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US downsizes Iraq mission
Jordanian role model packs punch at Games
India train fire kills at least 32
Jerusalem ‘capital of Israel’: Romney
03:27 03:37 05:07 11:54 15:30 18:42 20:08 150 FILS
Emsak: Fajer: Shoruk: Dohr: Asr: Maghreb: Eshaa:
www.kuwaittimes.net
RAMADAN 12, 1433 AH
Syria top diplomat in London defects
Max 50º Min 33º High Tide 08:58 & 23:27 Low Tide 02:29 & 16:28
Troops pound Aleppo amid defections conspiracy theories
Minuses and pluses
By Badrya Darwish
badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net
T
he controversy over the Arabic drama series ‘Umar’ does not stop. It is becoming bigger and bigger since the TV drama series started in the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. The Second Caliph Umar Bin Al Khattab, ruled after Caliph Abu Bakar died. I think the drama series ‘Umar’ was made by Qatar. In my opinion, it was a well-done production compared to other Arabic drama series. It was well-financed and well-produced. The manuscript was revised by many well-known and reputed Muslim clerics. The producer of the series, Hatem Ali is well-known for making historic movies. Last year he made a large production about a hero in Islam. I talked to many people who are against producing the series about Umar. The most common argument I heard was that no actor is good enough to play the role of Umar. One young man, a graduate from the United Kingdom who is also a moderate chap, refuses to watch the series for the same reason. He says that no actor is good enough for him to play the role of Umar or even other Sahaba (friends) of the Prophet (PBUH) be it Ali, Abu Baker or others. He considers these people as saints and thinks that they should not be touched. He said that this argument exists elsewhere not just in the Arab world. The young man recalled a movie where Mel Gibson played the role of William Wallace, a Scottish hero. His Scottish teacher at the time was upset with the movie saying that it was an insult to play the role of such a hero like Wallace. I have different arguments and I am sure many others do. I look at it from the positive side. The series Umar is excellent. It teaches our young generation about the history of our ancestors. Nowadays kids and young people do not read a lot. The modern way of life and the computers do not focus much on the past and on the details of these people who built Islam. A movie can play an educational role in reviving and teaching the young generation the values that these men carried. Umar was well-known for being democratic, just fair, humble and courageous. Why are we looking at the series from a negative side? If we balance the minuses and pluses in the series I assure you - the pluses will be more. In this case it is justified. Looking at the bigger picture you can sometimes close your eyes for other small details.
KUWAIT: The President of the Iraqi Higher Islamic Council Amaar AlHakeem (fourth left) and KJA officials pose for a group photo after a symposium yesterday. (Inset) Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman AlAlyan pictured with Amaar Al-Hakeem. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat
Iraqi cleric promotes peace Al-Hakeem woos Kuwait investors By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: A high ranking Iraqi official yesterday assured the business community in Kuwait that Iraq is a safe place for investors and that many of the disputes between the
two neighboring countries have been solved. Amaar Al-Hakeem, the President of the Iraqi Higher Islamic Council was addressing a symposium hosted by the Kuwait Journalists Association (K JA) in Shuwaikh yesterday. This year’s visit
coincides with the anniversary of the Iraqi invasion, which he described as “a very sad memory.” Al-Hakeem provided a glowing assessment of the relationship between Kuwait and Iraq. Continued on Page 13
Saudi eyes new metro system JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia gave an early nod to four consortia yesterday, including ones led by Canada’s Bombardier Inc and French firm Vinci, to build a new metro system in Riyadh to ease congestion on the capital’s gridlocked streets. State news agency SPA said the pre-qualified consortia were made of 33 companies from 15 countries and included some of the biggest train manufacturers in the world. The Saudi cabinet approved plans in April to develop a new public transport network in the city within four years that would include both a metro and a new fleet of buses. Consortia for the bus project are being assessed separately. The Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) gave no cost for the project but metro systems typically cost of billions of dollars to build. One consortium is led by France’s largest-listed construction and concession’s firm, Vinci and includes Germany’s Siemens, the state news agency said. A second is led by Canadian firm Bombardier and includes Turkey’s Yapi Merkezi, Spain’s Obrascon Huarte, Korea’s GS Engineering and Construction Corp, and Britain’s Serco. A third consortium is led by Spain’s FS Engineering and Construction. It includes France’s Alstom Transport, Korea’s Samsung C&T Corp. The fourth consortium is led by Austria’s Strabag and includes Italy’s Ansaldo STS, Switzerland’s Stadler Rail, India’s Larsen & Toubro Ltd, Britain’s Hyder Consulting and US firm Worley Parsons. Saudi Arabia has only limited public transport facilities and Riyadh suffers grinding congestion for much of the day and into late evenings. In December, the government unveiled a 690-billion riyal ($184 billion) budget for 2012, as it seeks to boost infrastructure, education and health. — Reuters
LONDON: Syria’s top diplomat in London resigned yesterday in protest against the “violent and oppressive” acts of President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, the British Foreign Office said. The move comes after a series of defections by senior Syrian officials in recent weeks, including diplomats in several countries and top army officers. The Foreign Office said in a statement that charge d’affaires Khaled Al-Ayoubi had informed it yesterday that he had “left his post”, describing it as a blow to the Syrian government. “Mr Al-Ayoubi has told us that he is no longer willing to represent a regime that has committed such violent and oppressive acts against its own people, and is therefore unable to continue in his position,” it said. Britain expelled the previous Syrian charge d’affaires, Ghassan Dalla, and two other diplomats in May. Syria had earlier withdrawn its ambassador from London. “Mr Al-Ayoubi was the most senior Syrian diplomat serving in London. His departure is another blow to the Assad regime,” the Foreign Office said. “It illustrates the revulsion and despair the regime’s actions are provoking amongst Syrians from all walks of life, inside the country and abroad.” It added: “We urge others around Bashar Al-Assad to follow Mr Al-Ayoubi’s example; to disassociate themselves from the crimes being committed against the Syrian people and to support a peaceful and free future for Syria.” The Foreign Office said Ayoubi was not speaking to the media and asked for his privacy to be respected. It said he joined the Syrian diplomatic service in 2001, and that his first posting was in Greece as consul from 2003 to 2008. A Foreign Office spokesman would not confirm Ayoubi’s current whereabouts or say whether he was now seeking asylum in Britain. Continued on Page 13 Ramadan Kareem
Fasting in Islam and Christianity By Shariffa Carlo Al Andalusia
F
LONDON: Gold medalists Cao Yuan and Yanquan Zhang from China compete during the Men’s Synchronized 10 Meter Platform Diving final during the 2012 Summer Olympics yesterday. — AP (See Pages 18, 19, 20)
asting is ordained in many religions. In Islam, fasting is encouraged year round, but as we all know, being that this is the month of Ramadan, it is most specifically commanded in Ramadan. Allah says in the Quran, “Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein...” (2:185) Ramadan is essentially a mandatory month of worship and fasting for Muslims. Christians have also been commanded to fast, and while there are special days that are highly recommended, like Lent and Good Friday, unlike Islam, there is no mandatory fast. It is essentially seen as a good act that is encouraged for the benefit of believers: The Bible states, “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Acts 14:23 In both Islam and Christianity, the essential demeanor and character of the faster is encouraged to be one of good temperament and humility. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and false actions and ignorance, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.” In the Bible, it is narrated, “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they Continued on Page 13
in the
news
Saudi bans smoking in most public places
Taiwan’s University sues Apple over Siri
Bahrain opens probes into abuse allegations
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has banned smoking in government offices and most public places, including restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets and shopping malls. The ban includes smoking of water-pipes, or shishas, and prohibits selling tobacco to those under the age of 18. The official SPA news agency says Interior Minister Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz has ordered that a royal ban on smoking be implemented as of yesterday. He is cited as saying that Islam urges the preservation of public health. The ban is a significant step-up in the kingdom’s antismoking campaign. Saudi Arabia banned smoking in its airports last year. Saudi statistics say the country is the world’s fourth largest importer of tobacco and that six million Saudis spend about 30 million Saudi riyals (about $8 million) a day on cigarettes.
TAIPEI: Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University has filed a suit against US tech giant Apple, claiming the company’s Siri intelligent assistant has infringed on two of its patents. Apple introduced the voice-activated assistant technology when launching the iPhone 4S in 2011. But Cheng Kung University in south Taiwan’s Tainan city said the technology infringes two patents held by one of its research teams, both related to speech recognition. The team is led by Wang Jhing-fa, a professor who specializes in chip designs and neural networks facilitating speech and pattern recognition. “We filed a lawsuit against Apple at a Federal district court in Texas Friday,” Yama Chen, a legal affairs manager at the university said. Apple Taiwan was not immediately available for comment. Earlier this month, Chinese technology firm Shanghai Zhizhen Network Technology Co Ltd filed a similar claim against Apple over Siri.
MANAMA: Bahrain’s Interior Ministry says it is opening investigations into possible rights violations by police during crackdowns on opposition protesters. The probes into possible police abuses are in line with recommendations last year by an independent commission that studied the Gulf nation’s Shiite majority’s uprising against the Sunni monarchy. A statement Sunday says the Interior Ministry seeks to uphold “international standards” among its security forces in efforts to build trust after more than 17 months of protests and clashes. Bahrain has said before that it will look into abuses but this is one of the most forcefully worded pledges. More than 50 people have died in unrest since February 2011 in the strategic kingdom, which is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.
TAIPEI: A woman displays ‘Siri’, voice-activated assistant technology, on an Apple iPhone 4S yesterday. — AFP
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
local
KUWAIT: Muna Al-Fuzai (right) is featured with guests at a Ramadan ghabqa she hosted on Sunday evening at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh
KUWAIT: Muna Al-Fuzai with some of the guests.
Usmaliyeh Bel Ashta
KETEF MAHSHEH
INGREDIENTS INGREDIENTS
KUWAIT: Hana Al-Ghareeb and Heba Al-Ammar.
•Fine vermicelli (kunafaa dough) •1 Batch of ashta or can be substituted by ricotta cheese SYRUP •Sugar -1 1/2 cup •Water -1 cup •1/2 lemon Juice •Pistachio for decoration DIRECTIONS 1. Prepare sugar syrup with 1 cup of water and 1 1/2 cup of sugar along with lemon juice. Bring to boil, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until it forms a thick consistency. 2. Remove from heat allow cooling. Add rosewater, and keep aside. 3. Pre -heat the oven to 180 degreeC. 4. In a large bowl gently loosen the kunafaa dough and mix well with the butter. 5. Melt the butter in the baking pan and place half the dough at the bottom press evenly. 6. Spread bits of ricotta cheese all over, and then cover with the remaining kunafaa dough, press gently. 7. Bake for about 30-40 minutes, until the surface is golden brown. 8. Remove from oven and pour sugar syrup all over hot kunafaa. Allow to cool completely. 9. Put on a serving plate. Decorate with pistachio nuts. Serve warm. 10. It is good to warm up before serving, because the cheese tastes better. It is a well known Arabic dessert all over the world and it is really delicious.
KUWAIT: (From right) Tina, Lorry, Shereen and Muna Taleeb.
Yaqoub Al-Duaij
Girgian at Fun City KUWAIT: Out of The Touristic Enterprises Company’s(TEC)) keenness on reviving all traditional, popular, historic and religious occasions, and passing the message and heritages down to younger generations, special festivities and functions will be held to celebrate the annual Girgian festival, said TEC Acting Operations and Activities Manager, Yaqoub Al-Duaij. Al-Duaij stressed that the Entertainment City will organize special festivities for visitors, particularly children, during the Girgian festivals on 15 and 16 Ramadan that will fall on August 3 and 4. He also noted that all children wearing special Girgian as well as traditional attire will be given special prizes. All visitors will be admitted free of charge during the period of Ramadan.
•1 lamb shoulder •1 1/2 cups ground beef or lamb •3/4 cup rice •1 1/2 tsp. salt •1/2 tsp.lebanese pepper •1/2 tsp. cinnamon •1/2 cup pistachio •1/2 cup pine nuts •1 small cinnamon stick •1/4 cup chopped parsley •3 cups water METHOD Slit the lamb’s shoulder so that it can be stuffed. Wash and drain rice. Mix together the chopped meat, rice, seasonings, pine nuts Bind with half cup water. Stuff mixture into shoulder cavity and sew up with heavy thread. Place in pan with enough salted water to cover. Bring to boil and skim. The meat may now be placed in the pressure cooker with three cups of water and cooked under pressure for 45 minutes, or it may be stewed gently for several hours in the kettle. When tender, remove meal from broth. Cook additional half cup rice in the broth to make a soup to be served as a first course optional. Spread the boiled meat with samneh and brown in a moderate oven. Slice and arrange on a serving platter. Serve with a side dish of laban. The rice soup will be served before the meat, with chopped parsley and cinnamon sprinkled over it. The stuffing may be removed from the neck and served separately.
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
local
Foreign minister holds Ramadan Ghabqa
(From right to left) FM Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid, HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad, Sheikha Aysa Salem Al-Ali, Undersecretary Khalid Al-Jarallah and guests.
Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid pictured with Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan.
KUWAIT: Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and his spouse recently held their annual Ramadan Ghabqa at the Kuwait Regency Hotel. The Ghabqa was attended by heads of the diplomatic missions designated to Kuwait, dignitaries and the media.
Sheikha Ayda Salem Al-Ali and Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid at the event.
Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan with ambassadors. (From left to right) Egyptian Ambassador’s wife, Georgian Ambassador Ekaterina Meiering - Mikadze, French Ambassador Nada Yafi and Egyptian Ambassador Abdulkareem Suleiman.
Japanese Ambassador and his wife with guests.
Boubyan holds Girgian KUWAIT: The Boubyan Bank, the fastest growing bank in Kuwait, announced a special program to celebrate one of the most genuine Kuwaiti traditions related to the holy month of Ramadan; Girgian. Girgian will be celebrated along with people with special needs to integrate them with mainstream society. Qutaiba Saleh Al-Bassam, Bank’s Senior Communications and Corporal Relations Manager, said that, the bank selected activities to celebrate public occasions by establishments and banks. “This year, we chose to focus on people with special needs,” he stressed, noting that this sect needs special support during the ‘month of virtue and socializing.’ Al-Bassam added that the ceremony will include distributing Girgian to all children and participants, in addition to holding special competitions in the presence of a number of Boubyan Bank employees. He also stressed that all Boubyan Bank employees, not only PR staff or as followed by other establishments, were invited to share the joy of this traditional celebration with people with special needs to increase a sense of responsibility among the bank’s employees and encourage them to take part in various communal voluntary activities. He added that so many of the bank’s employees and families had expressed wish to take part to bring a smile to the faces of children with special needs. Moreover, AlBassam said that the twoweek Girgian program includes taking part in the ceremony to be held by Kuwait Society for Guardians of the Disabled (KSGD) today.
Several diplomats are seen at the function.
The Canadian, British and American Ambassadors are seen at the Ghabqa.
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
LOCAL kuwait digest
In my view
New electoral constituencies
Greece and Euro-zone debt
By Dr Mohammad Al-Abduljader
T
he current debate about the constitutionality of the electoral constituencies system and the idea of protecting future elections from appeals has been raised at the right time. That said, it’s important to go back to the near future, specifically to the year 2005 which saw public pressure that eventually caused constituencies to be merged from 25 to 5. The amendment came following a report made by a committee the Cabinet formed featuring former ministers, which identified some of the errors in the law made in 1980 that divided Kuwait into 25 constituencies, such as unjust geographical distribution or what is known as gerrymandering: a process by which geographic distribution is manipulated to control election results. Three elections were held after the amendment was enacted; in 2008, 2009 and most recently this year, which later was annulled by a Constitutional Court order. This period has so far shown signs of flaws in the current system, mainly the unjust distribution of voters between constituencies, and the question of why each voter is entitled to vote for four candidates. The answer to this particular question goes back to a philosophy for the amendment that took into account that only the Cabinet controls a majority in the parliament, which obviously didn’t occur in the 2012 elections. As the Cabinet reportedly intends to verify with the Constitutional Court the constitutionality of the electoral system, there are many questions that come to mind. How is the Cabinet going to describe the elections law in their appeal? How long will it take before a verdict is made? If the verdict finds the current system unconstitutional, would this force an automatic return of the 25constituencies system or the 10-constituencies system adopted before it? In the meantime, what’s going to happen when the parliament is inactive during the two to three month period until the verdict is made? If urgent decrees, as per article 71 of the constitution, are required to issue a new election law after the parliament’s dissolution, will this law stir even more controversy? The issue of constituencies is purely legislative and affected by multiple factors, including the population in each constituency. A completely just electoral system does not exist in any place around the world. Kuwait has a different system for municipality elections, which divides the country into 10 constituencies while each citizen is entitled to a single vote. Yet, this system contributed to increasing sectarianism and disintegration in society. Kuwait’s electoral experience is more than half a century old today and the number of voters, which had not reached 20,000 in 1961, has already exceeded 40,000 today. —Al-Qabas
By Labeed Abdal
local@kuwaittimes.net
T
kuwait digest
Cancellation of basic projects By Faisal Al-Zamad
R
ecords of the past few years indicate that projects being cancelled under pressure were not a joke. It is the same result which Abdul Rahman Al-Haroon has concluded in his speech about the Dow project at the MP Mohammad AlKandari seminar when he said, “I am not with those who believe in conspiracy theories, but the stoppage and cancellation of a number of basic projects does not mean to any sensible person that there is a third party working to fail our growth plans, though such people believe that the success of the government is a failure to him, and visa versa. He benefits from government failure. Therefore, we shall address our speech to the government who bears responsibility in helping him to prove its failure.” What is required from the current government is to be well aware of this fact, and to get rid of baseless sayings such as “government runs the urgent matters, government should stop the delay which was is caused by the party that benefits from government failure, and build on it his political pro-
gram.“ As far as citizens are concerned, performance is the scale, and the fearful minister has no place among us. This is the right way which made citizens support the performance and stand up for whoever tries to stop it with made up justifications for something in his heart. Yes, citizens’ awareness in this matter is the corner stone to start the performance train. We are at a state of good and great success. Region Al states look at us with admiration, such as the Public Authority for Underage Affairs and Social Insurance, Civil Card, Equity, Cooperative societies, Kuwait Fund for Growth, Charity Work, Islamic Banks, good road nets, controls the cities are drawing up... etc, and we can continue our marching, because nothing can stop us except fearful ministers, so we shall not allow anyone to be afraid, as that helps prove the government’s failure. Fighting corruption requires support from citizens to the minister who chases corruption, instead of just looking at politicians who only chase the clean minister. — Al-Anbaa
he debt crisis in Greece is becoming a danger that is threatening the country, its people and the countries of the euro-zone, where Greece was not able to cover its obligations, which are now billions of euros. Also, there is a high risk for the creditors, who are having significant doubts about collecting their money, which might not be received on the due date of the 20th of this coming month . Although Europe, in general, is suffering from the double dip recession found in many of its countries, Greece still needs more international support and monitoring to bring the country back on track and avoid any gloomy consequences. Any increased borrowing that might be necessary for Greece, Spain or Italy, might also bring those countries closer to bankruptcy, especially for the creditors, who are still seeking some breaks or bail out plans. The refusal or failure from the state to pay back their loans to their creditors, who are from Europe and outside, meant in some old examples that the lenders or bond purchasers could use this as an excuse to plan to take land in return, though the debtor nation would be wiped out slowly, but surely. Europe must read a lot of historical lessons and listen to its people, where countries once declared war to recover past unpaid debts or supported revolutionary groups as a way to apply political pressure. In this case of the other, Europe must show and maintain strong solidarity to prevent the fulfillment of ambitions from some of the countries in the West or others in the East who are plotting to fracture the continent. Back then, as well as today, someone was needed to carry the torch of freedom, which was the main cause for the people then, and now, who are suffering and waiting for genuine solutions and not temporary cosmetics.
kuwait digest
Govt sending test balloons By Dr Bader Al-Daihani
kuwait digest
Begging during holy Ramadan By Arwa Al-Wuqayan
T
here are some people who use the sacredness of the holy month of Ramadan, and the wish of others to carry out good deeds, to begin begging and create a successful trade in Ramadan. They wear new clothes and carry expensive bags, as they simply approach you and ask for money. My dear sister Fareah told me about an incident which was repeated within two days. She said a woman from a Gulf country approached her and said
We all have what makes us help the needy, and those who claim to be in need, and we all wish that begging, run by gangs from inside Kuwait and abroad, would end and we all hope that Kuwait appears at its best without beggars.
NO: 15525
12
RAMADAN 12, 1433 AH
In Islam at what age does a child become an adult (responsible for their actions)
13 yrs old 15 yrs old Puberty
her husband was very ill and needed to come to Kuwait to be admitted at Mowasat hospital. Now they were short of money and need help to return to their country. My sister apologized and said she did not have money with her, so this woman asked my sister to go to an ATM and withdraw any amount. Her audacity and insistence made my sister uncomfortable, because the needy typically feel humble, not audacious. The strange thing is that on the second day, in another place, another lady who also claimed to be from a Gulf country told my sister the same story, so my sister completed the scenario for her, then asked her about the secret behind the story they all use? Then the woman walked away while laughing! A third story I heard from a friend was about an Arab beggar who was nearly KD 500 to enter Kuwait during Ramadan, and left with thousands when the month paid over! All these are examples of people who claim poverty and take advantage of Kuwaitis’ mercy during the holy month, and the problem is that they ask you in a bold, scary, and audacious manner, and we do not have any authority to protect us from them, as some of them chase you without fear of policemen who do not play any real role towards the begging issue. We all have what makes us help the needy, and those who claim to be in need, and we all wish that begging, run by gangs from inside Kuwait and abroad, would end and we all hope that Kuwait appears at its best without beggars. Those who claim to be poor admitted to using the childhood of their boys and girls, and the old age of their mothers, only to benefit from them, and the question remains...how long will this continue? When will there be phone numbers that we can call to remove this phenomenon? This is from us to the interior ministry! — Al-jarida
O
n June 20, 2012, the constitutional court issued a ruling that nullified the 2012 parliament. The government should have immediately begun executing that ruling without hesitation to avoid having a constitutional vacuum for long. On the contrary, the government preferred stalling till it could find a way to easily promote making use of sectarian and tribal factors to control the coming elections. That’s why the government started sending out ‘test balloons’ one after another. One day it leaked news to the press, through a ‘well-informed governmental source’, about a slight electoral constituencies amendment. The following day, another newspaper quotes another ‘well-informed governmental source’ leaking quite the opposite while, despite press norms stating that not denying something means approval of it, and despite the contradictions between one newspaper and another, the government kept silent in both cases, as if the issue was of no interest to it! The latest leak to the press is the government’s intention to contest the constitutionality of the current electoral system before the constitutional court, as if it has coincidentally and suddenly, after six years of passing it and despite lawyers stressing that the constitutional court had rejected a similar case in 2008, discovered it was unconstitutional and that it violates the justice and equality principles. This brings to mind the question of: What’s wrong in the government’s referral of the case to the constitutional court as the only judiciary specialized in hearing disputes about laws and the constitutionality of regulations? The answer simply lies in the following: 1 The issue of amending the electoral system is purely political and the judiciary should be kept apart from such conflicts. 2 The referral to the constitutional court means the continuation of a constitutional vacuum because the 2009 parliament had publicly and politically failed and it would be foolish to continue its tenure, since this would only increase public anger. 3 Despite it being farfetched that the court would declare the current electoral system unconstitutional, but assuming it will happen, the government will have no alternative other than to issue a necessity decree on amending the electoral constituencies, which would take us all back to square one, that is, amending the system singlehandedly that would be rejected by all political powers, including those demanding to go to the constitutional court. Therefore, instead of wasting valuable time in such a silly play, as described by Meshri Al-Najeri a few weeks ago in his Al-Qabas article, the nondeferrable solution is to stop all life support equipment helping the 2009 parliament survive, call for public elections, discuss the suggested amendments to the electoral constituencies system in parliament and, then, whoever wishes to contest the current electoral system can do so and everybody will have to then abide by the court verdict. — Al-Jarida
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
LOCAL
Premier may sign supreme committee’s agreements Kuwait, Iraq moving closer By A. Saleh
KUWAIT: Adnan Al-Rashid, Treasurer of Kuwait Journalists Association is seen next to visiting President of the Iraqi Higher Islamic Council Amaar Al-Hakeem during a symposium hosted by the Kuwait Journalists Association in Shuwaikh yesterday. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat
KUWAIT: (From right) Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan, Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief, Adnan Al-Rashid, Treasurer of Kuwait Journalists Association and Ahmed Behbehani, President of Kuwait Journalists Association are pictured yesterday before the start of the symposium at KJA.
MSAL warns MoI about cargo companies’ violations KUWAIT: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) contacted the Interior Ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs, Maj. Gen. Mustafa Al-Zaabi about the resurgence of visa trafficking. Allegedly, forged certificates were issued by the General Traffic Department, certifying that a certain company owns a number of trucks. This was reportedly done so that the MSAL could allow an equal number of visas to obtain drivers. Sources explained that MSAL officials said that MSAL decides if cargo companies’ need labor according to the number of trucks they own, as certified by the General Traffic Department. He added that MSAL inspectors noticed that some companies that did not own any trucks, had also obtained traffic certificates. Furthermore, sources highlighted that Al-Zaabi asked his assistant for Licenses
Affairs Brigadier, Ehsan Al-Owayyesh to conduct an internal investigation to examine all letters referred to MSAL departments in an attempt to indentify the fake ones. “Al-Zaabi stressed that in case any manipulation is detected, those involved will immediately be referred to the Public Prosecution Department regardless of the positions or ranks enjoyed,” sources underscored. On another concern, sources said that Al-Zaabi issued a decision cancelling the stipulation mandating taxi drivers to obtain an accredited degree from their respective countries to obtain a roaming taxi driver’s license. The traffic directorate was currently considering privatizing some other traffic sectors, after establishing technical vehicle examination companies like parking meters. —Al-Jarida
CBK launches handicraft exhibition KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) launched its ninth Exhibition showcasing handicrafts under the patronage of Sheikha Nouf Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah. Ali Al-Mousa, Chairman and Managing Director and CEO Nihad Saleeba, Amani Al-Waree Assistant General Director and a large number of bank employees were present at the event. A large variety of handicrafts designed
by bank employees, suitable during different occasions, and popular designs are on display. Sheikha Nouf said that the exhibition is a suitable occasion for the bank’s employees to meet along with their families and get acquainted with strengthen social relations among them, in addition to supporting technical and cultural talents.
Bosnia lauds Kuwait embassy’s Ramadan social activities KUWAIT: Head of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Council Bakir Izetbegovic lauded late Sunday, the social activities conducted by the Kuwaiti embassy in the capital Sarajevo. Speaking at a Ramadan iftar held in honor of Mohammad Fadhil Khalaf, Kuwaiti Ambassador to the country and heads of Islamic diplomatic missions, Izetbegovic said that the embassy’s promotion of cultural and social activities was helping to further boost relations between the two nations. Ambassador Khalaf thanked the Bosnian official for his sincere sentiments,
affirming that the embassy would continue to promote ties between the two nations. Meanwhile, in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, Kuwaiti Ambassador Dherar Nasser Al-Tuweijri held a Ramadan iftar event which was attended by Islamic diplomatic missions and Muslim members of the Cambodian government. Dherar said that hopefully this event would bolster relations among Muslim nations and also help develop relations between Islamic countries and Cambodia. The Ramadan iftar event is the first since the embassy was opened in 2011. —KUNA
KUWAIT: Kuwait and Iraq have agreed to finalize agreements on pending issues. Agreements will be signed during a planned visit by Kuwait’s prime minister to Baghdad later this year, said sources. Sources claimed that recent phone conversations between Kuwait’s Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and his Iraqi counterpart Nouri Al-Maliki to exchange Ramadan greetings “featured an agreement to prepare final agreements to be signed during Sheikh Jaber’s visit to Baghdad before the end of the year.” The final agreements were made last April during a meeting held by a supreme joint committee formed by the two countries to address unresolved issues such as border demarcation. Sources indicate that “instructions were issued by the government of the two countries to speed up the process of executing the topics mentioned in the signed agreements.” The final agreement puts an end to the border demarcation issue, as well as organizing a navigation at the Khor Abdullah, in addition to stopping the infiltration of Iraqi fishermen into Kuwait’s territorial waters. The two sides should also implement the investment obligations of the settlement reached over Iraqi Airways’ dues to its Kuwaiti counterpart. The settlement calls for the Kuwait Airways Corporation to be compensated with $300,000 in cash, while the remaining $200 million will be invested in joint projects between the two countries. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Oil in Iraq announced yesterday that the supreme joint committee “helped resolve a huge part of issues remaining between Kuwait and Iraq pertinent with organizing work at joint oil fields including unifying production.” This was stated by Laith AlShaher, Ministry’s General Director of Legal
Department. They added that the joint committee was able to achieve “significant results to launch a new phase in economic relations.” Kuwait owns 8 percent in GCC construction market The total value of construction projects in Gulf Cooperation Council countries last year totaled to $46 billion, of which Kuwait’s share stood only at eight percent, a recent specialized study revealed. The study prepared by the Ventures Middle East indicates that the United Arab Emirates maintained the largest share of the construction market in the region with 48 percent, followed by Saudi Arabia with 33 percent then Kuwait, Qatar with six percent, Oman with three percent and Bahrain with two percent. The study predicts a “71 to 75 percent increase” in the value of construction in 2012, as well as an increase “from $2.7 billion in 2011 to $7.3 billion in 2012” in the hospitality field, with a predicted revenue of $22 billion this year earned from hotel rooms. Kuwaiti company agrees to swap Dubai land A Kuwaiti company operation in Dubai agreed to a request by the Dubai Maritime City project to replace a plot they bought in 2008 with a smaller one that is equivalent in value. In a statement made yesterday, the Mayadeen National Company explained that they received a copy of a contract to receive a piece of land within the Dubai Maritime City project valued at 80,423,887 dirhams, which is the same amount the company has so far paid in installments for the larger plot of land that the emirate needs for its mega project. Opposition bloc faces obstacles The opposition bloc’s attempts to send a mes-
sage to HH the Amir about their objection to the change in current electoral system has reportedly hit stalemate “as they received a response rejecting their endeavors.” According to sources, the letter which the opposition hoped to deliver through Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah was countered by an opinion which sees the bloc “creating more instability in Kuwait’s political scene by directly violating the Constitution.” The sources believe that the government will not cooperate with the bloc’s demand “because their actions are a violation to the law that damages the public interests and puts the state at risk.” Al-Juwaihel acquitted The Appeals Court yesterday acquitted former parliament elections candidate Mohammad AlJuwaihel of slander charges. He was sentenced to two years in prison by the Criminal Court last month. The charges were pressed by former MP Daifullah Buramia, who accused Al-Juwaihel of attaching his picture to a poem that accuses an anonymous parliament member of theft. The court passed the verdict after observing that there was lack of evidence to prove that AlJuwaihel specifically insulted Buramia. Donations violations The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor detected violations carried out by charitable organizations “which collected cash donations during Ramadan in violation of ministry regulations,” said sources. They explained that the donations were made through boxes placed inside mosques “in violation of laws which require that receipts be issued to authenticate the donation process.”
Coordination to float new road planning tenders KUWAIT: The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) is currently coordinating with relevant governmental establishments to float a tender on new road planning and landscap-
ing, said sources. The MPW invited specialized companies to the bid, as various new roads will be open within two months. “ Trees and landscaping improves the general
view, in addition to their environmental benefits,” stressed sources. Furthermore, sources stressed that MPW officials and the minister had been visiting various diwaniyas
to get into direct contact with the people, listen to their complaints and respond to their questions on various public construction projects.
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
LOCAL
Hajj, Omra pilgrims services rate increased by 10 percent Exhibition opens in Mishref By Ben Garcia
Dive team cautions against approaching sunken ship KUWAIT: A wooden ship sank on Sunday opposite Al-Bedaa shore as a result of weather conditions and a faulty water pump system and heavy load, said Kuwait Dive Team of the Environmental Voluntary Foundation. Walid Al-Shatti, in charge of marine operations of the team, said in a state-
ment to KUNA that the ship, which sunk to a 12-meter depth, is 25 meters long and eight meters wide. He added that the Kuwait Coast Guard has created a barrier to surround the sunken ship and formed a team to lift it up. Sea-goers were forbidden from approaching the location. —KUNA
Gambling network busted By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Police arrested an expatriate who operated a gambling network from his apartment. They were tipped off on the man’s activities, entertaining ‘customers’ at his apartment. After verifying information, a police s o u g h t p e r m i s s i on fro m Pu b l ic Prosecution Department to raid the apartment. He was arrested along with
nine other individuals belonging to different nationalities. Cash and gambling related paraphernalia was seized. The accused confessed to operating the ring jointly with an Arab expat, and shared profits. He confessed to renting out the apartment for gambling. The other nine accused confessed to committing the crime. They were all referred to concerned authorities.
‘Detective’ arrested in Salmiya KUWAIT: A citizen wearing a detective’s vest, using a flashlight and carrying a toy gun that appeared to be genuine, stopped two men in Hawally who turned out to be real detectives. A security source said the two detectives were on patrol in the Salmiya area when a man stopped them, while wearing a vest with the letters CID on it. The man asked the two for their IDs, but they found it strange because he was not familiar to them, so they asked him for his ID, which he refused to display, saying he was a detective! When the two detectives showed their military IDs, the suspect attempted to escape, but they were able to arrest and search him. He was later turned over to concerned authorities. Purse stolen A thief broke into the car of a female citizen and removed her purse. A security source said the woman parked her car in front of the cooperative in Andalous area, leaving her purse inside. The woman was surprised when she found the side window smashed and could not find her purse. Police authorities are investigating. Decaying body Hawally detectives are investigating the death of an ex-convict, whose decaying body was found in an abandoned building in Nugra area, after they were informed by an Asian expat who discovered the corpse. Child kidnapped Sabah Al-Salem detectives arrested a military officer for kidnapping his son by force from the house of his wife’s family. A security source said the officer’s wife left the house due to a family dispute and was living in her father’s house. After the officer was arrested, the child was returned to his mother. Girl rescued Jahra Hospital doctors were able to
revive a one year-old Syrian girl after she stopped breathing in a swimming pool. A security source said that a Syrian expat brought a child who did not have vital signs to the hospital, where doctors were able to revive her. Woman assaulted Ahmadi detectives are investigating following the arrest of a driver who stopped a female Syrian expat in the Fahaheel area and beat her, reporting they had differences over the right-ofway. Security sources said the Syrian woman was driving in Fahaheel and argued with another driver over who had the right-of-way. Following this the man is reported to have become angry when he ran into the pavement and damaged a tire, then beat the woman in front of motorists who did not interfere. Fahaheel police and detectives are investigating. Shisha lover Police are searching for a customer who loves shisha so much that he beat a worker in a cafe when he thought the worker was slow in serving him shisha following the Maghrib (sunset) prayers. A security source said the cafe worker was getting ready to break his fast, when a customer walked in and asked for shisha to be immediately served to him. The customer thought the worker was too slow and beat him before leaving. The worker, who wrote down the car tag number, filed a complaint with Farwaniya police, who are investigating.
KUWAIT: The cost for the pilgrimages to Makkah are ten percent higher this year compared to last year, according to the various companies hosting Hajj and Omra exhibitions being held at the Kuwait International Fair Ground (KIFG) in Misref from July 29 to Aug 4. A week of Hajj and Omra exhibitions kicked off yesterday to introduce and promote various products and services to the public while on religious pilgrimages to Makkah, the center of Islamic faith. The exhibition was inaugurated by Mutlaq Rashid Al-Qarawi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs with Roumi Matar Al-Roumi, KIFG Director. “Yes, I can confirm that Hajj and Omra to Makkah is ten percent higher compared to last year. There are various reasons for the increase, but I can sight some, such as improved services and more value added amenities,” said Nour Eddin Khader, Managing Director of Rashed Al-Omar Company. “There are lots of services that we are getting in Makkah which are not free. The rental rates, for example, have increased, accommodations, busses, airplane tickets are so expensive these days, even the food increased, so, it increased and, in fact, every year it is increasing so this is like normal, there’s nothing wrong or abnormal or anything like that,” Khader added. But he suggested that most of the increases in charges are usually being compensated for by excellent services. “Like us, last year we only offered two nights but this year, with the increase of ten percent, we offer three complete nights instead. Our transportation from Madinah to Makkah is now improved by air, not by land. In the accommodations we usually accommodate up to 8 persons per room, this time we reduced it to four in one room. Before we had a problem with the toilets, this time, every room has a toilet, we provide royal tents to Mount Arafat; so you see how we are improving year after year,” he added. Rashed Al-Omar Company offers services specifically to expatriates. “We specialized in services to expats, but we do arrange for Kuwaitis, too. We facilitate Hajj and Orma from A to Z, including visas for non-Kuwaitis or
expats.” Mendekar is another company in the exhibition that specializes in Hajj and Orma, but they are exclusive for Kuwaiti customers. “We are offering our services to Kuwaitis only. We offer VIP services. The company has been known from many years, and we have a reputation in the business. Our company offers
fixed rates, although this year we increased about ten percent,” said Abdulrahman Mendekar, the deputy assistant and son of the owner told the Kuwait Times. About two dozen companies from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other countries are participating in the exhibition, including Sebamed.
KUWAIT: Mutlaq Rashid Al-Qarawi inaugurating Hajj and Omra Exhibition.
Lack of quorum expected for NA session KUWAIT: All ministers plan to attend the parliament session today (Tuesday) in which they are scheduled to be sworn in, AlQabas reported yesterday, quoting sources who indicate that whether there is a quorum will determine whether the Cabinet will remain in the parliament building. In the meantime, sources “very familiar” with plans for today’s session told the Annahar daily that the likely scenario would see a lack of a quorum, which would force Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi to adjourn the session for two weeks or even until after the Eid Al-Fitr holiday. In that case, a dissolution of the 2009 parliament might not take place until September, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. In that regard, Al-Rai daily quoted Cabinet sources who pre-
dict that attendance will not come close to the minimum 18 MPs required for a quorum, based on information received as of Sunday “which indicates that only 7 members have so far said they have plans to attend”. Meanwhile, at least 1,500 citizens signed the opposition’s petition during the second day in which it was made available to the public through seven diwaniyas across Kuwait. The number of signatures gathered on Saturday, the first day, reportedly reached 768. The petition calls for boycotting the elections, both in nominating and voting, if the current electoral system which divides Kuwait into five constituencies is changed, as the Cabinet reportedly plans to verify the constitutionality of the current law at the Constitutional Court. The petition also demands
that procedures to dissolve the 2009 parliament are not prolonged. “Any attempts to tamper with electoral constituencies to manipulate election results and fight the public are unacceptable”, said MP Musallam Al-Barrak, who called the petition, in statements to AlRai “a record of pride that proves Kuwaitis’ strong rejection to changing the constitution”. Meanwhile, the Council of Ministers held its regular weekly meeting at noon yesterday, at Seif Palace presided by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, following which Minister of Information and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah gave a briefing of the meeting. The minister said the cabinet started with a review of a letter addressed to HH the Amir
from the King of Saudi Arabia, who extended an invitation to the extraordinary session of the Islamic Summit Conference in Holy Makkah, Aug 14-15, 2012. The cabinet also reviewed draft laws on approving final accounts for the fiscal year 2011-2012 for the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait Airways Corporation, Public Institution for Social Security, Public Authority for Housing Welfare, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and Credit and Saving Bank, in addition to accounts of the independent bodies of Zakat House and Kuwait Ports Authority. The cabinet decided to approve all said accounts and referred them to HH the Amir, ahead of referral to the National Assembly. The ministers also discussed issues of and reports on current political state of affairs in the Arab region and beyond.
NBK shares Girgian moments with children at hospital KUWAIT: On the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) held a Girgian event at Ibn Sina hospital at Sabah Medical district to share with the children the happy moments of Girgian and present them with felicitations and gifts. The event was organized by NBK Public Relations Team and a number of NBK Staff. Abdulmohsen Al-Rushaid, NBK Public Relations Manager said: “Giving out some joy to all the ill children residing at Ibn Sina hospital on major social and religious occasions comes as part of NBK’s extensive social program.” Al-Rushaid added that helping ill children and their families is an integral part of the NBK’s culture and practices that reflect its deep commitment to its corporate social responsibility. NBK’s visit to the hospital was emotional and overwhelming for both the children and NBK Team. It is a well rooted tradition that has been carried out by NBK each year in its efforts to continuously have an active role in Kuwaiti society.
NBK Public Relations Team and a number of NBK Staff in a group photo with Ibn Sina hospital officials.
Woman harassed An Egyptian woman accused her husband’s friend of harassing her. The woman told Fintas police that the man appeared at her workplace, saying he wanted to talk to her about the differences between himself and her husband. When she did not reach a solution regarding the man, he reportedly lightly struck her on the face. The man was charged by police and the case was sent to the public prosecution. NBK Staff with the children.
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
Hardline Islamism threatens Tunisia democracy gains Page 8
370 million Indians swelter in heat after power fails Page 11
GDANSK, Poland: Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney and his wife Ann greet the crowd at The Gdansk Old Town Hall yesterday.— AP
Romney comments outrage Palestinians Republican calls Jerusalem ‘capital of Israel’, hails Israeli ‘culture’ JERUSALEM: Mitt Romney told Jewish donors yesterday that their culture is part of what has allowed them to be more economically successful than the Palestinians, outraging Palestinian leaders who suggested his comments were racist and out of touch with the realities of the Middle East. His campaign later said his remarks were mischaracterized. “As you come here and you see the GDP per capita, for instance, in Israel which is about $21,000 dollars, and compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality,” the Republican presidential candidate told about 40 wealthy donors who ate breakfast at the luxurious King David Hotel. Romney said the economic history of the world has shown that “culture makes all the difference”. “And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things,”
Romney said, citing an innovative business climate, the Jewish history of thriving in difficult circumstances and the “hand of providence.” He said similar disparity exists between neighboring countries, like Mexico and the United States. The reaction of Palestinian leaders to Romney’s comments was swift and pointed. “It is a racist statement and this man doesn’t realize that the Palestinian economy cannot reach its potential because there is an Israeli occupation,” said Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. “It seems to me this man lacks information, knowledge, vision and understanding of this region and its people,” Erekat added. “He also lacks knowledge about the Israelis themselves. I have not heard any Israeli official speak about cultural superiority.” As criticism mounted while Romney traveled to Poland, campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul said: “His comments were grossly mischaracterized.” The Republican’s campaign contends Romney’s comparison of other nearby countries with income disparities - the US and Mexico,
Iran army blamed for Israel attack in Delhi NEW DELHI: Indian police have concluded that members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, a branch of the Iranian military, carried out an attack on an Israeli diplomat in New Delhi in February, a report said yesterday. The Times of India, citing the police investigation, said that five suspects were believed to have worked with a local Indian journalist to plan the attack which saw a hitman on a motorbike attach a magnetic bomb to an embassy car. Interpol had already issued international arrest warrants for four of the suspects named in the report in March, but this is the first time it has been alleged they were members of the Revolutionary Guards. “Details about the suspects have been shared with Iran,” the newspaper said. It named Houshang Afshar Irani, who lists his profession as a builder, as the mastermind of the attack and said he was also behind separate plots to kill Israelis in Thailand and Georgia at around the same time. The main plotters were believed by police to have entered the country on tourist visas and left after the assassination attempt. In March, veteran Indian freelance journalist Syed Mohammed Kazmi who worked part-time for Iran’s news agency IRNA became the first person arrested in connection with the attack. A 42-year-old Israeli diplomat, the wife of the defence attache at the embassy, was badly wounded in the attack that took place near the prime minister’s residence in the centre of the Indian capital. Israel immediately blamed Iran for the attack. Analysts speculated that Tehran was retaliating for a series of attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists which have been blamed on the Israeli secret service, Mossad. — AFP
Chile and Ecuador - shows his comments were broader than just the comparison between Israel and Palestine. The economic disparity between the Israelis and the Palestinians is actually much greater than Romney stated. Israel had a per capita gross domestic product of about $31,000 in 2011, while the West Bank and Gaza had a per capita GDP of just over $1,500, according to the World Bank. Romney, seated next to billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson at the head of the table, told donors at his fundraiser that he had read books and relied on his own business experience to understand why the difference is so great. His comparison of the two economies did not take into account the stifling effect the Israeli occupation has had on the Palestinian economy in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem areas Israel captured in 1967 where the Palestinians hope to establish a state. In the West Bank, Palestinians have only limited self-rule. Israel controls all border crossings in and out of the territory, and continues to restrict Palestinian trade and movement. Israel annexed
east Jerusalem in 1967, but has invested much less heavily there than in Jewish west Jerusalem. And although Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, it continues to control access and has enforced a crippling border blockade since the Islamic militant Hamas seized the territory in 2007. It’s true that Israel has logged tremendous achievements, said Abraham Diskin, a political science professor at the Inter-Disciplinary Center outside of Tel Aviv. But “you can understand this remark in several ways,” he added. “You can say it’s anti-Semitic. ‘Jews and money’.” The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund repeatedly have said that the Palestinian economy can only grow if Israel lifts those restrictions. “It’s Israeli occupiers and Palestinians under occupation, and that’s why Palestinians cannot realize their potential,” Erekat said. The breakfast with top donors - including Adelson, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and hedge fund manager Paul Singer - concluded Romney’s visit to Israel, the second leg of a three-nation overseas tour designed to bolster
the his foreign policy credentials. Standing on Israeli soil for the first time as the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee, Romney on Sunday declared Jerusalem to be the capital of the Jewish state and said the United States has promised never to “look away from our passion and commitment to Israel.” The status of Jerusalem is a critical issue in peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians. During his visit to Israel, Romney did not meet with Abbas or visit the West Bank. He held a brief meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Romney’s campaign says the trip, which began in England last week, is aimed at improving the former Massachusetts governor’s foreign policy experience through a series of meetings with foreign leaders. The candidate has largely avoided direct criticism of US President Barack Obama while on foreign soil. The Jerusalem fundraiser, however, was a political event that raised more than $1 million for Romney’s campaign. It marks at least the second finance event during his tour. —AP
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
Hardline Islamism threatens Tunisia democracy gains TUNIS, Tunisia: Thousands of hardcore Muslims chant against Jews. Youths rampage through cities at night in protest of “blasphemous” art. A sit-in by religious students degenerates into fist fights and the desecration of Tunisia’s flag. In the birthplace of the Arab Spring, the transition from dictatorship to democracy has been mostly smoother than in neighboring countries, with no power-hungry military or armed militias to stifle the process. But as a moderate Islamist party rules with the help of secular forces, an unexpected threat has emerged: the increasing boldness of ultraconservative Muslims known loosely as Salafis, who want to turn this North African country of 10 million into a strict Islamic state. Tunisia’s hardcore Salafis are estimated to number only in the tens of thousands. But their organized and frequent protests against perceived insults to Islam, especially by artists, have rocked the country and succeeded in mobilizing disaffected and angry youth much more effectively than secular opposition parties. Experts warn that an economic downturn could turn these spasms of religioustinged rage into the new language of the opposition. Tunisia’s economy shrank by 2 percent last year and unemployment stands at 18 percent even higher among young people. “There’s no question that unemployment aggravates the situation,” said William Lawrence, the North Africa representative for the International Crisis Group think tank. “ They go to Salafism because they have nowhere better to go socially, politically and spiritually.” As Salafis thrive in the new atmosphere of freedom of expression, they are aggressively attacking the free expression of those they see as insulting Islam. Their main target: artists who themselves have used democratic upheaval to raise sharp, often provocative, questions about the relationship between religion and society. Tensions that were bottled during the regime of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali are bubbling to the surface. A film called “Neither Allah nor Master” about secularism by an atheist director, an animated film portraying God as an old man that was broadcast on TV, and most recently an art exhibit dabbling in religious themes have all provoked the wrath of the Salafis. The Spring of the Arts exhibit in the wealthy Tunis suburb of La Marsa triggered June riots that left one dead and 100 injured. Many of the paintings questioned religion’s role in society, including some clearly skewering Salafis. There were images of veiled women hanging from punching bags in a boxing ring, veiled women buried in stones, and paintings of demonic bearded faces. The Islamist-led government has tread carefully around Salafi demonstrations, conscious that they themselves were once victims of government oppression and fearful of further radicalizing the Salafis. That has exposed the government to accu-
riots, such those in June, emphasizing that his party rejects violence of any kind. “They are all young and without education and lack understanding,” he said of the rioters, hinting that these youths were being manipulated into violence to make Islamists look bad. For Tunisia’s secular-minded elite, the Salafis represent everything they fear with the fall of the dictatorship and the rise of Islamist politics. A rally in May by the group Ansar al-Shariah, or the followers of Islamic law, led by a veteran of the fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan, alarmed many Tunisians. Some 4,000 Salafis gathered outside the revered main mosque in the city of Kairouan to voice calls for an Islamic state, chanting about conquering the Jews and cheering speeches calling for an Islamic state. Especially popular were four masked men performing martial arts moves known as Zamaqtel, a kind of Islamic kung fu. The discipline’s founder, Mohammed Moncef Ouerghi, developed the martial art during 16 years in Ben Ali’s prisons. While happy to be out of prison and enjoying the new freedoms, he was dismissive of Tunisia’s embrace of democracy: “Democracy was conceived of by humans, not Muslims, before the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) - if democracy is important, why is it not in the Quran?” In many cases, people joining Salafi demonstrations may have been motivated less by piety than by a chance to loot or express dissatisfaction over a lack of jobs for young people. Some of the June rioters broke into shops and attacked courthouses and police stations. The Interior Ministry has also alleged that some of the rioters were being paid by wealthy businessmen loyal to the old regime. The La Marsa art exhibit violence appears to have been provoked by a former member of Ben Ali’s political party who had a grudge against the gallery unrelated to the exhibit. He snapped pictures of some of TUNIS: In this June 30, 2012 photo, Mohammed Moncef Ouerghi, who developed an Islamic form of mar- the more provocative paintings and showed them tial arts called Zamaqtel favored by Salafis, twists the wrist of his assistant during an interview in his at a nearby mosque. He also uploaded them onto a office. – AP Facebook page - along with some paintings that weren’t even in the exhibit - with captions conSalafis did not pop out of nowhere in Tunisia ment benefits from the new climate of freedom to demning them as blasphemous. Sami Brahim, an expert on Islamist movements after the revolution. The movement grew quietly get out its message and preach to people,” said Bilal under Ben Ali, who vigorously repressed the mod- Chaouachi, a bearded theology student who in Tunisia who runs a cultural center right near the erate Islamists of the now dominant Ennahda Party, describes himself as a follower of Salafi Islam and art gallery in La Marsa, expects the whole Salafi movement to subside with time because it is a culheirs to Tunisia’s own indigenous tradition of gives religion classes in his local mosque. Redha Belhaj, head of the recently legalized Hizb tural import funded by the Gulf states. Since the reformist Islam. Under Ben Ali, imams were appointed by the state and religious schools al-Tahrir, or Liberation Party, which calls for the movement was nurtured under the oppression of closed. Many of those alienated by the official secu- restoration of the Islamic Caliphate, said that Ben Ali, he said, it should eventually wither in the lar culture of the French-speaking elite turned to Ennahda betrayed the country when it declined to face of greater freedom of expression and debate. the strict Salafi Islam of the Arabian peninsula. enshrine Islamic law as the basis of all legislation in “Salafism doesn’t yet have the courage to take part “They were influenced by the Salafi discourse com- the new constitution. Speaking from his modest in politics since from the beginning it hasn’t been ing out of the Gulf countries and diffused by the offices at the edge of Tunis’ medina, Belhaj claimed an organized movement and it doesn’t have a very Salafi satellite channels all through the 1990s,” that Tunisians long for an Islamic state. “People well elaborated discourse,” said Brahim. “It would explained Slaheddine Jourchi, a Tunisian writer and want Islam as a solution, they want shariah as a sys- just need a healthy atmosphere, real freedoms and human rights activist who has closely studied tem and a regime,” he said. “Ennahda deceived pub- a relatively successful economy for the Tunisian Islamist movements. “They saw the Salafi discourse lic opinion.” Belhaj does distance himself from the Salafi movement to be marginalized.” — AP sations by the liberal and leftist opposition that they are unable to preserve stability, or even worse - complicity in the extremist violence. For Tunisian authorities, grappling with the Salafis is made all the harder by the fact that they have not coalesced into an articulate, united movement but are rather comprised of different groups, some which may even be under manipulation of secular remnants of the old regime. That contrasts with Egypt, where Salafis have formed political parties and participate in politics.
as the most pure in Islam.” With the fall of the dictatorship, Salafis are now free to spread their message to the rest of the country. One of the biggest flashpoints was Manouba University near the capital where conservative students and their allies staged a monthslong sit-in protesting restrictions on the Islamic veil and lack of prayer halls on campus. They fought with secular students and in one case tore down the national flag and replaced it with a black one bearing the Islamic profession of faith. “Our move-
Iran sentences 4 people to death for bank fraud Ahmadinejad denies fraudsters linked to top officials
BAGHDAD: In this Jan 8, 2012 file photograph, Iraqi riot police march during a graduation ceremony. — AP
US cuts police training, downsizes Iraq mission BAGHDAD: The United States has slashed a signature Iraqi police training program as it downsizes its massive diplomatic mission amid high costs and negative Iraqi sentiment, a US watchdog said yesterday. The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction said in a report on an audit it conducted that the United States had wasted some $206 million on building facilities for the Police Development Programme (PDP), which a top Iraqi interior ministry official has termed “useless.” The US State Department “is wisely reducing the PDP’s scope and size in the face of weak... support” from Iraq’s interior ministry, SIGIR said, noting that it was originally conceived as a five-year, multi-billion dollar program, the State Department’s largest worldwide. As of this month, the number of incountry advisers was reduced to 36 - 18 in Baghdad and 18 in Kurdish regional capital Arbil, down from 85 advisers in January, SIGIR said, and compared to an initial plan for 350 advisers. But the reduction in the PDP’s scope means that millions of dollars have been wasted. The State Department constructed training and housing facilities at the Baghdad Police College Annex for an estimated $108 million, while another $98 million was used to construct the Basra consulate so it could be used for training, according to SIGIR. But the State Department “decided to close the (Baghdad Police College Annex) facility, just months after the PDP (Police Development Programme) started, due to security costs and program revisions,” SIGIR said. And the Basra consulate “will not be used because the (Iraqi interior ministry) decided to terminate training at that location”, it added. “This brings the total amount of de facto waste in the PDP - that is, funds not meaningfully used for the purpose of their appropriation - to about $206 million.”
The report also said that in May 2012, Iraq’s senior deputy interior minister, Adnan al-Assadi, told SIGIR the PDP was “useless” and that his department did not need the large numbers of PDP advisers present in the country. “He also indicated that Iraqi police officers had expressed their opinion that the training received to date was not beneficial,” SIGIR said. “Along with Iraqi disinterest, security concerns also affected the programme. The embassy’s Regional Security Office deemed it unsafe for advisers to travel to Iraqi-controlled facilities in Baghdad on a frequent basis.” SIGIR noted that 94 percent of PDP operational program costs go to “security and life and mission support.” And it said the State Department “has found it difficult to sustain the planned US personnel levels in Iraq because of the costs (estimated to be $6 billion annually) and the increasingly negative Iraqi reaction to such a large US diplomatic presence”. The State Department is working to decrease the size of its diplomatic mission in Iraq, the largest in the world. A SIGIR quarterly report to the US Congress released yesterday said that there were 1,235 US government civilian employees and at least 12,477 employees of USfunded contractors or grantees in Iraq as of late June and early July, respectively. The number of US government civilian employees is down 10 percent compared with the previous quarter, while the contractors and grantees have been reduced by about 26 percent, from 16,973 on April 1, SIGIR said. The watchdog also said the State Department has announced the closure of the US consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. The US has other consulates outside of Baghdad, in the southern port city of Basra, and in Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq. — AFP
DUBAI: An Iranian court has sentenced four people to death for a billion-dollar bank fraud that tainted the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, state media reported yesterday. Iranians, hit by sanctions and soaring inflation, were shocked by the scale of the $2.6 billion bank loan embezzlement that was exposed last year and by allegations it was carried out by people close to the political elite or with their assent. Of the thirtynine people tried for the fraud - the biggest in the Islamic Republic’s history - four were sentenced to hang, the IRNA state news agency reported. “According to the sentence that was issued, four of the defendants in this case were sentenced to death,” prosecutor general Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei told IRNA. Two people were sentenced to life and others received jail sentences of up to 25 years, Mohseni-Ejei said. In addition to jail time, some were sentenced to flogging, ordered to pay fines and banned from government jobs. Mohseni-Ejei did not name the defendants and Iranian media have identified them only by their initials. State television broadcast parts of the trial but blurred out the faces of the accused. The man described by Iranian media as the
mastermind of the scheme, businessman Amir Mansoor Khosravi, is said to have forged letters of credit from Iran’s Bank Saderat to fund dozens of companies and buy a state-owned steel factory. Mahmoud Reza Khavari, the former head of Iran’s biggest bank, state-owned Bank Melli, resigned over the affair and fled to Canada where records show he owns a $3 million home, Iranian and Canadian news agencies reported. The case has been politically awkward for Iran’s leadership as it aims to show it is tough on corruption and raised questions about whether the government’s privatisation drive has largely benefited friends of the political elite. Ahmadinejad has rejected claims that the investment company at the heart of the scandal has links to his closest aide, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, a powerful figure who has become the prime target for the president’s adversaries within the hardline ruling elite. Ahmadinejad’s economy minister, Shamseddin Hosseini, survived an impeachment vote last year, where members of parliament accused him of lax banking supervision. Acknowledging the political damage, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while criticising financial corruption,
Iranian power struggle rivalries heat up courts TEHRAN: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and hardline rivals traded blows yesterday as a presidential appointee was dismissed while his government pushed ahead with corruption claims against the brother of the parliament speaker. Ahmadinejad has faced more than a year of withering political attacks after challenging Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the selection of the intelligence minister. Dozens of Ahmadinejad’s allies have been arrested or driven from power by backers of Khamenei, and Ahmadinejad has been left severely weakened with less than a year left in his second and final term. The official IRNA news agency said a court dismissed a top government official who has been implicated in the deaths of prisoners. The ruling against Saeed Mortazavi, head of Iran’s social security organization, followed a suit filed by a group of anti-Ahmadinejad lawmakers. In 2010, a parliamentary probe found Mortazavi - then chief Tehran prosecutor - responsible for the deaths by torture of at least three anti-government protesters who were in custody. Angry lawmakers in April threatened to impeach the country’s labor minister, who made the appointment, over the case. In a separate report, IRNA said Javad Larijani - the brother of both the country’s parliament speaker and powerful judiciary chief - was under investigation over alleged land abuses. Tehran’s chief prosecutor Alireza Avaei was quoted as saying that a court is studying allegations that Larijani illegally took control of hundreds acres of protected land. The claims were filed by the government agency in charge of natural resources. —AP
said in televised comments last year that the media should not “drag out the issue”. “Some want to use this event to score points against the country’s officials,” Khamenei said. “The people should know the issue will be followed up on.” Mohseni-Ejei has held up the case as a demonstration that Iran can deal appropriately with high-level fraud. “The government, parliament, and all available devices were used to pursue the issue so that corruption can be fought in an open manner,” he was quoted as saying earlier this month by IRNA. But one of the defendents complained that, while the judiciary had pursued some low-level players in the fraud vigorously, senior officials involved in the scandal had gone unpunished. “Many other banking officials are outside of prison right now. Why are you able to put us on trial and have nothing to do with them?” the unnamed steel company official said, according to Iran’s Fars news agency. The anti-corruption group Transparency International ranked Iran 120 out of 183 countries on its 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index, which measures countries according to their perceived levels of government corruption. — Reuters
Syrians seeking refuge in Algeria tread carefully ALGIERS: “We fled the war, destruction and death. It has nothing to do with politics,” says Borhan, a 45-year-old father from Syria’s ravaged central city of Homs. Sitting in a square in central Algiers, along with dozens of other fugitive Syrian families, he chooses his words carefully, still afraid of the Syrian intelligence services (mukhabarat), and in a country that continues to support Damascus. According to Nidal Debbah, a lawyer and one of the leaders of the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC), those who have fled to Algeria can be divided into three categories - families, mukhabarat, and members of the opposition. The often-traumatised families “fear infiltration by the mukhabarat,” says Mohammed, a builder who worked for years in Lebanon, where he left his own family behind. Algiers, a longtime ally of Damascus, last week expressed “reservations” about an Arab League call for President Bashar Al-Assad to step down, saying that it should be a “sovereign decision for the brotherly Syrian people”. Borhan’s journey from Homs, with his wife and two children, began a year ago, not long after after protests against Assad’s rule broke out in southern Syria and quickly spread to other parts of the country. “First we left for Lebanon, then we returned to Syria, where the situation was not improving. From there we went to Jordan, but we didn’t manage to settle. We have been trying our luck here for the past 15 days,” the clothes merchant told AFP.
No visas are required for Syrians to enter Algeria but there are high costs to be borne by those seeking refuge from the conflict. “ The hotel costs 3,500 dinars per day (around €35) and I’m just ignoring how long I can afford it,” said Borhan, who doubts peace will return to his country any time soon, with the government intent on crushing the rebels. According to the interior ministry, in the past month some 12,000 Syrians have sought refuge in Algiers and other cities in the North African nation. Syrian opposition sources put the number as high as 20,000. Algeria has sought to rein in the exodus by reducing the number of weekly Air Algerie flights between Damascus and Algiers from three to one. Walid, 30, who arrived with his family last week via Beirut after fleeing the northwestern city of Idlib, another battleground in the Syria conflict, confirms why so many of his compatriots headed for Algeria. “We came here because we don’t need a visa. We had no choice, the army shelled our house,” said the farmer, adding that he expected the war to be long and to spread elsewhere. “There are about 200 families here from Idlib,” some of whom have been housed by Algerians, Walid says. “But we sleep here,” he adds, referring to Port Said Square, which overlooks the capital’s sweeping bay, and where dozens of Syrian families sit on the grass in the shade of the palm trees.—AFP
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
What to do about protecting distracted pedestrians WASHINGTON: A young man talking on a cellphone meanders along the edge of a lonely train platform at night. Suddenly he stumbles, loses his balance and pitches over the side, landing head first on the tracks. Fortunately there were no trains approaching the Philadelphiaarea station at that moment, because it took the man several minutes to recover enough to climb out of danger. But the incident, captured last year by a security camera and provided to The Associated Press, underscores the risks of what government officials and safety experts say is a growing problem: distracted walking. On city streets, in suburban parking lots and in shopping centers, there is usually someone strolling while talking on a phone, texting with his head down, listening to music, or playing a video game. The problem isn’t as widely discussed as distracted driving, but the danger is real. Reports of injuries to distracted walkers treated at hospital emergency rooms have more than quadrupled in the past seven years and are almost certainly underreported. There has been a spike in pedestrians killed and injured in traffic accidents, but there is no reliable data on how many were distracted by electronics. “We are where we were with cellphone use in cars 10 years or so ago. We knew it was a problem, but we didn’t have the data,” said Jonathan Akins, deputy executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents state highway
safety offices. State and local officials are struggling to figure out how to respond, and in some cases asking how far government should go in trying to protect people from themselves. In Delaware, highway safety officials opted for a public education campaign, placing decals on crosswalks and sidewalks at busy intersections urging pedestrians to “Look up. Drivers aren’t always looking out for you.” Philadelphia officials are drafting a safety campaign that will be aimed in part at pedestrians who are looking at their devices instead of where they’re going. “One of the messages will certainly be ‘pick your head up’ - I want to say ‘nitwit,’ but I probably shouldn’t call them names,” said Rina Cutler, deputy mayor for transportation and public utilities. As an April Fool’s Day joke with a serious message, Philadelphia officials taped off an “e-lane” for distracted pedestrians on a sidewalk outside downtown office buildings. Some didn’t get that it was a joke. “The sad part is we had people who, once they realized we were going to take the e-lane away, got mad because they thought it was really helpful to not have people get in their way while they were walking and texting,” Cutler said. When the Utah Transit Authority adopted an ordinance barring pedestrians from using cellphones, headphones or other distracting electronic devices while crossing the tracks of its light rail system on the streets of Salt Lake City, subject to a $50
fine, the Legislature refused to make it a statewide law. “Look, I get distracted all the time,” bristled Utah State Rep Craig Frank, a Republican who opposed the proposal. “I have a smartphone, too. Walking on sidewalks, in stores and malls, and maybe in a crosswalk sometimes I’m using
York legislatures also went nowhere. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, which provided the video of the man who fell onto the train tracks, has received reports from bus drivers and train engineers who say they nearly hit pedestrians who didn’t appear to
An undated handout image provided by Delaware State Office of Highway Safety shows a decal aimed at getting distracted pedestrians to look up from their mobile devices and watch where they’re walking. — AP my cellphone. But I try to stay connected to my environment. I never thought the government needed to cite me for using my cellphone in a reasonable manner.” Distracted walking bills in the Arkansas, Illinois and New
hear them sound their horns because they were distracted by their electronic devices, said Jim Fox, the agency’s director of system safety and risk management. He said there have been several cases of people hit and killed by
the authority’s trains in which it appears they were wearing headphones or using cellphones while trespassing on tracks. A University of Maryland study found 116 cases over six years in which pedestrians were killed or seriously injured while wearing headphones. In two-thirds of the cases the victims were men under age 30. Half the cases involved trains. In a third of the incidents, a warning horn was sounded just before the accident. “With the smartphone technology these days and everything at your fingertips, it’s almost getting to be an obsession or a compulsion with people,” Fox said. “You see it in airports or train stations or malls - if there’s any kind of downtime, they’re jumping right to that phone.” About 1,152 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms in the US last year for injuries suffered while walking and using a cellphone or some other electronic device, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which receives annual data from 100 emergency rooms and extrapolates the information into a national estimate. But that’s likely an underestimate because patients may not mention they were using a cellphone or other device at the time at the time they were injured, or the doctor or nurse may neglect to include the information in their report, said Tom Schroeder, director of the commission’s data systems. The cases include a 24-yearold woman who walked into a telephone pole while texting; a
28-year-old man who was walking along a road when he fell into a ditch while talking on a cellphone; a 12-year-old boy who was looking at a video game when he was clipped by a pickup truck as he crossed the street; and a 53-year-old woman who fell off a curb while texting and lacerated her face. One 67-year-old man walking along the side of a road was hit a by a bicyclist who was talking on a cellphone as he rode. The pedestrian injured a knee. Though overall traffic deaths were lower in 2010 than the year before, pedestrian fatalities rose by 4.2 percent and injuries by 19 percent, according to the latest data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It’s not clear how many of the pedestrian deaths and injuries involved cellphones and other electronics because police often don’t collect that information. Even without better data, the Internet yields a wealth of anecdotal evidence of the power of electronics to distract pedestrians. A woman texting while she walked through in a suburban Philadelphia shopping mall this year tumbled into a large fountain directly in front of her. Security camera video of the incident went viral, generating millions of hits. A man texting a message to his boss nearly strolled into the path of a black bear that had wandered into a suburban Los Angeles neighborhood. He was only a few feet away when he looked up, saw the bear, and ran. A KTLA news helicopter tracking the bear recorded the April incident.— AP
In Obama era, have race relations improved in US? Americans have no shortage of opinions and no consensus
CENTENNIAL, Colorado: James Holmes appears in court at the Arapahoe County Justice Center in this July 23, 2012 file photo. — AFP
Batman shooting suspect to be formally charged DENVER: Launching a case that legal analysts expect to be dominated by arguments over the defendant’s sanity, Colorado prosecutors plan to file formal charges yesterday against James Eagan Holmes, the former neuroscience student accused of killing 12 people and wounding 58 others at an Aurora movie theater. Attorneys will also argue over a defense motion to find out who leaked information to the news media about a package the 24-year-old former neuroscience graduate student allegedly sent to his psychiatrist at the University of Colorado Denver. Authorities seized the package July 23, three days after the shooting, after finding it in the mailroom of the medical campus where Holmes studied. Several media outlets reported that it contained a notebook with descriptions of an attack, but Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers said in court papers that the parcel hadn’t been opened by the time the “inaccurate” news reports appeared. Investigators said Holmes began stockpiling gear for his assault four months ago and bought his weapons in May and June, well before the shooting spree just after midnight during a showing of the Batman film “The Dark Knight Rises”. He was arrested by police outside the theater. Analysts said that means it’s likely there’s only one main point of legal dispute between prosecutors and the defense. “I don’t think it’s too hard to predict the path of this proceeding,” said Craig Silverman, a former chief deputy district attorney in Denver. “This is not a whodunit. ... The only possible defense is insanity.” Under Colorado law, defendants are not legally liable for their acts if their minds are so “diseased” that they cannot distinguish between right and wrong. However, the law warns that “care should be taken not to confuse such mental disease or defect with moral obliquity, mental depravity, or passion growing out of anger, revenge, hatred, or other motives, and kindred evil conditions.” Experts said there are two levels of insanity defenses. Holmes’ public defenders could argue he is not mentally competent to stand trial, which is the argument by lawyers for Jared Loughner, who is accused of killing six people in 2011 in Tucson, Arizona, and wounding several others,
including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Loughner, who has pleaded not guilty to 49 charges, has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and is undergoing treatment at a Missouri prison facility in a bid to make him mentally fit to stand trial. If Holmes’ attorneys cannot convince the court that he is mentally incompetent, and he is convicted, they can try to stave off a possible death penalty by arguing he is mentally ill. Prosecutors will decide whether to seek the death penalty in the coming weeks. Holmes was not expected to enter pleas yesterday. He ultimately could verbally enter a plea to the anticipated dozen first-degree murder charges, or his attorneys could enter it for him. Prosecutors may file multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder and other charges against Holmes, who booby trapped his apartment with the intent to kill any officers responding there the night of the theater attack, Aurora police said. Sam Kamin, a law professor at the University of Denver, said there is “pronounced” evidence that the attack was premeditated, which would seem to make an insanity defense difficult. “But,” he said, “the things that we don’t know are what this case is going to hinge on, and that’s his mental state”. With an unruly mop of orange hair, Holmes appeared bleary-eyed and distracted during his brief initial appearance in court last week. He did not speak. Friends in Southern California, where Holmes grew up, describe him as a smart, sometimes awkward youth fascinated by science. He came to Colorado’s competitive neuroscience doctoral program in June 2011. A year later, he dropped out shortly after taking his year-end exam. District Court Judge William Blair Sylvester has tried to tightly control the flow of information about Holmes, placing a gag order on lawyers and law enforcement, sealing the court file and barring the university from releasing public records relating to Holmes’ year there. A consortium of media organizations, including AP, is challenging Sylvester’s sealing of the court file. On Friday, court papers revealed that Holmes was seeing a psychiatrist at the university. But they did not say how long he was seeing Dr Lynne Fenton and if it was for a mental illness or another problem.—AP
PHILADELPHIA: Ask Americans how race relations have changed under their first black president and they are ready with answers. Ashley Ray, a white woman, hears more people debating racial issues. “I know a lot of people who really thought we were OK as a nation, a culture, and now they understand that we’re not,” she says. Karl Douglass, a black man, sees stereotypes easing. “White people deal with me and my family differently,” he says. Jose Lozano, who is Hispanic by way of Puerto Rico, believes prejudice is emerging from the shadows. “Now the racism is coming out,” he says. In the afterglow of Barack Obama’s historic victory, most people in the United States believed that race relations would improve. Nearly four years later, has that dream come true? Americans have no shortage of thoughtful opinions, and no consensus. As the nation moves toward the multiracial future heralded by this son of an African father and white mother, the events of Obama’s first term, and what people make of them, help trace the racial arc of his presidency. Shortly before the 2008 election, 56 percent of Americans surveyed by the Gallup organization said that race relations would improve if Obama were elected. One day after his victory, 70 percent said race relations would improve and only 10 percent predicted they would get worse. Just weeks after taking office, Obama said, “There was justifiable pride on the part of the country that we had taken a step to move us beyond some of the searing legacies of racial discrimination.” Then he joked, “But that lasted about a day.” Or, rather, three months. By July 2009, the black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates was arrested for yelling at a white police officer who questioned whether Gates had broken into his own home. Asked to comment, Obama said he didn’t know all the facts, but Gates was a personal friend and the officer had acted “stupidly”. The uproar was immediate. Obama acknowledged afterward, “I could’ve calibrated those words differently.” Ed Cattaneo, a retired computer training manager from Cape May, New Jersey, points to that episode as evidence of how Obama has hurt race
NEW YORK: In this June 4, 2012 photo, US President Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton wave to the crowd during a campaign event at the New Amsterdam Theater. Clinton will have a marquee role in this summer’s Democratic National Convention, where he will make a forceful case for Obama’s re-election and his economic vision for the country, several Obama campaign and Democratic party officials said Sunday.— AP relations. “He’s made them terrible,” says Cattaneo, who is white. He also sees Obama as siding against white people through actions such as his Justice Department’s decision to drop voter intimidation charges against New Black Panthers and in a program to turn out the black vote called “African-Americans for Obama”. Larry Sharkey, also white, draws different conclusions from the past four years. “Attitudes are much better,” Sharkey says as he slices raw meat in a Philadelphia butcher shop. He remembers welcoming a black family that moved next door to him 20 years ago in Claymont, Delaware. A white neighbor advised him not to associate with the new arrivals, warning, “Your property values are going to go down.” That kind of thing would never happen today, Sharkey says. As Obama dealt with fallout from the Gates affair during the summer of
2009, the tea party coalesced out of opposition to Obama’s stimulus and health care proposals. The vast majority of tea partyers were white. A small number of them displayed racist signs or were connected to white supremacist groups, prompting the question: Are Obama’s opponents motivated by dislike of the president’s policies, his race - or both? As that debate grew, Obama retreated to the race-neutral stance that has been a hallmark of his career. An October 2009 Gallup poll showed a large drop in racial optimism since the election, with 41 percent of respondents saying that race relations had improved under Obama. Thirty-five percent said there was no change and 22 percent said race relations were worse. The president has discussed race in occasional speeches to groups such as the National Urban League or the National
Council of La Raza, and in interviews with Hispanic and African-American media outlets. But he usually walks a careful line, allowing the nation to get used to the idea of a black president without doing things to make race seem a central aspect of his governance. “There is a totally different psychological frame of reference that this country has never had,” says William Smith, executive director of the National Center for Race Amity at Wheelock College. He cites evidence of progress from the mindset of children in his programs to new history curriculums in Deep South schools. “To me, that’s a quantum leap,” Smith says. Douglass, a real estate agent from Columbus, Georgia, says white people seem less surprised to see him with his wife and daughter in places such as an art museum or a foreign language school. —AP
Guards at 7 US prisons searched SPRINGFIELD, Illinois: Illinois authorities took the unusual step of searching guards and other prison employees for contraband as they left at least seven facilities last week, sparking worker allegations that the checks may have been reprisals for complaints about overcrowding and understaffing and inside information leaked to the news media, workers and union officials told AP. Department of Corrections spokeswoman Stacey Solano would not confirm that the searches had intensified, but she said they are a routine security measure to control banned materials from cellphones to weapons. The dustup over the pat downs comes as Gov Pat Quinn pushes a cost-cutting plan to shutter several state correctional facilities, including next month’s scheduled closure of a “supermax” prison in Tamms. The move has been fiercely resisted by prison workers who fear increased violence if cur-
rently isolated gang members are moved elsewhere. The searches began just days after prison workers complained publicly in Springfield about prison conditions and followed a newspaper report about where some displaced Tamms inmates would go. That report was based on an internal Corrections document. The employees’ union said such searches are rare and may constitute “retaliatory harassment”, which the Corrections agency denied. Employee searches started July 23 at prisons in Danville, East Moline, Pontiac and Taylorville; the Menard prison in Chester; the Shawnee lockup in Vienna; and Illinois River Correctional Center in Canton, according to workers and their union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. At least some have occurred when workers punched out. Illinois Department of Corrections policy allows searches of employees at
any time - beginning, during or ending a shift - to ensure they are not carrying banned materials, from magazines and cigarettes to illegal drugs and weapons. But Kim Larson, an accountant at the Danville prison for 12 years, said she never received a pat down before when she left her 7 am to 3 pm shift. “It was weird. Usually, they do it at the beginning of the shift, when we’re coming in,” she said. “I mean, what are we going to take out?” She said no one told the employees the reason for the search, which for Larson involved going to a restroom with a female officer, emptying her pockets and undergoing a pat down of her body. Larson said that type of search, even when arriving at work, is so unusual that she can’t remember the last time she had to go through any security measure other than the daily inspection of bags and walk through a metal detector.—AP
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
Romania’s Basescu survives impeachment vote BUCHAREST: Romanian President Traian Basescu escaped impeachment yesterday when a referendum on his removal from office fell short of the 50 percent turnout needed, despite a resounding vote for his dismissal. His arch rival Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who has led efforts to push Basescu from office, said he had accepted the result and would not pursue the president’s ouster. “I am not going to seek confrontation with Basescu,” Ponta told five foreign media including AFP in an interview in his office in Bucharest, stressing that “everyone is going to lose if we are continuing to fight.” Now that the two men will have to work together, Ponta pledged not to “interfere with the president’s prerogatives”, but stressed: “It takes two to tango.” Basescu said after results were announced that voters had “thwarted a coup” by shunning polling stations but acknowledged the “anger” of the millions who did call for his removal after eight years in office. Official results showed that 87.55 percent of
those who took part in Sunday’s referendum had voted in favour of Basescu’s impeachment, while only 11.12 percent had rallied to the president’s cause. But, according to the returns from more than 97 percent of polling stations, turnout reached 46.13 percent short of the 50 percent of the 18.3 million electorate required for the result to be validated by the constitutional court. The referendum was the culmination of weeks of political feuding between the conservative president and 39-year-old Ponta’s USL coalition, which took power in May and quickly moved against Basescu. Brussels and Washington attacked the government’s campaign and voiced doubt over the democratic credentials of Romania, which only joined the EU in 2007, making it the bloc’s newest member. Ponta said yesterday he had “learnt all the lessons” from the criticism by the European Union, which said his government’s moves “have shaken our trust”. He also admitted that Romania’s
polls slated for October. Ponta had said earlier yesterday that he and his rival could not work together, arguing the president had lost all legitimacy. Basescu says he will cooperate with the USL provided its leaders “prove they want to reinforce the state, mend what they broke, observe the Constitution and legislation.” The 60-year-old Basescu was one of the country’s most popular politicians but his approval ratings plummeted amid austerity cuts in 2010. He lost his parliamentary support in May this year when a right-wing government was ousted in a vote of confidence. The USL promptly sacked the opposition parliamentary speakers and an ombudsman and clipped the powers of the constitutional court, earning rebukes from the international community. Yesterday the Ziarul financiar newspaper warned that any continued standoff could fur ther undermine one of Europe’s poorest nations on the eve of an evaluation BUCHAREST: Romanian President Traian Basescu speaks at the end of the mission by the EU and International Monetary Fund. — AFP referendum on his impeachment on Sunday. — AP
international image had been “tainted” by the impeachment referendum. Even before the publication of the official results, Basescu, of the centre-right PDL party, had declared victory in surviving a second impeachment attempt
in five years. He said that Romanians had voted “for Europe, and for democracy”. Commentators warned however that the crisis could drag on as a fresh electoral clash looms with legislative
Anti-Putin punks on trial over cathedral protest Trio declare innocence, regret at trial
BRATOSZEWICE, Poland: The remains of a minibus lies on railway tracks yester— AFP
9 dead as train hits mini-bus in Poland WARSAW: A collision between a minibus and a train on a level crossing killed nine people and injured a tenth in Poland yesterday, with the victims likely all Ukrainian nationals, police said. “Eight passengers on the bus were killed at the site of the accident. Two injured persons were taken to hospital and one succumbed to their injuries a few hours later,” Joanna Kacka, police spokeswoman in Lodz, central Poland told AFP. The tenth person, a 21-year-old Ukrainian woman, was being treated in hospital but “we’re optimistic about the state of her health,” Kacka said. “We hope this is the final toll of the accident,” she added. The accident victims, including seven
women and three men, are “likely all Ukrainian seasonal workers” commuting to a local food processing factory, Kacka said. A Ukrainian consul was on the scene yesterday, according to commercial TV broadcaster Polsat. The accident happened at around 6:00 am (0400 GMT) in the central town of Bratoszewice when the mini-bus failed to stop at the railway crossing. Investigators found no skid marks, suggesting there was no lastminute braking. The six-seater Ford Transit mini-bus was also overloaded, carrying 10 people including the driver. About 30 passengers on the commuter train escaped the crash unscathed. — AFP
Rebels in Tajikistan surrender weapons DUSHANBE, Tajikistan: Tajik soldiers are gaining the upper hand over armed opposition groups along the Afghan border, with a growing number of rebels surrendering their weapons in hopes of gaining amnesty, police said yesterday. But Tajik authorities are still seeking one gang’s leader, whom they blame for the death of a top security official. Word of the fading resistance in the Gorno-Badakhshan provincial capital, Khorog, eased fears of greater instability in the impoverished ex-Soviet nation, which still bears the scars of a five-year civil war in the 1990s that is estimated to have killed more than 60,000 people. Tajikistan’s location also makes it strategically important to the US war effort in Afghanistan. Clashes broke out Tuesday in Khorog as authorities sought to arrest Tolib Ayombekov, a one-time warlord suspected in the killing of Abdullo Nazarov, a general in Tajikistan’s national intelligence service. Hundreds of troops have reportedly poured into Khorog to hunt down Ayombekov. Ayombekov was one of many opposition fighters in the civil war who continue to wield substantial local influence and defy the central government. Authorities also accused Ayombekov of drug-trading and smuggling tobacco and precious stones. Ayombekov has denied the accusations and said the government is using Nazarov’s death as a pretext for cementing its grip over Gorno-Badakhshan, a thinly
populated province. At least 17 troops and 30 rebels were killed in the fighting early last week. Authorities say one civilian died, but there are local reports the toll may be higher. Ayombekov’s precise whereabouts are unknown. A reporter in Khorog for local news portal Asia-Plus cited claims that he was seriously wounded and in a village near Khorog. Independent verification of events in the region is difficult because of its remote nature and spotty communications links. Authorities said that although negotiations are underway to secure amnesties for most of the rebel fighters, Ayombekov must give himself up. Interior Ministr y spokesman Makhmadullo Asadulloyev said that the weapons being surrendered by the rebels include assault rifles, handguns and sniper rifles. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revival Party, the largest opposition force in the country of 7 million, demanded an investigation into the death of the head of its Gorno-Badakhshan section, Sabzali Mamadrizoyev. The party says it believes Mamadrizoyev was detained by law enforcement officers after he delivered a speech at a rally held in Khorog on the day before fighting broke out. It claimed in a statement that he was severely beaten and later shot dead. “He made critical remarks during the meeting, but they were within reason and lawful,” party leader Mukhiddin Kabiri said. — AFP
MOSCOW: Three women who protested against Vladimir Putin in a “punk prayer” on the altar of Russia’s main cathedral went on trial yesterday in a case seen as a test of the longtime leader’s treatment of dissent during a new presidential term. The women from the band ‘Pussy Riot’ face up to seven years in prison for an unsanctioned performance in February in which they entered Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral, ascended the altar and called on the Virgin Mary to “throw Putin out!” Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, were brought to Moscow’s Khamovniki court for Russia’s highest-profile trial since former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky was convicted in 2010, for a second time, in the same courtroom where the Pussy Riot trial began. Supporters chanted “Girls, we’re with you!” and “Victory!” as the women, each handcuffed by the wrist to a female officer, were led from a white and blue police van into the courthouse through a side entrance. Streets around the court, on a high Moscow River embankment, were closed. They were led into a metal and clear-plastic courtroom cage, where they milled and spoke with lawyers as preparations began. Tolokonnikova, in a blue chequered shirt, lowered her head to speak through a small opening in the enclosure. Two pairs of handcuffs hung at the ready just beside her face. “We did not want to offend anybody,” Tolokonnikova said, speaking to a defence lawyer who stood outside the enclosure. “We admit our political guilt, but not legal guilt.” The stunt was designed to highlight the close relationship between the dominant Russian Orthodox Church and former KGB officer Putin, then prime minister, whose campaign to return to the presidency in a March election was backed clearly, if informally, by the leader of the church, Patriarch Kirill. The protest offended many believers and enraged Kirill. The church, which has enjoyed a big revival since the demise of the officially atheist Communist Soviet Union in 1991 and is seeking more influence on secular life, cast the performance as part of a sinister campaign by “anti-Russian forces”. The women are charged with hooliganism motivated by religious hatred or hostility. But in opening statements read by a defence lawyer, who sometimes struggled with the handwritten texts, they said they were protesting against Kirill’s political support for Putin and had no animosity toward the church or the faithful. “I have never had such feelings toward anyone in the world,” Tolokonnikova said in her statement. “We are not enemies of Christians ... our motives are exclusively political. We only want Russia to change for the better,” she said. Alyokhina’s statement said: “I thought the church loved all its children, but it seems the church loves only those children who love Putin.” The women looked thinner and paler than they did when they were jailed following the performance in late February, shortly before
Putin, in power as president from 2000-2008 and then as prime minister, won a six-year presidential term on March 4. “She looks like she has been on a long hunger strike,” Stanislav Samutsevich said of his daughter. “Her cheeks are hollow. I’ve never seen her in such a state. I think this is like an inquisition, like mockery.” A reporter on state-run Rossiya-24 television presented a different picture, focusing on occasional smiles and chuckles and an overall air of self-assuredness among the women, who whispered to each other as a prosecutor read the charges. “Look at their faces; they are laughing and joking,” the reporter said on the news, adding that a viewer might think they were “continuing the action” they carried out at the cathedral. Prosecutors asked for the tri-
sent. Rights groups and musicians such as Sting and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have expressed concern about the trial, reflecting doubts that Putin - who could serve until 2024 if re-elected in six years - will become more tolerant. In her opening statement, read out by defence lawyer Violetta Volkova, Samutsevich said she saw the prosecution as “the start of a campaign of authoritarian, repressive measures aimed to ... spread fear among politically active citizens”. The trial comes as Putin, 59, is trying to forestall potential challenges and rein in his opponents, who hope to reignite the street protest movement this autumn. Yesterday, Putin signed a law enacting stricter punishment for defamation. That follows recent laws tightening controls on foreign-
MOSCOW: (From left) Yekaterina Samutsevich, Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot sit behind bars at a courtroom yesterday. — AP al, which was streamed live on the Internet, to be closed to the public and the media, saying a “rift in society” and emotions over the case put the defendants and other participants at risk. A group of conservative Russian writers called yesterday for tough punishment. But Kremlin opponents, rights activists and supporters of the defendants say the charges are politically motivated. “This has nothing to do with the law, it is a political reprisal,” said opposition lawmaker Gennady Gudkov. “(The prosecution of ) Pussy Riot is of course an unprecedented case of stupidity and brutality on the part of the authorities.” The performance, a protest against the church’s support for Putin, was part of a lively protest movement that at its peak saw 100,000 people turn out for rallies in Moscow, some of the largest in Russia since the Soviet Union’s demise. The plight of the three women, who have been held in a courtroom cage during pre-trial hearings, has also drawn attention in the West, where governments are closely watching how Putin will handle dis-
funded civil rights groups and sharply raising fines for violations of public order at street rallies. Opposition leaders including anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny and socialite Ksenia Sobchak have had their homes searched and faced repeated rounds of questioning over violence at a protest on the eve of Putin’s inauguration on May 7. Navalny was due to appear before investigators in a separate case yesterday, and lawyers, who said they were told he would be charged with a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. Amnesty International has called for the release of the Pussy Riot members, two of whom have young children, saying the charges are not a “justifiable response to the peaceful - if, to many, offensive - expression of their political beliefs”. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev dismissed criticism of the case in remarks published yesterday, saying the trial was a “serious ordeal” for the defendants and their families but that “one should be calm about it” and await the outcome. — Reuters
Mali unmarried couple stoned to death BAMAKO: Islamists in northern Mali have stoned an unmarried couple to death, the first reported sharia killing since they occupied the area, ratcheting up pressure on an embattled interim government. The execution came as interim President Dioncounda Traore finalised a unity government which foreign partners have demanded be formed by today to take decisive action against the jihadists who have cleaved the nation in two. As politicians grappled for solutions in Bamako and west African capitals, the Al-Qaeda linked Islamists grew bolder, dragging a rural couple to the centre of the town of Aguelhok Sunday for a
public stoning. “I was there. The Islamists took the unmarried couple to the centre of Aguelhok. The couple was placed in two holes and the Islamists stoned them to death,” said a local government official on condition of anonymity. “The woman fainted after the first few blows,” he said, adding that the man had shouted out once and then fallen silent. A second official confirmed the information, saying the couple had two children the youngest of which was six months old. “They were living in the bush, they were brought to town by the Islamists who stoned them to death. People came out to watch, there were witnesses,” he said, also not wishing to be identified.
The small town in the region of Kidal near the Algerian border was one of the first to be captured by Tuareg separatist rebels on Jan 24. Some 82 civilians and soldiers were summarily executed during the attack, France said earlier this year, accusing the rebels of using Al-Qaeda style tactics. The Tuareg rebellion sparked a March coup by angry and overwhelmed soldiers, but the chaos only allowed the desert nomads and Islamists fighting on their flanks to seize the country’s north, an area larger than France. The Islamist groups, which experts say are acting under the aegis of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) have since
chased out the Tuareg separatists and are firmly in control. In Timbuktu, they have also implemented strict Islamic law and destroyed ancient World Heritage sites which they consider idolatrous. Once one of the region’s stable democracies, Mali has crumbled into despair in half a year and the interim government which took over from the junta has been powerless in the face of the jihadist occupation. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) wants to send a 3,000-strong military force to Mali but is waiting for United Nations approval and a formal request from a more inclusive government. — AP
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Creaky Indian infrastructure in the spotlight NEW DELHI: India’s worst power grid failure in more than a decade and a deadly train fire yesterday highlighted the crumbling infrastructure holding back Asia’s third-largest economy, according to experts. The outage, blamed by the government on system overload, knocked out power across a vast swathe of northern India, leaving people sweltering without fans, creating massive traffic jams and halting trains. The blackout came as 32 sleeping passengers died in India’s southern Andhra Pradesh state when a fire tore through a train coach - the latest such incident to strike India’s accident-prone century-old rail network. India achieved near double-digit growth over much of the last decade despite its often crumbling roads and investment-starved railways, ports and electricity networks. But its development and record on lifting its hundreds of millions of poor out of penury could be even better if the government was able to make the investments called for by the
business community, experts say. There is added urgency too, after India’s economy grew at its slowest quarterly rate in nine years, they add. “Infrastructure has always been the soft spot of the Indian economy - there has not been enough investment, which has lowered the potential growth rate,” Dariusz Kowalczyk, senior economist at Credit Agricole, told AFP. The government is aiming to double infrastructure spending to $1 trillion on infrastructure during its latest five-year economic plan to 2017. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a bid last month to overcome accusations of government policy paralysis, laid out an ambitious plan to fast-track big ticket projects. In the power sector, the government is aiming for $400 billion of private and public investment over the next five years, but its track record is abysmal. India has undershot every electricity goal it has set for itself in its economic plans for the past six decades - and in the last three plans
has missed capacity addition targets by 50 percent, according to the government Planning Commission. “The entire power situation at present is headed for disaster,” said D S Rawat, secretary general of Indian business lobby Assocham. In fact, India’s track record on delivering infrastructure projects in various sectors from ports to highways on time and on budget shows more misses than hits with such problems as land acquisition and red tape holding up work. Recently, a flagship rail link to New Delhi’s new airport has been put out of service because of faults detected on the line. “In the past, the actual performance versus targets has not been very encouraging,” said analyst Nalin Bhatt at Indian brokerage Motilal Oswal in a note. Also India’s ability to attract private money to fund infrastructure development is in question with foreign investors alarmed by a string of corruption scandals, perceived hostile government tax policies and political opposition to open-
ing up the economy. “Improving infrastructure is very important to restore the allure of growth of the Indian growth story,” said Credit Agricole’s Kowalczyk. As well as power shortages and deficiencies in transport infrastructure, civic services providing water, garbage removal and sewerage are also poor or non-existent, even in new fast-growing areas often hailed as the “new shining India”. In New Delhi’s satellite city of Gurgaon, home to affluent professionals, gleaming malls and multinational companies, many residents buy water because taps have run dry. They also endure day-long power outages. “It’s become an urban nightmare - everything is collapsing here,” said housewife Samita Kumar, who lives in an upmarket two-storey home in Gurgaon, as she waited for the power to return 14 hours after yesterday’s megaoutage began. “We have to get water tankers every other day and some days I go to the mall just to get cool when the electricity is gone,” she said. —AFP
Map locates the eight states where there’s a power outage in India including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. —AP
India blackout leaves 370m without power Northern states left sweltering in the dark
MEHSANA, India: Indian Muslim Yusufbhai (left), who lost eleven members of his family, gestures as he arrives at the court in some 70 km from Ahmedabad yesterday. —AFP
Court jails 22 Hindus in deaths of Muslims AHMADABAD, India: An Indian court yesterday sentenced 22 Hindus to life imprisonment in the deaths of 11 members of a Muslim family during some of the country’s worst sectarian violence 10 years ago that left more than 2,000 dead. Judge S C Srivastava found the 22 guilty of attempted murder and rioting. The killings took place in 2002 in Visnagar, a town in Gujarat state. More than 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, were killed by Hindu mobs in the state after a train fire killed 60 Hindus who were returning from a pilgrimage. Muslims were blamed for the fire. Tens of thousands of people were left homeless as the rioters set fire to Muslim homes and businesses. The religious violence was among India’s worst since its independence from Britain in 1947. Another 61 people were acquitted for lack of evidence in the case, in which rioters in the Gujarati town of Visnagar attacked a Muslim family, locked them inside their house and then set them on fire. Of the 11 who died in what became known as the Dipda Darwaza massacre, two were children. Visnagar is 70 km north of the state’s main city, Ahmedabad. Public prosecutor Mukesh Brahmbhatt told AFP the judge did not find any evidence of a conspiracy in the case despite claims from the prosecution that the violence was preplanned. Hindu mobs hungry for revenge
rampaged through Muslim neighbourhoods in several cities and villages across Gujarat during three days of bloodshed that witnessed some of India’s worst religious violence since independence from Britain in 1947. More than 2,000 people, most of them Muslims, were hacked, beaten or burned to death. Gujarat’s Chief Minister Narendra Modi - a prominent member of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party who is thought to harbour ambitions of being prime minister - was widely criticised for failing to stop the riots. A total of 84 people have already been convicted by the trial court in four separate cases. The charges in the Dipda Darwaza massacre included murder, conspiracy, rioting, unlawful assembly, attempted murder and destruction of evidence. Relations between Hindus and Muslims have been largely peaceful since the bloody partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan on independence. But mistrust runs deep and there are sporadic bouts of violence. In November last year, 31 Hindus were sentenced by the same court to life imprisonment for killing dozens of Muslims by setting a building on fire in the state’s Mehsana district. The courts are expected to issue verdicts in the remaining cases within a year as ordered by India’s top court. Indian courts are notorious for long delays.—Agencies
NEW DELHI: Northern India’s power grid crashed yesterday, halting hundreds of trains, forcing hospitals and airports to use backup generators and leaving 370 million people - more than the population of the United States and Canada combined - sweltering in the summer heat. The blackout, one of the worst to hit India in a decade, highlighted the nation’s inability to feed a growing hunger for energy as it strives to become a regional economic power. The northern grid crashed about 2:30 a.m. because it could no longer keep up with the huge demand for power in the hot summer, officials in the state of Uttar Pradesh said. However, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said he was not sure exactly what caused the collapse and had formed a committee to investigate it. The grid feeds the nation’s breadbasket in Punjab, the warwracked region of Kashmir, the burgeoning capital of New Delhi, the Dalai Lama’s Himalayan headquarters in Dharmsala and the world’s most populous state, the poverty stricken Uttar Pradesh. By late morning, 60 percent of the power had been restored in the eight northern states affected by the outage and the rest was expected to be back on line by the afternoon, Shinde said. The grid was drawing power from the neighboring eastern and western grids as well as getting hydroelectric power from the small neighboring mountain kingdom of Bhutan. New Delhi residents were roused from sleep when their fans and air conditioners stopped and came out of their homes in the heat as the entire city turned dark. Temperatures in the city were in the mid-30s with 89 percent humidity. New Delhi’s Metro transit system, with 1.8 million daily riders, stopped for hours during the morning commute. Some trains across
the northern region were stranded when their electric engines failed. Others were delayed by hours as they were hooked to diesel engines. Water pumping stations ran dry. “First, no power since 2 in the morning, then no water to take a shower and now the metro is delayed by 13 minutes after being stuck in traffic for half an hour,” said 32-year-old Keshav Shah, who works 30 km outside the capital. “As
Delhi where he launched his “fast until death” on Sunday. The 75-year-old former army truck driver wants parliament to strengthen a pending anti-corruption bill and also create a special team to probe possible graft allegations against 15 ministers, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. “The way this wave of protest against
corruption is building in the country, I am getting this feeling that the government would have to bring a strong Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill or else it will have to go,” Hazare told the cheering crowd. Hazare became an unlikely national hero last August when he led protests that tapped into a rich seam of public anger at endemic corruption and
NEW DELHI: Supporter of anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare wave the Indian national flag during a rally where Hazare continues his hunger strike yesterday. Hazare, who galvanised the country last year with his hunger strikes against corruption, began a new fast Sunday to press demands for a crackdown on official graft. —AFP
was worsened by a weak monsoon that lowered hydroelectric generation and kept temperatures higher, further increasing electricity usage as people seek to cool off. Shivpal Singh Yadav, the power minister in the state of Uttar Pradesh, home to 200 million people, said that while demand during peak hours hits 11,000 megawatts, the state can only provide 9,000 megawatts. Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation
NEW DELHI: A stranded newlywed woman passenger waits for her train at New Delhi railway station after northern India’s power grid crashed yesterday. —AP if I wasn’t dreading Monday enough, this had to happen.” While the outage was unique in its reach, its impact was softened by Indians’ familiarity with almost daily power outages of varying duration. Hospitals and major businesses have generators that kick in when during power cuts, and upscale homes run on backup systems powered by truck batteries. “This will obviously get worse,” said Subhash Chawla, a 65-year-old retiree who took the Metro once
Hazare vows ‘wave of protest’ NEW DELHI: Indian anti-graft activist Anna Hazare yesterday threatened a “wave of protest” that would bring down the government on the second day of a hunger strike to push for stronger anticorruption laws. More than 3,000 people carrying banners and shouting slogans in support of Hazare’s campaign gathered at the protest venue in central New
power was restored. “Unless the Metro has a separate power supply, it will be chaos in the future.” The failure was the first time since 2001 that the northern grid had collapsed. But India’s demand for electricity has soared since then as its economy has grown sharply. The outage was a reminder of the country’s long road ahead in upgrading its infrastructure to meet its aspirations of being an econom-
drew millions onto the streets in cities across India. During a 12-day hunger strike in New Delhi, he was feted as a latter-day Mahatma Gandhi and mobbed at a triumphal procession through the capital. His current fast has failed to galvanise the same mass support and the national media coverage has been relatively critical, with accusations that he is trying to hold parliament to ransom. Hazare’s main demand focuses on a new anticorruption bill that would set up a federal ombudsman, or Lokpal, with powers to probe official corruption. Hazare insists the draft of the bill currently before a parliamentary committee is too weak to be effective. Despite the smaller crowds than last year, his supporters yesterday said the national mood was firmly behind their hero. “People are with Anna Hazare. Everyone is sick of corruption and even if they do not show up at the protest venue, they still stand by him,” said Ramesh Chand Dhawan, 65, a retired government employee. “We all love and respect Hazare and will fight against corruption till the very end.” Sagar Sehgal, a 24-yearold financial consultant, said he and six friends had taken the day off work to come and show their support. “It is time to come out of our offices and houses to prove that we are with Hazare. The government should wake up or they will be wiped out in the next elections in 2014,” Sehgal said. —AFP
ic superpower. India’s Central Electricity Authority reports power deficits of about 8 percent in recent months. But any connection to the grid remains a luxury for many. One-third of India’s households do not even have electricity to power a light bulb, according to last year’s census. Transmission and distribution losses in some states are as much as 50 percent because of theft and connivance of employees in the power industry. The power deficit
chief Avnish Awasthi blamed the grid collapse on states drawing more than their allotted power to meet the summer demand. Earlier this month, angry crowds blocked traffic and clashed with police after blackouts in the Delhi suburb of Gurgaon that houses many high-rise apartment blocks and offices. With no power in some neighborhoods for more than 24 hours, people erected blockades that paralyzed traffic for several hours. —Agencies
India’s Maoist fight hurting activists NEW DELHI: For more than 15 years, activist Himanshu Kumar worked to bring food and health programs to the largely tribal areas of the Indian state of Chattisgarh, the epicenter of a Maoist rebellion against the government. But in 2009, when he loudly complained about abuses by the government supported Salwa Judum militia, he was forced to leave, he said. In the decades-old war between India and the Maoists, civilian activists like Kumar have become collateral damage. In a 60-page report released yesterday, New York-based Human Rights Watch confirmed that grassroots activists who deliver development assistance and publicize abuses in Maoist conflict areas are at particular risk of being targeted by both government security forces and the insurgents. The international watchdog found that government authorities in the states of Orissa, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh, arbitrarily arrested, tortured, and otherwise mistreated many civil society activists. It said police demanded activists serve as informers and those that refused were accused of supporting the Maoists. Sedition laws are used to curtail free speech and concoct criminal cases to lock up critics of the government. The Indian Home Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. In Kumar’s case, police demolished his non-profit organization’s office, because it was allegedly on protected forest land.
Several of his workers were also arrested. “They made up false charges against my colleagues, even murder,” he told AP. Unable to secure any other space in the area and because of the threats and arrests, Kumar fled from Chhattisgarh to Delhi. “Staying on would only have brought more harassment.” Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, wrote the report based on interviews with Kumar and more than 60 other local residents, activists, journalists, and lawyers who were witnesses to or familiar with abuses by Indian security forces and the Maoists. “Aid workers and rights defenders need to be allowed to do their work safely and not be accused of having a political agenda simply because they bring attention to abuses,” she said. The rights group found that Maoists suspected activists of being government informers, and in several cases, punished them by shooting or beheading them after a summary “trial” in a self-declared “people’s court”. In March 2011, the Maoists killed Niyamat Ansari, who helped villagers access a government employment program in Jharkhand, for “being under the influence of the police administration, and carrying out counter-revolutionary activities”. But while the report cited only one other case of Maoist abuse, it listed about a dozen cases of government abuses, describing in detail arrests, torture, the use of sedition laws and general harassment. —AP
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international
‘Greyjing’? Air pollution fouls Beijing’s name BEIJING: With its parks, centuries-old palaces, history and culture, Beijing should be one of the more pleasant capitals of the world. Instead, it’s considered among the worst to live in because of chronic air pollution. Lung cancer rates are rising among the 20 million residents of China’s capital, health officials say. For many multinational companies, Beijing is considered a hardship posting and, despite the extra allowances that classification brings, some executives are leaving. On some days, Beijing is enveloped in a brownish-grey smog, so thick it gets indoors, stings the eyes and darkens the sky in the middle of the day. Smoke from factories and heating plants, winds blowing in from the Gobi Desert and fumes from millions of vehicles can combine to blanket the city in this pungent shroud for days. Englishspeaking residents sometimes call the city “Greyjing” or “Beige-jing”. Some foreigners plan their daily events around the US Embassy’s Twitter feed on Beijing’s air quality, which has hourly posts. “On a bad day, you’re going to change your plans,” said American Chauvon Venick, who moved to Beijing from Los Angeles with her lawyer husband and young daughter earlier this year. “You wake up, look outside and it’s a great day, you skip whatever you’re going to do and go outside to enjoy it. If it’s a really bad day, maybe we’ll go and do something inside. I’m not going to have her out and about,” Venick added, referring to her daughter.
While the embassy’s air quality index has been consistently in the “unhealthy” range around 170 in the past week, the winter months can be especially bad as residents crank up the heating. One day in early December, Beijing’s smog was so severe it forced the main airport to shut for several hours, and the US Embassy’s index reached its ceiling with a reading of 500, meaning the air was hazardous to human health. Last year, the state-run China Daily quoted a Beijing health official as saying the lung cancer rate in the city had increased by 60 percent during the past decade, even though the smoking rate during the period had not seen an apparent rise. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s liveability index this year ranked Beijing’s pollution at 4.5, with 5 being the worst. Out of 70 cities surveyed, the only ones rated worse were Mumbai, New Delhi, Karachi, Dakar, Dhaka and Cairo. Beijing has a lot going for it, aside from being capital of the world’s second-largest economy and home to UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Summer Palace and world-famous cuisine. But the pollution has reached such levels it can be hard convincing foreign executives to move to the city. “We can’t get people to move here. Pollution is a big worry, especially if you have children,” said a Beijing-based executive for a large Western financial services firm, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Beijing is considered a
hardship posting nobody wants.” Those taking advantage include companies that make air purifiers, which report booming business and count big foreign firms among their clients. “Sales last year were three times the average of what we had seen in previous years,” said Zheng Hui, a sales consultant for Swiss company IQ Air, which entered the Chinese market more than five years ago. Chinese authorities made an all-out effort to improve air quality during the 2008 Summer Olympics, curtailing vehicle movements and relocating outdated, polluting factories. The relief was temporary, as curbs on factories were relaxed and car sales continued to rocket. It is still a sensitive issue, especially as Beijing tries to position itself as a global business hub. Last month, a senior Chinese official demanded foreign embassies stop issuing air pollution readings, saying it was against the law and diplomatic conventions, in pointed criticism of the US Embassy index. The Beijing authorities say they are well aware of the air pollution problem. “We are trying to improve air quality. It is not only to attract investment from abroad; we are also doing it for the health of all Beijingers,” an official at Beijing’s environmental protection bureau told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. Elsewhere in China, there have been protests in recent weeks over threats to the environment. On Saturday, officials cancelled an industrial waste pipeline
project after anti-pollution demonstrators occupied a government office in eastern China, destroying computers and overturning cars. Earlier this month, thousands took to the streets in Sichuan province’s Shifang town to protest against a $1.6 billion copper refinery they feared would poison their families. The city government swiftly called off the project. For expatriates in Beijing, especially from the West, air pollution is not the only challenge. English is not widely spoken, public transport is often crowded, food safety is a worry and tight controls on the Internet mean websites like Facebook and Twitter are hard to access. “For expat staff themselves looking to move here, the concerns they invariably express to me are: first and foremost safety of consumables and/or prevalence of fake and adulterated groceries, drinking water, pet food and so on, and then the high fees associated with international schools. Pollution is mentioned, but only in passing,” said a consultant who advises foreign businesses operating in China. “However, that said, a number of clients and friends of mine are now angling to leave China after having been here a few years, and a major factor in that desire is pollution,” added the consultant, who asked not to be identified. Last week, Charlie Custer, Beijingbased editor-in-chief of the respected ChinaGeeks blog, announced he and his
wife were leaving for the United States, partly because of the pollution. “I like breathing,” he wrote. “There’s really nothing forcing me to live in Beijing. It is, in many ways, a wonderful city, and it’s probably the most fascinating, exciting place I have ever lived. However, it was also killing me. Obviously there are millions of families in Beijing, and they deal. Certainly, we could deal too. But the question I couldn’t stop asking myself was, why should we?” It is hard to gauge exactly how many foreigners are leaving due to pollution as there are no official numbers. Yet the city and China generally remains an attractive place to live for many, especially as its economy booms despite turmoil in Europe and a slow recovery in the United States. “Beijing is obviously more polluted and it’s not ideal, but senior executives or directors move jobs because of their career,” said Cater Yang, managing director for China at global placement agency Robert Walters. “The China experience will make their career shine more.” The people with some of the best knowledge about expatriate movements - moving companies - say Beijing keeps drawing in foreigners. “China’s certainly a popular destination,” said Nick Dobson, Corporate Services Manager North China for Crown Relocations. “We’re busier,” he added. “The rental market continues to rise, and the demand for quality expat housing is outrageous.” —Reuters
Australia, N Zealand restore ties with Fiji Foreign ministers hold talks in Sydney SYDNEY: Australia and New Zealand yesterday agreed to restore full diplomatic relations with military-run Fiji which have been suspended since tit-for-tat expulsions of each other ’s top envoys in 2009. It followed Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr holding talks with his New Zealand and Fiji counterparts, Murray McCully and Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, in Sydney. During the discussions, the Fijian minister updated them on progress
since Australia and New Zealand expelled Fiji’s envoys in November 2009, a day after Suva ordered their high commissioners out, claiming interference in its judicial affairs. McCully said restoring ties was a significant step that reflected improved relations with the South Pacific nation. “It’s acknowledgement of the significant progress that has been made towards the restoration of democracy in Fiji,” he told AFP.
SYDNEY: (From left) Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, Australia’s Foreign Minister Bob Carr and their New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully pose for a photograph following a meeting yesterday. —AFP towards democratic elections in 2014. “As a consequence of today’s meeting, all three sides agreed to restore diplomatic relations,” Carr’s spokesman told AFP. “It was considered that the move to democratic reform was encouraging and irreversible,” he added. Relations with Suva have been turbulent
Canberra and Wellington have led condemnation of Fiji military leader Voreqe Bainimarama since he seized power from the elected government in December 2006 in the country ’s fourth coup in two decades. Bainimarama took control pledging to root out corruption and introduce a one-person,
one-vote system intended to end entrenched racial inequalities in the nation of 860,000 but reneged on a promise to hold elections in 2009. Instead, he tore up the constitution and introduced emergency laws which muzzled the media and banned public meeting, saying the country would not be ready for elections until 2014. Australia and New Zealand, major aid donors in the South Pacific nation, responded by successfully pushing for Fiji’s suspension from the Commonwealth and the Pacific Islands Forum. But since January, the military government has gradually relaxed some of its emergency powers and announced plans to finalise a constitution ahead of elections in 2014. In a statement, Carr and McCully said their talks with Kubuabola were constructive, although they still raised concerns about media freedoms and human rights. They said Kubuabola reiterated his government’s commitment to allowing free and fair elections. The ministers added that travel sanctions slapped on key players within the regime would be re-examined “on a case-by-case basis”. McCully said New Zealand would also look at relaxing its sporting sanctions against Fiji, which he conceded were not strictly enforced anyhow. The restoration of diplomatic ties comes after a Pacific delegation, including Carr and McCully, travelled to Suva in May as part of a Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) mission and reported “positive progress”. It also comes on the same day that former Fiji prime minister Laisenia Qarese, who was ousted in the 2006 coup, was convicted on nine charges of abuse of office and failing to discharge his duty. In the case brought by Fiji’s anti-corruption watchdog, the charges related to his time as a director of a government investment company called Fijian Holdings from 1992 to 1995. The conviction means he will not be eligible to contest elections in 2014. —AFP
Indonesia arrests 62 over bar attack JAKARTA: Indonesian police said yesterday they have arrested 62 people, most of them minors, involved in attacking a bar in south Jakarta for serving alcohol during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. A group of 150 youths - some as young as 13 and carrying swords and golf clubs - raided the De Most bar late Saturday, smashing bottles of alcoholic drinks and damaging the property, said Hermawan, chief detective for South Jakarta police. “Of the 62 arrested most are minors, and some... were armed with Samurai swords, sickles and golf clubs,” said Hermawan, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. “They shattered the windows and door and smashed bottles, saying they wanted all bars shut to ensure the month of Ramadan is not tainted,” he added. Twenty-three people face charges of damaging property while four are additionally charged with carrying sharp weapons. The group called itself the Prophet’s Defenders Council, Hermawan said. “It is usual for
me and my followers to raid sinful places during Ramadan,” the group’s alleged leader, 33-yearold Habib Bahar was quoted as saying by the Kompas.com news website after the arrests. “They commit sins there. They get
drunk so action must be taken,” said Bahar, who was among the arrested. A bar staff member said the attackers, some of them wearing white trousers and matching skull caps, arrived on motorcy-
JAKARTA: Indonesian university students walk pass the locked De Most bar yesterday following a raid by Islamic group Prophet’s Defenders Council on the evening of July 28, 2012. —AFP
cles and shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Greater) as they entered the bar and forced guests to leave. “There was a live band playing (traditional) dangdut music and some of us were dancing. They said this is a sinful place, before smashing the glasses and beer bottles,” the bar’s operational manager Pariah, 37, told AFP. “It was very frightening as they were armed with sticks, machetes, swords. Some of the female staff took off their highheel shoes and ran helter-skelter. We thought they were going to kill us,” she said. In previous years Islamic groups have raided places serving alcohol, but Saturday’s attack was the first this year since the fasting month of Ramadan officially began on July 21. Authorities have ordered bars and nightclubs to close during the holy month, but the ban is not strictly enforced. Ninety percent of Indonesia’s population of 240 million identify themselves as Muslim but the vast majority practise a moderate form of Islam. —AFP
MANILA: Residents salvage pieces of their homes after two empty barges rammed into shanties on stilts at a poor community yesterday. Dozens of shanty houses were destroyed as strong winds and waves made the huge barges to ram shanties nestled along the coastline of the Manila bay. —AP
Three dead as storm lashes Philippines MANILA: At least three people were killed and millions were left without power yesterday as Tropical Storm Saola turned into a typhoon, bringing heavy rains to large parts of the Philippines, the government said. Manila was one of the worst hit areas and schools across the sprawling capital were suspended, largely due to flooding, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. Nearly 13,000 people were evacuated in Manila, other parts of the main island of Luzon and the central Visayas region, as rainfall reached 20 mm an hour, according to the council. “The worst appears to be over, though... there will be more rains forecast today,” council chief Benito Ramos told AFP. One person drowned in the central province of Antique, while the body of a man believed to be a fisherman lost at sea washed ashore in a coastal town south of Manila, he said. The coast guard meanwhile said one of 57 passengers aboard a ferry that sunk Sunday in rough seas in the central Philippines died of an apparent asthma attack while being rescued. All the other people aboard were safe, it said. Saola did not strike the Philippines directly but exacerbated rains from a low pressure area in the vicinity, weather forecasters said. The storm was upgraded into a typhoon by the government weather station yesterday as it continued to bring heavy rains and strong winds to the northernmost areas of the Philippines, the government weather station said. By late afternoon yesterday,
Saola was in the Philippine Sea, 260 km off the northernmost Batanes islands and heading slowly towards Taiwan, the weather station said. The northern regions are still vulnerable to flashfloods and landslides even as the typhoon pulls away, it warned. Work in all government agencies was suspended in Manila in the afternoon to allow workers to return home early amid forecasts of more rain, presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said. The storm knocked out power for as many as two million households in Manila starting late Saturday, said Joe Zaldarriaga, spokesman for the Manila Electric Co which distributes power to the capital of 15 million. Even though repair crews had restored electrical service to most of those affected, there were still 38,000 homes without power as of yesterday afternoon, he said in a radio interview. “We apologise for the inconvenience but be assured that we are doing are best to immediately restore power,” Manila Electric said in statement to customers. At least 15 domestic flights were also called off, while emergency officials were also monitoring La Mesa dam north of Manila after its water neared overspill level. La Mesa provides water to Manila’s residents, and any overflow could flood a major river that snakes across the northern portion of the capital before draining into Manila Bay. “There are thousands of residents living along this waterway and we have told them to prepare for possible evacuations,” Ramos said. —AFP
Anti-nuke candidate loses Japan election TOKYO: A candidate who ran on a rare anti-nuclear platform lost a weekend election for state governor, even as thousands of people formed “a human chain” around Japan’s parliament complex to demand the government abandon nuclear power. The protest was the latest in a series of peaceful demonstrations on a scale not seen in the nation for Tetsunari Iida decades since the Fukushima crisis gave rise to fears of another nuclear disaster. I n t h e c l o s e l y w a tc h e d e l e c t i o n Sunday for governor of southwestern Yamaguchi prefecture, anti-nuclear cand i d a te Te t s u n a r i I i d a t r a i l e d fo r m e r bureaucrat Shigetaro Yamamoto with 185,654 votes to 252,461 votes, the prefecture said yesterday. Two other indep e n d e n t c a n d i d a te s a l s o ra n . Vo te r
turnout at 45 percent was high. The election highlights the gap between deep anti-nuclear sentiments, evident in Sunday’s and other recent protests in Tokyo, and the reaction in distant rural areas, where the plants are located, that tends to be more accepting of their presence. Sunday’s protesters, crowding Japan’s Capitol Hill, said they were angry that the government had restarted two reactors earlier this month despite safety worries af ter the multiple meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in March last year. The reactors were the first to return to operation since May, when the last of Japan’s 50 working reactors went offline for routine checks. Banging on drums and waving balloons and banners, protesters marched from a Tokyo park and lined up along the streets around the parliament building chanting, “Saikado hantai,” or “No to restarts,” and later lit candles. —AP
NEWS
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
Two tech titans face off in court Apple files lawsuit against Samsung SAN FRANCISCO: Two tech titans squared off in federal court yesterday in a closely watched trial over control of the US smartphone and computer tablet markets. Apple Inc filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co last year alleging the world’s largest technology company’s smartphones and computer tablets are illegal knockoffs of its popular iPhone and iPad products. The Cupertino-based company is demanding $2.5 billion in damages, an award that would dwarf the largest patent-related verdict to date. Samsung counters that Apple is doing the stealing and that some of the technology at issue - such as the rounded rectangular designs of smartphones and tablets - has been industry standards for years. The US trial is just the latest skirmish between the two over product designs. A similar trial began last week, and the two companies have been fighting in courts in the United Kingdom and Germany. The case is one of some 50 lawsuits among myriad telecommunications companies jockeying for position in the burgeoning $219 billion market for smartphones and computer tablets. In the United States, US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose last month ordered Samsung to pull its Galaxy 10.1 computer tablet from the US market pending the outcome of the trial, though the judge barred Apple attorneys from telling the jurors about the ban. “That’s a pretty strong statement from the judge and shows you what she thinks about some of Apple’s claims,” said Bryan Love, a Santa Clara University law professor and patent expert. Love said that even though the case will be decided by 10 jurors, the judge has the authority to
overrule their decision if she thinks they got it wrong. “In some sense the big part of the case is not Apple’s demands for damages but whether Samsung gets to sell its products,” said Mark A. Lemley, a Stanford Law School professor and director of the Stanford Program in Law, Science, and Technology. Lemley also said a verdict in Apple’s favor could send a message to consumers that Android-based products such as Samsung’s are in legal jeopardy. A verdict in Samsung’s favor, especially if it prevails on its demands that Apple pay its asking price to certain transmission technology it controls, could lead to higher-priced Apple products. Lemley and other legal observers say it’s rare that a patent battle with so much at stake doesn’t settle short of a trial. Court-ordered mediation sessions attended by Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook and high-ranking Samsung officials failed to resolve the legal squabble, leading to a highly technical trial of mostly expert witnesses opining on patent laws and technology. Cook is not on the witness list and is not expected to testify during what is expected to be a four week-trial. Lemley, Love and others say it also appears that Apple was motivated to file the lawsuit, at least in part, by its late founder’s public avowals that companies using Android to create smartphones and other products were brazenly stealing from Apple. To that end, Samsung’s attorneys made an unsuccessful pitch to have the jury hear excerpts from Steve Jobs’ authorized biography. “I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of
DUESSELDORF: In this file photo, an attorney holds an Apple iPad (left) and a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 at the regional court in Duesseldorf, Germany. — AP
Apple’s $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong, I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product,” Jobs is quoted as saying in Walter Isaacson’s book “Steve Jobs” published in November. “I’m willing to go thermonuclear war on this.” But the judge barred those statements in a ruling earlier this month. “I really don’t think this is a trial about Steve Jobs,” Koh said. In court papers filed last week, each company laid out its legal strategy in so-called “trial briefs.” Apple lawyers argue there is almost no difference between Samsung’s products and Apple’s and that the South Korean company’s internal documents show it copied Apple’s iconic designs and its interface. “Samsung once sold a range of phones and a tablet of its own design,” Apple lawyers argue in their documents filed Wednesday. “Now Samsung’s mobile devices not only look like Apple’s iPhone and iPad, they use Apple’s patented software features to interact with the user.” Samsung denies the allegation and counter-charges that Apple copied its iconic iPhone from Sony. Samsung lawyers noted that the company has been developing mobile phones since 1991 and that Apple jumped into the market only in 2007. “In this lawsuit, Apple seeks to stifle legitimate competition and limit consumer choice to maintain its historically exorbitant profits,” Samsung lawyers wrote in their trial brief also filed Wednesday. “Android phones manufactured by Samsung and other companies - all of which Apple has also serially sued in numerous forums worldwide - offer consumers a more flexible, open operating system with greater product choices at a variety of price points as an alternative to Apple’s single, expensive and closed-system devices.” “Between 2005 and 2010 alone, Samsung invested $35 billion in research and development relating to telecommunications technology, with over 20,000 engineers worldwide dedicated to telecommunications research and development,” Samsung’s lawyers wrote. “One thing that is notable is that this trial is happening at all,” said Love, the Santa Clara law professor and patent expert. He said that in an industry such as this where so many companies hold so many vital patents needed by all players, lawsuits are viewed as toying with “mutually assured destruction” and that most disputes are solved through “horse trading” and agreements to share intellectual property and royalties. — AP
Fasting in Islam and Christianity Continued from Page 1 disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” Mathew 6:16-17. Basically, both religions emphasize the fact that a true fast is basically only known by God, Himself. In Islam, we have the Prophetic statement, “Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving then times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me.’ for the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk.” [AlBukhari] In the Bible, the Christian is told, “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Mathew 6:18 Both religions have the concept of fasting. There are, however differences. In Islam, the Muslim refrains from food, drink and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset. Also, the Muslim is commanded to avoid: anger, using inappropriate language, backbiting and gossip, anger, fighting, rudeness, lying, cheating and all forbidden deeds. These actions invalidate the fast. For the Christian, there is no specific type of fast. The Christian can fast by giving up one type of action or bad deed, like smoking for a limited time or by giving up food, but not water. In essence, giving up anything for the sake of God is considered a kind of fast.
Sometimes the fast can be complete and unbroken, like Leviticus 23:27, 32 (CEV) says “Everyone must go without eating from the evening of the ninth to the evening of the tenth on the seventh month which is the Day of Atonement.” During the Christian fast, the Christian is also encouraged to conform his/her behavior to righteousness as well. Another factor that is important in both religions is the intention. In Christianity, the adherent is encouraged to make a schedule. He is taught that the fast should not be about dieting but about increasing his or her spirituality. The Muslim is taught that without intention, the fast is null and void. The Muslim must make his or her intention to fast the night before, prior to the sunrise. A fast that has no intention must be made-up. There is disagreement, but most scholars agree that the fast is made internally and there is no need to say an audible intention. The same holds for Christianity. The intention is personal. This month, Ramadan, is considered sacred and honored by Muslims. It has been dedicated to Allah as a special time where worship, charity, brotherhood, good deeds and humility are increased, while sins, miserliness, indecency, arrogance, and evil are avoided by the faithful. No human being is perfect. Regardless of religious affiliation, we are all imperfect creations of The Creator, and this month is the perfect opportunity to help each other to enjoin righteousness and avoid evil. It is a chance to reach out to each other, get to know each other and celebrate that which we have in common and gain understanding of the commonalities between the religions. For Christians living in Kuwait, it’s a chance to see, first hand, Muslims enjoying and celebrating a month dedicated to God. — Courtesy AWARE Center
Iraqi cleric promotes peace Continued from Page 1 “We should concentrate on the development of the economic ties between the two countries and on investments. In the past few years we have been focusing on the political and security issues,” he said. According to him, the security in Iraq has an impact on the whole region. “If Iraq is more secure then this will have a positive impact on Kuwait and the region as a whole,” he said. He further added that the visits of both Kuwaiti and Iraqi officials have had positive impacts for the two nations. Al-Hakeem stressed that Iraq is marking serious improvements security-wise. “Compared to two years ago the situation today is much better. After 150,000 American soldiers withdrew from Iraq, our government has been working alone to insure security. As a result, the number of terrorist attacks has decreased,” he said. To attest his words, he said that all delegations that visited Iraq “noticed the improvement”. Al-Hakeem also noted that the Iraqi government is eager to solve all significant pending issues between the two countries.
He stressed that Iraq and Kuwait have settled some important issues. To illustrate his point, he mentioned the border dispute, the compensation of Kuwait Airways Corporation by the Iraqi Airways, the Kuwaiti properties in Iraq and other issues. “We also have good results in the negotiation on the Mubarak Port, especially the fourth phase of the project,” stressed Al-Hakeem. Regarding the Syrian refugees, Al-Hakeem said “In the beginning there were fears of letting the Syrians into Iraq - a status quo that has changed now. Iraq’s borders have been opened for Syrians, he said - elaborating that there are refugee camps built on the Iraqi-Syrian borders in cooperation with the Iraqi Red Crescent which accommodates refugees. “Some Syrians have relatives in Iraq and we let them stay with them. We didn’t forget their help for the Iraqi people in the past 30 years,” he said. Finally he ensured the Kuwaiti business community that Iraq is safe for investments. “The new Foreign Investment Law provides good security for foreign investors in Iraq,” he said. He explained that some Kuwaiti property owners in Iraq won cases disputing properties in Basra other areas.
NELLOR: An Indian fire official douses fire coming out from a coach of a passenger train at Nellor nearly 500 kilometers south of Hyderabad, India yesterday. — AP
India train fire kills at least 32 HYDERABAD: At least 32 people were killed yesterday when a fire ripped through a coach on an express train as it carried sleeping passengers to the southern Indian city of Chennai, officials said. The accident, on a longdistance service from New Delhi, occurred in the early hours of the morning near the town of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh state with an electrical short-circuit seen as the most likely cause. “Thirty-two (bodies) have been pulled out from the coach,” Madhusudan Sarma, a senior administrative officer in Nellore district said, adding that there were still more corpses inside. Another 26 people have been admitted to hospital, he added. One carriage was completely gutted, and rescuers were struggling with the fierce temperatures inside the mostly metal structure. Cutting torches were being used to open wider access points for the emergency services. Images showed dozens of rescuers, survivors and crowds of onlookers milling around as the blackened and twisted bodies of victims were lifted out of the wrecked carriage and laid in rows alongside the railway line. Family members of the victims wailed and screamed, while other dazed survivors sat around quietly with their belongings. “I woke up when people were rushing into our compartment, I was in S-10 which was attached to the S-11 coach that caught fire,” passenger Shantanu, who gave only one name, told the NDTV news channel. “There was smoke all around. We tried to open the emergency window, people jumped out of it.” Nellore chief district official B Sreedhar said preliminary investigations suggested a short circuit near a toilet had triggered the blaze. “We expect the death toll in the affected coach to be around 30 to 35 people,” Sreedhar told NDTV. “The fire spread fast and blocked
the door at one end of the coach, so there was only one exit available.” The non-stop train was travelling at 110 kilometers per hour (70 miles per hour) when it passed through Nellore station, where staff noticed the fire and informed the railway authorities. India’s accident-prone rail network is still the main form of long-distance travel in the huge country, despite fierce competition from private airlines. While new shiny airport infrastructure is springing up across the country, the Indian railways-a much romanticized legacy of British colonial rule-often appear stuck in a time-warp. There were two fatal accidents this May alone, including a collision that killed 25 people near the southern city of Bangalore. Four passengers also died after a train derailed in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sent his condolences to the victims and has asked the national railways ministry to coordinate the relief effort, his office said. In March, the then railway minister Dinesh Trivedi unveiled a draft budget for 2012-13 that included a major safety upgrade to be financed by across-theboard fare hikes. But he was forced to withdraw it and resign after a rebellion from his own populist party, the Trinamool Congress, which objected to increasing ticket prices for the poorest travelers. The National Crime Records Bureau, which gathers the causes of fatalities across India, says 25,705 people in total died on the railways in 2009. The data is not broken down, but a vast majority of these deaths are people falling from the open doors of carriages or being hit on the tracks, which are mostly unsecured. India’s worst rail accident was in 1981 when a train plunged into a river in the eastern state of Bihar, killing an estimated 800 people — AFP
Syria top diplomat in London defects Continued from Page 1 Defections are becoming a growing problem for Assad’s regime, which has launched a bloody crackdown on a revolt in which more than 20,000 people have died since March 2011, according to activists. Syria closed its embassy in Australia yesterday amid reports that some of its staff were seeking asylum. Mayer Dabbagh, Syria’s honorary consul in Sydney, confirmed the closure but declined to say why the embassy had shut or what had become of its staff. Also yesterday a diplomatic source said that another brigadier general had defected from Syria’s army to join the ranks of opposition fighters, pushing the total number of rebel generals based in Turkey to 28. Senior Syrian officers have been crossing over into Turkey to link up with rebel forces on a near daily basis in recent months, often accompanied by rank-and-file troops, to join the ranks of the Free Syrian Army. There have been a number of defections by diplomats too. Sources said last week that Syria’s charge d’affairs in Cyprus, Lamia Hariri, and her husband Abdel Latif AlDabbagh, the ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, had both defected. Nawaf Fares, Syria’s ambassador to Iraq, left for Qatar earlier in July month after publicly renouncing his post. Meanwhile, Syrian military stepped up its campaign to drive rebel fighters out of Aleppo yesterday, firing artillery and mortars while a fighter jet flew over a district the army said it had retaken the day before. However, opposition activists denied government forces had entered the Salaheddine district, which lies in the southwest of the country’s biggest city and straddles the most obvious route for Syrian troop reinforcements coming from the south. Hospitals and makeshift clinics in rebel-held eastern neighborhoods were filling up with casualties from a week of fighting in Aleppo, a commercial hub that had previously stayed out of a 16-month-old revolt against President Bashar Al-Assad. “Some days we get around 30, 40 people, not including the bodies,” said a young medic in one clinic. “A few days ago we got 30 injured and maybe 20 corpses, but half of those bodies were ripped to pieces. We can’t figure out who they are.” The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 40 people, including 30 civilians, were killed in Syria yesterday. Two rebel fighters died in Salaheddine. Outgunned rebel fighters, patrolling in flat-bed trucks flying green-white-andblack “independence” flags, said they were holding out in Salaheddine despite a battering by the army’s heavy weapons and helicopter gunships. “We always knew the regime’s grave would be Aleppo,” said Mohammed, a young fighter, fingering the bullets in his tattered brown ammunition vest. “Damascus is the capital, but here we have a fourth of the country’s population and the entire force of its economy. Bashar’s forces will be buried here.” An unidentified Syrian army officer said on state television late on Sunday that troops had pushed “those mercenary gunmen” completely out of Salaheddine, adding: “In a few days safety and security will return to the
city of Aleppo.” The army’s assault on Salaheddine echoed its tactics in Damascus earlier this month when it used its overwhelming firepower to mop up rebel fighters district by district. Assad’s forces are determined not to let go of Aleppo, where defeat would be a serious strategic and psychological blow. Military experts believe the rebels are too lightly armed and poorly commanded to overcome the army, whose artillery pounds the city at will and whose gunships control the skies. Reuters journalists in Aleppo have been unable to approach Salaheddine to verify who controls it. “Yesterday they were shelling the area at a rate of two shells a minute. We couldn’t move at all,” said a man calling himself a spokesman for the “Aleppo Revolution” group. “It’s not true at all that the regime’s forces are in Salaheddine.” Warfare has stilled the usual commercial bustle in this city of 2.5 million. Vegetable markets are open but few people are buying. Instead, crowds of sweating men and women wait nearly three hours to buy limited amounts of heavily subsidized bread. In a city where loyalties have been divided, with sections of the population in favor of the Assad government, some seemed wary of speaking out in the presence of the fighters, many of whom have been drafted in from surrounding areas. Asked about his allegiances, one man waiting at a police station that had been badly damaged by shellfire said: “We are not with anyone. We are on the side of truth.” Asked whose side that was, he replied: “Only God.” Others stopped members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and asked them to do something about the supply of bread and petrol. Rebel fighters remain in control of swathes of the city, moving around those areas armed with assault rifles and dressed in items of camouflage clothing in an edgy show of confidence. They were emboldened to strike at Aleppo and Damascus after a July 18 explosion that killed four of Assad’s top security officials in a damaging blow at the president’s inner circle. The army has regained its grip on the capital and is now intent on denying Aleppo to FSA rebels, some of whose roadblocks fly the black and white banners of Islamist militants. With big powers divided, the outside world has been unable to restrain Syria’s slide into civil war. France said it would ask for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to try and break the diplomatic deadlock on Syria, but gave no indication that Russia and China would end their longstanding policy of blocking measures against Assad. The United Nations humanitarian chief said 200,000 people had fled Aleppo, only 50 km from the Turkish border, in two days. It was not clear how this estimate had been reached given the difficulties of assessing relief needs in war zones. Assad’s ruling system is dominated by his minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, while his opponents are mostly from Syria’s Sunni Muslim majority. The sectarian element in the conflict has raised fears that it could inflame Sunni-Shiite tensions elsewhere, particularly in Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. — Agencies
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TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
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A Syrian standoff By Rajan Menon ust about everyone who’s paying attention agrees that the prospects for a negotiated settlement in Syria are dismal, a consensus that’s both depressing and an understatement. Depressing because the killing continues without letup. Between 10,000 and 17,000 people are estimated to have been killed so far, about 200,000 have fled to neighboring countries and more than 1 million are internal refugees. An understatement because the only real peace plan, that of Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary-general and now UN special envoy to Syria, is in tatters because of incompatible preconditions attached by Bashar Assad’s Alawite-minority government and the armed opposition. There are two reasons for the continued fighting. First, although the insurgents have turned a war once confined to the countryside and to Sunni towns such as Hama and Homs into one that threatens the regime’s hold on the nation’s two largest cities - Damascus, the capital, and Aleppo, the commercial hub - the ruling elite is not giving up. And the opposition, now better armed, more experienced and with increasing external support, thinks the fall of the House of Assad, which has lasted for more than four decades, is imminent. The other reason the guns keeping blazing is that the major powers - the United States, China and Russia - are talking past each other and trading vitriol instead of working in concert. Washington alleges that the key to a political settlement is Assad’s departure. It has used sanctions in an effort to achieve that end and, along with its allies, pushed (unsuccessfully) for UN-mandated economic penalties. US leaders have excoriated China, and even more strongly Russia, for refusing to join the effort and for using their Security Council vetoes to save Assad. China and Russia charge that it’s one-sided to press Assad to stop his war and to resign, and that the opposition must cease fighting as well, without preconditions. Beijing and Moscow believe that the US and its partners have hastily embraced a disparate insurgency without ascertaining what it stands for and whether it is united about Syria’s future. They believe that the triumph of a fractious insurgency would only prolong the violence. Because China and Russia face upheavals in their Muslim regions, both worry that an Islamic regime could eventually replace Assad. China and Russia, having abstained on, and thus enabled, a Security Council resolution on Libya that was ostensibly crafted to establish a nofly zone to safeguard civilians but morphed into regime change, are determined to not allow that to happen in Syria. Nevertheless, the United States, China and Russia do have common interests that could be pursued cooperatively, including the following: -Preventing a Lebanesestyle sectarian war in post-Assad Syria, with Alawites retreating to bastions that they fortify, Sunnis trying to destroy the strongholds, Christians arming for self-protection and Kurds seeking to secede. - Ensuring that Syria does not turn into a base for al-Qaeda or its affiliates, something that’s occurred in Mali and seems to be happening in Iraq. - Engaging the opposition so that if the government that follows Assad has a strong Islamic orientation, it is inclusive, democratic and respectful of the rights of religious minorities and women. - Securing Syria’s chemical weapons so they don’t fall into the hands of terrorists groups in the event that the regime disintegrates. Keeping a civil war, which is already internationalized given the external assistance that the opposition is receiving, from becoming a full-blown regional war that Iran, Lebanon-based Hezbollah, Turkey and Iraq are sucked into, and keeping the Persian Gulf Arab states from funneling even more funds to Syrian Sunni militias. - Planning for an international effort to rebuild a shattered Syria so that it does not descend into long-term poverty and instability. There may be other shared interests, but these can serve as the foundation for behind-thescenes diplomacy to make things in Syria less bad than they are now. As things stand, Washington has abandoned a UN solution after China and Russia last week vetoed the third Security Council resolution on Syria. The US is now focusing on toppling Assad. But that could take a long time, and many more people could be killed in the meantime. China and Russia increasingly understand that Assad’s regime is a lost cause, but they are unwilling to abandon it. Their problem is that they will have to recalculate or be shut out of the postwar settlement. It is true that even under the best of conditions, the prospects are bleak that a coordinated major-power strategy can engineer the voluntary transfer of power from Assad to a transitional government, pending elections. Yet this much is certain: If China, Russia and the United States don’t try, the chances will be zero. That won’t be good for Syrians, or for them.— MCT
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Taleban fighters - their own worst enemy By Mina Habib here are signs that the Taleban members are proving to be their own worst enemy in Afghanistan. Villagers in various parts of Afghanistan are reportedly staging localized uprisings, rejecting the insurgents’ increasingly draconian actions. These small-scale revolts have occurred even as the Taleban have tried to distance themselves from the execution-style killing of a woman accused of adultery in Parwan province in late June. Her death revived bitter memories of the group’s worst excesses when it controlled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001. In recent years, the Taleban had appeared to be adopting comparatively moderate policies toward populations in areas where they were present in an attempt to win the public’s hearts and minds. But many say the Taleban are reverting to form and sowing resentment in the population by conducting extrajudicial trials, forcing schools to close, blocking reconstruction projects and generally behaving brutally and harassing civilians. Nawab Mangal, a member of parliament from Paktia province in southeastern Afghanistan, described how the Taleban came under attack in the Mirzaka district on July 9 when local residents rose up and successfully expelled the insurgents from the area. Mangal said local residents had become increasingly fed up by the Taleban’s taking food by force, destroying bridges and roads and closing schools for boys as well as girls. “The Taleban’s cruelty has become
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intolerable,” Mangal said. “The people have been forced to launch spontaneous actions to defend their lives and honor, as well as the interests of the region.” Similar uprisings have taken place in other districts of Paktia, including Jani Khel and Dand-e Patan, Mangal said. He said that when he met elders from seven districts in the province recently, they told him support for the Taleban was collapsing. They said people in their areas believed the insurgents were working for Pakistan and aimed to destroy Afghanistan. In the eastern Nuristan province, Taleban members have also encountered resistance. Ahmadullah Mowahedi, a parliamentarian from the province, said that when insurgents attempted to close a school in the Waigal district in June, staff and local officials first tried reasoning with them, and then assaulted them and violently ejected them from the building. “Teachers, pupils and members of the (local) council started a one-on-one fight with the Taleban,” he said. “They beat them up, and the Taleban were forced to make their escape. They failed to close the school.” In Andar, a district in the southern Ghazni province, residents took up arms against the Taleban two months ago and forced them out of the area after they closed schools and clinics and halted reconstruction projects. Chaman Shah Etemadi, a member of parliament, said there are rumors that similar events were in the offing in other districts of Ghazni. “The people neither support the Taleban nor the government. They only support their regional interests,” he said.
In the northwestern province of Faryab, residents of the Almar district are also reported to have risen up against the Taleban, expelling them from the area. Taleban spokesman Zabihullah Mojahed acknowledged that rebellions were taking place, but denied they were spontaneous. He said those involved were paramilitaries acting on the government’s instructions and supported by “foreigners.” He also accused the media of exaggerating the situation. “If we didn’t enjoy popular support, it wouldn’t have been easy to fight against a huge number of foreign forces over the course of ten years. We have relied on God and our people,” he said. “The people have risen up against the occupation.” The government denies backing the villagers. Interior ministry spokesman Mohammad Sediq Sediqi said that while the government viewed the insurrections as admirable, it had provided no assistance. “The Taleban want to misrepresent what is a spontaneous movement by the people,” he said. “The truth is that people are fed up with their cruelty.” Abdul Satar Sadat, a political analyst, said the rebellions reflected the now common view that the Taleban were agents of Pakistan. “People now believe that those carrying out actions in the name of the Taleban and jihad are not Afghans, but enemies of the Afghan people and that they have to rise up against them,” he said. “People have put up with their houses being destroyed, but when their schools were burned and public roads and institutions were destroyed, they ran out of patience,” he said.— MCT
What’s at stake for Mallya if Kingfisher fails? By Swati Pandey and Tony Munroe f Indian baron Vijay Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines fails, lenders owed $1.4 billion may end up with a small stake in his spirits business, a modest office building, the carrier’s brand, and not a lot else. A $16 million beachfront villa in Goa, where Mallya throws parties and shoots his Kingfisher swimsuit calendar, is owned by his UB Holdings Ltd (UBHL) and pledged as collateral to State Bank of India, Kingfisher’s lead bank. But Mallya’s UB Group wants to swap the villa for another asset and says it has the right to do so. SBI is resisting. Through interviews with bankers, lawyers, and others in the financial industry, as well as information provided by the company and publicly available data, Reuters has pieced together what parts of Mallya’s empire are at risk if Kingfisher falls. The airline was launched seven years ago by Mallya, who is known as the “King of Good Times” for his flamboyant lifestyle and often referred to as India’s Richard Branson. While Kingfisher has never made a profit, it grew quickly to become India’s No.2 airline by domestic market share. It has since been knocked back to sixth, crippled by high debt and fierce competition. Banks have guarantees of more than $1.2 billion from Mallya and his holding company, but collecting on them could prove difficult, and most of Mallya’s lenders, mainly state banks, would pursue that only as a last resort, people familiar with the matter said. No shares or other assets were directly pledged to banks against specific loans, according to Kingfisher. “There is no security to fall back upon,” said Sharad Bhatia, CEO of Phoenix Asset Reconstruction Co, a distressed debt investor backed by Kotak Mahindra Bank that does not have exposure to Kingfisher but is familiar with the matter. “Ultimately, banks will have to take a haircut,” he said. After cancelling thousands of flights late last year, cash-strapped Kingfisher has grounded most of its fleet and is desperately awaiting a rule change to allow investments by foreign airlines, although none has publicly expressed interest. Mallya’s UB Group includes Kingfisher, United Breweries , United Spirits Ltd and UB Holdings. Kingfisher’s woes have prompted speculation that British rival Diageo will make a play for United Spirits while Heineken goes after United Breweries.
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United Breweries, Mallya’s crown jewel, does not have direct exposure to the airline or its creditors. If the politically powerful Mallya were forced to sell some of his shares in the maker of Kingfisher beer, he could remain in the controlling shareholder group alongside Heineken , which has an equal stake, given the value he brings in a heavily regulated Indian alcohol industry. United Spirits, the other big listed company in Mallya’s stable, could also be hard for Kingfisher’s creditors to prise away against his will. Of Mallya’s 28 percent of United Spirits, the world’s biggest liquor maker by volume, part of the 18 percent held by holding company UBHL is pledged to lenders that funded its $1.2 billion 2007 acquisition of Scottish spirits maker Whyte and Mackay. The UB Group says it does not
of Kingfisher’s lenders. “We have already started the process of liquidating the securities, the tangible ones - Goa villa and Bombay House. That will begin to hurt Mallya,” he said. UBHL has guarantees of more than 67 billion rupees to banks and about 22 billion rupees to aircraft lessors on behalf of Kingfisher, according to a note by UBHL’s auditors in May, but the true value of those guarantees is difficult to ascertain. Unlike collateral, guarantees are not tied to specific assets. Mallya, who also owns a cricket franchise and last year sold a 42.5 percent stake in his Formula One racing team to India’s Sahara group, has given a $50 million personal guarantee. “Corporate guarantees and personal guarantees are difficult to enforce,” said P Rudran, CEO of Asset Reconstruction Co (India) Ltd, a distressed
see a risk to Mallya’s empire. “Since there are no shares pledged except the 4 percent of USL (United Spirits) there is no risk of Vijay Mallya losing control over any listed company,” Prakash Mirpuri, a group spokesman, told Reuters in an email.
debt investor backed by banks including SBI and ICICI Bank. “When we do our valuation, we practically don’t give much value to guarantees unless it is a government guarantee.” Until February, Kingfisher was a subsidiary of UBHL, a holding company controlled by Mallya and described as “the central piece that holds it all together” on the cover of its annual report for the financial year that ended in March 2011. The airline stopped being a subsidiary when part of Kingfisher’s debt was converted into shares. “Nobody can assume that UBHL will automatically be called upon to pay 100 percent of KFA’s debts. There are procedures to be followed to establish the net amount if the need arises. Besides UBHL has several counter claims against KFA suppliers,” group spokesman Mirpuri said. UBHL has a market value of just under $100 million and had liabilities of about $2.58 billion, more than three times its assets, according to Thomson Reuters data
‘THE CENTRAL PIECE’ Banks are putting pressure on Mallya by moving to sell the Bombay House office building near Mumbai’s airport, worth roughly $9 million, and the villa. The Kingfisher Airlines brand was valued at 41 billion rupees ($743 million) in 2010 and is now worth 25 billion rupees, one lender said. It is worth less to anyone other than Mallya, 57, who named the carrier after his flagship beer in a country that bans alcohol advertising. “Selling off a brand, valuing it, is not an exercise that has happened before so we want to start with something that we understand first,” said a senior executive with one
as of March 31, 2011, when its biggest asset was Kingfisher, which is worth less now. “Invoking guarantees is not a simple process that you invoke today and you get a cheque tomorrow. It’s a long process - a year or forever. You never know,” said a source familiar with the matter, declining to be identified given the sensitivity. TAKEOVER TALK Diageo held talks that collapsed in May 2009 to buy a minority stake in United Spirits, and typically invests in businesses that it can eventually control. Heineken is engaged in a takeover battle for Singapore’s Asia Pacific Breweries. Sources said in March that Mallya was considering selling part of his stake in United Breweries to Heineken. Neither Diageo nor Heineken is currently in talks with the UB Group, according to people familiar with the matter. Both Diageo and Heineken declined to comment. “UBHL has no plans to sell its holdings in UBL (United Breweries) and USL (United Spirits),” Mirpuri said. Mallya and Heineken each own 37.5 percent of United Breweries. If Kingfisher’s banks called in UBHL’s guarantee, UBHL may be forced to sell its 11.5 percent of United Breweries. That would still leave Mallya with 26 percent, a board seat and a say in management decisions, unless Heineken tried to force him out, something it appears unlikely to do. “Dr Vijay Mallya provides significant added value as an ambassador for the industry’s interests and is a member of Indian parliament,” Heineken said in a December presentation. The Mallya team’s view is unequivocal. “There is no question of Heineken acquiring any additional stakes in UBL,” Mirpuri said. Kingfisher’s lenders are mostly state banks, and many frustrated bankers appear resigned to recovering as little as $25-$30 million, at least in the near term. India does not have a formal bankruptcy process. Instead, banks typically extend more credit to tide big customers like Mallya through tough times. It is rare for Indian banks, especially state lenders, to force a liquidation, and rarer still for a big Indian company like Kingfisher to collapse. “Indian banks don’t pull the plug. I think that’s really sort of the bottom line here, unless they’re really pushed to do,” said Ashwin Ramanathan, a partner at law firm AZB & Partners in Mumbai.—Reuters
15 TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
Boxing digging out of hole in London LONDON: Just why Muhammad Ali was trotted out to make a cameo appearance at the opening ceremonies remains a mystery that organizers have yet to fully explain. Surely, the sight of the former gold medalist so terribly frozen by Parkinson’s couldn’t have done anything to further the Olympic ideal or help the sport that made him, at one time, perhaps the most famous man on earth. What could help boxing is an Olympic-sized comeback in the ring. And there’s no better spot than in a country where boxing roots run deep and passions run high. Sunday night a crowd jammed into the ExCel arena cheered wildly as British lightweight Josh Taylor made his Olympic debut with a first-round win over Robson Conceicao of Brazil. Their enthusiasm wasn’t limited to just the home fighter; they showed appreciation for some surprisingly highquality first-round bouts. There’s a sense that boxing has turned the corner, started to dig its way out of the Olympic doghouse and back into respectability. Some rule changes have helped make the fights more entertaining, the decisions less controversial, and the whole process more honest. A series of scandals that peaked when Roy Jones Jr. was robbed of a gold medal in 1988 - but still somehow was awarded the trophy as best boxer of the Seoul Olympics - nearly got the sport thrown out of the games. It remains under suspicion whenever something seems awry, as evi-
denced last year when there was a report - quickly dismissed by amateur boxing officials - that Azjerbaijan was promised two gold medals in London in exchange for $9 million. NBC stopped televising fights for a time, then relegated them to its cable channel. But women are fighting in the Olympics for the first time this year, 79 different countries sent boxers to London, and the capacity crowds at the venue seem to be loving every moment of it. “When I was elected president of AIBA, I made it very clear: It’s time for change, and we’ve made a lot of reform to make our sport clean, honest, and transparent,” said Wu Ching-Kuo of Taiwan, who has headed the international amateur boxing association since 2006 and recently became a full member of the International Olympic Committee. That doesn’t mean some of the decisions aren’t still suspect. Judges still tend to favor fighters from countries the judges’ countries have good relations with, the scoring system remains in need of a good fix, and some of the officials remain inept. Decisions can still surprise, too. One came Sunday night when U.S. lightweight Jose Ramirez appeared to be pulling away in the final round of his fight with Rachid Azzedine of France only to narrowly take a 21-20 first-round win. His teammate, Errol Spence, followed a few bouts later, making his welterweight Olympic debut with a 16-10 win over Myke Ribeiro de Carvalho of Brazil. That made four wins in four
fights for a U.S. team that won just one bronze in a desultory performance four years ago in Beijing. A few more nights like this, and NBC may want to get some flag-waving boxers on in prime time. “I
cheering him on from the balcony above, in sharp contrast to the team in Beijing. USA boxing is still so dysfunctional that a new head coach was appointed just a month ago and can’t even be
LONDON: US Errol Spence fights Brazil’s Myke Ribeiro de Carvalho during their men’s welter 69-kg boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics.—AP heard my father and mother in the stands yelling for me,” Spence said. “It kept me throwing punches when I got tired.” Spence’s teammates were also
cleared to work the corner. But there’s some promising talent among the 10 male and three female boxers and a feeling they can bring home some
medals. One of those hopefuls is Ramirez, the son of Mexican immigrants who is pursuing a business degree at Fresno State. He’s fought since the age of 8, won his first national tournament at 90 pounds, and now has a handful of sponsors behind him. Lately, Oscar De La Hoya has been pursuing him via Twitter in case he should win a medal and want to turn pro. Nike is one of his sponsors, and Ramirez fought his first bout in bright yellow shoes that probably glow in the dark. “Is that the color of medal you want?” asked an apparently color-blind reporter. “I want gold, but that’s close enough,” the 19-yearold replied. To return the US to the days when it won boxing gold by the handful, he and his teammates will have to deal with a strong British team, tough Russians and fighters from former Soviet republics, and a Cuban squad that’s rebuilding but always difficult. It’s early, and a lot could still go wrong in a sport where things always seem to go wrong. But with women fighting for the first time next Sunday, and a sport that seems to finally be getting its act together, this may be boxing’s best run in a long time. For the excited crowd in London, it wasn’t exactly like watching Ali - known as Cassius Clay when he won the gold in Rome. But it was a lot better than watching him in the opening ceremonies. —AP
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
sp orts Querrey wins Farmers Classic LOS ANGELES: Sam Querrey of the United States won the Farmers Classic for the third time in four years, downing Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis 6-0, 6-2 on Sunday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. The second-seeded Querrey has won 13 straight matches in the event. He won the tournament in 2009 and 2010, then missed the event missed last year because of a right elbow injury. “I feel like I’ve always played well here and it all came together this week and especially today,” Querrey said. “I was just trying to focus on my game, my serve and forehand, and see if he could beat that. The final was shortest on the ATP Tour at 51 minutes and 14 games. Querrey also broke the tournament record for fewest games lost of three set by Jimmy Connors against Mel Purcell in 1982. “I did a really good job of focusing on all the big points, all the break points on his serve and mine,” Querrey said. “I came up with some big serves and some good forehands, just kept my foot down on the pedal and played solid on the break points that I faced.” Berankis, from Lithuania, was making his first appearance in an ATP Tour final. — AP
MLB results/standings Detroit 4, Toronto 1; Miami 5, San Diego 4 (10 innings); Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 2; Baltimore 6, Oakland 1; Houston 9, Pittsburgh 5; Washington 11, Milwaukee 10 (11 innings); Minnesota 5, Cleveland 1; Chicago Cubs 4, St. Louis 2 (10 innings); Cincinnati 7, Colorado 2; Tampa Bay 2, LA Angels 0; LA Dodgers 4, San Francisco 0; Seattle 7, Kansas City 6; NY Mets 5, Arizona 1; Texas 2, Chicago White Sox 0; Boston 3, NY Yankees 2 (10 innings). National League American League Eastern Division Eastern Division Washington 61 40 .604 W L PCT GB Atlanta 57 44 .564 4 NY Yankees 60 41 .594 NY Mets 49 53 .480 12.5 Tampa Bay 53 49 .520 7.5 Miami 47 54 .465 14 Baltimore 53 49 .520 7.5 Philadelphia 45 57 .441 16.5 Toronto 51 50 .505 9 Central Division Boston 51 51 .500 9.5 Cincinnati 61 40 .604 Central Division Pittsburgh 58 43 .574 3 White Sox 55 46 .545 St. Louis 54 48 .529 7.5 Detroit 54 48 .529 1.5 Milwaukee 45 56 .446 16 Cleveland 50 52 .490 5.5 Chicago Cubs 42 58 .420 18.5 Minnesota 43 58 .426 12 Houston 35 68 .340 27 Kansas City 41 60 .406 14 Western Division Western Division San Francisco 55 46 .545 Texas 59 41 .590 LA Dodgers 56 47 .544 Oakland 55 46 .545 4.5 Arizona 51 51 .500 4.5 LA Angels 55 47 .539 5 San Diego 43 60 .417 13 Seattle 47 57 .452 14 Colorado 37 63 .370 17.5
Rays bring down Angels ANAHEIM: Zack Greinke was outpitched by Jeremy Hellickson in his Los Angeles Angels’ debut, losing to the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 Sunday. Obtained Friday from Milwaukee, the 2009 American League Cy Young pitching award winner allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings and struck out eight. Greinke (0-1), eligible for free agency after the season, was 9-3 with a 3.44 ERA in 21 starts with the Brewers. Hellickson (6-6) pitched two-hit ball through six innings, striking out five and walking none. Fernando Rodney got three outs for his 30th save in 31 attempts, tying Baltimore’s Jim Johnson for the AL lead. Red Sox 3, Yankees 2 At new York, Pedro Ciriaco blooped an RBI single in the 10th inning for his latest big hit against New York as Boston squeaked out the victory moments after manager Bobby Valentine was ejected. Felix Doubront held the Yankees scoreless until Russell Martin homered leading off the seventh inning. Martin also hit a tying single with two outs in the eighth off closer Alfredo Aceves (2-6), who went the rest of the way for the win. Ryan Sweeney hit an early two-run double for the Red Sox, who took two of three in their first visit to New York this season despite grounding into four double plays against Hiroki Kuroda. Valentine was ejected in the 10th inning for arguing whether a pitch by David Robertson (1-4) hit Will Middlebrooks on a bunt attempt. Orioles 6, Athletics 1 At Baltimore, rookie Chen Wei-yin struck out a career-high 12, Matt Wieters hit a three-run homer and the Baltimore Orioles beat Oakland to avoid a threegame sweep. It was a rare setback for the A’s, who fell to 18-4 this month. Chen (9-6) allowed one unearned run, three hits and four walks in 5 2-3 innings against a torrid Oakland team that had scored 40 runs in its previous four games. Rangers 2, White Sox 0 At Arlington, Texas, Scott Feldman equaled a career high by pitching eight
shutout innings as Texas ended a twogame skid with a victory over Chicago. David Murphy had three hits, including a double, and Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz each scored a run. Feldman (5-6) gave up seven hits and retired eight of the last 10 batters he faced. He threw only 88 pitches in matching the eight shutout innings he tossed two other times, the last being June 2, 2010, also against the White Sox in Chicago. Tigers 4, Blue Jays 1 At Toronto, Jhonny Peralta hit two home runs and Doug Fister pitched eight innings as Detroit beat Toronto to avert a three-game sweep. The Tigers had lost three in a row and four of five to fall out of the AL Central lead. Peralta hit a three-run drive off Brett Cecil (2-4) in the second and added a solo shot against Joel Carreno in the ninth. It was Peralta’s first multihomer game of the season and seventh of his career. Fister (5-7) allowed one run and seven hits. He struck out nine and matched his longest outing of the season. Twins 5, Indians 1 At Minneapolis, Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer, Brian Duensing threw six smooth innings as a late fill-in for Francisco Liriano as Minnesota finished a three-game sweep of Cleveland. Duensing (2-6) lost all four of his previous starts this year, but he needed only 70 pitches to finish six frames and yield to the bullpen after scattering five singles without a walk. Mariners 7, Royals 6 At Seattle, Felix Hernandez shook off a line drive to his left wrist and threw seven strong innings as Seattle beat Kansas City for a four-game sweep. Seattle swept Kansas City in a four-game set for the first time since May 2001. Hernandez gave up just five hits and two runs but lost out on his sixth straight win when the Mariners’ bullpen gave up three runs in the eighth. Oliver Perez (1-2) got the win. Tom Wilhelmsen gave up a run in the ninth, but still finished his 14th save in 16 chances. —AP
ANAHEIM: Los Angeles Angels starter Zack Greinke pitches to the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning of a baseball game. —AP
United sign shirt sponsorship LONDON: English Premier League soccer club Manchester United have signed a seven-year sponsorship deal with General Motors to have the Chevrolet brand on their shirts from 2014, the club said yesterday. The surprise announcement came after GM’s marketing chief resigned on Sunday, a departure reportedly linked to a partnership deal between the carmaker and the club announced at the end of May. The US-based car company will replace Aon, whose partnership with United began in the 2010-11 season. “This is a fantastic, long-term deal for the Club,” said Commercial Director Richard Arnold. “We have been partners with Chevrolet for only six weeks, but already they have produced some fantastic ideas that will benefit both the partnership and our 659 million followers around the world.” —Reuters
Barca’s Puyol ready to play MADRID: Barcelona defender Carles Puyol has been given the all-clear following an operation on his right knee in May, the La Liga club said yesterday. The 34-year-old Spain international had arthroscopic surgery and was ruled out for the final weeks of last season, meaning he missed his nation’s triumphant Euro 2012 campaign in Poland and Ukraine. The news on club captain Puyol coincided with the return to pre-season training of Barca’s Spanish internationals Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, Pedro, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi. The seven passed medicals along with Puyol on Monday and will train with the rest of the squad later, Barca said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.com). Barca play pre-season friendlies against Paris St Germain, Manchester United and Dinamo Bucharest before hosting Real Sociedad in their opening La Liga match on the weekend of Aug. 18-19. New signing Jordi Alba, the Spain left back who sealed a move from Valencia in June, is still in Britain with the Olympic team, whose medal hopes were ended on Sunday when they suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Honduras. —Reuters
Reds roll over Rockies DENVER: The Cincinnati Reds posted their 10th straight win and matched their best streak in 14 years as Mat Latos pitched eight strong innings and Drew Stubbs homered Sunday in a 7-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The Reds’ winning streak is their longest since they took 10 in a row in 1998. They are two short of the franchise record, done twice and last accomplished in 1957. Cincinnati opened a three-game lead over Pittsburgh in National League Central, its biggest edge since mid-June. Jay Bruce also homered and Stubbs drove in three runs for the Reds, who have won 17 of 19. Latos (9-3) allowed four hits and struck out eight. Jonathan Sanchez (0-2) took the loss as Colorado dropped its third straight. Astros 9, Pirates 5 At Houston, the Astros ended their teamrecord losing streak at 12 games, beating Pittsburgh behind three hits and three RBIs from Marwin Gonzalez. Hours after Houston traded third baseman Chris Johnson to Arizona - the Astros’ fifth deal of the month - Jordan Schafer homered and drove in three runs. Houston, a big league-worst 35-68, won for only the third time in 28 games but has traded players with salaries totaling $49 million. Lucas Harrell (8-7) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings.
first loss in three months to gain his NL-leading 14th win as New York beat Arizona for just its third victory in 17 games. Dickey (14-2) allowed an unearned run and four hits in seven innings, striking out eight, walking three and hitting a batter. The knuckleballer won for the 11th time in 12 decisions and matched Tampa Bay’s David Price for the major league lead in wins. Marlins 5, Padres 4 At Miami, with scouts from about a dozen teams watching, Josh Johnson equaled a career high with six walks as Miami rallied from a tworun deficit to beat San Diego in 10 innings. Johnson, the 2010 NL ERA champion, allowed two runs - one earned - and two hits in five innings with four strikeouts. Miami, a disappointing 47-54 following a $191 million free-agent
spending spree, already has dealt Hanley Ramirez, Omar Infante, and Anibal Sanchez in recent weeks and has discussed possible trades involving Johnson. Johnson is 54-30 with a 3.13 ERA for Marlins over the past eight years and is signed through next season at $13.75 annually. Justin Ruggiano hit a game-ending single off Brad Brach (0-2) after Jose Reyes doubled leading off and Carlos Lee was intentionally walked. Cubs 4, Cardinals 2 At Chicago, Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning that lifted Chicago over St. Louis. Starlin Castro led off the 10th with a single against Trevor Rosenthal (0-1) and Rizzo followed with his seventh homer. James Russell (50) worked an inning for the win. The Cubs are 123 in their last 15 home games. —AP
Dodgers 4, Giants 0 At San Francisco, Clayton Kershaw pitched a five-hitter for his second shutout of the season as Los Angeles beat San Francisco to complete a three-game sweep of the NL West leader. Luis Cruz drove in two runs, and Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, James Loney and Mark Ellis had two hits apiece for Los Angeles (56-47), which closed within one percentage point of San Francisco (55-46). Blanked in a three-game series at San Francisco from June 25-27, Los Angeles outscored the Giants 19-3 in this series and didn’t give up a run during the final 20 innings. San Francisco has lost four straight. Nationals 11, Brewers 10 At Milwaukee, Michael Morse hit a tying, tworun homer in the ninth inning, then delivered a two-run double in the 11th that sent Washington over Milwaukee. Bryce Harper drew a leadoff walk from Jose Veras (3-4) in the 11th and Ryan Zimmerman singled. One out later, Morse doubled down the left-field line for an 11-9 lead. Morse’s homer with one out in the ninth off John Axford made it 9-9. The NL East-leading Nationals rallied for four runs in the eighth to tie it at 7-7. Braves 6, Phillies 2 At Atlanta, Jason Heyward and Chipper Jones homered off Roy Halladay as Atlanta completed a three-game sweep of last-placed Philadelphia. Atlanta has won five straight. Tim Hudson (10-4) gave up two runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. Jonny Venters, Chad Durbin, Eric O’Flaherty and Cristhian Martinez followed with two-hit relief. In danger of ending a streak of consecutive playoff appearances at five, Philadelphia is last in the NL East this late in a season for the first time since Aug. 12, 2002, STATS LLC said. Mets 5, D’backs 1 At Phoenix, RA Dickey rebounded from his
DENVER: Cincinnati Reds’ Drew Stubbs follows the flight of his two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez in the fifth inning. —AP
Piercy wins Canadian Open ONTARIO: American Scott Piercy has won the Canadian Open by one shot at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ontario on Sunday after countr ymen William McGir t and Robert Garrigus missed chances on the final hole to force a playoff. Piercy won his second PGA Tour title after firing a threeunder par 67 in the penultimate group to post 17-under 263, but had to ner vously watch as McGirt (69) bogeyed out of a share of the lead and Garrigus (70) left a 14-foot birdie effort short on the 72nd hole to finish at 264. Josh Teater (66), Bud Cauley (66) and Chris Kirk (68) shared fourth, three off the pace at 266. Former champion and world number one Vijay Singh joined two others in a tie for seventh at 268. Piercy started two behind 54-hole leader Garrigus but flew out of the blocks with four consecutive birdies between the second and fifth holes. But bogeys on the eighth and
14th holes gave McGirt the edge until Piercy made a short chip-in birdie on the 15th and McGirt three-putted the same green to tie things up at the top. McGir t then pushed his approach on the last into a greenside bunker and couldn’t get up and down, while Garrigus, needing birdie, managed a close approach, but left the 14-foot putt inches short. Piercy now qualifies for the lucrative World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, next week forcing him to miss out on defending his Reno-Tahoe Open title from 2011. “”I am so excited. Reno last year was definitely a platform for me to showcase how good I could really be and if that’s any sign to how this year has been I’ve got some big things coming up,” the 33-year-old Piercy said. “”You just have to believe in yourself. Half the battle is being confident in yourself. Just knowing you can get there. If you keep working hard, good things
will come.” McGirt was left to rue letting a maiden title slip but still secured enough points to qualify for the upcoming playoff series and also his PGA Tour card for 2013. “”It was a struggle to get the butterflies to fly in formation, let’s put it that way,” he said. ”I have never been in this situ-
ation before. But to have the chance to win a golf tournament, to have the chance to get in a playoff, it was something new to me but it was an absolute blast. I just kind of hit the worst putt of the week on the last hole.” Graham DeLaet secured low Canadian honors at 278, 15 shots off the pace. —Reuters
ONTARIO: Scott Piercy of the US poses with the championship trophy after winning the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. —AFP
18 TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
US opponents turn out to be the dreamers LONDON: The question was whether the US Olympic basketball team could be beaten. “Sometimes a team wants to show that this is their tournament,” French coach Vincent Collet said Sunday, after getting blown out 98-71 in Sunday’s opener. “They did it today.” Those were the last two sentences of his answer. The first was how he hoped to have a chance to try again. The dozen or so in between were how Collet had hoped to accomplish it the first time around. All of them can be summarized by something heavyweight-turned-thespian Iron Mike Tyson once famously said: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” In Collet’s case, his plan was to limit turnovers on one end by having his players protect the ball and second-chance points on the other by controlling the defensive boards. The French succeeded at neither, largely because their opponents played without much in the way of opening-night jitters and with way more defensive intensity than some of the
packed-with-NBA-superstar squads that USA Basketball sent to the games in the past. That said, it’s not as if the French didn’t know what to expect. They boast a half-dozen NBA players of their own, the second-largest contingent in London, and were the darlings of the U.S.-can-bebeaten crowd. But after hanging tough early - France trailed by a point at the end of the first quarter - the opportunistic US defense and their own frigid shooting from beyond the 3-point arc (2 of 22) doomed any hopes of an upset. Afterward, the same question put to Collet was put to a few of his players. Tony Parker pronounced the US team would be “very, very tough to beat,” and none of his teammates objected very loudly. Boris Diaw, who claimed a starting spot alongside Parker in San Antonio for the stretch run of the NBA season, said: “Definitely not by shooting 10 percent from 3-point range. And we turned it over (18 times) way too much.” The most optimistic assessment, ulti-
mately, came from the young and freshly minted Portland Trail Blazer millionaire Nicolas Batum. Even so, it was nothing you haven’t heard before. “You have to play a 40-minute game, really” he began. “Play a 40-minute game, continue to rebound. Take care of the ball and play good defense. “Some teams can do it, you know? I think some teams can beat them,” Batum added, trying to pump himself up. “Really.” Besides his own team, Batum nominated Spain, Argentina and Brazil. That’s no coincidence, since all three gave the US side some trouble on the road to London. After one period Brazil was ahead by 10 and Spain by 1; Argentina cut a 20-point deficit to four. All three eventually got punched in the face. Those moments of vulnerability are why few people - other than Kobe Bryant - have been willing to compare this bunch to the original Dream Team. Well, that, and the fact that the first edition featured a then-and-still-without-
peer Michael Jordan in his absolute prime, a still capable Magic Johnson and a much, much deeper and more reliable bench. When Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Durant are all in sync and on the floor together, the comparison doesn’t seem unreasonable. But put together a different combination - say Bryant with Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook, none of whom would ever be mistaken for a “pass-first” player - and one ball is never going to be enough. So it might not take a perfect storm to sink the US gold medal cruise. Maybe they get into foul trouble early, or fall in love with the three-point shot on a night they’re not falling. Maybe they run into a team with a point guard who doesn’t turn the ball over and deftly finds his big guys underneath, where the US team has no true center other than Tyson Chandler. Sounds a lot like Spain, when Jose Calderon is handling the ball smartly and feeding big men Pau and Marc Gasol on a regular basis. That scenario might have
come true, too, in a pre-Olympic game not too long ago - except Calderon eventually needed a breather and the US defenders feasted on his backup, Victor Sada. That would have been much harder to do if Minnesota Timberwolves guard and Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Ricky Rubio wasn’t sidelined with a knee injury. Of course, that composite team sounds a little like France, too, if you substitute Parker for Calderon and Ronny Turiaf for the Gasol brothers. But Turiaf himself doesn’t buy the argument the U.S. team is short on big men, or that it can’t beat any rival playing small ball. “They are so versatile that, for me, it’s a false debate,” he said. “If you can foul out Tyson, so what? In comes Carmelo or LeBron. And really, who’s going to take advantage of them?” “It’s a case of ... of ...” Turiaf paused, looking for a phrase. He didn’t look pleased, either. “A case of ‘pick your poison?’” someone offered. “Exactly,’ he said, nodding gravely. “Pick your poison.”—AP
Jordanian role model packs punch at Games
LONDON: Saeed Almaktoum of the United Arab Emirates shoots during the first day of qualifiers for the men’s skeet event at the 2012 Summer Olympics. —AP
Moldoveanu takes gold as India’s champion crashes LONDON: Romanian crack shot Alin Moldoveanu took gold in the Olympic men’s 10m air rifle yesterday as India made a rare podium appearance despite seeing their defending champion crash out in qualifying. The bespectacled Moldoveanu did not know he had won the competition at London’s Royal Artillery Barracks after edging world champion Niccolo Campriani into silver medal position, with India’s Gagan Narang taking bronze. Narang’s compatriot, the defending Olympic champion Abhinav BindraIndia’s first ever individual gold medallist-was knocked out in the earlier qualifying round. Moldoveanu, who qualified for the final with an Olympic-record-equalling score of 599, held his nerve during a contest that saw constant flux at the top of the leaderboard to finish strongly and deny Campriani. He notched a total of 702.1 points, taking advantage of a couple of slips from the Italian (701.5) on shots eight and nine. Ranked a lowly 34th in the world, the 29-year-old eased the pain of Beijing in 2008, where he finished fourth. “I’m overwhelmed. I cannot describe it in words. It’s crazy,” said the delighted winner, adding that he believed it was the Italian coach who first told him he had won. “It doesn’t matter how you are in the world ranking, it’s just the day that matters.” Campriani, 24, was chasing a golden treble in London. The world number
one in the 10m air rifle is also entered in the 50m rifle three positions, in which he is also the world number one, and the 50m rifle prone. But Campriani said the top ranking was no guarantee of success. “If it would be that easy then, as number one in the world ranking, I would wait for the medal back home,” he said. “We have still to shoot the match and we have still to deal with all this pressure in a sport like that where the adrenaline is not your friend.” Narang, 29, whose bronze marked a rare individual medal for India, said: “It’s amazing. I think I missed in Beijing by a whisker and I feel quite nice that I have won the bronze.” He was ninth in in 2008. Bindra, who has slipped to number 20 in the world, fell away towards the end of the qualifying session, admitting: “It didn’t go well in my last 10 shots.” “It was hard at the end because it was closing in,” he added. “There was a lot of noise. It was difficult to keep the momentum going but today I just did not have it in me to keep that going to the last.” In the 10m air rifle, the top eight competitors from the qualification round reach the final, shooting a further 10 shots, each fired individually under timed conditions. The score in the final is added to the score achieved in the qualification round to determine the winner. On home soil in 2008, the powerful Chinese took five of the 15 shooting golds on offer, making them the top performers ahead of the United States.—AFP
LONDON: Caroline Queen of the United States competes in the heats of the K-1 women’s kayak slalom at Lee Valley Whitewater Center.—AP
LONDON: Ihab Almatbouli made history as he became the first boxer from Jordan to win an Olympic bout here yesterday. The 26-year-old, put on a classy display to defeat Nigerian Lukmon Lawal 19-7 in a lightheavyweight contest. Alamtbouli, who lives in and comes from the Palestinian refugee camp of Al-Baqaa (which has a population of around a 100,000) on the outskirts of Amman, was already the first Jordanian to qualify for the Games. Now he hopes his latest effort will cement his role model status. “I hope due to all my achievements I am going to be a role model especially to the young back home,” said Almatbouli, who relaxed in the third round and indulged in some crowd pleasing showboating. “It will mean a lot back home in Baqaa to everybody as we are a tight knit community and everyone knows each other. My brothers (he is the second oldest of six) are all boxers and will have been watching like most other people there.” Almatbouli’s experience here was in marked contrast to when he collapsed in his corner starved of oxygen after a tough battle with a Chinese opponent in the 2007 world championships in Chicago. He was unconscious for a minute and taken to hospital as a precaution. Almatbouli said yesterday’s win made up for that and other woes he has endured down the years. “After all the difficulties I have had in my life I’ve never stopped sports and it has provided me with the greatest pleasure and escape route,” he said. Almatbouli, who entered into the party atmosphere at the opening ceremony by placing an Arabic head dress on Olympic 100m defending champion Usain Bolt’s head, said he hoped his Games adventure would go on. “It is great to represent my country and my people and to bring honour to it,” said the shaven-headed boxer. “One hopes that God-willing this will continue and I will progress much much further. As for the Cuban clash (he next boxes Julio La Cruz Peraza) in the second round I may have a coach (Jorge Socarras) who is born in Cuba but his heart and soul is now Jordanian.” Almatbouli, who received rousing support from the Jordanian delegation in the VIP seats, said that whatever happened in London, this Games would not be the end of his career in the ring.
“I will continue to the Games in Rio and then I will hang up my gloves,” he said. While Almatbouli enhanced his role model status with the young, a member of the Jordanian delegation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP his success would also have a hugely positive effect on the sport back home. “By qualifying here (Asian qualifiers) and now this victory, the Jordanian Olympic Committee (JOC) will be looking more favorably at the federation and increasing its funding,” the source said. Frank Maloney, former promoter of one-time
world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, had donated some equipment to the country after a visit there and had given them some cause for optimism. “He identified a lot of talent and drew comparisons with Russia when he first visited it after the Iron Curtain came down,” added the source. “He said that like in Jordan, in Russia young aspiring boxers were coming up to him saying how much they adored boxing but had no shoes or gloves or anything.” But Almatbouli’s success may just have remedied any equipment problems.—AFP
LONDON: Ihab Almatbouli (left) of Jordan defends against Lukmon Lawal (right) of Nigeria during their first round Light-heavyweight (81kg) match of the London 2012 Olymipic Games.—AP
Brazilian breaks medal in shower LONDON: A Brazilian judoka broke his bronze medal after taking it into the shower and dropping it hours after his victory in a thirdplace match, a team spokeswoman said yesterday. Felipe Kitadai, who beat Italy’s Elio Verde to win bronze in the -60kg category on Saturday, was so excited about the result that he did not want to be parted from his prize.
“He was taking a shower with the medal when he dropped it,” the spokeswoman said. “He then slept with the medal and realised later that it was broken. It wasn’t a very smart thing to do.” The medal was damaged at the top where the ribbon loops through a hoop. After a few hasty phone calls and apologies, Olympic officials agreed to supply a replacement for the 23-year-old.—Reuters
Japan’s Matsumoto wins women’s 57kg judo gold LONDON: Kaori Matsumoto of Japan won the women’s under57kg category at the Olympic judo event yesterday after Romania’s Corina Caprioriu was disqualified in the final. Caprioriu made an illegal attack from behind, earning an automatic disqualification during a sudden death golden score period in an otherwise tight final. By winning gold Matsumoto ended the Japanese women’s judo medal drought at the Games. American Marti Malloy beat Beijing 2008 champion Giulia Quintavalle of Italy with a brilliant foot sweep (kouchi-gari) to claim bronze. The other bronze medal went to Automne Pavia under the watchful gaze of French president Francois Hollande. There was a lot of pressure on world number one Matsumoto’s shoulders before the competition began. Japan have the reigning world champions in the three bottom women’s weights but her teammates Tomoko Fukumi and Misato Nakamura had failed to deliver here in the under-48kg and under-52kg categories respectively.
Added to that, Matsumoto had been selected ahead of world champion Aiko Sato, just as her two other fellow Olympians had been picked over team-mates who were either world champion or number one in
the world rankings. It meant the Japanese selectors were under pressure too having got their choice wrong twice already. But Matsumoto delivered in fine style, despite a helping hand from Caprioriu in the final.
LONDON: Kaori Matsumoto of Japan (left) and Automne Pavia of France compete during the women’s 57-kg judo competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics.—AP
The 24-year-old began her gold bid by throwing Slovenia’s Vesna Dzukic with an outer sweep (osotogari) before using an inner sweep (kosoto-gari) to despatch Kifayat Gasimova of Azerbaijan. Next up Quintavalle, who had been a shock winnner in Beijing having never won either a world or European medal before or since. The 29-year-old put up a strong challenge but Matsumoto eventually struck with another kosoto-gari. The Japanese star then met Pavia in the semi-finals and needed a golden score period before she pulled off an unorthodox osoto-gari to make the final. Pavia had upset home hopes in the first round by defeating Sarah Clark in golden score before battling past Australia’s Carli Renzi and Sabrina Filzmoser of Austria. But in the other half the top fighters soon fell by the wayside. Second seed Telma Monteiro of Portugal was stunned in golden score by Malloy while third seed Rafaela Silva left the mat disconsolate after making a crucial mistake and being disqualified for an illegal leggrab on Hungary’s Hedvig Karakas. Caprioriu made the final with a dramatic rear throw (ura-nage) to beat Malloy with just seven seconds left of the semi-final.—AFP
19 TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
Federer and Williams sisters in golden form LONDON: Roger Federer underlined his desire to win Olympic singles gold with a demolition of Julien Benneteau yesterday, while Serena and Venus Williams followed his example with equally dominant displays. Federer and the Williams sisters have a remarkable 17 Wimbledon singles titles and 38 grand slam crowns between them in their illustrious careers, and the trio showed their class as they marched into the last 16.
her latest Wimbledon success with a first singles gold medal, swept through to the last 16 with a 6-2, 6-3 victory against Urszula Radwanska. And Venus, a singles gold medallist at the Sydney Games in 2000, demolished Italian ninth seed Sara Errani 6-3, 6-1 in a first round match rescheduled due to Sunday’s heavy rain. Federer admitted he had struggled with the extra pressure of representing Switzerland at the Games after Saturday’s opening match against Falla. But he was far more convincing display against Benneteau to book a last 16 tie against
LONDON: Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Urszula Radwanska at the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon at the 2012 Summer Olympics.—AP World number one Federer needed three sets to win his first match against Alejandro Falla, but the newly re-crowned Wimbledon champion took the express route Monday with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over France’s Benneteau in just 58 minutes. Serena, who like Federer is aiming to follow
Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin. “The conditions were different. Obviously the roof was open, there was a bit of a swirly wind and I think he might have struggled a little bit with his serve in these conditions,” Federer said. “I think he also injured himself at the very end so that was unfortunate, but I was able to put
together a solid performance today.” Serena, 30, defeated Radwanska’s older sister Agnieszka in three sets to win her fifth Wimbledon title this month and the American fourth seed had no intention of seeing her campaign derailed by a family vendetta on Court One. Serena finished with eight aces and 26 winners in her one hour and 13 minute victory and she will now play Russia’s Vera Zvonareva, whom she beat in the 2010 Wimbledon final, in the last 16. “It was tough conditions, a little windy. I’m glad I was able to pull through,” Serena said. Venus suffered her worst defeat at the All England Club since 1997 when she crashed out against Elena Vesnina in straight sets in the first round last month. That was the first time Venus had lost in the opening round of a grand slam since the 2006 Australian Open and provided further evidence of the American’s struggles with Sjogren’s syndrome, an auto-immune disease. But the three-time Olympic gold medallist has always been a fighter and she is determined to emulate her singles success at the 2000 Sydney Games. The 32-year-old made a mockery of the 60 places separating her from Errani in the WTA rankings as she crushed the world number nine in just 63 minutes to earn a clash with Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniack for a place in the last 16. “Oh my gosh it was really great,” Venus said. “There’s definitely nerves, but grass is my surface and I felt great out there. “I fought so much to be here but I’m not only happy with that. I want to do something and play well for my country.” Elsewhere yesterday, three-time Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick defeated Slovakia’s Martin Klizan 7-5, 6-4 to set up a second round clash with Serbian second seed Novak Djokovic. Women’s world number one Victoria Azarenka also advanced to the last 32 with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu.—AFP
LONDON: 10 of 12 medal events yesterday. Nation China US France Italy South Korea Russia North Korea Kazakhstan Japan Australia Romania Brazil Hungary Netherlands Georgia Lithuania South Africa
G 9 5 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
S 5 7 1 4 2 0 0 0 4 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 0
B Tot 2 16 5 17 3 7 2 8 2 6 3 5 1 3 0 2 6 11 1 4 0 3 1 3 1 3 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 1
Britain Colombia Cuba Mexico Poland Taiwan Thailand Ukraine Azerbaijan Belgium Canada India Moldova Mongolia Norway Serbia Slovakia Uzbekistan
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 10 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
3 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Vardhan thanks Paes for dream opportunity LONDON: India’s Vishnu Vardhan thanked Olympic doubles partner Leander Paes yesterday as the world number 302 grabbed a rare chance to play singles at Wimbledon. Vardhan secured a last-minute spot in the singles on Sunday when Paes called to tell him that Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber had pulled out with a hamstring injury. The 25-year-old had no idea that the place was available until he heard from Paes, and he dashed down to the All England Club the next morning to register for selection. As the highest ranked alternate on site, Vardhan was immediately entered into the draw and he made his first appearance at Wimbledon yesterday in a opening-round clash against Slovenia’s Blaz Kavcic.
Although Vardhan was beaten 6-3, 6-2 by world number 77 Kavcic, he admitted the experience of stepping onto the world’s most famous tennis courts still made it an unforgettable moment. “It’s a great experience for me. I have never played at Wimbledon-I was not a good enough junior to play on these courts so I was very lucky to play the singles here,” Vardhan said. “I worked really hard in the match and although I couldn’t win not many Indians have played singles in the Olympics and I am really happy to be one of them. “Leander is the person I should thank. First of all I am here because of him. Secondly, the day before yesterday he called me up late evening and said ‘there is a spot in the singles draw and
you need to go and sign up first thing in the morning’. “I was not aware of that. I am really happy to get more matches on these courts so I am more prepared for the doubles.” Vardhan, who was only paired with Paes after Mahesh Bhupathi refused to play with the doubles ace, clearly benefited from his first taste of grass-court action as he helped secure a first round doubles win just a few hours after his singles loss. Paes and Vardhan defeated Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands 7-6 (7/1), 46, 6-2 in one hour and 52 minutes on Court 19. The duo will play French second seeds JoWilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra in the second round.—AFP
Germany lead as Zara enjoys ’versary boost LONDON: Germany closed in on Olympic three-day eventing gold after an enthralling cross-country yesterday while Zara Phillips, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, marked her wedding anniversary in style. Germany’s Ingrid Klimke, lying joint fourth after the opening dressage, was tied for first for the individual gold on 39.30 points with Swedish rider Ostholt Algottson. With two of Klimke’s compatriots inside the top ten Germany were also out in front in the team competition ahead of the concluding leg in the jumping ring on Tuesday. The defending team champions ended a drama-filled day on 124.70 points, with Great Britain next best on 130.20, and the Swedes (131.40) in the bronze medal position. The last time Britain picked up a team gold was back in Munich in 1972 with Capt Mark Phillips in the mix and his daughter, Zara, was one of the stars for the home side yesterday. “I am so pleased. It was hard work but a great feeling. The crowd was unbelievable and the best thing is that it is my wedding anniversary today,” said the wife of former England rugby captain Mike Tindall. Her family was out in force, with Prince William, his wife Catherine, his brother Prince Harry and Camilla, the wife of Prince Charles, among the 50,000 crowd lapping up the helter-skelter action from Greenwich Park. After a foot perfect round on former racehorse High Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter punched the air in delight, gleefully acknowledging the cheers of the partisan onlookers on this her first Olympic Games. “They were so loud, you couldn’t hear your stopwatch beeping,” the 2006 world champion said, before complimenting High Kingdom. “He was so honest. Awesome. It was hard work but you just have to get on with it. He’s a very suitable horse but lost a front shoe so it was even harder for him but he stepped up to the plate.” Klimke, a member of Germany’s title-winning team in Hong Kong, venue for the equestrian events at the 2008 Beijing
LONDON: In this five frame multiple exposure, Lionel Guyon, of France, rides Nametis De Lalou as he competes in the equestrian eventing cross-country stage at the 2012 Summer Olympics.—AP Games, praised her horse, Butts Abraxxas. Yoshiaki Oiwa, Japan’s surprise leader after “I knew the course was really challenging the dressage. The 36-year-old, riding and I am so thrilled with my very wonderful Noonday de Conde, popped over the first horse. “He made it easy for me. Four years 19 obstacles only to come to grief at the ago in Hong Kong he did the same and I am tricky 20th. His compatriot, intrepid very privileged to have him.” Veteran New Buddhist monk Kenki Sato, also fell. Zealander Mark Todd, setting out last of the Canadian Hawley Bennett-Awad, who 74 competitors, put himself in with a shout came a cropper at the third fence — the of a third Olympic gold when posting a Bandstand Rails - was taken to hospital for speedy clear round on Campino to retain x-rays, with organisers reporting her injuries third in the individual event on 39.50 were not serious. points. Propping up the individual standings The London 2012 cross country circuit was Jamaica’s lone equestrian rider featured an eclectic and colorful collection Samantha Albert riding Carraig Dubh. of 28 fences designed in the shape of plan- Describing her experience she said: “My ets and moons, flower gardens and sundi- horse pulled a shoe off at fence three and it als, the Tower of London, and the final was like riding on an ice rink. “Olympic Horses” sculptured out of horse “We were held on the course and he shoes. behaved like a man possessed. He thought With the competition sited on the home he was ready to race at Cheltenham.” of the Prime Meridian timing was all imporToday, team gold is calculated by a countant with riders allowed precisely 10min try’s best three riders’ combined scores 3sec to complete the 5728m long test. after the final jumping session, with the top A clutch of competitors - 15 in total - 25 riders jumping again to determine the failed to cross the finish line, among them individual honors.—AFP
LONDON: Gold medalists Yanquan Zhang (left) and Cao Yuan (right) from China compete at the Men’s Synchronized 10 Meter Platform Diving final at the Aquatics Centre during the 2012 Summer Olympics.—AP
China cash in on British diving error LONDON: China’s Cao Yuan and Zhang Yanquan won 10m platform diving gold yesterday after Britain’s Tom Daley and Pete Waterfield fell from the top spot and out of the medals following a botched fourth dive. The Chinese teenagers tallied 486.78 points from their six dives to win the event from Mexio’s Ivan Navarro and German Sanchez, who took silver, and American bronzemedallists David Boudia and Nicholas McCrory. Cao, 17, and Zhang, 18, who won both the Beijing and Moscow legs of the 2012 world series and also triumphed in February’s test event, claimed gold on their Olympic debuts. It leaves China, seeking the first sweep of eight Olympic diving titles, with two golds from the opening two events after Wu Minxia claimed her third synchronised 3m springboard Olympic victory alongside partner Hi Ze on Sunday. A mistake on their fourth dive cost British pin-up Daley and his partner dearly as they surrendered their lead to finish the round, and ultimately the competition, in fourth. “We had the highest score we have ever got after the first three, but at this lev-
el of competition, you can’t afford to miss a single dive,” said Daley, who will compete in Friday’s individual platform. Waterfield later admitted it was his mistake which cost the pair dearly, but Daley refused to point the finger of blame. “We’re a team, that’s it, full stop,” said the 18-yearold. “You win as a team and you lose as a team.” Having won a silver in the same event at the 2004 Athens Games, Waterfield admitted he was bitterly disappointed. “It’s the worst place to finish at an Olympics, I’d rather finish last than fourth,” he said. “We gave it a good go-our last two rounds were really good but just not enough.” With ear-splitting support from the home crowd, the Brits had tied China’s Cao and Zhang for the lead after the first dive, then pulled clear of the Chinese to establish a narrow advantage in the second and third round. But a mistake in their execution on the fourth dive, a reverse three-and-a-half somersault with a tuck, handed China a lead which they never relinquished. The Chinese consolidated their lead in the fifth round, then made sure of gold with a near-perfect score of 99.36 for their final pike dive.—AFP
Fencer in sit-down protest after loss LONDON: South Korea fencer Shin A-Lam staged a dramatic sit-down protest for more than an hour after losing a controversial Olympic Games semi-final yesterday. A tearful Shin refused to leave the piste after her 6-5 defeat to Germany’s Britta Heidemann as her coach continued to object to the result. The two fencers had been locked at 5-5 inside the extra minute period. The German then scored what she thought was the winning hit, but the Korean coach claimed the assault came after the final second was up.
That sparked angry scenes while judges deliberated over how to resolve the contest. After more than 20 minutes of talks, victory was awarded to Heidemann and Shin collapsed onto the floor in tears as her coach stormed off. But it then emerged that in order to lodge an official protest, a sum of money had to be deposited with the judging commission and once the cash had been found, the arguments continued inside the arena. Shin remained sitting on the piste, a full hour after the contest had finished. She was eventually persuaded to leave and embraced her coach before departing the arena.—AFP
Jordanian role model packs punch at Games
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
18 LONDON: Kuwait’s Abdullah Al-Rashidi prepares to shoot during qualifiers for the men’s skeet event at the 2012 Summer Olympics.—AP
China stretch medal haul Ticket row rumbles on LONDON: China stretched their lead at the top of the Olympic medal table yesterday, bagging three more gold, as Games organisers moved to quell anger over over empty seats. After a stellar opening weekend which saw them snaffle six titles, China scored wins in artistic gymnastics, diving and women’s weightlifting to take their total to nine. China’s men’s gymnasts had endured a disastrous qualifying round but swept back to form to win the all-round team event and retain the gold medal won in Beijing four years ago. But the biggest cheers were reserved for Britain’s gymnasts, who finished with a bronze-the hosts’ first medal of any colour in the team event since the 1912 Games in Stockholm. Britain had initially finished in
the silver medal position before being relegated into bronze as Japan moved up to second after an appeal, with Ukraine dropping out of the medals altogether. Elsewhere, Li Xueying set two new Olympic records as she crushed her rivals on the way to clinching gold in the women’s weightlifting -58kg class. The 22-year-old recorded a combined total of 246kg after snatching 108kg and registering a best in the clean and jerk of 138kg. Both the snatch and total were Olympic records. At the Aquatics Centre, China’s Cao Yuan and Zhang Yanquan took advantage of a blunder by British duo Tom Daley and Pete Waterfield to win the 10m platform synchronised diving gold The British duo had been on course for
the host nations’ first gold until a messy dive from Waterfield let the Chinese teenagers back into the contest. The Chinese tallied 486.78 points ahead of Mexico’s Ivan Navarro and German Sanchez, who took silver, and American bronze medallists David Boudia and Nicholas McCrory. Daley and Waterfield finished fourth. China’s swimmers will look for more gold in the swimming pool later Monday with Sun Yang aiming to follow up his 400m freestyle gold in the 200m final, where he faces Ryan Lochte of the United States in a strong field. Chinese teenager Ye Shiwen was forced to defend herself against doping suspicions aired in the media following her world record-breaking gold medal in the
400m medley at the weekend. The 16-year-old insisted she was clean after yesterday’s 200m medley heats, where she outpaced the rest of the field by nearly two seconds. “There is no problem with doping, the Chinese team has a firm policy so there is no problem with that,” Ye said, when asked about her times. The International Olympic Committee’s medical commission chief Arne Ljungqvist also leapt to Ye’s defence, calling the speculation around the youngster’s performances “sad.” “For me, it is very sad that an unexpected performance is surrounded by suspicions,” he told a briefing. Away from the medals, Great Britain and Argentina will meet in men’s field hockey after recent tensions between the two nations on the 30th anniversary of the
Falklands War. Meanwhile Switzerland footballer Michel Morganella became the second competitor to be sent home from the Olympics for posting racist abuse on Twitter after insulting South Korea’s players on the micro-blogging site. “Michel Morganella has discriminated against, insulted and violated the dignity of the South Korean football team, as well as the South Korean people,” said Switzerland Olympic team chef de mission Gian Gilli. Greek triple jumper Voula Papachristou was kicked out of the Olympics last week for a comment which poked fun at Africans living in the country. Meanwhile under-fire London Olympic organisers (LOCOG) continued to face criticism over the banks of empty seats which have been seen across various venues
Record-equalling Dwyer inspires Aussie rampage LONDON: Captain Jamie Dwyer scored a hat-trick as world champions Australia launched their Olympic Games men’s hockey campaign with a thumping 6-0 victory over South Africa yesterday. Dwyer’s three strikes helped him equal the Australian record of 179 international goals held by Mark Hager, who is coach of the New Zealand team at these Olympics. Dwyer was instrumental in earning both penalty strokes that he went on to convert and also scored on a penalty corner as Australia outplayed South Africa. Australia fired four goals in the second session to outpace South Africa, while Asian Games winners South Korea earlier held off a late New Zealand charge to post a 2-0 win. Meanwhile, India, who failed to qualify for the 2008 Games, endured a miserable return to the Olympics when they lost 3-2 to the Netherlands while rivals Pakistan were held 1-1 by Spain. Dwyer opened the scoring in the 16th minute for Australia with a penalty stroke after he was brought down by a defender inside the circle. Dwyer then set up the second Australian goal two minutes before half-time with a pass that Matthew Butturini deflected in. Christopher Ciriello converted a penalty corner in the 46th minute before Dwyer fired in a penalty corner in the 48th and then forced
another penalty stroke that he converted in the 58th. Glenn Turner rounded off the Australian scoring with a field goal in the 62nd minute. You Hyo-Sik scored two field goals for South Korea against New Zealand. “I’m excited about scoring twice as I’ve been waiting for a goal on the international stage for a long time,” said You, who deflected diagonal crosses past New Zealand goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex. New Zealander Simon Child wasted an early scoring opportunity by shooting wide before You put South Korea ahead in the 19th minute by capitalising on a diagonal ball from Kang Moon-Kyu. You again found the target one minute before half-time on a pass from Jang Jong-Hyun. It was not a very profitable day for the once formidable Asian giants, India and Pakistan. Robert van der Horst and Rod Weusthof put the Dutch 2-0 ahead against India but Dharamvir clawed one back for India from a post rebound and Shivendra three minutes later. But the Dutch, despite no longer including Taeke Taekama, converted two out of two penalty corners with Mink van der Weerden flicking a snorter for the decisive goal. Pakistan led Spain with a fine 47th-minute shot by Rehan Butt but Pau Quaemada took just 40 seconds to level the scores. Spain had more control over the game but it was their goalkeeper Francisco Cortes who made crucial first half saves.—AFP
since the Games got under way on Saturday. Some 3,000 tickets from international sports federations were “put back in the pot” and sold to the public Sunday, LOCOG said amid growing public anger over empty seats. Organisers have blamed the unfilled seats on accredited officials and members of the media who have failed to take up their reserved places. Jackie Brock-Doyle, LOCOG’s director of communications, said they had been able to get back 3,000 seats and re-sell themand will repeat the move each day to make sure as many seats as possible are filled. Brock-Doyle said organisers were making progress, but admitted that the re-distribution of accredited seating was “not an exact science”.—AFP
France stuns Australia in overtime at Olympics
LONDON: Netherlands Klaas Vermeulen and India’s Sardar Singh vie for the ball during their men’s hockey preliminary round match at the 2012 Summer Olympics.—AP
Qatar rally champ speeds closer to shooting final LONDON: Qatar’s rally-driving shooter Nasser Al-Attiyah remained on course for his first Olympic medal in his fifth Games yesterday, standing fourth in qualifying for the final of the men’s skeet event. Al-Attiyah, who came closest to the podium in Athens in 2004, where he finished fourth, also making the final in Sydney, hit 72 out of 75 targets on day one of qualifying at London’s Royal Artillery Barracks. The 41-year-old professional rally driver, who won last year’s Dakar Rally, said he was pleased with his performance in what he described as tricky conditions in south
London. “I feel good about it. But there is a long way to go. We will see tomorrow how it goes,” he said after the qualifying session. “The weather has been sunny, but it was also a bit bad because there was some wind and some targets swayed,” he said. “But the conditions are going to be the same for all of us.” Al-Attiyah, who won skeet gold in this year’s Asian championships in Doha after he quit the 2012 Dakar Rally, said before the London Games that his aim was to finish in the top three. Defending champion Vincent Hancock of the United States had 74 hits ahead of the second round of qualifying on Tuesday morning. The final will take place today afternoon. —AFP
LONDON: Emilie Gomis scored 22 points and France became the first team apart from the United States to beat Australia at the Olympics since 1996 with a 74-70 victory in overtime. The French didn’t make it easy on themselves, failing to put the game away in the final minute of regulation. Gomis missed an open lay-up after a fast break and Isabelle Yacoubou missed the second of two free throws. Trailing 65-62 with 3 seconds left, Australia’s Belinda Snell got the rebound and banked in a 3-pointer from just past half court to send the game to overtime and whip the crowd into a frenzy. “I was very upset, it was heavy on my mind in the last five minutes. If I had scored we would have won the game (in regulation),” Gomis said of her miss. “We made a tactical mistake, we should have fouled (Snell) but that is basket. That kind of a shot happens once in a thousand attempts. We didn’t let it bother us, we knew we still had to play five more minutes and that it just wasn’t over,” said Gomis, who scored all of her points in the second half. Australia was the silver medalist the last three Olympics and is ranked No. 2 in the world. “It’s a big, big win. It’s not easy at the Olympics to beat Australia, they won medals,” said France captain Celine Dumerc, who finished with 13 points. “It wasn’t our target to beat Australia, for us it’s better to beat Canada and Britain,” she said. France also won against Brazil and is now 2-0 in the tournament. It can win Group B after beating two teams it wasn’t expected to and still to face teams it is expected to beat. Australia had to play the extra session without stars Lauren Jackson and Liz Cambage - both had fouled out. France has been on the rise as a women’s basketball power lately. The French won the European Championship in 2009 and qualified for the Olympics for only the third time. “We played a very bad first half in offense but we looked at the score and we were plus one so we said, ‘Common girls, tonight we can beat this team. Maybe not tomorrow, but tonight we can beat them,’” Dumerc said. The French didn’t let themselves be upset by Snell’s desperation shot at the end of regulation. “Amazing, this shot of Belinda. I was laughing because it’s her, we played together, I was saying, ‘Don’t do this now.’ We thought the game was over, but it was our responsibility, we should have fouled before. “But we came back for the extra five minutes, we knew they had some foul trouble and that if we continue to play like this we will win this game,” Dumerc said.—AP
Emaar lifts Dubai index, Gulf markets end mixed Page 22
Euro zone crisis heads for September crunch Page 23
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
HSBC sets aside $2bn for US investigation Page 25
GfK announces results of Print Readership Survey Page 23
WESTERLAND: German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, left, listens to US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, right, in the house where Schaeuble is vacationing, in Westerland on the German North Sea island of Sylt, yesterday. — AP
Geithner visit sparks euro hopes US, Germany urge co-operation in euro crisis fight
BERLIN: The top finance officials from Germany and the United States urged cooperation in the fight against the eurozone debt crisis after a meeting yesterday that fuelled hopes Europe is preparing decisive action. In a joint statement, US Treasur y Secretary Timothy Geithner and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble expressed “confidence” the eurozone could carry out the reforms needed to escape the two and a half year debt crisis. They emphasised “the need for ongoing international cooperation and coordination to achieve sustainable public finances, reduce global macroeconomic imbalances and restore growth,” said the statement, issued after the meeting on the northern German island of Sylt. Geithner was later to meet European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi, who last week touched off speculation the bank would resume its disputed bond-buying programme by vowing to do “whatever it
takes” to preserve the euro. No news conference was planned after the closed-door meeting in Frankfurt. Stock markets in Europe were sharply higher, with equities up more than one percent in Germany and France and more than two percent in crisis-wracked Italy and Spain. Following confidence-boosting statements by top European policymakers, traders are eyeing intervention to help Italy and Spain from the ECB and the European rescue fund, the European Financial Stability Facility. These hopes were bolstered by a media offensive on the part of Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker who told major newspapers in France and Germany that Europe was preparing to take action. “We have come to a crucial point,” he told Le Figaro. “We will act together with the ECB,” he vowed, adding that the “pace and scope” still had to be worked out. “There is no more time to lose,” he said, adding that policymakers would review the
market situation in the coming days. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, seen as the linchpin of any possible crisis response, reiterated Sunday her determination to keep the 17-nation bloc together after a weekend phone call with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti. The two leaders “agreed that Germany and Italy will do everything to protect the eurozone,” they said in a joint statement. That followed a similar statement on Friday by Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, throwing their weight behind the euro project after a week in which Spain looked increasingly likely to request a full bailout. Diplomatic efforts were set to continue as Monti announced he would meet his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy in Madrid Thursday. The verbal broadsides appeared to be working as Italy held a successful auction of five- and 10-year debt at lower rates. Meanwhile, Spain insisted it was not
planning to ask the eurozone to buy its bonds to drive down borrowing costs. “In the end, the ECB will live up to its duty to prevent an escalating market panic that could shatter the eurozone and the ECB itself to pieces,” predicted Holger Schmieding from Berenberg Bank. “All eyes are now on the ECB meeting this Thursday,” he added, as the governing council of the bank prepared for a monthly meeting in Frankfurt. Analyst Thu Lan Nguyen from Commerzbank however, sounded a note of caution, saying in a research note: “The markets seem hopeful ... even though it is all but clear how these good intentions are going to be implemented.” Data from Spain dampened the optimism, reminding policymakers that the crisis continues to have a devastating effect on the real economy. The Spanish recession deepened in the second quarter of the year, with the economy contracting 0.4 percent after shrinking 0.3 percent in the first
Greek coalition leaders to debate spending cuts ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was to confer with his coalition allies yesterday on spending cuts needed to unlock a 31.5-billion-euro loan instalment from the country’s EU-IMF rescue package. Samaras was to see his two partnerssocialist Evangelos Venizelos and moderate leftist Fotis Kouvelis-at 1500 GMT, the PM’s office said. Greece is under pressure to earmark 11.5 billion euros ($14.3 billion) under an EU-IMF deal finalised in February, a process delayed by double elections in May and June before a workable government could be formed. “We must finally be credible, we must settle this obligation which is pending from the previous administration,” government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou told Antenna television yesterday. The three leaders discussed the issue on Friday but without reaching a final agreement, with additional cuts expected to cause anger in a country mired in a deep recession after two years of austerity. According to reports, the savings will largely come from a cap on maximum pensions and cuts to health allowances and benefits. They are to be submitted to auditors from the EU, IMF and the European Central Bank whose report in
September will determine Greece’s continued access to loans. “We want to help and we will stay as long as it is needed until your programme is ready,” the International Monetary Fund’s mission chief Poul Thomsen said during a dinner with Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras, a finance ministry source said on Sunday. Thomsen said the troika would help Greece finalise the new measures and would then draft a report that will pave the way for the next installment of its loan agreement. As rumours of a Greek eurozone exit grew louder last week, Nobel prize-winning economist Robert Mundell told two Greek newspapers on Sunday that it was important for the country to remain in the eurozone. In the aftermath of ECB chief Mario Draghi’s recent comments that the European Central Bank was ready to do “whatever it takes to preserve the euro,” Mundell claimed the ECB should issue its own bonds. Mundell, who is often called the “father” of the euro, had warned last week that a euro exit would be disastrous for Greece and would take the country 20-50 years back. —AFP
ATHENS: Klaus Masuch of the European Central Bank arrives at the Greek Ministry of Employment in Athens for a meeting with the Minister of Employment, yesterday. Political leaders in Greece have agreed on most of the austerity measures demanded by its creditors and are now eyeing pension and wage cuts to find the final 1.5 billion euros of savings still needed. — AFP
three months of 2012, statistics institute INE said. Fur ther bad news came from the European Commission’s Economic Sentiment Indicator showing that business and consumer confidence in Europe slid in July, with Germany suffering the biggest fall. And in Greece, the leaders of Greece’s conservative-led, three-party coalition government were due to meet again to agree on 11.6 billion euros ($14.2 billion) of spending cuts to keep the country in the euro. Meanwhile, adding to the pressure on leaders to take action, a former heavyweight on the European political stage weighed in with a dire warning not to let the eurozone fall apart. Former British prime minister Tony Blair wrote an opinion piece in German mass circulation daily Bild, saying: “To give up the euro now would be a catastrophe economically, not just politically.” —AFP
Stocks drift lower on Wall Street NEW YORK: US stocks drifted lower yesterday, following big gains last week on expectations that European leaders would take action to calm the region’s debt crisis. The Dow Jones industrial average is down 20 points to 13,055 shortly after noon (after 1600 GMT). JPMorgan Chase led the Dow lower, falling 2 percent to $36.13. US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner meets separately with Germany’s finance minister and the head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, yesterday. Draghi’s pledge to do whatever was needed to protect the euro set off a market rally last week. The Dow rose back above 13,000 for the first time since May and is now up 1.4 percent for the month. Hopes are high that Draghi will back up his words with action when the central bank meets Thursday, said David Brown, the CEO and chief market strategist at the research firm Sabrient. “I think that’s the big story this week,” he said. “The market has really responded to his bold statement. I hope the ECB takes action. If they don’t do anything, it’s not going to be pretty.” Investors are also looking toward the Federal Reserve’s meeting this week. Many in the financial markets believe the Fed will take new steps to stimulate the economy in coming months. In other Monday trading, the broader Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell three points to 1,383, while the Nasdaq dropped 12 points to 2,946. The indexes had been creeping higher early Monday, then reversed course soon after a regional manufacturing report came in much weaker than expected. — AP
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TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
BUSINESS
UAE telco du Q2 profit rises 57% DUBAI: Du, the United Arab Emirates’ second biggest telecommunications operator, reported a 57 percent rise in second-quarter profit yesterday, which was at the low end of analysts’ estimates as subscriber growth for fixed-line services lagged that for mobile. The firm, which ended rival Etisalat’s domestic monopoly in 2007, made a net profit of 325.5 million
dirhams ($88.6 million) in the three months to June 30, up from 207.2 million dirhams in the year-earlier period. Analysts polled by Reuters had on average forecast du would make a quarterly profit of 332 million dirhams. Quarterly revenue was 2.45 billion dirhams, up 12.9 percent from a year earlier. Of this, 1.9 billion dirhams came from mobile customers. Du had 5.73 million mobile sub-
scribers as of June 30, up 3.5 percent from March 31 and 20 percent higher than a year ago. But its share of the UAE’s mobile subscribers fell slightly to 46.5 percent, indicating Etisalat is fighting back against its smaller rival after du rapidly won market share in the first few years following its launch. The UAE mobile market is saturated, with mobile penetration at 149
percent or almost 1.5 subscriptions per person. Rising use of Internetbased phone services has hurt operators’ lucrative international calls business and weighed on call margins, spurring operators to diversify revenue. Du’s fixed phone, broadband and television units recorded year-on-year subscriber growth of between 13.2 and 19 percent, but subscriber num-
bers were almost flat compared to the first quarter, with television subscribers down 0.4 percent. Total overheads were 733 million dirhams in the second quarter, which equates to 29.9 percent of revenue, down from 35.2 percent in the corresponding period of 2011. Du in April said it may bid for a virtual operator licence in Saudi Arabia in what would be its first foreign foray. — Reuters
Emaar lifts Dubai index, Gulf markets end mixed Real estate stocks lifts Abu Dhabi
PARIS: (L to R) Air France -KLM CFO, Philippe Calavia, Air France CEO Alexandre de Juniac, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Air France-KLM CEO, Jean-Cyril Spinetta speak during a press conference to present the group’s 2012 first half results yesterday in Paris. — AFP
Air France-KLM loss spikes, sees better second half PARIS: Air France-KLM on Monday fell further into the red, reporting a second quarter loss of 895 million euros ($1.1 billion) as it set aside 368 million euros in provisions to meet restructuring costs. The result, compared with losses of 197 million euros during the same period last year, highlighted the need for its restructuring, it said. “In an increasingly uncertain global economic environment compounded by oil price and exchange rate volatility, an improvement in our productivity and costs is even more necessar y,” group chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta said in a statement. The struggling airline launched a three -year turnaround strategy in January aiming to save 2.0 billion euros by 2015. Revenues rose 4.5 percent during the three months ending June to 6.5 billion euros. Despite the headline loss increase, the market welcomed the company’s comments that it expected a better performance in the second half of the year, pushing the shares up by some 8.0 percent in a slightly firmer market. Additionally, the
airline said its second quarter operating loss fell to 66 million euros from the yearearlier 145 million euros. “The main point in the past quarter was that the core business (carrying passengers) has held up well and so far, has not been affected by the global economic slowdown, and more particularly by the slowdown in Europe and France,” finance director Philippe Calavia told a conference call. Calavia said passenger traffic picked up 2.4 percent to 55.4 million in the second quarter while capacity increased only slightly but the cargo was under pressure, with freight carried down 6.9 percent in the three months. The increase in the net loss reflected restructuring charges, most of which cover voluntary staff departures, Calavia said, adding that there might be additional costs although most were now done. The company also lost 372 million euros on its fuel hedging operations, he said, while noting that debt fell 280 million euros to 6.52 billion euros. — AFP
DUBAI: Dubai real estate developer Emaar Properties rallied to its highest level since April 2011 yesterday, lifted by forecast-beating second-quarter earnings, but trading across the rest of the Gulf region was more mixed. Shares in Emaar rose 4 percent to close at 3.37 dirhams a share after the developer said its quarterly profit more than doubled to 614 million dirhams ($167.2 million), as a one-off impairment cost was not repeated and retail and hospitality income grew. The company ’s chairman predicted a rebound in the property sector in the emirate, saying the first half of the year was a reflection of the growing strength of Dubai’s economy. Trading on Emaar accounted for more than a quarter of all shares traded on the index which rose just under 2 percent to a 12-day closing high. “We saw a nice move in Dubai a few hours into the session... Emaar rallied above a key resistance of 3.33 dirhams,” said Sleiman Aboulhosn, assistant fund manager at Al Masah Capital. “We’re now more optimistic that Dubai’s market will continue its upswing, but we remain slightly cautious given the low volumes. If the market holds its ground for a few more weeks, we may see a strong upward resumption post-summer.” Real estate stocks also lifted the Abu Dhabi index which ended 0.4 percent higher. Aldar Properties and Sorouh Real Estate gained 0.9 and 2 percent respectively. Saudi Arabia was
also a gainer yesterday, ending 0.8 percent higher, as banks and petrochemical stocks advanced. Heavyweight Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) rose 1.4 percent, outperforming the petrochemical index which increased 0.9 percent. Among banks, Samba Financial Group climbed 1.8 percent and Al-Rajhi Bank rose 0.7 percent, helping the broader index advance to 6,823 points. “Petchems this week are largely benefiting from some stability in oil prices and the outlook for oil, driven by hopes there will be strong measures to stimulate the US economy and measures on Europe’s debt crisis,” said Asim Bukhtiar, head of research at Riyad Capital. However, Brent crude oil had slipped to under $106 a barrel at 1300 GMT and hopes for stimulus measure announcements from the United States and Europe this week may be overstated, analysts said. “Speculation over central bank action looks like it has gone too far,” said Carsten Fritsch, oil analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. “The euro has already begun to retreat and oil has also started to weaken. The move upwards seems exaggerated.” Egypt’s index was also slightly higher, rising 0.2 percent to 4,766 points, with investors holding off on building new positions until a new government is formed. “We will stay tied in a very narrow tapping range at least until Thursday and then the market’s direction will be somehow clear with the formation of the
government,” said Shamel Fahmy of Pharos Securities. All other exchanges in the Gulf fell, with few catalysts to support buying activity. Bahrain’s index fell nearly 1 percent, dragged lower by Ahli United Bank which slid 1.7 percent. The lender, Bahrain’s largest by market value, reported a 3.7 percent rise in secondquarter profit yesterday but provisions grew 6 percent over the same period in 2011. DUBAI The index advanced 1.9 percent to 1,538 points. ABU DHABI The benchmark rose 0.4 percent to 2,495 points. SAUDI ARABIA The measure advances 0.8 percent to 6,823 points. EGYPT The measure climbed 0.2 percent to 4,766 points. BAHRAIN The measure slid 1 percent to 1,099 points. QATAR The benchmark slipped 0.1 percent to 8,277 points. KUWAIT The measure fell 0.4 percent to 5,728 points. OMAN The index dropped 0.2 percent to 5,365 points. — Reuters
Indonesia challenges EU over duties at WTO GENEVA: Indonesia went to the World Trade Organization yesterday to overturn anti-dumping duties imposed by the European Union in its first such complaint against the bloc since winning a WTO court challenge against the United States. Indonesia wants to overturn EU anti-dumping duties on imports of Indonesian fatty alcohols, which are used in the chemicals industry, the WTO said. Such duties are imposed when a country thinks imports are priced at an
Indonesia’s last involvement in litigation ended in April when it won an appeal against a US ban on the sale of clove-flavoured cigarettes, most of which come from Indonesia, as well as other flavours such as cherry and cinnamon. The US law, which was intended to stop children smoking, was found to be discriminatory because it did not also target menthol cigarettes. Indonesia has not been on the receiving end of trade litigation since 1996, the year after the
unfair discount. By demanding ‘consultationsî with the EU, Indonesia has triggered the first stage in a trade dispute, which may escalate into an adjudication battle if not resolved within 60 days. The case is the latest in a series of challenges in which big developing economies are hitting back at assertions that their exports are unfairly priced or subsidised. India, China and Brazil have all initiated disputes in the past four months.
WTO was created. But its own trade practices have come increasingly under fire, with the United States blaming it this year for putting up barriers to imports and Japan angry at its curbs on metals exports. Both those countries, and the EU, have also raised questions in WTO committee meetings about Indonesia’s ‘local content’ rules for investments in telecoms and the energy sector, which they say unfairly discriminate against foreign firms. —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 .4390000 .3430000 .2850000 .2780000 .2920000 .0040000 .0020000 .0762440 .7428190 .3860000 .0720000 .7282020 .0430000
.2840000 .4500000 .3520000 .2980000 .2860000 .3000000 .0070000 .0035000 .0770100 .7502840 .4060000 .0780000 .7355200 .0510000
CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2810000 .2831000 GB Pound/KD .4411700 .4444670 Euro .3451940 .3477740 Swiss francs .2874390 .2895870 Canadian dollars .2796850 .2817760 Danish Kroner .0464060 .0467530 Swedish Kroner .0408440 .0411490 Australian dlr .2942070 .2964060 Hong Kong dlr .0362310 .0365020 Singapore dlr .2252140 .2268970 Japanese yen .0035850 .0036120 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 .0051360 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 .0021550 Pakistan rupee .0000000 .0030020 Bangladesh taka .0000000 .0034770 UAE dirhams .0765350 .0771070 Bahraini dinars .7456550 .7512270 Jordanian dinar .0000000 .4004240 Saudi Riyal/KD .0749530 .0755130 Omani riyals .7301550 .7356110 Philippine Peso .0000000 .0067990
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
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
299.000 750.620 3.710 284.500 554.300 46.000 46.600 167.800 47.370 351.100 37.090 5.310 0.032 0.161 0.237 3.700 399.980 0.191 91.710 44.000 4.340 231.700 1.826
47.800 733.150 3.080 6.970 78.070 75.360 227.770 36.440 2.688 447.800 42.000 292.400 4.400 9.270 198.263 76.960 282.600 1.360
10 Tola
GOLD 1,714.100
Sterling Pound US Dollar
732.970 2.994 6.737 77.640 75.360 227.770 36.440 2.142 445.800 290.900 4.400 9.150 76.860 282.200
COUNTRY
TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 445.800 282.200
SELL DRAFT
297.500 750.620 3.447 283.000
227.800 46.467 349.600 36.940 5.095 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
294.51 281.95 289.17 345.07 282.00 441.81 3.68 3.455 5.030 2.161 3.168 2.990 76.85 750.87 46.52 401.76 733.93 77.87 75.41
SELL CASH
294.00 282.00 288.00 344.00 282.85 442.50 3.63 3.580 5.295 2.380 3.650 3.150 77.35 750.00 48.10 399.00 736.00 78.00 75.65
Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 399.940 0.190 91.710 3.210 230.200
Rate for Transfer
Selling Rate
US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro
282.000 284.985 444.865 347.950
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
289.690 746.590 76.755 77.405 75.165 397.520 46.472 2.138 5.093 2.989 3.446 6.727 691.750 4.590 9.030 4.375 3.240 89.140
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 2.983 5.097 2.150 3.452 6.765 76.935 75.355 749.410 46.525 448.800 2.990 3.195 1.550 352.500 286.800
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
282.100 349.500 445.350 282.710 3.655 5.094 46.465 2.143 3.443 6.735 2.985 750.100 76.750 75.250
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
BUSINESS
Reckitt sees slow growth as southern Europe drags LONDON: British consumer goods group Reckitt Benckiser cautioned its trading was tough in southern Europe due to depressed consumer demand and stiff competition and reported lagging half-year sales and earnings growth compared with some rivals. Its sales fell across the southern European markets of Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal as it battled for market share for products such as Finish dishwasher tablets and Vanish fabric cleaners. “Southern Europe is significantly worse than other markets, and although there is a flattening of the decline, we see no near-term sign of recovery,” Chief Executive Rakesh Kapoor told a conference call
yesterday after the half-year results. Kapoor, who took over last September after Bart Becht’s shock decision to retire, reported half-year underlying sales rose 4 percent and earnings increased 2 percent, below growth levels of rival Unilever Plc/NV . Reckitt maintained its 2012 targets to increase underlying sales by 3 to 4 percent and hold margins steady, in contrast to competitor Procter and Gamble which warned on profits, but the results were seen as dull and the shares dipped. “It should remember that 4 percent growth is still lacklustre compared to that being reported by Unilever and Colgate,” said analyst Andrew Wood at
Bernstein Research. Unilever reported half-year underlying sales rose 7 percent, and its Reckitt-comparable product sales were up 10 percent as it gained from its bigger exposure to fast growing emerging markets, while Colgate Palmolive’s organic sales grew 8 percent in the second quarter. . Reckitt shares slipped 1.4 percent to 3,491 pence by 0820 GMT to be the second biggest faller in the FTSE 100 index after gaining around 10 percent so far this year. “We struggle to see a catalyst for share price out-performance and continue to prefer Unilever,” said Panmure Gordon analyst Graham Jones. Reckitt’s Kapoor aims to focus on
the group’s fastest-growing health and hygiene brands such as Dettol, Strepsils and Durex and to move quicker into the major emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China. But analysts say Reckitt still has 55 percent of its revenue coming from mature European and North American markets, compared with Unilever at 45 percent, and a bigger relative exposure to the euro zone crisis, which has depressed southern European markets. Reckitt, which also makes Nurofen, Cillit Bang and Air Wick, said half-year adjusted earnings rose 2 percent to 111.1 pence a share, beating a company-compiled forecast of 110 pence. It
is paying a half-year dividend of 56 pence a share, up 2 percent. Sales in its Europe and North American region fell 1 percent, while sales in its two groupings of emerging markets rose by 8 percent and 11 percent. Reckitt’s pharmaceuticals unit, which earns the vast majority of profits from its Suboxone heroin treatment, reported a 2 percent in profit and 6 percent gain in revenue. In preparation for the introduction of generic rivals to Suboxone, the company is extending the product’s life with a film version that dissolves on the tongue, which now has a 56 percent market share, up from 48 percent at the end of 2011. — Reuters
GfK announces results of Print Readership Survey Latest media planning software for clients By Ben Garcia
MADRID: A government employee protests against cuts in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday. Spain’s borrowing rates hit a record high yesterday, increasing the risk it might need a sovereign bailout, as investors worried the government would be overwhelmed by the debts of its banks and regions. Spain has called for the European Central Bank to take emergency action to ease its government borrowing rates. — AP
Spanish recession deepens in Q2 MADRID: Spain slid deeper into recession in the second quarter as a tough new round of austerity to head off the budget crisis that threatens the euro took effect both on overall demand and the price consumers have to pay for goods. The first official numbers on gross domestic product showed the economy shrank 0.4 percent from the previous quarter after contracting 0.3 percent in the first three months of the year. The economy was 1.0 percent smaller than a year earlier. Consumer prices according to both Spanish and EU methodology rose 2.2 percent year-on-year, with the EU-harmonised increase above forecasts being due to medicine price hikes put in place by the government to save money and deflate the deficit. Economists warned price hikes, and especially a 3-point rise in value-added tax due to come into effect in September, would distort consumer prices while the deepening recession reflected slower domestic demand. That will further weaken the govern-
ment’s efforts to get the economy growing again - vital if it is to meet targets on reducing its budget shortfall and halting a market-inspired crisis in how it finances its debt. “To properly follow Spain’s economic reality, I would look at domestic service inflation, which is where we’ll see stagnation and even deflationary pressures. Consumption remains very weak,” economist at Madrid-based broker Intermoney Jose Carlos Diez said. Spain slipped into the second recession since 2009 in the first quarter and is expected to continue to shrink until well into 2013 as consumers and businesses rein in spending and the euro zone debt crisis saps investor confidence. Fears over the health of Spain’s economy as it fights to reduce its public deficit has lifted funding costs to euro-era highs in recent weeks leading many to think an application for a full-bailout could soon become inevitable. A full breakdown of the growth data will be published August 28, while the final price data will be available August 14. — Reuters
US stocks rise ahead of Fed meeting, jobs data NEW YORK: US stocks rose yesterday as Wall Street hoped for US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank stimulus action this week and awaited another report on the US jobs market. After two big euro-driven rallies late last week, the major indices opened mixed but within a few minutes all climbed into positive territory. After an hour of trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 45.26 points (0.35 percent) to 13,120.92. The S&P 500 advanced 4.62 points (0.33 percent) to 1,390.59 and the Nasdaq rose 7.64 (0.26 percent) to 2,965.73. “The market focus is on squarely on the Fed’s policy meeting on Wednesday and a European Central Bank meeting on Thursday,” said Dick Green at Briefing.com. “Equity market participants are hoping for central bank action that will decrease economic risk, increase liquidity, and in theory therefore boost stock prices.” The Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee opens a two-day meeting today. The government’s first estimate of economic output in the second quarter, released last Friday, showed growth slowed to 1.5 percent from 2.0 percent in the first quarter, fueling speculation that the FOMC could act to juice momentum. Investors also were looking ahead to the government’s July jobs report on Friday, expected to show unemployment remained stuck at 8.2 per-
cent from June and weak job growth. There were no major US economic releases on the calendar. Engineering merger news was in the spotlight. Energy infrastructure-focused Chicago Bridge & Iron has agreed to acquire The Shaw Group, a global services provider, in a $3 billion deal. CBI shares plunged 13.4 percent and Shaw soared 58.6 percent. Dow member AT&T edged up 0.7 percent after announcing late Friday it would repurchase up to 300 additional shares, representing about 5.0 percent of its outstanding shares outstanding. In December 2010 the telecom authorized a 300-million share repurchase. Boeing slipped 0.2 percent after reporting an “engine issue” hit a test flight of the 787 Dreamliner in South Carolina on Saturday. US stocks closed out last week with two days of rallies that left the Dow above 13,000 for the first time since May as weak economic data on both sides of the Atlantic fueled market hopes for additional US and European central bank support. On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 1.5 percent, the S&P added 1.1 percent and the Nasdaq leaped 2.2 percent. Bond prices rose. The 10-year Treasury yield dropped to 1.53 percent from 1.56 percent Friday, while the 30-year fell to 2.61 percent from 2.64 percent. Bond yields move inversely to prices. — AFP
KUWAIT: GfK [Growth from Knowledge], one of the world’s largest research companies, announced the results of the much awaited Print Readership Survey for Kuwait yesterday at a press conference held at the Courtyard Marriott. The data, according to Mursban Daruwalla, a GfK official, will only be revealed after media companies receive their own copies of the survey firm. “We are going to release the results in ten days,” said Daruwalla. Dr Tomas Krasny, the GfK-Regional Lead of Audience Measurement said, the study marks the first of many in the region and first yearly survey. “GfK Media Research Middle East is totally committed to the MENA region and the Print Readership Survey is the fruit of several months of hard work. Kuwait is a very important market and as you all know we have the mandate to provide a full set of high caliber Media Research Studies and Tools for Media Studies in MENA,” he said. Such studies will make the life of media planners much easier and bring about a growth in media, local economies due to the granularity, awareness and greater efficiency for businesses. “We have also currently begun work on the Television Audience Measurement in Lebanon with the latest technology; results are expected to be released next year. More projects and markets will be announced shortly. Our focus will be to eventually cover the entire region for TV, Print, Radio and online measurement,” he added. GfK is working independently without receiving any support from companies or any media industry. “Our survey is very transparent and independent from any other market players, we are all professional people and we are doing our best to really serve our purpose, the region is strong, we are moving in a very complex road, decision is complex and so we need a research company that is transparent, compliant and with unquestionable integrity,” he said. Walid Kanafani, President of the IAA Kuwait Chapter said that it was an important experience for International Advertising Association;
as he admitted they are not specialists in research and statistical studies. “So we did not interfere at all in the work of GfK, the methodology used, or in the development of the questionnaire in order to retain the professionalism and the independence of the study,” he said. He said that they were present while the
ported with a published booklet that will highlight the strengths of each publication. Clients will receive detailed reports, as well access to media planning tools that will enable them to create efficient plans,” he said. The ratio of readership of daily newspapers is around 68 percent, and for weeklies, it is around 37 percent and monthlies 17 percent.
KUWAIT: Walid Kanafani, Tomas Krasny, Murzi Daruwalla and Tarek Ammar at the GfK press conference yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat interviews were taking place and that they lis- The survey, according to GfK official, shows tened to a selection of interviews live as well that different nationalities and segments had as some of the recording and learned first- major difference in readership, making media hand of the work flow. “We thank GfK MRME planning a necessity. The generic approach of for receiving us and for its transparency, and using a couple of major publications will no as you know we are ready to do the same with longer be efficient due to the difference any of the other research companies,” Tarek between target groups. GfK MRME’s Print Readership Survey will be Ammar, Regional Director, GfK MRME presented the highlights of the Print Readership supported by the latest media planning softSurvey. “ We gathered here a year ago ware that will be locally available for clients. announcing GfK MRME plans. Here we are as The software has necessary features like an promised, delivering our first Readership optimization tools that automatically recomSurvey covering all newspapers, main maga- mends the most efficient plan to reach a givzines and periodicals. The survey will be sup- en target.
Euro zone crisis heads for September crunch BRUSSELS: Over the past couple of years, Europe has muddled through a long series of crunch moments in its debt crisis, but this September is shaping up as a “make-or-break” month as policymakers run desperately short of options to save the common currency. Crisis or no crisis, many European policymakers will take their summer holidays in August. When they return, a number of crucial events, decisions and deadlines will be waiting. “September will undoubtedly be the crunch time,” one senior euro zone policymaker said. In that month a German court makes a ruling that could neuter the new euro zone rescue fund, the anti-bailout Dutch vote in elections just as Greece tries to renegotiate its financial lifeline, and decisions need to be made on whether taxpayers suffer huge losses on state loans to Athens. On top of that, the euro zone has to figure out how to help its next wobbling dominoes, Spain and Italy - or what do if one or both were to topple. “In nearly 20 years of dealing with EU issues, I’ve never known a state of affairs like we are in now,” one euro zone diplomat said this week. “It really is a very, very difficult fix and it’s far from certain that we’ll be able to find the right way out of it.” Since the crisis erupted in January 2010, the euro zone has had to rescue relative minnows in Greece, Ireland and Portugal as they lost the ability to fund their budget deficits and debt obligations by borrowing commercially at affordable rates. Now two much larger economies are in the firing line and policymakers must consider ever more radical solutions. If Spain, the euro zone’s fourth
biggest economy and the world’s 12th, loses affordable market financing the next domino at risk of falling is Italy - the euro zone’s third biggest economy and a member of the G7 group of big wealthy nations. A bailout of Spain would probably be double those of Greece, Ireland and Portugal combined, while Italy’s economy is twice as large as Spain’s again. The European Union has already agreed to lend up to 100 billion euros to rescue Spanish banks. One euro zone official said Madrid has now conceded that it might need a full bailout worth 300 billion euros from the EU and IMF if its borrowing costs remain unaffordable. European officials have spent the past few days issuing a series of statements declaring they will act to halt the crisis. In the latest, issued on Sunday, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Mario Monti “agreed that Germany and Italy would do everything to protect the euro zone”. The wording was similar to remarks by European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi last week prompted buying in financial markets on the expectation that the bank would take steps to lower the cost of borrowing of Spain and Italy. The euro zone does not seem to have enough cash in the current setup to deal with a scenario of Spain and Italy needing a rescue, and a sense of doom is growing among some policymakers. Fighting the crisis, said the euro zone diplomat, is like trying to keep a life raft above water. “For two years we’ve been pumping up the life raft, taking decisions that fill it with just enough air to keep it afloat even
though it has a leak,” the diplomat said. “But now the leak has got so big that we can’t pump air into the raft quickly enough to keep it afloat.” Compounding the problems, Greece is far behind with reforms to improve its finances and economy so it may need more time, more money and a debt reduction from euro zone governments. If Greek debt cannot be made sustainable, the country may have to leave the euro zone, sending a shockwave across financial markets and the European economy. Sept. 12 is a crucial date in the European diary. On that day the German Constitutional Court is scheduled to rule on whether a treaty establishing the euro zone’s permanent bailout fund, the 500 billion euro European Stability Mechanism (ESM), is compatible with the German constitution. A positive ruling is vital, because Germany is the biggest funder of the ESM, and the euro zone would be powerless to protect Spain or Italy without the ESM. On the same day, parliamentary elections are held in the Netherlands where popular opposition to spending any more money on bailing out spendthrift euro zone governments is strong. The Dutch vote may complicate talks on a revised second bailout for Greece, which also has to be agreed in September. Athens wants two more years than originally planned to cut its budget deficit to below 3 percent of GDP, so as not to impose yet more spending cuts on a country which is already in a depression. This would mean Greece’s 130 billion euro second bailout package may need to be increased by 2050 billion euros, according to esti-
mates by some euro zone officials and economists, and there is no appetite in the euro zone to give Greece yet more extra money. More importantly Greece needs to bring its debt, which is equal to 160 percent of its annual economic output, under control. This means euro zone governments, which own roughly two thirds of it, may need to write part of it off. Private creditors have already suffered a huge writedown in the value of their Greek debt holdings but so far euro zone taxpayers have not lost a cent on any of the bailouts. Policymakers are working on “last chance” options to bring Greece’s debts down and keep it in the euro zone, with the ECB and national central banks looking at also taking significant losses on the value of their bond holdings, officials said. If governments swallowed the bitter pill by also accepting a cut in the value of their contributions to loans already made to Greece, this would break a taboo and could provoke demands for similar treatment from Ireland or Portugal. Peter Vanden Houte, chief economist at ING bank, said euro governments might be forced to accept a halving of the value of their Greek debt - known in the business as haircut. “If Greece is to be saved, we must see some debt forgiveness from euro zone governments in the coming years because otherwise Greece is never going to come out of the situation it is in now,” he said. “We are talking about potentially a 50 percent haircut, which would still mean the Greek debt would be (proportionately) around the euro zone average.” — Reuters
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
business
Japan’s Iranian crude imports jump in June from May TOKYO: Japan’s crude oil imports from Iran in June rose 60.5 percent from May as refiners ramped up loadings before a halt in oil flows this month due to the imposition of sanctions on the Middle Eastern country. Customs-cleared imports from Iran rose to 812,693 kilolitres (170,389 barrels per day) in June from 106,162 bpd in the previous month, Ministry of Finance data showed yesterday. Imports were down 33.9 percent from a year earlier. The United States and Europe are trying to squeeze the revenue Iran makes from oil exports in order to force it to halt a nuclear programme
they fear will be used to make weapons, but which Tehran says is for power generation. Japan, Iran’s third-biggest oil buyer, is likely to import no oil from Iran in July after stopping loadings in early June so as to avoid running foul of the EU sanctions from July 1 that forbid European insurers from covering tankers carrying Iranian crude anywhere in the world. Japan, which needs to import more oil to produce electricity after the Fukushima nuclear disaster shut most of its reactors, restarted loading from Iran on July 20 meaning imports should resume sometime in August.
The world’s third-largest economy imported 5.2 percent more oil in June, or about 3.4 million barrels a day, and turned to other supplies including Oman, Russia and Indonesia to meet the shortfall from Iran. Purchases from Oman rose more than 700 percent in June, while those from Russia and Indonesia were up 181 percent and 41 percent respectively. The resumption of Iranian imports from next month was made possible after Japan’s government agreed to step in and provide insurance cover of up to $7.6 billion for shipments to keep its oil trade with Tehran going. It’s unlikely though that imports will
Dubai airport passenger traffic jumps 16% in June DUBAI: Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport jumped 16.0 percent from a year earlier in June, boosted by an increase in passengers from the wider Middle East, operator Dubai Airports said yesterday. The airport, one of the worldís busiest, handled 4.71 million passengers in June, up from 4.07 million in June 2011. The Gulf, Europe and India again provided much of the rise, but June was the first time in nearly a year that routes elsewhere in the Middle East showed growth; they have been hit by political instability in the region. Freight passing through Dubai International climbed 6.3 percent from a year earlier in June to
194,992 tonnes, recovering from a 0.1 percent fall in May. In the first half of this year, passenger numbers rose 13.7 percent to 27.93 million while air cargo volume increased 2.2 percent to 1.09 million tonnes. “We are on track to meet the annual projected traffic of 56.5 million passengers, which will bring us very close to Dubai International’s operational capacity of 60 million passengers per annum,” Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports, said in a statement. “The addition of Concourse 3 during the first quarter of 2013 is well timed to boost our capacity to 75 million...” he added. — Reuters
rebound to last year’s levels because Japan agreed to cut purchases to obtain a waiver from U.S. financial sanctions on the OPEC member. Iran is feeling the pain as the sanctions sap the crucial source of foreign exchange for the country. The value of Japan’s imports from Iran for the first half of the year fell 26.8 percent to 380.1 billion yen ($4.83 billion) from a year earlier as imports fell by more than a third. Purchases from Iran for the first six months of 2012 totalled 227,573 bpd, down 33.4 percent from a year earlier. In June, the value of Iran imports declined 31.2 percent to 47.3 billion
yen from a year ago. South Korea, another major Asian consumer of Iranian crude along with Japan, China and India, will also halt shipments of Iranian oil in July because of the EU insurance ban but a minister said it was “highly likely” to resume imports soon. China’s oil imports from Iran rose to their highest in nearly a year in June at 633,000 bpd despite the sanctions, although traders expect them to be lower in July. India has also allowed state refiners to import Iranian oil, with Tehran arranging shipping and insurance, from July 1, to keep purchases flowing. — Reuters
ECB’s Super Mario takes the stage GLOBAL WEEKLY MARKET REPORT LONDON: Mario Draghi may not need to show his money this week, but impatient markets will be unforgiving if the European Central Bank chief does not flesh out his dramatic promise to do whatever is needed to save the euro. Given the threat that the longrunning euro zone crisis poses to the global economy, Thursday’s ECB policy-setting meeting and subsequent news conference were always going to be important. But they have become pivotal since Draghi vowed in London last Thursday that “within our mandate, the ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro. And believe me, it will be enough.” Specifically, Draghi said the ECB had a mandate to act if diverging borrowing costs were disrupting the transmission of monetary policy across the 17-country single currency area. This is patently the case. The ECB’s interest rate cut on July 5 to 0.75 percent has failed to reduce the giddily high cost of money for governments, banks and companies on the rim of the bloc, notably Spain and Italy. Sovereign yields in Germany and the Netherlands, by contrast, are negative. Yet even as capital flees the periphery and euro zone output shrinks, few economists think Draghi is ready to announce that the ECB is resuming secondarymarket bond purchases to lower yields, a policy it has pursued in the past with limited success. The assumption is that the ECB wants to share the burden with the
euro zone’s government-financed rescue funds. Bond buying is controversial in Germany and other creditor states, which fear they take pressure off debtors to reform, and so Draghi will need time to forge a political consensus. “The chances are that the ECB will need longer to calibrate its strategy. It will probably take at least until September for the ECB to be able to launch a new programme,” said Lena Komileva, chief economist at G+ Economics, a London consultancy. Komileva favours a radical plan whereby the ECB would sell German bonds and buy Spanish and Italian debt to cap borrowing premiums. “The pressure is on the ECB to think of a creative way to tackle systemic fault lines in the euro area,” she said. As if the ECB needed reminding of the depth of the crisis, figures on Tuesday are likely to show that the euro zone’s jobless rate rose to 11.2 percent in June from 11.1 percent in May. “If we are not yet at a policy of ‘growth at any price’, the importance ascribed to growth in political circles has certainly increased which gives political cover to monetary policy action,” Paul Donovan, an economist with UBS, said in a report. But whatever strategy the ECB adopts, the economic fissures in the euro zone, accentuated by the poor competitiveness of the periphery, means growth is not about to come roaring back. “Over a 10-year horizon I’m posi-
tive, but in the short run it’s got to carry on being painful,” said Richard Barwell, an economist with Royal Bank of Scotland in London. “We need to condition ourselves to the fact that we’re going to live with this for a long, long time.” The United States is doing better than Europe but is hardly a role model. Figures on Friday are likely to show that non-farm payroll jobs rose 100,000 in July, up from 80,000 in June, while the unemployment rate held steady at 8.2 percent. Like America’s 1.5 percent rate of economic growth in the second quarter, that would be uncomfortably sluggish for President Barack Obama, hoping for a growth spurt to boost his re-election prospects in November. But few think it would be weak enough to push the Federal Reserve into a third round of asset purchases, dubbed quantitative easing, to drive down borrowing costs and so bolster businesses and consumer confidence. Economists expect the US central bank’s policymakers, who gather on Wednesday, to sit on their hands for now. “If we get to the September meeting and the Fed, looking at the latest data, sees the economy running at less than a 2 pct GDP pace, they’re likely to act,” said Bill Adams, an economist with PNC in Pittsburgh. “We’ll need to see a stronger job market, more in line with expectations that we had coming into the year of sustained, moderate growth, to move QE3 off the table,” Adams added. — Reuters
SEOUL: A woman passes by a branch office of KT, South Korea’s largest fixed-line telephone company and No. 2 mobile operator, in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. South Korean police Sunday said they arrested two men who allegedly stole the personal details of about 8 million KT mobile phone subscribers and sold the data to marketing companies in one of the country’s biggest hacking schemes. — AP
Europe weakness hits Ryanair profits DUBLIN: Ryanair, Europe’s biggest budget airline, undershot analyst forecasts with a profit slide of 29 percent in the three months to June as it grappled with a toxic mix of austerity, recession and stubbornly high fuel prices. The Dublin-based airline, which is waiting to hear whether EU regulators will approve its takeover of Aer Lingus, said the weak economic outlook for Europe would continue to restrain fare growth for the rest of the year. “There is no sign of a European-wide economic recovery. There doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel,” Chief Financial Officer Howard Millar told Reuters Insider TV. The airline maintained its forecast of a profit of between 400 million euros ($494.80 million) and 440 million for the year to March. Net profit for three months to June was 99 million euros, compared with a forecast of 123 million by four analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. Earnings per share were 6.9 euro cent in the quarter, compared with an average analyst forecast of 9 cents. Ryanair’s shares were down 2.0 percent
on a flat Irish market at 0850 GMT. Rival Air France-KLM was up 11 percent after halving its operating loss on improved passenger activity. “The bottom line is that recession and austerity are having bigger impacts than the market had expected,” said Merrion Capital analyst Gerard Moore. The airline, which has a lower cost base than many of its competitors, said it had hedged 90 percent of its fuel needs for the year to March at approximately $1,000 per tonne. That is up 21 percent on last year, but lower than current market prices. The cost of the remaining 10 percent will be lower than expected at the start of the year, but this saving will be more than offset by a worse euro to dollar exchange rate, the company said in a statement. Average fares were up 4 percent, in line with midsingle digit growth forecast by the airline in May, and were on track for average growth of around 3 percent in the year to March, Millar said. The airline will go ahead with already announced plans to ground 80 of its 270 planes over the winter due to high fuel costs, Millar said. — Reuters
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
BUSINESS
Brent slips to $106 as OPEC output falls NEW YORK: Brent crude oil fell to $106 per barrel yesterday as signs of lower production from OPEC in July were overshadowed by concerns expected stimulus measures from the United States and Europe may not be enough to shore up their fragile economies. Supply from the 12-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fell by 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) in July to 31.18 million bpd, a Reuters survey showed, as Western sanctions further cut supply from Iran and due to reduced shipments from Angola, Saudi Arabia and Libya. “ The fundamentals are looking more constructive for the second half of this year, with the supply and demand balance now close to a deficit compared to the large surplus in the first half,” said Katherine Spector, commodity strategist at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in New York.
“The bearish factor is liquidity. Trading has been relatively slow and hedge funds and other investors don’t appear to want to commit in the current economic environment.” Slowing growth in the United States, the world’s top oil consumer, has triggered expectations of stimulus measures from the Federal Reser ve, which meets on Tuesday and Wednesday. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi also promised last week to do what it takes to protect the euro, raising expectations of new policy measures to solve the debt crisis when the ECB meets on Thursday. But analysts say markets may be hoping for too much. “Speculation over central bank action looks like it has gone too far,” said Carsten Fritsch, oil analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. “The euro has already begun to retreat and oil has also started to weaken. The move upwards seems exaggerated.”
Brent crude was down 52 cents at $105.95 per barrel by 11:35 am. US crude was down 40 cents at $89.73. If prices finish lower yesterday, it would mark the end of four consecutive days of rises. Brent has risen more than 8 percent in July while US crude has gained around 6 percent, supported largely by hopes of more economic stimulus. Thursday’s ECB meeting is in sharp focus, given the threat the long-running euro zone crisis poses to the global economy. Optimism of some sort of ECB action was evident across some markets on Monday, with European shares rising to fourmonth highs and global stocks at their highest in over three weeks. But the euro retreated after gaining last week. OPEC’s production has declined since it pumped 31.75 million bpd in April, the highest since September 2008, based on Reuters surveys. The biggest drop in supplies in July came from Iran, whose crude is subject to a European Union
embargo that started on July 1 barring EU insurance firms from covering Iran’s exports. Iran’s output fell by 150,000 bpd to 2.8 million bpd, the lowest level in more than two decades according to figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Saudi Arabia trimmed supply slightly in July because of lower demand from some customers, such as in the United States, sources in the survey said. It still kept output at 10 million bpd, near the highest level in decades. Oil prices have found support from escalating tensions in the Middle East, with rising violence in Syria threatening to further destabilise the region. Iran is still in a face-off with the West over its nuclear programme, fuelling uncertainty about supply in the oil markets. The West insists Tehran is trying to develop a nuclear bomb, but the Islamic republic has vehemently denied this assertion. — Reuters
Asian markets cheered by US, Europe stimulus hopes ‘There’s a great degree of expectation’
HONG KONG: The logo of HSBC is seen outside the headquarters in Hong Kong yesterday. HSBC PLC is to take a $700 million charge to cover the cost of US fines arising from its failure to stamp out money-laundering at the bank. — AP
HSBC sets aside $2bn for US investigation LONDON: HSBC’s chief executive apologised yesterday for shameful and embarrassing mistakes made on anti-money laundering controls as the bank set aside $2 billion to cover the cost of US investigations and compensate UK customers for mis-selling. Europe’s biggest bank reported a 3 percent dip in underlying profit and said it had made a provision of $700 million to cover “certain law enforcement and regulatory matters” after a US Senate report this month criticised HSBC for letting clients shift funds from dangerous and secretive countries. The report criticised a “pervasively polluted” culture at the bank and said that HSBC’s Mexican operations had moved $7 billion into the bank’s US operations between 2007 and 2008. “What happened in Mexico and the US is shameful, it’s embarrassing, it’s very painful for all of us in the firm,” Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver told reporters on a conference call, adding that the eventual costs could be “significantly higher”. “We apologise for our past mistakes in relation to anti-money laundering controls, and it is a priority for senior management
to build on steps already taken to manage risk and ensure compliance more effectively,” Gulliver said. Analysts had said the US investigations could result in a fine of about $1 billion. HSBC is also one of several banks being investigated in a global interest rate rigging scandal that has rocked the sector. Gulliver said it had submitted information to regulators but it was far too early to say what the outcome would be or to estimate the potential cost for the bank. HSBC has set aside $1.3 billion to compensate UK customers for mis-selling loan insurance to individuals and interest rate hedging products to small businesses. The bank reported a pretax profit of $12.7 billion for the six months to the end of June, up 11 percent on the year and above an average analyst forecast of $12.5 billion, according to a poll by the company. But underlying profit, stripping out gains from US assets sales and losses on the value of its own debt, was down 3 percent on the year to $10.6 billion. Shares in HSBC were up 0.7 percent to 534.6 pence at 0910 GMT, lagging a 1.8 percent rise in Europe’s bank index. — Reuters
HONG KONG: Asian markets mostly rose for a second straight session yesterday on hopes for new rounds of central bank stimulus in Europe and the United States to kickstart their troubled economies. The gains followed positive leads from Wall Street and Europe on Friday, while comments from European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi Thursday on saving the euro were reinforced by Germany, France and Italy over the weekend. Tokyo closed up 0.80 percent, or 68.80 points, at 8,635.44, Sydney gained 0.85 percent, or 35.9 points, to 4,245.7 and Seoul also climbed 0.80 percent, adding 14.63 points to 1,843.79. Hong Kong rose 1.61 percent, or 310.44 points, to 19,585.40 but Shanghai was down 0.89 percent, or 18.85 points, at 2,109.91. Data showing US gross domestic product expanded at a weaker pace in the three months to June underlined the frail state of the world’s number one economy but lifted sentiment as dealers now expect a fresh cash injection from the Federal Reserve. Washington said the economy grew 1.5 percent in the second quarter of the year, after 2.0 percent in the first three months, sending US shares skyward. Global shares were sent soaring on Friday after Draghi said the “ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro. And believe me it will be enough”. That message was reinforced later Friday by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande who vowed in a joint statement to do “everything to protect the eurozone” after telephone talks. Merkel re-iterated the pledge in a joint statement with Italian prime minister Mario Monti on Sunday. Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker also said in interviews published Sunday that the eurozone had reached a crucial juncture and its leaders would work with the ECB to save the single currency. “There’s a great degree of expectation around policy response from the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve,” Pengana Capital portfolio manager Tim Schroeders in Australia told Dow Jones Newswires. The string of positive news has helped push down borrowing costs for under-pressure Spain. The yield on benchmark 10-year bonds fell to 6.658 percent Friday from 6.828 percent the day before, after surging towards eight percent earlier in the week. In early European trade markets in London,
Indian MPs to consider diesel, power subsidy NEW DELHI: Indian ministers will meet today to discuss measures to deal with a feared drought, including curbs on commodity derivatives, extra subsidies to farmers and the distribution of seeds, but are not expected to ban farm exports. Annual monsoon rains are 21 percent below average since the four-month season began in June, threatening crops. Parched fields and scorched crops have revived memories of 2009 when the worst drought in nearly four decades cut grains output by 7 percent and forced India to import sugar from top producer Brazil, hoisting benchmark New York prices to a record high. “The key ministers and their officials will get down to brass tacks, examine the extent of the damage and work out the nitty-gritty that goes into giving the final touches to a contingency plan which is broadly in place,” said a government source. The government could also consider providing a diesel and electricity subsidy to farmers in the four worst-hit states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra, he said. The diesel subsidy for farmers in drought-hit states will be in addition to the existing support the government gives on the fuel. In irrigated areas, farmers tend to use extra diesel and electricity to pump out ground water, if rains are patchy. Although some commodities futures could be suspended to prevent prices running too high - with sugar a likely potential target - ministers are not expected to agree to a b a n on exports, another source said. India halted futures trade in rice, wheat and two varieties of pulses in early 2007 and has allowed only wheat to restart since then. In the severe drought of 2009 the government suspended sugar futures. It allowed the trade to resume after local sugar prices eased. India currently exports rice, corn, wheat, sugar, cotton and oilmeals and is importing pulses, or lentils, and vegetable oils to meet a domestic shortfall.
Food Minister K. V. Thomas has said he would not ban exports for now as a huge surplus of rice and wheat, thanks to bumper harvests since 2007, provides a cushion. Thomas said his ministry has singled out some commodities futures with high price volatility. The chief of the Forward Markets Commission, which polices commodity futures, on Thursday said he would ban derivatives “if need be.” Lower output of pulses and oilseeds will force India to step up imports, while any drop in production will cut exports of sugar and cotton next year. India currently imports about 3 million tonnes of pulses and 8 million tonnes of vegetable oils. Thomas has said the government might ask state-run trading firms to import pulses for subsidised sales to the poor. Farmers plant summer-sown crops in the rainy months of June and July. Harvests start from October. Summersown crops are dominated by rice at 70 percent of total and make up about half of India’s total crop output. Rains are likely to be 21-22 percent below normal in June and July, Farm Secretary Ashish Bahuguna said on Friday, unchanged from the seasonal shortfall recorded up to July 25. Rains were 29 percent below average in June and about 15 percent lower so far in July, raising the spectre of a drought which is potentially devastating for some of India’s 235 million farmers. Lower farm output could stoke inflation which has run at over 7 percent for two years now. Also, lack of rain typically leads to lower disposable incomes and hits sales to rural areas of a variety of products, from motorcycles to refrigerators. But the impact of the monsoon on overall growth could gradually be waning as agriculture’s share of the economy has fallen to 14.3 percent from nearly 30 percent in the early 1990s. India’s farm sector grew at a meagre 2.8 percent in the 2011/12 fiscal year against 7.0 percent in 2010/11. — Reuters
Frankfurt and Paris all rose. On currency markets, the euro bought $1.2275 and 96.20 yen, down from $1.2315 and 96.63 yen in New York late Friday. The dollar firmed to 78.37 yen from 78.19 yen. In Japan, the Nikkei advanced despite figures showing factory output unexpectedly fell in June as the debt crisis in Europe as well as a strong yen quelled demand for the country’s goods. Oil prices were mixed. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for September delivery was up 15 cents to $90.28 a barrel in the late afternoon, while Brent North Sea crude, also for September was 20 cents down at $106.73 27. Gold was at $1,618.30 at 1105 GMT from $1,623.65 late Friday. In other markets: Taipei rose 0.48 percent, or 34.39 points, to 7,158.88. Formosa Plastics added 0.62 percent to Tw$81.4 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co was 0.38 percent lower at Tw$79.0. Manila closed 1.12 percent higher, gaining 58.35 points to 5,277.90. Metropolitan Bank and Trust added 1.95 percent to 96.80 pesos while Philippine Long Distance Telephone rose 0.22 percent to 2,704 pesos.
Wellington added 0.50 percent, or 17.60 points, to 3,518.89. Fletcher Building was up 1.01 percent at NZ$6.02, Telecom rose 2.55 percent to NZ$2.61 and The Warehouse was steady at NZ$2.58. Jakarta was up 0.37 percent, or 14.91 points, to 4,099.12. Car maker Astra rose 0.75 percent to 6,700 rupiah while Indocement gained 3.3 percent to 20,150 rupiah. Bangkok was up 1.30 percent, or 15.31 points, to 1,193.32. Banpu gained 2.01 percent to 406.00 Baht, while PTT added 1.55 percent to 327.00 Baht. Kuala Lumpur closed up 0.46 percent, or 7.41 points, at 1,632.35. Plantation group Sime Darby gained 0.10 percent to 9.83 ringgit, while Telekom Malaysia added 1.06 percent to 5.72 ringgit. Singapore closed up 1.14 percent, or 34.31 points, at 3,032.80. DBS Bank was up 0.61 percent to Sg$14.74 and Singapore Telecom was 2.01 percent higher at Sg$3.55. Mumbai rose 1.81 percent, or 304.49 points, to 17,143.68. State Bank of India was up 4.63 percent at 2,031.05 rupees while Tata Motors rose 4.16 percent to 221.65. — AFP
HONG KONG: Pedestrians walk before a share prices board in Hong Kong yesterday. Asian markets mostly rose for a second straight session on hopes for new rounds of central bank stimulus in Europe and the United States to kickstart their troubled economies. — AFP
Banks urge Congress to extend crisis-era deposit insurance NEW YORK: The expiration of special US deposit insurance at the end of the year has spurred banks to lobby Congress to extend the program out of fear that companies will withdraw billions of dollars. At issue is the Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) program, which insures all bank deposits in checking accounts above the $250,000 coverage already provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. TAG primarily benefits businesses and local governments that need quick access to large amounts of cash for payroll and other needs. About $1.3 trillion of TAGinsured deposits that do not pay interest sit at large and small US banks. The TAG program was created by bank regulators and the US Treasury during the 2008 financial crisis to attract cash for banks and reassure depositors that their money was safe. In 2010, Congress extended the TAG program through the end of 2012. Without another extension, businesses are likely to shift their deposits to prime money-market accounts and other short-term alternatives. “This program is the best deal around,” said Robert Haas, senior treasury associate in charge of cash management and investments at the National Railroad Passenger Corp., the parent of Amtrak. It addresses treasurers’ two primary concerns: safety and a return on cash that comes from discounts banks give on other services in lieu of interest, he said. If the program disappears, he will look at other options, Haas added. While the 10 largest US banks hold 70 percent of TAG deposits, small banks have benefited by attracting deposits from local borrowers to fund loans that previously went to bigger banks, which are seen as safer. Community banks with under $10 billion of assets hold
about $200 billion of TAG deposits - or about $23 million per bank. “Extending TAG is our No. 1 priority this year,” said Camden Fine, president of the Independent Community Bankers of America, who insists that business lending in distressed communities depends on the program. “Ending it will have a crippling impact on any kind of full economic recovery.” The ICBA seeks a five-year extension of the program. A bipartisan group of legislators have told constituents in the community banking world that they support the banks, but an extension is by no means certain. The US government is trying to exit many of the emergency financial programs set up during the crisis. Time is not on the bankers’ side on this issue. Only about three weeks of legislative days are left to craft an extension of the TAG insurance program before the presidential election. Banking industry lobbyists said the best possibility is to attach a TAG extension to a bill that seems certain of passage. That bill has not yet been determined, they said. Exacerbating the problem is that banks are feuding among themselves over the program. Many large banks are concerned that small banks are winning deposits by assuring customers their funds are completely safe. If these banks end up failing, big banks could have to pay more money into the FDIC insurance fund. Banks are not currently charged an additional assessment on TAG deposits, but that could well change. When directors of the American Bankers Association, a powerful trade group representing large and small banks, convened earlier this month, it was a tossup as to whether they would support a TAG extension, said people familiar with their thoughts. —Reuters
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TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
BUSINESS
Savour the taste and tradition of iftar onboard Qatar Airways DOHA: Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, Qatar Airways will bring a taste of Qatari hospitality to the skies by offering guests who are fasting with a specially designed iftar box. The box consists of traditional and local gastronomical delights traditionally associated with breaking of the fast. In addition to water, laban, dates and sweets to enjoy at the moment of iftar, the specially designed boxes also contain a selection of mouth watering delicacies, which include a chicken shawarma sandwich with spiced chicken, tahina sauce and shredded lettuce and a mezze salad featuring hummus, olives
vegetables and olive oil with Arabic bread. A packet of the airline’s signature mixed fruit and nuts is also included together with a fresh banana to complete the dining experience. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al-Baker said the airline always sought to offer passengers a blend of the airline’s unrivalled signature 5-star service with the warmth and grace of Qatari hospitality to all its passengers. “While we pride ourselves of being a modern 5-star airline, Qatar Airways will continue to uphold the culture and the tradition of the country whose people we represent. Ramadan is an important
period for a vast number of our passengers and we are happy to meet their needs, offering them the high level of service they have been accustomed to.” These boxes are available exclusively onboard Qatar Airways operated flights between Doha and the Gulf, Middle East and the Levant. They will be presented to passengers who are fasting during the flight by our award-winning cabin crew. Iftar boxes will be distributed on flights to selected destinations including Abu Dhabi, Alexandria, Bahrain, Benghazi, Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Madinah, Mashad, Muscat, Riyadh, Sanaa and Tehran.
Passengers who are not fasting will continue to enjoy Qatar Airways’ unrivalled 5-star service on all its flights to any one of the airline’s leisure and business destinations worldwide. Alcohol will not be served onboard any flights between Doha and the Gulf, Middle East and the Levant, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Iraq during Ramadan. Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 15 years of operations, currently operating a modern fleet of 110 aircraft to 118 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North
America and South America. Since the beginning of the year, Qatar Airways has launched flights to Baku (Azerbaijan); Tbilisi (Georgia); Kigali (Rwanda); Zagreb (Croatia), Erbil (Iraq), Baghdad, and most recently, Perth (Australia) and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) with many more destinations planned during 2012. Over the next few months, Qatar Airways will launch services to a diverse portfolio of new routes, including Yangon, Myanmar (October 3); Maputo, Mozambique (October 31) and a date yet-to-be-announced to the Serbian capital Belgrade.
ABK announces KD 43.7 million profit for first half of 2012 KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait reported its financial results for the financial period ended 30 June 2012. The operating profits (before provisions) amounted to KD 43.7 million, compared to KD 41.2 million in the corresponding period, at a growth rate of 6%. The net profit amounted to KD 21.2 million after taking precautionary provisions for unexpected difficult market conditions. Earnings per share amounted to 14 fils with return on assets of 1.4% and return equity of 8.7%. Commenting on these financial results for the first half of 2012, Ahmed Behbehani, ABK’s chairman said. “ABK continues to take precautionary provisions to face the difficult market conditions that prevailed during the first half of 2012. The delay in launching new mega development projects and the continuation of impairment of local shares collaterals over the financial
crisis period and the continuation of the political instability in some Middle East countries have nega-
Ahmed Behbehani tively reflected on the economic activity and the local business environment. Despite these major chal-
lenges, ABK succeeded in facing these difficult economic and financial conditions. The Bank will continue to follow its conservative policy of effective balance sheet management.” “The bank has a sound capital base and a strong capital adequacy ratio significantly above regulatory norms. This has given the bank the ability to expand and grow its operations, withstand any unforeseen contingencies provided us the ability to meet Basel III capital requirements”, added Behbehani. Further, he stated that, “Our core strategy has been adapted to meet the turbulent economic circumstances and we remain focused on minimizing risks across our business areas, improving operational efficiency and enhancing value for our shareholders and customers. The bank has also increased its suite of products and
services to provide a world class banking experience for its customers, depositors and business partners in the area. In the coming years the bank will continue to minimize the risks on all our business sectors, and increase the value for our shareholder. Our efforts will focus in achieving the maximum operational efficiency in all our core business units.” In conclusion, Behbehani commented that market conditions remained difficult amid the impairment of shares collateral, delay of launching new development projects, and continuous political instability in the Middle East and the sovereign debt problems in Euro zone, with stagnant markets and slow economic growth. However, the effective risk management and close monitoring of the loans portfolio will reduce the risks and enhance the sound financial position of the bank.
Yusuf Alghanim & Sons launch ‘Scratch & Win’ campaign on AC Delco batteries KUWAIT: Yusuf A. Alghanim & Sons, the main distributor of AC Delco batteries in Kuwait, launched a ‘Scratch & Win’ campaign on AC Delco Maintenance Free batteries. The campaign runs all summer from July 1st until October 18th 2012, and entitles customers to win exciting gifts ranging from the New iPad, Galaxy SIII phone, iPhone 4S, LCD TV’s, Laptops and thousands of more prizes. For every maintenance free battery purchased, the customer gets a ‘Scratch & Win’ coupon. Every customer stands a chance to win any of these valuable prizes whenever they replace their vehicle battery with a new ACDelco maintenance free battery, distributed
by Yusuf A. Alghanim & Sons. Customers will find the ‘Scratch & Win’ coupon inside the battery box, which allows them to instantly discover if they might be the proud winner of any of the new iPads, Galaxy S3 mobiles, LCD TVs, laptops and other gifts. ACDelco batteries from Alghanim are available at all Alghanim spare parts outlets (Shuwaikh, Sharq, Fahaheel, Canada Dry St.), and in all Bumper-to-Bumper centers (Shuwaikh, Sharq, Oxygen St., Jahra), in addition to over 500 puncture shops in all the areas and governorates of Kuwait. ACDelco offers a complete and comprehensive range of Maintenance Free batteries suit-
able for all car makes including American, Japanese, Korean, and European. ACDelco uses state-of-the-art quality processes and the best materials to ensure a long life that far exceeds that of the average battery sold in the Middle East market and are engineered especially for the hot climate of the Middle East. Standing behind the quality of all its batteries, ACDelco also offers a 12-month international warranty throughout the Middle East. Yusuf A. Alghanim & Sons Automotive will continue to launch new initiatives to meet and exceed customers’ expectations, and reward them for their loyalty and trust in the company’s products and services.
Etihad Airways, Aer Lingus unveil codeshare details DUBAI: Etihad Airways and Aer Lingus have signed an historic interline and codeshare agreement which follows the UAE national airline’s recent 2.987 per cent equity purchase in the Irish carrier. Within the agreement Etihad Airways will place its “EY” code on Aer Lingus flights between Dublin, Manchester and London Heathrow, and destinations in Ireland, the British Isles, the Channel Islands, Portugal, the Netherlands and the US. In return, Aer Lingus will place its “EI” code on Etihad Airways flights between Abu Dhabi and Dublin, and have full access to flights across the network beyond Abu Dhabi, to points including Australia, Asia-Pacific, the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East. In addition to the codeshare with Aer Lingus, Etihad Airways has 35 other codeshare agreements in place with airlines across the world. Codeshare partnerships, along with equity acquisitions and organic growth, form the three pillars of Etihad Airways expansion plans. James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to announce this new codeshare
agreement with Aer Lingus which will provide Etihad Airways’ customers with new travel options and flight connections to Ireland, the UK, continental Europe, and across the Atlantic to Boston and New York. “The codeshare agreement is an early indication of the success of Etihad Airways’ strategic plan to acquire equity in Aer Lingus and other airlines and the instant benefit it brings to both airlines’ customers around the world.” Christoph Mueller, Aer Lingus’ Chief Executive, said: “Today’s announcement supports Aer Lingus’ strategy to provide greater access and choice to our customers. We are delighted to welcome Etihad Airways on board as a codeshare partner.” The new Etihad Airways codeshare flights will be on sale today for travel from 15 September. Some of the routes are still subject to regulatory approvals. The Etihad Airways “EY” code will be placed on the following Aer Lingus flights: ● Between Dublin and Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Isle of Man, Jersey, Kerry, Lisbon, London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Manchester.
● Between London Heathrow and Dublin, Cork, and Shannon. ● Between Manchester and Dublin, Cork, and Shannon. ● Between Dublin and Boston and New York JFK. Etihad Airways and Aer Lingus continue to discuss additional commercial and cost opportunities to develop a closer working relationship in areas such as joint procurement. Initially, members of the Etihad Guest loyalty program will be able to earn miles on Aer Lingus codeshare flights and further integration of frequent flyer programs is under discussion. Etihad Airways operates 10 flights a week from Abu Dhabi to Dublin and has carried more than 817,000 passengers between the two capitals since it began flying the route in July, 2007. The airline has a premium lounge at Dublin Airport, an engineering maintenance facility and has conducted recruitment drives across the country. It also recently renewed its hurling sponsorship of the Gaelic Athletic Association, signing a five-year deal.
AUB reports 5.1% rise in h1/2012 profit to $169.9m KUWAIT: Ahli United Bank BSC (AUB) reported a net profit attributable to its equity shareholders of $169.9 million for the half year ended 30 June 2012, a 5.1% increase over the same period in 2011 (H1/2011: $161.7 million). The resultant basic earnings per share were $3.3 cents, compared to US 3.1 cents achieved in H1/2011. Q2/2012 net profit was 3.7% higher at $87.5 million compared to $84.4 million for Q2/2011. Total operating income grew by 6.9% contributed by a 9.8% growth in net interest income and 5.6% improvement in fee based income over H1/2011. Key drivers of this increase in operating income were the 4.4% net growth in loans over December 2011, $0.8 MM gains from early retirement of bank’s subordinated debt and 14.6% growth in the
Non-trading investment portfolio over December 2011. The cost income ratio stood at 30.0% (H1/2011: 31.0%). The Group’s asset quality improved with the non-performing loan ratio contained at 2.3% as at 30 June 2012 (31 December 2011: 2.5%). AUB continued its prudent provisioning policy resulting in additional allocations to collective impairment provisions with the overall provision charge for H1/2012 increasing to $93.0 million compared to $80.2 million in H1/2011. Consequently, the overall provision coverage ratio (including collective impairment provisions) increased to 148% at 30 June 2012 as compared to 135% as of 31 December 2011. The Group’s Return on Average Equity and Average Assets for H1/2012 were sustained at 13.3% and 1.3% respectively.
Samsung launches Islamic apps for SMART TV users KUWAIT: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital convergence technologies, announced the launch of its Islamic applications for SMART TV users. Users can now make the most out of the holy month of Ramadan with Samsung’s Islamic applications, found on the Smart Hub. The applications include Al-Roqya Al-Sharayaa, Husn Al-Muslim and Prayer Times and are available for free for SMART TV users. More applications will also be available later this month such as, Quran Mojawed, and Sahih Bukhari. The holy month of Ramadan is an important month for Muslims. It is a time when people reflect deeply on their religion and strengthen ties with family and friends; give more to their communities and generally commit themselves to becoming better people. Samsung’s SMART TV Islamic applications have been developed to provide users with an enhanced spiritual experience that will make a real difference in their lives. Whether reading daily azkars from ‘Husn Al- Muslim’ or setting up prayer reminders using the ‘Prayer Times’, these applications aim to help Muslims become more observant during the Holy Month of Ramadan and throughout the year. In addition to ‘Husn Al-Muslim’ and ‘Prayer Times’, the range of Islamic applications also include, ‘Al-Roqya El Sharaaya’, a list of audio narrated prayers that are used for spiritual and physical healing. “Samsung’s launch of the SMART TV Islamic applications part of our commitment to understanding the local culture and community and developing regionally relevant content and applications to
suit consumer needs,” said Vinod Nair, General Manager TV Business, Samsung Gulf Electronics. “We want our consumers to connect with the month of Ramadan in the most meaningful way. The new Islamic apps provide Muslims a new and diverse channel to source information and teachings, allowing them to further enhance their religious understanding this Ramadan.” “We strive to deliver a TV experience
consumers won’t find anywhere else. We will continue to develop our unique and innovative applications and services that consumers have come to expect and enjoy from Samsung’s SMART TV,” added Nair. Later this month, Samsung will also be releasing ‘Quran Mojawed’, where people can listen to streaming audio of the Quran from narrators like Al-Hudhaifi, and Sahih Bukhari’, a detailed encyclopedia of the Prophet’s (PBUH) hadiths, ‘Herbal Medicine’, a useful guide for herbal treatments, and ‘Kunooz’, an entertaining application yet educational about Islam, sports and literature.
China calls for private investment in key fields BEIJING: China’s government said yesterday it will launch projects to attract private investment in energy, health and other industries as it tries to reverse an economic slump. The Cabinet announcement adds to a flurry of efforts to stimulate growth that has fallen to a three-year low, raising the threat of job losses and social unrest. The International Monetary Fund said last week China probably has achieved a “soft landing” but warned “global headwinds are increasing” due to Europe’s debt crisis and a weak US recovery. Beijing said previously that boosting private sector investment is a key part of its recovery plan but there is no sign
struggling entrepreneurs are willing to spend. Some private businesspeople say monthly sales have fallen by up to 50 percent in recent months. “We will launch demonstration projects in such fields as railways, city government, energy, telecoms, finance, health and education to draw private investment into these areas,” the Cabinet statement said. It gave no details of individual projects or how much the government might spend. China’s major industries - including all of those cited in the announcement are dominated by state companies despite three decades of market-oriented reforms. Yesterday’s statement gave
no indication what added access private investors might be given or how they would be protected from rich, aggressive state-owned rivals. The Cabinet also promised subsidized loans to industry to improve energy efficiency and other technology but gave no details. Authorities have previously promised the private sector more bank loans, tax cuts and other support, but entrepreneurs say they have seen little help. Most lending by state-owned banks goes to politically favored government companies. Beijing has tried to use carefully targeted measures to revive growth while avoiding throwing money indiscrimi-
nately at the economy. Authorities are trying to avoid a repeat of the aftermath of their stimulus in response to the 2008 crisis, which fueled inflation and a wasteful building boom. On Friday, the government of the central city of Changsha announced plans for 829.2 billion yuan ($130 billion) in new investments, though it gave no details. Stimulus efforts so far include higher investment by state industry and more spending on building low-cost housing, airports and other public works. Such construction is a quick way to pump money into the economy but much of the spending goes to stateowned companies.
Growth fell to 7.6 percent in the three months ending June 30. Many private sector analysts say the slump appears to have bottomed out but it is unclear whether a rebound is beginning. Last week, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said data from the latest quarter showed industrial output was stabilizing but growth was weak. The slowdown is due in part to curbs imposed on lending and investment in 2010 and last year to cool an overheated economy and inflation. The plunge in global demand last year prompted Beijing to reverse course and loosen controls. —AP
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TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
TECHNOLOGY
Galaxy phones help Samsung outdo its technology rivals Record-high profit expected
LONDON: Dr Heather Duncan explains how the adapted F1 technology works.
Formula 1 technology used in hospital LONDON: At first glance, a four-and-ahalf-year-old with a serious heart condition and a Formula 1 racing car have little in common. But the telemetrics that assess a car’s performance on the track are now being used to monitor Damian Singh as he recovers from a cardiac arrest in the intensive care ward of Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH). It is the first time such a system has been adapted for use on humans. Cars on the race track, like patients in hospital, need to be constantly monitored. Sensors on the vehicles feed back data to a team of engineers who will make adjustments, either trackside or after the race, to improve performance next time around. By contrast, most hospitals rely on a combination of paper charts - plotting the vital signs of patients, from heart rate to blood pressure - and the four-hourly observations conducted by nurses and doctors. McLaren says its real-time technology is an improvement on paperbased data on patients. Dr Heather Duncan, a consultant in paediatric intensive care at BCH, wanted a digital-based system to sit alongside the traditional monitoring methods. A chance meeting with Peter van Manen, managing director of McLaren Electronics, proved fruitful. “I was speaking at an event that Dr Duncan was attending to look for a paediatric early-warning system,” he told the BBC. “It soon became clear, when we discussed it, that there were lots of things that we do routinely in Formula 1 that are not dissimilar as that for patients in a hospital. “If you were to take the real-time data system technology and put it into a hospital, it should be possible to extend and improve paper-based data on patients,” he added. The Formula 1 system is used to coping with vast amounts of data each car has about 130 parameters and 15,000 health checks - so the software can quickly “learn” what is normal for individual patients. As Damian is still in intensive care, he is wired up to a series of monitors and these are used by the McLaren system to collect continuous data about his heart rate, respiration, oxygen levels and blood pressure. It was too expensive to have every patient in the hospital wired up in this way, said Dr Duncan. Damian’s mother says the system has helped her to deal with her son’s stay in intensive care “ The aim is to move beyond that to continuous wireless monitoring,” she explained.
It is likely that would be in the form of plaster with a layer of electronics to allow it to “talk” wirelessly to the system. “Patients want something that is as least invasive as possible,” said Dr Duncan. Constant monitoring offers two huge benefits for doctors. “It will warn us about the patients wearing it but we will also archive the data so that we can learn from it,” she said. Currently data collected in the intensive care ward has to be deleted after 96 hours - so having long-term data on patients for the first time could prove extremely valuable. “We will be able to look back on patients in much more detail and look for signs, say of a cardiac arrest, and ask was it predictable? Could we have done something different?” Data analysts have been drafted in to help make sense of the information and create a simple-to-use early-warning system - with red signifying changes to patients that need immediate attention, amber suggesting slight changes and green representing normality. Dr Duncan hopes the system will be web-based so that doctors coming onto their shifts can access it from laptops or tablet computers. “It could be transformational,” she said. “Doctors can go to their screen and see where the most sick patients are and can plan their day around that,” she said. Van Manen has wider ambitions. “If you have a patient with a chronic condition, he or she can be monitored at home because they can be connected to experts in hospital and, if changes are detected, consultants can see the data and make a decision about what to do next,” he said. The trial system at BCH is in the early stages and McLaren engineers are working closely with doctors and data analysts at the hospital to make sure it is successful. The hospital has not yet purchased the system but Mr van Manen is hopeful that it and many others will. “The NHS or individual hospital will be buying a system to get better clinical outcomes and reduce the patient’s stay in hospital - a more efficient system basically,” he said. Damian’s mother, Magdalena, says the system has helped her to deal with the stress of her son’s stay in intensive care. “I like to see the numbers and I am learning what they mean and what they should be. “It means I know a bit more, I am learning about his condition and what is normal for him,” she said. “It is very reassuring seeing the changes and seeing that he is getting better.” —Reuters
Facebook: transition from desktop to mobile NEW YORK: Investors are dumping Facebook’s stock, spooked by slowing revenue growth, the lack of a financial outlook and plans to spend more money in the coming months. Are they right? Only if they are thinking in the short term. Investors can expect Facebook’s stock to be volatile for a few years. But analysts say those willing to wait will likely be rewarded - someday. “I view it as a tomorrow stock,” says Christian Bertelsen, chief investment officer at wealth management firm Global Financial Private Capital. “The whole thing on Facebook is, look, if your time horizon is hourly, weekly or even monthly, this is not the stock for you,” he adds. “You need to take a much longer-term view on it.” That’s about three or four years, he says. Founded in CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard dorm room in 2004, Facebook was a product of the PC era. Now, in the age of mobile computing, a growing number of people are accessing Facebook through their iPhones, Android gadgets and tablet computers. Yet Facebook is only now starting to figure out how to make money from its mobile audience. “The company is going through an almost painful transition from desktop to mobile,” Baird analyst Colin Sebastian says. He calls Facebook “a speculative investment,” but one with plenty of potential. “With almost one billion users, Facebook is amassing the most comprehensive user profile database in existence,” Sebastian says. This, he adds, offers a “significant opportunity” to reap a big chunk of the global advertising market, which is currently at $500 billion a year. “Amazon comes to mind immediately,” Bertelsen says. After that company went public in 1997, at the time mainly just an online bookstore,
critics were quick to cry dot-com bust, call its business a broken, and so on. Today, it is the world’s biggest online retailer, selling everything from DVDs to vacuum cleaners to Web storage. “Now they are the retailer to the world,” he adds. Amazon.com Inc.’s stock price grew to more than $200 a share, from less than $2. Of course, Facebook has started out much higher, at $38. Facebook’s first earnings report since its rocky initial public offering on May 18 was the second coming that didn’t quite materialize. So investors sent Facebook’s stock to its lowest level ever on Friday. Shares fell $3.14, or nearly 12 percent, to close at $23.71 after hitting $22.28 in the morning. The previous low was $25.52, reached on June 6. The stock dropped despite the fact that Facebook’s second-quarter results met Wall Street’s expectations, with revenue one-third higher than last year. Given the rocky economy and investors’ heightened sensitivity to a stock’s value, betting on a company becomes a “show-me story” for many of them, Sebastian says. That means investors want proof rather than Facebook’s word that it can grow its revenue and make a profit. Facebook, for now, is more of a tell-me story, one whose success or failure will play out in the coming quarters, or even years. The company hasn’t shown all it can do. Its revenue growth slowed. The company’s revenue nearly tripled in 2010, compared with 2009. In the first quarter of this year, revenue climbed 44 percent, higher than the 32 percent increase in the second quarter. Following in Google’s footsteps, it did not offer financial guidance for the coming quarters, which makes it a riskier bet for investors. —AP
SEOUL: Samsung, the world’s largest technology company by revenue, reported another record-high quarterly profit as customers flocked to Galaxy smartphones, helping it outdo rivals at a challenging time for the global tech industry. Samsung Electronics Co. said Friday its net profit swelled to 5.2 trillion won ($4.5 billion) in the April-June quarter, a 48 percent jump from a year earlier. The earnings were lower than a median forecast of 5.6 trillion won in a poll of seven analysts by Yonhap Infomax. But Samsung shares jumped 5.2 percent to close at one-month high in Seoul as investors expect its earnings to continue growing strongly. Samsung, the world’s largest maker of mobile phones, televisions and memory chips, benefited from runaway demand for its Android-powered smartphones as rivals including Apple Inc. were yet to release new models. The robust sales of smartphones such as the company’s flagship Galaxy S3 helped Samsung paper over a slowdown in other consumer electronics sectors such as televisions and personal computers that has been painful for its rivals and component suppliers. Its second quarter operating profit spiked 79 percent over a year earlier to 6.7 trillion won and its revenue rose 21 percent to 47.6 trillion won, matching Samsung’s guidance released earlier this month. The operating profit, also at an alltime high, was up 15 percent from the previous quarter. Despite nagging worries about debt-crippled Europe, analysts are expecting Samsung to achieve a record-high profit in the third quarter
when Galaxy S3 sales are expected to reach a peak before Apple unveils its new iPhone, anticipated in October. “The third quarter is expected to be marginally positive as demand for consumer electronics goods, including smartphones and tablets, remains strong and a stream of new products hit the market. Supply for display panels is also expected to increase, as TV makers prepare for the year-end holiday season,” Samsung said in a statement. In a conference call, Samsung’s mobile communications vice president Kim Hyun-joon said growth in global smartphone sales will not be affected by an economic slowdown. Sales of Samsung’s smartphones in China increased significantly and the company expects to sustain mobile growth through expansion in emerging markets, he said. The increase in smartphone sales, the S3 as well as the Galaxy Note, will also boost sales of Samsung’s mobile processors, helping the company counter weak demand for computer memory chips, analysts said. In the second quarter, Samsung’s mobile division, which makes smartphones, personal computers and network equipment, contributed 63 percent of Samsung’s entire operating profit by generating 4.2 trillion won profit. Although the company does not release its mobile sales figures, Samsung probably outperformed competitors in the top-end smartphone market, while having a tougher time competing with Chinese brands such as ZTE and Huawei in low-end smartphones, analysts said.
Unlike Apple, which makes a limited number of smartphone models, Samsung boasts a wide range of mobile phones with various screen sizes, designs and price ranges. Industry watcher say Samsung might unveil a new version of the Galaxy Note at a German trade fair in the fall to fend off competition from Apple’s new iPhone launch. Research firm IDC said Samsung shipped 50.2 million smartphones in the April-June quarter, widening its lead over Apple. Apple, which earlier this week reported earnings that fell short of expectations, sold 26 million iPhones in the three month stretch. The two companies, which together control around half of the world’s smartphone market, are scheduled to meet on July 30 in a San Jose court for a U.S. trial on mobile patents. An epic legal battle between the two companies started in April 2010 when Apple accused the South Korean firm of copying its iPhone and iPad designs and has expanded to about a dozen lawsuits in North America, Asia and Europe. Samsung in turn accuses Apple of violating its wireless technology patents. Despite the legal battles, the two companies continue to have a close business relationship. Samsung is a key supplier of mobile processors for Apple’s iPhone and iPad and Samsung’s component divisions also make display screens and mobile chips for Apple. Outside the mobile market, Samsung made improvements in flat-screens and TVs but semiconductor profit declined on weak global demand for personal computers. —Reuters
Kaspersky Lab provides analysis of ‘Madi’ info-stealing malware DUBAI: On July 17, 2012, Kaspersky Lab and Seculert announced the discovery of Madi, an on-going cyber-espionage campaign in the Middle East. The Madi attackers infected more than 800 victims in Iran, Israel, Afghanistan, and other countries across the globe with a malicious infostealing Trojan, which is delivered via social engineering schemes, to carefully selected targets. Today Kaspersky Lab’s experts published a detailed technical analysis of the info-stealing malware used by the Madi attackers. The analysis provides technical examples and explanations of each primary function of the info-stealing Trojan, and details how it’s installed on an infected machine, logs keystrokes, communicates with the C&Cs, steals and exfiltrates data, monitors communications, records audio, and captures screenshots. Summary findings: Overall, the components of the Madi campaign are unsophisticated despite the high infection count of more than 800 victims. ● The development of the Madi infostealing Trojan was an extremely rudimentary approach based on the attackers’ coding style, programming techniques and poor use of Delphi. ● Most of the info-stealers’ actions and communications with the C&C servers occur through external files, which is a disorganized and elementary way of coding in Delphi. ● Despite the crude coding of the mal●
Workers mount a Russian Soyuz U rocket with cargo Progress M-16M carrier at the Russian leased Kazakh Baikonur cosmodrome yesterday. The rocket will blast off to the International Space Station (ISS). —AFP
ware, the high-profile victims were infected by the info-stealing Trojan by being tricked with social engineering schemes deployed by the Madi attackers. ● The Madi campaign demonstrates that even low quality malware can still successfully infect and steal data, so users should be increasingly careful of suspicious emails. ● No advanced exploit techniques or zero-days are used anywhere in the malware, which makes the overall success of the campaign very surprising. ● Madi was a low investment campaign regarding its developmental and operational efforts, but its return on investment was high considering the number of infected victims and amount of exfiltrated data. ● Although the malware had some unusual characteristics inside it, there is no solid evidence that points to who its authors are. Kaspersky Lab is the largest antivirus company in Europe. It delivers some of the world’s most immediate protection against IT security threats, including viruses, spyware, crimeware, hackers, phishing, and spam. The company is ranked among the world’s top four vendors of security solutions for endpoint users. Kaspersky Lab products provide superior detection rates and one of the industry’s fastest outbreak response times for home users, SMBs, large enterprises and the mobile computing environment. Kaspersky(r) technology is also used worldwide inside the products and services of the industry’s leading IT security solution providers. Learn more at: http://www.kaspersky.com/.
EMC announces new executive appointments DUBAI: EMC Corporation yesterday announced a series of senior executive appointments to further position the company for its next phase of growth. The appointments highlight the depth and breadth of EMC’s executive management team and mark the next step in the implementation of the company’s long-standing executive succession plan. “EMC and VMware have delivered strong results over the past decade and have developed world-class management teams,” said Joe Tucci, EMC Chairman and CEO. “Today we are witnessing an extraordinary transformation in the IT industry unlike anything we have seen before - a major shift to Cloud Computing, Big Data applications and delivering IT-as-aService. To capitalize on this tremendous opportunity we are positioning our executive talent so that we can benefit from their exceptional professional strengths with the goal of further advantaging EMC and VMware to deliver long-term value to our respective shareholders.” Key among the executive appointments to drive future growth, EMC announced that: ● David Goulden, Executive Vice President and CFO, has been appointed President and COO of EMC Corporation, reporting to Tucci. ● Pat Gelsinger, EMC President and COO of Information Infrastructure Products, has been appointed CEO of VMware, effective September 1 st , and will also join the VMware Board of Directors. ● Paul Maritz, VMware’s present CEO, is joining EMC as Chief Strategist, reporting to Tucci, effective September 1. Maritz will remain on the VMware Board of Directors. Tucci said, “With these changes, David will assume responsibility for EMC’s Information Infrastructure business, Pat will now lead Cloud Infrastructure at VMware, and Paul will look across our technology strategy with a particular focus on Big Data and the next generation of cloud-oriented applications that will be built on top of these foundations.”
Goulden, a 10-year senior EMC veteran, will effective immediately assume full responsibility for EMC’s Business Units, Sales and Customer Operations, Services, Marketing and G&A functions. Goulden will also continue to serve as EMC’s CFO, a position he has held since 2006. “David Goulden is a remarkable executive and proven leader with an extraordinary command of EMC’s business,” said Tucci. “He has led just about every aspect of our business, driven major change initiatives across the company and helped design innovative business models. He and his team have also been instrumental to EMC’s long-term financial success. All of this coupled with David’s broad EMC experience and deep industry knowledge makes him the perfect choice to become President and COO.” Goulden said, “EMC is very well positioned to benefit from almost every major trend in IT - flash storage, converged infrastructure, Big Data and cloud security to name just a few. I look forward to continuing to execute on EMC’s strategy and working with such a talented team who embody EMC’s high-performance culture. “ In joining EMC, Maritz will be driving our efforts in EMC’s technology strategy with a particular focus in Big Data and the next generation of cloud-oriented applications. Maritz, who was one of the early leaders of Microsoft before becoming CEO of VMware, will also assume responsibility for EMC’s CTO Office, M&A, strategic investments and emerging technologies. “Paul Maritz is one of the brightest minds in the IT industry. He has created a compelling and lasting vision that has transformed VMware from a technology leader in virtualization to a category leader in cloud computing,” said Tucci. “Paul leaves VMware in an enviable strategic position and in great financial health. We are delighted to have Paul join the leadership team at EMC and look forward to working with him as he leads
our technology strategy and directs our efforts on Big Data and emerging applications.” Pat Gelsinger joined EMC in 2009 as President and COO of EMC Information Infrastructure Products. Gelsinger has overseen the introduction of the largest product set in EMC history, accelerated EMC’s push into unified storage and led EMC into new market segments including Big Data and flash storage. “Pat Gelsinger’s leadership and technology vision have both transformed and strengthened EMC’s broad product portfolio since his arrival,” said Tucci. “Pat’s unique experience in understanding how software can add value to standard hardware building blocks, as well as his deep understanding of the x86 partner ecosystem and his track record running large scale organizations make him the natural choice to further enhance VMware’s competitive positioning and lead VMware through its next phase of growth.” Veteran IT executive, Howard Elias, currently EMC’s President and COO of Information Infrastructure Services with responsibility for EMC Support, Education, Consulting and PreSales assumes added responsibilities for EMC’s Solutions Group and EMC’s corporate shared services including manufacturing operations, Corporate IT, Centers of Excellence (COEs). Jeremy Burton, currently EMC’s Chief Marketing Officer, will take on an expanded role as Executive Vice President, Product Operations and Marketing Burton assumes responsibility for EMC’s cross business unit product operations, corporate go-to-market functions, OEM and volume channel initiatives. “The business we have built is at the intersection of three of the most transformative secular trends in the history of IT - Cloud, Big Data and Trust, and I’ve never been more excited about the opportunity ahead for EMC,” said Tucci. “I remain fully committed and energized to lead this great company as Chairman and CEO through at least 2013.”
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
H E A LT H & S C I E NC E
Living on the edge of science MILWAUKEE: In July 2010, Nic Volker, a then-unknown little boy from Monona, Wis., underwent a cord blood transplant, a risky treatment that had its roots in a moment of medical history: one of the first-ever uses of DNA sequencing to diagnose a patient. Although Nic’s doctors at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin could not be certain that the transplant would resolve the 5-year-old’s mysterious gut disease, it would address another extremely rare illness threatening his life, and they hoped the treatment might just take care of both. The thinking among some was that since the disease did not announce its presence until Nic was 2, it might take two years from the date of the transplant to determine whether the treatment had worked. Two years later, Nic has yet to experience another one of the painful intestinal holes that characterized his disease. The boy who once could not tolerate real food - it seemed to trigger the intestinal holes - now has a new favorite food, guacamole, or as the 7-year-old calls it, “the
WISCONSIN: Nic Volker colors during a quiet time at Winnequah Summer School in Monona. — MCT green stuff that goes with the chips.” He plays in a machine-pitch baseball league and wanders the house singing the Zac Brown song “Toes”: Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand. Life is good today, life is good today. At the same time, the removal of his colon, during some of the worst days of the disease, forces him to use a bag that hangs outside of his stomach to collect bodily waste. He prays that someday he won’t have to, that the surgically created opening in his gut will close and return to normal. His size, always an issue during his illness, has remained well below that of his classmates. In November, Nic began having seizures, sometimes dozens in a day, resulting in a new diagnosis: seizure disorder. Nic and his mother, Amylynne, endured long stays at the hospital in Wauwatosa, while
his father, Sean, was home in Monona with his three sisters. The long periods of separation have strained relationships. “I think it’s taken a pretty big toll,” said Marlene Sorenson, the women’s pastor at the former Mad City Church, which the Volkers attended. “Amylynne spent so much of her time with Nic. They’ve got teenage girls, and there were people who stepped up to help with the girls, but Amylynne was the mom and she was out of the picture for so long, and of course it takes a toll.” Nic’s family has struggled financially, worrying whether they can afford to stay in their house. And the family still receives staggering medical bills - one totaling $111,000, according to Amylynne. Health care reform ended lifetime insurance caps, however, so even though he exhausted his previous $2 million limit, Nic is once again covered by private insurance. The little boy who could not have real food, who slept with a bag of bagel bites on his hospital pillow, hoping to be able to eat them someday, tells his family he hates the hospital and never wants to go back. “He’s doing well, but he’s on a journey, and it’s probably a lifelong journey,” Amylynne says. Nic’s seizure disorder, a relatively rare transplant side effect, was caused by a viral infection he contracted in the first few months after the transplant, said David Margolis, who oversaw the transplant. The infection caused encephalitis, he said. Margolis shied away from using the word cured, saying he believes the transplant “resolved” Nic’s gut disease and the rare illness the sequencing revealed. “He’s eating, he’s tolerating food, he’s gaining weight and he’s not in the hospital with infections, so all those things that led Dr. (Alan) Mayer and his team to seek out a diagnosis - all those problems, in my opinion, have been resolved,” Margolis said. Amylynne is right about Nic’s lifelong journey, though. Nic has bowel issues related to the loss of his colon, and children who have had such transplants - and the heavy-duty chemotherapy that goes with them - often have hormonal issues and sterility. They are at greater risk for cancer at a later date, Margolis said. Children’s Hospital has a “Next Steps” clinic where transplant survivors and their families can talk with professionals about these issues, he said. Since Nic’s genes were sequenced, Children’s Hospital has approved more than 20 children for DNA sequencing and completed reports for eight of them, said Regan Veith, program coordinator for the genomics clinic. Veith said that as far as she knows, no other hospital in the country offers sequencing as a comprehensive service including counseling, education and ethics. “It’s miraculous to see something this big come out of such a little boy,” Veith said. “Two years ago we did this for one kid in an extreme case out of desperation and now we will be able to do this for many more children.” —MCT
Doctors to reconstruct genitals for Peruvian teen MIAMI: Luis Canelos, the Peruvian teenager who lost his genitals in a gunshot accident when he was 9 years old, is facing a complex o p e r a t i o n . Fl o r i d a d o c to r s o n Th u r s d ay mapped out how they will replace his penis using a combination of skin from his forearm and bone from a cadaver. The surgery, tentatively scheduled for next month, will take t wo m e d i c a l te a m s 2 4 h o u r s a t H o l t z C h i l d re n’s H o s p i t a l a t t h e U n i ve r s i t y o f Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. I n te r n a t i o n a l K i d s Fu n d Wo n d e r f u n d, a Jackson Memorial Foundation-run charity that arranges for foreign children to get the medical attention they need, is helping to raise money for the $50,000 cost. “I cannot overemphasize how complex the operation is,” said Dr. Rafael Gosalbez, a pediatric urologist at Miami Children’s Hospital, who will perform the surgery with two other doctors. Luis’ genitals were destroyed by a rifle shot when he was 9. He was left with only a part of his right testicle. To make a new penis, doctors will remove skin from Luis’ left forearm. Using a microscope, they will transfer ner ves to enable Luis to experience sensation, said Dr. Christopher J. Salgado, associate professor of surgery and section chief of plastic surgery at the University of Miami. Doctors will then transfer skin from his thigh to his forearm. Luis will sport a cast to allow a smooth recovery. Luis’ remaining testicle-which continued to grow after the accident-eliminates the need to treat him with hormones or testosterone, Salgado added. This sort of operation is “not very common and there are not a lot of institutions that do this,” Salgado said. He said he performs six penile-reconstruction
surgeries a year.Salgado first met Luis three years ago in Lima, Peru, and he felt compelled to help. Wonderfund arranged for Luis to receive treatment in Miami. After the surgery, Luis will be monitored for two days. Through additional surgery in the future, Luis eventually will be able to father children. One option involves creating a support infrastructure using part of a fibular bone obtained
from a cadaver. The other alternative is to insert an artificial pump, which poses the risk of infection. “This is not only about making him physically whole, it’s about giving him back human dignity, self-esteem, a future and maybe even prevent suicide,” said Maria Luisa Chea, executive direc tor of I nternational Kids Fund Wonderfund.—MCT
FLORIDA: Luis Canelos hugs his father Roger Canelos during a press conference at the Ira C. Clark Diagnostic Treatment Center, Thursday, July 26, 2012, in Miami.
Protecting oneself from hepatitis BERLIN: Hepatitis is a silent illness with often ambiguous symptoms. Some people are unaware that they have this liver infection until they are already seriously ill. It’s an illness that can strike anyone regardless of age, occupation, ethnic background or lifestyle. Hepatitis is much more common than most people believe. For example, in Germany, about 1 million people are estimated to have this illness in a population of 82 million. This is according to Heiner Wedemeyer, a member of the German Liver Foundation and a physician at Hanover Medical School’s Depar tment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endrocrinology. “Fewer than half of them know that they’re infected, though,” he said. The diagnosis is often made incidentally, said Ingo van Thiel of the German Liver Help Association, a nationwide charitable organization that describes itself as an “information interface” between doc tors and liver patients. There are several hepatitis viruses. A bout of acute hepatitis A or B prompts sufferers to see a doctor, said Dietrich Hueppe, chairman of the Association of
German Gastroenterologists in Private Practice. Common symptoms are indisposition, fatigue, yellowing of the skin and eyes ( jaundice), and nausea. Chronic hepatitis B or C, on the other hand, progress slowly and go unnoticed for a long time, Wedemeyer said. All types of hepatitis cause liver inflammation. If a case of hepatitis is detected late or has become chronic, the liver scars. This condition, called cirrhosis, restricts the liver’s ability to function properly, Hueppe explained. Cancer of the liver cells can develop in the scar tissue “so the goal of hepatitis treatment is to prevent cirrhosis and cancer of the liver,” he said. Hepatitis A is often contracted by travellers in developing countries. According to van Thiel, it is both the most contagious and the most harmless type of hepatitis. The virus is found in faecal matter and usually transmitted by contaminated water or food. “Hepatitis A always heals on its own,” he said. “The elderly and people with liver disease don’t get over it so easily, however.” An infection can be prevented with the hepatitis A vaccine and good hygiene.
Hepatitis B is much more dangerous than hepatitis A and “highly contagious via blood,” van Theil said. Wedemeyer characterized this type of hepatitis as a venereal disease because it is transmitted mainly through blood, semen or other body fluids during sex. The use of condoms, particularly by people with multiple sex partners, and the hepatitis B vaccine - usually taken in combination with the hepatitis A vaccine - offer protection. According to the German Liver Help Association, about 90 per cent of healthy adults recover fully from hepatitis B. Wedemeyer noted that medications are available that suppress replication of the virus in the liver so that the infection does not advance further. “By so doing, we prevent the clinical endpoints,” he said, meaning the onset of cirrhosis and cancer. “An insidious property of hepatitis B is that recovery from the infection doesn’t mean the virus has left the body,” van Thiel said. Another outbreak is possible decades later if the person’s immune system is severely weakened, for example as a result of chemotherapy for cancer, a bone marrow transplant or AIDS. “You
should therefore never forget you’ve had it and always inform your doctor,” he said. Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C is among the infectious diseases on the World Health Organization’s list of those that must be urgently fought worldwide. Of all the types of hepatitis, it is the one that most frequently becomes chronic. But hepatitis C is transmitted less often during sexual intercourse than type B, Hueppe said. “Based on what we know today, this virus type is transmitted almost exclusively via blood,” van Thiel said. Wedemeyer therefore advises anyone who received a blood transfusions before 1992 - when improved blood-screening tests became available - to be tested for hepatitis C. Sharing needles during illegal drug use is another source of infection. Depending on the hepatitis C virus subtype, the infection can be cured with medications between 40-90 per cent of the time, Wedemeyer said, adding that he expected considerably better cure rates in two or three years when an inter feron-free virus inhibitor comes on the market. There will no vaccine in the foreseeable future, he said. —dpa
Uganda warns on contact as deadly Ebola reaches capital KAMPALA: Uganda’s president yesterday warned against shaking hands and other physical contact after the first death from the deadly Ebola virus in the capital Kampala. “The Ministry of Health are tracing all the people who have had contact with the victims,” Yoweri Museveni said in a state broadcast, adding that 14 people had died in total since Ebola broke out in western Uganda three weeks ago. One person who contracted the virus in western Uganda died in Kampala’s Mulago Hospital, Museveni said, calling on people not to shake hands to avoid the spread of the virus. “Ebola spreads by contact when you contact each other physically... avoid shaking of hands, because that can cause contact through sweat, which can cause problems,” Museveni said. “Do not take on burying somebody who has died from symptoms that look like Ebola-instead call health workers because they know how to do it... avoid promiscuity because this sickness can also go through sex,” he added. Seven doctors and 13 health workers at Mulago Hospital are in quarantine after “at least one or two cases” were taken there, with one later dying, he said. The latest outbreak started in Uganda’s western Kibale district, around 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Kampala, and around 50 kilometres from the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. The fatal case in Kampala was a health worker who “had attended to the dead at Kagadi hospital” in Kibale, Health Minister Christine Ondoa told reporters. She is believed to have travelled independently to Kampala-possibly on public transport-after her three -month old baby died, Ondoa added. World Health Organisation (WHO) spokesman Tarik Jasarevic confirmed the death in Kampala, but noted that “so far no infections have occurred” there. “I appeal to you to first of all report all cases which appear to be like Ebola, and these are high fever, vomiting, sometimes diarrhoea, and with bleeding,” Museveni added. “When you handle this case well you can
eliminate Ebola quickly.” According to experts, despite being extremely virulent the disease is containable because it kills its victims faster than it can spread to new ones. It has a fatality ratio of between 23 and 90 percent, according to the WHO. Seven people suspected of having the virus have been isolated in Kigadi hospital, Ondoa said. The nearest death to the capital previously had been in May 2011 in Bombo, 35 kilometres (21 miles) from Kampala, a city of some 1.5 million people. The rare haemorrhagic disease, named after a small river in DR Congo, killed 37 people in western Uganda in 2007 and at least 170 in the north of the country in 2000. However, Museveni said that the virus had not been immediately identified this time, resulting in a delay. “The bleeding which normally accompanies Ebola did not take place initially among these patients,” he said, adding that health workers at first did not therefore realise what the problem was. “Because of that delay the sickness spread.” Health officials said that the source of the outbreak had yet to be confirmed but that the villages affected were located close to forests famous for several species of primates. “The site where most of the cases occurred are close to Kibale forest where there are a lot of monkeys and birdlife,” said WHO representative for Uganda, Joaquim Saweka, adding that “so far the WHO does not recommend any restriction of movement.” Local communities had initially also delayed reporting the outbreak because “evil spirits” had been blamed, said Ondoa. Ebola is characterised by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, often followed by vomiting, diarrhoea and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding, according to the WHO. It spreads by direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of infected persons. “I wish you good luck, and may God rest the souls of those who died in eternal peace,” Museveni added.—AFP
HONG KONG: This file picture taken on January 9, 2011 shows a macaque monkey eating a piece of fruit at a country park.—AFP
Hong Kong hails success in monkey birth control HONG KONG: Hong Kong yesterday hailed the success of a birth control program for the city’s wild monkeys, saying the primates’ numbers have dropped 15 percent over four years. Officials said the latest monkey census showed the population stood at 1,965 last year, down from 2,320 in 2008 — a year after the city started fertility controls for the primates using methods including vasectomies. The conservation department said about 70 percent of the monkeys had been treated under the “monkey desexing program”. All treated monkeys were implanted with a microchip for identification. The government decided to take action after receiving numerous complaints from the public including reports of aggressive monkeys chasing hikers for food. It is illegal to feed monkeys in the southern Chinese city, punishable with a fine of up to HK$10,000 ($1,300).—AFP
H E A LT H & S C I E NC E
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
Is your child being bullied? By Sally Ghazal
Curry compound may curb diabetes risk: study NEW YORK: Supplements containing a compound found in curry spice may help prevent diabetes in people at high risk, according to a Thai study. Researchers, whose results were published in the journal Diabetes Care, found that over nine months, a daily dose of curcumin seemed to prevent new cases of diabetes among people with so-called prediabetes abnormally high blood sugar levels that may progress to full-blown type 2 diabetes. Curcumin is a compound in turmeric spice. Previous lab research has suggested it can fight inflammation and so-called oxidative damage to body cells. Those two processes are thought to feed a range of diseases, including type 2 diabetes. “Because of its benefits and safety, we propose that curcumin extract may be used for an intervention therapy for the prediabetes population,” wrote study leader Somlak Chuengsamarn of Srinakharinwirot University in Nakomnayok, Thailand. The study included 240
Thai adults with prediabetes who were randomly assigned to take either curcumin capsules or a placebo. The ones taking curcumin took six supplement capsules a day, each of which contained 250 milligrams of “curcuminoids”. After nine months, 19 of the 116 placebo patients had developed type 2 diabetes. That compared with none of the 119 patients taking curcumin. The researchers found that the supplement seemed to improve the function of beta-cells, which are cells in the pancreas that release the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin. They speculate that the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin help protect beta-cells from damage. But a diabetes expert not involved in the study said it’s still too early for people to head to the health food store for curcumin supplements. “This looks promising, but there are still a lot of questions,” said Constance Brown-Riggs, a certified diabetes educator and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. —Reuters
KUWAIT: Many movies and/or cartoons portray the ‘typical’ bully as a big muscular guy who is extremely popular and fearless.The bully steals the lunch money of a typically skinny and completely defenseless child. This stereotype, though a bit far off the truth, may give us a hint on who may or may not be getting bullied. However, often times, we are surprised that certain children are getting bullied or even bullying others as they do not at all fit the stereotype. Bullying, though not limited to school children, is usually practiced in schools by a child or a group of children against other children. It is an intentional act where the bully means to cause harm to others. As a parent, the idea that my child may be getting bullied worries me, especially when I know that statistics show most children who are getting bullied will not speak up about it. Today, I would like to discuss the types of bullying, who is likely to get bullied, what are the signs that a child is getting bullied, and finally what we can do to prevent it from harming our children. Types of bullying If we go back to the stereotypical example used above, we often perceive bullying as a physical act where a child inflicts physical harm on another. Though this does occur, it is easier to deal with as teachers and other school staff will detect it, and the bully will likely get punished. There are two other more popular types of bullying, verbal and emotional. In verbal bullying, children are usually called names and insulted due to his/her looks, ethnic background or behavior. The third type of bullying is emotional, and it is practiced when a child is made to feel bad by others. This is evident when children are excluded from group work in class, not picked by others to participate in games and in some cases, bullies may spread rumors about these children to make sure no one else treats them well. Who is likely to get bullied? The majority of children who get bullied
share many characteristics. Their personality and demeanor may be described using words such as quiet, sensitive, submissive and passive. These children usually do not like to fight and will try to avoid confrontation at any cost. They would rather get insulted or hurt than try to stand up for themselves. Parents of such children have described them as extremely sensitive and cry easily. These children are often perceived as loners, and they do not have many friends. They may also suffer from low self esteem and find it difficult to make
friends and approach others. If the above description is paired with weak physical build, then the child will likely become a target for bullies, as they know he may not be able to fight back physically. Having said that, it does not mean that if a child has these characteristics, then s/he must be getting bullied, nor does it mean that anyone who differs from this is certainly not getting bullied. How to detect bullying? As I mentioned above, it is easy to detect when a child is getting physically bullied, as signs of physical harm may show on his/her body such as scars and bruises. However, if a child is getting verbally or emotionally bullied, there are no scars to show that. Unless the child is open with the parents and feels really
comfortable, s/he will most likely never admit that they are getting bullied. To admit that they are being bullied will just add to their feelings of shame and embarrassment. Some children may even feel guilty about being bullied. There are some signs that parents need to be aware of that indicate their child might be getting bullied. One of the main and most predictive signs is that the child may be reluctant to go to school. A child who wakes up in the morning pretending to be sick or not feeling well, will try to make up excuses to avoid having to go to school. However, when they do go to school, some of children frequently visit the nurse complaining about minor aches, particularly stomach aches. A child who is being bullied may seem to constantly be on edge and worried or scared. Another sign could be that the child is often experiencing nightmares and having trouble sleeping. Furthermore, a bullied child may come home missing lunch money or food items they took to school while still hungry. In some cases, the child may come home missing other valuable items from their school bags. Such signs may guide parents into realizing that their child may be facing a case of bullying. What can we do about bullying? Dealing with bullied children is not an easy task, for they tend to be very vulnerable. A child who is getting bullied may suffer from anxiety or depression, so it is very important that the bullying gets resolved, and in some cases the child may have to seek the help of a school counselor or a psychologist. When a case of bullying is detected it is very important that parents keep open channels of communication with the child and continue to follow up and check on him/her. Most schools have implemented anti- bullying programs that can assist the child to overcome their experience. Therefore, it is vital that parents who suspect that their child is being bullied report it to the school and continue to follow up to make sure it ends. Taking such measures will support the bullied child overcome the turmoil s/he faced. sghazal@kaizen-kw.com
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TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
WHAT’S ON
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. 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.
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 perform 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.
he Life Abundant International Church (LAIF) on Friday held its ‘Shiloh Hour’- an interdenominational prayer and deliverance service with high praise. The program attracted a lot of Christians from other denominations. In his message, Bishop Jonathan urged all Christians to follow the footsteps of Christ and live a life worthy of emulation. He prayed for the Muslim brothers and wished them a happy Ramadan.
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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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Student Visa Day at US Embassy held o support Kuwaiti students currently studying or planning to study in the United States, the US Embassy’s Consular Section, in cooperation with the National Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS) - US Branch, held a Student Visa Day on July 18. The Consular Section allotted 200 appointments for student visa applicants, coordinating closely with NUKS-US Branch representatives to ensure that a successful event be held. Encouraging Kuwaiti students to pursue higher educational opportunities in the US is one of the top priorities of this US Mission. For instructions on how to apply for a student visa to the US, please see our website for more information: http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/student3.html. To avoid delays during periods of high demand, students are encouraged to apply for their visa as early as possible.
TMCA organizes Islamic Lecture amilnadu Muslim Cultural Association (TMCA) is arranging an Islamic Lecture with special reference to Education Awareness under the kind sponsorship of Al-Mulla International Exchange Co, and TVS Cargo and Travels Co Kuwait. The event will be held on Thursday, the 02nd
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August 2012 from 10:00 pm - till Suhur time at the Jamiat Al-Islah Auditorium, Al-Rawdha, Kuwait. Moulana SHAMSUDEEN QASIMI, Chief Imam, Makkah Masjid - Chennai will be the Chief Guest for this elite convention. The whole program is planned to live-telecast via WEB service.
There will be separate seating arrangements for ladies as well as transportation from Mirqab, Farwaniya, Fahaheel areas. Special Suhur meals pack will be distributed to all and on time at the end of the program. TMCA office bearers and all members are working sincerely for the entire success of this pro-
gram. TMCA cordially invites every Tamil speaking Muslim brothers and sisters to attend this grand gathering with high religious spirit.
TMCA to hold grand Iftar banquet amilnadu Muslim Cultural Association (TMCA) is arranging a Grand Iftar Banquet 2012 under the kind sponsorship of Lucky Press Kuwait, TVS Cargo and Travels Co Kuwait and Al-Yasra Foods Co, - Kuwait. The event will be held on Friday, the 03rd August 2012 by 05:30 pm at Teachers Society, Dasma, Kuwait. The Ambassador of India will be the chief guest and the event will be preceded by a special lecture in Tamil language
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after Asr Prayer by Moulana. Many prominent personalities all over Kuwait, well-wishers, academics, various chiefs from different communities and associations will take part regardless of caste, creed and culture. Around 1300 persons are expected to participate in this mega event. TMCA cordially invites every one to attend this party and pray for our Unity in Diversity.
Free Arabic course in IPC PC (Islam Presentation Committee) and all its branches is opening free Arabic Language Course for nonArab ladies accessible in beginners and advance levels. Class will commence from September 14, 2012. Islamic and Quran courses are also presented in different languages. Registration is on! Call the nearest IPC branch: Rawdah:
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Offers 2 alternatives for Level 1 - Call: 22512257. Once a week class (4-month course) and twice a week class (2month course). Salmiya: 25733263/97533263; Kheitan: 24730137/99285459; Mangaf: 23723002 ext. 124/123; Jahra: 24558830/97533948.
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‘Leniency of Islam’ An 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 to- 97822021 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.
Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20
Registration for Ramadan STARS Squash Tournament begins Once again this year, the stage is set for the fourth annual ‘Ramadan STARS Squash Tournament’ to be held from August 3 to 9 at the Kazma Sporting Club, Adailiya. Abdulrahim AlAwadi, the Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee has announced that doors are now open for registration to all those who are interested in participating, stating that the deadline for registration will be August 1. The participation in
this tournament is open to all and will fall under three categories this year. The first category is for amateurs from ages 17 and above, second category is for professional players from ages 20 and above and the third category is for ladies 17 and above. Following its last three years of grand success, the 4th annual Ramadan STARS Squash Tournament is being organized during Ramadan for squash lovers who will have an opportunity to practice the sport while being encouraged to develop their skills in a healthy, competitive and social environment. Al-Awadi, the Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee, commented, “In our last tournaments, we have received very positive feedback and have witnessed a huge number of interested participants thus giving us immense encouragement to hold an exciting tournament this year. The 2012 squash tournament offers a great opportunity to all squash players to accept another challenge and build on their sports skills in midst of a friendly atmosphere. I highly encourage all interested players to maintain their level of activity during Ramadan while balancing fitness and fasting and to register before the deadline ends”. All details pertaining to the tournament and means to participate can be found on the tournaments facebook page under ‘Ramadan Stars Squash Tourney’ or follow the official twitter page @RamadanStars for updates. The registration is taking place at GO SPORT store located at The Avenues Mall.
Alawadi also pointed out the great interest the ‘Ramadan Stars Squash tournament’ received from the private sector, where companies took the initiative in sponsoring the tournament. Alawadi expressed his gratitude and thanks to Kazma Sporting Clun, Go Sport, Comtel, Vio, Unite Colors and Alawadi Photography guaranteeing unique prizes for all winners. Your health & Ramadan You are invited to “Your Health & Ramadan Dasman Diabetes Institute” from 9 am till 2 pm, today 15th July.* Blood Glucose Monitoring. * BMI Calculation * Blood Pressure Monitoring. For any inquiries, please contact us on: www.facebook.com/dasmaninstitute Burgan Bank Ramadan timing Burgan 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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WHAT’S ON
Embassy Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian ConsulateGeneral in Dubai. Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm ■■■■■■■
EMBASSY OF ARGENTINE
Diet Care organizes nutritional event iet Care, the leading provider of quality nutritional and diet programs in Kuwait held its monthly nutritional event at the Kuwait-based culinary school, Chef Boutique recently to further inculcate the spirit of healthy eating amongst those seeking to live a healthier lifestyle in Kuwait. The event was led by Diet Care dietitians, Sarah Dimashkieh and Noor Al Disi as well as
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Chef Paul Morris from Chef Boutique who enlightened and educated audience members on the various tips and mechanisms that can be adopted in choosing the right food items at a restaurant. Among the five important tips that Sarah Dimashkieh explained during the event were: Making seafood your number one choice; Ordering water instead
of milkshakes and cocktails; Choosing sirloin as your preferred cut at a steakhouse; Personalizing your pizza and Choosing sushi as your low-fat Asian option. Chef Paul Morris also demonstrated a simple and healthy way to make a “maki” (Japanese sushi roll) using fresh and high-quality ingredients, much to the delight of the Diet Care customers.
Diet Care’s nutritional events are held on a monthly basis and tackles a wide range of important topics and issues related to health and nutrition as a whole to better equip Kuwait in making healthy lifestyle choices.
The Embassy of Argentina requests all Argentinean citizens in Kuwait to proceed to our official email ekuwa@mrecic.gov.ar in order to register or update contact information. The embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the embassy. The registration process helps the Argentinean Government to contact and assist Argentineans living abroad in case of any emergency. ■■■■■■■
EMBASSY OF BANGLADESH
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait will follow the following office hours during the holy month of Ramadan. Sunday to Thursday: 9 am - 3:30 pm. Friday and Saturday: Weekly holidays. ■■■■■■■
EMBASSY OF BRITAIN Consular section at the British Embassy will be starting an online appointment booking system for our consular customers from Sunday, 01 July 2012. All information including how to make an appointment is now available on the embassy website. In addition, there is also a “Consular Appointment System” option under Quick links on the right hand side on the homepage, which should take you to the “Consular online booking appointment system” main page. Please be aware that from 01 July 2012, we will no longer accept walk-in customers for legalisation, notarial services and certificates (birth, death and marriages). If you have problems accessing the system or need to make an appointment for non-notarial consular issues or have a consular emergency, please call 2259 4355/7/8 or email us on consularenquirieskuwait@fco.gov.uk. If you require consular assistance out of office hours (working hours: 0730-l430 hrs), please contact the Embassy on 2259 4320. ■■■■■■■
EMBASSY OF INDIA During the holy month of Ramadan, the office timings of the Indian Passport and Visa Service Centres of BLS International Visa Services Co, Kuwait, situated at (i) Emad Commercial Centre, Basement Floor, Ahmed Al Jaber Street, Sharq, Kuwait, and (ii) Mujamma Unood, 4th floor, Office No. 25-26 Makka Street, Fahaheel, Kuwait, will be from 8.00 am - 3.00 pm from Saturday to Thursday (i.e. six days a week). Tokens for submission of applications will NOT be issued after 2.00 pm. Delivery of passports and visas will be from 11.00 am onwards. Embassy of India, Kuwait, will maintain its usual working hours. ■■■■■■■
ACK ‘Foundation Skills Program’ o realize its vision of striving to generate human capital with practical skills and knowledge, founded on project based learning aligned with industry, allowing it to effectively contribute to the development of the country, ACK has started the deployment of its new Foundation Skills Program which will be launched in September 2012. In addition to the various English language proficiency levels on offer, the newly conceptualised Foundation Skills Program will also encompass mathematics, physics, learning and life skills as well as IT skills. “Our aim is to equip our students with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to facilitate their transition into
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their designated Diploma Program of study in addition to enhance their learning opportunities and skills by providing them with a foundation for learning during their time with
us at the Foundation Skills Program” Dr Elbeheri confirmed. He further added “We do this via a curriculum that is highly focused on experiential
and project based learning principles and the adoption of an ongoing mode of assessment to measure their achievements and facilitate their progression”. In addition to the above, Dr Elbeheri also highlighted the numerous field trips that students engage during their academic year which are facilitated and encouraged by the program specially those field trips that are targeted at potential future employers so that students experience firsthand the real life skills required to compete in the Kuwaiti vibrant labor market. “Our Foundation Skills Program is delivered over one, two or three semesters of 16 weeks each and is purposely engineered to accelerate the
learning process for those fast learners while allowing a slower pace approach for those who require intensive training and support” Dr Elbeheri added. He further concluded: “In addition to the changes introduced to facilitate and enhance our educational offerings, we are currently engaged in the process of seeking international accreditation for our Foundation Skills program which would guarantee sustainability, reflect international standards and ensure quality of education on offer for our students that we are entrusted to care for”.
EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to inform Kenyan residents throughout Kuwait and the general public that with effect from June 1, 2012 the Embassy has moved from its current location to a new location in Surra Block 1, Street 8, Villa 303. Please note that the new telephone and fax numbers will be communicated as soon as possible. For enquiries you can contact Consular Section on mobile 90935162 or 97527306. ■■■■■■■
EMBASSY OF MEXICO The Embassy of Mexico is pleased to inform that it is located in CLIFFS Complex, Villa 6, Salmiya, block 9, Baghdad street, Jadda Lane 7. The working hours for consular issues are from 9:00 to 12:00 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 14:00 to 15:00 hours for lunch break. The Embassy of Mexico kindly requests all Mexicans citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the e-mail: embkuwait@sre.gob.mx in order to register or update contact information. Other consultations or/and appointments could be done by telephone or fax: (+965) 2573 1952 ■■■■■■■
EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy has moved its office to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, AlSalaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new location. Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, e-mail:myankuwait11@gmai1.com ■■■■■■■
Competitions in Patriotic songs ndo-Kuwait Friendship Society, Kuwait (www.indokuwaitfriendshipsociety.com) is planning to conduct competitions in Indian and Kuwaiti Patriotic songs. This is the first time in Kuwait, an Indian Association is organizing contests in “Patriotic Songs” for both Indian and Kuwaiti School students. The first 3 places will be declared separately by Judges who are experts in Indian and Kuwaiti Patriotic songs. Several prizes and awards will be handed over for the winning schools. Pradeep Rajkumar and A K S Abdul Nazar said that IKFS wants let our children learn what they mean as a “Patriotic” to their home country. 4 pages of spot Essay competition related to “Patriotism” also will be held in the same day as a spot registration. 1 Girl and 1 Boy student from each School can participate in the ESSAY contest. Dr. Mohamed Tareq, Chairman of the First Indian Model School in Kuwait “ Salmiya Indian Model School (SIMS) already confirmed as a Co-Sponsor of the
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Program. Conditions apply 1) The competitions are meant for all the Schools located in Kuwait and should be nominated by school authority. 2) Each school can select group of 7 students for the “PATRIOTIC SONGS (Indian and Kuwaiti)” and nominate separately. 3) Children of above 12 years till 17 years (VII classes to XII classes) are eligible for the contest. But if School is permitted 4) Musical instruments or KARAOKE mixer should be accompanied by the participating students/Children and the school team should operate and select the mixers. 5) Time frame: 7 minutes - Names will be called as “First come” in the Registration. The Event will be held at the auditorium of “Salmiya Indian Model School” on Saturday, 27th
October 2012 from 09:30 am onwards. It will be a full day program with fun and full of entertainments. Food-stalls of different Kuwaiti and Indian tastes will installed. Dr. Ghalib Al-Mashoor said in a press release that Invitations for all schools located in various parts of Kuwait are already been sent. Schools under one management but from different locations can also participate in the contest individually. As per the school directory, there 23 Indian schools in Kuwait. The last date of receiving names of the Participants is scheduled on 2nd day of October, 2012 Gandhi Jayanti day. The entry is free to all and due to 2nd day of Eid Al-Adha holidays, a large crowd is expected to attend in addition to, Senior Kuwaiti and Indian citizens will also grace the function. All the applications of interest should be sent to: ikfsociety@gmail.com Phone:99430786
EMBASSY OF THAILAND The Royal Thai Embassy in Kuwait, wishes to invite the Kuwaiti companies that deal business with Thai companies or those agencies of Thai commercial companies to visit the Embassy’s Commercial Office to register their relevant information to be part of the embassy’s business and trade database. The Royal Thai Embassy is located in Jabriya, Block 6, Street 8, Villa No. 1, Telephone No. 25317530 25317531, Ext: 14. ■■■■■■■
EMBASSY OF PHILIPPINES
In reference to our announcement last July 14 2012 announcing the transfer and opening of our new Philippine Overseas Labor Office due on August 1 , we regret to inform Filipinos in Kuwait that due to unavoidable circumstances, the August 1 opening will be moved to new date August 5. POLO will be closed to public transactions on July 30, 31 and August 1 & 2. For emergency please contact the POLO hotline at Tel 99558527.
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
TV PROGRAMS
00:45 Your Worst Animal Nightmares 01:40 Untamed & Uncut 02:35 Great Animal Escapes 03:00 Great Animal Escapes 03:30 Cats 101 04:25 Monster Bug Wars 05:20 Living With The Wolfman 05:45 Animal Battlegrounds 06:10 New Breed Vets With Steve Irwin 07:00 Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer 07:25 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 08:15 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 08:40 Breed All About It 09:10 Baby Planet 10:05 Monster Bug Wars 11:00 Wildlife SOS 11:25 Gorilla School 11:55 Animal Cops Houston 12:50 Wild Animal Orphans 13:15 Wild Animal Orphans 13:45 Animal Precinct 14:40 Monster Bug Wars 15:30 Baboons With Bill Bailey 16:00 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 16:30 Growing Up... 17:25 Cats 101 18:20 Dogs 101: Specials 19:15 Wildlife SOS 19:40 Gorilla School 20:10 Living With The Wolfman 20:35 Animal Battlegrounds 21:05 Monster Bug Wars 22:00 Rescue Vet 22:25 Rescue Vet 22:55 World Wild Vet 23:50 Animal Cops Houston
00:55 Eastenders 01:25 Doctors 01:55 Spooks 02:45 The Weakest Link 03:30 As Time Goes By 04:00 Fimbles 04:20 Tellytales 04:30 The Large Family 04:45 Forget Me Not Farm 05:00 Teletubbies 05:25 The Roly Mo Show 05:40 Charlie And Lola 05:50 Fimbles 06:10 Tellytales 06:20 The Large Family 06:30 Forget Me Not Farm 06:45 Teletubbies 07:10 The Roly Mo Show 07:25 Charlie And Lola 07:35 As Time Goes By 08:05 One Foot In The Grave 08:40 Dinnerladies 09:10 Eastenders 09:40 Doctors 10:10 Coast 11:10 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries 12:00 One Foot In The Grave 12:35 The Weakest Link 13:20 Eastenders 13:50 Doctors 14:20 Coast 15:25 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries 16:15 The Weakest Link 17:00 Eastenders 17:30 Doctors 18:00 Bleak House 18:30 Bleak House 19:00 After You’ve Gone 19:30 Gavin & Stacey 20:00 London Hospital 20:50 2 Point 4 Children 21:20 Lead Balloon 21:50 Life On Mars 22:40 Fawlty Towers 23:15 The Weakest Link
00:20 Come Dine With Me 01:05 Gok’s Fashion Fix 01:55 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow
02:40 MasterChef 03:05 MasterChef 03:35 MasterChef 04:25 James Martin’s Favourite Feasts 04:50 Living In The Sun 05:40 MasterChef 06:05 MasterChef 06:30 MasterChef 07:25 Living In The Sun 08:15 MasterChef Australia 09:50 Bargain Hunt 10:30 Antiques Roadshow 11:25 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 12:40 10 Years Younger 13:30 Holmes On Homes 14:15 Holmes On Homes 15:00 Antiques Roadshow 15:55 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 17:10 Come Dine With Me 18:00 Rachel’s Favourite Food For Living 18:25 The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook 18:50 Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey 19:40 James Martin’s Favourite Feasts 20:05 Come Dine With Me 20:55 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 22:10 Antiques Roadshow 23:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 23:40 Come Dine With Me
00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:30 05:45 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 07:45 08:00 08:30 08:45 09:00 09:30 09:45 10:00 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 17:45 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 22:45 23:00 23:30
BBC World News America BBC World News America BBC World News London Live Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News London Live Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News London Live Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News London Live Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News London Live Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News London Live Hardtalk BBC World News London Live World Business Report BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live World Business Report BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News London Live World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News London Live Hardtalk BBC World News London Live World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News London Live Hardtalk BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live BBC Focus On Africa BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live BBC World News London Live World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News London Live Hardtalk
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 06:30 06:55 07:20 07:45 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:05 10:30 Doo 10:55 11:15 11:40 12:00 12:15 12:40 12:55 13:20 13:35 14:00 14:50 15:15 Doo 15:40 16:00 16:15 16:40 17:05 17:30 17:55 18:10 18:35 19:00 19:15 19:40 19:55 20:20 20:35 21:00 21:25 21:50 22:15 22:40 23:05 23:20 23:45
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 Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Ha Ha Hairies A Pup Named Scooby-Doo The Garfield Show Johnny Bravo Dexter’s Laboratory Pink Panther And Pals The Scooby Doo Show Scooby-Doo And ScrappyDastardly And Muttley The Flintstones Wacky Races Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Ha Ha Hairies Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Puppy In My Pocket Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Scooby-Doo And ScrappyDastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry Tom & Jerry Pink Panther And Pals Pink Panther And Pals The Garfield Show The Garfield Show Johnny Bravo Dexter’s Laboratory Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Ha Ha Hairies Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Dexter’s Laboratory Johnny Bravo Pink Panther And Pals Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Popeye The Jetsons Duck Dodgers
00:30 Bakugan: New Vestroia 00:55 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 05:30 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
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON OSN ACTION HD
13:30 Sym-Bionic Titan 13:55 Foster’s Home For... 14:20 Foster’s Home For... 14:45 Angelo Rules 15:35 Powerpuff Girls 16:25 The Amazing World Of Gumball 16:40 Johnny Test 17:00 Adventure Time 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 20:00 Ben 10 20:25 Courage The Cowardly Dog 21:15 Grim Adventures Of... 22:00 Codename: Kids Next Door 22:50 Ben 10 23:15 Ben 10 23:40 Chowder
00:00 Amanpour 00:30 World Sport 01:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 02:00 World Report 03:00 Anderson Cooper 360 04:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 05:00 Quest Means Business 06:00 The Situation Room 07:00 World Sport 07:30 African Voices 08:00 World Report 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 Talk Asia 11:00 World Business Today 12:00 Amanpour 12:30 World’s Untold Stories 13:00 World One 14:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 Global Exchange 19:00 World Sport 19:30 World’s Untold Stories 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 22:00 Amanpour 22:30 CNN Newscenter 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson
00:15 Squeamish 00:40 Squeamish 01:10 Sons Of Guns 01:35 Hillbilly Handfishin’ 02:30 Extreme Fishing 03:25 Robson Green’s Extreme Fishing Challenge 04:20 Squeamish 04:50 Squeamish 05:15 How Do They Do It? 05:40 How It’s Made 06:05 Swamp Loggers 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 Rattlesnake Republic 12:20 Finding Bigfoot 13:15 Most Deadly 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 Rattlesnake Republic 22:25 Finding Bigfoot 23:20 Wreckreation Nation
00:35 01:25 02:15 03:05 03:35 04:25 05:15 06:05 07:00 07:50 07:53 08:20 08:50 09:40 10:30 10:55 11:20 14:15 14:45 15:10 15:35 16:00 16:03 16:30 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30 19:55 20:20 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:40
Engineered Invisible Worlds Mighty Ships The Gadget Show Junkyard Mega-Wars Cosmic Collisions Engineered Invisible Worlds Mighty Ships Head Rush Bang Goes The Theory Sci-Fi Science Smash Lab Junkyard Mega-Wars Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger The Gadget Show Head Rush Bang Goes The Theory Sci-Fi Science 2012 Apocalypse Smash Lab Tank On The Moon Junk Men Junk Men Scrapheap Challenge The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Junk Men Junk Men Scrapheap Challenge Smash Lab
00:25 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 00:55 Style Star 01:25 25 Most Sensational Hollywood Meltdowns 03:15 Behind The Scenes 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 THS 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Scouted 10:15 50 Cutest Child Stars: All Grown Up 12:05 E! News 13:05 Ice Loves Coco 13:35 Ice Loves Coco 14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take New York
15:00 Style Star 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 17:55 E! News 18:55 THS 19:55 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 20:55 Mrs. Eastwood And Company 21:25 Giuliana & Bill 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Fashion Police
00:30 01:20 02:05 02:55 03:45 04:30 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:30 09:55 10:20 Jones 11:10 12:00 12:25 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 22:50 23:40
00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00
Ghost Lab Dead Tenants Deadly Sins Scorned: Crimes Of Passion Extreme Forensics Ghost Lab Dead Tenants Disappeared FBI Files Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry? True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Street Patrol Street Patrol Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry? True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery Diagnosis Who On Earth Did I Marry? True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Fatal Encounters Killer Kids Dr G: Medical Examiner
The Green Way Up The Green Way Up Madventures Madventures Extreme Tourist Afghanistan Chasing Time Chasing Time Treks In A Wild World Meet The Natives: USA The Green Way Up The Green Way Up Madventures Madventures Extreme Tourist Afghanistan Chasing Time Chasing Time Treks In A Wild World Meet The Natives: USA The Green Way Up The Green Way Up Madventures Madventures Extreme Tourist Afghanistan Chasing Time Chasing Time Treks In A Wild World Meet The Natives: USA The Green Way Up The Green Way Up Travel Madness Travel Madness David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway Naked Lentil Naked Lentil Dive Detectives Asia Action Challenge 2000
00:00 Mega Bridges 01:00 History’s Secrets 02:00 Is It Real? S3 (1 hour) 03:00 Big, Bigger, Biggest 04:00 Fight Masters 05:00 Hunter Hunted 06:00 Banged Up Abroad 07:00 Air Crash Investigation Special Report 08:00 Mega Bridges 09:00 History’s Secrets 10:00 Is It Real? S3 (1 hour) 11:00 Mega Bridges 12:00 Aftermath 13:00 Hunter Hunted 14:00 Nomads 15:00 Naked Science S2.5 16:00 Megacities 17:00 Secret Shark Pits 18:00 Is It Real? S3 (1 hour) 19:00 Big, Bigger, Biggest 20:00 Crash Science 21:00 Alaskan Killer Shark 22:00 Lockdown 23:00 Naked Science S2.5
00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:45 04:40 05:35 Giant 06:30 07:25 08:20 09:15 10:10 11:05 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00
00:00 01:45 03:45 05:30
Predator CSI Built for the Kill 4 Sahara Outback Wrangler Hooked Clouded Leopard Redwoods: Anatomy of A Sahara Outback Wrangler Hooked Red Sea Jaws Monster Fish Rescue Ink The Pack Sahara Expedition Wild Hooked Phantom Wolverine Monster Fish Rescue Ink Sahara Outback Wrangler Hooked Red Sea Jaws Monster Fish
The Clinic-18 The Silence Of The Lambs-18 The Killing Room-18 Green Lantern: Emerald
ICE AGE ON OSN CINEMA Knights-PG15 07:30 Enter The Phoenix-PG15 09:30 Behind Enemy Lines-PG15 11:15 Kingdom Of Heaven-PG15 13:45 Enter The Phoenix-PG15 15:45 Riddles Of The Sphinx-PG15 17:30 Kingdom Of Heaven-PG15 20:00 The Untouchables-PG15 22:00 Sultanes Del Sur-PG15
01:00 13-PG15 03:00 A Trace Of Danger-PG15 05:00 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil-PG 07:00 African Cats: Kingdom Of Courage-PG 09:00 Stonehenge ApocalypsePG15 11:00 Jumping The Broom-PG15 13:00 St. Trinian’s 2: The Legend Of Fritton’s Gold-PG15 15:00 Ice Age-FAM 17:00 Africa United-PG15 19:00 True Grit-PG15 21:00 Super 8-PG15 23:00 Death Race 2-18
00:00 King Of The Hill 00:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 02:00 American Dad 02:30 American Dad 03:00 2 Broke Girls 03:30 Raising Hope 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 06:00 Seinfeld 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:30 2 Broke Girls 10:00 Happy Endings 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Seinfeld 14:00 Raising Hope 14:30 Happy Endings 15:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 16:30 Seinfeld 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:30 Whitney 19:00 The Cleveland Show 19:30 Happy Endings 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 23:00 Two And A Half Men 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
00:00 07:00 08:30 10:00 16:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00
Justified Century City Coronation Street The Martha Stewart Show Century City White Collar Royal Pains House Perception Warehouse 13
00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 11:00 12:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00
Cold Case Top Gear (UK) Revenge Justified Suits Revenge Cold Case Emmerdale Coronation Street Suits Emmerdale Cold Case Emmerdale The Ellen DeGeneres Show Smallville White Collar Royal Pains House Perception Revenge
01:00 03:00 04:45 07:00 08:45 10:45 13:00
Malibu Shark Attack-18 Sugarhouse-18 Tron: Legacy-PG15 Tremors-PG15 Shanghai Noon-PG15 Tron: Legacy-PG15 Ip Man-PG15
15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00
Shanghai Noon-PG15 Men In Black II-PG Aeon Flux-PG15 Sultanes Del Sur-PG15 Splinter-18
00:00 Paper Man-PG15 02:00 Kuffs-PG 04:00 Charlie & Boots-PG15 06:00 Flubber-PG 08:00 Kuffs-PG 10:00 A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song-PG15 12:00 Labor Pains-PG15 14:00 Cool Runnings-PG15 16:00 A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song-PG15 18:00 The Trotsky-PG15 20:00 Failure To Launch-PG15 22:00 The Trip-PG15
01:00 Tout Ce Qui Brille-PG15 03:00 Brothers-18 05:00 Random Hearts-PG15 07:15 Stone Of Destiny-PG15 09:00 Don’t Fade Away-PG15 11:00 Celine: Through The Eyes Of The World-PG15 13:00 Sunny And The ElephantPG15 15:00 Don’t Fade Away-PG15 17:00 The Sting II-PG 19:00 The Social Network-PG15 21:00 Lorenzo’s Oil-PG15 23:15 Gilles’ Wife-PG15
01:00 The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy-PG 03:00 Just Go With It-PG15 05:00 The Prince And Me 4: The Elephant Adventure-PG15 07:00 Battle For Terra-PG15 09:00 Alabama Moon-PG15 11:00 Call Of The Wild-PG15 13:00 Just Go With It-PG15 15:00 Henry’s Crime-PG15 17:00 Alabama Moon-PG15 19:00 Monte Carlo-PG15 21:00 Failure To Launch-PG15 23:00 The American-18
00:15 Life In A Day-PG15 02:00 Lord Of The Dance-PG 04:00 13 Going On 30-PG15 06:00 The Flyboys-PG15 08:00 B-Girl-PG15 10:00 Monte Carlo-PG15 12:00 Megamind-FAM 14:00 The Tender Hook-PG15 16:00 B-Girl-PG15 17:45 Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps-PG15 20:00 Fright Night-PG15 22:00 Monte Carlo-PG15
00:00 4 Angies-PG15 02:00 Marco Antonio-PG 04:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 06:00 Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure-PG 08:00 Teo: The Intergalactic HunterPG 10:00 Despicable Me-FAM 12:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 14:00 Freddy Frogface-PG 16:00 The Thief Of Baghdad-PG 18:00 Despicable Me-FAM 20:00 Zorro’s Secrets-PG 22:00 Freddy Frogface-PG
00:10 02:05 04:00 05:30 07:00 09:30 FAM 12:05 13:50 15:40 18:15 20:05 22:00 23:55
Cannery Row The Formula Spinout-FAM Above Suspicion-PG The Four Horsemen Of...-PG The Shoes Of The FishermanThe Wings Of Eagles-FAM Interrupted Melody-FAM 2001: A Space Odyssey-FAM Where The Spies Are-PG Memphis Belle-PG Rhapsody-FAM Diner
00:00 01:00 11:00 11:45 14:00 16:45 18:15 21:15
Olympics - Sailing Summary Olympics Olympics - Judo Live Olympics - Swimming Live Olympics - Sailing Live Olympics - Diving Olympics - Boxing Live Olympics - Swimming
02:00 Olympics 10:45 Live Olympics - Beach Volleyball 13:00 Live Olympics - Equestrian 15:30 Olympics - Beach Volleyball 18:15 Live Olympics - Sailing 19:00 Live Olympics - Fencing 23:15 Live Olympics - Handball
02:00 03:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:15 13:00 15:45 17:15 19:45 20:45 23:00
AFL Highlights Super Rugby Golfing World AFL Highlights Trans World Sport Live Olympics - Badminton Live Olympics - Water Polo Live Olympics - Shooting Live Olympics - Weightlifting Live Olympics - Water Polo Live Olympics - Weightlifting Olympics - Hockey
02:00 04:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:25 14:33 15:55 19:05 21:18 21:55
WWE SmackDown UFC Unleashed WWE NXT WWE Bottom Line WWE Experience Mobil 1 The Grid V8 Supercars Extra Live Olympics - Judo Olympics - Beach Vollyball Live Olympics - Judo Live Olympics - Football Olympics - Sailing Live Olympics - Table Tennis
00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:20 04:15 06:05 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:55 11:55 12:50 13:20 13:50 14:45 16:35 18:25 19:25 20:20 22:10
Jerseylicious Bridalplasty Videofashion Daily Videofashion News How Do I Look? Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? Clean House 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 Clean House: New York How Do I Look? Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Mel B: It’s A Scary World Style Specials Big Rich Texas Jerseylicious
00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30
Pawn Stars Ax Men IRT: Deadliest Roads Pawn Stars American Restoration Ancient Aliens Britain At War Ax Men Pawn Stars Ancient Aliens Britain At War Pawn Stars Ax Men IRT: Deadliest Roads Pawn Stars American Restoration Britain At War Ancient Aliens IRT: Deadliest Roads Pawn Stars American Restoration Britain At War Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars Ax Men American Pickers American Restoration Pawn Stars
Classifieds TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION
Arrival Flights on Tuesday 31/7/2012 Airlines
Flt
Route
Time
QTR
148 DOHA
0:20
JZR
267 BEIRUT
0:50
RJA
642 AMMAN
2:10
GFA
211 BAHRAIN
2:20
UAE
853 DUBAI
2:25
ETD
305 ABU DHABI
2:30
OMA
643 MUSCAT
2:50
FDB
67
DUBAI
3:10
MSR
612 CAIRO
3:20
RBG
3553 ALEXANDRIA
3:20
QTR
138 DOHA
3:25
DHX
170 BAHRAIN
5:00
JZR
503 LUXOR
6:05
KAC
412 MANILA
6:15
BAW
157 LONDON
6:30
KAC
416 JAKARTA
6:35
KAC
206 ISLAMABAD
7:15
JZR
555 ALEXANDRIA
7:35
KAC
302 MUMBAI
7:50
KAC
332 TRIVANDRUM
7:55
KAC
352 COCHIN
8:05
KAC
284 DHAKA
8:15
UAE
855 DUBAI
8:25
ABY
125 SHARJAH
8:30
QTR
132 DOHA
9:00
FDB
55
IRA
605 ISFAHAN
DUBAI
9:20 9:20
ETD
301 ABU DHABI
9:30
GFA
213 BAHRAIN
10:00
MEA
404 BEIRUT
10:55
MSR
618 ALEXANDRIA
11:25
MSC
401 ALEXANDRIA
12:00
JZR
561 SOHAG
12:25
KNE
978 JEDDAH
13:00
JZR
775 JEDDAH
13:20
MSR
610 CAIRO
13:30
KAC
514 TEHRAN
13:40
KNE
472 JEDDAH
14:15
QTR
140 DOHA
14:25
KAC
562 AMMAN
14:30
SVA
500 JEDDAH
14:30
RJA
640 AMMAN
14:55
KAC
546 ALEXANDRIA
15:05
QTR
134 DOHA
15:15
ETD
303 ABU DHABI
16:35
UAE
857 DUBAI
16:55
UAL
982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES
17:10
SVA
510 RIYADH
17:20
GFA
215 BAHRAIN
17:20
JZR
177 DUBAI
17:30
JZR
777 JEDDAH
17:40
ABY
127 SHARJAH
17:45
KAC
1728 JEDDAH
17:50
KAC
542 CAIRO
18:15
SYR
341 DAMASCUS
18:30
KAC
786 JEDDAH
18:40
KAC
166 PARIS
18:40
KAC
104 LONDON
18:45
MSR
624 SOHAG
18:55
MSC
403 ASSIUT
19:00
KAC
774 RIYADH
19:10
KAC
674 DUBAI
19:25
KAC
742 DAMMAM
19:30
JAI
572 MUMBAI
19:35
AXB
389 KOZHIKODE
19:55
FDB
61
OMA
647 MUSCAT
20:10
MEA
402 BEIRUT
20:15
QTR
146 DOHA
20:25
GFA
221 BAHRAIN
20:35
ALK
229 COLOMBO
20:55
KLM
415 AMSTERDAM
21:05
UAE
859 DUBAI
21:15
QTR
136 DOHA
21:35
AIC
981 CHENNAI
22:25
FDB
59
22:30
GFA
217 BAHRAIN
22:35
UAL
981 BAHRAIN
22:40
JZR
239 AMMAN
22:55
DLH
636 FRANKFURT
23:10
MSR
614 CAIRO
23:35
JZR
539 CAIRO
23:40
THY
772 ISTANBUL
23:40
PIA
205 LAHORE
23:59
DUBAI
DUBAI
20:00
Airlines AIC UAL DLH JZR JZR MSR MSR KLM PIA THY UAE FDB OMA RBG ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR RJA GFA JZR KAC BAW ABY KAC KAC UAE QTR KAC FDB ETD IRA GFA KAC KAC JZR MEA KAC MSR MSC KAC JZR KNE MSR KAC KNE SVA RJA KAC QTR KAC JZR ETD JZR QTR UAE GFA ABY UAL SVA JZR SYR MSR MSC KAC KAC JAI FDB KAC KAC KAC OMA MEA KAC GFA DHX ALK KLM KAC UAE QTR KAC KAC QTR AXB FDB GFA KAC JZR
Depature Flights on Tuesday 31/7/2012 Flt Route 976 GOA/CHENNAI 981 WASHINGTON DC 637 FRANKFURT 554 ALEXANDRIA 554 ALEXANDRIA 615 CAIRO 615 CAIRO 411 AMSTERDAM 240 SIALKOT 773 ISTANBUL 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 644 MUSCAT 3554 ALEXANDRIA 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 643 AMMAN 212 BAHRAIN 774 JEDDAH 545 ALEXANDRIA 156 LONDON 126 SHARJAH 561 AMMAN 513 IMAM KHOMEINI 856 DUBAI 133 DOHA 101 LONDON 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 604 ISFAHAN 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 776 JEDDAH 405 BEIRUT 1727 JEDDAH 623 SOHAG 404 ASSIUT 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 979 JEDDAH 611 CAIRO 673 DUBAI 473 JEDDAH 501 JEDDAH 641 AMMAN 773 RIYADH 135 DOHA 741 DAMMAM 538 CAIRO 304 ABU DHABI 238 AMMAN 141 DOHA 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 982 BAHRAIN 511 RIYADH 266 BEIRUT 342 DAMASCUS 607 LUXOR 402 ALEXANDRIA 283 DHAKA 361 COLOMBO 571 MUMBAI 62 DUBAI 1729 JEDDAH 343 CHENNAI 351 KOCHI 648 MUSCAT 403 BEIRUT 543 CAIRO 222 BAHRAIN 171 BAHRAIN 230 COLOMBO 415 DAMMAM 381 DELHI 860 DUBAI 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 147 DOHA 390 MANGALORE 60 DUBAI 218 BAHRAIN 411 BANGKOK 502 LUXOR
Time 0:05 0:25 0:30 0:30 0:30 0:35 0:35 0:55 1:00 2:15 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:00 6:50 7:05 7:55 8:10 8:25 9:05 9:15 9:15 9:40 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:15 10:20 10:45 11:30 11:45 11:50 11:55 12:15 12:25 13:00 13:10 13:20 14:00 14:30 15:05 15:15 15:45 15:50 15:55 16:15 16:30 16:50 17:20 17:30 17:45 18:05 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:50 19:30 19:55 20:00 20:15 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:40 20:55 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:50 21:55 22:05 22:20 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:10 23:10 23:15 23:30 23:40 23:55
Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)
ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for bachelor in Farwaniya near Finger Print Office. Contact: 60375424/ 97220725 (C 4092) 31-7-2012
FOR SALE Nissan Pathfinder model 2006, silver color, mileage 104000 km, new tyres and battery, non-accident, price KD 3,600/-. Contact: 99949612. (C 4091) 29-7-2012
SITUAITON WANTED Looking for job, having 20 years of experience in cooking. Contact: 55052382. (C 4088) 26-7-2012
112 POLICE STATION
Al-Madena Police Station 22434064 Al-Murqab Police Station 22435865 Al-Daiya Police Station
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988
22544200
Al-Fayha’a Police Station 22547133
Ministry of Interior
Al-Qadissiya Police Station22515277 Al-Nugra Police Station
22616662
Al-Salmiya Police Station 25714406 Al-Dasma Police Station 22530801
website: www.moi.gov.kw Prayer timings Fajr: Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:
03:38 11:54 15:30 18:41 20:07
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
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
stars CROSSWORD 753
STAR TRACK
CALVIN & HOBBES
Aries (March 21-April 19) It is all too confusing! Your mind is supersensitive and receiving material far too fast for the brain to decipher. Much of this may be coming from your subconscious. Do you perceive deep truths, or is it all mental indigestion? Only time will tell. This is not a good day for communication, precision work or negotiation—you could be swindled. After a couple of days you may be able to sort through all of this. A dialogue with an older person may take place this afternoon. Appreciating things of beauty and value play a big role in your life now. Provided you do not spend it all on the fancy things that catch your eye, this can be a financially favorable period. Your drive for independence, along with the unusual, gains your attention.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) Your energies are best applied to work that is in front of you just now. Everything is poured into making the right moves and the correct decisions. Frustrations could become a habit if you do not make it a point to stay focused and take the appropriate breaks. Also, you will find that the release of tension comes when you involve yourself with some kind of physical activity, either during the noon break or after work with friends—a little competitive sports, perhaps. You may discover that you have a massive yen for good communication this evening. The desire for intimacy and love with a partner is great, with the expression of affection being most satisfying. This is a time of stability and harmony in relationships: growth and coming together.
POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. The act of slowing down or falling behind. 4. A group of related languages spoken in a valley of southern Ethiopia. 10. A branch of the Tai languages. 13. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event. 14. A deep bow. 15. Thigh of a hog (usually smoked). 16. A crystalline rock that can be cut and polished for jewelry. 17. Largest crested screamer. 19. Apathy and inactivity in the practice of virtue (personified as one of the deadly sins). 22. Hungarian choreographer who developed Labanotation (1879-1958). 25. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice. 26. Deciduous dioecious Chinese tree having fan-shaped leaves and fleshy yellow seeds. 30. Mentally or physically infirm with age. 32. A small drink of liquor. 33. Date used in reckoning dates before the supposed year Christ was born. 39. Implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretion. 41. Proceeding from or ordered by or subject to a pope or the papacy regarded as the successor of the Apostles. 42. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens. 44. A master's degree in fine arts. 45. Acquire or gain knowledge or skills. 47. A constitutional monarchy on the western part of the islands of Samoa in the South Pacific. 49. Of or relating to or characteristic of Uganda or its people. 53. Relating to or characteristic of or occurring on the sea or ships. 56. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey). 57. An edge tool used to cut and shape wood. 59. Goddess of fate. 60. The month following April and preceding June. 61. Fairly small terrestrial ferns of tropical America. 62. The cry made by sheep.
DOWN 1. Established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules. 2. Any of several tall tropical palms native to southeastern Asia having egg-shaped nuts. 3. A canvas or leather bag for carrying game (especially birds) killed by a hunter. 4. Of or relating to the songbirds n. 5. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska. 6. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in India for writing paper. 7. A landlocked mountainous republic in southeast central Asia north of Afghanistan. 8. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots. 9. A metric unit of length equal to one hundredth of a meter. 10. Of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand of its people. 11. A special way of doing something. 12. A sign of something about to happen. 18. Any of various edible seeds of plants of the family Leguminosae. 20. An informal term for a father. 21. The law enforcement agency in the Justice Department. 23. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural). 24. How long something has existed. 27. Strike sharply. 28. An ancient Egyptian city on the west bank of the Nile opposite Cairo. 29. German industrialist who was the first in Germany to use an assembly line in manufacturing automobiles (1871-1948). 31. A radioactive element of the actinide series. 34. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 35. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. 36. 1 species. 37. Inability to make purposeful movements. 38. United States educator who introduced reforms that significantly altered the system of public education (17961859). 40. The United Nations agency concerned with the international collection of meteorological data. 43. English monk and scholar (672-735). 46. An impure form of quartz consisting of banded chalcedony. 48. Resembling a labyrinth in form or complexity. 50. Material used to daub walls. 51. A city in northern India. 52. A quantity of no importance. 54. A unit of length of thread or yarn. 55. A hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers. 58. A state in north central United States.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) There are those that say our life moves along at such a fast pace, we should stop and enjoy our surroundings occasionally or we will miss some of the best parts of life. This idea may certainly fit for you today. You are a hard worker and you usually do well in the work you choose. It might be fun to allow yourself time away from the usual hard working day. Otherwise, life could pass you by—that puppy you wanted to train will be five years old or your house, which you wanted to paint, will need some repair work first. Time has a way of slipping away when you are focused on one thing. This afternoon may be a great time for rest and relaxation. You should not hesitate to get to know your own family better. Enjoy their versions of the day.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) This is a day for workaholics to enjoy! Your organizational ability, discipline and detailed objectives put in motion today are bound to lead to success. You could truly make the world a better place in which to live! This afternoon the discipline does not end. You may be guiding young people in artistic endeavors. You have an ability to work with the imagination, reaching beyond the mundane to a positive, exhilarating future. Your enthusiasm for mystical and religious experiences makes you an excellent teacher in artistic and creative matters. Promote your own ability to visualize and bring some focus into play for your current goals. New plans to succeed are productive and friends want to help you in a new moneymaking venture.
NON SEQUITUR
Leo (July 23-August 22) Decisive action is the main order of business now: how you maintain your independence is a major focus for you. This is no time to coast; this is a time to look for new and innovative ways to handle things. Remember that change for the sake of change is not necessarily an answer: you have to have a plan! You have a clear vision into your own inner sense of values, how you appreciate and love. This is a good time to examine and think about what is important and of lasting value. Friendships are in a state of transformation—old ones are either revitalized or else they come to an end; new ones are formed. Fate seems to bring you your friends—or you to them—and to change your relationship with them. There are plenty of hugs this evening—enjoy!
ZITS
Virgo (August 23-September 22) You could be feeling blocked this morning. You may find that much of your work today involves counseling co-workers on how to achieve their goals. You may have to put a time limit on your efforts so that you do not slack your own goals. No matter how much time you spend to lend a helping hand, your own work finally receives your attention. Projects ended today will gain a great deal of acknowledgment. This is a time for creativity when it comes to new ideas. This, coupled with the ability to put your thoughts into words, allows you to charm others. You could be guiding young people in some volunteer service this evening. You will meet plenty of pleasant people and gain new ideas. A good conversation with those you love is possible.
Libra (September 23-October 22)
MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM
Scorpio (October 23-November 21) A business deal requires care—perhaps it would be wise to buy some time on this one! You will find that your opinion is important and higher-ups respect your input. After work, make it a point to do something nice for yourself—perhaps a massage or a trip to your favorite shop. It would, however, be good to be selective so that you do not find yourself overspending. If you are already involved in a relationship—be prepared for a deepening of feelings. This is a great time to reflect and understand your own situation: just how you feel about yourself. You may be moved to appreciate and discover the beauty in your life and spend time photographing a beautiful sight. Friends find you especially witty and eccentric tonight.
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You may have insights or breakthroughs with regard to your working situation today. You have a strong urge to be different in your profession and to do something different in your creative life as well. Others value you for your independence and unique qualities. Obtaining and exchanging information takes on more emotional significance for now. Being more involved with neighbors or sibling(s) this evening satisfies a deep emotional need. Communicating feelings becomes important. You put a lot of thought into being different, avoiding the commonplace with a great determination. Take time to enjoy some exercise or sports . . . this will help you to relieve the stress that happens during an extremely busy workday.
Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
To
Yesterday’s Solution
It may take a great deal of listening today in order to understand the other person’s point of view. However, you seem able to extract the necessary information that will help you solve any frustrations that come across your path. While this may seem to be a stressful day, it is also a positive one— good outcome. Your inner resources and emotions are accented. You gain support from those around you. Ambitious schemes and the pursuit of success and status take on a high priority. This brings a focus on the practical, the successful, the pragmatic— whatever it takes to get you ahead in the end. Very workable and successful plans can be put into action now. This evening, you and a loved one will have an opportunity to discuss plans for the future.
Expect some tension where your financial concerns are focused . . . enjoy what you do have and pace yourself regarding your extra expenses the next few months. With your determination, this part of your life will come into balance soon. You have good practical job-related ideas. You are full of wit and sharp insights. This could be a time for real breakthrough in the idea department. Ambitious schemes and the pursuit of success and status take on high priority. Love can work wonders and you are in love today. You can expect a little boost, some sort of extra support or recognition from a special loved one this evening. You may feel that the lines of communication are open. General good feelings and a sense of harmony make this a happy time.
Yesterday’s Solution Yester
Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Whether you are conducting a meeting or speaking in a meeting today, you will find others will confirm your observations. Your emotions should be sailing on a relatively calm sea, giving you an unhurried chance to sit down and take stock of things. If there is any problem on the horizon, you have a breather now—at least for today. Your understanding of the needs of others is in perfect balance with knowledge of your own. People are your best friends today so surround yourself with them and enjoy! You may find yourself involved in community matters this evening. With your community spirit, you will make good contribution toward projects of humanitarian interests. You are able to pull in others to support or help you with projects.
Pisces (February 19-March 20)
Word Sleuth Solution
Playing the role of facilitator can be rewarding today. Yours is a career deep in change and transformation. You have a way of entrancing others and bringing them under the spell that you weave so well. You like the changes and experiences that your profession brings—you pursue them for their own sake. You head straight for whatever challenges your sense of identity. This life path could also carry you into subjects like reincarnation, psychic experiences and all that is occult or hidden from common view. You may have insights or breakthroughs this evening with regard to your living situation or life circumstances. This may mean a new home, investment or new apartment. There are possibilities of a shared property to use as a vacation place.
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 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 WAIT A
Tel.: e 161
DIRECTORA AT TE GENE GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIA V AT TION METEOROLOGICAL DEP PA ARTMENT
Veery hot h with light variable wind changing to light to moderate south easterly wind, with speed of 08 - 30 km/h and some high clouds will appear
BY Y NIGHT:
Relatively hot with light to moderate south easterly changing to south westerly wind, with speed of 10 - 32 km/h No Current Warnings arnin a
WA ARNING
35 °C
22451082
KUW WA AIT AIRPOR RT
49 °C
30 °C
Al-Mirqab
22456536
NUW WA AISEEB
46 °C
31 °C
Sharq
22465401
WAFRA A
49 °C
30 °C
Salmiya
25746401
SALMI
49 °C
34 °C
ABDAL LY
50 °C
32 °C
Jabriya
25316254
JAL ALIY YA AH
50 °C
33 °C
Maidan Hawally
25623444
FAILAKA A
46 °C
31 °C
Bayan
25388462
AHMADI POR RT
44 °C
37 °C
Mishref
25381200
UMM AL-MARADEM
39 °C
34 °C
W.Hawally
22630786
WARBA A A - BUBY YA AN
45 °C
29 °C
Sabah
24810221
Jahra
24770319
ST TATION T
DA AT TE
WEA AT THER
Tuesday
31/07
Weednesday
01/08
West Jahra
24772608
South Jahra
24775066
Thursday
North Jahra
24775992
Friday
North Jleeb
24311795
MAX.
MIN.
Wind Direction
Wind Speed
very hot
50 °C
32 °C
VRB-SE
08 - 30 km/h
very hot
49 °C
31 °C
NW-NE
20 - 40 km/h
02/08
very hot + raising dust
50 °C
33 °C
N-NW
20 - 45 km/h
03/08
very hot + blowing dust
50 °C
34 °C
NW
25 - 50 km/h
03:37
MAX. Temp.
49 °C
Sunrise
05:07
MIN. Temp.
31 °C
Zuhr
11:54
MAX. RH
27 %
Asr
15:30
MIN. RH
05 %
Sunset
18:42
MAX. Wind i
E 36 km/h
Isha
20:08
TOT TA AL L RAIINF FA ALL L IN 24 HR.
24892674
23900322
AY AT KUW WA AIT AIRPORT RECORDED YESTERDA
PRA RA AYER Y TIMES Fajr
24884079
Fintas
30/07/2012 0000 UTC
Temperatures DA AY
24575755
24710044
SFC. CHART
4 DA AY YS 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:
48 °C
24719048
22545171
Expected Weeather for the Next 24 Hours
KUW WA AIT CITY
Al-Omariya
Al-Shohada’a
2627 - 2630 Ext.: 262
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
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
LIFESTYLE G o s s i p
Swinton to star in Paris fashion film
Hiddleston
to appear in ‘Family Guy
ilda Swinton will star a short futuristic fashion film. The 51-year-old actress will take part in the production created by Paris-based photographer and artist Katerina Jebb during rehearsals for ‘Musee Galliera’ director Olivier Saillard’s latest fashion performance, ‘The Impossible Wardrobe’. Tilda will don a white laboratory coat complete with white gloves and high heels for the production, entitled ‘The Future Will Last a Very Long Time’, which will be screened on a loop during each night of the Paris Fall Festival - a contemporary arts spectacle known in France as the Festival d’Automne Paris - from September 29 to October 1, WWD reports. The ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ actress will be seen flicking through the historic archives of the Musee Galliera’s storerooms and discovering pieces such as a Madeleine Vionnet coat, which once belonged to US writer Natalie Clifford Barney. Legendary faces from the past, such as Napoleon Bonaparte and Sarah Bernhardt, will be screened onto Tilda’s body and shown behind her. The Scottish actress is known for her love of eccentric designer clothes and recently admitted she is “fortunate” to have people who want to dress her. She said: “For me, it’s just a matter of having a box cutter to open the dress box. “I turn up in a pair of old corduroy trousers and I’m very fortunate to have friends who send me boxes with gowns. It’s like the Cinderella complex. It’s the friends that make the effort, not me.”
T
om Hiddleston and Sean Bean are to appear together in a new episode of ‘Family Guy’. The British actors will both have guest roles in the hit US animated comedy and, according to Total Film, they will both play characters “cut from the same cloth”. No further information has been released about their roles. Tom has recently lent his voice for another TV animation, ‘Robot Chicken’, in between shooting on Jim Jarmusch’s vampire romance ‘Only Loves Left Alive’. Sean recently starred in fantasy drama ‘Game of Thrones’. It was recently revealed ‘Modern Family’ star Sophia Vergara had also landed a cameo role on ‘Family Guy’, appearing as main character Peter Griffin’s fanta-
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sy. The curvy Columbian star will voice her own cartoon alter-ego when bumbling father Peter fantasises about the actress as he daydreams about being a telenovela star. Sofia will also voice a woman selling roses in a restaurant in the same episode. The eleventh series of ‘Family Guy’ - which is scheduled to air in the US from September 30 will be star-studded with Johnny Depp, Ryan Reynolds, Elizabeth Banks and Kellan Lutz all scheduled to make an appearance.
Rihanna invites Tempah on holiday ihanna invited Tinie Tempah to join her in Italy this weekend. The ‘You Da One’ hitmaker has been enjoying an extended yachting holiday in the Mediterranean since last week, but was so keen to discuss a possible collaboration with the British rapper who performed at the Global Gathering festival in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, on Friday - she asked him to fly out and join her for a “wild” night. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Rihanna loves Tinie’s music and is fond of him as a person, too. She’s very keen to work with him at some point, which was discussed at length over dinner. “Obviously eating took up a small part of the night as he joined her crew on yet another wild night. It won’t be one that he will forget in a hurry.” Both Drake and ex-boyfriend Chris Brown have spent time with Rihanna while she has been enjoying a break. She has been spotted enjoying a number of parties and snorkeling while in the Mediterranean. However, on her stint in the South of France one get-together had to be closed down because of the excessive noise. A source said: “The sound system on Rihanna’s yacht has taken a pounding since they arrived. Local cops were forced to have a word because the volume had got out of control. “Rihanna didn’t argue and even asked if they wanted to join the party.”
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and Beyonce rent holiday home for staggering $400,000 ay-Z and Beyonce Knowles have splashed out $400,000 to rent a holiday home for the whole of August. The couple will take their seven-month-old daughter Blue Ivy to the Hamptons - an exclusive group of villages in Long Island, New York - for the first time by letting the 11-acre property on Halsey Lane in Bridgehampton, known as the Sandcastle, which is currently on the market for $43.5 million. Jay and Beyonce will be able to relax in the property’s 60-foot heated pool, which comes complete with underwater stereo system, and if they are feeling sporty then the two-lane bowling alley, virtual golf facilities, skateboard half-pipe or tennis court might be useful. The ‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)’ hitmaker can also
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take the opportunity to teach her daughter some of the tricks of the showbiz trade in the home’s “children’s performing area”, and the property also features squash, racquetball and basketball courts with moving walls and a retractable hoop, according to the listing on Corcoran.com. It’s not the first time the house - which the Jonas Brothers were once thought to be interested in purchasing - has been rented out for a staggering fee. In 2010, single mother Cheryl Mercuris paid $500,000 to let the abode for just two weeks in an attempt to find a billionaire husband - but she is said to have failed in her mission.
Kardashian and Odom put baby plans on hold hloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom are “taking a break” from trying for a baby. The couple - who married in September 2009 and star in their own reality TV show, ‘Khloe and Lamar’ - have been trying to get pregnant ever since they tied the knot but now basketball star Lamar wants them to stop so he can concentrate on his career. A source close to Lamar - who recently moved to the Los Angeles Clippers after being traded from the Dallas Mavericks - said: “Khloe and Lamar are taking a break from trying to have a baby while he settles into his new job back in LA. Lamar said that he and Khloe were trying for a baby, but admitted that he’s not ready because he needs to give his all to his game.” While Khloe is supportive of his decision, she is blaming herself for the situation. The source added to America’s In Touch magazine: “Khloe feels like a failure.” Khloe - who is thought to have undergone fertility treatment - has made no secret of her desire to have a baby but admits she was feeling under pressure to conceive. Speaking last year, she said: “People keep saying, ‘Why aren’t you pregnant yet?’ That’s what scares me, when people are like, ‘Did you go to the doctor? Do you know if everything’s working?’ It’s nerve-racking. Sometimes I feel like I’m letting everyone down.” Lamar already has two children, Destiny, 13, and 10-year-old Lamar Jr., from a previous relationship.
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children watch Unity tour
ichael Jackson’s children went to see his brothers perform their ‘Unity’ tour this weekend. Prince Michael, 15, Paris, 14, and 10-year-old Prince Michael II, who is known as Blanket were accompanied by their grandmother Katherine Jackson - who temporarily lost custody of the kids last week following her mysterious holiday to Arizona - to Marlon, Tito, Jackie and Jermaine Jackson’s concert in Saratoga, California. Katherine and the children watching the show may be a show of family unity after last week’s actions which saw Jermaine - alongside his sister Janet and brother Randy - try to storm the house where Prince, Paris and Blanket live in a bid to take them to Arizona. The children had earlier voiced their concerns after Katherine had gone “missing” for a number of days and they had not spoken to her. In Katherine’s absence, the children were put under guardianship of Michael’s nephew TJ, the son of Tito Jackson. Since Katherine’s return to California they will now share custody of the children. However, the battle is far from over, and Prince has tweeted his worries over the current divide in his family. He wrote: “As long as I can remember my dad repeatedly warned me of certain people and their ways. “Although I am happy my grandma was returned, after speaking with her I realize how misguided and how badly she was lied to. I’m really angry and hurt.”
Jessica Biel
writes poetry to relax
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he ‘Total Recall’ actress - who is engaged to Justin Timberlake - says penning her own verses helps her stay in touch with her spiritual side. She said: “I like being able to write when I find the time to get into it. “I love reading poetry and I’ve written poetry myself since I was in school. “It’s very calming and spiritual to be able to get in touch with emotions and states of mind to write poetry.” As well as writing, the 30-year-old beauty who scaled Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in January 2010 to raise awareness of environmental issues - loves spending time outdoors, which she believes stems from her upbringing. She added in an interview with The Sun newspaper: “My father was always telling me to go outside and appreciate nature. “I was raised by hippie kind of parents and the wild and open spaces were something I was taught to value. I had a really great childhood and I still love being outdoors and having a healthy respect for nature. “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to go to Kilimanjaro to draw attention to the issue of global warming. “It was the hardest thing I ever did in my life but I’m glad I made the journey. It was a once-in-alifetime experience.”
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Pattinson has ‘nobody to talk to’ obert Pattinson has “nobody to talk to” about his relationship problems. The ‘Twilight Saga’ star has moved out of the Los Angeles home he shared with Kristen Stewart following her admission she cheated on him with married director Rupert Sanders and has reportedly left friends worried by sharing his woes with fellow guests at the hotel where he is temporarily staying. One pal told The Sun newspaper: “Robert has resorted to asking strangers out to keep him company. “He went out for drinks with a woman staying in his hotel and he told her it was ‘ridiculous’ he had nobody to talk to.” The 26-year-old hunk has also been spending a lot of time alone trying to forget his relationship difficulties. The source added: “He’s been spending most of his days off just playing computer games.” After both Robert and Kristen moved out of their Los Angeles house, friends fear they won’t be able to repair their damaged relationship. A source said: “I’m not sure they’ll be able to recover from this. [Robert] is heartbroken and angry. “Kristen really loves Rob more than anything. He’s all that matters to her right now.” —Bang Showbiz
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harlie Sheen says he’s not insane anymore. Instead, these are good days for the “Anger Management” star, he declares, with his FX sitcom half-way through its initial 10-episode run and poised to get an order for 90 more. Sheen told reporters Saturday that the prospect of continuing is as “exciting as hell,” and added cheerily, “I don’t think 90’s gonna be enough.” With the expected pickup, FX plans to bring aboard Sheen’s dad, Martin Sheen, as a recurring cast member. He will play the father of Charlie Goodson, the anger-management therapist played by Charlie Sheen. The veteran movie actor, who also played President Jed Bartlet on the drama series “The West Wing,” is guest-starring on an “Anger Management” episode that airs Aug. 16. “I think that was the best episode we did,” his son said. Adding Sheen’s father to the series “will give an extra dimension and make it a multi-generational family show,” FX boss John Landgraf said in making the announcement. The production schedule would call for filming a total of 100 episodes in just two years. This kind of cost-saving routine means no This June 3, 2012 file photo shows actor time for rehearsals, said executive producer Bruce Helford. Charlie Sheen at the MTV Movie Awards “The actors get the lines, we see the scene, the writers make changes, the actors go to makeup, cameras are blocked, we in Los Angeles. — AP
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ran is thinking of boycotting next month’s Venice international film festival because of EU sanctions hitting its oil-dependent economy, a culture ministry official in charge of supervising the country’s cinema industry was quoted as saying yesterday. “Considering that the EU has imposed the strongest inhumane and illegal sanctions against Iran, we are naturally thinking of boycotting the Venice film festival,” the official, Alireza Sajjadpur, said in a report published in the Tehran Times newspaper. “We are currently assessing the situation,” he said, adding that Iranian films were the “highlight” of Western festivals, according to the newspaper report picked up from the ISNA news agency. There are no Iranian movies selected to compete in the main section vying for Venice’s Golden Lion award (though a US director of Iranian descent, Ramin Bahrani, is on the list with his “At Any Price”.) The one Iranian film chosen for the official line-up in Italy, in the out-of-competition Horizon section, is “The Paternal House” by director Kianoush Ayari. But Sajjadpur said that movie-which depicts problems faced by women in Iran in a
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come back together and shoot the scene,” he explained. At first, the cast members “felt like basically they were on the ledge. But by the third episode, everyone found the characters to the point that the writers were following their lead,” Helford said. “I feel like how we started, we just scratched the surface - barely,” said Sheen, who arrived for his appearance at the Television Critics Association session clad in Bermuda shorts, a long-sleeve shirt and loafers without socks. He likened his tumultuous departure from “Two and a Half Men” and the stormy aftermath last year to a dream he couldn’t wake up from. Or like “a train I couldn’t get off of, except that I was the conductor,” he added, speaking in quick bursts and fidgeting in his chair. He said he learned a lot from that period, including “stick to what you know.” Referring to his disastrous “My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not an Option” tour in spring 2011, he got laughs from the group when he advised, “Don’t go on the road with a one-man show in 21 cities without an act. “ “I’m not insane anymore,” he summed up. What’s different now from Sheen’s angry stretch on “Men,” characterized by his much-publicized clashes with series creator Chuck Lorre?
story about a patriachal family-would not have permission from Tehran to be screened unless it undergoes “corrections”. “I hope the report isn’t true” that it will be shown in Venice as is, he said. Iran’s regime reserves the right to decide whether films from the country can be shown or not, depending on how they portray life and characters under strict Islamic rule. A film by Jafar Panahi, a celebrated Iranian director awaiting the start of a six-year prison sentence for “propaganda against the regime”, had his latest production, “This is not a Film” smuggled out in a USB flash drive hidden in a cake to be screened in last year’s Cannes film festival. The European Union in July drastically ramped up sanctions imposed on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme by enforcing an embargo on Iranian oil imports. The Venice film festival runs from August 29 to September 8 and features movies from around the world. — AFP This undated film image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Christian Bale as Batman in a scene from the action thriller “The Dark Knight Rises.”— AP
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njoyed the music-packed Olympics opening ceremony? Now you can buy the album - and thousands have. The soundtrack album, which went on sale as a download minutes after Friday’s ceremony ended, has topped the iTunes album chart in Britain, France, Belgium and Spain, and has reached No. 5 in the United States. It’s No. 5 on the overall British album chart less than two days after its release. Director Danny Boyle’s spectacular opening ceremony was a rollicking celebration of British music. The album includes tracks from - among others - David Bowie, The Pet Shop Boys, Chemical Brothers, Dizzee Rascal, Emeli Sande, Arctic Monkeys and Underworld. Universal Music will also release an album of the London Olympics’ Aug. 12 closing ceremony, which will feature British acts including The Who.—AP
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British singer Dizzee Rascal performs on stage at the Olympic Torch Relay Concert in Hyde Park, central London, Thursday, July 26, 2012. — AP
Helford weighed in with a theory. On “Men,” he ventured, “Charlie didn’t really have a voice with creative input. It wasn’t built that way.” On “Anger Management,” Helford said he’s forged a partnership with his star. “We built this together,” he said. “And when Charlie’s on the stage, that’s his stage. When you feel that, your creative juices are flowing, everything is better for you, because you have a say in what you’re doing. “When you don’t control your destiny, things get screwed up in your head,” he said as Sheen nodded. On “Anger Management,” Charlie Goodson thrives on chaos. Sheen was asked if he does, too, or if he longs for a simpler life. “I can wish every minute for a simple life. It’s not gonna happen,” Sheen replied. “But I don’t really look at it as chaos. I look at it as challenges.”— AP
ll the way from Errol Flynn to Kevin Costner, Hollywood has always been all a-quiver about Robin Hood and his trusty bow and arrow. Now the heroine of a science fiction romp has made archery a cool sport again. Thanks to ”The Hunger Games,” teenagers are queuing up to try their hand and, with the huge media hype, the Olympics are helping to bring archery out of the shadows even more. America’s world number one Brady Ellison, whose American team lost a nailbiting Olympic final to Italy, said: ”One of the great things about the Olympics is that it brings a lot of the smaller sports into the limelight every four years. “It’s a lot more popular right now. Let’s hope it stays that way.” ”The Hunger Games”, with Jennifer Lawrence as the feisty heroine with the deadly bow and arrow, was a box office smash when it came out in March. It was then followed by the Disney Pixar animated movie ”Brave” with yet another bow-wielding heroine to give the sport a further boost. ”I do feel like this year that with all the movies and stuff that has come out, especially in the States, we are getting a lot more recognition for the sport,” Ellison added. USA Archery reports that its membership has grown by almost 20 percent since last year with its youth division now the largest. Its website is being bombarded with queries from would-be William Tells. On Facebook and Twitter it is the same story-
figures are soaring. Hollywood has certainly played a starring role in giving impressionable teenagers some swash-buckling role models. Take Orlando Bloom as Legolas in the fantasy epic ”Lord of the Rings.” Or the blue Na’vi people in the James Cameron blockbuster ”Avatar”. But it was ”The Hunger Games” that gave archery the boost it needed and with sequels now planned from the best-selling Suzanne Collins books, the impetus is there to be maintained. USA Archery has certainly played its part in helping the sport hit the pop culture bull’s eye. Cool and archery haven’t always been synonymous. They are now. Khatuna Lorig, now appearing at her fourth Olympics, gave Jennifer Lawrence lessons for the film in which one of the most spectacular scenes showed her shooting an apple from the mouth of a roasted pig. Lorig, who has represented the Soviet Union, Georgia and now the United States at the Olympics, can certainly attest to how archery has become such a hit. “”I have a friend who is coaching and he usually gets four or five calls a month about archery. Now he’s getting 10 a week,” she said.—Reuters
atman flick “The Dark Knight Rises” held on to the top spot at North American box offices this weekend despite last week’s mass shooting in Colorado, according to figures released Sunday. Twelve people were killed and 58 wounded when a gunman sprayed bullets into a midnight premiere of the final installment of the Batman trilogy in Aurora, Colorado on July 20. The film finished its debut weekend with the third-largest earnings ever, and this weekend raked in earnings well above its competitors, bringing in $64 million, according to Exhibitor Relations, which tracks ticket sales. Second place, with $13.3 million, went to 3-D computer-animated adventure comedy “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift.” Coming in just behind was science-fiction comedy “The Watch,” which opened with $13 million in box office receipts. The film stars Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard
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Ayoade as four suburban dads who form a neighborhood watch only to end up battling an alien invasion. “Step Up: Revolution,” about a crew of street dancers protesting urban development plans in Miami, opened in fourth ($11.8 million), followed by cheeky teddy bear comedy “Ted,” ($7.3 million) and “The Amazing Spider-Man” ($6.8 million). Pixar studio’s 3-D animated fairytale “Brave” dropped to 7th place ($4.2 million), ahead of Steven Soderbergh’s comedy about male strippers, “Magic Mike,” ($2.6 million) and Oliver Stone’s new thriller “Savages,” ($1.7 million), about Californian drug traffickers facing off against a Mexican cartel. Rounding out the top 10 was Wes Anderson’s dream-like narrative “Moonrise Kingdom,” with $1.3 million.—AFP
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Trump purchased hundreds of acres to build a golf course on the northeast coast of Scotland, near the location of the 1983 film “Local Hero,” it details land grabs, local protests and roughshod environmental practices undertaken with the cooperation of Scottish officials.—Reuters
ere’s more proof that everything Donald Trump does is the biggest and the best: A new documentary about Trump’s construction of a golf course is Scotland has only been out in the UK for two weeks, but in that time it has become the highest-rated British film of all time on IMDb. That’s right: according to the website’s users, “You’ve Been Trumped” is better than “Lawrence of Arabia,” better than “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” better than “The King’s Speech,” better than any other British production ever. (One caveat: British-born directors Alfred Hitchcock and Christopher Nolan each placed a pair of films higher on the list - but in all four cases, those films were funded, set and shot in the US) “You’ve Been Trumped,” shot in Scotland and made by Scottish director Anthony Baxter, has a current user rating of 8.5 among what IMDb called “regular users,” whose rankings determine the site’s charts. That ties the film with “Citizen Kane,” “Dr. Strangelove,” “ Taxi Driver,” “North by Northwest,” “City Lights” and “American Beauty” (the last three American productions from British-born directors) as the 35th greatest movie of all time. On the separate documentary chart, it ranks third, just behind the Alain Resnais’ 1955 landmark “Night and Fog” and, in an indication of how early enthusiasm can skew the charts, the recent doc about the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team, “ The Other Dream Team.” The Donald would no doubt appreciate and even expect the superlatives, if not for the fact that “You’ve Been Trumped” is a virulently anti-Trump movie. A chronicle of how
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A general view of the former Khmer Rouge commander Ta Mok’s house and surrounding grounds at Anlong Veng district in Oddar Mean Chey province.
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ant to see Pol Pot’s grave or his broken toilet seat? How about a visit to the house of a feared Khmer Rouge commander known as “The Butcher”? Welcome to the town of Anlong Veng, a former Khmer Rouge stronghold which hopes to become the next must-see destination on Cambodia’s dark tourism trail, but which faces calls not to glorify its role in the country’s bloody past. A rectangular mound of earth lined with half-buried glass bottles and protected by a corrugated iron roof marks the spot where Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot was hastily cremated in 1998. Aside from a sign asking visitors to “please help to preserve this historical site” there is no information on offer, leaving Cambodian tourist Pov Dara, 27, to ponder
This photo taken on May 13, 2012 shows a Cambodian woman praying inside the former Khmer Rouge commander Ta Mok’s house at Anlong Veng district in Oddar Mean Chey province, some 400 kms northwest of Phnom Penh. — AFP photos
the significance of the low-key grave. “I feel sad for the people but not for him,” she decides, after snapping a photo of her relatives flashing the peace sign. Up to two million people died from overwork, starvation or execution when the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, attempted to create a communist utopia in the late 1970s.His cremation site, which attracts some 10 visitors a day, is one of 14 tourist spots the government intends to “preserve and develop” in northern Cambodia’s Anlong Veng. Other places of interest include leaders’ old homes and a rusty radio truck used to broadcast Khmer Rouge propaganda. Impoverished Cambodia is no stranger to genocide tourism, with the Tuol Sleng torture centre in Phnom Penh and the nearby Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, where thousands died, among the nation’s most popular attractions. But while the focus at those sites is on victims of the 1975-1979 regime, Anlong Veng is populated by one-time loyal Khmer Rouge followers, giving it the feel of a town that has found itself on the wrong side of history. ‘Cambodia’s memories are not for sale’ As locals relish the lucrative prospect of welcoming
Cambodian people looking at a cage which was used for prisoners.
more tourists to the once isolated area, observers stress the need to educate guests about Cambodia’s historyand avoid turning the destination into a Khmer Rouge nostalgia tour. To that end, the tourism ministry has teamed up with the esteemed Documentation Centre of Cambodia, which researches Khmer Rouge atrocities. The centre is preparing to publish a guidebook based on the stories of long-time residents and it is training tour guides to provide meaningful information about “what happened and why during the Khmer Rouge regime’s final days”, said the group’s director Youk Chhang. A museum is also planned. But it is important not to exploit the country’s tragic past, he told AFP. Cambodia’s memories are “not for sale”, he said. “We have the responsibility to ensure that Anlong Veng is a historical and responsible site to educate the public.” The Khmer Rouge was ousted by Vietnamese forces in 1979, though regime leaders and supporters continued to wage a low-level guerrilla war against the government. Anlong Veng, near the Thai border, was the Khmer Rouge’s last rebel centre before the movement disintegrated in the late 1990s. One of the best-preserved visitor sites in town is the lakeside home of late military commander Ta Mok, known as “ The Butcher ” for allegedly orchestrating brutal massacres that killed thousands, although locals remember him as a generous leader who gave the town a road, a bridge, a hospital and a school. Ta Mok, who briefly led the Khmer Rouge in its final days, was the only rebel who refused to surrender or strike a deal with the government after Pol Pot’s death. He was arrested a year later and died in prison in 2006 awaiting trial. His airy house is little more than a shell today, its furniture looted long ago. But several walls are still adorned with colourful yet amateurish murals of temples and a map of Cambodia-symbols of Ta Mok’s patriotism, according to the site’s caretaker San Roeung, himself an ex-Khmer Rouge soldier. “A lot of people here liked Ta Mok. When the enemy came, he took people to safety,” said the 60-year-old, who helped build the house as well as the two cages outside used to hold Ta Mok’s enemies. He added that he hoped an influx of visitors would improve living standards for locals, who could “grow mangoes or jackfruit to sell to tourists”. ‘I’d call it the killing camera’ Few are more excited about the town’s tourism potential than Anlong Veng district deputy governor Nhem En-who was the chief photographer at Tuol Sleng, where he endlessly captured images of inmates awaiting certain death. A Khmer Rouge insider until he defected in the mid-1990s, Nhem En has built up a huge archive of photos, as well as a bizarre collection of keepsakes such as Pol Pot’s sandals, his uniform and his shattered toilet seat. Now he is looking for a partner to help set up a private museum to display his treasures, he said, having apparently given up on the idea of selling key items in the hope of earning hundreds of thousands of dollars. “These items might not be worth much financially but, in historical terms, they’re invaluable,” he told AFP at his home, after showing some of his favourite possessions. “This camera, if I put it in a museum, I would call it the killing camera,” he said, as he held up a vintage Rolleicord, “because all of the people in Tuol Sleng who came before it died.” Nhem En insists he was not in a position to help any prisoners, all he could do was “fol-
A man visiting the former Khmer Rouge commander Ta Mok’s house.
Cambodian people posing for a photo next to a mobile radio station belonging to Pol Pot.
low orders” and “mind his own business”. Tuol Sleng prison chief Duch was in February sentenced to life in jail by Cambodia’s UN-backed war crimes court, the first person to face justice for horrors committed under the regime. The court is now trying the three most senior surviving Khmer Rouge members, but Nhem En has little interest in the proceedings, preferring to muse about Anlong Veng’s nascent tourism industry. The ancient temples of Angkor, which attract more than a million visitors a year, are a mere two-hour drive away, and Nhem En believes that if a fraction of those visitors added Anlong Veng to their itinerary, his town, with its plentiful guesthouses and restaurants, would benefit considerably. “Anlong Veng will not go backwards,” he said, though he emphasised that his own collection of memorabilia is about more than just profiting from his time with the Khmer Rouge. “I’m doing this to make the world understand more about the Khmer Rouge regime,” he said. — AFP
A Cambodian girl posing for a photo next to a painting inside the former Khmer Rouge commander Ta Mok’s house .
Cambodian family looking at Pol Pot’s grave at Anlong Veng district in Oddar Mean Chey province, some 400 kms northwest of Phnom Penh.
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Construction workers walk near the entrance to Legoland Malaysia.
A worker walks past a miniature of the Taj Mahal made from lego bricks at Legoland Malaysia in the southern state of Johor Bahru. Asia’s first Legoland theme park dedicated to the popular toy bricks recreates cities made entirely from Lego bricks built on a scale of 1:20 will feature 17 countries and cities from around the region including Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, Myanmar, Philippines, Indonesia, China, India, Singapore, Johor bahru and Kuala Lumpur. The Legoland theme park will open in Malaysia in September 2012.—AFP photos
Workers rest next to a life size figure made from lego bricks.
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egoland Malaysia is a theme park scheduled to open in Nusajaya, Johor, Malaysia on September 15, 2012 with over 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions. It will be the first Legoland theme park in Asia upon its establishment. It will be the centerpiece of a 5,500,000 sq ft (510,000 m2) integrated complex in the Nusa Cemerlang industrial park, within the Iskandar Malaysia economic region, consisting of a lifestyle retail centre, offices, hotels, service apartments and residential units.
Members of the media test ride aquazone wave racers during a preview of Legoland Malaysia.
A construction worker works near a miniature of Kuala Lumpur’s railway station made of Lego bricks.
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he Lego Imagination Center in Downtown Disney has quietly reopened after closing in February and temporarily relocating to Island Charter’s former location. One of the original retailers at Downtown Disney that opened in 2001, the store was renovated and now reflects much more Disney flavor, especially outside. “As this store is over 10 years old, we felt it was time for a complete refresh and redesign,” said Amanda Santoro, spokeswoman at Lego Systems Inc. Disney-themed new scenes: This is one of the biggest and most logical improvements. The twin giant red bricks flanking the main entrance are gone. Instead, there are three large scenes made out of Lego bricks that depict famous Disney characters. Perhaps the most magnificent scene is Maleficent in dragon form is on the roof breathing out fire toward Prince Phillip in giant minifigure style, who is atop his steed, Samson. A second scene shows Buzz Lightyear, Woody and RC “reaching for the sky.” These scenes also are depicted at the Lego Store in Downtown Disney in Orlando, but the position of Maleficent on the roof is unique to Anaheim, Santoro said. In the third outdoor scene that’s exclusive to the Anaheim store, Beauty and the Beast are showing dancing, with Cogsworth and Lumiere in the background. New interior scenes: Just inside the entrance and
The Legoland Hotel, a Lego-themed hotel located at the theme park and also the first to open in Southeast Asia, will open in the first half of 2014. The hotel is built under a management agreement between the company and LL Themed Hotel Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture company owned by Destination Resorts and Hotels Sdn Bhdand Iskandar Harta Holdings Sdn Bhd. Legoland Malaysia targets 1.5 million visitors when it opens its doors. — Wikipedia
An animator constructs a boat made from lego bricks.
Construction workers work on the miniature of Kuala Lumpur city made of Lego bricks.
suspended from the ceiling is the magic carpet carrying Aladdin and Jasmine in giant minifigure style with Genie. Toward the rear of the store is a giant brick sculpture of Lego Brand Retail’s mascot, Brickley, a large green serpent behind a new tall curved Pick a Brick (PaB) wall. New location for and larger proportions for the Pick a Brick wall: This new The Pick a Brick wall is one of the Lego Systems Inc.’s iconic design components in its stores, Santoro said. “It is featured at the back of the store, so that guests get that impact of color as they walk through our front doors,” Santoro said. “In the case of Anaheim, the store is designed them to have an ‘extra large’ PaB, making use of the space and high ceilings. Therefore, we moved the cash wrap to the center of the space to accommodate a clear view, as well as increase ability for many guests to shop for their bricks. The cash wrap was formerly located in the rear of the store near where the PaB now stands.” A new upper level: Behind the Pick a Brick wall is a staircase that takes shoppers up to a play room. “The second level was added as another element to make use of our high ceilings,” Santoro said. “It was the intention that it would create not only another perspective in which to view the store itself and wow models, but also provided increased useable square footage. The room is designed to be used for additional hands-on play. However, now the store staff
A miniature cruise ship made of Lego bricks sits on a truck.
A man works near a miniature of Singapore city made of Lego bricks.
also has the capability to use this space for private events, such as birthday parties, and or meeting space. A new outside play area: “This location never had the space in which guests could play even more - play tables, including lower height for Duplo play for the younger children, as well as a double racetrack, for kids and adults to build and race cars.” Digital Box: A augmented reality feature that’s being deployed in more Lego Stores, a yellow-framed screen in a kiosk displays the assembled and finished product when a shopper holds up the product box to the camera. The store will hold grand reopening events on Memorial Day weekend. “We’re doing a large scale community build - building the Lego Store mascot Brickley - and Disney is fully involved in the planning,” Santoro said. — MCT
This scene of a dragon battling a knight took model makers a whopping 2,785,950 Lego bricks to build. The scene sits outside the Lego Imagination Center at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, Calif. — MCT
Charlie Sheen sitcom poised for 90-episode pickup
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A Kuwaiti citizen shops for nuts at a market in Kuwait City yesterday, during Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims the world over fast from dawn to dusk.— Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat
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he choice of a fragrance that suits one’s preference could be a herculean task, especially considering that there are thousands of types of perfumes on offer in the market. However, for Arabs, one perfume has been part of their folklore and legacy since time immemorial. And it is not a hard guess for anyone - for the first thing your sense of smell picks up in an Arab house is the heady aroma of oud wafting in the air. Oud, which simply means wood in Arabic, is considered as a supreme fragrance in the Gulf and Arab region. It is burned as a mark of respect and hospitality and is a traditional gesture of welcoming and honoring guests. In fact, oud is considered an important feature at most social occasions, such as weddings or the holy month of Ramadan.
‘Rasasi fragrances are inevitable part of special occasions such as Holy Month of Ramadan’
During Ramadan, Arab families burn or apply oud fragrance each evening after breaking the fast as a custom. Not only heritage, it has a reputation of sophistication, and its fragrance is highly valued, which is why certain variations of the product can be sold for astonishingly high prices. Oud oil, which costs up to $30,000 per kilogram, has been used in Middle East perfumes for centuries. Rasasi Perfumes, which has carved a niche with its enviable range of perfumes, offers an exquisite range of oud and other fragrances exclusively for Ramadan. “Oud is not only traditional
but extremely natural and unique. Derived from the Agarwood tree, oud is formed when the agar tree becomes infected by a fungus. It is believed that it takes as long as 300 years for the fungus to spread through the bark of the tree,” said Salim Kalsekar, Managing Director, UAE & GCC Region at Rasasi. The oud oil is worn on the skin and is mainly used by men and women during Ramadan, special occasions, Eid and prayers. It is best applied on the body’s pulse points, such as the inside of the wrist and behind the ears, so the body’s heat can help the scent emanate. Talking of its popularity during Ramadan, it is estimated that during Ramadan and Eid, Saudis spend over 600 million Saudi Riyals on oud products and the fragrance is evident as one walks through shopping malls or banks, and it is used in homes and mosques. “Considering the steep price of a small quantity of good quality oud fragrance, it is no wonder that wearing such fragrances is restricted to special events. The sales of oud fragrances rise sharply during Ramadan and before Eid. Oud is very strong and gives a powerful scent that lasts for 24 hours. Even after you wash it stays on your skin and in your hair and clothes,” added Kalsekar. This Ramadan, Rasasi offers the traditional oud in an exclusive packaging to mark the Holy Month, along with a wide spread of other fragrance tailored to spirit of this blessed occasion. “As a company, we believe in offering products in line with our customers’ needs and preferences, and our special oudh fragrance is a testament that the tradition of using this age-old prestigious fragrance lives on,” summed up Kalsekar.
Dena Farah makes a dried fruit compote to break the Ramadan fast at her home in Allen Park, Michigan, on Tuesday, July 17, 2012. — MCT photos
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n an odd twist, the month of Ramadan, with its dawn-to-dusk fasting, not only gives Dena Farah the opportunity to celebrate her Muslim faith, it also allows her to indulge her passion for food. The 43year-old Allen Park, Mich., resident, who is of Egyptian and Palestinian descent, is an avid cook, teacher and all-around food enthusiast, so preparing wholesome meals for her brood-six sons, ages 6 to 23 — won’t be a problem. Food and drink, including water, are not consumed during daylight hours during Ramadan, a particular challenge when it falls at this time of year because of the longer summer days. “During Ramadan, we try to have a variety of foods, although we are supposed to be humble and modest about it,” Farah says. “This is a time of reflection and understanding that there are other people who don’t have what we have.” Dates, soups and salads play a big role in Farah’s menus. “Even if my kids are craving pizza, I will still make sure they have a bowl of soup and salad,” Farah says. Soups might be crushed lentil or chicken with orzo. A salad might be a version of fattoush. Farah, who also is a bilingual support teacher for the Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools, sometimes prepares maklouba, a rice and vegetable dish with cooked beef or chicken. The ingredients are lay-
A dried fruit compote to break the Ramadan fast.
ered in a pot. When the dish is done, the pot is flipped upside down on a serving platter, and everything comes out in a mound. Farah also prepares sambousa, a fried Arabic-style egg roll. Eating dates to break the fast is traditional because that’s what the prophet Muhammad did _ and, Farah says, they give you a burst of energy. She often makes dates stuffed with nuts and shredded coconut, or she will serve her mother’s fruit compote recipe, which calls for dates and other dried fruits. “There is also something about the nutritional value of the dates _ it satisfies you,” Farah says. Apricot dried fruit compote Serves: 8 / Preparation time: 15 minutes (plus soaking time) Total time: 15 minutes (plus soaking time) For apricot juice 7 ounces apricot paste 8 cups of water Dried fruit 1 cup pitted dates, chopped into bite-size pieces 1 cup figs, chopped into bite-size pieces 1 cup prunes, chopped into bite-size pieces 1 cup golden raisins, chopped into bite-size pieces
1 cup apricots, chopped into bite-size pieces GARNISH Shredded coconut Pistachios Chop apricot paste into 1-inch pieces and soak overnight in a large bowl with the 8 cups of water. The paste also can be soaked in hot water for 4 to 5 hours. Whisk the apricot juice, making sure the apricot paste has dissolved; if not, heat in a microwave a few minutes and remix the juice, smoothing out any lumps and apricot pieces. Add all of the dried fruits and mix well. Allow dried fruit to soak in the apricot juice for at least 2 to 3 hours before serving. Serve in mini bowls or cups garnished with shredded coconut and pistachios. Store leftover compote in the refrigerator up to 7 days. From Dena Farah, Allen Park, Mich. Tested by Susan Selasky in the Free Press Test Kitchen. 341 calories (1 percent from fat), 0 grams fat (0 grams sat. fat), 89 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams protein, 11 mg sodium, 0 mg cholesterol, 7 grams fiber. — MCT
Pakistani boy Liaquat Wilayat, 7, center, listens to his teacher while he and other children attend a class on how to read verses of the Quran, on the third day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in a mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. During Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. — AP