23rd Jul

CR IP TI ON BS SU

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

03:21 03:31 05:03 11:54 15:30 18:45 20:14

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37 dead as record rain pounds Beijing

History-maker Wiggins wins Tour de France

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NO: 15517

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Troubleshooter Mukherjee, India’s new President

Debate on constituencies heats up amid warning

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150 FILS

Emsak: Fajer: Shoruk: Dohr: Asr: Maghreb: Eshaa:

Diving team fixes 12 buoys at Kubbar coral reefs

www.kuwaittimes.net

RAMADAN 4, 1433 AH

Al-Khorafi plans to convene July-end session

By B Izzak

Ramadan Kareem

Urgency of reconciliation in Ramadan 2012

By Hassan Taha

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slam cannot be completely realized until this ideal of brotherhood in Islam is achieved. Everything that jeopardizes and threatens the Islamic Brotherhood is regarded as prohibited. A Muslim should not whatsoever part company with his fellow Muslims without any sound reason.

Severing relations with Muslims is a sin: According to Ibn Hajar, severing relations and breaking off from Muslims is among the major sins in Islam. And it becomes graver when the person you forsake is your immediate relative. God says in what can be translated as “The believers are but a single Brotherhood: so make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy.” (Quran 49:10) Turning your backs on your Muslim brothers and sisters without any sound reason, will delay your forgiveness from God (Allah.) It was narrated by Abu Huraira that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The gates to heaven are opened every Monday and Thursday then Allah forgives everyone who does not associate partners with Him, except two brothers who Continued on Page 15

Max 48º Min 35º High Tide 02:51 & 14:02 Low Tide 08:08 & 20:33

In this citizen journalism image and provided by Edlib News Network ENN, Syrian girls flash victory signs during a demonstration in Kfarnebel, Idlib province, northern Syria.— AP

Regime forces assault Syrian capital DAMASCUS: Feared forces led by President Bashar AlAssad’s brother used helicopter gunships yesterday a new assault on rebels in Damascus, activists said, as clashes also raged in Syria’s second city Aleppo.

The Fourth Brigade headed by Maher Al-Assad

mounted an offensive in the Damascus neighborhood of Barzeh, triggering an exodus of residents, as a rebel commander appeared in a video saying the battle to “liberate” Aleppo had begun.

Continued on Page 15

KUWAIT: The debate on a perceived government plan to amend the electoral constituencies and the voting system heated up yesterday amid warnings that the change before the election and outside the National Assembly could trigger protests.

Several opposition MPs insisted that a change to the electoral districts through a so-called “emergency decree” could take the country into a dark tunnel while others warned the consequences will be costly.

The leftist Progressive Movement rejected in a statement any change to the election law while the liberal Kuwait Democratic Forum called for referring the system to the constitutional court to rule if it was in line with the constitution.

The new developments came as Arabic language newspaper Al-Anbaa published what it described as a study by the government proposing major changes to the electoral constituencies and also to the voting system.

Under the existing system, Kuwait is divided into five constituencies with each electing 10 MPs while each voter is allowed to chose a maximum of four candidates in his/her constituency.

Introduced in 2006, the system has been criticized for being unfair with regard to the distribution of voters among the electoral districts. For example, the second constituency has the lowest number of voters with 47,000 compared to 120,000 voters in the fifth constituency.

The government study proposes to bridge the gap between districts by transferring residential areas among the different constituencies making the number of voters between 76,000 in the second to around 90,000 in the fifth constituencies.

Continued on Page 15

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

LOCAL

Sweet Potato and Goat’s Cheese Samosas Key info Difficulty - Intermediate Prep time - 1/2 hour Cook Time - 25 mins Serves - 24 Ingredients 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, plus more to sprinkle 400g sweet potato, diced into small cubes 200g soft goat’s cheese, chopped 3 spring onions, chopped 2 tablespoons coriander leaves, finely chopped 1 whole red chilli, deseeded if you like, finely chopped 1 teaspoon chilli flakes Salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 garlic cloves, crushed 25g unsalted butter 270g filo pastry Rock salt, to sprinkle Method How to make Sweet Potato and Goat’s Cheese Samosas Unlike most samosas, these aren’t fried. This both makes them healthier and somehow intensifies the flavour of the filling. Cinnamon is fabulous with sweet potato. I serve these with a peppery watercress dip - a kind of Indo-Italian pesto - with coriander and lemon (once, by accident, I used orange instead and it was great, so try it). If you grow nasturtiums, use the leaves instead of watercress; it tastes unbelievable. These are smart enough to serve with drinks.

Place the 1 teaspoon cumin seeds in a dry frying pan and toast until golden and fragrant. Remove to a mortar and crush with a pestle. Put the sweet potato in a pan, cover with water and add salt. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for six to eight minutes until tender. Drain and cool. Place in a bowl and mix with the cheese, spring onions, coriander, chilli, chilli flakes, crushed cumin, cinnamon and garlic. Preheat the oven to 200degreeC/400degreeF/gas mark 6.

Melt the butter. Lay a sheet of filo on a work surface and brush with butter. Place a second sheet on top to fit over the first. Brush this with butter too. Cut into strips about 5cm wide. Spoon 1 heaped teaspoon of filling into one corner. Fold the right corner of the strip over to the left side to create a triangle. Continue to fold the triangle along the strip to the end, cutting off surplus pastry. Repeat to use up all the pastry and filling. Brush liberally with butter and sprinkle with cumin seeds and rock salt. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden.

For more information regarding Reza Mahammad and his Food Network show Reza, Spice Prince of India visit www.foodnetworktv.com

Lamb Mechbous Ingredients: 1 leg of lamb or 1k. boneless lamb ● 1 whole cinnamon stick ● 2 whole cloves ● 4 cardamom pods ● 1 onion, cut in quarters ● Salt ● 1 teaspoon ground cardamom ● 1/4 cup oil ● 3 cups Basmati rice ●

NO: 15517

RAMADAN 4, 1433 AH

A

The country with the largest Muslim population is?

Saudi Arabia

B

Indonesia

C

Pakistan

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Preparation: Pinch of saffron threads soaked in 1/4 cup warm water ● Wash a leg of lamb or large lamb pieces thoroughly and place in a pot. Cover with water and spices, and simmer one hour or more till the meat is tender. Add salt after half an hour. When meat is tender, remove the meat, and strain and reserve the stock. ● While the meat is cooking, rinse the rice, leave to soak in cold water for 15 minutes, then drain well. Also prepare the heshew and dakkous. ● In a separate pan, heat 1/4 cup oil. Sprinkle meat with a teaspoon of ground cardamom, brown it in the oil and remove. To the remaining oil add the drained rice and 4 cups of stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer till all the liquid is absorbed. Pour saffron water over rice and top with meat. Cover well and warm on lowest heat for 15 minutes. Spoon rice onto a shallow dish, top with heshew and meat. Serve with dakkous . Serves 4-6. ●

Garnish Ingredients: ● 1/3 cup sultanas, soaked in water ● 1/3 cup pine nuts ● 1 large onion, chopped ● 1 teaspoon each ground cumin, cardamom and black lime powder Preparation: Brown onions in a non stick pan without oil, stirring continuously. Add pine nuts and brown, then add drained sultanas and spices. Set aside. ●

Sauce ( Dakkous ) 1/4 cup oil ● 1 small onion, chopped ● 3 cloves garlic, chopped fine ● 1 T. white vinegar ● 4 medium tomatoes, pureed, or 1 can tomato sauce ● 2 T. tomato paste ● 1/2 cup water ● Salt to taste ●

Ingredients: Preparation: ● Fry onions and garlic till golden. Add remaining ingredients, stir and simmer 5 minutes.

Iftar meals for needy KUWAIT: Abu Al-Hasaniya’s project serves Iftar meals throughout the holy month of Ramadan to more than 4,000 fasting needy people through donations made by Kuwaiti philanthropists.

Yousef Abdulrahman, Supervisor of the distribution of Iftar meals in Abu Al-Hasaniya area told KUNA that the Iftar project first began in 2000, With meals being distributed to 250 needy people.

He added “The project now offers meals for more than 400 fasting people in 15 mosques that belong to the project in the various governorates of Kuwait. — KUNA

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

LOCAL

Safir Hotel hosts annual ghabqa

KUWAIT: Safir Hotel & Residences KuwaitFintas celebrated the holy month of Ramadan by hosting its annual ghabqa on Saturday. The event witnessed major attendance of guests. Upon arrival, guests attended the event in the rolled out red carpet entrance, where they’re escorted to the tent situated at the Hotel’s lobby

for the glitz and glamour of star-studded paparazzi shots.

The event took place at ‘Hilal Al-Fintas Hall’, where a live oud entertainment was organized at the ghabqa event. This occasion was a valuable opportunity where everyone started to network and socialize prior the start of the program.

An introductory speech was made by the Hotel’s management team, greeting and welcoming the invitees to enjoy the hospitable atmosphere of the event.

Following the speech, the entertainment began with a live Egyptian folklore to warm up the special entertainer of the night.

NBK advertisement receives accolades

KUWAIT: The TV commercial advertisement of the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) currently being broadcast during the holy month of Ramadan entitled ‘With you For Ages’ was well appreciated by viewers on the first days of Ramadan. The advertisement recorded high percentage of viewership as was indicated on Facebook.

Commenting on the advertisement, NBK’s PR Executive, Manal Faisal AlMutar said that this year’s advertisement comprised four parts, each of which tells a different story revolving around the idea of different generations that have been using the bank’s services. Notably, three of the four parts will be aired on various Kuwaitis satellite TV channels throughout Ramadan while the fourth one will only be aired during the last ten days of the month and during Eid.

For the rest of the night, invitees were amused by a special entertainer, where guests were quizzed with random questions and awarded thereaf ter.

Sponsored by Gulf Air and Sama Dental Center, guests got the chance to win tickets, dental vouchers and many more valuable prizes.

The event was very well organized and maintained with a traditional Middle Eastern hospitality reflected by a range of sumptuous open buffet.

The special Ghabqa buffet also comprised of a large array of food, drinks and desserts to be the perfect place for such a meaningful night during this holy month.

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

LOCAL

KUWAIT: The Defense Attache of Chinese Embassy, Senior Colonel Wang Rui Zheng hosted a reception at Crowne Plaza Hotel on the occasion of the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. High ranking officials, diplomats, prominent members from the Chinese community and media persons attended the event. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

National development plan offers opportunities Infrastructure projects to become largest beneficiaries KUWAIT: Building contractors in Kuwait will be hoping that the roll out of the state’s $108bn national development plan drives up activity in the sector, although political wrangling and red tape could mean key projects struggle to meet their 2014 deadlines.

When the government unveiled the Kuwait Development Plan (KDP) in 2010, it detailed more than 300 projects, including a $7bn metro system for Kuwait City, a major expansion of the country’s international airport and a number of road, rail and port construction ventures.

While transport infrastructure dominates the program, other initiatives, such as the construction of housing units, health, education and social services facilities, represent significant opportunities for Kuwait’s building contractors, who also hope to benefit from key utility projects earmarked for the country.

However, project progress has already become a hotly debated topic among politicians, with some members of parliament accusing the Cabinet of allowing the plan to fall behind schedule. The issue of delays to projects has also been raised by global organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which urged Kuwait to streamline its project approval process and improve legislation aimed at attracting investment or risk missing target deadlines.

The undersecretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Abdulaziz Al-Kulaib, recently defended the plan’s schedule, pointing out in a statement that approximately $1.88bn, or 94 percent, of the $2bn allocated for construction projects in the 2011/12 budget had been invested according to plan. He added that the figures reflected the ministry’s commitment to supporting the state’s development strategy.

The 2011/12 spend, however, marks only a

fraction of the total outlay earmarked under the KDP and is unlikely to convince those who believe that the scale of the program alone will make meeting deadlines difficult.

While the IMF described Kuwait’s economic outlook for 2012 as “broadly positive” in its latest Article VI review of the country’s economy, it also warned in a report issued in May that there was a real risk of the timetable for the development plan falling behind schedule unless key measures, such as new laws aimed at facilitating business activity, were introduced.

In its review, the IMF acknowledged that Kuwait had a strong macroeconomic position, saying, “Economic recovery is expected to strengthen, led by high government expenditure - particularly wages and capital expenditure.” The organization warned, however, that while increased spending on construction would benefit the economy, the government needed to rein in expenditure in other areas, notably pensions and public wages, to allow it to continue funding capital works and other expansionary programs.

The government hopes that a significant portion of the investment for major construction projects will be raised through public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives. The Partnerships Technical Bureau (PTB), the state agency tasked with implementing the PPP program, expects winning bidders to take on 40 percent to 50 percent of the shares in “design-build-financemaintain” infrastructure packages.

The head of the PTB, Adel M Al-Roumi, is confident that the short-term boost that spending on infrastructure construction should give the economy will bring additional benefits over time. “We are delivering this infrastructure in order to accommodate a larger, more open economy,” he said in an interview with on-line publisher Macropolis on June 27. “When you

‘Zain Lamp’ at Ice Skating Rink KUWAIT: Work is in progress at the Ice Skating Rink to melt the ice and prepare the hall to stage a play named ‘Zain Lamp,’ said Omar Al-Samerae Skating Hall Supervisor at Touristic Enterprise Company.

He pointed out that visitors during the month of Ramadan can visit the minor skating rink every day from 10:30 am to 1 am after midnight in six shifts. A skating trainer will train elders and young at a monthly subscription fee of KD 10 for four classes each.

Entry fees to the hall is KD 1.5 per person. AlSamerae said that a monthly subscription card may be issued in the future to facilitate multiple entry by paying KD 40 per person. The reopening of the grand hall will be announced in due course of time.

Omar Al-Samerae

Teachers training course lists KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education has been contradicting its own policies creating a lot of confusion in the process, especially in distribution of laptops to students and teachers, remarked sources. They added that the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf recently cancelled the flash memory stick project that cost the ministry KD 430,000.

He also cancelled the project to distribute laptops to students and teachers stating that more elaborate plans are on the anvil to develop teachers’ computer skills. Furthermore, sources highlighted that the laptop project was ‘still

born’ because schools are not equipped with wireless networks, software or the power infrastructure that allows 25 laptops to be operated at the same time in a class. Moreover, commenting on the training courses needed to develop teaching staff members skills, sources stressed that the lists containing names of teachers that are to undergo various training courses also included some female teachers who had been on maternity leave for over two years and even retirees, reflecting a lack of coordination between various subject supervision and educational planners.

look at PTB projects, like the enhancement of telecommunications, transportation, electricity, this is done to provide a better environment for business.”

While the PPP scheme is in keeping with the government’s objective of encouraging the private sector to play a greater role in the economy, there is a risk that recent political upheaval in the country could dampen investor enthusiasm.

In late June, Kuwait’s cabinet resigned after the country’s highest court overturned results from February’s national election and ruled that the parliament elected in 2009 should not have been dismissed. Outgoing Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah has been chosen to select a 15-member cabinet, after which the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah, is expected to dissolve parliament to allow fresh elections, which will likely be held after Ramadan.

This political instability may further delay the roll out of some ventures, meaning that many of Kuwait’s contractors will likely be hoping that the approvals and tenders given for projects are sufficient to help move the national development plan forward. — Oxford Business Group

Several injured in car accidents

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A car accident took place at Diving Street near Al-Shalahi Hall. Two citizens aged 18 and 20 suffered extensive injuries and were admitted to Al-Adan Hospital.

A car accident took place at King Faisal Street, Fourth Ring Road. Two citizens aged 15 and 21 years sustained multiple injuries. They were admitted to Al-Amiri Hospital.

A car accident took place in Al-Sabbiya, resulting in a 53-year-old Egyptian expat sustaining a head injury. He was admitted to Al-Jahra Hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Also, a 26-year-old Pakistani who was injured was admitted to the same hospital.

A car accident took place along the Fourth Ring Road between Al-Rawdha and Al-Surra resulting in a 17-year-old citizen fracturing his knee. He was admitted to Mubarak Hospital.

A car accident took place at Kabd near the fruits and vegetable market. A 19-yearold citizen fractured his knee and was admitted to Farwaniya Hospital.

Also, in another car accident that took place at Kabd, a 14-year-old citizen was admitted to Farwaniya hospital. His companion, a 15-year-old citizen suffered injuries. They were admitted to Farwaniya Hospital.

Hit and run cases A 24-year-old Indian national was run over by a speeding vehicle while trying to cross the street at Shuwaikh, near the Ministry of Interior’s warehouse. Several injuries were caused and he was admitted to Al-Sabah Hospital.

A 15-year-old citizen was run over by a speeding car in Al-Farwaniya, opposite AlRabiya Medical Center. He suffered fatal injuries and was admitted to Farwaniya Hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit(ICU).

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

LOCAL kuwait digest

Local Spotlight

Solving the origin of the problem

Ramadan and shopping

By Dr Bader Al-Daihani dmitting mistakes from the past is the first necessary step, because it is impossible to begin doing things differently without criticizing past mistakes that lead to adopting new procedures. This should be immediately followed by the declaration of a courageous political initiative that includes compliance with the requirements of democratic rule in its entirely.

This is not the first time, and will not be the last, that we elude to political reform, because it is the window leading to deep-rooted reforms, because reforms will not be successful in the absence of political reforms. In other words, unless the country’s political administration of the state is reformed, with all that means, including the availability of political will for real reform, then any talk about economic, social, administrative, cultural and sports reforms, or reforming the legislative and executive authorities, becomes empty and meaningless rhetoric.

Yet reforming the political administration of the state will not be achieved until the final reconciliation with the constitution is achieved, that is with the democratic ruling regime, because the

A

We are facing large challenges under tumultuous regional and international circumstances, and for that we are in need, more than at any other time, with not wasting time and effor ts in talking about the results of the political crises, rather, we should concentrate on dealing with the origin of the problem which caused the distortion in building a constitutional democratic state. continuation of the traditional administration of the state, that is prior to the constitutional era, is what distorted the building of the constitutional democratic state which caused us to remain in place.

Reconciliation with the constitution requires public admission that the previous method of operating was wrong, during which several attempts to drop or by-pass the constitution took place, and this is what led us to the political chaos we are living with now.

Among the requirements is what is being discussed now, such as reforming the election system, creating political parties, reforming how governments are formed and activating the constitutional role of the council of ministers as the area concerned with drawing the state’s public policy, in addition to other popular demands that guarantee gradual transformations into a full parliamentar y system, which has become one of today’s youth and popular demands.

We are facing large challenges under tumultuous regional and international circumstances, and for that we are in need, more than at any other time, with not wasting time and efforts in talking about the results of the political crises, rather, we should concentrate on dealing with the origin of the problem which caused the distortion in building a constitutional democratic state which made us live in a cycle of political crises that exhausted the country and people for many years and did not allow us to pay attention to construction and development, because it is not possible to have true development in the presence of the unstable political situation. —Aljarida

Muna Al-Fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net

L kuwait digest

Finally, who is responsible?

By Faisal Al-Zamel rounding a number of KAC airplanes and its cial market of aviation. It also covers the operational stoppage from service is part of the solution, side, represented by Al-Jazeera Aviation, which takes which should include in addition to safety. It off from Kuwait and Dubai, and its importance is the continuation of providing this basic service, increased due to the situation of the national carrier which the government was unable to provide. It is “KAC”. In spite of it starting operations in 2004, it now not hard, as two local national companies succeed- covers most Middle East cities and has overcome the ed in providing this service (ALAFCO and Al-Jazeera challenges of stagnation in 2008, in which another Aviation), although they do not have the “state” abili- company had passed “National Airlines”. Also, it was considered, by on-time flight status, to be number ty. ALAFCO was able to achieve the following: one in the Middle East with an on-time record of ● The company operates 48 leased planes, in addition to 12 other planes owned by others and 94.2%. This success was met with great failure in implementing the KAC privaunder the company managetization decision, which has ment. been discussed for the past ● The company is leasing 11 planes to Saudi Airlines Grounding a number of KAC air- 20 years. Even the privatizaand 8 others have been sold planes and its stoppage from serv- tion terminal, on which a study was made in 2005 and at a total value of $3.3 bilice is part of the solution, which approved by council of minislion. ● The company is also should include in addition to safety. ters, was later suspended by N.A. Council as they leasing 2 planes to Jordan, 2 It is the continuation of providing the awaited a decision on the priplanes to the Emirates, and 6 this basic service, which the govern- vatization of KAC. It was kept planes have been sold to Oman Airlines. ment was unable to provide. It is not in the same drawers where the KAC budgets are kept. ● 105 aircraft are under hard, as two local national compa- The N.A. Council has not contract for being purchased, with deliver y nies succeeded in providing this made a decision on KAC planned from 2017 up to service (ALAFCO and Al-Jazeera financial statements since 2004/2005, which amounted 2021.

Aviation), although they do not to KD 460 million. Note that ● The company is committed to delivering planes on have the “state” ability. ALAFCO the ALAFCO lease to Saudi Airlines only reached 3.3 bilthe contracted dates, in an was able to achieve the following: lion dollars. In the meantime, efficient manner. many MPs have intervened in With those abilities from the affairs of KAC through which GCC states benefited, imposing employment and the chairman of the company, Ahmad Al-Zain, said on July 12, 2012, “We did not promotions which became a burden on the KAC receive any leasing request from Kuwait Airways budget.

Of course, MPs cannot be held accountable, or the Corp”. After the decision to remove a number of KAC planes from service, and noting that Kuwait Airways minister who was behind the cancellation. had leased used airplanes from private Italian com- Accountability is restricted to honest officials and panies in the past, I personally tried to learn how bad honest ministers, as per statements from MPs such as the seats were on those airplanes as their aircrafts are Mustafa Al-Shamali, and after his statement they consumed, compared to ALAFCO’s new planes. Yet, pressured him to resign.

We, as citizens, must bear our responsibilities the contract with the Kuwaiti Company ALAFCO has been cancelled, although the tender proceeded before those mistakes, which will expand to providthrough all legal steps and ALAFCO won the bidding ing electricity and has slowed the health assurance over severe foreign competition which forced KAC hospitals etc, and has stood up to slow every Board of Directors to resign as a group, though the important project. Here we don’t listen to those minister who made the decision remained in his who describe this or that minister as being weak position, without being held accountable for his and, at the same time, close our eyes to the minister who is behind the disaster and attack the clean action.

Kuwait’s success has not been limited to the finan- minister. —Al-Anbaa

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Fight against corruption

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here is why.

When I was done with my shopping I took the receipt back home and when I arrived home I went through the items I bought and how much I paid. I bought a lot and when an Arab woman says a lot, it should mean a lot. Yet what I paid was not a large amount, but the same I would pay at any local supermarket. So, those who think supermarkets are cheaper are mistaken, as their prices are not less than any other grand markets, unless they buy their items from old markets. But those I don’t trust, as some foods might be expired and I would not trust to serve my family such inexpensive items. I want them to enjoy the food and not end up in hospitals with food poisoning. I wonder if those old markets are being carefully supervised, especially when they want to sell as much during Ramadan? Are they meeting people’s needs, especially with items like oil and meat? I would rather pay extra to avoid any of these misfortunate incidents.

So, my night ended with a smile on both faces, mine and my maid’s. It is a rare experience. I guess Ramadan brings surprises to all.

Happy Ramadan.

Solve bedoon issue fast

By Hassan Ali Karam

By Dr Hassan Al-Mosawi prevail in dictatorships; it is even found in the oldest and strongest democracies. As a matter of fact, development cannot flourish when there is corruption and corruption cannot prevail when there is integrity. Indeed, many well-intended regimes have fallen because of corruption. The problem in Arab countries lies in the conflict between the corrupt and those seeking honest government, and the bone-cracking battles between them.

A government that seeks reform and development will have to fight corruption and corrupt people, which is possible if we know that reform starts from within individuals by showing more commitment to ethics, laws and conscience. They also have to show more commitment to policy and the regime. No political or economic reforms can be achieved without fighting corruption.

Take Brazil as an example. This poor country chose to fight corruption and has been successful and, thus, has become a worldwide example of increasing development and prosperity.

Fighting corruption means holding officials responsible and accountable, appointing trustworthy competent people to important positions, enacting laws and holding the corrupt accountable, whoever they were, consulting international reports, having stronger government control and power in monitoring the corrupt and reinforcing nationalism, loyalty and belonging to a system that strongly believes in justice and equality.

—Al-Qabas

Those who think supermarkets are cheaper are mistaken, as their prices are not less than any other grand markets, unless they buy their items from old markets .But those I don’t trust, as some foods might be expired and I would not trust to serve my family such inexpensive items. I want them to enjoy the food and not end up in hospitals with food poisoning.

kuwait digest

kuwait digest

trangely enough, corruption prevails in both rich and poor countries alike. Individuals in both types of countries have long been calling to fight corruption.

There are many verse in the holy Quran urging men to avoid corruption, such as verse 77 of Surat Al-Qasas which reads: “But seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which Allah hath given thee and neglect not thy portion of the world, and be thou kind even as Allah hath been kind to thee, and seek not corruption in the earth; lo! Allah loveth not corrupters”. The same is also highlighted in verse 83 of Surat Al-Qasas: “As for that Abode of the Hereafter We assign it unto those who seek not oppression in the earth, nor yet corruption. The sequel is for those who ward off (evil)”. This is also evident in verse 205 of Surat Al-Baqara: “And when he turneth away (from thee) his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle; and Allah loveth not mischief”.

So, corruption is part of human nature ever since Allah created man and this is mentioned in the Holy Quran and history books.

Corruption has been classified as fitting into three categories; individual corruption, work corruption and political corruption. A recent British study on corruption indicated that 10 per cent of senior leaders are corrupt, 10 per cent are incorruptible, and the remaining 80 per cent are just waiting for the opportunity to become corrupt.

Corruption has many forms and does not only

ast Thursday evening I was reminded by my housekeeper that tomorrow is Ramadan and that she needs money to go shopping. Three hours later she came back, claiming that it was a very tiring trip because of the massive number of people buying nearly the same items. She found it difficult to buy everything she needed and asked me to purchase the remainder of her long list at Sultan Center. I agreed because I assumed that it would be less crowded than the local supermarket. I also thought the supermarket would sell things cheaper than a place like Sultan Center. Yet my assumption proved to be wrong.

I went to Sultan Center in Souq Sharq. Though the parking was full, I managed to find a small place for my little Korean car. The shopping was easy, everything I wanted was available and when I was about to end my journey, I looked at the queues for the cashier and found that they were reasonable and pleasant.

So, I was thinking that my shopping took me about an hour while my poor maid spent three hours not buying half of the items she needed. So, is it all about the misperception by people that luxury markets like this one are expensive? I guess so and

do not think that there is anybody who has written in defence of our bedoon brothers more than I have.

I was the first to call for dividing the bedoons into groups, and the first to call for naturalizing outstanding and university graduate bedoons.

The last person I asked the state to naturalize was a member of the national football team, Fahad Al-Enezi, who was finally adopted by Saudi Arabia and gave him their citizenship, and there is no room to speak about more names, and this is not our topic and I am not here to brag. My defence of the bedoons is for nothing other than explaining what is right and my fear for my country, which comes first and foremost.

So, we say if some people have problems with state authorities, especially the security, then they should not be allowed to hide behind the bedoon issue and stir them against the state and its security. Politicians and activists, along with those who are seeking the green chair (parliament), should not exploit the bedoon tragedy and hide behind it.

We all, starting with the head of state all the way to the ordinary citizen, sympathize with the bedoons and wish their file would be closed today, rather than tomorrow, and we all believe the more the solution is delayed the more the problem escalates. Yet, we also know that there is no magic solution, the issue is not transient, rather its roots go back as far as 50 years and more. The bedoon issue is not that of the current generation, but it goes back three or four consecutive generations.

We say it again, we all sympathize with bedoons and demand a solution for their situation, but is incitement,

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sit-ins, strikes, burning fires and attacking state property going to solve the problem, or are legal means and the cooperation of the bedoons with the concerned authorities... the shortest way to a solution?

That is why some are having doubts about the intentions of Saleh Al-Fadhalah, and why they are doubting the department he heads, and why the incitement is bringing despair to our bedoon brothers.

We know that the state gave bedoons many rights and advantages, and those are rights that are equal to those of citizens, but there remains the issue of naturalization, which is an issue that cannot be solved overnight or with the stroke of a pen by an official. In fact, it is not possible to naturalize all those who claim it among the bedoon, otherwise all expats in Kuwait will deserve to become citizens!

Oh you people, have mercy towards your country and do not keep grudges so you do not miss the truth.

You should know that the country cannot absorb more naturalization, because the population increase in Kuwait is scary, and greater than the international rate by 2%, and if it continues it might lead to a population explosion!

Yes for naturalizing those deserving bedoons immediately, but not with chaos, pressure, incitement nor seeking outside help, no matter who are the individuals, organizations or governments.

Yes for the bedoons’ rights, and yes for recognizing them and their humanitarian and legal rights, but the bedoons should not lose their case and should not seek a deceiving phantom and believe the liars and those taking advantage of their situation. —Al-Watan

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

LOCAL

Arab man in custody for hacking bank accounts KD 24,000 transferred to brother’s account

Diving team fixes 12 buoys at Kubbar coral reefs KUWAIT: The Environment Voluntary Foundation (EVF) thanked HH the Amir for his generous support and patronage of Kuwaiti Diving Team, said EVF Chairman Waleed Al-Fadhel noting that this support will contribute toward promoting voluntary work and encouraging more youth to take part in EVF activities.

Faisal Al-Harban, diving team member and operation supervisor said that in preparation of receiving divers, the diving team changed and maintained 12 buoys around coral reefs around Kubbar island surrounded by the most beautiful corals reefs. Kubbar island is

34 k m off Fahaheel shore and this makes it halfway in national waters, thereby increasing the number of visitors.

Al-Harban added that the new buoys would help save the coral reefs when visiting boats throw their anchors. He also stressed that in collaboration with the Awqaf Secretariat General, the diving team had been working on fixing over 70 buoys around southern Kuwaiti islands of Kubbar, Garouh, Umm AlMaradem in addition to the coral reef sites in Tailor Rock, Um Deera, Araifjan, Julaiah, Bnaid Al-Banya.

Strict measures against Girgian mix adulteration KUWAIT: The Municipality will take strict legal action against those that sell damaged or expired food items in Girgian mixes, noting that the penalty ranges between KD 500 and 1,000 in addition to shutting down shops, said Ahmad Al-Subaih, Director-General of Municipality.

Al-Subeih said that Municipality health inspectors periodically follow up and monitor stores that sell Girgian celebration food for the middle period of Ramadan in order to take immediate legal action against any violation.

He explained that the inspection teams, in the six governorate branches, operate around the clock, not only at big points-of-sale, but in all shops,

cooperative societies and Ramadan galleries.

Furthermore, Al-Subaih asked citizens and consumers to check and read the expiration dates before buying Girgian items. He also called for cooperation with the Municipality in order to report any violations in these stores once they are found, noting that the Municipality continues to perform inspection methods and will destroy materials that are subject to laboratory testing and found to be unsafe for human consumption.

He finally noted that inspection campaigns will continue during and after the holy month of Ramadan wishing everyone to be careful and cooperate with the Municipality. — KUNA

KUWAIT: A Lebanese computer programmer was arrested for hacking bank accounts and transferring KD 24,000 to his brother’s bank account, said security sources. Case papers indicate that on conducting a routine inventory, a local bank found that KD 24,000 was missing and that a money transfer was unauthorized. Further investigations indicated that the transfers were made in three phases from computers assigned to three bank tellers, two citizens and an Egyptian, all having denied any connection with the transfers. Tracking the money, detectives found that it had been deposited in a bank account of a Lebanese national who had left the country two years ago. Nevertheless, the money was withdrawn from inside Kuwait using the account holder’s ATM card, which was baffling. Checking ATM surveillance cameras, detectives found that the money was withdrawn by a computer programmer who had programmed some of the same bank’s computers and had access to the three suspected tellers’ computers. The Lebanese man told police he had been transferring money to his brother’s bank account and using his ATM card to withdraw and spend the stolen money on parties and luxuries. A case has since been filed and the suspect has been referred to authorities.

going to Egypt to see the three apartments, they returned home to find that all appliances and furniture had been stolen from their own apartment by an accomplice of the crooks. The husband then informed the police. One of the suspects was later arrested and confessed that the lawyer was fake and that while having lunch with the victims, the thieves copied the apartment key when it was left on a table, later using it to gain access to the apartment and steal the furniture and appliances. The arrested suspect led the police to his accomplices, who are still at large while further investigations are in progress.

Woman swindled Despite repeated warnings to citizens, a Kuwaiti woman has reported that, along with her Saudi husband, she has been swindled by 5 Egyptians who sold them 3 fake apartments in Cairo in return for over KD 80,000 and later stole their furniture and electric appliances from their apartment, said security sources. According to the woman, the theft began last May when an Egyptian claimed to be a lawyer and said he knew someone selling reasonably priced apartments in the Ahram and Al-Moqattam areas in Cairo. After paying the entire amount and

Dead body found The corpse of an Asian shepherd was found in Al-Salmi deser t, said security sources. Case papers indicate that a shepherd reported finding the corpse of the Asian shepherd. The shepherd added that the deceased had apparently crawled a few meters before he died. Initial reports suggest that the man might have died from a sun stroke. Further investigations are continuing.

Loud gunfire Residents of Adan were alarmed when they heard loud gunfire before Iftar, said security sources, noting that policemen were dispatched to the area but failed to find those responsible for the shootings. A case has since been filed.

Street fight To the surprise of passersby, four men stepped out of their vehicles in Dajeej and began fighting, which did not end until police arrived and arrested the group. They were each referred to Farwaniya police station for further investigations.

Amghara fire Officials report that the Amghara scrap market fires are continuing, said security sources, noting that the sky above Amghara was darkened behind thick black smoke just before Iftar on the first day of Ramadan.

Firemen rushed to the scene to fight the fire, as an investigation is in progress to determine the cause of the outbreak.

sor and told him that the worker refused to serve him and asked him to leave, which angered the sponsor who dashed to the coop and, along with the driver, attacked the worker. A case has been filed.

Citizen in custody A citizen who owns a money exchange business is being interrogated about swindling a fellow businessman of KD 75,000, with help from an Iranian accomplice who has since fled the country. Case papers indicate that the suspect ’s company had requested a branch of the other company in Iran to transfer KD 75,000 to Kuwait, which was done without requesting a letter of credit. The sources added that the suspects refused to repay the sum and the Iranian left the country. A case was filed and the citizen remains in police custody.

Traffic dispute A citizen was stabbed in his stomach during a fight caused by a traffic dispute, said security sources. Case papers indicate that a passerby reported a fierce fight during which a citizen was stabbed and the assailant fled the scene. The man was taken to Mubarak hospital ICU and a wide scale search is being held to apprehend the suspect.

Hawalli theft An unidentified robber broke into a Fillipina’s apartment in Hawalli and stole KD 1,000 worth jewelry and KD 100 in cash, said security sources. Case papers indicate that the woman reported that upon returning from work, she found out that her apartment door had been forced open and that her proper ty was scattered throughout the apartment. A case has since been filed.

Vehicle stolen A citizen reported that his vehicle was stolen from his doorstep when he left the engine running as he returned to retrieve something he had forgotten, said security sources, noting that a case was filed and a search was on for the vehicle.

Shoplifter held Co-op worker attacked A citizen and his driver attacked a co-op worker in Jahra, said security sources. Case papers indicate that the citizen had sent his driver with a shopping list to the co-op, where a worker was unable to read the handwriting and asked the driver to check back with his employer. The driver called his spon-

A shoplifter has been arrested for trying to hide two cigarette boxes and a can of energy beverage under his clothes and leaving the store without paying the cashier, said security sources, noting that the man was caught on the department store security camera and was stopped by store security staff.

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

37 dead as record rain pounds Beijing

Norway commemorates ’versary of bloodbath Page 11

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NEW DELHI: Relatives throw flower petals as India’s president-elect Pranab Mukherjee addresses the media outside his residence after winning the election yesterday.— AP

Mukherjee elected Indian president Veteran dealmaker, troubleshooter cruises to victory NEW DELHI: Former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee was elected Indian president yesterday after votes from national and state lawmakers were counted in the race for the mainly ceremonial post. Some analysts believe Mukherjee, a veteran from the ruling Congress party, may take a more active approach to the job than his predecessors as India struggles with a parliamentary deadlock and slowing economic growth. Mukherjee, 76, collected 69 percent of the votes, easily beating his only rival P A Sangma, 64, a former lower house speaker and tribal leader from the remote northeast who was backed by the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

“I would like to thank the people of this great country for conferring this distinction by electing me to this high office,” Mukherjee told crowds of cheering supporters gathered outside his residence in New Delhi. “They have entrusted me with the responsibility to protect, to defend, to preserve the constitution as president of the republic.” India’s president, who takes up residence in a 340-room palace built in the capital for the British viceroy during colonial rule, is chosen by legislators from the two houses of parliament and state assemblies.

Under the constitution, the prime minister wields most of the executive power, but the president can send back some bills for reconsideration and also plays a guiding role in the process of forming governments. The next general election, due to be held in 2014, is predicted to be close, which could lead to a period of complex horse-trading between numerous national and regional parties trying to form a stable coalition government. “It’s in this turbulent scenario Mukherjee as a president will be able to steer the ship of the state. He’s a troubleshooter,” said Sanjay Kumar, an analyst at India’s Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.

Mukherjee may also try to use the presidential position to foster a behind-thescenes deal between warring parties who have reduced parliament to a stalemate in recent sessions. He has a reputation as a canny negotiator, and was described by leaked US embassy cables in 2009 as “the

ultimate Congress Party fixer and operator” with clear ambitions at that time to become prime minister. “He is the president of India, he is not the president of a particular party,” said senior Congress party figure Sheila Dikshit, the chief minister of Delhi.

Mukherjee commands widespread respect across party lines, but his performance as finance minister was criticised for his failure to push through reforms to further liberalise India’s economy. His exit from the ministry raised investors’ hopes that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who took over the finance portfolio, could embark on long-awaited moves such as opening up the retail sector to foreign investment.

Mukherjee’s success yesterday was a welcome victor y for the embattled Congress party, which has been beset by a string of graft scandals, policy reversals and a raft of disappointing economic data.

Sangma congratulated his opponent but criticised Congress for running an “exceptionally partisan and political” campaign for the head of state. Mukherjee will be formally sworn in on Wednesday, taking over for a five-year term from Pratibha Patil, India’s first woman president.

Famously only five-foot (152 cm) tall, Mukherjee entered parliament in 1969 and will cap his long career in the turbulent world of Indian politics with a stint in the largely ceremonial role of president.

Known as a workaholic, a trouble-shooter and a shrewd tactician, he has been a leading figure within the ruling Congress party since the early 1980s when the country was governed according to socialist ideals. “The life of a finance minister is not easy,” he told parliament when delivering his final budget in March. “ When things go wrong, it is the finance minister who is called upon to administer the medicine. “As Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, said in Shakespeare’s immortal words, ‘I must be cruel only to be kind.’”

But the supposedly tough budget was quickly dismissed as ineffectual, and he left the finance ministry after the economy grew by just 5.3 percent between January and March - its slowest quarterly expansion in nine years. With the rupee also at

record lows against the dollar, Mukherjee takes up the presidency with his reputation in poor shape compared to when he steered India through the 2009 global financial downturn. Nevertheless he has retained the respect of a wide spectrum of Indian politicians and is seen as an ardent proponent of “inclusive growth” that would ensure that India’s poor share in the country’s development.

Born on Dec 11, 1935 in the small village of Mirati in West Bengal, his father was a “freedom fighter” for India’s independence movement who spent more than 10 years in British jails. Mukherjee, who speaks with a heavy Bengali accent that his colleagues call “Pranabese”, began as a college teacher and later worked for the Bengali publication Desher Dak (“Call of the Motherland”) before entering politics. He followed in his father’s footsteps in joining the Congress party and was elected to the upper house in 1969 before moving to the lower house in 2004.

Once tipped as a future prime minister, his moment never arrived and a new generation of Congress leaders is being touted to take over when PM Singh, 79, stands down, most likely at the 2014 general elections. But Mukherjee, who has been on the board of governors of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, may take a more active approach to presidential duties than his predecessors. Some observers believe he may encourage compromise among warring parties that have reduced parliament to near-paralysis in recent sessions.

He could also play a role in the formation of the next government if elections in 2014 deliver inconclusive results and numerous parties try to build a stable enough coalition to take power.

Mukherjee, who sometimes stands on a box when giving speeches so he can see over the podium, lists his hobbies as gardening, reading and listening to music, and now he may also find more time for his wife, two sons and daughter. His son Abhijit has followed in his father’s footsteps, last year winning a seat in the West Bengal assembly as a Congress party candidate. — AFP

Veteran to give Saudi intel diplomatic savvy RIYADH: The appointment of Saudi Arabia’s longtime envoy to the United States as intelligence chief marks an attempt to give the service a diplomatic edge at a time of turmoil in the region, analysts say.

Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who served in Washington from 1983 to 2005 and was named intelligence chief on Thursday, has the ability “to think outside the box, overcome obstacles, make decisions and work in an innovative way,” international relations analyst Abdullah Al-Shummari told AFP. He could play a key role in helping the kingdom “re-evaluate its strategies in foreign policy... (as) major geostrategic changes across the Arab world will rearrange the roles of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran in the Middle East,” Shummari said. Saudi Arabia has “an opportunity to regain its leading role” in the region after it “subsided in favour of Iran and Turkey following the September 11, 2001 attacks and the US invasion of Iraq” in 2003, he said. Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Centre, believes that “the current situation requires greater coordination, not only on a regional level but also internationally”.

The kingdom, which had traditionally focused on maintaining strong ties with Western powers, had in recent years tried to “establish good relations with Russia and exchanged visits on the highest levels,” said Sager.

But relations with Moscow have taken a series of hits since the Arab Spring uprisings swept the region last year, notably over Russia’s support for its longtime ally Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

While Saudi Arabia has openly called for the arming of rebels fighting Assad’s regime, Russia has joined China in repeatedly using its veto to block tough action at the UN Security Council over the 16month revolt. The situation “requires someone accustomed to the game of interests” of international powers, Sager said, noting that Prince Bandar had achieved “several” major successes on the world stage over the years.

For instance he managed to convince Russia not to oppose UN resolutions to expel now executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s troops from Kuwait following his invasion of the emirate in 1990.

Bandar was also heavily involved in diplomatic contacts over the crisis in Lebanon that followed the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, a key Saudi ally. The outcry that followed the killing resulted in Syria’s withdrawal of troops and

Prince Bandar bin Sultan intelligence agents from its smaller neighbour, ending a three-decade presence in a boost to Saudi interests. In 2005, Bandar also took charge of the newly created National Security Council to oversee the kingdom’s battle against Al-Qaeda following a string of deadly attacks. The prince will retain that position even after his appointment as intelligence chief but his new posting is expected to bring him back to the limelight after a nearly five-year absence. Born in 1949, he is son of the late crown prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, who died last year, and enjoyed close ties with both US president George Bush and his son, president George W Bush.

He “is among the people who best understood US policies and managed to deal well with the decision-makers,” said Anwar Eshki, president of the Saudi-based Middle East Centre for Strategic and Legal Studies. He “will be able to achieve better understanding between Americans and Arabs” as the Middle East faces persistent upheaval from the Arab Spring uprisings that erupted at the end of 2010, said Eshki, who worked with Bandar in Washington. — AFP

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

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

Iran’s ‘chicken crisis’ is simmering political issue DUBAI: Earlier this month, Iran’s national police chief ventured boldly into what has become known as the country’s “chicken crisis”. The feathers haven’t stopped flying since. The soaring price for a staple food that Iranians relish cooked with saffron, plums or pomegranates has become such a hot topic of public debate, and a sign of the sinking purchasing power of many Iranians, that Police Chief Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam felt it his duty to intervene. He urged television stations to avoid broadcasting images of people eating chicken, saying such pictures could fire up social tensions, with perhaps unforeseen consequences.

“Certain people witnessing this class gap between the rich and the poor might grab a knife and think they will get their share from the wealthy,” Mehr news agency quoted him as saying. As far as is known, no one has gone to that extreme, but as Iran’s economy struggles with erratic government management and international sanctions imposed over the country’s disputed nuclear program, prices of food and fuel have jumped across the board in the past 18 months.

At around 65,000 rials, or over $5 at the official exchange rate, a kilo of chicken is now nearly three times the price it was a year ago. That makes it hard to afford for many in a country where gross national income per capita was about $4,520 in 2009, or $377 per month, according to the most recent estimate by the World Bank. The surge in

the price is mainly due to the exorbitant cost of importing chicken feed with Iran’s weakened currency, which on the black market is more than 40 percent lower against the US dollar than it was at the start of this year.

With chicken becoming rarer on middle- and working-class dinner tables, many Iranians are expressing their frustration with mordant humour.

Iranian cartoonist Mana Neyestani, who lives in France, mocked Ahmadi Moghaddam’s warning with a cartoon of a young man watching a pornographic film. His father tries to cover up only the image of a roast chicken in the background of the film, saying: “How many times have I told you not to watch films with chicken in them?”

Photographer Arash Ashoorinia published on his website a range of images showing delectable chicken dishes. “It’s possible that publishing these kinds of photos will be banned. Of course I had many more beautiful photos, but I wouldn’t want to act against national security!” he wrote underneath. Iran’s social networks are buzzing. “There are two classes of people: below the chicken line and above the chicken line,” quipped one Twitter posting from a Shiraz resident. Another tweet joked that instead of asking for traditional gold coins, soon-to-be-married Iranian women would request dowries of 200 tonnes of chicken.

Officials, worried about popular resentment, have done their best to assure irate Iranians that chick-

en will be in plentiful supply and at fair prices.

There have been widely announced fines for those found to be profiteering, proclamations on the provision of government-subsidised chicken for the holy month of Ramadan, and reassurances that tonnes of healthy stock will soon be available at market. Pictures of queues of people hoping to buy government-subsidised chicken have been widely carried in state-influenced Iranian media in the last several weeks - apparently to demonstrate that the government is addressing the problem.

Officials maintain Iran has endured more than three decades of economic sanctions and can withstand plenty more. Some government figures, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have described the sanctions as a blessing that will wean the country off foreign goods and dependence on oil income. But for now, at least, Iran’s chicken industry remains dependent on the outside world. Much of the soya beans and corn fed to broiler chickens is imported from abroad.

Talking to Reuters by telephone, a veteran chicken producer in Iran, who asked not to be named, blamed the price rises on government mismanagement as well as the sanctions.

“Around half the chicken farms have stopped production because it has become too expensive to buy the imported raw materials,” he said, citing the sharp increases in the cost of feed and import-

ed vaccines. “We are so sorry about the situation but it’s impossible to bring the price down. It’s very upsetting for so many Iranians.”

With opposition activity in Iran tightly controlled, the chicken crisis, and the country’s general economic distress, look unlikely for now to prompt wide protests that could challenge the government’s hold on power. But the price of chicken has become an issue in national politics, where some anti-Ahmadinejad members of parliament are publicly denouncing rivals in the executive branch for failing to prepare for the crisis. “Livestock and poultry dealers gave warnings eight months ago about the lack of hay and feed,” said Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s parliament and a rival to Ahmadinejad, according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency.

Ahmadinejad has faced increasing criticism over his economic record since introducing reforms in 2010 that withdrew generous subsidies to nearly all Iranians in favour of cash handouts; the reforms have contributed to inflation.

Although the government’s policy of supplying subsidised chicken has partially eased the problem, as a public relations gesture it risks backfiring by reminding some Iranians of the worst days of the economy during the devastating Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. “There are queues for chicken every day,” said Ayhan, a university professor living in Tehran. “It reminds me of 1981.” — Reuters

3 vetoes and a diplomatic funeral for Annan’s plan Blame game over its demise has already started

KILIS, Turkey: Syrian refugees walk out of this refugee camp after clashes with police yesterday. Turkish police fired tear gas on stone-throwing Syrian refugees who were protesting at the lack of food and water at camps on the border with their conflictravaged homeland. — AFP

Rebel seizure of border points a blow to Assad AL-QAIM, Iraq: Syrian rebels’ seizure of crossings along the frontier with Iraq marks a blow to Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, but has also divided communities that have long straddled the border. Of the three main crossings between Syria and Iraq, rebels have maintained control over the Albu Kamal border point since Thursday evening, and briefly held the Yarabiyah crossing along the northern part of the two countries’ frontier. The seizure of the Iraq crossings comes as Syrian rebels took control of two border posts with Turkey and attempted to overrun another border point along the Jordanian frontier.

“The opposition controlling this border is a major blow to the regime in Syria,” said Hamid Fadhel, a politics professor at Baghdad University. “Holding territory at the border will weaken the regime, which was looking to cut off any support for the opposition.” Fadhel added: “This situation will strengthen the position of the opposition and will weaken the position of the Syrian government, which was looking to continue controlling the border crossing in order to prevent smuggling of reinforcements (of people and supplies) for the opposition.”

Syria’s population is majority Sunni Arab, but the country has long been ruled by Alawites, an offshoot of Shiism. Its eastern frontiers are mostly populated by Sunnis opposed to Assad’s rule, sharing that religious background with most residents along Iraq’s side of the border. “The Albu Kamal crossing, in addition to what it represents in terms of a major part of the economic and security relations between Baghdad and Damascus, also has a level of importance in the social sense,” said Iraqi political analyst Ihsan Al-Shammari. “Losing the Albu Kamal border crossing is a big thing - it will affect the Syrian regime,” he said, raising the prospect that rebels could use control of the border point to smuggle weapons.

At Al-Qaim, the Iraqi town that forms the

other side of the border from Albu Kamal, many residents have relatives on the Syrian side of the border, as Sunni tribes have long lived on both sides of the 600-km frontier.

Al-Qaim’s mayor Farhan Farhan told AFP that trade through the crossing had ground to a halt about a month and a half ago, when Syrian rebels first began trying to take control of Albu Kamal. “It used to consist of 40 trucks from Syria to Iraq on a daily basis, each carrying about 27 tonnes of vegetables, other food supplies, clothes and electronics,” he said. “The people of Al-Qaim depend completely on Syrian goods, because they are cheaper than those coming from” the rest of Iraq, he said.

Trade between Iraq and Syria reached $2 billion in 2010, and was expected to reach $3 billion for 2011, according to official Iraqi and Syrian figures. The Syrian Centre for Statistics said that in 2009, 52.5 percent of Syria’s exports went to the Arab world, while 31.4 percent of that went to Iraq. But Iraq has increased in importance as a trading partner and conduit as other neighbouring countries have enforced sanctions imposed as a result of the bloody crackdown on a more-than 16-month uprising while Baghdad has held off.

Residents of Al-Qaim, 340 km west of Baghdad, interviewed by AFP spoke of how, in mid-2005, when US forces mounted an offensive in the area in an effort to round up Sunni insurgents, people in Albu Kamal provided them with supplies, fighters and weapons. Now, they want to return the favour, but the Iraqi army has barred anyone from crossing the border, except for Iraqis fleeing the violence in Syria. “If the Iraqi army were not preventing us, we would have given everything we could to our people in Albu Kamal,” said 25-year-old civil servant Abu Yusuf. “We feel sad seeing them attacked, and see that they do not have enough food and medicine, and we are unable to help them like we should. We want to stand by their side, like they stood by us.” —AFP

KUWAIT: Men rest at midday at a mosque during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

UNITED NATIONS: Three vetoes of a UN Security Council resolution have left the major powers ready to bury Kofi Annan’s peace plan and let President Bashar Al-Assad and the Syrian opposition fight it out to the death, experts say.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stoutly insisted Saturday that he and special envoy Annan were still looking for ways to end a conflict that Syrian activists say has left more than 17,000 dead. “We continue to push for a peaceful solution,” Ban declared. But the strife worsens.

Thousands are pouring across Syria’s borders, Damascus is a city at war and the United States, European countries and the Syrian opposition now say they will look outside the Security Council for ways to pressure Assad.

While the rebel fighters in Syria remain relatively poorly armed, they are increasingly battlehardened and their morale is being boosted by a growing number of defections from Assad’s regime, diplomats say. However, Russia and China’s third veto of a Security Council resolution on Syria on Thursday was the death knell for joint UN-Arab League envoy Annan’s six-point peace plan, according to many diplomats and experts. The resolution, drawn up by Britain, sought to threaten sanctions unless Assad carried out just one provision - to end the use of heavy weapons.

While everyone still professes loyalty to the Annan plan, the blame game over its demise started during the debate. China’s ambassador Li Baodong said unnamed countries had been “negative” about Annan’s efforts since he started in February. And Russia accused the western countries of seeking a “military intervention” in Syria even though the United States, Britain and France insist they see no way for a new Libyastyle operation. US ambassador Susan Rice said the suggestion was “paranoid”.

Many experts see lingering fallout from last year’s Libya campaign - when Russia and China believe they were tricked into allowing a UNbacked military operation - in the current battle over Syria. “The Russians and the Chinese feel that sanctions was a code for regime change and to some extent they were right,” said Mats Berdal, professor of security and development at Kings College’s War Studies department in London. “They are not going to give an inch in this case, and that made it very difficult.”

ALEPPO: An armed Syrian rebel wearing the jersey of FC Barcelona rests with comrades near this northern city yesterday. The rebel Free Syrian Army announced the start of the battle to “liberate” Aleppo, Syria’s commercial hub and a traditional bastion of President Bashar AlAssad’s regime. — AFP The West in turn blames Russia for blocking appeals by Annan to impose “consequences” for not carrying out the plan which called for a halt to violence as a first step to political talks. The failure “is no great loss” as it never had a chance of being accepted, said Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington-based think tank. “It would be far better to terminate this effort and establish a new one with the mission of bringing about the exit of the current Syrian regime,” he said.

Richard Gowan, associate director at New York University ’s Center on International Cooperation, said that “a mixture of dishonesty, intransigence and incompetence has created a disaster”. “The developments in Damascus and New York now make it clear that the outcome of the Syrian civil war will be decided on the battlefield rather than at the Security Council,” he said.

Some Syrian opposition groups have publicly condemned Annan’s efforts while the main powers have been wary of it for weeks, and it has

foundered. Annan “struggled to shore up his position with renewed overtures to Assad, the Russians and Syria’s friends in Iran,” according to Gowan. “His courting of Iran infuriated US officials,” he said, noting that the special envoy nevertheless “deserves credit for keeping up his efforts to find an impartial political solution in the face of almost impossible odds.” But “it would be understandable - and perhaps wise - if he were to stand down after this week’s events,” Gowan added.

Berdal, at Kings College, said Annan’s problems were inevitable “with the Security Council as deadlocked as it is, with the Russians so determined not to give in at all in terms of putting some kind of pressure”. “He has done as best as he can in a very difficult situation,” said Berdal.

“Some people thought he went too far with the regime. But he always saw that as a first step to moving the process forward and possibly finding some kind of face-saving formula for Bashar Al-Assad to leave,” he added. —AFP

Iran atomic chief pours cold water on nuke ships TEHRAN: Iran’s atomic chief yesterday undercut an idea put forward by some lawmakers to make nuclear-powered submarines and ships, even though he claimed Tehran had the technology to do so later if it wished. The comments by Fereydoon Abbasi Davani, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, as reported by the news agency ISNA, poured cold water on a recent draft bill by some Iranian parliamentarians that seeks to give Tehran a reason to produce high-enriched uranium. “We don’t have a plan right now in this area,” Abbasi Davani was quoted as saying. He asserted, though, that “we do have the ability to design such reactors for ships” if a decision was made to go in that direction.

Enrichment is at the heart of the showdown between Iran and the West over Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran, which currently enriches uranium up to 20 percent, ostensibly to make medical isotopes in its Tehran research reactor, insists its program is exclusively peaceful. But the United States and its allies fear that 20-percent enrichment puts Iran just a few technical steps short of being able to produce military-grade uranium of 90-percent or more, which is used in atomic bombs. Negotiations on the issue reopened this year between Iran and the P5+1 group of nations (the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, plus Germany) have hit an impasse and been downgraded to a lower level.

Israel and the United States have underlined that military force remains an option should diplomacy and a punishing set of international sanctions fail to make Tehran yield. Iranian lawmakers signalling their defiance in the face of the pressure floated the idea of their country making nuclearpowered submarines and freighters in what observers took to be an attempt to raise the stakes in the talks. This month, several lawmakers entered a bill calling on the government to prepare the way for Iran to make nuclear-powered commercial ships

- a technological feat seen as both uneconomical and beyond the ability of all but the world’s mostadvanced nuclear states.

“If it’s necessary and the government so decides, we have no problem to advance towards such systems and technologies,” Abbasi Davani was quoted as saying. He said that, in the case of ships, “it’s not necessary to have fuel (enriched) beyond 20 percent - there are reactors that work with 3.5 percent or five percent in ships.... But if it’s for submarines...

higher enriched uranium is needed.” But, he repeated: “Right now, we have no plan to do so. Currently, fuel production to 20 percent is carried out for the Tehran reactor and for another similar reactor we are planning to build.” He also said that “ships with nuclear fuel have environmental problems.” If a decision were ever made to proceed with shipboard nuclear reactors, Abbasi Davani added, “we will hold the necessary coordination with the IAEA,” the UN’s nuclear watchdog. — AFP

Iran breaks up nuke assassination cells DUBAI: Iran has arrested some of those responsible for assassinations of its nuclear scientists, state media reported yesterday, in a continued hunt for those it says are working to sabotage its nuclear program. Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi said Iran had shut down two networks inside and outside the country he said were involved in training the killers, Fars news agency reported. At least four scientists associated with Iran’s nuclear disputed nuclear works have been slain since 2010 and a fifth - Fereydoun Abbasi Davani, now the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation was wounded.

The West believes Iran is stockpiling enriched uranium as potential fuel for nuclear weapons and trying to develop technology needed for a workable bomb. Iran denies this, saying its nuclear activity is solely for peaceful energy purposes. Moslehi did not say how many people had been arrested, for which

killings they were allegedly responsible, where the networks were operating or how they trained the assassins. “They (the two networks) took steps not to leave any clues behind but they were stricken by mistakes,” he said.

Moslehi spoke at a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the shooting death of Dariush Rezainejad. Initial reports in Iranian media suggested Rezainejad was involved in Iran’s nuclear programme, but later said he was an engineering student. “We were able to arrest the main actors in this act of terrorism,” Moslehi was quoted as saying. Iran blames the assassinations on US, Israeli, French, British and German spy agencies, especially the Israeli Mossad. In May, Iran hanged 24-year-old Jamal Fashi for the murder of scientist Massoud Ali-Mohammadi in January 2010, saying that Fashi had gone to Israel for training.

The United States has denied any role in the killings. Israel has remained silent. —Reuters

11

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

international

In German circumcision debate, ‘us vs hem’ fears BERLIN: Rabbi David Goldberg had performed about 25 ritual circumcisions this year before a regional court ruled last month that the practice amounted to causing criminal bodily harm. Despite the decision, he expects to perform the same number in second half of the year.

“I haven’t changed anything,” said Goldberg, one of Germany’s few mohels - a person trained in the Jewish ritual of circumcision. Though the Cologne court’s decision has raised fears among Muslims and Jews that circumcising their children could get them into legal trouble, it has had little practical effect in reducing religious circumcisions - especially since the government has weighed in with assurances to both communities that their practices will be respected.

But both Jews and Muslims say that a more lasting effect may be “us vs. them” tensions that have raised an invisible barrier between secular Germans and religious minorities. “It is no surprise that the Catholics and the Protestants have stood behind the Muslim community in this case and denounced the verdict,” said Aiman Mazyek, the chairman of Germany’s Central Council of Muslims.

“In my opinion this is no picture of tolerance or religious freedom from a modern civilization. It is a step backward.”

Jews are religiously required to circumcise baby boys on the 8th day after birth in a ceremony seen as their entrance into a covenant with God. Muslims also usually perform the procedure early in a boy’s life, though sometimes wait until later in childhood. In the

Cologne decision, announced June 26, the court said circumcising young boys on religious grounds amounts to bodily harm even if parents consent to the procedure. The charge is punishable by anything from a fine to up to five years in prison.

The ruling came in the case of the circumcision of a 4-year-old Muslim boy that led to medical complications. The boy was circumcised at the request of his parents. He developed complications two days later and was rushed to the hospital. Prosecutors charged the doctor, who was acquitted when a Cologne court found that he had performed the procedure properly, and that he had the parents’ permission to carry out the circumcision. But prosecutors appealed, and the higher Cologne court ruled that in a case of circumcision for non-medical reasons, the welfare of the child outweighed the religious rights of the parents. The acquittal of the doctor, however, was upheld because the court said the law had been unclear.

Though not precedent setting for other courts in Germany, the ruling prompted an outcry from Jewish and Muslim groups across Europe, while in Israel the German ambassador was invited to explain the decision to the Knesset. Germany’s main Catholic and Protestant organizations also condemned the ruling as an attack on religious freedom. The president of the German Medical Association said the ruling could even endanger children, by forcing circumcisions to be performed

under possibly unsanitary conditions outside of hospitals.

Caught in the middle were people like Moishe Furer, a rabbinical student in Berlin whose son Elchanan was born five days before the decision was announced. The native of Moldova said his own parents had to bribe a doctor when he was born to certify that his own circumcision was for medical purposes because performing the procedure for religious reasons was not allowed in the former Soviet Union. When he first heard of the Cologne decision, he said he thought the court ruling was being misinterpreted. “We thought it was a mistake, that it could not be true that something like circumcision could be forbidden in Germany,” he said. But because of the religious significance, he said, they had the circumcision done, despite fears that other courts might follow the ruling even if it did not set a precedent. “It was important enough to risk,” he said.

The most disturbing part of the ruling for Jews and Muslims is the court’s contention that being circumcised “runs contrary to the interest of the child to later choose his religious affiliation,” said Josh Spinner, an American rabbi who grew up in Hamilton, Canada, and has been in Berlin for more than a decade.

“I’m a circumcised male, I expect that I have the right to become a Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or atheist if I choose to today. But what the court is saying is that if I am circumcised I am a Jew,” he said. “There’s a very dark and very illiberal view of what this mark does

on the individual.”

Around 250,000 Jews live in Germany today, and about 4 million Muslims - the largest minority among Germany’s 82 million population. Spinner said the ruling has the potential of opening the door to even greater restrictions on religious freedom for minorities - a particularly sensitive issue in Germany given the years of state-imposed anti-Jewish measures under the Nazis that preceded the Holocaust. “Germany needs to understand that if they want to tolerate Jews then they need to tolerate Judaism,” Spinner said.

Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged the same concern behind closed doors in a meeting this week with her party leaders, saying “I don’t want Germany to be the only country in the world in which Jews cannot perform their rituals,” according to an official who was present. Immediately following the court ruling, however, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle was alone among top officials to speak out on the issue. He offered assurances that “the free exercise of religion is protected in Germany - that includes religious traditions”.

In the past week, however, Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert has weighed in several times, promising that the government will come up with a solution that will allow the practice. And in Parliament on Thursday, lawmakers from several parties adopted a resolution urging the government to draft a new law by the fall guaranteeing Muslims and Jews the right to continue circumcising

their boys. “Jewish and Muslim religious life must continue to be possible in Germany,” the lawmakers said in the two-page resolution. “The circumcision of boys for Jews and Muslims has a central religious importance.”

Had the government spoken out strongly sooner, said Goldberg, Germany may have managed to prevent the discussion from turning into an “us vs them” embroilment. “I get a lot of emails from non-Jewish Germans saying things like ‘if you don’t like it, leave Germany’ - very anti-Semitic. It’s a bad atmosphere,” said the rabbi, who immigrated to Germany 19 years ago from Israel and now lives in the southeastern city of Hof. “Nobody said anything aside from Westerwelle, so that is also partially the fault of the government.”

Joerg van Essen, parliamentary chief whip of the Free Democrats, Merkel’s junior coalition partner, said that drafting the resolution to protect circumcisions took time because lawmakers needed to carefully balance constitutionally guaranteed religious freedoms and parental rights with the safety of the child. “It’s a relatively small procedure for the child, but banning it would be a big encroachment on religious freedom and the right of the parents to decide how to raise their children,” he said. Furer said he hoped that the circumcision debate would be expose more Germans to other religious ideas.

“I think a lot of Germans don’t understand our religion and our religious issues,” he said. —AP

Norway commemorates ’versary of bloodbath Breivik failed to change country: PM

ANTANANARIVO: Police officers take cover during a mutiny of troops at a military camp near Madagascar’s main airport yesterday. —AFP

Madagascar troops mutiny near airport ANTANANARIVO: Mutinous soldiers stormed a military camp near Madagascar’s main airport yesterday and the army said it had contained the fighting and there was no risk of the violence spreading.

The island nation has been wrecked by political turmoil and violence in the three years since then-opposition leader Andry Raojelina ousted president Marc Ravalomanana, who has been in selfimposed exile in South Africa since his overthrow. “... at 5 am a group of armed soldiers forced their way into the barracks of the 1st RFI (First Regiment of Interventionist Forces) Ivato. The group fired in the air, hindering all attempts to enter into the barracks,” an army statement said.

Soldiers and gendarmes were now positioned around the barracks and “the events happening inside the camp do not risk overflowing to the outside”, it said. The army said Corporal Koto Mainty, a former bodyguard of a former army minister and known as “Black”, had led the revolt. In September, Madagascar’s major political parties signed a roadmap mediated by a regional bloc, the Southern African Develpment Community (SADC), which confirmed Rajoelina as president, allowed for the

unconditional return of Ravalomanana and paved the way for elections within a year. Rajoelina led often-violent street protests against Ravalomanana and eventually seized power in March 2009 with the help of dissident army officers in what many aid donors considered a coup, leading them to freeze non-emergency aid. Ravalomanana was sentenced in absentia to life in prison for the killings of demonstrators by elite troops in the run-up to his removal. He has tried to return to Madagascar without success.

Rajoelina has said the return of the former leader risked stoking tensions and a senior cabinet minister said in September that Ravalomanana would be arrested on arrival.

The rival leaders are due to meet for reconciliation talks next week in the Seychelles, according to an aide to Ravalomanana. Armed Force Minister General Lucien Rakotoarimasy told Reuters the soldiers’ motivations were unclear. “We are trying to bring them back to reason,” he said. Famed for its lemurs and rainforests, Madagascar’s tourism industry has been badly hit by the insecurity, and investors eyeing its oil, gold and chrome have also become more wary. —Reuters

OSLO: Nor wegians yesterday marked a year since Anders Behring Breivik ’s massacre claimed 77 lives, many heading to the island of Utoeya where most of the right-wing extremist’s mainly teenage victims fell.

“Let us honour the dead by savouring life,” Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said at a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the atrocity that stunned the usually tranquil nation. Exactly a year ago Breivik set off a bomb outside government buildings in Oslo, killing eight people, before going on a shooting rampage on Utoeya, where the governing Labour Party’s youth wing was hosting a summer camp. There he killed 69 people, with the youngest victim having just celebrated her 14th birthday.

“The bomb and bullets were aimed at changing Nor way,” Stoltenberg said. “The Norwegian people responded by embracing our values. The killer failed, the people won.” By midday, several dozen relatives of the victims had begun gathering on Utoeya, which lies some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the capital, pausing at the spots where their loved ones were mowed down by the gunman’s bullets. “ We stuck together at the most difficult time our generation has ever experienced. Today as well, take care of one another,” survivor Adrian Pracon said in a tweet. “Mixed feelings but we will have a good day and remember those who never went home. It’ll do us good,” tweeted another, Marte Oedegaarden. The extremist, now 33, said he carried out the attacks to protect his country against “the Muslim invasion” and said he had targeted the Labour Party for its immigration policies and support for a multicultural

society. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent a message of sympathy to the Norwegian people for this “enormous tragedy”.

Breivik, whose 10-week trial ended last month, is awaiting his verdict, expected August 24.

While there is no doubt he carried out the attacks, the five Oslo cour t judges must decide whether he should be consid-

The streets around the government complex reopened only last week after the removal of more than 4,300 tonnes of rubble, at a cost of more than 300 million kroner ($48 million). Stoltenberg is attending many of the most heart-wrenching events commemorating the worst atrocity carried out on Norwegian soil since World War II. Norway’s king

Pedersen, who escaped at the start of the massacre. Stoltenberg was to meet family members of Breivik’s victims and lay a second wreath on the heart-shaped island at 6:45 pm - almost exactly the time that Breivik was finally arrested after his more than hourlong shooting spree.

Stoltenberg was also set to attend a commemorative concert

UTOEYA, Norway Bereaved families and friends of the 69 people who were gunned down and killed at Utoeya Island in the Tyrifjord a year ago gather to pay their respects on the island on the first anniversary of the massacre yesterday. —AP ered criminally sane and sentenced to prison, as requested by his defence, or instead follow the prosecution’s line and send him to a closed psychiatric ward. The Labour prime minister, who was at his official residence and not in his office in the 17-storey main building at the time, began yesterday’s commemorations by laying a wreath near the spot where the bomb went off.

and queen joined him at a service at Oslo’s cathedral, where hundreds of people were gathered outside, laying heaps of roses the Labour Party symbol - as they did in the weeks after the attacks.

Stoltenberg was to later address Labour Party youth on Utoeya along with his Danish counterpart Helle ThorningSchmidt and the head of the Labour Party youth wing Eskil

outside Oslo city hall featuring mainly Norwegian musicians and possibly Bruce Springsteen.

Norwegian folk singer Lillebjoern Nilsen, who in April led some 40,000 rose-waving protesters to sing a song derided by Breivik, was to also perform. Norway’s professional football teams were to observe a minute of silence before all games played yesterday. —AFP

Hollande: 1942 roundup of Jews ‘crime by France’ PARIS: French President Francois Hollande pledged yesterday to crack down on anti-Semitism in a speech commemorating the 70th anniversary of the mass roundup of Jews in Paris for deportation to Auschwitz death camp. French police acting on orders from Nazi Germany arrested 13,152 Jews in the Paris area on July 16-17, 1942.

Only around 100 victims of the Vel d’Hiv Roundup, as it is known after the Paris cycling arena where the prisoners were first held, survived.

In a speech at the site of the arena, which was gutted by fire in 1959, Hollande said that the roundup was “a crime committed in France by France”. “The truth is hard and cruel,” he said. “The truth is that not a single German soldier - not one - was mobilized during the whole operation,” he told the

ceremony, which attended by several government ministers, relatives of deportees and leaders of the Jewish community. Drawing a link between the deportations and the murder by Islamist gunman Mohamed Merah of three Jewish schoolchildren in the south-western city of Toulouse in March, Hollande vowed to “pursue all antiSemitic acts and remarks” with “the greatest determination”.

The Vel d’Hiv Roundup is seen as one of the worst acts of collaboration with Nazi Germany by the regime of Marshal Philippe Petain.

Germany had demanded the arrest and deportation of Jewish adults; it was Petain’s regime which proposed their children be deported with them. Hollande’s remarks echoed those of former president Jacques Chirac, who was the first

French president in 1995 to officially recognize the country’s complicity in the deportation of Jews.

Chirac said that France had “committed the irreparable” by delivering up those who sought refuge to their executioners.

Hollande too gave voice to the sense of betrayal felt by the victims, many of whom had fled persecution in eastern Europe to France in the belief they would be safe there. Their trust in French values had been “trampled,” Hollande said. The country’s honour had been saved by the Free French Forces, which fought to liberate the country, and the thousands of ordinary people who risked their lives to save others, he said. Serge Klarsfeld, president of an association representing the children of the deported, pointed out that,

while 11,000 children were deported, 60,000 were saved thanks to the efforts of ordinary French people.

“But anti-Jewish hatred is once again killing Jews, Jewish children,” Klarsfeld said, referring to the killings by Merah, who also shot dead a rabbi and three soldiers before being shot dead by police in a siege. Yesterday’s commemoration of Vel d’Hiv comes days after a survey showing young people in France having little awareness of the events of 70 years ago. The CSA survey published Monday showed between 57 and 67 per cent of people under the age of 35 saying they had never heard of the Vel d’Hiv Roundup. Hollande called on schools to constantly remind students of the “singularity of the Shoah (holocaust).” —dpa

PARIS: France’s President Francois Hollande leaves yesterday after unveiling a plaque as part of a ceremony to commemorate the seventieth anniversary of the Vel D’Hiv roundup. —AFP

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

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

Batman killings revive nightmares in Columbine COLUMBINE, Colorado: The shooting which left 12 people dead in a Batman movie screening revived nightmares in the nearby town of Columbine, infamous for a school massacre 13 years ago.

But some who live near Columbine High School, where two students killed 13 people on April 20, 1999, are reluctant to see similarities between their town and Aurora, the scene of Friday ’s killings only 32 km away. “I feel it’s a mistake to draw the comparison between Columbine and Aurora,” said Jeff Jablonski, 28, after playing volleyball in a park across the street from the notorious school.

“The Columbine shooting was student on student, and this is stranger on stranger. That parallel can be taken too far,” the IT specialist, who went to the school, told AFP. “We were kids, and this one is an adult.”

One similarity, he admits, “is the mental illness of the shooters ...

I believe there should be more emphasis upon mental health, identifying and assisting peo-

ple with mental health issues.”

“It was another system shock.

However, would it be less tragic if it happened in another state (than Colorado)? ... It’s arbitrary that it happened here. Drawing comparisons could hurt,” he added.

The subject were revived early Friday when a black-clad gunman in full body armor, burst into an Aurora movie theater showing “The Dark Knight Rises” and opened fire, killing 12 and injuring 58. “I don’t think it’s (a problem) designated to Colorado,” said Frank De Angelis, who was in his fourth year as principal at the school when the massacre took place.

“All around the world there are people who are losing their lives in senseless deaths,” he told AFP. “I think what’s wrong in our society is that people just do not value life.”

But he acknowledges that the Aurora killings, allegedly carried out by 24-year-old postgraduate student James Holmes, have stirred up old nightmares for some in Columbine. “The people who

were affected by Columbine... they were retraumatized by the events yesterday,” he said, warning that for those affected in Aurora, the path to healing “is a marathon and not a sprint”.

“That event was 13 years ago, but it’s something that we will never forget, so it was devastating for our community. “At Columbine 13 years later we are very strong because of all the support we had and that support will be given to the citizens of Aurora and the families who tragically lost their loved ones.

At the Aurora Mental Health Center, over 200 people had come for help in barely one day after Friday’s massacre. They included those affected by the attack, and those evacuated in the middle of the night from the buildings where Holmes lived, and left a booby-trapped apartment only cleared late Saturday. Its deputy director Kathie Snell, who is also a therapist, worked to give psychological counseling to victims and loved ones after the Columbine

LITTLETON, Colorado: In this April 20, 1999 file photo, unidentified young women head to a library near Columbine High School where students and faculty members were evacuated after two gunmen went on a shooting rampage in the school in this southwest Denver suburb. — AP shootings. “The similarity... is the shock the community is facing. We are focused on providing the immediate assistance our community needs,” she told AFP. “ They ’re very different groups we are treating,” she

said, stressing that the evacuees “are very anxious, and the people who were in the center or community members are shaken by the tragedy... People who had friends or family members in the theater are

another group. And they obviously have intense reactions depending on whether their loved ones are safe or not.”

In Columbine those affected were primarily the students. “In this particular incident it involves people from throughout the community, not a particular group,” she said, suggesting that makes the help needed more difficult. “There’s not anything easy about any disaster response, but there are folks showing a variety of problems. the impact was very broad throughout the community.”

Mike Freidman, a 52-year-old software company executive who also lives near the Columbine school, says his sister studied there at the time. “ The case of the Columbine kids, they at least had a reason why they did it,” he told AFP, referring to the killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who by some accounts took revenge on former schoolmates after being bullied. “But this other guy doesn’t seem to have a reason at all,” he added. — AFP

Evidence shows months of plotting before massacre Obama to meet Batman shooting victims, families

AURORA, Colorado: FBI agents photograph the bedroom in the apartment of alleged gunman James Holmes with a poster titled ‘Soldiers of Misfortune’ Saturday. —AP

Lone gunmen always an enforcement challenge WASHINGTON: The lone gunman keeps law enforcement officers across the country awake at night. He’s hard to pick out of a crowd. He has no criminal record. Often, he hasn’t told anyone about his plans. He’s compiled a weapons cache legally. He doesn’t show up on any law enforcement radar until after he’s acted. The government has been more successful stopping Al-Qaeda from pulling off another Sept 11-type attack than it has in preventing deadly shooting sprees such as the one in the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado.

Law enforcement officials say it’s nearly impossible to stop someone like James Holmes, the intelligent 24-year-old who, officials believe, killed 12 people and injured dozens of others. The threat of the lone offender has become such a concern that the FBI in 2009 created a more than 25-member task force to identify common behavioral traits and characteristics. In 2012 alone, there have been 22 mass shootings, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

To stop Al-Qaeda, the government attacked terrorist hideouts, froze major sources of terrorists’ funding and made it more difficult for them to acquire weapons and materials to build bombs.

Holmes does not appear to be part of any terrorist or criminal network; officials say his purchases were legitimate and raised no red flags. Until Friday, he did nothing to bring him to the attention of law enforcement. “There’s no way you

can prevent it. There’s absolutely no way,” said Peter Ahearn, a former FBI agent. “It was random. It happened. There was nothing that could have prevented that unless someone saw him loading his car with guns.”

The Department of Homeland Security runs a nation-wide “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign.

Ads encouraging people to report suspicious activity are displayed around the country, including in some movie theaters, the department said. Even so, Holmes arrived at the theater dressed in black, outfitted in a gas mask, ballistic helmet, vest and leggings, black tactical gloves and protectors on his throat and groin. He was armed with an assaultstyle rifle, a shotgun and Glock handgun.

So far, law enforcement has not determined a motive for the attack, and no one has come forward to say they saw Holmes doing something suspicious.

People have described him as clean-cut, studious and quiet. A man who had a drink with him just days before his deadly rampage said Holmes had a backpack and geeky glasses. Holmes broke no laws when he purchased his weapons, and he passed the required background checks.

Previously enacted legal restrictions on guns might have made it more difficult for Holmes to buy certain weapons and kill so many people, but he still would have been able to purchase a gun.

In 1994, Congress approved a 10-year ban on 19 types of military-style assault weapons. — AP

Taleban execute five Afghans for NATO links KABUL: Taleban insurgents executed five civilians near Kabul for working with NATO troops, authorities said yesterday, the latest in a series of militant activities in villages around the capital.

The news of the incident in Wardak province’s Jalrez district, 40 km south of Kabul, came a day after the insurgents publicly lashed two Afghan men and just weeks after the public execution of a woman for adultery. In Jalrez, the rebels captured six Afghans returning home from work at a NATO base.

The bodies of five of them were found yesterday, all booby-trapped with explosives, a statement from the provincial governor’s office said. Their hands were tied behind their backs, a witness told AFP. The sixth man fled his captors, the statement added, blaming the killings on the Taleban, the main insurgent group fighting the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai

and a 130,000-strong US-led NATO force. The rebels are particularly active across the southern and eastern provinces, and appear to have stepped up efforts to impose their harsh version of Islamic Sharia laws implemented when they were in power between 1996 and 2001.

On Saturday, Taleban insurgents whipped two men 40 times in public in a village south of Kabul after accusing them of attempting to kidnap a young boy for ransom. Public punishments and executions were common when the Taleban regime was in power from 1996 until 2001, when they were ousted by a US-led invasion and launched an insurgency against Karzai’s government. Earlier this month, a video showing the public execution of a 22-yearold woman who was shot in the back in Parwan province just north of Kabul in front of a crowd of cheering men, drew worldwide condemnation. — AFP

AURORA, Colorado: Deliveries received by the man accused of committing a movie house massacre at a Denver-area premiere of the new “Batman” film suggest months of “calculation and deliberation” leading up to the shooting rampage that killed 12 people, police said on Saturday.

Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates discussed the shipments as local and federal authorities completed the painstaking process of disarming suspect James Holmes’ apartment, which was found booby-trapped with explosive devices after the shooting at a multiplex theater several miles away.

On Saturday, the local coroner’s officer released the names of the 12 people k illed. As evening fell, residents gathered at a local high school to mourn the passing of a classmate who graduated in May. “ We’ve become aware that the suspect over the last four months received a high volume of deliveries to both his work and home addresses,” Oates said. “ This begins to explain how he got his hands on all the magazines and ammunition. “We also think it begins to explain some of the materials he had in his apartment,” Oates said. “What we’re seeing here is evidence of some calculation and deliberation.”

A gunman wearing a full suit of tactical body armor, helmet and gas mask opened fire at a packed midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” early on Friday morning, killing 12 people and wounding 58. Holmes, 24, was arrested minutes later in a parking lot behind the cinema.

Among the dead were a 6-yearold girl who had just learned to swim, a young man celebrating his 27th birthday and an aspiring sportscaster who missed by minutes being on the scene of a Toronto mall shooting earlier this summer.

The mass shooting stunned the nation, evoking memories of the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, 27 km from Aurora, where two students opened fire and killed 12 students and a teacher. It also reverberated in the US presidential race. Both President Barack Obama and his Republican rival,

Mitt Romney, toned down their campaigns on Friday, pulled ads from Colorado and dedicated scheduled events to the victims.

Obama was scheduled to travel to Colorado yesterday to honor the shooting victims, an administration official said.

Those who witnessed the shooting told of a horrific scene, with dazed victims bleeding from bullet wounds, spitting up blood and cr ying for help. “I slipped on some blood and landed on a lady. I shook her and said, ‘We need to go; get up,’ and there was no response, so I presumed she was dead,” said Tanner Coon, 17. When police arrested Holmes, he was armed with an AR-15 assault rifle, a 12gauge shotgun and a Glock .40caliber handgun, Oates said.

Police found an additional Glock .40-caliber handgun in his car, parked just outside the theater’s rear emergency exit, he said.

Police said Holmes had purchased the weapons legally at three area gun stores in the last 60 days and bought 6,000 rounds of ammunition online, including a 100-round drum magazine for an assault rifle.

Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said the suspect was being held in solitary

confinement to protect him from other prisoners, a routine move in high-profile cases. Holmes, who authorities said had dyed his hair red and called himself “the Joker ” in a reference to Batman’s comic-book nemesis, was due to make an initial court appearance today.

Little has sur faced from Holmes’s past to suggest he was capable of such violence. Until last month, he was studying for a doctoral degree in neuroscience at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical School, a few blocks from his apartment. A top student, he had earned a prestigious federal grant from the National Institutes for Health to support his studies. The grants are intended for “outstanding neuroscientists and academicians who will make significant contributions to neurobiology”, university spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery said.

Holmes had spent a year in the doctoral program, where a fellow student described him as quiet and studious, before he abruptly withdrew from the university last month. He gave no reason for his departure. Holmes kept a low profile off campus as well. He was not active under his own name on social media sites

like Facebook and both the landlord and fellow tenants of his red-brick apartment building said they knew little about him.

Neighbors who met him in the local bar described him as relaxed and friendly, though a few recalled him displaying brief flashes of anger over seemingly trivial exchanges. The University of Colorado Hospital, which treated some of the shooting victims, said 10 people had been released and five remained in critical condition. The Medical Center of Aurora said four of its seven patients remained in the intensive care unit, while three others were on the main trauma floor.

A memorial of flowers, candles and stuffed animals quickly sprung up where the shooting rampage took place. A handwritten sign read: “7/20 gone not forgotten.” At the Saturday evening memorial ser vice at Gateway High School, shooting victim and recent graduate A J Boik was remembered as beloved former student and talented artist who was bound for college in the fall. “He was a very big part of this community,” said Tami Aver y, whose son played sports with Boik. “He will be dearly missed.” —Reuters

US air force instructor gets 20 years in prison SAN ANTONIO: An Air Force instructor was sentenced to 20 years in prison yesterday after being convicted of rape and sexual assault in a sweeping sex scandal that rocked one of the busiest military training centers in the US. A military jury at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio found Staff Sgt Luis Walker guilty Friday night on all 28 charges he faced, including rape, aggravated sexual contact and multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault. A judge consolidated those charges Saturday into 20, but that didn’t affect Walker’s maximum sentence. He could have received life in prison.

Walker is among 12 instructors at Lackland investigated for sexual misconduct toward at least 31 female trainees. Six have been charged with crimes, and the counts against Walker were the most severe. The women assaulted by Walker said they don’t sleep much these days and when they do, he some-

times haunts their dreams. They testified at Saturday’s sentencing hearing about being suddenly unable to relate to husbands, boyfriends and even fathers and brothers after they were sexually assaulted. One said her fear during a tour of duty in Afghanistan was heightened by soldiers who reminded her of her instructor, and she warned her younger sister not to enlist in the Air Force.

Another said she’s now afraid to be behind closed doors with any man.

Prosecutors said Walker used his position as a military trainer at Lackland to gain female recruits’ trust, and then he made illicit sexual advances. Walker’s court-martial included testimony from 10 women, one of whom wept as she described him luring her into his base office and sexually assaulting her on a bed, ignoring her pleas to stop. Walker showed little emotion as the sentence was read, but he appeared to have tears on his face later as he

gazed at his wife, Yeimi. Both had cried earlier, while asking the military jury for leniency and a shorter sentence so that he would be able to spend time with his two sons, ages 7 and 4.

“I ask for my family’s sake, for my two boys right there,” Walker said, wheeling around to look at the youngsters, who sat squirming and chattering back and forth with no understanding of the proceedings. “I ask that I am allowed to have a future with them.” Walker’s stepfather, sister and wife all testified on his behalf, describing an earnest teen who grew up in a tough corner of Brooklyn, dreamed of joining the Air Force from the age of 14 and arranged to graduate from high school early so he could enlist. “All of his dreams are shattered and our dreams because I was so proud of him,” said Herbert O’Connor, Walker’s stepfather. Walker was taken after the hearing to a temporary lockup at Lackland to await transfer to a permanent prison. — AP

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

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

Fleeing Syrian Kurds seek refuge with Iraqi brethren CAMP DOMIZ, Iraq: Syrian troops usually came before dawn, rounding up young Kurdish men to force them into an army they did not see as their own and into a fight for a government that treated them as outsiders. When they came, Syrian law student Ahmed slipped out, leaving his family and crossing the border in April into Iraqi Kurdistan to join thousands of Syrian Kurds now living among their Iraqi brethren in a refugee camp or homes of relatives. As Syria’s crisis escalates, Syria’s Kurdish provinces have been spared most of the violence. But increasingly, Syrian Kurds say they are fleeing to Iraqi Kurdistan to escape from growing economic hardship, kidnappings and instability.

More than 7,000 Syrians have crossed the border and found their way to Kurdistan, where local authorities and international agencies have set up a camp on a dusty plain.

Diggers are already preparing land for more. “Army convoys would come at around 4 am, asking for ID papers.

When they surrounded my house I knew I couldn’t go back,” said Ahmed,

who like many others at the camp asked that only his first name be used for fears of reprisals on family. Some are soldiers escaping orders to fire on protesters or fellow Kurdish deserters, others are families who faced an increasing struggle to find gas and food, or students who wanted no part in fighting for President Bashar AlAssad.

Syria’s Kurds have long suffered discrimination under Assad and many see in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan a place where they can find work and easily settle with common roots and language as Syria falls apart. While Syrian towns such as Homs face the brunt of Assad’s crackdown after more than 16 months of protests and fighting, activists from the Kurdish region say Syrian Kurds - a million out of Syria’s 21 million population - now cautiously see a chance to edge closer to rights similar to Kurdistan’s model.

Iraqi Kurdistan, autonomous since 1991, has its own provincial government and armed forces, though it still relies on the Baghdad central government for its budget. Demands from

Syria’s Kurdish region, which has faced repression of rights such as teaching in Kurdish, will be decisive for the Syrian National Council (SNC), the mainly Arab opposition to Assad, led since June by Abdelbasset Sida, a Kurd. Numbers of Syrians fleeing into Iraq are still small compared with the refugees crossing into Turkey and into Lebanon, where the United Nations said up to 30,000 refugees may have crossed the frontier in the past week.

At Camp Domiz, where rows of tents are divided between single males and families, newly arrived refugees talk of Assad’s departure, and offer a view of Syria splintering into separate regions as the violence there grows. “I am sure Assad will leave now.

In the past the military were strong, but there are too many defections now,” said Hamo, a Kurdish Syrian soldier who fled the army and into Kurdistan after 10 months in Homs.

For Iraq, Syria’s crisis is particularly sensitive. Baghdad’s Shiite-led government is close to Iran, Assad’s ally in the region, and has taken a more moderate position than Sunni Gulf states

such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia. But Kurdish parties in Syria’s opposition to Assad have been supported by Iraq’s Kurdistan to encourage them to put aside differences and present a united front to fight for Kurdish rights.

Kurdish SNC members have had open disputes with others in the group over Kurdish rights - on July 4 a Kurdish group walked out of an opposition meeting in Cairo amid scuffles and fistfights - and whether a post-Assad Syria would be built around a federal structure similar to that in Iraq.

The role played by Syria’s Kurds in any post-Assad Syria will be important for neighbouring Turkey and Iran, where large Kurdish populations have long sought more independence. For many Kurdish refugees that kinship drove them across Syria into Iraqi Kurdistan instead of seeking refuge in Lebanon or Turkey, where they believed they would face more restrictions. Eight months fighting in the crackdown on protesters was enough for soldier Bilent to escape across Syria for Kurdistan. He said he paid a $200 bribe to an officer to get a leave

of absence, visit his family and leave.

“There was a rule. When they gave orders if I didn’t follow and shoot, then they would shoot me,” he said sitting among 20 other Syrian army deserters near the camp. “I’ll be here until Assad leaves and then I’ll go back.”

For families at the camp, food shortages, dwindling supplies of gas for cooking and the threat of violence were enough to push them to abandon their homes and escape over Iraq’s border. Many already see Iraq as their new home, seeking jobs in nearby towns, and fixing tents with air conditioners in preparation for the long wait. “Even if Assad falls we won’t go back, there is no life left in Syria. It is better to stay here,” said Wansan, who paid smugglers to ferry her and her three children into Iraq to follow her husband three weeks ago.

At a half-built mosque near Camp Domiz, sentiment running through the settlement is clear. Pale blue graffiti across the mosque’s unfinished grey concrete walls reads: “Out with Bashar Al-Assad.” — Reuters

37 dead as record rain pounds Beijing 10 others killed in northeast, southwest China

BONN: In this May 19,1998 file photo, Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Ding Guangen (left) meets German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel at the Foreign Ministry. — AP

Former China propaganda chief Ding Guangen dies BEIJING: Ding Guangen, a former chief of propaganda for the ruling Communist Party who oversaw party control of media and the arts in the 1990s, has died at age 83. Ding, who retired in 2002 after a decade as propaganda chief, died yesterday of an unspecified illness in Beijing, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Born in 1929, Ding spent the early decades of his career in government maritime and railway agencies.

He became minister of railways in the 1980s but resigned in 1988 after a series

of train crashes that killed scores of people. He later was head of the Cabinet’s Taiwan Affairs Office and the party’s United Front Work Department, which oversees China’s noncommunist organizations.

Ding returned to prominence in 1992, becoming the party’s chief of propaganda under then-President Jiang Zemin.

Seen as a conservative, he affirmed party control of media and called on artists to show political loyalty and adhere to the party line. — AP

Russia arrests officials after deadly floods MOSCOW: Russia yesterday announced the arrest of three local officials for negligence during flooding that killed 172 people and politically undermined President Vladimir Putin as he took up his third term. The Investigative Committee revealed the surprise detentions during a lightning visit to the devastated Black Sea village of Krymsk by Putin’s powerful domestic security mastermind Alexander Bastrykin. The three Krymsk officials and a nearby town mayor now face seven years in prison - a sentence rarely seen in such cases and one stressing the urgency Putin attaches to the first big disaster to strike since his May return.

“In the course of the investigation, (Krymsk district head) Vasily Krutko, (Krymsk mayor) Vladimir Ulanovsky and (local emergency response chief ) Viktor Zhdanov have been detained,” a statement said. It added that nearby Nizhnebakansk village chief Irina Ryabchenko may be detained later on the same charges of failing to properly alert locals about the possible dangers of a fast-approaching heavy thunderstorm. Most victims died in their sleep in pre-dawn flooding that also destroyed the property of some 30,000 people in the worst such disaster in post-Sovie era.

“Essentially ignoring the weather service forecasts, the suspects did not inform the population about the looming danger and did not take steps to evacuate peole,” committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said in televised remarks. Putin himself hinted at possible sackings when he raced to the little southern village for the second time in just a few days on July 15. State television then showed a remarkable sequence of some 20 minutes during which Putin patiently fielded complaints from irate locals who questioned official accounts of why the floods came.

Many spoke of hearing no flood warning alarms and only receiving text messages on mobile phones that themselves cut off as the storms progressed. Local news reports have also said those applying for emergency assistance often had to sign documents stating they had received due notice about a potential flood.

“People here think that there was no early warning - despite the fact that the previous head of the administration said that there was one,” Putin told local officials after being briefed by the residents of Krymsk. “The Investigative Committee must issue an objective assessment of the actions of all officials,” he said at the time.

Putin’s get-tough image suffered a bruising blow at the start of his first term as president in 2000 when he holidayed while the nation watched in horror as 118 seamen perished in the sinking of the nuclear submarine Kursk. The KGB chief has worked hard to show himself in command of the chronic disasters that have since clouded his 12-year rule.

Post-flood recovery work has remained a top item on state television news for much of the past two weeks as images of doctors giving vaccinations mingle those of worker brigades pounding away at roads and homes.

The media campaign has extended to the entire Krasnodar region - a recent recipient of billions of dollars in contracts and federal assistance linked to preparations for the high-profile Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. “Kyrmsk is undergoing a transformation and normal life is returning,” one report on local Krasnodar Plus television declared this week. The official Investigative Committee meanwhile said that the four officials stood accused of “violating people’s constitutionally guaranteed right to life and the legally protected interests of society and the state.” — AFP

BEIJING: The heaviest rain to hit Beijing in over 60 years left at least 37 people dead and forced more than 50,000 to evacuate, state media said yesterday. Torrential rain pounded Beijing throughout Saturday before easing, but more downpours were forecast yesterday for northeast and southwest China where at least 10 others were reported dead over the weekend, Xinhua news agency said. The rainstorms led to the evacuation of more than 50,000 people in the capital, mostly from Beijing’s outlying mountainous districts, as up to 46 cm of rain lashed some areas, the agency added.

A policeman who was electrocuted by a fallen power line during a rescue operation was among the fatalities in Beijing, while others were killed in traffic accidents and roof collapses, Xinhua said. One woman died after her car was engulfed with water in an underpass on the capital’s central second ring road that was flooded with up to three metres of water.

Three bodies were recovered yesterday in Beijing’s mountainous Fangshan region where several landslides were reported, China National Radio reported, but it was not clear if they were included in the death toll of ten. Up to 46 cm of rain fell in Fangshan district, the most rain to hit the city in a 14-hour period since records began in 1951, Xinhua said.

The death toll was expected to rise with media reports yesterday saying numerous people, including rescue workers, were missing. The government flood control headquarters told AFP that damage assessments were ongoing. Photos of showed entire parking lots flooded by the rain, while rescue and traffic workers were seen diving underwater to unclog roadside drains as helpless drivers

looked on from partially submerged cars.

Numerous roads in the capital were submerged under up to a metre of water, while 500 outbound flights were cancelled and at least 80,000 passengers stranded.

Yesterday, clean-up crews were out repairing damage under largely sunny skies, while workers scrambled to drain up to one million cubic metres (35 million cubic feet) of water from the sewer system. Despite the damage, the rain was largely welcomed in droughtprone northern China which has suffered

from a lack of rain over the last decade. More torrential rain was forecast in China’s northeast and southwest, after at least 10 other people were killed since Friday.

In the northern province of Shanxi province, four people died and one remained missing after their pick-up truck was swept into a river as they attempted to cross a bridge, Xinhua said. Landslides in southwestern Sichuan province resulted in six deaths, provincial flood control and drought relief officials told the agency. — AFP

BEIJING: A Chinese man carries a woman past a car partially submerged in floodwaters following heavy rain late Saturday. — AP

Myanmar president visits Thailand BANGKOK: Myanmar’s president yesterday made his first official trip to Thailand since taking power in a visit likely to focus on economic ties between his reforming nation and its more affluent neighbour. Thein Sein arrived in Bangkok for a three-day trip that will include talks with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today expected to cover development and infrastructure investment for impoverished Myanmar.

The visit marks “a significant milestone of Thai-Myanmar relations”, according to a statement from Thailand’s foreign ministry. It is a chance to strengthen ties, “particularly those in support of Myanmar’s ongoing economic reform and development efforts for the benefits of both countries and the region as a whole”, it said.

Thailand has fostered longstanding economic ties with its

neighbour and - along with China and other regional nations became a key trading partner with Myanmar during years of isolation under junta rule. But reforms under Thein Sein have triggered a dramatic thawing of relations with the West, which has begun to dismantle strict sanctions against the resource-rich country, amid hopes for a resurgence of its economy.

This month the United States gave the green light to US companies to invest in Myanmar including in oil and gas, in its broadest and most controversial easing yet of sanctions, as foreign firms eye potentially lucrative opportunities in the country’s energy sector.

Thein Sein, who took the presidency of the new quasi-civilian government last year, yesterday inspected the Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chonburi, about 80 km from Bangkok, on

CHONBURI, Thailand: Myanmar President Thein Sein (left) looks out at the port during his visit to the Regional Investment and Economic Center at the Laem Chabang deep-sea port about 80 km from Bangkok on Thailand’s Gulf Coast yesterday. —AFP

Thailand’s Gulf Coast. Doubts have emerged over a Thai-backed multi-billion-dollar deep-sea-port development in Dawei, on Myanmar’s southern Andaman coast, after Thein Sein’s government announced it was blocking a coal-fired plant that was to be built at the site. Thein Sein will also meet representatives of Thai industry and agriculture during his trip, including the heads of energy giant Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) and industrial conglomerate Siam Cement.

Rajiv Biswas, Asia-Pacific Chief Economist at IHS Global Insight,

said Thailand was in a strong position to invest in tourism, healthcare and manufacturing in Myanmar and to assist the country in developing its crippled banking industry. He said other nations would begin to grow their presence in the country but “it will still be China and Thailand that are very much in the lead because they have the connections and are on the ground already”. Talks between Thein Sein and Yingluck are expected to include the fate of dozens of Thais arrested across the border and held on charges of land encroachment. — AFP

US fighter jet pilot rescued after crash TOKYO: The pilot of a US fighter jet that crashed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of northeastern Japan yesterday has been rescued, Japan’s Coast Guard said, six hours after the aircraft went down. The pilot, whose name was not disclosed, was placed safely on a US container ship in the region around 6 p.m. (0900 GMT), according to the coast guard, one of several agencies that sent vessels to assist in the rescue. The F-16 Fighter Falcon went down some 200 miles northeast of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, according to an earlier statement by the US Air Force.

The US Air Force said it was still preparing a statement containing details about the pilot’s rescue. It had said earlier that the pilot took off from Misawa Air Base in Aomori at about 11:30 headed for North America. It said the cause of the crash was under investigation. The crash coincides with heated debate over plans to deploy a US military hybrid helicopter-plane with a troubled safety record in Japan from October, part of an effort to upgrade Japan’s ageing fleet.

The MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft is expected to arrive at the US Marines’ Iwakuni Air Station today. Some residents are opposed to the aircraft following crashes in Morocco and Florida in recent months. Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada was quoted by Kyodo news agency as saying that the F-16 crash should not influence discussion about deploying the Osprey: “They are completely different matters,” Okada said. — Reuters

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

opinion

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YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief

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letter to the editor

‘And we made every living thing of water’ Dear Sir, Kuwait has been affected by various kinds of pollutions of late, be it air, noise or water pollution because of the rapid technological advancement. The impact of pollution on local environment and the health of everybody living in Kuwait is hazardous and probably the most dangerous one is water pollution as it is very scarce in Kuwait with no rivers or fresh water resources in the country.

Almighty Allah says : “And we made every living thing of water” (Surat Al-Anbiya-verse 30). These words refer to water purely falling on earth from the sky with any form of pollution or contamination as said by Allah: “And causeth water to pour down from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you”( Surat Al-Baqara-verse 22).

So, taking into consideration the dire scarcity of fresh water resources and the low rainfall rates in this desert country where we desalinate sea water, we all have to be more environmentally aware of the need to save water, especially in the soaring summer temperatures. We need more public campaigns to boost consumer awareness about environmental issues, namely water quality and water consumption rates. And here comes your role as a leading local daily. I believe you should arrange with the concerned authorities to publish special ads or banners under a national campaign program to conserve water, reduce consumption and use more efficient pipe fitting systems to avoid water wastage.

Looking forward to your cooperation, Shahad Al-Ansari, Environmental Education Student Kuwait University

Issues

Egypt’s Morsi looks abroad to win influence at home

By Tom Pfeiffer n early diplomatic offensive by Egypt’s new Islamist president makes it harder for an army-led establishment to portray him on the international stage as a threat to foreign powers. At home though, it may do little to curb the influence of the generals and help Morsi assert himself as head of state.

Egypt’s long-standing allies Saudi Arabia and the United States are unwilling to challenge the army’s role as self-appointed protector of Egypt, which it uses to justify continued control over national security and a future constitution. Morsi has the first real popular mandate in Egypt’s history yet the army has kept the power to veto any law he passes after dissolving a parliament dominated by his allies in the Muslim Brotherhood, citing a court ruling. In an apparent swipe at the Brotherhood during a visit to Egypt by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Egypt’s top general, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, said the army would not allow a “specific group” to dominate Egypt. Clinton urged a swift move to accountable government after meeting the new president and said the US supported the army’s return to a “purely national security role.” Images of her chatting with Morsi were relayed widely on television.

But Clinton’s visit also included meetings with women’s representatives and Christian groups who fear their rights could be eroded if Islamists take full control via the ballot box. She held a meeting with Tantawi that was more low-key than her earlier encounter with Morsi, but the order of ceremonies may say more about official protocol than any real change in the pecking order.

For now, Morsi may still be too weak, and the Brotherhood too untested, for Washington to bring decisive pressure to bear on the generals on his behalf.

“Morsi is trying to use foreign support, to the extent it is available, for a transition to a more democratic polity to enhance his powers and those of the Brotherhood,” said Kamran Bokhari, vice president for the Middle East and South Asia at Stratfor.

But he said the military leadership remained a partner of choice for the outside world, “partly because of longstanding relations and partly because of US uncertainty over the Brotherhood coming to power”. Morsi seemed to be doing his best to have it otherwise on a visit last week to US ally and regional power Saudi Arabia, whose monarchy looked on with unease last year as popular uprisings spread through the region. — Reuters

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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.

In Mideast, the stage is mightier than the sword

By Natasha Choufani ebanese, Egyptian, Palestinian and Austrian dancers recently took the stage together in Beirut for a show that broke down barriers between cultures and nationalities. In “Every Last Breath”, a dance choreographed by Jens Bjerregaard of Denmark’s Mancopy dance company, performers depicted the Arab Spring through individual stories, evoking its uncer tainty and newfound sense of freedom.

Depicting the way that individuals in the Arab world have changed, it also evoked the way that the Arab world has begun to redefine itself and change Western perceptions of it.

The performing arts, including dance, music and theatre, are by nature communal. Whether performed in an auditorium or a village square, they bring people together. They not only connect performers and audience members, but can also help build understanding.

Today, from Kabul to Beirut, directors and performers are using these art forms in new ways, both bridging divides within countries and between Muslim and Western communities.

For instance, the most prominent dance troupe in the Middle East, Caracalla Dance Theatre, uses a mixture of ballet, oriental dance and different forms of folk dance to create a sense of common ground between the Middle East and the West. Combining different styles in this way provides something familiar to audiences in both regions. Because dance is an art form

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that exists in almost all cultures, many people can understand and relate to it. Similarly, both old and young can find ways to engage with it. Contemporary dance such as hip-hop, and contemporary music like rap, have gained traction among youth, particularly among Palestinians, where Arabic rap and hip hop music groups, such as DAM, have had success in the underground scene.

Israeli and Palestinian youth have also cooperated in artistic initiatives to promote peace with groups like Heartbeat, an NGO which seeks to build trust between Israelis and Palestinians and strengthen global youth voices working for peace through art. For instance, it has brought together Israeli, Palestinian, African and German youth to collectively create a hip-hop opera on refugee rights and asylum, and linked young Israeli and Palestinian musicians in multiple communities through a project called “The mic is stronger”, emphasizing the power of music to bridge divides.

Though some people are critical of using art for peace-building, this cooperation has provided a way for both Israelis and Palestinians to express themselves peacefully and understand each other. Using music and dance provides a new way for these youth to share stories with each other and connect when it might otherwise not have been possible. Theatre also provides a way to build understanding. Today, some directors and troupes are working along these lines, both within countries and between different ones.

Nagy Souraty, a Lebanese actor and director, is known

for including dialogue in Arabic, English and French in a single play in order to reflect the diversity of languages in Lebanon.

Theatre, he believes, can also transcend divisions between Muslim and Western communities, citing the example of an Afghan troupe that per formed in Europe. “The play began simply on 11 September 2001, and ended in the present day, in which you could see the experience of the aftermath of 9/11 through [Afghan] eyes”, he said. The play encouraged a Western audience to see a specific event - 9/11 through a new lens, something that might only be possible through drama, as it gives viewers a glimpse of realities besides their own. Within Afghanistan, theatre is also transcending boundaries. Theatre there is in fact on the rise, despite opposition from some fundamentalist groups.

It is a popular form of entertainment, particularly in villages. It is an inexpensive art form that can reach all classes in Afghanistan, as an audience doesn’t need to be literate to be able to understand a play and its message. Majid Ghiasi, director of the government-funded Kabul Theatre Company, says that “[a] message conveyed through drama or comedy is more easily absorbed” than one through another medium, such as a lecture. In today’s world, which all too often seems full of division, we need more efforts like these to create connections and build understanding. An auditorium - or village square - has enormous potential to help accomplish that. — CGNews

Assad’s grip on Syria becomes tenuous

By Elizabeth A Kennedy

he Assad family’s grip on Syria has never looked so tenuous. After 17 months of violence and an estimated 17,000 people killed, a lightningquick turnaround in the momentum of the civil war has put President Bashar Assad’s forces on the defensive, a sign that his once -impenetrable family dynasty is wobbling.

For the first time, the rebels have brought a sustained fight to Damascus, the seat of Assad’s power, in a powerful signal that the regime cannot protect its own capital. On Friday, repor ts of intense fighting in Aleppo, Syria’s second city, suggest the rebels are making a run on another major government stronghold.

And now, more than ever before during the four-decade Assad dynasty, there are signs that the inner circle is unraveling. A stunning rebel bombing that killed four of Assad’s top lieutenants Wednesday was a strike that almost certainly involved the hand of a trusted insider.

The coming days will be crucial to determining whether the regime can recover from blow after devastating blow, which have eviscerated any sense that the head of one of the Middle East’s most autocratic states can hold on indefinitely.

Trying to retain their grip on power, regime forces are stretched to the limit.

The government is pulling its most powerful troops from around the country to reinforce Damascus, which allows rebels to swoop in and take over key areas after the soldiers abandon their positions or leave them only lightly guarded.

In the past two days, rebels seized border crossings in Iraq and Turkey, ushering in scenes of bloody chaos. Truck driver Ahmet Celik said Friday he was nearly k illed near the Bab Al-Hawa crossing in Turkey when rebels fought for control.

“The gunfire lasted till the morning,” Celik said. “We barely survived.” A stream

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of high-level defections points to growing unease among the most privileged classes who count on the regime for their livelihoods and perks. Brig Gen Manaf Tlass, an Assad confidant and son of a former defense minister, defected to France earlier this month.

Although the government still has the firepower to hang on - possibly for months or more - the future is bleak.

The increasingly sectarian overtones to much of the violence suggest any power vacuum will usher in a bloodbath pitting Syria’s majority Sunni population against the Assad family ’s minority Alawite sect, which is an offshoot of Shiite Islam. Sunnis make up most of Syria’s 22 million people, as well as the backbone of the opposition. But Assad is relying heavily on his Alawite power base to crush the uprising, prompting revenge attacks and fear among other minorities that they face retribution if the regime falls.

The opposition, which is fractious and lacks any real central command, has no hope of pacifying the country. There is no clear candidate to step in and lead

should Assad go. And the violence has become far more unstable than many had ever imagined, with Al-Qaeda and other extremists joining the ranks of those fighting to topple the regime.

Thousands of Syrians are not waiting around to find out what comes next.

Families are fleeing into Lebanon, arriving in packed buses, taxis and private cars. Iraq is sending planes to evacuate its residents, and Capt. Saad Al-Khafaji of the state-owned Iraqi Airways promised to “continue the flights until there are no Iraqis left” in Syria.

The idea of Iraqis fleeing Syria would have been unthinkable in recent years thousands of them fled to Syria to escape widespread sectarian fighting during the worst of violence in their homeland between 2005 and 2007.

Now, the traffic is going the other way, with Iraqis and Syrian refugees heading east. Despite the rebel gains, the battle for Syria is not over yet. Although the rebels appear more powerful than at any stage of the uprising, their smallcaliber weapons and rampant disorganization will make it all but impossible to

This June 13, 2000 file photo shows, Syrian President Bashar Assad (right), his brother Maher (center) and brother-in-law Major General Assef Shawkat (left) stand during the funeral of late president Hafez Assad in Damascus, Syria. — AP

defeat the regime in direct battle. The rebels also have failed to hold territory for any significant amount of time, which prevents them from carving out a zone akin to Libya’s Benghazi, where opponents of Muammar Gaddafi launched their successful uprising last year.

Already, Syrian government forces are starting to drive the rebels out of pockets of Damascus. On Friday, government forces showed off a battlescarred neighborhood of the capital that they say has been “cleansed” of fighters, but rebels say it was a tactical retreat that will allow them to expand their guerrilla war in the coming days and weeks.

The regime has tried to portray a sense of calm control - but the country is in a state of profound unease. Assad has not spoken to the public and he was a no-show Friday at the funerals for the security officials k illed by the Wednesday bombing.

The only sign of Assad since the attack was a brief, soundless video clip on state TV. The dire situation for the Assad government is unprecedented.

The president took power upon his father’s death in 2000, inheriting a brutal legacy. Assad’s father, Hafez, crushed a Sunni uprising in 1982 by shelling the town of Hama. Amnesty International has claimed that 10,000-25,000 were killed, though conflicting figures exist and the Syrian government has made no official estimate.

Hafez Assad ruled the country for the next two decades until his death, and the massacre was seared into the minds of Syrians. As the uprising began to take shape last year, Assad immediately fell back on the tactics that have kept his family in power.

But the onslaught has failed to crush the rumblings of dissent, and now it seems everyone is preparing for the worst - a future of revenge killings and chaos, more scenes of desperate violence and a spate of bloody anarchy akin to Iraq after Saddam Hussein’s fall in 2003. — AP

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

NEWS Urgency of reconciliation in Ramadan 2012 Continued from Page 1 harbor grudges against each other. About them, Allah orders His angels saying: “Give these two a respite until they reconcile with each other.” (Reported by Imam Muslim) Taking the initiative for reconciliation: If your contending brother takes the initiative to greet you with the Islamic greeting ‘Assalamu Alaikum’ translated “peace be upon you,” after parting company with him for three days or more, you should readily accept it, otherwise you will be following in the footsteps of the Devil. It was narrated by Abu Baker ibn Abi Shayba that the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said in what can be translated as: “It is not permissible for Muslims to forsake each other for three days.

If they do that then they won’t meet in paradise. And whoever takes the initiative to seek reconciliation will be forgiven all his sins (except the major ones), and in case he greets his contending partner with the greeting of Islam (Assalamu Alaikum) and the latter refuses either to answer the salaam or to accept the former’s attempt towards reconciliation, the devil will commend him and Allah will send an angel to answer the salaam of the former.”

The devil sows the seeds of discord among brothers: In his attempt to get as many companions as possible with him in the hellfire, the devil always works tooth and nail to set people against each other so that they miss the mercy and forgiveness of Allah.

Muslims should try all possible means to avoid falling into that trap. It was narrated by Jabir ibn Abdallah that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said in what can be translated as: “Indeed the devil has despaired from being worshipped by performers of prayers in the Arabian peninsula. However, he still has not despaired from sowing the seeds of discord and dissension amongst them.” (Reported by Imam Muslim) * Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said the aforementioned statement after Islam was fully established in the Arabian peninsula. It should be understood that one of the greatest loopholes that Satan capitalizes on is to set people against each other by employing various ploys and techniques.

It is normal that misunderstandings will happen between brothers - even companions of the Holy Prophet - were not immune from misunderstandings and quarrelling. However, they addressed them rationally rather than emotionally. It was narrated

by Abul-Hasan Al-Madaini that once Al-Hasan and Al-Husein

(grandchildren of Prophet Mohammad), quarreled with each other - as a result they forsook each other for three days. Hardly did the third day end than Al-Hasan approached Al-Hussein, leaned on his head and kissed him while he was seated. This initiative prompted Al-Hussein to comment thus: “Indeed, what prevented me from taking the initiative of breaking the ice between us was that you have priority and preference over me; so I hated to contend with you in something in which you are far superior to me.”

(Masaweil-Akhlaaq by Al-Kharaaitey) Parting company with sinners: Parting company with your Muslim or blood brother can sometimes be imperative if he continues to be stubborn and obstinate in committing sins - particularly if you are pretty sure that by employing this technique that person will come back to his senses. It should be noted that the Islamic Law is about spreading benefits and well-being and not about spreading evil and mischief.

Following are among the dangers of forsaking one another: 1- It is the reason as to why Allah’s mercy is delayed to His servants.

2- Parting company with each other for more than three is prohibited in Islam and is bound to cause social disintegration and breakup.

3- It is a bad habit that brings Allah’s wrath to the concerned parties.

4- It is one of the ruses and ploys of the Satan in his attempts to sow the seeds of dissension and discord amongst Muslims.

Finally, as we aspire to get Allah’s forgiveness during this auspicious month of Ramadan, let us reconcile with each other first and then seek His boundless mercy and forgiveness.

References: 1- Holy Quran 2- Sunna (sayings, acts and approvals of Prophet Mohammad PBUH) 3- Al-Nadrat Al-Naeem * Courtesy, AWARE Center The AWARE Center, an acronym of Advocates for Western-Arab Relations provides for Western expatriate in Kuwait a variety of services and facilities to make their stay more interesting and comfortable.

For more information, log onto: www.aware.com.kw

Debate on constituencies...

Continued from Page 1 But it appears that the proposed changes will greatly impact the structure of the National Assembly politically, socially and even on sectarian lines. The study also proposes to cut the number of candidates a voter can pick up to just one from the current four.

Opposition MP Mussallam Al-Barrak called on the government to deny the story published in the newspaper about the amendment plan and warned that failure to do so and going ahead with the plan will take the country into a dark tunnel. MP Waleed Al-Tabtabai said that the government aims to playing with the outcome of the forthcoming assembly election by amending the electoral system without allowing the National Assembly to take part.

Tabtabai warned that the consequences of such a change would be very serious because the change amounts to a forgery to the will of the people.

Hamad Al-Matar, a member of the scrapped 2012 assem-

bly, said that emergency decrees do not apply to the issue of changing the electoral system and accordingly should be done in cooperation with the national assembly.

The Progressive Movement said that the attempt by the government to change the electoral law does not aim at achieving justice and a fair distribution of voters but to alter the outcome of the elections to better control the National Assembly.

In a related development, Speaker of the National Assembly Jassem Al-Khorafi is expected to invite members of the 2009 assembly, reinstated by a court ruling last month, to hold its first meeting at the end of July.

The meeting is not expected to take place because many MPs plan to boycott the session, especially the opposition MPs. If the session fails to take place, Khorafi is expected to invite the assembly for another meeting.

If MPs continue to boycott the meetings, Khorafi will refer the issue to HH the Amir who is expected to issue a decree dissolving the assembly and calling for fresh polls.

Regime forces assault Syrian capital Continued from Page 1 “Regime forces are using helicopters to pound the Barzeh district,” an activist who identified himself as Abu Omar told AFP via Skype. “Families are trying to flee their homes, but it is difficult to get out of the neighborhood. It is surrounded, and violence on the edges is intense,” he said.

Abu Omar also said the army was raiding the nearby Rukn Al-Din neighborhood, while “helicopters used machineguns to fire into the district’s streets.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “the feared Fourth Brigade” commanded by President Assad’s power ful younger brother Maher was carrying out the Barzeh

attack.

“Troops have stormed the northwestern Barzeh district of Damascus with tanks and armored personnel carriers,” the group’s director Rami Abdel Rahman said, adding that snipers had been deployed on rooftops.

The rebel Free Syrian Army’s (FSA) military council head General Mustafa Al-Sheikh told AFP “a real war of attrition” was underway in Damascus. “The regime is collapsing, the speed at which it is falling has increased. That means it will use greater violence in order to try and save itself,” said Sheikh.

The Observatory also warned that a siege was underway on the outskirts of the upscale Mazzeh neighborhood, saying “dozens of tanks” were prevent-

ing medical teams from accessing the area to scores of injured. The official SANA news agency announced that government forces had “cleansed” the capital’s Qaboon neighborhood of “terrorists,” the regime’s term for rebel fighters.

And state television aired footage reportedly from Qaboon showing dead bodies and weapons, communications equipment and money it said was captured from rebels.

But it denied helicopter gunships were being used in the capital.

Residents in the city reported bread shor tages, and the UN agenc y for Palestinian refugees UNRWA expressed concern about the fate of residents of the Yarmuk camp in the city. — AFP

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

sp orts Stallings leads at True South MADISON: American Scott Stallings seized a four-shot lead before darkness halted the third round of the rain-plagued US PGA Tour True South Classic on Saturday.

Stallings shot to the top of the leaderboard after four birdies and an eagle in his first eight holes and had an 18-under total through 10 holes of the third round at Annandale Golf Club. Inclement weather has been a problem every day, including a delay of more than three hours on Saturday. When the third round resumes on Sunday morning, Stallings will be chasing a second US PGA Tour title. He claimed his first victory at the Greenbrier Classic as a rookie last season, but has battled rib and back injuries this year. “I’m just happy to be playing,” Stallings said. “All the birdies and stuff are great, but at the end of the day, just to be out here and be competitive-that’s all I’m really focused on.” After birdies at the third and fourth, Stallings rolled in a 40-foot eagle putt at the par-five fifth hole then nabbed back-toback birdies at seven and eight.—AFP

Hunter-Reay fastest in IndyCar qualifying EDMONTON: IndyCar series points leader Ryan Hunter-Reay was fastest in qualifying for the Edmonton Indy on Saturday, but a penalty means Dario Franchitti will start race from pole position. Hunter-Reay clocked 1min 17.23sec around the 2.2-mile, 13-turn circuit at Edmonton’s City Centre Airport. But he will start 11th because his Andretti team is serving a 10-place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change after the Toronto Indy two weeks ago.

That bumped up Franchitti, who was second-fastest in qualifying, and put third-place finisher Ryan Briscoe

beside Franchitti on the front row for the 75-lap race. IndyCar rules this season don’t allow an engine to be changed until it has run 1,850 miles.

“It’s certainly unfortunate to be taking the grid penalty with our first pole this year-and my first pole in a long time-but we’ll take it for sure,” said Hunter-Reay, whose last pole position was in 2004. Hunter-Reay goes into the race leading the season standings with 336 points. Despite the penalty, he keeps the point for earning pole position, which gives him a 35-point lead ahead of Australian Will Power. —AFP

Roddick defeats Isner ATLANTA: Andy Roddick reached the final of the ATP Atlanta Open after he withstood 26 aces from John Isner to topple the top seed 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 on Saturday. Roddick, seeking a second title of the season after victory at Eastbourne, will play Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller, who ousted eighth-seeded Go Soeda of Japan 6-4, 6-3. “I’m excited,” Roddick said. “I have a chance to win my second tournament in three tournaments.” Roddick said he was looking forward to teaming up with Isner for the United States in the doubles at the Olympics.

“I’m going to be real happy to be on the same side with that serve in the Olympics,” Roddick said, adding that he didn’t get discouraged when he dropped the second-set tiebreaker. “He’s probably the best tie-break player in the world right now,” Roddick said. “You’ve got to stay the course a little bit.” The first set was delayed 44 minutes because of rain after Isner took a 3-2 lead. When play resumed, Roddick won four of the next five games and won the set before Isner regained his rhythm. In the second set, neither player broke as they went to the tiebreaker. “I took care of my serve,” Roddick said.—AFP

Scott takes 4-shot lead into Open final round

CARLSBAD: Marion Bartoli of France returns against Chan Yung-Jan of Taiwan during their women’s semifinal match in the Mercury Insurance Open tennis tournament in Carlsbad. — AP

Bartoli advances to finals at Carlsbad CARLSBAD: Top-seeded Marion Bartoli rebounded from a poor first set for a 1-6, 63, 6-3 victory over qualifier Chan Yung-Jan that sent her to the finals of the Mercury Insurance Open on Saturday night. Bartoli had 20 unforced errors and seven doublefaults in the first set before she straightened out her game to win her third straight three -set match this week. The Frenchwoman will face second-seeded Dominika Cibulkova, a 7-6 (8), 6-1 winner over Russia’s Nadia Petrova in the other semifinal. Bartoli had to overcome her inconsistent serve, which produced 14 double-faults after having 29 in her first two matches. The combination of Chan’s solid ground strokes and Bartoli’s sporadic play made the first set a rout for the Taiwanese woman. But Bartoli began to play noticeably better in the second set and Chan became tentatively.

Bartoli went up a break at 2-1 in the third set and never relinquished the lead.

Bartoli, who has seven career titles, will be looking for her first since October. After Cibulkova came back in the tiebreaker to pull out the first set, she dominated the second set over a visibly tired Petrova to

reach her second final of the season. “The key why I won the match was after she was up 4-0 (in the tiebreak), I just said to myself, ‘I don’t want to give it up. I just want to make it as tough as I can for her,’” Cibulkova said. The fourth-seeded Petrova called for the trainer for heat illness at the end of the tiebreaker. “I was trying to not pay attention to her,” Cibulkova said. “I saw in the last game of the match that she was running, so it’s good that I didn’t pay attention to her.”

Cibulkova, looking for her first title of the season, broke Petrova’s serve to start the second set and ran out to a 4-0 lead for her third consecutive straight-set victory.

Petrova won only 12 points in the second set. Petrova served for the first set at 6-5, but Cibulkova broke back on a backhand passing shot. After Cibulkova rallied in the tiebreaker to pull out the first set, she dominated the second set over a visibly tired Petrova to reach her second final of the season. “The key why I won the match was after she was up 4-0 (in the tiebreak), I just said to myself, ‘I don’t want to give it up. I just want to make it as tough as I can for her,’” Cibulkova said.— AP

LYTHAM: Tiger Woods of the US watches his shot from the 11th tee during his final round on day four of the 2012 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes. —AFP

LYTHAM ST ANNES: The ball tumbled over the edge of a pot bunker and appeared to put Adam Scott in the worst spot he had been all day at the British Open. All he saw was opportunity. From the wet sand right of the 17th green, Scott had to clear two more pot bunkers to reach the green, with the flag only five paces from the edge. Scott was thinking about birdie, not trying to save par, so he confidently told caddie Steve Williams, “I can handle this.” The shot came out pure, trickled by the cup and settled a foot away.

The more relevant questions are one round away. Can he handle a four-shot lead, knowing this is a year when no lead appears safe? Can he handle a leaderboard with four major champions among the top six names, including Tiger Woods? Can he handle the wind that is expected to finally arrive at Royal Lytham & St Annes?

“I’m just happy to be in this position,” Scott said. “To be honest, I’m really excited about tomorrow.” Scott has never had a better chance to end his long wait for a major - and he owes much of that to his long putter. He stayed in the game early with two key par saves, pulled away with three birdies around the turn and was solid at the end Saturday for a 2-under 68 and a four-shot lead over Graeme McDowell and Brandt Snedeker.

It’s the fourth time in the last nine majors that a player had a four-shot lead with one round to go. Rory McIlroy at the 2011 Masters is the only player who didn’t win. Scott has been so steady all week that he has put himself in position to become only the fourth Open champion with all rounds in the 60s. “It was all pretty solid stuff, considering the circumstances and how much trouble there is on this golf course,” Scott said.

Scott narrowly missed a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have given him a share of the 54-hole Open scoring record. He settled for 11-under 199 and will play in the final group with McDowell, who had a 67 to get into the final group for the second straight time at a major.

Snedeker, who went from a one-shot lead to a six-shot deficit in seven holes, birdied two of his last three holes to salvage a 73. Right behind them were three major champions, starting with the guy who has won 14 of them.

Woods recovered from a sloppy start and was within three shots of the lead on the front nine until Scott pulled away. Woods missed a short par putt on the 15th and didn’t give himself many good looks at birdie on the back nine for a 70, leaving him five shots behind. Woods has never won a major when trailing going into the last round. Three-time major champion Ernie Els was solid in his round of 68 and was six back, along

with former Masters champion Zach Johnson, who had a 66. Even so, the biggest challenge might be the weather. If the forecast holds true and there’s been no reason to believe that - the greatest defense of links golf could finally arrive with wind projected to gust up to 25 mph.

“It will be in Adam’s hands tomorrow if the conditions are as straightforward as they have been the last few days,” McDowell said. “Throw a bit of wind across this course like perhaps they are forecasting, he will have to go and work a lot harder, and he will have to go win it. “He’s going to have to go win it anyway, for sure.”

McDowell was seven shots behind as he walked up to the 13th green and found three birdies coming in to get into the last group, just as he was at Olympic Club last month in the US Open, where he was one putt away from forcing a playoff. Snedeker opened this championship by playing 40 holes without a bogey, and then he couldn’t buy a par. He had to blast backward out of a bunker, chunked a pitch shot from the fairway, missed short putts and was reeling.

Snedeker rolled in a birdie on the 16th and stretched out his arms in mock wonder, and then finished with a birdie that could bode well for Sunday. “It’s just one of those things where you’ve got to find out if you have some guts or don’t,” he said. “I could have packed up and gone home today, but I didn’t.” Scott was becoming a forgotten star until he switched to the long putter in February of last year, and it has been the biggest reason for the turnaround - his runner-up at the Masters last year, winning his first World Golf Championship at Firestone, and now on the cusp of his first major.

Showing nerves on the opening tee, he hit into a bunker and played a beautiful shot from the back of the wet sand to 8 feet, holing the putt for par. Scott made another par putt from the same distance on the third hole.

And in the middle of his run of birdies - including a 30-foot putt on the eighth - he escaped with par on the 10th hole by making one from 18 feet. “To make a nice putt like that on the first and make par is obviously very settling,” Scott said. “And then to do the same thing on 3, that’s been a hole that I haven’t parred this week.

From there on, I was very settled into the round and started hitting fairways and greens.”

He played it safe on the back nine, giving himself a few good looks, but mostly making sure he didn’t get into position for big numbers. “That’s what I felt I needed to do,” Scott said. “I didn’t need to take any risks out there.” The only drama left at the end of the round was the size of Scott’s lead and whether Woods could get into the final group for another

LYTHAM ST ANNES: Adam Scott of Australia plays a shot on the third fairway at Royal Lytham & St Annes golf club during the final round of the British Open Golf Championship yesterday. — AP reunion with Williams, the caddie he fired last summer in a split that remains acrimonious. McDowell took care of that with a late surge, starting with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th. “I kind of felt the tournament perhaps slipping away from me a little bit and really had to dig deep for some patience,” McDowell said. “From about the 14th tee onwards, it’s probably about as good as I’ve swung the club all week.”

Snedeker’s bogey-free streak - the longest to start a major championship since at least 1995 ended with a three-putt from just short of the fifth green, and it spiraled from there.

With his ball a foot away from a 4foot bunker wall, he played back toward the fairway and hit a superb pitch from 40 yards to escape with bogey on the sixth. After that, nothing went his way until the end of the round. He will be in the penultimate group with Woods, who has rallied to win from five shots behind - but never in a major. It probably would help for the wind to arrive, although Woods is skeptical about the forecast. Perhaps his best chance is for Scott to struggle with his nerves while going for his first major.

“He’s been out here a long time,”

said Woods, who once shared a coach (Butch Harmon) with Scott. “And he’s won a Players Championship. I don’t think he’s really done probably as well as he’d like to in major championships. But I think that he’s maturing in his game, and I think over the last year or so he’s really improved his game.” Scott turned pro a dozen years ago and was billed as the young Australian who swung the club like Woods. He’s poised to become the first Aussie since Greg Norman in 1993 to get his name on the claret jug. But this has been a tough year for 54-hole leaders. Five players have rallied from deficits of at least six shots to win, a peculiar trend that Snedeker started at Torrey Pines in January. “A four-shot lead doesn’t seem to be very much this year on any golf tournament that I’ve watched,” Scott said.

“That doesn’t mean a lot. The good part is if I play a solid round of golf tomorrow, it will be very hard for the others to beat me, and that’s all I’m thinking about.” It’s best that he not think about how his fellow Aussies have fared. Scott is the fourth Australian to have a 54-hole lead in a major dating to the 2007 Masters.

None of the other tree - Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley and Norman - left with the trophy.—AP

Woods rallies, but still faces big Open deficit LYTHAM ST ANNES: When Tiger Woods rolled in a 60-foot putt on the sixth hole, it looked as though he was ready to make a charge at the British Open.

The fist pump. The big smile. The roar of the gallery, drifting across Royal Lytham & St Annes. All the signs were there. A couple of hours later, Woods tapped in for par at No 18. The charge had fizzled.

There was still a lot of work to do. The good news for Woods is he didn’t collapse Saturday, even after a poor start, as opposed to his dismal weekend performance at the US Open last month. But he’s never won any of his 14 major championships by rallying in the final round, and he’ll have to make up a daunting five-shot deficit if he’s going to snatch the claret jug from Adam Scott.

Woods shot a par-70 that kept him in the game.

Just barely. “Well, I turned it around,” Woods said, looking for the bright side. “I got off to an awful start and battled back and got myself right back in the mix again going into tomorrow. I’m right there.”

Well, not quite. Woods began the day four strokes behind Brandt Snedeker, the 36-hole leader. Now, the deficit between Woods and the new leader is even larger. Plus, there’s two players between Woods and the top spot. Snedeker, who had a miserable day but rallied at the end, and Graeme McDowell, who was solid all the way, are four strokes behind Scott’s 11-under 199 total. Next is

Woods at 204. On moving day, he moved the wrong way, raising the very real possibility that the longest major drought of his career - a little over four years since he hobbled to victory at the 2008 US Open - will carry on at this Open. Of course, it could’ve been worse. Woods started the day by running his tee shot over the green at the par-3 first hole.

A tentative chip came up 8 feet short, and he missed the putt. After another bogey at the third, it appeared he was headed for a repeat of the last major championship. Woods was actually tied for the 36-hole lead at the US Open, but a 75 on Saturday wiped out his chances. This time, at least, he rallied. That birdie putt at No 6, rapped from one side of the green to the other, turned the tide.

Woods rolled in a much shorter birdie at the next hole, came up about an inch short of a third straight birdie from the fringe at No 8, then stuck his tee shot at the par-3 ninth to 4 feet, setting up yet another birdie. “Considering that I got off to such a bad start, I figured if I could get to 1-over par or even for the day through the turn, that would have been a positive going to the back nine,” Woods said. “I actually happened to turn at 1 under for the day, which was a bonus.” Woods had a prime opportunity to take off another stroke at the par-5 11th, but he misread the putt and settled for par.

Another misjudgment at the 15th led to bogey, pretty much snuffing out any chance of getting on a roll coming to the clubhouse.

“I had a few looks on that back nine,” Woods said. “I just didn’t make them.” For a while, he was at least positioned to play in the final group with Scott, which would have allowed him to put some firsthand pressure on a guy who’s never won a major - and set up all sorts of intrigue. Scott’s caddie is Steve Williams, who used to be on Woods’ bag. They were more than just employer and employee, they were good friends. But the collapse of Woods’ personal life put a severe strain on their relationship. Woods decided to change caddies as he struggled to rebuild his game and his reputation. Not surprisingly, Williams was none too pleased about being let go. He quickly caught on with Scott, then went off on Woods after his new employer won at Firestone last year. Just imagine the possibilities if Woods and Scott had played together in the last group of a major, with Williams right in the midst of things. Instead, Woods will again play in the next-to-last group, as he did Saturday, paired with Snedeker. McDowell and Scott will bring up the rear. “Final pairing, whatever it may be, I was just trying to cut into that lead,” Woods insisted. “I’m five back, so Adam is in a great spot right now.”—AP

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

sp orts London Olympics

Forty years on, ghosts of Munich hang over Rogge LONDON: The massacre of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches at the 1972 Munich Olympics had Jacques Rogge the athlete fighting with his conscience over whether to carry on competing or not.

Now, 40 years later, the 70-year-old International Olympic Committee president is enduring similar soul-searching.

This time it is over whether or not to agree to a minute’s silence at the opening ceremony of the London Games on Friday, to commemorate the day Black September Palestinian terrorists shattered the ‘Olympic Truce’ forever.

Some were killed in their rooms in the Athletes Village while five of the terrorists, and one German policeman, were

killed in a chaotic shootout at a nearby air field. Rogge, who steps down in September next year after a relatively trouble-free 12 years in charge, was actually competing against an Israeli yachtsman on the day of the tragedy. “I was competing that day and I wondered why the coastguard was escorting my Israeli rival back to the shore,” said Rogge.

“There was an agonizing choice to be made by me after the Games resumed following a two day halt to competition.

“Some athletes decided to go home and not compete and I wondered whether I should do the same. “However I was a young ambitious guy who had been

supported by his family so I decided to continue.” Rogge’s decision then was an individual one. But his and the IOC’s refusal to cede ground over a minute’s silence, despite appeals from the Israeli government and US President Barack Obama, has placed him and world sport’s governing body in an uncomfortable position. Rogge insists that while the appeals have been taken into account, there is no place for such a commemoration at the Games.

Instead, he and other IOC members will honor the 40th anniversar y on September 5 in an historic visit to the air field. “ We feel that the Opening Ceremony is an atmosphere that is not

fit to remember such a tragic incident,” he said when pressed on the issue on Saturday. “We plan to assist the meeting organized by the National Olympic Committee of Israel and there will be various IOC delegates there and we will also be present on the exact day of the killings, on 5 September, at the military airport of Furstenfeldbruck and that is what we are going to do.” To many it will not come as a huge surprise the IOC have stood firm given Rogge’s reply in the same AFP interview in 2009 over whether the then IOC president Avery Brundage was right to declare the 1972 Games should go on.

“In hindsight I think the decision tak-

en by Avery Brundage was the right one,” said Rogge. “Had the IOC given in to terrorists I firmly believe that would have been the end of the Olympics. No one would have wanted to organize them again.” Brundage, who as head of the American National Olympic Committee had swatted aside misgivings over taking a team to Hitler’s 1936 Olympics in Berlin, is not remembered fondly in the history books primarily because of that decision. Rogge and the IOC place great store in host cities leaving a legacy and he will hope that this decision does not unjustifiably taint his legacy when the dust settles on his reign in Buenos Aires next year.—AFP

Olympics dogged by criticism Games chiefs hit back at cynics; Excitement mounts

HELSINKI: This file photo shows Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium, taken from a camera crane erected for the 2012 European Athletics Championships. — AP

60 years on, Helsinki’s Olympic legacy endures HELSINKI: If Londoners need inspiration on how to ensure that the Olympic legacy lives on long after the Summer Games, they may want to throw a glance at Helsinki. Sixty years after the Finnish capital hosted the Olympics, almost every stadium built is still being used for the purpose it was intended. “We can still see the 1952 Games as we walk in the city,” said histor y professor Juhana Aunesluoma of Helsinki University. “We still have almost all of the monuments that were built for the 1952 Games. The venues, they are still part of the city structure.” In London, six out of eight facilities at Olympic Park have their future secured, but a multi-million pound (dollar) plan to lease the Olympic stadium to a London soccer club fell through amid legal wrangling last year.

Now, new bids are being considered for the stadium, including plans from a local soccer club and for use as a Formula One race track. A preferred bidder has been chosen for the press and broadcast centers, while the basketball arena will be dismantled once the games are over, with possible use as a pop-up stadium for future sports events. Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium was on duty just last month hosting the European Athletics Championships. The nearby aquatic center, velodrome, and rowing stadium are all still standing and in frequent use. An indoor sports hall which hosted wrestling, boxing and gymnastics fulfills the same role today.

Other major infrastructure projects completed for the 1952 Games such as Helsinki’s airport and a ferry passenger terminal at the harbor are also still in use, built to last in a financially tough decade when Finland was still recovering from three wars and paying crippling reparations to the Soviet Union. Like London, the Helsinki Olympic Village was built to be converted into a social housing project after the games were over. Today, the neighborhood of Kapyla is a muchsought-after part of the city to live in.

“It’s beautiful and green and the buildings are ones the people really like,”

Aunesluoma said. “The aesthetic eye of 1952 is pretty much the way we like to see our neighborhoods still today.” Of course, most Helsinki venues could no longer cope with the demands of modern international sports events. The outdoor pool and velodrome are maintained only to national-level competition standards. The Olympic Stadium has undergone several refurbishments over the years and work started on another intensive maintenance and make-over almost as soon as the last medal was presented at June’s European Athletics Championships.

While the wooden seating inside the stadium might be a functional mainstay of Nordic design, it was never very comfortable. And facilities for athletes, officials and the media are wholly outclassed by modern stadia. Still, the Olympic stadium has enjoyed many years at the heart of the Finnish capital’s architectural landscape. Vesa Tikander, a researcher at the Sports Library of Finland, said the 1952 Games are sometimes referred to nostalgically as “the last real Olympic Games,” because of their relatively small scale, lack of commercialism and familial location right in the heart of Helsinki. In contrast to London, the 1952 Olympics were a modest affair with roughly half the number of athletes competing in half the number of medal events.

The sports equipment inventories have grown in leaps and bounds over the past six decades - London has ordered 600 basketballs for competition use, compared to Helsinki’s 60, and 2,700 soccer balls compared to Helsinki’s 200.

Advertising, funding and sponsorship have changed beyond all recognition in the last 60 years as well. Back then, there were no ubiquitous advertising campaigns promoting sports brands and fast food restaurants. Even Coca-Cola, a brand long associated with the Olympics, was something of a novelty to Finnish crowds in 1952. “It was the first time Coca-Cola was made available” in Finland, Tikander said.—AP

LONDON: Organizers of the Olympics hit back yesterday at cynics after weeks of negative headlines, saying criticisms over planning mistakes and cost were being outweighed by public excitement as the opening ceremony nears.

Britain’s famously critical media, which has highlighted security and transport problems ahead of the July 27 to Aug 12 Games, also appeared to take a more positive stance as thousands turned out to cheer the Olympic torch relay through London.

“I think possibly what we’re going through as a nation, as a city is that necessary, pre-curtainup moment of psychological selfdepression before the excitement begins on Friday when the curtain goes up,” London Mayor Boris Johnson told the BBC. “The mood is perceptibly changing, people are starting to get really excited here in London about the arrival of the torch .... The last remaining clouds of dampness and Olympo-scepticism are going to be banished,” he later told Sky News. Thousands turned out in London on Saturday as the Olympic torch relay began its final leg of its journey around Britain, and yesterday the flame was carried to the top of the London Eye ferris wheel opposite Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

In the coming days, the torch will be carried around London’s religious, political and royal landmarks, culminating in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron in east London.

The run-up to the Games has been dogged by weeks of rain and difficulties in recruiting enough security staff, prompting the government to draft thousands of extra army personnel to make up for the shortfall. Transport delays also loom over the games, with border officials planning to strike on July 26 and train drivers in central England set

LONDON: Amelia Hempleman-Adams poses with the Olympic Flame on top of a London Eye pod on the Torch Relay leg through London. Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympics will be held Friday July 27. — AP to walk out on Aug. 6-8. London’s underground rail network, a 19thcentury creation, may struggle to cope with tens of thousands of Olympic tourists.

FIASCO, CHAOS AND CRISIS Writing in Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper, Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Olympic organizing committee, said the words “fiasco, chaos and crisis” had become the new currency of journalists, who describe his committee as “dysfunctional”. “Sometimes you fight back because the reportage bears no resemblance to reality .... you have the insatiable desire to start every explanation to your inquisitor with: ‘Lighten up. We are staging the greatest celebration of

sport’,” he said. Britain’s press however appeared to be joining the Games bandwagon yesterday, dedicating pages of coverage to the torch relay in London and giving away special Olympic guides and supplements.

“Let’s get the Olympic party started” the Sunday Times said in its editorial, while an article in the Sunday Telegraph urged readers to “celebrate a world united”. Still, jitters hang over the games, with 2012 the 40th anniversary of the 1972 Munich attack by Palestinian gunmen that killed 11 Israeli Olympic team members a reminder of the security challenges ahead.

“This is an event that is naturally attractive, even if there aren’t concrete alerts. Readiness and vigi-

London ‘ready’ despite nerves

Nadal hopes for another chance to be flag-bearer MADRID: Tennis ace Rafael Nadal has set his sights on becoming Spain’s flag-bearer at the 2016 Olympics after injury deprived him of the opportunity at the London Games. The 26-year-old announced last week that he was pulling out of the London Olympics due to injury, meaning he would also miss out on the honour of carrying Spain’s flag at the opening ceremony on Friday.”It was the most difficult decision which I have taken in my career and possibly the saddest,” he told Spanish public television on Sunday. “It was a unique opportunity so obviously I am sad. My goal now is to continue to work hard to try to have another chance in Rio in 2016. I hope I will be prepared to compete there and have another opportunity to carry the flag.”

Nadal, the gold-medal winner in Beijing four years ago, said he was pleased with the choice of basketball player Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers as his replacement to carry the Spanish flag. “I think he is a fabulous representative of Spain. I think Pau is an example for society and for all athletes,” he said.”There is something special about Pau, I wish him the best and I hope he enjoys the experience a great deal.”

Feliciano Lopez will replace Nadal in the singles while Marc Lopez will step in to partner Marcel Granollers in the doubles.

Nadal, the world number three, won a record seventh French Open title last month but he crashed out in the second round at Wimbledon in a shock upset against Czech Lukas Rosol.— AFP

lance are required .... things like the Munich massacre have happened in the past,” Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak told reporters. The International Olympic Committee on Saturday ruled out marking the anniversary of the Munich killings at the London opening ceremony, despite decades of campaigning by families of the victims for an official commemoration. The president of Libya’s Olympic Committee Nabil Elalem might make it to the Games after being freed yesterday, a week after he was taken from his car by gunmen in Tripoli. Asked if Elalem would go to London, a colleague said: “Maybe in two or three days’ time. The Olympic staff have worked hard for his release.”— Reuters

LONDON: Mexican synchronized divers German Sanchez (left) and Ivan Garcia Navarro train at the 2012 London Summer Olympics yesterday. — AP

LONDON: London Mayor Boris Johnson insisted yesterday the city was ready to host the 2012 Olympics despite a national plunge into nervous self-depression before the excitement begins. Johnson said Britain was feeling the necessary tension before a big performance, as the clock ticks down to Friday’s opening ceremony on the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London. He said the venues were safe and the transport system was bearing up despite a week dominated in Britain by fears over travel chaos and gaps in security.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge is in London and “he thinks that our city is as wellprepared as any city has ever been in the history of the Games,” Johnson told BBC television. “So far the traffic system and transport networks generally are holding up well.

“Possibly what we’re going though at the moment as a nation, as a city, is that necessary, pre-curtain-up moment of psychological self-depression before the excitement begins on Friday when the curtain goes up. “It is only natural that people should be tense, that they should be expectant. And, of course, there are loads of things that we need to get right.”

Johnson dismissed the threat of strike action by UK Border Agency staff damaging the build-up, claiming the move was “badly supported” and most workers would want to “get behind” the Games by turning up to work. “I don’t think that whatever they do it will disrupt the Olympics or our preparations or disrupt our ability to get people through and in on time to their venues,” he said.

Johnson also defied critics to say the Games were not producing economic benefits for the capital of recession-hit Britain.

“This is a gigantic schmoozathon that’s about to begin,” he said. “You’ve got the heads of most of the world’s great businesses coming to London in the course of the next few weeks. We’re going to be showing what London has to offer.” England’s laws restricting trading in large shops to six hours on a Sunday have been suspended for eight weeks around the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Athletes have been getting used to their new surroundings and taking time to relax before the Games begin. Usain Bolt, who took a trip to the cinema to watch new Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises”, insisted he was ready to defend his Olympic 100m and 200m titles after recovering from a mystery problem which has hampered his preparations for London.

The Jamaican star withdrew from the Monaco Diamond League meeting citing a “slight problem” but said he “got it checked out and it’s all right”. The Olympic flame, making a seven-day tour around the capital that will culminate at the opening ceremony, was given a trip on the London Eye observation wheel. Amelia Hempleman-Adams, who at 16 in December became the youngest person to ski to the South Pole, held the torch aloft on top of one of the wheel’s capsules. “It was amazing and just to look out and see the whole of London was incredible,” she told BBC television. “The height was quite scary.”— AFP

18

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

SPORTS London Olympics

Village people bed down in London LONDON: Super-rich footballers bed down along the corridor from penniless gymnasts, while an Australian husband and wife are banned from sleeping together. Welcome to the Athletes’ Village at the London Olympics, a complex of 11 blocks housing 2,818 apartments described by the organizers as “gold medal standard”.

Each night, competitors will return after crushing disappointment or glorious triumph to either cry on their teammates’ shoulders, or hold impromptu victory parties.

Although a familiar feature of Olympic life for most competitors, the relatively modest accommodation at the Athletes’ Village is a new experience for the players in Great Britain’s football team. Liverpool midfielder Craig Bellamy, more accustomed to five-star hotels, admits it is an eyeopener. “It is all new to us,” he said.

“It’s a lot different. You eat with other athletes but it all adds to the experience.” Bellamy admitted that top footballers are “usually kept away (from other people)”, adding: “So we have to embrace this.”

Australia shooter Russell Mark found his arrival in the village less comfortable after he was told he will not be allowed to share a room with his wife Lauryn. Mark, 48, and his wife, who is also on the Australian shooting team, have been told to room separately. The veteran, competing at his sixth Olympics, said Australian officials had enforced the ban because Lauryn had angered officials by posing in a men’s magazine holding a shotgun over her back dressed only in a green

LONDON: A tourist poses for a photo next to a newly unveiled statue of Wenlock, one of the Olympic Games 2012 mascots, in London. — AP and gold bikini.

Mark said he and his wife were being punished for being a married couple. “The stupid part of this... is that there are tons of gay couples on the Olympic team who will be rooming together so we are being discriminated against because we are heterosexual.” But Nick Green, chef de mission for the Australian team, dismissed the claims. “It is simply not true... accommodation and bedding are done in a

particular way to ensure all the athletes are accommodated in the village.” Clearly many athletes are finding a way to meet up, judging by the organizers’ decision to distribute 150,000 condoms in the village, reportedly 50,000 more than were given out at the 2008 Beijing Games.

When not arguing over their sleeping arrangements, the Australians were quick to make an impression on the village, spreading banners reading

“Aussie, Aussie, Aussie; Oi, Oi, Oi” over several balconies. They have even hung an inflatable kangaroo from one apartment. Another block has a long banner in the Belgian colors hanging from a balcony, while others were decorated with Slovenian, Norwegian and Team Ireland flags. The basic rooms have artwork done by schoolchildren on the walls. Competitors are two to a room and are even allowed to take home their colorful London 2012

duvet. Britain’s double Olympic gold medalist swimmer Rebecca Adlington tweeted a picture of her bed, complete with Team GB mascot.

The beds can be extended to accommodate the tallest of athletes.

While some of the footballers were prepared to give the village a go, it is just not luxurious enough for the US basketball “Dream Team”-Kobe Bryant and the rest of the squad are taking over an entire boutique hotel in London. It means they will miss out on the extraordinary range of food on offer at the village. American 400 meters hurdler Kerron Clement sparked headlines with his claims that it had taken four hours to travel across London from Heathrow Airport to the village. But his next tweet raved about the food on offer, chirruping: “Love the variety of food choices.”

Tessa Jowell, Britain’s Olympics minister from 2005 to 2010, has been appointed a deputy mayor of the village. “I think the athletes will love it. It transcends nationality,” she said. “The athletes are arriving, the excitement is palpable. All those years of preparation and it’s all about to start.” To pass the time, competitors can spoil themselves with complimentary salon treatment, where they can have their hair cut, get a shave, a facial and their make-up done. They can also have their nails painted with one of the 207 nail-sized flag designs. And home comforts can always be found-a Colombian athlete who had run out of shampoo and had been using washing-up liquid was given a bottle of the real stuff, a salon worker said.—AFP

Battle of the sexes over Australia flag bearer role

ALLIER: US swimmer Michael Phelps competes during a training camp of the US swimming team in Bellerive-sur-Allier, central France ahead of the London Olympic Games. — AFP

Phelps primed to peak in London VICHY: Of all the qualities that have helped make Michael Phelps the world’s greatest swimmer, his natural sense of timing is perhaps the one that really sets him apart from the rest. Whether it is peaking at the right time or getting his hand on the wall first in a close finish, the American has always had an edge over his rivals. Phelps struggled to maintain his motivation for the relentless grind of training after winning eight gold medals in Beijing, but just as he has done throughout his career, the 27-year-old has timed his run to the London Olympics to perfection. After suffering defeats at the past two world championships and last month’s US Olympic trials, Phelps has rediscovered his passion and form and is back on track for another golden performance.

“He’s trained really well since the trials so I think he’ll be better than he did there,” Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman told Reuters at the US team’s final pre-Olympic training camp in central France. “I’m very happy with what he’s done. I think he’s improved significantly. He’s really trained better than he ever did before.” Coming from Bowman, that is high praise indeed as both he and Phelps have always been reluctant to talk up their prospects, but they are not the only ones who have noticed the difference.

Gregg Troy, who is the head coach of the US men’s team and also the personal coach of Phelps’ biggest rival Ryan Lochte, was also gushing after watching him train.

“From what I’ve seen, Michael will be outstanding,” he told Reuters. “”He’s going to be ready to go and be a really top competitor.”

Phelps and Lochte will clash in the 200 and 400 meters individual medley events in London, where the 2012 Games start on Friday. At the US trials, Phelps won the 200 IM but Lochte beat him in the 400 IM, setting the stage for an epic showdown in the British capital. “I’m not frightened of anyone,” Phelps replied when asked whether he feared Lochte. “The only things I’m afraid of are snakes and heights. I don’t think Ryan’s a snake and I think I’m taller than him.

“I have my goals and I hope to achieve them. It’s not going to be easy but if I can accomplish them I’ll be pleased. Whether I come first or second or eighth, it doesn’t matter.” The pair, friends outside the pool but fierce rivals in the water, were also scheduled to clash in the 200m freestyle but Phelps pulled out. The idea was partly to conserve his energy for the relays after entering a total of seven events, one less than at the two previous Olympics but still a heavy workload. “It doesn’t change anything at all for me,” Lochte said. “I can’t control what he does and there’s so many other great swimmers out there. I can’t worry about one person. “If I’m worried about him or anyone else that’s going to affect me. I’ve just got to go out there and race.”—Reuters

LONDON: The choice of Australian flag bearer at Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony has turned into a battle of the sexes with the only woman to represent the country at five Games jokingly threatening a sit-down protest if a man again gets the role. Beach volleyball player Natalie Cook told Australian reporters in London that the decision, to be made by chef de mission Nick Green and announced on Thursday, was a “no-brainer”.

“If there’s a male that carries the flag I will sit in protest,” said Cook, who has walked out behind a string of men since her Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games. “I’d love the honor of leading the team out, that would be one of the highlights of my career,” she added. “But for me as long as it’s a female. I’ve walked behind four men: Andrew Hoy, Andrew Gaze, Colin Beashel and James Tomkins.” The last female Australian flag bearer at a Summer Olympics was four-time Olympian diver Jenny Donnet in 1992, although women have had the honour at the last two Winter Games.

Green, an Olympic rowing gold medalist who formed part of the “Oarsome foursome” coxless four at the 1992 and 1996 Games, appeared with Cook and other beach volleyball players at a news conference on Sunday and assured reporters that the

LONDON: The Olympic Rings are seen at the Olympic Park in East London yesterday five days ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympic games. —AFP comments had been “in jest”.

The decision will still be a tough one and it will not have been made any easier by a pre-Games controversy over travel arrangements, with the men’s basketball team flying to London in business class while the women went economy. While some other nations, such as Britain, decide the prestigious role by a vote of all their athletes, Green has the

died after a freak accident at her home.

Her family said she tripped down the stairs and sustained serious head injuries and died later in hospital after being put on a ventilator. “She was overjoyed when I got a wildcard entry for the Olympics,” Rabia recalled. “Mubeen is the motivation for me to try to do well in my event. I want to make her, my coach Bushra Parveen and my country proud of me.” In a country known for its conservative values, female athletes rarely get opportunities to compete at international level.

Apart from the successful men’s hockey team who have won three gold medals, three silver and two bronze, Pakistan have won only two bronze medals in the Olympics.— Reuters

potentially has the capacity to influence and affect someone’s life,” said Green. “So I’ve got to get it right. “I’ve been thinking about it for three years, to be honest.” Green said early indications were that around 210 Australian athletes would take part in the opening ceremony, with the rowers and swimmers likely to miss it for logistical and competition reasons. — Reuters

Egyptians hope Aboutrika can bring football glory

Pakistani female athlete runs for the dead friend KARACHI: Pakistan runner Rabia Ishaq will be motivated by the memory of a dead friend and colleague when she appears as one of her nation’s two female athletes at the London Olympics. The 20-year-old, who competes in the 800 meter heats on Aug 8, fondly remembers Mubeen Akhtar-one of the country’s top sprinters who died in June. “I am not a medal contender I know that but I want to dedicate my Olympic appearance to Mubeen who was a close friend and who always wished to compete in the Games,” Rabia told reporters. Mubeen, Pakistan’s fastest female sprinter in the national championships this year where she won the 100 and 200 metre,

final say for Australia. He said he had both genders on his shortlist to have the honor on Friday.

While Cook is at her fifth Olympics, Australia has several other athletes with even more experience. Equestrian competitor Hoy will be competing in his seventh Games, while cyclist Stuart O’Grady is in his sixth as are shooters Russell Mark and Michael Diamond. “The decision

ROME: Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful during the Angelus prayer at his summer residence yesterday. Benedict XVI says he hopes the Olympics Games starting July 27 in London will help promote peace and reconciliation in the world. —AP

JOHANNESBURG: Egypt are long overdue a good run at the Olympics football tournament and hope Mohamed Aboutrika can be the catalyst for a medal-winning showing in London. The Pharaohs have qualified 12 times without any gongs to show for their efforts with the best performances being fourth-place finishes in Amsterdam in 1928 and Mexico City 40 years later.

Aboutrika, a 33-year-old midfielder from famous Cairo club Al Ahly, will captain Egypt and he, defender Ahmed Fathy and striker Emad Meteab, are the three overage players in the under-23 squad. Instead of his usual No 22 shirt, Aboutrika will wear the No 5 as a tribute to Zinedine Zidane, the former France star who is idolized by the Egyptian playmaker with a fondness for goals.

Egypt have a challenging first-round mission, which starts against tournament co-favorites Brazil in Cardiff on July 26 and continues against New Zealand in Manchester and Belarus in Glasgow. Brazil, whose footballers have never won Olympic gold, are the obvious choice to top the table and who joins them in the quarterfinals could well be settled at Hampden Park on August 1 when Egypt meet Belarus.

Among the greatest African footballers never to play for a European club, Aboutrika was initially reluctant to appear at the Olympics, saying he did not want to take the place of an under-23 footballer.

But Olympic team coach and former

Ahly, Werder Bremen and Egypt defender Hani Ramzy persuaded the Cairo University graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy that his country needed his talents. “It is an honor for me to represent my country in such an important event,” Aboutrika told reporters. “I cannot turn down an invitation to play for the national team.” The over-age-players rule did not apply to qualifiers, but Egypt and fellow African challengers Gabon, Morocco and Senegal have taken advantage of the opportunity to bolster squads with experienced stars.

Aboutrika joined unfashionable Cairo club Tersana (Arsenal) as a 12-year-old, was promoted to the senior squad at 19 and moved to Egyptian and African club football giants Ahly in 2004 when 26 years old.

He has been with the Red Devils since, helping them win many international and domestic trophies, and also became an automatic choice in the national squad since making his debut eight years ago. A tall, pencil-slim figure with dark closecropped hair who is married and has three children, Aboutrika combines his ability to control midfield with an uncanny knack of scoring key goals.

This was never more evident than last May when Ahly were trailing 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate against Malian visitors Stade Malien in a final round eliminator for the 2012 CAF Champions League.— AFP

19

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

SPORTS

Red Bull escape action over engine maps HOCKENHEIM: Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull team escaped a penalty at his home German Grand Prix yesterday after stewards cleared them of a possible breach of the technical rules. The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) had raised concerns, only hours before the 10th race of the season, about the engine torque mapping on the cars of Vettel and his Australian team mate Mark Webber.

However, stewards said the rules had not been breached. “While the stewards do not accept all the arguments of the team, they however conclude that as the regulation is written, the map presented does not breach.......the Formula One technical regulations and therefore decide to take no action,” said an FIA statement.

Former race driver Derek Warwick, one of the stewards, told Sky television when asked whether there needed to be a clarification of the rules: “It’s certainly not the end of it.” Vettel is

due to start on the front row and team boss Christian Horner said the timing of the controversy had been awkward.

“Obviously it wasn’t great to have to go and explain torque maps and so on this morning,” he said. “But we went through it with the FIA and the stewards and thankfully the verdict...was as we expected. “There is nothing in the regulations that talks about the intent of a rule so it either complies or it doesn’t. We were always very clear that our torque maps were compliant and that was the case.”

FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer had said earlier in a statement that “it appeared “the maximum torque output of both engines is significantly less in the mid rpm range than previously seen at other events. “In my opinion this is therefore in breach....of Formula One technical regulations as the engines are able to deliver more torque at a given engine speed in the mid rpm range. “Furthermore this new torque map will artificially alter the

MLB results/standings Atlanta 4, Washington 0; LA Dodgers 8, NY Mets 5; Texas 9, LA Angels 2; San Francisco 6, Philadelphia 5 (10 innings); Detroit 7, Chicago White Sox 1; Washington 5, Atlanta 2; Pittsburgh 5, Miami 1; Baltimore 3, Cleveland 1; Kansas City 7, Minnesota 3; Toronto 7, Boston 3; Seattle 2, Tampa Bay 1; Cincinnati 6, Milwaukee 2; St. Louis 12, Chicago Cubs 0; Arizona 12, Houston 3; Colorado 8, San Diego 6 (12 innings); Oakland 2, NY Yankees 1.

American League Eastern Division W L PCT NY Yankees 57 37 .606 Baltimore 50 44 .532 Tampa Bay 49 46 .516 Boston 48 47 .505 Toronto 47 47 .500

GB 7 8.5 9.5 10

Central Division Detroit 51 44 .537 Chicago White Sox50 44 .532 0.5 Cleveland 47 47 .500 3.5 Kansas City 40 53 .430 10 Minnesota 39 55 .415 11.5

Texas LA Angels Oakland Seattle

Western Division 56 37 .602 51 44 .537 6 50 44 .532 6.5 41 55 .427 16.54

Washington Atlanta NY Mets Miami Philadelphia

National League 54 39 .581 52 42 .553 2.5 47 47 .500 7.5 44 50 .468 10.5 41 54 .432 14

Cincinnati Pittsburgh St. Louis Milwaukee Chicago Cubs Houston

Central Division 54 40 .574 53 40 .570 0.5 49 45 .521 5 44 49 .473 9.5 38 55 .409 15.5 34 61 .358 20.5

San Francisco LA Dodgers Arizona San Diego Colorado

Western Division 53 41 .564 51 44 .537 2.5 46 48 .489 7 40 56 .417 14 36 57 .387 16.5

Explosive starts put Sharks and Crusaders into semis RUGBY U-SUPER 15 ROUNDUP WELLINGTON: The Super 15 final is destined to be a New Zealand - South Africa showdown after the Canterbury Crusaders and Coastal Sharks steam-rolled their way into the semi-finals at the weekend. A clinical performance by the perennial favorite Crusaders put paid to the Northern Bulls 28-13 and set them up for a New Zealand derby semi-final next Friday against the Waikato Chiefs. The Sharks disposed of defending champions Queensland Reds 30-17 in Brisbane to end Australia’s presence in the competition and establish an all-South Africa semi-final against the table-topping Western Stormers on Saturday.

Both the Crusaders and Sharks established their superiority with explosive starts-the Crusaders racing to a 16-0 lead before the Bulls were on the board and the Sharks were up 17-0 before the Reds scored. The start was crucial, Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw said of the grudge match against the Bulls with the red-andblacks making a clear statement early that they would not be beaten. There is little love between the two most successful Super rugby sides, with the Crusaders still smarting over unfounded eye-gouging allegations leveled against them when the two teams last met earlier this year.

They also wanted payback for the last three times they have met in play-off matches, all played in South Africa and all won by the Bulls. Such was the intensity of the Crusaders start that the Bulls were forced to make 74 tackles in the first half to the Crusaders’ 24. “In the first 40 minutes we played at the right end of the field. We didn’t give them any momentum. We limit-

ed our mistakes and our discipline was good and because of that we applied pressure,” McCaw said. As the Bulls struggled to defend their line the Crusaders cashed in on the high penalty count that went their way, with Dan Carter slotting the goals to finish with 23 of the Crusaders’ 28 points.

He also set up the Crusaders’ lone try when he sucked Morne Steyn into moving off his line opening a gap for Zac Guildford to race through to the tryline. The defeat was not the only bad news for the bulls with winger Bjorn Basson admitted to hospital for surgery on an intestinal tear suffered in the match. Basson will be in hospital for at least five days and will have to stay in New Zealand for five days after being discharged before he will be able to undertake the long-haul flight back to South Africa.

In Brisbane, the Sharks repelled everything the Reds threw at them to win comfortably despite having only 31 per cent of the possession. Sharks captain Keegan Daniel praised his side’s defensive effort as making the difference. “That’s what wins games and the boys put their bodies on the line,” he said. “It was very physical and hats off to both sides, there were some big hits in that game.” The Reds’ cause wasn’t helped when they lost flyhalf Ben Lucas to injury after 20 minutes. Will Genia moved to the number 10 position and put Scott Higginbotham in for a try just before halftime and a Reds revival seemed possible.

However, he went from hero to villain soon after the break when he fired a flat cut-out pass that was intercepted by Sharks scrumhalf Charl McLeod, who raced 70 meters to score.—AFP

aerodynamic characteristics of both cars which is also in contravention of (technical directive) 036-11. I am referring this matter to the stewards.”

Double world champion Vettel, third in the overall standings, has never won a Grand Prix in his native Germany. Webber is second in the overall standings behind Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who started yesterday’s race on pole position. The FIA clamped down on the use of engine electronics and exhaust gases for performance gain last year after teams were found to be using what technical director Charlie Whiting called “extremely extreme” engine maps.

Red Bull still won both of last year’s championships but have been less dominant this season even if their car is widely held to be the fastest. The team’s 2011 car was designed heavily around the exhaust system and nowillegal ‘blown diffuser’ and Red Bull have had to try and recover some of that lost performance.— Reuters

Rangers hammer Angels 9-2, open six-game lead OAKLAND: Texas’ Mike Napoli homered twice against his former team as the Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-2 on Saturday in a clash of the National League West division’s two top teams. Napoli, Yorvit Torrealba and Adrian Beltre homered during Texas’ five-run second inning, chasing struggling Angels starter Ervin Santana (4-10) after just 13 batters. Texas starter Yu Darvish (116) struck out 11 over seven strong innings as the Rangers opened a six-game lead in the AL West.

ATHLETICS 2, YANKEES 1 In Oakland, Brandon Inge and Yoenis Cespedes homered as Oakland beat New York and notched a fourth straight win. A’s starter Jarrod Parker (7-4) allowed only an RBI single in the fourth while striking out five and walking only one, handing the Yankees their third straight loss in the series. Cespedes crushed a tying homer later in the fourth

and Inge hammered the first pitch of the eighth off Phil Hughes (9-8) for the go-ahead shot.

TIGERS 7, WHITE SOX 1 In Detroit, Rick Porcello pitched brilliantly into the ninth inning, steering Detroit to a win that lifted the Tigers above Chicago and into the outright lead in the AL Central. Porcello (7-5) fell just short of his first complete game, departing after he allowed two hard-hit singles to start the ninth. Porcello issued no walks, outdueling Chris Sale (11-3) in the Chicago starter’s first loss since May 12. Sale allowed five runs in seven innings. Brennan Boesch hit a three-run homer and Austin Jackson drove in the other four runs for the Tigers, who lead the White Sox by a half-game in the Central. Detroit had been six games off the pace on June 12.

ORIOLES 3, INDIANS 1 In Cleveland, Jim Thome’s

two-run homer in the seventh inning led Baltimore to its fourth straight victory, downing Cleveland. Thome, who passed Sammy Sosa for seventh place on the career list Friday, hit his 611th off Zach McAllister (4-2).

Orioles starter Chris Tillman (2-1) allowed only a leadoff homer in the first in 6 2-3 innings, and walked only one.

Tampa Bay. Vargas (10-7) gave up one run in six-plus innings as the Mariners stopped a ninegame losing streak against the Rays. Michael Saunders had two RBIs for Seattle, while Tom Wilhelmsen, the fourth Mariners reliever, pitched the ninth for the save. Rays starter Alex Cobb (4-7) left after the second with bruising to his right leg.

BLUE JAYS 7, RED SOX 3 In Boston, Edwin Encarnacion tied the game with a two-run homer in the sixth, then J P Arencibia gave Toronto the lead with a seventh-inning solo shot as the Blue Jays beat Boston.

Toronto starter Carlos Villanueva (5-0) allowed four hits over 6 1-3 innings to win his third consecutive start. He struck out five.

Boston’s Aaron Cook (2-3) allowed five runs.

ROYALS 7, TWINS 3 In Kansas City, Lorenzo Cain drove in three runs and Alex Gordon had three hits and scored two runs as Kansas City beat Minnesota. Cain delivered run-producing singles in the first and fifth innings and he had an RBI double in the seventh. Cain’s three RBIs matched a career high.

Royals starter Luis Mendoza (4-6) made his sixth quality start in seven appearances to collect the victory. He yielded seven hits in 6 1-3 innings. Twins rookie starter Scott Diamond (8-4) lost for the first time in five starts, allowing 10 hits in six innings.— AP

MARINERS 2, RAYS 1 In St Petersburg, Florida, Jason Vargas pitched scoreless into the seventh inning as Seattle edged

Nats overpower Braves WASHINGTON: Washington’s Bryce Harper returned from an ankle injury to single and score as the Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 5-2 in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader which was split between the National League East’s two top teams. Atlanta had won the day game 4-0. In the late game, Roger Bernadina had a tiebreaking hit in the seventh inning.

He had five hits over the two games after coming in as a replacement for Harper, who was hit in the ankle in the first inning of the day game. Between games Nationals manager Davey Johnson said a scan on Harper showed no break. He kept the 19year-old out of the starting lineup for Game 2 but Harper entered as a pinch-hitter in the eighth with the Nationals leading 3-2.

He singled, stole second and scored on Danny Espinosa’s single.

John Lannan (1-0) pitched seven innings for the win that snapped Washington’s three-game losing streak. Tyler Clippard pitched the ninth for his 16th save. Atlanta’s Cristhian Martinez (4-2) allowed a run in 1 1-3 innings of relief. In the opener, Ben Sheets (2-0) pitched six shutout innings for the Braves, extending his scoreless streak to 12 in his return after missing last season due to elbow surgery. Brian McCann hit a solo homer in the second inning and Chipper Jones added a long shot in the ninth. Nationals starter Edwin Jackson (5-6) allowed five hits over seven innings.

DODGERS 8, METS 5 In New York, Juan Uribe broke out of a long slump with a homer and four RBIs as Los Angeles beat staggering New York. Uribe hit an early two-run double to end a 1-for-38 slump. He added a two-run homer in the ninth inning. Dodgers starter Chris Capuano (10-5) pitched seven solid innings, striking out nine in his first victory in seven starts against his old team. Los Angeles chased the Mets’ 41-year-old spot starter Miguel Batista (1-3) after three innings, getting into MLB’s worst bullpen early for the second consecutive game. Both times, the Dodgers built a comfortable cushion and held on at the end.

CHRISTCHURCH: Jano Vermaak of the Bulls makes a pass during the rugby union Super 15 match between the Canterbury Crusaders and the Northern Bulls at AMI Stadium in Christchurch. The Canterbury Crusaders won 28-13. —AFP

HOCKENHEIM: Red Bull Racing’s German driver Sebastian Vettel drives pass a giant flag with his portrait at the Hockenheimring circuit yesterday in Hockenheim during the German Formula One Grand Prix. — AFP

REDS 6, BREWERS 2 In Cincinnati, Ryan Ludwick and Brandon Phillips hit two-run homers to lead Cincinnati over Milwaukee.

The NL Central leaders have won 10 of

12 overall, moving a season-high 14 games over .500. Ludwick homered as part of a four-run first inning off Yovani Gallardo (8-7). Phillips homered in the eighth as the Reds beat the defending division champion Brewers a season-high 91/2 games out of first place. Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo (5-6) rebounded from his shortest start of the season, allowing five hits in six innings.

PIRATES 5, MARLINS 1 In Pittsburgh, AJ Burnett remained undefeated at home by pitching 7 2-3 strong innings, leading Pittsburgh past Miami. Burnett (11-3) allowed one run as he improved to 7-0 at home this season as the Pirates won a fourth straight and moved 13 games over .500 for the first time since 1992.

Garrett Jones had two RBIs and Alex Presley scored two runs for Pittsburgh, which has the majors’ best home record at 31-14. Pittsburgh has won 20 of its past 24 at home. Miami starter Carlos Zambrano (5-8) was charged with five runs and six walks with two strikeouts. He has lost five of his past six decisions. The Marlins have lost four straight.

GIANTS 8, PHILLIES 5, 10 innings In Philadelphia, Gregor Blanco drove in the tiebreaking run with a drag bunt single in the 10th, giving San Francisco victory over Philadelphia. Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon (2-4) walked Melky Cabrera to start the 10th. He advanced to third on a single and scored on Blanco’s perfect bunt down the first-base line.

The Giants are 7-1 since the All-Star break while the Phillies have lost seven straight home games. Both starting pitchers, Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels and San Francisco’s Matt Cain hit homers in the same inning. Giants reliever Sergio Romo (3-1) retired the two batters he faced in the ninth to take the win and Santiago Casilla finished for the save.

bled twice with an RBI. The Cardinals tied the major record for doubles in an inning by the Boston Bees against St Louis in 1936. They also tied the franchise record for runs in an inning set in 1926 against the Phillies. Chicago pitcher Justin Germano (0-1) took the brunt of the seventh inning punishment. Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook (8-8) pitched seven scoreless innings.

CARDINALS 12, CUBS 0 In St Louis, the hosts tied a 76-yearold major-league record by hitting seven doubles in a single inning to rout Chicago. Rafael Furcal’s go-ahead single in the seventh turned out to be a mere appetizer as the Cardinals scored 12 times to match an 86-yearold franchise record for runs in an inning. St Louis totaled 10 hits with multiple hits by three players including pinch-hitter Allen Craig, who dou-

DIAMONDBACKS 12, ASTROS 3 In Phoenix, Jason Kubel became the seventh player in Diamondbacks’ history to homer three times in a game and he drove in six runs as Arizona dominated Houston. Kubel hit a two-run home run in the first inning and a three-run shot in the fourth off Astros starter Dallas Keuchel (1-2). He added a solo homer in the sixth. With the first three-homer game of his career, Kubel leads the NL with 70

ST LOUIS: Cardinals’ Rafael Furcal (center) runs into a double-play as he tries to advance from first to third on a sacrifice bunt in third inning action during a game between the St Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. — AP RBIs. He has 20 home runs. Arizona starter Wade Miley (11-5) gave up one run in seven innings, striking out a career-high nine while setting a franchise rookie record for victories. The Astros have lost 18 of 20 games.

ROCKIES 8, PADRES 6, 12 innings In San Diego, Jordan Pacheco drove in four runs, including the goahead score in the 12th inning, and Michael Cuddyer tied a career high with four hits as Colorado edged San Diego. The victory snapped the Padres’ four-game winning streak and ended the Rockies’ three-game skid. Cuddyer singled off Joe Thatcher (0-3), San Diego’s sixth reliever, with one out in the 12th. He was sacrificed to second and came around to score on Pacheco’s third hit of the game. Colorado’s Carlos Torres (1-0) got the victory with two scoreless innings.—AP

Explosive starts put Crusaders, Sharks in semis

London ‘ready’ despite nerves

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

Red Bull escape penalty over engine maps

Page 19

PARIS: Bradley Wiggins of Britain, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, is followed by teammate Mark Cavendish of Britain, in rainbow jersey, as they pass the Arc de Triomphe during the 20th stage of the Tour de France cycling race yesterday.

(Inset) Bradley Wiggins holds the trophy on the podium. — AP

History-maker Wiggins wins Tour de France PARIS: Bradley Wiggins was crowned Britain’s first Tour de France champion yesterday after helping Sky team-mate Mark Cavendish to secure a fourth consecutive stage win on the world-famous Champs Elysees. Wiggins, who virtually sealed victory with his second time-trial win of the three-week epic on Saturday, finished the 3,479km race with a 3min 21sec lead over British team-mate Chris Froome after the 20th and last stage to Paris. It was Isle of Man sprinter Cavendish’s fourth consecutive win on the Champs-Elysees, taking his tally of stage wins this year to three and to 23 overall. “I’m more than happy,” said world champion Cavendish as he held his newborn baby at the finish line. “The Champs Elysees is the most beautiful avenue in the

world, and I’ve won here again.”

Three years after Wiggins equaled Scot Robert Millar’s 1984 best British finish of fourth overall, in 2009, Wiggins finally achieved his childhood dream of winning the world’s most prestigious bike race.

Italian Vincenzo Nibali of the Liquigas team finished third overall at 6:19. “It’s magnificent,” said Wiggins.

“For us to finish like this as a team, helping Mark to victory and allowing him to defend his record here... it’s incredible.” Team Sky achieved the rare feat of a 1-2 on the podium, the first since 1996, when Dane Bjarne Riis finished ahead of his German team-mate at Telekom, Jan Ullrich.

It is also the first time compatriots have taken the first two places since France’s Laurent Fignon

finished ahead of five-time winner Bernard Hinault in the 1984 edition. Frenchman Thomas Voeckler of Europcar won the polka dot jersey for the race’s best climber, with Slovakian Peter Sagan of the Liquigas team easily securing the green jersey for the points competition. American Tejay Van Garderen made up for BMC team leader Cadel Evans’ disastrous title defense by winning the race’s white jersey for the best-placed rider aged 25 and under.

Van Garderen was fifth at 11:04 while Evans, who made history for Australia in 2011, eventually finished nearly 16 minutes adrift. RadioShack’s best finisher was Spaniard Haimar Zubeldia, but the American team topped the coveted teams’ classification, allowing them a podium appearance. Dane

Chris Anker Sorensen of Saxo Bank was also afforded that pleasure when he was awarded the overall ‘most aggressive’ rider prize.

In a campaign that was reminiscent of his childhood hero, Spanish legend Miguel Indurain, Wiggins’ two time-trial wins on stages nine and 19 proved decisive. However the Briton’s Sky team, and especially Kenyan-born Briton Froome, were omnipresent in the mountain stages in between.

“He’s been incredible throughout the whole Tour,” Wiggins, whose mountain pace-setters proved so efficient that few riders were able to sustain their attacks, said of Froome. Sagan, meanwhile, came close to claiming his fourth stage win when he came fighting back at the finish to cross the line just

Syrian Olympic athletes represent nation in crisis DAMASCUS: As violence wracks Syria with rebels battling the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad, a team of 10 athletes from the country are preparing to travel to London for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

“We want to show the world a different image than that given by the satellite television stations,” said Ghofrane Mohammed, a 23-year-old sprinter. “It will be amazing to hear the Syrian national anthem played in London,” said Mohammed, whose specialty is the 400-metre hurdles. “The whole world will know that we were able to train and participate despite the crisis,” added Mohammed, who trains at night in Damascus’s Tishrin stadium in preparation for her first Olympics.

But the “crisis” that Mohammed refers to-a 16-month uprising against Assad’s regime-has put the Syrian Olympic team in the middle of a political and diplomatic storm. The British government, which has implemented European Union sanctions against Assad’s regime, repor tedly declined to issue a visa to Syrian Olympic Committee head General Mowaffak Joumaa, who is close to Assad. Joumaa, who calls himself “proud to be from the Syrian army,” condemned a “conspiracy” against Syria and said his Olympic athletes would compete to show “their attachment to their country and its leadership.” The president of the country’s General Sports Union also criticized what he termed the

“violation of Olympic conventions” and condemned “the false democracy of the West.” Syria’s athletes will be “real ambassadors” for their country, he said. The team “reflects the national unity between all the parts of our people,” he added, referring to the diverse ethic and religious communities in Syria. Jomaa denied that the Syrian delegation had been threatened or put under pressure to stay away from the London Games, though he acknowledged he had “seen something to that effect on social networks.”

And he brushed aside the possibility that the team could come under attack at the Games. “We talked about it with the team and they insisted that they would not submit to pressure or blackmail,” he said.

On Monday, Assad himself received the delegation, as fighting began to ratchet up a notch in Damascus, and shortly before a devastating Wednesday bomb attack on members of his inner circle that killed four, including his brother-in-law.

The Syrian Olympic team will take part in seven competitions and has a total of 28 members, including the athletes. This is the largest Syrian delegation since the 1980 Olympic Games were held in Moscow.

Syria won its first gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games, thanks to heptathlete Ghada Shouaa, but had a disappointing showing at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Extras Villa beat Chicago Fire 1-0 in friendly BRIDGEVIEW: Gaby Agbonlahor scored in the 29th minute and then left with an injury in the second half as Aston Villa beat the Chicago Fire 1-0 in a friendly on Saturday. Agbonlahor went down clutching his left leg after spinning by a defender in the 63rd minute, screaming in pain. A trainer for the English Premier League team gingerly flexed Agbonlahor’s leg, which caused more pain, and the forward was carted off. Villa’s new manager Paul Lambert said Agbonlahor could be out for two weeks. Villa came out attacking, and the push paid off with Agbonlahor’s goal. He headed in a cross by defender Chris Herd from 10 yards out. The Fire had been back on their heels before that. Midfielder Stephan Ireland narrowly missed scoring with a sliding shot in the box in the 12th minute, and midfielder Charles N’Zogbia shot over the goal three minutes later. “This was great for us,” Lambert said.

DAMASCUS: Ghofrane Mohammed, 23, who will take part in the 2012 London Olympics 400 meters hurdles, trains at a stadium in Damascus. — AFP Majd Ghazal, a 25-year-old high jumper get good results,” she said. But for some who will carry his country’s flag during the athletes there will be little escape from the opening ceremony, won a silver medal at realities of the situation at home. Show last year’s Asia Athletics Championships jumper Ahmad Hamsho, who earlier this but is not expecting a medal in London. year defended the government’s efforts His main hope, he said, is “to do my best to against the uprising, will also be attending honor” Syria. Bayan Jomma, an 18-year-old the Games. But his father Mohammed, a swimmer, said the team “will do everything businessman, has been denied entry to possible to present a good impression of Britain to watch his son due to EU sancSyria.” “We will try to avoid politics, we are tions over his alleged cronyism and corathletes and what’s important to us is to ruption.—AFP

Iran ‘terror squad may target athletes’ LONDON: Israel has bolstered its security presence for the London Olympics amid fears that an Iranian terror squad in Europe may be planning an attack on its athletes, according to a press report yesterday. Scotland Yard and Britain’s domestic intelligence service MI5 are believed to have raised their assessment of the threat against the Israeli delegation following last week’s suicide attack on an Israeli tourist bus in Bulgaria, the Sunday Times reported. The Israeli government has reportedly dispatched agents from its internal security service Shin Bet to protect its team of athletes. Meanwhile Israel’s foreign security service Mossad is said to have sent a team, codenamed Bayonet, to

Europe in search of a group of terror suspects believed to be working with Iran’s Quds force and Hezbollah.

Quds, the special operations unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, has recruited several white European Islamic converts, including two from Germany, one from Sweden and two Britons, security experts were cited as saying.

The bus bombing which killed six people in the Black Sea resort of Burgas last Wednesday has sparked fears of a repeat of the 1972 Munich Olympics attack by Palestinian gunmen in which 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were killed. One of the terror suspects being sought

by Israeli agents ahead of the London games is

short of Cavendish. But the Slovakian was more than happy with his debut. “I came here to win a stage, so to come away with three plus the green jersey is just unbelievable,” said Sagan, who finished with a 141-point margin over German sprinter Andre Greipel. Voeckler’s two stage wins among a total of three for his Europcar team meant French riders won a total of five of the race’s 20 stages. However Britain, thanks exclusively to Team Sky, won six. Cavendish won three to take his tally to 23, Wiggins won both time trials and Froome won the first hilltop finish on stage seven. “It’s been a very successful race for Team Sky, first and second on GC (general classification) and we’ve won six stages,” said Cavendish. “It’s been incredible to be part of.”— AFP

a man carrying a US passport in the name of David Jefferson, who is believed to have fled after the Bulgaria attack, the Sunday Times said.

Bulgarian police along with the CIA, FBI and Interpol are struggling to identify the suicide bomber who killed five Israelis and the Bulgarian bus driver in an attack the US said bore the “hallmarks” of Hezbollah. Bulgaria’s Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said the bomber was not a Bulgarian citizen and had been in the country “not less than four days.”

Israel has blamed Iran and Tehran’s “terrorist proxy” Hezbollah, saying it fitted a pattern of other recent attacks or attempted attacks on Israelis including in Thailand, India, Georgia,

Kenya and Cyprus. The Islamic Republic rejected the accusations as “ridiculous.” Israel’s 38strong team of athletes arrived at the Olympic village in Stratford, east London, 12 days ago as Britain prepared to launch its biggest ever peacetime security operation. But the plans, including surface-to-air missiles stationed at six sites, have been dogged by a growing row over a shortage of security guards after a private company said it could not provide enough staff. The government is deploying an extra 3,500 troops after G4S said it could not fulfill its contract to supply 10,500 private guards for Olympic venues, and is putting another 1,200 troops on standby.—AFP

Rodgers opens Liverpool tenure with a 1-1 draw TORONTO: Brendan Rodgers’s first game as manager of Liverpool ended in a 1-1 draw against FC Toronto thanks to Adam Morgan’s equalizer for the English giants in a World Football Challenge friendly. Quincy Amarikwa, acquired by Toronto from Major League Soccer rivals the New York Red Bulls early Saturday, wasted no time contributing to his new team, seizing a rebound from a Peter Gulacsi save to give the hosts the lead in the 58th minute. The advantage was short-lived however, as Morgan knotted the score at 1-1 in the 69th minute, taking advantage of a fine run by Raheem Sterling and salvaging the draw for Liverpool in the opening match of their pre-season North American tour. After Sterling eluded three defenders, Toronto keeper Quillan Roberts managed to deflect his shot, but Morgan was there to tap it home. Liverpool were further buoyed by the return to action of Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva, who has been sidelined since November with a serious knee injury.

Ferguson defends under-fire Glazers LONDON: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said yesterday he was happy with his club’s under-fire owners the Glazer family and their transfer policy. United fans have mounted protests against the Glazers from the moment the Americans bought the Premier League club in 2005 and the discontent has increased significantly over the last 12 months. The Glazers have amassed debts of over 700 million pounds (837 million euros) in the last five years, with United manager Ferguson receiving less money to spend in the transfer market under their ownership.

But speaking to a number of national newspapers during his side’s pre-season tour of South Africa, Ferguson has

Slower global growth reflects economic links Page 23

Trading slumps in UAE, Kuwait market declines Page 22

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

Murdoch quits boards of British newspapers

US poverty to rise to high levels since 1960s Page 25

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JAKARTA: This picture shows a teller counting Indonesian rupiah notes next to US dollar notes at a currency exchange point in Jakarta. Indonesia’s weakening rupiah and widening current account deficit are raising concerns about Southeast Asia’s largest economy, which is struggling against contagion from the global crisis. — AFP

NIG asks for $475m sukuk extension Kuwait investment firm seeks debt restructuring have faced debt problems, including years; akin to an amortising structure, mature, the statement said.

Investment Dar, co-owner of luxury car- rather than a bullet repayment - in which The facility, being arranged by Warba Eurozone crisis marker Aston Martin, International the borrowed sum is paid back at the end Bank, was rated as credit positive by Investment Group and International of the term.

Moody’s in May as it would help to address saves Germany Leasing and Investment Co. The profit rate will also be amended short-term liquidity issues, including the Global Investment House is currently in from a floating rate of three-month Libor sukuk repayment. NIG had around 85 milthe midst of its second restructuring in plus 105 basis points to a fixed rate of 450 lion dinars of cash on its balance sheet at tens of billions three years, having said in September that basis points - much higher than the 151.59 the end of March, according to Moody’s.

DUBAI: National Industries Group Holding (NIG), a Kuwaiti investment firm controlled by one of the country’s biggest family conglomerates, has asked creditors for a fouryear extension on a $475-million Islamic bond, or sukuk, maturing next month.

The request from NIG, part of the Kharafi Group, is the latest debt issue to surface in the Kuwaiti investment sector, which was hard hit by the 2008 global financial crisis.

Firms who borrowed cheap short-term cash in the boom years to fund an assetbuying spree, both locally and overseas, found they could not refinance the debt once borrowing costs rose. Offloading assets at deflated values in a stagnant private equity market has proven difficult. “(NIG’s) debt profile has always been skewed towards short-term debt, leaving it vulnerable to refinancing risk,” Ahmad Alanani, a senior executive at investment bank Exotix, said yesterday.

“It is the classic asset to liability mismatch that plagues many companies in the region.” Several Kuwaiti investment firms

it needed to renegotiate a $1.7-billion debt plan agreed in 2009. The Kharafi Group, which owns NIG, is one of the biggest family conglomerates in Kuwait with interests in real estate, retail and financial services. It is thought to control, through various entities, around a quarter of telecom operator Zain. In a statement to the London Stock Exchange where the sukuk is listed, NIG said it will repay 30 percent of the $475 million total on the August 16 due date but requested an extension on the remainder of the sukuk up to 2016.

Under the revised structure, which sukukholders have until August 9 to agree to, NIG will repay 25 percent of the principal amount at the end of each of the four

bps paid out at the last coupon payment in May. Creditors who agree to the restructuring by August 6 will receive a variable early consent fee. Citigroup is acting as solicitation agent, along with local firm Watani Investment Co. “Reading between the lines, they wouldn’t have come to market with this offer if they hadn’t already surveyed their key lenders and felt that they had a good chance of getting a majority of them to consent,” said Alanani.

The 30 percent initial payment and the early consent fees will be financed by a 100 million dinar ($354.4 million) three-year sharia-compliant loan that will be arranged before the sukuk is originally due to

“It was a foregone conclusion that the company didn’t have sufficient resources to repay the sukuk in full and on time,” Alanani said. “But the timing was a bit of a surprise given they had recently raised some debt financing through local banks and it was assumed the proceeds were to be used to repay the sukuk.” NIG’s sukuk was bid at a cash price of 99.4 cents on the dollar on Friday, to yield just under 11.9 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data. The sukuk has rarely traded in the last couple of years. Shares in NIG ended nearly 2 percent lower on Sunday, taking year-todate losses to 22.3 percent. By comparison, the Kuwait bourse, is up 0.5 percent on the year. — Reuters

Zain KSA continues to reduce net losses in Q2 RIYADH: Mobile Telecommunications Company Saudi Arabia (“Zain KSA”), yesterday announced its financial results for the second quarter, which ended 30 June 2012, maintaining positive momentum across many key financial indicators as work has progressed on the Company’s capital restructuring.

Revenues during the second quarter amounted to SAR 1.6 billion, as compared to SAR 1.7 billion for the same quarter last year, which represents a decrease in revenues of 4%, and compared to revenues of SAR 1.5 billion for the previous quarter, which represents an increase in revenues of 7%.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) during the second quarter amounted to SAR 280 million, as compared to SAR 275 million for the same quarter last year, which represents an increase in EBITDA of 2%, and compared to EBITDA of SAR 243 for the previous quarter,

which represents an increase in EBITDA of 15%. EBITDA during the six-month period amounted to SR 522 million compared to SR 429 million for the same period last year, which represents an increase in EBITDA by 22%.

Although operating losses increased by 21% to SAR 174 million compared to the equivalent quarter in 2011, operating losses are 9% lower than in the first quarter of this year. Taking the first half of 2012 as a whole, operating losses are 3% lower than in the same period in 2011. Reflecting operational improvements and a reduction in financing costs, net losses fell by 12% in the second quarter compared to the equivalent quarter last year, from SAR 448 million to SAR 394 million. Net losses were also 6% lower than the SAR 420 million repor ted for the previous quar ter.

Taking the first half of 2012 as a whole, net losses are 17% lower than in the same period in 2011. Loss per share dur-

ing the six-month period amounted to SAR 0.58 compared to SAR 0.70 for the same period last year.

During the period, Zain KSA also made significant progress on its capital restructuring, a process that is now virtually completed. This will extinguish the accumulated deficit up to September 2011 as well as providing capital for investment.

Zain KSA is investing heavily in infrastructure and new services, principally mobile broadband (“MBB”). Zain KSA is committed to accelerating the rollout of its broadband network and to continually develop new MBB products including specialized packages of services for both pre -paid and post-paid subscribers.

The company is currently negotiating with the Murabaha Facility Lenders to obtain an additional extension of the existing Facility for a period up to two (2) months. As of June 30, 2012, the

Company has received written commitments, amounting, in aggregate, to USD 2.6 billion (exceeding the planned USD 2.4 billion requirement), from local and international banks to refinance the Murabaha Facility.

Commenting on the company ’s financial results, HRH Prince Dr. Hussam bin Saud bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of Zain KSA, said: “The company is continuing to make progress and the successful completion of the capital restructuring process will provide further impetus for both the near and medium term. Zain KSA has laid out some key operational priorities and a detailed programme of investment in network, service and delivery. Zain KSA’s investment plans will allow us to further support the ongoing improvement in mobile communications in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and thereby contribute to the Kingdom’s economic development plans.”

BERLIN: Germany has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the European financial crisis.

While other countries in 17-country group that use the euro have battled against investor fears that their economies are buckling under the pressure of too much debt, Germany has managed to save tens of billions of euros thanks to its reputation as a safe place for investments.

The bond markets have demanded that countries such as Italy and Spain pay prohibitively high borrowing costs rates to sell their debt amid worries over their sluggish economies and creaking government finances. Such high interest rates will burden these countries’ state coffers for years to come. Financially healthy Germany, meanwhile, has secured billions of euros in debt at record low - sometimes negative - interest rates.

Germany has long been seen as a safe bet. It is Europe’s biggest economy and is the biggest single contributor to eurozone rescue funds, with a gross domestic product of euro 2.6 trillion ($3.17 trillion). The country’s economy has grown steadily in the past two years and, with quarter-onquarter GDP growth of 0.5 percent, prevented the eurozone a whole from sliding into recession in this year’s first quarter.

The country recently sold billions of its 10-year-bonds with an interest rate - or yield - of around 1.5 percent. Last Wednesday, it auctioned euro 5 billion ($6.1 billion) in twoyear treasury notes with an average yield of minus 0.06 percent. In other words, investors are losing money and paying Germany for the privilege of safely parking their funds in the state coffers. Growing Germany offers the prospect of risk-free debt repayment, and other safe investments don’t offer great interest rates - the European Central Bank recently cut the rate on its overnight deposit facility to zero.

“The interest rates are unnaturally low at the moment,” Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble acknowledged last month, adding they reflect the amount of “uncertainty in financial markets.”

The side-effect, however, is a gain for Schaeuble’s coffers. “Germany saves about euro 10 billion ($12.5 billion) this year alone thanks to the low interest rates,” economist Jens Boysen-Hogrefe of Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy told The Associated Press.

Some analysts argue that the eurozone debt crisis has already secured Germany a windfall of about euro 100 billion ($125 billion) for Germany, giving the government extra leeway for growth-friendly spending or reducing its debt burden while other countries in the eurozone struggle to stay afloat. Germany’s savings from its bond sales are little talked-about because money that is not spent is harder to keep track of. But a look into the government’s past financial outlooks gives an idea of the sums Germany is saving: In 2009, the government forecast that it would have to spend euro 52 billion to service its debt in 2013. Now, it expects that cost to total only ?20 billion next year.— AP

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

BUSINESS

HSBC scandal erupts as British bank sector faces shake-up LONDON: A scandal erupting at Europe’s biggest bank HSBC has added to concerns over the state of Britain’s financial sector amid the Barclays rate-rigging affair and as the industry faces a major shake-up.

HSBC last week apologised and its head of compliance David Bagley resigned after US lawmakers accused the London-based bank of failing to apply anti-laundering rules, benefiting Iran, terrorists and drug dealers. The HSBC affair follows hot on the heels of the Libor interest rate rigging scandal that has brought down top executives at Britain’s Barclays bank-most notably its chief executive Bob Diamond and chairman Marcus Agius.

Regulators are reportedly investigating HSBC, as well as Credit Agricole, Deutsche Bank and Societe

Generale, over alleged manipulation of the Libor rate after Barclays was recently fined £290 million over the affair. Britain’s financial regulator the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has said its Libor probe is looking at seven groups, which are not only British institutions. Bank of England governor Mervyn King has meanwhile proposed that central bank governors and regulators discuss Libor reform at their upcoming meeting in Basel, Switzerland, on September 9.

Barclays has admitted attempting to manipulate the Libor and Euribor rates between 2005 and 2009. Libor (London Interbank Offered Rate) is a flagship London instrument used as an interest benchmark throughout the world, while Euribor is the eurozone equivalent. The rates play a key role in

Who is winning the global competitive devaluation war? e were told that by creating the European Single Currency (EURO), member states will not be able to simply devalue their national currency when they faced with economic and financial crisis. The fact is that not only the Euro but all major currencies around the world are literally in a process of competitive devaluation, mainly against the US$ and the Japanese currency and lately also against the Pound Sterling.

However, devaluing ones national currency is a fool’s game. Because firstly, you lose credibility Hayder Tawfik and secondly you are expected to do it again when faced with same crisis.

Throughout my working career, I always believed that the major global economies have some kind of unwritten agreement that allow each member to devalue their currencies whenever it is required. At present, we can say without any shadow of doubt that the EURO has been allowed to devalue against the major global currency i.e. US$, Japanese Yen and Sterling, in exchange for sorting out the European mess. The hope is that the devaluation of the Euro gives some nations the breathing space while they get their houses in order.

Unfortunately, for some Euro members the fight against time is running out. As for some others the benefit of the Euro devaluation has been a great bless. Let’s look at Germany and how much it benefited from the weak Euro. German exports are enjoying a 100 billion annual advantage just because of the weaker Euro, even as the European crisis goes on. Compare 100 billion in added export against 9 billion Germany is contributing this year to the rescue fund set up for European members who need help, such as Spain and Greece. Where is the Moral in Money?

These kinds of numbers prove the point that Germany has benefited tremendously from the European single currency more than any other member including France. The German Chancellor’s approach to Europe has drawn criticism from policy makers around the world and even anger in some countries as we are seeing now in Spain and Greece. Surely, the Germans will argue and rightly claim that Germany produces top quality products at very competitive costs. I am sure the Japanese and the Americans can say the same but why their exports are not growing as much as the Germans?

Do the Germans care about Europe? I don’t think so, and that is the core of the European problem. What will happen to German exports, if the Euro disintegrates and the Germans get their Deutsche Mark back? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is left in the hands of some unelected European politicians who sit in their luxury office in Brussels. I do not believe that the Euro will disappear but I strongly believe that there is a competitive devaluation in progress and the Euro will weaken much further.

W

Hayder Tawfik - Executive Vice President of Asset Management, at Dimah Capital- HT@dimah.com.kw

global markets, affecting what banks, businesses and individuals pay to borrow money. Investec analyst Ian Gordon believes that the Libor affair will have a far greater impact on the global banking landscape than the HSBC affair.

“Libor will, I think, be seen to be a sector-wide issue and with us for many years to come,” Gordon told AFP. “The only good thing I can say about HSBC/money laundering etc is that it will be seen as a legacy issue, hence the fine-when it comes-will be a oneoff rather than the prelude to civil litigation risk.”

Also last week, Britain’s state-rescued Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) agreed to sell 632 branches at a loss to The Co-operative Group after a European Union competition ruling.

LBG, which is 40-percent owned by the British government, was ordered by the EU to offload a sizeable chunk of its branches in exchange for a huge state bailout following the 2008 financial crisis.

The Co-operative Group’s purchase is the latest step in the reshaping of Britain’s banking sector, as the government seeks to separate retail bank activities from investment divisions.

The Independent Commission on Banking last year ruled that British lenders should split their operations to avoid a repeat of the global financial crisis, blamed in part on highly speculative trading practices. At the height of the financial crisis, Britain was forced to nationalise lender Northern Rock and also pump billions of taxpayers’ cash into LBG and Royal

Bank of Scotland. A US Senate report has meanwhile found that HSBC had allowed affiliates in countries such as Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh to move billions of dollars in suspect funds into the United States without adequate controls. Lawmakers said money laundered through HSBClinked accounts benefited Mexican drug lords and terrorist networks, and skirted US sanctions on Iran. Analysts warned that the problems erupting at major British banks could further rock Britain’s recession-hit economy.

“The biggest concern following the recent problems is whether declining consumer and market confidence will weigh heavily on what is a crucial sector for UK economic growth,” said Currencies Direct senior analyst Phil McHugh. — AFP

Trading slumps in UAE, Kuwait market declines Saudi petrochemical stocks boost index DUBAI: Trading on bourses in the United Arab Emirates slumped ye s te rd ay a s t h e s t a r t o f t h e Muslim holy month of Ramadan exacerbated a summer lull, while Kuwait’s market snapped a threeday decline after the countr y ’s emir approved a new cabinet.

Abu Dhabi volumes dropped to their lowest in more than t wo years, but the index added 0.2 percent. Dubai’s index slipped 1.3 percent, down for a second session since Wednesday’s 10-week h i g h . O n l y 2 7 m i l l i o n s h a re s changed hands, the lowest total since May 27.

Tra d i n g o n G u l f b o u r s e s declines over summer as investors escape the searing summer heat, while market activity also drops during Ramadan, which has compounded the seasonal slump. The Muslim holy month of fasting started on Thursday evening.

I n D u b a i , E m a a r Pro p e r t i e s gave back early-session gains, ending 0.9 percent lower. Builder

“Plus, with oil prices that have rebounded sharply from the lows, there’s more visibility on petrochemical pricing going into the second half of 2012.”

Kuwait investors gave a caut i o u s we l co m e to t h e A m i r ’s appointment of a new cabinet, which ushered back many of the old faces following the resignation of the last one in June in a standoff with parliament. New elections are expected to be held after Ramadan.

The appointment of a new cabinet may end a political deadlock that has weighed heavy on stocks - the main index has fallen 10 percent since early May’s one-year high - and which many investors say has delayed economic development.

E l s e w h e re, Q a t a r M e a t a n d L i ve s to c k j u m p e d 7 . 8 p e rce n t after the company said it expected livestock revenues to rise by 175 percent due to an expected rise in consumption.

A ra b te c a n d D u b a i Fi n a n c i a l Market each lost 1.3 percent. “We saw subdued trading in the UAE today, but we believe the atmosphere will become slightly more active over the coming days as s e co n d - q u a r te r e a r n i n g s a re re l e a s e d,” said Sleiman Aboulhosn, assistant fund manager at Al Masah Capital. “ Th e s e a s o n a l i t y f a c to r w i l l continue to put pressure on stock market activity and volatility, so we don’t expect much action over the next couple of weeks.” Among regional gainers, Saudi Arabia’s b o u r s e a n d Ku w a i t ’s m e a s u re both rose 0.5 percent.

In Saudi, petrochemical stocks re ve r s e d e a r l y - s e s s i o n l o s s e s, boosting the index, while oil prices also supported. “Investors have been selling petchems in anticipation of bad Q2 numbers, but they’re oversold at these levels,” said Rakan Himadeh, equity p o r t fo l i o m a n a g e r a t A l M a l Capital.

Oman’s index fell 0.2 percent to its lowest close since Nov. 30.

SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS DUBAI The benchmark fell 1.3 percent to 1,516 points.

ABU DHABI The measure climbed 0.2 percent to 2,472 points.

SAUDI ARABIA The benchmark rose 0.5 percent to 6,700 points.

KUWAIT The index gained 0.5 percent to 5,842 points.

QATAR The index edged up 0.03 percent to 8,283 points OMAN The index slipped 0.2 percent to 5,436 points.

EGYPT The index ended flat at 4,868 points.

BAHRAIN The measure eased 0.4 percent to 1,111 points. — Reuters

Egypt’s Citadel loss jumps 43% on loan fees CAIRO: Egyptian private equity firm Citadel Capital’s first-quarter net loss widened by 43 percent from a year earlier to $26.4 million, dragged down by fees paid to refinance some of its debt and losses at engineering and construction arm ASEC. It said assets under management had risen 4.9 percent to $4.4 billion in the 12 months to the end of March 2012.

The company said that during the quarter it had paid $9 million in fees to access a $150 million credit facility with the US government’s

O verseas Investment Corporation (OPIC ).

During the quarter, Citadel drew down $81.3 million from the facility.

“Setting aside the net effect of one-time fees related to Citadel Capital’s refinanced debt and the OPIC-backed facility, the firm would have recorded a 9 percent narrowing of its consolidated loss,” the company said in an emailed statement.

The OPIC funds would be used to improve the terms and tenors of some of its loans and help the business plans of some of its portfolio

companies, it said. The private equity firm, which focuses on the Middle East and Africa, said ASEC Holding had also been hurt by production stoppages, widening Citadel’s portion of ASEC’s net loss by 61 percent year on year to $10.7 million.

Work at a number of ASEC’s cement factories was shut down for repairs and maintenance during the quarter, and its construction arms had suffered because of Egypt’s weak economy, Citadel said. Citadel’s share was trading 0.3 percent higher at 11 am. — Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Egyptian pounds

.2740000 .4360000 .3390000 .2820000 .2750000 .2900000 .0040000 .0020000 .0761760 .7421590 .3850000 .0720000 .7275550 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2810000 GB Pound/KD .4389360 Euro .3415840 Swiss francs .2843700 Canadian dollars .2774620 Danish Kroner .0459160 Swedish Kroner .0404570 Australian dlr .2916360 Hong Kong dlr .0362290 Singapore dlr .2236010 Japanese yen .0035800 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0765350 Bahraini dinars .7456550 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0749530 Omani riyals .7301550 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Malaysian Ringgit

3.553 5.072 3.053 2.141 3.173 220.090 36.173 3.425 6.439 8.876 89.338

.2840000 .446000 .3490000 .2950000 .2840000 .2980000 .0070000 .0035000 .0769140 .7496180 .4050000 .0780000 .7348670 .0510000 .2831000 .4422160 .3441360 .2864950 .2795360 .0462590 .0407600 .2938150 .0364990 .2252730 .0036070 .0051450 .0021680 .0030110 .0034820 .0771070 .7512270 .4004240 .0755130 .7356110 .0068130

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 74.883 77.158 729.380 745.850 76.464

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 48.250 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.466 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.309 Tunisian Dinar 176.65 Jordanian Dinar 396.190 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.884 Syrian Lier 4.899 Morocco Dirham 32.64 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 280.700 Euro 354.52 Sterling Pound 441.820 Canadian dollar 274.79 Turkish lire 152.400 Swiss Franc 295.01 US Dollar Buying 279.500 GOLD 293.000 148.000 75.250

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria

SELL CASH

293.800 749.290 3.680 281.500 553.300 45.900 47.500 167.800 48.550 350.400 37.020 5.290 0.032 0.161 0.236 3.670 399.270 0.191 91.550 43.800 4.330 228.900 1.825

47.500 731.850 3.100 6.960 77.930 75.230 224.760 36.380 2.684 444.800 41.100 291.900 4.400 9.260 198.263 76.820 282.100 1.350

10 Tola

GOLD 1,690.000

Sterling Pound US Dollar

731.670 2.995 6.760 77.500 75.230 224.760 36.380 2.103 442.800 290.400 4.400 9.130 76.720 281.700

COUNTRY

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 442.800 281.700

SELL DRAFT

292.300 749.290 3.441 280.000

224.800 46.442 348.900 36.870 5.115 0.031

SELL DRAFT

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

297.21 283.05 290.34 346.61 281.80 443.95 3.67 3.449 5.104 2.143 3.202 2.988 76.79 750.34 46.49 401.47 733.41 77.82 75.36

SELL CASH

297.00 282.50 289.00 345.50 282.85 443.50 3.65 3.600 5.300 2.350 3.670 3.200 77.35 749.00 48.00 399.00 735.00 79.00 75.65

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 399.240 0.190 91.550 3.230 227.200

Rate for Transfer

Selling Rate

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro

281.150 282.590 442.285 343.910

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

286.130 746.985 76.796 77.445 75.205 397.730 46.478 2.140 5.108 2.993 3.448 6.736 692.115 4.590 8.985 4.395 3.280 88.795

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Currency

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars

282.200 2.988 5.125 2.110 3.446 6.790 76.935 75.410 750.200 46.498 446.700 2.990 3.205 1.550 352.000 285.000

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

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

281.950 346.000 443.000 280.750 3.610 5.114 46.493 2.137 3.445 6.742 2.985 750.500 76.800 75.300

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

business

Worries from Spain continue to fuel risk aversion NBK WEEKLY MONEY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: The US dollar traded in a wide range against most of its major counterparts, especially the Euro and the Sterling Pound. Additionally, investors were highly awaiting the outcome of the Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke’s testimony to congress on Thursday, as economic data fuelled expectations for further quantitative easing from the Fed. On Friday, the Dollar quickly recouped most of its losses and broke the range higher as Spanish worries ignited risk aversion in the market, pushing the Euro to trade at 2010 lows.

The Euro also traded in a wide range against the greenback. The currency traded between 1.2212 and 1.2310, testing both levels frequently throughout the week as markets lacked direction before the Federal reserve Chairman testified to Congress. However, on Friday the Euro fell dramatically, and broke the 1.2200 level and reached a low of 1.2144 after Spain’s Valencia region said it would seek government help to repay its debts, raising concerns that the Euro zone’s fourth largest economy may have to ask for a full-scale international bailout. The single currency closed the week at 1.2157.

The Sterling Pound opened the week at 1.5566 and traded in a volatile manner towards the end of the week amid a number of negative economic data. On Friday, The currency reached its highest level in more than 3-years due to growing worries about Spain, which encouraged investors to seek alternatives to the Euro despite further evidence of a weakness in the UK. The Sterling reached a high of 1.5735 but quickly dropped as investors realized the risks hovering over the British economy.

The Pound closed the week at 1.5618.

On the commodities side, Gold hovered near $1,580 per ounce on Friday as investors clung to hopes for additional monetary easing from the US central bank after data from the manufacturing sector and labor market disappointed the markets. Earlier in the week, the Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Fed was ready to take action if economic

conditions worsened, but gave few hints on another round of quantitative easing, which would boost the inflation outlook as well as gold’s appeal. Gold closed the week at $1,584.

Retail Sales Retail sales in the US unexpectedly declined for a third straight month in June, a sign limited employment gains are taking a toll on the biggest part of the economy. Sales dropped by 0.5% following a 0.2% decrease in May, economists were expecting a rise of 0.2%. The decrease was broad-based, including car dealers, department stores and gasoline stations signaling that the struggling job market is weighing on households confidence.

Fed Chairman Bernanke speaks Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke told lawmakers that progress in reducing unemployment is likely to be “frustratingly slow” and repeated that the central bank is ready to take further steps to boost the recovery, while refraining from pledging any new policies. He also said that growth is slowing as business investment cools in response to the European crisis and the prospect of fiscal tightening in the US at the same time, households are restraining spending as unemployment remains elevated and credit is hard to get. The Chairman stated that easing tools include

further purchases of assets, such as mortgage-backed securities, reducing the interest rate that the Fed pays on reserves banks keep with the Fed, and altering its communications on the outlook for interest rates. Bernanke said that operation “twist” has been “effective in easing financial conditions and promoting strength in the economy. Large-scale asset purchases have also contributed to economic growth.” At the same time, there are also questions about the “side effects and risks that may be associated, therefore they should not be used lightly.”

Manufacturing in the US Factory activity in the US mid-Atlantic region shrank for a third month in July,

though the pace was slightly less severe as new orders improved. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank said its business activity index rose to -12.9 from -16.6 in June, though it missed economists’ expectations for a stronger rebound to -8.0.

Slowdown in housing sector Sales of previously owned US homes unexpectedly declined in June to an eightmonth low, showing that the recovery in residential real estate will take time to develop. Purchases decreased 5.4% to a 4.37 million annual rate last month from a revised 4.62 million in May. Slower job

growth, stricter lending standards and competition from cheaper distressed properties may be impeding the market even with mortgage rates at all-time lows.

Initial claims adding concerns More Americans than anticipated filed for first-time claims for unemployment benefits last week as the volatility induced by the annual auto-plant retooling period wore off. Initial jobless claims increased by 34,000 to 386,000. The figure adds more pressure on The Chairman Bernanke and fuels expectations of an additional round of QE. Confidence in Germany deteriorates German investor confidence declined

for a third month in July as the Euro area’s debt crisis and the cooling global economy weakened the economic outlook. The ZEW Center for European Economic Research said its index of investor and analyst expectations, which aims to predict economic developments six months in advance, fell to minus 19.6 from minus 16.9 in June.

Moody’s cuts Italian banks ratings Moody’s cut the credit ratings of a string of Italian banks on Monday, bringing the country’s top lenders in line with a downgrade to Italy’s sovereign rating last

week, as well as lowering ratings for companies and local government authorities.

Moreover, two of Italy’s largest banks including Intesa SanPaolo and Unicredit were downgraded to Baa2 from A3 with a negative outlook, matching the country’s sovereign rating that was lowered on Friday to two notches above junk status.

The downgrades included a drop of one notch to seven financial institutions and two notches for six others. Finally, the agency said that Italy’s long-term resolve to push through much-needed reforms and persistent worries about Spain and Greece were increasing its liquidity risks.

MPC meeting minutes Minutes of the previous MPC meeting showed that policymakers discussed a possible interest rate cut and a larger asset purchases program, signaling they may be ready to expand their stimulus measures as the economic outlook darkens. The bank extended its quantitative easing program to 375 billion pounds from 325 billion earlier this month, additionally the minutes showed seven of the nine members backing the move, aimed at dragging the economy out of recession.

Retail sales UK retail sales rose less than the expected last month, reducing expectations that Britain was able to exit a recession in the second quarter. Sales including auto fuel gained 0.1% from May. Excluding fuel, sales were up 0.3%. Additionally, the UK had the most rain for a June since 1910 last month, curbing food sales, while an extra public holiday for the queen’s jubilee celebrations did not give a major boost to demand. The continued weakness in consumer spending is hindering Britain’s recovery after the economy shrank in the last quarter of 2011 and the first three months of this year.

Kuwait Kuwaiti Dinar at 0.28155. The USDKWD opened at 0.28155 yesterday morning.

Murdoch quits boards of British newspapers Announcement likely to fuel speculation

HARARE: A picture taken on July 12, 2012 shows a man cleaning car on display at a car dealership in Harare where local authorities are facing a new headache of traffic congestion and shortages of parking space as more people are buying cars after banks resumes giving loans and shops allow hire purchase. — AFP

Cars clog roads as Zimbabwe economy stirs back to life HARARE: A cacophony of blaring horns and revving engines drown every other sound as frustrated motorists battle to negotiate a downtown intersection where the rush-hour traffic converges into gridlock. In what some say is a sign of Zimbabwe’s economic recovery from a nearly decade-long crisis, cars are jamming the roads, posing a new headache for cities where a few years ago traffic was so thin that Zimbabweans joked you could lie in the middle of the street without getting run over.

“I used to drive 30 minutes from my home to ... the city but now it takes me nearly double the time because of the traffic congestion,” said taxi driver Ernest Nyeche.

“Driving in the city these day is taxing.

There are too many cars. Something needs to be done about the roads to ease the congestion,” he said. Nyeche has taken to charging his passengers more during the rush hour to make up for the extra gas (petrol) consumed while stuck in traffic.

After Zimbabwe trashed its worthless local currency and allowed trade in foreign currency like US dollars, the economy started picking up. Goods returned to the shelves in supermarkets which in 2008 were reduced to empty sheds, while shuttered firms reopened.

Personal incomes have similarly rebounded, pushing up the demand for cars.

“Average incomes for the middle class have increased significantly from as low as $10 per month in 2008 to the average $1,000 per month,” said Brains Muchemwa, an economist with Oxlink Capital.

“Households have ... more discretionary income ... and the fact that Zimbabwe is now importing 3,000 cars per month from as low as 250 in 2008 is a sign that the economy is now vibrant on the back of increasing consumer expenditure.”

But independent economist Eric Bloch said the numbers of cars was not necessarily a sign of economic rebound. “People are now getting loans and access to hire purchase,” Bloch said.

Adding to that, aid organisations and

government ministries have bought fleets of new vehicles for their employees. “All that collectively has resulted in a nearly excessive number of vehicles but this is not a reflection of economic recovery,” said Bloch.

“It’s deceptive ... It’s reflective of a minority of the population who are very wealthy and are investing in themselves. We have a situation where a few have become excessively rich at the expense of the majority.”

Businessman James Munemo, agrees that many are cashing in on bank loans and hire purchase facilities to buy cars as a form of investment, while others simply will not risk their savings after many lost out when their deposits were wiped out by Zimbabwe’s infamous hyperinflation.

“Buying a car is now the most sensible way to invest for the middle income earners who can’t afford to invest in bigger things like houses or any other fixed assets,” said Munemo. “That is why we have so many cars on the roads. Everyone who has a bit of cash to spare is rushing to import a car. People have lost confidence in the banking system and they would rather lock up their capital in the form of a car than put it in the bank.”

Cars-most of them used - are normally imported from Japan, Singapore, South Africa and Britain.

Banks stopped giving loans when hyperinflation hit the country to a point where prices would rise several times a day. They only resumed after the power-sharing government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai switched to the foreign currency system.

Fuel which was scarce during the country’s worst times, then became readily available. “It appears the first thing that gets onto someone’s mind when they get money is to buy a car,” said Brendon Nyajeka, a dealer in the capital. The growing number of cars have come with their other problems. Police blame it for an increase in highway accidents, while roads not used to heavy traffic are potholed. According to the government data, there are up to a million vehicles in the country of 12.7 million people. — AFP

LONDON: Rupert Murdoch has resigned as director of a number of companies behind British newspapers The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times, a News International spokeswoman said yesterday.

“Last week Mr Murdoch stepped down from a number of boards, many of them small subsidiary boards, both in the UK and US,” a spokeswoman for News Corp’s British publishing arm News International said.

The News Corp chief executive gave up his role on the boards of News Corp Investments, News International Group Limited and Times Newspaper Holdings in the last week. He has also stepped down from more than a dozen boards in the US, Australia and India.

News International sought to play down the development, saying it was “no more than a corporate house-cleaning exercise prior to the company split”.

The decision comes after Murdoch announced last month that News Corp will press ahead with a split of the entertainment division from its struggling publishing business, saying he is committed to both units.

He said he would be chairman of both companies, including an entertainment unit led by Fox studios and television assets, and a publishing unit that includes The Wall Street Journal and The Times

of London.

An email sent to newspaper staff on Saturday said the latest move “is part of the preparation of the business for the upcoming restructure into two companies”, British media reported. In the memo News

International boss Tom Mockridge said Murdoch “remains fully committed... as chairman of what will become the largest newspaper and digital group in the world.” “We look forward to seeing him in London over the Olympic Games,” he

NEW YORK: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of News Corporation Rupert Murdoch enters the News Corp. building, in New York. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has resigned from a number of News Corp. subsidiary boards in Britain and the United States.—AP

added. The announcement is likely to fuel speculation however that News Corp could be preparing to sell its British newspapers which have been at the centre of Britain’s phone hacking scandal.

Murdoch has been under increasing pressure from British shareholders and politicians over claims of phone hacking and corruption at some of his British newspapers in what has been a turbulent year for the media mogul.

His board resignations comes 12 months after the closure of the flagship News of The World tabloid weekly following allegations that journalists accessed the voicemail of a murdered schoolgirl and hacked the phones of dozens of public figures.

The media mogul’s son James Murdoch, who was chairman of News International at the time of the revelations, quit the British newspaper group last November over the scandal.

The hacking allegations sparked public outcry and triggered a huge public inquiry into media ethics in Britain as well as a string of highprofile arrests.

More than 50 people have been arrested under investigations into hacking and corruption, including Rebekah Brooks, a former top aide to Murdoch and friend of British Prime Minister David Cameron and his former media chief Andy Coulson. — AFP

Sudan fuel subsidy not fully lifted until ’13 KHARTOUM: Sudan will not fully remove fuel subsidies until the end of 2013 since austerity measures worth 7 billion Sudanese pounds ($1.5 billion) are sufficient to turn around the ailing economy, a senior ruling party official said yesterday.

The Arab African country is struggling with a worsening economic crisis after losing much of its oil wealth - the main source for revenues and dollars needed for imports - when South Sudan became independent last year.

Last month, President Omar Hassan alBashir said Sudan would gradually lift fuel subsidies and increase customs duties and taxes to bridge a ballooning finance gap.

The austerity measures have sparked small protests but activists inspired by an “Arab Spring” trying to end Bashir’s 23-year rule have failed to mobilise the masses of protesters seen in Egypt or Yemen.

Ibrahim Ghandour, a senior leader in Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP), said the government would keep in place some fuel subsidies until the end of 2013 to minimise social pressures.

“I don’t think the government will go and

fully lift subsidies to oil. That would be a very unwise political and economic decision,” Ghandour said in an interview.

He said the austerity measures would generate savings of 7 billion pounds, enough to close a financing gap of around 6.5 billion pounds stated by Finance Minister Ali Mahmoud and due to the loss of oil revenues. “ The goodies... of those economic arrangements are expected to start coming out at the end of the year provided that the Bank of Sudan (central bank) was able to support the pound,” he said.

Inflation that rose to 37.2 percent in June -double the level in June 2011 — would ease after the holy Muslim month of Ramadan that started on Friday, he said.

Demand for food usually increases during Ramadan and tapers off afterwards.

But Ghandour acknowledged that the central bank has been unable to stop a slide of the pound against the dollar, despite a hefty devaluation this month.

One dollar currently buys around 6 pounds on the black market, close to a historic low and well above the devalued offi-

cial rate of around between 4.3 and 4.7. The previous official rate was 2.7. “Until now they managed (to stabilise) to a degree but now the dollar is coming up in the equivalent (black) market,” he said. “The Bank of Sudan (central bank) cannot in my opinion continue to support the pound against the dollar. They need new measures,” he said.

To stop the slide Ghandour said the central bank should license more foreign currency exchange bureaus to attract more dollars from Sudanese using the black market.

“Why don’t we open exchange offices for whoever wishes to sell and buy?” he said.

“There are few very exchange offices.” He ruled out a total liberalisation of the exchange rate, saying this would be a “disastrous” move.

Ghandour dismissed hopes by the opposition of bringing an “Arab spring” to Sudan, a country that saw two uprisings ending military rule since independence in 1956.

“Of more than 5,000 mosques in Khartoum only two protested (after Friday prayers). That can give you the size of the whole thing,” he said. — Reuters

24

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

business

Romanian mining town struggles to survive PETRILA: At the foot of the majestic Carpathian mountains, Petrila waits in dread for the closure of its coal mine, the oldest in Romania and the life force of a town struggling to survive. “We are already the valley of tears, we don’t want to become the valley of death,” said one resident, referring to the Jiu Valley where Petrila lies, Romania’s main coal mining region where miners’ numbers have dwindled to only a fraction of those employed in the 1990s.

Petrila’s 153-year-old mine has not only been the town’s livelihood but its very identity. Petrila without mines would be like Bordeaux without its vineyards or Silicon Valley without its IT firms, locals say.

But pressure from the European Commission, the EU executive, on member governments to cut subsidies to loss-making mines means the one in Petrila, two elsewhere in Romania and several others across the 27-member bloc will be shut down by 2018.

Demolition work has already started.

“It’s the age-old story of the deindustrialisation of Europe,” said David Schwartz, a Bucharest director who recently drew attention for

“Underground”, a play he and the wellknown Romanian playwright Mihaela Michailov worked on for a year, giving voice to the miners and their families in this once-prosperous company town.

The EU’s plan is to shift subsidies from mines towards renewable energies. Up to 30,000 jobs, out of a total 100,000 in the EU mining sector, could be lost. In Spain, angry miners have staged protests and clashed with police.

But those in Romania appear resigned to their fate, still smarting from violent protests in 1990 that many feel stigmatised them wrongly.

That year, then president Ion Iliescu called some 10,000 Jiu Valley miners to Bucharest to end protests against his government, the first elected after the fall of the communist regime but one made up mostly of former communists, like himself.

The miners were severely criticised for using force against protestors but many today say those who took part were “manipulated”. Communist-era mosaics at the Petrila mine are a reminder of its flourishing past before the economic decline of the last two decades.

Will Colorado economy turn purple state red or blue?

PUEBLO: In this working-class city where steel was the economic muscle of the past and where harnessing the wind offers promise for the future, Cris Gillispie has seen jobs come and go. He’s watched the ranks of unemployed grow and the anxiety index rise in the last few years, but he has some advice: Wait.

“If I were going to say anything to the American people, it’s be patient,” says the 40-year-old firefighter and union activist.

“People thought the president could wave a magic wand and the economy would be all better. But we have to deal with reality and ... it’s going to take time to get us out of this hole.”

About a mile away, Rob Leverington says the problem is not the timetable, but the president’s policies. The health care bill, the auto bailout, the stimulus? All mistakes, he says. “When the government gets involved, it extends or prolongs the suffering,” the civil engineer declares. “We shouldn’t look for the government to take care of us. That’s what the Communists were doing.” Colorado, a state split by the Continental Divide, is also emblematic of the national divide. It’s a crucial state for President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, both of whom are saturating the airwaves, parachuting in and dispatching surrogates to snag nine all-important electoral votes. The debate here over the government’s role in the economy mirrors the polarized attitudes across the country.

Colorado’s recovery reflects the nation, too. A “Swiss cheese economy,” one official dubs it. Some industries and cities are rebounding; others still struggle. In Pueblo, where the jobless rate tends to be higher than normal even during prosperity, unemployment jumped to 12.2 percent in June, the highest among major cities. Hard times are not new in this heavily Hispanic community. The steel decline of the ‘80s left the city reeling, but it rebounded with new industries; a fairly recent entry was a Danish wind turbine manufacturer. “People here are resilient,” says councilman Chris Nicoll.

But which economy will Colorado voters judge this fall: the improving one or the one lagging behind? The answer to that question will help determine whether this purple state turns blue or red in November - and whether the president gets an extended lease on the White House. Colorado is sometimes reduced to a postcard image of mountains, ski resorts and cattle ranches.

It has tourism and agriculture, for sure.

But it’s also home to vast energy resources (gas, oil and coal), aerospace, manufacturing and health care. And it has a large military and government presence, including Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy, the US Northern Command, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and more. The state endured a far-reaching recession and a slow, uneven recovery.

Tourism, for instance, posted a record visitor year in 2011, but there are fears the recent wildfires may scare folks away.

Agricultural land values have remained stable in some places, doubled in others.

Crop prices have soared, though a prolonged drought could be bruising.

Construction has stopped hemorrhaging jobs, but it’s a long climb back. An oil and gas boom has brought new dollars and jobs to the northeast part of Colorado, but natural gas producers grapple with low prices on the Western Slope.

Colorado, according to state officials, has recovered almost half - 75,200 of 151,600 jobs- lost in the recession. The June unemployment rate of 8.2 percent marks the first time since the recession began that the state level hasn’t been lower than the national average (the same as Colorado’s last month). This also is the third straight month of increases; the latest rise is attributed to more people resuming job searches.

Whether this stutter-step economy brings hope or despair depends on your point of view. “There are some people who think the president had no chance to solve it (the recession) because of the

deep hole created by somebody else,” says Richard Wobbekind, associate dean at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder. “Others say in the last 31/2 years he hasn’t fulfilled his promise, he’s burying us. But the vast majority of people are sort of hanging out in the middle. They see this as an unusual event.

If they cast blame, they do it more on the financial system than anything else.”

Obama’s popularity here is a matter of geography. “Where you stand depends on where you sit in Colorado,” says Martin Shields, an economist at Colorado State University. “If you give a talk in Boulder, everyone thinks he’s great. If you give a talk in Colorado Springs, everyone thinks he’s awful.” Polls show the president locked in a tight race with Romney in a state where Obama trounced Republican John McCain by about 9 points. In 2008, Obama set his sights early on Colorado he accepted the Democratic nomination at the party’s convention in Denver - and cobbled together a coalition of big-city Democrats, Hispanics, young people and suburban independents, especially women.

Colorado, once largely red on the map, turned blue in the 2000s, after hundreds of thousands of newcomers settled in the state, many from traditional Democratic areas. Core GOP constituencies - evangelical Christians (Colorado Springs is home to Focus on the Family, the conservative advocacy group) and Western individualists - became less dominant.

In 2008, Obama became just the second Democratic presidential candidate in 40 years to capture the state. Bill Clinton’s 1992 win came is a three-way contest.

Four years ago, Democrats, Republicans and independents were registered in almost equal numbers on Election Day independents actually held a tiny edge.

That’s changed and even though Democrats now hold the governor’s office and both U.S. Senate seats, the GOP has a numbers advantage. Among registered voters, Republicans exceed Democrats by more than 115,000.

More than 30 percent of those registered are independents and they ’re expected to be pivotal in the election.

They include libertarians who’ve heavily supported the GOP in the past. That could bode trouble for Obama, but both the president and Romney face obstacles, says John Straayer, a Colorado State University political scientist.

“I don’t think there’s the excitement and support you saw for Obama in ‘08,” he says. “They’re not happy with the health care bill, but many are unhappy because it didn’t go far enough. ... But I do think those people are going to come home in November.” Straayer also says he doesn’t “detect a groundswell of affection,” for Romney, who lost the caucuses to Rick Santorum. “But Republicans are going to rally around him, no question about it.

They don’t have any place else to go.”

The final outcome, he says, will likely be razor-thin. “If I had to bet on it, I’d say Obama, but I’d look at my right pocket to see how much change I have,” Straayer says. “I wouldn’t look at my left pocket because I have dollar bills in there.”

The results will undoubtedly turn, in part, on Hispanics, who account for about 20 percent of the population and have, so far, overwhelmingly favored the president. Republicans, aware of their underdog status, have tried to hit the president on the economy, producing a Web video in English and Spanish that claims Hispanics have suffered disproportionately under his policies. But a June survey by Public Policy Polling gave Obama a whopping 27-point lead among Hispanics here.

Some of those polled were questioned after the president announced he was halting the deportation of many illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children.

Immigration actually ranks third in importance in polling of Hispanics, with the economy and education rating No. 1 and No. 2, says Floyd Ciruli, a Denver pollster. —AP

In 1988 the town had some 4,000 miners, now there are 688. In the wider Jiu Valley, numbers have dropped from 50,000 to 7,600, according to Constantin Jujan, the director of the Petrila mine. “In 1997, a wave of redundancies at the time meant people suddenly got a lot of money. But they weren’t ready, they spent, they set up businesses and got in debt, found themselves without homes, with nothing,” said local restaurant owner Elena Chelba, whose husband and father are both miners.

Uncertain future-Today the unemployment rate in the town is more than 40 percent. Charity shops proposing second-hand clothes, crockery and toys are testimony to the hard times. “I don’t know if things can get any worse,” said Elena. “But if the mine closes things will not be rosy, so many people depend on it.”

Ever yday, ignoring the danger, dozens of locals jump on the trains bringing coal to Petrila to steal a few lumps, either to keep warm or to sell.

One of them, who gave only his first name, Traian, collects what coal he finds on the tracks in red buckets-there is no

way his pension of 200 euros ($244) a month can pay for heating. Traian’s son has left Romania for Germany, and his daughter will join him for two months of seasonal work.

Like many, Traian doesn’t complain for himself but worries about his children. Emigration is often seen as the only answer.

“My daughter’s future is not here,” said one miner solemnly, tramping out of the mine after a night’s work. “Some families cannot pay their gas and electricity bills any more. We give them clothes so their children are not ashamed to go to school,” Florin Popescu, who runs the local branch of Save the Children, told AFP. The centre ensures that around 100 children get a hot meal as well as psychological and educational help. “We know that we will have to leave because there is no work here. It’s sad for me because this is where I have grown up and where my friends are,” said Cristinel Homoc, a 15-year-old who dreams of becoming a footballer or a lawyer.

Some residents hope for better days in a region that they believe has immense tourism potential. Stretching

some 1,500 k ilometres (930 miles) across Central Europe, the Carpathians are blessed with virgin forest, rich flora and wildlife including lynx and bears.

Romanian culture is also a draw. A local caricaturist, Ion Barbu, organises festivals and has turned the childhood home of writer Ion D. Sirbu-a key opposition figure during Nicolae Ceausescu’s dictatorship-into a museum.

Barbu, like many other residents, wants to preserve the buildings at the mine site to create cultural and “industrial” tourism, to retain Petrila’s link with its prouder past. Industrial tourism has worked in other areas: the UN’s cultural body UNESCO designated three former mining sites in the Wallonia region of southern Belgium and one site in northern France as World Heritage sites.

But the residents’ dreams have met with opposition from the town’s deputy mayor Constantin Ramascanu, who would prefer to raze the site. Rejecting all ideas of green tourism-even from the British heir to the throne, Prince Charles, who has tried to develop rural tourism in Romania-Ramascanu’s vision is a valley covered in hotels, casinos and quadbiking tracks. — AFP

German retail sector struggles with changing customer trends Politicians interested in major export industries BERLIN: With a string of high-profile bankruptcies and thousands of layoffs, the German retail sector is in upheaval as it struggles with the challenges of changing customer trends and online shopping.

The sector was prospering until just a few years ago, but over the last two years some of its oldest players have been forced to close or undergo deep restructuring in order to survive.

Last week, the iconic mail- order chain Neckermann, set up in 1950 and employing 2,500 people, filed for insolvency.

At the end of June, Schlecker, a family-run chain of drugstores present in almost every high street across the country, shut its doors for good with the loss of nearly 25,000 jobs.

The employees, mostly women with few or no qualifications, had already agreed to accept painful cuts in pay and conditions when Schlecker applied for protection from its creditors at the beginning of the year.

But even that was not enough and the employees now find themselves without a job and rapidly diminishing hopes of finding a new one. “Over the past decade, a number of retailers groups have sought to remain competitive solely by slashing costs.

But they have failed to optimise their range of products and services,” said Joerg Funder, director of the IIHD institute for commerce and retail in Worms, western Germany.

The Karstadt chain of department stores also recently announced plans to axe 2,000 jobs, while there are rumours that 900 jobs are to be cut at another group, Metro.

While politicians have been up in arms over the fate of ailing German carmaker Opel at the hands of its US parent company General Motors, much less has been said about the massive layoffs and problems facing key retail groups.

“In Germany, politicians are primarily interested in major, export-orientated industries, such as the automobile and machine-tool sec-

tors,” said Christian Schmitz of the giant services-sector union Verdi. Nevertheless, experts do not see the high-profile closures as being representative of the sector as a whole.

“Generally speaking, the retail sector in Germany is doing well. It is stable and we’re projecting growth of 1.5 percent in 2012,” said Stefan Hertel, spokesman for the HDE retail federation.

And the Internet could also serve as a catalyst for growth, he suggested.

“E-commerce provides good development opportunities in Germany. We’re forecasting sales in this sector of close to 30 billion euros

($37 billion) this year, an increase of 13 percent on last year,” Hertel said. In a bid to catch up in this area, Karstadt has earmarked a large chunk of its planned 400 million euros of investments for a complete overhaul of its Internet presence and online services, and is also developing a special smartphone app.

For the traditionally penny-pinching Germans, cut-price and discount stores were the long-time favourites in the retail sector.

But an increasing number of consumers are now developing a taste for the luxury market and retailers have yet to fully exploit the potential here, experts say. — AFP

BUCHAREST: In this picture taken on Saturday, famed Lithuanian pilot Jurgis Kairys, flies his Sukhoi-31, bottom, along with Romanian acrobatic pilots during an air show in Bucharest, Romania. — AP

Slower global growth reflects economic links WASHINGTON: The global economy is in the worst shape since the dark days of 2009. Six of the 17 countries that use the euro currency are in recession. The U.S. economy is struggling again. And the economic superstars of the developing world China, India and Brazil - are in no position to come to the rescue. Theyíre slowing, too.

The lengthening shadow over the worldís economy illustrates one of the consequences of globalization: Thereís nowhere to hide. Economies around the world have never been so tightly linked - which means that as one region weakens, others do, too.

Thatís why Europeís slowdown is hurting factories in China. And why those Chinese factories are buying less iron ore from Brazil.

As a result of this global economic slowdown, the International Monetary Fund has reduced its forecast for world growth this year to 3.5 percent, the slowest since a 0.6 percent drop in 2009. Some economists predict the global economy will grow a full percentage point less. For now, few foresee another global recession. Central banks in China, Britain, Brazil, South Korea and Europe have cut interest rates in the past month to try to jolt growth.

European leaders have begun to focus more on promoting growth, not just shrinking debt and cutting budgets.

The Chinese government, in particular, is expected to do what it takes to protect its economy from deteriorating too quickly. And despite their slow-

downs, China and India are still growing at rates America and Europe can only imagine.

But many economists say European policymakers arenít moving fast enough to strengthen European banks and ease borrowing costs for Italy and Spain. They fear the global impact if Europeís economy deteriorates further.

Stock prices in the United States and elsewhere are fluctuating almost daily depending on the outlook for a resolution of Europeís debt crisis. Around the world, sales at companies ranging from automakers to technology companies are falling.

Advanced Micro Devices, a California-based maker of computer chips used in everything from slot machines to smart cameras, says revenue likely dropped 11 percent in the second quarter because of weaker-than-expected sales in China and Europe.

At Jagemann Stamping Co. in Manitowoc, Wis., sales to Europe have dropped more than 10 percent from a year ago. The company makes metal parts for auto companies and other customers. Itís still enjoying strong sales in the United States, so it hasnít had to cut workers because of falling business in Germany and the Czech Republic. ìWhat it does is slow our new hiring,î says company president Ralph Hardt. One growing concern about the global economy is thereís little margin for error: Unemployment is already at recession levels in Europe and the United States. The United States, by far the worldís biggest economy, has long pulled

the global economy out of slumps. Now it needs help. Three years after the Great Recession officially ended, the American economy canít maintain momentum. For the third straight year, growth has stalled at mid-year after getting off to a promising start.

Unemployment stood at 8.2 percent in June the 41st straight month itís been above 8 percent.Americans spent less at retail businesses for a third straight month in June, the longest losing streak since the recession. Economists are downgrading their estimates of economic growth in the April-June quarter. When the government releases its first estimate on Friday, many think it wonít even match the first quarterís sluggish 1.9 percent annual pace. The global slowdown is squeezing U.S. exports, which have accounted for an unusually large 43 percent share of U.S. growth since the recession officially ended in June 2009.

Consumer confidence has fallen four straight months in the face of scant hiring and weak economic growth. US companies are nervous about the threat of tax increases and spending cuts that are scheduled to kick in at yearís end unless Congress breaks a deadlock. The IMF has warned of a spillover to the rest of the world if the US economy falls off the so-called fiscal cliff.

Europeís obstacles are even more severe. Itís faced with crushing government debts, struggling banks and scant economic growth.—AP

Al Tijari announces Al-Najma winners KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait held the Al Najma Account draw yesterday. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry represented by Saquer Al Manaie.

The winners of the Al Najma Daily Draw are :Soud Turkey Jazey AlRashedy KD 7000/Eman Mohammed Haji Abbas AlSaffar KD 7000/Omar Mashaan Mohammed AlDehani KD 7000/Majed Bassam Husain AlHelsah KD 7000/Arshad Muhammad Boota Mahmood KD 7000/The Commercial Bank of Kuwait announces the biggest daily draw in Kuwait with the launch of the new Najma account. Customers of the

bank can now enjoy a KD 7,000 daily prize which is the highest in the country and another 4 mega prizes during the year worth KD 100,000 each on different occasions: The National Day, Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha and on the 19th of June which is the date of the bank’s establishment.

With a minimum balance of KD 500, customers will be eligible for the daily draw provided that the money is in the account one week prior to the daily draw or 2 months prior to the mega draw. In addition, for each KD 25 a customer can get one chance for winning instead of KD 50.

Commercial Bank of Kuwait takes this opportunity to congratulate all lucky winners and also extends appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for their effective supervision of the draws which were conducted in an orderly and organized manner.

25

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

business

US green fleet upstarts make conventional Washington moves WASHINGTON: Two companies involved on the ground level of an expensive Pentagon effort to embrace biofuels have used familiar strategies in building their profiles in Washington, using hefty campaign contributions and aggressive lobbying to secure support.

One company, Solazyme Inc, a subcontractor on a $12 million alternative fuels contract from the Navy, also has raised its Washington profile by hiring as strategic advisers former senior Clinton administration officials with close ties to the Pentagon or Department of Energy, according to corporate records. Solazyme and Gevo Inc, a Colorado company that won a small Air Force biofuels contract, are on the cutting edge of a $510 million Pentagon effort to switch to biofuels to curb reliance on foreign oil. But the high per-gallon cost of the biofuels has spurred controversy on Capitol Hill, where some Republicans have branded the program as wasteful and raised questions about political ties.

The Navy is paying $26 a gallon for the fuel it is using to test its “green fleet” concept. The prime contractor is Dynamic Fuels, a Louisiana-based company that is a joint venture of Arkansas-based Tyson Foods and

Oklahoma-based Syntroleum Corp.

Solazyme, which makes its biofuel from algae, is a subcontractor.

Dynamic Fuels makes some of it fuel from animal fats. The Air Force is paying Gevo $59 per gallon. Gevo makes its fuel by converting sugar into isobutanol. Proponents of the program - as well as the Pentagon - argue that costs per gallon will dramatically drop after production ramps up and will eventually be competitive with fossil fuels.

Even as the biofuel companies work to build revenues in an emerging field, their investors and employees have worked the political system, campaign finance records show. Investors, officers and employees at Solazyme and Gevo have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to political campaigns in recent years, primarily to Democrats.

Both companies have relied on extensive lobbying to help them win modest contracts. Solazyme relies on in-house lobbyist Drew Littman, a former staffer to Democratic Senators Al Franken of Minnesota and Barbara Boxer of California. This year, it also hired McBee Strategic Consulting L.L.C., which represented Solyndra, the solar panel maker that went bankrupt after receiving more than $500 million

in federal loans. Solazyme also solicits strategic advice from two prominent Clinton administration officials - former CIA director R. James Woolsey, who has served in other administrations as well, and former Deputy Energy Secretary T.J. Glauthier.

Glauthier also served for five years in the Clinton White House at the Office of Management and Budget. He was on President Barack Obama’s transition staff and worked on the energy portion of the stimulus bill.

“I had no contact with any agencies or others in the administration about Solazyme’s bids or contracts for biofuels,” Glauthier told Reuters. Jonathan Wolfson, chief executive officer of Solazyme, said the company needs a strong Washington presence to counter the entrenched interests of rivals, including the oil industry.

Shareholders of the publicly traded company deserve to know about legislative and administrative developments in Washington that might affect biofuels, Wolfson said.

Biofuels lobbying pales in comparison to the lobbying budgets of the oil and gas industries, he said. Wolfson said campaign contributions by people associated with Solazyme had nothing to do with the company’s

Washington agenda. Most came from one person - board chairman Jerry Fiddler, who has given $358,000, mostly to Democrats. Fiddler, long active in Democratic politics, made his fortune selling his software company to Intel.

“Jerry ’s political donations are Jerry’s private, personal business,” said Wolfson. “I can absolutely guarantee you there are not discussions with management or with the board about what Jerry does with respect to his political donations. The fact that Jerry donated a lot of money is accurate.

The fact that T.J. (Glauthier) had a relationship in DoE (Department of Energy) is accurate. But people are drawing lines to things that are not reality.”

Fiddler could not be reached for comment. Gevo spent $360,000 over three years for the services of Green Capitol LLC, according to lobbying records. The principals of the firm are a former Capitol Hill aide who worked on energy programs and a former official of the Air Transport Association, the major airlines’ trade organization, who pushed the Air Force to experiment with biofuels.Gevo’s Air Force contract was worth $639,000.

A key Gevo investor is venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, who co-founded

Sun Microsystems and has given $474,000 in campaign contributions since 1996, mostly to Democrats, according to a Reuters’ compilation of campaign finance data on opensecrets.org. Khosla told Reuters through a spokesman that he had no knowledge of the Air Force contract and declined further comment. Of the companies helping provide biofuels to the Navy and Air Force, Tyson Foods has by far the highest profile in Washington.

Its political action committee has given $1.9 million in contributions since 1990 to candidates of both parties. Its president, John Tyson, has made $225,000 in contributions to both parties in the past six years. The company has spent $10.7 million on lobbying in the past five years, according to opensecrets.org.

Formed in 2005, Gevo seeks to retrofit ethanol plants to make isobutanol, which is more powerful and less damaging than ethanol to the machines that burn it, including cars.

Gevo reported revenues of $64 million in 2011. Solazyme, founded in 2004, creates oil from microalgae grown in fermentation tanks.

Solazyme reported $39 million in revenues in 2011. —Reuters

US poverty to rise to high levels since 1960s Discouraged workers giving up on job market

MANILA: This photo taken on July 14, 2012 shows a Trump Tower poster displayed on a roadside billboard in Manila. As a Philippine property boom gathers pace, even Paris Hilton, Donald Trump and high-fashion house Versace are getting a piece of the action. — AFP

Profit at major Chinese state companies down BEIJING: Total profit for China’s biggest state-owned companies fell by 16.4 percent in the first half from a year earlier as an economic slowdown deepened, the government said.

The squeeze for even China’s biggest, most politically favored companies that benefit from monopolies and low-cost loans highlights the extent of the deepest slump since the 2008 global crisis as exports and domestic demand weakened.

Profit for the 117 companies in the top tier of state industry fell to 387 billion yuan ($61.4 billion) for the six months ended June 30, the Cabinet’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission said in a one-sentence statement.

The statement said profit in June was up 8 percent compared with May but gave no indication whether the government saw that as a sign growth was reviving. It gave no details of individual companies. China’s economic growth slowed to a three-year low of 7.6 percent in the second quarter. Analysts say the decline probably has bottomed out but they say the strength of a possible recovery is uncertain.

Beijing has cut interest rates twice since the start of June and is pumping money into the economy through higher investment by state companies and more spending on low-cost housing and other public works. Authorities are trying to use targeted measures instead of flooding the economy with money after a binge of spending and bank lending in response to the 2008 crisis fueled inflation and a wasteful building boom.

Companies and investors are closely

watching China’s slowdown, which has dampened hopes the country will help to drive global growth as the United States and Europe struggle. Premier Wen Jiabao warned last weekend a recovery was not yet stable, raising hopes Beijing might roll out still more stimulus. On Tuesday, Wen said the employment outlook “will become more complex and severe” and promised to make job creation a priority.

China’s expansion is still far more robust than Western economies or Japan but its companies have come to depend on unusually high growth to stay profitable. Major companies including airlines, manufacturers and retailers have warned of unexpectedly sharp drops of up to 80 percent in first-half profits due to be reported in coming weeks.

Smaller retailers, construction companies and others have suffered bigger declines. Some say revenues are down by as much as half compared with a year earlier. Wen has promised more bank loans to the struggling private sector but entrepreneurs say they have yet to receive help.

SASAC-controlled companies include energy giant PetroChina Ltd., telecoms giant China Mobile Ltd. and the country’s biggest banks, insurers, airlines and steel producers. The rate of decline in their total first-half profits was greater than the 13.6 percent fall for the first quarter of the year, indicating the contraction accelerated in the second quarter. Some 233 companies with shares traded on mainland China’s two exchanges expect to report losses for the first half, while another 449 expect lower profits compared with a year earlier, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. — AP

Japan steelmakers see profit dive in April-June TOKYO: Japan’s biggest steelmakers likely suffered a plunge in recurring profit of up to 80 percent in the AprilJune quar ter as competition with Chinese rivals drove prices down, a report said yesterday.

Nippon Steel likely recorded less than 10 billion yen (127 million) in consolidated recurring profit for the three months, down about 80 percent from a year earlier and nearly half from January-March, the Nikkei business daily said.

Japan’s second-ranked JFE is also believed to have suffered a 60 percent plunge in recurring profit in the quarter, the paper said without naming its sources. The report did not mention

the companies’ net profits. Major Japanese steelmakers suffered as their Chinese rivals ramped up output, driving steel prices sharply lower across Asia and denting the profitability of Japanese exports, the paper said.

Domestic steel demand remains sluggish across the board, except for in the automotive sector, which has been supported by government subsidies to encourage purchases of environmentally friendly vehicles, it added. Nippon Steel is set to merge with Japan’s third-ranked Sumitomo Metal Industries in October to create a steel giant second only to ArcelorMittal, and just ahead of China’s Baosteel. — AFP

WASHINGTON: The ranks of America’s poor are on track to climb to levels unseen in nearly half a century, erasing gains from the war on poverty in the 1960s amid a weak economy and fraying government safety net.

Census figures for 2011 will be released this fall in the critical weeks ahead of the November elections. The Associated Press surveyed more than a dozen economists, think tanks and academics, both nonpartisan and those with known liberal or conservative leanings, and found a broad consensus: The official poverty rate will rise from 15.1 percent in 2010, climbing as high as 15.7 percent. Several predicted a more modest gain, but even a 0.1 percentage point increase would put poverty at the highest since 1965.

Poverty is spreading at record levels across many groups, from underemployed workers and suburban families to the poorest poor.

More discouraged workers are giving up on the job market, leaving them vulnerable as unemployment aid begins to run out.

Suburbs are seeing increases in poverty, including in such political battlegrounds as Colorado, Florida and Nevada, where voters are coping with a new norm of living hand to mouth. “I grew up going to Hawaii every summer. Now I’m here, applying for assistance because it’s hard to make ends meet. It’s very hard to adjust,” said Laura Fritz, 27, of Wheat Ridge, Colo., describing her slide from rich to poor as she filled out aid forms at a county center. Since 2000, large swaths of Jefferson County just outside Denver have seen poverty nearly double.

Fritz says she grew up wealthy in the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch, but fortunes turned after her parents lost a significant amount of money in the housing bust.

Stuck in a half-million dollar house, her parents began living off food stamps and Fritz’s college money evaporated. She tried joining the Army but was injured during basic training. Now she’s living on disability, with an infant daughter and a boyfriend, Garrett Goudeseune, 25, who can’t find work as a landscaper. They are struggling to pay their $650 rent on his unemployment checks and don’t know how they would get by without the extra help as they hope for the job market to improve.

In an election year dominated by discussion of the middle class, Fritz’s case highlights a dim reality for the growing group in poverty. Millions could fall through the cracks as government aid from unemployment insurance, Medicaid, welfare and food stamps diminishes. “The issues aren’t just with public benefits. We have some deep problems in the economy,” said Peter Edelman, director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy.

He pointed to the recent recession but also longer-term changes in the economy such as globalization, automation, outsourcing, immigration, and less unionization that have pushed median household income lower. Even after strong economic growth in the 1990s, poverty never fell below a 1973 low of 11.1 percent. That low point came after President Lyndon Johnson’s war on poverty, launched in 1964, created Medicaid, Medicare and other social welfare programs.

“I’m reluctant to say that we’ve gone back to where we were in the 1960s. The programs we enacted make a big difference. The problem is that the tidal wave of low-wage jobs is dragging us down and the wage problem is not going to go away anytime soon,” Edelman said. Stacey Mazer of the National Association of State Budget Officers said states will be watching for poverty increases when figures are released in September as they make decisions about the Medicaid expansion. Most states generally assume poverty levels will hold mostly steady and they will hesitate if the findings show otherwise. “It’s a constant tension in the budget,” she said.

The predictions for 2011 are based on separate AP interviews, supplemented with research on suburban poverty from Alan Berube of the Brookings Institution and an analysis of federal spending by the Congressional Research Service and Elise Gould of the Economic Policy Institute.

The analysts’ estimates suggest that some 47 million people in the US, or 1 in 6, were poor last year. An increase of one-tenth of a percentage point to 15.2 percent would tie the 1983 rate, the highest since 1965. The highest level on record was 22.4 percent in 1959, when the government began calculating poverty figures.

Poverty is closely tied to joblessness. While the unemployment rate improved from 9.6 percent in 2010 to 8.9 percent in 2011, the employment-population ratio remained largely unchanged, meaning many discouraged workers simply stopped looking for work. Food stamp rolls, another indicator of poverty, also grew.

Demographers also say : Pover ty will remain above the pre-recession level of 12.5 percent for many more years. Several predicted that peak poverty levels - 15 percent to 16 percent - will last at least until 2014, due to expiring unemployment benefits, a jobless rate persistently above 6 percent and weak wage growth. Suburban poverty, already at a record level of 11.8 percent, will increase again in 2011. Part-time or underemployed workers, who saw a record 15 percent poverty in 2010, will rise to a new high. Poverty among people 65 and older will remain at historically low levels, buoyed by Social Security cash payments.

Child poverty will increase from its 22 percent level in 2010. Analysts also believe that the poorest poor, defined as those at 50 percent or less of the poverty level, will remain near its peak level of 6.7 percent.

“I’ve always been the guy who could find a job. Now I’m not,” said Dale Szymanski, 56, a Teamsters Union forklift operator and convention hand who lives outside Las Vegas in Clark County. In a state where unemployment ranks highest in the nation, the Las Vegas suburbs have seen a par ticularly rapid increase in poverty from 9.7 percent in 2007 to 14.7 percent. Szymanski, who moved from Wisconsin in 2000, said he used to make a decent living of more than $40,000 a year but

now doesn’t work enough hours to qualify for union health care. He changed apartments several months ago and sold his aging 2001 Chrysler Sebring in April to pay expenses.

“You keep thinking it ’s going to turn around. But I’m stuck,” he said.The 2010 poverty level was $22,314 for a family of four, and $11,139 for an individual, based on an official government calculation that includes only cash income, before tax deductions. It excludes capital gains or accumulated wealth, such as home ownership, as well as noncash aid such as food stamps and tax credits, which were expanded substantially under President Barack Obama’s stimulus package. An additional 9 million people in 2010 would have been counted above the poverty line if food stamps and tax credits were taken into account. Robert Rector, a senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, believes the social safety net has worked and it’s now time to cut back. He worries that advocates may use a rising poverty rate to justify additional spending on the poor, when in fact, he says, many live in decent -size homes, drive cars and own wide-screen TVs. A new census measure accounts for noncash aid, but that supplemental poverty figure isn’t expected to be released until after the November election. Since that measure is relatively new, the official rate remains the best gauge of year-to-year changes in poverty dating back to 1959.

Few people advocate cuts in anti-poverty programs. Roughly 79 percent of Americans think the gap between rich and poor has grown in the past two decades, according to a Public Religion Research Institute/RNS Religion News survey from November 2011.

The same poll found that about 67 percent oppose “cutting federal funding for social programs that help the poor” to help reduce the budget deficit.

Outside of Medicaid, federal spending on major low-income assistance programs such as food stamps, disability aid and tax credits have been mostly flat at roughly 1.5 percent of the gross domestic product from 1975 to the 1990s. Spending spiked higher to 2.3 percent of GDP after Obama’s stimulus program in 2009 temporarily expanded unemployment insurance and tax credits for the poor. — AP

DENVER: In this July 16, 2012, photo, Laura Fritz, 27, left, with her daughter Adalade Goudeseune fills out a form at the Jefferson Action Center, an assistance center in the Denver suburb of Lakewood. Both Fritz grew up in the Denver suburbs a solidly middle class family, but she and her boyfriend, who has struggled to find work, are now relying on government assistance to cover food and $650 rent for their family. The ranks of America’s poor are on track to climb to levels unseen in nearly half a century, erasing gains from the war on poverty in the 1960s amid a weak economy. — AP

26

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

BUSINESS

X-cite by Alghanim Electronics launches X-cite blog KUWAIT: X-cite.com, e-commerce portal of X-cite by Alghanim Electronics, the regions largest consumer electronics and home appliance retailer has launched its own technology blog. The X-cite blog available on ( www.xciteblog.com) is a technology portal created to provide an interactive platform where latest trends, product reviews and opinions are shared. The Xcite blog is an effective channel for product reviews, recommendations and exchange of opinions between the brand and its audience.

Ali Maaz, Head of Product & Sales at xcite.com commented, “X-cite believes in an era where companies differentiate them-

selves based on superior customer experience through different channels. The X-cite blog

is an effective platform for communicating and reaching out to anybody interested in con-

sumer electronics and home appliances. It gives us an interactive and engaging platform that helps us serve our customers better.”

Apart from being the electronics only blog in the region, the X-cite Blog is all about communicating to people. Customers can review the expert opinions and product reviews made by the blog authors as well as get truthful insights from our readers on various products.

The blog consists of posts that vary from basic thoughts on rumored or released electronics to in-depth reviews on wild card electronics, and helpful guides on how to make the most out of the latest gadgets.

The posts even carry video previews of the products so readers can get a real time experience of what is spoken about the product. The authors are trained technology specialists and the general style of the blog is to encourage community participation by enabling readers also to add in with their experiences, comments and feedback on products. Readers are encouraged to comment, rate, ask, discuss, critique, or simply speak their mind.

The blog also announces new products that are launched on xcite.com as well as the various ongoing promotions and discounts. X-cite customers can use the blog to read comments

on different products and therefore have better insight before purchasing it online. The X-cite blog aims at attracting and developing a regular audience through constant and freshly updated content.

In the past few months, xcite.com has built a strong presence on social media channels such as twitter ,Facebook, Instagram, Google plus and Pinterest. With the effective use of social media, X-cite’s online portal xcite.com has been actively expanding its customer reach. Following the launch of X-cite blog, the newest edition in social media, xcite.com aims to build a stronger online community.

FASTtelco includes SHARE to its logo in new developed website FASTtelco’s commitment to offer latest technology KUWAIT: FASTtelco, the leading internet Service providers in Kuwait, winner of the Bizz International Award of 2012 for displaying business excellence and for being the most inspirational company, and winner of the Annual GCC HR Excellence Awards for Best Change Management Strategy of 2012, is now in process of developing and upgrading its website to ensure an attractive and easier browsing system for its users.

“The first steps of upgrading the website include adding our new corporate tagline “SHARE” to the company’s logo as a way to reflect the company’s commitment towards society and providing the highest quality internet services, data transfer, and expanding the foundation of internet users in the country, in addition to using a base that composes the best technological descriptions,” said Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sahand Pouladi.

Pouladi added that the website development includes some

adjustments that aim at making it more user-friendly and interactive in order to enable the visitors to receive all the required informa-

technology and IT knowledge in the field of communications, all of which mirror the bright image of the company in Kuwait’s dynamic

Sahand Pouladi tion on the company and its exclusive offers. Pouladi noted that the development process proves FASTtelco’s continuous commitment to offer the latest

society. Moreover, Pouladi noted that FASTtelco has proven ability to achieve its strategic plans and its commitment to process its responsibilities towards its cus-

tomers and the communications sector in general. In addition, the awards granted to the company in 2012 for its unique and inspirational efforts as well as being one of the most significant companies regionally in managing human resources, are derived from FASTtelco’s persistence to meeting the highest standards of leadership, particularly in the roles of administrative leadership, effectiveness of management systems, quality of products and services, administrative innovations, and management innovation Furthermore, the COO concluded saying that the new format for the website is dynamic and will continuously evolve through user feedback to ensure FASTtelco has the most user friendly, innovative and most interactive website.

The new website will also feature services that allow subscribers to renew their contracts online, as well as communicate with any of the company’s customer service support team.

Gatehouse Bank acquires diverse US industrial real estate portfolio KUWAIT: Gatehouse Bank plc, a Kuwaitiowned wholesale Shariah compliant bank based in London has completed the acquisition of an industrial US-based real estate portfolio of 20 industrial properties leased to 12 tenants with an average remaining lease term of 14 years (the “Portfolio”).

The $155 Million Portfolio, which is stabilized at 100% occupancy, has been acquired in joint venture partnership with the Brennan Investment Group. Investors in the transaction are projected to receive stable net cash yields of 9% over the expected 5-year holding period as well as an attractive IRR upon an opportunistic exit from the investment. The Portfolio’s unique diversity of industry, geography, and tenancy serves to bolster the stability of returns generated by the properties.

The Portfolio’s tenants are recognized leaders in such industries as steel manufacturing, engineering, electronics and plastic production, among many others. The Portfolio includes assets located in the West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest regions of the U.S. Fahed Boodai, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Gatehouse Bank stated, “The Portfolio is a major achievement that has been secured in the US real estate market, as the availability of high quality investment opportunities remains scarce. Gatehouse has engaged

the market following detailed research and analysis of the sector, and ensured the Bank’s credit and risk departments have reviewed each property to ensure that investors are

delivered a solid investment that is strengthened by an attractive current yield and are let to recognised industrial tenants.

This latest acquisition brings the total value of Gatehouse Bank’s real estate acquisitions in the UK and US to more than USD 700 million.

The investment case for property in this sector remains strong, and Gatehouse has met

investor criteria for investment opportunities that offer secure income streams and consistent yield return on investment,” added Mr Boodai.

Michael Brennan, Chairman and Managing Principal of the Brennan Investment Group stated, “Over the past year and a half, US industrial markets have demonstrated remarkable strength, with nearly every major market posting positive absorption and rising occupancies.

The acquisition of 20 critical use facilities, amidst resurgent tenant demand, provides our investment a high degree of predictability both now and in the future.”

Gatehouse is a fully Shariah compliant investment bank based in the City of London bringing fully researched, high-quality investment assets leased by international and leading domestic tenants. The U.S. Industrial Portfolio is the fourth US-based real estate investment offering presented to the market

by Gatehouse Bank, which also includes the successful completion of the USD 54m VA Oceanside Outpatient Clinic realised investment in December 2011. Gatehouse continues to build an enviable track record with the completion of over USD 700m in Shariah compliant real estate acquisitions to date.

Gatehouse Bank was assisted by Arch Street Capital Advisors and sister company, GSH in this transaction.

Xerox reports second quarter 2012 earnings NORWALK: Xerox announced second quarter 2012 adjusted earnings per share of 26 cents, which excludes 4 cents related to the amortization of intangibles, resulting in flat year-over-year GAAP earnings of 22 cents per share.

In the second quarter, total revenue of $5.5 billion was down 1 percent or up 1 percent in constant currency.

Revenue from the company’s services business was up 7 percent in constant currency. “With more than half our total revenue coming from services, accelerating growth in this segment of our business is a priority,” said Ursula Burns, Xerox chairman and chief executive officer.

“Our second-quarter results reflect solid progress with 8 percent growth from business process outsourcing, 9 percent growth from IT outsourcing and 6 percent growth in document outsourcing, all at constant currency.” The continued weak macro environment, especially in Europe, resulted in a 4 percent constant currency decline in the company’s technology revenue, which represents the sale of document systems, supplies, technical service and financing of products.

“Strong revenue from services - our growth driver today and in the future gives us financial flexibility that helps minimize the impact from our slowing technology business,” added Burns.

“While ramping services for long-term growth, we’re focused on maintaining market leadership in our technology segment and benefitting from its cash-gen-

erating business model.”

Operating margin of 9.7 percent was down 0.7 points from second-quarter 2011, and up 1.2 points from first quarter of this year, driven by a 1.3 point sequential improvement from the company’s services business. Second-quarter gross margin was 32 percent, and selling, administrative and general expenses were 19.4 percent of revenue.

The company generated $228 million in cash from operations, a year-over-year decline primarily due to the change in the quarterly timing of cash pension contributions. Xerox continues to expect fullyear operating cash flow of $2 billion to $2.3 billion, and plans to repurchase $900 million to $1.1 billion in Xerox stock during the year.

Considering the economic uncertainty, Xerox now expects that revenue from its technology business will continue to be weak, and, as a result, revised its fullyear earnings expectations, which are based on continued strong year-overyear revenue growth from services, lower revenue from technology, and the ongoing benefit from operational efficiencies.

Xerox expects third-quarter 2012 GAAP earnings of 20 cents to 22 cents per share.

Third-quarter adjusted EPS is expected to be 24 cents to 26 cents per share. The company expects full-year 2012 GAAP earnings per share of 92 cents to 97 cents and full-year adjusted earnings per share of $1.07 to $1.12.

Joyalukkas announces winners of Easy Gold Plan in Kuwait KUWAIT: Joyalukkas recently announced the winners of their Easy Gold Plan for the month of July 2012. The Joyalukkas Easy Gold Plan is a unique installment based initiative for customers to save and buy jewelry of their choice in easy installments. The Joyalukkas Easy Gold Plan assures the customers of more value than their savings, since Gold today is considered as one of the safest investment options.

Under the Joyalukkas Easy Gold Plan, customers can choose a monthly payment option starting from KD 10 and retain it for a period of 12, 18 or 24 months. At the end of the period, customers can pick the jewelry of their choice from the Joyalukkas showrooms based on the value saved. Most customers who have participated in the scheme have endorsed that the Joyalukkas Easy Gold Scheme has given them much better returns than Fixed Deposits.

“Joyalukkas is committed to giving

customers convenience, value, choice and excellent service. The Easy Gold Scheme is part of our convenience initiative to make the purchase of jewelry very easy and secure for our customers. We assure their returns and we give them the flexibility of picking the jewelry they like and would love to own”, said Mr. Joy Alukkas, Chairman, Joyalukkas Group The winners for the month of July 2012, under the Joyalukkas Easy Gold Scheme are Mr. Abdul Muthalif, EGP card no 1491005566 and Mr. Hamed U, EGP card no. 1491007034. They each get to win gold coins from Joyalukkas.

Joyalukkas is one of the first ISO certified jewelry retailers in the Middle East and has also recently won the status of Superbrand in the UAE. In addition to this Joyalukkas has been recognized with the Dubai Quality Awards certificate for its best practices in all aspects of jewelry retailing and has also been awarded with the status of Middle East’s Retailer of the Year by Retail ME.

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel London introduces CACI ultimate system LONDON: Guests at London’s most spectacular urban spa are now able to experience CACI’s advanced Ultimate System, which specializes in bespoke non-surgical face lifts and rejuvenation treatments.

The advanced technology of the multifunctional CACI System uses a combination of orbital dermabrasion, micro current stimulation and LED photo-rejuvenation to deliver instant results for a plumped, firmed and lifted face, without the need for invasive procedures. The capabilities of CACI Ultimate enables Four Seasons therapists to provide

guests and Spa goers with a customized, tailor made treatment - one of the many inspiring choices from the unique range of state of the art techniques and rituals at The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane.

work in harmony with the body’s own bio-electrical field, transmitting tiny electrical impulses and signals that gently tighten and tone the facial muscles while encouraging the production of collagen and elastin.

CACI treatments recently introduced at The Spa include: * CACI - Non-Surgical Facelift Considered the most advanced electrical facelift system of its time, CACI utilizes a unique combination of specific waveforms and frequencies that

* CACI Ultimate Anti-Ageing Facial This non-surgical facelift will redefine facial contours and plump out deep lines and wrinkles while re-educating, firming and toning the facial muscles.

CACI computer aided cosmetology combines the effects of micro dermabrasion, micro current red

and blue light therapy to promote collagen and trigger tissue repair, lymphatic drainage and a collagen boosting hydro mask. * CACI Wrinkle Revolution Provides a needle free alternative to collagen injections and dermal fillers. CACI’s unique wrinkle comb technology issued in combination with CACI’s Amino Lift Peptide Complex effectively reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles after just one treatment. Perfect monthly boost or in preparation for a special occasion.

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

technology

Tech

briefs

Outdoor camcorder comes with protection BERLIN: JVC has dubbed its new GC-XA1 camcorder an action camera because of a rubberized housing designed to protect it from bumps, dust and temperatures down to 10 degrees below zero. It is also watertight to a depth of up to five metres. Weighing in at 130 grams, it can take images in full-HD resolution - even in time lapse mode if requested. However, there is no analogue zoom; the 5X image zoom is only digital. The GX-XA1 is expected to go on sale around the end of July for about 350 euros (430 dollars).

Western Digital hard drives for network storage BERLIN: Western Digital has presented a new series of hard drives. Its WD Red line is especially designed for smaller network attached storage, with up to five hard drive slots. The company has promised reliability, ease of installation and relatively low energy consumption, even when in regular use. The price of the devices, which are immediately available, depends on their size. One terabyte costs about 100 euros (123 dollars), while a threeterabyte version sells for about 190 euros.

AMD chips power affordable business laptops BERLIN: Lenovo’s new business laptop, the B575e, runs with the new E series of processors from AMD. Along with dual-core processors and an integrated graphics chip, the 15-inch machines also have USB 3.0 ports included. Lenovo promises a battery life of up to 6.5 hours. The laptops are available immediately, with prices starting at 382 euros (469 dollars).

BenQ presents thin digicam with adjustable display BERLIN: BenQ has introduced a new compact digital camera. The G1 is only 26 millimetres thick, weighs 195 grams and comes with a three-inch adjustable display.

Additionally, there is a 14-megapixel sensor and a 4.6X optical zoom. There is also a special mode for nighttime photography that takes six exposures in rapid succession and composes the sharpest and least blurred image possible out of the group. The camera sells for about 230 euros (282 dollars).

Garmin presents wrist-mounted satnav device BERLIN: Garmin’s newest satellite-navigation device isn’t for your car, but for your wrist. Not only does the Fenix monitor your pulse, speed and altitude, but can also plot and suggest routes. A vibrating or beeping alarm alerts when certain landmarks have been reached, such as the start, end or other landmarks. A Bluetooth connection allows the transfer of possible paths between the satnav and a smartphone or other navigation devices from Garmin. Battery life, with an active GPS, is supposed to be about 16 hours. It is expected to go on sale in September for about 400 euros (490 dollars).

Bluetooth adapter saves up to eight connections BERLIN: Jabra has presented a new USB adapter for Bluetooth connections. The Link 360 can connect up to eight headsets, smartphones or other devices, with a range of up to 100 metres. Connection status can be checked with an integrated LED light. Along with multiple Windows versions, it can also support OS X for Apple.

It is immediately available for about 60 euros (74 dollars).

Zoom Q2 can record and stream pictures and sound BERLIN: A new audio and video recorder from Zoom lets users put their recordings directly online. The Q2 HD records video in full-HD resolution and then transfers those images to a computer via a USB connection. The prepackaged software is compatible with popular programmes like Skype and Ustream. A notable feature is the microphone, which not only records sounds in front, but also from the sides. Users can set the width of the recording area. The Q2 HD is set to come to stores in August for 200 euros (245 dollars).

Hybrid tablet from Fujitsu comes with optional keyboard BERLIN: Fujitsu plans to release a hybrid tablet in the autumn, the Stylistic Q702. The device can be connected to a keyboard, turning it into a laptop. The keyboard also has an additional battery and connections for an external display and a power cable. Without the keyboard, the Q702 weighs about 850 grams. The 11.6-inch tablet supports UMTS and LTE and comes with new Intel Core processors and the Windows 7 operating system. The company expects the cost to be about 1,100 euros (1,350 dollars). — dpa

An Apple a day keeps viruses away?

BERLIN: There once was a trouble-free time for Mac users, when they could hop online, convinced that their products were safe from computer viruses. Then came Flashback. Now Mac users have to worry just like any other PC owner. Or do they? Flashback appeared in April. It’s a Trojan that used a security gap in Java to make use of manipulated websites to turn hundreds of thousands of Macs into zombie senders of spam.

The news shook Mac users to the core. Would they now have to start being as careful as their PC cousins, double-checking every link and investing in virus scanners? Initial signs showed that Mac users developed a sudden interest in anti-virus software after Flashback. But tests have shown that most scanners would have been useless against Flashback. The better advice is to just be careful. There are dozens of Mac anti-virus programmes on the market. Six with real-time protection were tested by German magazine Mac&i against a limited set of potential viruses. Many of the programmes were rated as “disappointing.”

“None of them recognized all Mac viruses, even though the signature updates had at least a two-week advantage over the test viruses, some of which had been circulating for years,” noted testers. At the time of the test, no anti-virus protection would have offered safety from Flashback. “Even weeks later, the tested anti-virus programmes couldn’t recognize all the variations of the viruses in circulation,” noted the test results.

Built-in updates from Apple, even if they were late, provided more safety than anti-virus programmes. The best programme, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2011, only turned up 82 per cent of malware. The next high scorer, Sophos Anti-Virus, only scored 78 per cent.

That compares to a 90-per-cent rate with various Windowsbased anti-virus programmes. The anti-virus programmes for Macs didn’t score very well either when it came to recognizing the behavior of malware programmes or fending off phishing attacks. However, Mac users can generally do without virus protection, say experts.

“From our viewpoint, in view of the threat level, it’s not necessary,” says Tim Griese of Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). Flashback didn’t really change that opinion. At the same time, Mac users need to keep their eyes open and use sensible judgment. That means, for example, not opening every mail attachment. After all, Office, Flash and Adobe Reader remain entry points for malware on the Mac, just as software installed from questionable sources can be. —dpa

‘Minority Report’ software interface hits real world ‘Future of computing is multiuser, multidevice’ WASHINGTON: The software behind the film “Minority Report”-where Tom Cruise speeds through video on a large screen using only hand gestures-is making its way into the real world. The interface developed by scientist John Underkoffler has been commercialized by the Los Angeles firm Oblong Industries as a way to sift through massive amounts of video and other data. And yes, the software can be used by law enforcement and intelligence services. But no, it is not the “precrime” detection program illustrated in the 2002 Steven Spielberg sci-fi film.

Kwin Kramer, chief executive of Oblong, said the software can help in searching through “big data” for information. It can also create souped-up videoconference capabilities where participants share data from multiple devices like smartphones and tablets, integrated into a large video display. “We think the future of computing is multiuser, multiscreen, multidevice,” Kramer told AFP. “ This system helps with big workflow

problems.” A key part of the system is the gesture interface, which the company calls the “g-speak” spatial operating environment. That grew out of a project by Underkoffler-then a scientist at the prestigious Massachusetts I nstitute of Technology-for “Minority Report,” before he became chief scientist at star tup Oblong.

“We have demo versions of this kind of software which show exactly the ‘Minority Report’ user experience, allowing you to move back and forth in time, or to zoom in to look at details,” Kramer said.

He said the same software can help businesses to “allow better collaboration, visualization and analysis of large amounts of data. “You can have a lot of data but it’s hard to make use of that,” Kramer said. “I t can be on different machines and hard to access. This allows multiple people to look at that.” Gestural interfaces have been developed for other firms including Microsoft’s Kinect but Oblong says it has far more sophisticated

systems which can use Kinect and more.

Some highly sensitive systems use a data glove which can be more precise than ordinary hand movements.

Oblong has contracts with firms such as Boeing, General Electric and Saudi Aramco to help in analyzing large amounts of data. It is also developing a gestural interface for onboard computers with automaker Audi. It has raised an unspecified amount of venture capital from investors including Foundry Group, Energy Technology Ventures and Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners.

Brad Feld, managing director at Foundry Group, said Oblong offers “a path to fundamentally change the way we interact with computers.” Yet the question Oblong of ten gets is how users can get the “M inority Repor t ” sof tware. David Schwartz, the company’s vice president for sales, said “We get calls from people in the military who say, ‘I want the ‘Minority Report’ interface.” He said the systems could be used for a realistic version of

high-tech sof tware inter faces on T V shows like “CSI.” “They would like to get it for free,” he added. What makes the reallife version of the software different from the one seen on film is that Oblong does not supply the analytics of the futuristic “precrime” division. That does not prevent a company or law enforcement agency from using the software and adding its own analytics.

“We think law enforcement and intelligence are big data users and we think our technology is the leader,” Kramer said. He said Oblong currently has no government customers in the United States or abroad but offers itself as “a core technology provider.” Still, Oblong leverages its role in the movies to get in the door, even if the software is not quite the same. “I think most people look at those ‘M inority Report’ interfaces and imagine how they could use that flexible system in their own office or designs studio,” Kramer said.

“It isn’t science fiction, it’s real.” — AFP

Kaspersky Lab celebrates 15 years of security research On June 26, 1997, Kaspersky Lab was founded under the leadership of Eugene Kaspersky and his co-founders. This month marks the 15 year anniversary of Kaspersky Lab, and the Company’s growth continues to serve as a model of success for technology start-ups around the world. With a staff of only 20 employees in 1997, Kaspersky Lab has grown to become the largest privately-held security company in the world, with more than 2,400 employees operating in nearly 200 countries around the world.

Today, Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content and threat management solutions, provides IT security for over 300 million users across the globe, including more than 200,000 businesses.

Kaspersky Lab has earned its reputation for easily-managed and highly-effective protection by following a different growth strategy than its competitors - Kaspersky Lab continues to develop its security solutions in-house, and not through mergers and acquisitions. With technologies designed by the Company’s own experts, Kaspersky Lab’s products are built from the ground-up to work together seamlessly and efficiently.

Moreover, Kaspersky Lab’s team of experts has produced some of the most ground-breaking detection and analysis of advanced cyberthreats. This wealth of expertise has most recently uncovered some of the most complex malware the world has ever seen, including Cabir, Duqu, and the infamous Flame malware. By uncovering these attacks, and taking a leading-role in the analysis of similar threats such as Stuxnet, Kaspersky Lab has become the world’s leading authority on a new generation of online organized crime

and cyberweapons. “Fifteen years in the same business is a long time. But believe it or not, I still love it. I love our team, and the work we do. For the last 15 years we have been working round the clock every day analyzing and combating all kinds of IT threats that have evolved in that time from cyber hooliganism, via cybercrime to cyber warfare. Today it’s more important than ever to cooperate against digital threats.

Recent attacks such as Stuxnet, Duqu and Flame have shown just how vulnerable IT infrastructures are to military and terrorist threats. But we are doing all we can to prevent the potential disasters that could result from these kinds of attacks,” said Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and co-founder of Kaspersky Lab. To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Kaspersky Lab has prepared a selection of the 15 most influential malicious programs in history: 1986 Brain, the first PC virus appeared: the virus spread by writing its code to the boot sector of floppy disks.

1988 The Morris worm infected around 10% of the computers connected to the Internet (about 6000 computers).

1992 Michelangelo, the first virus to attract massive media attention.

1995 Concept, the first macro virus.

1999 Melissa ushers in the era of massmailing of malware responsible for huge global epidemics.

2003 Slammer, a fileless worm, responsible for a massive worldwide epidemic.

2004 Cabir: first Proof-of-Concept for Symbian; propagated via Bluetooth.

2006 Leap, the first virus for Mac OSX. 2007 Storm Worm [Zhelatin] pioneers

the use of distributed C&C servers.

2008 Koobface, the first malware to target Facebook.

2008 Conficker, one of the biggest epidemics in history, infects businesses, home users and governments in over 200 countries.

2010 FakePlayer, SMS Trojan for Android.

2010 Stuxnet, a targeted attack on SCA-

DA [Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition] systems; signaled the advent of the cyberwar era.

2011 Duqu, a sophisticated Trojan that collects intelligence about its targets.

2012 Flame, a highly sophisticated, malicious program that is actively being used as a cyber weapon to target entities in several countries.

A picture released yesterday shows an artificial jellyfish replica made from silicone polymer and rat heart cells “swimming” in a container of oceanlike salt water. The study, which advances a quantitative and system-level approach to tissue engineering, provides new insights into the design of muscular pumps. The exploit marks an advance in so-called biomimicry, in which a natural wonder inspires copycat innovation in the lab.— AFP

Canon unveils PowerShot D20 underwater camera in Kuwait KUWAIT: Canon Middle East launches the rugged and powerful PowerShot D20 - engineered to be a part of the adventure and capture exceptional images and Full HD (1080p) video when living life to the extreme.

Housing advanced Canon imaging technology in a robust and sporty body, the PowerShot D20 is waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof and dustproof - ideal for hurtling down the rapids or conquering a mountain and bringing back the photos to prove it.

The PowerShot D20 is packed full of versatile technology including the advanced HS System, designed to produce fantastic picture quality, even in challenging low-light conditions.

Sliding easily into a rucksack or attached to a carabiner, the PowerShot D20 is compact, lightweight and built to withstand the rigours of any adventure - freeing users to push themselves to the limits without worrying about their camera coping with the ride.

Canon-quality with every shot The heart of the PowerShot D20 is powered by Canon’s HS System, combining a 12.1 megapixel, high-sensitivity

CMOS sensor with the DIGIC 4 image processor for high-quality performance in every situation particularly in low-light situations. Whether exploring the underwater beauty of an exotic cove or standing on top of the world after a mountain trek, glorious scenic vistas can be captured in their entirety thanks to the high-quality 28mm wideangle Canon lens, with 5x zoom to bring users closer to the action. For rock-steady videos and crisp stills even in challenging shooting conditions, Intelligent IS automatically analyses the scene and selects the optimum settings for the optical Image Stabilizer from seven different modes1. For example, when filming movies off the beaten trail, Dynamic IS mode compensates for both hand shake and movement.

Panning IS mode is perfect when shooting a flock of birds crossing the scene, ensuring the IS system stabilises in only one direction, while Macro IS mode is perfect for shooting the stunning detail of a starfish on a coral reef.

Breathe new life into shooting beneath the waves and capture the rare sights and close-up detail with the special Underwater Macro mode, com-

bined with Quick AF mode to ensure rapid and accurate focus.

The accuracy of Under water White Balance is enhanced and also offers quick adjustment so that users can shoot the depths with beautiful natural colours.

Allowing intrepid travellers to push the limits even further and dive into a new world, the optional WP-DC45 waterproof case with external flash support enables the PowerShot D20 to capture rare sights at depths down to 40m.

Handheld Night Scene mode means users can shoot dark scenes with confidence. It captures a series of high-speed shots and combines them into one crisp, well-exposed image.

Giving more freedom for users to be creative, Super Slow Motion Movie mode can add tension and draw out the suspense in fast-paced events.

Ready to go whenever and wherever you may be Rugged enough to brave the elements, the PowerShot D20 is waterproof to depths down to 10m, and can withstand freezing temperatures down to -10∞C. Active Display technology also allows users to control some camera functions by tapping the camera body, making it easier to use when wearing gloves. Built to last, the PowerShot D20 is also shockproof from drops up to 1.5m and environmentally sealed against sand and dust to protect the advanced imaging technology inside. Those who wish to blaze a trail and map out the adventure for others to follow can use GPS2 tagging and the low energy consumption3 GPS Logger feature. These can be used to tag images with loca-

tion data or track routes and share discoveries easily using the supplied Map Utility software and through Google Earth4.

Retelling the stor y behind a stunning shot is now even easier with Movie Digest mode creating a ‘making-of’ film reel for a day’s images. When engaged, this mode films the last 4 seconds before each photo is taken in 720p HD resolution and combines all the clips from that day to create a movie that allows users to document their experiences in a new and exciting way.

When things happen fast, the PowerShot D20 is always ready to go. The dedicated Movie Record button means users can switch instantly to Full HD 1080p movie quality and zero in on the action with the 5x optical zoom without missing a moment.

Users can then relive the experience on a big screen thanks to the HDMI connection with CEC, allowing them to pause, rewind and replay any clip using the remote control of a compatible HDTV. Easy to use, easy to explore Even when the action is fast and furious, frame the scene perfectly with just a glance at the bright, vibrant 7.5 cm (3.0”)

460,000 dot PureColor II LCD screen with 4:3 aspect ratio. It’s also easier than ever to capture great images without needing extensive photography experience thanks to Canon’s enhanced Smart Auto feature which detects 32 different scenes, applying the best combination of camera settings to ensure ever y shot is wellexposed.

The PowerShot D20 features seven5 creative effects that can be applied to give every shot new impact, allowing photographers to explore the world and change how people view it.

Landscapes offer the impression of a scale model with Miniature Effect or similar effects to those of a fish-eye lens can be applied to present a completely unique view of the world.

Accessories for adventure The optional Accessory Kit includes Carabiner and Shoulder Straps to keep the camera handy when hiking or climbing, a special Neoprene Pouch and a Silicon Jacket for even more protection, as well as a Float to keep the camera at the surface when swimming, making the PowerShot D20 ready for many adventures.

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

US hosts AIDS conference amid calls for global action AIDS charity honors Gates on eve of summit

DIDY: A man shows a sapphire and a ruby at the sapphire mine in Madagascar. — AFP

Sapphire find sends panners into Madagascar lemur park ANTANIFOTSY: Knee -deep in muddy water, a 10-year-old child and a woman with braided hair lean over a large sieve, washing earth and rocks, their eyes clenched against the filthy splashing water.

They are among the thousands of panners hoping to strike it rich on a recently discovered seam of sapphires, running through Madagascar’s newest national park created to protect the island’s famed lemurs and dozens of other rare species. The 381,000 hectares (941,000 acres) of virgin rainforest of the Ankeniheny-Zahamena corridor officially became a protected area late last year. Then in April, sapphires were found.

“We had an invasion of illegal miners in this park, which is our most recent protected area”, says Angelo Francois Randriambeloson from the ministry of environment. The park has 2,043 identified species of plants; 85 percent are found no where else in the world. There’s also 15 species of lemurs, 30 other mammals, 89 types of birds and 129 kinds of amphibians.

And that’s just what’s been discovered so far.

But now among the park’s tall trees, a one-kilometre (half-mile) stretch of river valley has turned into a mudpit as thousands of Madagascar’s desperately poor people have thrown up makeshift homes of branches and plastic sheets, beaten by near-daily rains. The vast Indian Ocean island is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 81 percent of the population living on less than $1.25 a day, according to the World Bank.

Sapphires present an irresistible lure of quick riches for the lucky, who say they don’t have to dig more than three metres (10 feet) to find large stones. Madagascar is one of the world’s biggest sapphire producers, selling most to Sri Lanka and Thailand for cutting and polishing.

Sanitation problems Reaching the mine takes two days of hard walking from the small town of Didy, the closest place reachable by bush taxi.

Even getting to Didi is tough. It’s 300 kilometres from the capital, and less than a third of the distance is on paved roads. The last 10 hours of the walk is through beautiful rain forest, climbing precipitous hills on barely perceptive boggy paths. Morris, a 40-year-old aspiring miner, walked barefoot, carrying a heavy sack of rice so he would have food at the mine.

Most people spend just a few weeks here until they find one or more larger sapphires or rubies, some up to 10 grams.

“Here there are only two: blue sapphires and rubies. But there are more large ones,” said Dudu, a 35-year-old buyer. But the government wants miners to leave the park. “We are now forming a commission and we are trying to plan a way to send the people away from the mine,” said Randriambeloson. “As it’s a protected park, its soil also belongs to the Malagasy state.”

But people still go every day, in groups, to and from the mine. Some have nothing but the clothes they are wearing. Others carry bags of rice, noodles, powdered milk or even generators.

Water for washing is now hard to find, since the river is extremely dirty. There is no drinking water and not a lot of food.

Informal eateries surrounded by mud and fallen branches are expensive. “The place has changed, there are more people around. But there are no security problems, only sanitation ones,” idy’s deputy mayor said. The authorities in the capital Antananarivo sent in police to discourage people from mining, to little result so far.

“Once the miners are out, we will restore the damage done,” Randriambeloson vowed. — AFP

Whooping cough rising at alarming rate in US ATLANTA: The US appears headed for its worst year for whooping cough in more than five decades, with the number of cases rising at an epidemic rate that experts say may reflect a problem with the effectiveness of the vaccine. Nearly 18,000 cases have been reported so far - more than twice the number seen at this point last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. At this pace, the number for the entire year will be the highest since 1959, when 40,000 illnesses were reported.

This file photo shows an empty bottle of Tetanus, Diphthera and Pertussis, (whooping cough) vaccine.— AP Nine children have died, and health officials called on adults - especially pregnant women and those who spend time around children - to get a booster shot as soon as possible. “My biggest concern is for the babies. They’re the ones who get hit the hardest,” said Mary Selecky, chief of the health department in Washington, one of the states with the biggest outbreaks. Washington and Wisconsin have reported more than 3,000 cases each, and high numbers have been seen in a number of other states, including New York, Minnesota and Arizona.

Whooping cough has generally been increasing for years, but this year’s spike is startling. Health investigators are trying to figure out what’s going on, and theories include better detection and reporting of cases, some sort of evolution in the bacteria that cause the illness, or shortcomings in the vaccine. The vaccine that had been given to young children for decades was replaced in the late 1990s following concerns about rashes, fevers and other side effects. While the new version is considered safer, it is possible it isn’t as effective long term, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, who oversees the CDC’s immuniza-

tion and respiratory disease programs.

Some parents in California and other states have rebelled against vaccinations and gotten their children exempted from rules that require them to get their shots to enroll in school. Washington state has one of the highest exemption rates in the nation. But the CDC said that does not appear to be a major factor in the outbreak, since most of the youngsters who got sick had been vaccinated.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious disease that can strike people of any age but is most dangerous to children. Its name comes from the sound children make as they gasp for breath.

It used to be a common threat, with hundreds of thousands of cases annually. Cases gradually dropped after a vaccine was introduced in the 1940s, and the disease came to be thought of as a relic of another age. For about 25 years, fewer than 5,000 cases were reported annually in the US. The numbers started to climb again in the 1990s. In both 2004 and 2005, cases surpassed 25,000. The numbers dipped for a few years but jumped to more than 27,000 in 2010, the year California saw an especially bad epidemic.

Experts believe whooping cough occurs in cycles and peaks every three to five years. But they have been startled to see peaks this high. Vaccinations are supposed to tamp down the amount of infection in the population and make the valleys in the cycles longer, said Pejman Rohani, a University of Michigan researcher who is co-leader of a federally funded study of whooping cough trends.

The government recommends that children get vaccinated in five doses, with the first shot at age 2 months and the final one between 4 and 6 years. A booster shot is recommended around 11 or 12.

Vaccination rates for young children are good - about 84 percent of 3-year-olds have gotten the recommended number of shots.

But fewer than 70 percent of adolescents have gotten all their shots. Most states require pertussis vaccinations for school attendance. In a possible indicator of a problem with the vaccine, investigators in Washington state were alarmed to see high rates of whooping cough in youngsters around 13 and 14.

Whooping cough typically starts with cold-like symptoms that can include a runny nose, congestion, fever and a mild cough. The CDC advises parents to see a doctor if they or their children develop a prolonged or severe cough. Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics, the earlier the better. Health authorities are girding for what may be a bad couple of years. “There is a lot of pertussis out there, and there may be more coming to a place near you,” Schuchat said. —AP

WASHINGTON: The world’s largest meeting on HIV/AIDS opened yesterday in the US capital with calls to speed up the global response to the threedecade-long epidemic that killed 1.5 million people last year. The 19th International AIDS Conference is expected to draw 25,000 people, including politicians, scientists and activists, as well as some of the estimated 34 million people living with HIV who will tell their stories.

Among them is the only man who has achieved a functional cure of HIV though a bone marrow transplant, American Timothy Brown, who is scheduled to appeal for a fresh push toward a cure during the six-day conference that runs through July 27. Other high-profile appearances include Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former president Bill Clinton, former first lady Laura Bush, singer Elton John, philanthropist Bill Gates and actress Whoopi Goldberg.

President Barack Obama has faced some criticism for his decision not to attend in person. He is sending a video message and will invite some attendees to the White House for talks on Thursday, a top health official said. Held every two years, the conference-whose theme this year is “Turning the Tide”-is returning to the United States for the first time since 1990, after being kept away by laws that barred people with HIV from traveling to the country.

The US ban was formally lifted in 2009, and researchers have described fresh optimism in the fight against AIDS on several fronts. Deaths and infections are down in the parts of the world most ravaged by the disease, while the number of people on treatment has risen 20 percent from 2010 to 2011, reaching eight million people in needy countries. However, this is only about half the people who should be on treatment worldwide, signaling that much more remains to be done.

More than 34 million people worldwide are living with HIV, a higher number than ever before, and around 30 million have died from AIDS-related causes since the disease first emerged in the 1980s, according to UNAIDS. Advances in antiretroviral medication have transformed the disease from a death sentence into a manageable condition for many sufferers, and may offer new paths toward prevention according to recent research.

But there remains a major gap in the United States between the number of people diagnosed and the number with their viral load under control through medication, a phenomenon known as the “treatment cascade.” Even though 80 percent of people with HIV in America are aware of their status, just 28 percent have the disease under control.

The hunt for a cure, which has eluded scientists, will be another hot topic. HIV co-discoverer and Nobel laureate Francoise Barre-Sinoussi announced on Thursday a new roadmap for scientists in research toward a cure. And Brown, also known as the “Berlin patient,” will address the conference tomorrow at 1500 GMT to publicize new efforts in this direction.

Funding is at a critical juncture, with many nations boosting their domestic spending on the

disease while international donations remain flat.

Total worldwide investment in HIV was $16.8 billion last year, an 11 percent rise from 2010, but still far short of the $22-24 billion needed by 2015, according to a UNAIDS report released Wednesday.

Doctors Without Borders has called for doubling the pace of treatment and doubling funds to reach all those who need treatment.

Meanwhile, leading AIDS charity amfAR honored Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates on Saturday, on the eve of the International AIDS Conference, for his part in funding an ongoing struggle against the disease. At a gala dinner at the Kennedy arts center, Gates accepted the Award of Courage on behalf of all scientists, health workers and those who have either died from AIDS in the past three decades or who live with the HIV virus.

“We have many potential game-changers that are bringing us closer to the end of AIDS,” he said, citing promising new vaccines as well as antiretroviral drugs that help those infected with HIV stay alive.

“What’s important is to remember that we can continue to make these breakthroughs if we stay committed,” Gates added. “I’m optimistic... that we will develop these new tools... and that we will make AIDS history. Working together, I know we will.” Best-known for its celebrity-studded fundraising events, amfAR-or the American Foundation for AIDS Research-is one of the premier non-profit funding and advocacy groups tackling the global HIV-AIDS crisis.

Through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, built on his software fortune, Gates has steered

WASHINGTON: Actress Sharon Stone (right) poses with Kenneth Cole as they arrive for a gala benefit event for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) to honor Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates at the Kennedy Center. — AFP

Good health keeps wealth in old age FORT LAUDERDALE: Ruth H. Clark of Pompano Beach, Fla., is a 95-year-old aerobic wonder, working out seven days a week. But Clark is not just flexing her muscles, she’s protecting her retirement nest egg by staying healthy. Economists say health care will become more crucial in retirement planning as medical expenses climb for the elderly.

People on Medicare already spend three times more as a percent of income out-ofpocket for health care compared to nonMedicare households - 14.7 percent vs. 4.9 percent, according to the National Council on Aging. “The financial burden is highest for beneficiaries who are older, in relatively poor health, and have low or modest incomes,” said council spokesman Ken Schwartz.

Medicare recipients 85 and older spend an average of 30 percent of their income for outof-pocket medical expenses, or $4,615 a year, according to an analysis on the website NewRetirement.com. Many seniors who have higher retirement savings and income pay even more: Older clients of Boca Raton financial planner Mari Adam spend about $10,000 to $20,000 per year for medical expenses, she estimated.

“High dental bills are not uncommon,” Adam said. The nonprofit Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates a 65-year-old couple will need $271,000 to give themselves a 90 percent chance of having enough savings to cover their out-of-pocket medical expenses during retirement.

Clark said she has managed to stay out of the hospital since the mid-1970s, except for a nasty bout with a nose bleed a few years ago.

She has saved tens of thousands of dollars in

more than $2.5 billion in HIV grants to organizations around the world. Some 25,000 peopleincluding celebrities, scientists and HIV sufferers are in Washington for the International AIDS Conference that is poised to call for more strident global action to tackle the AIDS pandemic.

Introducing Gates was film star Sharon Stone, amfAR’s global fundraising chairman, who wiped tears of emotion off her cheeks as she told him that “people will continue to live because of you.” On the red carpet into the gala, the soft-spoken Gateswho lost a cousin to AIDS in the 1980s-underscored the work that remains to be done, despite optimism among some AIDS activists that a breakthrough may be near.

“We need to invent a vaccine,” he said. “We need to keep the funding levels going up. We need to grow out new prevention tools. There are still millions of people being affected.” “I think what we feel like is that we are at the beginning of the end,” said Stone, who recalled how more than 30 million people worldwide have died from AIDS since it was first identified. “There isn’t a family left that hasn’t been touched by the AIDS crisis,” she told reporters.

“Now is the time to push this through to the end.

We must find a cure. We must find a vaccine. W we need to draw this to a close.” Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, whose San Francisco constituency has been hard hit by AIDS, said “we have a greater hope of a cure” on the horizon. “I never thought it would take this long, but I’m hopeful and grateful that we’re at a better place now,” she said on her way into the event. — Agencies

medical costs, from hospital bills to paying for home healthcare nurses. Clark, for example, “treats” arthritis by bending, stretching and moving about during her daily 30-minute workouts in her apartment at the John Knox Village. She adds two-pound weights to her regimen every other day.

“Every single joint gets moved,” Clark said.

To keep her good health, Clark stopped bad habits early. She quit smoking in 1960, four years before the US Surgeon General issued a warning about the dangers of cigarettes. The former Connecticut state senator also sticks to mostly fruits and vegetables. She has avoided diabetes, heart problems and other chronic ailments, partly thanks to such a healthy diet. Indeed, Clark thinks her parents’ meat-and-potatoes diet may have contributed to their relatively early deaths.

Clark attributes her health to staying active, whether it is walking or researching about Florida’s water. “It gives me energy,” Clark said. “The best thing to do is keep your health,” said Jorge Salazar-Carrillo, an economics professor who directs the Center of Economic Research at Florida International University.

Seniors might end up paying more of their medical expenses, especially higher income retirees, Salazar-Carrillo said. The Medicare Trustees Report predicted this week that the program’s hospital portion will go broke in 12 years, although some experts say it could be as soon as 2016. Edith Lederberg, 82, said she is trying to stay healthy so she can continue working full time as executive director of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County.— MCT

POMPANO BEACH: Ruth Clark, 95, goes through her daily aerobic exercise routine in Florida. — MCT

Reverse cycle as Aussies climb off their bicycles SYDNEY: Hundreds of thousands of bicycles moulder in garages across Australia, their owners too busy, too lazy or too scared to saddle up. Nowadays more cycles are sold in the country than cars, but fewer people pedal to work than 25 years ago.

Cycling, once a means of transport for millions, is now mostly something for the weekend. Marie Stevenson, who did not own a car and went by bike in the 17 years she lived in Holland, is back in Sydney and back to being mostly a motorist. “If I’m cycling down a road in Holland, I expect that a motorist will be tolerant of me and let me cycle slowly in front of him,” she said.

“If I’m in Australia, I feel I’ve absolutely no right to be doing that and I get off the road as quickly as possible to get out of the motorist’s way.” Over a quarter of trips in Holland are by bicycle, but in Australia the proportion is less than two trips in 100. The Dutch winter has snow and ice, conditions most Australians only see on Christmas cards or in news bulletins from faraway countries. The weather in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra is not a deterrent, and nor is the gradient, as Australia’s big cities are just about pancake-flat.

“We’re at risk of having a generation come through who’ve never ridden a bike,” said Chris Rissel, professor of public health at Sydney University. Rissel, an advocate for more cycling and better infrastructure for those riding to work, said a combination of official inertia and bad policy had seen cycling relegated to largely a leisure activity. He notes that it took Holland and other European countries decades of intervention to bring cycling back in vogue.

“The Europeans did all that they had to do to move people from cars onto buses and on to bikes,” he said. “In Holland and Scandinavia it was a transition over 20 or 30 years.” Some bike paths have been put in. Sydney, a city of 4 million, has 10 kilometres of separate cycleways and 60 kilometres of shared paths.

Melbourne and Brisbane, but not Sydney, have tried to copy the shared-bike initiative of London Mayor Boris Johnson and have bikes for hire in the city centre. Their schemes have failed. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, a keen two-wheeler, has tried to get cycling going again.

She is exasperated at the negativity of motorists.

“Critics who complain about the cycleway network need to realise that we need to build it in stages,” she said in a statement. “It’s a bit like building a bridge and getting half-way through and then wondering why no one is using it yet.” Moore supports 1990s legislation that has proved a huge impediment to her own dreams of a cyclefriendly metropolis.

Australia is one of only two jurisdictions in the world where cyclists risk fines if they do not wear helmets; the other is New Zealand, which saw a halving of cycling’s share of trips when the requirement for all to wear helmets was imposed in 1994. “It contributes to the whole image that cycling’s a dangerous activity,” Rissel said. “The fact that you need a helmet to do it signals it must be dangerous.” Last year, Cadel Evans became the first Australian to win the Tour de France and this year the nation had its first team in the world’s biggest cycle race.— dpa

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

(Left) Yoga instructor Ingrid Yang demonstrates the Warrior Two pose. (Centre) Yang demonstrates the pigeon pose. (Right) The Boat pose. — MCT photos

Lean, serene yoga helps flexibility Try to boost your well-being and calm with these six poses CHICAGO: Ingrid Yang turned to yoga a dozen years ago as a way to deal with injuries she suffered as a distance runner. “When I started stretching and doing some strength training - not with weights, but with my own body weight - I noticed I was becoming injured less and less,” Yang says of her introduction to yoga.

Soon after, she started teaching yoga, eventually owning her own studio and teaching classes on both coasts. Yang has also, with co-author Daniel Dituro, recently released the book “Hatha Yoga Asanas.”

“Coming from my background, a Type A, looking ahead, pushing ahead, wanting to achieve things, I charge into the future, have to succeed,” she says.

“That often puts you in a position where you’re never satisfied or happy as you are. Yoga for me is very appealing because it’s very healing emotionally. I realized I was complete and whole as I am. There’s nothing wrong with me. It’s OK to have goals, but yoga allows a sense of well-being. “That’s what sets it apart from all other physical exercises, that sense of well-beingness, enoughness.” Yang has recommended six poses, with a flexible regimen. “It’s up to the individual,” Yang says.

“Consistency will offer more results, as with anything.”

She suggests doing them daily - some or all, depending on your needs and ability. Do them daily, and you should notice a difference in less than a week.

Downward-facing dog Start on your hands and knees. Lift the hips up and back to straighten your legs. Keep your arms straight

with your chest relaxing back toward your feet and head between your arms. “If you’re sitting at a computer all day, downward-facing dog is good because it stretches your legs and back,” Yang says. Downwardfacing dog is a great stretch for your calves and hamstrings.

Warrior two From standing, lunge the feet apart and turn the back foot out at a 90-degree angle. Extend the

arms out to the sides and gaze over your front hand. Warrior Two opens the hips, strengthens the legs and arms. and keeps you balanced and breathing.

Chair With feet hip-width apart, sit back into the hips and bend the knees. Reach the arms overhead with the shoulders relaxing down. Chair pose strengthens the quadriceps and gluteus maximus.

Pigeon No yoga routine would be complete without a hip-opener, Yang believes. With the right foot forward in a low lunge, walk the foot to the left and relax your knee and shin to the mat. You may immediately feel a stretch in the outer hip, but if it is too intense or bothers your front knee, roll a blanket under the right hip. Switch sides for balance. “If you run a lot, pigeon is a good one because it stretches the outside of the hips,” Yang says. “These poses are great if you just wake up in the morning, or as part of your workout stretching.” Pigeon stretches the gluteus muscles and iliotibial band.

Triangle From Warrior Two, straighten the front leg, reach the upper body forward and stretch the front hand down to the ankle. Reach the other hand up to the sky with opposing force and keep the hips tucked under so they are in line with the legs and torso.

Triangle strengthens the core, especially the back and sides of the body, and challenges your balance.

Yoga instructor Ingrid Yang demonstrates the triangle and Chair poses.

Boat Starting from seated, bend the knees into the chest and extend the feet forward. Reach the fingers alongside the knees and keep the belly in and chest lifted. Boat strengthens the abdominal muscles. — MCT

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

WHAT’S ON Bangladesh Embassy notice he Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait will follow the following office hours during the holy month of Ramadan.

Sunday to Thursday: 9 am - 3:30 pm. Friday and Saturday: Weekly holidays.

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Announcements Indian Embassy passport and visa Passports and Visa applications can be deposited at the two outsourced centers of M/S BLS Ltd at Sharq and Fahaheel. Details are available at www.bls-international.com and www.indembkwt.org .

Consular Open House Consular Wing is providing daily service of Open House to Indian citizens on all workings days from 1000 hrs to 1100 hrs and from 1430 hrs to 1530 hrs by the Consular Officer in the Meeting Room of the Consular Hall at the Embassy. For any unaddressed issues, Second Secretary (Consular) can be contacted. Furthermore, the head of the Consular Wing is also available to redress grievances.

Indian workers helpline/helpdesk Indian workers helpline is accessible by toll free telephone number 25674163 from all over Kuwait.

It provides information and advice to Indian workers as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. The help desk at the Embassy (Open from 9AM to 1PM and 2PM to 4:30PM, Sunday to Thursday) provides guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal and other issues. It also provides workers assistance in filling up labour complaint forms. For any unaddressed issues, the concerned attachÈ in the Labour section and the head of the Labour Wing can be contacted.

Legal Advice Clinic Free legal advice is provided on matters pertaining to labour disputes, terms of contracts with employers, death/accident compensation, withholding of dues by employers, etc. by lawyers on our panel, to Indian nationals on all working days between 1500hrs to 1600hrs.

MP holds special seminar P Marzouq Al-Ghanim recently held a special seminar for women activists during which he discussed various political concerns. The seminar was attended by a number of Kuwaiti women activists. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

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Ambassador’s Open House The Open House for Indian citizens by the Ambassador is being held on all Wednesdays at the Embassy for redressal of grievances. In case Wednesday is an Embassy holiday, the meeting will be held on the next working day.

Ramadan Iftar he AWARE Center cordially invites you to its Ramadan Iftar to be preceded by a lecture entitled, “The Meaning of Ramadan,” by Iman Martin on July 26th, 2012 at 6:00pm.

Ramadan presents a wonderful opportunity for westerners to learn more about Kuwait, to meet new individuals & have questions regarding Islam & the Holy month of Ramadan answered.

During this special month, the communal meal referred to as Iftar, breaks the fast at the end of the day & brings family & friends together. As part of AWARE’s Ramadan activities, we invite you to join us for a Ramadan presentation followed by a traditional “Iftar dinner,” at the AWARE Center.

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Register and Win promotion at Q8India.com ity Centre, Kuwait’s premier mega-market, in association with Q8India.com, a leading online Indian community portal, is holding a monthlong ‘Register and Win’ promotion campaign. Any resident in Kuwait can participate in the promotion by visiting www.Q8India.com and registering their name, email and phone number. A winner will be picked each day (except Friday), from the list of names registered on the previous day, and receive a free shopping voucher worth KD10 from City Centre.

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‘Leniency of Islam’ n unprecedented initiative of KTV2 (English channel) is the new program by the name ‘Leniency of Islam’ presented by Shaikh Musaad Alsane and directed by Hamid Al-Turkait.

The program is mainly meant to address the expatriates living in Kuwait. Religious questions are received through the program email qislam@tv.gov.kw and sms can be sent to97822021 and answered by the lecturer and Imam in Awqaf Ministry Shaikh Musaad Alsane - a Master Degree holder in Sharia and fiqih from Kuwait University. So don’t forget to watch the program every Friday at 1:00 pm.

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Ramadan celebrations at Al-Jahra Copthorne Hotel & Resort l-Jahra Copthorne Hotel & Resort has announced that it will host celebrations during the holy month of Ramadan. Taima’a Restaurant welcomes guests for a truly memorable Ramadan experience where diners may indulge in an authentic Ramadan iftar buffet that includes an extensive range of mezzeh, delicious oriental dishes, refreshing Ramadan beverages and a delightful dessert selection from 6pm9pm.

Embrace the ambiance of the Holy Month with the delicious sohour set menu featuring a rich variety of oriental dishes and seasonal desserts available from 12 midnight until 3 am. This can be enjoyed both in Taima’a restaurant and

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the private Royal Tents with your family and friends. Special packages have been

prepared for those companies that will be organizing treats for their colleagues during the month of Ramadan whether it is Iftar, Sohour or Ghabqa.

AWARE presentation amadan is a holy month that is special to Muslims. In Kuwait and other Gulf countries, Ramadan has a very special sense where religion merges with culture and traditions. The speaker will focus on this tremendous mix and then present some cultural practices related to Ramadan, which is a special month in the Islamic world. It will concentrate on how Muslims behave during the month of Ramadan, what are the deeds they care to do, customs of helping the poor and bonding between people, girgian, and finally preparing for and celebrating Eid. This presentation will focus on Kuwait but it will also show the similari-

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ties of traditions between Kuwait and other Gulf countries. Join the AWARE Center on July 24 at 8:00 pm to learn more about some cultural practices in Kuwait and other Gulf countries during Ramadan. Wadha Al-Shaheen is a translator translating Arabic into English and vice versa as well as Academic Advisor at the Ministry of High Education. She is an English Linguistics graduate from Kuwait University and an MA student of translation at the same University. For more information, call 25335260/80 or log onto: www.aware.com.kw.

In addition to the dining pleasure, a special room package is available throughout the entire Holy Month of Ramadan, including Eid. This package entitles the guests to a minimum of 3 nights stay with complimentary buffet sohour, free access to the temperaturecontrolled swimming pool, high speed internet and a late check-out ‘till 18:00 hours.

Dani Saleh, General Manager of AlJahra Copthorne Hotel & Resort said: “Through these special deals, we are giving our guests the chance to create more memories with their loved ones in this special time of the year.”

Part of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, one of the world’s largest hotel

KIB announces Ramadan working hours uwait International Bank has announced its working hours during the holy month of Ramadan in a press statement released by the bank stating: “We would like to congratulate our valued customers on the start of the holy month of Ramadan, and we are glad to announce that the bank’s working hours will be from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm at the head offices and its 18 branches distributed around Kuwait.”

Similar to every year, KIB services and products will be accessible to all customers during the bank’s working hours, and around the clock customers can per-

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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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travelers & those working in the private business sector. Arabic classes at the AWARE Center are unique because students are provided with the chance to practice their Arabic through various social activities that aim at bringing Arabs and Westerners together.

AWARE Arabic courses highlights * Introductory to Level 4 Arabic language basics * Better prepare you for speaking,

form their banking transactions and submit their enquiries through Al-Dawli Weyak which offers a dedicated 24/7 call center and can accessed from anywhere around the world. KIB customers can also use Al-Dawli Online and SMS Banking to further manage their accounts and banking needs around the clock. For more information on KIB’s services and products, please visit the bank’s website on www.kib.com.kw or check the latest updates on www.facebook.com/aldawlibank or follow us on Twitter @alDawliBank.

Burgan Bank Ramadan timing

Aware Centre he AWARE Management is glad to inform you that Summer 3 Arabic language courses will begin on August 12, 2012 until September 26, 2012. AWARE Arabic language courses are designed with the expat in mind. The environment is relaxed & courses are designed for those wanting to learn Arabic for travel, cultural understanding, and conducting business or simply to become more involved in the community. We cater to teachers,

companies with more than 120 owned and managed hotels across 20 countries, the Al-Jahra Copthorne Hotel and Resort is located in Al Jahra - a growing city within driving distance of the Saudi Arabian border, 25 minutes from the international airport and 20 minutes from Kuwait City Centre. Part of the ‘Slayil Al-Jahra Tourist Resort’, the hotel has access to a shopping mall, theme park and numerous restaurants nearby.

It offers an attentive, personal service as well as boasting business and convention centre services and an outdoor pool.

reading and writing Arabic * Combine language learning with cultural insights * Taught in multi-nationality group settings * Provide opportunities to interact with Western expatriates and native Kuwaitis/Arabs.

For more information, call 25335260/80 or log onto: www.aware.com.kw.”

urgan Bank announced its new branch timings which will be applicable all throughout the holy month of Ramadan. All Burgan Bank branches will commence work in one shift from 10 am to 1:30 pm.

Additionally, the Airport branch will be open seven days a week in the mornings from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm and in the evenings from 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm.

On this occasion, Burgan Bank extends its best wishes to everyone during the holy month of Ramadan.

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 01:40 02:35 03:30 04:25 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:25 08:15 08:40 09:10 10:05 11:00 11:25 11:55 12:50 Irwin 13:45 14:40 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:25 18:20 19:15 19:40 20:10 20:35 21:05 22:00 22:55 23:50

Sharkbite Beach Animal Cops Specials 2009 Speed Of Life Monster Bug Wars Wildest Africa Great Ocean Adventures Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer Austin Stevens Adventures Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Breed All About It Jeff Corwin Unleashed Wild France Wildlife SOS Gorilla School Animal Cops Houston New Breed Vets With Steve

00:05 00:35 01:05 01:50 02:40 03:30 04:00 04:20 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:25 05:40 05:50 06:10 06:20 06:30 06:45 07:10 07:25 07:35 08:10 08:40 09:10 10:00 10:30 11:30 12:20 13:05 13:55 14:25 14:55 15:25 16:15 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:50 21:20 21:50 22:45 23:15

Blackadder The Third Twenty Twelve Doctor Who Life On Mars Spooks Blackadder The Third Fimbles Tellytales Bobinogs Nina And The Neurons Show Me Show Me Boogie Beebies Charlie And Lola Fimbles Tellytales Bobinogs Nina And The Neurons Show Me Show Me Boogie Beebies Charlie And Lola Allo ‘allo!

The Royle Family The Impressions Show Elephant Diaries Doctors Coast New Tricks The Weakest Link Elephant Diaries Doctors The Royle Family The Impressions Show New Tricks The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Coast One Foot In The Grave Rev. Spooks Dinnerladies As Time Goes By London Hospital Gavin & Stacey The Weakest Link

00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:40 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:40 05:00 05:25 05:50 06:00 06:15

Puppy In My Pocket Tom & Jerry Kids Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Flintstones Pink Panther And Pals Looney Tunes Popeye Classics Dexter’s Laboratory Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes The Scooby Doo Show Johnny Bravo The Flintstones The Jetsons Wacky Races The Garfield Show Tom & Jerry Kids

Animal Precinct Wild France Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Baby Planet America’s Cutest Pet Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Wildlife SOS Gorilla School Animal Kingdom In Too Deep Wild France Great Animal Escapes Cats 101 Animal Cops Houston

06:30 Bananas In Pyjamas 06:55 Baby Looney Tunes 07:20 Gerald McBoing Boing 07:45 Ha Ha Hairies 08:00 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo 08:25 The Garfield Show 08:50 Johnny Bravo 09:15 Dexter’s Laboratory 09:40 Pink Panther And Pals 10:05 The Scooby Doo Show 10:30 Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-Doo 10:55 Dastardly And Muttley 11:15 The Flintstones 11:40 Wacky Races 12:00 Jelly Jamm 12:15 Baby Looney Tunes 12:40 Ha Ha Hairies 12:55 Gerald McBoing Boing 13:20 Bananas In Pyjamas 13:35 Puppy In My Pocket 14:00 Looney Tunes 14:50 Scooby Doo Where Are You! 15:15 Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-Doo 15:40 Dastardly And Muttley 16:00 Tom & Jerry 16:40 Pink Panther And Pals 17:30 The Garfield Show 18:10 Johnny Bravo 18:35 Dexter’s Laboratory 19:00 Jelly Jamm 19:15 Baby Looney Tunes 19:40 Ha Ha Hairies 19:55 Gerald McBoing Boing 20:20 Bananas In Pyjamas 20:35 Dexter’s Laboratory 21:00 Johnny Bravo 21:25 Pink Panther And Pals

00:30 Bakugan: New Vestroia 01:20 Powerpuff Girls 02:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 03:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 03:25 Ben 10 03:50 Adventure Time 04:15 Powerpuff Girls 04:40 Generator Rex 05:05 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 05:55 Angelo Rules 06:00 The Marvelous Misadventures...

06:25 Casper’s Scare School 07:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 07:15 Adventure Time 07:40 Johnny Test 08:05 Grim Adventures Of...

08:55 Courage The Cowardly Dog 09:45 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 10:10 Redakai: Conquer The Kairu 10:35 Powerpuff Girls 11:25 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 12:15 Ed, Edd n Eddy 13:05 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 13:30 Sym-Bionic Titan 13:55 Foster’s Home For...

14:45 Angelo Rules 15:35 Powerpuff Girls 16:25 The Amazing World Of Gumball 16:40 Johnny Test 17:05 Adventure Time 17:30 Regular Show 17:55 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 18:20 Batman Brave And The Bold 18:45 Young Justice 19:10 Hero 108 19:35 Ben 10 20:25 Courage The Cowardly Dog 21:15 Grim Adventures Of...

22:00 Codename: Kids Next Door 22:50 Ben 10 23:40 Chowder

00:00 00:30 01:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00

Open Court World Sport World Report Backstory Talk Asia Fareed Zakaria Gps CNN Newsroom The CNN Freedom Project Eye On World Sport Inside Africa World Report World Sport Eye On World Business Today Backstory

12:30 African Voices 13:00 World One 14:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 Global Exchange 19:00 World Sport 19:30 African Voices 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 22:00 Amanpour 22:30 CNN Newscenter 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

00:40 Wheeler Dealers Revisited 07:00 American Chopper 07:50 Mythbusters 08:45 Ultimate Survival 09:40 Border Security 10:05 Auction Kings 10:30 How Do They Do It? 10:55 How It’s Made 11:25 Hillbilly Handfishin’ 12:20 Extreme Fishing 13:15 River Monsters 14:10 Border Security 14:35 Auction Kings 15:05 Ultimate Survival 16:00 American Chopper 16:55 Fifth Gear 17:20 Swamp Loggers 18:15 Mythbusters 19:10 How Do They Do It? 19:40 How It’s Made 20:05 Border Security 20:35 Auction Kings 21:00 The Gadget Show 21:30 Hillbilly Handfishin’ 22:25 Extreme Fishing 23:20 Robson Green’s Extreme Fishing Challenge

00:35 Tech Toys 360 01:25 Mega World 02:15 Game Changers 02:45 Scrapheap Challenge 03:35 Junk Men 04:25 Mega World 05:15 Prank Science 06:05 Game Changers 07:00 Prophets Of Science Fiction 07:50 Head Rush 07:53 Bang Goes The Theory 08:20 Sci-Fi Science 09:40 Junkyard Mega-Wars 10:30 Ecopolis 15:35 The Gadget Show 16:00 Head Rush 16:03 Bang Goes The Theory 16:30 Sci-Fi Science 17:00 Ten Ways 17:50 Sport Science 18:40 The World’s Strangest UFO Stories 19:30 Mighty Ships 20:20 Mega World 21:10 The Gadget Show 22:00 Mighty Ships 22:50 Mega World 23:40 Smash Lab

00:10 01:00 01:50 02:40 03:30 04:20 05:10 06:00 06:15 06:40 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:10 09:25 09:35 09:45 10:00 11:20 11:40 12:05 12:30 12:55

Replacements Fairly Odd Parents A Kind Of Magic Stitch Replacements Fairly Odd Parents A Kind Of Magic Fish Hooks Recess So Random Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Phineas And Ferb Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Mouk The Hive Phineas And Ferb Aladdin & The King Of Thieves Suite Life On Deck Jake & Blake Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Phineas And Ferb

13:20 Timon And Pumbaa 13:45 Jessie 14:10 A.N.T. Farm 14:35 Fish Hooks 15:00 Suite Life On Deck 15:25 Shake It Up 15:50 Phineas And Ferb 16:15 Jessie 16:40 A.N.T. Farm 17:00 Good Luck Charlie 18:20 Jessie 18:45 A.N.T. Farm 19:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 19:35 Good Luck Charlie 20:25 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 20:50 Aladdin & The King Of Thieves 22:05 Good Luck Charlie

00:25 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 00:55 Style Star 01:25 25 Most Sensational Hollywood Meltdowns 03:15 E! Investigates 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Then And Now 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 10:15 15 Remarkable Celebrity Body Bouncebacks 12:05 Mrs. Eastwood And Company 13:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 15:00 Style Star 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Giuliana & Bill 17:55 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 18:55 E!es 19:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 20:55 Ice Loves Coco 22:25 THS 23:25 Chelsea Lately

00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Outrageous Food 00:55 Unwrapped 01:45 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 02:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 03:25 Meat & Potatoes 03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 04:15 Outrageous Food 04:40 Unwrapped 05:05 Unique Eats 05:30 Chopped 06:10 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 06:35 Gourmet Farmer 07:00 Food Network Challenge 07:50 Unique Sweets 08:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 08:40 Paula’s Best Dishes 09:05 Gourmet Farmer 09:30 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 09:55 Food(Ography) 10:20 Everyday Italian 10:45 Unwrapped 11:10 Unique Eats 11:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 12:00 Food Network Challenge 12:50 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 13:15 Cooking For Real 13:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 14:05 Mexican Made Easy 14:30 Unique Sweets 14:55 Paula’s Best Dishes 15:20 Extra Virgin 15:45 Chopped 16:35 Cooking For Real 17:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:50 Unique Eats 18:15 Food(Ography) 19:05 Unique Sweets 19:30 Food Network Challenge 20:20 Chopped 21:10 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 21:35 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 22:00 Andy Bates Street Feasts 22:25 Andy Bates Street Feasts 22:50 World Cafe Middle East 23:40 Grill It! With Bobby Flay

00:30 00:55 01:20 02:55 03:45 04:10 04:30 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:30 09:55 10:20 Jones 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:40 14:30 14:55 15:20 Jones 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 19:55 20:20 Jones 21:10 22:00

I AM NUMBER FOUR ON OSN CINEMA

Stalked: Someone’s Watching I Was Murdered American Greed Scorned: Crimes Of Passion Stalked: Someone’s Watching I Was Murdered On The Case With Paula Zahn Mystery ER Disappeared FBI Files Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Street Patrol Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared FBI Files Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery Diagnosis Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Deadly Sins

00:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 01:00 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 01:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 02:00 Departures 03:00 Banged Up Abroad 04:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 05:00 Into The Drink 05:30 Gone to save the planet 06:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 06:30 Keeping Up With The Joneses 07:00 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 07:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 08:00 Departures 09:00 Banged Up Abroad 10:00 Don’t Tell My Mother

11:00 Into The Drink 11:30 Gone to save the planet 12:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 13:00 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 14:00 Departures 15:00 Banged Up Abroad 16:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 17:00 Gone to save the planet 18:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 19:00 Destination Extreme 19:30 Madventures 20:00 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 21:00 Chasing Time 21:30 Chasing Time 22:00 Treks In A Wild World 23:00 Meet The Natives

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Nine Dead-PG15 Fright Night-PG15 Aeon Flux-PG15 Dangerous Flowers-PG15 Rocky IV-PG15 Camp Hope-PG15 Shanghai Noon-PG15 Rocky IV-PG15 The Devil’s Teardrop-PG15 Shanghai Noon-PG15 The Cry Of The Owl-PG15 Fade To Black-18

01:00 Despicable Me-FAM 03:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 05:00 Like Mike-PG 07:00 Spud-PG15 09:00 Despicable Me-FAM 11:00 I Am Number Four-PG15 13:00 Yogi Bear-FAM 15:00 16 To Life-PG15 17:00 Coyote County Loser-PG15 19:00 How Do You Know-PG15 21:01 Winter’s Bone-18 23:00 Green Lantern-PG15

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 03:00 2 Broke Girls 03:30 Last Man Standing 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 The Simpsons 06:00 Seinfeld 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:30 2 Broke Girls 09:00 The Simpsons 09:30 Two And A Half Men 10:00 Happy Endings 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Seinfeld 13:00 The Simpsons 14:00 Last Man Standing 14:30 Happy Endings 15:00 Two And A Half Men 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:30 Seinfeld 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 2 Broke Girls 18:30 Raising Hope 19:30 Happy Endings 20:30 King Of The Hill 21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition 22:30 American Dad 23:00 American Dad

00:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 06:00 07:00 08:30 10:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 23:00

Bones Burn Notice Covert Affairs Warehouse 13 Good Morning America The Glades Coronation Street The Martha Stewart Show Bones Covert Affairs Live Good Morning America The Glades Suits Justified Missing Warehouse 13

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 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 23:00

Cold Case Top Gear (US) Revenge Bones Covert Affairs Revenge Cold Case Emmerdale Coronation Street Body Of Proof Bones Burn Notice Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Body Of Proof Cold Case Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Body Of Proof Suits Justified Missing Top Gear (UK) Revenge

01:00 RoboCop 3-PG15 03:00 Ronin-18 05:00 Vengeance-PG15 07:00 Triassic Attack-PG15 09:00 Warriors Of Heaven And Earth-PG15 11:00 Vengeance-PG15 13:00 The Front-PG15 15:00 Warriors Of Heaven And Earth-PG15 17:00 From Paris With Love-PG15 19:00 Assassination Games-18 21:00 Bram Stoker’s Dracula-18 23:15 The Collector-18

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Out Cold-PG15 Double Wedding-PG15 Love Hurts-PG15 Little Secrets-PG Double Wedding-PG15 Bad News Bears-PG Happy Ever Afters-PG15 A Film With Me In It-PG15 Bad News Bears-PG Knucklehead-PG15 Tommy Boy-PG15 The Extra Man-PG15

THE OPEN ROAD ON OSN MOVIES HD

01:00 The Fighter-PG15 03:00 The Horse Whisperer-PG15 05:45 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore-PG 07:15 The Open Road-PG15 09:00 Game Change-PG15 11:00 Open Season 3-FAM 13:00 The Dragon Chronicles: Fire & Ice-PG15 15:00 Lottery Ticket-PG15 17:00 Game Change-PG15 19:00 Due Date-PG15 21:00 Made In Dagenham-PG15 23:00 Green Lantern-PG15

00:00 Marco Antonio-PG 02:00 Tommy & Oscar-FAM 04:00 Last Of The Mohicans-PG 06:00 The Three Bears: Dreadful Dangers-FAM 08:00 Marco Antonio-PG 10:00 Pocahontas & The Spider Woman-PG 12:00 The Three Bears: Dreadful Dangers-FAM 14:00 Last Of The Mohicans-PG 16:00 Snow Dogs-PG 18:00 Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed-PG 20:00 Pocahontas & The Spider Woman-PG 22:00 The Three Bears: Dreadful Dangers-FAM

01:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 21:00 21:30

01:00 08:00 09:00 11:30 12:00 14:00 20:00 21:00

The Open Championship NRL Premiership NRL Premiership Trans World Sport Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Live Cricket Test Match Futbol Mundial Live Super League

Test Cricket Trans World Sport AFL Premiership Futbol Mundial Live NRL Premiership The Open Championship Super Rugby Highlights Live Darts

00:00 ITU World Triathlon 02:30 AFL Premiership 05:00 Total Rugby 05:30 NRL Full Time 06:00 Ping Pong World Championship 07:00 The Open Championship 13:00 Golfing World 14:00 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 15:00 NRL Premiership 17:00 Trans World Sport 18:00 Golfing World 20:00 ITU World Triathlon 22:30 AFL Premiership

00:00 02:00 04:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 22:00 23:00

WWE SmackDown UFC 149 Prelims UFC 149 WWE Bottom Line WWE Experience NHL V8 Supercars V8 Supercars WWE SmackDown UFC 149 Prelims UFC 149 UFC The Ultimate Fighter NHL

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00

Top Shot Megaquake 10.0 Top Shot The Universe Ancient Aliens Decoded Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Ancient Aliens Britain At War Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Ax Men

12:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30

00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:20 04:15 05:10 06:05 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:55 11:55 12:50 13:20 13:50 14:45 15:40 16:35 17:30 18:25 19:25 20:20 21:15 22:10 23:05

Megaquake 10.0 Britain At War Ancient Aliens Megaquake 10.0 Britain At War Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Ax Men IRT: Deadliest Roads Pawn Stars American Restoration

Jerseylicious Wicked Fit Videofashion Daily Videofashion News How Do I Look?

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Married Away Clean House Videofashion News Videofashion News Videofashion Daily Open House Fashion Classics How Do I Look?

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Clean House Videofashion News Mel B: It’s A Scary World The Amandas How Do I Look?

How Do I Look?

Big Rich Texas Big Rich Texas The Amandas The Amandas Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane The Amandas Fashion Police

06:00 Kid vs Kat 06:20 Pokemon: Black And White 06:45 Rated A For Awesome 07:10 Kickin It 07:35 Phineas And Ferb 08:25 Pair Of Kings 08:50 Kick Buttowski 09:15 Zeke & Luther 09:40 I’m In The Band 10:05 Phineas And Ferb 10:15 Phineas And Ferb 10:30 Kid vs Kat 10:55 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 11:20 Aaron Stone 11:45 Rekkit Rabbit 12:10 American Dragon 12:35 Kick Buttowski 13:00 Phineas And Ferb 13:10 Phineas And Ferb 13:25 I’m In The Band 13:45 Kid vs Kat 14:10 Pair Of Kings 14:35 Zeke & Luther 15:00 Fort Boyard - Ultimate Challenge 15:25 Iron Man Armored Adventures 15:50 Rated A For Awesome 16:15 Kickin It 16:40 Lab Rats 17:05 Lab Rats 17:30 Scaredy Squirrel 18:00 Kickin It 18:25 Phineas And Ferb 19:15 My Babysitter’s A Vampire 19:40 Pair Of Kings 20:05 Zeke & Luther 20:55 Mr. Young 21:20 Aaron Stone 21:45 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 22:10 Phineas And Ferb 22:35 Kid vs Kat 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA

00:05 Western Extreme 00:30 Dream Season: Working Man 01:45 Mathew’s World Class Bowhunting 03:00 Western Extreme 04:15 Dream Season: Working Man 05:30 Mathew’s World Class Bowhunting 07:00 Ride To Adventure 08:15 Penn’s Big Water Adventure 09:30 Ride To Adventure

09:55 10:20 10:45 12:00 13:15 14:30 15:45 17:00 18:15 19:30

Ride To Adventure Ride To Adventure Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish Steve Gruber’s The Wildlife World Class Sports Fishing Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish Steve Gruber’s The Wildlife World Class Sports Fishing Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish Steve Gruber’s The Wildlife

00:15 Little Einsteins 00:40 Jungle Junction 00:55 Jungle Junction 01:10 Little Einsteins 01:30 Special Agent Oso 02:00 Lazytown 02:25 Little Einsteins 02:50 Jungle Junction 03:20 Little Einsteins 03:40 Special Agent Oso 04:10 Lazytown 04:35 Little Einsteins 05:00 Jungle Junction 05:30 Little Einsteins 05:50 Special Agent Oso 06:15 Jungle Junction 06:45 Handy Manny 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:15 Lazytown 07:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 08:10 The Hive 08:20 Handy Manny 08:35 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 08:50 Disney Princess 09:20 Tangled Ever After 09:25 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 09:40 Animated Stories 09:45 Minnie’s Bow Toons 09:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 10:15 Minnie’s Bow Toons 10:20 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 10:45 Art Attack 11:10 Imagination Movers 11:35 Lazytown 12:00 The Hive 12:10 Handy Manny 12:25 Jungle Junction 12:40 Imagination Movers 13:05 The Hive 13:15 Special Agent Oso 13:30 Minnie’s Bow Toons 13:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 14:00 Minnie’s Bow Toons 14:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 14:30 Handy Manny 14:45 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 15:00 Mouk 15:15 The Hive 15:25 Handy Manny 15:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 15:55 Imagination Movers 16:20 Lazytown 16:45 Art Attack 17:10 Handy Manny 17:40 Disney Princess 18:10 Tangled Ever After 18:15 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 18:30 Animated Stories 18:35 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 19:00 Minnie’s Bow Toons 19:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 19:30 Minnie’s Bow Toons 19:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 20:00 Tangled Ever After 20:05 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 20:20 The Hive 20:30 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 20:35 Minnie’s Bow Toons 20:40 Animated Stories 20:45 Mouk 21:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 21:25 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 21:40 Special Agent Oso 21:55 Little Einsteins 22:20 Timmy Time 22:30 Jungle Junction 22:45 Handy Manny 22:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 23:20 Special Agent Oso 23:35 Special Agent Oso

01:25 03:20 05:10 07:00 08:30 10:20 11:55 13:35 15:55 17:50 19:50 FAM 22:00

Sweet Bird Of Youth Alex In Wonderland Bhowani Junction-PG Black Legion-PG Ada-PG Girl Happy-FAM Key Largo-PG Anchors Aweigh-FAM Captain Blood-FAM Ten Thousand Bedrooms-PG The Unsinkable Molly BrownComa

Classifieds MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines QTR JZR ETH GFA UAE ETD THY FDB MSR QTR KAC THY DHX KAC BAW JZR KAC JZR FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY KAC QTR FDB ETD BAB KAC GFA IRC MEA MSR MSC JZR MSR GFA FDB OMA KNE QTR SVA ALK RJA KAC KAC QTR SYR KAC KAC ETD UAE UAL SVA GFA KAC JZR JZR ABY KAC BAB KAC FDB KAC MSC KNE MSR KAC KAC KAC KAC JAI FDB MEA QTR GFA FDB ALK UAE JZR ETD BBC ABY QTR AIC GFA UAL KAC TAR DLH MSR THY KLM JZR PIA

Arrival Flights on Monday 23/7/2012 Flt Route 148 DOHA 267 BEIRUT 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 768 ISTANBUL 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 544 CAIRO 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 529 ASSIUT 206 ISLAMABAD 555 ALEXANDRIA 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 284 DHAKA 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 436 BAHRAIN 344 CHENNAI 213 BAHRAIN 6521 LAMERD 404 BEIRUT 618 ALEXANDRIA 401 ALEXANDRIA 561 SOHAG 610 CAIRO 219 BAHRAIN 57 DUBAI 645 MUSCAT 472 JEDDAH 140 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 549 COLOMBO 640 AMMAN 788 JEDDAH 546 ALEXANDRIA 134 DOHA 341 DAMASCUS 118 NEW YORK 538 SHARM EL SHEIKH 303 ABU DHABI 857 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 510 RIYADH 215 BAHRAIN 1752 JEDDAH 177 DUBAI 777 JEDDAH 127 SHARJAH 542 CAIRO 438 BAHRAIN 786 JEDDAH 63 DUBAI 104 LONDON 405 SOHAG 978 JEDDAH 620 ASSIUT 774 RIYADH 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 742 DAMMAM 572 MUMBAI 61 DUBAI 402 BEIRUT 146 DOHA 221 BAHRAIN 59 DUBAI 229 COLOMBO 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 307 ABU DHABI 43 DHAKA 129 SHARJAH 136 DOHA 975 CHENNAI 217 BAHRAIN 981 BAHRAIN 1778 JEDDAH 327 TUNIS 636 FRANKFURT 614 CAIRO 772 ISTANBUL 411 AMSTERDAM 539 CAIRO 239 SIALKOT

Time 0:20 0:50 1:45 2:20 2:25 2:30 2:50 3:10 3:20 3:25 4:10 4:35 5:00 6:15 6:30 6:40 7:15 7:35 7:45 7:50 8:05 8:20 8:25 8:30 8:45 9:00 9:20 9:30 9:35 9:35 10:00 10:15 10:55 11:25 12:00 12:25 13:30 13:40 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:25 14:30 14:45 14:55 15:00 15:05 15:15 15:55 16:00 16:10 16:35 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:25 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:15 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:45 19:00 19:05 19:10 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:35 20:00 20:15 20:25 20:35 20:45 20:55 21:15 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:35 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:50 22:55 23:10 23:35 23:40 23:40 23:40 23:45

Airlines AIC UAL DLH JZR MSR JAI PIA THY ETH THY UAE FDB ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR GFA THY KAC BAW FDB ABY KAC UAE QTR FDB KAC ETD BAB GFA KAC IRC KAC KAC JZR MEA MSR KAC MSC KAC JZR GFA FDB MSR OMA KAC KNE ALK SVA KAC RJA KAC QTR KAC JZR SYR ETD KAC QTR UAE GFA JZR ABY UAL SVA JZR FDB BAB KAC MSC KNE MSR KAC JAI FDB KAC KAC MEA FDB GFA DHX ALK ABY ETD UAE QTR KAC KAC BBC QTR GFA KAC TAR JZR

Depature Flights on Monday 23/7/2012 Flt Route 982 AHMEDABAD 981 WASHINGTON DC 637 FRANKFURT 554 ALEXANDRIA 615 CAIRO 573 MUMBAI 206 PESHAWAR 773 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 769 ISTANBUL 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 545 ALEXANDRIA 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 787 JEDDAH 856 DUBAI 133 DOHA 56 DUBAI 537 SHARM EL SHEIKH 302 ABU DHABI 437 BAHRAIN 214 BAHRAIN 1751 JEDDAH 6522 LAMERD 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 776 JEDDAH 405 BEIRUT 619 ASSIUT 103 LONDON 406 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 646 MUSCAT 673 DUBAI 473 JEDDAH 550 ZURICH 501 JEDDAH 617 DOHA 641 AMMAN 773 RIYADH 135 DOHA 741 DAMMAM 538 CAIRO 342 DAMASCUS 304 ABU DHABI 1777 JEDDAH 141 DOHA 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 134 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 982 BAHRAIN 511 RIYADH 266 BEIRUT 64 DUBAI 439 BAHRAIN 501 BEIRUT 402 ALEXANDRIA 979 JEDDAH 621 ALEXANDRIA 283 DHAKA 571 MUMBAI 62 DUBAI 331 TRIVANDRUM 351 KOCHI 403 BEIRUT 60 DUBAI 222 BAHRAIN 171 BAHRAIN 230 COLOMBO 120 SHARJAH 308 ABU DHABI 860 DUBAI 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 44 DHAKA 147 DOHA 218 BAHRAIN 411 BANGKOK 328 DUBAI 502 LUXOR

Time 0:05 0:25 0:30 0:30 0:35 0:50 1:10 2:15 2:45 3:40 3:45 3:50 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:00 7:05 7:10 8:10 8:25 8:25 9:05 9:35 9:40 10:00 10:05 10:05 10:15 10:25 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 11:50 11:55 12:25 12:30 13:00 13:10 13:20 14:25 14:25 14:30 15:00 15:05 15:15 15:30 15:45 15:45 15:50 15:55 16:15 16:30 16:50 16:55 17:20 17:30 17:45 18:05 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:50 19:25 19:30 19:30 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:35 20:40 20:50 21:05 21:15 21:25 21:35 21:50 21:55 22:10 22:20 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:05 23:10 23:30 23:40 23:45 23:55

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

55741238. (C 4086) 22-7-2012

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available in two bedroom flat for a bachelor in Khaitan. Near Kuwait Finance. Call 66141908.

(C 4081) 19-7-2012

of Indian Passport No: G9950267 do here by declare that with my free consent I have embraced Islam in Kuwait. I have changed my name as SAMEER MOHAMED. (C 4083) 19-7-2012

CHANGE OF NAME I, John Francisco Vaz holder of Indian Passport No: A2578567 hereby change my name to JOAO FRANCISCO VAS. (C 4084)

112

SITUAITON WANTED FOR SALE A 2008 model, 58 passenger, air conditioned Asher Bus in very good condition, price KD 9,400/-. Contact: 99089981. (C 4087) 23-7-2012 GMCAcadia, model 2007, 52,000 km, full specifications, CD, leather, DVD, excellent condition, condition inspection at the agency. Contact:

Sales and Marketing professional 6 + years experience. (3 years experience in Qatar as sales and marketing manager. Mobil: 97646134.

Email: sameer.abdulazeez@gmail. com (C 4085) 22-7-2012 CHANGE OF RELIGION Saravanan Subramaniyan, s/o Subramaniyan, holder

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw Prayer timings Fajr: Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:31 11:54 15:29 18:46 20:15

GOVERNMENT WEB SITES Kuwait Parliament www.majlesalommah.net

The Public Institution for Social Security www.pifss.gov.kw

Ministry of Interior www.moi.gov.kw

Public Authority of Industry www.pai.gov.kw

Public Authority for Civil Information www.paci.gov.kw

Prisoners of War Committee www.pows.org.kw

Kuwait News Agency www.kuna.net.kw

Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mofa.gov.kw

Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair www.islam.gov.kw

Kuwait Municipality www.municipality.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Oil) www.moo.gov.kw

Kuwait Electronic Government www.e.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Electricity and Water) www.energy.govt.kw

Ministry of Finance www.mof.gov.kw

Public Authority for Housing Welfare www.housing.gov.kw

Ministry of Commerce and Industry www.moci.gov.kw

Ministry of Justice www.moj.gov.kw

Ministry of Education www.moe.edu.kw

Ministry of Communications www.moc.kw

Ministry of Information www.moinfo.gov.kw

Supreme Council for Planning and Development www.scpd.gov.kw

Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation www.awqaf.org

34

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

stars CROSSWORD 745

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today you will be able to tackle tasks that require real obedience and organization. Part of this day will involve much recycling and organizing. All this day, you will find yourself in a fun-loving mood and involved with a hobby or some other fun activity that is enjoyable and helps to give you a break from the every day. It matters not, whether you are alone or in a group; you will enjoy throwing yourself into something that you do not do very often. Talking with friends, all of you may agree to learn a new skill together by taking a class or just learning from each other: how to sew an apron, repair a pipe, fly a kite, etc. All of this may lead to learning new skills and discovering new friends. A creative idea this evening may keep you awake—go ahead, take notes.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) There is much imagination and creativity when it comes to helping others . . . now you can apply your ideas to your own self on this day. This, coupled with the ability to put your thoughts into words, allows you to captivate others. You may decide a future in teaching or guiding others by using one of your own fine talents is a good thing. This is a good time; your efforts, in time, will be rewarded. Later your attention turns to a little upkeep on the yard, the garden or around the home and preparing for the workweek ahead. Your ability to organize may find you thinking about a part-time job helping families organize their closets or garages. Scrapbooking this evening helps you to relax after a busy day; no sugarplums but grand memories rest in your head.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. A demon who swallows the sun causing eclipses.

5. Anything that serves as an enticement.

9. A strong-smelling plant from whose dried leaves a number of euphoriant and hallucinogenic drugs are prepared.

13. Armor plate that protects the chest.

14. Type genus of the family Arcidae.

15. A linear unit (1/6 inch) used in printing.

16. Not in good physical or mental health.

17. United States publisher of magazines (1898-1967).

18. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa.

19. Japanese painter whose work influenced the impressionists (1760-1849).

21. A member of an agricultural people in southeastern India.

23. A flexible container with a single opening.

25. An early form of modern jazz (originating around 1940).

28. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

29. (botany) Relating to or attached to the axis.

33. The great hall in ancient Persian palaces.

36. 10 grams.

37. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States.

38. A unit of length of thread or yarn.

40. A graphical record of electric currents associated with muscle contractions.

41. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

43. An amino acid that is found in the central nervous system.

45. An associate degree in applied science.

46. A humorous anecdote or remark.

47. A monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles.

48. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

51. Animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes.

56. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

60. Produced by a manufacturing process.

61. (usually followed by `to') Having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something.

62. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

63. A primeval personification of air and breath.

64. Common Indian weaverbird.

65. By bad luck.

DOWN 1. The 20th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

2. A fee charged for exchanging currencies.

3. (informal) Rural and uncouth.

4. Capital of modern Macedonia.

5. A word for chaos or fiasco borrowed from modern Hebrew (where it is a loan word from Russian).

6. Wild sheep of northern Africa.

7. A federal agency that supervises carriers that transport goods and people between states.

8. A city in southeastern South Korea.

9. The fleshy axis of a spike often surrounded by a spathe.

10. A genus of Mustelidae.

11. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

12. A island in the Netherlands Antilles that is the top of an extinct volcano.

20. A region of Malaysia in northeastern Borneo.

22. An Indian nursemaid who looks after children.

24. Date used in reckoning dates before the supposed year Christ was born.

26. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

27. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

30. The content of cognition.

31. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism.

32. Oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food.

34. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true stems and roots and leaves.

35. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

39. With eagerness.

40. A city in southeastern South Korea.

42. Quieten or silence (a sound) or make (an image) less visible.

44. The month following July and preceding September.

49. Mild yellow Dutch cheese made in balls.

50. A Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria.

52. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology.

53. The food served and eaten at one time.

54. A small cake leavened with yeast.

55. A river that rises in northeastern Turkey (near the source of the Euphrates) and flows generally eastward through Armenia to the Caspian Sea. 57. The bill in a restaurant.

58. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

59. A federal agency established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today you will enjoy solving problems and working out new solutions—trying new things. Your future is anything but ordinary; leave it to you to find unusual ways of supporting yourself. You could be a designer of kites or an animal trainer. You bring a lot of mental skill and understanding to whatever you do and could teach or help others take a more independent approach to their lives or careers. Today you will enjoy the pursuit of subjects that are concerned with fiber optics, radio waves, electronics, computers, etc.

Intellectual creativity is highlighted and your social connections have a flair of drama. Winning the admiration of others for the accomplishments you have made takes on more importance in your life now.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Owning your own business will give you a chance to show off your creative talents. If you think you might not finish what you start—assembly line production of a certain item will put you on the map where import-export business is concerned. You should avoid the desire to obtain material status symbols at this time; any effort you put into planning future money-making adventures will be successful. You might consider working out of your home as this can be quite profitable. Now is an excellent time to plan for the future both financially and socially. Your vision will continue to lead you into the unknown. Your enthusiasm is commendable and the results will be successful. Go slow where romance is concerned for now.

NON SEQUITUR

Leo (July 23-August 22) You may feel that it is time to have the support of a romantic partner. This year is only halfway through—patience. There is a strong possibility that the deepest of passions will come your way today. Your zodiac opposite may be a most comfortable match. If you are in a relationship and it needs help—now is the time for things to improve. Whatever the case, it is your turn to be happy-in-love and with patience you will be able to bring this to a realization—if that is what you want. This is a positive time for plans or for putting on a garage sale or conducting personal business. However, as usual, the advice is to weigh the pros and cons of any business investment before diving head first into something you could regret later. Resist the temptation to splurge.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) In the workplace this next week, your attitude will be to forge ahead, no matter the cost! Now is the time to rest and prepare and create a set of lunches and snacks that are healthy and boost or protect your immune system. A bit of reading and study to add to your education is a pastime you are taking on for yourself. Learning important ways to care for yourself and your fellow man are at the top of that list. You desire mental stimulation and could take up a new course of study—perhaps a CPR class. There is time this afternoon to buy or check out a new book, visit a museum or just enjoy exploring ideas with a friend. Make some plans for a trip to visit some place new. Research a natural way to eliminate the pests in and around your home.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Your energies are low at this time and you might find it difficult to stay awake if you are working with tedious numbers. It is most important to get plenty of rest. Being a believer in lists, you might consider setting a list out for reviewing from time to time today. Consider having a protein snack available from time to time. Define terms and agree to a private meeting with someone who wants to have a conference. Do not try to take on unnecessarily ambitious projects or try to do work that requires a sustained effort. A family member who is going through a difficult financial time needs your advice and support and maybe even a loan this afternoon. Your support is appreciated. This evening your creative intuitiveness is enhanced.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You have an inner drive to be thorough and responsible in minute details—self-disciplined. You possess an architect’s vision for what needs to be done and how to do it right to make it last—an expert or true builder. Knowing what tool to use and just how and when to use it may save much frustration. You have a sense of the right path to follow. With you, the means and ends are identical. There is time for imagination and creativity when it comes to ideas and thinking. This, coupled with the ability to put your thoughts into words, allows you to captivate and entrance. A book club or mystery club where one solves mysteries by partaking in the story, may bring about some stimulating conversations. A good book or movie would be appreciated this evening.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Just being you is both the goal and the means of traveling to that goal. Others sense that your life is important. You, as a being, are yourself the heart and center of all your inner activity. Your dreams, visions and ideals propel you, but always from within yourself. You follow the inner guide and your ambitions are true and serve to show the way. Today, as usual, you will have an uncanny ability to get beyond the status quo, always coming up with new ways of doing things. You can take the most mundane stuff and find a new angle. Ideas and thoughts will culminate in a great plan, book, song or poem. You may be a very expressive speaker or communicator. People will understand just what you mean.

Enjoy some form of entertainment this evening.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You will not put up with something you do not believe is productive. You may feel like you have to work hard at controlling your emotions—this could be a difficult time to think before responding. The hallmark of the cycle you have just begun is about thinking, learning and communicating with style. Intellectual creativity is highlighted and your social connections have a flair of mystery. This is an excellent time for social activities—surprises are sure to appear.

Winning the admiration of others is important to you. Rely on your natural ability to succeed and you will be happy with the results. You should expend great zest in moneymaking efforts but should show caution regarding what type of activities you engage in for now.

To

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You may feel blocked this morning but it all could be related to a caffeine or allergy reaction. Think about a better diet and consider a naturopathic way to better health. A gathering of friends today will find you chatting about all sorts of current affairs. Some social event, perhaps entertaining a visiting relative, will keep you busy later this afternoon. You are your most elegant during this time. Intellectual creativity is highlighted; there is a show of drama present. Learning about better health, testing recipes and writing are all a part of this time. Winning the admiration of others for the things you say or write and the way you do it takes on importance in your life. There is some alone time this evening for relaxation.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

Your mind is quick and your words are the only tool you will need in order to have fun and enjoy this upbeat day. You have insight into most situations in your life and can help others. You might also find that you are the winner at many of the games you and your friends can think up: board games, card games, sports, etc. You will find yourself solving problems and speaking out in group discussions—perhaps a meeting with your peers. The hallmark of the cycle you have just begun is thinking, learning and communicating with style.

Intellectual creativity is highlighted. There is some new understanding of how things work or age-related problem-solving successes. You are most pleased with yourself for gaining some important insight.

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Kaizen center

25716707

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

ST TAT TE OF K KUW WA AIT

Tel.: e 161

DIRECTORA AT TE GENE GENERAL OF CIVIL AV VIA AT TION METEOROLOGICAL DEP PA ARTMENT

Veery hot h with light to moderate north westerly changing to south easterly wind, with speed of 08 - 30 km/h

BY Y NIGHT:

Relatively hot with light to moderate south easterly changing to south westerly wind, with speed of 08 - 28 km/h No Current Warnings arnin a

WARNING A

36 °C

22451082

KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

47 °C

35 °C

Al-Mirqab

22456536

NUW WAISEEB A

44 °C

33 °C

Sharq

22465401

WAFRA A

48 °C

34 °C

Salmiya

25746401

SALMI

48 °C

31 °C

ABDAL LY

50 °C

31 °C

Jabriya

25316254

JAL ALIY YAH A

49 °C

33 °C

Maidan Hawally

25623444

FAILAKA A

45 °C

32 °C

Bayan

25388462

AHMADI POR RT

42 °C

38 °C

Mishref

25381200

UMM AL-MARADEM

40 °C

33 °C

W.Hawally

22630786

WARBA A A - BUBY YAN A

42 °C

32 °C

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

ST TAT TION

DA AT TE

WEA AT THER

Monday

23/07

West Jahra

24772608

Tuesday

South Jahra

24775066

Wednesday e

North Jahra

24775992

Thursday

North Jleeb

24311795

MAX.

MIN.

Wind Direction

Wind Speed

very hot

48 °C

33 °C

NW-SE

12 - 32 km/h

24/07

very hot

48 °C

34 °C

NW-SE

15 - 35 km/h

25/07

very hot + raising dust

49 °C

35 °C

E-SE

15 - 40 km/h

26/07

very hot + blowing dust

48 °C

35 °C

SE-S

20 - 45 km/h

03:31

MAX. Temp.

47 °C

Sunrise

05:02

MIN. Temp.

36 °C

Zuhr

11:54

MAX. RH

21 %

Asr

15:29

MIN. RH

07 %

Sunset

18:46

MAX. Wind i

N 53 km/h

Isha

20:15

TOT TA AL L RAIINF FALL A L IN 24 HR.

24892674

23900322

RECORDED YESTERDA AY AT KUW WA AIT AIRPORT

PRA RA AY YER TIMES Fajr

24884079

Fintas

22/07/2012 0000 UTC

Temperatures DA AY

24575755

24710044

SFC. CHART

4 DA AYS Y FORECAST

New Jahra

N.Kheitan

00 mm

All times are local time unless otherwise stated.

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Dr. Salem soso General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Mousa Khadada Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

BY Y DA AY:

45 °C

24719048

22545171

Expected Weather e for the Next 24 Hours

KUW WAIT A CITY

Al-Omariya

Al-Shohada’a

Ext.: 2627 262 - 2630

WWW.MET.GOV V..KW

MIN. REC.

Firdous

22418714

Fax: 24348714

MAX. EXP P.

Al-Ardhiya

PHONE

Al-Madena

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

36

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

lifestyle

Funeral services held for Stallone’s son in LA

G O S S I P

amily and friends mourned the son of movie star Sylvester Stallone at a private funeral on Saturday, about one week after he was found dead in his Los Angeles homes. Celebrity websites TMZ.com, People.com and others published pictures of the “Rocky” and “Rambo” star outside the funeral for his 36-year-old son, Sage, who was found dead on July 13.

The official cause of death is still undetermined pending toxicology results, which could takes weeks.

The actor did not issue a statement on Saturday, but has asked the media and public “to have my son’s memory and soul left in peace.”

Sage was the younger of two sons Sylvester Stallone had with his first wife, Sasha Czack. The couple divorced in 1985. Stallone fathered three other children with his third wife, Jennifer Flavin.

F

Madonna in new fundraising venture in Malawi pop diva Madonna, who is worth $650 million, has launched a new fund-raising drive to support the training of a Malawian paediatric surgeon, her charity announced Sunday, two years after she abandoned a girls academy project in a cloud of alleged mismanagement. Through her US registered charity Raising Malawi, the ‘Queen of Pop’ has emailed hordes of her well-wishers and fans, addressing them as Dear Friend, and ask-

US

ing: “Will you consider donating $5 or more to support people like Dr. Erick Borgstein, for many years the only paediatric surgeon in Malawi, who are helping orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi?” Malawi, where 39 percent of the 13 million citizens are poor, has over one million orphans and vulnerable children, and less than 200 doctors, creating huge shortages in the medical system. The charity said Borgstein “treats thousands of paediatric

patients every year, performing hundreds of life-saving operations.”He also trains medical students in general and in paediatric surgery, thanks to the financial support from Raising Malawi. “He will now formally train a young Malawian doctor to follow in his footsteps as a paediatric surgeon,” the charity added. Raising Malawi said for the past six years, it has “remained committed to supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi.

Brown makes acting debut

obbi Kristina Brown has made her acting debut. The 19-year-old aspiring actress who tragically lost her mother Whitney Houston when she was found dead in the bath of a hotel room in February following cocaine use - is appearing in ‘Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse’. It comes after rumours Bobbi Kristina had stormed off the set of the new comedy/drama TV show in which she plays the daughter of a salon stylist.

Bobbi will be appearing in just one season and she is also concentrating on a reality TV series entitled ‘The Houston Family Chronicles’ which will follow the antics of the teenager and her fami-

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ly, including Whitney’s brother Gary Houston and the late musician’s mother Cissy. The Lifetime network which will air the fly-on-the-wall series said in a statement: “Whitney Houston’s sudden passing left behind a major void felt not only by the world, but also by those who loved her most, her beloved family. ‘The Houston Family Chronicles’ follows those closest to the pop music icon as they try to pick up the pieces after her untimely death.” The network will show 10 episodes which will see soul musician Dionne Warwick - Whitney’s cousin - and gospel singer CeCe Winans make guest appearances.

Stone: I thought I’ d ruined Duchess Camilla’s tireless charity work Spider-Man chances mma Stone thought she’d ruined her chances when she auditioned for ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’. The actress won the role of Gwen Stacy in the superhero film but she admits she thought she had no chance of getting the part because her audition went so badly. She said: “I was incredibly lucky as I was the only candidate on the first day of auditions. I was nervous and was convinced I’d made a mess of everything. But, to my huge surprise, the director thought I was great.” Emma stars alongside real life boyfriend Andrew Garfield - who takes on the titular character in the movie - and she admits having to kiss him in front of the crew was very hard. She said: “To make a relationship seem intimate when a crowd of people are watching you is practically impossible. But don’t forget, we’re actors.” Andrew also admits the romantic scenes were hard, saying: “When you’re on the set you can’t allow personal feelings to show. So I was acting when I kissed her - though it was a difficult thing to do under the circumstances.”

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Depp wants Vanessa back ohnny Depp wants to rekindle his relationship with Vanessa Paradis. The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actor has flown to the South of France in a bid to patch things up with the model and has given her an antique gold pendant bearing the message “My heart is always with you.” A source close to the couple - who were together for 14 years and had two children, Lily-Rose, 13, and 10-year-old Jack, together told The Sun on yesterday’s newspaper: “They are having a family holiday to show the kids they are still a strong family even if those two are split or not. “But the fact he presented her with such a touching gift, it’s almost as if they could make another go of things. Johnny wants to be with his family, he’s a very family orientated man. His kids mean everything to him. “What they need more than anything is to get together far away from Hollywood and that is what they are doing.” Although they were never married, it had been claimed Vanessa was going to get $150 million from Johnny in a one-off payment. Since their split - which was confirmed in June following months of speculation - Johnny has been linked to actress Amber Heard. However, the pair recently decided to take some time apart.

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uchess Camilla “puts her heart on the line” for her charity work. The royal - who is married to Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne has a number of charities which are close to her heart and former Children’s Laureate Michael Murpurgo, says attending many events with her over the past few years where Camilla has read to young children, has shown him how much she cares. He told Britain’s HELLO! magazine: “She goes to schools and puts her heart on the line. She reads like a granny and that’s lovely. She doesn’t try too hard to make it work. She’s not an actor, pretending to be a pirate or the Elephant’s Child but she reads as if she means it.” Camilla has also received widespread praise for her consideration to the members of the public. Photographer Ian Jones said: “One important factor is how considerate she is to people. She knows everyone likes to have a photograph as a personal record but also to promote their good cause so she is happy to pose with them for the camera.”

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DeVito ‘obvious’

Lorax choice

anny DeVito thinks he was an “obvious” choice to voice the Lorax. The ‘Taxi’ star thinks it was probably a “nobrainer” that he was typecast to play Dr. Seuss’ iconic furry children’s book character in the film of the same name thanks to his diminutive, rotund shape. He said: “I went, ‘Wait a minute. When did he write this book? Was it before or after he saw me in ‘Taxi’?’ But it was before. “I don’t know if it’s a no-brainer, but you do go, ‘There’s a Lorax? Hmmm? Danny Devito!’ I was happy that I was chosen and I think Audrey, Dr Seuss’ widow was happy too.” Danny doesn’t have any

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regrets that he’s not being offered the same kind of roles as Hollywood hunks like Brad Pitt and George Clooney, but he insists his animated work is “serious business”. He explained: “I think there has been a giveand-take in my career. But there’s a give-and-take with everything you do. There are obvious roles that mean you go to Danny for this part or that part. “I’m certainly not in competition with George Clooney or Brad Pitt, but they’re not competing against me either.

Would Brad Pitt ever be cast as the Penguin in ‘Batman Returns’? Never! Poor guy! “But it’s serious work that I do, it’s serious business.” ‘The Lorax’ is released on July 27 and stars Zac Efron and Taylor Swift.

Jackson’s mother reported missing, report denied relative of Katherine Jackson said the mother of the late pop star Michael Jackson was missing after her grandchildren had been unable to get in touch with her for a week, CNN television reported early yesterday. The network said Jackson’s nephew, Trent, filed a missing person report with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office. But one of Michael Jackson’s brothers immediately denied the allegation, saying Katherine Jackson was fine and resting in Arizona. “I want to reassure everyone ... that Mother is fine but is resting up in AZ on the orders of a doctor, not us,” Jermaine Jackson tweeted. The family is involved in a dispute over Katherine Jackson’s finances and legal affairs, CNN said. — Agencies

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

lifestyle M U S I C

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Usher’s stepson dies T

Police officers stand guard as people line up for a screening of the new Batman movie at a theatre in midtown, Saturday, in New York. — AP

Box office goes silent in wake of US shooting I

n the aftermath of the Colorado shooting during a screening of “The Dark Knight Rises,” Hollywood studios banded together to withhold box-office reporting through the weekend, while Warner Bros. frantically rushed to remove a movie trailer with now eerie relevance.

While the weekend is usually Hollywood’s time to peddle its flashy offerings and tout its millions in box office, the second day of release for “The Dark Knight Rises” was anything but business as usual following the Aurora, Colorado, shootings that killed 12 and wounded 58 at a Friday midnight showing of the new Batman film.

“Words cannot express the horror that I feel,” Christian Bale, who stars as the caped crusader in the film, said in a statement. “I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them.” All of the major studios in Hollywood said Saturday they were joining “Dark Knight Rises” distributor Warner Bros. in withholding their box-office numbers for the weekend. Sony, Fox, Disney, Paramount, Universal and Lionsgate followed Warner Bros.’ lead in forgoing the usual revenue report until Monday out of respect for the victims and their families.

Box-office tracking service Rentrak, too, said it would not report figures this weekend, leaving a weekly Hollywood tradition of boasting to go silent for awhile. “The Dark Knight Rises” is sure to be among the most lucrative movie openings. It was seen as a possible contender with the record $207.4 million brought in by “The Avengers,” but that appears unlikely even though “The Dark Knight Rises” earned $30.6 million from the Friday midnight screenings alone.

Hollywood trade publications Variety and Hollywood Reporter reported estimates of roughly $75 million to $77 million for the film on Friday, based on box-office insiders. That would put it on track for somewhere around $165 million for the weekend. Such a total would be the second-highest weekend opening ever, after “The Avengers.”

Any projections, though, are bound to be rough approximations given the atypical circumstances. Many of Friday’s tick-

ets were pre-sold before the shooting.

Moviegoers making their way to theaters also faced increased security and, in some places, bag checks. AMC Theaters, the country ’s second-largest movie chain, said it would not allow costumed fans or face-covered masks into its theaters. Warner Bros., a subsidiary of Time Warner, also had an unfortunately-timed trailer to contend with. A promo for its upcoming film “Gangster Squad” had been attached to “The Dark Knight Rises.”

The trailer for the ‘40s period film, which stars Sean Penn and Ryan Gosling, features a climactic scene in which mobsters fire automatic weapons into a movie theater audience from behind the screen.

The studio immediately pulled the trailer from theaters Friday, but some theaters were still running it as late as Saturday evening. Moviegoers from Connecticut to California complained on social media when they saw the trailer before “The Dark Knight Rises.” College student Alex Isreal was among those who took to Twitter after seeing the trailer at an AMC theater in Danbury, Connecticut. Addressing the theater chain, she said the trailer was “shown to my horror.” A representative for Warner Bros. said the studio was working around the clock with exhibitors to pull the “Gangster Squad” trailer. While removal from theaters with digital projectors is quick and easy, cutting the trailer from 35 millimeter projections has proved more difficult.

The trailer appeared to be running in relatively few of the 4,404 theaters playing “The Dark Knight Rises.” Warner Bros. expected it to be totally eliminated by the end of Saturday. The trailer did not run in the Colorado movie theater where the shooting took place. After quickly canceling a Friday night premiere in Paris, the studio on Saturday also canceled the other remaining red-carpet extravaganzas in Mexico City and Tokyo.

Christopher Nolan, the movie’s director earlier responded to the tragedy, expressing his sorrow for the victims and their families. Said Nolan: “The movie theater is my home and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me.” — AP

In this image released by PBS, Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess Grantham, is shown in a scene from the second season on Downton Abbey. — AP

‘Downton Abbey’ sneak peek: Matthew, Mary quarrel

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“Downton Abbey” sneak peek at season three revealed that fireworks will fly between matriarchs played by Maggie Smith and newcomer Shirley MacLaine. The aristocratic Crawley family endures a financial crisis. And, despite the engagement of Matthew and Mary at the end of last season, all is not well - gasp! - with the pair played by Dan Stevens and Michelle Dockery. PBS showed brief clips from next season to the Television Critics Association on Saturday before a panel discussion with cast members and producers of the international hit. They took a break from taping in London to meet reporters in Beverly Hills.

Their visit followed a strong showing by “Downton Abbey” in Thursday’s Emmy nominations with 16 bids, including best drama series. In one scene shared by PBS, Hugh Bonneville’s Robert Crawley, also known as Lord Grantham, is shown confessing to his wealthy American wife Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) about an investment gone

wrong. “Has some of my fortune been lost?” she asks. “Almost all,” he replies, tearfully.

Matthew and Mary, who traveled a rocky road to what looked like blissful marriage, are shown in an angry confrontation in which she accuses him of disloyalty to the family. Tart dialogue involving MacLaine’s Laura and Smith’s Violet, the dowager countess, also looks to be a hallmark of season three. It begins airing in September in the U.K. and next January on PBS. “When I’m with her, I’m reminded of the virtues of the English,” Violet says of Laura.

“But isn’t she American?” asks a puzzled Matthew. “Exactly,” Violet replies. Series creator Julian Fellowes said the next season will encompass about two years at the start of the 1920s. Among the plot points to be resolved: What happens to John Bates, Lord Grantham’s valet who was convicted last season of murdering his wife and barely escaped the gallows. Bonneville made his support for his loyal servant clear. —AP

he stepson of the Grammy award-winning pop star Usher has died, two weeks after the child was critically injured in a boating accident. Willie A. Watkins funeral home in Atlanta confirmed Saturday it was handling funeral arrangements for 11-year-old Kirk Glover. Glover was a son of Usher’s exwife Tameka Foster. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://bit.ly/LEWGWa) that Kile died Saturday morning at an Atlanta area hospital.

The boy was run over July 6 by a personal watercraft on Lake Lanier, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. He had been hospitalized with a major brain injury. Lake Lanier is about 40 miles northeast of Atlanta.

Authorities said the accident continues under investigation.

Before the accident, Usher, whose full name is Usher Raymond, had been in a legal battle with his ex-wife arising from a custody fight over their two sons.

Condolences flooded social media sites late Saturday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. It said those who sent tweets of condolences included Justin Bieber, singer Toni Braxton and singer Eric Benet, among others. Usher, long one of the top-selling singers and songwriters, has won numerous Grammy awards. He gained initial acclaim in the late 90s with albums such as “My Way” and went on to release the 10-millionplus selling 2004 album “Confessions” that firmly established him as a superstar, among several others including “Raymond v.

Raymond” in 2010.—AP

2 weeks after lake accident

Tameka Foster Raymond, left, ex-wife of Hip-hop artist Usher Raymond, talks with her attorney Lisa West in court for a custody fight involving their two sons. (Left) Hip-hop artist Usher Raymond takes the witness stand in court in a legal battle with his ex-wife in a custody fight involving their two sons in this May 22, 2012 photo taken in Atlanta. — AP photos

What’s on at this year’s Bayreuth Festival

Picture taken on July 15, 2011 shows the ‘Festspielhaus’ of the Bayreuth Festival (Richard-WagnerFestspiele) in Bayreuth, southern Germany. —AFP

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he Bayreuth Festival, the annual monthlong celebration of the music of Richard Wagner (1813-1883), is staging five operas this year. The curtain rises on the 101st Richard Wagner Festspiele, on July 25, with a brand new production of “The Flying Dutchman” by German director Jan Philipp Gloger. The festival, which runs until August 28, will also see the fourth edition of its “Wagner for Kids” series with a specially adapted version of “ The Mastersingers of Nuremberg”, made palatable for six-to-10 yearolds. Following is a list of the operas being performed on Wagner’s fabled “Green Hill” this year: • “The Flying Dutchman”, this year’s only new staging, in a production by Jan Philipp Gloger, with sets by Christof Hetzer and conducted by German star conductor Christian Thielemann, who is effectively Bayreuth’s general music director in all but name.

The title role was to have been taken by Russian bass-baritone Yevgeny Nikitin, but he dropped out at the last minute following a row over a Nazi tattoo on his chest. He is being replaced by Korean bass-baritone Samuel Youn, a regular in Bayreuth since 2004. The “Dutchman”, as it is usually referred to, counts as the composer’s first mature opera. Originally inspired by a story by German romantic poet Heinrich Heine, Wagner composed it during his stay in Paris in 1841, but the work did not receive its world premiere until two years later in Dresden after the composer had returned to Germany.

The story tells of a sailor condemned to roam the seas for eternity until his soul can be redeemed by the love of a woman. It was first staged in Bayreuth in 1901 and Gloger’s new production will be the 10th in the history of the festival.

• “Tristan and Isolde” in a revival of Christoph Marthaler’s bleak reading that dates back to 2005. US tenor Robert Dean Smith and Swedish soprano Irene Theorin return to take the title roles. Termed a “music drama”, “Tristan and Isolde” was written between 1857 and 1859. First performed in 1865 in Munich and first performed in Bayreuth in 1866. Marthaler’s is the 10th “Tristan” to be staged in the Festspielhaus and this will be the sixth year the production has been staged since its premiere in 2005. Conductor is German “kapellmeister” Peter Schneider.

• “Lohengrin” in a revival of the striking, highly intellectual staging by German director Hans Neuenfels now entering its third year. Composed between 1846 and 1848, “Lohengrin” received its world premiere in Weimar in 1850 under the baton of Franz Liszt. It was first staged in Bayreuth in 1894 and Neuenfels’ is the ninth production of the work on the Green Hill. German tenor Klaus Florian Vogt takes the title role for the second year running, with his compatriot Annette Dasch singing Elsa. Latvian Andris Nelsons, one of today’s hottest young conductors, is in the pit.

• “Tannhaeuser” in the first revival of last year’s controversial new staging by German director Sebastian Baumgarten. Universally panned by critics and loudly booed by audiences throughout its entire run last year, the revival will see star conductor Christian Thielemann take over the baton from the original conductor Thomas Hengelbrock. There is also a change in cast, with German tenor Torsten Kerl replacing Sweden’s Lars Cleveman in the title role.

Baumgarten’s decision to set the mediaeval story of the minstrel-knight in a biogas plant led to

empty seats in the Festspielhaus for the first time ever as audiences walked out in protest. And even festival chief Katharina Wagner has said in interviews that the production needs to be substantially reworked. Composed between 1843 and 1845, “Tannhaeuser” received its premiere in Dresden in 1845 and Wagner substantially revised it for the Paris opera in 1861. It was first performed in Bayreuth in 1891 and Baumgarten’s is the eighth production there.

• “Parsifal”, Wagner’s last opera, in the critically acclaimed production by Norwegian director Stefan Herheim, now entering its fifth year.

“Parsifal” was dubbed by the composer as a “stage consecrational festival-play” and was premiered in Bayreuth in 1882. It is one of only three works by Wagner to have received their world premiere in Bayreuth’s Festspielhaus. Indeed, “Parsifal” was not allowed to be performed outside Bayreuth until 1913. Herheim’s production is the ninth-ever staging of Parsifal in Bayreuth. In the pit, Swiss conductor Philippe Jordan will take over from Italian maestro Daniele Gatti, who conducted all previous runs.

• “Wagner for Kids: The Mastersingers of Nuremberg”. Katharina Wagner first launched the series of special adaptations of Wagner’s works for six-to-10 year-olds in 2009. The slimmeddown chamber versions of the operas are not performed in the Festspielhaus itself, but on one of the four rehearsal stages adjacent to the opera house. There are a total 10 performances between July 25 and August 2, with free entrance to children and adults paying 20 euros. Each of the five operas will be performed six times during the month-long festival, making 30 performances in all between July 25 and August 28. — AFP

Russian singer says Nazi tattoos not ‘political’

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This picture taken on July 8, 2012 shows Russian opera singer Evgeny Nikitin displaying the tatoos on his right forearm. —AFP photos

Picture taken on July 10, 2010 shows Korean bass-baritone Samuel Youn performing in Bayreuth, southern Germany.

ussian singer Yevgeny Nikitin, who pulled out of his debut at this year’s Bayreuth Festival in a row over a Nazi tattoo, said yesterday the swastika had no political significance for him. The 38-year-old, who was to have taken the title role in a brand-new production of “The Flying Dutchman” at the month-long summer music festival dedicated exclusively to the works of Richard Wagner, said he had not been aware of the Nazi associations of the tattoos. “It was not clear to me that the symbols that I have tattooed on my chest could have any connotations or even by used by Nazis and neo-Nazis,” he wrote in an email to the Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

The bass-baritone said he had them done in Russia in 1989, 1990 and 1991 and chose the symbols from books about Nordic mythology and the tattoo parlour’s catalogue. “The symbols have absolutely

no political significance for me, but a spiritual one. I was never a member of a political party and am still not today,” Nikitin wrote. The singer plunged the legendary Bayreuth Festival into turmoil on Saturday by quitting just days before the curtain is set to go up on the new production on the festival’s opening night on Wednesday.

The appearance of an artist connected in any way with Nazism would have been an embarrassment for Germany’s political and social elite who traditionally attend the glitzy opening gala. And it would also have cast the festival-founded by Wagner himself and regarded as the world’s oldest summer music fest-in a very dubious light.

Wagner, a notorious anti-Semite, was Adolf Hitler’s favorite composer and after the Nazis seized power in Germany in 1933, Hitler became a regular guest at the Festspielhaus built on Bayreuth’s fabled “Green Hill”. —AFP

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

LIFESTYLE T r a v e l

This photo shows the lake at the Self-Realization Center along Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades. —MCT photos

Reawakening of pedestrian life on stories boulevard onventional wisdom has it that the way to understand Sunset Boulevard, the most glamorous street in Los Angeles, is by following it from east to west. That’s how Sunset grew from its origins in the 1780s as a cattle trail branching out from the pueblo where LA was born. Even the boulevard’s name suggests you’re supposed to travel it that way, finishing up at the ocean just as the sun does. So what’s to be gained by heading in the opposite direction, looking at Sunset from west to east?

For starters, that route offers a way to explore an intriguing notion: that the key to deciphering contemporary Los Angeles is to focus not on growth and expansion, those building blocks of 20th century Southern California, but instead all the ways in which the city is doubling back on itself and getting denser. And if you really want a gauge of 21st century Los Angeles, you’ll have to look all the way to the eastern end of the boulevard, where Sunset becomes Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and - as it cuts through Boyle

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only reason people visit the Lake Shrine, founded in 1950 by the Indian guru Paramahansa Yogananda. Like the Grove outdoor mall, except with more plants and no Apple Store, it happens to be an unusually nice place to be a pedestrian.

“We come here to walk and just take it all in,” said Eric Runkle, who was helping his 88-year-old mother, Jenny Runkle, navigate the path. Just east of the Lake Shrine, Sunset enters a long, winding stretch where the notion of the boulevard as public space seems faintly ridiculous. Close by are some of the great landmarks of modern LA architecture, houses by Craig Ellwood, Ray Kappe and Cliff May. But you’d never know that on the boulevard itself, which presents a nearly continuous wall of opaque hedges, thick bamboo stands and clusters of eucalyptus.

These green barriers get more imposing as you go east. By the time you get to Beverly Hills, the hedges are as tall as three-story buildings. For a long time the western stretches of Sunset, with their private luxury and Hollywood

This photo shows Triangle Park in the 3700 block of Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Heights - provides a surprising model for the LA boulevard of the future.

Boyle Heights seemed hopelessly distant as I began walking uphill from the ocean, where Pacific Coast Highway meets Sunset, heading past the two gas stations that mark the giant intersection like an accidental gateway. In less than a quarter-mile the sidewalk, already something of an afterthought, abruptly ended at a sign reading “Private Property.”

That set the tone for the early part of the walk, which took me around a steady supply of blind curves, across the 405 freeway and to the edge of the UCLA campus. There are crumbling sidewalks on boulevards all over Los Angeles, in every kind of neighborhood. But the western end of Sunset is the only major boulevard I know where the city seems to have abandoned the idea of a continuous sidewalk altogether.

An oasis appeared quickly on the right: the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Temple, where a shaded path wraps around a spring-fed lake.

“Self-realization,” of course, is that most Californian of phrases, with its faint tinge of narcissism. But spirituality is not the

glamour, were a powerful magnet in their own right.

Yet as early as the 1950s a nostalgic air hung over this part of the boulevard.

Billy Wilder’s brilliantly jaded “Sunset Blvd.” sees not just the silent-film star Norma Desmond but also the very idea of her secluded Sunset Boulevard mansion, where time defiantly stands still, as a throwback. This year’s “Rock of Ages” treats the big-hair metal bands and the Sunset Strip music scene of the ‘80s much the same way.

Along Sunset’s long midsection, running from Beverly Hills through the western edge of Silver Lake, the footprint of the entertainment business, which once dominated the boulevard, continues to shrink. Thanks to the strong presence of its alumni among the ranks of Hollywood executives, Emerson College is building a dramatic 10-story, $110 million West Coast campus, by architect Thom Mayne, at Sunset and Gordon Street.

But Schwab’s Pharmacy and places like it, buildings dedicated to advancing the notion of Sunset as a stage for finding individual stardom, are long gone.

So are many of the movie studios that

lined the boulevard a half-century ago, as well as the photography studios that sold head shots to generations of aspiring actors.

What has emerged to take their place, reflecting a city-wide trend, are types of developments largely immune to the rise of digital culture, which has proved so deadly to record and video-rental shops and bookstores. These hardier strains of LA architecture include restaurants, bars, public and charter schools, cheaply built wood-frame apartment buildings, bank branches and the ever-expanding infrastructure of hospitals and healthcare.

This part of Hollywood is also full of signs that Los Angeles, as it tries to redefine itself for a denser and less cardependent future, is borrowing rather haphazardly from the architecture of other cities. The Bowery Bar and Bistro on Sunset just east of Vine and the nearby Delancey Pizzeria both market themselves as Manhattan-style outposts bringing a little urban grit to LA Along with four other restaurants on Sunset, they are owned by George AbouDaoud, the 37-year-old son of Egyptian immigrants who grew up in New York and came to Los Angeles in his mid-20s.

Abou-Daoud, described by a food blogger as “the de facto mayor of Sunset in Hollywood,” said that this stretch of the boulevard, forsaken a decade ago, continues to pick up momentum and a sense of pedestrian life, thanks in part to the Metro Red Line subway.

He described endless bureaucratic battles with the city’s planning and building-safety departments. To get approval for sidewalk seating requires a process he called “beyond difficult.”“It’s always been so surprising to me that in the city that has probably the best weather in the world, there isn’t more outdoor seating for restaurants, pocket parks, public squares, etc.,” he explained later in an email.

A more nimble example of LA’s rekindled interest in street design and the public sphere is the small Sunset Triangle Plaza, which opened in the heart of Silver Lake in early March.

It has cordoned off one block of Griffith Park Boulevard, where it meets Sunset, to car traffic. The street was already being closed twice a week for a farmers market. The city planning department and the LA County Department of Health spent a mere $25,000 to close it seven days a week, putting down plastic planters and painting the pavement a bright shade of green, with giant polka dots.

The design, by the LA firm Rios Clementi Hale, is a little rough around the edges. But that is part of the point: moving quickly to get the plaza open, the city didn’t want to spend much time or money massaging the details.

Officially the closure is temporary, and after a year officials will reevaluate the project.

“I wish it looked more permanent,” Alissa Walker, a 34-year-old design writer who lives two blocks from Sunset, acknowledged as we sat under

an umbrella at one of the plaza’s small metal tables. “But the temporariness is what allowed it to take shape - that idea of doing it now and asking permission later.”

Walker is a dedicated pedestrian who doesn’t own a car and casually uses the word “walkshed” to refer to the area in her neighborhood that she can reach easily on foot. She says the plaza is emblematic of a wider shift in the city.

“When I go to parties, people always say, ‘Where’s your car?’ And I’ll say, ‘I walked here.’ And it used to be like, ‘Oh, my God, you’re crazy! It’s not safe!’ But now people will say ‘That’s cool,’ or ‘I walk a lot too.’ In the last three or four years the level of surprise has really dialed down.”

On the edge of downtown, just after it passes over the 110 Freeway, Sunset becomes Cesar E. Chavez Avenue before crossing the Los Angeles River and skirting the northern edge of Union Station.

Stretches of the boulevard with three names - Sunset, Macy Street and Brooklyn Avenue - were subsumed by the new Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, christened in 1994, the year after the civilrights leader’s death.

In the 1920s and ‘30s, Brooklyn Avenue and the Boyle Heights neighborhood it cuts through formed a center of Jewish life in Los Angeles. Canter’s Deli was there, and the area had more than 30 synagogues. Some were in small houses or storefronts, but in 1923 a genuine architectural landmark was built, the Breed Street Shul, a half-block south of Brooklyn.

The synagogue was designed in an imposing neo-Byzantine style by A.M. Edelman, also the architect of the betterknown Wilshire Boulevard Temple. The late architectural photographer Julius Shulman, who grew up on nearby Cummings Street, had his bar mitzvah there the year it opened.

Although some locals still refer to this part of Cesar Chavez as “Brooklyn Avenue,” Boyle Heights is now more than 94 percent Latino. On the far western end of Sunset, by contrast, Pacific Palisades is 89 percent Anglo, with a median income, $168,000, that is five times higher.

Shaded by huge ficus trees and crowded with pedestrians, the stretch of Cesar Chavez just east of the 5 Freeway upends a few persistent stereotypes about Los Angeles: that nobody walks, that everybody lives in a single-family house, works in the movie business and spends most of his time cocooned in an air-conditioned car, shouting Ari Goldstyle into his cellphone earpieces.

The businesses here mostly cater to local residents, announcing themselves with hand-painted signs in English and Spanish and selling small items - children’s clothes, figurines of Catholic saints - that their customers can easily carry home. The two-story brick buildings that form a consistent street wall on both sides of the street look much as they did in the 1920s. Very few were knocked down to make way for the architecture of

the post-war city, with its drive-throughs, gas stations and supermarkets marooned in massive parking lots.

Much of the street’s success can be credited to neglect from the larger city, as investment in the post-war era went elsewhere. But Cesar Chavez Avenue hasn’t just survived: It has emerged as a model for other neighborhoods eager to make their major thoroughfares friendlier to pedestrians, cyclists and local business. It has all the urban-design amenities the average LA boulevard is desperately missing.

One hot afternoon I walked the far eastern end of Cesar Chavez with John Arroyo, an urban planner who grew up in the neighborhood and still lives here.

Now 31, he graduated from the University of Southern California before earning a master’s degree in planning from MIT. He said the neighborhood has long reflected the influence of “Latino Urbanism,” a term coined by the LA planner James Rojas. As Rojas has written, immigrants from Latin America have

strollers. It’s also become a social center in the neighborhood, a spot where people come to trade gossip and catch up with friends.

LA’s successful pedestrian enclaves the Grove and the Lake Shrine among them - have typically been privately operated. And they’ve been destinations: People drive their cars there in order to find a protected place to walk.

The Sunset Triangle Plaza and Boyle Heights suggest the emergence in LA of a different model: public spaces for walking, designed in a cost-effective if sometimes prosaic way, meant to serve a neighborhood crowd.

Sunset Boulevard has long operated as a zipper or seam across the length of the city, connecting the foothills to the flat expanse of the LA basin. But what the boulevard does most dramatically now is provide a bridge - as it moves from west to east - linking LA’s past to its emerging future.

Walking east on Sunset, turning my back on the beach, I was not only trudging uphill but also pushing against the

This photo shows the intersection of Portia Street and the 1400 block of Sunset Boulevard can be seen, June 1, 2012. slowly been transforming “the auto-oriented built form” of Los Angeles into a series of “pedestrian-oriented places.”

Cultural influence has always been a two-way street along Cesar Chavez, of course, with American idioms seeping into Latino culture even as the reverse is true. When Arroyo was in high school in the late 1990s he went to countless backyard parties where his friends played the brooding pop songs of the British singer Morrissey.

“I don’t know quite how it happened,” he said with a shrug, “but all of a sudden there were Morrissey cover bands everywhere.”

Next, a walker would come upon the Evergreen Cemetery, a rolling 67-acre piece of greenery in a neighborhood that is lacking, like so many parts of Los Angeles, in parks. Over time, neighborhood residents adopted the cemetery as a quasi-public space, walking or jogging through it or along its perimeter.

In 2003 the city added a 5-foot-wide path of pink-red rubber on the sidewalk along the outside of the cemetery. The path is full morning and night with joggers, walkers and parents pushing

weight of history. The notion of the ocean as frontier is so ingrained in the basic psyche of this city that to resist it feels like some kind of betrayal.

The cultural center of gravity in Los Angeles has been moving east for years.

Young artists, architects, musicians and writers now tend to settle in Silver Lake, Highland Park or downtown. Much of Boyle Heights feels like a place where the contemporary definition of Los Angeles young, Latino and increasingly transitfriendly - is being hashed out on a daily basis.

For decades, searching for a metaphor to define Sunset Boulevard, writers have described it as a river running west and feeding into the Pacific.

But the river flows the other direction now. —MCT

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

LIFESTYLE T r a v e l

A couple hold their hands in female and male body shaped metal frames installed on a wall while posing for photos at the 798 Art District in Beijing, China. —AP photos

A man poses for photos in front of art pieces at the 798 Art District in Beijing.

5 free ways to see

Beijing,

from history to arts he capital of China is quickly becoming one of the priciest - and fastest-changing - cities in the world, driven by several decades of breakneck economic growth. But some of Beijing’s most interesting areas are still free to visit, and provide a bridge between the city’s rich cultural and political history and its modern incarnation as a dusty metropolis of gargantuan government buildings and glassand-steel skyscrapers.

T

People practice qigong, a traditional Chinese practice using meditation and martial arts exercises to channel unseen forces and improve health, during their morning exercise at Ritan Park in Beijing.

Tiananmen Square A walk around the heart of the city is also a peek into the country’s history. Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square, is surrounded by buildings of political and cultural significance and is visited by thousands of tourists daily. The Great Hall of the People to the west is where the country holds annual legislative meetings and hosts visits by foreign leaders. The National Museum is located to the east (admission is free), while to the north is the Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) with a gigantic portrait of Mao Zedong, which separates the square from the Forbidden City. A mausoleum in the center of the square displays Mao’s body.

While the square may be most famous outside China as the site of 1989 pro-democracy student protests that were suppressed by the military, inside the country it is known as the place where on Oct. 1, 1949, Mao proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. Other highlights range from afternoon kite-flying to flag-raising ceremonies.

Ritan Park Some of the bigger parks in Beijing charge admission, but not Ritan Park, the historic garden where emperors once made offerings to the sun in an ancient circular wallenclosed altar. Today the park offers a window on daily Beijing life, starting at dawn with residents practicing tai chi and other exercises like walking backward or rubbing one’s back against a tree. Retirees are often seen here playing ferocious games of badminton. The park also offers a shady, peaceful retreat from the nearby central business district.

A girl wearing Qing Dynasty royal style headset plays outside China’s National Museum on the east of the Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

798 Art District Not everything in Beijing has been ripped down and replaced by nondescript buildings. The city’s art district, often compared to New York City’s Greenwich Village, is a thriving community of about 400 galleries, shops and restaurants on the eastern edge of Beijing housed in a complex of former electronics factories built with the help of East Germany in the 1950s.

Although heavy on kitsch, art can be found not only hanging on the walls of galleries but in the look of the buildings themselves. Designed by German architects in the Bauhaus style, the buildings marry art with functionality, with striking curved sawtooth roofs that allow an abundance of natural light to flood the spaces.

A girl waves Chinese national flag while resting with her mom in front of the Monument to People’s Heroes on the Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

A man walks past a gate to an ancient circular wall-enclosed altar, where emperors once made offerings to the sun, during his morning exercise at Ritan Park in Beijing.

Murder Mystery Tour “Midnight in Peking” is journalist Paul French’s suspenseful, beautifully written and meticulously researched book about a real-life 1937 murder mystery involving a motley cast of international expats and colorful Chinese. A free downloadable map and audio walking tour of key sites from the book provide an excellent flavor of old Beijing.

The tour starts at the Beijing Railway Station in the heart of the city and meanders through alleys, pointing out many fascinating and easy to miss details. Link to the map and the audio tour: http://us.midnightinpeking.com/audio-walk/ .

A poster vendor rests in a hutong, an old alleyway, near the Houhai lake in Beijing, China.

Hutong Stroll To see a side of Beijing other than glitzy shopping malls or imposing, Soviet-style government buildings, take an afternoon to explore the city’s ancient narrow alleyways, known as hutongs. Here you’ll get a glimpse of ordinary city life, with residents - often in their pajamas in warm weather sitting on stools outside their homes chatting with neighbors or huddled around a chess game. Some alleyways are regular marketplaces, with vendors laying out the day’s vegetables on mats on the ground.

Though most hutongs run east-west, a detailed map is essential to navigate the warren of courtyard homes without getting lost, and a good route would include the trendy Nanluoguxiang alleyway of shops, cafes and restaurants, the ancient Drum and Bell Tower, and the alleyways around the Qianhai and Houhai lakes. Or from Nanluoguxiang, stroll north, then east across the main road to Fangjia Hutong, an alleyway with many little bars, including the popular El Nido, whose friendly Chinese proprietor serves a wide array of imported beer at great prices. Heading north, explore the tree-lined Guozijian Street, where the imperial college and the Confucius Temple are located. —AP

A poster vendor rests in a hutong, an old alleyway, near the Houhai lake in Beijing, China.

Usher’s stepson dies 2 weeks after lake accident

37

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

A Pakistani family breaks their fast at Badshahi Mosque on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday. During Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. — AP

‘Mad Men’ costumes get Emmy snub I

s it time to trade polished sheaths and all-business suits for lace gowns and tweed jodhpurs? “Mad Men,” with its influential ‘60s style, was overlooked for an Emmy Award nomination on Thursday for costume design for the first time in its five-year run. And while fans expressed shock about the snub, the fashion world has already embraced another nominee: “Downton Abbey.” Episodes of “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Borgias,” “Game of Thrones” and “Once Upon a Time” also

File photos show fashion from the Fall 2012 collection of Ralph Lauren in New York. The preview of Ralph Lauren’s fall collection, held earlier this year, paid homage to “Downton Abbey”, with models walking down the runway to the music of the show.

received nominations, but the likelihood of the masses finding their closets influenced by medieval Italians or mythical adventurers seems slim.

The British aristocracy of the early 1900s featured in “Downton Abbey,” however, is already making its mark. Ralph Lauren paid homage to the show in the preview of his fall collection earlier this year, with models walking down the runway to the soundtrack. Expect more glamorous and embellished looks inspired by the show to take over store racks over the next few weeks, says Brooke Jaffe, director of fashion accessories at Bloomingdale’s. “ There is a return to opulence,” Jaffe says.

Stylist George Kotsiopolous, co-host for E!’s “Fashion Police,” noted that gentlemanly looks, for men and women, come from the “Downton Abbey” pre-World War I period. “Designers are influenced by the same things as stylists: movies, TV, music, art - whatever is the zeitgeist,” he says. For the past few years, it had been the chic, sophisticated “Mad Men” look that dominated the fashion conversation, and the show had a wildfire ability to turn back the clock on contemporary style to embrace the clean, refined lines of the early 1960s. Countless designers, including Michael Kors and Peter Som, cited its influence, and Banana Republic launched a “Mad Men”-branded collection.

“The shape had been the same for a while - the shaped waist, the va-va-voom

look,” Kostiopolous says. When it became common from “Mad Men,” he says, “it becomes less interesting to fashion people.” He doesn’t think the look will go away altogether, though. “Women looked good in the ‘50s and ‘60s because the clothes were universally flattering, and any guy looks great in a suit.” —AP

In this undated image released by AMC, January Jones appears as Betty Francis from the series “Mad Men.” —AP photos

In this undated image released by AMC, Christina Henricks appears in character as Joan Harris from the series “Mad Men.”

Edible perfume, when chefs follow their nose

P

ierre Herme’s “Peach, rose and cumin” tart is a rollercoaster for the senses by any standard.

But it is also a nod to a classic fragrance, reinterpreted for the palate by the French pastry chef.

Created in 1944, “Femme” by Rochas is a fruity, musky blend of rose and peach, patchouli and spice, with notes of plum, jasmine, oak moss and sandalwood worked into the heady mix. For the edible version, Herme began with a sweet biscuit pastry, garnished with an almond cream infused with rose petals, and fresh yellow peaches dusted with cuminflavored sugar for the right balance of fruit, flower and spice.

But he was not alone in taking on the challenge.

For three years, Herme has been exploring the kinship between perfume and cuisine with his friend Jean-Michel Duriez, a “nose” at Rochas and formerly at Patou with whom he co-wrote a book on the subject due to hit shelves in October. Fruit of the same experiment, Hermes’ rose and jasmine tart is based on the Jean Patou fragrance “Joy”. “Jean-Michel talked me through the different notes of the perfume, and I took the main ones to create a flavour,” explained the 50-year-old chef, best known for his world-famous macaroons, on a visit to his workshop in western Paris.

“I pick up associations of fragrances to turn into flavours, but it is never a literal translation, it’s an

interpretation.” For “Peach, rose and cumin”, Duriez explained how they decided to do without the patchouli, to tone down the muskiness of the perfume. Herme also took advice from his perfumer friend for a tart called “Infinitely Vanilla”, whose light cream works in woody vanilla from Madagascar, a “brash, exuberant” variety from Tahiti and a floral one from Mexico. The chef started using fragrance as an inspiration a decade ago, working with Guerlain’s “Shalimar” and later “Eau Sensuelle” by Rochas. “The perfumer uses his nose, the patissier his nose and mouth. It’s the same idea of marrying scents, like you marry flavours in your mind,” he said.

‘It is the same quest’ In their book Herme and Duriez explore the bridges between patisserie and perfumery, sibling arts which share classic associations like apple and cinnamon, chocolate and caramel or morello cherry and pistachio. Leave some eggs with a melon for 48 hours and they will absorb its aroma through the shell, recalling the perfumery process of “enfleurage” by which an oily substance takes on a flower’s fragrance as if by osmosis. “We shared some truly exciting moments,” said Duriez. For Mathilde Laurent, a “nose” for the luxury house Cartier, there are “very strong parallels between perfume and cuisine.”

“The real difference is we have a great many

French pastry chef Pierre Herme poses on December 7, 2011 in Paris. — AFP

more ingredients than chefs do, a palette that is more abstract, less visual, less inspiring. It all happens in our mind.” “Chefs work with seasonal produce. They have asparagus at a particular time of year. We have benzyl acetate (the main constituent of essential oil of jasmine) all year round,” she said.

“We never even get to see many of our ingredients, which can be deeply unattractive,” she said. One of her first olfactory revelations as a perfumer was the

smell of horse droppings.

“But there is the same obsessiveness. You go over a recipe 400 times until it’s right. For me the real creativity is more about how you overcome all the little problems than the initial flash of inspiration.”

“Listening to Yannick Alleno-three star-chef of the Meurice Hotel in Paris-giving advice on a sauce, it sounded just like a colleague assessing one of his creations,” said Laurent, who has worked with a number of top chefs.

For Patrick Jeffroy, a chef from Carantec at the northwestern tip of Brittany, “the nose is like a thermometer. I can tell you from the smell of a broth if it is salty enough.” “We use different techniques to create a dish or a perfume, but deep down it is the same quest, in my case inspired by smells like the sea at low tide, or roasted chestnuts, that I have carried since childhood.” Jean-Claude Ellena, master perfumer at Hermes, recalls what the chef Pierre Gagnaire made of his classic fragrance “ Terre d’Hermes”: “Fifteen to 20 little dishes, one of them a poultry casserole with straw and tangerine.” To interpret his perfume “Poivre Samarcande”, the chef Alain Senderens wanted initially to use violets-but Ellena had just the tip he needed: “I told him to use cucumber peelings-they smell just the same!” — AFP