14 May 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

Sharif in talks to form Pakistan government

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Five MPs file to grill oil, interior ministers Lawmakers fume after being bypassed over Dow penalty

By B Izzak KUWAIT: Three MPs yesterday filed to grill Oil Minister Hani Hussein over a variety of violations and misconduct, mainly on the payment of the $2.2 billion penalty to US Dow Chemical after the government pulled out of a joint deal. Two other MPs meanwhile filed a second request to grill Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad AlHumoud Al-Sabah alleging his failure to cooperate with the National Assembly and attempting to cover up a Kuwaiti “terror” cell having links with Islamists under trial in the United Arab Emirates.

The submission of the two grillings came after a morning of drama yesterday as MPs had initially planned to file three grillings against the oil minister, all focusing on the payment to Dow besides other alleged violations. But after a brief discussion, the three teams agreed to file one grilling to be signed by MPs Saadoun Hammad, Yacoub Al-Sane and Nasser AlMarri, which highlighted four major violations with the Dow payment remaining the main issue. Besides the Dow issue, MPs

KUWAIT: A dragonfly is pictured on a wall of a building yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Max 37º Min 26º High Tide 03:23 & 13:27 Low Tide 08:18 & 21:07

also accused the minister of allowing commercial deals with Israel, not taking any action to prevent the sale of alcohol at Kuwait-owned petrol stations in Europe and approving illegal staff promotions at state-owned oil companies.

Regarding Dow, the lawmakers said the minister did not take any action against officials responsible for the huge penalty that Kuwait had to pay to Dow and did not even refer them for internal investigations.

The minister did not stop the supply of highly-subsidized gas and fuel to joint petrochemicals projects with Dow in a bid to minimize the loss, they said. The lawmakers wondered why no action has been taken against oil officials who accepted the hefty penalty clause in the contract and another clause accepting international arbitration in a clear violation of the Kuwaiti law that stipulates that disputes must be resolved by Kuwaiti courts.

They also alleged that the penalty to Dow was paid without any serious negotiations to at least reduce the amount and also appointed a financial advisor to the Continued on Page 13

Deadly bombing hits Benghazi BENGHAZI, Libya: A powerful car bomb exploded yesterday near a hospital in the Libyan city of Benghazi, killing and wounding dozens in what officials said was the first such attack on civilians since Muammar Gaddafi’s ouster. Officials gave contradicting death tolls, however, as information trickled in about the devastating bombing which destroyed a restaurant and damaged cars and buildings near Al-Jala hospital in the centre of Benghazi. Deputy Interior Minister Abdullah Massoud said 15 people were killed and another 30 wounded in the attack on the eastern city, cradle of the 2011 armed uprising in which Gaddafi was killed. He stressed it was only a “preliminary toll”.

But health ministry spokesman Salah Abdeldayem later told AFP in Tripoli that four people died and six were wounded.

A police official in Benghazi gave a higher toll. Tarak Al-Kharaz told Libya’s AlAhrar television station that the car bombing killed 13 people and wounded 41 others. Dozens of people, many of them youths, rushed to the scene of the attack, some even volunteering to gather body parts and place them in clear plastic bags, AFP journalists reported.

Witnesses said children were among the casualties, but it was not immediately clear if they were dead or wounded. The bombing wrecked cars and left debris scattered on the ground.

The deputy interior minister said the blast “totally destroyed a restaurant” and damaged buildings near the hospital. A security official said the blast ripped through the hospital’s car park. A witness told AFP he heard a “very loud explosion”.

Continued on Page 13

Rebels in red take on sex predators

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Kuwait may sign jet deal this month KUWAIT: Kuwait is studying plans by its airline to buy 25 Airbus jets, a source with knowledge of the matter said, in the most sweeping overhaul since part of its fleet was seized after Iraq invaded the state in 1990. The proposal calls for state-owned Kuwait Airways to buy 25 new Airbus jets and to lease a further 13 to upgrade its fleet but needs government approval, the source said. It could be signed by the end of this month. The move comes months after Kuwait was awarded $500 million

by Iraqi Airways for damage caused when former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s forces seized aircraft and parts, ending a two-decade row over compensation.

The Kuwaiti airline’s aircraft buying committee judged that Airbus made the most attractive offer in a tender process which included bids from Boeing and Bombardier, the source said. The source declined to be named because the deal still needs government Continued on Page 13

Panic grips Saudis amid fears of SARS-like virus RIYADH: Panic gripped Saudis in the country’s east yesterday, where most cases of the deadly coronavirus have been detected, witnesses said, as the death toll from the SARS-like virus in the kingdom hit 15. Scores of people have reported to the emergency services at hospitals in the city of AlAhsa in Eastern Province, after showing even the slightest signs of a fever.

“I felt the symptoms of a cold, accompanied by a fever,” a young man told AFP by telephone from one hospital where he was admitted and placed in quarantine. “I came to hospital. The

symptoms disappeared by the end of the day, but I am still kept in a quarantine with other patients, which scares me,” he said, asking to remain anonymous.

All people showing possible symptoms of the virus after being admitted to hospitals in Al-Ahsa region have been placed in isolation, Saudi authorities said. Fifteen of the 24 people who have contracted the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia since August have died, the kingdom’s health minister Abdullah al-Rabia said on Sunday. A total of 13 cases

AL-AHSA, Saudi Arabia: A Saudi health ministry official visits patients infected with a new SARS-like virus at a hospital in this eastern Saudi province yesterday. — AFP

have been detected in the King Fahd hospital, in Al-Ahsa. Among those was a nine-year-old girl who died a few hours after arriving at hospital with a strong fever.

Another fatality was Haidar Ghanem, a disabled 21-year-old man who had a “strong fever” for a week, according to his father Mokhtar. He died last Thursday, four days after being admitted to hospital after falling unconscious. The minister said on Sunday that three new suspected cases had been identified. In all, 34 cases have been reported worldwide since the virus was first detected in Sept 2012, with 18 of the victims dying, according to the World Heath Organisation.

While the virus has been deadliest in Saudi Arabia, cases have also been reported in Jordan, Germany, Britain and France where two patients are now in hospital in the northern city of Lille. The virus is a cousin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which triggered a scare 10 years ago when it erupted in east Asia, leaping to humans from animal hosts and eventually killing some 800 people. “I did not send my son to school because of the fear of the spread of the virus,” said a mother, while authorities ordered schools to isolate suspected cases of infection immediately.

Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: MPs Safaa Al-Hashem and Yousef Al-Zalzalah speak to the press after filing a request to grill Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah at the National Assembly yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Bugs are food of future: UN agency

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US, Britain, Russia in agreement on Syria WASHINGTON: The United States and Britain yesterday pledged to forge ahead with diplomatic efforts to end the civil war in Syria, saying they had found common ground with Russia on how to proceed. US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to increase pressure on the regime of Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad, and insisted that he could not be part of a democratic transition. “Syria’s his-

tory is being written in the blood of her people, and it is happening on our watch,” Cameron told a joint press conference with Obama after they held about 90 minutes of talks in the White House’s Oval Office. “The world urgently needs to come together to bring the killing to an end. None of us have any interest in seeing more lives lost, in seeing chemical weapons used.”

Continued on Page 13

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama shakes hands with British Prime Minister David Cameron at the end of a joint news conference yesterday in the White House East Room yesterday. — AP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

LOCAL

Iraqi farmers’ compensations paid KUWAIT: Kuwait handed over to the United Nations the amount required to compensate Iraqi farmers whose properties had to be relocated as part of the border markings maintenance operations between the two countries, the Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday.

The confirmation came from Director of the Coordination Department in the ministry, Khalid Al-Maghames, who told a local newspaper that the issue was “done” and over with as far as Kuwait was concerned since it is a country “which always honors its commitments.”

Meanwhile, Al-Maghames applauded Iraq’s “cooperation in finalizing the maintenance process,” adding that there was talk about forming a joint committee to follow up the process in the future based on border arrangements as certified by UN Resolution number 833.

“This committee would help address

any errors in the border markings quickly through technical personnel, and without going through complicated routine procedures,” he told Al-Qabas. In the meantime, Al-Maghames announced that a meeting of a joint committee between the two countries was expected to take place next week to follow up the question of Kuwaiti properties in Iraq.

Also, he announced that four mass graves in Iraq will be searched soon as part of a UN-supervised cooperation pact between Kuwait and Iraq to inspect for remains of Kuwaitis taken as prisoners during the 1990-91 Invasion. Asked about navigation at the Khor Abdullah, Al-Maghames reiterated that an agreement reached by the two countries to organize navigation through the narrow strip of water has been approved by the parliament in Kuwait “and we are waiting for the Iraqi parliament to do the same.” — Al-Qabas

Marine dept gears up for summer

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The director of Marine Fire Area, Colonel Taraq Al-Sabti, said that the administration was gearing up for summer season and situation at the sea since a large number of people enter the sea during this period and could encounter dangers there if they neglected to observe all safety precautions. These precautions include use of safety equipments like fire extinguishers and safety jacket, besides ensuring that the boats were indeed safe and well prepared. Also, the weather condition must be checked before venturing into the sea.

Colonel Al-Sabti extended an invitation to the public to attend an open day session which will start at 5 pm on Friday, May 17, at the Sea Rescue Center in Salmiya

along the Arabian Gulf Road near old Showbiz park. The open house session is being held under the patronage of general director of fire department, Lt General Yousuf Al-Ansari.

An informative campaign will be organized under the title “Your safety is through wearing it.” The campaign aims at teaching people the importance of wearing safety jackets at sea, and not to ignore this safety precaution as the jacket can help in case of any emergency.

Al-Sabti said that the open day will include several activities which will be of interest to all. Prizes will be distributed to participants in competitions which are being organized to educate the public about dangers at the sea and how to prepare oneself before venturing into the sea and practice one’s favorite sea hobby.

Former KT News Editor Alexander passes away KUWAIT: Well-known Indian journalist and former News Editor of Kuwait Times T P Alexander passed away at his residence in Pala, Kottayam district of Kerala on Sunday, family sources said.

Alexander (71), who worked in India and abroad with various media organizations, is survived by wife Omana, children Tracy, Terry and Anna.

On returning to Kerala after leaving the Kuwait Times, Alexander ran a news agency called Newsline. Alexander had also worked in the Mumbai Bureau of United News of India (UNI) as a crime reporter for several years before joining the Kuwait Times. During his stint in UNI, his interview with Matka King Ratan Khatri made him very popular and his article was a prominent feature in the

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received several newlyappointed public education and higher education staff, introduced to him by Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Nayef

Al-Hajraf at Seif Palace yesterday.

The officials included Ministry of Education Undersecretary Maryam Al-Wateed, Ministry of Higher Education Undersecretary Rashed AlNuwaihedh, Kuwait University Secretary General

Nabil Al-Loghani and Secretary General of the Council of Private Universities Habib Abul. The encounter was held in the attendance of Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Philippine Consul General Raul Dado assists the opening of sealed counting machine which will be used to count OAV vote in Kuwait.

(Right) Preparations for canvassing of vote are seen. — Photos By Ben Garcia

late actor’s novice daughter tops Filipino OAVs in Kuwait 8 percent of 40,460 registered voters cast their votes

By Ben Garcia

T P Alexander Illustrated Weekly of India. His funeral was held yesterday in his hometown.

Kuwait envoy to Malta meets chamber president VALLETTA: Kuwait Ambassador to Malta Faisal Al-Mussaileem has discussed with President of Malta Chamber of Economic, Enterprise and Industry David G Curmi investment opportunities for Kuwait in Malta as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral economic relations. Gurmi met the ambassador yesterday at the Chamber’s headquarters in Valletta, Malta, where he explained the system and mechanisms of the chamber, which represents the largest entity of the Maltese business sector.

He also reviewed the business opportunities available for Kuwaiti businessmen

HH Amir receives new senior education staff

KUWAIT: Mary Grace Llamanzares, daughter of late famous Filipino actor, Fernando Poe Jr topped the election to a senatorial post in recent Overseas Absentee Voting (AOV) conducted in Kuwait. Based on the partial and unofficial result distributed to the media last night, af ter canvassing votes at the Philippine Embassy in Faiha, Poe, novice candidate garnered 2,255 votes followed by Allan Peter Cayetano who bagged a total of 2,223 votes while Loren Legarda came third with 2,207 votes.

Only 8 percent of the 40,460 registered voters in Kuwait actually cast their votes in the recent OAV which was held for the first time electronically in Kuwait, and other Philippine mission abroad. Filipino Overseas Workers are allowed to vote for 12 senators and one party list representative in the midterm general elections, although 18,000 positions are at stake in this election.

Included in the top 16 senators’ choices in Kuwait were: Francis Escudero (2,204), Aquilino Pimentel (2,181), Bam Aquino (1,911), Juan Edgardo Angara (1,663), Antonio Trillanes (1,627) Theresia Honteveros (1592), Gregorio Honasan (1531), Ramon Magsaysay (1,460), Richard Gordon (1448), JV Ejercito (1,359), Maria Lourdez Binay (1,239), Juan Ponce Enrile (1,161), and Juan Miguel Zubiri (1040).

Meanwhile, OFW Family topped the party list representatives garnering 1,095 votes followed by Gabriela Women’s Party that only mastered 143 votes. Alyansa ng OFW, came in third garnering 142 votes.

Philippine Consul General Raul Dado, who is acting Chairman of the Board of

KUWAIT: Last minute voters exercise their rights at the embassy.

Elections’ Inspectors in Kuwait said, the turnout was somewhat satisfac tor y although the expected ten percent target was not achieved.

“We are a bit short of our expected 10 percent turnout and reached eight percent.

The total number of voters is, in fact, satisfying in a way. There were no glitches as some posts experience, but we are happy that Filipinos in Kuwait participated in the elections,” Dado noted.

He admitted that there were some last minute voters who could not reach by the deadline of 2 pm. There were about 15-20 people who had come all the way from their respective work places to cast their vote but were disappointed since they were 15 to 30

minutes late and the precinct had closed.

“They were disappointed but we have rules to follow. I spoke to them personally and they accepted our explanations,” he said. Bong Pagutayao, who just landed in Kuwait yesterday morning came but failed to vote. “I came 10 minutes past the deadline and was not allowed to vote. I really wanted to be heard, but what to do? I came from the Philippines and arrived only in the morning. I had to report to work, and from my work place, I came to vote but I was a bit disappointed that I missed the deadline. I hope next time they could extend the time at least by an hour,” he said.

(More details on Sunday ’s Filipino Panorama).

and investors. They also discussed ideas that could develop trade relations and mutual cooperation between the two countries.

Al-Mussaileem also reviewed with Gurmi ways to enhance cooperation between the chambers of the two countries and develop bilateral relations by intensifying communication and exchange of visits of trade delegations and organizing events and conferences related to commerce and industry sectors, in order to increase the trade exchange between the two countries.

General assembly approval needed for KAC deal KUWAIT: Kuwait’s national carrier KAC’s planned deal to purchase 25 aircrafts from Airbus is awaiting a final approval by the general house of the recently privatized company, a local newspaper reported yesterday quoting a source privy to the case. Reports surfaced on Sunday speculating that the Kuwait Airways has reached an agreement to renew its fleet through a deal worth $850 million. The insider who spoke to AlQabas on the condition of anonymity indicated that the deal has been approved by the KAC’s board of directors, but still needs an approval from the gen-

eral house before it goes through.

As per the deal, Kuwait is expected to receive two new aircrafts as soon as next July, with rest to be received on an annual basis.

Earlier reports had indicated that the deal allows the KAC to rent 13 A330 and A320 planes before the remaining aircraft are received by 2019. Meanwhile, the sources revealed that the KAC’s board of directors is currently studying the possibility of starting new flights this summer, adding that evaluation is currently focused on determining the economic viability of such a step. — Al-Qabas

KUWAIT: Annual forum for info society has granted its specialized prize for best electronic employment project in the world to Kuwait. The program is implemented in civil service commission. The prize was received by Undersecretary of the commission Mohammad Al-Roomi from the secretary general of international union for communication Dr Hamdoun Toura.

Annual growth plan not ready over strike KUWAIT: The leaders at the Ministry of Planning and Growth Affairs revealed that the annual growth plan which was supposed to be submitted to the National Assembly Council has not been prepared till date since more than 500 employees including leaders and directors of

administrations went on strike in protest against what they alleged was abusive behavior of the state minister for council affairs and minister of planning and growth, Rola Dashti. They said that reason for not preparing the growth plan was a lack of trust by the minister in those working in

planning administration and her withdrawing some authority from the general secretary of the supreme council for planning. Also, the minister prefers to take certain decisions on her own without involving anyone and interferes in sanctioning emergency leaves to the employees.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

LOCAL

‘Government accepted Dow’s conditions despite leverage’ Unrepentant Al-Barrak speaks out

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Communications Assistant Undersecretary for the Telecommunications Department, Mansour Al-Bader (center) inaugurates the event. —Photos by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti artifacts are on display.

Kuwait travel expo seeks to boost tourism potential 30 exhibitors showcase tourism products

By Sajeev K Peter KUWAIT: Travel World Expo, one of the leading travel and tourism exhibitions in the region, opened at the International Fairground, Mishref yesterday bringing more than 30 exhibitors including tour operators, tourism organizations and leisure buyers under one umbrella.

The Ministry of Communications Assistant Undersecretary for the Telecommunications Department, Mansour Al-Bader, inaugurated the Kuwait’s premier travel expo on behalf of Minister of Communications and Minister of Housing Affairs Salem Al-Othaina. The exhibition, organized by the Kuwait International Fairground, Mishref, runs till May 15.

The Travel World Expo, dedicated to unleashing the travel industry’s potential within the Middle East and pan-Arab region, also sets a platform for industry’s influential meetings and networking seminars.

In a statement after the inaugural ceremony, Al-Bader said the exhibition is “an important annual event that travel enthusiasts in Kuwait

look forward to every summer.” Lauding the significant role being played by the travel and tourism industry in boosting Kuwait’s economy, he said more investments have to be made to enhance tourism services and strengthen the industry in the country. The exhibition manager Emad Al-Haroun said the expo has evolved into one of the largest events for tourism and travel promotion in Kuwait as a result of the successful organization of the exhibition.

“This year’s expo features more than 30 companies including airlines, travel agencies, hotels as well as tourism authorities from across the region and the world. The show not only serves as an ideal platform for discussing issues pertaining to tourism, but also offers visitors an opportunity to benefit from various packages and promotions on offer exclusively during the event,” he said in a statement. In addition to Kuwait Airways and other local companies, countries represented at the expo included Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Bulgaria, Brazil, South Africa and Italy. Several Kuwaiti stalls showcased the rich cultural heritage of the country.

International Police Sports Union welcomes accession of 3 nations KUWAIT: The Executive Bureau of the International Police Sports Union (IPSU) welcomed at its 22nd meeting here yesterday the accession of Colombia, India and Mexico. The Kuwait-based Bureau adopted two proposals submitted by head of the Kuwaiti and international unions Lt Gen Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf AlAhmad Al-Sabah. They will be forwarded to the General Assembly of the Union for voting.

The first proposal calls for the formation of a public relations and marketing committee operating under the umbrella of the Union composed of a chairman, a rapporteur and five members from the

five continents to be selected by the president and secretary-general.

The committee will lay out the marketing foundations for the Union’s activities, find financial resources, and enhance communication with the member states in various fields. The second proposal calls for changing the activities and strategies of the union and restrict them in the organization of continental conferences, besides social meetings and activities. The proposal also calls for the organization of the World Cup for policing football every four years starting from the 2018 and the Olympic Games for the police academies every two years as of 2015.

KUWAIT: A delegation from the public relations department met with the First Lt Saadoun Said Mohammad. First Lt Said Mohammad was injured in a traffic accident while he was leaving his work place. They conveyed to the patient the greetings from His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, Chief of National Guards, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Chief of National Guards and the Undersecretary General, Nasser Abdullah Al-Daey, and wished him speedy recovery.

Awqaf ministry awaits reshuffle KUWAIT: The directors, managers and department heads at the Ministry of Awqaf have been awaiting the reshuffle that the Awqaf minister had announced in March, but there has been no development on that front yet. Sources said the delay has affected the preparations for the programs and activities scheduled to be held during the holy month of Ramadan. Many directors and supervisors are refusing to organise the activities for the holy month, such as the hosting of Holy Quran recitation experts and preachers, as they might be transferred anytime to another department and will have to start all over again. —Al-Anbaa

KUWAIT: A top Kuwaiti opposition leader reiterated his rejection of a joint venture project between a Kuwaiti company and Dow Chemical which was ultimately canceled and cost the government $2.2 billion in penalties.

The Kuwaiti government had called off the deal to establish a $7.4 billion joint venture project in late 2008 under pressure from the opposition in the parliament, prompting Dow Chemical to sue for damages as per a penalty clause in the contract. The US-based company won last year an international court order stipulating that the Petrochemical Industries Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, pays a $2.16 billion fine for canceling the contract to establish what was to be known as K-Dow Petrochemicals.

Dow Chemical announced last Tuesday that the PIC paid $2.2 billion after an agreement was reached which saw nearly $300 million in delay penalties be written off in exchange of assurances that there would be no further fallout for its operations in the region. “If it were to happen again, I would take the same position on the deal that was suspicious in its details, its cost and its penalty clause which was set at an unprecedented rate of 33 percent of the contract’s value,” former MP Musallam Al-Barrak told Al-Rai on Sunday.

He further indicated that the political reasons “which the government marketed as an excuse to cancel the deal contradicted with the results of an investigations committee formed by the cabinet to probe the contract.” Al-Barrak also reiterated statements which the opposition mostly used during its campaign against the deal five years ago. “The deal was based on Kuwait’s partnership in 40 petrochemical factories owned by Dow Chemical in countries in North America, South America and Europe. Some of these factories were built in 1961 and have very poor payoff, according to studies carried out by the PIC,” he explained. “Our opposition at the time was based on the legal and economic aspects of the deal; a position that was supported by the ministerial committee formed to investigate the contract.”

Meanwhile, Al-Barrak speculated that the Kuwaiti government fell in a trap set up by Dow Chemical to help it overcome financial troubles it was facing during the time of negotiations. “[Dow Chemical] needed liquidity while struggling amidst a global economic crisis.

After banks refused its request for loans, the company headed to Kuwait which then had the leverage to put its own conditions to the deal,” he said. “Is there a country that signs a contract during the middle of a financial crisis in which the party in need puts conditions that

contracts must be resolved in Kuwaiti courts,” he added.

Moreover, Al-Barrak referred to a meeting that the KPC reportedly held in London on October 2008 to discuss a technical study which recommended that Kuwait avoid the deal since it only benefits Dow Chemical. “Therefore, responsibility lies on those who signed the deal in contradiction of the results of technical and economic feasibility studies as well as legal controls,” he said.

In the meantime, Al-Qabas reported that two sepa-

KUWAIT: Media persons and supporters of Musallam Al-Barrak are seen outside the court during the trial. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat the party which has liquidity must abide by?” he wondered. According to Al-Barrak, the international court ruling came after the government failed to defend its argument with regards to the contract. “In addition to that, the contract includes a clause in which an international court was chosen as the arbitration tribunal in cases of legal dispute, which is in violation of a 1988 cabinet order which requires that all disputes in state

KUWAIT: The performers are seen in front of the Indonesian booth.

rate cases were filed on Sunday with the Public Prosecution, the first against former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad as well as members of the cabinet and parliament in 2008, and the second against the former prime minister as well as the Managing Director of PIC. Both motions demanded that the accused parties be tried to fix responsibility for the $2.2 billion fine. —Al-Rai, Al-Qabas

KUWAIT: Mansour Al-Bader and Indonesian Ambassador Ferry Adamhar with other officials at the Indonesian pavilion.

Indonesia offers new travel package for Kuwaiti visitors

By Sajeev K Peter KUWAIT: Indonesian Ambassador Ferry Adamhar said yesterday that the Indonesian embassy in collaboration with the Indonesian ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is working on a new attractive package for Kuwaiti tourists seeking to visit Indonesia.

“This is the second year in a row we are participating in Kuwait travel expo.

We are keen on strengthening our tourism market in Kuwait. Our participation here is part of our initiative to boost the tourism arrivals from Kuwait,” the ambassador said.

The ambassador said the embassy will hold round-table meetings with various tour operators today with a view to

briefing them on Indonesia’s rich tourism potential. According to the ambassador, tourist arrivals from Kuwait to Indonesia recorded a 30 percent growth last year.

“Kuwait is a growing market for us.

Considering the potential, we expect to grow further in the market,” the ambassador pointed out. “Tourism is not just a matter of economic growth for us. We are viewing it as an opportunity for peopleto-people interaction, between Kuwait and Indonesia, to know each other’s culture and life,” Adamhar added.

Garuda Indonesia Fikdanel Thaufik, Garuda Indonesia General Manager, Saudi Arabia and Middle East, told Kuwait Times that the Indonesia’s national carrier is looking at

options to commence operations to Kuwait. Garuda Indonesia has appointed Caesars Travels as its General Sales Agent in Kuwait last year. “I understand that Kuwaitis are quite keen on travelling to various Indonesian destinations. We also would like to fly to Kuwait as the market is quite promising though we have our own market perspective. However, we are looking at the possibility of combining Kuwait with a European destination such as London,” he added.

Garuda Indonesia is the first and only airline to offer immigration on for all inbound passengers on selected longhaul flight from the Middle East, Australia, Europe, Japan and Korea.

Indonesia is the world’s most expansive archipelago, stretching east to west

almost 5,000 km from Sumatra to Irian Jaya, and north to south almost 1,800 km from the Sabah - Kalimantan border to Roti Island off Timor.

There are officially 17,508 islands of which 6,000 are inhabited. Most of the country’s islands are mountainous, some so high as to be snow-capped, with volcanoes running like a backbone through the country. It’s this volcanic ash that gives the Indonesian soil its rich fertility, spawning such an amazing diversity of flora and fauna including the world’s biggest flower the rafflesia and the mighty Komodo dragon.

Each of its major islands like Sumatra, Borneo, Jawa, Bali and Papua etc represents distinct cultural identity, offering tourists a wide varieties of attractions.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

LOCAL In my view

Letters to Muna Al-Fuzai

Tolerance and more muna@kuwaittimes.net

By Labeed Abdal

local@kuwaittimes.net

T

he recent celebration at the Egyptian Orthodox Church on the occasion of the Egyptian Easter Season was a great sign of love and peaceful coexistence among people of all faiths in Kuwait. Kuwait is home to various religious communities, all of whom want to live in harmony. We do share humanity, which is universal and is all about the spirit of togetherness on earth irrespective of religion and its beliefs.

All gaps must be bridged peacefully without any fear or doubt. It is clearly mentioned in Islam that people, regardless of their religion, are all brothers and sisters in humanity, where no one is superior to the other as all are from the same planet. Encouraging dialogue and cultural interaction is surely a great way to ensure the need for peace and harmony in every heart.

kuwait digest

The law isn’t the only problem All barriers must be removed, allowing for expats’ families to work, relax, get entertained and freely visit their places of worship across the country. People visit places of worship to call for God’s mercy and help, as well as for attaining inner peace.

Furthermore, aggression and ignorance must be avoided and be replaced by true faith in God. It is only he who decides whether we go to heaven or hell, not somebody else. The spirit of tolerance in Kuwait has been one of the main factors that have attracted immigrants to this country from centuries ago. That spirit must be alive today and tomorrow, too.

All barriers must be removed, allowing for expats’ families to work, relax, get entertained and freely visit their places of worship across the country. People visit places of worship to call for God’s mercy and help, as well as for attaining inner peace. In Kuwait, we enjoy all religious festivities. On such occasions, the nicest greetings and wishes are exchanged.

It is just a matter of ensuring peace for all humans on this land. Therefore, everyone - Christians as well as people from other faiths - should have a good time exchanging heart-felt wishes and greetings for the sake of everlasting peace. We do need more wars and killings.

By Ibrahim Al-Awadhi

T

he issue of joint venture projects between the private and public sector, or what are known as build-operate-transfer (B.O.T.) projects, in addition to Law No. 7 of the year 2008 regulating such ventures, has become a topic of discussion currently. These projects had been stuck since January 2006 when the State Audit Bureau was assigned to investigate the contracts which the state departments signed by then.

After the parliament passed Law No. 7/2008, the Partnerships Technical Bureau was established. It released, in coordination with the World Bank, certain guideline for the B.O.T. projects which explained the mechanism of how to go about issuing and awarding tenders as well as signing contracts pertaining to the said projects.

Many blame this law exclusively for being a hindrance to B.O.T. projects and ignore other reasons that include the lack of solid grounds for such projects to achieve their goal.

Routine bureaucratic procedures and complicated administrative measures added to the difficulty in dealing with some state departments. These problems exist even today and need to be eliminated if the state truly wanted to realize its developmental goals.

The idea of B.O.T .projects emerged in countries

that were either financially incapable to see through a major project, or lacked the private sector’s experience and technical capabilities in executing such projects. Kuwait did not face such a situation.

Instead, the government here enjoys huge financial surpluses while the private sector’s performance remains subpar as was made evident by B.O.T. experiences in the past.

The problem arises when the true meaning of the B.O.T. projects is not fully comprehended. Joint ventures between the private and public sectors must be based on the idea of finding alternative methods to develop infrastructure and basic services projects. On the other hand, B.O.T. projects carried out in Kuwait can be classified as purely commercial projects in which the investor is the biggest beneficiary.

Despite the existence of regulations organizing the process of signing and executing a B.O.T. project, problems continue because of a multitude of state departments responsible for any major project (which often lack coordination with each other), lack of any thorough studies for many projects, and the government’s inability to take steps that can force investors to honor their contractual obligations. It is important to address these and other similar problems before thinking about amending Law No. 7/2008. — Al-Rai

Dear Muna, Yesterday, I took my family to the Sabah Hospital for a medical test in order to get my residency permit stamped as per requirement. I was shocked to see hundreds of people queued up to take a token in order to undergo that test. Most of them were housemaids, or Khadims or domestic drivers who had newly arrived in Kuwait. Some of them were accompanied by their Kuwaiti sponsors while some were with Mandoops. My point is that on one side, we are talking about deporting the expats while at the same time, we are bringing in hundreds of new expats on a daily basis.

Then, what is the point of reducing the number of expats by 100,000 annually? There is something seriously wrong with the labor market. First we need to identify how many thousands of these so-called marginal laborers are unemployed, and then we can ask them to register their names and contact numbers for jobs in a labor office. Instead of bringing in new laborers daily, we should ask all the companies and employers to hire these workers based on their skills and qualification and as per their requirement. In case they are unable to find any one suitable for the job, then they can apply for new laborers to be called from outside Kuwait.

Thanks, Khan Dear Muna Al-Fuzai, One of my colleagues forwarded me your article published in the Kuwait Times on April 20 regarding the ban on people of six nationalities from entering Kuwait. I am working as a Specialist Nuclear Physician (doctor) in Kuwait and could not bring my husband here yet. Before joining here, we were both working in Saudi Arabia for five years. He has a master’s degree in social sciences, and was working in the same hospital in administration department. We did not know before coming here that he would not be able to obtain a work visa due to this ban.

I have been trying to get for him a work or family visa but am being denied that every time. There is a strange policy here that a teacher (with a salary of KD 500 or less) is eligible to bring her husband on family visa but a doctor (with a salary of KD 1,900) is not eligible for it.

This situation is extremely depressing and frustrating for all of us, and especially for our innocent son as he cannot understand the reasons behind this. How can he understand that while both his parents are well-qualified, his father is not allowed to live with us? I hope that you would be able to help us in this scenario to obtain a family visa etc. I would highly appreciate your help and guidance in this regard. With regard to the the deportation of expats on account of committing allegedly serious traffic violations, this is a most unjustified law. Does any other country do this?

Thanks and best regards, Sane voices like yours should be raised before it is too late.

Regards A reader

kuwait digest

Unacceptable statements

kuwait digest

Wasta bleeds into the education system

By Kamel Al-Harmi

By Aziza Al-Mufarej

feel compelled to take a stand regarding some irresponsible statements made recently by senior state officials.

Some of these are as follows: Minister of Cabinet Affairs and State Minister of Municipality Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah was quoted by Al-Qabas newspaper in its edition published on May 1, 2013 as saying: “Kuwait needs to increase public fees charged to expatriates as currently these subsidized services cost the state KD 4 billion a year. The expatriates benefit from these services.”

He was also quoted in the same newspaper as saying: “A draft law has been sent to the parliament to increase the fees collected from expatriates for use of public services...

Expatriates make up for 50 percent of the Health Ministry’s labor force.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thekra Al-Rashidi announced her plan to deport 100,000 expatriates each year as part of a ‘demographic balance restoration plan’ as per which the government plans to deport a million foreigners over the next 10 years.

Senior traffic department officials indicated that at least 500 expatriates were deported over the past few weeks for committing serious traffic violations.

Do any of these statements make any sense? What wrong has a foreigner, who entered Kuwait legally, done when he uses services for which the government is paying KD 4 billion to subsidize? Aren’t we, Kuwaitis, in desperate need of expatriate labor forces? Who allowed them to become a majority in Kuwait to the level where their numbers now reach more than 65 percent? Is it the foreigners’ fault that they make up for half of the Health Ministry’s work force? We are talking here about doctors, nurses and other technical specialists in various medical fields, working in public medical facilities around the country.

Why are we terrorizing expatriates by issuing daily threats about deportation? Are they not human beings just like us who have families to take care of? Does Kuwait not have expatriate judges, advisors, lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers, etc, who are very dedicated to their jobs?

I wonder whether senior state officials could do away with services of expatriate labor forces they hire. Can ministers AlSabah and Al-Rashidi set an example by releasing domestic helpers working at their own houses?

If Kuwait is in need of expatriate labor forces, then what is the purpose behind threats of increasing fees which are definitely going to be followed by price rise? Do we honestly expect foreigners to come and work in Kuwait without an adequate income?

I hope that local newspapers launch a campaign expressing their point of view regarding the daily threats. This might stop the state officials from making such irresponsible statements that not only reflect a failure to depict Kuwait as a hospitable country, but are also disrespectful of workers.

And one last note: I urge ministers to evaluate the performance of Kuwaiti employees and compare it with that of foreigners in their respective ministries before making xenophobic statements. — Al-Qabas

o our brothers at the Ministry of Education, if you cannot implement the rules and decisions that you make, then why do you make them to begin with? Moreover, you send circulars to school administrations urging them to comply with the decisions, and warn them if they failed to do so.

Let’s take, as an example, the decision to suspend the students if they are found absent without any reason for 15 days or more. The director of Anas bin Malik Secondary School complied with the decision and suspended 11 students since they were absent for the said period, but the education undersecretary overturned that decision due to their circumstances, and sent them to different schools because the director stuck to his decision and refused to accept them back in his school. We must ask, what was the need for all that to happen?

No one opposes the return of those students to school as their future needs to be secured, but the chaos about students absenting from schools, and other such aberrations must be dealt with seriously and cautiously. One of the most important reasons why we have so many problems in Kuwait is how we bring up our citizens and why they cannot distinguish between what is serious and what is fun, or do not want to do so. The chaos marking the education domain in Kuwait is something sad. This makes those students who work hard at their studies and want to learn and gain knowledge, review their stand. They too become complacent after discovering that those who work hard are treated just as others who are lazy and negligent or rely on cheating to pass exams. Such unscrupulous students sometimes receive help from teachers with a corrupted conscience. We are not referring to those teachers who sometimes prompt a student with a word or so to re-jig their memory and help them overcome the fear of exams.

One of the reasons for chaos is the decision to accept certificates issued by private schools in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, whose state of affairs is known to everyone, and where no one fails, not even the most ignorant and stupid students.

Such schools do not even ask for regular attendance, care little about studies or home work. All that they want from their students is for them to pay the fees. Then, when it is exams time, they call in the students and give them the questions.

Invariably, the students are shown as having successfully cleared the exam, and sent back with a forged certificate in their pockets.

For all its efforts, the education ministry may well “crash its head against the wall”, and so can the father of a student who is keen that his ward receives a good education. Such a parent tracks his children’s studies, homework, attendance etc on a daily basis, and works hard to bring them up as sincere citizens armed with knowledge and manners.

The chaos in the domain of education brings both kinds at par - the unscrupulous and the hard-working. Worse happens when the undeserving students find jobs and posts that only the outstanding deserve, all because of rotten wasta culture. So what do you expect other than a feeling of despair and disappointment spreading among citizens? Good education ensured the progress of some nations from absolute bottom to impressive heights, and made them count in the world. When will we allow ourselves to become like them?

— Al-Watan

I

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TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

LOCAL

Maids’ office owner wanted for illegal captivity, sexual assault Teen fakes kidnap story to stay with buddy KUWAIT: Investigations are on in a case involving owner of a domestic workers’ recruitment office who faces accusations of wrongful confinement and sexual assault. Police issued a warrant to break into two apartments in Hawally on Sunday based on an emergency call from the lawyer of the embassy of the Philippines, who stated that eight Filipina women were locked inside.

Investigations revealed in the meantime that the apartments were rented by a Kuwaiti man who owned a housemaids’ recruitment office in the area. After the maids were released, the women accused the man of illegally imprisoning them and said he had also sexually assaulted some of them. They were escorted to the police station to file a case.

Forgery net busted Immigration police issued an arrest warrant against a company owner accused of running passport forgery operations in Kuwait. Police stumbled across the racket when officers at the Kuwait International Airport caught a man for possessing a forged Dominican Republic passport. The man was taken to the immigration investigations department where it was soon revealed that he was originally a stateless resident. He admitted to having

obtained the passport in lieu of KD 5,000 he paid to a Hawally-based company. Further investigations revealed that the company was licensed as a public trading and construction firm, and that its owner had shut it down six months after it was opened. Detectives believed that the owner was involved in forgery operations and could have managed to sell at least dozens of forged passports. The suspect’s name was blacklisted and he was to be arrested if he tried leaving the country.

Man dies in accident A man died when two cars collided on Sunday along the Fahaheel Highway. Police and paramedics reached the site of the accident near Abu Al-Hasaniya after they received an emergency call.

They discovered that the accident had left one of the drivers seriously injured. He was rushed to the Adan Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The news report failed to mention the condition of the second car’s driver after the accident. An investigation was opened to determine the circumstances behind the accident.

Search for muggers Mubarak Al-Kabeer police are investigating a case in which a man

claimed he was mugged by unknown assailants who left him with a stab wound. The Egyptian man reached the area’s police station on Sunday with a medical diagnoses report showing an injury inflicted as a result of an attack with a sharp-edged object. The man claimed he was attacked while walking in the area by a group of people who stole a briefcase he was carrying. The briefcase contained KD 23,000 which he said belonged to the company he worked with. The man gave descriptions of his attackers to be used in the investigations.

Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti youngster was hospitalized with multiple stab wounds following a fight reported recently in Al-Mangaf. Paramedics and police rushed to a location in the area where a fight involving two people was reported. They found a young man bleeding from two stab wounds, while the other man had fled the scene. The injured man was taken to the Adan Hospital while preliminary investigations revealed that the fight was over unsettled disputes between him and an old friend.

Drug overdose A man was found dead inside his house in Al-Ferdous on Sunday as a result of complications con-

nected to a drug overdose, according to preliminary investigations.

The man, a stateless resident in his forties, was reportedly found unconscious by his family who called the police. He was pronounced dead by paramedics who later concluded that he had died of a drug overdose. Criminal investigators also found a syringe at the scene that contained traces of drugs. The body was taken to the forensic department and a case was filed at the area’s police station.

Teen fakes kidnap story to stay with buddy Salwa detectives found that a teenager, who told his family members that he had been kidnapped, had actually made up the story just to spend some time with his friend.

Police sleuths had started searching for the African national after his family reported in an emergency call that he had called them to say he has been kidnapped, and that then the call was disconnected.

Detectives were eventually able to locate the child at a house belonging to his friend’s family. He told the police that he had cooked up the kidnap stor y to spend some extended time with his friend since his family usually refused to let him stay out for too long. — Al-Anba, Al-Watan, Al-Rai

Kuwait, Hungary to boost trade relation BUDAPEST: The immediate implementation of trade agreements and the increase of exchangeable visits between Kuwait and Hungary is vital to enrich investment opportunities, Kuwait’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry senior official said yesterday.

Deputy Director-General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hamad Al-Omar said in a statement to KUNA that Kuwait and Hungary had signed pacts on trade and investments since 1980. Therefore, the latest participation of Kuwait in a trade meeting in Hungary last week was a pursuit to discover new trade and investment grounds in both countries.

Kuwait also will host another trade meeting with the European country today, to continue discussing boosting trade in all realms. Al-Omar noted that the meeting in Hungary provided an opportunity to familiarize with both the Kuwaiti and Hungarian investors of the possibilities they might find in both countries, Al-Omar told KUNA. Both sides discussed the capabilities of Hungarian companies to setup investments within Kuwait’s five-year development plan and how they could partnership with the biggest Kuwaiti companies.

The Kuwaiti delegation to Hungar y stressed that the Kuwaiti market is “fair” and

“open” to all international commodities and products. However, he noted that foreign commodities are conditioned by their “quality” and their “price” to enter the Kuwaiti market. These two conditions provide fair competition to other international goods.

Hungary, on its part, promised to facilitate procedures to Kuwaiti investors in the European country provided that they abide by the country’s tax rules and other regulations. On this regard, Al-Omar stressed that Kuwaiti investors interested in taking their business to Hungary should consult with the concerned authorities to get more information and support. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Arabs who were busted with drugs are seen.

Duo busted with dope

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The narcotics department arrested two Arab expats for possessing Methamphetamine, commonly known as ICE. The investigations department received a tipoff about one of them possessing the drug and on arrest, they recovered it from him.

He confessed that he has a partner who helped him with this trade. The partner was

also arrested and ICE was recovered from him also. They confessed that they bring in the drugs from one of the neighboring countries without the knowledge of the drivers who transported it. They also admitted that the trailers are monitored from the minute they enter the Kuwaiti border and they quickly remove it from the trailers and get down to business. The suspects and the confiscated goods were sent to concerned authorities.

Kuwait participates in GCC Housing meet KUWAIT: The state of Kuwait represented by the Public authority for Housing Welfare will participate in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Undersecretaries meeting, scheduled next Wednesday at the GCC General Secretariat Headquarters in Riyadh.

Director General of the authority, Sobhi AlMulla, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) yetserday that the meeting will discuss papers and studies presented by the six Gulf States to be recommended to the housing ministers’ next meeting.

Al-Mulla, who will head the Kuwaiti delegation to the meeting, said a technical delegation from the authority departed to Riyadh earlier to prepare for the meeting of Housing Undersecretaries. He explained, the objective of these meetings is mainly the exchange of expertise in the field of

housing among Gulf States, and benefit from distinctive experiences in some countries and transfer them to other Gulf states.

Al-Mulla said that a delegation of architects from the Public Authority for Housing Welfare was sent to the United Arab Emirates to observe and review the (Masdar) city project in Abu Dhabi, in the field of technology and preservation of the environment and to consider possible ways of applying such technologies in urban housing projects in the country. He pointed out that the Public Authority Housing Welfare “Is open to all international experiences in the field of urban housing, renewable energy of high-yield and transfer those experiences to Kuwait, especially in the field of renewable energy and preserving the environment.” — KUNA

Kuwait participates in ATO KUWAIT: The 16th General Conference of the Arab Towns Organization (ATO) held in Qatar, aims at exchanging expertise and gain experiences, said Capital Governor, Sheikh Ali Al-Jaber AlAhmad Al-Sabah yesterday. In a

statement before his departure to Doha leading the Kuwaiti delegation to the meeting, Sheikh Ali Al-Jaber said that the three-day conference will discuss vital issues, such as urban planning and city development strategies.

The conference, held under the title “Arab Cities and The Challenges of Sustainable Development,” is also aimed at meeting the standards of modern cities ‘according to what fits our environment and developments’, he added. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Assistant Undersecretary for tourism sector in ministry of commerce Sameera Al-Ghareeb said that the sector intends to form a supreme committee to discuss tourism obstacles in the state and to put suitable solutions for it during the coming few weeks. She spoke at the forum “Tourism in Kuwait” which was held along with the travel exhibition which took off at fair ground in Mishreef on May 13.

Fire dept honors innovators

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait took part in the 13th GUST Job Opportunities Exhibition which was organized recently in the Gulf University for Science and Technology campus.

KUWAIT: General Director of Fire Department Lt. General Yousuf AlAnsari received in his office a delegation from Sabah Al-Ahmad center for

gifted and innovative persons headed by the general director of the center Dr. Omar Al-Bannai. They held a meeting in which they discussed several subjects like means of cooperation between the two parties and the discussions of sev-

eral national inventions at the hands of ambitious Kuwaiti youths, who want to serve their country through those inventions. Both parties exchanged memorial shields and honored sergeant Hussain Bu Mijdad.

Al-Hmoud pays KIA surprise visit KUWAIT: Weeks after the visit of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Ahmad AlHmoud to Kuwait Airport and his discovery of lack of vigilance since he was able to enter the restricted area without being stopped by airport security men, he again paid a surprise visit to the airport. This time, during his surprise visit to the Kuwait International Airport, the minister once again checked out the security arrangement.

Security sources said that airport security men were surprised to see the minister touring various airport areas without anyone accompanying him at around 10 pm on Friday night. Assistant Undersecretary Lt General Awar Al-Yaseen after the first visit had held an extended meeting with high ranking officers at the airport and told them that the Ministry of Interior would have no difficulty in terminating the services of those who did not do their duty well at such an important place. He said severe punishments will be handed out to anyone at the airport found not doing his job to the best of his ability. Sources said that Al-Hmoud expressed his appreciation of the efforts made.

Rules to govern employee transfer KUWAIT: The Chairman of Civil Service Commission, Abdulaziz Al-Zaban, said that the panel has decided to stop transfer of employees of the government organizations and a decision will be issued later to decide regulations to govern the transfers. The commission formulated regulations for transferring employees among government organizations, laying down the rule that administrative positions be given only to those holding high degrees and technical jobs to those holding diplomas only. No employee could be transferred before three years in the same ministry from the date of employment. Al-Zaben said that the commission discussed the subject about granting allowance to leaders who wished to retire, and decided to make a recommendation to the council of ministers in this respect for taking necessary decision. — Al-Anba

KUWAIT: General Director of Fire Department Lt General Yousuf Al-Ansari is seen with a delegation from Sabah Al-Ahmad center for gifted and innovative persons headed by the general director of the center Dr Omar AlBannai. — Photo by Hanan Al-Saadoun

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

LOCAL

KUNA publishes book marking 50th ’versary of Kuwait’s UN membership Book sheds light on Kuwait’s rich history

City Lights Event Production manages ceremony for Kingdom of Netherlands Embassy in Kuwait KUWAIT: City Lights Event Production & Consultancy managed a huge ceremony for Kingdom of Netherlands Embassy in Kuwait, on the occasion of crowning King William Alexander, as the new Dutch King.

On this occasion, City Lights Company General Manager, Bashir Samaha dedicated sincere congratulations for Kingdom of Netherlands Embassy in Kuwait, represented by Nicolas Beets, Ambassador of Kingdome of Netherlands in Kuwait, Embassy faculty and the Dutch community in Kuwait wishing in this new era more progress and prosperity for the Kingdom and its people.

City Lights Company managed this beautiful celebration at the Dutch

Ambassador Residence garden, in presence of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kuwait representatives. Honorable Ambassadors in Kuwait attended the ceremony, as well as well known businessmen, many social, cultural figures & local press. A classy gathering was held at the ambassador’s residence where everything was beautifully illuminated reflecting the Kingdom’s flag colors and decorated with visual effects and high quality logistic arrangements, giving the atmosphere of the Dutch theme. Attendees shared the joy of the Ambassador of Netherlands Kingdom, as well as the Embassy faculty during the cake cutting ceremony that was specially designed for this occasion.

Al-Fahaheel Club wins table tennis tournament KUWAIT: Al-Fahaheel club won Kuwait’s national table tennis tournament for 20122013 season on Sunday, lifting the gleaming cup, while Al-Tadamon club came in the second place, with Kuwait Sporting club bagging the third position. The Kuwait Table Tennis Association concluded the tournament last night in Ardiya by holding the final match for the juniors under 18 in singles category. Later, trophies, medals, and memorial shields were handed out to all the winners.

Secretary of the Kuwait Table Tennis Association Haza’a Al-Hajri told KUNA yesterday that the players showed a high level of performance during the season and were truly enthusiastic to win.

Al-Hajri said these competitions prepare the players to participate in major tourna-

ments, noting that the Kuwaiti table tennis team will participate in the upcoming Gulf championship which will be held in Jeddah next September.

The Secretary congratulated the Chairman and administration members of AlFahaheel Club for their achievement, and also other players who won the medals, praising the efforts of officials in all participating clubs to develop the abilities of their players.

Chairman of the association Ahmad Al-Qallaf said that they are cooperating with all the clubs to provide the players with all equipment needed, and also qualified trainers.

Al-Qallaf said all Kuwaiti clubs participated in the tournament, except for Al-Arabi Club, which has not been participating for more than ten years. —KUNA

KUWAIT: The State of Kuwait celebrates today the 50th anniversary of its membership of the United Nations. Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), marking the significant occasion, issued a new publication, titled “Kuwait and the United Nations,” documenting major developments and events within the framework of the relations between the two sides since Kuwait became a member of the UN on May 14, 1963.

In his introduction included in the book, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem AlHmoud Al-Sabah wrote that Kuwait decided to be a member of the international organization out of its awareness that it was necessary to effectively play its role in the international community.

Sagacious Kuwaiti leaders made this move as they were aware that the UN was the sole umbrella of international legitimacy through which global peace, security and stability could be secured. On this basis, Kuwait was keen on supporting the organization and helping it realize its objectives. It was among the pioneer states that participated in international efforts for relieving the needy and victims of catastrophes.

Director-General and Chairman of KUNA Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah

also wrote in the prologue of the 253-page book, saying that the State of Kuwait has been keen since independence on solidifying its foundations internally and externally, namely through joining effective regional and international organizations.

Kuwait, within a short period of time, succeeded in occupying a high status at the international quarters, through its effective role toward global causes, its sagacious policy, good ties, relentless effort towards international peace and security, as well as cooperation with the UN in projects in the service of mankind.

The first chapter of the book sheds light on historic events and circumstances that existed at the time of founding of the UN, which was originally named the League of Nations, and its most important affiliated agencies. The second chapter of the book, covering the period 1963 to 1989, features political and social conditions in Kuwait that had existed since the era of the late Amir HH Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah till the rule of the late Amir HH Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem AlSabah, when independence was established and efforts started for the UN membership.

This chapter also tackles the crisis involving the late Iraqi president Abdul-Karim Qassem, that coincided with the proclamation of independence by Kuwait, how Kuwait dealt with it

and how it delayed the process of joining the UN until 1963. Moreover, this section touches on Kuwait’s contributions to the UN bodies. The third chapter addresses the 1990-1991 Iraqi aggression on Kuwait, a crisis that put the UN to a major test as an international organization responsible for global peace and security.

The UN scored its “greatest victory” in history when it dealt with this crisis, and succeeded in tackling this unprecedented issue and its ramifications. Moreover, this chapter deals with the international action to resolve the crisis, resolutions that were issued by the UN during and after the occupation in addition to several other issues related to the aggression, namely demarcation of the borders and payments of war compensations.

KUNA’s book, in the fourth chapter, sheds light on the post-liberation situation, tackling the Kuwait-UN relationship that developed from “state of cooperation to partnership status.”

Furthermore, it sheds light on Kuwait’s support for global peace, combating terrorism, backing human rights, hosting of international conventions, proposals to develop the UN Security Council and the organization as a whole. The fifth chapter includes most important documents and resolutions concerning the two sides, and issues involving Kuwait and Iraq. — KUNA

Wataniya Telecom sponsors Graduation Ceremony of Faculty of Medicine at KU KUWAIT: According to its corporate social responsibility program through which the company strives to support the various society segments and in particular the educational sector; Wataniya Telecom sponsored the graduation ceremony for the faculty of medicine (Kuwait University). The event was organized by Kuwait Medicine Students Association at Missoni hotel on May 11 under the patronage of the Minister of Education & Higher Education, Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf and in presence of the Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Dr Adel AlKhedher and Wataniya’s representative from the Public Relations Department, Rawiah Alateeqi. 95 students receivedtheir degrees in the presence of a huge crowd of parents, faculty representatives and well-wishers.

Wataniya’s initiative comes as a part of its keen interest in supporting Kuwait students and as a recognition gesture toward the educational sector.

The company believes that students are the bright future of the nation. Fatemah Dashti, the Public Relations Manager of Wataniya Telecom reaffirmed this by stating that; “We will continue to invest in the growth and development of the Education Sector because building professional skills and enhancing competencies of the youth will strengthen the labor force in the country and lead to overall

progress of our nation.” Since it was established in Kuwait, Wataniya Telecom has invested heavily in upgrading its social responsibility program which mainly seeks developmentfocusing primarily on

youth and students. The company sees a promising future in youth and believes that they play a key role in the development of Kuwait as a nation that embraces highly qualified professional talents.

ABK hosts diabetes awareness session KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait hosted an awareness seminar for its employees with a view to empower people with information on the “the silent killer” diabetes that is growing at an alarming rate in Kuwait. Early intervention and the avoidance or delay of progression to Type 2 Diabetes is of significant benefit in terms of increasing life expectancy and quality of life.

Dr Kashif Rizwi, Consultant Diabetologist and Endocrinologist, practicing at the Clover Clinic explained the reach of the disease and its causes, while guiding people on the best practices for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

An interactive question and answer session after the seminar gave an opportunity to guests to ask specific questions on the subject.

Sahar Al-Therban, ABK’s PR manager stated, “ABK organized this interactive awareness session for its employees, as we believe that awareness begins at home. We are encouraged by this large turnoutof employees, who listened with rapt attention to Dr Rizwi and were comfortable asking him their doubts and fears.”

Sahar added, “We always look forward to presenting such lectures to benefit employee well-being and health, even if it means taking a short break from theirwork routine to attend them.We take this opportunity to thank Dr Kashif Rizwi for his enlightening talk, and his approachable attitude that

immediately put the audience at ease.”

Dr Rizwi expressed his enthusiasm at joining ABK in this excellent initiative that upholds the Bank’scommitment tosocial responsibility. Indian Women’s Association (IWA), as part of its Diabetes Be Aware campaign coordinated the seminar at ABK.

Govt plans clear translation of Kuwaiti laws KUWAIT: Sources revealed that the council of ministers is discussing the draft translation of laws and Kuwaiti constitution articles so that these could be used for reference while signing international agreements. The move will be unprecedented in the history of Kuwait. Sources said that the government planned to have an authorized and clear translation of the Kuwaiti laws. The translation will be

based on Kuwait Constitution in a foreign language and will act as a point of reference for any government organisation or body which plans to sign a partnership agreement with any foreign parties. The move has the approval of the Cabinet and will be executed in the coming period after the translations are completed and approved by a legal committee of the council of ministers. — Al-Anba

Sheikha Fariha honors the Arab Family Award winners SHARJAH: Sheikha Fariha Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah participated yesterday in a ceremony to honor winners of the Arab Family Award in its first session, along with Al-Sharjah Governor Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al-Qassimi.

Sheikha Fariha who participated as a guest of honor told KUNA she was happy to be invited to honor Arab figures who played a great role in the field of family and childhood, hoping the conference following the ceremony entitled “the future of Arab families amidst current changes,” would achieve its goals of providing a better life for families. Head of the Arab Family Organization Jamal Bin Obaid Al-Bah said the organization took pride in making Sheikha Fariha its guest of honor for the award’s first session, for all her work in sponsoring many of the organization’s events. Al-Bah said the award aims to honor Arab families, associations and media companies and organizations supporting the family, adding that the organization is the first of its kind in the region. He also noted that the organization honors not only

tragedy struck or disabled families, but also ideal families in the Arab world as well as Arabs in diaspora.

Amongst those honored in the ceremony attended by ministers and officials of different Arab countries, was Kuwait TV for broadcasting prominent social and documentary programs including educational

programs aiming to develop Arab societies.

Kuwait TV which was chosen out of five other TVs, sponsored an exhibition under the name “ancient Kuwait” during the ceremony. The Arab Family Organization is under the League of Arab States and is located in Tunisia, with the headquarters in Sharjah, UAE. — KUNA

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

Yemen army jet crashes in Sanaa, pilot killed

New Nigeria Islamist video claims attacks Page 9

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ISLAMABAD: Activists of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) protest against the rigging of elections yesterday. — AFP

Sharif reaches out to US, India PML-N projected to win 130 of 272 seats RAIWIND, Pakistan: Pakistan’s incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday reached out to India and the United States, pledging to strengthen relations after his thumping victory in landmark elections. Sharif promised Pakistan’s “full support” as the United States withdraws combat troops from Afghanistan next year and made overtures to nuclear rival India in a briefing with the foreign media at his family estate outside Lahore. In an astonishing comeback 14 years after he was ousted by a military coup and briefly jailed, his centre-right Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) is projected to win 130 of the 272 directly elected seats in the national assembly. “If there are concerns on either side I think we should address those concerns and strengthen this relationship,” Sharif told journalists, referring

to Pakistan’s alliance with the United States which can be notoriously difficult.

The US and NATO are due to withdraw most of their troops from the war against the Afghan Taleban by the end of 2014 and Pakistan will be a key transit point for shipping home equipment overland to the port at Karachi. “We will extend full support to them and we will see everything goes smoothly,” Sharif said, hours after President Barack Obama said Washington was ready to work with Islamabad “as equal partners” and welcomed the transition.

One thorn in the relationship is US drone strikes targeting Taleban and AlQaeda militants in the northwestern tribal belt, which are unpopular in Pakistan due to civilian casualties and seen as an infringement of sovereignty. “This is a very

RAIWIND, Pakistan: Pakistan’s incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif speaks to journalists at his farmhouse on the outskirts of Lahore yesterday. — AFP

important issue and our concern must be understood properly. We will sit with our American friends and we will certainly talk to them on this issue,” Sharif said. He added that he would be “very happy” to invite India’s Manmohan Singh to his swearing-in ceremony and hoped that he would visit soon. The Indian leader on Sunday congratulated him and expressed hope for better relations.

But Sharif’s biggest challenges are likely to be closer to home - fixing the shattered economy, ending an appalling energy crisis and tackling Islamist militancy.

Sharif will likely need only the estimated 27 independents and his proportion of those seats reserved for women and minorities, to secure a majority in the first democratic transition in a country accustomed to long periods of military rule. The outgoing Pakistan People’s Party suffered a crushing defeat, collapsing from 88 directly elected seats to 33, according to newspaper projections, but enough to emerge as the second largest party and likely to go into opposition.

Its chairman Makhdoom Amin Famin said Sunday: “We have our reservations on the transparency of the elections but for the sake of political stability in the country we accept the results.” Cricket star Imran Khan, who promised a “tsunami” propelling him into power, appeared to have slipped into third place on 29 seats - still an astonishing achievement for a party which previously won only one seat in 2002. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will try to form a provincial government in the Taleban-hit northwest, but go into opposition at the national level. PTI supporters carried out protests in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi on Sunday over alleged rigging in a handful of seats. —AFP

Carlos back in court PARIS: Carlos the Jackal, once considered one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, returned to court in Paris yesterday to appeal his conviction for a series of deadly bombings in France 30 years ago. The trial kicked off with Carlos, whose real name is Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, appearing without his defence lawyers and saying he had asked them not to attend. The 63year-old, who has been imprisoned in France since his capture in Sudan in 1994, was found guilty in 2011 of masterminding the 1982 and 1983 attacks on two French passenger trains, a train station in Marseille and a Libyan magazine office in Paris.

Already serving life for murder at the time, Carlos was given another life sentence for his role in attacks that left 11 people dead and nearly 150 injured, earning him the mantle of the world’s most wanted fugitive. The 1982-83 bombings in France were widely believed to have been carried out to avenge France’s detention of two fellow members of a militant

Ilich Ramirez Sanchez group Carlos ran with the support of East Germany ’s notorious secret police, the Stasi. Prosecutors in France had struggled to secure a conviction until the release of secret Stasi files in the years that followed the collapse of Communism and German reunifica-

tion. At the heart of Carlos’s appeal will be a claim that the evidence garnered from these files is fundamentally unreliable. “I have forbidden my lawyers from coming to defend me,” Carlos told the court as the trial began, saying he had asked them not to attend because Venezuelan authorities would not agree to cover his court costs. “I have nothing against the court... I have no intention of sabotaging the trial,” he said, asking for court-appointed defence lawyers.

But he earned a quick reprimand from the judge when two young lawyers entered the courtroom to defend him, saying “A blonde and a brunette?” The panel of judges that will hear the appeal will also review the acquittal of Christa Froehlich, a 70year-old German, of charges of involvement in one of the attacks.

Froehlich was tried in absentia in 2011 and has informed the court she will not be attending the appeal, which is scheduled to run until the end of June. —AFP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

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

Turkey to press harder for Assad ouster after blasts Thousands protest Reyhanli bombings ANKARA: The deadly blasts that shook Turkey at the weekend will only spur Ankara to press harder for global action against the Syrian regime, analysts say, as fears grow that the country is being dragged into the spiralling conflict. At least 48 people were killed Saturday in twin blasts in the town of Reyhanli, near the Syrian border, in an attack Turkey claims was masterminded

meet with US President Barack Obama in Washington on Thursday, the Turkish premier is likely to use the incident to urge the powerful NATO ally to take “a stronger stance” against Assad, said Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute. “Even if the president is not ready to move on all (demands)... greater commitment to support the (Syrian) rebels

services indicates however that they are ready to use this bombing to pressure the US to adopt a more aggressive policy against the regime,” he said, “at least through military support for the rebellion.”

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said that the Reyhanli bombings had crossed a “red line”, while Erdogan - an outspoken critic of Assad - has urged

HATAY, Turkey: People carry yesterday the coffin of the two last victims of the May 11, 2013 bomb blast at Reyhanli just a few kilometres from the main border crossing into Syria. — AFP by a group linked to embattled Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, though Damascus rejects the allegation. The bombings were the deadliest incident on Turkish soil since the start of the Syrian civil war two years ago, in what observers see as a sign of the growing regional impact of a crisis that has already cost 80,000 lives.

With the Reyhanli bombings coming just days before Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to

would be well received in Ankara, as well as stronger US and NATO commitment to Turkey’s defence,” he said.

The bombing appeared in line with the “usual tactics and the capability” of Damascus, but Turkey would not resort to unilateral military force as an immediate reaction to avoid regional tension, Faysal Itani of the Atlantic Council told AFP. “That Turkey was able to formally accuse the Syrian intelligence

his countrymen not to fall for Damascus’s attempt to drag them “into the Syrian quagmire”. But as Turkey mourns its dead, some analysts say the country’s strong antiregime stance has already made it a stakeholder in the conflict raging on its doorstep - to the dismay of many Turks.

“Believing that Bashar Al-Assad’s ouster is inevitable, Turkey has sought to undermine him by backing the political and armed opposi-

tion inside Syria,” Cagaptay told AFP. “ Turkey ’s policy of regime change in Syria has, thus far, failed with dire consequences, as demonstrated by last week’s attacks: Ankara can no more isolate itself from the fallout of the Syrian war,” he said. The loss of dozens of lives in Reyhanli, a major hub for Syrian refugees and rebels, has provoked public anger over Erdogan’s aggressive position on Syria - he has in the past labelled Assad a “butcher” and accused him of using chemical weapons.

Thousands of residents in Hatay province, where the blasts occurred, have taken to the streets in the aftermath of the bloodshed, urging Ankara to stop backing the rebels with banners reading: “Hands off Syria”! “All we want is for the government to drop its support for the Islamist rebels,” Mahir Mansuroglu, a spokesman for a community centre in Hatay, told AFP yesterday. Ankara broke ties with Damascus soon after Assad, a one-time ally, launched a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011.

Since then, Turkey has become a rear base for Syrian rebels fighting to topple Assad’s regime, as well as a refuge for some 400,000 Syrian refugees, a heavy burden that is straining Turkey’s resources. It has also been the occasional victim of cross-border shelling from Syria, with one incident in October killing five Turkish nationals. In response, the US, Germany and the Netherlands in January deployed Patriot missile batteries along Turkey’s volatile border with Syria to serve as a deterrent.

But Erdogan wants Washington to go further and take the lead on robust action against the Syrian regime. He has also called for US support to establish a safe-haven and a no-fly zone inside the conflict-ridden country to protect rebel-held border territories. A Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Reyhanli attacks had proved to the world “how merciless the regime is”. “They show how urgently a solution is needed,” he said. — AFP

WESTERN DUMAYNA, Syria: Syrian troops take control of this village some seven kilometers north of the rebel-held city of Qusayr yesterday. Syrian troops captured three villages in the strategic Qusayr area of Homs province, allowing them to cut supply lines to rebels inside Qusayr town, a military officer said. — AFP

Syria blames ‘murderer’ Erdogan for bombings MOSCOW: Syria’s information minister has blamed Turkey’s government for deadly car bombings near the Syrian border and branded Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan a “murderer”, state-run Russian TV company RT reported yesterday. The bombings took place as prospects appeared to improve for diplomacy to try to end the war in Syria, after Moscow and Washington announced a joint effort to bring government and rebels to an international conference as soon as possible. “All responsibility for what has happened lies with the Turkish government and Erdogan personally,” RT quoted Omran Zubi as saying in an interview with its Arabic-language channel.

“I demand his resignation as a murderer and an executioner. He has no right to build a political career on the blood of the Turkish and Syrian people,” RT quoted Zubi as saying. It said he repeated a denial of Syrian involvement in car bombings that killed 46 people on Saturday in the Turkish border town of Reyhanli. Turkey has accused a group with links to Syrian intelligence of carrying out the attacks.

The car bombs increased fears that Syria’s civil war, in which a Syrian opposition group says more than 82,000 people have been killed since it began with a government crackdown on protests in March 2011, is dragging in neighbouring states.

The US-Russian peace initiative, which followed US Secretary of State John Kerry’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, has touched off a flurry of diplomacy. The Kremlin said Putin would

discuss Syria and other issues with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Russia on Tuesday. An Israeli official confirmed Netanyahu’s trip.

Israel has asked Russia not to sell Syria an advanced air defence system, the S-300, which would help President Bashar alAssad fend off any foreign military intervention, though the United States and NATO have shown little appetite for that.

Russia vehemently opposes military intervention in Syria and criticised Israeli air strikes this month that Israeli sources say were aimed solely at preventing advanced weaponry getting to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group, an Assad ally, in Lebanon.

Russia, a traditional arms supplier to Damascus, says it is fulfilling longstanding contracts for air defence weaponry but has not specified whether it would supply Syria with the S-300. A Russian official said Lavrov would meet Kerry again on the sidelines of an Arctic forum in Sweden this week. British Prime Minister David Cameron said he had been heartened that talks he held with Putin on Friday showed “a recognition that it would be in all our interests to secure a safe and secure Syria with a democratic and pluralistic future and end the regional instability”.

Russia has been Assad’s strongest protector in the conflict, opposing UN sanctions and, along with China, blocking three Western-backed Security Council resolutions on Syria. Russia has agreed with Western powers that Syria needs a transitional government. —Reuters

SANAA: Yemeni security forces and soldiers inspect the site of a plane crash yesterday. — AP

Yemen army jet crashes in Sanaa, pilot killed SANAA: A Russian-made Yemeni military jet ploughed into a residential district of the capital Sanaa yesterday, killing the pilot, an army official told AFP, and witnesses said it exploded in mid-air before crashing. The Sukhoi crashed into “AlAsbahi residential district in southern Sanaa,” the official said. Witnesses said the plane exploded in the air before crashing and debris from the aircraft scattered across the area, causing light damage to buildings and shattering windows.

The accident is the second of its kind in the capital this year after 12 people died in February when another military aircraft ploughed into a building in a residential area. That plane had also been identified as a Sukhoi SU-22 attack aircraft, and had been on a training mission. An air base is located near the Sanaa international airport, just 15 km north of the capital.

Such air accidents are common in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country. In November, a

Yemeni air force Antonov M26 crashed during a training mission in a northern district of Sanaa, killing all 10 on board.

A fighter jet crashed on

takeoff on a routine training mission in the south in October, killing the pilot and injuring another crew member, after what the defence ministry described as a

“technical failure”. And in Oct 2011, four people were killed when an Antonov crashed on landing at AlAnad air base in southern Yemen. — AFP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

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

Hard homecoming to newest nation South Sudan RENK, South Sudan: When Leo Okwahi Lole came back home to South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation and which he fled during the brutal civil war, he should have celebrated. Instead, he and his family - and some 20,000 others returning from Sudan were dumped in a fetid camp just across the border, and are now struggling to find onward transport back to their home villages far away in Eastern Equatoria state, hundreds of kilometres from where they left decades earlier.

But while international aid agencies, the United Nations and the fledging government of impoverished South Sudan are trying to transport them home, they neither have the cash nor the logistics to carry the piles of belongings that make up the life savings of those seeking to start a new life. Leaving Sudan, many wanted to convert their savings into furniture and other belongings, fearful that the currency would be useless once across the border into South Sudan.

“The few properties I have, I have to stick with them so I can start life again, this is our problem now,” said Lole, who fled to Sudan to escape the 1983-2005 civil war between then southern rebels and Sudanese forces. The brutal conflict

ended with a peace deal paving the way for South Sudan’s 2011 vote for full independence. That peace deal triggered a giant movement of people, with the UN estimating that almost two million have returned to their villages, some travelling internally within the South, others coming from Sudan, and others returning from neighbouring nations or even further abroad. But the long and tough process continues.

After days of travel downstream on the White Nile river to the capital Juba, some 400 people are still waiting to be reunited with the huge piles of furniture which represent their life savings - that they had to leave behind when barges took the returnees south. “Renting a barge... is over $200,000, so we need to use our resources as effectively as possible”, said the UN’s humanitarian chief for South Sudan, Toby Lanzer. “On average it’s about $1,000 dollars per person and we’ve got about 20,000 people here... there simply isn’t the money to move all of these people and their luggage,” he said.

South Sudan won its independence, but with the split Lole - like many others lost his job as an engineer in a sugar factory in now separate north Sudan. He

spent a fortune transporting his belongings to Renk, just across the border into South Sudan, in the hope that the UN or the government would then help transport him on. But in refusing to abandon his belongings, he has remained stuck in a basic camp for almost a year. “There are a lot, a lot, a lot of problems facing people here,” Lole said. “Rains, people living in poor shelter, and then mosquitoes, then there are diseases and then the lack of food - people are hungry,” he said, admitting he was now being forced to sell his family’s goods in order to survive.

Peter Lam Both, who heads the government’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, said $16 million was earmarked to help people travel home, but funds have been stalled. South Sudan switched to an austerity budget after shutting down the oil production that made up its almost entire revenue in 2012 in a furious row with Sudan. While the oil resumed flowing last month, support for those stuck in camps remains meagre. According to Both, up to a quarter of a million South Sudanese remain in Sudan, and the operation to return them home could “take millions of dollars”. The UN-funded International Organisation for Migration (IOM) moved over 9,000 peo-

MALAKAL, South Sudan: Photo taken on April 24, 2013 shows South Sudanese returnees boarding a plane in Malakal, capital of Upper Nile. — AFP ple from Renk last year, a small drop in her four children is too heavy a price to the possible numbers who are yet to pay to leave the “very dirty place” she travel home, with an estimated 40,000 lives in. “Why would I leave my things South Sudanese living in shacks in and go alone? I would sleep where? I Sudan’s capital Khartoum. But for 38- need to take my things to Juba. There’s year-old Grace Nasona, selling her fami- no money, I cannot sell my things,” she ly’s fortunes to travel downstream to join said. — AFP

Bulgaria parties struggle to form new government No sign of early end to political stalemate

LAGOS: Nigerian Usman Abbas (left) and Azim Aghajani (right) an Iranian citizen, are led away by prison officials at the Federal High Court after their sentencing yesterday. — AP

Nigeria convicts Iranian of illegal arms shipment LAGOS: A Nigerian court yesterday sentenced an alleged member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and his Nigerian accomplice to five years in jail each over an illegal arms shipment. Azim Aghajani and Nigerian Ali Abbas Jega were detained in 2010 when authorities at a Lagos port discovered 13 containers of weapons that had been declared as construction materials. The case attracted wide international attention, in part because it raised questions over whether Iran had violated United Nations sanctions on weapons sales.

West African governments also warned that Iran may have been seeking to send weapons to rebel groups in the region. “I now pronounce them guilty as charged,” said Federal High Court Judge Okechukwu Okeke, convicting the two on four of five criminal counts. While the crimes in question carried a potential life sentence, the judge said he was swayed by a plea for leniency from the defence and by the conduct of the pair while in detention. “In sentencing the accused I

have taken into consideration the plea for mercy by the defence team, but the law has to take its course,” Okeke said.

The sentence will be counted retroactively from Feb 2011, when their trial began, meaning the men will walk free in under three years. Aghajani has denied having links with Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard, insisting he was a private businessman conducting a legitimate transaction. The defence argued that the weapons were just passing through Nigeria and were ultimately headed to the tiny nation of Gambia as part of a legal sale.

Gambia denied it was the intended recipient and cut diplomatic ties with Iran over the dispute.

The case also sparked a stern response from Senegal, which accused Iran of trying to deliver weapons to separatist rebels in its southern Casamance region. The United Nations added Aghajani to a blacklist last year, labelling him a Revolutionary Guard member tied to “Iranian support for terrorism and extremism worldwide”. —AFP

New Nigeria Islamist video claims attacks KANO: The purported head of Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram has claimed two recent deadly attacks in the northeast in a video obtained by AFP yesterday, which also depicts women and children apparently being held hostage. The video features Abubakar Shekau, declared a global terrorist by the United States, seated on a rug with a kalashnikov resting behind his right shoulder.

“We are the ones that carried out the Bama attack,” Shekau said in the Hausa language, referring to the May 7 assault that killed 55 people, mostly soldiers and police. “We also carried out the attack in Baga,” he further said of the April 16 raid in the town near Lake Chad that sparked clashes with soldiers which killed nearly 200.

Nigeria’s military has been accused of causing scores of deaths in the Baga violence by deliberately setting fires that razed thousands of homes. “It was you, the security agents that went into town the following day and burnt homes and killed people at will,” Shekau said.

SOFIA: The centre-right GERB has emerged from Bulgaria’s election as the largest party but it is short of coalition options, and any new government will almost certainly need backing from a nationalist party which alarms the European Union. GERB, whose leader Boiko Borisov resigned from government in February during nationwide protests in the EU’s poorest country, won most votes in Sunday’s poll but not enough to gain a majority. The second-placed Socialists said they would try to ensure it did not return to power, offering to set up a technocrat government that would also require the backing of the nationalist Attack party.

Borisov’s GERB is mired in allegations of corruption and the outspoken leader has kept a low profile since the vote, not speaking publicly or making grandiose claims of victory. An extended political deadlock could crimp already lacklustre economic growth - expected to be about 1 percent this year - and mean further delays in reforms in areas such as employment, health and education. “There is nothing dramatic if we cannot form a government. But for the others after us, it will be extremely hard, too,” said Ivailo Moskovski, a senior GERB member and former minister.

Other parties were reluctant to work with GERB, which won 30.7 percent of votes cast on Sunday and will have first go at forming a government, according to nearly complete results. It could command a tiny majority if it worked with Attack. Attack, whose members sometimes wear swastika-emblazoned shirt and make Nazi salutes at rallies, attracted Bulgarians unhappy with the low living standards and widespread corruption, but have also ruled out for now support for GERB. Its leader Volen Siderov has alarmed investors with his pledges of nationalisations and revoking foreign companies’ concessions.

“Coalition talks are likely to be uneasy,” said Otilia Simkova, an analyst at Eurasia.

“Negotiations in forthcoming hours and days will be crucial for Bulgaria’s policy direction in next four years.” An interim government will lead the Balkan country until a new cabinet is elected. Yesterday, Interim Prime Minister Marin Raikov appealed to political parties to avoid “burning bridges” in order to form a stable government. “If we have an unstable government, a

SOFIA: A Bulgarian family works in an agricultural field on the outskirts of the capital yesterday. — AFP government that yields to social demagoguery, this will sink the country,” Raikov told reporters.

GERB pledges to keep fiscal deficit and debt under control, while the Socialists have promised to spend more and create jobs without running up debt. Attack is pursuing an immediate raise in the minimum wage and spending to increase living standards. Widespread disenchantment with the voting process was reflected in turnout figures of just 53 percent, the lowest for any parliamentary election since the fall of communism in 1989. Six years after joining the EU, many of Bulgaria’s 7.3 million people are angry about low living standards and graft, following a campaign that consisted more of mudslinging than presenting clear policies, and was marred by scandals over wiretapping and illegal ballots that hurt GERB’s support.

The unclear result of Sunday’s election raises questions over economic policy and could mean another ballot will be needed, possibly in September, analysts and pollsters said. With 99.3

percent of ballots counted, the Socialists were in second place, with 27.6 percent of the vote.

Ethnic Turkish party MRF had 10.5 percent and nationalist Attack 7.4 percent. That would give GERB 98 seats in the 240-member parliament and it could command a slim majority with backing from Attack, as it did to form a government in 2009. Attack’s Siderov ruled that out on Sunday though that may be a negotiating position that could be softened.

The Socialists and their likely allies are set to get 119 seats when 121 are needed to form a government, meaning they would need Attack’s backing to form a cabinet, almost complete official results showed. Socialist leader Sergei Stanishev said he was certain that GERB would not be able to form a government and that his party was ready to hold talks with MRF, Attack and citizens’ organisations to form a cabinet to avoid new protests. “The first task is to get GERB out of power,” Stanishev said. “We will take the responsibility to form a government.” — Reuters

Prosecutors sum up in Berlusconi sex trial Abubakar Shekau The military has fiercely denied the reported abuses by its soldiers, insisting that only 37 people died in the Baga violence, including 30 suspected Islamists. Some seven minutes into the 12-minute video message, the screen splits, showing Shekau on the left with a group of unidentified women and children on the right. The Islamist leader claimed this group is being held hostage in retaliation for the wives and children of Boko Haram members detained by the military. —AFP

ROME: Italian prosecutors presented their final arguments yesterday at the close of Silvio Berlusconi’s trial for having sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of office in a legal storm that is shaking the government.

The hearing is one of the last in a trial that began two years ago and relates to alleged crimes in 2010 when Berlusconi was still prime minister and revolves around alleged raunchy “bunga bunga” parties at his luxury residence outside Milan. “The women invited to the then prime minister’s private residence were part of a prostitution system set up for the personal sexual satisfaction of the defendant Silvio Berlusconi,” said prosecutor Ilda Boccassini in a live feed from the courtroom broadcast by news channel Sky TG 24.

Prosecutors are expected to request a sentence of at least five years in prison for the flamboyant billionaire tycoon, who was not present for the hearing, Italian media reported. A verdict could come later this month. Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex on several occasions with Moroccan-born Karima El-Mahroug, a then 17-year-old exotic dancer nicknamed as “Ruby the Heart Stealer”.

Boccassini said El-Mahroug, a teenage runaway who was initially spotted by a Berlusconi associate at a beauty contest in Sicily when she was 16, had become the prime minister’s “favourite”.

She said there was “no doubt” that El-Mahroug was working as a prostitute and that she had sex with Berlusconi, portraying her as someone following a “negative Italian dream” based on money. It is also alleged that Berlusconi called a police station to pressure for ElMahroug’s release from custody when she was arrested for petty theft. According to prosecutors, he did so because he was fearful she could reveal their liaison.

Berlusconi, 76, denies all charges and says the trial is only the latest example of “judicial persecution” by leftwing prosecutors in Milan. A program on Sunday on a television channel he owns included interviews with Berlusconi and El-Mahroug in which the two spoke of “perfectly normal” soirees that have been wrongly portrayed.

The legal woes are straining relations within Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s grand coalition government in which Berlusconi’s People of Freedom party is a crucial coalition partner. —AFP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

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

‘Red Brigade’ takes on India sexual predators Group of angry young women send a message to rapists

NEW ORLEANS: This image taken from video shows a possible shooting suspect in a white shirt. — A P

Mother’s Day gunfire 19 shot in New Orleans NEW ORLEANS: Video released early yesterday

by New Orleans police shows a possible suspect in the Mother’s Day gunfire that wounded 19 people during a neighborhood parade. The grainy surveillance video shows a crowd suddenly scattering in all directions, with some falling to the ground. They appear to be running from a man who turns and runs out of the picture. The person is wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants.

The image isn’t clear but police say they hope someone will recognize him and notify investigators.

Still pictures of the suspect have been posted on YouTube, police said. Police believe more than one gun was fired in the burst of Sunday afternoon violence - the latest to flare up around a New Orleans celebration this year - and they have vowed to swiftly track down those responsible. Detectives were conducting interviews, collecting any surveillance video they could find and gathering evidence from the scene. Mobile phone video taken in the aftermath of the shooting shows victims lying on the ground, blood on the pavement and others bending over to comfort them.

Police also say the reward for information leading to arrests and indictments in the case is $10,000. The crime scene was about 1.5 miles from the heart of the French Quarter and near the Treme neighborhood, which has been the centerpiece for the HBO T V series “ Treme.”

Sunday’s violence comes at a time when the city is struggling to pay for tens of millions of dollars required under federal consent decrees to reform the police department and the city jail.

Shootings at parades and neighborhood celebrations have become more common in recent years as the city has struggled with street crime, sometimes gang-related. At least three victims of Sunday’s shooting were seriously wounded. Of

the rest, many were grazed and authorities said that, overall, most wounds were not life threatening. No deaths were reported. The victims included 10 men, seven women, a boy and a girl. The children, both 10 years old, were grazed and in good condition.

It’s not the first time gunfire has shattered a festive mood in the city this year. Five people were wounded in January after a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade, and four were wounded in a shooting in the French Quarter tourist district in the days leading up to Mardi Gras. “The specialness of the day doesn’t appear to interrupt the relentless drumbeat of violence,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said at a news conference outside a hospital where victims were being treated Sunday night. Mary Beth Romig, a spokeswoman for the FBI in New Orleans, said federal investigators have no indication the shooting was an act of terrorism. “It’s strictly an act of street violence in New Orleans,” she said. As many as 400 people came out for the second-line procession - a boisterous New Orleans tradition - though only half that many were in the immediate vicinity of the shooting, Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas said. Officers were interspersed with the marchers, which is routine for such events.

Police saw three suspects running from the scene. No arrests had been made as of late Sunday. Second-line parades are loose processions in which people dance down the street, often following behind a brass band. They can be planned events or impromptu offshoots of other celebrations. They trace their origins to the city’s famous jazz funerals. The neighborhood where the shooting happened is a mix of lowincome and middle-class row houses, some boarded up. As of last year, the 7th Ward’s population was about 60 percent of its pre-Hurricane Katrina level. —AP

Chinese pupil has father, sister ‘killed over study’ BEIJING: A school pupil was arrested in China for hiring hitmen who killed his father and sister because of the pressure they put on him to study, reports said yesterday, highlighting educational stress in the country. The teenager was detained in the central province of Henan following the death of his father Gao Tianfenga senior court official-and his 20-year-old sister, the official Xinhua news agency said, citing local police. “According to the police interrogation of the boy, the junior hired two men that he got to know via the Internet to kill his father and elder sister, because ‘they had given

him too much pressure in study’,” Xinhua said.

Surveillance cameras showed two men had climbed over a wall and entered the house in Zhoukou at the time of the murder early on Sunday, the report said, adding two of the three suspects allegedly involved, including Gao’s son, had been held. Police could not be reached for comment by AFP yesterday. China has long been known for its highly disciplined approach to education, and parenting methods have drawn criticism for putting too much pressure on children to pass highly-competitive exams. — AFP

SEOUL: In this photo, a National Intelligence Service agent covered her face with a mask sits in front of her computers as officers from police and national election commission visit her to collect evidence from her computers at her home in Seoul, South Korea. — AP

Scandal rock South Korean spy agency SEOUL: The scandal shaking up South Korea’s main spy agency is not cloak-and-dagger stuff, but the kind of low-grade trickery anyone with an Internet connection could pull off. And the target was not Seoul’s opaque rival to the north, but the country’s own people. Internet postings ostensibly from ordinary South Koreans, but actually from National Intelligence Service agents, allegedly boosted President Park Geunhye while she was running for the job as the ruling party’s nominee. She was reportedly dubbed “the best,” while her opponent, in a play on his name, was called “criminal.”

A police investigation conducted before the December election found no wrongdoing, but now police say at least two agents violated the law and the original investigation is itself being examined. Dozens of Internet comments, or more, may not have affected an election that Park won by a million votes, but they have damaged public trust in a spy agency that already had a dubious record.

The agency was founded in 1961 by Park’s father, longtime dictator Park Chung-hee. Agents detained, tortured and even allegedly killed his political opponents. After Park was killed in 1979 - by his spy chief, ironically enough - other abuses occurred under his successors. In recent years, however, criticism of the NIS has centered on what it has failed to do - namely, come up with

much intelligence about North Korea. It learned about Kim Jong Il’s death in December 2011 two days after it occurred, when Pyongyang’s state TV announced it.

The Internet comments scandal captured headlines in South Korean media late last month, when state prosecutors summoned the agency’s former director, Won Sei-hoon, and raided its Seoul headquarters. Reports recalled the unfortunate fates of predecessors who ended up being arrested, imprisoned or even killed. “The prosecution will mobilize all its capabilities to swiftly and thoroughly get the truth of the case,” Prosecutor-general Chae Dong-Wook said in a meeting with top prosecution officials Tuesday, according to his office. “This case should be investigated in a way not to have any lingering suspicion.” The scandal flared about one week before the Dec. 19 election. Liberal opposition members camped outside the apartment of an NIS officer allegedly involved in illicit online campaigning, based on a tip from another agent. The officer locked herself in the apartment for two days, then came out - wearing a mask and a baseball cap to conceal her identity - to let police confiscate her computers.

The incident triggered a last-minute election debate over whether the NIS illegally engaged in politics, or whether the opposition party harassed an innocent woman. —AP

LUCKNOW: India’s “Red Brigade” is a group of angry young women with a simple message for the country’s sexual predators: change your ways or be ready to face the consequences.

Dressed in bright red shirts and loose black pants, the brigade’s members are fed up with deeply ingrained patriarchal mindsets and promote a brand of vigilante justice that is testing the law in their home state of Uttar Pradesh.

Their leader is 25-year-old Usha Vishwakarma, who has become an unlikely heroine to poor young girls growing up in the squalid bylanes of Madiyon, a suburb of state capital Lucknow.

Vishwakarma founded the group two years ago when she saw many of her friends being forced to give up their studies or stop going out for fear of stalking, groping or assault. “We were told to stay at home to avoid sex-starved men. If we went to the police, we were asked to ignore the ‘teasing’ and carry on. We were fed up with this moral conditioning,” Vishwakarma said.

Initially comprising 15 members, the group has swelled to more than 100 since the fatal gangrape of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi in December, which sparked a raging debate over the way women are treated in India.

“The attack in Delhi made us so angry. Many young women have approached us saying they wanted to bring about a change so that no one else has to suffer like she did,” said Vishwakarma, her fiery eyes gleaming. Reported crimes against Indian women stood at 228,650 in 2011, the latest figures available from the National Crime Records Bureau, but these are thought to represent only a fraction of actual offences. Social stigma attached to sexual abuse often prevents victims from filing complaints to the police, who are largely perceived as corrupt and insensitive.

The experience of Afreen Khan, a 16-year-old high school student and a Red Brigade member, reflects the almost daily harassment that women in the country face and which largely goes unaddressed. A group of boys would regularly make cat-calls and vulgar comments about her breasts, until the day one of them stopped her and pulled on her bra strap. “I turned around, snatched the bat that he was carrying and bashed him up. The next day I ran into him again but he fled away before I could say anything,” said Khan, giggling.

Much of the confidence of the Red Brigade stems from the self-defense classes they have been taking since the Delhi gang-rape. During a lesson at a spartan martial arts academy tucked in a narrow bylane of Lucknow, 17-year-old Preeti Verma said how she was learning to “kick an attacker in the sensitive places”. She was recently part of an attack on a group of boys in the neighborhoods who had been stalking a

LUCKNOW: Members of India’s ‘Red Brigade’ take part in a street play in Lucknow. India’s ‘Red Brigade’ is a group of angry young women challenging deeply ingrained patriarchal mindsets with a message for the country’s sexual predators: change your ways or be ready to accept vigilante justice. — AFP teenaged girl and sending lewd messages to her mobile phone.

“We just hoisted the boy up in the air and beat him up with our sandals. He ran away promising never to trouble the girl again,” Verma said. “You can’t take revenge in this fashion”While the Red Brigade has so far not faced any legal comeback over their actions, authorities take a dim view. “We do not encourage such vigilante groups. You can’t take revenge in this fashion,” R.K. Vishwakarma, Inspector General (law and order) of Uttar Pradesh state said.

“If somebody is harassing you, you have the right to retaliate in self-defense at that time. But you cannot go and even slap a man the next day because that would amount to crime. “As far as the spirit and confidence of the women is concerned, we appreciate that. But their ways may land them in trouble some day.” Surprisingly, the rough justice the Red Brigade metes out has been winning quiet approval from community elders, such as father-of-four Ram Avatar Singh, who said the group was “showing the way” to other girls. “ When we first started out, everyone ridiculed us. Now they look at us with respect and fear,” said Vishwakarma at her cramped tworoom house that she shares with her parents, four younger siblings and a white mongrel. The house serves as a meeting point for the Red

Brigade where the “target” is identified, the tactics discussed and the final action plan sealed.

The latest attack to anger the group was the rape of a 13-year-old girl belonging to a lowcaste community, who now sits among them with the hope that her voice can be heard.

“I had gone out to fetch water when a boy from the neighborhood pounced on me. He lifted me up and took me to the nearby fields and raped me,” she recounted tearfully. The police did not believe her account and registered the case as harassment, despite new laws that stipulate authorities must investigate rape allegations. It was only after her family and others from her village protested that the police acted and detained the 19-year-old offender. A medical investigation later confirmed the rape.

The Red Brigade has drawn inspiration from the “Pink Gang”, another vigilante group that is credited with sowing the seeds of women’s grassroots activism across Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state. Activist Kavita Krishnan of the Delhi-based All India Progressive Women’s Alliance calls such groups a “positive and collective assertion” of women’s rights, but not everyone is a fan. “If everyone starts taking the law into their hands there will be total anarchy. We should not condone mob justice mentality,” warned Mriganka Dadwal, founder of SLAP, another women’s rights group. — AFP

Taiwan gives Philippines ultimatum after shooting TAIPEI: Taiwan has issued an ultimatum to the Philippines to make an official apology to the family of a Taiwanese fisherman who died in a fatal shooting by the Philippine Coast Guard in waters off the northern Philippines or pay a price. The Philippines and Taiwan, as well as China, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, are embroiled in diplomatic rows over territory in the South China Sea, potentially rich in oil and gas and criss-crossed by crucial shipping lanes.

The disputes have sometimes escalated to confrontation between vessels.

The Philippines and Taiwan have overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in waters in the Philippine north. A Philippines fisheries official said one of its vessels, acting under the threat of being rammed, opened fire last Thursday on a Taiwanese fishing boat about 170 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan, killing one person on board. Philippines presidential deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Sunday the head of the de facto Philippine embassy in Taiwan had apologized and offered his condolences to the family.

Asked if the apology was an acknowledgement that the Philippines authorities made a mistake, Valte said it was more of an “expression of heartfelt sorrow at the unfortunate incident,” stressing that investigations are ongoing and it would be better to wait for the results of the probe. But Taiwan is not satisfied with the Philippines actions. “If the Philippines presidential office continues to respond to our request in such an attitude... They will have to pay a price,” according to a statement from Taiwan’s presidential office. Taiwan will freeze all new applications of Filipinos to work on the island, local media reported. There are currently 80,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, angry Taiwanese fishermen

TAIPEI: Two people hold protest signs at the Philippine de facto embassy in Taipei during a demonstration yesterday against the shooting to death of a local fisherman by Philippine coastguards. — AFP

burned Filipino flags in protest. Philippine President Benigno Aquino called for calm as tensions escalated between the two countries over last week’s incident in which the 65-yearold fisherman was shot dead. Hundreds of fishermen wearing yellow headbands and chanting “Justice must be done!” and “Killer must be punished!” hurled eggs at the Philippine de facto embassy in Taipei, which was guarded by dozens of police.

Aquino said Monday that the embassy in Taiwan was in talks with Taiwanese foreign ministry officials and had assured them an

investigation was being carried out. “I think it is in the interest of both parties to proceed in a calm basis,” Aquino told reporters. “We are proceeding in that manner.” The Philippine coastguard admitted on Friday to firing at one of four Taiwanese fishing vessels that it said had strayed into the country’s waters. Taiwanese authorities said more than 50 bullets hit the 15-tonne vessel, and fisherman Hung Shihcheng was killed. The victim’s son, who was with his father and two other sailors on the boat at the time, has insisted they did not cross into Philippine waters. — Agencies

Cheers as Afghan minister outs ‘corrupt’ lawmakers KABUL: Afghanistan’s finance minister yesterday named in parliament several lawmakers whom he said were guilty of corruption, triggering wild cheering and applause during a televised session of the lower house. Corruption is one of the key challenges facing Afghanistan as it tries to establish a functioning state system before US-led combat troops depart next year, and the government is often accused of failing to tackle the issue. Minister Omar Zakhilwal launched a passionate defense against attempts to impeach him over separate nepotism and graft allegations. Instead he publicly accused powerful MPs of smuggling illegal alcohol, fuel and cars.

One of the accused MPs, Naeem Lalai from the insurgency-racked Kandahar province, screamed

and shouted from his seat as Zakhilwal delivered an incendiary speech that shocked and delighted many lawmakers.

The minister said Lalai had tried illegally to import 1,970 cars and Lalai and other lawmakers often demanded that customs officers allow their contraband shipments into the country. “Any time he (Lalai) comes back from abroad he brings a lot of alcoholic drinks,” Zakhilwal said. “Yesterday, he called one of my customs officers and threatened him with death.”

The minister also accused Zahir Qadir, an influential MP from Nangarhar province and the son of a former warlord, of being involved in smuggling flour from Pakistan worth hundreds of millions of dollars. “I was called by Mr Zahir asking me to

release it,” he said. Zakhilwal, who was educated in Canada, is seen as a pro-western politician close to the US-led effort to rebuild Afghanistan after the fall of the Taleban regime in 2001. Last year he was reported to have burst into tears at a meeting with international diplomats in Kabul as he defended himself against accusations of corruption levelled at him by Afghan rivals.

“Two months ago five gasoline tankers were smuggled into Afghanistan, through Farah (province),” Zakhilwal told parliament. “We caught them, and Samimullah Samim (MP for Farah) called me from Germany to release the tankers.” “I told him they were smuggled. He said ‘I know they have been smuggled, that is why I’m calling you to help release them’.” —AFP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

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

Incoming Pakistan PM is ‘good news’ for India NEW DELHI: India is hoping Nawaz Sharif’s return to power in Pakistan will herald an upturn in ties between the nuclear rivals as long as he can keep the generals who ousted him last time at bay, analysts say. Sharif ’s last stint in power from 1997-99 saw India and Pakistan clash in a limited conflict known as the Kargil war as well as Islamabad declaring itself a nuclear power, weeks after New Delhi said it had carried out its own tests.

But observers say Indian policymakers are keen to engage with Sharif and are more inclined to blame the military for ratcheting up tensions during his time in office. Sharif later claimed Kargil was launched without his consent by the then-head of the army, Per vez Musharraf, who ousted him in a coup months later. In a sign of his eagerness for a fresh start, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was among the first to congratulate Sharif, saying he hoped they could chart “a new course” and inviting him to “visit India at a mutually convenient time”.

For his part, Sharif told India’s NDTV network in an eve of poll interview that “civilian supremacy over military is a must” for Pakistan-comments that ana-

lysts say bode well for future ties. Former Indian foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh said Sharif had shown a willingness during his time in office to improve ties, citing the 1999 Lahore Declaration which set out steps to cool nuclear tensions.

“We have dealt with him in the past and he is easy to work with. No other Pakistani leader has been as emphatic as Nawaz Sharif has been to resume the dialogue and improve relations with India,” Mansingh said.

Pakistani commentator Ahmed Rashid said the key to better relations would be whether the army kept its distance-something he says it refused to do when Sharif was in power in two spells in the 1990s. “Both times he made genuine efforts to make peace with India but was thwarted at every step by an aggressive and uncompromising army,” Rashid wrote in a piece for the BBC. “This time around, the army-faced with an apparent collapse of the state is also more amenable to the idea of improving relations with India,” Rashid added, while warning that outgoing army chief Pervez Kayani was uneasy at the idea of greater Indian investment in Pakistan.

Brahma Chellaney, a foreign policy analyst in New Delhi, also said the army’s

willingess to take a back seat would be crucial and it was in India’s interests to bolster rather than undermine Sharif.

“Unless Sharif’s government is able to change the civil-military equation, I don’t see the relationship between the two countries changing radically,” Chellaney said. “From Kargil to the Mumbai attacks, we can see the Pakistan military’s hand. So India must invest diplomatically in a strong civilian government in Islamabad, or nothing will change,” Chellaney said. India and Pakistan have fought three full-scale wars, two of them over the disputed region of Kashmir.

Since the limited Kargil conflict, Kashmir has continued to be a running sore and the two sides engaged in deadly exchanges earlier this year across the unofficial border. New Delhi broke off peace talks with Islamabad after the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed by Pakistani gunmen. But lower-level talks have resumed, focusing largely on trade and visas. Given his background in business, analysts say Sharif is likely to place more emphasis on trade. “His pro-business outlook means he will make cross-border trade a priority and ensure that barriers to

RAIWIND: Pakistan’s incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif Nawaz (center) offers a table full of food to journalists after a press conference at his farm house in Raiwind on the outskirts of Lahore yesterday. — AFP exports between the two countries are removed soon,” Mansingh said.

But for all the optimism in New Delhi, some observers say there are fears that China will use its historically close relations with Islamabad to ensure any thaw between India and Pakistan only goes so far. Sreeram Chaulia, head of the Jindal

School of International Affairs near New Delhi, said it was in Beijing’s interests that India and Pakistan remained at odds over issues such as Kashmir. “They would like India to play the role of a local South Asian power, so it can’t compete with China on the global stage and in the wider Asian region,” Chaulia said. — AFP

Filipino clans, celebrities dominate midterm polls Logistical nightmare compounded by worries

MANILA: Muslim women show their ink-covered fingers after casting their votes in mid-term elections in Manila yesterday. — AFP

The rogues’ gallery of Philippine candidates MANILA: Graft-tainted ex-presidents, a dictator’s unrepentant wife and politicians charged with crimes such as murder and child rape are among the candidates in the Philippines’ mid-term elections yesterday.

The Philippines has long endured a corrupt and violent brand of democracy in which politicians use their influence to avoid punishment for crimes, creating a so-called “culture of impunity” that enrages the masses.

Below are details on 10 politicians contesting the elections who are accused of corruption or criminal activities: IMELDA MARCOS 83-year-old widow of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was deposed in a “people power revolution” in 1986. The first couple was accused of plundering billions of dollars from state coffers and overseeing vast human rights abuses. Running for a second term as a member of the House of Representatives as her family makes a political comeback.

JOSEPH ESTRADA Ex-president kicked out of office halfway through his six-year term in 2001 amid a popular uprising triggered by allegations he was corrupt. Convicted in 2007 of plunder while in office, but quickly pardoned by his successor. Now 76, he is running for mayor of the capital city of Manila.

GLORIA ARROYO Succeeded Estrada in 2001 and served as president for nearly a decade. Her successor and current president, Benigno Aquino, has made her his top target in a war on corruption, and had multiple charges laid against her. Aged 66, she is seeking a second term as congresswoman in her home province of Pampanga while on trial and detained at a military hospital.

RYAN LUNA Running for a second term as mayor of Bangued, the capital of a northern province, as an opposition candidate. Went into hiding last month shortly after being indicted for the murder of a local political rival’s wife in 2007 elections. Appeared in a YouTube video denying the murder charge.

RODRIGO DUTERTE Veteran politician known as “ The Punisher” for his tough stance against crime.

Rights groups accuse him of encouraging

vigilante groups that summarily execute petty criminals, including children. Running for another term as mayor of the major southern city of Davao as an independent but allied to Aquino’s Liberal Party.

RONALD SINGSON A scion of a prominent political family in the northern Philippines, he was sentenced three years ago to 14 months in jail in Hong Kong for cocaine possession. He is seeking to regain his seat in the House of Representative that he vacated after the conviction. He is running in a province that for decades has been controlled by his father, Chavit, an admitted illegal gambling kingpin.

CLARA ‘FEMS’ REYES Wife of Joel Reyes, the former governor of the island province of Palawan. He is accused of masterminding the murder of an environment activist in 2011. She is running for mayor of a Palawan town for the ruling Liberal Party while her husband and brother-in-law are on the run after being charged over the murders.

JOSE RODRIGUEZ Running unopposed as mayor of San Marcelino town, 100 kilometers northwest of Manila. Rodriguez is on trial for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in 2010. He is an independent candidate allied with the national opposition alliance. He denies the charges.

CIPRIANO VIOLAGO Running for mayor under the ruling Liberal Party for San Rafael town, 40 kilometers north of the capital. Went underground last week after a judge issued an arrest warrant for him for allegedly killing a policeman.

He denies the charge, according to an aide.

JOHAIRA MIDTIMBANG AMPATUAN Mayor of Datu Hoffer town in the southern Philippines, running for a second term representing the nation’s main opposition alliance. She is the wife of Zaldy Ampatuan, one of the alleged masterminds of the Philippines’ worst political massacre, the killing of 58 people in 2009. The massacre was allegedly an attempt to prevent a rival’s election challenge. Zaldy Ampatuan, four of his brothers and their father, as well as several other relatives, are in jail while on trial for the murders. — AFP

MANILA: From Imelda Marcos to Manny Pacquiao, familiar names of Philippine political clans and celebrities dominated the ballots for yesterday’s congressional and local elections, which will gauge popular support for the president’s anti-corruption drive and other reforms.

Despite scattered violence and fears of fraud, the polls were relatively peaceful as soldiers and police secured stations in potentially violent areas.

Polling started at 7 am and was to end at 7 pm with first results expected in 48 hours. More than 52 million Filipinos have registered to elect 18,000 officials, including half of the 24 member Senate, nearly 300 members of the House of Representatives and leaders of a Muslim autonomous region in the south, where Islamic insurgents, Al-Qaeda-linked gunmen and private armies have long been a concern.

The logistical nightmare has been compounded by worries that some of about 80,000 automated counting machines, which are being used for only the second time since the 2010 presidential election, may fail in regions grappling with power outages. About 1,000 portable generators have been transported to problematic areas. The official election watchdog, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, said it has received reports of some breakdowns, including in metropolitan Manila. The supplier said it had expected 200-300 units to malfunction but it had 2,000 replacements on standby.

Elections Commission Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the problems were minor and the polling generally smooth. The outcome will determine the level of support for President Benigno Aquino III’s reforms in his remaining three years in office. Aquino has been praised at home and abroad for cracking down on widespread corruption, backing key legislation and concluding an initial peace agreement with Muslim rebels.

But he cannot run for re-election and a choice of his successor, who will be expected to continue on the same reform path, will depend on the new political landscape. Candidates backed by Aquino are running against a coalition headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and deposed President Joseph Estrada. Although officially No 2 in the country, Binay has emerged as the administration’s rival and may be positioning himself for the 2016 presidential race.

like growing power cuts, painful inflation and widespread unemployment. He is also a main proponent of improving ties with Pakistan’s archenemy and neighbor India, a step that would likely boost his country’s economy. Critics worry that Sharif, who is known to be personally very religious, is soft on Islamic extremism and won’t crack down on militants that pose a serious threat to Pakistan and other countries chief among them the Taleban and Al-Qaeda-linked groups.

The United States will be watching Sharif closely, since Washington relies on help from Islamabad to fight Islamic militants in Pakistan and to negotiate an end to the war in neighboring Afghanistan. The son of a wealthy industrialist from central Punjab

Sarangani province. Estrada, who was ousted in a 2001 “people power” revolt on corruption allegations, is running for mayor of Manila, hoping to capitalize on his movie star popularity, particularly among the poor masses.

Philippine elections have long been dominated by politicians belonging to the same bloodlines. At least 250 political families have monopolized power across the country, although such dynasties are prohibited under the 1987 constitution. Congress - long controlled by members of powerful clans targeted by the constitutional ban - has failed to pass the law needed to define and enforce the provision. “Wherever you go, you see the names of these people since we were kids. It is still them,” businessman Martin Tunac, 54, said after voting in Manila. “One of the bad things about political dynasties is they control everything, including business.”

School counselor Evelyn Dioquino said that the proliferation of political dynasties was a cultural issue and other candidates stood little chance because clans “have money, so they are the only ones who can afford (to run). —AP

BAGUIO: Members of a tribal family in traditional dress vote in mid-term elections in Baguio, Benguet province, north of Manila yesterday. — AFP

Philippines holds ‘vital’ elections MANILA: The Philippines held elections yesterday seen as crucial for President Benigno Aquino’s bold reform agenda, as deadly violence and graft-tainted candidates underlined the nation’s deep-rooted problems. Aquino called for the mid-term polls, in which thousands of local leaders plus national legislators will be elected, to be a referendum on his efforts to transform a corrupt political system and an underperforming economy.

“The president is asking voters to put their confidence in those on the administration slate to help him carry out the rest of his reform agenda,” presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said. Aquino swept into power in 2010 on a promise to fight corruption that he

next Pakistani PM - an ‘Islamist comeback kid’ ISLAMABAD: The man set to become Pakistan’s next prime minister after historic elections over the weekend could be called the Islamist comeback kid. Nawaz Sharif has held the job twice before, but the last time didn’t end so well. The 63-year-old was toppled in a coup by the country’s army chief in 1999 and sent into exile in Saudi Arabia. He spent years in the steamy Gulf before brokering his return in 2007. After serving as the country’s main opposition leader, Sharif came roaring back in Saturday’s elections, in which his Pakistan Muslim League-N party scored a resounding victory.

Sharif’s supporters believe his pro-business background and years of experience in government make him the right person to tackle the country’s many economic woes,

Among 33 senatorial candidates are two of Aquino’s relatives, Binay’s neophyte daughter, Estrada’s son, a son of the sitting chamber president, a son of a late president, a spouse and children of former senators and there’s a possibility that two pairs of siblings will be sitting in the same house. Currently, 15 senators have relatives serving in elective positions.

The race for the House is even more of a family affair. Toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ widow, the flamboyant 83-year-old Imelda, is expected to keep her seat as a representative for Ilocos Norte province, the husband’s birthplace where the locals kept electing the Marcoses despite allegations of corruption and abuse during their long rule. Marcos’ daughter, Imee is seeking re-election as governor and the son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is already a senator.

Boxing star and incumbent Rep Manny Pacquiao is running unopposed and building a dynasty of his own: his brother Rogelio is running to represent his southern district and his wife Jinkee is vying to become vice-governor for

province, Sharif entered politics as a protege of Gen Zia ul-Haq, who seized power in a military coup in 1977.

Sharif was prime minister from 1990-93 and again from 1997-99. Sharif ’s second stint in power was cut short when he was toppled in a military coup and sent into exile by Gen Pervez Musharraf, who was then serving as army chief.

The coup followed an attempt by Sharif to fire Musharraf by preventing his plane from landing when he returned from a trip abroad. In an ironic twist, Musharraf is currently under house arrest in Pakistan after returning from self imposed exile, and it will be up to Sharif ’s government to decide whether to bring treason charges against the former military strongman. —AP

blames for crushing poverty in the country of 100 million people.

Opinion polls show he remains one of the country’s most popular presidents, with the Philippines enjoying faster economic growth than every other nation in the Asia-Pacific except for China.

But, with presidents only allowed to serve one term of six years, Aquino is in a rush to implement more ambitious reforms and make an enduring impact on graft. Yesterday’s elections-in which more than 18,000 positions, from town councilors up to provincial governors and members of the legislature, are being contested-are vital to shore up support for his efforts.

Most crucial is control of both houses of Congress. Aquino is confident of securing big majorities in both houses from an alliance of a wide range of parties, enabling him to pass legislation much more easily than his first three years when he did not have control of the Senate. One of Aquino’s biggest reforms is a planned peace deal with Muslim rebels to end a decades-long insurgency in the south that has claimed an estimated 150,000 lives and curtailed economic growth.

The peace accord would require parliamentary endorsement. Aquino’s aides have also said he is focused on passing legislation that would expand the tax base, including from the mining sector, to pay for more social security services. Nevertheless, amid the hope, the elections highlighted the enduring nature of many of the darkest traditions that have smothered Philippine politics since the end of Ferdinand Marcos’s dictatorship in 1986.

The Philippines is infamous for a brutal brand of democracy where politicians-particu-

larly at local and provincial levels-are willing to bribe, intimidate or kill to ensure they win.

Yesterday, seven people were killed in the south as politicians’ security forces battled each other or launched attacks on voters.

More than 60 people were killed in pre-poll violence. Meanwhile there was a host of candidates with links to corruption or violence, part of a “culture of impunity” in which powerful figures easily skirt around the justice system.

Among them was Imelda Marcos, 83-yearold wife of the ex-dictator, who was widely expected to win a second term in the lower house representing a northern province which has for decades remained a family stronghold. Joseph Estrada, a former president evicted in a popular uprising in 2001 and later convicted of committing plunder while in office, was running to become mayor of Manila, the nation’s capital. The Philippines is ruled by remarkably few families, with roughly 70 percent of the members of current Congress belonging to a dynasty, and polls showed the elite were set to become even more dominant.

Two of Aquino’s relatives were among the 33 Senate candidates. Another colorful figure contesting the elections was boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, who is running for a second term in the nation’s lower house. Critics accuse him of trying to build a dynasty, with his wife and brother also running for posts.

“Family dynasties act as if they are royalty. It is as if the poor don’t have a right to run for public office,” Santiago Magano, 46, a middle-class professional said as he voted in Manila.

Results are expected to be released today and tomorrow. AFP

NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

This photo taken on Sunday shows a guide leading camels near the Yueyaquan Crescent Lake in Dunhuang, in China’s northwestern Gansu province. Formerly a silk route hub and centre for trade between China and the West, Dunhuang relies heavily on tourism and features a number of historic sites dating back to the Han Dynasty. The city has an arid climate and is surrounded by sand dunes, a result of increasing desertification. — AFP

Panic grips Saudis amid fears of SARS-like...

Continued from Page 1 In France, two people have contracted the virus, including one who on Sunday was moved to intensive care following the deterioration of his conditions. He is believed to have been infected after sharing a hospital ward with a 65-year-old man, who was later diagnosed with the virus thought to have been contracted while he was on holiday in Dubai last month.

Keiji Fakuda, WHO’s assistant director general for health

security and environment, told a Riyadh news conference on Sunday the new virus posed an “important and major challenge” for countries affected and for the world generally. He said experts were still grappling to understand all aspects of the virus and how humans become infected, stressing, however, that “this new virus is not the SARS virus”. “This is a new infection and there are also many gaps in our knowledge that will inevitably take time to fill in,” a WHO statement cited Fukuda as saying. — AF

Kuwait may sign jet deal this month Continued from Page 1 approval. In Aug 2007, Kuwait Airways cancelled an order for 19 passenger planes worth $3 billion from local lessor Alafco after failing to get government approval.

Under the new proposal, Kuwait Airways would pay around KD 850 million ($2.98 billion) for the 25 new planes, which would include 10 wide-bodied A350-900 jets and 15 of the slimmer medium-haul A320neo, the source said. Such an order would be worth $4.38 billion

at list prices, but aircraft are usually sold at a discount. The A350 is designed to counter Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, which would have been included in the deal scrapped in 2007.

Kuwait Airways would start receiving the Airbus aircraft from 2019, the source said, confirming details of the talks originally reported by Al-Watan newspaper on Sunday. “The final decision is the government’s,” the source said. “I think by the end of this month, they should take it.” Kuwait Airways and

Airbus, which is owned by aerospace and defence group EADS, declined to comment. Under the plan, the airline would also lease 13 of Airbus’s A330 and A320 models for six years, the source said, without giving an estimate for the cost of that part of the agreement. One of the reasons the Airbus deal was seen as favourable was that it combined the new and leased jets, the source said, adding that the leased jets should start arriving this summer. The airline wants to take 11 jets from its old fleet out of service. — Reuters

US, Britain, Russia in agreement on Syria Continued from Page 1 Cameron, fresh from a trip to Russia, one of Assad’s few remaining backers, said he believed Washington, London and Moscow had found “common ground” on the crisis, which has left tens of thousands dead. Obama agreed, saying Russia had an “interest as well as an obligation” to work on resolving the crisis. “If in fact we can broker a peaceful political transition that leads not only to Assad’s departure but a state in Syria that is still intact (...) and that ends the bloodshed, stabilizes the situation, that’s not just going to be good for us-that will be good for everybody,” the US leader said.

Ahead of the talks, Cameron told National Public Radio that US Secretary of State John Kerry made a “real breakthrough” in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin “when they agreed to an American-Russia peace conference”. The British leader also said that Putin was “keen now to move from the generalities of having a peace conference to talking through the specifics of how we can make (this) work.” Obama has resisted directly arming the Syrian opposition but - with reports that Syria has used chemical weapons, which would cross a US a “red line” - is coming under increasing pressure at home and abroad to do so.

Obama said last week that Washington had a moral and national security obligation to stop the slaughter in Syria, but said he wanted more concrete evidence that chemical

Deadly bombing hits Benghazi Continued from Page 1

Five MPs file to grill oil, interior...

Continued from Page 1 deal who is a shareholder in Dow which represents a clash of interests. They also charged that the Kuwaiti legal team has failed to represent the country and defend its right in the best way possible. “The Dow Chemical deal is one of the biggest financial crimes in the history of Kuwait,” said the grilling.

The three MPs also accused the minister of failing to take action to stop the sale of alcohol at thousands of petrol stations in Europe owned by Kuwait Petroleum International, a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC). He also failed to punish officials who were responsible for maintaining Kuwaiti investments in a company in Europe even after an Israeli company bought a stake in it. The three MPs also accused the minister of approving a large number of staff promotions at oil companies that were in violation of Kuwaiti laws.

Meanwhile, MPs Safa Al-Hashem and Youssef AlZalzalah filed to grill the interior minister over allegations he is not fully cooperating with the Assembly and over the theft of thousands of bullets from ministry stores. The two lawmakers called on the minister to resign because they have solid evidence about the accu-

sations they made in the grilling. They charged that the minister failed to cooperate with MPs by first failing to implement a number of recommendations and also by not answering their questions as he only answered less than half of the questions. They held the minister responsible for the robbery of thousands of bullets and even M16 automatic rifles from Interior Ministry stores and that he has failed to maintain law and order in the country, besides failing to implement thousands of court verdicts.

But the main issue the lawmakers highlighted are accusations that the minister has refused to supply UAE authorities with information about a number of Kuwaiti Islamists - members of the Muslim Brotherhood - who have links with a group of Emirati Islamists on trial on charges of plotting to overthrow the government. They said that the prime minister has acknowledged the information but the interior minister still told UAE authorities that there was no Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait, thus undermining the security of Kuwait and its Gulf partner UAE. The two grillings are expected to be debated after two weeks unless the Assembly decides to delay the debate or for any other reason like a government resignation, the ministers’ resignations or others.

weapons had been used. Yesterday, he said: “We will continue work to establish facts around the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and those facts will help guide our next steps.”

Cameron and Obama met amid indications that Assad’s regime may not be hustled swiftly out of power, as his army gained ground in the strategic central province of Homs.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog reported that the military, backed by the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, seized much of the strategically vital Qusayr area, which connects the capital Damascus to the coast. In southern Daraa, which nurtured the Syrian uprising against Assad, the army secured control of the town of Khirbet Ghazaleh, on the route between Damascus and the Jordanian border. The Observatory said yesterday that it has now documented the deaths of some 82,257 people since the beginning of the conflict in March 2011, including 34,473 civilians.

Reverberations meanwhile mounted from a string of deadly bombings in the Turkish town of Reyhanli, which the Ankara government blamed on Damascus. Thousands of Turks took to the streets to urge their government to rethink its support for rebels fighting Assad, warning that the decision had provoked reprisals against Turkey, including the bombings, which killed 48 people. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to meet Obama at the White House on Thursday, with Syria also topping their agenda. — — AFP

Justice Minister Salah Al-Mirghani denounced a “terrorist act” and vowed the authorities would “do everything possible to arrest the criminals”. Mirghani also urged “unity” among Libyans as commentators noted the bombing was the first to target civilians in Libya since the 2011 uprising that toppled Gaddafi’s regime and to take place in broad daylight.

Benghazi, Libya’s second city, has seen a wave of violence in recent weeks. But previous attacks, bombings or assassinations, have rocked the city by night or in the early hours of the day when the streets are empty, and have hit non-civilian targets, namely security officials.

Four police stations have been bombed in Benghazi in recent days - two on Friday and two on Sunday - causing damage but no casualties. Authorities blame radical Islamists for the violence, including a deadly attack in September against the US consulate in Benghazi that killed ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. “We still don’t know if this bombing targeted civilians or one particular individual,” a security official said.

The latest violence also comes days after the United States and Britain withdrew some staff from their embassies in Tripoli citing security concerns over a flareup between militiamen and the authorities. The British

Council cultural agency also closed its Libyan office for a week for the same reason, and oil giant BP said it had pulled out some non-essential overseas staff out of the country. Last week the United States issued a travel advisory warning against “all travel to Benghazi” and other areas in Libya.

The militiamen, mostly former rebels who helped topple Gaddafi, had surrounded the foreign and justice ministries to press for a vote in the national assembly barring former officials of his regime from holding government jobs. They lifted the siege on Sunday, ending a two-week standoff, days after the vote was passed by the General National Congress and a pledge by Prime Minister Ali Zeidan to reshuffle the cabinet soon.

The militiamen who helped topple Gaddafi were hailed as heroes after the uprising but since then they stand accused of many of the country’s ills, notably the instability that still plagues parts of the North African nation. Yesterday’s car bombing comes three weeks after a similar attack targeted the French embassy in Tripoli. Two French guards and a few locals were wounded and the bombing caused extensive damage to the embassy and private homes in a residential neighbourhood. It also prompted France to reduce the number of personnel at its embassy. France and Britain led the creation of a NATO no-fly zone in Libya in 2011 when the rebellion against Gaddafi began. — AFP

in the

news

Tanzania releases UAE, Saudi citizens DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania has released three Emiratis and one Saudi held in connection with the bombing of a church this month and charged a local man with murder, Tanzanian police said. Three people were killed in the attack on the Catholic church in Arusha, north Tanzania. More than 60 were injured. Tanzania police said in a statement yesterday that the four had been released without charge after investigations proved they were not involved in the bombing.

Arusha’s regional police commander said 20-year-old Tanzanian Victor Ambros Kalist was charged yesterday with murder and attempted murder in connection with the attack. The UAE Foreign Ministry had announced on its Twitter account that the Emiratis had been released late on Sunday. The Saudi citizen was also released and was not charged with any offence, Saudi Arabia’s state news agency reported late on Sunday.

Saudi traveling with pressure cooker held DETROIT: Federal agents said a Saudi man was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after lying about why he was traveling with a pressure cooker. Two pressure cookers were used in the Boston Marathon bombings last month. A criminal complaint filed yesterday said Hussain Al Kwawahir is accused of using a passport with missing pages and lying to Customs and Border Protection agents. The complaint said Kwawahir arrived at the airport Saturday on a flight from Saudi Arabia via Amsterdam and told agents he was visiting his nephew in Toledo, Ohio. The complaint says Kwawahir originally said he brought the pressure cooker because they aren’t sold in America but later said his nephew bought one that broke. A detention hearing for Kwawahir in Detroit was delayed.

Muslim body urges generous aid for Mali JEDDAH: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation yesterday urged its member states to make generous contributions at a donors’ conference on Mali to be held this week in Brussels. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu launched the appeal at the opening of a ministerial meeting in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah. Romano Prodi, the UN special envoy for the Sahel, attended the meeting which was held to discuss logistical and financial assistance to Mali, an OIC member, ahead of the donors’ conference tomorrow. The conference aims to raise funds to repair the damage caused by the war against Islamists in the west African country. Foreign ministers attending yesterday’s meeting included those of Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Mali, Burkina Faso and Djibouti.

Chile denies deal to export water to Qatar SANTIAGO: Chile’s government is denying reports that it will export fresh drinking water to Qatar after a recent report caused a public backlash. The Gulf Times newspaper of Qatar cited Chilean Ambassador to the UAE Jean Paul Tarud over the weekend saying “Chile has some of the largest fresh water export capabilities in the world.” The report caused a public outcry in social media after Tarud reportedly confirmed that a trial project to export fresh drinking water to Qatar had started.

Chile has been suffering from drought. Environmentalists worry about thinning glaciers in the south where the water would come from. Chile’s foreign ministry yesterday “ruled out” any such project. It said media reports confused the intention of a private company in Qatar with a plan by Chile’s government.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

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Issues

Tenth time lucky for Iran and IAEA?

By Simon Sturdee

T

he UN atomic agency will tomorrow press Iran, in their 10th meeting since late 2011, to grant access to sites, documents and scientists involved in Tehran’s alleged efforts to develop nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that there is “overall, credible” evidence that until 2003, and possibly since, such activities took place. The agency conducts regular inspections of Iran’s declared nuclear facilities and Tehran, which denies seeking or ever having sought atomic weapons, says it is not obliged to grant access to any other sites. Iran says the IAEA’s findings are based on faulty intelligence from foreign spy agencies such as the US CIA and Israel’s Mossad - intelligence it complains it has not even been allowed to see.

Nine rounds of talks, the latest in February, since the publication of a major IAEA report in November 2011 on these alleged activities have produced no breakthrough. Iran says progress has been made but the agency denies even this. In particular, the IAEA wants to be allowed to go to the Parchin military base near Tehran. It says its information on alleged activities at the site are not from spy agencies and can therefore be easily shared. Iran counters that the IAEA already visited Parchin twice in 2005. The agency says that it has obtained new information since then, and Western countries have accused Iran of hiding evidence there.

Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, has called such accusations “childish”. In March, IAEA head Yukiya Amano called on Iran to grant access to Parchin without waiting for a wider accord covering all outstanding issues, but Tehran rejected the idea. Parallel diplomatic efforts meanwhile between Iran and six major powers - the US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany - are focused more on Iran’s current activities, most notably uranium enrichment.

Enriched uranium is at the heart of the international community’s concerns since it can be used not only for peaceful purposes such as power generation but also - when highly purified - in a nuclear bomb. The latest round with the “P5+1” in Almaty, Kazakhstan in early April ended with chief negotiator and EU foreign policy head Catherine Ashton saying the two sides remained “far apart”. The UN Security Council has passed multiple resolutions calling on Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment, imposing several rounds of sanctions on the Islamic republic.

Additional US and EU sanctions last year began to cause major economic problems by targeting the Gulf country’s vital oil sector and financial system. Israel, the Middle East’s sole if undeclared nuclear-armed state, meanwhile has refused to rule out military action on Iran, as has Washington. The IAEA talks come ahead of the release next week of its latest regular report, which is expected to show that Tehran has continued to expand its nuclear program in spite of its international isolation. “It seems like Iran is trying one more time to offer a minimal conversation right before the (IAEA) director general issues his next report ... in a calculated move by Iran to soften criticism,” one Western diplomat told AFP. Mark Fitzpatrick, analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, was similarly pessimistic. “The IAEA is persistent in asking for a means of resolving the issues, but Iran is stubbornly insisting on tying its IAEA obligations to sanctions relief on the diplomatic track,” he told AFP last month. —AFP

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.

Surprise candidates open up Iran race

By Marcus George

A

fter the huge protests that followed the 2009 election, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may have hoped June polls would quietly install a loyal conservative president, but the surprise candidacies of two major independents may scupper that. Both Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, the nationalist protege of outspoken President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president and Iran’s best known political grandee, are seen as a threat to the leader’s authority.

Khamenei personally intervened to prevent Mashaie from becoming vice-president in 2009 such was his disapproval of a man conservatives accuse of leading a “deviant current” within Islam that seeks to undermine the power of Muslim clerics.

However, the supreme leader’s rivalry with Rafsanjani, a seasoned political operator, goes back decades. Should Mashaie make it through the vetting process, the election on June 14 could turn into a three-horse race between him, Rafsanjani and one of several “principlist” candidates - those who are fiercely loyal to Khamenei and the principles of the Islamic Republic. Even if they fail to win, big-name alternative candidates could attract greater public interest in the election, making Khamenei’s plan to see an obedient conservative take office a great deal more difficult, despite his ultimate power and the Revolutionary Guards who back him.

Struggling with sanctions over its disputed nuclear program, and backing Bashar Al-Assad in

Syria’s civil war - the president is one of Tehran’s few and closest allies - the Iranian leadership is keen to show the world it has a strong, harmonious, fully functioning political system. Instead, the race may produce the opposite, reprising as it does Rafsanjani’s acrimonious fight with the Ahmadinejad camp, which emerged victorious in the 2005 presidential contest. It also brings into focus Rafsanjani’s troubled relationship with Khamenei, which disintegrated over his support for the defeated reformist opposition in 2009.

“Rafsanjani poses a challenge. He has said he wants to save the Islamic Republic by changing the hardline direction the country has taken in the past few years,” said Farideh Farhi, an Iran analyst at the University of Hawaii. “Principlists who have not been able to come up with a candidate that brings together all their competing wings will have to scramble in search of some sort of unity,” she said.

As president between 1989 and 1997, Rafsanjani clashed with Khamenei and hardliners over his pragmatic plans to mend relations with regional states and liberalise Iran’s economy. But it was support for the reformist “Green Movement” protests against Ahmadinejad’s disputed 2009 election win that cast him out in the cold. Last week, Rafsanjani said he would not enter the fray without Khamenei’s consent. But analysts say a last-minute agreement with the supreme leader may not have been the ringing endorsement the former president was looking for. “Khamenei can see this as a personal challenge or a means to enhance the legitimacy of the system as a whole,” said Farhi.

Khamenei may also be unable to rein in conservatives and the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which wields both political and economic influence, from going on the attack. Rafsanjani is in some ways an easy target. “Rafsanjani’s wealth and business dealings present a huge vulnerability,” said Shaul Bakhash, a politics professor at George Mason University in Virginia. “Since Khamenei can’t really control them, the conservative establishment, its clerical associates and the Revolutionary Guards are certain to mount a massive campaign against him.”

The line-up also breathes new life into corrosive divisions between Khamenei and Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly challenged the authority of the supreme leader and only narrowly avoided being forced from office. Tied to Ahmadinejad by the marriage of his daughter to the president’s son, Mashaie is viewed with intense distrust and dislike by those unswervingly loyal to Khamenei. Given the leader’s own evident distaste for Mashaie, the fact that he even registered as a candidate amounts to a direct challenge to the authority of Khamenei.

Mashaie has inserted himself into religious debates and emphasised Iranian nationalism in his speeches - behaviour that has outraged traditionalists. But the Guardian Council, a conservative body of clerics and jurists that vets candidates, looks unlikely to approve Mashaie, analysts said, leaving Ahmadinejad and his allies with few options left to maintain influence and perhaps even their liberty once the current president’s term ends. “The cards are usually stacked against those who dare to challenge the

Guardian Council’s decision,” said analyst Yasmin Alem, an expert on Iran’s electoral system.

“There’s no reason to believe that this time will be any different.”

But Ahmadinejad has shown himself capable in the past year of striking out at his political enemies, a prospect that could prove highly damaging to the Islamic Republic and its leader.

Ahmadinejad has said he has a wealth of potentially damaging information on a number of establishment figures. “The question is whether Ahmadinejad will fulfil his threat to release all sorts of tapes of secret conversations and corruption. Releasing this will be something of a double-edged sword,” said Ali Ansari of the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Meanwhile, the principlist coalition has lost its early momentum. Two months ago the alliance - comprising charismatic Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati and Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, a former parliamentary speaker and adviser to Khamenei - was the most definite player in the contest. The group now looks set to back Saeed Jalili, a hardline conservative war veteran who is seen as close to Khamenei and has led rounds of nuclear talks with world powers since 2007. That in itself poses another problem for Khamenei, should he give his backing to Jalili, who lacks executive experience, said Farhi of the University of Hawaii. “He (Khamenei) will again be accused of allowing inexperienced folks to take the executive helm of the country and economy in times of serious economic crisis,” she said. —Reuters

Boko Haram staging bolder, deadlier comeback

By Tim Cocks

A

fter a crackdown pushed them out of Nigeria’s northern cities, Islamist militant group Boko Haram have regrouped, rearmed and are staging a bold comeback that has already allowed them to seize control over parts of the northeast. Using porous borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon in the desolate scrubland around Lake Chad, they are smuggling bigger weapons, staging cross-border raids, killing and kidnapping in an escalation of violence that could further draw Nigeria’s neighbours into its counter-insurgency fight, security officials say.

The Islamists now control at least 10 of the 27 local council areas in Borno state, Nigeria’s most remote northeastern region on the edge of the Sahara and a relic of one of Africa’s oldest medieval Islamic empires, security sources there say. One says the real figure could be closer to 20, as local councillors fearing assassination have fled, leaving a power vacuum filled by bearded radicals with automatic rifles. Boko Haram’s struggle for an Islamic state has killed thousands since 2009 and is the main threat to Africa’s top oil producer, although its fighters have so far not struck anywhere near the southern oil fields.

When Borno’s governor Kassim Shettima briefed visiting senators and military advisers in a confidential security meeting on May 7, he said something that stunned them: Boko Haram were on the verge of seizing control of his state. “What the governor said was frightening. He informed us there is a possibility that this state will be taken over by Boko Haram ... that they have the ability to do whatever they wanted here,” senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, a delegate and deputy majority leader for the ruling party, said after the meeting. “I had thought Boko Haram had been subdued to some extent.”

A wave of Islamic fervour took hold of northern Nigeria during an economic crisis in the early 1980s, triggering riots in the north’s main city of Kano and later prompting many states to introduce sharia law from 1999. In 2002, a cleric called Mohammed Yusuf founded a radical Islamist movement in Borno, later nicknamed ‘Boko Haram’ or ‘Western education is sinful’ in the northern Hausa language because of its opposition to Western cultural influences. A military crackdown during an uprising in 2009 led to the deaths of 800 people, including Yusuf, who died in police custody.

Far from being silenced, they struck back, first shooting or throwing bombs at police off the back of motorcycles, then graduating to increasingly sophisticated bomb-making technology. By late last year it seemed the militants had been chased out of city centres and were losing the ability to carry out large-scale attacks, but Boko Haram have repeatedly proved masters of recovering from apparent defeat. A coordinated strike by some 200 Boko Haram fighters on an army barracks, police station and prison in the town of Bama last week that left 55 peo-

ple dead and freed more than 100 prisoners was the latest evidence that they have recovered their strength.

Initially funded by northern politicians who later distanced themselves from the militants, Boko Haram have forged growing links with Saharan Islamists such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, giving them new access to funding and training. The road from Borno’s capital Maiduguri to Lake Chad, where Niger, Chad, Nigeria and Cameroon join, cuts through a semi-desert landscape dotted with lonely trees and thatched straw hamlets. In one village, a skinny old man herds goats across wind-swept sands while a woman in a purple hijab balances a jug on her head, not far from the ashen remains of a car bomb.

Further along, a man in a turban and flowing robes rides on horseback across an expanse of greyish sand, a flashback to the centuries past when Borno was a prosperous sultanate profiting from trade routes crossing the Sahara to the Mediterranean. Save the odd military checkpoint, there are few signs of statehood here. Disused schools and council buildings decay in dry heat. A fisheries college that was abandoned last year after an attack killed some staff stands eerily empty.

Boko Haram, under the leadership of fiery, gun-toting militant Abubakar Shekau, is thought to be getting closer to achieving its dream of creating some kind of Islamic rule in the lawless areas around Lake Chad, where even the police have fled. “They are now holding territory,” Kole Shettima, chairman of the Centre for Democracy and Development, said. “The next step is to create institutions: justice, social services,” as Malian Islamists did before the French forced them out of its cities.

The Bama attack showed their substantial firepower, including machine guns, large numbers of rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and pick-up trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns, a sign the weapons flood from the Libyan war that helped rebels seize parts of Mali last year has reached Nigeria, officials say. “They’re getting bolder, better armed, more organised. it’s looking bleak,” a security official in Maiduguri said.

The exact number of Boko Haram fighters is hard to estimate - and the degree to which Shekau and the four main members of his ‘Shura council’ - Habibu Yusuk, Khalis Albarnawai, Momodu Bama and Mohammed Zangina - have control over them is unclear.

They rarely communicate with the press since their spokesman was killed last year, although Shekau sometimes uploads videos of himself making bellicose statements onto the Web. Security officials believe they have several hundred well armed and trained fighters and possibly thousands of members. The army spokesman for Borno state, Lieutenant-Colonel Sagir Musa, denied that the group were staging a significant comeback, but he told Reuters they were moving in bigger numbers than before.

A military convoy rumbles into the remote fishing settlement of Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad, scene of fighting last month that

killed dozens of people, many of them civilians. As it weaves past the charred remains of ruined houses, locals shout abuse at soldiers in the Hausa language. On April 16, Boko Haram militants armed with guns and RPGs killed a soldier on patrol, slicing his head off with an axe. What happened next is disputed. Brigadier-General Austin Edokpayi, who heads a multinational force comprising 1,200 Nigerians, 700 Chadians and 300 troops from Niger charged with securing this volatile border area, said reinforcements arrived and met fierce resistance from entrenched Boko Haram gunmen.

Community leaders say the Boko Haram militants had already fled over the border into Chad by the time the soldiers arrived, who then exacted vengeance on the civilian population, shooting, setting fire to houses and killing 185 people. Whatever the truth of what happened at Baga, Boko Haram’s creeping establishment of a stronghold around Lake Chad is becoming a major headache for Nigeria and its neighbours. “It has emboldened the terrorists,” Edokpayi said, complaining that since most local government officials have fled, the military were effectively on their own. “They are eating deep into the ... sovereignty of the Nigerian state.”

At one Baga village meeting in which elders complained of heavy handedness by Nigerian troops, an intelligence official told Reuters around half the attendees were Boko Haram members. Many are poor, young men with little if any formal education and no job prospects in some of the poorest places on earth. The group’s ability to strike fear stems both from its secretiveness - no one who isn’t a member can be sure who is - and its visibility in places where the state has withered.

“They are there for everybody to see. You can see them sitting in front of their houses, holding their guns,” said a man near Baga fish market who gave his name only as Abubakar.

That Boko Haram is also a menace to other countries around the lake was highlighted in February when it kidnapped a French family of seven from a game park in north Cameroon, taking them over the border into Nigeria. They were freed in April. The cross border threat is likely to prompt more joint operations. The multinational force was originally set up in 1998 to deal with marauding Chadian rebels, but last year was expanded to include anti Boko Haram operations. Yet the insurgents’ ability to melt away under military pressure and then come back has convinced many that only some kind of political solution will resolve the conflict. President Goodluck Jonathan set up a body last month to formulate terms for an amnesty, like the one that helped silence militancy in the oil producing Niger Delta in 2009, but the Islamists showed no interest, with Shekau denouncing it. And few think any peace can hold unless Jonathan’s administration can address the underlying causes of insecurity - the north’s extreme poverty and unemployment. In the meantime, Boko Haram’s efforts to revive an Islamist theocracy in northeast Nigeria will cause more bloodshed yet. —Reuters

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

S P ORTS Ferdinand drops United hint MANCHESTER: Rio Ferdinand indicated yesterday he wants to sign another contract with English champions Manchester United.

The 34-year-old centre-back collected his sixth Premier League winners’ medal on Sunday after scoring the goal that secured a 2-1 victory over Swansea at Old Trafford in United manager Alex Ferguson’s final home game in charge before retirement.

Ferdinand’s goal, his first in over five years, came with his current contract about to expire but he said yesterday he wanted to stay at Old Trafford. “Manchester United has a bright future,” Ferdinand told MUTV yesterday.

“The manager has left the club in great health and we are looking forward. “We have a great number of good young players who are eager to win things and be successful and work hard.

“That is what the manager has instilled in these players. The work ethic has to continue if we are going to be successful. I would like to be part of that,” said Ferdinand, who will find out on Thursday if he has been included in England manager Roy Hodgson’s squad for the friendly internationals against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.—AFP

Beale takes leave of absence to tackle issues MELBOURNE: Troubled Wallabies back Kurtley Beale has checked into a private health clinic and will take an indefinite leave of absence from rugby to deal with “personal issues”, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said yesterday. Beale was stood down from his Super Rugby side Melbourne Rebels last week for the second time this season after breaching behavioural guidelines related to a programme to deal with his alcohol issues. “Kurtley has voluntarily entered a private health facility in order to undertake counselling,” the ARU said in a statement. “Any future selection will be dependent upon successful completion of his treatment programme.” The treatment puts Beale’s participation in the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour in jeopardy, with Australia coach Robbie Deans set to name a preliminary squad of 25 this weekend for the three-test series. The 24-year-old was suspended from the Rebels in March for more than a month after punching two of his team mates in South Africa and agreed to undergo counselling after being slapped with a A$40,000 ($40,000) fine by the ARU. He was re-instated to the Rebels earlier this month with the blessing of his team mates, but days after returning to action with a try off the bench against New Zealand’s Chiefs, Beale was stood down again for breaching the terms of his programme.—Reuters

Pearson injured again SRI LANKA: Sally Pearson is unlikely to race again until July after re-injuring her hamstring but the Olympic 100m hurdles champion should be fit to defend her world title in August, Australia head coach Eric Hollingsworth said yesterday. The 26-year-old hurdler suffered what is believed to be a grade-one hamstring tear at the Asian Grand Prix Athletic Championship in Sri Lanka on Sunday after missing the domestic season with the same injury.

The latest setback was, however, unlikely to affect her participation at this year’s World Championships in Moscow, Hollingsworth was quoted as saying by the local media. “We’re taking every precaution with Sally, so now we don’t expect to see her competing until July,” Hollingsworth said. “If we can get her through a good set of races in July, there should be no problem from there on in.

“We just have to be ultra-cautious because it’s the second injury. We’ll take our time with the rehab. “Sally will make sure she does all the right things.” Pearson was contesting a 4x100m relay in Colombo when she sustained the injury which dashed the Australian team’s hopes of qualifying for Moscow.—Reuters

Giants thrash Braves SAN FRANCISCO: Pablo Sandoval splashed a home run into McCovey Cove to back Tim Lincecum’s strong pitching performance as the San Francisco Giants beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 on Sunday to wrap up a 7-3 homestand.

Brandon Belt and Marco Scutaro also homered for the Giants. Lincecum (3-2) struck out seven in seven scoreless innings to end a three -start winless stretch in which he went 0-2. He also stopped a four-start skid against Atlanta, beating the Braves for the first time since April 11, 2010.

Gregor Blanco had an RBI double for the Giants, who won a home series against the NL East for the first time since April last year. Atlanta dropped its third straight since taking the series opener outscored 23-4 over the final three games.

Kris Medlan (1-5) lost his fourth straight decision. He is winless in six outings since his lone victory his first time out this year, April 4 against the Phillies.

ROCKIES 8, CARDINALS 2 In St. Louis, Jorge De La Rosa held St. Louis hitless into the seventh and Troy Tulowitzki’s three -run homer ended Colorado’s scoreless streak at 28 innings.

De La Rosa did not allow a hit until David Freese’s two-out single in the seventh, answering a pair of pitching gems

by St. Louis over the weekend.

Charlie Blackmon added a two-run homer off Jaime Garcia (4-2) for the Rockies, who snapped a four-game skid.

They finished with 11 hits after totaling three in consecutive shutout losses to rookie Shelby Miller and Adam Wainwright. The Cardinals lost for just the second time in 11 games. Pinch-hitter Matt Adams’ RBI single off Matt Belisle in a two-run ninth ended Colorado’s bid for a shutout. De La Rosa (4-3) struck out seven and allowed two hits in seven innings.

PHILLIES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 2 In Phoenix, Ryan Howard looped a two-run single to right field in the 10th inning after Philadelphia scored twice in the ninth to tie it against Arizona.

Shut down by Brandon McCarthy for the first eight innings, the Phillies rallied on Delmon Young’s run-scoring double and Domonic Brown’s RBI single off fill-in Diamondbacks closer Heath Bell.

Philadelphia had 15 hits to salvage a series split after losing the first two games.

Jimmy Rollins singled with one out in the 10th off Matt Reynolds (0-1), and Chase Utley followed with a double for his fourth hit. Hitless with nine strikeouts in his previous 18 at-bats, Howard floated a single over Arizona’s drawn-in infield.

Justin De Fratus (1-0) got one out for his second career victory and Jonathan Papelbon earned his seventh save.

Gerardo Parra hit a leadoff homer against Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick.

PIRATES 3, METS 2 In New York, Pedro Alvarez hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning against New York’s overworked bullpen as Pittsburgh got a most fortunate bounce in beating the Mets.

Clint Barmes homered and Jeanmar Gomez left with a lead against young ace Matt Harvey in the Pirates’ third straight victory in this four-game series.

Pittsburgh improved to 6-13 at Citi Field.

With runners at second and third in the eighth, Lucas Duda hit a sharp grounder that struck first base and shot straight up in the air. Pirates second baseman Brandon Inge fielded the ball and tossed to reliever Mark Melancon covering first for the final out of the inning.

Jason Grilli pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th straight save to start the season.

Justin Wilson (3-0) got the win despite allowing Mike Baxter’s tying single in the seventh. Scott Rice (1-2) took the loss.

REDS 5, BREWERS 1 In Cincinnati, Don Lutz hit his first career home run, a three-run drive off the right-field foul pole in the second inning that led Cincinnati over Milwaukee for a three-game sweep. Lutz, who made his big league debut on April 29, homered off Wily Peralta (3-3). Pinch-hitter Xavier Paul went deep in the seventh, sending the Brewers to their fourth straight loss and ninth in 10 games. Bronson Arroyo (3-4) ended a four-start winless streak, allowing five hits in 6 2-3 scoreless innings with one walk and five strikeouts. He had been 0-3 since beating Philadelphia on April 15.

Dusty Baker got his 1,603rd win as a manager, moving past Hall of Famer Fred Clarke into sole possession of 17th place on baseball’s career list. He is 16 behind Ralph Houk.

CUBS 2, NATIONALS 1 In Washington, Alfonso Soriano scored the tiebreaking run in the ninth inning on a throwing error by catcher Kurt Suzuki as Chicago rallied to beat Washington.

The Cubs didn’t have a baserunner through the first five innings against Gio Gonzalez and trailed 1-0 entering the eighth before coming back in the deciding matchup of a three-game series.

Facing closer Rafael Soriano (0-1) in the ninth, Alfonso Soriano singled and went to second on a single by Julio Borbon.

After Ryan Sweeney struck out, both runners took off on a double steal.

Suzuki’s throw hit Welington Castillo’s bat. The ball veered well to the left of third base and into foul ground, allowing Alfonso Soriano to scoot home.

Starlin Castro tied it in the eighth with a two-out single off Drew Storen. James Russell (1-0) worked an inning and Kevin Gregg got three outs for his sixth save.

DODGERS 5, MARLINS 3 In Los Angeles, Chris Capuano pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Scott Van Slyke homered to lead Los Angeles over Miami.

Capuano (1-2) allowed a run and five hits in 6 1-3 innings with seven strikeouts and one walk. Brandon League gave up a two-run double to Adeiny Hechavarria in the ninth. The Dodgers, who ended an eight-game slide Saturday night, took two of three in the series. They remain last in the NL West with a 15-21 record and trail division-leading San Francisco by seven games. Marlins rookie Tom Koehler (0-1) went five innings in his second big league start and first this season, yielding two runs and seven hits. Justin Ruggiano homered for Miami.

Van Slyke, recalled from the minors Friday, also had an RBI single. Matt Kemp extended his hitting streak to 11 games and got his 1,000th career hit.—AP

CHICAGO: Mike Trout No. 27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beats the tag by Jeff Keppinger No. 7 of the Chicago White Sox to steal third base at US Cellular Field. —AFP

White Sox down Angels CHICAGO: Chris Sale took a perfect game into the seventh inning before finishing with a one-hitter as the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Mike Trout’s sharp single to center ended the perfect game bid with one out in the seventh, on Sale’s 70th pitch. Sale (4-2) struck out seven on just 98 pitches for his first career shutout and third consecutive win.

Sale’s one-hitter is Chicago’s first since Zach Stewart had one on Sept. 5, 2011, at Minnesota. Alexei Ramirez’s two-run two-out single in the bottom of the seventh drove in Tyler Flowers and Tyler Greene to give Sale the lead and chase Los Angeles’ C.J. Wilson (32). Alex Rios then doubled off reliever Michael Kohn to drive in Ramirez, who had three hits and scored a run.

Chris Iannetta reached base on Ramirez’s throwing error in the ninth for Los Angeles, which had two base runners.

RANGERS 12, ASTROS In Houston, Adrian Beltre’s threerun homer was one of his four hits, and David Murphy and Leonys Martin also homered as Texas completed a three-game sweep. Texas set a season high for runs in winning its fourth in a row, and did it quickly. Beltre’s homer in the fifth made it 12-1.

Beltre doubled twice and drove in four runs. He homered for the second straight day, hitting a drive that was ruled a double and changed to a homer after a video review. Beltre connected off Edgar Gonzalez, signed by the Astros earlier in the day. Chris Carter hit a three-run homer for Houston, Brandon Barnes added a two-run shot and Jason Castro had a solo homer. The Astros have lost four straight at are 10-28, the worst 38-game start in team history, STATS said. Nick Tepesch (3-3) got the win. Jordan Lyles (1-1) allowed 11 hits and a career-high eight runs in four innings.

BLUE JAYS 12, RED SOX 4 In Boston, Jose Bautista hit two of

Toronto’s five home runs as the Blue Jays beat Boston to take two of three in the series. Emilio Bonifacio, Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie also homered for the Blue Jays. Chad Jenkins (1-0) got his second major league win. Ryan Dempster (2-4) gave up six runs and seven hits in five innings. Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino crashed into the wall in the fourth catching Colby Rasmus’ drive and fell to the ground, writhing in pain. After being attended to by team personnel, Victorino remained in the game but left after the sixth.

YANKEES 4, ROYALS 2 In Kansas City, Vernon Wells homered for the second straight game and Robinson Cano also connected as the New York Yankees beat Kansas City to wrap up a three-game sweep. Hiroki Kuroda (5-2) won for the fifth time in six decisions. The Yankees scored all their runs off Ervin Santana (3-2) and won their fifth in a row. Mariano Rivera closed to remain perfect in 15 save opportunities - he’s converted 29 straight against the

Royals since 1998, his longest active streak against any team.

INDIANS 4, TIGERS 3 In Detroit, pinch-hitter Mark Reynolds hit a tiebreaking single in the 10th inning as the Cleveland Indians downed Detroit. Cleveland tied it in the ninth when Michael Brantley hit a two-out RBI single off closer Jose Valverde. Joe Smith (1-0) pitched the bottom of the inning, and the Indians took the lead in the 10th. Reynolds won it with his single off Darin Downs (0-1). Rich Hill got the first two outs of the Detroit 10th, and Cody Allen finished for his first career save. The Indians took two of three from the defending AL champions. Cleveland has not lost any of its last seven series.

ORIOLES 6, TWINS 0 In Minneapolis, Chris Davis, Adam Jones and Steve Pearce homered as the Baltimore Orioles defeated Minnesota. Wei-Yin Chen (3-3) pitched five strong innings before leaving with a strained right oblique,

and the Orioles won for the sixth time in eight games. Scott Diamond (3-3) tied a career high by giving up six earned runs in 5 2-3 innings.

MARINERS 6, ATHLETICS 1 In Seattle, Joe Saunders won his ninth straight decision at Safeco Field and Kendrys Morales hit a three-run homer, leading the Seattle Mariners over Oakland. Saunders (3-4) improved to 9-0 with a 1.72 ERA in 13 career appearances at Safeco. He is 30 with an 0.94 ERA at home this year, but 0-4 with a 12.54 ERA on the road.

Tommy Milone (3-5) lost for the fifth straight start.

RAYS 4, PADRES 2 In St. Petersburg, Sean Rodriguez, Yunel Escobar and James Loney drove in late runs for the Tampa Bay Rays as they finished a three-game sweep of San Diego.

The Rays won their fifth in a row overall. Roberto Hernandez (2-4) earned the win and Fernando Rodney got his 11th save. Eric Stults (3-3) took the loss.—AP

MLB results/standings Cleveland 4, Detroit 3 (10 innings); Cincinnati 5, Milwaukee 1; Pittsburgh 3, NY Mets 2; Toronto 12, Boston 4; Chicago Cubs 2, Washington 1; Tampa Bay 4, San Diego 2; NY Yankees 4, Kansas City 2; Baltimore 6, Minnesota 0; Texas 12, Houston 7; Colorado 8, St. Louis 2; San Francisco 5, Atlanta 1; Seattle 6, Oakland 1; LA Dodgers 5, Miami 3; Philadelphia 4, Arizona 2 (10 innings); Chicago White Sox 3, LA Angels 0.

National League American League Eastern Division Eastern Division W L PCT GB Atlanta 21 16 .568 NY Yankees 23 13 .639 Washington 20 17 .541 1 Baltimore 23 15 .605 1 Philadelphia 18 21 .462 4 Boston 22 16 .579 2 NY Mets 14 20 .412 5.5 Tampa Bay 19 18 .514 4.5 Miami 11 27 .289 10.5 Toronto 15 24 .385 9.5 Central Division Central Division St. Louis 23 13 .639 Cleveland 20 15 .571 Cincinnati 22 16 .579 2 Detroit 20 15 .571 Pittsburgh 21 16 .568 2.5 Kansas City 18 16 .529 1.5 Milwaukee 15 20 .429 7.5 Minnesota 17 17 .500 2.5 Chicago Cubs 15 22 .405 8.5 Chicago White Sox 15 20 .429 5 Western Division Western Division San Francisco 23 15 .605 Texas 24 13 .649 Arizona 21 17 .553 2 Oakland 19 20 .487 6 Colorado 20 17 .541 2.5 Seattle 18 20 .474 6.5 San Diego 16 21 .432 6.5 LA Angels 14 23 .378 10 LA Dodgers 15 21 .417 7 Houston 10 28 .263 14.5

Red Wings sink Ducks

SAN FRANCISCO: Kris Medlen No. 54 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at AT&T Park. —AFP

ANAHEIM: Henrik Zetterberg and Valtteri Filppula each had a goal and an assist as the Detroit Red Wings finished off the Anaheim Ducks with a 3-2 victory in Game 7 on Sunday.

Justin Abdelkader scored a shorthanded goal and Jimmy Howard made 31 saves as the seventh-seeded Red Wings won three of the first-round series’ final four games to oust the Ducks, who had the NHL’s third-best record in the regular season.

Detroit faces top-seeded Chicago in the second round. Emerson Etem and Francois Beauchemin scored and Jonas Hiller stopped 29 shots for the Ducks, who failed to win their first playoff series since 2009 despite home-ice advantage in Game 7. After the clubs played four overtimes in the series’ first six games, the Red Wings largely dominated the anti-climactic clincher - and for the first time in the

series, the Wings didn’t even need overtime to win. Beauchemin got credit for a power-play goal with 3:17 to play when the puck banked off Jonathan Ericsson’s skate in front of Howard, but Anaheim never really got close to a tying goal late.

RANGERS 1, CAPITALS 0 In New York, Henrik Lundqvist stopped 27 shots in earning his seventh NHL playoff shutout, and Derick Brassard scored a second-period goal for the New York Rangers, who stayed alive with a 1-0 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday that forced a Game 7 in the firstround series. Brassard handed Lundqvist the lead at 9:39 of the second period, with a goal that was originally credited to struggling forward Rick Nash. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner made it stand up, and helped send the series back to Washington for the deciding game Monday night.—AP

ANAHEIM: Ryan Getzlaf No. 15 of the Anaheim Ducks is pursued

by Henrik Zetterberg No. 40 of the Detroit Red Wings for the puck in the first period of Game Seven of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. —AFP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

S P ORTS

Replay looms after bad week for umpires NEW YORK: Take heart, baseball fans.

Expanded instant replay is on its way, though it may not be the game changer the sport needs. Not when there are umpires who don’t know the rules, and others who ignore what they see in front of them. Incompetence, meet sheer arrogance.

The glaring mistakes of the past week didn’t go unnoticed by Major League Baseball, which suspended one umpire for two games and fined three others after they botched a rule on pitching changes in Houston that most fans sitting at home watching on television could have gotten right.

Why four umpires who are supposed to know even the most arcane rules couldn’t figure it out is a mystery, though suspended plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth said he takes “all the responsibility’” for what happened.

More troubling than basic ignorance of a rule, though, was what happened in Cleveland a day earlier. There, three umpires went to a video review and

upheld an original call that a ball didn’t clear the fence even when the video evidence showed clearly that it was a game tying home run by Adam Rosales of the Oakland A’s.

That got Oakland manager Bob Melvin ejected for arguing, and it quite possibly cost his team a game. It also brought Randy Marsh, MLB’s director of umpires, to the game the next night to speak to umpires and make sure the replay equipment was functioning properly.

It was, which makes the decision not to overturn the original call even more perplexing. Even with the use of high definition technology, the umpiring crew was either too proud - or simply too arrogant - to change their minds over what MLB executive vice president Joe Torre said was a blown call.

Remember that when Bud Selig stands before cameras sometime later this year and announces that instant replay - now confined mostly to trying to get home runs right - will be expanded

next season to include fair-or-foul calls down the line, trapped balls and maybe even close plays on basepaths.

Baseball purists won’t like it, but it’s inevitable. The way technology and camera angles have improved, it’s hard to make an argument any longer that the game is better off without the benefit of the best set of eyes around.

Other sports have long since figured that out. The NFL led the way and still reviews more than any other sport, but instant replay is also used in the NHL, NBA, college football and Grand Slam tennis.

Imagine, if you will, had it been in place in the American League playoffs in 2009, when the Joe Mauer’s 11th inning fly ball down the left field line landed clearly fair just a few feet away from umpire Phil Cuzzi, who called it foul. The Yankees ended up beating Minnesota in that game and going on to win the World Series, but the result could have been different had the call been correct.

The problem with instant replay in

baseball is that umpires are still resistant to anything that takes away their absolute authority or exposes them as human. That seems to have been the case in Cleveland, where three umpires couldn’t bring themselves to change a call despite irrefutable evidence on the screen in front of them that it was a home run.

Umpires around the league were on their best behavior, though, in the wake of the debacle. In New York on Friday night they huddled and watched video of a ball hit by Pittsburgh’s Garrett Jones that caromed back on the field and then reversed their call to give him a three-run home run.

And there was a review the same night of a double off the top of the center field wall at Dodger Stadium by Miami’s Chris Coghlan that showed the umpires got it right.

The argument that replay slows up the game is nonsense to anyone who has watched Josh Beckett pitch or any number of hitters take walks around home

plate between pitches. Games are bloated now mostly because umpires don’t enforce rules that are in place to keep the game moving, and an occasional few minutes spent looking at a video replay isn’t going to make a big difference.

Umpires, though, are going to be proven wrong at times, and they’d better get used to it.

It happens every week in the NFL, and yet somehow officials there have managed not to let games careen out of control. It’s been a tough year so far for umpires, who have been in the spotlight in unflattering ways, including Tom Hallion’s verbal spat with Tampa Bay pitcher David Price last month that got him fined. Like that incident, the missteps this past week could have been avoided by umpires with a little clear thinking.

Things are going to get tougher on the umps, though, when replays start forcing them to do something else, something they hate most. Admitting when they’re wrong.—AP

Saints stun Saracens LONDON: Northampton coach Jim Mallinder said underdogs Wigan’s FA Cup heroics had inspired his side to cause one of the shocks of the English rugby season by winning at Saracens to book a place in a first Premiership final.

The visitors also overcame the memory of a European Cup final collapse to beat regular-season table-toppers Saracens 2713 on the London club’s artificial turf on Sunday. Northampton will face east Midlands rivals Leicester at Twickenham on May 25 for the right to be crowned champions of England.

The Saints had lost all five of their previous Premiership semi-finals but did much to put that damning statistic behind them by establishing a commanding 17-0 halftime lead on Sunday.

Tries from Brian Mujati and Jamie Elliot put Saints on top before England fly-half Owen Farrell kicked two penalties to give Saracens hope of a recovery, only for a third Northampton try, by GJ van Velze, to put the result beyond doubt.

Saracens did manage a try, through Duncan Taylor, when Elliot had been shown a yellow card but Northampton never looked like losing their grip on the game with Stephen Myler ’s second penalty, added to his three conversions, sealing a fine victory. Just a day earlier, Wigan had upset the odds to beat Manchester City in one of the all-time great FA Cup final shocks. “They (Saracens) finished first and we were fourth. They were unbeaten here and we hadn’t beaten them all season,” said Mallinder. “We hadn’t beaten a top three

team and they clearly were the favorites today. “But the favorites don’t always win. I had a number of people reminding me of that after the Wigan-Manchester City game yesterday. “We have had an up and down season. We have come in for a great deal of criticism along the way, a lot of that quite rightly. “We have not beaten a top three team all season. We have known that. We have been reminded so many times.

“The players have responded. They have known they are good enough.” Two years ago Northampton were 22-6 up at the interval of the European Cup final only for Leinster to score 27 unanswered points in a storming second half display at the Millennium Stadium that saw the Irish province complete a remarkable 33-22 win.

“We talked about that at half-time, that we have been in this position before and let it slip so it was a huge motivation and it was on our minds,” Northampton’s Tom Wood said.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said: “It is a massive disappointment. “We gave ourselves a mountain to climb at halftime. Northampton put us under a lot of pressure especially in that first half and we made a lot mistakes.

“Northampton were very, very good today, extremely physical and their defence was outstanding. We showed in patches in the second half what we were capable of and we gave it a real go but the first half was very un-Saracens like.” Leicester sealed their place in a ninth consecutive final with a 33-16 victor y over 2012 champions Harlequins on Saturday.—AFP

Leading trio look for Rome boost ROME: The leading trio of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all have work to do before the star t of the French Open in a for tnight, with the Rome Masters the last tournament chance to whip their clay games into top condition.

Of the three leading seeds at the event, which begins on Sunday at the picturesque Foro Italico, only number three Murray lasted until the quarterfinals in Madrid last week.

Defending champion Federer was a m b u s h e d i n t h e t h i rd ro u n d b y Japan’s Kei Nishikori while Djokovic, the world’s top player, exited a round earlier at the hands of Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

Federer’s strategy of taking seven weeks off to rest some physical niggles and train backfired as he went down to Nishikori in his second match back. As a result, the Swiss remains the only player in the current top 10 not to have played a final this season.

He and Tomas Berdych, who put out Murray in Madrid, are the lone

Novak Djokovic

members of the elite without titles in 2 0 1 3 . “ I ’m g o i n g to m a k e s u re I ’m going to be as well prepared as I can be for Rome,” said 17-time Grand Slam winner Federer before leaving Madrid.

“Clearly I have no choice but to hit the practice courts.” Federer has never l i f t e d t h e t r o p hy i n R o m e, w h e r e Rafael Nadal (six titles) and Djokovic (two) have hogged the honours for the last eight editions. Djokovic confessed to ankle pain from his injury suffered last month in the Davis Cup. Though he won Monte Carlo at the expense of Nadal, and then did not play for a fortnight, the Serb said that his fitness still needs work. “ The only positive thing is that I didn’t injure my ankle worse before Rome and Paris,” he said. Djokovic hopes to remedy his lack of Madrid preparation by the time he begins in the second round in Italy.

He can also look for more respect from sympathetic Italian fans than he got in Madrid, where he was jeered relentlessly by the Spaniards.

Murray may send an SOS to coach Ivan Lendl in the US for some extra clay tutoring after his Madrid loss, with the S cot heading to Rome in hopes of surpassing his 2011 semifinal, which he lost to Djokovic.

Murray expects no par ticular extra t ro u b l e f ro m t h e b a c k p ro b l e m s which traditionally arise for him on clay.

“I’m a bit sore at the beginning of the matches, and then once I warm u p, I s t a r t t o fe e l a l i t t l e b i t better.”David Ferrer takes the fourth seeding ahead of Nadal while Berdych is sixth.

Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, the seventh seed who has never been beyond the third round in Rome, will play his first clay match in a month and only his third of the season after missing Portugal and Madrid with a virus The WTA draw could not have been more cruel to Briton Laura Robson, who faces Venus Williams in the first round and then could get Serena in t h e s e co n d w i t h a v i c to r y. S e re n a takes the top seeding ahead of Maria Sharapova, who she was facing in Sunday ’s Madrid final, and number three Victoria Azarenka, who went out of Madrid in a temper fit in the second round.—AFP

PONTE VEDRA BEACH: Tiger Woods of the USA holds the winner’s trophy after the final round of The Players Championship. —AFP

Woods wins Players as Garcia stumbles PONTE VEDRA BEACH: Tiger Woods held on to clinch his second Players Championship by two strokes on Sunday after long-time adversary Sergio Garcia spectacularly imploded on his last two holes.

Spaniard Garcia shared the lead on 13-under with Woods when he teed off at the short but treacherous 17th, but hit into the water twice to crash to a quadruple bogey, after the world number one had parred the famed island hole.

The 2001 champion Woods parred the 18th to complete a two-under 70 for a 13-under total of 275, surviving a late challenge from Sweden’s David Lingmerth at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

The impressive rookie Lingmerth missed a monster putt to bogey the last hole for a 72, and finished tied for second with Americans Jeff Maggert (70) and Kevin Streelman (67).

Garcia, the 2008 champion, compounded his miserable finish by finding water on the 18th to sign off with a double-bogey and plunge well down the leaderboard.

Woods had appeared in complete command, and led by two strokes before stumbling at the 14th after hooking his tee shot into the water on the left.

That set up a four-way tie with Garcia, Lingmerth and Maggert for the lead at 12-under.

“It was a tough battle. I felt like was in control of it after I birdied 12 and gave it right back at 14 with a double,” said Woods after claiming his 78th PGA victory in his 300th career start.

“It was game on and anybody could win the golf tournament.” The 49-year-old Maggert, bidding to become the oldest Players winner, slipped out of contention when he hit his tee shot in the water on the way to the 17th green and Lingmerth took a step back with a bogey at the 14th.

It narrowed to a tie at 13-under between Woods and Garcia, who had exchanged some mean-spirited barbs as well as birdies and bogeys in their third-round pairing on Saturday.

After Woods parred the par-three 17th, Garcia took a bold line at the pin but splashed well short into the water. Unbowed, he tried the ploy again and temporarily found land before the ball bounded into the drink.

“That hole has been good to me for the most part,” said Garcia, whose 2008 Players title was decided at the 17th in a playoff against Paul Goydos. “Today it wasn’t. That’s the way it is.

That’s the kind of hole it is. You’ve got to love it

for what it is.” Lingmerth, who had missed his last five cuts prior to Sawgrass, was back in the hunt with a birdie at the par-five 16th after nearly holing out a bunker shot.

After playing partner Garcia rinsed his tee shot at 17, the young Swede also attacked the flag, and managed to stick his shot in close before missing an eight-foot birdie putt to remain one stroke behind Woods. Lingmerth reached the green of the difficult 18th but left himself a 60-foot birdie putt to tie which he pushed 14 feet past the hole leading to a dropped shot and an 11-under finish.

The Web.com tour graduate said he was not intimidated going up against the likes of Woods and Garcia down the stretch of what is generally considered golf’s fifth major.

“It was a great week overall,” said Lingmerth. “(But) I’m in it to win it. I felt like I had a good couple of chances there towards the end and just didn’t putt very well.

“I’m out there to do my own thing. Sergio does Sergio, and Tiger does Tiger, and I’m going to do me.” Tied for fifth place on 10 under par, three shots off the pace, were Henrik Stenson of Sweden (72), Scotsman Martin Laird (67) and Ryan Palmer (72).—Reuters

Who’s humiliating whom in Vijay Singh lawsuit?

NEW YORK: Vijay Singh is suing the US PGA Tour for exposing him to “public humiliation and ridicule” by investigating his use of deer-antler spray. Now that’s funny. Because Singh was doing such a good job of humiliating himself.

Rewind back to February and take another look at the Sports Illustrated article that kicked up a stir at the Super Bowl. It starred soon-to-be-retired Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and highlighted his purchases of the same spray that Singh used, from the same supplier, Sports With Alternatives to Steroids (SWATS), a two man operation run out of the back of a gym in tiny Fultondale, Alabama.

Turns out that in addition to deer-antler spray, SWATS was marketing all kinds of crackpot cures and pseudo-performance-enhancers - underwear exposed to radio waves, holographic stickers, even negatively charged water - to a growing list of U.S. college and pro athletes with the hope of someday getting them to endorse the stuff. The catch is that none of it works.

The deer-antler spray contains traces of the widely banned-from-competition substance IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor), but to be effective - like real insulin - IGF-1 has to be injected. As Singh’s own lawyers pointed out, he’d get as much IGF-1 into his system just by drinking a glass of milk.

Nearly all of the rest of SWATS’ exotic offerings are based on the same kind of junk science. But Singh, unlike most of the suckers that SWATS courted, was buying this mumbo-jumbo with his own hard-earned cash.

He even threw in a lukewarm endorsement at no cost. “In November, Singh paid (SWATS owner Mitch) Ross $9,000 for the spray, chips, beam ray and powder additive - making him one of the few athletes who is compensating SWATS,” SI reported.

“He says he uses the spray banned by the PGA ‘every couple of hours ... every day,’ sleeps with the beam ray on and has put chips on his ankles, waist and shoulders. ‘I’m looking forward to some change in my body,’ Singh says. ‘It’s really hard to feel the difference if you’re only doing it for a couple of months.’ “According to Singh’s lawsuit, after his con-

fession, the US PGA Tour tested a sample from the golfer and found small amounts of IGF-1. Next, commissioner Tim Finchem proposed suspending him for 90 days, redistributing his earnings from Pebble Beach and Riviera and, in any case, held back about $100,000 of Singh’s money while the tour investigated and considered his appeal.

Finally, Finchem dropped the case last week, after learning the World Anti-Doping Agency whose code the tour follows - no longer banned deer-antler spray because it was ineffective. Never mind that a handful of prominent anti-doping scientists said as much within days of the SI story. Yet just as things were quieting down, Singh hired some expensive mouthpieces and filed suit on Wednesday, a day before he teed off at The Players Championship.

It’s hard to say at the moment what is sadder: That the 50-year-old Fijian, who’s already bankrolled millions and made it to the World Hall of Fame, was desperate enough to take his caddie’s advice and turn to a quack business like SWATS in search of a miracle cure for his aches and pains; or that he actually believes humiliating himself further is going to do much for his reputation.

He’s already out $9,000, plus lawyer’s fees on this case, and all those over-the-top pronouncements - “There should never be an asterisk next to Vijay’s name,” attorney Jeffrey Rosenblum said only serve to remind us what we didn’t like about Singh in the first place. He was banned on one Asian tour in 1985, after being accused of changing his scorecard during a tournament in Indonesia, and didn’t play anywhere for four years afterward.

When Singh finally showed up on the US PGA Tour in 1993, his unquestioned work ethic tamped down most of the whispers and winning took care of the rest. Now, beyond reminding us how desperate he was and how easily he was duped, the lawsuit is sure to stir up a few of those earlier episodes.

“If I was him, I’m not so sure I’d talk about it,” Finchem said at a news conference on Tuesday, the day before the lawsuit was filed. “I’d kind of like for it to be gone.”—AP

Vijay Singh

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

S P ORTS

Matt Kenseth in action in this file photo.

Kenseth overcomes hurdles to clinch win on JGR team India deny Champions Trophy pullout threat NEW DELHI: India have no plans to pull out of next month’s Champions Trophy over a rumbling controversy surrounding a former Indian player’s election to an International Cricket Council (ICC) panel, the Indian cricket board said yesterday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been accused of using its clout to get former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan elected to the ICC Cricket Committee.

Sivaramakrishnan beat Australian Tim May in a second vote. The ICC has cleared the BCCI but is considering referring the matter to its ethics officer after receiving a request from the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA), of which May is the chief executive.

Local media have speculated the Indian team might pull out of next month’s Champions Trophy, to be staged in England and Wales, in protest but BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla ruled out any such possibility. “I think there is no substance in these rumours, India will be participating in the Champions Trophy,” Shukla, also a union minister, told reporters.

“I discard all these rumours ... (India) will definitely be participating in Champions Trophy in UK,” he said. FICA officials have claimed several ICC boards pressured their captains to change their vote in Sivaramakrishnan’s favour during the repoll. None of the BCCI officials Reuters con-

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan tacted were prepared to comment on the allegations. The ICC issued a statement on Thursday, criticising “unsupported allegations of impropriety in the voting process.” “...in view of the allegations already appearing in the media, the ICC wishes to state for the record that the re-vote took place according to the determined procedure and that the ICC has seen no evidence that supports allegations now being made that captains were put under pressure by their Member Boards to vote for a particular individual.”

A sub-committee of its chief executives committee, the ICC Cricket Committee discusses cricket playing matters and makes recommendations to the CEC.—Reuters

Orb impresses with workout at Belmont NEW YORK: Orb is ready. The Kentucky Derby winner put in his final workout before the Preakness, breezing four furlongs in 47.18 seconds, galloping out five furlongs in 59.54 and delighting trainer Shug McGaughey. “I thought it was breathtaking,” McGaughey said yesterday morning.

With exercise rider Jennifer Patterson aboard, Orb seemed to move effortlessly around the track on a clear, sunny day. In fact, McGaughey called it more impressive than the colt’s workout before he won the Derby by 21/2 lengths on May 4. “For him to go off nice and relaxed in 24 and change and come home on his own the way he did, and gallop out the way he did, and drop his head and walk home, it sent cold chills up my back,” the Hall of Fame trainer said.

After cooling down and receiving a sponge bath, Orb was loaded onto a van headed to Pimlico R ace Course in Baltimore. A win in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness on Saturday would set up a Triple Crown try in the Belmont Stakes on June 8. The last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978.

McGaughey wasn’t concerned with the fast fractions, which come nine days after running 11/4 miles in the Derby. “I

think it’s a tribute to the way he came out of the Derby, and to come back and be able to have a work like that and do it the way he did it - I couldn’t be more thrilled,” he said. “Right now I’m on cloud nine. The way he was striding today, the way he held his leads through the lane, I thought it was spectacular.”

Orb, owned by the Phipps Stable and Stuart Janney III, takes a five-race winning streak in the Preakness, where he will face what look to be nine challengers. Among them are Derby runners Mylute (fifth), Oxbow (sixth), Will Take Charge (eighth), Itsmyluckyday (15th) and Goldencents (17th). Also set for the race is Departing, winner of the Illinois Derby.

“I think it’s formidable,” McGaughey said. “I know that Oxbow made a good run in the Derby. I never really kind of sat down and watched it and pinned it d ow n . Th e o t her ho r se ( Will Take Charge) got in some trouble. You’ve got to respect Departing coming in there off his race in the Illinois Derby and being relatively fresh. My main concern is just trying to get Orb over there the best way we possibly can and if he runs his race I think they ’ll k now he’s in there.”—AP

ELMONT: Kentucky Derby winner Orb is walked to a horse van at Belmont Park.

Orb is traveling to Pimlico to prepare for the Preakness. —AP

DARLINGTON: Matt Kenseth has rarely been more pleased in victory than he was this weekend at Darlington Raceway. Maybe that’s because of what he overcame to achieve the win.

Kenseth has long been one of NASCAR’s stars, a past champion with two Daytona 500 titles.

But the 41-year-old racer has found a new gear in his first season at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Kenseth passed JGR teammate Kyle Busch with 13 laps left Saturday night to win for the first time at Darlington and third time this season. The latest win came with replacement crew chief Wally Brown, pressed into service because of the suspension of Jason Ratcliff.

Like many hurdles in Kenseth’s way, he drove right through it on the way to Victory Lane. “To be able to win a race at a track like this, especially the Southern 500, man, it’s big,” Kenseth said.

“In my mind, it’s one of the biggest races we have of the year, really.” And it did not come easily. Kenseth’s team dealt with a NASCAR appeals decision earlier in the week that lessened the penalties levied on the No. 20 for using an illegal part in a win at Kansas Speedway last month.

Ratcliff’s suspension was reduced from six races to one, meaning Kenseth still had to hear a different voice in his headset at difficult Darlington.

He also had to deal with a strong car from his own race shop in Busch, who led 265 of 367 laps

and didn’t look like he’d be caught.

Instead, Kenseth kept positive and kept everyone pointed toward the top. “I knew at that point we’d be OK if we just kept up with the track positions that we would have a good night,” Brown said of his first-ever Sprint Cup victory as crew chief.

Ratcliff helped formulate a plan headed into the weekend, one that Kenseth and Brown enacted to perfection. Kenseth did not think the appeals result would’ve changed the approach or outcome at Darlington. “Jason would have been home either way. So I don’t think it would have made any difference,” he said.

Kenseth has made a difference since his Sprint Cup debut in 1998 when he filled in for Bill Elliott at Dover. The next season he began his distinguished career driving for Jack Roush with five races.

In 2000, Kenseth won the Coca-Cola 600, still the only rookie to win the circuit’s longest race.

Kenseth’s break-through year came in 2002 when he led Sprint Cup with five victories. He won his points championship in 2003 and was runner-up for the title three years later.

But after winning 15 times over seven seasons, he managed only eight victories in the past five years. Kenseth said he left Roush Fenway Racing for what he described as personal reasons. Last October, he tried to cover up

tears when he drove to victory at Kansas for the final time at RFR. This past March, the laid-back Kenseth let his joy show at Las Vegas when he won for the first time with JGR. He gained a second victory a month ago in Kansas before notching his series-best third win Saturday night at Darlington.

Kenseth was jovial while meeting with the media as the team owner, ex-NFL coach Joe Gibbs, sat in the back of the room smiling over the success of his newest driver. Kenseth says he has bonded quickly with Ratcliff and everyone involved with the No. 20 Toyota.

“I really feel like with this team, driving this car, I feel like the sky’s the limit,” Kenseth said. JD Gibbs, JGR president, said Kenseth has brought leadership and experience to the team that teammates Busch and Denny Hamlin have appreciated.

“I think Denny and Kyle really like having him there, hearing what he has to say,” J.D. Gibbs said. “On the racetrack, he just has a gift.”

Is it a gift Kenseth’s unwrapping too soon with six months and 25 races remaining? Not in Kenseth’s eyes. “I think the goal of a race team and an organization is to never peak, I think it’s to continue to keep getting better,” he said.

“That’s one thing I’ve seen over there pretty much from day one (at JGR). They’re not standing still.”—AP

S Africa must plan for uncertain future CAPE TOWN: Less than a year after climbing to the top of the test rankings, South African cricket is suddenly faced with an uncertain future with respected coach Gary Kirsten set to depart and two top players at a crossroads in their careers.

Kirsten’s decision not to extend his contract when it expires in August comes as captain Graeme Smith battles recurring ank le problems and all-rounder Jacques Kallis admits his desire to play international cricket is on the wane.

For a team hoping to nail down a dominant spell in international cricket, the loss of their World Cup winning coach is a major setback.

To lose all three components at the same time would be a hammer blow.

The last two years have seen the Proteas become the most consistent performers in world cricket at test level, opening up a 14-point lead at the top of the International Cricket Conference ratings.

But while consecutive test series wins in Australia and England make the current side arguably the greatest the country has ever produced, Smith has spoken of creating a dynasty to emu-

late the achievements of the West Indians of the 1980s and Australian sides of the last decade.

The cornerstone of this ambition has been Kirsten as the quiet strategist, Smith, the natural born

fall apart. Kallis has opted out of the upcoming Champions Trophy, citing ‘personal reasons’ and admitted he is planning for life after cricket.

“At my age, and stage of career,

Gary Kirsten leader who manages to find runs in difficult situations even when out of form, and Kallis, statistically the greatest all-rounder ever. Over the last week, South Africa’s dynastic ambitions have threatened to

there are many things to consider outside the game and off the field, and I need to plan and be organised in order to play my best cricket,” Kallis told reporters.

“I simply cannot go through the

motions or take up a place in a squad unless it has my full attention.” Skipper Smith has had surgery for a second time on an ankle injur y and will also miss the Champions Trophy as a result. He now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines and question marks over future fitness.

The resignation of Kirsten to spend more time with his young family robs the side of arguably the best coach in world cricket.

A World Cup winner with India in 2011, he was seen as the perfect man to take South Africa to their maiden victory in the competition in 2015.

The appointment of Russell Domingo as Kirsten’s replacement was all about continuity, but he comes with no experience as a head coach in international cricket.

Kirsten told Reuters earlier this month that planning for the loss of Smith and Kallis in the test arena was already underway through selections in the one day international set-up.

The Proteas do not want to get caught out like Australia, who lost a host of top names all at once and are still on the long road back to top form.—Reuters

Pakistan manager: England tour will be ‘very sensitive’ ISLAMABAD: Returning to England for the Champions Trophy will be “very sensitive” for the Pakistan’s players following the spot-fixing scandal three years ago, team manager Naveed Akram Cheema said yesterday, urging his squad to just focus on the eight-team competition.

Cheema took over as manager in 2010, soon af ter three Pak istan players were charged of spot-fixing in a test match during Pakistan’s last tour of England.

Later fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and then-captain Salman Butt were banned for long periods. Last month Asif and Butt lost their appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne.

“The tour is very sensitive in a sense there could be lot of people who could have vested interests and try to malign us or let us down,”

Cheema told reporters in the eastern city of Lahore. Pakistan is scheduled to leave for Scotland late Monday to play two one-day internationals. The team then travels to Dublin for t wo ODIs against I reland before the Champions Trophy from June 7-23.

Pakistan is placed in Group B along with West Indies, South Africa and India. Group A comprises defending champion Australia, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

During its last tour of England the three Pakistani players conspired with businessman Mazhar Majeed to ensure players bowled deliberate no-balls at pre-arranged times during the test match at Lord’s.

S oon af ter the tour, securit y manager Khawaja Najam resigned and later recorded his statement regarding three players’ involvement in spot-fixing with the ICC anti-corrup-

tion tribunal in Doha. However, this time the Pakistan Cricket Board has taken extra precautionary measures by sending a vigilance officer along with a security manager.

“The players were psychologically motivated,” Cheema said. “They were told what they not have to do and how to carry themselves.”

Since Cheema took over, there have hardly been any off-field controversies with the Pakistan team. Pakistan selectors have axed experienced Younis K han and allrounder Shahid Afridi for the Champions Trophy and coach Dav Whatmore said he had enough resources to compete in the event.

“We feel we’ve got the best 15 what we can possibly have at this moment of time and in that 15 we feel we’ve got enough batting power to give us the runs to setup total or chase one down,” Whatmore said.—AP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

S P ORTS

With infighting at Man City, Mancini’s future in doubt LONDON: As Manchester United undergoes a smooth handover of power, Manchester City appears to be in disarray.

City manager Roberto Mancini has publicly expressed anger that the club is not disputing reports that Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has been lined up to replace him.

For his part, Pellegrini is only denying that a deal is in place, leaving open the possibility that he could be headed to the Premier League. “I deny that as of today I am the new coach of Manchester City,” Pellegrini said. “I have not signed any agreement with anyone.” The public silence from City, though, is speaking volumes.

City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak and his board members have not made a public statement supporting Mancini as the club’s season has imploded.

And Mancini was visibly frustrated this weekend that the directors have decided not to shut down the reports that Pellegrini will replace him after almost four years in charge. “ This problem has come out because we didn’t stop all these things that you wrote for six months,” Mancini told reporters in the wake of Saturday’s FA Cup final loss to Wigan. “It’s been too much. I don’t understand why.”

Mancini is the manager who ended City’s 35-year drought trophy by winning the FA Cup in 2011, and then delivered the team’s first English title in 44 years last May. City, though, only won the Premier League on goal difference after scoring twice in the final moments against Queens Park Rangers. QPR’s London ground was being used by Mancini to train his team ahead of Tuesday’s penultimate league match at Reading.

By City’s standards, before being bought

by Sheikh Mansour in 2008, finishing second in the league this month would have been a remarkable achievement.

But a team that has benefited from around $1 billion of Abu Dhabi investment in five years has failed to build on its position of strength.

The Premier League trophy was conceded to Manchester United with four games to go, giving manager Alex Ferguson the perfect retirement gift before handing over to David Moyes.

And City has not established itself as a forced in Europe, exiting the Champions League at the group stage for the second straight season. The FA Cup gave City a chance to end the season with a trophy but relegation-threatened Wigan won the final 1-0 on Saturday. “The team looks without passion, desire and (it’s) difficult to find an answer why everything went wrong,” City defender Pablo Zabaleta said. Captain Vincent Kompany is calling for calm amid the turmoil at City.

“I think Man City fans just need to bear with us,” he said. “We will come here again and win a lot of trophies in the future. We have proven it and it is just a matter of time.” It shouldn’t take long to see who will manage the team next season. And, for Mancini, history is repeating itself. The Italian exited Inter Milan in 2008 after three successive title wins after discovering he faced being fired in a newspaper.

“At that moment I understood that maybe it was true,” Mancini said. But Mancini also replaced Mark Hughes at City in 2009 under blurred circumstances.

Mancini was forced to concede he had met City about the job two weeks before Hughes was fired - a move that enraged fans at the time.

On Saturday, those fans were bellowing abuse about Pellegrini at Wembley Stadium while chanting support for Mancini. However muddled his departure is proving to be, Mancini will always be the manager who ended the club’s long-wait for silverware.

“For this reason we are very popular with the support,” Mancini said. “I love them, they love me and I’m happy for this.

If in the end I will leave I will be the first supporter of Manchester City in the future.”—AP

Santos in Mexico semi-finals MEXICO CITY: Two goals from Darwin Quintero in the last half hour gave Santos Laguna a 3-1 away win over Atlas on Sunday and earned them a place in the Mexican Clausura championship semifinals. Santos, who had been held 0-0 at home in the first leg of their quarter-final, will meet Cruz Azul, who went through 4-3 on aggregate despite losing 1-0 away to Morelia.

In the other semi-final, Monterrey face 10 times champions America after they both qualified on Saturday. Striker Omar Bravo gave Atlas the lead with five minutes gone when the referee ruled his shot had crossed the line after Facundo Erpen’s header had been saved by Santos goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez. ‘The Warriors’ equalised in the 15th when Andres Renteria slotted home after Atlas goalkeeper Miguel Pintos failed to hold a shot from Quintero. In the 25th minute, Pinto was

sent off for handling a scoring chance outside his box after being wrong footed by a headed back pass from Erpen.

Quintero put Santos, Clausura champions a year ago, ahead in the 62nd from Renteria’s cross and secured the win in added time on a solo breakaway.

Atlas coach Tomas Boy did not take kindly to Quintero’s celebrations in front of the home side’s bench and almost came to blows with Santos coach Pedro Caixinha.

Cruz Azul’s run of six victories came to an end but they qualified on the back of their 4-2 home win over Morelia in the first leg on Thursday. They conceded a goal on the stroke of halftime to Rodrigo Salinas at the Morelos stadium but held on for the aggregate win.

At the Azteca on Saturday, striker Christian Benitez scored twice as America beat Pumas UNAM 2-1 in a Mexico City derby for a 3-1 aggregate victory.—Reuters

Independiente hold title-chasing Lanus BUENOS AIRES: Argentine giants Independiente took another small but potentially crucial step in their fight against relegation while denting Lanus’s title aspirations in a 0-0 draw on Sunday.

Dropping two points at home prevented Lanus from reclaming the lead in the “Final” championship they lost to Newell’s Old Boys, who beat Godoy Cruz 3-1 on Saturday.

Newell’s have 28 points and Lanus 27 from 13 matches in the “Final”, second of two championships in the season, with River Plate third with 22 points from 12.

Record South American champions Independiente have taken seven points from their last three matches as they fight to avoid losing their top flight status for the first time.

The Red Devils are 12th in the standings with 16 points but they are in the bottom three of the parallel relegation table calculated on teams’ average points

over three seasons.

The bottom three are automatically relegated and there are another six matches to the end of season. “(I’m happy) with the glass half full,” Independiente coach Miguelo Angel Brindisi told reporters. “It’s good to add (a point) after a second match in which we didn’t lose a goal.

“I thought it would be a more open match but there came a point when it looked like a game of chess, whoever made the mistake would lose the match.”

Boca Juniors, like Independiente one of Argentina’s Big Five clubs, went a record 13th match without a victory, going down 3-0 at San Lorenzo on Saturday.

Arch-rivals River Plate, who Boca held 1-1 at home in last weekend’s “superclasico”, will attempt to keep pace with the leaders against All Boys at the Monumental later on Sunday.—Reuters

Kuwait Tennis Open IV Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber call on expats to play KUWAIT: Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, President of Kuwait Tennis Federation (KTF), announced the start of registration to play Kuwait Tennis Open IV. The tournament will be held from May 20 to June 3, 2013 at the Tennis Center of Kuwait Tennis Federation inside Yarmouk Sports Club in Meshref.

It consists of 10 events: (Boys Under 13 Singles - Boys Under 17 Singles - Veterans Over 40 Singles - Veterans Over 55 Singles Veterans Over 45 Doubles - Men’s Singles Men’s Doubles - Girls Under 18 Singles Ladies Singles - Diplomats Singles).

Matches start at 4:30 pm and 9:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays. It will be open to all Kuwaitis and expatriates from all and different countries as well.

Deadline for receiving applications with a copy of Civil ID Card is at 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at KTF headquarters inside Yarmouk Sports Club, Meshref.

Kuwait Tennis Open IV is the biggest tennis event in Kuwait. More than 400 players are expected to participate.

Sheikh Ahmad

Photo of the day

Event participant performs at Red Bull Ride & Style in San Francisco, California. www.redbullcontentpool.com

Chelsea seeks salvation in Europa League final MANCHESTER: After humiliation in the Champions League comes potential salvation in the Europa League for Chelsea, with tomorrow’s final against Benfica offering the English team an eighth and final chance for silverware from a turbulent and grueling campaign.

Chelsea has turned its season around after a turbulent end to 2012, when it became the first reigning champion to exit the Champions League at the group stage, Roberto Di Matteo was fired as manager and the team lost the final of the Club World Cup to Corinthians.

Rafa Benitez came in as a controversial interim replacement and was tasked with qualifying the team for next season’s Champions League and winning a trophy. With the first objective virtually guaranteed, the second will be decided in Amsterdam in Chelsea’s 68th game of the season.

“All the season has been difficult, but now is almost the end and we have to do everything to finish the job off,” Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic said. “It was very disappointing for us to go out of the Champions League. We tried to motivate ourselves to do our best in the Europa League. We’re in the final and we’re happy about that. We will do everything to try to win the trophy.”

Whereas Chelsea is approaching the final in a positive frame of mind after an unbeaten run of eight games in all competitions, the same cannot be said of Benfica.

The Portuguese team surrendered the lead in its domestic league by losing 2-1 to fierce rival Porto after conceding a stoppage-time goal that saw Benfica coach Jorge Jesus drop to his knees in agony. It was Benfica’s first league loss of the season and is likely to see the team pipped to the title by Porto.

Some of Benfica’s key players look exhausted and there’s suddenly a lot of fear they’ll finish the season empty-handed, having been on for the league-Europa League-Portuguese Cup treble.

“It knocked us sideways. It really hurts to lose like that,” Jesus said of the Porto loss. “Football’s unpredictable. Sometimes goals come when you least expect them.”

Benfica’s glory days came more than 50 years ago, when it won successive European Cups in 1961 and ‘62. The team has lost its last six European finals - five in the European Cup and one in the old UEFA Cup between 1963 and ‘90.

BIRMINGHAM: Chelsea’s English midfielder Frank Lampard gestures in this file photo. —AFP With the Portuguese league lacking profile and as much a breeding ground for young, hungry south American players as anything else, Benfica has found it hard to stay competitive in Europe’s elite over the last two decades.

“Winning the Europa League would be a very important moment in the club’s history, and for the players and staff,” Jesus told UEFA.com.

“Getting to the final is a great achievement in itself but coming away victorious would be even greater. “I know that Benfica’s great moment in sporting history was in the 1960s. I was born in 1954, but I know the history of the club because I have read about it and it is illustrated in photos at the training ground.”

In contrast, Chelsea has only turned into a major European force since the era of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich began in 2003, with last year’s Champions League title ending a run of near misses in the continent’s top competition.

The players have acknowledged that they’ve struggled to adapt to life in the Europa League.

Yet with a trophy on offer and the chance to

Mineiro blank Cruzeiro BRAZIL: Ronaldinho set up two goals to inspire Atletico Mineiro to a 3-0 win over bitter rivals Cruzeiro while the referee limped off injured in the first leg of the Mineiro (Minas Gerais state) championship final on Sunday.

The former Paris St Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan forward sounded an early warning when he beat two defenders and fired over the crossbar.

Ronaldinho then created a flurry of first-half chances for his team mates but only one was converted by former Everton and Manchester City striker Jo in the 15th minute.

Seven players were booked in the first half and Cruzeiro were reduced to 10 men after the break when Bruno Rodrigo hauled back Ronaldinho and was dismissed.

Ronaldinho still was not finished and provided the cross which ended with Diego Tardelli scoring the Roosters’ second. Marcos Rocha completed the scoring in the 78th minute from a rebound after a Jo headed hit the crossbar.

Referee Luis Flavio de Oliveira left the field clutching his thigh one minute later and was replaced by the fourth official.

The Mineiro is one of the numerous regional tournaments, each with different and often highly complex formats, which kick off the marathon Brazilian season.

Dinei scored four goals to help Vitoria to a 7-3 win over Joel Santana’s Bahia in the first leg of the Baiano championship at Salvador’s Fonte Arena, one of Brazil’s recently rebuilt World Cup stadiums.

Fans were banned from bringing in caixirolas, small percussion instruments which supporters shake incessantly at games, into the ground after they were turned into missiles and hurled onto the pitch during a previous match. Corinthians beat Santos 2-1 in the first leg of the Paulista championship final.—Reuters

become only the fourth club to have won all three major European titles, they aren’t complaining now.

Chelsea is likely to be without winger Eden Hazard and captain John Terry, who were hurt in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Aston Villa that all but secured Champions League football for next season. It is a particularly cruel blow for Terry, who was forced to sit out last season’s Champions League final through suspension.

“Whatever we do it’s as a club and as long as John’s here, he’s part of it,” Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said. “(But) it won’t soften the blow for him.

“Knowing John, he will be there and he’ll be with the lads. Of course we’ll miss his influence in the modern day, you can’t think of many captains that have surpassed what he’s done in terms of what he’s won.” Former Benfica players David Luiz and Ramires should be in Chelsea’s team while the Portuguese side will start defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic, who joined from Chelsea in 2011 and has grown into an impressive player at Benfica.—AP

Pellegrini distances himself from Man City job reports LONDON: Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has denied he has spoken with Premier League club Manchester City over the possibility of replacing Roberto Mancini whose future as the club’s manager is under threat after Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat.

Widespread media reports in Britain suggest City will part company with Mancini, who has been in charge since 2009 and who won the Premier League title last season.

City have fuelled the intense speculation about Mancini’s future by remaining silent over the rumours, but Pellegrini has moved to distance himself from reports suggesting he was on the verge of replacing the Italian.

“I categorically deny that I am the new Manchester City coach, nothing has been signed and no agreement reached,” he said on Malaga’s website following their 0-0 draw with Sevilla.

“I’ve been fortunate enough, and ver y proud, that ever y year the big Clubs are interested in me. “I have an agreement with Malaga not to talk to anyone and nothing has been agreed with any other outfit. “I hope the future of this Club will become somewhat clearer in the next few days.”

Manchester City, beaten 1-0 by Wigan Athletic in Saturday’s FA Cup final, have

Manuel Pellegrini

two Premier League games remaining this season star ting with relegated Reading on Tuesday.

They require one point to guarantee runners-up spot from runaway champions Manchester United. However, City’s failure to win a trophy this season, and their dismal flop in the Champions League for the second successive year, has put him under the spotlight.

Mancini has cut a disgruntled figure as speculation about his job mounted and appeared to criticise the club’s owners after the Wigan defeat. “I don’t know why the club didn’t stop this, because I didn’t think it was correct,” he said. “I don’t think that it’s true.”—Reuters

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

S P ORT S

Foreign managers make their mark in Japan TOKYO: Zdenko Verdenik is rebuilding another team in the J-League, joining a long list of foreign managers who have overcome cultural obstacles to make an impact in Japan.

Under Verdenik, Omiya Ardija went on a record 21-game unbeaten run that dates back to August of last season. The team won seven games in a row and is in first place in the standings with 26 points, three ahead of Yokohama F Marinos. Kashima Antlers held the previous record of 17 games without defeat.

It’s a remarkable turnaround for a team that has never been prominent in the JLeague and underscores the success managers from abroad have had in Japan. Before this season, Omiya’s best finish was 12th in the 18-team league.

Verdenik, who has been in Japan for more than 10 years, says a key to his success is breaking through the cultural mindset of the Japanese players.

“Japanese players can be difficult to coach if you don’t know the culture,” Verdenik said. “You must have more patience because they need a little more time to improve. The one thing they lack is creativity because in Japanese life there isn’t much creativity. It is more order and discipline.”

After coaching for a decade in his native Slovenia, Verdenik had a brief stint in Austria before arriving in Japan

to manage JEF United Ichihara in 20002001. He also worked at Nagoya Grampus and Vegalta Sendai before being hired by Omiya last June.

Verdenik had similar results with JEF United, taking over a weak team and guiding them to an impressive thirdplace finish in 2001.

“When I came to Omiya, I knew exactly what I wanted to do,” Verdenik said. “I made a concept, I explained what I wanted and the players have been able to execute my plan. Many thought we would be relegated but now we are in first place.” Verdenik’s practices are highenergy. The 64-year-old coach demonstrates drills and talks to as many of the Japanese players as he can through his translator and it’s clear the message is getting across.

“He’s the best coach in Slovenia,” said Milivoje Novakovic, a Slovenian striker who has scored five goals for Omiya this season. “He’s had some chances in Europe but has found success in Japan.

He’s able to get us to play like a team which isn’t easy considering the different personalities he is dealing with.”

Foreign managers have a long history in Japan’s domestic league, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this season.

The most successful was Brazilian Oswaldo de Oliveira, who guided Kashima to three straight champi-

onships from 2007 to 2009.

He is one of eight Brazilians who have coached Kashima, which is the most successful team in the league with a record seven championships. Kashima has also won the J-League Cup a record five times and the Emperor’s Cup four times for an unprecedented total of sixteen major domestic titles.

Hans Ooft, Zico and Ivica Osim are the only managers who have coached in the J-League and Japan’s national team.

Other foreign managers who have enjoyed success in Japan include Brazilian Nelsinho, who led Kashiwa Reysol to its first championship in 2011 when he was named Manager of the Year. German coach Guido Buchwald guided Urawa Reds to the championship in 2006. But not every foreign manager has had success here. Former Tottenham player and manager Osvaldo Ardiles had mixed results.

Ardiles became coach of Yokohama in January of 2000, but was fired in June 2001 following a poor start to the season. From 2003 to 2005 he coached Tokyo Verdy, where he won the 2004 Emperor’s Cup. But in July 2005 he was fired after a nine-game winless streak.

In 2012 he came back to Japan to coach Division 2 club Machida Zelvia but was let go after the team was relegated to the third division. Perhaps he just did-

n’t adapt enough.

Like Verdenik, FC Tokyo boss Ranko Popovic said an understanding of Japanese culture is essential to being successful in the league.

“Japan has a group mentality,” Popovic said. “ They want to be all together, to be the same. This is good in many instances but sports are different, it’s a competition. Everyone has to strive to be better. I try to give my players the option to make the best choices. There isn’t one right way to do things, there are many ways and I try to teach that.”

Coaching methods have come under the spotlight in Japan since it was revealed in January that the head coach of the women’s Olympic judo team, Ryuji Sonoda, used violence against athletes at a training camp prior to the London Olympics. He also verbally abused his athletes.

In December, a Japanese high school student committed suicide after enduring repeated beatings from his basketball coach. Most foreign coaches take a more gentle approach to get their points across.

Nagoya Grampus boss Dragan Stojkovic has been in Japan for 13 years and is one of the most popular coaches in the history of the J-League.

“It’s important for me to not criticize too much,” Stojkovic said. “To criticize is

very easy, you can do it and you have the right to do it but the most important thing is support, to help the players learn from their mistakes. I want to give them confidence, they need this kind of communication and support.”

For foreign coaches there are many things that make coaching in Japan attractive. Japanese athletes are notoriously hardworking and respectful of coaches. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger coached Nagoya in 1995-96, just two years after the league started, and said the tremendous organization and dedication of the players was obvious.

“The quality of the organization was something that stood out to me,” Wenger said on Arsenal’s website.

“Secondly, the huge, unbelievable desire and hunger for training from the Japanese player. When I arrived in the morning they were already on the pitch and training started one and a half hours later.” Wenger will return to Japan in July as part of Arsenal’s Asian tour.

Stojkovic believes one of the biggest benefits to coaching in Japan is the level of respect. “The most important thing is there is no fighting here,” Stojkovic said.

“There is no hooliganism and this is one of the reasons I have been here so long.

This is a big problem in (world) football, but in Japan everything is based on respect.”—AP

Milan held in match halted by racist jeers

LYON: British midfielder of PSG David Beckham (center) and teammates celebrate after winning the French title.—AFP

PSG clinch French title PARIS: Paris St Germain clinched their first championship in 19 years on Sunday with a 1-0 win at Olympique Lyon that put them seven points clear of second-placed Olympique Marseille in Ligue 1 with two games left.

Jeremy Menez scored the decisive goal in the 53rd minute for Carlo Ancelotti’s side as the wealthy Qatari-backed club secured their third league title.

They were last crowned champions in 1994, eight years after winning their first title under Gerard Houllier. “We’ve been living something outstanding, 19 years after the last title. Long live Paris!,” centre back Mamadou Sakho, a Paris-born player, told TV broadcaster Canal Plus.

PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has yet to confirm if he will stay at the club next term, added: “I’m very pleased because we have worked very hard this season. We wrapped it up against a good team. We deserved it and it’s time to celebrate.”

“I’m very happy to have won the title here in France,” added the Italian, who has already won Serie A with AC Milan in 2004 and the English Premier League at Chelsea in 2010 as well as two Champions League titles with the Italian club.

PSG’s victory gave rivals Marseille automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League group stage by leaving them with a seven-point lead over thirdplaced Lyon, who have 63.

Lyon are in the final Champions League qualifying spot just three points ahead of fourth-placed Lille, who beat Stade Reims 3-0 on Friday, and Nice, who are fifth but were thrashed 4-0 at relegation-threatened Evian Thonon Gaillard earlier on Sunday.

That result sent bottom-club Brest into the second division by moving Evian seven points ahead of them and two points above the drop zone.

St Etienne, the last side in the running for third place, slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Lorient, their first of the year in the league, leaving them stuck on 59 points in sixth.

PSG, who failed to beat surprise challengers Montpellier to the title last season and have showed signs of nerves in the last two games, collecting a total of four red cards, proved far more solid this time to seal the title at Lyon.

The hosts got their first opportunity after two minutes but Bafetimbi Gomis’s header was brilliantly saved by Nicolas Douchez, who was replacing the suspended Salvatore Sirigu.

PSG’s Ligue 1 leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has 27 league goals this season, almost hit back two minutes later but his effort was cleared off the line by fullback Mahamadou Dabo.

Both sides struggled to create chances in a game played at high intensity. Menez was closest to breaking the deadlock in the 23rd minute but Anthony Lopes saved his close-range effort.

However, the home keeper was helpless after the interval when the France forward was clear in the area following a lightning counter-attack and scored with a powerful strike. After that PSG kept possession to stop Lyon equalising and, with David Beckham coming on in added time as they ran down the clock, held on to secure the victory that will see them collect the league trophy on Monday at the picturesque Trocadero place.—Reuters

LYON: People celebrate on the Champs Elysee avenue in Paris after French L1 football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeated Lyon to win the French title. —AFP

ITALY: AC Milan’s hopes of Champions League football next season lie in the balance after they had Sulley Muntari dismissed before halftime and drew 0-0 with AS Roma on Sunday in a match briefly halted for racist behaviour in the crowd.

Visitors Roma’s 36-year-old captain Francesco Totti was also sent off for elbowing in an unsavoury match which was halted for around one minute because of chanting by Roma fans aimed at Milan’s Mario Balotelli.

Fiorentina kept up the chase on third-placed Milan by beating Palermo 1-0 in atrocious conditions, condemning the Sicilians to Serie B after a turbulent season in which they employed three different coaches, two of them twice.

Siena, beaten 2-1 at Napoli, also went down, joining previously relegated Pescara in Serie B while Genoa, held 0-0 at home by injuryravaged Inter Milan, and Torino, who drew 1-1 at Chievo Verona, scrambled to safety. Serie A leading scorer Edinson Cavani struch Napoli’s first goal, taking his tally to 28 for the season.

Napoli had already clinched second place behind champions Juventus and a place in the Champions League group stage next season.

Antonio Di Natale, 35, scored both goals as fifth-placed Udinese beat Atalanta 2-1 to stay on course for the Europa League, with Lazio two points behind in sixth after beating Sampdoria 2-1.

Milan needed to beat Roma to clinch third place and a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds with a game to spare but, after a lively 40 minutes, it all went wrong with a moment of madness from Muntari.

The Ghanaian was booked, lost his temper and grabbed the referee’s arm as Milan players protested,

ITALY: AC Milan’s Brazilian forward Robinho fights for the ball with AS Roma forward Francesco Totti (left) during their Serie A football match.—AFP leaving the official with no option but to send him off.

Roma seemed uncomfortable with their numerical advantage and continued defending for much of the second half, causing the game to deteriorate into a niggly affair.

Play was stopped by the referee early in the second half after Roma fans jeered Milan striker Mario Balotelli. Following the guidelines set down by the Italian federation and the government’s sports security watchdog, a warning was announced over the public address system and play resumed.

Milan survived when Erik Lamela appeared to be tripped by Kevin Constant in the penalty area before Totti got his marching orders.

Milan have 69 points from 37

games, while Fiorentina have 67.

Both teams are away to lowly opponents next Sunday with Milan travelling to Siena and Fiorentina to Pescara.

If they finish level on points, Fiorentina will take third place on having the better head-to-head record. The games involving Palermo, Genoa and Torino all kicked off at lunchtime following a row sparked by the Giro D’Italia.

Local authorities in Florence ordered the Fiorentina match to start at 1230 local time to avoid clashing with the cycle race, which reached the city later in the afternoon.

But Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini said Palermo would refuse to play unless the Genoa and

Torino games were also brought forward, with Serie A eventually agreeing on Thursday afternoon.

Former Palermo forward Luca Toni scored the only goal just before halftime and Palermo’s hopes of a fightback ended as torrential rain in the second half left huge puddles on the pitch.

The Sicilians began and ended the season under Giuseppe Sannino, who was fired after three games and replaced by Gian Piero Gasparini.

He lasted until early February when he was also sacked, replacement Alberto Malesani went after three games, Gasparini re-hired and fired af ter two matches, paving the way for Sannino to return.—Reuters

Uncertainty overshadows PSG title win PARIS: Overwhelming favourites at the campaign’s outset, Paris Saint-Germain were eventually able to celebrate winning the Ligue 1 title with two games to spare, but uncertainty surrounding the future takes some of the shine off the capital club’s triumph.

No other team in France could keep up with a PSG side built thanks to the massive financial power of their Qatari owners, even if Marseille and Lyon provided greater resistance than had been expected.

However, there were times when it looked as if Carlo Ancelotti’s team might crumble under the pressure, par ticularly during a dreadful five -game run in November and December when they collec ted just four points.

Later, defeats at struggling Sochaux and Reims after the winter break kept their rivals’ hopes alive and gave the impression that PSG’s glamorous collection of stars were only really motivated by the Champions League.

“Maybe we are not made to play in games like these,” claimed their Brazilian sporting director Leonardo after the 1-0 reverse in Reims in early March. “Perhaps we have a team designed more for Europe.” However, PSG’s form since then saw them pull away once and for all and they ultimately were not removed from top spot from late January.

Despite their success, Ancelotti’s style of play has come in for criticism as, for all the millions spent on the likes of Thiago Silva, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, not enough exciting football was played. His side have often appeared lacking cohesion and the Italian’s preferred variant on a 4-4-2 formation has not always convinced.

Of course, the statistics speak for themselves - defensively, PSG are in line to beat the record for the most clean sheets in a top-flight season, while further forward Ibrahimovic is the most prolific striker seen in France since Jean-Pierre Papin at his peak more than two decades ago.

Plenty of progress has been made in the two years since Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) bought a controlling stake in the club. After all, before last season, Paris had not finished as high as second in Ligue 1 since 2004. Now they have won the title for the first time since 1994, and just the third time in their history.

But they could still have done better.

Winning the title was the least expected of PSG given their outlay on players in the last couple of seasons.

Reaching the quar ter-finals of the Champions League - where they lost on away goals to Barcelona - must go down as a good performance, but they also failed to progress beyond the last eight in either domestic cup, losing on penalties to eventual winners SaintEtienne in the League Cup and in another shoot-out to Evian in the French Cup. As a result, a first league and cup double in their history will have to wait. And the run-in to their title triumph has been overshadowed by disciplinary problems and the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of the coach.

From end-of-game brawls to captain Thiago Silva’s sending-off for pushing a referee and sporting director Leonardo’s alleged shoulder barge on the same official, PSG have done little to win admirers in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, it is unclear whether Ancelotti

will still be at the club next season amid speculation about a move to Real Madrid, and the loss of the Italian, despite the criticism, would be a considerable blow. Finding a replacement of a similar calibre would not be easy for QSI and, if Ancelotti does go, many of the squad’s leading players might reconsider their futures.

Will Thiago Silva or Ibrahimovic, the two marquee recruits of last summer, wish to stay without the Italian?

“We are all desperate to know what will happen,” said Brazilian defender Alex, who played under Ancelotti at Chelsea, revealing the underlying tensions in the squad that have arisen from all the uncertainty. The likeable former AC Milan boss is held in high esteem by his players, and his track record is up there with the very best. Events in the coming weeks are therefore likely to be pivotal for the new champions as they aim to begin a new era of domination at home and abroad.—AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

English Premier League Arsenal v Wigan Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5

21:45

Reading v Man City Abu Dhabi Sports HD 4

22:00

Woods wins Players as Garcia stumbles

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

16

India deny Champions Trophy pullout threat

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Foreign managers make their mark in Japan

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OAKLAND: Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Bogut (center) battles for a rebound next to San Antonio Spurs’Tim Duncan (left) and Manu Ginobili during the second half of Game 4 of a Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series. — AP

Warriors rally to beat Spurs OAKLAND: The Golden State Warriors delivered a dominant performance in overtime to complete a 97-87 come from behind win over San Antonio Sunday and level their NBA playoff series.

The Warriors knotted the best-ofseven Western Conference secondround series at two games apiece, an important victory with the series heading back to San Antonio for game five today. The win ensures the series will come back to Oakland for game six on Thursday.

With Golden State star Stephen Curry hindered by an ankle injury, Harrison Barnes led the Warriors with 26 points and 10 rebounds. “I think the biggest thing is this team, we’re not going to give up,” Barnes said. “This team is just going to continue to fight, continue to fight.”

Jarrett Jack scored 24 points and Curry chipped in 22 for Golden State, whose 65-51 advantage in rebounding-spearheaded by Andrew Bogut’s 18 boards helped them overcome 18 turnovers.

“Tonight, Barnes and Jack were tremendous. They got the job done for them,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Usually the playoffs, teams that win, have other people step up at some point in a series.

Those two guys did it tonight in really fine fashion.”

Klay Thompson scored just 10

points on 5-of-13 shooting, but his running bank shot over Tim Duncan knotted the score at 84-84 with 30 seconds left in regulation.

The Spurs missed their next eight attempts, shooting just 35.5 percent overall. Manu Ginobili led the Spurs with 21 points, but he missed a three-point attempt with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter. “The truth is that wasn’t a play for me, but I had to attack,” Ginobili said. “But my last few shots were short. I don’t know if I got tired or what, but I stopped pushing my legs. That would have meant the game, so it’s hard to swallow. That would have been 3-1 and a great situation. But sometimes they don’t fall.”

Duncan scored 19 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. Tony Parker added 17 despite playing with a left calf injury resulting from a kick he received in game three.

The Warriors, who trailed by as many as eight points in the fourth quarter, never led in the final frame but pulled level twice.

Thompson pulled them within 82-80 and a basket by Jack knotted the score with 58.5 seconds remaining. Parker responded with a basket, but Thompson again pulled the Warriors level at 84-84.

After Ginobili’s miss, the Warriors gained the ball. On their final possession of regulation, Jack was off-

target with a jump shot contested

by Parker. It was Jack, however, who opened the scoring in overtime, sparking Golden State’s 9-0 run to open the extra period that secured the victory. “(In) the overtime we just stopped scoring,” Ginobili said. “We kept running the same plays, our usual stuff and they just didn’t fall and they made every shot in overtime.

“What is disappointing is that we had a great game, we had been where we wanted, and we blew it,” Ginobili said. “So it kind of hurts. But we are 2-2, we are going back home, we have a great opportunity to go back up in the series.”

The winner of the series advances to the Western Conference finals, where they will face either the Memphis Grizzlies or Oklahoma City Thunder. Memphis took a 2-1 lead in that series on Saturday with an 8781 victory.

Meanwhile, Chicago head coach Tom Thibodeau has been fined $35,000 for comments he made about the officiating in the wake of the Bulls’ 104-94 loss to Miami in an NBA playoff game on Friday.

NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson announced the sanction on Sunday.

The victory gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference

second-round series, with game four in Chicago late yesterday.

“I see how things are going, I watch very closely,” Thibodeau said after Friday’s game. “We’re not going to get calls, that’s reality.”

Thibodeau was irked by the ejection of Bulls reserve Nazr Mohammed, who had played less than three minutes when he was tossed from the game in the second quarter for shoving Heat superstar LeBron James. Mohammed had halted a James breakaway and was whistled for a foul.

As James pulled away from him Mohammed fell to the floor and James received a technical foul. The intervention of the officials, however, didn’t placate Mohammed, who got up and shoved James, who fell to the floor. “From my angle, I just saw a guy basically flop,” Thibodeau said of James’s fall. “I didn’t think it warranted an ejection. I understand flagrant foul, I understand that, but ejection, no.” Thibodeau certainly can’t afford to lose any players as his team battles the reigning champion Heat.

The Bulls have played all season without former Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose as he rehabilitates a knee injur y, and during these playoffs have seen Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich sidelined. — AFP

Venus dumped out of Rome Masters ROME: A rusty Venus Williams was blown away 63 6-2 by rising British left-hander Laura Robson at the Rome Masters tennis yesterday.

With clay dust swirling around the tree-lined Foro Italico courts, the American former world number one suffered a scrappy, undignified exit as her fabled power game misfired.

Robson will now try to complete a rare double as top seed Serena Williams, winner in Madrid, awaits in round two. Venus, who has been out of action since early April when she lost to sister Serena in the semi-finals at Charleston, lost her serve three times in the first set and conceded the opener with two wild forehands that landed metres over the baseline.

Robson, who returned to form in Madrid with a notable win over world number three Agnieszka

Radwanska after a series of early defeats following a strong run at the Australian Open, was the more solid of the two in the swirling breeze.

The 32-year-old Williams continued to struggle and dropped serve to trail 3-1 in the second set when Robson belted a forehand on to the baseline. Robson, 19, who recently split from coach Zeljko Krajan after nine months, wobbled when serving for the match at 5-1, throwing in an eighth double-fault.

Two Williams double-faults in the following game allowed Robson to reach match point but she made a hash of the first one before Williams saved a second with a thumping forehand winner.

Robson completed victory at the third attempt with a simple forehand put-away off a loopy Williams miss-hit. Ninth seed Samantha Stosur

eased through with a 6-2 6-3 win over Hsieh SuWei of Taiwan while Italian wildcard Nastassja Burnett, ranked 141, enjoyed a surprise 6-2 6-2 win over France’s Alize Cornet.

In the men’s draw Marin Cilic was one of the few seeds in action on Monday, the Croatian seeing off Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev 6-4 6-2.

Men’s top seed Novak Djokovic will hope to make up for an early defeat in Madrid when he begins in the second round on Tuesday against either Spain’s Albert Montanes or Slovakian Martin Klizan.

Rafael Nadal, winner of four claycourt titles already this season after returning from injury, will begin with an Italian opponent in round two, either Fabio Fognini or Andreas Seppi who were battling it out late yesterday. — Reuters

LONDON: Olympiakos Piraeus players celebrate with the trophy after winning their Euroleague 2013 Final Four gold medal basketball game against Real Madrid at the O2 Arena. — AFP

Olympiakos grab Euroleague title LONDON: Olympiakos Piraeus had playmaker Vassilis Spanoulis to thank after making a “miracle” comeback to beat a talent-packed Real Madrid side to win their third Euroleague basketball title.Spanoulis, nicknamed “Kill Bill”, buried 22 second-half points to steer recession-hit Olympiakos to a memorable 100-88 win against the eight-time Euroleague winners at London’s 02 Arena on Sunday.

As so often before in his illustrious career, which has included one title in Europe’s premier club basketball competition during two stints with bitter city foes Panathinaikos and a spell with the Houston Rockets, the 30-yearold stepped up to the mark when his team needed him most.

“It was an unbelievable three days in London because we came as champions but also as outsiders, considering the budget and the difficult season in which we’ve had to play so many games,” Spanoulis told reporters after engineering his team’s fightback from a 17point deficit. “We had our backs against the wall so many times but this team has amazing chemistry. Everyone knows his role, we feel like a family and we are a family. “We came into a difficult situation but remained united in the locker room and we deserve to be at the top of Europe,” he said.

Olympiakos, cheered on by thousands of Greek fans, became only the fourth team in the competition’s history to retain the title and their comeback was just as impressive as last

year’s when they beat CSKA Moscow 62-61 in the final thanks to a game-winning shot on the buzzer by forward Georgios Printezis.

Their double success is all the more admirable given that it came amid the crippling recession in Greece, which has had three years of harsh budget and wage cuts with unemployment rising to 27 percent.

Olympiakos, like other sports clubs, have felt the crunch and were forced to release some of the game’s big names in order to stay afloat, including NBA stalwart Josh Childress in 2010 and Serbia guard Milos Teodosic in 2011. Olympiakos triumphed last year after overturning a 19-point second-half deficit in the final but repeating the feat this term looked unlikely when their towering American centre Joey Dorsey left the club midway through the season after the holders endured a patchy run.

Driven by Spanoulis and the supporting cast, notably Printezis, fellow forward Kostas Papanikolau and American centre Kyle Hynes, Olympiakos reached the playoffs and then the Final Four with a 3-2 win over Efes Istanbul in a gruelling quarter-final series.

Coach Georgios Bartzokas had a huge pair of shoes to fill after taking over from Serbian Dusan Ivkovic during the off-season but kept the bulk of the side together, preserving the team spirit that enabled Olympiakos to yet again humble the royalty of European club basketball. — Reuters

Business

Lloyds Chairman stands down as govt sale looms Page 23 HK has world’s most expensive retail space Page 24

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

India’s central bank puts curb on Page 22 gold imports Page 25

Saudi stock regulator plans new rules on losses

BRUSSELS: French minister of Economy, Finances and Foreign Trade Pierre Moscovici (C) talks to the media prior to the Eurogroup meeting held at the European Union Council building in Brussels yesterday. — AFP

G7 backs Japan’s easing efforts Dollar strengthens, denting oil and gold NEW YORK: The dollar rose against the yen and held steady against most major currencies yesterday after the Group of Seven backed Japan’s efforts to spur growth through aggressive asset purchases, and oil and gold prices fell on the stronger greenback.

A surprise rise in US retail sales in April supported views that the US economy, the world’s biggest, remains resilient. The optimistic tone to the data supported the dollar’s recent strength, and JPMorgan raised its outlook for second-quarter growth.. On Wall Street, the broad S&P 500 index reversed earlier losses on profit-taking following last week’s stellar run to record highs, while weakness in the top European banking sector knocked the region’s share prices lower.

“The value of the dollar has weighed on the prices of all commodities, specially the more sensitive ones such as oil and gold,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity market strategy at BNP Paribas.

A stronger dollar makes dollar-denominated commodities such as oil more expensive for holders of other currencies. The renewed optimism on the economy after the retails sales data

drove down prices of Treasuries, a traditional safe-haven. In over a week, the yield on the 10-year not has risen nearly 0.30 percentage point from its lowest level of the year following the better-than-expected April jobs report and the dollar’s surge against the yen.

The dollar, which has risen 5 percent against a basket of major currencies since February, and double that versus the yen, looked unlikely to buckle after G7 officials meeting over the weekend in Britain showed little concern about the Japanese currency’s slump.

The greenback hit a 4-1/2-year high of 102.14 yen in Asian trading, but it reversed course following the US retail sales numbers, down 0.07 percent to 101.77 yen. The euro edged up 0.1 percent against the dollar at $1.2973.

“Yen selling will have been encouraged by the outcome from the G7 meeting, where officials reiterated that they will tolerate yen weakness as long as it results from the use of domestic instruments to stimulate the Japanese economy,” said Lee Hardman, a currency analyst with Bank of ToykoMitsubishi.

Brent oil prices slipped back below $103 a barrel, with ample supply weighing on sentiment as well as the stronger dollar. Weaker-than-expected industrial output data from China also helped push oil prices lower. London copper, however, climbed 0.09 percent to $7,382 a tonne, as the data raised hopes that monetary authorities in China, the world’s biggest metals consumer, may embark on further easing to underpin demand. China’s annual industrial output grew 9.3 percent in April, up from a seven-month low of 8.9 percent in March but still missing market expectations for a 9.5 percent expansion.

Spot gold, often bought as an alternative safe-haven to the dollar, fell 0.9 percent to 1,434.71 an ounce.

With the Standard & Poor’s 500 index having closed at a record high on Friday and European shares starting the week at five-year highs, investors had reason to cash in some gains as worries about another spring “swoon” persisted.

In midday trading, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 26.02 points, or 0.17 percent, at 15,092.47. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was up 0.56 points, or 0.03 percent, at 1,634.26. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 5.19 points, or

Qatar rises to 27-mth high as most Gulf markets up DUBAI: Qatar’s bourse rose to a 27-month high yesterday as regional investors bought a market considered a bargain because it has lagged others in the Gulf this year.

Most Gulf markets climbed, although Saudi Arabia’s bourse extended declines as the prospect of stricter capital market regulation spooked investors.

Qatar’s underperforming market has seen a surge in institutional buying over the last few weeks as investors look for value after strong 2013 gains elsewhere.

“At this stage you have little choice in the region for investment opportunities after the rally in the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi consumer names - Qatar is a good candidate,” said Ali Adou, portfolio manager at The National Investor.

“Investors are rotating out of UAE banks that saw a big surge this year and are buying Qatar names. Banks are trading at attractive valuations.”

Attractive equity yields in Qatar are also a draw. Doha’s benchmark advanced 0.6 percent to its highest level since February 2011.; the market is up 7.4 percent year-to-date, but considerably behind the roughly 30 percent gains recorded by markets in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Authorities on Sunday officially postponed the planned initial public offer of Doha Global Investment Co, a $12 billion investment company backed by assets from the Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund.

The announcement may keep local retail investors on the sidelines as they await the subscription period. No specific date for the IPO has been set, and the delay had no apparent effect on Monday’s trade since many market par-

ticipants had expected it.

In the United Arab Emirates, the two main markets extended gains to hit fresh multi-year highs.

Sentiment in Dubai is buoyed by strong tourism numbers and a pick-up in the property market after a long downtrend triggered by the 2008 financial crisis.

Air Arabia slipped 0.9 percent but is up 11.3 percent in April on hopes of strong quarterly earnings growth. After the close, the budget carrier posted a 20 percent rise in first-quarter net profit.

In Kuwait, the index gained 0.3 percent to hit a fresh 43month high in strong turnover as hopes for an economic recovery drove momentum. Volumes were focused in small-caps but heavyweight banks also rose.

“The market seems to be self-fuelling its flight towards an astounding recovery from the financial crisis and following the Arab Spring challenges,” said Fouad Darwish, head of brokerage services at Global Investment House.

But Saudi Arabia’s bourse fell 0.5 percent, extending declines since climbing to a four-week high on Saturday.

The Capital Market Authority on Sunday said it would limit shares’ volatility on their first day of trading to 10 percent.

It is also considering placing more stringent limits on accumulated annual losses for stocks before they are suspended.

“The new management of CMA has started their work to enhance the market overall - expect a few more changes,” said Mohammad Omran, an independent financial analyst in Riyadh. “These initiatives will try to organise

the practices in the market and move it away from illegal and speculative trading.”

Yesterday’s selling focused on stocks that tend to move on speculation, and Omran said the overall market’s decline was not as severe as expected. The insurance sector fell 4.5 percent, its largest one-day drop in four weeks.

The agriculture and food shares index lost 0.8 percent.

In Egypt, the measure retreated 0.5 percent, easing away from Sunday’s 10-week high with some across-theboard profit-taking.

YESTERDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS QATAR The benchmark rose 0.6 percent to 8,900 points.

ABU DHABI The index gained 0.4 percent to 3,419 points.

DUBAI The index climbed 0.5 percent to 2,196 points.

KUWAIT The index advanced 0.3 percent to 7,847 points.

SAUDI ARABIA The benchmark fell 0.5 percent to 7,159 points.

EGYPT The index slipped 0.5 percent to 5,417 points.

OMAN The index advanced 0.3 percent to 6,285 points.

BAHRAIN The measure gained 0.3 percent to 1,142 points.

— Reuters

0.15 percent, at 3,441.77. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closed down 0.27 percent at 1,230.12, and the MSCI global index was down 0.02 percent at 374.14. In the bond market, benchmark 10-year Treasury notes fell 7/32 in price to yield 1.926 percent - just below a six-week high in yield set earlier. German Bund futures were up 0.1 percent at 144.84. Italy’s three-year debt costs fell to their lowest level since January at an auction on Monday as the backstop from the European Central Bank fed demand for bonds of the euro zone’s heavily indebted members.

The head of Italy’s central bank, Ignazio Visco, who is also a policymaker of the European Central Bank, in an interview with CNBC television suggested the ECB could cut its deposit rate below zero. His comments lifted Bund futures from their lowest levels in more than a month after last week’s decline on upbeat euro zone and US data. If the ECB were to push its deposit rate into negative territory, banks would effectively be charged for parking any spare cash they do not lend, something that analysts believe would send investors into other more profitable ultra-safe assets such as Bunds. — Reuters

United to resume Dreamliner flights NEW YORK: United Airlines said yesterday that it would resume Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights this month after the troubled aircraft was modified to fix battery problems that led to a months-long grounding.

United, the only US airline flying the Boeing 787, said it would restart domestic Dreamliner flights beginning May 20 on routes from Houston, Texas, to other domestic hubs. United also announced the June 10 launch of its Denver-Tokyo service using the cutting-edge Boeing plane.

In April, the Federal Aviation Administration approved Boeing’s 787 battery fix to address overheating that had led to the global grounding of all 50 787s in service since mid-January. United said Boeing had already converted two of its six Dreamliners to the new FAA standards and will soon convert the other four planes.

“Boeing and the FAA were diligent in their work to fix the battery issue, and now the Dreamliner is poised to fly the missions we planned and provide our customers with the features and reliability they want on their long-haul flights,” said United chief operating officer Pete McDonald in a statement. In January, overheated batteries had caused a fire on a 787 parked at the Boston airport and smoke that forced a 787 into an emergency landing in Japan.

The FAA’s new airworthiness directive for the 787 requires the installation of modified battery packs and their respective chargers, as well as battery enclosures and ducts. Ethiopian Airlines was the first airline to restore 787 service, on April 27. Japan’s All Nippon Airways, the biggest Dreamliner customer with 17 in its fleet, said last week that it would resume flights beginning June 1. — AFP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

BUSINESS

Mixed signals for the global economy WASHINGTON: A flood of data this week will paint a mixed picture of the global economy, with belt-tightening continuing to dampen activity in the euro zone, but accommodative policies helping to stimulate growth in Japan.

Reports from the United States are expected to show some slowdown in momentum early in the second quarter, and the Chinese economy’s prospects are unlikely to have changed much.

“We expect global growth to decelerate further in the second quarter, hamstrung, mainly from fiscal austerity in the U.S. and Europe,” said Ruth Stroppiana, chief international economist at Moody’s Analytics in Sydney.

Preliminary data is expected to show euro zone gross domestic product fell

0.1 percent in the first three months of the year from the prior quarter, according to a Reuters survey. In the fourth quarter, it had contracted 0.6 percent.

The anticipated improvement will mostly reflect a return to growth in Germany, which will help offset ongoing weakness in France and Italy. In another hopeful sign for the austerity-hit region, industrial production likely accelerated in March, but the gains remain uneven.

“We have had a mix of weak survey data at the start of the second quarter, but some strengthening in IP should give us a fairly firm base going to the second quarter, plus car sales have been fairly strong,” said Nick Matthews, a senior European economist at Nomura International in London.

While the euro zone is trying to climb out of recession, Japan’s economy is expected to have perked up a bit after a flat performance in the fourth quarter thanks in part to the government’s radical steps to end two decades of deflation.

Economists at Barclays in Tokyo also attribute the anticipated pick-up to front-loading by consumers and businesses before an increase in the value added tax. The consensus forecast is for a 0.7 percent rise from the prior quarter.

“We still look for real GDP growth to accelerate steadily. Early indicators suggest private consumption remains firm in the second quarter,” said Kyohei Morita, Barclays’ chief Japan economist.

In the United States, the picture is not

so bright. While there are signs of labor market resilience despite deep government budget cuts, the rest of the economy is showing some strain.

Retail sales are expected to have declined for a second straight month in April, mainly reflecting weak demand for automobiles. However, the report on Monday is expected to show some underlying strength.

But with wage growth anemic and the pace of saving slowing, the boost from consumers will be limited in scope.

“A resilient consumer is not guaranteed despite record high stock prices and double-digit annual home price gains,” said Scott Anderson, chief economist at Bank of the West, in San Francisco. “Several indicators point to a

consumer who is not yet ready for primetime and will likely remain stuck in the late night spot for another season.”

Not much help is expected from the production side of the economy.

Industrial production was likely weak in April, with manufacturing output flat.

With the growth outlook sluggish, disinflation is starting to creep in.

Economists say the consumer price index likely declined in April for a second straight month and core inflation is expected to have risen only marginally.

That should ensure the Federal Reserve maintains its monetary stimulus, purchasing $85 billion per month in government bonds and mortgage-backed securities despite calls by some policymakers to start tapering the program.

Saudi stock regulator plans new rules on losses Companies to be sanctioned if losses reached 50% RIYADH: The Saudi Capital Market Authority has begun consultations that could change how closing share prices are calculated and how long listed firms can trade with large accumulated losses, part of a drive to tighten standards in the market.

Saudi Arabia, home to the Gulf Arab region’s largest stock exchange, has been slowly amending its regulatory framework to bring it closer to international standards; market participants hope this will allow the bourse to open to direct investment by foreigners, a step which authorities are considering.

CMA chief Mohammed bin Abdulmalik Al alSheikh, who was appointed in February, said last week that the regulator was trying to limit “high levels of speculation” in the stock market and encourage more investment by institutions rather than individuals.

The CMA is discussing with industry participants a proposal to calculate a stock’s closing price using the average price in the last 15 minutes of trading, weighted by volume, instead of simply the price of the last trade, it

said in a statement yesterday.

The consultation will close on May 31, and follows a study recommending the move that “included global benchmarking and consultation of industry experts”, the CMA added.

A second proposal would begin sanctioning listed firms if their accumulated losses exceeded 50 percent of their capital, as opposed to the current regulation which does so when they hit 75 percent.

The announcement comes days after the authorities ordered the delisting and liquidation of Saudi Integrated Telecom Co , a relatively small and new firm which had struggled for months under the weight of its losses. “Many experts were calling for such a decision to separate good companies and others at risk,” Mazen al Sudairi, senior financial analyst at Al Istithmar Capital, said of the proposal on loss-making companies.

“This will benefit the national economy as it will make sure society’s savings are not wasted on failed companies.” Under the proposal, firms whose accumulated losses exceeded 50 percent of their capital would be required to announce

plans immediately to remedy their financial positions and make monthly disclosures to the bourse on their progress.

If such a proposal were introduced today, four firms - one in agriculture and three in insurance would find themselves over the 50 percent accumulated losses limit, according to Turki Fadaak, head of research at Al Bilad Investment Co. News of the proposal sent share prices of many small-capital firms lower on Monday; Al Ahlia Cooperative Insurance Co slumped its maximum permitted move of 9.8 percent.

On Sunday, the CMA announced that stocks on the kingdom’s bourse would be limited to price swings of 10 percent on their first day of trade, as opposed to the unlimited movement allowed previously - another step to reduce volatility and speculation.

“CMA is developing a strategy to promote institutional trading...” Al-Sheikh said last week, adding: “While out of the total 47 billion stocks listed 45 percent are held by individuals, nearly 93 percent of daily trading is done by retailers.” —Reuters

Strauss-Kahn in South Sudan to open bank

TOKYO: This picture taken on November 30, 2011 shows president of Japan’s Honda Motor Takanobu Ito introducing its concept car ‘Micro Commuter Concept, 2.5-metre in length and 1.25-metre in width, during the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo. Japan Automobile Manufactures Association (JAMA) announced yesterday that they will have a biannual auto show, the Tokyo Motor Show 2013, from November 22 through December 1 in Tokyo. —AFP

JUBA: Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn arrived in South Sudan yesterday to open a bank, a rare public return to the financial world since a dramatic fall from grace after a sex scandal two years ago.

“I believe that a country like South Sudan deserves some special attention,” he told reporters at the airport after his arrival, saying he would open a new bank, named as the National Credit Bank (NCB), as well as assess the investment opportunities in the impoverished country.

“It is a new country and still with a lot of economic and political problems....it wants to have the full opportunity for development and business,” Strauss-Kahn said at the start of a two-day visit.

Little is known about the NCB bank, although officials said it is a Swiss-backed private venture launched in cooperation with South Sudanese partners.

Straus-Kahn was greeted at the airport by South Sudan’s Minister of Commerce Garang Diing. “This visit is very important to us... especially in relation to investment attraction to South Sudan,” Diing said.

“He wants to see how South Sudan is prospering in terms of peace, stability, democracy and economic performance,” Diing added. The one-time French presidential hopeful and former head of the International Monetary Fund, Strauss-Kahn resigned from his post after New York hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo accused him of sexual assault in May 2011. —AFP

MADRID: Portuguese Prime Minister Passos Coelho (L) and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (R) give a press conference at the Moncloa palace in Madrid yesterday. Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho is in Madrid for talks on the economic crisis. The Portuguese government is signalling that it has reached an agreement with IMF and EU creditors on its latest radical austerity measures to correct public finances, after the constitutional court struck down some of the proposed policies. —AFP

Portugal signals EU-IMF agreement LISBON: The Portuguese government is signalling that it has reached an agreement with IMF and EU creditors on its latest radical austerity measures to correct public finances, after the constitutional court struck down some of the proposed policies.

In saying late on Sunday that it had satisfied the conditions of the International Monetary Fund and European Union, Portugal sent a message that it is able to pass the seventh audit of its accounts and reforms by auditors from the IMF, European Commission and European Central Bank.

That would open the way for the release of the latest instalment of bailout funding of 2.0 billion euros ($2.6 billion) under the rescue programme of 78 billion euros agreed for Lisbon in May 2011.

Portugal hopes that in turn this will enable its EU partners to soon confirm their agreement in principle to grant Portugal an extension of the delay for repayment of the rescue loans.

The government issued a brief statement after a cabinet meeting which said: “The cabinet met to be informed of the conclusion of the seventh evaluation and to confirm the conditions

needed to conclude it.” But Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho’s belt-tightening measures has not only met resistance with the general public, but also within his coalition government where some ministers have criticised certain plans to cut spending.

A statement from President Anibal Cavaco Silva’s office said later yesterday that the country’s Council of State, an advisory body that represents a wide political spectrum, would be summoned next week. In a brief statement, it said the 21member advisory body would study “the perspectives of the Portuguese economy for the post-troika period”.

The president has previously stressed the importance of political consensus. In Brussels meanwhile Portuguese Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar was set to present the results of the troika’s audit to his counterparts in the eurozone.

The latest audit began at the end of February but lasted longer and was more difficult than the previous audits. This was mainly because at the beginning of April, the constitutional court rejected several of the measures in the national budget for this year which included unprecedented tax increases. —AP

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Egyptian pounds US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

.2770000 .4310000 .3680000 .3020000 .2780000 .2940000 .0040000 .0020000 .0771240 .7513970 .3930000 .0720000 .7366120 .0370000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2841000 .4338920 .3707360 .3043390 .2795430 .0497330 .0443660 .2963730 .0365940 .2291130 .0029600 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0773800 .7538810 .0000000 .0757800 .7382100 .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso

ASIAN COUNTRIES 2.818 5.238 2.905 2.267 3.270 233.330 36.889 3.664 6.956

.2880000 .4470000 .3760000 .3170000 .2920000 .3020000 .0069000 .0035000 .0778990 .7589480 .4110000 .0770000 .7440150 .0440000 .2862000 .4370990 .3734770 .3065880 .2816100 .0501010 .0446940 .2985640 .0368650 .2308060 .0028810 .0052870 .0022880 .0029190 .0036810 .0779520 .7594530 .4048090 .0763400 .7436660 .0069870

Thai Baht Malaysian ringgit Irani Riyal Irani Riyal

Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

9.637 94.221 0.271 0.273

740.69 78.59 76.02

743.000 78.500 76.400

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd GCC COUNTRIES 76.377 78.697 743.930 760.730 77.990

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 41.200 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.598 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.336 Tunisian Dinar 174.680 Jordanian Dinar 404.460 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.921 Syrian Lier 3.110 Morocco Dirham 34.083 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 286.300 Euro 376.200 Sterling Pound 444.340 Canadian dollar 286.590 Turkish lira 158.720 Swiss Franc 302.480 US Dollar Buying 285.100 GOLD 298.000 150.000 77.500

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

SELL DRAFT 299.45 285.97 306.21 376.06 284.60 444.81 2.98 3.675 5.263 2.245 3.313 2.896 77.55 757.78 40.62 405.45

Selling Rate 286.200 286.130 441.765 372.410 299.070 757.725 77.900 78.560 76.285 403.446 40.601 2.268 5.215 2.903 3.670 6.939 702.070 3.815 9.695 4.085 3.360 95.240

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar

Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

SELL CASH 298.000 285.000 307.000 374.500 285.500 449.000 3.300 3.720 5.450 2.430 3.400 2.953 78.000 756.800 40.500 410.000

British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Scottish Pound Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar Uganda Shilling Canadian Dollar Colombian Peso US Dollars Bangladesh Taka Cape Vrde Escudo Chinese Yuan Eritrea-Nakfa

SELL CASH Europe 0.4321978 0.0062164 0.0457822 0.3663321 0.0452672 0.4293400 0.0392300 0.2935893 Australasia 0.2757500 0.2293154 0.0001143 America 0.2759208 0.0001457 0.2841000 Asia 0.0036258 0.0031761 0.0456150 0.0165500

SELLDRAFT 0.4411978 0.0182164 0.0507822 0.3738321 0.0504672 0.4368400 0.0442300 0.3005893 0.2877500 0.2393154 0.0001143 0.2849208 0.0001637 0.2862500 0.0036808 0.0034061 0.0506150 0.0196500

Guinea Franc Hg Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Jamaican Dollars Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee Philippine Peso Sierra Leone Singapore Dollar Sri Lankan Rupee Thai Baht Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Ethiopeanbirr Ghanaian Cedi Iranian Riyal Iraqi Dinar Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Lebanese Pound Moroccan Dirhams Nigerian Naira Omani Riyal Qatar Riyal Saudi Riyal Sudanese Pounds Syrian Pound Tunisian Dinar UAE Dirhams Yemeni Riyal

0.0000444 0.0343353 0.0051497 0.0000244 0.0028618 0.0027325 0.0033600 0.0902500 0.0031146 0.0028814 0.0065110 0.0000731 0.2268158 0.0022261 0.0092212 Arab 0.7528571 0.0386039 0.0129323 0.1455485 0.0000796 0.0001729 0.3981756 1.0000000 0.0001756 0.0219496 0.0012190 0.7324971 0.0779704 0.0758000 0.0465443 0.0031207 0.1728462 0.0765080 0.0012916

Al Mulla Exchange Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000) 284.700 374.500 442.250 285.450 2.900 5.237 40.605 2.264 3.648 6.924 2.893 760.850 77.850 76.250

0.0000504 0.0374353 0.0052137 0.0000296 0.0038618 0.0029125 0.0035900 0.0972500 0.0033146 0.0029214 0.0069810 0.0000761 0.2328158 0.0022681 0.0098212 0.7613571 0.0406339 0.0194323 0.1473385 0.0000801 0.0002329 0.4058726 1.0000000 0.0001956 0.0459496 0.0018540 0.7434971 0.0787534 0.0764400 0.0470943 0.0033407 0.1788462 0.0779580 0.0013918

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

BUSINESS

Lloyds Chairman stands down as govt sale looms BoE deputy governor Tucker linked with post

BEIJING: A group of salesmen squat behind promotion billboards along a road in Beijing yesterday. Industrial output in China rose 9.3 percent last month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said yesterday, accelerating from March but below market expectations, underscoring sluggish growth momentum. —AFP

China industrial production up 9.3% BEIJING: Industrial output in China rose 9.3 percent in April, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said yesterday, accelerating from March but below market expectations, underscoring sluggish growth momentum.

The April figure was an improvement on an increase of 8.9 percent in March but was still slower than a median forecast of 9.5 percent growth in a poll of nine economists

by Dow Jones Newswires.

Fixed-asset investment-a key measure of government spending-rose 20.6 percent in the first four months of the year, the NBS said, slightly down from 20.9 percent in the first quarter.

Retail sales were up 12.8 percent yearon-year in April, picking up marginally from 12.6 percent in March, it said in a statement. The figures are a sign that recovery is still uncertain in the world’s second-largest economy, analysts said.

“This is not the start of a rally, it is a sputtering whimper as momentum continues to fade,” said Ren Xianfang and Alistair Thornton, economists with research firm IHS Global Insight, in a report.

Slowing investment suggested weakness in manufacturing and infrastructure construction, they said, adding it could decelerate further as tightening measures on the housing market start to bite.

Chinese authorities have sought for the past three years to control property price rises with purchasing restrictions, higher minimum downpayments and taxes in some cities on multiple and non-locallyowned homes.

In March, they issued new rules including a capital gains tax of 20 percent on profits from residential property sales.

Homeowners were previously taxed just one or two percent of the sale price.

With a series of economic indicators

released recently, Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts said they saw “more downside risk” to their forecast of 8.1 percent growth in the Chinese economy.

China grew at its slowest pace in 13 years in 2012, with gross domestic product expanding 7.8 percent in the face of weakness at home and in key overseas markets.

Economic growth rebounded to 7.9 percent in the final quarter of 2012, raising hopes for a recovery, but in the first three months of this year growth slowed to 7.7 percent.

The official purchasing managers’ index (PMI), a widely watched indicator of the health of the Chinese economy, slowed to 50.6 in April from 50.9 in March.

The consumer price index-a main gauge of inflation-increased by 2.4 percent last month, lower than the official target of 3.5 percent for 2013 and reflecting subdued domestic demand.

Chinese leaders have said expansion will slow in the next stage of the nation’s development from the near-double-digit yearly rises of recent decades, as they try to retool the economy to emphasise consumer demand as the key growth driver, rather than investment and exports.

Analysts called on Beijing to speed up structural reforms, warning that credit stimulus alone could not change economic fundamentals and risked worsening the country’s overcapacity problems.

“The China story remains an unsustainable credit story, and we have seen little to suggest that the fundamentals are improving,” said Ren and Thornton.

“For this to happen, we are looking for reform, not stimulus or monetary policy tweaks. And we would suggest that so far, the new administration has been long on reform rhetoric, shor t on reform action.” —AFP

Airbus urge China to unblock orders trapped by EU row BRUSSELS: China’s decision to ease a boycott of some $11 billion in Airbus jet orders followed a high-level appeal from the planemaker urging Beijing to recognise its support over a trade row with Europe, a letter seen by Reuters shows.

It gives a glimpse into the intensity of the lobbying in the dispute, which helped persuade the European Union to freeze a law on regulating international aviation emissions. China partly lifted a blockade on 45 long-haul A330 jet orders during a visit by French President Francois Hollande last month.

Behind the scenes, Airbus claimed partial credit for the EU climb-down and cheered what its chief executive described to Beijing as “joint efforts” to limit damage to Chinese airlines.

Writing to China’s top aviation official shortly after the EU back-pedalled on its Emissions Trading Scheme last November, Fabrice Bregier said Airbus had been “very active” in supporting China’s preference for a broader global system.

“Through our joint efforts, we have managed to ensure that Chinese airlines are not unfairly impacted by the scheme as previously planned,” Chief Executive Fabrice Bregier said. “I hope we at Airbus have been able to clearly demonstrate our strong support to Chinese aviation.”

Airbus, which also got backing from European leaders, says the blocked orders alone put 2,000 jobs at risk. “Since I became president of Airbus in June (2012), I have made this issue one of the top priorities for the company,” Bregier wrote to Li Jiaxiang, the government official in charge of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

A spokesman for Airbus declined to comment on the letter but reiterated that the company, a subsidiary of EADS, welcomed the EU’s decision to pause the scheme for a year. Bregier signed the twopage letter on Nov. 16, four days after EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard agreed to “stop the clock” for a year on plans to make all airlines using EU airports pay for their emissions through a trading scheme.

The proposal unleashed a volley of international criticism and China - which viewed it as a breach of sovereignty - froze orders for aircraft worth up to $230 million each. Bregier urged China to respond to

the European Union’s decision by swiftly granting approvals for all 45 aircraft.

While Beijing approved 18 orders worth $4 billion, more valuable deals remain on hold as China awaits the outcome of international talks on the problem of managing borderless emissions without infringing sovereignty.

Bregier’s letter sheds light on frantic efforts to unblock the orders as Airbus reached the deadline for ordering parts for the jets. According to his letter, the first aircraft was tentatively scheduled to be delivered in the summer of 2013.

Industry sources say a golden rule of the aerospace industry is that planes are never built without a firm order and deposit.

However, the schedule suggests Airbus may have been willing to show some flexibility, given China’s role as the world’s fastest-growing aviation market and a strategic trade partner.

Longest-lead-time components are ordered around a year in advance, meaning that if the planes are indeed to be delivered this summer, some parts would have been ordered last year.

The letter also gives the first available breakdown of the A330 orders, details of which have mostly been kept secret pending final approval from the Chinese government.

They include 10 aircraft for Air China, 10 for Hainan Airlines, 10 for China Southern and 15 for China Eastern. The letter said first deliveries were tentatively scheduled for mid-2013. Airbus has not said which of these are included in the approvals for 18 aircraft announced on April 25.

It is not the first time high-profile plane orders have become swept up in trade tensions between China and Europe or the United States, home to Airbus’s arch-rival Boeing. Supported by India and the United States, China objected to the EU airlines plan on the grounds that it based charges on the whole trip, including China’s jealously protected airspace. The European Union says it was forced to act after more than a decade of inaction by the international community.

For internal EU flights the EU scheme remains in place and the European Union says it will re-impose the scheme for all flights using EU airports if global talks do not progress. —Reuters

LONDON: Lloyds Banking Group Plc Chairman Win Bischoff is to retire in the next year, handing the reins to a successor who must steer it through a potentially risky multi-billion pound government share sale.

Bischoff, 72, has overseen a restructuring and return to profitability at Lloyds, rescued by the government through a 20 billion pound ($31 billion) bailout during the 2008 financial crisis which left Britain with a 39 percent stake.

His replacement will need a mix of stock market nous and political sensitivity, given the highprofile nature of the looming privatisation and British Finance Minister George Osbourne’s need to maximise returns to help fix the nation’s deficit.

Industry and political sources have said the government is keen to start selling off shares in the bank ahead of the 2015 general election and the new chairman will be tasked with handling the potentially delicate political process.

Shares in Lloyds have been edging closer to the 61 pence level which the government regards as its break-even and last week hit a two-year high of 59.1p, raising hopes Britain could soon start selling its shares, which have a stock market value of some 17 billion pounds.

That prospect means the bank’s new chairman will need to quickly establish strong relationships with Osbourne and with UK Financial Investments (UKFI), which manages the government’s stake.

The new chairman will also take charge at a time when Lloyds is planning to float 630 branches after the collapse of a planned sale to the Co-operative, in a divestment ordered by the European Commission as a price of accepting the state bailout.

NO-ONE RULED IN OR OUT Bank of England deputy governor Paul Tucker, who had been favourite to succeed Mervyn King as governor of the central bank but lost out to Canadian Mark Carney, has been linked with the role in some British newspapers.

However, a source familiar with the matter played down the reports and said no individual had been ruled in or out. The bank is likely to examine the credentials of both internal and external candidates in a process expected to take months.

The Treasury and UKFI are expected to have a say in the process. Lloyds, the Treasury and the Bank of England declined to comment.

The bank said yesterday that Anthony Watson, its senior independent director, would lead the search.

Lloyds said Bischoff would retire no later than next year’s annual shareholders’ meeting in May 2014. The exact date will be subject to the appointment of his successor. Bischoff said Lloyds had made significant progress towards its goal of becoming a strong UK-focused retail and commercial bank. “Whilst clearly some challenges remain, the performance of the group is well on track. Indeed, in many areas, it is ahead of plan,” he said in a statement.

Bischoff spent his career at Schroders before its investment banking arm was acquired by Citigroup in 2000. He became chairman of Citi until stepping down in 2009 and joined Lloyds shortly afterwards. At Lloyds, he oversaw the appointment of Portuguese banker Antonio Horta-Osorio as chief executive in 2009, following the departure of Eric Daniels.

Shares in Lloyds were down 2.4 percent to 57.5 pence at 1100 GMT, underperforming the European Banking sector which was down 1.9 percent. Bischoff will chair the bank’s 2013 annual shareholders’ meeting on Thursday in Edinburgh, Scotland. —Reuters

Cars made in Brazil are deadly SAO PAULO: The cars roll endlessly off the local assembly lines of the industry’s biggest automakers, more than 10,000 a day, into the eager hands of Brazil’s new middle class. The shiny new Fords, Fiats, and Chevrolets tell the tale of an economy in full bloom that now boasts the fourth largest auto market in the world.

What happens once those vehicles hit the streets, however, is shaping up as a national tragedy, experts say, with thousands of Brazilians dying every year in auto accidents that in many cases shouldn’t have proven fatal.

The culprits are the cars themselves, produced with weaker welds, scant safety features and inferior materials compared to similar models manufactured for US and European consumers, say experts and engineers inside the industry. Four of Brazil’s five bestselling cars failed their independent crash tests.

Unsafe cars, coupled with the South American nation’s often dangerous driving conditions, have resulted in a Brazilian death rate from passenger car accidents that is nearly four times that of the United States, according to an Associated Press analysis of Brazilian Health Ministry data on deaths compared to the size of each country’s car fleet. In fact, the two countries are moving in opposite directions on survival rates - the US recorded 40 percent fewer fatalities from car wrecks in 2010 compared with a decade before. In Brazil, the number killed rose 72 percent, according to the latest available data.

Dr. Dirceu Alves, of Abramet, a Brazilian association of doctors that specializes in treating traffic accident victims, said poorly built cars take an unnecessary toll.

“The gravity of the injuries arriving at the hospitals is just ugly,” he said, “injuries that should not be occurring.”

Automakers in Brazil point out that their cars meet the nation’s safety laws.

Some said they build even tougher cars for the country because of its poorly maintained roadways and rejected any notion that cost-cutting in production leads to fatalities.

But the country’s few safety activists perceive a deadly double standard, with automakers earning more money from selling cars that offer drivers fewer safeguards - a worrisome gap for new middle-class households, whose surging spending power has outpaced consumer protections taken for granted in more developed countries. The problem extends beyond Brazil, with economic forecasts showing the majority of global growth in auto sales taking place in emerging-market nations as the world’s auto fleet doubles to 1.5 billion by 2020.

“Entry-level cars in Brazil are incredibly dangerous, it can’t be denied. The death rate from accidents is far too high,” said Maria Ines Dolci, coordinator of the Rio de Janeiro-based consumer defense group Proteste. “The manufacturers do this because the cars are a little cheaper to make and the demands of the Brazilian consumers are less; their knowledge of safety issues is lower than in Europe or the US.” Manufacturers earn a 10 percent profit on Brazilian-made cars, compared with 3 percent in the U.S. and a global average of 5 percent, according to IHS Automotive, an industry consulting firm.

Only next year will laws require frontal air bags and antilock braking systems on all cars, safety features that have been standard in industrial countries for years. The country will also have new impact regulations on paper, at least; Brazilian regulators don’t have their own crash-test facility to verify automakers’ claims about vehicle performance, nor are there independent labs in the country.

Experts say those requirements alone are not sufficient to meet basic

safety standards. Some models sold in Brazil, like the Chinese-made JAC J3, scored only one star in a recent crash test despite having air bags and antilock brakes.

An independent pilot effort known as the Latin New Car Assessment Program has run initial tests of Brazil’s most popular car models, and the results are bleak.

The cheapest models of four of the five top-selling cars, made by General Motors, Volkswagen and Fiat, received a one-star rating, out of five stars, while other top sellers also scored poorly. Such a rating means cars provide little protection in serious headon wrecks, compared to four- or fivestar rated cars, which are virtually the minimum that consumers in the U.S. and Europe buy.

“The difference is you’re talking about somebody dead in the vehicle or dying very quickly, or somebody being able to get out of the vehicle themselves,” said David Ward, director general of the London-based FIA Foundation for auto safety, which sup-

and other tests, while the Latin American version only records frontimpacts. Each type of impact test is individually scored on a 16-point scale.

The March sold in Brazil obtained a 7.62 rating in its frontal-impact test.

The Micra fared much better, 12.7 points.

Italian automaker Fiat said in an emailed statement that “in general, Brazilian projects receive more reinforcements” within the cars’ bodies to fortify them against the nation’s “harsher roads and terrain.”

However, NCAP tests found that Fiat’s best-selling car in Brazil, called the Novo Uno, had an unstable body structure and scored it just one star.

Crash-test footage shows the front of the car folding up like an accordion, giving it a 2.0 point rating, the second lowest of the 28 cars NCAP has examined. Consumers purchased nearly 256,000 Novo Uno’s last year - the second-most popular car in the country.

Renault’s safety standards also vary.

The French company builds its Sandero in Brazil, selling 98,400 cars

SAO PAULO: In this Nov. 25, 2012 photo, firefighters rescue a man from a car crash in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Three men were injured when they lost control of their Ford Ka car on one of Sao Paulo main avenues during a rainy morning. Brazilian drivers are dying at far higher rates than those in richer nations and safety experts say it’s in part because they’re riding in cars made with hardly any safety features. —AP ports the Euro and Latin NCAP programs. “It’s definitely a difference between life and death.”

The squat Ford Ka hatchback sold in Europe scored four stars when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2008; its Latin American version scored one star.

Ford acknowledged that particular Ka is built on an outdated platform, and said it cannot be compared with the European version of the same name - it’s that different. The company said it aims to have all its cars produced in Brazil built on updated, global platforms by 2015.

The Mexico-produced Nissan March compact sold in Latin America received a two-star rating from Latin NCAP, while the version sold for about the same price in Europe, called the Micra, scored four stars. The crash tests found the Latin American model had a weak, unstable body structure that offered occupants little protection in even non-serious wrecks.

In an emailed statement, Nissan said the March sold in Brazil is “practically the same model” offered in Europe. “The difference in the results achieved in Europe and Latin America is due to variations in the NCAP tests applied in different parts of the world.”

Not so, said Alejandro Furas, technical director for the Global NCAP crash test programs.

“We perform the frontal crash test exactly in the same way as the Euro NCAP,” he said. “The March and Micra were tested in the same lab, with the same type of crash test dummies, under the same conditions with the same people running the laboratory.”

The Euro NCAP tests are more complete. They include side-impact

last year. That car scored one star on the Latin NCAP test, but the model sold in Europe, made by Renault’s Romanian subsidiary Dacia, scored three stars.

Renault said the safety record of the Sandero and its other cars were on par with autos of the same class in Brazil.

One of those is the VW Gol, Brazil’s best-selling car for the last decade.

Volkswagen said it strives to maintain a global standard for body strength, putting the same number of welds on the same models regardless of where they’re produced, and using high-strength steel in Brazilian cars. It added that since 1998 it’s given Brazilian consumers the option of buying a car with air bags - its Gol Trend model with two frontal air bags scored three stars, while the same model without air bags scored one star.

The company didn’t respond to requests for figures on how many consumers requested air bags.

“Structural integrity during a crash is a global standard for Volkswagen,” the company said in an emailed statement. “The passenger compartment for the Gol remained stable and thus guarantees survival space for occupants.”

Latin NCAP has tested three VW models. The Gol and the Polo had stable bodies. The Bora sedan, however, was rated as unstable, though other factors helped it score three stars.

And then there are the cars the companies do not market outside Latin America, such as the Celta by GM. Celta is Brazil’s No. 5 car in terms of sales, with 137,615 sold last year. It received one star after its door unhinged and the passenger cabin

roof bent into an inverted V shape during its crash test.

General Motors had no comment other than to say that its cars in Brazil are legal.

An engineer for a major US automaker, speaking only on condition of anonymity for fear of losing his job, said he has watched for years as his company failed to implement more advanced safety features in Brazil, simply because the law did not require them. “”The automakers are pleased to make more profitable cars for countries where the demands, whatever they may be, are less rigorous,” he said. “It happens everywhere - India, China and Russia, for example.”

About 40 million Brazilians moved into the middle class during the past decade with more income than ever to buy their first car. The growth potential is enormous: One out of every seven Brazilians owns a car, while the US vehicle fleet covers nearly every American.

But as auto sales boom in Brazil, so have the number of accidents and deaths. An analysis of Health Ministry data shows that 9,059 car occupants died in vehicle crashes in Brazil in 2010, according to the most recent statistics available. That same year, 12,435 people in the U.S. were killed in car crashes, though the US passenger car fleet is five times larger than Brazil’s. The result: Brazilian automobile crash victims died at four times the rate as those in the US. The dangers come down to basics, engineers said: the lack of body reinforcements, lower-quality steel in car bodies, weaker or fewer weld spots to hold the vehicles together and car platforms designed decades before modern safety advances.

“The electricity used in building a car is about 20 percent of the cost of the structure,” said Marcilio Alves, an engineering professor at Brazil’s premier University of Sao Paulo and one of the few independent researchers in the nation looking at car safety.

“If you save on electricity, you save on cost. One way to save electricity is either reducing the number of spot welds or using less energy for each spot weld made. This affects structural performance in the event of a crash.”

In a car with no air bags and an unstable body structure, a driver’s biggest danger is the steering wheel.

A weak body structure and fragile steering column make it easier for the wheel to slam into the driver’s chest and abdomen in frontal crashes, the deadliest and most common, causing serious damage to vital organs.

Ward talks of steering wheels that break off and “float” during wrecks in poorly made cars - moving around the cabin in the driver’s area. That means that even if an air bag is deployed, the steering wheel may go around or under it and directly hit the driver.

Many Brazilian car bodies also don’t contain crumple zones, areas that absorb energy during wrecks.

The omission endangers occupants’ lower limbs, as foot wells rip off and expose feet and legs to car parts slamming into them from the front.

“If a car’s body cannot absorb the energy of a crash, it will logically result in more damage, more injuries to passengers,” said Alves, the doctor who specializes in traffic accident victims.

One auto engineer described the situation by sketching two car body designs with identical perimeters, but one depicted internal gaps - missing body reinforcements.

He worked three decades for Volkswagen and spent the last 10 years as an independent engineering consultant for big automakers. He asked that his name not be published for fear of losing contracts and benefits. “The secret of a car’s body being able to withstand the crash test are the weld spots,” he said. —AP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

BUSINESS

HK has world’s most expensive retail space NEW YORK: There’s expensive and then there’s Hong Kong. The Asian shopping haven in the first quarter kept its crown as having the world’s highest rent for prime retail properties, at nearly 50 percent more than for similar districts such as upper Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Rents were more than four times the rate in similar areas in London and Paris, according to a report by global property advisor CBRE Group Inc. The 10 most expensive cities for retailers benefit from strong demand and modest new supply, a recipe for stable record-high prime rental rates, the report released on Sunday showed. In some markets, such as

Hong Kong and London, the sky-high rents have prompted some newcomers to look nearby. For example, in London, Mayfair has benefited from those priced out of Bond Street.

Annual retail rent in high-end shopping areas in Hong Kong averaged $4,328 per square foot (36,351 euros per square meter).

“Given that space is so expensive in Hong Kong’s prime shopping streets largely driven by continued demand from international luxury brands, many traditional retailers have moved into more niche secondary retail locations as they still want to be in and access the

market, but have been priced out of the prime space,” Joe Lin, CBRE’s executive director of retail, said in a statement.

New York ranked second among the most expensive global retail markets, with prime rents averaging $2,970 per square foot (24,944 euros per square meter) Europe’s prime retail markets followed, with London at $1,053 per square foot (8,843 euros per square meter), and Paris at $1,050 per square foot (8,820 euros per square meter).

The supply of prime space was tight elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region. An inflow of U.S. retailers helped

Sydney maintain its prime rent at an average of $1,018 per square foot (8,549 euros per square meter).

Tokyo was sixth at $895 per square foot (7,519 euros per square meter), followed by Melbourne, at $851 per square foot (7,148 euros per square meter).

Zurich came in eighth at $822 per square foot (6,905 euros per square meter). Brisbane’s mining and natural resource sectors, and growing population helped push that into the top 10 with its prime retail rents up 15 percent to $739 per square foot (6,209 euros per meter).

Moscow rounded out the top 10 with rents at $739 per square foot (6,203 per square meter). —Reuters

Kuwait GDP estimated to grow by 1.1% in 2013 GLOBAL INVESTMENT HOUSE REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait’s GDP is estimated to have grown 5.1% to USD173.4bn in 2012, lower than 6.3% in 2011. This growth has been primarily due to the continued increase in oil output, resurgence in the non-oil sector, and improved public and private consumption levels. However, the political instability halted many developmental projects, thus putting an adverse impact on the economic growth. The oil sector is expected to grow 8.5% in 2012, after a record performance (14.2% growth) in 2011. Private consumption is estimated to expand twice as fast (5.0%) versus the last year, boosted by high income levels and strong demand for imported goods. Growth in non-oil sector is projected to increase 5.5% in 2012, a major rebound from a mere 0.9% growth in 2011.

Going forward, the pace of economic activity will be largely determined by the speedy implementation of the four-year Development Plan with projects worth more than half the size of the current nominal GDP. GDP growth is likely to be modest (1.1%) in 2013 as oil prices and production stabilizes, exports remain subdued, and government expenditure slows down.

Nevertheless, capital formation is expected to rise 6.1% in 2013, and continue to increase till 2017. Non-oil sector would continue its current growth trajectory, whereas private consumption is projected to grow 4.9% in 2013, accountable to wage growth and continuing demand for imports.

moderation in Kuwait’s oil production as a result of increasing supply from Libya and Iraq. Trade surplus is projected to decline 10.3% to USD88.3bn as oil exports fall 7.9% for the year.

Current account will continue to register healthy surplus as robust trade surplus is expected to offset the non-merchandise deficit. Current account surplus is expected to rise 26.9% to USD86.4bn or 44.2% of GDP in 2012, despite a 26.0% increase in services deficit. Current account balance is expected to register surplus in 2013, led by high oil revenue from exports which would offset marginally the increase in imports and a steady non-merchandise deficit. Similar to trade surplus, current account surplus is projected to fall 11.8% to USD76.2bn or to 39.5% of GDP in 2013.

Portfolio investments abroad would continue to remain volatile due to the government recycling excess oil revenues to invest in foreign equities and bond instruments.

Investment in foreign instruments is expected to rise 80.0% to USD16.2bn in 2012; however, it is projected to fall by half in 2013, because the government spending is anticipated to increase as the current development plan gets underway. Other investments, which constitute net overseas loans and investments in shorter-term deposit accounts, are expected to more than double to USD62.0bn in 2012 from 2010. Other investments would continue to stay high at USD60.6bnin 2013.

Demand for public sector jobs Kuwaiti population, which grew at a CAGR of 3.5% in the last decade, is expected to decelerate to 2.2% in the current decade.

Population under the age of 60 is expected to decline from 96% in 2012 to 94% by the end of the decade. Meanwhile, the proportion of the population above the age of 60 is expected to increase to 6.0% by 2020, from 4% in 2012; this population is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% till 2020, more than twice as fast as the growth (2.5%) in the previous decade. Population below the age of 60 is projected to grow at 2.0% per annum till 2020, vis-‡-vis 3.6% p.a. in the last decade.

With a relatively young population (54% of the Kuwaiti population is under the age of 29), Kuwaiti labor force grew at a faster rate than the total labor force and the nonKuwaiti labor force. Kuwaiti labor force grew at a CAGR of 1.7% in the last 4 years as compared to a decline of 6.1% in non-Kuwaiti labor force. This rapid growth has put increasing pressure on public sector employment, as Kuwaiti’s perceive public sector jobs to be secure and well-paid with fewer working hours. Kuwaitis held 71.0% of all public sector jobs in 2011 as compared to just 5.0% in private sector.

Inflation under control following an ease of food prices and housing rent Growth in consumer price index (CPI) decelerated in 2012 as inflation rose just 2.9% compared to 4.7% in 2011. Inflation slowed in all four quarters in 2012, particularly in the second quarter, when there was no change in the CPI. The slowdown was also pronounced in the third quarter, when CPI rose by a mere 0.7% as compared to 1.0% in the same period last year.

Moreover, lower inflation signaled by an easing of food prices, rents, and household goods and services component, which represent close to 60% of the index. Inflation for 2013 is expected to register a 3.3% growth, averaging 3.8% between 2013 and 2017 on limited upward price pressures on food and rents.

Meanwhile, wholesale price index (WPI) also showed signs of weakness, rising 1.5% 2012. Import prices, constituting close to 65% of the WPI, registered smaller increase of 1.6% in the same period, compared to 3.2% in 2011. Local prices, which constitute the remaining 35%, rose 1.6%. A strong US dollar versus the Kuwaiti Dinar played a significant role in reducing the cost of imported goods in the second half of 2012.

Interest rates are expected to track the US Fed rate and are likely to remain low.

Monetary policy and liquidity conditions in Kuwait will continue to remain largely accommodative. Given the currency peg between Kuwaiti Dinar and the US dollar-dominated basket of currencies, policy interest rates are expected to track the US Fed rate and are likely to remain low. Broad money supply (M3) grew 5.2% in 2012, led by double-digit growth (18.3%) in demand deposits, which in turn resulted in M1 growth of 16.8% and a moderate increase (1.7%) in quasi-money. Going forward, money supply is expected to increase by 11.6% in 2013 owing to a shift in trend as quasi-money increases by double-digits (14.1%), while M1 grows by 4.3%.

External balances remain firmly linked to oil Trade surplus will be driven by increasing oil exports that account for over 90.0% of the total exports. Trade surplus is projected to rise 27.3% to USD98.4bn in 2012 on account of a 76.3% increase in 2011. Oil exports are expected to increase 18.3% to USD114.4bn in 2012, while non-oil exports are expected to register 12.3% rise to USD7.3bn in the same period. Crude oil exports rose as, among the OPEC members, Kuwait was one of the few countries with spare production capacity to deal with the supply shortage arising from Libya’s civil unrest in 2011 and Iran’s sanctions in 2012.

Trade surplus would remain high in 2013, representing half the size of GDP, despite a

KARACHI: Pakistani stockbrokers monitor share prices during a trading session at the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) in Karachi yesterday. Karachi stocks hit an all-time high yesterday following Nawaz Sharif’s strong victory in landmark elections, which revived hopes the steel tycoon’s pro-business agenda could spark an economic revival. —AFP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

BUSINESS

Asian shares mixed, Tokyo up on weak yen Chinese retail sales up 12.8%

AHMADABAD: An Indian saleswoman helps a customer try a gold necklace at a jewelry in Ahmadabad, India, yesterday. Yesterday marked the Hindu festival ‘Akshay Tritiya’ considered auspicious for buying gold among other things. —AP

India’s central bank puts a curb on gold imports MUMBAI: India’s central bank yesterday announced steps to restrict the import of gold by banks in a move to stem the country’s widening current account deficit.

“To moderate the demand for gold for domestic use, it has been decided to restrict the import of gold on consignment basis by banks, only to meet the genuine needs of exporters of gold jewellery,” Reserve Bank of India said.

The decision takes effect immediately, the bank added in a statement. India is the world’s biggest consumer and importer of gold, with purchases an essential part of religious festivals and weddings.

Many Indians-especially in rural areas where there are few banks-buy gold in the form of jewellery, bars and coins as a hedge against inflation.

But India is seeking to deter vast gold imports, one of the main contributors to the deficit in the current account, the broadest measure of trade.

The hefty current account deficit totalled $32.6 billion or a record 6.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), in the three months to December, as imports outpaced exports.

The RBI described the widening current account deficit as the “biggest risk” to the Indian economy, when it cut interest rates earlier this month.

Earlier in the day, government data showed that gold imports rose 138 percent in April to $7.5 billion, against $3.1 billion a year earlier. The surge in gold purchases in April sent India’s trade deficit to $17.8 billion, up more than 72 percent from a month earlier, official data showed, as retail buying increased after a sharp fall in global gold prices.

India imports about 900 tonnes of gold each year, mainly through designated banks. The government in Januar y increased the import duty on gold to six percent from four percent. —AFP

Australian govt avoids recession CANBERRA: Around 400,000 first-time voters go into Australia’s September elections with no idea of economic hardship, adding to Treasurer Wayne Swan’s mounting problems as he delivers what is shaping up as his last, and most difficult, budget today.

Swan is confronted by a slowing economy, a mining boom which is nearing its peak, falling tax revenue and a political promise to rein in spending, leaving him with no money to spend on pre-election handouts.

Instead, he wants the budget to focus on his economic credentials and hopes to win kudos by showing he can be a tough manager of government finances after delivering consecutive deficits since 2008-09, due to stimulus spending.

If he doesn’t lay out a credible plan to return to surplus, the polls, already near record lows for the Labor government, could worsen ahead of elections set for Sept. 14. Australia’s economy, unlike most other developed nations, kept growing in the aftermath of the 2008 global downturn.

Australia has notched up 21 years of uninterrupted economic growth, helped by a mining boom fuelled by demand from China.

Yet voters give the government no credit for keeping the economy strong, due to a sense that Australia remains immune from global developments. These include a generation of first-timers who have never experienced a recession and who make up around three percent of the electorate in Australia, where voting is compulsory.

Opinion polls point to a thumping defeat for Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the polls, with disgruntled first-time voters emerging as an important bloc given that Gillard won the last election in 2010 over the conservative opposition by fewer than 40,000 of the 13 million votes cast.

“The economy is not really much of an issue for me, no,” said Adelaide student Alex Bachmatiuk, 19, who will vote for the first time in September.

Bachmatiuk said she was not concerned about whether the budget remains in deficit or returns to surplus, and added whatever is announced on Tuesday would be unlikely to change her plans to vote for the opposition.

Melbourne student Oliver Taylor, 18, said much the same, despite fierce political debate about government finances. “The media’s been reporting all sorts of things about Australia losing its surplus,” Taylor said.

“But I’m not overly worried about the surplus-deficit.”

“I think the economy’s in a lot of trouble,

but I feel we’ll just get out of trouble again,” he said. Both were more concerned about government plans for university funding than wider economic management, but accept there is little Swan can do to change their views.

Much of the tough medicine in the coming budget has already been released, including a slowing in the growth of Australia’s foreign aid and plans to target tax perks for foreign companies.

In the past two weeks, it has also abandoned planned tax cuts to start from mid2015, scrapped planned rises in payments to families, and announced a 0.5 percent rise in a health-care levy to help fund disability services.

The government has been hit by a $17 billion shortfall in forecast revenue since last November due to lower commodity prices and a high Australian dollar, forcing Swan to abandon his long-held promise to deliver a surplus for the year to June 30.

A Reuters poll of 13 market economists predicts Swan will unveil a deficit of around $17 billion this financial year, and $10 billion for 2013-14, down from around $44 billion last year. The official forecast for economic growth is expected to be trimmed to 2.75 percent for the current year and 2013-14, down from the previous forecast of 3.0 percent each year and below the long-term trend of around 3.25 percent. The official forecast, however, will be closer to the central bank’s forecast of 2.5 percent this year and 2.5 to 3.5 percent the following year.

Yet things still look relatively rosy.

Inflation is under control and the central bank last week cut official interest rates to a record low 2.75 percent.

Economists also say the final budget figures are unlikely to concern financial markets, which have plenty of appetite for Australian-issued debt.

“Despite the fiscal slippage, we expect the agencies to endorse Tuesday’s budget, confirming Australia’s AAA rating and stable outlook, underpinned by low net debt,” said RBC economist Su-Lin Ong. Economist Stephen Koukoulas, a onetime adviser to Gillard, said while Australia’s economic indicators were among the best in the world, voters were still unwilling to give the government any credit.

“The fact we didn’t get hurt so badly in the global financial crisis has created a sense of unrealistic optimism,” Koukoulas told Reuters. “I wouldn’t swap our position here in Australia for most other countries. But the government is clearly getting no credit for it.” —Reuters

HONG KONG: Asian shares were mixed yesterday but the yen’s accelerated fall against the greenback drove Japanese stocks to a fresh five-year high, while new economic data signalled a sluggish recovery in China.

The Australian dollar slid below parity with the greenback which surged on persistent speculation about a winding back of quantitative easing by Washington ahead of US retail sales data due later yesterday.

Tokyo rose 1.20 percent, or 174.67 points, to 14,782.21 as the US dollar briefly breached the 102 yen mark after Japan avoided criticism about its forex policy at a weekend meeting of Group of Seven (G7) financial chiefs in Britain.

Sydney was flat, edging up 0.08 percent to 5,210.3 while Seoul rose 0.2 percent, or 3.95 points, to 1,948.70. In the afternoon, Hong Kong fell 1.50 percent while Shanghai slipped 0.22 percent, as traders digested new Chinese economic data for April including industrial output, which rose 9.3 percent on-year, below market expectations.

Fixed-asset investment-a key measure of government spendingrose 20.6 percent in the first four months of the year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said, slightly down from 20.9 percent in the first quarter.

Chinese Retail sales were up 12.8 percent year-on-year in April, picking up marginally from 12.6 percent in March, NBS said.

The Australian dollar hit 99.68 US cents before recovering to 99.95 US cents after briefly dipping under parity in New York trading on Friday for the first time in 12 months on fears that Australia’s mining-powered economy was slowing.

The currency has been weak s i n c e t h e R e s e r ve B a n k o f Australia surprised markets last week by reducing interest rates t o a re c o rd l o w a n d a n a l y s t s tipped it could weaken further

ahead of US retail sales data.

Retail sales are a key indicator of consumer spending in the world’s largest economy, the driver of roughly two-thirds of all US economic activity. The data is seen as the next potential catalyst for further movements in the dollar.

“The general theme is that the US dollar is dominating proceed-

crude for delivery in June shedding 78 cents to $95.26 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for June delivery falling 71 cents to $103.20.

Gold was at $1,430.67 at 0750 GMT compared with $1,447.50 on Friday.

In other markets Taipei fell 0.39 percent, or 31.94 points, to 8,248.32. Hon Hai

TOKYO: Pedestrians are reflected on the electronics quotation board of the window of a security company in central Tokyo yesterday. Tokyo stocks rose 225.76 points or 1.55 percent to end morning session at 14,833.30 as the yen’s fall accelerated after Japan avoided open criticism about its forex policy at a weekend meeting of Group of Seven financial chiefs. —AFP ings,” Tim Waterer, senior trader at CMC Markets in Sydney, told Dow Jones Newswires.

The US dollar was aided by speculation that the US Federal Reserve could be the first among major central banks to roll back its huge monetary easing policy.

The currency was also boosted by fresh figures for US jobless claims Thursday, which fell to a seasonally adjusted 323,000 last we e k , t h e i r l owe s t l e ve l s i n ce mid-January 2008, according to

come of the weekend G7 talks, where finance officials vowed not to weaken their currencies, but did not directly criticise Japan for the yen’s rapid fall due to the Bank of Japan’s aggressive easing policy.

Japanese media have interpreted the G7’s relative silence on the yen as tacit approval of Tokyo’s policy which had previously stirred criticism, particularly from Europe, that it could set off a global currency war.

Oil prices were lower, with New York’s main contract, light sweet

Precision was 1.12 percent lower at Tw$79.6 while leading smartphone maker HTC gained 0.72 percent to Tw$281.0.

Wellington rose 0.41 percent, or 18.86 points, to 4,671.63.

Sky City casino was up 2.27 percent at NZ$4.50 after reaching a deal to extend its licence, while market heavyweight Fletcher Building eased 1.27 percent to NZ$8.55.

Manila was closed for a public holiday. —AFP

AirAsia X hopes to raise $300 million from IPO KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes plans to raise up to $300 million by listing shares in the long-haul arm of AirAsia, slated for July, a source said yesterday.

AirAsia X would sell 790.12 million shares in the initial public offering (IPO) with listing scheduled for July 10 on Bursa Malaysia, a source familiar with the deal told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The funds are expected to be used for a mixture of activities including capital expenditure and repayment of loans.

Fernandes, who declined to reveal details of the IPO due to regulatory compliance, told AFP that a roadshow to promote his airline business would start in the second week of June with retail investors being his primary target.

“Going to do a much larger retail offering to give back something to the thousands of people who flew and supported us. Roadshow will start in the second week of June,” he said in an email message.

“I will go on the road to meet retail investors,” he added. The listing comes as Fernandes tries to tap the Kuala Lumpur exchange’s popularity as a centre to launch initial public offerings.

Shukor Yusof, an aviation analyst with Standard and Poor’s Equity Research in Singapore said the AirAsia X listing would be a success.

“It is doable. With Tony at the helm it lends credibility to the IPO. The financial market is conducive and there is an appetite for shares in a low cost carrier especially one with a proven track record like AirAsia, despite the global economic turbulence,” he told AFP. AirAsia X flies to cities in Australia, Japan and China from Kuala Lumpur. Fernandes has previously announced plans to list AirAsia’s Indonesian unit and Tune Insurance in a bid to raise funds to expand in a bigger marketplace.

Tune Group is owned by Fernandes and his deputy Kamarudin Meranum who are founders of AirAsia, the region’s largest budget carrier. Meanwhile Dow Jones Newswires said the planned offering by AirAsia X kickstarts the IPO momentum in Malaysia that saw deals worth about US$4 billion held back due to elections in the country earlier this month.

Companies like power firm Malakoff, port and logistics company Westports and an oil-and-gas unit of UMW Holdings had delayed their offerings ahead of the May 5 elections, it said.

Last year Malaysia saw IPOs worth close to US$12 billion raised, mak ing it the number one countr y in Southeast Asia in terms of fundraising. So far this year, the country ranks fifth in Southeast Asia by deal value, Dow Jones said. —AFP

Japan’s Sharp to name new chief TOKYO: Japanese electronics giant Sharp will name a new president at its June shareholders’ meeting, replacing its current chief after only a year in the job, the Nikkei business daily said yesterday.

The struggling firm, which last year warned about its own survival, would name company veteran Kozo Takahashi as its new chief, the paper said.

He would replace Takashi Okuda who was set to become chairman, a title that often precedes retirement in big Japanese companies.

Sharp shares jumped 12.44 percent to 506 yen by the close. The volatile stock was driven by an

the Labor Department.

The greenback breached the 102-yen level in morning Tokyo trade. It later settled back at 101.85 yen, still stronger than 101.62 yen in New York on Friday.

The dollar broke through the 100 yen mark for the first time in more than four years at the end of last week. Traders cheered the out-

earlier report Monday, also in the Nikkei, that it planned to cut back on its liquid crystal display television business in Europe and focus instead on higher-growth markets in Asia.

The reports are the latest to underline Sharp’s attempts to shake up its business to return to profitability. Japan’s major electronics firms, including Sharp’s rivals Sony and Panasonic, have been hammered by credit rating downgrades and record losses, which saw century-old firm Sharp warn last year it may not survive the downturn.

The maker of Aquos-brand electronics, which reports fiscal full-year results Tuesday, has since

said its future was no longer in doubt as it embarks on a painful restructuring including thousands of job cuts and slashing wages from the factory floor to the boardroom.

Last year Sharp put up its headquarters as collateral to secure desperately needed bank loans. It has inked capital tie-up deals with foreign firms including South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and US-based Qualcomm.

Okuda, who became Sharp’s president in April last year, would replace chairman Mikio Katayama who is stepping down from the cash-strapped firm, the Nikkei report said. —AFP

SINGAPORE: Guests of the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore look over the city-state’s financial district from a rooftop swimming pool yesterday.

Singapore’s trade-driven economy shrank in the first quarter as demand for exports remained weak, but a robust construction sector cushioned the decline, preliminary government estimates showed on April 12. —AFP

Dell board committee seeks more info on Icahn plan NEW YORK: Dell board members say they need more details from investor Carl Icahn if he wants them to seriously consider his latest challenge to Michael Dell’s $24.4 billion plan to take the computer maker private.

Icahn and prominent Dell shareholder Southeastern Asset Management said last week they want to keep Dell Inc. publicly traded and give shareholders $12 in cash or more shares.

But a Dell board special committee said in a Monday letter that the proposal comes with many unanswered questions. They want to know whether Icahn and Southeastern want the board to treat their offer as an acquisition proposal it might endorse or if it is an alternative in case shareholders reject Michael Dell’s offer.

They also want more information on financing, who Icahn and Southeastern expect to be on Dell’s senior management team and what strategy or operating plan that team would implement.

An investment group led by company founder Michael Dell offered earlier this year to pay $13.65 per share to take the Round Rock, Texas, company private. But that proposal has drawn criticism from Icahn and Southeastern, who together own about 13 percent of the company’s outstanding shares.

Icahn and Southeastern say they would let shareholders keep their stake in the slumping PC maker so they could benefit from any Dell rebound. Icahn and Southeastern plan to pay for their offer with existing cash from the company and about $5.2 billion in debt.

The special committee letter questions that plan. It says the proposal doesn’t

appear to take into account the fact that the use of company cash could lead to more borrowing, and Dell will likely have significant cash needs.

Icahn and Southeastern did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press seeking comment.

The investors have said they want the Dell board to put their proposal before shareholders instead of proceeding with Dell’s buyout offer. If the board declines, they want the vote on Michael Dell’s buyout combined with the company’s annual meeting to elect new directors. Then they’ll challenge Dell’s board with their own director nominees.

Dell Inc. plans to hold a special meeting to vote on Michael Dell’s buyout proposal sometime in its current quarter, which ends Aug. 2. The company usually holds its annual meeting, where shareholders vote on directors, among other items, in the summer.

Dell has struggled with slumping PC sales, as people spend more money on smartphones and tablet computers and delay replacing desktop and laptop computers. Michael Dell believes he can turn around the company by diversifying into niches such as business software, data storage and consulting, and he wants to do this without worrying about Wall Street’s fixation on short-term results.

Icahn has made three pitches to Dell so far. He said in March he wanted the company to pay a special dividend of $9 per share if shareholders reject Michael Dell’s buyout.

He then made a preliminary proposal to buy 58 percent of Dell stock for $15 per share. Dell’s stock rose 1 cent to $13.46 in midday trading yesterday. —AP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

BUSINESS

KPMG holds one day seminar for Mashreq Bank KUWAIT: KPMG, one of the world’s leading international firms offering professional services in audit, tax and advisory conducted a customized one day seminar to the staff of Mashreq Bank- Kuwait Branch on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on 12 May 2013.

The seminar was conducted at newly developed conference hall of KPMG at Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait. The seminar was attended by key members of Mashreq Bank’s team including the Acting Country Head, Ms Amal Al Hamli.

The seminar was carried out by Christof Steube, Senior Manager KPMG’s Department of Professional Practice (DPP) in Kuwait and supported by Bhavesh Gandhi, Director and Saqib Shahnawaz, Manager external audit services in KPMG Kuwait.

Following topics were covered by the speakers during the day: ● IAS 39 Financial Instruments ● IFRS 9 Financial Instruments ● IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting

embedded derivatives ● IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement ● IAS 21The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates “Large part of the jurisdictions around the world, banks and financial institutions are required to prepare their financial statements in accordance with the IFRS. The recurring changes in IFRS have widened the training needs of the staff involved in the financial reporting process”, said Safi Al-Mutawa, Senior Partner at KPMG in Kuwait. “It therefore becomes inevitably important that all those who are involved in financial reporting process are familiar with IFRS and its implementation. Therefore, KPMG is making its considerable in-house expertise and experience available to financial institutions as they work towards this goal,” he added.

“The program was designed to strengthen the understanding of some of the important reporting standards applicable to Mashreq Bank”, said Dr. Rasheed Al-Qenae, Managing Partner of KPMG in Kuwait.

KAMCO announces financial results for Q1 2013 Operational profits increase by 160%

Faisal Mansour Sarkhou

KUWAIT: KAMCO yesterday reported itsfinancial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013. The Company recorded a net profit of KD 0.703 million with earnings-per-share (EPS) of 2.95 fils in Q1 2013, compared to KD 0.404 million with EPS of 1.68 fils during the same period of 2012.

KAMCO achieved significant Operational Profit growth of 160%, Net Profit growth of 60% and a reduction of 31% in Operational expenses for the first quarter of 2013 over the same quarter in 2012.Since the end of the first quarter of 2012,

the company has reduced its assets by 48% and its debt by 36% as a result of its financial restructuring efforts. KAMCO’s Assets Under Management grew by more than 5% since the end of 2012 (13% growth over 2012 quarter one end), reaching KD 2.5 billion for the first quarter of 2013 with new AUMs representingover 18% of the growth. In addition,KAMCO’s Fee income increased by 8% during the first quarter of 2013.

On this occasion Faisal Mansour Sarkhou, Acting CEO of KAMCO, said

“Our first quarter results reflect our operational progress and growth after undertaking extensive restructuring in 2012 in which we reduced our assets and debt”. Mr. Sarkhou added, “KAMCO will continue its efforts to grow its asset management and investment banking platform and operations as well as continue its focus on achieving an appropriate and efficient capital structure for our future activities,ensuring the company’s growth and achievement of healthy and consistent returns for our shareholders”.

Y A Alghanim & Sons offers KD 1,000 with trade-In for Tahoe or Silverado KUWAIT: Yusuf A.Alghanim & Sons Automotive, the exclusive dealer of Chevrolet vehicles in Kuwait launched the most anticipated trade-in promotion on the Chevrolet Tahoe and Silverado offering KD 1000 on Top of their Trade in value upon purchasing a new Tahoe or Silverado.

Youth and admirers of rugged vehicles will benefit from this amazing offer on the Silverado and Tahoe as both vehicles possess a strong performance on the road and comfortable spaciousness in their interiors, making them both the ideal choice for desert trips and excursions for the youth.

A beloved choice amongst the youth in Kuwait, the high-powered Silverado proves to be the ultimate answer for any terrain is it rough rides in the desert or leisurely outings. Silverado is Available in 4.8L-, 5.3L - 6.0L - V8 in 3 types: 1500, 2500 and 3500. The Silverado is also available in 4X2 & 4X4 and comes in regular, extended and crew cab ver-

sions, all of which merge smart technology that features an independent air conditioning unit and stabilitrak.

There is no need to remind you of Kuwait’s most reliable, and toughest SUV, Tahoe which is in short “raw power, refined”. The Tahoe is equipped with a monstrous 5.3 L V8 engine, and a 6 speed automatic transmission pumping out 320 hp. The Tahoe is a car for all needs, loaded with safety and security features which include 8 airbags, ABS, Stabilitrack, Cruise control and remote engine starter.

Yusuf A. Alghanim & Sons Automotive adds the finishing touch to the ownership experience with high-quality after-sales services. With the world’s biggest and most advanced automotive service center, customers need not worry about their service and maintenance needs. Visit any of Yusuf A.Alghanim & Sons Showrooms now and benefit from this great offer!

Burgan Bank announces winners of Yawmi account KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the names of the five lucky winners of its Yawmi account draw, each taking home a prize of KD 5,000.

The lucky winners for the daily draws took home a cash-prize of KD 5000 each, and they are: ● 1. Saud Faisal Abdulrazaq Al Kathmi ● 2. Ayedha Mezyad Helal Ayedh Al-Otaibi ● 3. Abdulmohsen Khaled Abdulmohsen AlBahar ● 4. Nadia Mahmoud Ali AlKhalifa ● 5. Yousif Mohammed Farah Samantar With its new and enhanced features, the Yawmi Account has become more convenient, easier, and faster for customers to benefit from. Now, customers will be eligible to enter the draw after 48 hours only from opening the account. Customers are also required to deposit KD 100 or equivalent only to enter the daily draw, and the coupon value to enter the draw stands at KD 10.

The newly designed Yawmi account has

been launched to provide a highly innovative offering along with a higher frequency and incentive of winning for everyone.

Today, the Yawmi account is a well understood product, where its popularity can be seen from the number of increasing account holders.

Burgan Bank encourages everyone to open a Yawmi account and/or increase their deposit to maximize their chances to becoming a daily winner. The more customers deposit, the higher the chances they receive of winning the draw.

Opening a Yawmi account is simple, customers are urged to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch and receive all the details, or simply call the bank’s Call Center at 1804080 where customer service representatives will be delighted to assist with any questions on the Yawmi account or any of the bank’s products and ser vices.

Customers can also log on to Burgan Bank’s www.burgan.com for further information.

Rubber boom fuelling land grabs in SE Asia PHNOM PENH: Vietnamese rubber firms bankrolled by an arm of the World Bank and Germany’s Deutsche Bank are driving a land-grabbing crisis in Southeast Asia, activists said yesterday.

Indigenous ethnic minorities are bearing the brunt of the seizures, which have affected tens of thousands of villagers and led to the clearance of swathes of protected forests, according to campaign group Global Witness.

Vietnam, the world’s third-largest rubber producer, is keen to tap surging demand for the commodity in particular from China, which is hungry for car tyres and other rubber goods as its economy booms. Global Witness accused two firm, Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG), of driving forced evictions via subsidiaries linked to government cronies in impoverished-and notoriously corrupt-Cambodia and Laos. According to the report, Deutsche Bank has multimillion dollar holdings in both companies, while the International Finance Corp (IFC) - the World Bank’s private lending arm-invests in HAGL through financial intermediaries. More than 1.2 million hectares of land in Cambodia alone have been leased for rubber plantations, Global Witness said, with some 400,000 people affected by land grabs for rubber and other uses since 2003. —AFP

Air Arabia Q1 2013 net profit increases 20% SHARJAH: Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced yesterday its financial results for the three months ending March 31, 2013, demonstrating the airline’s strong financial position and outstanding performance.

Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED 59 million for the three months ending March 31, 2013, exceeding analysts’ forecast and registering an increase of 20 per cent compared to AED 49 million in the corresponding quarter in 2012. The airline attributes the impressive growth to its appealing product offering and strong operational performance.

In the first quarter of this year, Air Arabia posted a turnover of AED 722 million, an increase of 22 per cent compared to AED 594 million in the same period of 2012.

Between January 1, 2013 and March 31, 2013, Air Arabia launched non-stop services from its primary hub in Sharjah to four new destinations. In addition, the low-cost pioneer increased frequency of flights from Sharjah to Beirut in Lebanon, Salalah in Oman, and Dhaka in Bangladesh.

Last month, Air Arabia reported that it carried a

record 1.4 million passengers in first quarter of this year, the highest number of passengers that the airline handled in a quarter since inception in 2003.

The passenger number represents 18 per cent growth compared to the same period last year. The average seat load factor - or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats - stood at an impres-

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani

sive 82 per cent.

“We are delighted to showcase yet another quarter of strong financial and operational performance,” said Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia. “Today’s announcement further demonstrates that Air Arabia continues to set benchmark for the LCC model as well as for the wider aviation sector in the region. For almost a decade we worked tirelessly to offer what our customers- a wide range of destinations at affordable prices.”

He added, “As the airline is on a steady growth trajectory, the sustained profitability and solid growth margins enable Air Arabia to enter new geographies and launch new ventures. As we are soon celebrating our 10th anniversary, we remain committed to deliver exciting travel solutions to millions of passengers every year.”

The first quarter of this year saw Air Arabia taking delivery of two aircraft from Airbus. The airline will receive four more A320 aircraft this year, which is in line with Air Arabia’s growth plan to further expand its geographic network and significantly grow the size of its fleet by 2016.

National Agencies & A’ayan Leasing Holding Co finalize deal of 560 KIA’s KUWAIT: The fruitful partnership between two auto industry leaders escalated once again when the heads of National Agencies Group, the authorized distributor for KIA Motors in Kuwait, and A’ayan Leasing & Investment Company finalized a deal of 560 KIA cars.

The deal - the third of its kind in three years - supplies A’ayan Leasing Holding Company with 560 new 2014 KIA vehicles for its car leasing operations, and is considered another milestone in their shared success.

Present at thesigning ceremony were Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Chairman & Managing Director ofAbdulaziz Al-Ali Al-Mutawa Group of Companies of which National Agencies Groupis a subsidiary, Ahmed Al-Loughani, Chairman& CEO of A’ayan Leasing Holding Company, KIA Brand Manager, Medhat Khalil and A’ayan LeasingOperations Manager, Haider Al-Kandari.

“The completion of this deal highlights the solid and fruitful relationship between National Agencies Group and A’ayanwhich goes back a long way,” said Ahmed Al Mutawa, Chairman and Managing Director of Al Mutawa Group.

Ahmed Al-Loughani, Chairman & CEO of

A’ayan Leasing Holding Company, also commented: “We continue to experience growing demand for KIA cars, which are now recognized for their excellent quality, modern design& technology and superior value.”

National Agencies Group has invested heavily in acquiring the capacity to promote, sell and service its cars while retaining maximum customer satisfaction. In addition to opening its completely-renovated state-ofthe-art “Red Cube” showroom in Al Rai, the company has four service locations conveniently located throughout Kuwait; two in Shuwaikh, one in Ahmadi and one in Jahra.

Since 2008, KIA has undergone a dramatic design-led transformation that has seen its entire fleet replaced by innovative new models characterized by a distinctive “tiger-nose” grille, dashing interior/exterior designs and impressive technology.

National Agencies Group is part of the Abdulaziz Al-Ali Al-Mutawa Group of Companies and has been the official distributor of KIA cars in Kuwait since 1997.

A’ayan Leasing Holding Company is a leading Sharia-compliant pioneer in the field of Automotive leasing & finance and was established in 1999.

NBK launches advanced Mobile Banking Apps for Android KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has launched the most advanced Mobile Banking application for android devices. NBK’s free Mobile Banking application is also available for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Blackberry.

All NBK customers can benefit from the most developed banking services and products on NBK Mobile Banking application.

Checking balances, transferring funds, making payments, ordering checkbooks, requesting a printed account statement, branches and ATMs locater are all provided within the application.

“NBK is keen on developing its services to meet customers’ demands and make banking more convenient,” said Mazin Saad Al Nahedh, NBK General Manager, Consumer Banking Group. “NBK’s Mobile Banking application reflects NBK’s commitment to providing its customers with the best and most upto-date banking services. It offers customers banking services with the added convenience of their mobile devices.”

Al Nahedh added: “This innovative application is safe and easy to use, customers can easily and securely access their accounts and manage their financials, check balances, transfer funds, and make payments in-one

Mazin Saad Al Nahedh quick view.”

NBK customers can download NBK Mobile Banking on NBK.com, logging into Watani Online, or simply simply visit the associate store. For assistance, customers can visit any of NBK’s branches.

Agility announces five year deal with KNPC KUWAIT: Agility, a leading global logistics provider, announced today it has won a new contract with the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), one of the leading oil companies in the Middle East.

The five-year contract, worth an estimated $24.4 million, will begin this month.

As part of the contract, Agility will provide ocean, air and road transport services to move KNPC procurements worldwide.

Agility will supply KNPC’s projects with spare parts, pipes and oversized parts that require special handling. It will also provide procurement and purchasing, origin logistics, customs clearance, freight forwarding and local transpor tation in Kuwait and the country of origin.

“The contract plays to many of our core strengths,” said Tarek Sultan, Chairman and Managing Director, Agility. “We are able to bring together our oil and gas

expertise, heavy-lift capability and highvalue services, and tailor them to our customer’s needs. Through our global network, we can make all of these services available in locations where KNPC needs us to be.”

“As one of the largest oil refining companies in the world, we were looking for a global logistics partner who could match our scale, understand our needs and meet our demanding operational standards worldwide,” said Fahed Al Ajmi, Chairman and Managing Director, KNPC. “In Agility, we have found such a partner.”

“This win is a testament to the strength of our specialized capabilities in oil and gas services and is further proof of our expertise in helping customers expand their business within challenging environments,” said Ali Mikail, Senior Vice President, Kuwait and Levant, Agility.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

technology

EMC Isilon innovation supports next-gen cloud

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t EMC World 2013, EMC announced that it is preparing the next version of its EMC Isilon OneFS scale-out NAS operating system.

Building on the successful late-2012 launch of OneFS 7.0 (“Mavericks”), the next version of Isilon’s industry-leading operating system will extend customers’ ability to harness the transformational power of Big Data. The new version will include data deduplication capabilities, audit and security features, as well as enhancements for object-oriented storage, Hadoop HDFS 2.0 and Syncplicity enterprise file sharing. These new capabilities will enable enterprises to extend the unmatched scalability and efficiency of Isilon’s solutions to meet an everbroadening range of next-generation cloud-based, Big Data analytics and mobile workflows and applications.

The enterprise storage landscape is rapidly transforming as traditional IT requirements for data protection, security and performance combine with the challenges of managing large, rapidly growing file-based and unstructured “big data” environments. Isilon’s scale-out NAS solutions, long the standard for massively scalable, highly efficient storage that is simple to manage, will now incorporate the type of efficiency, compliance and security features that enterprises need to leverage the transformative power of big data while meeting essential large-scale corporate IT requirements.

New enterprise customer benefits Improved storage efficiency - To support more demanding applications and workloads across the enterprise, the next version of IsilonOneFS will enable storage administrators to configure a simple set-and-forget block-level deduplication policy ranging from individual directories up through the complete storage pool. By providing an automated way to drive yet greater levels of storage efficiency across datasets, organizations can further reduce operating costs while enhancing Isilon’s already industry-leading utilization levels.

Enhanced security and compliance - The next release of OneFS will bring important enterprise enhancements for regulatory compliance.

IsilonOneFS integrated support for the EMC Common Event Enabler (CEE) will provide access to industry-leading audit software applications to allow the recording of all file access over SMB/CIFS protocols and to facilitate report creation and chain of custody tracking to meet regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPAA. In addition to these new features of OneFS, Isilon is also announcing enhancements to its operating system intended to support its customers in their transformation to next-generation workflows and applications focused on cloud-based data access, Big Data analytics, and mobility.

As customers build these next generation appli-

cations, they are looking for new web-scale interfaces to compliment traditional file interfaces.

Based on this, and in an effort to provide its customers with the broadest possible range of options regarding object-oriented storage access, Isilon today announced: • Integration with EMC ViPR Software-Defined Storage through which Isilon will extend the unmatched scalability and efficiency of its scale-out architecture to object storage. This integration opens up new options for access to object storage APIs from Amazon S3, EMC Atmos and others.

• OneFS now incorporates a REST Object Access to Namespace interface which provides access to data and is part of the Platform API which enables automation, orchestration and management of Isilon storage.

• For customers that are deploying the OpenStack ecosystem and want to leverage this integration with storage, Isilon will be supporting OpenStack Swift and Cinder integration, delivering an enterprise class storage solution, increasing reliability, security, efficiency and enterprise interoperability. As the first storage solution to offer a native Hadoop integration with HDFS for big data analytics, Isilon continues its leadership by adding a native Hadoop HDFS 2.0 integration. With simultaneous support of HDFS 1.0 and 2.0, Isilon allows customers to try new distributions before convert-

ing to 2.0, and allows the export of the same data in multiple ways. This new integration supports Pivotal HD (formerly Greenplum HD) for SQL queries on the Hadoop data store.

Isilon’s recent integration with Syncplicity online file sharing improves business productivity by offering a flexible, cloud-based solution with the IT management visibility required for enterprise-level control over data and storage resources. It also reduces risk by providing a secure, encrypted, on-premise file storage solution to meet IT governance and protection requirements while providing users a “frictionless” environment where they can easily sync, access, and share files at any time, from anywhere, and from any device.

Availability The next version of OneFS is expected to be delivered by later this year. Bill Richter, President, Isilon Storage Division said “EMC Isilon’sOneFS operating system is the gold standard for scale-out NAS - and now it’s even more efficient and secure while enabling compliance with critical industry regulations. Additionally, the integration of OneFS with EMC ViPR, Hadoop HDFS 2.0 and Syncplicity illustrates how open and flexible EMC’s Isilon scale-out NAS offering is - and the ability to support Big Data, mobile and cloud-based workflows makes this a critical solution for enterprises today.”

Samsung announces 5G data breakthrough Download a whole movie in 1 second SEOUL: Samsung Electronics said yesterday it had successfully tested super-fast fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology that would eventually allow users to download an entire movie in one second. The South Korean giant said the test had witnessed data transmission of more than one gigabyte per second over a distance of two kilometres.

The new technology, which will not be ready for the commercial market before 2020 at the

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t times, Andy Shih still finds himself overwhelmed by the groundswell of interest in autism applications he’s seen in the three years since Apple Inc. released the first iPad. In his role as senior vice president for scientific affairs at Autism Speaks, a national advocacy organization based in New York, Shih helped organize a “hacking autism” event in San Francisco with co-sponsor AT&T Inc. that drew 135 developers. It was the group’s third event, following previous hackathons co-sponsored with Hewlett-Packard Co. and Microsoft Corp. Over the course of 24 hours, teams built prototypes for more than a dozen apps.

When it was all done, the winning application was a review service called RevTilt that combined Yelp listings with the ability to provide specific comments and ratings about which businesses were the friendliest to autistic families. It’s an example of just how rich and diversified autism apps have become, Shih said.

“For me, it’s extremely gratifying to walk into a room and you have a couple of hundred developers there to support families,” Shih said. Even as researchers just begin the process of trying to determine how effective such technologies are, parents, therapists and developers are racing ahead in their attempts to tap into what they view as a power ful tool to reach people with autism. While there also has been a surge albeit smaller - in apps for devices running Google Inc.’s Android operating system, researchers and families credit Apple’s iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone for being the catalysts. As a result, Apple’s iOS platform remains far and away the most popular platform for autism families and developers of apps for people with special needs. At the end of National Autism Awareness Month in April, a search for “autism” in Apple’s App Store brought up 1,449 apps for the iPad and 1,259 for the iPhone. And Apple has even created a “Special Education” section of the App Store.

The range of these apps has expanded well beyond the initial focus of helping people with autism communicate and improve social skills to learning about emotions and delivering basic educational lessons in a format that’s better suited to autistic learners, Shih said. The creators appear to be drawn by a mix of instincts to help others and the sense that there is potentially a sizable market for these apps since, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 50 school-age children in the US have been diagnosed with some form of autism, an increase of 72 percent from five years ago.

Shih cares less about the motivation and more about the effect. To that end, Autism Speaks and others are trying to take a broader perspective on the initial and unexpected outpouring of interest in creating apps for people with autism.

In addition to holding the hackathons, Autism Speaks has created a venture and philanthropy division to provide seed funding to connect developers with other sources of private and public funding. The organization even recently held its first conference to bring developers and investors

together. Meanwhile, Autism Speaks has received a dramatic increase in funding requests for research proposals to study the effectiveness of these new technologies, Shih said. That will be challenging, given that the causes of autism are still poorly understood, and that people on the autistic spectrum can have a wide range of social, sensory and learning challenges.

Howard Shane, director of the Center for Communication Enhancement and the Autism Language Program at Children’s Hospital Boston, said while he’s eager to see more studies, his experience with the iPad and autistic children has been so overwhelmingly positive that he’s content to push forward with finding new and better ways to use it. Shane said his group is working on a “feature matching process” to help families determine which apps are best suited to the needs of their children.

“The clinical evidence is still emerging,” Shane said. “But the excitement and interest in these technologies exists because they are working.” Bill Thompson, a school psychologist at the Orange County, Calif., Department of Education, who wrote some of the first autism apps, said he’s trying to find ways to make their use more effective.

Many educators and parents, for instance, like the iPad and other mobile gadgets simply because they can be used as a powerful reward to reinforce a desired behavior: Complete a task, get some iPad time.

That’s understandable, considering that it often can be hard to find rewards that motivate some autistic children. But Thompson said he’d like more of the iPad time used for educational purposes, rather than just getting bonus “Angry Birds” time.

For instance, Thompson has created a system in which a classroom with many kids on the autistic spectrum use iPads that can be beamed onto a large-screen TV using an Apple TV unit to enable them to communicate with each other in ways they might not otherwise. “The struggle becomes how to structure it,” Thompson said. “Of course kids are going to like the games. The real skill becomes: How can you get teachers to embed that into the classroom setting to really promote education?”

As the number of apps has increased, so has the challenge of finding the most reliable ones. Lois Jean Brady, a San Francisco Bay Area speech pathologist and assisted technology specialist who wrote the book “Apps for Autism,” said she’s also focused on helping families find the most effective apps as their numbers have multiplied. It can be a challenge because some app developers are tempted to tag their apps as autism-related, even if their real use is much more general.

Brady also pointed out that in their enthusiasm for the iPad in particular, many parents and educators haven’t taken the time to understand the range of its potential uses. One of the reasons Apple products are so popular with the special needs community is because they all have “accessibility” settings built in. Under the “general settings” menu, there’s a “guided access” option that can keep the device locked on just one app so the user doesn’t switch, say, from a social lesson to a video game app. —MCT

es,” it added. Samsung said it had found a way to harness millimeter-wave bands which have proved to be a sticking point for the mobile industry to date. The test used 64 antenna elements, which the tech titan said overcame the issue of “unfavourable propagation characteristics” that have prevented data travelling across long distances using the bands. One of the most wired countries on earth, South Korea already has around 20 million 4G users. — AFP

Google Glass a hit with early adopters

PRESTONBURG: Liam Stemple, 3, works on an iPad Thursday April 18, 2013 at the Highlands Center for Autism in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. — MCT

Developers create a wealth of autism apps

earliest, would offer transmitting speeds “up to several hundred times faster” than existing 4G networks, it said in a statement. That will permit users to “transmit massive data files including high quality digital movies practically without limitation”, it said.

“As a result, subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide range of services such as 3D movies and games, real-time streaming of ultra high-definition (UHD) content, and remote medical servic-

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ack when she was in college, software developer Monica Wilkinson says, she used to dream of “being able to carry a computer in my head,” instead of lugging her books and laptop all over campus. As she tried out her new Google Glass recently, Wilkinson said, it felt like that fanciful idea had become real.

Dan McLaughlin, an engineer and photography buff, has been using his new Glass to take pictures without fumbling for his camera. Tech business consultant Lisa Oshima said she likes hearing turn-by-turn directions from Glass as she walks to client meetings in downtown Palo Alto, Calif.

Startup executive Brandon Allgood, meanwhile, has learned to remove his Glass headset before sitting down to dinner with his wife.

The four San Francisco Bay Area tech workers are among the first non-Google employees to get their own early model of Glass, after paying $1,500 for the visor-like, wearable computer that’s already got critics fretting over potential violations of privacy and etiquette - even as enthusiasts proclaim it could change the way people interact with technology.

“The human body has a lot of limitations. I see this as a way to enhance our bodies,” said Wilkinson, 36, who is head of engineering at San Francisco startup Crushpath. “The future can sometimes be a little bit scary,” she added, conceding that some people are uncomfortable with the new technology. “But I see Glass as a way to stay connected, to capture more moments and get answers more quickly.”

Glass resembles a pair of high-tech eyeglasses, but without lenses: Its lightweight frame rests on the ears and nose, suspending a small prism in the upper right corner of a wearer’s field of vision.

The prism displays pictures, video or text, including emails, directions from Google’s navigation service and answers to Internet search queries.

Along with a digital camera, Glass has a tiny touch pad built into one earpiece and a microphone to pick up voice commands. The earpiece uses “bone conduction” to deliver sound by vibrating against the wearer’s skull. Glass connects to the Internet through Wi-Fi or a Bluetooth link to the user’s smartphone.

So far, early adopters say they’ve received curious stares and friendly questions, but no hostile reactions while wearing something that resembles a prop from “Star Trek” around the techfriendly Bay Area. Construction workers and masstransit riders have told Oshima they think Glass is cool.

And despite critics’ fears that Glass wearers might surreptitiously record someone’s private moment - or use Glass to rudely surf the Web while someone is talking to them - Wilkinson and the others predict those concerns will subside as Glass owners develop their own etiquette.

Allgood, for example, said he removes the headset in the evening because his wife is less enthusiastic about new technology than he is. He has also made a practice of sliding it to the top of his head when he enters a men’s restroom, so the camera is pointed at the ceiling and no one gets alarmed. “There probably is going to be some drama at some point,” Wilkinson predicted. But she noted that non-Glass wearers can tell when Glass is recording, because its tiny screen lights up. “If people look apprehensive,” she added, “I just tell them, ‘I’m not recording you.’ “ Google doesn’t expect to sell Glass on the mass market before next year. It’s unlikely to be a big moneymaker right away; analysts say Google must lower the price to appeal to more consumers. But CEO Larry Page has said he views Glass as the first in a wave of new computer devices, and others say it makes sense for Google to get in front of that trend.

SAN FRANCISCO: A team member can see what software developer Monica Wilkinson is writing on a white board while she wears Google Glass at Crushpath. — MCT GOOGLE GLASS With a lightweight metal and plastic frame, Glass looks something like a pair of high-tech spectacles without traditional lenses. Here are some specifications: • Hardware: High-resolution display, 5megapixel camera, bone conduction transducer for audio, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and 12 gigabytes of usable flash memory; battery charge lasts approximately one day.

• Price: $1,500 for initial model sold to “Explorers” who signed up last year; Google has hinted the price may be lower once production ramps up.

• Availability: Google had said consumer sales could start by the end of 2013, but Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt recently said 2014 is more likely.

The introduction of Glass “is a watershed moment that will lead to the Internet being available more often” through a variety of wearable gadgets, Macquarie Equities analyst Ben Schachter wrote in a report last month. Anything that increases Internet use, he added, is good business for Google and other companies that make money by delivering ads and services online.

For now, Wilkinson and others in what Google calls the “Glass Explorers” program are among the first few hundred people to get their hands on the gadget. They’re software developers and tech enthusiasts who signed onto a waiting list last summer, after a blockbuster demonstration by a troop of Glass-wearing sky divers at Google’s annual software conference.

McLaughlin, a 46-year-old Agilent engineer, said he has been wearing his Glass throughout the day. He said it’s convenient for checking email, but as an amateur photographer, McLaughlin especially loves taking photos by voice command.

He and his 10-year-old son have made up a game where they lean their heads together and - when his son says the magic words, “OK Glass, take a picture” - the device on McLaughlin’s forehead snaps a photo that’s automatically uploaded to his online Google+ account.

Wilkinson has been wearing hers during video conferences with colleagues in other offices, writing code on a whiteboard and using Glass to

• Features: Basic services include Gmail, Internet search and the ability to hold online video chats or upload photos to Google+. GPS navigation and text messaging is available when connected via Bluetooth to an Android smartphone running Google’s MyGlass app.

• Third-party applications: Google has shown a few apps from outside developers; one delivers headlines from The New York Times, while others let Glass-wearers upload images to the online services Evernote and Skitch, or post brief updates to the Path social network. show them the board as she is looking at it. She also uploaded a video showing what she sees as she volleys a ball at her tennis club.

For Allgood, the “killer app” on Glass is Google Now, an online service that automatically delivers information tailored to a user’s recent searches and activity on Google. If he has a business meeting listed on his Google calendar, for example, Glass will alert Allgood when it’s time to go to the meeting and show him directions and traffic updates. The same information is available on a smartphone, but it’s more convenient when it pops up on Glass, said Allgood, a 38-year-old executive at the health technology company Numerate, who says he played cyborg games and daydreamed about “retinal implants” as a youngster.

Allgood said he believes Google has only scratched the surface in thinking of uses for Glass.

The company is encouraging independent developers to build a variety of apps, which experts say will help make Glass more appealing to ordinary consumers. And Oshima, whose consulting firm, Socialize Mobilize, works with app developers, says she knows several who are eager to get started. For those who say Glass seems like a nonessential toy, she added, “I remember when people used to say that about mobile phones.

There was a time when people would tell me that social networking was “kids’ stuff” and that adults would never use Twitter or Facebook.” — MCT

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Bugs are food of future: UN 2bn people already consuming insects

This image shows an electron microscope image of a coronavirus, part of a family of viruses that cause ailments including the common cold and SARS, which was first identified last year in the Middle East. — AP

2 new diseases could both spark global outbreaks LONDON: Two respiratory viruses in different parts of the world have captured the attention of global health officials - a novel coronavirus in the Middle East and a new bird flu spreading in China. Last week, the coronavirus related to SARS spread to France, where one patient who probably caught the disease in Dubai infected his hospital roommate.

Officials are now trying to track down everyone who went on a tour group holiday to Dubai with the first patient as well as all contacts of the second patient. Since it was first spotted last year, the new coronavirus has infected 34 people, killing 18 of them.

Nearly all had some connection to the Middle East.

The World Health Organization, however, says there is no reason to think the virus is restricted to the Middle East and has advised health officials worldwide to closely monitor any unusual respiratory cases. At the same time, a new bird flu strain, H7N9, has been infecting people in China since at least March, causing 32 deaths out of 131 known cases. WHO, which is closely monitoring the viruses, says both have the potential to cause a pandemic - a global epidemic - if they evolve into a form easily spread between people. Here’s a crash course in what we know so far about them:

Q: How are humans getting infected by the new coronavirus?

A: Scientists don’t exactly know.

There is some suggestion the disease is jumping directly from animals like camels or goats to humans, but officials are also considering other sources, like a common environmental exposure. The new coronavirus is most closely related to a bat virus, but it’s possible that bats are transmitting the disease via another source before humans catch it.

Q: Can the new coronavirus be spread from human to human?

A: In some circumstances, yes.

There have been clusters of the disease in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Britain and now France, where the virus has spread from person-to-person. Most of those infected were in very close contact, such as people taking care of a sick family member or health workers treating patients. There is no evidence the virus is spreading easily between people and all cases of human-to-human transmission have been limited so far.

Q: How are people catching the bird flu H7N9?

A: Some studies suggest the new bird flu is jumping directly to people from poultry at live bird markets.

Cases have slowed down since

Chinese authorities began shutting down such markets. But it’s unclear exactly what kind of exposure is needed for humans to catch the virus and very few animals have tested positive for it. Unlike the last bird flu strain to cause global concern, H5N1, the new strain doesn’t appear to make birds sick and may be spreading silently in poultry populations.

Q: What precautions can people take against these new viruses?

A: WHO is not advising people to avoid traveling to the Middle East or China but is urging people to practice good personal hygiene like regular hand-washing. “Until we know how and where humans are contracting these two diseases, we cannot control them,” said Gregor y Hartl, WHO spokesman.

Q: Which virus should we be more worried about?

A: It’s impossible to know. “We really don’t want to play the game of predicting which virus will be more deadly than the other,” Hartl said. At the moment, both are worrisome since so little is known about how they are infecting humans and both appear to cause severe disease. “Any virus that has the ability to develop the capacity to spread from human to human is of great concern to WHO,” he said. — AP

Therapists explain how you can get better soon CHARLOTTE: Nearly 2 million people receive physical therapy every day, a number that’s likely to increase as the population ages. And for many, it can be overwhelming and intimidating.

So we talked to three experts about what to expect, the keys to getting better, and how to avoid “PT” in the first place. When is physical therapy necessary? “Most little aches and pains work themselves out in a day or two,” said Dr. David Aiken, manager for Carolinas Rehabilitation’s Monroe and Ballantyne sites. “If within a week or so it (the pain) hasn’t resolved on its own or begins to affect your functionality, you should seek treatment.”

Erin Ball, a physical therapist and manager of Rehab Services at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center (formerly Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville), said many people make the mistake of waiting to seek treatment, hoping the pain will go away.

“The trouble is that certain injuries get worse with time. An easy fix now could be a very complicated fix down the road.”

The assessment Most PT begins with a thorough assessment, said Nabila Tanas of Tanas Physical Therapy, with offices in Raleigh and Cary, NC. She delves into the patient’s medical history, looking for underlying causes. She also educates the patient about how lifestyle changes may help.

this key component of treatment is also the most neglected, which can delay healing. To keep his patients motivated, Aiken said, he stresses the correlation between the exercises and the outcome. “They know if they do the exercises, not only will they feel better, but they’ll be able to do things like play catch with their kids or get through a work day without hurting.” Another common PT patient mistake is not keeping appointments with the therapist, Tanas said. “You have to stick with a routine - usually a few times a week,” she said. “(PT) is not something you can do sporadically.” It’s also important to be honest with the therapist, Ball said. “If you have a lot of job and family responsibilities, be upfront about what is reasonable with your schedule - say one treatment a week versus three.”

What if I’m not getting better?

An important part of PT is continually reassessing a patient’s progress, Ball said. “At every appointment we ask what’s working and what isn’t.

This open dialogue provides an opportunity for therapist and patient to go back to the drawing board if necessary. By using a patient’s feedback you can always adjust to make sure you’re on the right path.”

Is PT inevitable?

Regardless of how well we take care of ourselves, over time the body starts to break down and injuries are more likely. But there’s a lot you can do to stay healthy. Ball said a fit lifestyle pays big dividends later in life. “Everything from our sleeping habits, stress management and level of activity is very important as we get older...,” Ball said. “Being proactive is crucial to maintaining a high quality of life.” Said Aiken: “If people work on their mobility and muscle strength...they can still be active well into their 70s and 80s.

Billing issues Most health insurance limits how many PT sessions you can have.

Insurance companies may also want to verify if you require PT as the result of an on-the-job injury that either workers’ compensation or legal action could pay for, especially if the injury was caused by an accident. PT is often more costly at hospitals compared to other practices. Even if you receive therapy on an out-patient basis from a hospital-affiliated practice, you may be billed at a higher rate than other practices. Try to find out the billing rate the practice will charge.

The treatment Most therapy consists of multiple techniques, said Aiken, including therapeutic exercises to restore strength and function, as well as manual therapy, which is a “detailed massage” designed to soothe soft tissue and loosen joints and muscles.

Tanas specializes in the manipulation of muscles and soft tissue to help relieve pain, either locally or elsewhere on the body along nerve pathways. For instance, if a patient is suffering from chronic headaches, the problem may stem from stiff muscles in the neck or back.

Common mistakes Most PT requires patients to do exercises on their own. Experts agree

CHARLOTTE: Dr David Aiken works with Haley Pillars on her physical therapy in Charlotte, North Carolina. — MCT

ROME: Beetles, caterpillars and wasps could supplement diets around the world as an environmentally friendly food source if only Western consumers could get over their “disgust”, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said yesterday. “ The main message is really: ‘Eat insects’”, Eva Mueller, director of forest economics at the FAO, told a press conference in Rome. “Insects are abundant and they are a valuable source of protein and minerals,” she said.

“Two billion people-a third of the world’s population-are already eating insects because they are delicious and nutritious,” she said. Also speaking at the press conference was Gabon Forestry Minister Gabriel Tchango who said: “Insect consumption is part of our daily life.” He said some insectslike beetle larvae and grilled termiteswere considered delicacies.

“Insects contribute about 10 percent of animal protein consumed by the population,” he said. The report said insect farming was “one of the many ways to address food and feed insecurity”. “Insects are everywhere and they reproduce quickly, and they have high growth and feed conversion rates and a low environmental footprint,” said the report, coauthored by the FAO and Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

But the authors admitted that “consumer disgust remains one of the largest barriers to the adoption of insects as viable sources of protein in many Western countries”. Mueller said that brands such as yoghurt maker Danone and Italian alcoholic drinks maker Campari used dye from insects to colour their products. It suggested that the food industry could help in “raising the status of insects” by including them in recipes and putting them on restaurant menus.

“Beetles, grasshoppers and other insects... are now showing up though on the menus of some restaurants in some European capitals,” said Mueller, as she showed photo slides of crickets being used as decoration on top of high-end restaurant desserts. The report also called for wider use of insects as feed for livestock, saying that poor regulation and underinvestment currently meant it “cannot compete” with traditional sources of feed.“The use of insects on a large scale as a feed ingredient is technically feasible, and established companies in various parts of the world are already leading the way,” it added, highlighting in particular producers in China, South Africa, Spain and the United States. “Insects can supplement traditional feed sources such as soy, maize, grains and fishmeal,” it said, adding that the ones with most

potential were larvae of the black soldier fly, the common housefly and the yellow mealworm.

The report also said the insects most commonly consumed by humans are beetles (31 percent), caterpillars (18 percent) and bees, wasps and ants (14 percent), followed by grasshoppers, locusts and crickets (13 percent). The report said a total of 1,900 species of insects are consumed around the world. It said trade in insects was thriving in cities such as Bangkok and Kinshasa and that a similar culture of insect consumptionentomophagy-should be established elsewhere, stressing that it was often cheaper to farm insects.

While beef has an iron content of 6.0 miligrams per 100 grams of dry weight, the iron content of locusts varies between 8.0 and and 20 miligrams per 100 grams, the report said. It also said that insects require just two kilograms of feed to produce one kilogram of insect meat compared to a ratio of 8-to-1 for beef. The report concluded: “History has shown that dietary patterns can change quickly, particularly in a globalised world. The rapid acceptance of raw fish in the form of sushi is a good example.” “Not everybody is ready to pop a bug in their mouth,” Mueller said. “It will probably take a while. But some people are already doing it.” — AFP

The skin essentials that help turn back the clock MIAMI: In our youth-obsessed society, looking young is more important than ever. But going under the knife is not always desirable. No worries: Dermatologists and plastic surgeons now have a repertoire of treatments to keep lines, wrinkles and saggy skin at bay. There are neurotoxins like Botox and Dysport, dermal fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, Belotero and Sculptra, as well as light and laser treatments like Photofacials and Fraxel to improve the tone and texture of your skin.

It all begins with taking care of your skin and preventing sun damage, said Dr Leslie Baumann, a board certified dermatologist who heads the Baumann Cosmetic & Research Institute in Miami. “Consistent daily skin care is the most important thing that you can do to have good skin. The trick is knowing what products to use for your skin,” said Baumann, author of “The Skin Type Solution” and a Miami Herald columnist. “The good news is that you do not have to break the bank by buying expensive skin care products.”

Preventing aging means using sunscreen every day.

Daily sunscreen with an SPF as little as 5 has been shown to decrease your lifetime exposure to UV rays by 50 percent, said Baumann, who recommends using at least an SPF of 15. “Your dermatologist can help you find a sunscreen with active ingredients to treat your other skin issues,” she said. “For example, sunscreens can contain antioxidants, depigmenting agents, glycolic acid and antiinflammatories. Your sunscreen should work for you and do more than just block the sun.”

Incorporating antioxidants in your diet, through supplements or by applying them topically, is also an important preventative method. Topical antioxidants she likes are green tea, idebenone, ascorbic acid, argan oil, oxofullerane and resveratrol.

Applying retinoids is also key, to both prevent and treat wrinkles. “In my opinion everyone should be on a retinoid,” Baumann said. “Using a retinoid has been proven over and over to improve wrinkles and to prevent them.” To further turn back the clock on the appearance of aging, many patients choose injectables.

The starting point is often a neurotoxin or Botulinum Toxin Type A, such as Botox, Dysport, or a new entrant, Xeomin, said Dr Adam Rubinstein, a board-certified plastic surgeon with an office in Aventura, Fla. “We live our lives moving our facial muscles, and the facial muscles fold the skin over and over again, and create new wrinkles by doing that,” said Rubinstein, who is also host of a radio show on aesthetics, wellness and beauty. “The best way to use neurotoxins is to use it as a preventative treatment,” he said.

Such injections can help smooth the lines between the

MIAMI: Dr Leyda E Bowens performs a Fraxel Laser treatment for wrinkles and acne scars on Maria Elena Ferrer on the Mercy Hospital campus in Miami, Florida. — MCT eyebrows, in the area of the crow’s feet and on the forehead. While complications are extremely rare, injections in each area carry their own risk, Rubinstein said.

“You need to choose your doctor carefully,” said Rubinstein, who recommends choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist, because anyone with a medical license can buy injectables and inject them. “If you go to the wrong person with not enough training or experience, you’re putting yourself in a position to potentially have a higher risk of complications or simply not be satisfied with your treatment,” he said.

Dermal fillers, such as Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm and Belotero, which are made of hyaluronic acid, are frequently used to fill in lines of the face and add volume. Rubinstein said he also likes to use Sculptra, which uses poly-L-lactic acid to stimulate a patient’s own tissue to grow, resulting in a natural look. Unlike many other fillers, Sculptra requires at least two treatments, spaced out at least four to six weeks apart. The results are longer lasting than many other fillers, he said. “It adds bulk and volume for people who have hollow cheeks, poor cheekbones or hollow temples,” Rubinstein said. “Temples are one of the most neglected places in the facial aesthetic. —MCT

Huge drug cost disparity seen in health overhaul WASHINGTON: Cancer patients could face high costs for medications under President Barack Obama’s health care law, industry analysts and advocates warn. Where you live could make a huge difference in what you’ll pay. To try to keep premiums low, some states are allowing insurers to charge patients a hefty share of the cost for expensive medications used to treat cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and other life-altering chronic diseases. Such “specialty drugs” can cost thousands of dollars a month, and in California, patients would pay up to 30 percent of the cost. For one widely used cancer drug, Gleevec, the patient could pay more than $2,000 for a month’s supply, says the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

New York is taking a different approach, setting flat dollar copayments for medications. The highest is $70, and it would apply to specialty drugs as well. Critics fear most states will follow California’s lead, and that could defeat the purpose of Obama’s overhaul, because some of the sickest patients may be unable to afford their prescriptions.“It’s important that the benefit design not discriminate against people with chronic illness,

and high copays do that,” said Dan Mendelson, president of Avalere Health, a data analysis firm catering to the health care industry and government. Avalere’s research shows that 1 in 4 cancer patients walks away from the pharmacy counter empty-handed when facing a copay of $500 or more for a newly prescribed drug.

“You have to worry about a world where if you happen to contract cancer or multiple sclerosis, you are stuck with a really big bill,” Mendelson said.

“It’s going to be very important for states to take a long, hard look at their benefit design.” Although the money for covering uninsured Americans is coming from Washington, the heath care law gives states broad leeway to tailor benefits, and the local approach can also allow disparities to emerge.

A spokesman for Covered California said state officials are trying to balance between two conflicting priorities: comprehensive coverage and affordable premiums. “We are trying to keep the insurance affordable across the board,” said Dana Howard, the group’s spokesman. “This is just part of trying to manage the overall risk of the pool.” Covered California is one of the new state marketplaces

where people who don’t get coverage on the job will be able to shop for private insurance starting this fall.

Coverage takes effect Jan 1. Insurers are forecasting double-digit premium increases for individual policies, as people with health problems flock to buy coverage previously denied them. The Obama administration says the industry warnings are overblown, and that for many consumers, premium increases will be offset by tax credits to help buy insurance. And officials say it’s important to realize that the law sets overall limits on patients’ liability, even if those seem high to some people. Still, a full picture of costs and benefits isn’t likely to come into focus until the fall.

Howard said California officials are aware of the concerns about drug costs and are trying to make medications more affordable. Meanwhile, he said consumers will be protected because the law limits total out-ofpocket costs - the deductibles and copayments that policy holders are responsible for, apart from monthly premiums. In California, the annual out-of-pocket limit for an individual is $6,400, although it can be as low as $2,250 for low-income people. —AP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

CO2 record illustrates ‘scary’ trend WASHINGTON: The old saying that “what goes up must come down” doesn’t apply to carbon dioxide pollution in the air, which just hit an unnerving milestone. The chief greenhouse gas was measured Thursday at 400 parts per million in Hawaii, a monitoring site that sets the world’s benchmark. It’s a symbolic mark that scientists and environmentalists have been anticipating for years.

While this week’s number has garnered all sorts of attention, it is just a daily reading in the month when the chief greenhouse gas peaks in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be lower the rest of the year. This year will probably average around 396 ppm. But not for long - the trend is going up and at faster and faster rates.

Within a decade the world will never see days - even in the cleanest of places on days in the fall when greenhouse gases are at their lowest - when the carbon measurement falls below 400 ppm, said James Butler, director of global monitoring at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Earth Science Research Lab in Boulder, Colo. “The 400 is a reminder that our emissions are not only continuing, but they’re accelerating; that’s a scary thing,” Butler said Saturday. “We’re stuck. We’re

going to keep going up.” Carbon dioxide stays in the air for a century, some of it into the thousands of years. And the world carbon dioxide pollution levels are accelerating yearly. Every second, the world’s smokestacks and cars pump 2.4 million pounds of the heat-trapping gas into the air. Carbon pollution levels that used to be normal for the 20th century are fast becoming history in the 21st century. “It means we are essentially passing one in a whole series of points of no return,” said Michael Mann, a climate scientist at Pennsylvania State University.

Princeton University climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer said the momentum in carbon dioxide emissions has the world heading toward and passing 450 ppm. That is the level which would essentially mean the world warms another 2 degrees, what scientists think of as dangerous, he said.

That 2-degree mark is what much of the world’s nations have set as a goal to prevent.

“The direction we’ve seen is for blowing through the best benchmark for what’s dangerous change,” Oppenheimer said. And to see what the future is, scientists look to the past. The last time the worldwide carbon level probably hit 400 ppm was about 2 million years ago, said Pieter Tans of the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That was during the Pleistocene Era. “It was much warmer than it is today,” Tans said. “There were forests in Greenland. Sea level was higher, between 10 and 20 meters (33 to 66 feet).” Other scientists say it may have been 10 million years ago that Earth last encountered this much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The first modern humans only appeared in Africa about 200,000 years ago.

Environmental activists, such as former Vice President Al Gore, seized on the milestone. “This number is a reminder that for the last 150 years - and especially over the last several decades - we have been recklessly polluting the protective sheath of atmosphere that surrounds the Earth and protects the conditions that have fostered the flourishing of our civilization,” Gore said in a statement. “We are altering the composition of our atmosphere at an unprecedented rate.”

Carbon dioxide traps heat just like in a greenhouse. It accounts for three-quarters of the planet’s heat-trapping gases. There are others, such as methane, which has a shorter life span but traps heat more effectively. Both trigger temperatures to rise over

time, scientists say, which is causing sea levels to rise and some weather patterns to change. When measurements of carbon dioxide were first taken in 1958, it measured 315 ppm. Some scientists and environmental groups promote 350 ppm as a safe level for CO2, but scientists acknowledge they don’t really know what levels would stop the effects of global warming.

The level of carbon dioxide in the air is rising faster than in the past decades, despite international efforts by developed nations to curb it. On average the amount is growing by about 2 ppm per year. That’s 100 times faster than at the end of the Ice Age. Back then, it took 7,000 years for carbon dioxide to reach 80 ppm, Tans said. Because of the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, carbon dioxide levels have gone up by that amount in just 55 years.

Before the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide levels were around 280 ppm, and they were closer to 200 during the Ice Age, which is when sea levels shrank and polar places went from green to icy. There are natural ups and downs of this greenhouse gas, which comes from volcanoes and decomposing plants and animals. But that’s not what has driven current levels so high, Tans

said. He said the amount should be even higher, but the world’s oceans are absorbing quite a bit, keeping it out of the air.

“What we see today is 100 percent due to human activity,” said Tans, a NOAA senior scientist. The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal for electricity and oil for gasoline, has caused the overwhelming bulk of the manmade increase in carbon in the air, scientists say. The world sent 38.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the air in 2011, according international calculations published in a scientific journal in December. China spews 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the air per year, leading all countries, and its emissions are growing about 10 percent annually. The US at No. 2 is slowly cutting emissions and is down to 5.9 billion tons per year. The speed of the change is the big worry, said Pennsylvania State’s Mann. If carbon dioxide levels go up 100 ppm over thousands or millions of years, plants and animals can adapt.

But that can’t be done at the speed it is now happening. “We are a society that has inadvertently chosen the double-black diamond run without having learned to ski first,” NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt said. “It will be a bumpy ride.” — AP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N GUST Islamic Finance Club takes educational trip to London SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Announcements Speech competition t Berchmans 17th Extempore Speech Competition for Indian School students from class VII to XII will be conducted on Friday, 17th May 2013 at United Indian School, Jaleeb Al Shuyoukh. Competition will be conducted in 3 categories separately. Sub-Juniors (7th & 8th Stds.)

Juniors (9th & 10th Stds.) and Seniors (11th & 12th Stds). Trophies and Certificates will be awarded to the I, II, and III prize winners of each category.

Championship and Runner up Trophies will be awarded to the respective schools based on points earned by it’s students. Online registration will be closed at 6 pm on 14th May 2013.

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AIP shaam-e ghazal he Association of Indian Professionals (AIP), Kuwait, forthcoming event has been scheduled for the evening of May 25, 2013 at 6 pm at the auditorium of Indian Community Senior School, Salmiya and is titled as AIP Shaam-e-Ghazal.

We have invited Raghuram Krishnan, a Ghazal singer from Cochin, India to make this evening more melodious and vibrant. He will be supported by few local musicians also. Ambassador of India, Satish C. Mehta will be the Chief Guest. Admission is by invitation and children below 10 years of age will not be allowed.

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ISHREF, Kuwait - May 7, 2013. The Gulf University forScience and Technology (GUST) Islamic Finance Club organizedan educational studenttriptoLondon whichincluded18 studentsandAssistant Professor, Economics & Finance at GUST, Dr. Khiyar Abdulla Khiyar, for7 daysunderthesponsorshipoftheKuwait Finance House. Thegoal ofthistripwas to develop students’ knowledge of Islamic Financeandraise their awarenessontheimportanceofapplying it. In light of this, the students were takento four of themostimportantcentersanduniversities in Londonthatsupportthisprinciple.

The first center was the Islamic Institute of Banks and Insurance (IIBI) where the students attended a seminar on how to use funding in Islamic banks and Islamic insurance companies. Dr. Basel Mustafa, from the University of Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, explained the importance of applying Islamic rules on banks. He also mentioned the different methods for applying the Sharia’ in most banking operations.

Additionally, the students visited the

University of Durham, where Dr. Mehmet Asutay hosted an event where he introduced GUST students to the University of Durham’s Master’s and PhD students. Dr. Asutay opened the floor for discussion. It was a very useful experience as GUST students engaged in conversations with the other students from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

London Stock Exchange was the third location that the IFC students visited.

There, they learned about the relationship between the British market and other global markets as well as the operating systems within the market.

Finally, Abdullah Al-Seef from Kuwait Finance House gave GUST students an overview of the stages experienced by Kuwait Finance House when it was founded as the first Islamic bank in Kuwait. He also answered the questions asked by the students who were interested in Islamic banking.

The Islamic Finance Club members would like to thank KFH for their sponsorship of this enlightening trip and thank Dr. Khiyar Abdullah Khiyarfor his support in making this trip a success.

AUK Inaugurates the Spring Senior Capstone Graphic Design Exhibition

How culture shapes our views presentation entitled, “How Culture Shapes our Views,” by Dr Teresa Lesher on May 14th, 2013 at 7 pm. Culture, which can be defined as the production and distribution of meaning, influences our personal values and social practices as well as our perceptions of others and our sense of well-being in a community. In a 30-minute presentation, Dr. Teresa Lesher will explore various aspects of culture and their impact on personality and group dynamics. Dr Teresa holds her PhD in Information Science from the UK and is now associate professor at the Kuwait College of Basic Education. She held the position of General Manager of the AWARE Center for three years. If you are interested in the topic, Ties Center is the best place to visit on May 14, 2013 at 7 pm.

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Qur’an quotes and tafseer class entitled, “Qur’an Quotes and Tafseer,” partnered by Hasan and Nejoud will be held at the TIES Center. After reading specified Qur’anic verses aloud and explaining them very briefly, Nejoud and Hassan, will take turns in explaining the various connotations of some words and phrases to show the literary beauty and miracle of the Qur’an - among others. After that, attendees will be asked to participate in the ensuing discussion on the topic and other related issues together.

The class will involve an open discussion in casual setting with the aim of reflecting and pondering over verses from the Noble Qur’an as well as learning how to recite some short surahs. The class begins on May 16 at 7 pm and will be held once a week, four times a month. If you are interested in the class, please register your name. If you are interested, log onto: www.tiescenter.net

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The TIES Center’s ‘trip’ he TIES Center cordially invites those who are interested in its trip to the Historical, Vintage and Classic Car Museum, which is the first museum in Kuwait specializing in old cars on May 30th at 6:00 pm. Revisit past memories or learn something new. If you love cars then this is the trip for you. Even if you don’t love cars, come anyway; you will enjoy the trip. For more information/registration, log onto: www.tiescenter.net.

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Photography exhibition he Embassy of India, Kuwait in association with National Council of Arts, Culture & Letters is organizing an exhibition of photographs of Islamic monuments of India by Benoy K Behl, Art - Historian & Photographer at Al-Edwani Hall, Dahiyat Abdullah Al-Salem. The exhibition is being inaugurated at 1900 hrs on 21 May, 2013.

The exhibition shall be kept open till 27 May 2013 from 0900 hrs to 1230 hrs and 1700 hrs to 2100 hrs.

All are cordially invited to the exhibition.

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Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

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he Art & Graphic Design Program (GDES) at AUK will be holding the official opening ceremony of its Spring Senior Graphic Design Capstone Exhibition on May 20th from 6 to 8 pm.

This term’s GDES Capstone Exhibition is expected to be the largest in AUK history, with student projects displayed in the two main AUK halls, the Auditorium, and the Multipurpose Room. The exhibition will be open to public visitors between May 21 and 23, from 10 am to 7 pm.

Showcasing senior students’ Capstone projects, the GDES Capstone Exhibition is the culmination of semester-long, self-initiated, and largely self-directed projects implemented through diverse applications. Students investigate the topic of their choice, and then research, analyze, and find interesting communication solutions for a target audience through the medium of Graphic Design. Projects of this year’s exhibition range from social activism campaigns to corporate identity rebranding.

Professors Maryam Hosseinnia and Rita Merheb Khair are the Professors of Record for the 2013 American University of Kuwait Capstone classes.

Graduates of the American University of Kuwait Graphic Design program are instilled with the skills of marketable designers, and are prepared for employment in graphic design studios, publishing houses, corporations, non-profit institutions, film and video production companies, advertising, and multimedia firms.

Dream Weddings and lasting memories at JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait

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uxurious ballrooms and an international selection of custom made culinary offerings coupled with personalized services, is a small part of JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City’s formula for successful weddings this season. Guests can host their wedding celebrations at the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City, a venue renowned for some of the country’s most memorable social events. To celebrate the wedding season in Kuwait and to maintain its position as the host of choice for memorable celebrations, the JW Marriott Hotel has launched an exclusive wedding package that is sure to delight any prospective bride and groom. The special package includes accommodation in a luxurious suite, in-room breakfast, in-room special decorations, a relaxing massage session for couples after their first month of marriage and an enchanting wedding cake. Additionally, couples are also entitled to an invitation at Kuwait’s finest steakhouse - the Terrace Grill.

Adjacent to the prestigious Salhia shopping mall with international boutiques for all wedding shopping needs and opposite the landmark Muthanna commercial complex, the JW Marriott hotel is home to two major ballrooms that are designed to entertain the most elaborate weddings. The 16th floor panoramic Al

Thuraya ballroom and the massive first floor Al Jahra ballrooms can accommodate 500 guests in a comfortable theatre style set up accompanied by a professional team to personalize every last detail .An award-winning culinary team of international chefs offer custom-made menus to ensure every valued guest’s individual preference - reflected in the endless options of enchanting buffet setups, exquisite floral arrangement possibilities

and live cooking stations. “Every woman dreams of having her perfect wedding at the perfect location, and JW Marriott has long been considered the premium choice with all the bridal world has to offer, providing couples with incomparable, world-class weddings customized to their unique needs and desires, said Dina Makhouyan, Director of Event Management at the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy

Islamic monuments of India

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enoy K Behl is a film-maker, art-historian and photographer who is known for his tireless and prolific output of work over the past 34 years. He has taken over 36,000 photographs of Asian monuments and art heritage, made a hundred documentaries on art history. His exhibitions have been warmly received in 29 countries around the world and he holds the Limca Book Record for having travelled to all corners of India.

In January, 2008, National Geographic magazine carried an 18-page story about ancient Indian art revealed through Behl’s photography to the world which can be accessed on http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2008-01/india-ancientart/interactive-map.html.

BBC World News has also carried 3 major stories about Behl’s pioneering work in India and Vietnam.

His films, including 26 documentaries on ‘The Paintings of India’ and 26 documentaries on ‘The Sculpture of India’ have been nationally telecast on prime time in India.

These have also been screened at scores of universities and museums in several countries around the world.

The vastness of Behl’s documentation presents a wide and new perspective in understanding the art of India and Asia. His photography of ancient murals in remote

Sebamed on Instagram

Benoy K Behl places has clearly established the continuous tradition of painting in India, from ancient times through the medieval period.

This is significant, as earlier, the Indian tradition of painting was believed to have begun in medieval times.

He has been invited to lecture by almost all important universities and museums around the world, which have departments of Asian art. His book on ‘The Ajanta Caves’ is published by Thames & Hudson, London and Harry N. Abrams, New York. His book on ‘The History of Indian Art: Sculpture and Mural Paintings’ is expected to be released shortly.

Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department.

All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm. nnnnnnn

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e are glad to inform you that we launched our site on instagram.

Follow us on @sebamedkuwait and (hashtag)#sebamedkuwait and send us your shots involving all family members and be the lucky winner of a valuable prize from Sebamed products.

Crowne Plaza Kuwait holds Japanese food festival

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada in Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visa and immigration matters including enquiries is conducted by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Individuals who are interested in working, studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.goingtocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-imenquiry@international.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is open from 07:30 to 12:30. Consular services for Canadian citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00, Sunday through Wednesday. nnnnnnn

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rowne Plaza Kuwait in association with the Japanese Embassy in Kuwait and Crowne Plaza Hiroshima is holding a 2 week Japanese Food Festival which started from May 8th until May 23rd 2013 at its Sakura Japanese restaurant to commemorate its 20th Anniversary.

Sakura Japanese restaurant was first opened in Crowne Plaza Kuwait May’1993. Today, the restaurant has grown tremendously and has already established 6 branches across Kuwaitthe locations being in Crowne Plaza, Zone, Mangaf, Laila Gallery Salmiya and Holiday Inn Salmiya and the latest in 360 mall.

Japanese Ambassador Toshihiro Tsujihara accompanied by his wife Mrs Eriko Tsujihara inaugurated the gastronomical event celebrating authentic Japanese cuisines in the presence of Embassy officials, media and other distinguished guests, on Wednesday 8th May 2013. The ceremony started with a delightful Japanese performance by young children from the Japanese Embassy, mesmerising all the guests

with their vocal talents.

Speaking on the occasion Resident Manager - Crowne Plaza kuwait, Hassan Wanli said, “This journey has been possible because of the loyalty and trust that we have earned from all our guests and I take this opportunity to thank each one of our guests who have been a part of our journey.”

“The Sakura Japanese food festival

draws its support from its sponsorsSingarea Food Stuff Company, Otelna.com and Wataniya Telecom” mentioned Anuradha Kavi, Marketing and PR manager Crowne Plaza Kuwait.

The festival features a wide array of Japanese dishes and the hotel’s guest Chef - Chef Shimazu- from Crowne Plaza Hiroshima will prepare a variety of Japanese culinary delights that best

represent the rich Japanese cuisine.

The ambiance and dining experience aims to relive the true spirit of the Japanese Culture, which will surely taken you on a journey to Japan.

The festival offers a special menu prepared by the guest Chef from Japan giving you a wide range of Authentic Japanese delicacies to choose from.

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS In its capacity as EU Local Presidency in the State of Kuwait, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the Member States of the EU and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, would like to announce that as from 2nd October 2012 all Schengen States’ Consulates in Kuwait will use the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is a central database for the exchange of data on shortstay (up to three months) visas between Schengen States. The main objectives of the VIS are to facilitate visa application procedures and checks at external border as well as to enhance security. The VIS will contain all the Schengen visa applications lodged by an applicant over five years and the decisions taken by any Schengen State’s consulate. This will allow applicants to establish more easily the lawful use of previous visas and their bona fide status. For the purpose of the VIS, applicants will be required to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and digital photos) when applying for a Schengen visa. It is a simple and discreet procedure that only takes a few minutes. Biometric data, along with the data provided in the Schengen visa application form, will be recorded in the VIS central database. Therefore, as from 2nd October 2012, first-time applicants will have to appear in person when lodging the application, in order to provide their fingerprints. For subsequent applications within 5 years the fingerprints can be copied from the previous application file in the VIS. The Cypriot Presidency would like to assure the people of Kuwait and all its permanent citizens that the Member States and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, have taken all necessary technical measures to facilitate the rapid examination and the efficient processing of visa applications and to ensure a quick and discreet procedure for the implementation of the new VIS. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa will be closed on Tuesday, 28 May 2013, for an official event. The Embassy will resume it’s normal working hours on Wednesday, 29 May 2013, from Sunday to Thursday. Please note that the Working hours will be from 8h00 to 16h00 & the Consular Section operation hours will be from 8h30 to 12h30, for any emergencies please contact: 94924895. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY GREECE The Embassy of Greece in Kuwait has the pleasure to announce that visa applications must be submitted to Schengen Visa Application Centre (VFS office) located at 12th floor, Al-Naser Tower, Fahad Al-Salem Street, AlQibla area, Kuwait City, (Parking at Souk Watia). For information please call 22281046 from 08:30 to 17:00 (Sunday to Thursday). Working hours: Submission from 08:30 to 15:30. Passport collection from 16:00 to 17:00. For visa applications please visit the following website www.mfa.gr/kuwait.

KFH wins KBC Cup

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he Kuwait Finance House was crowned the KBC Cup Champion after defeating the Gulf Bank in the final match that took place recently at the Sadaqa wal-Salam Stadium in the Kazma Sports Club.

The victory was secured by three goals scored by Husain Abdulhafiz in the first half, before Mohammad Al-Haddad and Mohammad Al-Kandari scored the second and third goals and that after Ali Subhi made the equalizer for the Gulf Bank from a penalty kick early in the second half.

Following the final whistle, top Kuwait Banks Club officials including Secretary General Hamad Al-Hasawy, Chairman of the Board Ahmad Al-Sultan, and Vice President Mahmoud Bastaki, rewarded the winning team and handed the Gulf Bank the second place trophy, and also rewarded the tournament’s scorer, most valuable player and best goalkeeper.

The match also featured a raffle draw at halftime on prizes for fans in attendance.

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EMBASSY OF SOUTH KOREA

Burgan Bank holds Gulf jazz festival

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urgan Bank recently sponsored the prestigious Gulf Jazz Festival at the Radisson Blu Hotel. The event is held annually in an effort to expand the arts and multicultural landscape in Kuwait.

Initiated in 1997, the Gulf Jazz Festival includes a lineup of performances by world legend American Trumpet player and flugelhornist Randy Brecker, Italian Jazz pianist Roberto Magris Trio with Italian pop

singer Maria Dal Rovere and a quartet of young jazz musicians -High Definition. Burgan Bank continues to advocate the spread of cultural enrichment through innovative initiatives that reinforce its overall position.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kuwait will organize 2013 K-POP Contest on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 6:00 pm. The aim of the contest is to provide an opportunity to the participants to showcase their exciting talents to the audience. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the contest. Application forms can be downloaded from the Embassy’s website: http://kwt.mofa.go.kr (Select English from the menu at the top of the page then Bilateral Relations) or visit the “Korean Culture Diwaniya” Facebook Group. Interested applicants must send their application forms to Kuwait@mofa.go.kr by 24 May 2013.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 01:35 02:25 03:15 03:40 04:05 04:55 05:20 05:45 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:25 08:15 09:10 09:35 10:05 11:00 11:55 12:20 12:50 13:15 13:45 14:40 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:25 17:50 18:20 18:45 19:15 19:40 20:10 20:35 21:05 21:30 22:00 22:55

Beast Lands I’m Alive Roaring With Pride Karina: Wild On Safari Karina: Wild On Safari My Cat From Hell Shamwari: A Wild Life Cheetah Kingdom Clinically Wild: Alaska Clinically Wild: Alaska Wildlife SOS The Really Wild Show Must Love Cats Dogs 101 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Roaring With Pride Animal Cops Houston Shamwari: A Wild Life Wildlife SOS Dolphin Days Dolphin Days Animal Precinct Roaring With Pride Cheetah Kingdom The Really Wild Show Dogs 101 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife Karina: Wild On Safari Karina: Wild On Safari Monkey Life Bondi Vet Shamwari: A Wild Life Cheetah Kingdom Safari Vet School Safari Vet School Gator Boys World Wild Vet

00:40 Come Dine With Me 01:30 Masterchef: The Professionals 02:15 Gok’s Fashion Fix 03:00 Coastal Kitchen 03:25 Cash In The Attic 04:15 Bargain Hunt 05:00 Holmes On Homes 05:45 Gok’s Fashion Fix 06:35 New Scandinavian Cooking 07:00 Food And Drink 07:25 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 07:45 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 08:10 Homes Under The Hammer 09:05 Bargain Hunt 09:50 Antiques Roadshow 10:40 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 11:25 Masterchef: The Professionals 12:10 Come Dine With Me 13:00 Food And Drink 13:25 New Scandinavian Cooking 13:50 Bargain Hunt 14:30 Cash In The Attic 15:25 Antiques Roadshow 16:15 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 17:00 Homes Under The Hammer 17:55 The Roux Legacy 18:30 Nigel Slater’s Simple Cooking 18:55 The Hairy Bikers USA 19:20 New Scandinavian Cooking 19:45 Come Dine With Me 20:35 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 21:20 Antiques Roadshow 22:15 Bargain Hunt 23:00 Homes Under The Hammer 23:55 Cash In The Attic

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BBC World News America BBC World News America Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report

04:45 Sport Today 05:00 BBC World News 05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Sport Today 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 Hardtalk 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 World Business Report 07:45 BBC World News 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:00 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 BBC World News 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 BBC World News 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 Hardtalk 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 World Business Report 12:45 Sport Today 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 BBC World News 14:00 GMT With George Alagiah 14:30 GMT With George Alagiah 15:00 BBC World News 15:30 World Business Report 15:45 Sport Today 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 16:30 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 Hardtalk 18:00 Global With John Sopel 18:30 Global With John Sopel 19:00 Global With John Sopel 19:30 World Business Report 19:45 Sport Today 20:00 BBC World News 20:30 BBC Focus On Africa 21:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 21:30 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:30 World Business Report 22:45 Sport Today 23:00 Business Edition With Tanya Beckett 23:30 Hardtalk

00:45 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:00 03:30 03:55 04:20 04:45 05:00 05:25 05:45 06:00 06:25 06:50 07:15 07:40 08:05 08:30 08:55 09:20 09:45 10:10 10:35 11:00 11:25 11:50 12:15 12:40 13:00 13:25 13:50 14:20 14:45 15:10 15:35 16:00 16:25 16:50 17:15 17:40 18:05 18:30 Of...

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Wacky Races Duck Dodgers Duck Dodgers Dastardly And Muttley Dastardly And Muttley Dexter’s Laboratory Wacky Races Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show Bananas In Pyjamas Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm Ha Ha Hairies Bananas In Pyjamas Lazytown Krypto: The Super Dog Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Cartoonito Tales Ha Ha Hairies Lazytown Baby Looney Tunes Krypto: The Super Dog Cartoonito Tales Jelly Jamm Gerald McBoing Boing Lazytown Baby Looney Tunes Jelly Jamm Tom & Jerry Kids A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Moomins Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries The Looney Tunes Show The 13 Ghosts Of Scooby-Doo Taz-Mania Tiny Toon Adventures Moomins Tom And Jerry Tales What’s New Scooby Doo The Looney Tunes Show The Garfield Show Yogi Bear And The Invasion Tiny Toon Adventures

20:35 21:00 21:25 21:50 22:15 23:05 23:30 23:55

Puppy In My Pocket What’s New Scooby-Doo? Looney Tunes Dexter’s Laboratory Tom & Jerry Tales Pink Panther And Pals Pink Panther And Pals Moomins

00:30 Grim Adventures Of...

01:20 Johnny Test 02:10 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 02:35 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 03:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 03:25 Regular Show 03:50 Ben 10: Omniverse 04:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 04:40 Powerpuff Girls 05:05 Evil Con Carne 05:30 Cow & Chicken 06:00 Casper’s Scare School 06:30 Angelo Rules 07:00 Dreamworks Dragons Riders Of Berk 07:25 Johnny Test 07:45 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 08:10 Evil Con Carne 08:55 Adventure Time 09:45 Regular Show 10:35 Angelo Rules 11:25 Ben 10: Alien Force 11:50 Ben 10: Alien Force 12:15 Hero 108 12:40 Hero 108 13:05 Mucha Lucha !

13:30 Angelo Rules 14:20 Evil Con Carne 15:10 The Amazing World Of Gumball 15:35 Adventure Time 16:00 Regular Show 16:30 Johnny Test 17:00 Ben 10: Omniverse 17:25 Dreamworks Dragons Riders Of Berk 17:50 Gormiti New 18:15 Young Justice 18:40 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 19:05 Total Drama Island 19:30 Total Drama Island 19:55 Mucha Lucha !

20:20 Ben 10: Omniverse 20:45 The Amazing World Of Gumball 21:10 Adventure Time 21:35 Regular Show 22:00 Ben 10 22:25 Ben 10 22:50 Mucha Lucha !

23:15 Mucha Lucha !

23:40 Powerpuff Girls

00:00 Amanpour 00:30 World Sport 01:00 Piers Morgan Live 02:00 CNN Newsroom Live From Hong Kong 03:00 Anderson Cooper 360 04:00 Piers Morgan Live 05:00 Quest Means Business 06:00 The Situation Room 07:00 World Sport 07:30 African Voices 08:00 World Report 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 Talk Asia 11:00 World Business Today 12:00 World One 12:30 News Special 13:00 Amanpour 13:30 CNN Newscenter 14:00 Piers Morgan Live 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 Global Exchange 19:00 World Sport 19:30 News Special 20:00 International Desk

LONDON BOULEVARD ON OSN ACTION HD

21:00 Quest Means Business 22:00 Amanpour 22:30 CNN Newscenter 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

00:15 Gold Divers: Under The Ice 01:10 Alaska: The Last Frontier 02:05 Flying Wild Alaska 03:00 Mythbusters 03:55 Border Security 04:20 Auction Hunters 04:50 Storage Hunters 05:15 How Machines Work 05:40 How It’s Made 06:05 Sons Of Guns 07:00 Mythbusters 07:50 Robson Green’s Extreme Fishing Challenge 08:45 Flying Wild Alaska 09:40 Border Security 10:05 Auction Hunters 10:30 Auction Kings 10:55 How Machines Work 11:25 How It’s Made 11:50 Gold Divers: Under The Ice 12:45 Alaska: The Last Frontier 13:40 Flying Wild Alaska 14:35 Border Security 15:05 Auction Hunters 15:30 Auction Kings 16:00 Ultimate Survival 16:55 Gold Rush 17:50 Mythbusters 18:45 Sons Of Guns 19:40 How Machines Work 20:05 How It’s Made 20:35 Auction Hunters 21:00 Storage Hunters 21:30 Dual Survival 22:25 Yukon Men 23:20 Bear’s Mission Everest

00:05 00:30 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:45 03:35 04:00 04:25 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:25 11:20 12:10 13:00 13:50 14:20 14:45 15:10 16:00 16:55 17:45 18:35 19:30 20:20 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:50 23:40

How Tech Works Sci-Fi Science Things That Move Things That Move Sport Science X-Machines Things That Move Things That Move Superships The Gadget Show How Tech Works Prophets Of Science Fiction Unchained Reaction Prototype This The Gadget Show How Tech Works Da Vinci’s Machines What’s That About?

Superships Prophets Of Science Fiction Prototype This Sci-Fi Science The Gadget Show How Tech Works Unchained Reaction Da Vinci’s Machines What’s That About?

Superships Prophets Of Science Fiction Unchained Reaction Prototype This The Gadget Show How Tech Works Unchained Reaction Sport Science The Gadget Show

00:00 Hannah Montana 00:20 Hannah Montana 00:45 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 01:05 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 01:30 Emperor’s New School 01:50 Emperor’s New School 02:15 Replacements 02:35 Replacements 03:00 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 03:20 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 03:45 Emperor’s New School 04:05 Emperor’s New School 04:30 Replacements 04:50 Replacements 05:15 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 05:35 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 06:00 Prankstars 06:25 Suite Life On Deck 06:45 Cory In The House 07:10 A.N.T Farm 07:35 Austin And Ally 07:55 Jessie 08:20 Good Luck Charlie 08:45 Doc McStuffins 09:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 09:30 A.N.T Farm 09:55 Jonas 10:15 So Random 10:40 Hannah Montana 11:05 Sonny With A Chance 11:25 Kim Possible 11:50 Shake It Up 12:15 Shake It Up 12:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 13:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place 13:25 Austin And Ally 13:45 Jessie 14:10 A.N.T Farm 14:35 So Random 14:55 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 15:20 Good Luck Charlie 15:45 Jessie 16:10 Shake It Up 16:35 A.N.T. Farm 17:00 Austin And Ally 17:20 Suite Life On Deck 17:45 Suite Life On Deck 18:10 Cory In The House 18:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place 18:55 That’s So Raven 19:20 A.N.T Farm 19:40 Good Luck Charlie 20:05 Jessie 20:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place 20:50 Wizards Of Waverly Place 21:15 So Random 21:40 Hannah Montana 22:00 Jonas 22:25 Sonny With A Chance 22:50 Sonny With A Chance 23:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 23:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place

00:00 00:55 01:25 02:20

Scouted Style Star E!es THS

03:15 Style Star 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:10 E!es 05:05 E!es 06:00 THS 07:50 Style Star 08:20 E! News 09:15 Fashion Police 10:15 30 Best & Worst Beach Bodies 12:05 E! News 13:05 Ice Loves Coco 13:35 Ice Loves Coco 14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 15:00 Style Star 15:30 E!es 16:30 Extreme Close-Up 17:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 18:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 19:00 THS 20:00 Married To Jonas 20:30 Playing With Fire

00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:55 Unwrapped 01:20 Unwrapped 01:45 Reza’s African Kitchen 02:10 Reza’s African Kitchen 02:35 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 03:00 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 03:25 Food Wars 03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 04:15 Unique Eats 04:40 Chopped 05:30 Iron Chef America 06:10 Food Network Challenge 07:00 Guy’s Big Bite 07:25 Guy’s Big Bite 07:50 Reza’s African Kitchen 08:15 Kid In A Candy Store 08:40 Unique Sweets 09:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 09:30 The Next Food Network Star 10:20 Extra Virgin 10:45 Extra Virgin 11:10 Cooking For Real 11:35 Food Crafters 12:00 Ultimate Recipe Showdown 12:50 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 13:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 13:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 14:05 Food Wars 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 14:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 15:20 Guy’s Big Bite 15:45 Chopped 16:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:25 Food Wars 17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:40 Guy’s Big Bite 19:05 Reza’s African Kitchen 19:30 Chopped 20:20 Chopped 21:10 Amazing Wedding Cakes 22:00 Food Wars 22:25 Food Wars 22:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 23:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 23:40 Food Wars

00:30 01:20 02:05 02:55 03:20 03:45 04:30 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:30 15:20 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

Dr G: Medical Examiner A Haunting Deadly Sins Who On Earth...

Who On Earth...

I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner A Haunting Nightmare Next Door Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Murder Shift Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Disappeared Murder Shift Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill Couples Who Kill Deadly Women I Almost Got Away With It

00:15 Earth Tripping 00:45 Ultimate Traveller 01:40 Bondi Rescue 02:05 Bondi Rescue 02:35 Chasing Time 03:00 Bluelist Australia 03:30 A World Apart 04:25 On Hannibal’s Trail 04:50 Travel Madness 05:20 Departures 06:15 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 06:40 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 07:10 Earth Tripping 07:35 Earth Tripping 08:05 Ultimate Traveller 09:00 Bondi Rescue 09:25 Bondi Rescue 09:55 Chasing Time 10:20 Bluelist Australia 10:50 A World Apart 11:45 On Hannibal’s Trail 12:10 Travel Madness 12:40 Long Way Down 13:35 Graham’s World 14:00 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 14:30 Earth Tripping 14:55 Earth Tripping 15:25 Ultimate Traveller 16:20 Perilous Journeys 17:15 Chasing Time 17:40 First Ascent

THE TOURIST ON OSN CINEMA 18:10 A World Apart 19:05 By Any Means 20:00 Earth Tripping 20:30 Earth Tripping 21:00 Graham’s World 21:30 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 22:00 Departures 22:55 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 23:20 Earth Tripping 23:50 Delinquent Gourmet

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 PG15 08:00 10:00 11:45 14:00 16:00 17:45 20:00 22:00 23:45

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Fright Night-PG15 London Boulevard-18 Mission: Impossible II-PG15 True Justice: Angel Of DeathMission To Mars-PG15 Brake-PG15 Mission: Impossible III-PG15 Mission To Mars-PG15 Do No Harm-PG15 Mission: Impossible III-PG15 Taxi Driver-18 Wrong Side Of Town-18 The Godfather-18

Dangerous Flowers-PG15 Mrs. Miracle-PG15 Enter The Phoenix-PG15 A Fall From Grace-PG15 Dangerous Flowers-PG15 Like Crazy-PG15 The National Tree-PG15 Hidden Crimes-PG15 The Tourist-PG15 Wrath Of The Titans-PG15 Casino Jack-18 Prowl-18

00:00 Brickleberry 00:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 01:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 01:30 Family Guy 02:00 Louie 02:30 Girls 03:00 Breaking In 03:30 Malibu Country 04:00 Seinfeld 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Emily’s Reasons Why Not 06:00 Arrested Development 06:30 Samantha Who? 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Seinfeld 08:30 Emily’s Reasons Why Not 09:00 Breaking In 09:30 How I Met Your Mother 10:30 Samantha Who? 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Arrested Development 12:30 Seinfeld 13:00 Emily’s Reasons Why Not 13:30 Samantha Who? 14:00 Malibu Country 15:00 How I Met Your Mother 15:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 16:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 16:30 Arrested Development 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Last Man Standing 18:30 Friends 19:00 How I Met Your Mother 19:30 Men At Work 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 The New Normal 22:30 Out There 23:00 The Big C 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

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Breakout Kings Game Of Thrones Revenge Alphas Revenge Breakout Kings Emmerdale Coronation Street

08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

C.S.I. New York Revenge Revenge Alphas Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show C.S.I. New York Eureka Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show C.S.I. New York Grey’s Anatomy House Of Cards The Americans American Horror Story

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 13:45 16:00 18:00 19:45 22:00

Dread Fright Night London Boulevard Mission: Impossible II True Justice: Angel Of Death Mission To Mars Brake Mission: Impossible III Mission To Mars Do No Harm Mission: Impossible III Taxi Driver

00:00 Jackass: The Movie-18 02:00 Back To The Future-PG15 04:00 House Arrest-FAM 06:00 The Search For Santa Paws-PG 08:00 The Tooth Fairy 2-PG 10:00 Ernest Scared Stupid-PG15 12:00 House Arrest-FAM 14:00 Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate-PG 16:00 Ernest Scared Stupid-PG15 18:00 Summer School-PG15 20:00 The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard-18 22:00 Jackass: The Movie-18

01:15 03:45 05:45 07:45 09:15 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:15

Biutiful-18 Raggedy Man-PG15 Take Shelter-PG15 The Woman In The Fifth-PG15 Stealing Bess-PG15 The Presidio-PG15 Take Shelter-PG15 Stealing Bess-PG15 Win Win-PG15 Henry’s Crime-PG15 An Inconvenient Truth-PG Awaydays-18

01:00 02:45 04:45 06:30 09:00 11:00 13:00 14:30 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Ondine-PG15 Honey 2-PG15 33 Postcards-PG15 War Horse-PG15 StreetDance 2-PG15 The Pirates! Band Of Misfits-PG Once Brothers-PG15 John Carter-PG15 StreetDance 2-PG15 Mary & Martha-PG15 The Rum Diary-18 Contraband-18

01:00 02:45 04:30 06:00 08:00 10:00 11:30 13:00 14:45 16:30 18:00 20:00 22:00 23:30

Twigson The Happy Cricket 2 Arthur’s Missing Pal Vickery’s Wild Ride Wheelers The Proud Family Movie Twigson Kung Fu Panda 2 Vickery’s Wild Ride A Very Fairy Christmas The Proud Family Movie Snow Day Kung Fu Panda 2 Wheelers

00:00 01:45 04:15 06:00 08:00 10:15

Source Code-PG15 The Avengers-PG15 Melinda And Melinda-PG15 Crisis Point-PG15 Hugo-PG One Angry Juror-PG15

11:45 The Avengers-PG15 14:15 A View From Here-PG15 15:45 Hugo-PG 18:00 The Odd Life Of Timothy Green-PG 20:00 The River Why-PG15 22:00 Peacock-18 23:45 Hugo-PG

00:30 01:00 04:30 06:30 07:00 2013 08:30 09:00 11:00 12:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 18:00 19:00 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00

ICC Cricket 360 Premier League Darts NRL Premiership Futbol Mundial Rugby League Challenge Cup ICC Cricket 360 Super Rugby AFL Premiership Highlights NRL Premiership PGA Tour Highlights Super Rugby Highlights Super Rugby AFL Premiership Highlights NRL Premiership NRL Full Time Futbol Mundial Trans World Sport Super Rugby

00:00 Trans World Sport 01:00 Futbol Mundial 01:30 PGA Tour the Players Championship 07:00 Super Rugby 08:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 09:00 PGA Tour Highlights 10:00 Trans World Sport 11:00 Super Rugby 13:00 Futbol Mundial 13:30 ITU World Triathlon Series 16:00 Trans World Sport 17:00 ICC Cricket 360 17:30 Premier League Darts 21:00 PGA Tour Highlights 22:00 WWE SmackDown

00:30 01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 16:30 18:30 19:30 20:30 23:00

Top 14 Highlights NRL Premiership Golfing World World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool Trans World Sport Golfing World Super Rugby World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool ICC Cricket 360 Top 14 Highlights Golfing World AFL Premiership Top 14 World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool AFL Premiership Rugby League Challenge Cup

00:00 02:30 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:30 20:30 21:00

Mass Participation Ironman Mobil 1 The Grid Ping Pong World US Bass Fishing NHL WWE NXT Ping Pong World US Bass Fishing NHL Mass Participation Ironman European Le Mans Series UIM Powerboat Champs UIM Aquabike Champs UIM F1H2O Nations Cup US Bass Fishing NHL Mobil 1 The Grid UFC

01:30 Point Blank 03:00 Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid 04:55 Now, Voyager-PG 07:00 Sunday In New York-FAM 08:45 Splendor In The Grass-PG 10:45 The Adventures Of Huckleberry...-FAM 13:10 The Law And Jake Wade-FAM 14:35 Little Caesar-PG 16:00 Anna Karenina-FAM 17:30 Where Eagles Dare-PG 20:05 The Seventh Cross-PG 22:00 Heaven With A Gun-U 23:40 A Patch Of Blue-PG

Classifieds TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (09/05/2013 TO 15/05/2013) SHARQIA-1 JAVA HEAT (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

SHARQIA-2 WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM

MUHALAB-1 JAVA HEAT (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (DIG) MUHALAB-2 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) FANAR-1 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) FANAR-2 WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) MARINA-1 JAVA HEAT (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:15 PM 5:15 PM 7:15 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM 1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM 12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-2 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-1 NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) NO TELL MOTEL (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM

AVENUES-2 THE CALL (DIG)

1:30 PM

THE CALL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG)

3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

360ยบ- 1 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

360ยบ- 2 WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AL-KOUT.1 IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D)

2:15 PM 4:45 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM

AL-KOUT.2 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

BAIRAQ-1 IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D)

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:45 PM 9:15 PM 12:05 AM

PLAZA SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM

LAILA IRON MAN 3 (DIG) NO THU+FRI IRON MAN 3 (DIG) NO THU+FRI IRON MAN 3 (DIG)

5:45 PM 8:15 PM 10:45 PM

AJIAL.1 EMMANUEL (DIG) (MALAYALAM) EMMANUEL (DIG) (MALAYALAM)

6:30 PM 9:30 PM

AJIAL.2 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM

METRO-1 EMMANUEL (DIG) (MALAYALAM) EMMANUEL (DIG) (MALAYALAM)

6:30 PM 9:30 PM

METRO-2 GREEKU VEERUDU (DIG) (TELUGU) 6:45 PM THU+FRI+SAT NAGARAJA CHOLAN, MA, MLA (TAMIL) 6:45 PM NAGARAJA CHOLAN, MA, MLA (TAMIL) 9:45 PM

MATRIMONIAL Looking for brides working in Kuwait for Hindu Ezhava brothers 32 and 27 year old Mulam Chittra (stars) from Kottayam, Kerala. If interested please contact. Email: kuwaitmail2013@yahoo.com (C 4412) 11-5-2013 Proposals invited for a born again Christian girl, 31 years, 165cm height, working in Kuwait Multinational Company, completed B.A Literature and Masters in Management Hospital.

Interested parents of professionally qualified boys working in India or abroad please contact: Email: lijotk@gmail.com (C 4410) 9-5-2013

FOR SALE Nissan Infiniti G37 2009 model, 3.7 liter, excellent condition, automatic, original paint, 6 cylinder, 6 CD changer, mobile connectivity, rear view camera and scanner, sunroof, sand color, cruise control, GPS, as good as new. Has run 60,000 kms, Price KD 6,500/-. Contact: 99742340.

(C 4414) 13-5-2013 Two Mitsubishi L300 long panel delivery vehicles white color, 2004 model, 225,000 km, price KD 1,300/- and 2007 model, 201,000 km, price KD 2,300/, fully maintained by Al-Mulla, ready for checking any time. Contact: 99852361 (C 4415) 12-5-2013 Jeep Mitsubishi (ASX) 2011, dark gray color, full options, excellent condition,

68000km, price KD 3,300/-.

Contact: 66729295.

(C 4406) KIA Sorento - SE Jeep, model 2006, full options, sky blue color, excellent condition, price KD 1,750.

Contact: 50994848.

SITUATION WANTED 9 years Kuwait experienced Indian house driver available from 9th of June onwards. Sponsor release money no need, preferred to work for a small family.

Contact: 90049716.

(C 4413) 13-5-2013

CHANGE OF NAME I, Yodati Mahesh, holder of Indian Passport No. H0552947 hereby change my name to Yedoti Mahesh. (C 4411) 9-5-2013 SITUATION VACANT Cook required for Kuwaiti home, knows local and international food, transferable residence, live-in full time, male only. Contact: 94088822. (C 4416) 14-5-2013

Prayer timings

112

Fajr: Shorook Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:27 04:56 11:44 15:20 18:33 20:00

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines QTR JZR PIA THY ETH JZR BBC GFA UAE ETD FDB RJA RBG MSR OMA QTR THY DHX FDB BAW FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR UAE ABY QTR FDB IRA ETD GFA MEA TMA UAE MSR QTR FDB SVA KNE KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR QTR

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 14/5/2013 Flt Route 148 DOHA 267 BEIRUT 239 SIALKOT 764 SABIHA 620 ADDIS ABABA 539 CAIRO 43 MUSCAT 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 67 DUBAI 642 AMMAN 555 ALEXANDRIA 612 CAIRO 643 MUSCAT 138 DOHA 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 69 DUBAI 157 LONDON 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 412 MANILA 206 ISLAMABAD 416 JAKARTA 503 LUXOR 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 605 ISFAHAN 301 ABU DHABI 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 213 BEIRUT 871 DUBAI 610 CAIRO 140 DOHA 57 DUBAI 500 JEDDAH 472 JEDDAH 562 AMMAN 352 COCHIN 284 DHAKA 514 TEHRAN 546 ALEXANDRIA 332 TRIVANDRUM 561 SOHAG 165 DUBAI 134 DOHA

Time 00:15 00:20 01:05 01:40 01:45 00:40 02:00 01:55 02:25 02:30 03:10 03:10 03:15 03:15 03:20 03:30 04:35 05:10 05:50 06:30 07:45 07:50 06:15 07:25 06:35 07:40 08:25 08:50 09:00 09:15 09:20 09:30 10:40 10:55 12:00 12:45 13:00 13:45 13:50 14:30 14:35 14:40 8:05 12:05 13:40 14:15 7:55 12:00 11:35 15:45

SYR RJA ETD UAE ABY SVA GFA UAL QTR QTR FDB GFA AXB JAI RBG OMA FDB ABY MEA IRA MSR KLM ALK UAE ETD QTR GFA QTR FDB AIC UAL DLH UAE KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR JAI THY

341 640 303 857 127 510 215 982 6130 144 63 219 393 572 553 647 61 129 402 679 618 415 229 859 307 136 217 146 59 981 981 636 4965 542 104 674 786 774 166 678 742 618 325 777 135 177 185 239 574 772

DAMASCUS AMMAN ABU DHABI DUBAI SHARJAH RIYADH BAHRAIN WASHINGTON DC DULLES DOHA DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE MUMBAI ALEXANDRIA MUSCAT DUBAI SHARJAH BEIRUT LAR ALEXANDRIA AMSTERDAM COLOMBO DUBAI ABU DHABI DOHA BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI CHENNAI BAHRAIN FRANKFURT DUBAI CAIRO LONDON DUBAI JEDDAH RIYADH PARIS MUSCAT DAMMAM DOHA NAJAF JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI DUBAI AMMAN MUMBAI ISTANBUL

15:50 15:55 16:35 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:25 17:50 18:25 18:55 19:05 19:15 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:15 20:20 20:30 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:45 22:00 22:20 22:25 22:40 23:10 22:25 18:15 18:45 19:25 18:30 19:25 18:40 19:35 19:30 19:10 16:15 17:50 23:00 17:30 22:40 22:30 23:20 23:45

Airlines AIC PIA AXB JAI UAL DLH KLM JZR THY PIA THY ETH BBC UAE FDB RBG MSR OMA ETD QTR QTR JZR FDB RJA GFA THY KAC JZR BAW FDB KAC KAC ABY UAE FDB ETD IRA QTR KAC GFA KAC KAC MEA JZR JZR KAC KAC JZR TMA MSR UAE

Departure Flights on Tuesday 14/5/2013 Flt Route 976 GOA/CHENNAI 206 LAHORE 490 MANGALORE 573 MUMBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 411 AMSTERDAM 502 LUXOR 773 ISTANBUL 240 SIALKOT 765 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 44 DHAKA 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 556 ALEXANDRIA 613 CAIRO 644 MUSCAT 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 70 DUBAI 643 AMMAN 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 545 ALEXANDRIA 164 DUBAI 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 513 IMAM KHOMEINI 561 AMMAN 126 SHARJAH 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 604 ISFAHAN 133 DOHA 101 LONDON 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 405 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 324 AL NAJAF 677 MUSCAT 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 223 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 872 DUBAI

Time 00:05 00:15 00:15 00:20 00:25 00:30 00:55 01:30 02:20 02:20 02:40 02:45 03:30 03:45 03:50 03:55 04:15 04:20 04:20 04:25 05:15 05:35 06:30 06:35 07:00 07:10 07:20 07:25 08:25 08:25 09:15 09:25 09:30 09:50 09:55 10:15 10:20 10:25 10:25 11:25 11:30 11:45 11:55 12:25 13:00 13:00 13:00 13:20 13:45 14:00 14:15

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

FDB QTR KAC KNE SVA KAC KAC KAC SYR RJA JZR QTR ETD JZR ABY UAE SVA GFA JZR JZR UAL QTR QTR FDB GFA JZR AXB RBG JAI FDB ABY OMA KAC KAC MEA IRA MSR DHX KLM ETD ALK UAE KAC QTR KAC GFA FDB KAC QTR KAC KAC JZR UAE

58 141 673 473 501 617 773 741 342 641 238 135 304 538 128 858 511 216 184 266 982 6131 145 64 220 134 394 554 571 62 120 648 343 351 403 618 607 171 415 308 230 860 381 137 301 218 60 205 147 411 283 528 4965

DUBAI DOHA DUBAI JEDDAH JEDDAH DOHA RIYADH DAMMAM DAMASCUS AMMAN AMMAN DOHA ABU DHABI CAIRO SHARJAH DUBAI RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT BAHRAIN DOHA DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI DUBAI SHARJAH MUSCAT CHENNAI KOCHI BEIRUT LAR LUXOR BAHRAIN DAMMAM ABU DHABI COLOMBO DUBAI DELHI DOHA MUMBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI ISLAMABAD DOHA BANGKOK DHAKA ASSIUT DUBAI

14:30 14:55 15:05 15:30 15:45 15:45 16:00 16:30 16:50 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:50 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:30 18:40 18:40 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:50 20:05 20:15 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:45 20:55 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:20 21:30 21:50 22:05 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:15 23:40 23:45 23:55 23:55

34

s ta rs CROSSWORD 189

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) ARIES There is a desire to get things done as quickly as possible this morning.

Meetings, conferences, phone conversations—all take a part in keeping you busy. You may be looking for a new position or some different type of job; it would be better to count your blessings and wait a while longer to make the changes you deem necessary.

Opportunities will be coming your way next month and tomorrow is only a sunrise away. This afternoon, you actively seek out a good time with friends. Whatever you and your friends enjoy together, it will be fun and decidedly different from your normal interests. You may decide on a future trip to a wilderness area. Outdoor beauty enchants you. The evening affords you time to restore your energies.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may find that people are so busy these days that you may not be able to finish a sentence. Others may challenge your authority or the direction you are taking. Events could make it difficult for you to act. Whew! Sometimes you might wish people would just stop to take a breath. View yourself during these busy occasions as others would see you. You may be the grounding that the frustrated around you need to become better focused. Take several slow, deep breaths and you will see the room become quiet. This afternoon points to your taking the initiative in making positive changes. Your secret is that all this time you have had the opportunity to focus your recommendations for presentation in clear and positive ways.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 11. An explosive device fused to denote under specific conditions.

5. South American palm yielding a wax similar to carnauba wax.

12. A guided missile fired from shipboard against an airborne target.

15. A domed or vaulted recess or projection on a building especially the east end of a church.

16. (of reproduction) Not involving the fusion of male and female gametes reproduction".

17. 100 pyas equal 1 kyat.

18. Fermented alcoholic beverage brewed from malt and hops.

19. Baked dish of layers of lasagna pasta with sauce and cheese and meat or vegetables.

20. The sense organ for hearing and equilibrium.

21. Submit or yield to another's wish or opinion.

23. (chemistry) P(otential of) H(ydrogen).

24. A civil or military authority in Turkey or Egypt.

26. Try to manage without help.

29. Affixed or as if affixed with glue or paste.

36. A drug combination found in some overthe-counter headache remedies (Aspirin and Phenacetin and Caffeine).

37. The airforce of Great Britain.

39. Shaped like a cross.

40. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat trimmed off.

43. A trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group.

44. The biblical name for ancient Syria.

45. The basic unit of money in Western Samoa.

46. Italian chemist noted for work on polymers (1903-1979).

48. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism.

49. A song that was formerly popular.

51. American professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934).

52. A silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion.

53. (computer science) A standardized language for the descriptive markup of documents.

57. A yellow trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group.

58. Be earlier in time.

61. Large high frilly cap with a full crown.

65. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

66. An associate degree in applied science.

68. A detested person.

71. Any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars.

73. Commodities offered for sale.

75. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa.

76. A program under which employees regularly accumulate shares and may ultimately assume control of the company.

78. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

79. An appreciable consequence (especially a lessening).

80. Pertaining to or associated with agony (especially death agonies).

81. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

DOWN 1. A small cake leavened with yeast.

2. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

3. One thousandth of a second.

4. Unhappy in love.

5. A system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year.

6. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

7. Uttering in an irritated tone.

8. A woman hired to suckle a child of someone else.

9. A wooden pin pushed or driven into a surface.

10. Of a dull grayish brown to brownish gray color.

11. Free of or using methods to keep free of pathological microorganisms.

12. A detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work.

13. An Indian nursemaid who looks after children.

14. God of death.

22. United States industrialist who manufactured plows suitable for working the prairie soil (1804-1886).

25. Of or belonging to an aecium.

27. Italian sociologist and economist whose theories influenced the development of fascism in Italy (1848-1923).

28. (zoology) Relating to frogs and toads.

30. Strike with disgust or revulsion.

31. A burn cause by hot liquid or steam.

32. A small digital computer based on a microprocessor and designed to be used by one person at a time.

33. The unit of measurement for the proportion of gold in an alloy.

34. A soft cotton or worsted fabric with an open mesh.

35. The ability and desire to purchase goods and services.

38. Occurring at or forming an end or termination.

41. The amount a salary is increased.

42. The cry made by sheep.

47. A fast sailboat with 3 parallel hulls.

50. Moth having nonfunctional mouthparts as adults.

54. Extinct flightless bird of New Zealand.

55. A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body.

56. The dialect of Malay used as the national language of the Republic of Indonesia or of Malaysia.

59. Excessively fat.

60. A radioactive gaseous element formed by the disintegration of radium.

62. Lake in northwestern Russia near the border with Finland.

63. (botany) Especially of leaves.

64. Type genus of the Percidae.

67. (informal) Valuable goods.

69. A flat-bottomed volcanic crater that was formed by an explosion.

70. A French abbot.

72. (usually followed by `to') Naturally disposed toward.

74. A rapid bustling commotion.

77. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

An irresistible force meets an immovable object. Be wise with your time and your involvement with a subject of conversation about which you may not know as much as you think. Proceed with caution! There is a lot of passion available for work projects. You add your own special qualities to any job you undertake. After a little nourishment in the afternoon, you are ready to conquer new projects and you are better able to relate to others with clear meaning. By learning to set and stay with your goals, you can find success at every turn in the road. You radiate your most positive energies this afternoon. Later, there is a chance to communicate and enjoy friends that you have not seen in some time. General good feelings make this a happy time.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You understand and perform well with all people. You know what it takes to create a supportive environment. You are likely to feel restless and bored with normal routine matters—you will probably introduce some new elements into your activities. This time will induce you to break out of any rut you may have made for yourself. Your thinking will be more original. Things may even seem almost magical in the way they work out for you. This is a great time to organize and get things accomplished. A greater appreciation for things of value is in order now. This could be a period of great material gain; it is certainly a time when you find the right price while shopping. Many things catch your eye but you are good to stay with a list; this is a good day.

Leo (July 23-August 22) It is important to make yourself understood at this time. You could be working in a place where the acoustics are poor or there are interruptions or noises that seep into the background. Ask for feedback when you think it is necessary.

There may be some disputes today, but nothing you can’t handle. Learn or teach ways in which to turn ridicule or sarcasm into gentle laughter. Your work is where your main attention is most of this day. Take an opportunity later today to teach kids coping or problem-solving skills. If you have children, you will be setting the example. If you are teaching, you have techniques to share. By this afternoon, any of the confusing energies of the day will be gone. You may find a new friend or friends this evening.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) A low-cycle day may find you daydreaming or fantasizing about your future. A sibling may try your patience today. Do not take irrational behavior personally—this will pass. You could act impulsively yourself if you do not take some time to think before you act. It takes good character and some self-control to be understanding and forgiving. Your creative thinking gains a boost after the noon meal and you create some promising ideas for all sorts of professional projects. There is an opportunity to attend a small social gathering this evening that will be important to your future professional life—be a good listener and encourage others to talk about successes and goals. A deepening of a love relationship gives you comfort tonight.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) This is a great time for discovery. If an unusual opportunity presents itself, go for it right away, as these positive energies do not wait around for those who ponder. Patience in seeing a project through to the end has its rewards; you are successful. An early break would be a good thing. Young people copy your activities and find creative things to do while you work. This afternoon would be the perfect time to read, go to a movie, pull weeds or perhaps bicycle ride through the park with a friend. If there are young people in your family, allocate a special area for them to garden. This is great therapy for everyone. You encourage and enjoy joint participation in a game or fun activity with your loved one or family members tonight.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Outer circumstances and the flow of events make it easy for you to make clear decisions. In a team meeting, it would be a good idea to share ideas.

You and your co-workers are intuitive, resourceful, cerebral and inventive. They have a lot to offer in the planning phase of this meeting. Pace yourself, take notes and enjoy the ride; many things gain your attention at this time. After the workday is over you may be ready for a complete change of attention and might enjoy stopping off at a music store or a pet store or even meet the family at the aquarium or a park in your town. This sort of transition helps to ground you, refresh and renew your energies. Later, family members will love the opportunity to gain your attention—which you love.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) There is much effort now with plenty of chances to apply your eagerness into constructive purposes. You believe in eight hours of good rest each night in order to perform your best. Today is a good example of how successful you can be. This afternoon, you are in a mood of self-enjoyment and can appreciate your own better qualities. You will see value in or feel love for an older person. You may be teaching or helping in a volunteer program with retired people. There is a chance you will feel that you learn more than you teach or help. Your faith in a higher power, as well as other people, will be most meaningful. Also, you might feel lady luck is smiling on you. Be careful gambling; it could become excessive!

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) This may be a time during which you can get ahead by finding your limits and establishing some goals. Travel in the professional realm is in the future for you. Your activities are frequently spread too thin, allowing your emotions to seem shallow. Be wise in balancing your activities so that you are better able to emotionally deal with fussy customers, pushy co-workers and a busy family life. Be careful not to make too many promises that you cannot keep. Trust in your own counsel and work on your self-confidence. You may want to take advantage of a quiet afternoon—some serious thinking. Your ideas of where you want to go and your life choices are good; perhaps a bit more education for fun or professional advancement would be good.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Circumstances today may require the use of your persuasive powers. An attitude coach might be fun. There are styles of behavior to learn if you want to fit into a different scene. This may mean you could be traveling to a foreign country. You have an opportunity to exercise your own personal power. Concentrate on ways in which to bring about a balance between your responsibilities and your recreation.

There could be a window in time that opens now, making insights possible; take a look.

As you move through your day, heads turn in your direction. There will be increased opportunities to reach out to others. A relationship may become more meaningful this evening. Romance is very possible.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Your emotions and the feelings of those around you may be very clear today. This is a good time to write and communicate with real originality.

Inventions and breakthroughs are possible. Take time to evaluate your needs. Easy-going pursuits are fun and attract friends. Innocent flirtation, a movie or theater matinee, or a stroll through an art gallery is all favorably indicated. This is a time of good fortune when things open up in a very natural way. Watch your budget, but have fun. Chances are also good that you and your partner may be able to air some things that have been going on under the surface. Avoid dreaming about inequalities between partners. The mellow feeling of this period will ease your relationship.

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TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

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25655535

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25327148

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25633324

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25345875

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22636464

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25322030

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22633135

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25339330

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25722291

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22666288

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25330060

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24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

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William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

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TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

T

he former ‘Friends’ actress avoided sexual relationships with boys until she got older and always intended to keep her virginity until she married. Lisa was also too wary to experiment with alcohol or drugs in her teens and would instead tell her friends about the dangers involved and try and convince them not to get drunk. She said: “I was a prude at 18. I was very serious about morals, particularly sexual ones. It was my aim to remain a virgin until marriage. Even my mother, Nedra, suggested I ought to be more affectionate with boys, but holding hands and kissing in pub-

lic was never my style. ”I was not a rebellious teenager. When my friends did crazy, dangerous things, I just wouldn’t go along. I would lecture others on the dangers of drinking and smoking.

When I look back now, it’s no wonder that I didn’t attract many boys.”

T

he late King of Pop - who died of acute Propofol intoxication in 2009 - was so thin his heart could be seen visibly beating under his skin according to makeup artist Karen Faye, who worked with him during rehearsals for his ‘This Is It’ residency concerts The O2 in London. She recalled costume director Michael Bush’s shock at seeing Michael’s body, explaining: “Bush said, ‘Oh my God. I could see Michael’s heartbeat through the skin in his chest. He was clearly upset. He was pretty much in shock.” During the Jackson family’s wrongful death court case against concert promoter AEG Live, Karen also admitted she helped retouch footage of the ‘Thriller’ hitmaker for his posthumous ‘This Is It’ documentary. According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, she said: “I was a lie. I didn’t want a lie. Everybody was lying after he died, saying that Michael was well. “Everybody knew that he wasn’t. I felt that retouching Michael was just a part of that lie.” A string of emails has been uncovered from June 2009, in which music arranger Michael Bearden told concert choreographer Kenny Ortega that Michael was so frail, he was unable to sing or dance at the same time.

T

he 68-year-old actor portrays late American pianist Liberace in the film which focuses on the musician’s secret homosexual relationship with his chauffeur Scott Thorson - played by Damon - and although he was very nervous about their romantic scenes once they got the initial kiss out of the way everything was fine. Douglas said: “Once you get that first kiss in, you are comfortable. Matt and I didn’t rehearse the love scene. We said, ‘Well - we’ve read the script, haven’t we?’ The hardest thing about sex scenes is that everybody is a judge.”

Douglas was originally offered the role of Liberace in 2010 but had to put his career on hold after being diagnosed with stage four throat cancer later that year and he admits he was so weak from the illness he couldn’t do anything other than rest. Speaking to New York Magazine, he explained: “When I was ill, I mostly lay on that couch. I watched a lot of sports, anything where I didn’t know the ending ... I did [miss working], but I was too weak to miss much of anything. I was stage four, and there is no stage five.”

M

atthew Knowles - who managed his daughter during her rise to stardom as a teenager with Destiny’s Child until 2011 - has been issued a lien by the US tax department, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to claim two sums of unpaid tax, TMZ reports. Matthew, 61, reportedly owes $485,575.95 for 2010 and $728,004.89 for 2011, adding up to $1,213,580.84 for the final two years he was guiding Beyonce’s career. The music businessman previously admitted he found it “incredibly painful” to cut professional ties with his 31-year-old daughter. He previously stated: “It was hard for me to let her go - it was hard for both of us to let each other go. And let’s be clear on that. She didn’t let me go, we both let each other go. That’s a big difference.” This was not a normal ending of a business agreement. This was a dad and a daughter and it was incredibly painful and it had some difficulties.”Despite Matthew claiming it was joint decision for him to stop being her manager, Beyonce - who has 16month-old daughter Blue Ivy with her rapper husband Jay-Z has admitted their split has taken a toll on their personal relationship. In her recent HBO documentary ‘Life Is But A Dream’, she explained: “It took a while for me and my dad to have an understanding. When I turned 18 and started handling my business more, he went into shock. And we had our issues. I’d say ‘No’ to something, and he’d book it anyway. Then I’d have to do it because I’d look bad [if I didn’t] ... Every time he pushed me, I got stronger. I had to sacrifice my relationship with dad. I had to let go.”

T

he ‘Rebel Way’ hitmaker - who was hit with a $546,270.29 back tax bill in February - has paid the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) everything he owed for the years 2009 and 2011. A source told gossip website TMZ.com that the 41-year-old rapper who was previously known as Snoop Dogg before he embraced Rastafarianism - recently paid the bills in full and the lien was released late last month. The Grammy-winner had previously failed to submit payments of $101,952.44 in 2009 and $444,317.85 in 2011. This isn’t the first time the rapper has had tax issues. He was previously reported to have been late paying $476,000 from his earnings in 2008, but eventually paid that bill after the IRS brought it to his attention. Snoop Lion recently admitted he thinks he is having a midlife crisis in reverse and is becoming more conservative. He previously said: “When you reach the pinnacle, you finally wake up, put aside childish ways and want to do something positive.

“You can affect people. You have kids and you understand what life is about.

T

he ‘Fine China’ singer - who recently split from his on/off girlfriend Rihanna - is allegedly pursuing the model and fashion designer again and was spotted flirting with her after a concert on Thursday night. A source told HollywoodLife.com: “He’s been initiating contact with her, not the other way around. I wouldn’t say Karrueche and Chris are together but they are talking and kicking it.”

An eyewitness claims the couple were all over each other after the 24-year-old singer performed at Wild 94.9’s annual Wild Jam in San Jose, California on Thursday. A friend close to Karrueche recently insisted she doesn’t feel guilty about being with Chris again so soon after his break-up with Rihanna. The source said: “That’s not her problem. She gave them their space respectfully when they were together and it was only when Chris stopped talking to Rihanna that she started hanging with him.”

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

T

he ‘Stay’ singer - who recently ended her on/off relationship with Chris Brown - praised her “beautiful” mother Monica for teaching her how to be a strong and independent woman in a touching Mother’s Day tribute. Posting a picture of Monica on her Instagram profile to mark the occasion today, the 25-year-old beauty wrote: “Her attitude Rihanna, she got it from her mama!!!.... Happy Mother’s Day beautiful!! What a lucky little b***h I am to have come from you! “You showed me real strength, how to be independent, how to love and be loved, not to judge people or their situations, how to forgive, how to learn from every mistake I make, how to be hospitable, how to do my makeup, cook, clean, not to lower my standards for anything or any-

one!” Rihanna also mentioned her late grandmother Dolly in the message, adding: “DOLLY taught you so well, I can only imagine how incredibly proud of you she is!!! I am who I am because that’s all I’ve known!! Thank you for all that you’ve endured to make sure I got here, with a smile!! I could never repay you, you’re PRICELESS!!! My gem!!! #mommy #happymothersday #mamasgal #mynumber1 (sic)”

Kim Kardashian counting down

T

he 32-year-old ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ star - who is set to welcome her first child in early July with her rapper boyfriend Kanye West - admits she is “nervous and anxious” about motherhood but is grateful to her mother Kris Jenner and older sister Kourtney, 34, for inspiring her to be a great parent. In a special Mother ’s Day post on her blog on Sunday, the reality TV star wrote: “Mother’s Day is one of my favorite holidays because it’s a special day to honor my role model and best friend. As I’m counting the days until I finally get to be a mother, I’m a bit nervous and anxious but also excited knowing that I learned from the very best.” Kim then paid tribute to other expectant mothers, as well

T

he ‘Moneyball’ actor is a huge fan of Christine Ferber’s artisan fruit preserves - which cost £12 a jar - so he and eldest son Maddox, 11, recently flew to her base in Alsace, France, and stocked up on 100 pots to keep at the homes he shares with partner Angelina Jolie and their six kids in Los Angeles and the South of France. A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Brad is very particular about what he eats but fell in lust with this jam. “He turned detective and discovered Christine has a little shop in the Alsace region, where she makes the artisan jams. It is very well known among the jam-making fraternity. “From here, he jumped on a plane with Maddox and checked the place out first-hand. They had a brilliant time, tasting loads of jams and Christine’s other homemade delicacies.

as Kris, her grandmother MJ and her Kourtney, who has two children, Mason, three, and Penelope, 10 months, with her boyfriend Scott Disick. She wrote: “My mom is a strong and ambitious career woman that despite her busy schedule and the millions of things she has going on, she still manages to put family first and continues to look out for us every day. Motherhood is a gift and I know after watching my mom do it, it’s not easy especially when trying to balance a career. I’m honored to follow in her footsteps and make her proud like I am of her.

T

he 44-year-old actor and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith are eager to teach their two kids, Jaden, 14, and Willow, 12, the rights and wrongs of life by allowing them to make their own mistakes instead of using traditional disciplines such as sending them to their room and taking away their luxuries for the day. He said: “We generally don’t believe in punishment. From the time Jaden was five or six we would sit him down, and all he has to do is be able to explain why what he did was the right thing for his life.” Despite being young, Will - who also has 19-yearold son, Trey, from his previous marriage with Sheree Zampino - wants his children to take responsibility for their own lives and has revealed the extra freedoms they have been allowed has encouraged his actor son Jaden to ask for a house of his own for his 15th birthday in July.

T

he 37-year-old Australian star - who has two daughters, Olive, five, and Elula, two, with her comedian husband Sacha Baron Cohen - was left struggling for air when she got tangled up in chains while performing a stunt as a glamorous escapologist in a water tank, after being submerged for two and a half minutes. The actress told the MailOnline website: “They had a guy who was off camera, but he was a long way away with a can of oxygen. By the time I realized I couldn’t get up and beckoned for him, I realized that I had run out of air.” The petite star explained that there was an emergency “kill switch” in

the tank, which would have completely drained it in 70 seconds but she couldn’t reach it. She said: “Luckily, I managed to get free and stay level-headed and got out before it went even more horribly wrong.” Isla revealed all she could think about was what she was wearing in that scary moment. She said: “Not in a swimming costume. No one wants to go in a swimming costume.” Despite coming out of the incident unscathed, the actress doesn’t think she is brave in front of the camera.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

lifestyle M u s i c

&

M o v i e s

Musicians of the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra who play music exclusively with vegetable instruments (carrots and cucumbers instead of guitars and drums) prepare their instruments before a concert for the 100th anniversary of the San Miguel market in Madrid yesterday . — AFP

B

en Whishaw was named best actor at Britain’s top TV awards on Sunday, cementing his status as one of the UK’s new leading men after starring in the James Bond movie “Skyfall”, while a satire lampooning London Olymmpic organizers won two awards. Whishaw, 32, who is currently per forming with Judi Dench in London’s West End theatre district, won the award for playing Richard II in a TV film based on William Shakespeare’s play that was commissioned by Britain’s public broacaster, the BBC.

Ben Wishaw, winner of Leading Actor Award and Sheridan Smith, winner of the Leading Actress Award at the Arqiva British Academy Television Awards BAFTA in London.— AP photos

“I’m really, really surprised. I was just hoping it would be one of the others just so I wouldn’t have to come up here and say anything,” Whishaw, the gadget guy Q in “Skyfall”, told a star-studded ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall. The award for best actress at the British Academy Television Awards went to Sheridan Smith for playing the wife of the great train rob-

ber Ronnie Biggs in ITV’s “Mrs Biggs”.

She beat the bookmaker ’s favorite Sienna Miller, nominated for playing the American actress Tippi Hedren with whom Alfred Hitchcock was said to be obsessed, in the drama “The Girl” co-produced by the BBC and Time Warner’s HBO. The biggest winner of the night was the BBC comedy program “Twenty Twelve” about organizers of the 2012 Olympics, which won best situation comedy and nabbed the award for best female in a comedy program for actress Olivia Colman.

Colman also won best supporting actress for “Accused”. Another Olympic show, “ The London 2012 Paralympic Games” on Channel 4, won the prize for best sport and live event. The prize for best single drama went to “Murder” by Danish director Birger Larsen who also made the hit Nordic TV thriller “The Killing”, while the best drama went to “Last Tango in Halifax” about teenage sweethearts reunited 60 years on.

HBO show “Girls”, a comedy-drama about a group of 20-somethings in New York, won the international award, beating the Danish crime drama “The Bridge”, the post 9/11 psychological drama “Homeland”, and fantasy epic “Game of Thrones”. But “Game of Thrones” was the public’s favorite, winning the Radio Times Audience Award voted for by the public. Film and TV star Michael Palin, who made his name as a founder of comedy group Monty Python, was presented with an Academy Fellowship while the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) also used the occasion to pay tribute to the BBC series “Dr Who”, which turns 50 this year.

—Reuters British actors Stephen Mangan, left, and Tamsin Greig arrive with US actor Matt Le Blanc.

F

Actors and actress, from left, Sung Kang, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Luke Evans pose for the media during a press conference to promote their new film ‘Fast & Furious 6’ in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. The movie will be released in South Korea on May 23.—AP

US

three-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone has received a lifetime achievement award at a film festival in Croatia that hosts debate on social issues.

Stone became the first person to receive a “Wild Dreamer” award at the sixth annual Subversive Film Festival in Zagreb late on Sunday. “I’m especially proud to be here to show our ten-part series the Untold History of the US,” Stone said at the ceremony.

The 66-year-old, who won Academy Awards for “Platoon”, “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Midnight Express,” has directed films as diverse as “Nixon” and “Natural Born Killers”. His documentary presented in Zagreb looks back at some of the darkest events in the US Three-time Oscar-winning American film- history from the atomic bombing of maker Oliver Stone poses after receiving a Japan during World War II to present days. “I always see a lot of self-criticism life achievement award. — AFP

in Eastern Europe ... and I admire that because we need a little bit more of it in the US, a little bit more questioning what we are up to,” Stone said.

“It’s important to keep subverting but at the same time question yourselves too, question what you do and keep this challenge up. The West, the US particularly, has to be challenged at this point,” he said. More than 300 filmmakers, intellectuals, activists and writers from all over the world take part in the two-week festival that opened on May 4. The festival aims to offer “space for serious political, social and cultural analysis aimed at questioning and finding alternatives to challenge and change local and global power relations,” according to a statement. —AFP

ox, facing the ebbing ratings power of “American Idol,” is betting big on its first miniseries and shows from heavyweight producers Seth MacFarlane and JJ Abrams to invigorate its schedule. The network is making its largest originalprogramming investment yet with a crop of 11 new series along with the miniseries from filmmaker M Night Shyamalan for the 2013-14 season, Kevin Reilly, Fox Entertainment chairman, said yesterday.

That’s more than double the five series it announced last year.

Fox was the second of the major broadcast networks to announce its schedule for next season, following NBC’s unveiling Sunday of an even heftier load of 17 new series. After changing the TV landscape with “American Idol,” Fox is jumping on the miniseries bandwagon that started rolling with the History channel’s hits “Hatfields & McCoys” and “The Bible.” “Wayward Pines,” from Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense”) and based on the best-selling novel “Pines,” stars Matt Dillon in what Fox called a “mind-bending thriller” about the search for missing federal agents in an Idaho town. It will air in midseason.

Other broadcast network miniseries reportedly are in the works, following cable’s success with the genre that once was a TV mainstay but had gone dormant. “American Idol” is staying put on Wednesday and Thursday nights when it returns for its 13th season next January. The same can’t be said for its judges: Original panelist Randy Jackson said he won’t be back, and speculation has newcomers Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban exiting as the aging series seeks a reboot.

MacFarlane, a key Fox supplier with the animated comedies “Family Guy,” “American Dad” and “The Cleveland Show,” will be trying his hand at a liveaction sitcom. “Dads” stars Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi as best friends whose fathers (Martin Mull, Peter Riegert) become their new roommates.

Abrams (“Lost,” “Fringe” and the “Star Trek” movie franchise) is among the producers of “Almost Human,” described by Fox as a high-tech action series set 35 years in the future, when officers are teamed with humanlike androids. The drama debuting this fall stars Karl Urban, Michael Ealy and Lili Taylor. The second new fall drama is “Sleepy Hollow,” a retelling of Washington Irving’s classic 19th-century tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Timid schoolmaster Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) is resurrected 250 years in the future and discovers he must save the world from destruction.

“The Following,” the Kevin Bacon drama about an

Micahel Palin, winner of the Bafta Fellowship award, poses with Terry Jones.

alliance of serial killers that proved a hit for Fox in its freshman year, will be back on the schedule in midseason. Fox’s Tuesday-night comedy block, introduced last year, will get two new occupants this fall, “Dads” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” which pairs Andy Samberg (“Saturday Night Live”) and Andre Braugher (“Men of a Certain Age,” “Homicide: Life on the Street”) as a hotshot detective and veteran captain.

“The Mindy Project” and “New Girl” will return to Tuesday, and the latter sitcom has earned the prized post-Super Bowl spot next February, Fox said.

Their block mate, “Raising Hope,” is moving to Friday for its fourth season, where it will be paired with “Enlisted,” about a man who returns home to

Actor Kiefer Sutherland arrives at the Fox Fall Eco-Casino party in Los Angeles. — AP

reconnect with his two brothers and take charge of a group of misfits on a small Florida Army base. Its cast includes Geoff Stults, who starred in the now-canceled “Ben and Kate.” Other series canceled by Fox include “Touch,” “Goodwin Games,” “Mob Doctor” and the long-running “Cops,” which has been picked up by the Spike network.—AP

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File photo shows US actor Leonardo DiCaprio arriving for the World Premier of ‘The Great Gatsby’ at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York. — AFP photos

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he 2013 Cannes film festival opens on Wednesday with Baz Luhrmann’s 3D version of “The Great Gatsby”, a lavish throwback to the “Roaring Twenties” that befits the glamour and excess of the world’s biggest cinema showcase. The Australian director’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel starring Leonardo DiCaprio surprised some Hollywood insiders, because Cannes traditionally launches on the palm-lined French Riviera with a splashy world premiere.

But “The Great Gatsby” has already opened in the United States to mixed reviews and solid box office, potentially dampening buzz surrounding the start of 12 days of screenings, champagne-fuelled parties and deal making. Stars expected to face a phalanx of flash bulbs along the red carpet include Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Ryan Gosling, Emma Watson and Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan.

Their pictures will undergo one of the most grueling tests in movie making - pleasing Cannes’ notoriously picky critics who regularly boo as the credits roll if they are unhappy. And behind the scenes at the event, up to 40,000 film professionals will be seeking to buy and sell the next box office hit at the most important movie market of the year.

“This is the hardest 10 days of the year for me. There are always three or four movies that are exceptional and you have to find them so it is a detective job,” said Tom Bernard, co-president and co-founder of Sony Pictures Classics. Critics have praised the selection of films being screened at the 66th Cannes festival, saying it is a strong, well-curated list ranging from hotly-anticipated potential crowd pleasers to beautifully-crafted, artistic cinema.

File photo shows Australian director Baz Luhrmann and his wife Catherine Martin arriving at the World Premier of The Great Gatsby at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center New York.

STRONG US SHOWING American directors have their biggest showing in six years in the main competition at Cannes, making up five of 20 films vying for the coveted Palme D’Or for best picture awarded by a jury headed by Steven Spielberg on the final day, May 26. Steven Soderbergh’s “Behind The Candelabra”, starring Douglas as the gay pianist Liberace and Damon as his young lover, is already generating huge interest, particularly as Soderbergh has hinted that this could be his last movie.

Also in focus is Joel and Ethan Coen’s “Inside Llewyn Davis” about New York’s gritty 1960s folk music scene, James Gray’s “The Immigrant”, Jim Jarmusch’s vampire movie “Only Lovers Left Alive”, and Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska”. French filmmakers are also well represented with five films in the main competition, including Roman Polanski’s French-language “La Venus a la Fourrure” (Venus in Fur), a backstage drama starring his wife Emmanuelle Seigner. Two Japanese movies are in the running and one each from China, Chad, Mexico, Iran, Tunisia, Italy and the Netherlands while Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Only God Forgives” with Ryan Gosling in a Thai gangland thriller is creating buzz.

Critics have earmarked “Le Passe” by Iran’s Asghar Farhadi and “Like Father, Like Son” by leading Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda as strong domestic dramas.

Farhadi won an Oscar for best foreign language film in 2012 for “A Separation”. Despite criticism of an all-male lineup last year, only one woman director has made the 2013 competition. Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, sister of former French first lady Carla Bruni, is in the field with “Un Chateau en Italie”.

The sidebar section, Un Certain Regard, set up to recognize young filmmakers, will feature 19 films including “The Bling Ring” by Sofia Coppola starring Harry Potter actress Emma Watson about a real-life gang stealing from celebrities’ homes. “It is a strong line-up this year looking at the names of the directors, especially those in competition,” said Wendy Mitchell, editor of the magazine Screen International.

“There are some very sellable films this year and the fact that business was down at the Berlin festival (in February) usually means that there will be keen buyers at Cannes.” Out of competition, hundreds of films will be shown in special sessions while 4,000 or so films, many yet to be made, will be haggled over in meetings along the Croisette, the resort’s chic promenade, or on extravagant yachts moored nearby.

Patrick Wachsberger, co-chairman of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said he never had time to go to screenings but used Cannes to build buzz for new films including the second and third Hunger Games movies that start shooting later this year. “You meet with distributors every 30 minutes and it really like going to the dentist,” said Wachsberger. “The business seems more complicated than it used to be and a bit more frantic but the money at stake is higher and it’s a bigger gamble.”

—Reuters

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t’s being called the first music video made in space. In an online video, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield sings the David Bowie song “Space Oddity” while floating around in zero gravity aboard the International Space Station. Hadfield and US astronaut Thomas Marshburn were scheduled to return to Earth yesterday. — AP

This image provided by NASA shows astronaut Chris Hadfield recording the first music video from space Sunday May 12, 2013. — AP

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he German theatre director whose controversial staging of a Richard Wagner opera to a Nazi-era theme was cancelled after the premiere hit back yesterday at what he saw as “censorship”. “What happened in Duesseldorf is the censorship of art. That is the real scandal,” Burkhard Kosminski told the weekly magazine Der Spiegel in an interview. Kosminski’s new reading of Wagner’s opera “Tannhaeuser”which set the composer’s story of the mediaeval knight-minstrel in the Nazi era and contained the graphic portrayal of the gassing and execution of Jews-was loudly booed at its May 4 premiere in Duesseldorf.

After much heated debate in the local press, with the city’s Jewish community describing the staging as being in “bad taste,” management announced that the remaining four performances in the short run would not be staged, but would be given as concert performances instead. The opera house said it had been fully aware that the director’s

concept and staging would likely cause controversy.

“But it is with great consternation that we ascertain that some scenes, including the very realistic execution scenes, caused such physical and psychological distress to some audience members that they sought medical help afterwards,” the house said in a statement. In “intensive talks with the director, we discussed possible changes to individual scenes,” the statement said.

“But he rejected this on artistic grounds. We have therefore decided that ‘Tannhaeuser’ will be in concert performance only,” the statement said. Kosminski told Der Spiegel that he was left “shocked and speechless” by the decision. “We were put under extreme pressure by the local press and ignorant know-alls, most of whom didn’t even see the staging,” the director complained.

Kosminksi defended his concept, saying that Wagner’s libretto as it stood was no longer understandable to modern-day audiences. In Wagner’s version of the story, the knight-minstrel Tannhaeuser is cast out of society because he loves the goddess Venus.

“What interests me is the great, archaic theme of guilt. Why shouldn’t we cast Tannhaeuser as a perpetrator, a war criminal? In my staging, Tannhaeuser is forced by members of the Wehrmacht to shoot a family.

The staging is about individual guilt during the Nazi era” and in the reconstruction of Germany after World War II, he said.

Wagner, whose bicentenary is being celebrated all across the musical world this year, is frequently referred to as the favorite composer of Adolf Hitler. The composer penned the viciously anti-Semitic pamphlet “Judaism in Music” in 1850 and his descendants entertained close ties with Hitler and the Nazi leadership during World War II. His music is still banned from being performed in Israel. — AFP

This undated recent handout picture released by the Deutsche Oper am Rhein opera house shows actors playing a scene of the opera ‘Tannhaeuser’

by German composer Richard Wagner at the Deutsche Oper am Rhen in Duesseldorf, western Germany.—AFP

he Hollywood image of Tonto once had the Lone Ranger’s sidekick wearing a thin headband and lots of dangling fringes. The latest Disney version has a shirtless Johnny Depp adorned with feathers, a face painted white with black stripes, and a stuffed crow on his head.

The character in the upcoming “The Lone Ranger” still speaks broken English and chants prayers. But Depp has said he’s less subservient, honors the proud American Indian warrior and displays a dry sense of humor seen throughout Indian Country. The production even hired a Comanche adviser, making it decidedly a Comanche story, and received the blessing of other tribes through ceremonies during filming.

Yet Disney has caught flak for what some say is the perpetuation of stereotypes through a character that lacks any real cultural traits. Moviegoers will have to wait until July 3 to see how all this plays out on screen. For now, they’re getting a glimpse through movie trailers that have left them both optimistic and angry, and wondering to what extent the new Tonto portrays actual American Indians.

What has most people scratching their heads is the black crow that appears to hover over Depp’s head, and the black stripes that run vertically down his painted face. The inspiration came from a painting by artist Kirby Sattler, who said his work isn’t specific to one tribe but is modeled after nomadic Plains tribes of the 19th century.

Depp took the image to the film’s Comanche adviser, William “Two-Raven” Voelker, to ask if it was far-fetched. His answer: It’s not. “There are a lot of people out there screaming who are not Comanche, as in this story Tonto is supposed to be,” Voelker said. “They know nothing of bird culture. When we wear or use those feathers, we’re calling on the energy of the entire bird.”

Depp’s elaborate costumes - as seen in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Edward Scissorhands” - are nothing new. Voelker said he never would have agreed to be a consultant on the movie had he not been assured the production team would be sensitive to American Indian culture and committed to at least some historical accuracy.

The teepees used in the movies, for example, have four poles to reflect the way the Comanche built them, not three more commonly seen in movies and that trace back to Cheyenne and Sioux tribes. The production also visited Oklahoma to hear the Comanche language being spoken and worked with Voelker and others to give Depp Comanche lines in the movie.

The story of westward expansion as told from Tonto’s perspective isn’t entirely accurate historically. Some of the scenes are filmed in Monument Valley on the Navajo Nation, with trains curving around the spires that Navajos believe are petrified deities, and Depp and co-star Armie Hammer looking out beyond the cliffs. Voelker had sought out the sweeping expanses of the southern Plains, home to the Comanche Nation.

Hanay Geiogamah, a member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma who advised Disney on “Pocahontas,” said Depp’s Tonto comes off as a mystical, radical modernization of the character played by Jay Silverheels in the 1950s, which is by far the most recognizable. “You can say, ‘well, American Indians are going to like this one more,’” Geiogamah said. “Are they going to respond more positively to the Johnny Depp Tonto? You’re still responding to a non-Indian, stereotypical image.”

Eileen Maxwell, a spokeswoman for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, said Depp has a tall order to fill if he wants to turn Tonto into a more positive image. “All of its past iterations have not been good for Native Americans,” she said. “They’ve been stereotypical, one-dimension and not true depictions of the westward expansion, which was devastating to Native America.”

Ernest Tsosie of the Navajo comedy duo, James and Ernie, is looking forward to seeing the movie. One scene has Tonto and the Lone Ranger atop a train, being held at gunpoint by an outlaw who asked if they’re going somewhere. The Lone Ranger says no; Tonto insists they are. His straight-face turns to a smirk as the two are picked off the train by a hook that catches the chains that tie them together.

“It’s a real quick moment where I caught it and I kind of chuckled,” Tsosie said. “From what I saw, there’s some moments in there that are meant to be funny but not outwardly funny. I think most Natives will pick up on it.” Tsosie said other tribes have teased the Comanche for making Depp an honorary member but doesn’t believe Depp is ignorant of American Indian culture. Depp was inquisitive about the Navajo language during filming, and the tribal president gave him a Pendleton blanket. T-shirts that Depp has worn have pictures of American Indian warriors in the 1492 version of homeland security and with the letters “AIM” for American Indian Movement, Tsosie said. “I think he knows what’s up.”

Disney’s remake of the “Lone Ranger” has Tonto in the role of coach to John Reid, the idealistic law school graduate played by Hammer, who finds himself out of his depth when he returns to his hometown and eventually becomes the Lone Ranger.

Michelle Shining Elk, a member of the Colville Tribes of the Pacific Northwest who works in the film industry, said the latest depiction will give the wrong perception of American Indians, “that we are uneducated, irrelevant, noncontributors to society living in teepees out on the Plains.”

She expected Depp to deliver his lines in a more realistic and modern manner, “not like a caricature from a John Wayne movie, or 1920s cartoon,” she said.

But as John Wayne was a Hollywood creation, so is Tonto largely. “I just hope that the other rabble-rousers out there can just sit back and take this in as a piece of entertainment,” Voelker said. “It’s not ever supposed to be an end-all to our Comanche culture. If they have problems, they can come to us, and I take that responsibility.” — AP

File photo actor Johnny Depp shaking hands with Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly in Monument Valley during the filming of ‘The Lone Ranger’. — AP

Cannes film festival opens with fittingly lavish ‘Great Gatsby’

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

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Krishna A magical voyage

Padmashri Shobana as Krishna. — Photos by Sherif Ismail

NAFO celebrates 10th anniversary in style

Veteran diplomat T P Sreenivasan is honored

Ambassador Satish C Mehta is honored

Dignitaries and NAFO officials on the dais during the inaugural session. (Inset ) Mohammed Al-Eissa

By Sajeev K Peter

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he thousand-plus crowd packed at the American International School, (AIS) Maidan Hawally was taken on a magical voyage by celebrated Indian actress and danseuse Padmashri Shobana and her 14-member dance troupe with their dazzling dance drama ‘Krishna.’ The audience was left spellbound as Kalarpana from Chennai steered them through a world of fantasy with their vivacious dance and music ensemble depicting the chronicles of Lord Krishna from the Mahabharata.

The musical drama was presented to mark the finale of NAFO Kuwait’s tenth anniversary that was celebrated with a memorable event titled ‘Samanwayam’ on Friday at AIS in the presence of a galaxy of dignitaries including chief guest Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta, renowned Indian diplomat T P Sreenivasan, NSS Director Board member Pandalam Shivan Kutty and Kuwaiti dignitary Mohammad Eissa besides NAFO office-bearers and members.

The musical drama ‘Krishna’ that deftly fuses the classical, folk and contemporary dance styles and employs the subtleties of theatre to their perfection, attempts to reinterpret the philosophy of Krishna which still remains an enigma. Conceived, choreographed and directed by Shobana, the dance drama is drawn on a broad canvas stretching from Vrindavan and Mathura to Kurukshetra, the final battlefield in the Mahabharata.

The production is made outstanding by the contribution of a team of top-billed film and theatre personalities and technicians such as Oscar winner Resul Pookkutty (sound engineering) and has voice-overs in English by Suriya, Konkona Sen, John Abraham, Milind Soman, Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das among others.

The mesmerizing musical drama also incorporates several classical as well as popular film scores, including Bollywood numbers and uses film projections, stunning costumes, spectacular light and visual effects etc, to the delight of the audience.

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arbara Walters, who in 1976 became the first woman to anchor one of the daily network television news shows, announced late Sunday that she will retire next year.

Walters, 83, began her career in TV journalism in 1961 at NBC’s morning news and entertainment program “The Today Show.”

Fifteen years later she moved to rival ABC to co-host the influential “Evening News,” a first for a female journalist. In recent years Walters has been best known for her role co-hosting “The View,” an informal daytime talk show she created in 1997. The show features a panel of women discussing issues of the day, and has been a must-visit stop for US presidential candidates.

“I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead both on ‘The View’ and with

ABC News,” Walters said in a posting on the the ABC website. “I created ‘The View’ and am delighted it will last beyond my leaving it.” Over the years Walters has interviewed leaders like Cuba’s Fidel Casto, Egypt’s Anwar Sadat, Israel’s Menachem Begin, and every US president and first lady since Richard Nixon. She also made her name interviewing celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie and Justin Bieber. “I do not want to appear on another program or climb another mountain,” she said in the ABC posting, which appears in the entertainment section under “Celebrities.”

“I want instead to sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women-and OK, some men too-who will be taking my place.” She was more direct when speaking about retirement to

Tradition Ambassador Mehta inaugurated ‘Samanwayam’ by lighting the traditional lamp at a cultural meeting chaired by NAFO President B S Pillai. The ambassador congratulated NAFO for its socio-welfare services and wished all success for all its future activities. In his presidential address, B S Pillai gave an overview of NAFO’s activities over the last ten years.

In his keynote speech as guest of honor, renowned Indian diplomat, educationist and former permanent representative of India to the United Nations, T P Sreenivasan, lauded NAFO’s various socio-welfare activities.

“Today, the sun never sets on the Indian diaspora”, Sreenivasan remarked, changing the age old adage in an obvious reference to ubiquitous Indians. He urged the Indian community to contribute sincerely to the growth and development of the country where they live and work. NSS Director Board member and Director of India’s Small-scale Industries Board Pandalam Sivankutty praised NAFO for adopting the slogan ‘Help the Helpless’ and proving its commitment towards helping the needy.

Former NAFO president Dr T S Srikumar and Advisory Board member K G Nair read the profiles of both Sreenivasn and Sivankutty respectively. NAFO Patron Vijay Karayil and Advisory Board Member Dr Prasad Nair delivered felicitation speeches.

Gulfmart and Geant country head Dr T A Remesh released the anniversary souvenir by giving the first copy to Mohammad Eissa, General Manager of World Centre Real Estate Company.

At the outset, a prayer song was sung by NAFO’s band Symphony. A documentary was shown on NAFO’s accomplishments of the ten iconic socio-welfare projects that were announced last year on the occasion of its 9th anniversary. NAFO General Secretary C G Manoj welcomed the audience and Program Convener M S Nair proposed a vote of thanks. Sreekala anchored the inaugural session.

the New York Times. “I don’t want to do any more interviews. I don’t want to do any other programs. I’m not joining CNN. This is it,” she told The Times. Until she retires Walters will continue to anchor and report for ABC News, appear on “The View,” and anchor specials, ABC said. These include a “20 Years of 10 Most Fascinating People” special in December, a special on the Oscars, and a retrospective on her career. Walters, however, will remain as executive producer of “The View,” ABC said.

“No one was more surprised than I” about her successful television career, Walters said. “I wasn’t beautiful, like many of the women on the program before me, (and) I had trouble pronouncing my r’s. I still do!” Walters was famously lampooned for that speech impediment-and her penchant for self promo-

tion-in the late 1970s as “Baba Wawa” by the late comedian Gilda Radner on the show “Saturday Night Live.” Radner rose to fame for that series of sketches, but it took years for the real Walters to smile at it. “Years later, when Gilda died, I sent her husband (actor Gene Wilder) a sympathy note and signed it Barbara Wawa,” Walters told the New York Daily News in 2012.

“Gilda was so wonderful-the sketch immortalized me-but at the time I wasn’t so thrilled.” Walters formally announces her retirement on “The View” yesterday.—AFP