain Borders has also launched an electronic book store to tap into the market, which has seen late Swedish crime writer Stieg Larsson become the first novelist to sell more than one million e-books on Amazon.com. — AFP

HONG KONG: Visitors look at books as they attend the Hong Kong Book Fair in Hong Kong on Saturday. —AFP

2 years and 100m dollars buys winning cyber army NEVADA: A computer espionage specialist has laid out blueprints for building a cyber army capable of crashing through US defenses. Readying an unstoppable Internet invasion would take two years and a total of 100 million dollars, according to Charlie Miller, who spent five years with the US National Security Agency under then-director Michael Hayden.

Now a researcher with Baltimorebased Independent Security Evaluators, Miller on Saturday shared his battle plan with hackers at a DefCon gathering in Las Vegas. "I pretended North Korea asked me to scope out the job of orchestrating a cyber attack on the United States," Miller told AFP. "I lay it out as I would do it realistically." Miller explained that he had actually been asked by the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Estonia to play general in the theoreti-

cal attack scenario.

He shared his results at a NATO briefing in that country in June. "I already knew it was easy, but now I know in detail how easy it would be," said. "We are certainly very vulnerable."

Miller described the 100-million-dollar price tag as a bargain compared to how much money is spent on cyber defense.

He crafted a broad strategy to target smart grids, banks, communications and all other aspects of a nation's technology infrastructure.

The cyber army would number about a thousand soldiers ranging from elite computer commandos to basic college trained geeks, according to the plan. A key to success was stealthily breaching networks and establishing beachheads in computer systems during the two years before the main cyber invasion.

"Once you give me two years to get set up you are basically screwed," Miller

said. "But, during the two years you have the opportunity to see what is going on and stop it before it gets going." Miller determined that single targets, such as stock market or military networks, could be attacked much more economically. North Korea was used in the war scenario on the premise that it has a tactical advantage in being so behind the technology times that crashing the entire global internet would leave it unscathed. North Korea was also seen as unconstrained by alliances or friendships with other countries with more to lose in an Internet Armageddon.

"It could be anyone attacking anyone, but North Korea has an advantage," he said of his winning cyber battle plan.

"Some countries could already be in position. We can chose to limit our dependency on the Internet, which isn't realistic, or do our best to detect it and

use politics to prevent it." Miller took solace in the belief that some of the top computer experts needed to execute his plan would likely refuse to cooperate out of patriotism, morality, or plain fear.

"They might be scared you are going to kill them," Miller said. "It's a realistic thing to think about." National Security Corporation president Mark Harding recalled graduating from officers school in the Navy having completed a thesis on how unprepared the country's military is for cyber war.

"There are people I know who have indicated they can take the entire Internet down and they can," Harding said.

"But, they don't because they believe in doing no damage and not taking anything that isn't theirs. It's when you lack a skill set of morality and discipline when you end up on the dark side."— AFP

Monday, August 2, 2010

HEALTH & SCIENCE

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Gulf residents fear being forgotten along with oil spill LOUISIANA: Clean-up operations have provided an economic boost to Gulf Coast towns devastated by the oil spill, but with BP aiming to soon seal the well, local workers fear they’ll be forgotten just as the brunt of their hardship sets in. Eight weeks ago, marina and motel owner Dudley “Butch” Gaspard sat down for a seafood lunch with US President Barack Obama in Grand Isle.

Obama visited the coastal town of just 1500 residents twice in a seven-day period in the aftermath of the spill, walking along the town’s closed beaches and examining them for oil. “There are small companies like this across the Gulf and we need to make sure their voices are heard,” Obama told the media, over a shrimp and seafood lunch with Gaspard and four other local business owners.

Now, Gaspard has taped a photograph of him shaking hands with the president on the wall inside his marina store underneath a picture of a 40-foot sperm whale, right next to the garbage bin. “That’s where it belongs,” said Gaspard, referring to the photograph next to the garbage bin. BP rented all 39 rooms from Gaspard at his Sand Dollar motel for its cleanup workers, when the disaster began, and about 200 cleanup workers visit Gaspard’s marina store every day to pick up food and

supplies like life vests and radio equipment.

But even with the booming cleanup trade, Gaspard’s business is down 25 percent on last year, he said, and now that the cleanup workers are beginning to head home, he’s facing the prospect of running a business in an empty town. He’s also worried that, as happened after Hurricane Katrina (2005), the world’s attention will shift away from Grand Isle just as the toughest times for residents set in. On Friday night, a crowd of 50 heavily tattooed cleanup contractors swamped the cash registers inside the Sureway supermarket in downtown Grand Isle. Friday is payday, and they were there to cash their checks, waiting patiently for just one cashier at a window next to the office.

“Y’all play nice,” said supermarket owner Shelly Landry, emerging from the office clutching four one-inch stacks of 100-dollar bills. Landry took the money to a cash register and began paying out on checks in a new line for the contractors. “Welcome to Friday night,” said Landry. “I never thought I’d be doing this. I used to sell green beans to offshore oil boats, and groceries to grandma and grandpa when they were here on vacation, spoiling the grandkids. But guess who ain’t here, thanks to BP?”

LOUISIANA: US Senator David Vitter (R-LA) (C) goes out on a boat with fishermen for the 63rd Annual Blessing of the Fishing Fleet despite the BP oil spill which has stalled fishing this season in St. Bernard Parish, July 31, 2010 in Delacroix Island, Louisiana. —AFP

Grand Isle has become a regional headquarters for cleanup crews filling all the motel rooms in town. But the once booming summer tourist trade has been wiped out, as seafood and oyster shacks sit closed, and other local restaurants struggle to attract customers with menus edited to remove all local seafood. All the beaches on Grand Isle remain closed, and swimming in the Gulf remains prohibited. But the state reopened 2,400 square miles of Louisiana waters for fishing on Friday, with the Food and Drug Administration saying the seafood in the water will be safe for human consumption.

Environmentalists, however, are concerned that not enough thorough testing has been done on the seafood. They say BP’s use of chemical dispersants to dissipate the oil from the surface means there are lingering questions about toxicity in the fish.

Nevertheless, Grand Isle’s waters are now open for fishing again and some sport fishermen are already returning to catch speckled trout and red fish.

Joel Mayer, Chase Sholmire, and Jason Badame arrived on Friday night from the small Louisiana town of St.Amite, towing their fishing boat on a trailer and rigging up their fishing poles. They were unconcerned about the

oil spill’s impact on fish safety.

“Put it this way, we catch fish out in the (polluted) Mississippi River and eat ‘em,” said Sholmire. “Maybe my kids will come out looking a little funny... but I’m going to be fine.

They wouldn’t let you fish in it if it was too dirty to eat. If it was going to affect you that much, then they wouldn’t let you catch it.”

Bridge Side Marina owner Dodie Vegas said her business is down 80 percent because of the disaster, but that she is optimistic, seeing the return of those like the three young fishermen from St.Amite.

The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing board said Friday that consumer confidence is only likely to return after an extensive campaign to “bore the consumer with good news about the safety of our seafood.” “I sure would like to swim in that water,” said Jeanette Palmisano, who has been vacationing in Grand Isle every summer for the last decade and was looking out at the ocean from a pier at Grand Isle State Park on Friday evening. Palmisano hopes to return to Grand Isle again next year, but is pessimistic about BP’s ability to clean up the beach and return a sense of normality to the town by then. “They really messed it up down here,” she said.—AFP

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HEALTH & SCIENCE

Monday, August 2, 2010

When women deny their own pregnancies PARIS: Whether the French woman who killed eight of her newborns suffered from a syndrome known as pregnancy denial may determine if she faces major prison time or intensive psychiatric care. The woman, 45year-old Dominique Cottrez, has said that she was aware of her pregnancies, the prosecutor handling the case said last week.

The admission, he suggested, means that she cannot invoke the syndrome in her defence. But Cottrez's lawyer, Frank Berton, countered Friday that the state had been "too hasty" in reaching that conclusion. "Many psychiatrists will disagree. Just because one is conscious of a pregnancy does not mean that one isn't in denial," he told journalists. The syndrome has already

been used as a defence in other infanticide cases here-legitimately so, said Sophie Marinopoulos, a psychiatrist at Nantes maternity hospital in western France.

"To my knowledge women do not organise their pregnancies in order to kill their children. It is a case of psychological suffering," she told AFP. For Israel Nisand, an obstetrician at the Univeristy Hospital in Strasbourg who has testified in court, the problem is all too real. "When you don't know what it is, of course these women will look like monsters," he said. Experts distinguish between three types of pregnancy denial.

With so-called pervasive denial, "not only the emotional significance but the

very existence of the pregnancy is kept from awareness," notes Laura Miller of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

In the case of psychotic denial, unacknowledged pregnancy occurs in women with severe mental illness, sometimes compounded by abuse. Women with "affective denial," however, are intellectually aware of their condition "but continue to think, feel, and behave as though they were not pregnant," according to Miller.

A woman addicted to drugs potentially harmful to a foetus, for example, may enter this state of mind to assuage guilt feelings.

In all three types, weight gain, changes in the breasts, and even labour pains can all be misconstrued or explained away in the mind

of the woman. Partners and family may also fail to notice changes, especially when the expectant mother is-as was the case with Cottrez-severely overweight.

In a study published in Psychosomatic Medicine, Susan Hatters Friedman of Case Western Reserve University in Ohio and colleagues examined records for 31,475 deliveries at the university hospital from 1998 through 2003. The key tipoff to potential cases of pregnancy denial was women who had not sought any form of prenatal care before delivery.

When combined with other criteria, they found a total 61 cases of denial, a rate of about one in 500. Instances of complete denial-including some in which women did

not realise they were pregnant until delivery-were far rarer, about one in 2,500. None involved infanticide. There were an additional 20 cases of a distinct syndrome called pregnancy concealment in which women consciously hide their condition from family and friends.

Research in Germany and France has yielded similar statistics. Contrary to expectations, the profile to emerge from the US study was not one of first-time pregnancies among economically deprived teenagers living with parents. Women were more likely to be well into their twenties, to work and to have no record of family of spousal abuse.

"It can affect women of different ages,

education levels and social standings," said Felix Navarro, a physician and president of the French association for the recognition of pregnancy denial. Pregnancy denial came to public attention in France last year after another dramatic case of infanticide.

Veronique Coujault killed three of her newborns, keeping two of the bodies in her freezer and burning the third. As with Cottrez, the husband said he was unaware of what was happening.

But Roland Coutanceau, a forensic psychiatrist and expert witness in France, is sceptical that the syndrome was a factor for either woman. "I don't believe in pregnancy denial. We don't need it to explain what happened," he told AFP. —AFP

Bedbugs take bite out of Big Apple

BERLIN: A baby aardvark (Orycteopus afer) walks through its enclosure on July 30, 2010 at the zoo in Berlin. The animal born in May 2010 at the zoo was injured by its mother, so that it had to be bottle-fed by keepers. —AFP

Engineers prepare to permanently seal oil well

Tests under way ahead of sealing ruptured BP well LOUISIANA: Research vessels conducted seismic and acoustic tests near a ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well yesterday as engineers prepared to permanently seal it, taking a major step toward ending the worst environmental disaster in US history. The tests at the site of the nowcapped well were necessary "to ensure the integrity of the wellhead and search for and respond to anomalies," British energy giant BP said.

It said the pressure in the wellhead "continues to rise demonstrating that it has integrity." BP hopes to drown the well in the coming week in an operation dubbed a "static kill," in which mud and cement will be injected down into the ruptured wellhead via a cap installed on July 15. As the work continued, incoming BP chief executive Bob Dudley vowed that the oil giant would not abandon residents affected by the spill after the well is finally sealed.

Dudley on Friday said the operation had been pushed back a day, saying "we are hopeful by Tuesday the static kill will have been performed." The US pointman on the crisis, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, said the delay was needed to allow engineers to clear debris from the dam-

aged wellhead caused by Tropical Storm Bonnie, which briefly halted spill operations. But BP senior vice president Kent Wells said the company was confident the static kill would proceed successfully.

A cap in place for two weeks has shown no sign of leaks, "giving us more confidence that this well has integrity," which is a positive sign for the operation, Wells said at a technical briefing Friday.

Wells said BP hopes the static kill will be able to overcome the flow of oil, but that a second sealing method-via an intercept through a relief well-would go ahead afterward regardless. Dudley will take over as BP's chief executive on October 1, when Hayward, who was widely criticized for his handling of the crisis, hands over the reins.

With the focus now moving towards mitigating the long-term impact of the worst-ever US oil spill, Dudley said there would be signs that the operation was changing. Miles of protective boom will be withdrawn from coastlines, and fewer clean-up crews in hazmat suits would be seen on beaches as oil stopped washing ashore.

"So you'll probably see that kind of a

pullback. But commitment, absolutely no pullback," he pledged. Plaquemines Parish president Billy Nungesser told CNN meanwhile that it was "absolutely" no time for any kind of pullback. "The oil is out there," Nungesser insisted, lamenting how BP was trying to remove clean-up materials such as absorbent boom from his area, saying that he had his parish sheriff pull over 12 trucks carrying boom from leaving the area.

Grand Isle has become a regional headquarters for cleanup crews filling all the motel rooms in town. But the once booming summer tourist trade has been wiped out, as seafood and oyster shacks sit closed, and other local restaurants struggle to attract customers with menus edited to remove all local seafood.

Meanwhile, a congressional committee on Saturday released documents that show that the US Coast Guard appeared to flout a Barack Obama administration directive that sought to limit the use of chemical dispersants on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico.

"BP carpet-bombed the ocean with these chemicals, and the Coast Guard allowed them to do it," said Democratic Representative Edward Markey, chair-

man of the House energy and environment subcommittee. "After we discovered how toxic these chemicals really are, they had no business being spread across the Gulf in this manner," he added.

The documents show that from May 26 to mid-July, more than 74 exemption requests from BP to spray surface dispersants were granted by the Coast Guard. Scientists are concerned that the chemicals, which break up the oil into tiny droplets, have contributed to large plumes of hydrocarbons below the ocean's surface. It is unclear whether the danger to marine organisms may be higher from toxic dispersants or from oil, the scientists said.

It also remains unknown just how much oil has spilled into the Gulf since the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and sank in April, killing 11 workers. Best estimates put the amount at between three million to 5.3 million barrels.

Allen said a team of experts was carrying out an "oil budget" to calculate how much was released, how much was captured and how much has evaporated, adding he hoped the report would be released in the coming days.—AFP

NEW YORK: The city that never sleeps? Tell that to New York's bedbugs. The tiny blood suckers specialize in feeding off sleeping bodies and this summer in the Big Apple they're enjoying the pickings of their lives, specialists say. After infesting unprecedented numbers of apartments and offices, the pests have branched out, raiding clothing stores and, most notoriously, a Victoria's Secret lingerie outlet on Manhattan's posh Upper East Side.

Officials warn of an epidemic and promise half a million dollars in anti-bedbug funds. "We want to send a message to bedbugs," City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said, announcing the measure Wednesday: "Drop dead. Your days are over." Well, not quite, says Jeffrey White, host of Bedbug TV on www.bedbugcentral.com.

"They're really starting to become prevalent in a lot of places and a lot of people's homes are beginning to have a bedbug situation," he said. "It's dramatic in offices." The city's 311 complaints line logged 31,719 bedbug-related inquiries in the 12-month period up to June this year, the mayor's office says. That's up from 26,000 in the previous year.

Over the last five years, calls have risen about 20-fold.

Typically it's a problem no one wants to mention: infestations can lead to apartment leases being broken or, at the very least, bills in the hundreds of dollars from exterminator services. But after a series of high-profile outbreaks this month, the dreaded B word became the talk of the town.

First the trendy Hollister flagship store in SoHo briefly closed after critters crawled into hip clothing popular with teenagers and foreign tourists.

Next they scared the locals at an Abercrombie and Fitch clothing outlet in Manhattan, before causing panic in the emergency room at a Brooklyn hospital. The incidents prompted the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch, which also owns Hollister, to write to Mayor Michael Bloomberg with a plea for "leadership and guidance."

Then, in mid-July, the bedbugs got creepy, crawling into the delicate items on sale at Victoria's Secret and causing the outlet to shut down while the exterminators worked.

"Disgusting," Adriana

NEW YORK: Jeremy Ecker of The Bedbug Inspectors points to bedbugs that are biting his arm to feed, on July 26, 2010 in the Queens borough of New York. — AFP Baglenao, 42, said a few days later as she emerged from the boudoir-like store with a little pink bag. "I only bought pajamas, but still. I'll put them in the wash right away." City newspapers gorged on the scandal, filling pages with wisecracks about the true nature of "Victoria's secret" and bedbugs "killing the mood." Invasion of the body suckers- A typical bug is little bigger than a grain of rice, but tough.

They live about 10 months on average, with the ability to survive weeks without blood, while females lay about 350 eggs over a lifespan. Pest control experts and entomologists say bedbugs were almost eradicated in the United States after World War II. But then the most effective-and noxiouspesticides like DDT were banned, international travel boomed, and by the 1990s the nasty nibblers had found a perfect way back into the nation's bedrooms.

Carolyn Klass, who retired earlier this year from her position at Cornell University as one of the top US insect pest diagnosticians, told New Yorker magazine she hadn't even seen bedbugs in her first 20 years on the job. Those days are over.

The National Pest Management Association, an industry group, says members who 10 years ago got "one or two bedbug calls a year are now reporting one to two each week." New Yorkers dread the suckers. To discover one's building is infected is seen as akin to being informed of a bad medical diagnosis.

"Oh my God, you're not telling me I have bedbugs!" exclaimed Robin, a woman living on Gold Street in lower Manhattan, when told by a

reporter that her building appeared on www.bedbugregistry.com, a website collating infestation reports nationwide.

Robin, who did not want to give her full name, said she'd looked up her building on the registry when she moved in just three months ago and it hadn't featured.

But the bugs move quickly."It's hard nowadays finding a building that hasn't had them.

It's sort of expected," another resident, Emma Judknis, said.

Bedbugs are not dangerous and their bite is uncomfortable, rather than painful. The particular frisson around bedbugs, as opposed to cockroaches, mice or other pests, is simple: vampire-like, they feed on sleeping bodies.

"There's a psychological component to it: you're getting bitten when you sleep," said Jeremy Ecker of The Bedbug Inspectors. "People freak out."

Ecker's service is one of several around the city offering dog sniffing inspections. These bloodhounds are considered one of the only ways to track down the tiny bugs which hide in beds, but also cupboards and electronics like computers, radios and alarm clocks.

"It's very similar to drug sniffing, bomb sniffing and cadaver sniffing," Ecker said, stroking his bedbug hunting beagle Freedom.

"They're trained on one scent and trained only to detect live bedbugs." A visit by Freedom or co-hound Cruiser costs 350 dollars plus tax. If that seems steep, consider the sacrifices Ecker makes.

Dogs need training every dayand that means having a personal store of live bedbugs, which in turn need something to feed on. Ecker's blood, for example. — AFP

Space station cooling system shuts down

RATNAPURA: A truck carrying a pair of Sri Lankan elephants travels along the highway in Ratnapura yesterday. The island's south, which is rapidly developing as a logistics and industrial hub, is home to hundreds of elephants who are often caught encroaching into human habitat. —AFP

FLORIDA: One of two cooling systems serving the International Space Station's U.S., European and Japanese laboratories broke down, setting off a wave of equipment shutdowns to cut the amount of heat generated on board, NASA officials said yesterday. The three Russian cosmonauts and three NASA astronauts aboard the station are not in any danger, NASA's flight controllers said in a statement. The crew, which was asleep at the time, were roused by alarms about 8 pm EDT Saturday and immediately set to work powering down equipment to prevent the sole remaining cooling loop from overloading.

The shutdown, however, means that many systems aboard the station are now without working backups. "It's pretty clear that we're going to want to have a course of action to take as quickly as possible. This is not something we want to linger over, said NASA spokesman Rob Navias at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The station, a $100 billion project of 16 nations, has two ammonia-fed cooling loops to dissipate heat generated by equipment. One loop shut down after a power spike in a pump module, which is needed to funnel ammonia through the

lines. The loss of the cooling system triggered the shutdown of several pieces of equipment, including two of the station's four gyroscopes, which keep the complex properly orientated in orbit, one of two communications systems, one of two Global Positioning System systems, power converters and routers.

Yesterday, the astronauts set up a jumper cable to make sure key control functions in the Russian Zarya module have backup power. The station has two spare pump modules in storage if engineers determine that the faulty unit needs to be replaced. A replacement likely would require two spacewalks, Navias said. Station flight engineers Doug Wheelock and Tracy Caldwell Dyson have been preparing for a spacewalk on Thursday to install part of a new robotic crane onto the Zarya module and to configure the station for a storage closet that is due to be delivered by the shuttle Discovery crew in November on NASA's next-to-last shuttle flight. In addition to Wheelock and Dyson, the station crew includes commander Alexander Skvortsov, cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA astronaut Shannon Walker.—Reuters

Monday, August 2, 2010

WHAT’S ON IN KUWAIT

31 Embassy information

PABAK tourney: The PABAK organizing committee would like to announce the opening of the PABAK/Western Union 24th Conference Basketball Tournament in the second week of August 2010. Registration in the following categories: Open 5’9” & under, non-leaguers, veterans and intercompany, is now going on at the Kuwait Sports Club for the Disabled gym in Hawally every Friday, through email at: rodcerezo@yahoo.com; or call: 6668954.

Early entries: IKEA, Kuwait Cement Co, Wataniya AW, Unisteel, POLO and Caboria Restaurant.

EMBASSY OF US

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Dar Al-Athar survey: Dear friend, we would like to know your opinion for DAI workshops to he held during the upcoming 16th Cultural Season (2010-2011). To make a difference click on the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/ Please note that your responses will remain completely anonymous. Thank you for taking part in our survey. Wishing you happy summer holidays looking forward to see you during the 16th Cultural Season. Latest issue of Canvas is available in the Museum Shop.

Dar Al-Athar Al-lslamiyyah. Please note the new summer timings for Al-Maidan Cultural Centre urea 9:00-15 hours Sunday through Thursday. Al-Maidan Cultural Centre Abdullab Al-Salem School, Maidan Hawally, near Al-Sha’ab Leisure Park. Tel: 25636528 /25636561; Fax: 25653006; Email: membership@darrnuseuimorg.kw; Website: www.darmuseum.org.kw August 5 Alvernaz-Lalush Memorial Trophy: Navelim Youth Centre (NYC) will organize the Alvernaz-Lalush Memorial Trophy 7aside football tournament on Aug 5 and 12, 2010 in Kuwait.

The entire tournament is sponsored by Churchill Brothers, Goa. Draw of the tournament will be held on Friday, July 30 at Little India Restaurant, Salmiya. The first and second round of the tournament will be played on Aug 5 while the quarter-final stage onwards will be played on Aug 12. All games will be held at Surra Stadium, Block 2, Street 5, of the 4th ring road. Matches will begin from 6:30 pm onwards and wind up by 10 pm. The tournament under the leadership of NYC President Agnello A S Fernandes promises a festivity of football for players and spectators as it is played under floodlights and on International standard 7-aside grounds and rules. In case of matches ending in a draw there will be 5 penalty shoot-outs for each team. It may be noted that last year Navelim organized a grand tournament that included 18 teams.

For more details please contact the tournament coordinators at 99671107, 99502686, 99469782 or 66515418.

Sept 17 Onam Fest 2010: ‘Vanithavedi Kuwait’ a leading women’s association will be celebrating Onam on Friday, Sept 17, 2010, from 9 am - 6 pm at the Indian Community School, Khaitan Branch, the program named as ‘OnamFest 2010’ will have the public meeting followed by various cultural programs. The traditional Onasadya will be served. For the successful conduct of Onam Fest 2010, a program committee has been formed. Dr Vasanthy Nair (general convenor), Valsamma George, Dr Mary (Joint Convenors), Prasanna Ramabhadran (Arts convenor), Tolly Prakash (Food convenor), Shiny Ajith (Raffle convenor), Sumathy Babu (Souvenir convenor), Valsa Sam (Publicity convenor), Syamala Narayanan, (Reception convenor), Sharlette Albert (Volunteer captain). For more details, contact: 24342807, 66428433, 66596625, 24331598.

Theater & Music All level music classes: ‘Treasure of Talents’ (est in 1992) music education program invites all level music classes on piano, theory of music, vocal, flute.

Academic Level teachers help prepare for international exams, children concerts, yearly ‘Treasure of Talents’ Festival and music competitions. Contact Prof Cezary, Tel. 25320427, 66549009 of Ms Yasmeene Berlitz Institute Tel: 22542212. 22512533 or email: treasureoftalents@yahoo.com treasureoftalents@hotmail.com

Congress leader in Kuwait, Rajan Daniel inaugurates a co-memorial function organized by Kuwait Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC) in honor of late Indian Muslim leader Shihab Ali Thangal.

Bangladesh Reporters Unity, Kuwait declares its Executive Committee or the first time in Kuwait representatives of Electronic, print and online media got united under the banner of Bangladesh Reporters Unity-Kuwait with a promise to send just and non-biased news. The journalists already associated with this unity are engaged in professional capacity, from a long time to send news of Bengali expatriate community to the various media while keeping their utmost respect and honor to the law of the land. The Unity is determined to upheld the goodwill of Bangladesh in Kuwait as well as to challenge any yellow journalism in this context.

Henceforth, the Reporters UnityKuwait, with an aim and objective mentioned above has declared its Executive committee. President Mainuddin Surnon, General Secretary Ahsanul Haque Khokan, Organizing Secretary Sheikh Zahir Raihan, Office Secretary Al Amin Rana, Publicity Secretary Muzammel Haque Rurnen, Literary Secretary Shah Sumon Rahat, Information and research secretary Kantha Pathik, International Secretary Mohammed Musa, Sports and social Welfare Secretary Russel Amin, Cultural Secretary Shahin Mohammad, Photography Secretary Mehedi Hasan, Finance secretary Md Sumon.

Honorable members are Poet Abdur Rahim, Rezaul Karim Jewel, Rubel Barua.

Advisors to the Committee are Altaf Mahniud, Zakaria Kazal, Enamul Reza Dipu.

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Call to classical music lovers: Are you a lover of music? Would you like to promote the traditional Indian classical music in Kuwait? If your answer is in the affirmative, please write ton more details to music_karnatic@yahoo.co. in (that is, music underscore karnatic) with your contact details or call 7978286.

Karippoor Airport Users’ Movement (KAUM) members gather to discuss the plights flight passengers to north Kerala’s Karippoor, Calicut airport. Earlier some direct flights had been canceled to this destination. ‘The Indian Embassy has assured all cooperation in this regard’, informed Salam Valanchery, co-ordinator, KAUM.

The United States Department of State announces the increase in various visa fees to ensure sufficient resources to cover the increasing cost of processing nonimmigrant visas (NIVs). US law requires the Department to recover the cost of processing non-immigrant visas through the collection of the application fees.

The increased fees are to take effect June 4, 2010. Under the new rule, applicants for all visas that are not petitionbased, including B1/B2 tourist and business visitor visas and all student and exchange-visitor visas, will pay a fee of $140. Applicants for petition-based visas will pay an application fee of $150, as each of the below categories requires a review of extensive documentation and a more in-depth interview of the applicant than other categories, such as tourists.

These categories include: H visa for temporary workers and trainees L visa for intra-company transferees O visa for aliens with extraordinary ability P visa for athletes, artists and entertainers Q visa for international cultural exchange visitors R visa for religious occupations The application fee for K visas for fiance(e)s of US citizens will be $350.

The fee for E visas for treaty-traders and treaty-investors will be $390.

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.

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.

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh based Indian artist Johnarts Kalabhavan with his family presenting a portrait of Mercy Ravi, the late wife of Vayalar Ravi, the Foreign Minister of India, to the minister.

EMBASSY OF BANGLADESH The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait will follow the following office hours during the holy month of Ramadan.

Sunday to Thursday: 09:00 - 3:00 pm.

Friday and Saturday: Weekly holidays.

TV PROGRAMS

34

Monday, August 2, 2010

Orbit / Showtime Listings

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00:15 00:45 01:40 03:30 04:25 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:45 09:40 10:05 10:55 11:20 11:50 12:45 13:10 13:40 14:35 15:00 15:30 16:25 17:20 18:15 19:10 20:10 21:05 22:00 23:50

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00:10 00:40 01:30 02:15 03:05 03:30 03:55 04:45 05:15 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:20 08:00 08:55 09:45 10:15 10:35 11:00 11:25 12:15 13:00 13:45 14:40 15:30 16:15 16:40 17:00 17:50 18:45 19:40 20:10 20:35 21:05 21:55 22:40 23:30

Ugly Betty Damages Cold Case Ghost Whisperer The Ex-List Dawson’s Creek ER Ugly Betty The Ex-List Murdoch Mysteries Ghost Whisperer Dawson’s Creek ER Murdoch Mysteries Ghost Whisperer The Ex-List Damages Cold Case Mercy ER White Collar Saving Grace Murdoch Mysteries Nip/Tuck

All New Planet’s Funniest Animals Weird Creatures with Nick Baker Untamed & Uncut Animal Cops Phoenix Animal Cops Houston SSPCA: On the Wildside Vet on the Loose Animal Crackers Meerkat Manor The Planet’s Funniest Animals Groomer Has It Wildlife SOS International Killer Whales Gorilla School RSPCA: On the Frontline Animal Precinct E-Vets: The Interns Pet Rescue Animal Cops Miami Wildlife SOS International RSPCA: On the Frontline Killer Whales The Planet’s Funniest Animals Dogs 101 After the Attack Africa’s Outsiders Animal Cops Houston Great White Appetite Shark Rampage 1916 Untamed & Uncut

Doctor Who Doctor Who Confidential Hotel Babylon Inspector Lynley Mysteries Gigglebiz Me Too Tellytales Gigglebiz Me Too Tellytales Tikkabilla Coast Mastermind 2006 Gigglebiz Me Too Tellytales Gigglebiz Me Too Tellytales Tikkabilla Mastermind 2006 Coast Last Of The Summer Wine The Weakest Link Only Fools And Horses Doctors Mastermind 2006 Coast Last Of The Summer Wine The Weakest Link Doctors Only Fools And Horses Inspector Lynley Mysteries Doctor Who Confidential Waterloo Road The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders New Tricks Doctor Who Confidential Holby City

Saturday Kitchen Living In The Sun Fantasy Homes By The Sea The Home Show Ty’s Great British Adventure Ty’s Great British Adventure Fantasy Homes In The City Indian Food Made Easy Rhodes Across China James Martin’s Champagne Coastal Kitchen Cash In The Attic USA Antiques Roadshow Living In The Sun Bargain Hunt Hidden Potential Cash In The Attic USA Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen Chuck’s Day Off Living In The Sun Antiques Roadshow Come Dine With Me Come Dine With Me Living In The Sun Bargain Hunt Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen Chuck’s Day Off Fantasy Homes In The City Antiques Roadshow Come Dine With Me MasterChef Goes Large Saturday Kitchen Saturday Kitchen Living In The Sun Cash In The Attic Come Dine With Me MasterChef Goes Large

00:45 Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas-18 02:45 Sea Of Love-PG15 04:30 La Graine Et Le Mulet-PG15 07:00 Escape To Victory-PG15 09:00 One True Thing-PG 11:30 Meet Joe Black-PG15 14:45 Eavesdrop-PG 16:45 Chariots Of Fire-PG 19:00 Roman Polanski : Wanted And Desired-PG15 21:00 Pan’s Labyrinth-18 23:00 Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert-18

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08:40 09:05 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:30

Destroyed in Seconds Ultimate Car Build-Off Wheeler Dealers Construction Intervention

The Missing Person on Super Movies 04:20 How Stuff’s Made 04:50 How It’s Made 05:15 Destroyed in Seconds 05:40 Destroyed in Seconds 06:05 Extreme Engineering 07:00 Massive Machines 07:25 Discovery Project Earth 08:15 Street Customs 2008 09:10 Mythbusters 10:05 Ultimate Survival 11:00 River Monsters 11:55 Border Security 12:25 How Stuff’s Made 12:50 How It’s Made 13:20 Mythbusters 14:15 Miami Ink 15:10 Ultimate Survival 16:05 Dirty Jobs 17:00 Deadliest Catch-Up 17:55 Mythbusters 18:50 Cake Boss 19:15 Border Security 19:40 The Gadget Show 20:05 How It’s Made 20:35 How Stuff’s Made 21:00 River Monsters 21:55 Deadliest Catch ‚Äì Behind the Scenes 22:50 Black Gold 23:45 Ross Kemp in Afghanistan

01:20 02:10 02:35 03:00 03:50 04:15 04:45 05:40 06:10 07:00 08:00 09:00 12:40 16:20 16:50 17:45 18:40 19:30 20:20 20:45 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

The Colony The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Catch It Keep It Sci-Fi Science Sci-Fi Science Nextworld How Stuff’s Made Engineered The Kustomizer NASA’s Greatest Missions Sci-Fi Saved My Life The World’s Strangest UFO Stories How Does That Work?

Scrapheap Challenge Brainiac Da Vinci’s Machines Kings of Construction How It’s Made How It’s Made Mighty Ships Da Vinci’s Machines Kings of Construction Building the Biggest

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Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Sonny With A Chance Jonas Hannah Montana Hannah Montana The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody Brandy And Mr Whiskers Fairly Odd Parents A Kind Of Magic I Got A Rocket Wizards Of Waverly Place Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck Replacements Hannah Montana Kim Possible Famous Five Fairly Odd Parents Jungle Junction Special Agent Oso Handy Manny Imagination Movers Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jungle Junction Fairly Odd Parents Phineas And Ferb Wizards Of Waverly Place Sonny With A Chance Hannah Montana Cheetah Girls 2 Fairly Odd Parents Phineas And Ferb Replacements Suite Life On Deck Hannah Montana Kim Possible A Kind Of Magic Fairly Odd Parents Replacements Stitch Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Fairly Odd Parents Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Jonas Suite Life On Deck Sonny With A Chance Hannah Montana Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place

00:40 01:30 03:15 04:10 05:05 05:30

Bank Of Hollywood Ths 25 Most Stylish Sexiest Battle Of The Hollywood Hotties Streets Of Hollywood

06:00 50 Cutest Child Stars: All Grown Up 07:45 Behind The Scenes 08:10 Behind The Scenes 08:35 E! News 09:25 Denise Richards: It’s Complicated 09:50 Leave It To Lamas 10:15 15 Most Infamous Child Star Mugshots 12:00 E! News 12:50 Behind The Scenes 13:15 Pretty Wild 13:40 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:05 Kendra 14:30 Dr 90210 15:25 E!es 16:15 Behind The Scenes 16:40 Behind The Scenes 17:10 Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami 17:35 Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami 18:00 E! News 18:50 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 19:15 Pretty Wild 19:40 Extreme Close-up 20:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:20 Giuliana And Bill 21:45 Giuliana And Bill 22:10 E! News 23:00 The Soup 23:25 Wildest Tv Show Moments 23:50 Pretty Wild

00:00 Shack Therapy 1 01:00 X Games 14 06:00 I-Ex Season 2 08:00 Quattro Int Events: Engadin Snow 08:30 Quattro Int Events: Winter Outdoor Games 09:00 Quattro Int Events: Big Mountain Pro 2009 09:30 Quattro Int Events: Fwt Chamonix 2009 10:00 Quattro Int Events: Fwt Usa 10:30 Quattro Int Events: Fwt Tignes 2009 11:00 Fim World Motocross Mx1 = Mx2 12:00 Untracked Series 1 13:00 Breitling Airsports 2008 14:00 Cannonball 8000 15:00 Fim World Motocross Mx1 = Mx2 16:00 Untracked Series 1 17:00 Quattro Int Events: Engadin Snow 17:30 Quattro Int Events: Winter Outdoor Games 18:00 Quattro Int Events: Big Mountain Pro 2009 19:00 Quattro Int Events: Fwt Usa 19:30 Quattro Int Events: Fwt Tignes 2009 20:00 Untracked Series 1 21:00 Fim World Motocross Mx1 = Mx2 22:00 Bmx Megatour

00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 05:30 06:00 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:15

Guys Big Bite Chopped 30 Minute Meals Good Deal with Dave Lieberman Guys Big Bite Barefoot Contessa - Back to Basics Everyday Italian 30 Minute Meals Tyler’s Ultimate Guys Big Bite Barefoot Contessa Everyday Italian Food Network Challenge 30 Minute Meals Good Deal with Dave Lieberman

Guys Big Bite Barefoot Contessa - Back to Basics Everyday Italian 30 Minute Meals Unwrapped Paula’s Party Barefoot Contessa Everyday Italian 30 Minute Meals Guys Big Bite Throwdown With Bobby Flay Good Deal with Dave Lieberman Food Network Challenge Barefoot Contessa Everyday Italian Iron Chef America Unwrapped Guys Big Bite Chopped 30 Minute Meals Tyler’s Ultimate Food Network Challenge Barefoot Contessa - Back to Basics Everyday Italian Iron Chef America Throwdown With Bobby Flay Guys Big Bite

00:30 Bondi Rescue 01:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 01:30 Bondi Rescue 02:00 Graham’s World 02:30 Banged Up Abroad 03:30 Banged Up Abroad 04:30 Wild Rides 05:00 Pressure Cook 05:30 Storm Chase 06:30 Bondi Rescue 07:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 07:30 Bondi Rescue 08:00 Graham’s World 08:30 Banged Up Abroad 09:30 Banged Up Abroad 10:30 Wild Rides 11:00 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet 11:30 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 12:30 Word Travels 13:00 Bondi Rescue 13:30 Departures 14:30 Long Way Down 15:30 Wild Rides 16:00 Banged Up Abroad 17:00 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet 17:30 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 18:30 Word Travels 19:00 Bondi Rescue 19:30 Departures 20:30 Long Way Down 21:30 Wild Rides 22:00 Banged Up Abroad 23:00 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet 23:30 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled

00:00 Better Off Ted 00:30 Will & Grace 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (repeat) 01:30 The Colbert Report (repeat) 02:00 Entourage 02:30 How to make it in America 03:00 Saturday Night Live 04:30 George Lopez 05:00 Just Shoot me!

05:30 Best of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 06:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 07:00 Eight Simple Rules 07:30 The Fresh Prince of Bel Air 08:00 Frasier 08:30 Just Shoot me!

09:00 George Lopez 09:30 The Drew Carey show 10:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30 Eight Simple Rules 11:00 Frasier 11:30 New Adventures of old Christine 12:00 Best of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 13:00 The Drew Carey show 13:30 Just Shoot me!

14:00 George Lopez 14:30 Will & Grace 15:00 Better Off Ted 15:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (repeat) 16:00 The Colbert Report (repeat) 16:30 The Drew Carey Show 17:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:30 Frasier 18:00 New Adventures of old Christine 18:30 Will & Grace 19:00 George Lopez 19:30 Scrubs 20:00 Friends 20:30 Friends 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 21:30 Colbert Report Global 22:00 Monday night Stand Up 23:00 South park 23:30 New Adventures of old Christine

00:00 The Martha Stewart Show 01:00 Downsize Me 02:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 03:00 Moms Get Real / Now you know / Amplified 04:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Best Of) 05:00 GMA Weekend (Repeat) 06:00 Parenting

06:30 Popcorn 07:00 Ahead of The Curve 07:30 Chef’s Table 08:00 The Martha Stewart Show 09:00 Downsize Me 10:00 The Best of Jimmy Kimmel 11:00 The View (repeat) 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 The Martha Stewart Show 14:00 GMA Live 16:00 Ahead of The Curve 16:30 Nature’s Edge 17:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Best Of) 18:00 10 Years Younger 18:30 10 Years Younger 19:00 The View (repeat) 20:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 21:00 The Best of Jimmy Kimmel 22:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Best Of) 23:00 Moms Get Real / Now you know / Amplified

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:15

Capturing Mary-PG15 Explicit Ills-PG15 Under The Mountain-PG Quid Pro Quo-PG15 Fireproof-PG This Christmas-PG Bran Nue Dae-PG15 Motherhood-PG15 Fireproof-PG Ghost Town-PG15 Body Of Lies-18 Friday The 13th-18

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 16:30 19:10 21:00 23:00

Universal Soldier: The Return-18 Into The Blue 2: The Reef-18 Thor: Hammer Of The Gods-PG15 Hide-PG15 Monster Ark-18 House Under Siege-PG15 Lara Croft : Tomb Raider-PG15 Monster Ark-18 The Patriot-PG15 Shoot ‘em Up-18 The General’s Daughter-18 Bitch Slap-18

00:00 Tadpole-PG15 02:00 Futurama : Into The Wild Green Yonder-PG15 04:00 Down To You-PG15 06:00 Kingdom Come-PG 08:00 Son Of Rambow-PG 10:00 Mr. Wonderful-PG15 12:00 Scrooged-PG 14:00 Car Babes-PG15 16:00 Tadpole-PG15 18:00 The Lonely Guy-PG15 20:00 Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo-PG15 22:00 Finding Bliss-18

00:00 Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia-FAM 02:00 Sunshine Barry And The Disco Worms-PG 04:00 Dark Crystal-PG 06:00 The Gold Retrievers: Legend Of The Lost Tre-PG 08:00 Barbie In The 12 Dancing Princesses-FAM 10:00 Dark Crystal-PG 12:00 Gladiator Academy: The MovieFAM 14:00 Sunshine Barry And The Disco Worms-PG 16:00 The Missing Lynx-PG 18:00 Velveteen Rabbit-FAM 20:00 Little Hercules In 3-d-PG15 22:00 Gladiator Academy: The MovieFAM

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 04:30 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

The Philanthropist Law & Order Desperate Housewives One Tree Hill Three Sisters Home Improvement Psych Emmerdale Coronation Street Desperate Housewives Three Sisters Home Improvement One Tree Hill Psych Desperate Housewives Emmerdale Coronation Street Three Sisters Home Improvement The Philanthropist Law & Order Psych One Tree Hill Emmerdale Coronation Street Eureka Drop Dead Diva Desperate Housewives Psych One Tree Hill

00:00 Cricket Test Match 07:00 PGA European Tour 11:30 World Pool Masters 12:30 ICC Cricket World 13:00 Live Cricket Test Match 20:00 Futbol Mundial 20:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 21:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 22:00 Tri Nations SHOW SPORTS 3 00:30 PGA European Tour 05:00 NRL Premiership 07:00 World Pool Masters 08:00 Tri Nations 10:00 NRL Premiership 12:00 Live NRL Premiership 14:00 Futbol Mundial 14:30 Tri Nations 16:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 17:00 NRL Premiership 19:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 20:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 21:00 NRL Premiership 23:00 Triatholn

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider on Show Movies Action

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:30 15:00 17:00

WWE NXT WWE Smackdown UFC The Ultimate Fighter Live UFC Jones vs Matyushenko WWE Bottom Line Planet Power Boats UAE National Race Day Le Mans Series Highlights Le Mans Series Magazine V8 Supercars Championship WWE Vintage Collection FIA GT1 World Championship UAE National Race Day WWE SmackDown WWE Vintage Collection

Shoot 'Em Up on Show Movies 18:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

01:30 04:00 05:40 07:00 08:45 09:10 10:45 12:25 13:50 15:40 18:10 20:10 22:00 23:35

UFC Jones vs Matyushenko UFC Wired UFC 117 Countdown UFC Unleashed

The Comedians California Suite Bad Day At Black Rock Hot Millions The Screening Room On The Town Blackboard Jungle Viva Las Vegas Bhowani Junction The Comedians Lust For Life The Glass Bottom Boat Brother John The Last Run

01:30 Act Of God-PG15 03:00 The Missing Person-PG15 05:00 Inconceivable—PG15 07:00 Fab Five : The Texas Cheerleader Scandal-PG15 09:00 Forever Strong-PG 11:00 Against The Current-PG15 13:00 Four Extraordinary Women-PG15 15:00 Sticks And Stones-PG 17:00 Forever Strong-PG 19:00 Race To Witch Mountain-PG15 21:00 The Boy In The Striped PyjamasPG15 23:00 The Ruins-R

00:30 01:20 02:10 03:00 03:55 04:50 05:40 06:30 07:20 08:10 09:00 09:55 10:50 11:40 12:30 13:20 14:10 15:00 15:55 16:50 17:40 18:30 19:20 20:10 21:00 21:55 22:50 23:40

Ax Men Deep Sea Detectives How the Earth Was Made 2 Tales of the Gun Declassified Lancaster at War Human Weapon Ax Men Deep Sea Detectives How the Earth Was Made 2 Tales of the Gun Declassified Lancaster at War Human Weapon Ax Men Deep Sea Detectives How the Earth Was Made 2 Tales of the Gun Declassified Lancaster at War Human Weapon Ax Men Deep Sea Detectives Tales of the Gun Mega Movers Deep Sea Detectives Surviving History Ice Road Truckers 2

00:00 Peter Perfect 01:00 My Celebrity Home 02:00 Split Ends 03:00 How Do I Look?

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 Dress My Nest 08:00 My Celebrity Home 09:00 Style Star 09:30 Style Her Famous 10:00 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

11:00 Peter Perfect 12:00 Ruby 13:00 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

16:00 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

17:00 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

18:00 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

19:00 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

20:00 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

21:00 Peter Perfect

22:00 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane 23:00 Peter Perfect

01:00 01:04 01:45 02:00 02:45 05:00 05:04 08:00 08:04 08:45 13:00 13:04 13:50 16:00 16:04 16:45 18:00 18:45 20:00 20:04 21:00

Code Africa 10 Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Code Playlist Code Sound System 10 Playlist Code Urban Hit Playlist Code Latina 10 Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Code Hit Us Playlist

00:00 Julian and Camilla’s World Odyssey 01:00 Raging Bulls 01:30 Great Scenic Railways-US & Canada 02:00 People of the Sea 03:00 Travel Notebook 04:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 Planet Sports 06:00 Julian and Camilla’s World Odyssey 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 $100 Taxi Ride 08:30 Distant Shores 09:00 People of the Sea 10:00 Planet Food 11:00 Think Green 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 Chef Abroad 13:30 The Thirsty Traveler 14:00 Feast India 14:30 Distant Shores 15:00 People of the Sea 16:00 Globe Trekker 17:00 $100 Taxi Ride 17:30 Chef Abroad 18:00 Planet Food 19:00 Globe Trekker 20:00 Planet Food 21:00 Hollywood and Vines 21:30 Travel Today 22:00 Globe Trekker

00:00 01:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Music For The Masses Vh1 Music Chill Out Vh1 Hits Aerobic Vh1 Hits Music For The Masses Top 10 Fresh And New Music For The Masses Vh1 Pop Chart Vh1 Music Music For The Masses Vh1 Pop Chart Music For The Masses Ke$ha’s Top 50 US Party Pt1 Ke$ha’s Top 50 US Party Pt2 The Album Chart Show

01:50 03:35 05:10 07:05 08:40 10:30 12:00 13:45 15:10 16:45 18:35 20:20 22:00 23:35

The Rage: Carrie 2 Chattahoochee The Big Man Number One Fan Curse Of The Pink Panther The Legend Of Johnny Lingo The Pink Panther Strikes Again Haunted Honeymoon American Friends Wargames No Such Thing Madison Italian Movie Midnight Cowboy

00:05 Cow And Chicken

00:30 Cramp Twins 00:55 George Of The Jungle 01:20 Adrenalini Brothers 01:45 Eliot Kid 02:10 Ed, Edd N Eddy 02:35 Class Of 3000 03:00 The Powerpuff Girls 03:15 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 03:40 The Secret Saturdays 04:05 Codename: Kids Next Door 04:30 Ben 10 04:55 Best Ed 05:20 Samurai Jack 05:45 Cramp Twins 06:10 Eliot Kid 06:35 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 07:00 Codename: Kids Next Door 07:25 Chowder 07:50 Best Ed 08:15 Chop Socky Chooks 08:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 09:05 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 09:30 Total Drama Island 10:00 Total Drama Island 10:30 Squirrel Boy 10:55 Robotboy 11:20 Camp Lazlo 11:45 The Powerpuff Girls 12:10 Class Of 3000 12:35 Ed, Edd N Eddy 13:00 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 13:25 Codename: Kids Next Door 13:50 Ben 10 14:15 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 14:40 Squirrel Boy 15:05 Eliot Kid 15:35 Casper’s Scare School 16:00 Skunk Fu! 16:25 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes 16:50 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 17:15 The Secret Saturdays 17:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 18:05 Chop Socky Chooks 18:30 Squirrel Boy 19:00 Best Ed 19:25 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 19:50 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 20:05 The Powerpuff Girls 20:30 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 20:45 Ben 10: Alien Force 21:10 Ed, Edd N Eddy 21:35 Robotboy 22:00 Camp Lazlo 22:25 Samurai Jack 22:50 Megas Xlr 23:15 Out Of Jimmy’s Head 23:40 Chowder

00:05 00:25 01:00 06:00 06:25 06:45 07:15 07:35 07:40 08:05 08:30 08:55 09:20 09:45 10:05 10:35 11:00 11:20 11:45 12:10 12:35 13:00 14:15 14:40 15:05 15:30 15:50 15:55 16:20 16:45 17:10 17:35 18:00 18:20 18:25 19:00 19:20 19:50 20:15 20:35 21:00 21:25 21:50

The Hardy Boys Inspector Gadget Beverly Hills Teen Club Marathon Max and Ruby Rupert Rolie Polie Olie Corduroy Boo and Me Babar Babar Ned’s Newt Ned’s Newt New Adventures of Madeline Heathcliff George Shrinks Fat Dog Mendoza Sonic Underground Sonic Underground Beverly Hills Teen Club Sabrina The Animated Series New Adventures of Ocean Girl Groove Squad Cheerleaders Dennis The Menace Birdz Heathcliff Fat Dog Mendoza Boo and Me Birdz Sabrina The Animated Series New Adventures of Ocean Girl The Future is Wild Rescue Heroes Dino Squad Boo and Me Ace Lightning The Future is Wild New Adventures of Ocean Girl Sabrina The Animated Series Rescue Heroes Ace Lightning The Future is Wild New Adventures of Ocean Girl Dino Squad

Monday, August 2, 2010

33

Flight Schedule Arrival Flights on Monday 2/08/2010 Airlines Flt Route Wataniya Airways 322 Sharm El Sheikh Wataniya Airways 188 Bahrain Middle East 406 Beirut Wataniya Airways 306 Cairo Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 408 Beirut Bangladesh 045 Dhaka/Bahrain Turkish 772 Istanbul Ethiopian 620 Addis Ababa/Bahrain Jazeera 435 Mashad Air Arabia Egypt 551 Alexandria Egypt Air 614 Cairo Jazeera 267 Beirut DHL 370 Bahrain Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 138 Doha Falcon 201 Dubai Jazeera 637 Aleppo Jazeera 503 Luxor Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok Jazeera 527 Alexandria British 157 London Jazeera 529 Assiut Kuwait 204 Lahore Kuwait 382 Delhi Kuwait 302 Mumbai Fly Dubai 053 Dubai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 352 Cochin Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 362 Colombo Kuwait 344 Chennai Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 121 Sharjah Qatari 132 Doha Etihad 301 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 425 Bahrain Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 182 Bahrain Middle East 404 Beirut Wataniya Airways 102 Dubai Jazeera 165 Dubai Jazeera 447 Doha Iran Aseman 6521 Lamerd Jazeera 171 Dubai Egypt Air 610 Cairo Kuwait 672 Dubai Oman Air 645 Muscat Jordanian 800 Amman United 982 Washington DC Dulles Wataniya Airways 432 Damascus Fly Dubai 057 Dubai Jazeera 257 Beirut Wataniya Airways 332 Alexandria Wataniya Airways 422 Amman Saudia 500 Jeddah Kuwait 552 Damascus Nas Air 745 Jeddah Qatari 134 Doha Kuwait 548 Luxor Kuwait 1802 Cairo Kuwait 546 Alexandria Kuwait 678 Muscat/Abu Dhabi Kuwait 118 New York Bahrain Air 344 Bahrain Etihad 303 Abu Dhabi Emirates 857 Dubai Gulf Air 215 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 402 Beirut Saudia 510 Riyadh Arabia 125 Sharjah Jazeera 239 Amman Jazeera 493 Jeddah Jazeera 367 Deirezzor SriLankan 227 Colombo/Dubai Kuwait 104 London Wataniya Airways 304 Cairo Wataniya Airways 106 Dubai Kuwait 542 Cairo Kuwait 502 Beirut Kuwait 786 Jeddah Kuwait 618 Doha Jazeera 177 Dubai Kuwait 744 Dammam Kuwait 674 Dubai Kuwait 614 Bahrain Kuwait 774 Riyadh Indian 575 Chennai/Goa Fly Dubai 061 Dubai Middle East 402 Beirut Rovos 081 Baghdad Jet A/W 572 Mumbai KLM 0445 Amsterdam Wataniya Airways 404 Beirut Wataniya Airways 632 Rome DHL 372 Bahrain Gulf Air 217 Bahrain Emirates 859 Dubai Jazeera 459 Damascus Qatari 136 Doha United 981 Bahrain Jazeera 429 Bahrain Jazeera 449 Doha Jazeera 185 Dubai Egypt Air 612 Cairo Tunis Air 327 Tunis Lufthansa 636 Frankfurt Pakistan 239 Sialkot Wataniya Airways 108 Dubai

Time 00:10 00:30 00:40 00:50 01:05 01:05 01:05 01:15 01:45 01:45 02:00 02:05 02:10 02:15 02:25 02:55 03:25 05:25 05:45 05:50 06:15 06:20 06:30 06:40 07:10 07:20 07:50 07:55 08:00 08:05 08:10 08:20 08:20 08:25 08:40 09:00 09:25 10:25 10:45 10:45 10:50 11:05 11:15 11:20 11:45 12:40 12:55 13:15 13:15 13:35 13:35 13:35 13:50 14:05 14:05 14:10 14:30 14:35 14:55 15:05 15:10 15:30 15:30 15:35 16:15 16:40 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:40 17:40 17:55 18:00 18:35 18:35 18:45 18:50 18:50 18:55 18:55 19:05 19:15 19:20 19:20 19:25 19:30 20:05 20:20 20:30 20:30 20:40 20:50 21:00 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:35 21:55 22:15 22:30 22:40 22:55 23:35 23:45 23:55 23:55

Departure Flights on Monday 02/08/2010 Jazeera 528 Assiut 00:05 India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode 00:25 KLM 0447 Amsterdam 00:30 Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt 00:50 Safi 216 Kabul 01:00 Indian 982 Ahmedabad/Hyderabad/Chennai 01:05 Pakistan 206 Peshawar/Lahore 01:10 Middle East 407 Beirut 01:40 Bangladesh 046 Dhaka 02:15 Turkish 773 Istanbul 02:15 Ethiopian 620 Bahrain/Addis Ababa 04:15 Air Arabia Egypt 552 Alexandria 02:40 Egypt Air 615 Cairo 03:05 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 164 Dubai 07:05 Wataniya Airways 331 Alexandria 07:30 Jazeera 422 Bahrain 07:30 Jazeera 446 Doha 07:40 Gulf Air 212 Bahrain 07:45 Wataniya Airways 181 Bahrain 07:50 Jazeera 256 Beirut 08:05 Wataniya Airways 431 Damascus 08:10 British 156 London 08:25 Jazeera 170 Dubai 08:30 Kuwait 545 Alexandria 08:35 Fly Dubai 054 Dubai 08:40 Kuwait 677 Abu Dhabi/Muscat 08:45 Kuwait 1801 Cairo 08:45 Kuwait 671 Dubai 09:00 Wataniya Airways 421 Amman 09:10 Kuwait 551 Damascus 09:10 Arabia 122 Sharjah 09:20 Kuwait 547 Luxor 09:20 Wataniya Airways 631 Rome 09:30 Emirates 856 Dubai 09:40 Qatari 133 Doha 10:00 Etihad 302 Abu Dhabi 10:10 Gulf Air 214 Bahrain 11:35 Wataniya Airways 401 Beirut 11:35 Kuwait 165 Rome/Paris 11:45 Wataniya Airways 303 Cairo 11:50 Middle East 405 Beirut 11:50 Kuwait 541 Cairo 12:00 Jazeera 238 Amman 12:10 Jazeera 366 Deirezzor 12:15 Jazeera 492 Jeddah 12:15 Kuwait 103 London 12:30 Iran Aseman 6522 Lamerd 12:45 Kuwait 501 Beirut 13:00 Kuwait 785 Jeddah 13:30 Egypt Air 611 Cairo 13:55 Oman Air 646 Muscat 14:15 Wataniya Airways 105 Dubai 14:30 Jordanian 801 Amman 14:30 Fly Dubai 058 Dubai 14:35 United 982 Bahrain 14:50 Jazeera 176 Dubai 14:55 Wataniya Airways 403 Beirut 15:10 Kuwait 673 Dubai 15:10 Kuwait 617 Doha 15:35 Saudia 501 Jeddah 15:45 Nas Air 746 Jeddah 15:45 Jazeera 458 Damascus 15:50 Kuwait 773 Riyadh 16:05 Qatari 135 Doha 16:20 Kuwait 613 Bahrain 16:20 Kuwait 743 Dammam 16:25 Rovos 082 Baghdad 17:00 Bahrain Air 345 Bahrain 17:25 Etihad 304 Abu Dhabi 17:35 Gulf Air 216 Bahrain 18:05 Emirates 858 Dubai 18:05 Wataniya Airways 305 Cairo 18:05 Kuwait 543 Cairo 18:10 Arabia 126 Sharjah 18:20 Jazeera 184 Dubai 18:30 Saudia 511 Riyadh 18:35 Jazeera 448 Doha 18:50 SriLankan 228 Dubai/Colombo 19:10 Jazeera 428 Bahrain 19:20 Wataniya Airways 407 Beirut 19:25 Wataniya Airways 433 Damascus 19:30 Wataniya Airways 107 Dubai 19:40 Kuwait 283 Dhaka 20:00 Jazeera 266 Beirut 20:10 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 KLM 0445 Bahrain/Amsterdam 21:40 Gulf Air 218 Bahrain 21:55 DHL 373 Bahrain 22:00 Kuwait 675 Dubai 22:10 Emirates 860 Dubai 22:25 Jazeera 612 Lahore 22:25 Falcon 102 Bahrain 22:30 Kuwait 381 Delhi 22:30 Qatari 137 Doha 22:35 Kuwait 301 Mumbai 22:45 Kuwait 205 Islamabad 22:55 Jazeera 526 Alexandria 23:20 United 981 Washington DC Dulles 23:40 Jazeera 502 Luxor 23:40 Kuwait 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:40 Egypt Air 613 Cairo 23:55

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available with Keralite Christian family for family/bachelor/working lady in new Riqqae two bedrooms, two bathrooms CA/C flat. Contact: 66512314.

(C 2523) Sharing accommodation available for bachelors Goan/Mangalorean only with Mangalorean family near Jabriya bridge 4th Ring Road. Contact: 22662734.

(C 2524) 2-8-2010 Room available in Salmiya opposite - Al Rashid hospital for bachelors or small family, with Manglorean family. Contact: 66332653.

(C 2521) 1-8-2010 Single room accommodation required for a decent Keralite Christian bachelor with a small family in Abbassiya.

Contact: 97426334. (C 2520) 31-7-2010 Sharing accommodation room available Salmiya near garden, C-A/C building for single or family.

Call 97151921.

(C 2518) 29-7-2010 Sharing accommodation available for an executive Keralite bachelor from August in Kuwait city. Contact: 60015811, 66877140.

(C 2509) Room for sharing, Farwaniya behind Crowne Plaza near Burger King, separate bathroom, C-A/C, internet available, laundry, KD 70 monthly, for Indonesian/ Filipino. Contact: 66604286, 66925390.

(C 2515) 28-7-2010 Sharing accommodation available for a couple or two working ladies in a two bedroom flat with a small family in Abbassiya, near Time out restaurant from the end of July. Contact: 99272057/ 66015211. (C 2511) Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya for decent executive bachelor, new building separate room, independent bathroom/ balcony, Kalabhavan building,

near UI School. Contact: 97208351. (C 2510) Room available in C-A/C flat for Asian couple, Old Khaitan airport road opp Farwaniya bridge just one minute to all route bus stop, Filipina preferred. Contact: 97468551. (C 2513) A furnished room with attached bath in spacious C-AC flat with all facilities available in Ashbiliya, a new locality adjacent to Farwaniya. Contact: 99714430.

(C 2514) 27-7-2010

FOR SALE Mitsubishi box - L300, 2008 model, white color, 74,000 km.

Contact: 97626475.

(C 2525) 2-8-2010 Toyota Corolla - 97 in good running condition, genuine buyers to contact 97314402.

(C 2512) Nissan Altima model 2007/V6/2.5 engine metallic grey color, off-white cloth inside km 28000, excellent condition, price KD 2500.

Tel: 66161766.

(C 2517) 29-7-2010 Toyota Camry 2007 GL golden color, very low mileage well maintained, excellent condition, price KD 3650.

Contact:

No: 14808

66015265. (C 2504) Toyota Camry 2006 GLI silver color, with alloy wheel, remote key, fog lamp, wooden decor, excellent condition. Price KD 2950. Contact: 66033875.

SITUATION WANTED

An MBA graduate having transferable residency with 2 years experience in marketing administration is looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 66063182.

(C 2522) 2-8-2010 Indian male secretary is looking for immediate placement. 12 years Kuwait experience - complete secretarial/office administration works. Well experienced in independent correspondence/coordination / local purchase/ construction tendering works.

Call: 66597087.

(C 2501) 25-7-2010

34

SPECTRUM

Monday, August 2, 2010

Calvin

CROSSWORD 40

Aries (March 21-April 19) This is a time when you can expect a little extra support or recognition from those around you. You may feel that you are in touch and in harmony with others and the lines of communication are open. The support you need is available. You will find that you are appreciated and valued for your feelings or your ability to dive in and accomplish a job. There is an instinctive need to be powerful or perhaps, respected today. The respect is present because of your own personal makeup, but your power comes from your wisdom and the opportunity to express your wisdom. This is a communicative time and you will find yourself flexible, mental and other-oriented. Perhaps you can be all things to all people, giving them what they require.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) There is good understanding today. This may be a good day to have a family meeting with only one subject: goals. You want to accomplish more and it is about time those dreams become a reality. Giving others a chance to express their desired goals, you will find that each path is destined for success. You encourage and invite the family to keep their own journal on how they will begin to proceed. The next meeting will be on the first three steps that can be accomplished toward each goal. Plan the short term goals as well as long term goals so that there will be quick success. This is encouraging toward the long term success. With a support system and mind set in the right direction, each member will be pleased at the positive outcome.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. A group of countries in special alliance.

5. A small cake leavened with yeast.

9. Offering fun and gaiety.

13. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in India for writing paper.

14. Any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent.

15. Lacking sufficient water or rainfall.

16. A pause during which things are calm or activities are diminished.

17. An informal term for a father.

18. (Irish) Mother of the Tuatha De Danann.

19. (Babylonian) A demigod or first man.

21. Informal terms for a mother.

23. A decree that prohibits something.

24. Disparaging terms for the common people.

25. A ductile silvery-white ductile ferromagnetic trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group.

26. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

27. The German state.

29. A Kwa language spoken by the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria.

32. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

33. A public promotion of some product or service.

35. A city in western Germany near the Dutch and Belgian borders.

39. (computer science) A standardized language for the descriptive markup of documents.

42. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

43. A strip of land projecting into a body of water.

44. The act of detecting something.

46. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

48. The bill in a restaurant.

49. A German art song of the 19th century for voice and piano.

51. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots.

53. Plant with an elongated head of broad stalked leaves resembling celery.

56. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

58. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is opened and a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart.

62. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

63. (of a young animal) Abandoned by its mother and raised by hand.

65. The cry made by sheep.

66. Tag the base runner to get him out.

70. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

71. English economist noted for his studies of international trade and finance (born in 1907).

72. Any of the Hindu sacred writing.

DOWN 1. A cord fastened around the neck with an ornamental clasp and worn as a necktie.

2. (Welsh) A warrior god.

3. A Dravidian language spoken in south central India.

4. A high-crowned black cap (usually made of felt or sheepskin) worn by men in Turkey and Iran and the Caucasus.

5. Having undesirable or negative qualities.

6. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

7. A member of an agricultural people of southern India.

8. The biblical name for ancient Syria.

9. An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling of light-headedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months.

10. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa.

11. Ions are accelerated along a linear path by voltage differences on electrodes along the path.

12. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River.

20. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

22. Largest known toad species.

28. Oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food.

30. A river of southwestern Africa that rises in central Angola and flows east and then north (forming part of the border between Angola and Congo) and continuing northwest through Congo to empty into the Congo River on the border between Congo and Republic of the Congo.

31. Stairway in India leading down to a landing on the water.

34. Indigo bush.

36. Being ten more than one hundred ninety.

37. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

38. A long projecting or anterior elongation of an animal's head.

40. A member of the military police who polices soldiers and guards prisoners.

41. Of a pale purple color.

45. The branch of computer science that deal with writing computer programs that can solve problems creatively.

47. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

50. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.

52. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

54. South American armadillo with three bands of bony plates.

55. Having nine hinged bands of bony plates.

56. Committee formed by a special-interest group to raise money for their favorite political candidates.

57. A sudden short attack.

59. A French abbot.

60. With no effort to conceal.

61. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology.

64. Small cubes with 1 to 6 spots on the faces.

67. Before noon.

68. A toxic nonmetallic element related to sulfur and tellurium.

69. The eleventh month of the civil year.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You could be guiding young people in religious matters today. You are a very feeling person and can sense the drift of a situation without a lot of analysis. Question and answer sessions are fun and easy today. Enthusiasm happens this afternoon, especially when you bring young animals to lighten up the group and bring everyone together in a sense of harmony. You certainly know how to be around young people! Don't get carried away with any particular message . . . they will learn, ask questions and then they will want to play. These young people will gain a rare sense of support and this makes for a happy time. The status of a love relationship has a chance to deepen and strengthen. You may cancel some evening activity in order to give this relationship attention.

Non Sequitur

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Your positive attitude is accented today. You can expect good will from those around you for whatever task is before you. If you need help, it would be best to think carefully about the person you ask. There will be a quantity of helpers if you want a party but in seeking only one helper you will quickly achieve a positive end.

Careful, this should probably be handled with a democratic slant. An early dinner this evening may include the choice of going to a restaurant or heading out to the store to purchase the barbeque supplies. After dinner you have time to yourself. Relax and enjoy a little music. Romance is your trademark and this evening you will come up with some fascinating thoughts on how to enhance your relationship with your mate.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Today is full of learning matter.

You could be reading but more than likely you are listening to a lecture, sermon or book. History becomes real and you may fanaticize about how people will react when they read about the age in which you are living.

This thinking may produce some fun conversations at another time. The habit of referring to spiritual answers when difficulties arise is a wise move toward a peaceful frame of mind and you may work to memorize some passages. You have great discipline when it comes to working with spirituality and unity--whatever binds or links us all together. You are able to teach and show others these messages. A picnic in the park with a walk after the noon meal creates the opportunity to bond with family today.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) The world is a sacred place to you and you have an absolute commitment to spiritual insight. Intuition is a fact of life and you most often display your sensitive, kind and gentle side. Being sensitive to another person's difficulty you may decide to knit a quilt or repair some chair or any other number of things that would make this person's life easier. After your service to this person you may decide that your talents should be used more often. If you want to share the time that you set aside to help others, now would be a good time to invite a friend or two. Some cities have a meals-on-wheels program for the elderly and this would bring nourishment and a listening ear to many that need a smiling face in their life from time-to-time. This is a great time to plan.

Libra (September 23-October 22) You are in a great mood today and can think of all sorts of projects to get into. This is finally a good day to do some work in the garden or to attend a garden show and to take on a few creative ideas for your place. If there are no a garden shows, the garden shop or hardware store may serve the same purpose. If you are beginning a project, they will show you a few short cuts or give you tips to make your work easier. This afternoon is good for friends or a loved one. You have a built-in sense of what the others want and can always come up with just the right image. Your home setting is so comfortable--it is often difficult to get visitors to go home. When you are chosen to conduct a youth meeting, you may decide to hold the meeting in your home.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)You know exactly what you want when it comes to what is essential or central to a situation. If you have instructions, you can make it work or at least know how to instruct others. You are exacting when it comes to getting down to the basics. You will be working at putting together some type of furniture or equipment. This tendency for perfection may continue as you enjoy other people's art expression. Your taste in art and appreciation in general is heightened. An art exhibit or presentation, perhaps a collection of some sort, has fascinated you and this is where your interests may be this afternoon.

Your sense of value is strong. This is a great time to have some deep discussion with a loved one. Laughter is unavoidable and shared.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) This is a good time to build on those friendships that have had little nurturing lately. Talking to these friends and getting caught up on all the current news you may decide to have a gathering at your house or a nearby park to have a watermelon seed spitting party or some other excuse to gather the group.

A spur of the moment gathering might be successful but you aim for a couple of weeks in advance and are a little surprised at the enthusiasm on the other end of the phone. Encourage the group to bring a few brag pictures and bring your camera. You work with imagination and understanding in areas of the mind that are the most personal or private--in-depth psychology. You are able to create a healing, if one is needed. You are a healer.

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

00965 00974 009712 009714 009717 009716 00968 009626 00973 009661 009662 00202

Alexandria Beirut Damascus Allepo Tunisia Rabat Washington New York Paris London Madrid Zurich

00203 009611 0096311 0096321 0021610 002127 001212 001718 00331 004471 00341 00411

Word Sleuth Solution

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) There is a clear-minded insight into your own plans and methods. Your sense of direction and guidance are the keys to understanding you at any in-depth level.

You are natural at solving problems--always managing to come up with the correct approach.

There is an innate capacity to negotiate with the law and authorities, plus an ability to find your way when it comes to inner and spiritual matters.

Others sense this gift and accept guidance and advice. This is a very good time to speak about your goals--a good time for discussion and decisions.

There are many opportunities to help the less fortunate. Perhaps this would include some job guidance. Through helping others--you will have insights into all sorts of future possibilities.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Your friends, partners and relationships mean a lot to you. They are a primary source of strength that you look to for support.

You enjoy being social and will no doubt weave this fact into your lifestyle. You are above all, a natural gobetween or mediator between the generations. Family gatherings today will get your attention and you may be asked to help others see two sides of any question. Intense and perhaps somewhat private, you have a strong effect on those who come to know you. You always can say just what you mean. You have a clear-minded insight into your own plans and methods. You are able to talk about your goals and bring them into focus. This is a good time for putting your plans into action.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You appreciate tradition and regularity and can be quite happy when others do not try to change your surroundings. You may suffer regular infusions of change, which you can find very disturbing. You are very disciplined and practical when it comes to matters of home, family and career, often at the expense of your social life. Close relationships take on emotional depth, power and importance. Feeling cared for and needed is comfortable; the lack of these things can cause an instinctive feeling of uneasiness. You are eager to complete a few projects or items on your list for today and someone else is willing to give you a massage. An afternoon picnic or movie may help.

INFORMATION

Monday, August 2, 2010

35 FIRE BRIGADE Operation Room 112 Al-Madena 22418714 Al-Shohada’a 22545171 Al-Shuwaikh 24810598 Al-Nuzha 22545171 Sabhan 24742838 Al-Helaly 22434853 Al-Fayhaa 22545051 Al-Farwaniya 24711433 Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983 Al-Fahaheel 23927002 Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983 Ahmadi 23980088 Al-Mangaf 23711183 Al-Shuaiba 23262845 Al-Jahra 25610011 Al-Salmiya 25616368

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 HOSPITALS Sabah Hospital

24812000

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22450005

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24843100

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25312700

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24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

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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

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22517733

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24849807

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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

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25316254

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25623444

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25388462

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25381200

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22630786

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24810221

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24770319

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24775066

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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

Rabiya

4732263

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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

36

Cole thanks Hough for saving her life C

heryl Cole has praised Derek Hough for saving her life. The Girls Aloud star - who is on the mend after falling ill with malaria - has thanked her close friend for demanding medics carried out further tests when her condition was still undiagnosed. She reportedly told a friend: “Derek saved my life. If he hadn’t spoken out to the doctors and told them he thought something was seriously wrong I would probably have died. “I thought I had a bad case of flu and

Bilson’s ‘OC’ nostalgia

he singing sensation - who sold over 8.5 million copies of her debut LP ‘I Dreamed A Dream’, and is believed to have earned over £10 million in royalties after finding fame on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ - is “distressed” at having to live off the low wage, after being banned from withdrawing money from the bank or owning a credit card. Her brother Gerry Boyle said: “Her millions are ring-fenced but Susan has no concept of money. She was extremely distressed.” Susan’s fortune is currently being looked after by her management team - consisting of Andy Stephens, Ossie Killkenny, and Susan’s lawyer niece Kirsty Foy - and she is unable to access it herself. Susan’s financial situation

T

Scarlett Johansson has time for shopping he ‘Iron Man 2’actress - who is married to ‘Green Lantern’ actor Ryan Reynolds - insists her profession doesn’t keep her as busy as it may seem and she often goes long periods without work. She explained: “I don’t have the busiest agenda. I’m just an actress for hire. So I have months and months where I just sit around and wait for jobs. There’s always time for shopping”. For those times she is working, Scarlett talked about her ideal wardrobe for a movie career that takes her all over the world. She said:

T

“When I’m travelling the most important things is to pack items that go easily from day to night. So that could be a nice easy jacket or blazer, a pair of black trousers, boots, and a dress that can be worn with leggings.” Scarlett has previously admitted that she enjoys having fun with fashion but doesn’t think her style is any different to that of other women. She said: “I’m a girl - of course I like getting dressed up. I’m a girlie girl, I like clothes, fashion and all that stuff. It’s fun. “But I think I dress like a regular girl from New York.”

achel Bilson misses working on ‘The OC’. The 28-year-old actress - who rose to fame playing Summer Roberts in the American teen drama series -had a “phenomenal” time working on the show, which ran for four seasons until February 2007, and misses working with her co-stars Mischa Barton, Adam Brody and Benjamin McKenzie. She said: “I do miss Summer terribly.

‘The OC’ was the most phenomenal time. I saw Mischa at Cannes, but I honestly miss everyone from the show.” The actress believes she has been able to avoid Hollywood trouble because she was 21 when she first appeared in the show - whereas her co-star Mischa was just a teenager. She explained: “I do fall out of cars, but not because I am drunk, but because I am clumsy. I think the girls who come to fame younger fall into all that partying, but I did it before I became famous. I mean I was 21 when ‘The OC’ started, Mischa was 16. I can’t imagine dealing with that kind of success at that age. My life may have been very different if I had started out that young.”

R

Kruger cuts her boyfriend hair

everyone else agreed. I was even told to stay at home and get some rest. The doctors were so certain it was not serious, and I believed them.” The 27-year-old beauty was bitten by a mosquito whilst on a trip in Tanzania with the ‘Dancing With The Stars’ hunk back in June, causing her to fall ill. After collapsing during a photoshoot, Cheryl was taken to hospital and reportedly sent home after being told she had flu and was suffering from exhaustion. Hours later Derek insisted she went back to the Cromwell Hospital in West London, where he demanded doctors took out a series of blood tests to discover what was wrong with her - and they learned she had the potentially life-threatening tropical disease. Derek is now determined to help Cheryl recover and has promised her mother Joan Callaghan he will make sure she eats properly and gets plenty of rest. A source said: “Derek blames himself for Cheryl getting the malaria and was terrified she was going to die. She’s become so important to him, he could not imagine his life without her. He was worried sick and was going without food and sleep he was so concerned. Derek is just thankful she is OK now - and he has vowed to stay close to her so he can do everything he can to make sure she stays healthy. “Derek has been put under strict instructions to make sure Cheryl eats properly and doesn’t overdo it. He has to check in with Joan every day to reassure her. But Joan trusts him and has been really impressed at how he has been there for Cheryl. Derek has been at her side constantly.”

Monday, August 2, 2010

is so bad, Gerry claims she has been unable to move into her new £300,000 home in Blackburn, West Lothian, because she can’t afford to buy furniture. Gerry told the News of the World newspaper: “Susan said to me, ‘I’ve been told I get £300 a week because I’m a novice.

I don’t have the money to go and buy the furniture.’ “She should be able to walk into a bank anywhere and say she wants £50,000 cash.

That may not be advisable, but it would be her choice because it’s her money.” The ‘Wild Horses’ singer was even forced to call an emergency meeting on June 17 to discuss her financial troubles and is concerned this means her career could be coming to an end. Gerry has now pleaded for music mogul

ia ne Kruger cuts her boyfriend Joshua Jackson’s hair. The ‘Inglourious Basterds’ actress who has been dating the former ‘Dawson’s Creek’ actor since 2006 - admits she often gives his locks a trim at home, so as not to destroy his television-watching routines. She said: “I cut Josh’s hair all the time. He loves it because he can watch TV. I’ve only messed it up once, when he

D

Simon Cowell - who owns her label SyCo and was a ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judge - to reassure Susan her record deal isn’t under threat.

He said: “Susan’s under the impression that her management can take her career away.

Obviously that’s not the case. But I’ve asked for someone Susan trusts at SyCo - even Simon himself - to simply confirm she will not lose her contract. “She should be riding high, developing her career, travelling the world. She shouldn’t be worried about money when she has millions in the bank.” A SyCo spokesperson said: “Finances are handled directly between an artist and their management, therefore we do not comment on such matters.”

was moving around.” The 34year-old actress has also revealed she sold her car so she could spend more time riding her bike.

She explained: “I’m an outdoorsy person, I love to hike and I sold my car - I have a bicycle. I’m not big on going to the gym, but I’ve always pretty much been the same weight. I don’t ever weight myself, but you know when your jeans start feeling a little tighter?

Then I have yoghurt and muesli

days.” Diane also revealed she doesn’t wear deodorant - but uses perfume to stay smelling fresh. She added to InStyle magazine: “I’m allergic to deodorants, so I spritz scent under my armpits! Then wrists, then one little spritz here on my decolletage. Josh has only known me to wear one other fragrance and now Calvin Klein Beauty. I had to ‘boyfriend’ test” it - he approved.”

Roberts thinks too old for comedy

J

ulia Roberts thinks she’s too old for romantic comedy movies. The ‘Pretty Woman’ actress who has five-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus and son Henry, three, with her cameraman husband Daniel Moder - admits she feels far too mature to portray a lovelorn character now she has turned 42. She said: “I think I’m too old for those silly situations of unrequited love! It becomes less plausible when you’re in the 40s to be walking down in the hallways because a boy walks by! I’ve read a couple lately that are more original and more

mature, but they just didn’t seem to fit for me.” Julia has had a very extensive acting career, with movies including ‘Runaway Bride’, ‘Notting Hill’ and ‘The Mexican’. However, Julia doesn’t mind taking work at a slower pace now she is a mother. She said: “I feel my reward for working 18 years before having kids is that I can take the time I need for my family between jobs. “It’s a great relief! You know, somebody asked me the other day and I said, ‘God is great’. The world has been a gracious place for me as an actor and I can’t explain any of it.”

Paris Hilton loves to cook aris Hilton loves cooking for her friends. The 29-year-old socialite - who has been single since splitting with ‘The Hills’ star Doug Reinhardt earlier this year insists she is an “amazing cook” and loves nothing than spending her free time creating delicious culinary treats for her pals. She said: “I love just to, you know make a big breakfast and call my friends. I love cooking and I’m a great cook. For breakfast, I make amazing French toast. Breakfast is, like my favorite meal of the day so I always make it really big, with maybe, some omelettes and pancakes. “I also make the best lasagne you’ve ever tasted.”

Despite her slender frame, Paris isn’t afraid to indulge in her favorite calorific treats because she knows her active lifestyle will prevent her piling on the pounds. She explained: “My weakness is fries and cheese. I love my food. I have a slim figure anyway but I always exercise. “I like to do Pilates and I run around my estate. I go for rides on my cute little pink bike. I’m always rushing around so much my friends call me ‘The Machine’.” — Bang Showbiz

P

SPECTRUM

Monday, August 2, 2010

R eviews

37

Music & Movies

ARTIST: BRET MICHAELS ALBUM: CUSTOM BUILT ustom Built,” the Poison frontman’s first solo album since 2005’s “Freedom of Sound,” is a mixed-bag affair, with songs from his various reality TV pursuits sprinkled among new tunes, covers, remixes and a handful of previously released tracks. The fresh material isn’t likely to expand your idea of who Bret Michaels is. The songs “Lie to Me” and “Wasted Time” adhere to Poison’s familiar hair-metal style, while “Nothing to Lose” (with a Miley Cyrus cameo) is the kind of midtempo power ballad the singer has been using to seduce leather-clad ladies for more than two decades. But a bizarre grunge-rap take on Sublime’s “What I Got” suggests that Michaels dreams of one day becoming a kind of trailer park Tom Waits. And a synth-heavy club mix of “Go That Far,” the theme song from Michaels’ hit VH1 series “Rock of Love,” is just straight-up weird.

“C

Director/Producer Jay Roach confers with Stephanie Szostak, far left, as Julie, Paul Rudd, as Tim, center, and Steve Carell, as Barry, right, on the set of “Dinner for Schmucks.”

— MCT

ARTIST: BLAKE SHELTON ALBUM: ALL ABOUT TONIGHT e know that Blake Shelton can make a solid full-length album, but he’s definitely onto something with these “Six Pak” EPs. Like his album “Hillbilly Bone” earlier this year, which reached No 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and launched the hit title track, the singer’s latest set, “All About Tonight,” is a satisfying sprint without fat or filler but packs plenty of fun. The title track is a spirited party anthem with a “tomorrow can wait ‘til tomorrow” refrain that would make Jimmy Buffett proud, while “Got a Little Country” and “Draggin’ the River”-a sly murder fantasy duet with fiancee Miranda Lambert-are bootscootin’ honky-tonk fare. On the more poignant tip is “Suffocating,” a heart-wringing lost-love paean written

by Lambert and Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, and “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” mixes humor and pathos with a sweet melody and a wry attitude. The EP concept behind “All About Tonight” may seem small, but like its predecessor, it delivers big.

W

ARTIST: KELIS ALBUM: FLESH TONE uoyed by a favorable divorce settlement, a baby boy and a newly released high-energy dance album, “Flesh Tone,” the recently single Kelis is ready to bring the boys back to the yard. Backed by an elevating electro beat on the David Guetta-produced first single, “Acapella,” the raspy-voiced New Yorker proclaims, “Before you, my whole life was acapella/Now a symphony’s the only song to sing.” And accompanied by a thumping bass line and an intergalactic-style production on second single “4th of July (Fireworks),” Kelis sings about an intoxicating love. During the song “Scream” she confesses to being in a love rut, but gets it all out over a soothing piano line. Alongside a throbbing dance beat on “Emancipate,” the singer finds a healthy, balanced love (“Let me tell you what love is/It’s when you meet each other halfway/ I’m en route”).

B

ARTIST: KENNY G ALBUM: HEART AND SOUL uring his nearly 30-year career, Grammy Awardwinning saxophonist Kenny G has become one of the most celebrated artists in contemporary jazz. On his 13th studio album, “Heart and Soul,” the artist returns to his R&B roots after 2008’s “Rhythm and Romance,” which featured takes on Latin jazz. The opening title track begins with a flighty melody line backed by a bouncy, two-step track. And with the aid of colorful percussion and chompy organ fills, the cut “Deja Vu” brings an engaging R&B drive with much more punch than the saxophonist’s usual fare. Delicate strings of trilled melody hover above the surface on “Fall Again,” which also features the reverberant chime of nylon-string guitars and the syrupy crooning of R&B singer Robin Thicke. Babyface adds to the seduction, lending his vocals to the sentimental “No Place Like Home.”

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ARTIST: SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS ALBUM: DISCONNECT FROM DESIRE t’s hard to imagine School of Seven Bells turning to Brian Eno’s list of “Oblique Strategies” for inspiration. Because from the sound of its new album, it used his “disconnect from desire” suggestion in title alone. This kinetic collection of delectable dream pop and dance-inflected art rock follows through and then some on the band’s 2008 debut, “Alpinisms.”

Opener/single “Windstorm” is aptly titled, the guitars and synths whirling and twirling as singer/guitarist Alejandra Deheza takes the lead in lieu of the band’s usual, literal twin-voice approach with her sister, keyboardist Claudia. Still, there’s no resisting their entwined voices; they’re an ethereal force singing of farewells both devastating (the gorgeous My Bloody Valentine nod “I L U”) and dismissive (the freestyle-esque “Bye Bye Bye”). Ex-Secret Machines guitarist Benjamin Curtis infuses the tracks with subtle, hypnotic parts (“Babelonia” and “Dust Devil” in particular), and they’re paired with heartfelt lyrics that speak to one’s inner self. For the listener, disconnecting will be all but impossible. —Reuters

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Steve Carell isn’t really a ‘Schmuck’

By Julie Hinds ove over, Michael Scott, Steve Carell’s character in “Dinner for Schmucks” is even more oblivious than the socially inept manager that the actor plays on NBC’s “The Office.” In the comedy, which opens Friday, Carell portrays Barry, an IRS employee and amateur taxidermist who’s the hilarious heart of the film.

“It’s just a guy trying to make it through and to keep a healthy, positive outlook on things,” says Carell. “And it’s nice to run into somebody like that, even if they make your life a living hell.”

The 47-year-old star of movies and television didn’t see the French film “The Dinner Game” that inspired “Dinner for Schmucks” on purpose. “It was for the same reason that I didn’t watch the British ‘Office.’ I just didn’t want that to sort of cloud whatever characterization I was going to attempt,” he explains.

Carell delivers an endearing performance as Barry, a well-intentioned man who wreaks havoc on the life of Tim (Paul Rudd), a financial analyst who’s hoping to move up the corporate ladder. Tim is asked to attend the next monthly dinner at his boss’s house, only it’s not just an ordinary gathering of colleagues. It’s a contest to see who can bring the most ridiculous person to the dinner. And Tim, who meets Barry by accident, decides to invite him.

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In “The Office” and movies like “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” Carell excels at playing offbeat characters who are lovable and have a sensitive side. He’s able to see that there’s a lot more to the roles than just the goofiness. Barry may be irritating, but he’s essentially a good guy, according to Carell. “I think he is oblivious to a certain extent because of his own heartache and pain. And I think who he is is very much defined by what has happened to him. I think he’s somebody that has always been a very trusting, good, positive person. And in being that way, he’s certainly been injured emotionally many, many times,” he says in a recent phone interview.

Talking about Barry, he recalls covering a convention of Klingon speakers when he was a correspondent for “The Daily Show.” “Of course, you have all these predetermined attitudes of what these people are going to be like. And they turned out to be just the sweetest group of people who like to get together and talk Klingon. There was nothing even weird about it. They were just having fun.”

Barry’s hobby isn’t inspired by “Star Trek,” but it’s equally unusualand oddly charming. He makes elaborate dioramas where dead mice are dressed as people. “Boy, would I love to keep one of those dioramas,” says Carell. “I think they’re being used for promotion right now, but I hope at

some point I get to have one of the mouse dioramas-the mouseterpiecesfor myself.” “Dinner for Schmucks” is directed by Jay Roach, who helmed “Meet the Parents,” and boasts costars like Jemaine Clement (HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords”), Zach Galifianakis (“The Hangover”) and David Walliams

(HBO’s “Little Britain”).

Carell says it was fun to work with those actors and his friend Rudd, who previously starred with him in “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” “He and I have kind of parallel lives right now,” says Carell of Rudd.

‘Dinner for Schmucks’ takes early box office lead teve Carell’s new comedy “Dinner For Schmucks” took an early lead at the weekend box office in North America, according to preliminary estimates issued Saturday, but faces a close race with reigning champ “Inception” for overall honors. “Schmucks” opened to $8.4 million Friday, while “Inception” earned $8.15 million, said their respective distributors Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros Pictures. They are each on track to finish up in the low-$20 million range when estimates for the three-day period are issued late yesterday.

Also new were Universal Pictures’ Zac Efron psychological melodrama “Charlie St Cloud” at No 4 with solid Friday sales of $5.6 million, and the Warner Bros sequel

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“Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” at No 6 with a weak $4.2 million. “Schmucks,” which garnered mixed reviews, stars Carell as a buffoon invited to a party for oddballs hosted by wealthy businessmen who lampoon their idiocy.

Paul Rudd co-stars, and Jay Roach of “Austin Powers” fame directs.

Carell’s last live-action comedy “Date Night,” co-starring Tina Fey, earned $25 million during its first weekend in April en route to a North American haul of $98 million.

The ubiquitous star of the sitcom “The Office” is currently in theaters as the lead voice in the hit cartoon “Despicable Me.” “Inception,” the Leonardo DiCaprio dreams thriller that has led the box office for the last two weekends, has earned $174 million to date. —Reuters

“We both have two little kids. And we’ve both been married for a number of years. And I think he has a very similar work ethic ... I think the things we find funny are very similar as well.”

Although Carell has become a boxoffice star-this year, he’s also starred in “Date Night” with Tina Fey and “Despicable Me,” for which he did voice work-he didn’t envision this sort of success when he was starting his career.

“I moved to Chicago after college in the hopes of just getting some experience and I really had no designs on being discovered or anything beyond a potential paycheck,” says Carell, who’s originally from Massachusetts. He worked at Chicago’s Second City, the famous comedy troupe. And he’s still an ensemble actor at heart. “With ‘The Office,’ with this (‘Dinner for Schmucks’), I feel most comfortable as a member of an ensemble,” he says.

There’s been a lot of buzz about what will happen over at “The Office” now that Carell plans to leave the show at the end of the next season.

Asked about the flurry of media attention, he says, “It’s good that there’s that much interest in the show and that after six seasons, people still care.

I think that’s a nice sign. Whatever the speculations are, I’m sure the show will continue on and be incredibly strong.” But he doesn’t want to play the who’ll-replace-Michael-Scott game.

“I don’t know what the plan is. —MCT

Jarreau leaves hospital in France jazz singer Al Jarreau was discharged from hospital yesterday after being treated for heart problems and plans to continue his European tour tomorrow, hospital authorities in Marseille said. Jarreau, 70, collapsed during a concert in Barcelonnette in southeast France on July 22 and was admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties.

He is due to give his next concert at Hanau, Germany,

US

File photo shows US Jazz singer Al Jarreau.

tomorrow after three concerts were cancelled last week in Germany, Austria and Slovakia. Jarreau said on his website he expected to complete the rest of his European tour and fulfill other concert commitments in the United States, Japan and elsewhere after doctors in Marseille successfully treated him for arrhythmia, or heart palpitations. Jarreau, winner of seven Grammy awards, is the composer of such hits as “Boogie Down” and “Roof

Freddie Gibbs prefers his rap ‘Str8 Killa,’

By Jason Lipshutz reddie Gibbs has nothing against rap artists who embrace catchy hooks to land on pop radio, but that’s not his style. He didn’t need a hit single to draw attention to both of his 2009 mixtapes, and he’s about to delve deeper into hardcore street rap on his new EP, “Str8 Killa.” “I’m not trying to obey the rules of radio,” the MC says. “I’m trying to bring gangster rap back to the forefront, like in the early ‘90s.” Growing up in crime-ridden Gary, Ind, Gibbs was too preoccupied “in sports and in the streets” to consider a rap career until his early 20s, when a few friends brought him to a nearby studio. Gibbs started issuing mixtapes within his neighborhood, and in 2006 the rapper signed to Interscope and packed his bags for Southern California.

Gibbs recorded throughout 2007, but disagreements with Interscope forced him to leave the label before releasing any material. He saved his work from his Interscope tenure and self-released some of the material on a pair of 2009 mixtapes, “The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs” and “Midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik.” The references to Lauryn Hill and OutKast in the mixtape titles suggest that Gibbs’ gravelly flow is influenced by more than just genre touchstones like Dr Dre and 2Pac. “My core thing is gangster rap, but a lot of my music is melodic and carries a message of survival,” Gibbs says.—Reuters

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Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman arrives at “Coffee With...” event on closing day of the 16th Sarajevo Film Festival, on July 31, 2010. —AFP

Serbian film ‘Tilva Ros’ wins Sarajevo festival erbian drama “Tilva Ros” won the best film award at the 16th Sarajevo Film Festival, the Balkan region’s biggest such competition, organisers said on Saturday. The film directed by Nikola Lezaic-a story of two teenagers’ growing pains in a dying mining town in eastern Serbia-won the Heart of Sarajevo prize at the end of the nine-day festival.

Young Serbian actor Marko Todorovic won the best actor award for his performance in the movie. Mirela Oprisor won the best actress award for her role in the Romanian movie “Marti, Dupa Craciun” (“Tuesday, After Christmas”). Some 200 films were screened at the festival that was launched as an act of resistance during Bosnia’s 1992-1995 war. This year, Oscar-winning US star Morgan Freeman was the festival’s guest of honor.

The festival ended late Saturday with the screening of Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus,” a film based on the momentous 1995 Rugby World Cup. Freeman was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the former South African president Nelson Mandela in Eastwood’s movie. In Sarajevo, Freeman met young filmmakers from the Balkans region.

The US actor won an Oscar for his role in 2004’s Eastwood boxing drama “Million Dollar Baby.”—AFP

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Monday, August 2, 2010

Travel

By Kerri Westenberg

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n sunny days, Lake McDonald shimmers like blue silk, enticing visitors to plunge into its richly colored water. But that would be a mistake. Hypothermia would quickly set in because the lake is fed by the same forces that formed it: glaciers.

So instead, I explored its waters the way so many other tourists have since Montana’s Glacier National Park was created 100 years ago. I boarded a creaking wooden tour boat. The double-decker DeSmet, with its varnished wood benches and thick coats of

I boarded Amtrak’s Empire Builder at 10:30 one night in mid-June for the 21-hour trip to Glacier, fell into the bed of my sleeper car and awoke the next morning somewhere in the middle of North Dakota.

Outside the window, ponds with ducks and cattails, bluffs with cattle and wildflowers, and the occasional small-scale oil well dotted the rolling landscape.

Passengers swayed down the aisle, keeping rhythm with the train’s rocking, as they made their way to the dining car for breakfast. Others slept on their broad, reclined seats, legs sprawled across footrests and heads pressed into pillows decorated with

Builder line-I learned that the Krobs were on their way to Sacramento, Calif, to attend a Laurel and Hardy convention. Roger, who resembles Stan Laurel, is the vice-sheik of Busy Bodies, essentially a group that celebrates the early Hollywood comedy team. Laurel and Hardy, it turns out, appeal to the Krobs because they represent a simpler time, when life was less complicated-a lot like the railroad.

That night at dinner, sitting beside a lifelong Montana farmer, I got my first jolting look at the Rockies-towering peaks that abruptly soar into view after endless miles of prairie. By dessert, the train

was rolling past the southern border of Glacier National Park and its mountains of wilderness, lush gorges and whitewater rapids on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. It wasn’t the majesty of the landscape that spurred St Paul railroad baron James J. Hill and his son Louis to fight for its designation as a national park . Rather, it was its potential to generate money.

The route of their Great Northern Railway to the Pacific Ocean was laid down by 1893. With the help of Blackfeet Indians, the railway’s engineer had found Marias Pass, the lowest point through the

Lake McDonald Lodge sits among majestic peaks in Glacier National Park. — MCT photos

turquoise and white paint, eased from the dock with a low-grade rumble one bright morning this summer.

From the open-air upper deck, I watched beyond the stern as mountains, still draped in snow, rippled in the water’s reflection. “We saw a bear and a bald eagle yesterday. Keep an eye out,” our guide told us.

The DeSmet has been carrying tourists past such scenes since it was built in 1930. Before roads cut through the thick forest, the boat and others that preceded it ferried tourists from a point near West Glacier rail station, where many of them arrived, to Lake McDonald Lodge. The boat ride was not my only brush with history. The evening before, I’d arrived by train-following the same remarkable route laid down by St Paul’s Great Northern Railway more than 100 years earlier.

SpongeBob or embroidered flowers.

Throughout the day, the train made brief stops at small towns with near-empty main streets. At one, a few passengers who know the timing of the line well scampered across the tracks to a bar advertising music and beer with rusting signs; it was time for their happy hour-more like 15 minutes. “The scenery, plus no driving,” said Roger Krob of Superior, Wis, explaining why he and his wife, Cora, take the train whenever they can. I met the couple during our own true happy hour, a wine and cheese tasting for sleeping car passengers in the Empire Builder’s dining car.

As we sipped Oregon wines out of plastic cups and ate chunks of Wisconsin cheese on crackersproducts from states on either end of the Empire

In mid-June, a fire helps warm the lobby of the Lake McDonald Lodge.

THE BASICS: Glacier National Park became the 10th national park on May 11, 1910. It preserves more than 1 million acres of land carved by glaciers and includes 25 remnant glaciers in Montana’s Rocky Mountains. Going to the Sun Road, the only road across the park, offers scenic views as it climbs over the Continental Divide. Snow makes it unpassable for much of the year.

WHERE TO STAY: Belton Chalet, the first of the hotels built in the area by the Great Northern Railway, opened in 1910 and still serves travelers (www.beltonchalet.com; 1-406-888-5000).

Glacier Park Lodge and Many Glaciers Hotel, both built by the railway, and Lake McDonald Lodge, which the railway purchased in the 1930s, are in the park. Book through Glacier Park Inc. (www.glacier-

Red buses, known as ‘jammers,’ have been providing tours of Glacier National Park since the late 1930s.

Continental Divide, at 5,216 feet. The Hills understood that a national park would bring riders to that relatively new route. When Glacier joined the park system in 1910, the railroad company was ready. It built clapboard lodges adorned with window boxes and created ads designed to lure people to what they called “America’s Switzerland.”

Its Belton Chalet was welcoming visitors just two months after the park opened-and it still is, even if rooms are spartan by today’s standards. For my first day in the park, I headed to a grander accommodation, Lake McDonald Lodge, which opened in 1914.

The scenery on the Going to the Sun, the only only road that cuts through the park, was stunning: turnouts led to rocky beaches or views of glacier-scoured mountains.

At Lake McDonald, I got a slightly different vantage aboard the DeSmet. From his small cockpit, Capt. Fiske Firebaugh used a speaker system to tell his 18 passengers that something called glacial flourminuscule particles of rock generated by glacial erosion-gives the lake its unique color. He told us that 14 other boats lie at the lake’s bottom: “With all the wood around, it was easier to sink a boat and build a new one than to haul an old one out for repairs.”

The boat glided past young evergreens taking hold amid the bare trunks of trees that had burned during the devastating fires of 2003. Firebaugh told us about the natural recovery of the forest, a happy tale of nature. But then he shared some sobering statistics: There are only 25 glaciers in this national park named after the frozen wonders of nature. Last year, the count stood at 27; in 1985, it was 150.

He added no commentary to the facts. But in answer to a curious visitor, Firebaugh explained, “I’ve learned not to say anything about global warming. It’s not worth the fights.” Dr Lyman B Sperry, an early supporter of the park, once wrote, “Finding that a single day in this remarkable place could give but a taste of its delights, some of our party determined to visit again as soon as practicable.” I decided the same. I hadn’t scaled any peaks, and I had yet to see a glacier because the highest parts of the Going to the Sun Road were still closed by snow in mid-June.

But I knew my visit would have to be soon, while seeing one of the namesake glaciers is still possible.

parkinc.com; 1-406-892-2525). Nationalparkreservations.com-which often pops up during Web searches for lodging in the park, though it is not a park concessionaire-charges a 10 percent nonrefundable fee for processing a reservation.

TRAVELER’S INFO: For more information on the park and other lodging options, go to www.nps.gov/glac or phone 1-406-888-7800.

RIDING THE RAILS: Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which runs between Chicago and Portland and Seattle, travels along the southern border of Glacier National Park and makes stops for parkgoers at East Glacier Park, Essex and West Glacier. Amtrak offers three kinds of sleeper cars and coach seats, which are comparable to first-class airplane seats. Book early for best fares (www.amtrak.com; 1-800-872-7245). — MCT

Belton Chalet was the first lodge built by the Great Northern Railway.

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SPECTRUM

Monday, August 2, 2010

Travel

By Tony Hicks

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his couldn’t be Catalina. I had two visions of Santa Catalina Island, which, if the 1958 Four Preps hit single is correct, is 26 miles off the shore of Long Beach. My first idea was that Catalina was some sort of amusement park or quaint-yet-sparse beach community. The second was that it was a semi-rugged place-like Angel Island in San Francisco Bay-with a couple hotels and restaurants to signify civilization. I was not prepared for what I saw when the ferry pulled into Avalon Harbor.

I was right about the rugged mountains in the distance. But leading down to the water were rows and rows of buildings, the color and layout resembling a postcard from Greece. The town followed the natural curve of the clear-water cove filled with hundreds of boats. The place was sunny, beautiful and vibrant. But there must’ve been some serious golf tournament happening, I thought, because there were golf carts everywhere.

About 85 percent of the island’s 4,000 or so residents live in Avalon (the summer population increases by about 50 percent, thanks to tourists and the seasonal workers who serve them).

Avalon is a compact seaside paradise, where Europe meets old Hollywood in style and nearly everything is within range of a good walk, hence the golf carts (everyone in Avalon is allowed one golf cart; the waiting list to bring cars and trucks onto the Island is at least 15 years long). The streets are narrow, and vehicles are prohibited on most of the waterfront strip of bars, stores and restaurants, which helps keep the air fresh, the sounds natural and the area alive with people.

Catalina has a long history of being a weekend getaway for Hollywood and the well-off, a legacy the island embraces but also seeks to expand.

What used to be a two- to three-day trip can now easily stretch to a week (or more, if you want to explore the interior and, perhaps, stumble upon a herd of buffalo). The Santa Catalina Island Company-owned by the Wrigley family which, essentially, used to own the entire island-has made major tourist upgrades during the past year.

The company is making a big play for people who can’t afford a trip to Europe.

It’s emphasizing more activities and night life than seems possible in a town so small. New activities include a thrilling Zip Line Eco Adventure, extending from the mountains to the beach (book in advance, as it’s usually packed). Since Avalon lies in a sheltered cove facing the mainland, it lacks the natural sandy beaches. That’s no prob-

lem, as Avalon constructed its own kid-friendly strip of beach on the waterfront. Farther north, past the historic Casino (which, I discovered, means “gathering place” in Italian, not “great place to get free drinks while losing two grand”), the company recently introduced the new Descanso Beach Club, with private cabanas on a white sand beach. One can finish the zip line tour and stroll about 100 yards to a lounge chair as plush as a good mattress.

The island also offers a variety of inland tours and water trips, including the Undersea Tour in a half-submarine (think the “Finding Nemo” ride at Disneyland with real fish), parasailing, a glass bottom boat tour, and the Flying Fish Boat Trip, where one finds proof that fish really can fly.

Beginning in August, visitors can stroll the ocean floor in a dive suit on the Sea Trek Undersea Adventure.

Old Chicago Cubs lockers are featured at the Catalina Country Club.— MCT photos

By Josh Noel

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uggage is like a fresh haircut-if it’s good, you shouldn’t think much about it. If it’s bad, it’ll make you crazy at every turn. Particularly for business travel, luggage is key. Compact, sturdy and reliable make 5:30 am wake-up calls and long hours in the airport far more tolerable. That’s why we arrived at the recent Summer

1. Business backpacks-Several companies recently have taken a shot at this increasingly popular item. Kenneth Cole, for instance, offers a black backpack retailing for $99.95 that has thick, fashionable zippers and would look absurd on a hiking trail-by design. “You don’t want to walk into a business meeting with a JanSport,” a dealer told me. “We want to make something that looks good and transports easily.”

Zuca’s suitcase doubles as a chair.

— MCT photos

Country Club are almost as good as the buffalo milk (Catalina’s big on buffalo). An after-dinner visit to the bar is mandatory, where Chicago Cubs memorabilia adorn the walls. Owned by the Wrigleys, the Cubs held spring training on Catalina most years from 1922 to 1951. Their field was near the Country Club, which served as a locker room, part of which remains, next to the bar.

The Casino is the historical pride and joy of Avalon. During the big-band era, performers such as Benny Goodman and Count Basie played to thousands on the world’s biggest circular dance floor. Downstairs remains Avalon’s only theater-a 1,184-seat beautiful throwback to the days when it premiered the world’s first talking film, “The Jazz Singer.” One film still plays weekly, changing every Friday. The Casino Tour was a surprising high point of the trip. For that matter, the entire trip was a surprising high point.— MCT

Golf carts are more prevalent than cars on the streets of Avalon.

Luggage Gift & Travel Goods Show in Chicago with an eye on the new, the reliable and the useful. Here is some of the best of what we found while trolling the aisles.

2. The “wide body”The typical rolling

The company’s other upgrades include a renovation of the Pavilion Hotel, with a fire pit, expanded outdoor lounging and dining (with continental breakfast and afternoon wine and cheese). With so much to do while the sun is up, the quality of the small town’s night life was surprising. Live music fills the air, divided between rowdy karaoke and pro live bands (Spencer “Gimmie Some Lovin’” Davis supposedly lives in Avalon and occasionally sits in with various bands). There are enough dance clubs (try the Chi Chi Club after 10 pm) and rowdy bars (the Marlin Club is the oldest and perhaps best bar in Avalon) to keep most partiers happy.

The restaurants at least equal the bars in both quality and service. People in Avalon are friendlyespecially in talking about the island’s history. The buffalo burger is as savory as the swordfish at the new Avalon Grille-try the deep fried Oreo for dessert. The ahi and Angus filet at the Catalina

carry-on is 22 inches tall and significantly taller than it is wide. The newer 20-inch-long design is closer to a square so business travelers can fit the bag in overhead compartments of increasingly common regional jets, which have much smaller storage space. Like the backpack, several companies also are making this bag, including Travelpro, Briggs & Riley, and Hartmann.

3.

Your carry-on becomes a table-After seeing a traveler drop his laptop twice at a terminal, Michael DeVolder came up with this contraption that retails for $39.95 and weighs a shade less than 2 pounds.

Simply extend

GETTING THERE: The Long Beach airport is a quick shuttle trip to the Catalina Ferry ($65 round-trip from Long Beach Harbor).

WHERE TO EAT: Avalon Grille — 423 Crescent Ave., 310-510-7494, www.discovercatalina.com/#/avalongrille/. Features a nice mix of food, from buffalo burgers to swordfish and steak, plus an excellent variety of appetizers and dessert; Catalina Country Club — 1 Country Club Drive, 310510-7404. Has a delicious selection of beef and fish, plus a great bar specializing in buffalo milk cocktails.

An interior view of the Avalon Theater can be seen at Santa Catalina Island, California.

the handle of your roller case, unfold this table and attach via two rounded hooks. “It’s an instant table, whether for your computer or your lunch,” he said. It’s a tad bulky to drag around but beats a hot laptop on your lap. (traveltable.com)

The 19-inch-long bag is encased in an anodized aluminum frame that indeed makes for a sturdy and comfortable seat, perfect if airport seats at your gate are full or, as is sometimes the case, gross. It retails for $285, but we saw it at overstock.com for $205. Or visit zuca.com. — MCT

4. Korchmar’s magnetic snapping briefcase-A fourth-generation familyowned company based in Naples, Fla, Korchmar has developed a line of cases that are easy to open but stay snugly closed thanks to neodymium boron magnets. Better still, they look great. (korchmar.com) 5. Zuca’s suitcase that ... doubles as a chair? —Sure enough. It comes in two models, the Zuca Pro and the Zuca Sport. The Zuca Pro, designed for business travelers, fits in overhead bins.

Kenneth Cole offers a black business backpack retailing for $99.95 that has thick, fashionable zippers and would look absurd on a hiking trail - by design.

Your carry-on becomes a table.

www.kuwaittimes.net

By Allison Jackson u Ling likes to draw pictures for his father and dreams of being reunited with his mother.

The 10-year-old is completely unaware that he will never live with either of them again. Tu’s father has been jailed for life for murdering his mother. The boy is one of dozens of Chinese children living at Sun Village, an institution in the suburbs of Beijing set up by a former prison officer who says she wanted to give the offspring of inmates a chance for a fresh start.

“I realized what the prisoners were concerned about the most was not themselves but their children and families,” Zhang Shuqin, the founder of Sun Village, told AFP in an interview at the facility. Zhang, 62, was inspired to start Sun Village after interviewing dozens of inmates for the prison administration bureau’s internal newspaper in northern Shaanxi province. Moved by their heartbreaking stories about being separated from their children and their distress at not knowing where they were, Zhang opened the first village in 1996 in Shaanxi.

Since then-and with no government fundingshe has built another five villages, including the one in the Beijing area. “Some kids were missing, some had been sold and others had been taken away by relatives. Some had no one to protect them when they were very young,” Zhang said.

Children as young as four months old are sent to Sun Village centers after their parents have been sentenced to serve time. Many have been abandoned by their relatives who are too old or poor to care for them.

Before arriving at the village, some children have been living on the streets for months, or even years, scavenging for food and resorting to crime to survive. Ma Yufei, 12, told AFP he has spent half his life at the village. Police brought him here from the northern province of Hebei, after his father was sent to prison. He says he doesn’t know where his mother is and is too traumatized to discuss his father’s crime. “The children have various problems when they arrivesome hate the police for taking away their parents and others have a strong wish for revenge,” Zhang said.

“Some have bad habits like stealing, telling lies or being violent because they have been living on the streets. We try to rectify these behaviors and give them counseling.” The children live in brightly painted dormitories surrounded by vegetable gardens, orchards and playgrounds.

Each dormitory has a live-in “mother” who cares for the children. Zhang said the children attend local schools and then, if they pass the entrance exams, are sent to university or attend technical colleges to prepare them for adult life.

“It’s not enough to just feed and house the children. They must acquire skills so they can find a job in the future,” said Zhang. With no help from the government, Zhang relies on donations from generous individuals and businesses to feed, clothe and educate the children. When AFP visited the village, several black Audi sedans-typically a car used by government officials or well-off businessmen-pulled up to deliver sacks of rice and flour as well as clothes and shoes for the children.

Zhang supplements these donations by selling chickens and geese raised at the village or selling dates and peaches picked by the children at the village-owned orchards.

“I like living here because there are lots of children, older brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles,” Cao Xiangqian, 12, told AFP. Cao and his five-year-old brother were brought to the village a year ago by their grandfather after their father was taken into custody. He also doesn’t know where his mother is. “I play table tennis and watch television. I like kung fu movies,” Cao said, as he sat with a group of boys in front of a TV set in their dormitory. Zhang said she has helped more than 2,000 children since starting Sun Village 14 years ago, but she knows it is only a drop in the ocean.

A government survey in 2005 found 600,000 children of prisoners needed help, she said.

As China’s prison population grows, the situation is getting worse, so more Sun Villages are in the works, Zhang says. Sitting in his dormitory, Tu said he will continue drawing pictures for his father until he gets out of jail. Zhang says they have not told him of his mother’s murder, preferring to wait until he is older and can process the news. The child’s name has been changed to protect his privacy. “I’m waiting for my father to be released and then go back to Sichuan to find my mother,” said Tu. “I miss him. I also miss my mother very much.”— AFP

T A woman wheels a baby carriage in front of a wall painted with a graffiti in Seoul.

—AFP

By Yara Bayoumy he sparkling Mediterranean beckons as you touch down at Beirut airport. Pulsating lights from nightclubs give the capital a joyous, constant rhythm.

Glamorous people drive fancy cars. That was Lebanon during the free-wheeling 1960s when Marlon Brando and Brigitte Bardot used to stop by at the Saint Georges yacht club. Lebanon is reliving that glamour in 2010, trying to shed a past marred by civil wars, assassinations and conflict with Israel.

While fears of war with its southern neighbor Israel are always simmering, for now the tiny country is trying to make the most of this window of peace. Once-warring politicians have put aside their sectarian differences to work together to change the image of Lebanon into one of a country of prosperity and tolerance. Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors get the most out of a 48-hour visit. Western passport holders can get a visa at the airport, but make sure you don’t have any stamps from Israel, still in a formal state of war with Lebanon.

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Friday 2 pm - Drop your bags and head downtown where the Ottoman-era Grand Serail governmental palace stands regally on a hill top. To get an idea of Lebanon’s diverse religious demographics, stop by the St George Maronite cathedral right next to the blue-domed Mohammed alAmin mosque. Explore the parking lot-turned-mausoleum in Martyr’s Square where assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri is laid to rest. Hariri and 22 others were killed in 2005, sparking four years of political turbulence in Lebanon.

Walk along the boulevards lined with cafes and smoke a narguileh-a flavored water pipe-as you watch locals and tourists flock to designer stores. If you’re still feeling energetic, head westwards towards the corniche where you’ll see a stark remnant of the 1975-90 civil war, the bombed-out Holiday Inn. Continue on to Hamra and explore its artsy street cafes. The splendid campus of the American University of Beirut also lies there.

8 pm - Lebanese cuisine is one of the country’s main attractions. There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from which serve staples such as tabbouleh, hummous and mixed grills. If you’re feeling adventurous, try kebbe neyye, a type of minced raw meat, or chicken livers with pomegranate molasses. Abdelwahab, Karam and the Armenian Mayyas are among the favorite venues. If you want to experience a different part of Beirut, head to the southern suburbs, a Hezbollah bastion, and try the asSaha restaurant, themed around an Arab village.

10 pm - Trawl through Gemmayze, a street lined with dozens of bars, and the place of choice for weekend drinking. Bar-hopping is an ideal way to experience the most of what Gemmayze has to offer, from bars with a laid-back ambiance to those oozing modernity. The street has bumper-to-bumper traffic on weekend nights when the

ot a penchant for the pungent? Then try a garlic festival. Travel website VirtualTourist.com (www.virtualtourist.com)offers its picks for the World’s Top 10 Garlic Festivals. This list is not endorsed by Reuters.

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1. Gilroy Garlic Festival; Gilroy, California. Visitors to Gilroy can attest that the scent of garlic is in the air before you even get off the freeway. The grand-daddy of US garlic festivals, this one has collected millions of dollars over the years for area charities and hosted over three million visitors in its over 30-year history.

2. L’aglio di Voghiera; Voghiera, Ferrara, Italy. Take the Italian countryside, Italian cooking, Italian music, add a little garlic and you have what might be the most blissful three days a human being could ever experience.

glitterati arrive in chic sports cars.

Midnight - No trip to Beirut is complete without partying in Music Hall, an old cinema converted into a cabaret-style venue. Local and international artists perform a wide range of music, from folklore to the Beatles to Abba to hard metal to Beyonce’s latest singles. House music plays in between acts and by the end of the night, people are dancing on tables. A nightspot favorite, book a

Roman temples of Jupiter and Bacchus dating from the first century BC The temple of Jupiter’s six columns stand a breathtaking 23 meters (75 ft) high. The temple of Bacchus is said to be the most beautifully decorated in the Roman world. One of the mysteries surrounding the ruins are the huge foundation stones that support the temple of Jupiter. Archaeologists have put forward many theories as to how the Romans could have moved such

Hollywood stars used to lounge in the 1960s. Across the road you’ll see a statue commemorating the late Hariri as well as a sign pointing to where the suicide bombing happened leaving a huge crater in the ground at the time.

11:30 - Walk upwards towards Casablanca, one of the best restaurants to have brunch in Beirut. The 19th century building allows you to overlook the Mediterranean as you feast on eggs and pancakes, served with seasonal

“Sakhrit Al-Rawsheh” the pigeon rock landmark in Beirut, Lebanon.

week or two in advance to guarantee a table near the stage.

Saturday 10 am - Lebanon occupies a mere 4,000 sq miles, making day trips outside the city fairly easy. Head east and stop at Chtoura, a town in the eastern Bekaa valley. Order a manoucheh, a thick, doughy bread, on which cheese or thyme, a staple herb, and sometimes vegetables are spread. Still hungry? Try Knafe, a sweet made of vermicelli hardened by syrup and filled with cheese. While traditionally a dessert in much of the Middle East, Lebanese also have it, wrapped in bread, as breakfast. Have lunch at the restaurant overlooking the vineyards.

3 pm - The Roman ruins of Baalbek include the largest

Among the many wonderful activities this festival offers is a garlic-braiding seminar.

3. Hudson Valley Garlic Festival; Saugerties, New York. This festival offers no fewer than five separate experts who give on-site lectures on the topic of garlic. Aside from various food products, vendors offer nearly 70 different varieties of garlic.

massive stones.

There are several guides who will be happy to take you around the spacious courtyard. Once you’ve soaked up the sights, be sure to check out souvenir shops which are heavy on Shi’ite paraphernalia, since Baalbek has a sizeable Hezbollah constituency. If you happen to visit in the summer, make sure to catch one of the shows at Baalbek’s music festival that takes place among the ruins.

8 pm - Back in Beirut, head to Barometre in Hamra, a favorite of leftist intellectuals as well as those who love dancing to Arab tunes. Barometre’s mezze, especially its sausage soaked in pomegranate molasses are a staple.

Sunday 11 am - Peer into the St Georges Yacht Club where

6. La Foire a l’ail Fume d’Arleux; Arleux, France. As many as 500 exhibitors set up shop during the three days of the Arleux garlic festival. Focusing on roasted garlic, this festival names a “Best Garlic Weaver” and offers garlic soup as its signature dish.

4. Isle of Wight Garlic Festival; Newchurch, Sandown, UK. This festival offers garlic beer, garlic fudge, and garlic ice-cream. And they say England has a bad reputation for food.

7. Takopru International Culture and Garlic Festival; Takopru, Turkey.

Considered the garlic capital of the country, Takopru may be a relatively small city, but it hosts one giant of a festival. Once the festival is over, be sure to explore this ancient town’s fascinating history.

5. Perth Garlic Festival; Perth, Ontario, Canada. Giant bouquets of the “Stinking Rose” are sold here the way cotton candy is sold at other festivals. The festival website even posts a recipe for garlic cough syrup.

8. Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival; Bennington, Vermont.

Proving that the New England state is more than just ice cream and cows, the Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival celebrates the area’s

fruits. Their brunch is extremely popular so make sure you book early in the week and ask if you can get a table near the window.

1 pm Digest your food by taking a stroll by the corniche until you reach the pigeon rock landmark ‘Sakhrit Al-Rawsheh’ and have a mint tea at one of the many seaside cafes.

2 pm - Head north to Byblos, said to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. The port town has lovely views of the Mediterranean. Have lunch at one of the many seaside restaurants serving the catch of the day. Pepe’s Fishing Club is a traditional favorite where photos of celebrities from Frank Sinatra to Jacques Chirac take pride of place-reminders of Lebanon’s heyday. — Reuters

more flavorful side. Events include Garlic Golf (with a prize for a hole in one) and garlic balancing for children.

9. Hills Garlic Festival; New Denver, British Columbia, Canada. This gathering even has a garlic poem contest, so for those who have “Ode to a Clove” stuffed in a drawer, now’s the time to take it out. Attendees without a gift for the written word may want to consider entering the “Heaviest Clove of Garlic” contest.

10.Elephant Garlic Festival; North Plains, Oregon. With a motto like “Fun Stinks” you know this has to be great. Growing from a small festival of just a few hundred people to attendances in the five-digit category, this annual event now crowns a festival king and queen and even hosts its own car show.

— Reuters