7 Feb

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

48 PAGES

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2010

SAFAR 23, 1431 AH

NO: 14633

150 FILS

Stylish United go top after crushing Portsmouth

Kallis, Amla punish India’s bowlers

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Iran upbeat, West wary of nuke deal Mottaki meets Amano • Tehran opens new missile plants

KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti woman tries to fly a kite at Messilah beach during a kite festival yesterday.

The kite festival is one of numerous celebrations of the Hala February shopping festival, which runs until Feb 24. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat (See Page 2)

Jet’s black boxes found off Lebanon BEIRUT: Searchers located the black boxes of an Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed in the sea off Lebanon last month killing 90 people, Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi said yesterday. “The boxes have been found under the rear part of the fuselage” which was found yesterday morning, the Lebanese minister told AFP. “Lebanese army divers have gone down to retrieve them, but this operation will take time,” said Aridi.

“We have to be cautious because we must preserve the data contained in the boxes,” he added.

Aridi stressed special

measures would be taken to bring to the surface the flight recorders in a way to avoid any damage that could be detrimental to the information they contain. The minister also said he had been informed by the Syrian authorities that debris from the plane had been found in the Mediterranean Sea off the western city of Lattakia.

He said earlier that the search vessel, Ocean Alert, had located the rear sections of the aircraft’s cabin. The sections found were between 10 and 12 m long, and at a depth of 45 m off Naameh, 12 kilometres (seven miles) south of Beirut, Aridi said.

The Boeing 737-800 went down before dawn on Jan 25, just minutes after take-off during stormy weather from Beirut airport. It was bound for Addis Ababa with 83 passengers and seven crew on board. No survivors were found from Flight 409, and only 15 bodies have so far been recovered. Aridi said he hoped other sections of the plane would soon be found, along with bodies of the remaining victims still thought to be strapped to their seats. Of the 15 bodies found, nine were Lebanese, five Ethiopian and one Iraqi. Fiftyfour Lebanese were on board

the aircraft.

The Lebanese military said yesterday that “pictures are being taken” of the located section of fuselage with a view to raising it. Flight recorders are usually placed in the rear of commercial airliners. Lebanese officials have said the captain was instructed by the control tower to change to a certain heading, but that the aircraft then took a different course. Experts have told AFP that the stormy weather may not have been the only reason for the crash, and that the aircraft may have had engine or hydraulics problems. — AFP

ers. Mottaki said on ANKARA/MUNICH: Friday he saw good The United States prospects for agreeand Germany said ment, but restated yesterday they saw two conditions that no sign Tehran would could be stumbling make concessions on blocks - that any its nuclear program, fuel exchange must despite upbeat combe simultaneous ments from Iran’s and that Iran would foreign minister over prospects for a deal. Manouchehr determine quantities involved.

Iran’s Manouchehr Mottaki Af ter his talks Mottaki said he had “a very good meeting” with yesterday with the IAEA’S the head of the UN nuclear Amano, Mottaki said Iran agency on a plan to swap might want to exchange less Iran’s low-enriched uranium than the 1,200 kg of uranium for higher-grade nuclear fuel which world powers have to be used in a Tehran reactor asked it to part with in one go.

“We determine the quantity producing medical isotopes.

International Atomic on the basis of our needs and Energy Agency (IAEA) we would inform the parties Director-General Yukiya about our requirements,” he Amano said he wanted dia- told reporters at a Munich logue with Iran to speed up. security conference.

Tomas Valasek, director of “Dialogue is continuing, this should be accelerated. That’s foreign policy and defence, the point,” he told reporters Centre for European Reform, on the sidelines of an annual said if the needs of Iran’s security conference in research reactor were to dicMunich. An accord on tate the process there would exchanging fuel could mark a be no agreement. “That’s a major breakthrough in the deal breaker, because of long-running dispute over course the whole idea behind Iran’s nuclear program, which the deal is let’s get all of the the West fears could be used stuff out so that we win more time so that the Israelis don’t to produce an atomic bomb.

But US Defense Secretary feel itchy and don’t bomb Iran Robert Gates said Iran had in the next few weeks,” he failed to address Western con- said.

The five permanent UN cerns and suggested it was time for more sanctions on Security Council members the Islamic Republic, which plus Germany met on Friday denies its nuclear program to discuss efforts to persuade has a military goal. “I don’t Iran to halt its nuclear enrichhave the sense that we’re ment program, but China close to an agreement,” Gates made clear it was too soon to told reporters in Ankara discuss further sanctions.

Continued on Page 14 where he met Turkish lead-

Controversial film acclaimed abroad but unseen by Syrians

WASHINGTON: The statue of Andrew Jackson is seen in Lafayette Park, across from the White House, yesterday as a blizzard hit the nation’s capital and much of the mid-Atlantic region. — AP

‘Snowmageddon’ slams US east coast, two dead WASHINGTON: A huge blizzard dumped a blanket of thick snow over the US east coast yesterday, paralyzing the region and snapping power lines to thousands of people as hazardous roads killed at least two. The monster storm, dubbed “Snowpocalypse” and “Snowmageddon,” stretched thousands of miles from eastern Indiana into Pennsylvania and then down through Maryland as far south as North Carolina. With winds gusting at almost 90 km an hour, many places had already accumulated more than 60 cm of snow by late yesterday morning, as trees toppled bringing down power lines and barring roads.

Even US President Barack Obama awoke to find 10 inches covering the White House, and his flashy motorcade, which usually speeds through the capital, was seen moving very slowly on empty Washington streets after he

gave a speech to his Democratic Party.

Forecasters warned residents to hunker down, with no let-up in the weather for most of the day. They predicted a record-breaking, historic total snowfall in some places of a meter. “It’s pretty rough out there,” Ed McDonough from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency told AFP. “The roads are very difficult to travel... and we are seeing a spike in power outages. We are telling local residents to stay home, enjoy the time with their families and let the highway crews do their work.”

Emergency crews struggled to repair the power outages, which have left 150,000 people in the dark and under blankets at home in Maryland alone. “We have a lot of scattered outages and the road conditions are not really working with us,” admitted Pepco spokesman Continued on Page 14

DAMASCUS: Overseas, “The Long Night” has garnered critical acclaim and awards, but at home in Syria censors remain nervous about permitting the screening of a film on the topic of political prisoners.

Director Hatem Ali’s debut feature-length film is a humane and engaging drama that begins with three ageing political prisoners suddenly told they are going home after having spent two decades behind bars.

“The Long Night” has been screened extensively in Africa, Europe and Asia, where it won top prize last year at the Osian’s-Cinefan Film Festival in New Delhi last October. But it has not yet been publicly shown anywhere in Syria, not even at

the Damascus Film Festival late last year, when 250 films from 50 countries were screened. The story unfolds with Karim, the oldest of the group, and his relationship with the three grown children he finds upon returning home.

Screenwriter Haitham Hakki portrays the anguish of a family that has grown used to living with a father in jail, but now has to integrate a stranger back into the fold.

Karim finds that his son, Nidal, has done well for himself by keeping his head down and his thoughts to himself.

Karim’s daughter, Uruba, is now married to the son of his former best friend, who engineered Karim’s imprisonment and now benefits from his close ties to the regime.

The film is a metaphor for a country in which the regime is undecided how to change things and where the very subject of political prisoners is discussed only in hushed tones. Uruba’s marriage is a metaphor for reconciliation, the screenwriter says. “It is an invitation to reconciliation, to putting an end to these exceptional circumstances,” Hakki said. The film “does not hold back, it is bold,” he said.

But it “is in the interests of the country, because it reflects a certain opening, a margin of freedom.” Only Karim’s youngest son, Kifah, is true to his father’s ideals, and symbolises a new generation that is idealistic, bold and ready to speak out.

Continued on Page 14

MoI responds to MP’s allegations KUWAIT: In response to MP Mubarak Al-Waalan’s comments about transfers and promotions of some directors at the Ministry of Interior through mediations by MPs, Undersecretary Ahmad AlRujaib said in a statement that he has not given any press release to any journalist or daily newspaper on this subject and challenged Waalan to furnish proof. Responding to Waalan’s comments that the ministry is going through confusion, Al-Rujaib said “we emphasize that the achievements of the ministry through its faithful men need no proof”.

“Statistics on fighting crime and traffic control speak for themselves. Letters of thanks from the political lead-

ership, specially His Highness the Amir, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister and the media is proof about the efforts made by the ministry and its men in keeping order,” the statement said.

“On what the MP said about the undersecretary that he knows nothing about transfers in the ministry - we emphasize that the undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior is proud of the trust given to him by the Minister of Interior and that all ministry officials are working in full harmony. Finally every MP has the right to criticize the Ministry of Interior but he has to prove what he says and not build his criticisms on things published in the press,” Al-Rujaib added.

Handshake settles Israeli-Saudi spat MUNICH: A handshake between an Israeli politician and a Saudi prince settled an unusual public diplomatic spat yesterday about the seating arrangements at an international security conference. To applause from the audience at the Munich Security Conference, a global gathering of defence, security and diplomatic chiefs, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Turki Al-Faisal smiled and shook hands in a display of diplomatic good manners.

“There is a chance,” Ayalon said, apparently referring to

prospects for a more peaceful region. “I am very glad.”

Ayalon had accused Turki, a former Saudi intelligence chief and envoy to Washington and London, of orchestrating a decision to keep him off a panel involving other regional powers meant to discuss the security of the Middle East.

The panel had been due to feature speakers from Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Russia and the United States.

In the event, it was split into two sessions, the first featuring Turki, Egyptian diplomat Hossam Zaki and Turkish Continued on Page 14

Iraq militants abduct American contractor

In this undated image made from video, a man believed to be missing US civilian contractor Issa T Salomi is seen. — AP

BAGHDAD: Shiite militants kidnapped an Iraqi-American contractor after luring him into central Baghdad with promises of visiting distant relatives, an Iraqi defense official said yesterday, after a video apparently showing the man surfaced online.

The US Department of Defense said Friday that Issa T Salomi, 60, went missing Jan 23 in Baghdad and that search and recovery efforts were under way. In the video, the man - who did not identify himself - says his abductors from the League

of the Righteous are demanding the release of militants and the prosecution of Blackwater security contractors accused of killing 17 Iraqis in 2007 in Baghdad.

“The second demand is to bring the proper justice and the proper punishment to those members of Blackwater company that have committed unjustifiable crimes against innocent Iraqi civilians,” the man said. “And to bring justice by proper compensation to the families that have been Continued on Page 14

MANAMA: An unidentified boy waves a Bahraini flag yesterday as he approaches a development project on reclaimed land in Karranah village just outside the capital during a protest of about 100 fishermen and environmentalists and a few members of parliament.

Behind him are office towers on the outskirts of Manama that have been built on reclaimed land. Fishermen complain that filling the sea has devastated their trade, residents are angry their access to the sea is limited or blocked and environmentalists worry about marine life in the warm, shallow Arabian Gulf waters. – AP

NATIONAL

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

Thousands attend festival

Layali Febrayer concert features Bashar, Miami

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The first of the Layali Febrayer (February nights) concert series was held on Thursday night featuring the young Kuwaiti star, Bashar Al-Shati. Al-Shati’s popularity grew after

KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti launches a kite with his child at Messila Beach yesterday.

— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Kites launched in Messilah Beach for ‘Hala February’ KUWAIT: One hundred kites were launched yesterday from Messila Beach as part of the activities of the ‘Hala February 2010’ festival’s activities. The event was the biggest ever such happening to be held in Kuwait.

The event, which was supervised by Madinah Ismail, the head of the festival’s programs and activities committee, began at 1:00 PM and lasted until 6:00 PM, featuring several activities that ensured its success, despite the overcast skies, reported Al-Qabas.

Several citizens and residents participated in the event, which featured previously unseen kites that were launched for the first time.

kuwait digest

Caution needed in privatization plans T

he government exerted immense amounts of time and effort to prepare its development plan as part of its government program, writes Abdulhamid Al-Sarraf in Awan. MPs who saw the plan added few amendments to it, and those that were added were welcomed by the government.

It is clear that the government wants to finish work on this and implement it since it represents a road map to be followed in order to reach the desired fruitful cooperation between the two authorities. To achieve this, the government must complete the final text of the development plan after receiving MPs’ comments and amendments of MPs before receiving their final approval.

This is considered the first step the government must take; if the development plan is successfully passed, it will be an achievement to the government’s credit, first by its ability to present the program it was asked to prepare, thereby silencing those who would accuse it of wiggling out of action over this issue, and secondly by obtaining the National Assembly’s approval.

There is no doubt that the government has a tough mission ahead, with citizens keeping a sharp eye on it, wishing for achievements and improvements in health, education, housing and other services and further progress on achieving the country’s construction and development plans.

This is the very least expected by citizens who have suffered greatly from poor and deteriorating services, who are not prepared to wait another quarter century to attain the desired objectives. Many Kuwaitis do not agree with the principle of privatization, especially since they believe for a wide variety of reasons that the private sector is unqualified to carry out the development projects, citing the private sector’s focus on profitability and the need to control the destiny of publicly

owned facilities, and suggesting that the transfer to private ownership will only benefit a limited number of influential local figures and wealthy entrepreneurs.

Privatization is a means of achieving economic reform that has been adopted by advanced countries, which took a long time to accept this method, only implementing it after it had been thoroughly scrutinized and inspected. In the countries which profited from privatization, it was seen as an way of economically strengthening a free economy and liberating it from the shackles of the state and public sector, while at the same time offering guarantees and laws that preserve the rights of these nations’ people.

Amendments are still being made to the privatized system, even in the developed countries, while some of the developing nations are intent on introducing a privatized system simply to copy the developed countries, although these experienced their own difficulties and advantages due to privatization due to their own objectives. Privatization should not be implemented in our developing nations based on the circumstances and requirements in place in advanced countries since they differ from us and vice versa, with huge differences terms of experience and the political, economic and social systems in place.

Privatization is not achieved simply by transferring ownership from the public to the private sector and adopting a laissez faire attitude; there must be laws and regulations prepared according to each country’s standards of public interest rather than the interest of the private sector. This helps to remove and minimize corruption and, if such laws and regulations are not introduced, how can we trust private companies to run public companies that they are unqualified to manage or unable to run competently and productively?

The government must, therefore, deal

with the negative aspects of its executive system and be cautious in resorting to the private sector to run its establishments, whether directly or indirectly. There are some good examples in Kuwait already, proving the private sector’s failure to execute a significant number of prominent state projects, which were not implemented as required. Some of these projects were left to subcontractors to complete, resulting in massive losses of public funds.

The same rule also applies to the private health sector, which has dealt with citizens based only on greed and profiteering. Then there are the banks, who brought us the loans problem with exorbitant interest rates uncontrolled by the Central Bank.

Although citizens are genuinely worried about privatization, the government is seemingly concerned with allaying their fears through achieving a decent standard of living and financial security for its own members, meaning that citizens are still less than optimistic about the introduction of privatization.

The road ahead is still long since we need legislation that that guarantees the state’s and its citizens’ rights and attention must be paid to many aspects, including the need for the imposition of taxes on private sector firms in order for them to share in building and supporting the country’s economy.

The implementation of privatization programs must be done in stages, and there is a need for an established public authority to monitor the private sector in order to ensure that the introduction of privatization does not lead ultimately to the cancelation of the state’s economic and social functions. The state’s role in maintaining, guaranteeing and strengthening living standards and economic and social security for all citizens must be maintained with the highest degree of transparency and clarity.

The highlight of his performance was when he invited a young boy, who was at the show for the first time, to come on stage and dance with him. Basher sang a variety of his produced music, both new and old. The audience, well versed in his songs, sang along to almost every piece.

He also sang a song by famous Lebanese singer Fairouz to which the audience responded to excitedly.

Following Al-Shati and returning from last year’s concert was Egyptian singer Mohammad Hamaki. He started his performance with one of his newest songs.

Hamaki wore a black formal suit, but moved around comfortably and professionally on the stage. He brought with him an assortment of roses which he gave to the physically disabled in the audience.

After an hour he concluded his set with a song about Egypt and Kuwait.

At 2:35am, Lebanese singer Miryam Faris took to the stage with a long white dress and red ribbon. She started her set with a national Kuwaiti song. She performed a variety of her music, new and old, in a blend of Lebanese, Egyptian, and Kuwaiti dialects. She also sang a few songs in Spanish and French. Miryam has been performing for about 10 years and has released several albums.

The first night of the Layali Febrayer concert concluded with a performance by the Kuwaiti band Miami. This is one of the most popular and successful bands in Kuwait and the region. The band started in 1991 and has many albums to their name.

The impatient audience warmly welcomed Miami at 4 am when the four member band came to the stage. They welcomed their fans and commented that the organizers should have given audience members pajamas because of

his participation on the reality TV show Star Academy. He was the first Kuwaiti participant to be featured on the show and since then has produced three musical albums. Al-Shati’s concert was well received by his fans, who applauded him enthusiastically and presented him with bouquets of flowers.

Bashar Al-Shati

The Miami band the late hour.

The concert was held at the ice skating rink in Kuwait City and was attended by an estimated 3,000 people. As usual, dancing was not

allowed and the audience remained seated during the concert.

The ticket prices were between KD 5 - KD 70. The concert was broadcasted live

on both Al-Watan TV, who organized the concert, and KTV. Radio station Kuwait, FM 103.7, broadcast the event live and the concert concluded at 5:00 am.

MoI denies transfer, retirement reports KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior (MoI) yesterday dismissed reports that it had recently implemented mandatory staff rotation, transfer or retirement procedures for senior personnel.

“Recent reports by some newspapers on rotation, transfer, promotion or retirement of the (Interior) Ministry’s senior staff are totally divorced from reality,” said a MoI press release.

The interior ministry reaffirmed that any announcement on internal affairs within the ministry would be made only by Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, Undersecretary Ahmad AlRujaib or official MoI spokesperson Mohamed alSaber.

“Any news items quoting other sources or other quarters are baseless,” the statement emphasized. — KUNA

ALEXANDRIA: A delegation of Kuwaiti top high-school students pictured during their visit to Egypt yesterday.

Support for Lebanon projects AMCHIT, Mount Lebanon: Representative of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) in Lebanon Dr Mohammad Sadegi said yesterday the Fund seeks to support and fund projects and activities in all sectors and areas without exception, especially

humanitarian, social and economic ones that have developmental returns for the country.

This came in a statement by Dr. Sadegi during the visit of a delegation of Kuwaiti top highschool students to Amchit within a tour prepared by the Fund.

The delegation visited the

(Sports Club Complex), which is one of the exemplary projects addressed to the sport and fits all segment of children up to the first generation as well as it has an extension of the activity and the development process in Lebanon.

Sadegi said that the Sports Club Complex helps create a healthy society for a fair competition, stressing that it is a basis and a model of education and “this is our goal to help reconstruction in Lebanon and instill hope in young people and children.” He said the cost of this project is about $1.5 with an area of 600,000 square meters which is in its final stages. He expected opening of the complex at the end of next May under the auspices of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. — KUNA

Sunday, February 7, 2010

NATIONAL

3 Kuwaiti thinkers to hold conference

Citizenship issue needs ‘immediate action’

By Hussain Al-Qatari

KUWAIT: The Egyptian ambassador to Kuwait Taher Farahat patronized on Wednesday an art exhibition for artist Hamdi Al-Najjar at the Kuwait Arts Association in Hawally. It was attended by a number of diplomats and a large number of arts fans. — Photo by Joseph Shagra

local spotlight

The myth behind Arab minds

By Muna Al-Fuzai t is no secret that the Arabs have failed to make this region a better place for themselves and others. Some have run off to the West while others remain and struggle to make the region a better place. If we have the minds, the brains and are well enough to make things better, why have the Arabs failed so drastically? Why are we heavy consumers as opposed to active producers?

That is exactly what has been hunting my thoughts for some time now.

We are addicted to politics. We believe that every writer, teacher and normal worker in this part of the world thinks or assumes that they know all the secrets behind every act of every politi-

I

cian and decision maker in the world.

Most of these negative thoughts and judgments are based on rumors, false information, assumptions and speculation.

Everyone here thinks they are an analyst and expert in the fields of war, peace, education and even medicine!

Amazing how most of us think we know something but fail to bring change to our life. Why is that? Simple; we have learned since childhood how to push our noses into every matter and make a story, even if it is false and illusionary.

We learned at a young age to judge people’s lives, even if we do not have all the information.

For example, people in Iraq still fear former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein even though they saw him executed. In their mind his death was faked and they believe that one day he may come back.

Why are such thoughts and ways of thinking spreading in the Arab world?

Their brains were programmed to identify and deal with one man, no matter what. Such thinking is a major obstacle to freeing the minds of this part of the world.

Education and assessment is an effective way to examine the abilities and skills of youth. However, a lack of appreciation for basic school subjects like music and art leave many students without the attention of their teachers. Have you ever heard of a public school who hosted a famous local or regional musician or artist?

We focus on many issues except for the ones most important to youth, such as education and freedom. We occupy ourselves with issues we are not even familiar with. This is why our youth drop out of school, end up in jails, escape to the west, or try to kill themselves in a society full of money. muna@kuwaittimes.net

KUWAIT: Kuwait University faculty member and social studies professor Dr Ali Al-Za’abi said yesterday that the issue of citizenship in Kuwait needs immediate action. Speaking at a

press conference held in the Movenpick Hotel to announce the forthcoming First Citizenship Conference in Kuwait, AlZa’abi stressed that citizenship is not only about holding a certain passport: “It is about taking action, embracing the ideology of working for the wellbeing of a country.”

The conference, entitled Citizenship in Kuwait Between the Present and the Future,’ which will be held on Feb 20-21, is the result of the hard work of a number of leading Kuwait University professors, academics and thinkers and is not being backed by any MPs or political figures, he explained. “We believe that citizenship in Kuwait faces numerous challenges nowadays, and despite the vital role of citizenship in the progress of nations, it is not an issue that is given any attention,” said Al-Za’abi, the head of the conference’s organizing committee.

Through the conference, the organizers aim to illustrate the importance of citizenship and clear up some of the local misconceptions. Recently, there have been a number of problems, including tension between Shiites and Sunnis and tribals and hadar, as well as the issue of bedoon.

Al-Za’abi stressed that all residents of Kuwait who care for the country are true citizens. “A simple thing like throwing garbage in the trash bin rather than on the street is an act of citizenship,” he asserted. Speaking to help dispel the confusion which he said has prevented people from understanding the true meaning of citizenship and nationalism, KU phi-

ures are the ones who unite nations and encourage citizenship in individuals.

“A good example is what is taking place in Iraq and the vigorous work of Shiite cleric Al-Sistani in letting Iraqi citizens unite under the name of their country,” he said. The event will include a number of seminars and lectures and will feature guest speakers from different Arab countries to talk about their experience of citizenship. “We are hoping that the event will encourage people and challenge the way they think of who they belong to more than the other,” Al-Za’abi said. The organ-

KUWAIT: Philosophy professor and head of academic committee of the conference Dr Mohammad Al-Wuhaib (left), head of the organizing committee Dr. Ali Al-Za’abi; and activist and writer Afrah Al-Hendal. losophy professor Mohammad AlWuhaib said: “A lot of people confuse the concept of citizenship which is letting go of the sectarian, tribal, familial, and classist differences to focus on the shared element: sharing one land - with the secular school of thought, which calls for a separation between politics and religion.

If the two concepts [secularism and citizenship] agree on that regard, it does not mean that people will become irreligious, immoral or unethical.”

Professor Al-Za’abi elaborated on Al-Wuhaib’s point, saying that in many situations, religious fig-

izing committee is hoping that non-profit organizations, groups of all kinds and affiliations of expatriates and local citizens will participate in the event and attend the lectures. The first day of the event will feature a number of lectures by Arab speakers, while the second will be dedicated to local issues. “It is important that people from all walks of society attend this event. It is open to the public, locals and expats,” stressed the head of the organizing committee Al-Za’abi. The venue and schedule for the event will be announced soon. The organizers can be reached at www.mwatana.org.

Disabled citizens bring honor to Kuwait KUWAIT: “Disabled citizens have brought honor to this country on the international scene with the achievements that they have accomplished, which requires that they be appreciated and supported in return.”

So said Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad AlSabah, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and State Minister for

Development and Housing Affairs, during the inauguration ceremony of the Kuwaiti Disabled Club’s first spring camp. The minister indicated that enforcing the disability rights legislation is the best way of supporting this segment of society, saying that the new law will help to support the disabled socially and in terms of sports and leisure activities.

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad asserted that the new legislation will ensure disabled citizens’ rights, and help them in becoming vital components of society, reported AlWatan.

The minister congratulated disabled citizens on the enforcement of the new legislation, acknowledging the cabinet’s and parliament’s roles in achieving this goal.

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NATIONAL

MPs plan to submit a number of amendments

in the news MoE to award six CCTV tenders KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education (MoE) is currently studying the 35 tenders submitted to install closed circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in local schools, with six of the companies to be awarded tenders, one for each of Kuwait’s education zones. MoE Undersecretary Tamadher Al-Sdairawi announced the ministry’s plans on Thursday, revealing that after making its choices, the MoE will submit notification to the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) to complete the contractual procedures, reported Awan. AlSdairawi said that she expects the project, which will see CCTV cameras in all schools, to be completed during the 2010-2011 school year, with one school official estimating the tender’s total value at KD 6 million.

Rapists arrested KUWAIT: Police have arrested two men accused of abducting and raping a Filipina woman an hour after the attack. The men allegedly seized the woman in a park in Jahra and forced her into a car, taking her to a campsite in a remote location before sexually assaulting her and leaving her at the scene. Police were able to capture the two men after immediately launching an intensive investigation on receiving the report of the incident, reported AlWatan. The men were reportedly discovered and arrested in a roadside rest area near the location where they raped the woman.

Passport forger caught KUWAIT: Kuwait International Airport (KIA) customs officers arrested an Asian man who

Sunday, February 7, 2010

attempted to enter the country illegally using a forged passport. The forgery was discovered while officers were inspecting newly arrived passengers’ passports, reported Al-Watan. The man was taken into custody and has been referred to the relevant authorities, while an investigation is underway into the case.

Janitor mugged, robbed KUWAIT: A janitor at a Hawally apartment block was assaulted and robbed the day after collecting the rent from the building’s tenants, with his three Syrian attackers physically assaulting him before fleeing with KD 1,000 in cash. Police rushed to the scene on receiving a call from the man, finding him in shock, with his room in disarray after the robbers trashed it while searching for more money, reported AlWatan. An investigation is underway into the assault and robbery, with crime scene officers removing evidence from the scene to help catch the culprits.

Exit ramp proposal KUWAIT: A proposal has been put forward by a municipal council member to address the congestion problems on the Fifth Ring Road by building two exit ramps to ease the flow of cars between the blocks located just before the AlHaifi Ceremonial Hall. Councilor Faraz AlMutairi proposed that one exit ramp should be created between Andalus and the block just before the Al-Haifi Hall, while another should be constructed between Andalus and the area just after the crossroads between Ardiya and Ferdous, reported Al-Qabas.

Egyptian attacks family in Maidan Hawally KUWAIT: An Egyptian man in his 20’s, who suffers from a mental disorder, attacked his mother and three brothers at their home in Maidan Hawally with a kitchen knife. He then attempted to kill himself, reported Al-Watan.

The incident took place a few days after the man returned to Kuwait from his home country.

The family members informed authorities about his mental illness and that he had threatened to cause them harm for days.

Police and paramedics responded to the emergency and took the injured to a nearby hospital for treatment. The attacker was taken to the psychiatric hospital to assess his mental state.

Police are investigating the matter further.

Insolvency law probable, debt write-off unlikely KUWAIT: A senior government official has confirmed that the chances of the debts write-off law being passed are increasingly small, with the insolvency fund looking likely to be the approved method for citizens to deal with the debt crisis.

Government efforts are continuing to convince skeptical MPs that the insolvenThe MPs’ amendments reportedly include a proposal to increase the insolvency fund’s capital and expand the eligibility criteria.

Meanwhile, controversy over the issue of Kuwaitis with dual citizenship has been revived after a couple of recent cases, one involving a bedoon (stateless) resident of the country. The bedoon man’s status was

discovered when Saudi customs officers at the Khafji southern border crossing into Saudi Arabia discovered that the man also had Saudi ‘refugee ID,’ which is normally given to stateless residents of that country, reported Al-Watan.

The customs officials immediately referred the man back to their Kuwaiti colleagues, whose investigation revealed that

cy fund is the best solution to the problem, reported Awan. A parliamentary source, meanwhile, said that several MPs are planning to submit a number of proposed amendments to the insolvency fund, especially after it became clear that the government would reject the debts write-off legislation. he was wanted on security-related charges in Kuwait and also has bedoon siblings who all carry Article 7 passports but live outside Kuwait.

Meanwhile, in another case a Kuwaiti man who arrived at the Nuwaiseeb border crossing was discovered to be carrying both Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti citizenship documents, despite previously renouncing his

Saudi citizenship for Kuwaiti citizenship.

He told customs officials that he had taken Kuwaiti citizenship due to his “love and appreciation of and patriotism towards Kuwait,” saying that he had made the decision without any pressure being put on him and with full awareness of the implications of such a move. Investigations are underway in both cases.

Miele holds seminar on cleaning, disinfection KUWAIT: A seminar on International Standards in Cleaning and Disinfection, organized by Miele Professional, the global leader in critical cleaning applications and their local representative NeoTech Medical Equipment, in association with the Ministry of Health’s Infection Control Directorate, took place at the Marina Hotel on Feb 4. Conducted by Dr Winfried Michels, the Head of Applications Technology at Miele Professional, the seminar on international standards in cleaning and disinfection was attended by a large gathering of medical professionals headed by Dr Haifa AlMousa, the Director of Kuwait’s Infection Control Directorate. The seminar began with an introduction by Dr Mahmoud Diab, Group Director of NeoTech and was followed by a briefing on Miele Professional and its activities

by Babak Rashnavadi, Head of Sales at Miele Professional for the GCC region.

Dr Michels, a leading authority on machine-based cleaning and disinfection methods is responsible for developing solutions to various problems in the field of applications technology at Miele Professional. With over 40 patents that have been implemented based on his inventions, the doctor is on board several international Chemical and Hygienic societies and working groups including the European Standardization Group in the field of cleaning and disinfection. Dr Michels began the seminar by underlining the importance of cleaning and disinfection to the overall safety of health care systems, the international concerns it raises and its relevance worldwide.

Before going on to detailed explanations and elaborations on machine-based chemical and thermal disinfection, Dr Michels spoke about the general objectives and critical nature of instrument reprocessing. With an interactive and highly-structured discourse, Dr

KUWAIT: Miele seminar on International Standards in Cleaning and Disinfection in progress.

Michels took the audience through the design of processes in washer / disinfectors for optimal cleaning, instrument compatibility and effective disinfection according to EN ISO 15883 standards.

Dr Michels continued on the topic of quality assurance by process validation where he took the audience through the practical aspects of operational qualification, performance qualification and routine checks as well as various processes and their validation. The indispensability of validated reprocessing processes to guarantee continually constant quality was emphasized throughout the seminar.

Speaking on the sidelines of the seminar, Dr Haifa Al Mousa, underlined the importance of continual education and training for improving performance of staff. “In Kuwait, we have some of the best equipments and facilities in the world, our staff are highly trained and our Central Sterile Supply Department is among the best in the GCC and the whole MiddleEast. What we need here, is to keep up to date

with information and knowledge in this specialized field. We need to be aware of the latest technologies and researches taking place in other parts of the world and see how they can be implemented here.”

Dr Haifa reiterated that while hospitals and clinics in Kuwait adhere to European standards and recommendations in instrument reprocessing and other sterilization procedures, it was important to have continued coordination with experts and specialists from around the world. “Education, training and gaining experience is an ongoing process and a seminar like this is a very good opportunity for medical professionals in Kuwait to listen and interact with an outstanding expert in the field of cleaning and disinfection,” Dr Haifa added that the Infection Control Directorate was committed to continued development of its human resources through similar seminars, trainings and exchange programs.

The seminar provided medical professionals in Kuwait with comprehensive inputs from the latest researches in this specialized field of

medical care. The audience were of the opinion that the seminar was a resounding success and that the specialist knowledge imparted was extremely valuable. Many of them looked forward to implementing recommendations made at the seminar to further improve their performance and capability.

Miele Professional is an offshoot of Miele, the family-owned German company that began operations more than a century ago with the development of the first European dishwasher. With the credo of ‘Forever Better,’ Miele Professional, dedicated to continuing Miele’s pioneering spirit, has been in the forefront of technological innovation in various commercial applications including laundry processing, dishwashing and cleaning and disinfection. Miele Professional, renowned for its technical, functional and design excellence, has for decades set the benchmark in the development of systems for cleaning and disinfection in hospitals, clinics, dental practices and laboratories. Miele is represented in Kuwait

by Neotech, the medical business line of conglomerate Al-Khaled Group, better known locally as ROC (Refrigeration and Oxygen Company). Starting with gas operated medical equipment like anesthesia machines, ventilators and resuscitators, Neotech grew to become the exclusive supplier of medical equipment from leading international companies to the country’s healthcare sector.

Neotech continued its early successes in the country by opening subsidiaries in Italy, UAE and India for manufacturing and servicing specialized surgical tools and opening a unique research center in Jordan for accreditation and testing the bio-equivalency of new drugs to ensure their efficiency and safety.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

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Drugs found in parked car

Two Kuwaitis cheated with business partnership offer KUWAIT: A female citizen informed Jahra police that KD 15,000 was stolen from her by a citizen who fooled her into giving him the money. He claimed to be starting a business partnership but disappeared with the money. A case was opened and authorities are searching for the suspect. Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti citizen in his fifties was tricked by a Syrian national into giving him Drug possession Ahmadi police arrested a citizen and a Saudi in possession of 48 illegal pills and an amount of hashish. They found the illegal drugs in their parked car in front of a local school in Mahboulah. They were taken to the proper authorities.

Five injured A fight between 12 youngsters at a camp site in Jalaiah left five citizens injured by sharp objects used in the brawl. Police and paramedics responded to the emergency, broke up the fight and brought the injured to a nearby hospital.

Police arrested the other brawlers.

Investigations revealed that the fight occurred when one group accused the other of stealing an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).

KD 20,000 to enter a joint business project before disappearing with the money. When police were informed about the situation they summoned the alleged scammer’s son who confessed his father’s wrongdoing. He later informed officials that his father used the money to purchase a new car, a BMW, before leaving to his home country for good.

Dead infant The decomposing body of an infant was found in a Salmiya apartment when security guards broke into the apartment after receiving complaints of a foul odor. Criminal investigators stated that the infant was one month old and had died 5 days earlier. The body was taken to the coroner to determine the cause of death. Police are searching for the parents.

Suicide attempt An Asian maid attempted to kill herself by slitting her wrists at her sponsor’s home in Haddiya. She was saved by her employer who made an emergency call as soon as she discovered the maid’s condition. Paramedics responded to the emergency and rushed the maid to Adan Hospital. After being questioned the

woman explained that she tried to commit suicide following a phone call from her home country.

Road accidents A citizen in his 20’s was killed in a car accident on Mutla road. The other driver sustained serious injuries and was taken to Jahra Hospital. A case was opened to

investigate the accident further.

Meanwhile, a young man was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after a car accident on Cairo Road. The accident occurred when an Asian driver crashed into the young man’s car from behind.

On a separate note, a 25-year-old citizen was hurt when he fell off his motorcycle opposite the southern Jahra area.

He was taken to the Jahra Hospital in an ambulance.

Illegal calls Farwaniya police shut down an illegal international phone call center run by 12 Bangladeshi men inside eight apartments in Khaitan, Farwaniya and Jeleeb Al-Shuyoukh. They were all sent to the proper authorities.

KSC shows bright image of Kuwait at all levels

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Municipality recently announced the release of its monthly report for December 2009. In the report, it indicated that 1,013 stores were inspected during this period, resulting in 158 citation being issued and nine unlicensed stores being closed down. The report also stated that a large quantity of meat found to be unfit for human consumption was removed from the Ahmadi central abattoir and destroyed, and that a number of citations related to hygiene, traffic and licensing violations were issued.

Residents of Ahmadi worried over gas leak KUWAIT: Residents of Ahmadi have expressed grave concern over the possible danger of gas leaks in their home following an explosion in one local resident’s home in which his young daughter was injured.

Citizens and expatriates living in the area also pointed out that this was not the first such incident, recalling an explosion nearly a year ago at a local husseiniya (Shiite mosque), which was also caused by faulty pipes used by the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) to supply cooking gas to the facility.

With over 1,000 homes in the area, residents have voiced alarm at the possibility of similar incidents taking place.

The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), KOC’s parent company, has admitted that the recent explosion was caused by a problem in the gas pipes’ maintenance, although its admission that it had still not traced the source of the leak was less than reassuring for local residents. To date, the only measure taken by the company to deal with the issue has been to cut off the piped gas supply, with residents being issued with gas cylinders for cooking temporarily until the problem is resolved.

The smell of gas is still perceptible in the area, with residents indicating that they had lodged official complaints about the dangers in the past, but no action was taken, reported AlQabas. KPC is understood to be forming a committee in cooperation with the Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) to investigate the issue in order to repair the leak as quickly as possible and devise strategies to avoid any such incidents taking place in the future.

KUWAIT: Board Chairman of Kuwait Science Club (KSC) Ayad Al-Kharafi said his club was keen on showing a bright image of Kuwait through active participation in the regional and international events.

“The KSC has recently joined the Arab Union for Diving and Rescue (AUDR) and International Life Saving Federation (ILS),” said AlKharafi, who was elected deputy chairman of AUDR in late January.

He made the remarks in the graduation ceremony of a training course on diving and swimming equipment which aimed to prepare the Kuwaiti divers for the upcoming summer season of diving competitions.

“The KSC is keen on receiving Kuwaiti amateur divers and trainees with a view to polishing up their skills and train them on the various diving techniques,” Al-Kharafi pointed out.

The club follows a wellcalculated training program featuring a wide range of courses in various fields including diving, astrology,

aeronautics, marine ecology, photography and scouting, he added.

Al-Kharafi urged the Kuwaiti youths to make the summer training courses their most popular leisure activity.

“The club realizes its great responsibility particularly after His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah spoke highly of its activities,” he affirmed.

Meanwhile, chief of the Kuwaiti Diving Team Captain Talal Al-Sarhan said the just-ended training course attracted 232 trainees who passed different levels of the course.

“This is a big achievement made by the team in promoting the awareness about the diving sport,” AlSarhan stressed. The two Kuwaiti divers Meshari AlKhabbaz and Ali Al-Najadeh have got the Master Scuba Diver certificate of Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) one of the world’s leading scuba diving training organizations, he added. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Autism Center recently welcomed a team of Sudanese specialists, who were given a guided tour of the center, as well as meeting with several members of its management board during their visit to the facility. The experts’ visit comes as part of a cooperation strategy in this field devised previously in collaboration with the Arab Development Fund.

The strategy also includes the implementation of training programs prepared by the center in similar facilities for the autistic in Sudan.

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

Kuwaiti presents ideas to UNESCO

Study focuses on world sufferings

Kuwaiti relief supplies arrive in Haiti SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: The second batch of Kuwaiti relief supplies for the quakestricken people of Haiti arrived here yesterday.

Jassem Qambar, Kuwait Red Crescent Society’s (KRCS) volunteer said that the second batch of relief supplies consisted of 30 tons of tents arrived here yesterday and would be dispatched for the people of Haiti

aboard trucks.

Qambar expressed thanks and gratitude for the excellent cooperation shown by the Red Cross of the Dominican Republic, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies with the KRCS for making this mission a success.

He added that the second batch of aid came in an initiative by His

Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and by the directives of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

He stressed that the KRCS President Barjas Hmoud Al-Barjas was keen on having this aid delivered as soon as possible as he is following keenly the developments in Haiti in terms of distribution of

relief supplies.

He praised efforts exerted by all volunteers in this humanitarian mission. He also asserted solidarity of all people of Kuwait with victims of this tragic incident.

An estimated 212,000 people were killed by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, making it the worst recorded natural disaster in the Americas. —KUNA

PARIS: A Kuwaiti academic presented here yesterday a study to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) about the challenges facing it in the new millennium. Dr Muhammed Al-Shatti, deputy permanent delegate of the State of Kuwait to the UNESCO, said in a statement that he presented this study to the head of the 35th session of the UNESCO’s General Conference Ambassador Davidson Hepburn. Al-Shatti said that this study included challenges and problems to be faced by this UN agency and the solutions that can be applied to overcome such challenges or reduce their negative effects.

Al-Shatti also stressed the necessity of subdividHe went on to say that a review was made to the crises and challenges that will face the UNESCO in ing the UNESCO’s programs according to the chalthe third millennium whether those inherited from lenges faced by every geographical region separatethe past century or the new ones that emerged as ly, namely the formulation of such programs in view of the priorities and needs of each geographical crises in the current decade.

Al-Shatti made clear that, “The enormous chal- region.

He also said that this UN agency should look lenges facing the UNESCO and the humanity as a whole with the first decade of this millennium for new mechanisms of implementation that are passed can be subdivided into some challenges marked by flexibility, efficacy and swift response in inherited from the past century which the UNESCO order to deal with the accelerated pace of challenges couldn’t tackle, most outstanding of them is the illit- and their aggravation along with making the private eracy, and some others new in the form of a spate of sector a main partner in carrying out the agency’s man-made crises that appeared in the current programs.

The agency’s member states should play a sigdecade starting from the energy crisis and the food nificant and important role in order to enable the crisis till the financial crisis.”

He also pointed out that the study shed light on UNESCO to shoulder its tasks under the current the suffering of the world along with its peoples swift changes, he said, pointing out that states are from these crises and challenges as the main peril responsible before individuals of what should be lies in the mounting disparities among the world done.

He also noted that, “We are living under a rapidcountries on one side and the widening social gap in a single country on the other side, namely what is changing world system that appears locked before the backward and open before those who adopt better known as the social disintegration.

Poverty and its turning into constant impover- proper causes and realize the enormous challenges ishment, especially with women and children who necessitated by the scientific and technological revrepresent the great majority of the world poor pop- olution and the continuing knowledge explosion.”

On this respect, Al-Shatti said that the era of ulation, is a hurdle before the development of various communities, he said. This also coincides with swift changes requires from all of us the respect of another traumatic reality of the existence of 770 the social capital with all its elements that include million illiterates in three continents, namely Asia, the establishment of freedoms, the respect of the Africa and South America, and more than 80 million rights of individual and the freedom of expression.

It also includes the widespread of security, juschildren without basic education, he added.

Al-Shatti said that there are some emerging tice and peace and the consolidation of citizenship threats besetting peace, security and human rights, and the commitment to rights and duties in what including new patterns of violence and disputes and helps create a favorable atmosphere of creativity the escalation of fanaticism with all its kinds that releases the capabilities and develops the latent whether ethnic, religious or political in what can be faculties of innovation, Al-Shatti added.

Finally, he concluded by saying that this era of described as the globalization of terror.

He added that there are other kind of threats transformations requires the organization of the like the lack of water resources, the widespread of civilian societies and activating them in what helps the environmental pollution, the climate change, the achieve a social boom that enables them to achieve widening digital divide, the lack and sometimes the technological progress in a realistic way that absence of freedoms and reforms in many world strikes a balance between what is possible and what it must be. countries.

This is to be associated with the establishment of On finding solutions to such challenges, AlShatti said that the biggest challenge facing the the scientific communities and working toward UNESCO is to adapt its programs to the swift upgrading and empowering them to score more scichanges of the times alongside making a change in entific and technological progress along with spreadthe content and form of its cooperation with the ing the cultural awareness among the individuals of such communities, he concluded. —KUNA member states.

KUWAIT: To express its social responsibility towards the community, the National Bank of Kuwait recently organized a two-day blood donation campaign for its staff.

The mobile blood unit of the Blood Bank was available at NBK’s Head Office to receive the donations. The Blood Bank team commended NBK’s initiative and its continuous cooperation in serving the community in the philanthropist field.

Kuwait takes part in Delhi fair KUWAIT: Kuwaiti participation in the 19th New Delhi international book fair comes in the context of India being a promising market for both of publishers and writers at the world level, head of the Kuwaiti delegation taking part in the fair Muhammed Hassan Al-Badah said here yesterday.

Al-Badah added that this has a particular significance as India is the biggest third publisher of the English books in the world after both of the US and Britain, besides its issue of publications in more than 35 languages.

He went on to say that Kuwait participates in this book fair, the second largest of its kind in the world, out of its keenness on communicating and interacting with other cultures and civilizations, pointing out that this fair provides us with a precious opportunity to further know the others and introduce ourselves to them as well.

Al-Badah said that the historic ties binding Kuwait and India and the distinctive bilateral relations between them necessitate from us preserving such ties and relations as they are, so we are always

keen to take part in all functions and activities held by the republic of India.

In this context, Al-Badah expressed his appreciation for the Indian side’s keenness on the participation of the State of Kuwait in such fair that is attended by 1200 international bodies, saying that this stems out of Kuwait’s good reputation and rich heritage in the cultural, literary and artistic fields at the Arab and Islamic levels.

He concluded by saying that this prestigious Kuwaiti position is a source of credit and pride for all of us. —KUNA

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

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Iran’s police vow no tolerance towards protesters TEHRAN: Iranian police will show no more tolerance towards anti-government protesters, the force’s chief was quoted as saying yesterday, in a warning to the opposition before possible new demonstrations next week. Iran has been rocked by street unrest since its disputed presidential election last June. Internet messages have circulated about new protests on Feb 11, when Iran marks the 31st anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolu-

tion. Supporters of the pro-reform opposition have used such official occasions to stage new rallies in recent months, despite many arrests in a continuing crackdown by authorities. Opposition leaders Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi have called on supporters to attend next week’s rally. An opposition website, Jaras, yesterday said a youth group backing Mousavi also urged people to take part.

Government officials have rejected opposition charges that the June vote was rigged to secure the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. They portrayed the election protests as a Western-backed bid to undermine the Islamic establishment. “Now that the different dimensions of the sedition are clear, we won’t show any more tolerance,” police chief Esmail AhmadiMoghaddam said, the ILNA news agency

reported.

“Police will act firmly to defend the society’s security and those who break the law will be dealt with severely,” he said. He said hundreds of people were arrested in connection with protests that erupted on Ashura-a ritual Shi’ite day of mourning that fell on Dec. 27 — with the help of tip-offs from the public after police published photographs of them. He said more such photographs of demonstrators

would be issued soon.

Eight people were killed in clashes between security forces and opposition supporters on that day, in the most serious violence since the aftermath of the June 12 disputed election. Moghaddam also reiterated a warning against the use of emails and phone text messages to spread the word of new protests, making clear police were monitoring such means of communication.

“The new technologies allow us to identify conspirators and those who are violating the law, without having to control all people individually,” he said. Last year’s disputed election plunged Iran into its deepest domestic crisis since the Islamic revolution and exposed widening establishment divisions. Thousands of people were detained, including senior reformist figures, and dozens of people were killed in the unrest.—Reuters

Hamas backtracks on missile apology Statement in response to UN report GAZA CITY: The Hamas government in Gaza tried to distance itself yesterday from a statement it made earlier this week in which it expressed regret for harming Israeli civilians in rocket attacks. The apology had signaled a rare deviation from Hamas’ violent ideology, and the subsequent zigzag reflects the

CAIRO: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) speaks with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmud Abbas during a meeting at the presidential palace in Cairo yesterday. —AFP

Abbas awaits clarification over peace talks offer CAIRO: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday he had asked the United States to clarify its offer to mediate indirect peace talks with Israel before he would announce any decision to resume the negotiations.

“Yesterday I met with an American delegation and we held an Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian trilateral meeting,” Abbas said after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.

“We asked the Americans some questions and they will come back to us ... then we will announce our position,” he said. An Israeli cabinet minister, echoing comments made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said this week that Israel and the Palestinians would begin “proximity talks”, with a US mediator shuttling between negotiating teams, to restart negotiations that broke down at the start of a war in Gaza in December 2008.

Palestinian officials did not confirm those remarks, but pointed out that US Middle East envoy George Mitchell had made more than a dozen visits to the region to try to revive the long-stalled peace talks. Abbas has said he will only return to negotiations if Israel completely stops settlement-building in the occupied West Bank. He has rejected a limited, 10-month construction freeze ordered by Israel in November

as insufficient.

Israel has said it will continue to build homes for Jews in and around East Jerusalem, territory it captured in a 1967 war and annexed as part of its capital in a move not recognized internationally. Palestinians want the city as the capital of a future state. Also hindering progress in peace talks is a divide in the Palestinian territories, with Abbas’s mandate limited to the West Bank since his Fatah faction was ousted from the Gaza Strip by Hamas Islamists in a 2007 civil war.

Abbas said in Cairo there was no connection between resuming talks with Israel and reconciling the internal Palestinian divide.

“Everything is moving on and we do not prefer one issue over another,” he said. Egypt, a US ally which in 1979 became the first Arab state to sign a peace deal with Israel, has acted as a mediator in the Arab-Israeli conflict and has been trying to broker a unity deal between the rival Palestinian factions.

The groups last met in July in Cairo, and Egypt has since increased pressure on Hamas by building an underground barrier along its border with Gaza to block tunnels that bring Palestinians weapons and commercial goods denied them by an Israeli-led blockade.—Reuters

Lebanese fear stall in tribunal on Hariri slaying BEIRUT : The head of the international tribunal on the assassination of Lebanon’s former prime minister sought to reassure Lebanese this week that the investigation is on track, but there are growing concerns here that work is languishing in the case.

For supporters of the slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the court is their key to hopes for uncovering who was behind the February 2005 suicide truck bombing that killed him. Many Lebanese accuse neighboring Syria. Syria denies any involvement, but the killing led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops and the end of Damascus’ 29-year domination of the country. That opened the door to a still unresolved struggle for power between Syrianbacked Lebanese led by Hezbollah and proWestern factions. Hariri’s supporters and their allies are preparing for a mass rally in downtown Beirut on Feb. 14 to mark the fifth anniversary of Hariri’s assassination. In the past years hundreds of thousands of people took part in the rally.

The Netherlands-based Special Tribunal for Lebanon was formed one year ago after years of investigations. But progress in starting trials has been slow , and it is still unknown who might be charged in the case. Two high-level departures from the court in recent weeks have increased the worries of Hariri’s backers. In January, the court announced that its chief administrator, David Tolbert, was stepping down to lead a New York human rights group and that its chief of investigation was leaving at the end of his contract in February to resume his duties as a police chief in Australia.

Tolbert’s predecessor resigned four months after the tribunal was inaugurated. The court’s president, Antonio Cassese, began his first visit to Lebanon on Monday and for the past week has been briefing top officials on the case. “The tribunal is alive and very healthy,” Cassese said in an interview with the As-Safir newspaper published Friday.

“We are dealing with an extremely complicated case that has to do with a terrorist crime, one that is a precedent of its kind in the field of international justice.”

He said the two departures were “very normal” and “cannot affect the work of the tribunal because it (the tribunal) is not based on individuals but on teams that are very much capable and professional.” But some in Lebanon are not convinced. “The Lebanon tribunal is not yet dead, but it seems very nearly there, amid embarrassing indifference in Beirut,” Michael Young, an opinion writer for Lebanon’s English-language newspaper the Daily Star, wrote on Jan. 14.

“Those committed to the rights of the victims must denounce more forcefully the charade now taking place in a suburb of The Hague.

The supreme insult is to be told that justice will come when everything points to the contrary,” he said.

Sari Hanafi, a professor who teaches transitional justice at the American University of Beirut, said some within Hariri’s circle have expressed concern that the improving ties between Syria and its Western and Arab rivals could lead to an easing off of the court’s work to prevent indictments that could inflame old tensions. “There are concerns that the court could be an object for trade off,” Hanafi said.

In December, Saad Hariri, the slain Hariri’s son who accused Syria in the assassination and has since become prime minister, visited Damascus for the first time since the 2005 killing. Relations between the Hariri-led Western-backed coalition and Syrian-supported groups in Lebanon have been improving after years of tension that almost drove the country into a civil war.

The court denies any politicization of the tribunal. The court prosecutor’s spokeswoman, Radhia Achouri, said the tribunal acts “in total independence from politics and any other considerations.”— AP

The apology for the rockets was part of the Hamas government’s response to a UN report that alleged both Hamas and Israel committed war crimes during Israel’s three-week Gaza offensive last winter. The UN investigators, headed by jurist Richard Goldstone, accused Hamas of firing rockets indiscriminately at Israeli civilians.

The UN report also said Israel used disproportionate force and deliberately targeted civilians.

Some 1,400 Gazans were killed, among them hundreds of civilians, as well as 13 Israelis.

During the war, Gaza militants fired some 800 rockets and mortar shells into Israel, killing three Israeli civilians and wounding about 80. The attacks forced hundreds of thousands of Israelis to seek protection in bomb shelters. Hamas wrote to the UN that its primitive rockets were not intended to hit civilians, but often strayed from their course.

Hamas said the rockets were meant to defend Gazans against Israeli military strikes, but also maintained that the Palestinians have a right to resist Israeli occupation. “We apologize for any harm that might have come to Israeli civilians,” the Hamas government wrote. Yesterday, the government claimed the response to the UN was misinterpreted.

“The report that was submitted regarding the Goldstone report does not include any apologies and what took place was an incorrect interpretation of some of its wording,” the government said in a statement. The government did not attempt to explain the contradiction and Hamas officials declined comment. Hamas likely came under domestic pressure after news of the apology became public, said Gaza analyst Naji Sharrab. “They are addressing two different audiences,” Sharrab said of Hamas.

Hamas militants have maintained an informal truce with Israel since the war ended in January 2009, but smaller Palestinian groups continue to sporadically fire salvos. Gaza militants have been firing rockets at Israeli border towns since 2002.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas repeatedly urged Hamas to halt the attacks, saying they are counterproductive and harm Palestinian interests.

Abbas’ Fatah movement, which lost Gaza to Hamas in 2007 and now holds power only in the West Bank, said yesterday the apology was proof Hamas had erred. “With this apology, Hamas acknowledged that these rockets and this kind of resistance does not serve the Palestinian interest,” Fatah said in a statement.

Israel rejected Hamas’ initial apology.

Human rights researchers said most of the rockets fired from Gaza hit civilian areas in Israel, suggesting Hamas deliberately targeted civilians. Hamas and Israel handed over their reports to the UN last week, after the UN General Assembly urged both sides in November to investigate their actions during the Gaza war.

Both Israel and Hamas have rejected the war crimes allegations. On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon refused to pass judgment on the reports, saying “no determination can be made on the implementation of the resolution by the parties concerned.” The UN chief was criticized by human rights groups, including Amnesty International, which said he sidestepped his responsibility by avoiding judgment.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza said neither Israel nor Hamas made a sufficient effort to investigate the allegations. The group said the UN Security Council should now refer the matter to the international criminal court.—AP

Islamic militants’ conflicting objectives. Hamas, which seized Gaza by force in 2007, is trying to reach out to the West in hopes of winning recognition and getting Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza. However, Hamas is also reluctant to discard its violent ideology for fear of losing credibility at home.

NAJAF: Iraqi mourners carry the coffins of victims who were killed in a bomb attack in Karbala, during a mass funeral in the central shrine city of Najaf yesterday.—AFP

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

Sixteen dead in Sudan clashes Army accuses govt of arming tribes to destabilize south

JOHANNESBURG: A collection of some of the week’s newspaper headlines photographed in Johannesburg, Friday.—AP

Zuma says regrets child out of wedlock JOHANNESBURG: South African President Jacob Zuma apologized yesterday for fathering an illegitimate child, in the face of national outcry. Critics say Zuma, a Zulu traditionalist who practices polygamy and currently has three wives and 20 children including the baby he fathered with another woman, has set a bad example in a country with one of the world’s highest rates of HIV/AIDS. “I have over the past week taken time to consider and reflect on the issues relating to a relationship I had outside of wedlock,” Zuma said in a statement yesterday, acknowledging it “has been a subject of much public discussion and debate”.

“It has put a lot of pressure on my family and my organization, the African National Congress. I deeply regret the pain

that I have caused to my family, the ANC, the Alliance and South Africans in general,” he said, reaffirming his commitment to “the importance of the family as an institution”.

On Tuesday Zuma, who married for the fifth time last month, taking Tobeka Madiba as his third current wife, confirmed reports he had fathered a child with Sonono Khoza, daughter of Irvin Khoza who heads the local organising committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be hosted

by South Africa in June.

Khoza gave birth to a girl in October last year. The presidency has said previously that Zuma has 19 children. Zuma said on Tuesday he had formally acknowledged paternity and made a traditional payment of inhlawulo (damages) to Khoza’s family.

Yesterday, the Star Newspaper quoted unnamed senior party officials as saying Zuma had plunged his ANC party into crisis by breaking a pledge he made after being elected party leader in 2007 “not to embarrass the ANC with other sexual revelations”.

Multiple marriages are allowed in South Africa and form part of Zulu culture, but have drawn criticism from HIV/AIDS activists. At least 5.7 million South Africans are infected and an estimated 1,000 people die from the disease each day.

Zuma, who has repeatedly defended polygamy, including at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, has said he will not deviate from the HIV/AIDS campaign. —Reuters

KHARTOUM: Sixteen people have been killed in clashes between south Sudan troops and cattle herders from the northern Messeria tribe in the southern state of Unity, officials said yesterday. On Thursday, “the Messeria attacked at 6:00 pm a garrison of the SPLA,” the former southern Sudan People’s Liberation Army, in a village near Bentiu, capital of Unity, southern army spokesman Kuol Deim Kuom told AFP. “On our side there are eight killed, including one civilian and 11 injured ... We have found eight bodies of Messeria on the battlefield ground,” he said. “It was a planned attack.

There are hidden forces that support them,” Kuol said. The southern army regularly accuses the central government in Khartoum of arming tribes or militias in order to destabilize south Sudan ahead of a January 11 referendum on its independence.

A tribal chief from the Messiria confirmed to AFP that clashes had taken place.

“There has been tribal fighting between Nuer and Awlad Omran (branches of the Messeria) in a grazing area close to Bentiu. Nine Nuer and seven Awlad Omran have died; there have been a lot of injured people,” the tribal chief said.

Cattle herders from the nomadic Arab Messeria tribe are based in the north of South Kordofan state, but move around to feed their cattle.

Their traditional route goes right into the contested region of Abyei on the border between north and south Sudan, and even into south Sudan.

After the end of a decades-long civil war between north and south Sudan in 2005, southern officials began a disarmament campaign and asked the Messeria not to cross the Bahr Al-Arab region on southern territory. In 2009, some 2,500 people were killed and 350,000 fled their homes-a higher death toll than in the troubled western region of Darfur.—AFP

Nigerian state holds crucial ‘test-run’ vote AWKA: Nigerians voted yesterday to choose a governor for the politically turbulent state of Anambra in a race expected to test the country’s readiness to hold credible presidential polls next year. Many of the polling stations in the southeastern state opened more than three hours late due to the late delivery of voting material, an AFP reporter and several witnesses saw.

The last national presidential vote which brought President Umaru Yar’Adua-now lying stricken in a hospital for more than two months-was marred by widespread rigging and voter intimidation. Yar’Adua vowed to improve the credibility of elections in Africa’s most populous nation after a court decided he should stay in office regardless of the imperfect vote that brought him to power.

Many observers see the Anambra contest as one that could set the tone for the April 2011 presidential vote. “This election is deemed to be very critical towards the electoral reforms that we have been clamouring for in this country,” said Akuro George, leader of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) team of poll observers in Anambra.

“If we are able to get it right in Anambra then it will be testing ground for what is going to happen in the country ... but if we don’t get it right it will be an indication that we have not changed our mindset,” George told AFP. Ikechukwu Okafor, 40, a kitchen utensils hawker, said he hoped the election would be free of trouble as he stood at a polling station with a handful of other voters, waiting for the arrival of balloting material.

“This election has to be free, fair and transparent so we can be an example to other states. It has to be.

There are even more policemen than voters” he said.

Around 23,000 additional policemen have been

deployed to Anambra, a state familiar with political trouble which normally has a 5,000-strong police force. Police assistant inspector general Isaac Ringim said no major incidents had been reported.

Shops and bars were shut as streets were deserted with movement of cars restricted. Voters were however free to walk to their nearest polling stations to cast ballots. Ikeazor Akaraiwe, the head of a board of independent monitors appointed by Nigeria’s election agency INEC, was unhappy with the delay in opening the polls.

“We think it’s scandalous. We think there has been a sabotage somewhere,” he told AFP at a polling station at Agulu, a village, on the outskirts of Awka. INEC spokesman Emmanuel Umenger said “polling has commenced in earnest in most parts of the state”. Over 1.8 million voters are eligible to cast ballots at 4,623 polling stations, to choose their governor among a total of 25 candidates.

No clear favorite has emerged among the four frontrunners, including the incumbent Peter Obi, who represents the All Progressives Grand Alliance party and former central bank governor Chukwuma Soludo, candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Governors of the 36 Nigerian states are powerful as they have a key role in the selection of presidential candidates at party conventions.

The PDP controls all but eight of the 36 states.

Anambra is one of the few in the hands of the opposition. The ruling party is however going into this election divided after the party executive imposed Soludo as its candidate. Presidential elections next year should ensure only a second successive democratic handover between civilian rulers in oil-rich Nigeria since a long period of military rule ended a decade ago. —AFP

KIEV: Ukrainian presidential candidate and head of the Regions party Viktor Yanukovych, left, greets Mikhail Zurabov, ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ukraine in Kiev Friday. —AP

Loser in Ukraine vote might not concede say observers KIEV: The loser in Ukraine’s presidential runoff election is unlikely to concede defeat, observers and election officials said yesterday, prompting fears of a protracted court battle or street protests. Pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych polled 10 percent ahead of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in the first round of voting on Jan 17. Most analysts agree, however, that the final round of the election will be closer and say both sides will resort to legal maneuvering and demonstrations if defeat begins to look inevitable.

“If Yanukovych begins to feel he is losing, then he will initiate a conflict to derail the elections. Likewise, if Tymoshenko will start losing, then she will be ready to spark a conflict,” said Vladimir Fesenko, director of Penta Center for Applied Political Research.

The first deputy head of Ukraine’s Central Election Commission, Andrei Magera, predicted that the losing candidate will file a complaint to the courts in an effort to undermine the results.

“I am 99 percent certain that such a complaint will be filed, and the final decision will be

made in the courts,” Magera said during a commission session. Political loyalties permeate Ukraine’s judicial system, and analysts warn that both candidates could exert pressure on friendly judges after the vote.

Joao Soares, head of the observation mission from the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly, told Associated Press Television News yesterday that the greatest difficulty in the election will be getting both candidates to accept the results.

“The major problem is to have all of the candidates (prepared for) accepting defeat, which is absolutely normal in democracy,” he said.

Tymoshenko came to power amid the 2004 proWestern Orange protests, but her political fortunes have foundered as she tried to steer the country through stormy economic straits.

Ukraine’s currency crashed in 2008, the economy sputtered and the International Monetary Fund had to step in with a $16.4 billion bailout.

GDP plunged 15 percent in 2009, according to the World Bank, which predicted only anemic growth this year. Polls open at 8:00 am (0600 GMT, 1 am EST) today for Ukraine’s 37 million registered voters.—AP

France allows warship sale to Russia: Report MOSCOW: A Russian naval official says France will allow the sale of an advanced warship to Russia, the Interfax news agency reported yesterday. The agency quoted naval first deputy chief of staff Vice Adm. Oleg Burtsev as saying French President Nicolas Sarkozy has sanctioned the sale of a Mistral amphibious assault ship. There was no immediate confirmation from Paris. The deal “is unlikely to happen in February or March this year, but work on the matter is continuing,” Burtsev was quoted as saying. Russia has been looking at similar ships made in Spain and the Netherlands.

Possessing a Mistral would significantly increase the military’s capability to mount offensives. France sent a Mistral, which weight 23,700 tons (21,500 metric tons) and is 980 feet (299 meters) long, to visit St. Petersburg last year in a clear sign of interest in a potential sale, which would be the first arms deal between a NATO country and Russia.

However, the prospect has alarmed some exSoviet countries, particularly Georgia and Estonia, and some critics in Russia say the coun-

try should develop such a ship by itself.

Those concerns have raised doubts about whether France would ultimately authorize a Mistral sale, and whether Russia would actually buy one. Some observers have suggested the issue could be resolved in March, when President Dmitry Medvedev visits France. An official with the Elysee presidential palace in Paris said yesterday he could not confirm the Interfax report and that “discussions are still under way” between France and Russia on the matter. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity, in accordance with French presidential policy.

The Mistral can anchor in coastal waters and deploy troops on land, a capacity the Russian navy now lacks. Russia’s navy chief said last year that a ship like the Mistral would have allowed the Russian navy to mount a much more efficient action in the Black Sea during the Georgia-Russia war. He said the French ship would take just 40 minutes to do the job that the Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels did in 26 hours. The Mistral can also carry about 16 helicopters.—AP

Libyan court fines Swiss man to rule on second

EKULOBIA: A woman casts her vote during the governorship election at a polling station at Agulu district in Anambra State yesterday. —AFP

TRIPOLI: A Libyan judge yesterday fined one of two Swiss businessmen whose convictions for breaking immigration rules have already strained diplomatic links between Libya and Switzerland, their lawyer said. The cases of Max Goeldi and Rachid Hamdani have also unsettled some of the foreign investors who flocked to Libya after the oil producer emerged from international isolation.

“The judge convicted Max Goeldi on the charges of violating business rules in Libya and fined him 1,000 dinars ($801.3),” defence lawyer Salah Zahaf added. Both of them have already been convicted on separate charges of violating Libya’s immigration rules and sentenced to 16 months in prison. Amnesty International said their convictions did not meet international standards for fair trial.

The judge in a Tripoli court is due to rule in the case of the second Swiss man Rachid Hamdani on the same charges of violating business rules, Zahaf said. “We are considering whether we would lodge an appeal against Goeldi’s fine. We have yet to decide,” he added.

The trials, on charges of violating business rules, have been deadlocked for weeks because the two men refused to attend. Both have been staying inside the Swiss embassy in Tripoli, where the Libyan authorities have no jurisdiction.

The trial of Goeldi, head of Libyan operations for Swiss-Swedish engineering firm ABB moved forward after he left the embassy to appear in court last week, lawyer Zahaf said.

Hamdani, who works for a construction company, is expected to hear his verdict on Sunday, according to the lawyer. The two men were barred from leaving Libya in July 2008 after Swiss prosecutors briefly arrested Hannibal Gaddafi, a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, on charges of mistreating two domestic employees during a visit to Switzerland.

The charges were later dropped but Libya cut oil supplies to Switzerland and withdrew more than $5 billion in assets from Swiss banks.

Libyan officials deny any connection between the arrest in Switzerland and the case of the two businessmen. — Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Sunday, February 7, 2010

9

Clinton apologizes for slow Haiti aid effort PORT-AU-PRINCE: Former US president Bill Clinton pledged Friday to try to get aid flowing here as he was met by angry Haitians protesting the slow arrival of help since last month’s quake.

Clinton said he was sorry that the aid efforts had been so slow, adding he also wanted to understand why more than three weeks after the January 12 quake supplies were still not getting through to desperate Haitians.

“I’m sorry it’s taken this long,” Clinton said, adding he and other relief workers were working hard to ease the suffering. “I’m trying to get to what the bottlenecks are, part of it is just ship-

ping the volume of food in here that is necessary,” Clinton told reporters as he visited a clinic in the ruined capital of Port-au-Prince. But the former president rejected suggestions he had in effect become governor of this small Caribbean nation.

“What I don’t want to be is the governor of Haiti. I want to build the capacity of the country to chart its own course. They can trust me not to be a neocolonialist, I’m too old.” Clinton also visited the government’s de facto headquarters in a police building in the city, where about 200 people demonstrated outside to protest the lack of

shelter.

“Our children are burning in the sun. We have a right to tents. We have a right to shelter,” said Mentor Natacha, 30, a mother of two who gathered at one of the various points in the ravaged city that witnessed protests. A similar number gathered in front of the US embassy nearby. Participants said they hoped to meet Clinton, who was designated Wednesday as coordinator of international aid for the impoverished Caribbean nation by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

There have been persistent problems in getting aid to the more than

one million Haitians left homeless after the 7.0-magnitude quake which leveled much of central Port-au-Prince and surrounding towns. But his aidfocused visit threatened to be overshadowed by the case of 10 American Christians detained on child kidnapping charges for trying to smuggle 33 Haitian children across the border into the Dominican Republic.

Clinton stressed he was not there to intervene in the case. “That’s not within my mandate. I know that the State Department and government have had these discussions.” The five men and five women were sent to jail

on Friday to await trial, after being charged with child abduction and criminal conspiracy by Haitian prosecutors on Thursday. The group has denied ill intent.

The Haitian authorities, under pressure to clamp down on child trafficking and to show the country’s crippled government can get on its feet, have insisted the 10 be tried in Haiti.

Clinton’s wife, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said Friday the US ambassador was working with Haitian officials on the case, and that Washington expressed “hope that this matter can be resolved in an expedi-

tious way.”

“Obviously, this is a matter for the Haitian judicial system,” she added. An estimated 212,000 people were killed by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake, making it the worst recorded natural disaster in the Americas. The United States, which is spearheading the relief efforts, has deployed 20,000 troops plus helicopters, transport planes and other equipment, but coordination problems and the sheer scale of the crisis have hampered operations.

Clinton visited Port-au-Prince’s Gheskio medical clinic where his foun-

dation said he would deliver “water, food, medical supplies, solar flash lights, portable radios, and generators donated by Home Depot (and) Walmart.” The head of the clinic, Jean William Pape, told AFP the clinic has been overwhelmed since the quake.

“It has been huge on us because in addition to providing the care to our HIV/AIDS patients, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, we have to take care of around 6,000 refugees,” he said. “We don’t have enough supplies. We don’t have tents for them and the rainy season is coming and we live in a flood area.” —AFP

Americans fail to persuade judge to grant provisional release

No early release for missionaries in Haiti VALLE DE CHALCO: Members of the Civil Protection help residents on a flooded street at Valle de Chalco, in Mexico state on Friday. —AFP

At least 17 dead in Mexico rains MORELIA: Eight people died Friday in western Mexico, bringing the death toll from freak winter rains this week to at least 17, including seven children, state authorities said.

Rescue workers struggled to retrieve bodies buried inside their homes after a landslide near the town of Ocampo, where six died Friday, said Michoacan State Attorney General Jesus Montejano. Two others died Friday in the neighboring town of Angangueo, also after landslides crushed their fragile homes, officials said. The federal government declared a state of emergency in the area of western Mexico famous for its sanc-

tuary of Monarch butterflies.

The Mexican army was summoned to help with rescue efforts, and officials warned that more bodies could be recovered. The weather improved on Friday. More than half of the country, particularly central and western areas, were affected by unexpected rains in recent days, which occurred several months ahead of the start of the usual rainy season. The heavily-populated capital Mexico City on Thursday activated emergency measures after the temporary collapse of its drainage system and the overflow of a sewage canal. —AFP

Cuban dissidents beaten, harassed, says opposition HAVANA: Cuban police harassed and briefly jailed some 35 political dissidents this week in the eastern city of Camaguey, a Cuban human rights group said Friday.

Twenty-three dissidents were “brutally beaten and detained” after marching Wednesday in a demonstration in Camaguey, 530 kilometers (330 miles) east of the capital Havana, the underground Committee for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN) said in a statement.

The demonstrators were

protesting “the cruel and of treatment” inhuman Orlando Zapata, a jailed political dissident on a hunger December, since strike according to CCDHRN president Elizardo Sanchez. The protesters were briefly jailed, then released. Another 12 dissidents, as well as two detained Wednesday, were arrested Thursday at a Camaguey home where they were planning “acts of solidarity” in support of Zapata, whom Amnesty International has declared a prisoner of con-

science.

The protesters were briefly jailed, and all but five have been released, the statement read. The CCDHRN said it was concerned over Zapata’s health, and called for his unconditional release. In its January annual report, the group said that there are 201 political prisoners in Cuba.

Authorities on the communist island insist there are no political prisoners, but rather USfinanced “mercenaries” jailed for threatening Cuban national security. —AFP

Bolivia tackles gender equality in government LA PAZ: After reinventing Bolivia’s government to reflect the country’s multi-ethnic, Indian majority, President Evo Morales is championing gender parity at the highest levels of government.

Women now account for half of Bolivia’s Cabinet ministers , 10 out of 20 , as Morales embarks on his second term following his Jan. 22 swearing-in ceremony. Announcing the changes, Bolivia’s first Indian president called the new arrangement “fifty-fifty” , or “Chacha Warmi,” a Quechua-language reference to the indigenous principle of two complementing sexes as the basis of equilibrium in the cosmos.

“We must weave a patchwork of regions, sectors of society and gender, and that combination is not easy,” Morales said. Cabinets with gender parity are no longer a novelty in the region.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet had one and influential female ministers are common across Latin America. And none of Bolivia’s female ministers yet belongs to the president’s inner circle of most trusted and influential advisers.

But the gender shift has shocked a country where Indians, and especially indigenous women, have long been treated as second-class citizens.

Nemecia Achacollo, a 39-year-old mother and grandmother who rose through farmworkers unions, was tapped to become minister of land and rural development just days after she became a member of congress.

“Fifteen days ago I took office as a lawmaker and now I’m a (Cabinet) minister,” said Achacollo, who already accompanied Morales on a diplomatic mission to Venezuela. “I still can’t digest so many changes in so few days.” Morales has broken a long tradition of presidents from the Bolivian elite as the nation’s first leader from the indigenous majority. His political movement forged a new constitution that gives Bolivia’s 36 ethnic groups the right to self-determination at the municipal level. The new constitution also speaks of gender equality in the Cabinet, but few expected the pres-

ident to apply it immediately as he tapped new ministers from all walks of life.

At a photo session for the new Cabinet, men and women in black and pink power suits stood next to indigenous women in traditional “pollera” skirts, knit shawls and hats , each unique to a different area of Bolivia. The president of the Senate is a woman. Another heads up Customs, the public institution that is most vulnerable to corruption. The chief of ruling party representatives in congress is a woman. In all, women occupy 28 percent of congressional seats and 47 percent in the senate. But women still have difficulty advancing in local government, according to the Bolivian Association of City Councilors. On the municipal level, there are 25 women among 327 mayors and 327 of 1,671 council members are female.

Electoral slates are required to be 50 percent women, but parties have found ways of skirting the law. Beyond the halls of government, Bolivian women often confront grinding poverty and a bleak lack of opportunity. Until 1952, women , like Indians , were not allowed to vote. Until recently, they could not inherit land or have their names on the title to farmland unless they were married or widowed.

“That has been changed under this government, because it was wrong,” Achacollo said. A land redistribution program created during Morales’ first term granted 10,300 property titles to women between 2006 and 2008, or roughly one in three titles. But a proposed law against gender harassment and violence has failed to gain traction during four years before congress, and even ruling party legislators have opposed it.

In recent history, women dissidents and activists have been catalysts for major political events. In 1978, six wives of exiled mine union leaders went on a hunger strike and thousands joined their cause demanding the return of hundreds of exiled political and labor leaders. —AP

PORT-AU-PRINCE: Ten US Baptist missionaries charged with child kidnapping returned to jail Friday after failing to persuade a judge to grant them provisional release pending the outcome of their case, their lawyer said.

The weary looking Americans were led one by one into the back of a police van after spending half the day at a courthouse in the rubble-strewn capital. A judge scheduled three more days of hearings next week, starting Monday, defense attorney Edwin Coq told reporters. Haitian officials at the court declined to answer questions from journalists about the case. The missionaries did not respond to questions and Coq said they had been ordered by the judge not to discuss their case. The lawyer said that at least nine of the Americans , all but the group’s leader, Laura Silsby , clearly did not know they lacked the proper papers to remove 33 children from Haiti following the devastating earthquake and they should be immediately released.

“They came to Haiti to help.

They came in solidarity,” he said. “It is scandalous that they are being detained.” Prior to the closed hearing, Coq told reporters he would ask the judge to grant the detainees “provisional release,” a type of bail without money posted. He said they should be allowed to leave Haiti until their trial, a date for which has not been established. An investigating judge charged the Americans on Thursday with kidnapping for trying to take the 33 children across the border into the Dominican Republic on Jan. 29 without documentation.

Coq says Silsby knew she couldn’t take the youngsters without proper paperwork. But he characterized the other nine missionaries as innocents caught up in actions they didn’t understand. The Baptist group, most of whose members are from two Idaho churches, insisted they were rescuing abandoned children and orphans after the Jan. 12 quake. But at least 22 of the children, ranging in age from 2 to 12, have parents. Some of the parents told The Associated Press they gave them up willingly because the missionaries promised the children a better life. Each of the missionaries is charged with one count of kidnapping, which carries a sentence of five to 15 years in prison, and one of criminal association, punishable by three to nine years. Coq said the case was assigned a judge and a verdict could take three months. “Obviously this is a matter for the Haitian judicial system,” US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday.

Clinton’s husband, former US President Bill Clinton, now a special U.N. envoy to Haiti, met with President Rene Preval in Port-au-Prince on Friday, but said his visit had nothing to do with the detained Americans.

Later, Clinton said the US and Haitian governments should try to resolve the issue quickly. “I think what’s important now is that the government of Haiti and the government of the United States to get together and go through this because the government of Haiti, as I understand it, is not looking for a fight. They just want to protect children,” he said during a visit to an AIDS clinic. —AP

PORT-AU-PRINCE: Four of ten Americans arrested while trying to bus children out of Haiti without proper documents or government permission, from left to right, Drew Culberth, 34, of Topeka, Kansas, Nicole Lankford, 18, Carla Thompson, 53, and Corinna Lankford, all of Meridian, Idaho, move their bags as they ride in a Haitian police truck from court to jail in Port-au-Prince, Friday. —AP

INTERNATIONAL

10

Sunday, February 7, 2010

China ‘resolutely’ opposes Obama-Dalai Lama meet BEIJING: China expressed “resolute” opposition to President Barack Obama’s planned meeting with the Dalai Lama, saying it would further strain ties between the world powers. Tibet and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader are among the issues China views with great sensitivity. China accuses

the Dalai Lama of pushing for Tibetan independence, which he denies.

China warned late Friday that such meetings could further undermine relations with the US Just a week ago, China cut some military ties with the US and threatened sanctions against American companies

involved in a planned arms sale to Taiwan.

Every US president for the last two decades has met with the Dalai Lama in a sign of an American commitment to human rights. But China considers official visits with him an insult. Obama is scheduled to meet the Dalai Lama in Washington on Feb. 17-18.

“China resolutely opposes the visit by the Dalai Lama to the United States, and resolutely opposes US leaders having contact with the Dalai Lama,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement late Friday. Chinese President Hu Jintao is expected to visit Washington in April.

Obama has already faced opposition from some in the United States for putting off an earlier chance to meet the Dalai Lama when he visited Washington last fall. The administration has been under scrutiny by some for its approach to China, especially after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

said during a trip to China a year ago that human rights should not interfere with improving US -China ties.

China maintains that Tibet has been part of its territory for centuries, but many Tibetans say the region was functionally independent for much of its history.—AP

Whaler, activist ship collide off Antarctica SYDNEY: The anti-whaling ship the Bob Barker and a Japanese harpoon boat collided in the icy waters off Antarctica yesterday, the second major clash this year in the increasingly aggressive confrontations between the two sides. No one was reportedly injured in the latest strike. The US -based activist group Sea Shepherd, which sends vessels to confront the Japanese fleet each year, said a

small hole was torn in the hull of its ship, but it was above the water line and the vessel was not in danger of sinking. Sea Shepherd founder Captain Paul Watson said by satellite telephone that the Japanese ship rammed the Bob Barker, named after the US game show host who donated millions to buy it for Sea Shepherd, as it blocked the slipway of the Japanese fleet’s factory ship.

ANTARCTICA: In this photo released by Sea Shepherd, the deck of the Bob Barker, anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd’s ship, is damaged after colliding with Japanese harpoon boat the Yushin Maru 3 in the waters off yesterday. —AP

Chinese envoy arrives in N Korea SEOUL: A senior Chinese official arrived in North Korea yesterday in what is seen as a mission to jump-start stalled international talks on ending the reclusive state’s nuclear weapons programs. Wang Jiarui, head of the liaison office of China’s ruling Communist Party, got off an airport bus in the capital Pyongyang and shook hands with a North Korean official, according to footage aired by television broadcaster APTN in Pyongyang.

Wang was to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and deliver a message from Chinese President Hu Jintao, South Korea’s Dong-a Ilbo newspaper reported yesterday, citing unidentified South Korean presidential officials. The four-day trip is part of a regular exchange of visits by the longtime allies, it said. Calls to the presidential office seeking comment went unanswered yesterday.

Wang met Kim during a January 2009 trip to Pyongyang. Kim said then that North Korea was “dedicated to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula” and wanted to move international talks forward, according

to Beijing’s Xinhua News Agency.

China is North Korea’s biggest trading partner, a key aid donor and a longtime ally dating back to the 1950-53 Korean War. Its influence is seen as crucial in getting the North to return to the six-nation disarmament talks, which have been stalled since late 2008.

Also yesterday, a special envoy for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Seoul and said he had an “excellent discussion” with South Korean officials ahead of a visit to North Korea. During his Feb. 9-12 trip to Pyongyang, UN political chief B. Lynn Pascoe will urge North Korea to rejoin the nuclear talks and discuss its relations with the world body, a UN official in New York said on condition of anonymity, citing policy.

“We expect to talk about the entire range of issues while we are up there (in North Korea),” Pascoe told reporters in Seoul, without elaborating. He later met with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myunghwan. North Korea, which tested an atomic

bomb last year and is believed to have enough weaponized plutonium for at least a half dozen more, walked away from the disarmament talks last year.

The other participants, China, the US , Japan, South Korea and Russia, have been trying to get the talks back on track. North Korea, however, has pushed Washington for a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War and a lifting of sanctions first.

This week, Assistant US Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said no discussion about political or economic sanctions can take place before the disarmament talks are back on. There also has been speculation in recent weeks that North Korean leader Kim may travel to China soon. Beijing extended an invitation to Kim last year to visit at his convenience.

Kim has visited China and Russia, the North’s two major remaining allies, by train.

He last traveled to China in 2006. He had planned to travel to Beijing in late January but canceled his plans, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said. — AP

Cambodian PM visits disputed Thai temple PREAH VIHEAR: Cambodian Premier Hun Sen visited a disputed border area with Thailand yesterday, angering the neighboring nation amid an ongoing diplomatic spat. Hun Sen, accompanied by his wife, Bun Rany, both dressed in camouflage clothes, briefly toured the ancient Preah Vihear temple at the centre of the land dispute and met members of the Thai military who guard the area. He asked the Thais “to avoid fighting because we are neighbors, we cannot be enemies forever,” but his presence in the area attracted more than 100 Thai protesters on the Thai side of the border.

Cambodia and Thailand have been at loggerheads over their border for decades. Nationalist tensions spilled over into violence in July 2008, when the 11th century Preah Vihear temple was granted UNESCO World Heritage status. Four soldiers were killed in clashes in the temple area in 2008 and three more in a gunbattle last April. Smaller flare-ups continue to be reported between troops in the area.

Hun Sen earlier began a tour of the area by opening a school and giving supplies to villagers caught up in April’s violence last year. “I have never asked

for compensation. For me, it doesn’t matter about compensation,” said Hun Sen, referring to the destruction of a Cambodian market during the gunbattle.

“They (the Thais) have invaded us and look down on us.” Hun Sen and his wife joined senior ministers to give bags of rice, blankets and mosquito nets to villagers before proceeding in a heavily guarded convoy to visit

the temple ruins. During the one-day visit Hun Sen also accused Thailand of plotting to “invade” again. “They are still keeping it in their minds to invade Cambodia and do not know when they will stop. The invaders have never left us, even though they can kill their own citizens,” he told the crowd. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was not

concerned about Hun Sen’s trip as he had entrusted security on the border to the army.

“Soldiers are taking care of the border and the reports I have received show everything is normal,” he told reporters. The Thai-Cambodia border has never been fully demarcated, partly because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.—AFP

PREAH VIHEAR: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) visits the Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, 500kms north of Phnom Penh, near the disputed border with Thailand yesterday. —AFP

Watson’s claim that the Bob Barker was deliberately hit could not be independently verified.

Japanese Fisheries Agency official Takashi Mori said officials were trying to confirm details of a reported clash.

Yesterday’s collision was the second this year between a Sea Shepherd boat and the Japanese fleet. On Jan. 6, a Japanese whaler struck Sea Shepherd’s high-tech speed boat Ady Gil and sheared off its nose. The Bob Barker then came to rescue the crew of the Ady Gil, which sank a day later.

Sea Shepherd and the whalers have faced off in Antarctic waters for the past few years over Japan’s annual whale hunt, with each side accusing the other of acting in increasingly dangerous ways.

Sea Shepherd activists try to block the whalers from firing harpoons, and they dangle ropes in the water to try to snarl the Japanese ships’ propellers. They also hurl packets of stinking rancid butter at their rivals. The whalers have responded by firing water cannons and sonar devices meant to disorient the activists.

Collisions have occurred occasionally.

Japan aims to take hundreds of whales each year under a program that is allowed despite the international moratorium on killing whales because it is done in the name of science.

Critics say the scientific program is a front for commercial whaling, and much of the meat is eaten. Yesterday, the Bob Barker found the whaling fleet for the first time since the time of the Ady Gil clash, Watson said.

The Bob Barker took up a position behind the Nisshin Maru , the Japanese factory ship where dead whales are hauled aboard and butchered , so the four harpoon vessels could not reach it, he said.

“The harpoon ships started circling like sharks,” Watson told The Associated Press from his ship, the Steve Irwin.

“They were making near passes to the stern and the bow of the Bob Barker, then the Yushin Maru 3 intentionally rammed the Bob Barker.” The Bob Barker sustained a 3-ft. long, 4-inch wide (1-meter long, 10-centimeter) gash in its hull.

Welders aboard the ship were already working on patching the hole, and the Bob Barker would resume its pursuit of the whalers, Watson said.

Video shot from the Bob Barker and released by Sea Shepherd shows the two ships side by side moving quickly through the water. The ships come closer together and the Japanese ship then appears to turn away, but its stern swings sharply toward the Bob Barker.

The collision is obscured by spray, but a loud clanging noise can be heard before the vessels separate.

Watson said the Yushin Maru 3 appeared to stop moving after the collision and had not been seen by the Bob Barker’s crew to have moved since, suggesting it also may have been damaged.

The governments of Australia and New Zealand, which have responsibility for maritime rescue in the area where the hunt is usually conducted, say the fight between the two sides is becoming increasingly dangerous and have repeatedly urged them to tone it down.—AP

BEIJING: American missionary Robert Park, left, is escorted by a US official as he is surrounded by journalists upon his arrival at the Beijing Capital Airport yesterday. —AP

Missionary freed by North Korea starts journey home BEIJING: Looking pale and drawn, an American missionary headed home yesterday after North Korea released him from six weeks’ detention for crossing its border on Christmas Day to protest religious suppression in the totalitarian regime. Robert Park, his eyes almost closed, made no comment as US consular officials guided him to a transit area in Beijing’s airport after his morning arrival from North Korea. He was to leave later in the day for the United States.

Park, 28, crossed the frozen Tumen River from China into North Korea carrying letters calling on leader Kim Jong Il to close the country’s notoriously brutal prison camps and step down from power _ acts that could have risked execution in the hard-line communist country.

North Korea’s government announced Friday it would release Park, with official media quoting him as saying he now believed “there’s complete religious freedom for all people everywhere” in the North.

“I would not have committed such crime if I had known that the (North) respects the rights of all the people and guarantees their freedom and they enjoy a happy and stable life,” the official Korean Central News Agency quoted Park as saying. North Korea is regarded as having one of the world’s worst human rights records, with some 154,000 political prisoners held in six camps across the country, according to the South Korean government.

The government severely restricts religious observance, only allowing worship, primarily by foreigners, at sanctioned churches. Defectors say underground worship and the distribution of Bibles can mean banishment to a labor camp or execution. North Korea had previously disclosed nothing about Park during his 43 days in custody . The report by KCNA, North Korea’s governmental mouthpiece, quoted Park, of Tucson, Arizona, as saying he was ashamed of the “biased” view he once held of the communist nation. It said he changed his mind after his Bible was returned to him and he attended a service at Pongsu Church in Pyongyang.

Park did not respond to questions from reporters yesterday asking whether he had been speaking freely or under duress to KCNA. He was to head to the United States later

Saturday, US Embassy spokeswoman Susan Stevenson said. “We welcome North Korea’s release of Robert Park,” Stevenson said. It was the second time in less than a year that an American has been held by North Korea, which doesn’t have diplomatic ties with the US Two journalists were released in August with former President Bill Clinton’s help after they were arrested at the border and sentenced to prison.

Last month, North Korea notified the US that it has yet another American in custody for allegedly entering the country illegally. That person has not been identified by either Pyongyang or the US State Department.

Friends and family back in the US were waiting anxiously for Park’s return.

“We are just elated that he’s been released safely,” the Rev. Madison Shockley, a Park family pastor in Carlsbad, California, said by phone. “We cannot wait for him to land on American soil and to hear the truth of what he discovered there.” Shockley said Park’s Korean-American parents were told of the release by the State Department on Friday and were very happy but almost in shock.

“The mother will only truly believe it when he is in her arms,” Shockley said. Messages left for Park’s parents and brother were not immediately returned late Friday local time. “We finally can relax,” said the Rev. John Benson, a pastor in Tucson, Arizona, who ordained Park as a missionary. “We still had a little bit of reservation while he was still in North Korea.

There was always a chance that they could change their mind.” Benson said he was skeptical of Park’s statements Thursday, which he said sounded like “propaganda,” and said Park may be able to speak freely once he’s back in the US “It totally did not sound like Robert at all,” Benson said. Park’s uncle in Los Angeles, Manchul Cho, said he was thrilled by the rapid developments after weeks of silence from Pyongyang. “The progress has been so fast,” Cho said. “North Korea never talked about him.

It was total darkness.” Associated Press writers Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles, Walter Berry in Phoenix, Arizona, Elliot Spagat in San Diego, and Jean H. Lee and Kwang-tae Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.—AP

Japan refueling ships return home, ending Afghan mission TOKYO: Japanese naval ships returned home yesterday at the close of an eight-year refueling mission in support of USled military operations in Afghanistan, as strains persist in the US-Japan alliance. On the same day Japan dispatched peacekeeping troops to Haiti to help deal with the aftermath of the Caribbean nation’s huge earthquake.

The 13,500-tonne supply ship Mashu and the 4,550tonne destroyer Ikazuchi, with some 340 personnel on board, arrived at Harumi Wharf in Tokyo Bay to a welcome from their families and government officials. Last month Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa announced an end to the Indian Ocean mission supplying oil and water to vessels used by international forces engaged in Afghanistan.

The move fulfilled a pledge

by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s centre-left gov-

ernment, which ousted the long-ruling conservatives five months ago promising a less subservient relationship with the United States. Hatoyama, whose coalition includes the strongly pacifist Social Democrats, has reiterated that Japan will not deploy troops to Afghanistan, instead pledging to step up humanitarian aid to the war-torn country.

“As prime minister, I am proud of your professionalism,” Hatoyama said as he and Kitazawa welcomed home the ships and their crew. “Our government will positively play an appropriate role in humanitarian assistance, prevention of terrorism and UN peacekeeping activities,” said Hatoyama. The return coincided with the departure of a first batch of some 350 Japanese troops for Haiti to join the United Nations peacekeeping mission there.

It will be Japan’s first par-

ticipation in overseas UN peacekeeping operations under the Hatoyama administration.

The first batch of about 160 ground troops left Tokyo’s Haneda airport and will arrive in Haiti today, officials said.

“Our turn has finally come,” Masaharu Yamamoto, head of the mission, told a departing ceremony.

“Representing Japan, we will do our best to work for people in Haiti with our pride and sincerity in mind.” The troops, mostly engineers and logistical support staff, are expected to remove rubble, repair roads and build shelters for quake victims.

Japan’s military is barred from fighting overseas under the country’s pacifist postwar constitution, but it has joined non-combat operations including in Iraq and as part of anti-piracy patrols off Somalia.—AFP

INTERNATIONAL

Sunday, February 7, 2010

11

NATO allies to shuffle Afghan pledges to add training ANKARA/MUNICH: NATO allies plan to reshuffle rather than expand existing troop commitments to Afghanistan, sending more military trainers in place of combat forces to ready the Afghan army and police to take control, senior US and NATO officials said yesterday. The decision of some NATO member states to increase the proportion of trainers within existing troop pledges underscores the difficulty NATO and Washington have faced convincing European and other states to make new troop commitments.

A senior US official said before a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Istanbul this week that US Defense Secretary Robert Gates would urge allies to provide more than

4,000 trainers and mentors.

Yet NATO officials said France was the only country to make a firm new pledge at the two-day NATO meeting that ended on Friday-offering just 80 instructors. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen nevertheless said he was confident the gap between what was needed and what was available would be filled, and that a force generation conference on Feb. 23 would concentrate on this.

“I have already got positive responses from allies and partners to our requests for more trainers and training teams ... more will come from other countries,” he told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines a security

conference in Munich.

Rasmussen also said it made sense to use existing resources to train the Afghan army and police, “so that we can already this year start the process of handing over responsibility for the security to the Afghans”. “It makes sense to use our resources to equip our training mission,” he said. “I find it quite natural that we make sure that the composition of our troop contributions to the mission in Afghanistan reflects the strategy.” he said.

Gates made similar comments when asked by reporters in Ankara if he was concerned about the small commitment from France. He said what was important was the way contributions were shaped. He said that

there was general agreement in Istanbul that the more trainers there were in the forces US allies had committed to send to Afghanistan, the better. “If there was one pretty clear theme at the NATO defense ministers meeting in Istanbul, it was: within the framework of the commitments you’ve made, trainers are the most important people we need ... It is important the right people go.”

He said Germany had told its counterparts at the Istanbul meeting that it would significantly increase the proportion of trainers in its existing force in Afghanistan and reinforcements it plans to send.

But Gates warned his NATO counter-

parts their shared objectives would be achieved “only if the coalition continues to muster the resolve”. “No one wants to start issuing rosy predictions at this point, and a very tough fight lies in front of us. We are a long way from being done there,” he told reporters in Ankara.

After Turkey, Gates was to take his call for more trainers to Rome, and then to Paris next week. Nearly 120,000 foreign troops are now in Afghanistan, a number that will grow sharply in the coming months as new USand NATO contingents arrive. President Barack Obama has announced the deployment of 30,000 more US troops and allies have committed almost 10,000 more with

the aim of containing a widening Taliban insurgency and creating conditions for Afghan forces to take over.

The allies hope the big build of Afghan forces will allow them to start withdrawing some of the extra troops in July 2011.

Christine Fair, a professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Peace and Security Studies, said it was important that US allies did more.

“This is absolutely critical to the transition of security to the Afghans. We absolutely need these people (allies) to step up to the plate and provide mentors and money. It’s a math problem. That being said, I’m not remotely optimistic,” she said.— Reuters

Investigation points to training deficiencies in Afghan army

US: Ambushed Afghan outpost left vulnerable MULTAN: Pakistani Shiite Muslims hold a rally to condemn the Friday’s bombing, yesterday in Multan, Pakistan. Dozens of people died and many others were wounded in Karachi on Friday. — AP

Thousands attend funeral in Pakistan KARACH: Thousands of people yesterday attended the funeral of 14 people killed in Friday’s double bombing in Karachi, as the death toll from the assaults rose overnight to 33, police said.

“According to our preliminary investigation, both the explosions were triggered by remote control,” a senior police official Mazhar Mishwani told AFP, contrary to an earlier claim that both were suicide attacks.

He said that both bombs were planted on motorcycles.Two other police officials, Aurangzeb Khattak and Mukhtiar Khaskheli, also confirmed that remote-controlled devices planted on both motorcyles caused the two explosions.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the twin bombings rose to 33 with at least 170 others were being treated at various hospitals, a minister said. “Six people died overnight while two more succumbed to injuries this morning, raising the death toll to 33,” provincial health minister Saghir Ahmad said in a statement.

At a funeral yesterday for some of those killed, thousands of mourners beat their chests and cried loudly as the bodies of the 14 victims were brought to a Karachi sports field. Pakistani TV channels broadcast live footage from the venue, showing men and women clad in black and carrying black flags, beating their chests and chanting religious slogans. “More than 10,000 people attended the funeral of the 14 deceased,” said Javed Mehr, a local police official on duty at the ground.

Mehr told AFP that “the entire area was sealed off by police and paramilitary rangers to avoid any untoward incident.” Women and children were among 12 people killed Friday, when a device planted on a motorcyle went off near a bus carrying Shiites to a religious procession marking the last day of the Shiites’ holy month of Muharram. A second blast, which was also triggered by remote control, killed 13 people, damaged ambulances and the entrance to the casualty department at Jinnah Hospital, where victims of the first attack were being treated and anxious relatives were

gathering.

Provincial home affairs minister Zulfiqar Mirza told reporters in Karachi yesterday that the religious procession “was the main target of terrorists but they could not make it because of very strict security measures.” He said some arrests had been made but declined to give further details. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi “condemned the Karachi bombings and said terrorism will never be allowed to succeed in its nefarious designs,” according to a foreign ministry statement. The statement quoted Qureshi as saying that “such acts only strengthen our resolve to fight terrorism.”

Karachi’s roads were mostly deserted yesterday while shops, business centres and educational institutions were closed as the port city mourned those killed in the two bombings. Police and paramilitary rangers patrolled streets and sensitive areas and Mehr said security had been stepped up at all hospitals. At another funeral in Karachi yesterday, hundreds of people mourned seven workers of the Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) who were killed in the wave of political violence that has swept the city in recent weeks.

The MQM is the main coalition partner of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital. At least 37 activists from rival parties in the local government were killed over the past five days, following 48 similar killings last month. The attacks in a city largely isolated from Islamist violence highlighted the instability in Pakistan, which is on the frontline of the US war on Al-Qaeda and where militants have killed more than 3,000 people since 2007.

On December 28, 43 people were killed in a bomb attack that turned a religious procession marking Ashura, the first day of Muharram, into a bloodbath. Sectarian violence periodically flares between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, with the latter accounting for about 20 percent of Pakistan’s 167 million people. Such violence has killed more than 4,000 people since the late 1980s. — AFP

Afghan border Taleban blow patrol kills 7 up girls’ civilians: Police school in KANDAHAR: An Afghan police patrol killed seven civilians after mistaking them for insurgents as they gathered firewood at dusk close to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, police said yesterday. Two of the seven, killed on Thursday evening in the Raig area between Shorabak and Spin Boldak districts, in southern Kandahar province, were younger than 18, said southern border police commander General Mohammad Raziq.

The six-member police team on patrol at the time had been detained, he said. “We are questioning the border police members behind the shooting and the investigation will determine if it was intentional,” he told AFP. Civilian deaths in the fight against the Taleban in Afghanistan hit a record last year, with most killed by insurgents, according to the United Nations.

In a report last month the UN said 2,412 civilians were killed in 2009, compared with 2,118 the year before, with almost 70 percent the victims of Taleban attacks, including suicide bombings and roadside bombs. The Taleban blames civilian deaths on the international and Afghan forces, and many Afghans say that civilian deaths would not occur if their country was not host to more than 100,000 foreign troops.

Kandahar is a significant target for Taleban rebels, who made it the country’s capital during their 1996-2001 rule, until they were ousted by a US-led invasion following the Al-Qaeda attacks on the United States. The city has been the scene of some major insurgent attacks, most notably in August when a truck bomb killed 40 people and injured at least 65.— AFP

NW Pakistan PESHAWAR: Taleban militants blew up a girls’ school yesterday in northwest Pakistan, the latest in a wave of attacks by Islamist extremists targeting educational institutions, a minister said. No one was hurt in the attack, which took place in the village of Huwaid, eight kilometres (five miles) north of the town of Bannu.

“The explosive material was planted at three different places in the girls’ primary school, which completely destroyed five out of seven rooms of the building,” provincial education minister Sardar Hussain Babak said. He blamed the attack on Taliban, saying they were “opposed to girls’ education”.

Senior police official Iqbal Marwat confirmed the incident. He added: “No one was hurt in the explosion as it occurred at 6:00 am.”

Pakistan’s military is engaged in offensives against Islamist fighters across much of the northwest including tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, a region branded by Washington the most dangerous place on Earth. About 30,000 Pakistani troops poured into South Waziristan in mid-October to try and dismantle strongholds of the Taliban leadership, enraging militants who have responded with a surge of bomb blasts and attacks.— AFP

KABUL: Most of the soldiers were still asleep when gunfire rang out and insurgents stormed their isolated base from all sides. Eight Americans and three Afghan soldiers died. The Americans weren’t even supposed to be there.

Combat Outpost Keating had been scheduled to be closed months before the Oct 3 assault. A US military investigation released Friday blamed lapses in Afghan soldiers failed to hold their position on the eastern side of the compound and insurgents penetrated the outpost’s perimeter at three locations, according to the report. The readiness of Afghan forces to take over their own security so foreign troops can leave is a key component of President Barack Obama’s war strategy. The battle broke out when an estimated 300 insurgents, five times the number of defenders , stormed the base in mountainous Nuristan province near the Pakistan border with rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and automatic weapons just before 6 a.m., according to the report. The base was surrounded by higher mountains, offering the insurgents lethal fields of fire.

“I think if we were in a different area, in an elevated position, the odds would have been much better for us,” Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hill told military officials in a videotaped interview following the attack. “The problem is, it was basically in a fishbowl.” Sgt. Eric Harder, who also survived the attack, recalled his anger at seeing the Afghan soldiers running away.

“That was a pretty hard thing to realize that they just took off without us. Or, not without us, but they just ditched us,” he told military officials in another videotaped interview.

He said he found an Afghan soldier hiding in the building but “didn’t see one fight.” The US soldiers “heroically repelled a complex attack” after calling in air support, according to the investigation, which was led by Army Maj Gen Guy Swan. When the fighting was over, about 150 insurgents were dead, along with the US and Afghan troops. It marked the heaviest US loss of life in a firefight since July 2008, when nine American soldiers were killed in a similar raid on an isolated outpost in Wanat in the same province.

The report lauded junior leaders but recommended administrative actions “to address shortcomings in command oversight” that contributed to the attack and said US Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top NATO commander, has taken appropriate action regarding Army personnel involved. The command did not identify those involved or specify any punitive measures, citing privacy laws.

McChrystal also instructed his subordinates to try to prevent similar attacks in the future. The report did not elaborate other than to say commanders should continuously reassess the need for small and vulnerable combat outposts.

Col. Wayne Shanks, a US military spokesman in Kabul, declined to discuss new measures put in place after the attack because it could reveal force protection measures to the Taleban and their allies.

Many isolated bases have been closed as part of McChrystal’s new strategy to redirect forces to focus on more populated areas to protect civilians and blunt the influence of the Taleban. But Shanks said the military was not abandoning all its outposts. “With the troop increases that are coming in, we’re expanding some and we’re building some more,” he said. Combat Outpost Keating, which was surrounded by high ground, was originally established in 2006 as a base for a provincial reconstruction team.

But the soldiers’ mission had been reduced to defending themselves, eliminating any tactical or strategic value of holding the ground, the report said.

The base was supposed to be closed in July or August, but that was delayed after equipment and supplies needed to redeploy were diverted to support intense Afghan operations under way in another area.— AP

oversight and a delay in closing the remote outpost for one of the heaviest American combat losses in a single engagement during the Afghan war. The findings demonstrate the increasing vulnerability of the Americans and their NATO allies, even as 37,000 US and NATO reinforcements pour into the country. The investigation also pointed to training deficiencies in the Afghan army.

HELMAND: Afghans stand near a body of man killed in an explosion while watching a dog fight in Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province, Afghanistan Friday. — AP

‘Blood for blood’ chants mark funeral in Kashmir SRINAGAR: Thousands of people chanted “Blood for blood” and “We want freedom” at a funeral yesterday for the second teenager in a week whose death has been blamed on police and government forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir’s main city.

Widespread protests have rocked the disputed Himalayan region for six days, and thousands of armed troops patrolled the city warning residents to stay indoors. On Friday, paramilitary soldiers charged at a group of people gathered on a playground in Srinagar and began firing as the people fled, killing 17-year-old Zahid Farooq Shah, according to a friend, Mushtaq Ahmed, who said he witnessed the shooting.

Hemant Lohia, a top police officer, confirmed Shah died from a bullet wound but said the other details about Shah’s death still were being investigated. Last Sunday, a 14-year-old boy died after he was struck

in the head by a police tear gas shell as an anti-Indian protest had ended. The police officer who fired the shell was suspended and police called it “a callous and irresponsible action.” Clashes between rock-throwing protesters and government forces since then have injured at least 93 protesters and 33 troops in the region, and another 80 protesters have been arrested.

Kashmir, which is predominantly Muslim, is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the Himalayan region, where more than a dozen rebel groups have been fighting for Kashmir’s independence from India or its merger with Pakistan since 1989.

More than 68,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the uprising and the subsequent Indian crackdown.

“Incidents of unprovoked and innocent

killings will not be tolerated, and whosoever is involved in such killings will be brought to book and doled out exemplary punishment so that it becomes a lesson and deterrent for others as well,” Omar Abdullah, the top elected official of the region, said in a statement.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a top separatist leader, called for more protests and dismissed the government probe into Shah’s death. “First they kill an innocent youth and then order useless inquiries. It is shame for the government,” he said.

Shops, businesses and government offices were closed for a fifth day yesterday in most parts of Kashmir. Public transport also stayed off the roads. Police officer Lohia said the government had banned the assembly of more than four people in Srinagar in an attempt to suppress protests.— AP

SRINAGAR: Kashmiris carry the body of teenager Zahid Farooq during his funeral on the outskirts of Srinagar, India yesterday. —AP

OPINION

12

Sunday, February 7, 2010

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Super Bowl is not the greatest show on earth

By Simon Evans

N

orth Americans call it “the greatest show on earth” but in reality not much of the world is really paying attention to the Super Bowl. Sunday’s game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints will be broadcast in 230 countries and territories but the evidence indicates that in most parts of the world few people will be organising their days around the game. Once regularly described as having a “potential global audience of a billion”, conjuring up images of sports bars around the world packed with NFL fans tucking into chicken wings, the figures indicate something different.

The annual survey by Initiative Futures Sports and Entertainment showed last year’s Super Bowl was beaten into top spot in annual sports events, for the first time, by the final of European football’s Champions League. Last year there was no football World Cup or Olympics which regularly beat Super Bowl.

Last year’s Super Bowl was watched by a global audience of 162 million but the vast majority of those tuning in were in the United States with neighbours Canada and Mexico the next biggest markets.

There is no doubt Super Bowl is the biggest sports and television event in the United States but it is limited in its global impact by a kickoff time which is unsociable in many parts of the world and rules that casual fans find unfathomable. Not that the NFL is not trying - the game kicks off at 7 am tomorrow in Beijing and NFL China is hosting parties and the New England Patriots cheerleaders will be in attendance after completing a nine-day tour of China.

Sports fans in Beijing certainly know the game is on - the NFL’s China operation has paid for billboard advertising on the Beijing subway and online. But in the end, like most of the Super Bowl parties in the world, China’s will be attended by expat Americans and people educated in the States.

In India, the NFL was even dropped by television network Ten Sports at the end of the 2008 season because the viewing figures were so poor, with a Target Rating Point of 0.01. “It didn’t go that great over here,” said a Ten Sports spokesperson.

Although ESPN-Star has

now picked up the league it remains a tiny niche audience who watch.

“Friends of mine who returned from the States followed NFL for some time but they soon lost interest as the rest of us only relate to cricket, soccer, tennis and motorsports,” said Chennaibased sports fan Vasanth Chandrasekaran.

US sports events certainly have the ability to penetrate the Asian market - baseball fans in Tokyo will get up early to watch World Series games but not many do the same for the Super Bowl. The NFL targeted Europe heavily in the past, even creating a developmental league, NFL Europe, in 1995 but that venture, despite some successes, was closed down in June 2007. The league featured franchises in the Netherlands, Germany, Britain and Spain and while London continues to receive attention with a regular season NFL game every year, Germany is arguably the strongest market for the sport.

“We have some fan bases in Germany where people know the game, know the rules and are excited about the Super Bowl,” said Philipp Hofmeister, NFL commentator with ARD television, in Miami to cover the game. “Super Bowl Sunday says something to people by now and so you will find a bunch of parties at sports bars.”

But in most of the world the NFL and its premier game, remains well outside the sports mainstream as Indianapolis Colts right tackle Ryan Diem found out after winning the Super Bowl three years ago.

“After we won the Super Bowl, my wife and I went to Australia and New Zealand. I was wearing my Super Bowl hat and there were only a handful of people who recognised it and who knew who the Colts were, which was a little surprising,” he said.

The odds may be stacked against the NFL ever becoming a truly global league but the league continues to make efforts with educational programmes all over the world, through the Internet and television. Ultimately though there is no better vehicle for winning new fans than the Super Bowl itself as Saints cornerback Jabari Greer noted. “We realise that when the Super Bowl is on it is the only game in the world at that time and we really want to put on a great show,” he said. — Reuters

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

Ireland manages austerity, can others follow?

By Peter Apps

I

reland looks to have managed cutting public spending without widespread opposition, social unrest or government collapse, but now the question is how the euro zone’s other fringe economies can achieve the same trick. But the heavily indebted economies, insultingly dubbed the PIIGS - Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain - are far from identical.

Athens has no choice but to try to follow Ireland - despite Greece’s reputation as being particularly prone to street violence and instability.

Likewise Portugal, although its attempts are seen as being more halfhearted. Spain’s position looks awkward, and is beginning to unsettle investors. A year ago, markets were piling pressure on Ireland as its debtfuelled property boom collapsed, with some investors speculating it could be forced out of the euro altogether. But harsh reforms have largely restored market confidence.

Crucially, the public looks to have reluctantly accepted the measures, including public sector pay cuts of between 5 and 15 percent. Fears the ruling coalition could collapse and spark elections have receded. Indeed, polls suggest the government has received a modest popularity boost for its tough approach and few expect a repeat of last year’s national strike. There has been little public sympathy for a work-torule protest from public servants against pay cuts. “Ireland is seen as having done well,” said Nomura political analyst Alastair Newton. “But I’d be reluctant to assume that because of that the same will carry across to other European countries. The main lesson of Ireland is one that can’t be repeated - that it’s best to start early.”

Greece has been slower to act, punished savagely in debt markets this year pushing up the cost of its borrowing and with markets openly discussing the prospect of default or rescue by the EU or IMF. It has now proposed a three year deficit-cutting plan, although it has yet to detail where exactly the axe will fall. Fear of a repeat of December 2008

street violence is seen holding the government back from tougher action. “I would certainly expect some social unrest in Greece this year,” said Newton. “You still have the students and the anarchists. It could produce some market volatility in its own right.”

The peak period of risk in the coming months would be in the late spring and early summer - Greece has a tradition of civil unrest fading away over the hot summer period. Nevertheless, like the Irish, Greeks seem more open to the idea of austerity than ever before.

Opinion polls show 55-60 percent of people willing to support harsh measures if applied fairly.

As in Ireland, unions threaten strike action but have little wider public support. The Socialist government has a majority, only took power in October and can still blame its predecessor for many of the country’s woes. Portugal, seen likely next in line after Greece for market pressure, is in a more complex position. The Socialist government lost its parliamentary majority in elections last year, meaning it has to negotiate with other parties.

The largest opposition party, the Social Democrats, have agreed to abstain from voting on the budget allowing it to pass with a simple majority - but investors and ratings agencies say government plans for deficit reduction are not ambitious enough . An opposition-led bill on regional spending also worries, hitting markets. Like Italy, Portugal saw a relatively small boom immediately before the financial crisis, and its citizens have become used to austerity, potentially reducing unrest risks now.

In contrast, Spain’s population seems to have yet to adapt to its rapidly changed fortunes. Spain has survived having the euro zone’s highest unemployment rate - some 20 percent through relatively generous benefits and one of the world’s largest stimulus packages.Under market and ratings pressure, it has pledged €50 billion in cuts, but has not said where. This week, the government backtracked on pension reforms..

With elections due 2012, the Socialist government and much of the populace put their hopes in an imminent economic recovery. But few analysts believe official growth projections. Many fear disappointment looms, potentially bringing further instability including clashes with unions if the government goes back on promises to

loosen rigid job protection laws.

The shifting pattern of investor worry is already driving markets. The cost of insuring Irish debt in the credit default swap market is well down from its heights last year - around 150 basis points from 400 last year, meaning it would now cost €150,000 to protect €10 million of five-year debt.

Greek CDS prices remain high, but fell slightly in the last week from a high of 422 as the EU declared support for Greek reforms. Spain and Portugal, on the other hand, are going the other way. Portugal’s CDS hit a record high of 216 basis points on Thursday, while Spain has also seen risen to 162 basis points. — Reuters

A Palestinian woman enters politics

By Asma Asfour

I

n May 2005 I was elected to be the first woman to join the Sinjel Municipality in the Ramallah district. At that time a new law had been passed which set a minimum quota for women’s representation in local councils. The assumption underpinning the law was that women should take part in decision-making processes. So, despite the fact that the idea hadn’t yet been widely accepted in many rural communities, women from different economic and cultural backgrounds suddenly found themselves taking part in political life. In 2005 a twenty-six year old woman like me knew nothing about local governance despite advanced educational degrees. It did not even occur to me to nominate myself until it was publicised that the new quota law meant that two women would be joining my local municipality. Jokingly, I wrapped the Palestinian hatta [keffiyeh, or headdress] around my neck and said to my colleagues at work, “I am going to run against Mahmoud Abbas!”

My friends looked at me indignantly as if I had broken a taboo, and asked, “are you nominating yourself for the municipal elections?” I wanted to say “yes”, but my courage betrayed me. Nevertheless, I decided to overcome my fear because I knew the council - which for the most part was made up of elderly uneducated men chosen for their familial affiliations – did a poor job in addressing women’s needs.

This conversation with my friends resulted in a number of men from various parties showing up at my home and suggesting that I join their list of nominees for the Council.

Luckily I didn’t face any objection from my family but the people close to me wondered if I should really take the risk.

I have learned it is not easy for women to take part in political life. Traditionally, they have been chosen for their political affiliation, not their ability to serve their community.

In general women’s participation in formal politics has not been proactive. It was rare to find a woman who came forward and nominated herself, especially in the rural areas. When a woman does take part in politics, as I found out, she is assessed twice: once as a politician and secondly as a woman.

My presence on the Council was not met with great enthusiasm, with men finding it hard to accept women who discuss and propose, and perhaps even argue. Some people

even suggested that a female presence at municipal meetings was unnecessary and that the relevant documents should simply be brought home. But as I had been working side by side with men within academia I thought, why should I refrain from working alongside men from my local community? The strategy that I employed to accommodate these difficulties was the belief in gradual change.

During my time in the Council I tried to involve myself in various issues. I nominated myself as a member of the municipal finance committee and continually argued with our mayor when he didn’t request my attendance at meetings with representatives from other councils to discuss a deal or an agreement. I trusted my ability to initiate projects that achieve a minimal level of prosperity for women in the area I come from. But the political circumstances that accompanied the Hamas victory in 2006 resulted in donors withdrawing their funding and thus my initiative was shelved.

Indeed, things have begun to change since the introduction of the quota. Over the past five years the presence of women in municipal councils has generated a sense among some women that they can come forward and participate in public life. Women who will be elected in the upcoming elections will now have a greater effect on political life. Now more accustomed to women’s presence in politics, people are realising that closing their eyes to gender issues and women’s participation is counter-productive. It is time to understand that the future of our society should be built by all its members. As a Palestinian woman, I’m proud of Laila Ghannam and Janet Michael, the two women who hold prominent roles in Ramallah city. Real change could happen when we have a female president in Palestine. Then we, as Palestinians, would finally reach inner reconciliation with ourselves as human beings who believe in equality and democracy.

It stands to reason that a Palestinian society with a greater degree of social equality will be in a better position to reach a sustainable resolution with Israel and to build a strong independent state. The road won’t be easy but now that Palestinian women have begun to take part in political life, we can begin to imagine that such a future is possible.

NOTE: Asma Asfour is a member of the Sinjel Municipality and is an activist for women’s issues – CGNews

Pakistan faces backlash after US troops attack

By Michael Georgy

T

he Taleban bombing that killed three US special forces soldiers in Pakistan on Wednesday could further weaken the government and hurt US efforts to win more backing in the fight against militants. While the presence of US soldiers to train paramilitary forces is hardly a secret, it is a highly sensitive matter in Pakistan, where anti-American anger runs high.

“It will only convince the public, even moderate Pakistanis who are antiTaleban, that the government is doing nothing expect lying to them, and the military (is) for that matter,” said Ahmed Rashid, a Pakistani analyst and expert on militants. “It will be a big blow for public morale.”

Wednesday’s attack at a girls’ school near the Afghan border is likely to generate elaborate conspiracy theories, with one simple question already asked: Why were special ops troops attending the inauguration of a girls school anyway? First television channels said the dead foreigners were journalists, then officials said they were aid workers. Only later did the Pakistani

A boy is seen through a damaged window of a school at the site of the Feb 3 roadside bombing in Shahi Koto, a village in Pakistan’s Lower Dir, Feb 4, 2010. – AP military and the US embassy say they were American soldiers.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman said the US soldiers were invited by the Pakistani paramilitary Frontier Corps to attend the inauguration of the US-funded project. “It is

going to pose some problems for the Pakistani government,” said Riffat Hussein, a professor at Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam University. “It might even lead to some kind of questioning in the Pakistani parliament about the presence of American special forces on

Pakistani soil.”

Suspicions are likely to deepen at an unfortunate time for the United States, which sees long-time ally Pakistan as a vital in its fight against Taleban and AlQaeda militants in Afghanistan.

Washington wants Pakistan to go after Afghan Taleban who cross the border to attack Western troops in Afghanistan, a move that could antagonise militants Islamabad has long seen as assets.

But Pakistan’s military is already stretched against the homegrown AlQaeda-backed Taleban, which claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s bombing. The violence highlighted the resolve of the Pakistani Taleban and raised questions about the effectiveness of a government security crackdown launched in mid-October that destroyed the group’s bases in their main stronghold. It also further lifted the profile of the Pakistani Taleban, whose leader Hakimullah Mehsud appeared in a farewell video with the suicide bomber who killed seven CIA agents in Afghanistan in December.

The Pakistani Taleban have previously focused on toppling the govern-

ment, not attacking US soldiers, but now the United States faces the prospect of coming under further attacks from them. The possibility Pakistan’s Taleban may have known US troops were traveling in the convoy will ring new alarm bells. “A lot of the bombings in Pakistan have been inside jobs. In the sense that they have been carried out by people in the security services who leaked information to the bombers,” Rashid alleged. “Is this such a case? If so it’s very, very dangerous.”

US defence officials said Islamabad had in the past thrown up obstacles to expanding the Special Operations mission over fears of a public backlash, frustrating US officials. Winning more Pakistani cooperation could be even more difficult now, judging by the reaction from some Pakistanis. “If they were trainers what they were doing in such a sensitive region? They should train in a garrison instead of roaming around,” said Syed Sajjad Ali Shah, a retired school principal. “Our rulers are not politicians. They’re money-makers.

They don’t care what’s happening to the country. What’s good and what’s not good for the country.” — Reuters

ANALYSIS

Sunday, February 7, 2010

13

Palin star of controversial US Tea Party

By Ed Stoddard

T

he first national Tea Party convention meets to take aim at all the raucous movement says is wrong with Washington and Sarah Palin, darling of America’s conservatives, will help lead the charge. Tea partiers grabbed headlines last year with often highly charged protests against President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform drive, his $787 billion economic stimulus package and other aspects of his agenda. The movement takes its name from the historic protest against British taxation, the Boston Tea Party, one of the triggers of the American revolution against colonial rule.

Organization for the convention in Nashville has been plagued by in-fighting, pullouts and criticism of an attendance cost of more than $500 and a glitzy dinner that evokes Wall Street rather than Main Street.

It also brings together activists who make for an awkward fit, mirroring wider divisions in a movement which seems united in little but its opposition to big government, especially under Obama’s Democrats.

Conservatives ascribe the

by Obama’s sinking popularity.

All 435 seats of the House of Representatives and more than a third of the 100 Senate seats are up for grabs in November.

In the House, Colorado Democrat Besty Markey is frequently cited as a target while in Arkansas tea partiers in neighboring Texas have signaled their desire to send volunteers to campaign against Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln, who faces a tough re-election campaign.

They have said they may try to influence Democratic contests by pushing for conservatives within the party to win nominations to run for state or national offices.

Activists have said they have their eye on the race in Connecticut to replace retiring Democratic senator Chris Dodd. “What we are working to do is engage people in the process and we are actively recruiting people that have this limited government view. At the same time we are working on training them up to effect political change,” said Ken Emanuelson, who is on the

movement to grass-roots frustration with the big spending ways of both Democrats and Republicans. Liberals counter that it is a Republican Party or corporate front. “Some have tried to portray this movement as a commercial endeavor rather than the grassroots uprising that it is. Those who do so don’t understand the frustration everyday Americans feel when they see their government mortgaging their children’s future with reckless spending,” Palin wrote in an opinion published on Wednesday in USA Today.

Palin said she will donate her fee as keynote speaker at the convention to the cause and its candidates. There is no reliable estimate of the movement’s nationwide numbers though strands of it are coming together under different umbrellas such as the National Tea Party Coalition. Some want it to grow from boisterous agitation to a political machine that can get out the vote for candidates who subscribe to its view of limited government.

Activists interviewed by Reuters said they were targeting Democrats made vulnerable

steering committee of the Dallas Tea Party.

The Dallas group is organizing local activists by their zip or postal codes enabling them to their work such as voter registration drives in their own backyards. Paul McGovern, 62, a small businessman in Irving, Texas, who is a volunteer with his local Tea Party group, said he saw the benefits of taking things to the next stage by organizing politically in many ways including online.

“Obama used the Internet to get elected but now it’s his own worst enemy because we’ll use it,” he said on the sidelines of a tea party leadership conference last weekend in Dallas.

The tea party movement has drawn a mixed bag of what critics might call malcontents, and such a structured approach may grate with libertarians among the faithful. “It is inherently difficult to organize libertarians, which most of the Tea Partiers are,” said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Mainstream conservative groups such as Judicial Watch, which pushes for government transparency, will rub shoulders with fringe elements such

as “birthers” who insist that Obama was born in Kenya and his administration is therefore illegal. Organizers say Palin’s speech at the steak and lobster dinner on Saturday night will be broadcast live, giving the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential contender a chance to rally activists nationwide.

Commentators credit the movement with generating some of the energy behind the Senate election upset in Massachusetts last month when Republican Scott Brown captured the late Edward Kennedy’s seat in a sign of voter discontent with Democrats. If it does manage to transform itself into a political machine, its impact may be most felt during the primaries when candidates compete for party nominations to run for state or national offices. The field in the primaries is more fluid which can work to the advantage of a diffuse movement. In Florida, it is credited with a surge in the polls by tea party favorite Marco Rubio, who is vying with Republican Gov Charlie Crist in the party’s primary to contest for a US Senate seat. — Reuters

Toyota woes highlight cash or ‘kaisha’ dilemma

By Linda Sieg and Nathan Layne

T

oyota Motor Corp’s mass recall crisis may seem peculiarly its own, but the top carmaker’s woes are a cautionary tale for other Japanese companies needing to expand abroad and drive earnings growth. Critics say Toyota, haemorrhaging its reputation for reliability as it recalls millions of cars over a sometimes fatal accelerator defect, failed to balance a traditionally tight management style that ensured quality with the changing demands of globalisation.

Stefan Lippert, a business professor at Temple University in Japan, calls it the “kaisha dilemma”, using the Japanese word for “company”.

“The incredible success of the Japanese economy is based on the ‘kaisha’.

It’s based on this specific management model,” he said, referring to Japan’s rapid economic growth before stalling in the 1990s. “However, times have changed.”

Panasonic Corp, Lippert says, is another company that has been unable to evolve enough from its traditional roots to fully exploit opportunities overseas. Despite dealing in global products, Panasonic still gets half its sales in Japan. Spokesman Akira Kadota said Panasonic has four regional headquarters in New Jersey, Beijing, Singapore and near Frankfurt and they make as many decisions as they can for their respective regions.

If Japanese companies can’t break the mould, they risk losing further ground to South Korean and Chinese rivals that are more proactive in grooming local talent who know their markets best and can play a key role in product innovation.

Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co has pushed aside the Japanese to

become the world’s top maker of LCD TVs. “Toyota is part and parcel of what’s bothering Japan right now,” said Darrel Whitten, managing director of consultancy Investor Networks Inc. “They have to come to terms with globalisation ... I don’t think it’s a situation any more where you can run everything from headquarters.”

Also, losing veteran executive Jim Press - the first non-Japanese elected to Toyota’s board - to Chrysler in 2007 was symptomatic of an inability, shared by many Japanese firms, to attract and keep top-notch local staff.

The challenge could be especially tough for Japan’s service companies, now facing increasing pressure to look for growth beyond their deflation-plagued home markets. Fast Retailing Co Ltd, whose popular Uniqlo chain of fast-fashion shops and heat-trapping underwear gets just 12 percent of revenues abroad, for example is expanding aggressively into Asian markets.

“Companies viewed as just domestic ... are creating an interesting buzz in Asia,” Whitten said. “The question is, can they have flexibility and an open enough management structure ... that can run a competitive global operation. At the very least, you have to have communications skills and its more than communication skills, it’s the mindset.”

In the 1980’s Japan’s tech, auto and machinery exporters were the envy of the business world. They charged into overseas markets with high quality but reasonably priced products, siphoning customers away from US and European manufacturers. Some are still among the top performers in their industries - from Honda Motor in cars to Canon Inc in cameras and copiers to Fanuc in industrial robots.

But others, like once-mighty electronics conglomerate Sony Corp, have lost their competitive edge to more nimble overseas rivals. “The

auto sector and Toyota is our last hope to maintain a very strong brand image and market position for Japanese companies,” said Tatsuya

Mizuno, founder of credit ratings firm Mizuno Credit Advisory. “But when we look at this situation at Toyota, we may lose that last hope.” — Reuters

Is US bullying Toyota on recall?

By Mira Oberman

T

he US transportation chief’s public rebukes of Toyota’s handling of a massive safety recall have raised eyebrows, given the US government’s major stake in rivals General Motors and Chrysler. “The optics are terrible because - and this is what happens when a government owns a company - the two companies that are going to gain the most out of this are General Motors and Chrysler,” said Peter Morici, a professor at the University of Maryland’s business school. “But their behavior is consistent with the general policy of the US government, whether it’s dealing with coffeemakers or cars.” Safety officials understand that product design mistakes are inevitable and will work to help companies correct the problem and alert consumers. But they will not tolerate a slow or weak response, Morici told AFP. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood sat down with reporters Wednesday to lay out a timeline of how US officials had “pushed Toyota to take corrective actions” on its pedal problems since 2007.

The meeting came a day after he issued a statement accusing the Japanese automaker of dragging its feet on recalling vehicles in danger of sudden, unintended acceleration due to pedals which could get trapped under floor mats or become “sticky”. He also caused a brief panic when he told a congressional panel that owners of 5.3 million Toyota vehicles affected by the recalls should “stop driving” them.

LaHood later sought to tone down his remarks, telling reporters: “What I meant to say and what I thought I said was if you own one of these cars or if you’re in doubt, take it to the dealer and they’re going to fix it.” But he insisted that safety officials “will continue to hold Toyota’s feet to the fire to make sure that they are doing everything they have promised to make their vehicles safe.”

Legislators meanwhile signaled that they would expand their probe, demanding answers on why Toyota’s Tacoma trucks - which have a different pedal assembly

than the 5.3 million vehicles recalled - were also experiencing problems with sudden, unintended acceleration.

LaHood’s strong initial comments could cause some “hysteria, but to some extent, we are such a litigious society, he has no choice but to say that because of the lawsuits that are lined up,” said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst with IHS Global Insight. “If one more person is killed, they can say that the government didn’t act; Toyota did not act.”

Weston Konishi, an expert on Japan at the Mansfield Foundation think-tank, said he doubted either Washington or Tokyo wanted the Toyota flap to escalate.

“Toyota is now a real stakeholder in the US economy think of its auto plants and jobs - so trying to score points against it would be somewhat self-defeating,” he added.

Konishi said he could only see Toyota becoming the governments’ business if the company cut off contracts with US manufacturers due to lack of confidence in quality control after the problems with the US-made pedals.

David Champion, director of automobile testing for Consumer Reports magazine, said the reaction to the recall was overblown. “When you look at the statistics we are putting an awful lot of effort on a very small risk,” he said. “There has been something like 2,000 complaints of unintended acceleration in some 20 million Toyota vehicles - it’s almost like trying to find a needle in a haystack.” Champion lamented as “unfortunate” that it took the death of an off-duty California state trooper and three members of his family to prompt Toyota to issue a mass recall in September to address the problem. But he said a congressional investigation was an “overreaction” and noted that the “sticky” pedal problem that caused Toyota to halt production and sales of eight models last month was not linked to any accidents or injuries. “I’m sure it’s going to hurt Toyota in the short term over the next year or so,” Champion said. “But if their products are as good as they have been in the past, we’re going to see that Toyota’s going to bounce back as Ford has from the Firestone (tyre recall) fiasco.” — AFP

Obama has little choice but meet Dalai Lama

By Foster Klug

J

ust a week after enraging China with an arms sale package for rival Taiwan, President Barack Obama risks more damage to this crucial relationship by agreeing to meet with the Dalai Lama in two weeks. The truth is he has little choice. Obama already postponed the visit once, angering US lawmakers and rights groups. As Obama struggles to regain his footing after political setbacks, the last thing he needs is to open himself up to fresh criticism that he is kowtowing to China.

So on Thursday, his administration confirmed what had long been expected: Obama will meet with the Dalai Lama when the Tibetan monk visits Washington on Feb 17-18.

China immediately urged the United States to scrap the meeting to avoid hurting bilateral ties. China accuses the Dalai Lama of pushing for Tibetan independence, which the Dalai Lama denies, and believes that shunning the exiled Tibetan monk should be a basic principle of international relations for countries that want to deal with China. In reality, China could not have been surprised by Thursday’s announcement.

Every US president for the last two decades has met with the Dalai Lama, and those visits

are considered powerful signs of the American commitment to human rights.

Obama also told Chinese leaders last year that he would meet with the monk. The Dalai Lama enjoys widespread support in America. Highprofile celebrities call him friend; college students flock to his frequent campus lectures; powerful US lawmakers would call another postponed meeting a betrayal.

Obama is focused on

domestic matters as he deals with a struggling economy and a series of Republican political victories.

He does not want to add to that with an outcry over his snubbing the Dalai Lama again. For

the last year, Obama has faced criticism that his administration is more eager to win Chinese cooperation on nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and climate change and economic crises than to hold Beijing accountable for what activists call an abysmal rights record.

Much of that criticism stems from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s comments during a trip to China a year ago that human rights should not interfere with improving US-China ties.

Activists also said Obama failed to make human rights a big enough priority during his China trip in November. Just a month before that high-profile trip, Obama faced anger for putting off a White House visit when the Dalai Lama came to Washington.

Still, he has little to show from China for his outreach. As Beijing refuses to give ground on many key issues, the Obama administration has shown an increasing willingness to get tough.

In September, Obama slapped tariffs on a flood of Chinese tires entering the United States. Although he antagonized China and heard complaints about US protectionism, he was praised by powerful American union allies who blame Chinese tyre imports for the loss of thousands of jobs.

And, in recent weeks, the administration announced the $6.4 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the self-governing democratic island Beijing claims as its own; Clinton urged Beijing to investigate hacking attacks that led to Google’s threat to pull out of China; and Obama vowed to get tough with China on a currency dispute.

Now, China’s anger will be focused on the Dalai Lama’s visit.

China maintains that Tibet has been part of its territory for centuries, but many Tibetans say the region was functionally independent for much of its history.

Tibet and Taiwan are China’s most sensitive issues, and Obama risks Chinese retaliation by stoking anger in Beijing. Already, China has threatened to punish US companies involved in any arms sales to Taiwan and has suspended military exchanges with Washington. Many will be watching whether the Dalai Lama meeting wrecks a possible April visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Washington. —AP

focus

Changing China tied to rough ride with US

By Chris Buckley

“R

ide on a tiger and it’s hard to climb down,” goes a Chinese saying that is proving apt for Beijing’s quarrels with Washington this year, when swollen ambitions at home are driving China on a harder tack abroad. China’s outrage over US arms sales to Taiwan and President Barack Obama’s planned meeting with the Dalai Lama has shown that, in the wake of the global financial crisis, Beijing is growing pushier in public.

In past decades, a poorer, more cautious China greeted US weapons sales to the disputed island with angry words and little else. Not now, as China enters the Year of the Tiger in its traditional lunar calendar cycle of talismanic animals. The Obama administration last week announced plans to ship $6.4 billion of missiles, helicopters and weapons control systems to the self-ruled island Beijing calls its own. China threatened to downgrade cooperation with Washington and for the first time sanction companies involved in such sales.

Beijing this week also condemned Obama’s plan to meet the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan leader reviled by China. China’s loud ire adds to signs the country is becoming surer about throwing around its political weight, growing along with an economy soon likely to whir past Japan’s as the world’s second biggest, though it will still trail far behind the United States.

Behind this assertiveness are domestic pressures likely to make it harder work for China’s leaders to cool disputes with Washington and other Western capitals.

“There is this paradox of increasing confidence externally and lack of confidence domestically,” said Susan Shirk, a professor specialising in Chinese foreign policy at the University of California, San Diego. “There’s also what I consider a serious misperception of the country’s economic strength and how that translates in power.”

Chinese citizens and powerful constituencies, including the military, have been told through state media and leader’s speeches that the nation’s rising power would bring the nation greater international respect and reach. “Staunch and cool-headed, battling the roaring waves,” said one headline in the People’s Daily, celebrating President Hu Jintao’s role in fighting the financial crisis.

Having pulled through the global downturn with 8.7 percent growth in 2009, China’s leaders face pressure to meet those expectations, or risk seeing their authority eroded.

Well-placed analysts do not expect Sino-American friction to spiral into full-blown confrontation. Both sides have too much at stake, economically and politically. But China’s stirring home-grown pressures will discourage Beijing from quietly stepping down over Taiwan and Tibet, and could encourage harder positions over trade disputes, exchange rate shifts and climate change policy, where national pride and prosperity are seen by many as threatened.

“These perceptions of strength create expectations on the part of the Chinese public of how their leaders will behave internationally,” said Shirk, who served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Clinton administration.

“It’s too early to say there’s been a strategic shift,” she added. “But clearly it’s going to be a difficult period for relations with the United States.”

China’s top-down political system gives the ruling Communist Party immense power to drive foreign policy.

But that power is not unconditional. As revolutionary Communist ideology has sputtered, and social controls loosened by market reform,

appeals to patriotic pride and national revival - “prosperity and power” - have become pillars of Party authority. China’s leaders must in turn heed public reactions in crafting foreign policy, especially dealing with volatile subjects such as Taiwan and Tibet, seen by most Chinese as unquestionably parts of their country.

“It’s almost like a positive feed-back loop that puts China in a position where it can’t be seen as weak or compromising, because people have had it drummed into them that China can’t be weak or compromising,” said Drew Thompson, director of China Studies at the Nixon Center, an institute in Washington, DC. With China boasting robust growth while Western economies floundered, those public expectations have swelled. In a poll by the Pew Global Attitudes Project last year, 41 percent of Chinese respondents said the United States was the world’s leading economic power. The same number, 41 percent, named their own country, China almost double the number who named it in 2008.

The US gross domestic product was actually worth $14.2 trillion in 2008, while China’s was worth $4.6 trillion - for a much bigger population - according to the respective statistics of each country. The domestic pressures bearing on China’s leaders are clearest and loudest on the Internet, which the government says has 384 million users. Nationalist calls for tough steps against the United States, Japan or other countries echo online at times of tension, and can reach beyond what officials deem acceptable.

“The Chinese government does pay careful attention to opinion on the Internet, and these troubles with the United States will affect that public opinion,” said Liu Jiangyong, a professor of international relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing. A Chinese public opinion poll last year organised by the Sydney-based Low Institute for International Policy found 50 percent of respondents thought the United States was a threat to their nation’s security.

Younger Chinese citizens were more likely to support that view. “The US view that this will all be a passing squall could be out of date,” said Liu, who formerly worked as a government adviser. “China’s expectations for itself are changing.”

Powerful arms of China’s state could also bolster a harder stance against the West.

China’s Communist Party leaders keep a tight leash on the country’s military. But after over two decades of near unbroken double-digit percentage growth in the official defence budget, People’s Liberation Army officers have become more public about their expectations, including for a tough stand on Taiwan.

Major-General Jin Yinan of China’s National Defence University said in a Communist Party newspaper last month his government would have to punish the United States if it went ahead with selling new arms to Taiwan. “Our only choice is vigorous retaliation,” he wrote in the Study Times, the newspaper of the Central Party School. Whether China really does take counter-steps awaits to be seen. The government has so far not specified any penalties on the US companies selling the arms.

Nor have officials even hinted at broader trade and economic hits at the United States, steps that could maul China’s own economic health, alarm international investors, and turn public feeling against the government. But abandoning the threats of sanctions could also prove humiliating at home and abroad. “China has few palatable options for economic coercion,” wrote Thompson in a comment on the arms sale dispute. — Reuters

NEWS

14

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Handshake ...

Continued from Page 1

ATHENS: Riot police clash with anarchists during a rally in central Athens. About 800 anarchists and leftwing protesters took part, calling on the center-left government to legalize all illegal immigrants in the country. A few meters away about 500 people from Greek ultra right groups demonstrated against plans by Socialists to naturalize hundreds of thousands of immigrants. — AP

Preteen as samba queen stirs controversy in Rio RIO DE JANEIRO: She is the Shirley Temple of samba, a 7-year-old named to a coveted Car nival role nor mally reserved for barely clad models who have undergone more plastic surgeries than little Julia Lira has seen birthdays.

Naming the girl drum corps queen for the Viradouro samba group is raising eyebrows even in a city that has seen everything during the annual mega-party that begins next week.

A judge is considering blocking Julia’s participation. A state agency that defends children’s rights says she’s too young to take on a traditionally sexy role. But the girl’s father, who happens to be the president of the Viradouro group, says Julia is a natural who can easily samba through the 80-minute parade route in Rio’s sweltering summer heat. “Any man who looks at a 7year-old child and feels any sort of excitement should go see a doctor,” Marco Lira said before rehearsal this week. “She has the aptitude to be a drum corps queen - you’ll see it tonight.

She has a seriousness inside of her when she is on the stage.”

At the delicate core of Julia’s case is the queen’s traditional role in Rio’s Carnival: that of sexy muse. Unlike other participants, she is usually not bare-chested and wears more than just glitter. But queen costumes would be considered revealing by any estimation.

Brazil has long had a problem with sexual exploitation of children, especially in the lawless Amazon region. Allowing Julia to be a drum corps queen “would increase the treatment of children as sexual objects in Brazilian society,” said Carlos Nicodemos, director of the Rio de Janeiro state Council for the Defense of Children and Adolescents.

“We’re not against kids participating in Carnival; it’s part of Brazilian culture,” Nicodemos said. “What we can’t allow is putting a 7-year-old girl in a role that traditionally for Carnival has a very sexual focus.” The competition

RIO DE JANEIRO: Julia Lira, 7, performs during a rehearsal of the Viradouro samba school Feb 3, 2010. — AP among the 12 top-tier samba groups is fierce, and the winners are hailed by fans across Brazil. Viradouro, which won the title in 1997, is no stranger to controversy. In 2008, a judge blocked the group’s use of a dancer dressed as Hitler on a float loaded with naked people representing Holocaust victims after the display caused an international outcry.

Julia’s fate is now in the hands of a family court in Rio. The judge examining the case, Ivone Ferreira Caetano, has declined to comment or say when she will make a decision. Marco Lira said the judge requested information about the girl’s role, what time the group was scheduled to makes its presentation - now slated for just after midnight on Feb 14 - and what Julia would be wearing. At practice this week, Julia danced in a poof y, white miniskir t, sequined halter top and silver-heeled sandals, a tiara atop her head.

While the details of parade themes and costumes are closely guarded secrets in Rio’s Carnival, a Viradouro artistic director said Julia’s outfit would be suitable for a child. “We’re taking the

necessary precautions because she isn’t going to be a muse,” Edson Pereira said on the group’s Web site. “We can’t transform a girl into a woman, much less explore any sensuality.” Just before Tuesday’s rehearsal, Julia was roughhousing with two other girls inside her dad’s office. She stopped playing only when her mother, Monica, told her it was time to get dressed for practice.

A gregarious girl with a toothy grin, she declined to say much, despite the coaxing of her parents and samba instr uctor. She didn’t like how her mother had fixed her hair and was in no mood to talk to a reporter. Asked why she wanted to be the drum corps queen, Julia would only say quietly: “I’m happy because I like to dance.” That much is clear. When she took the stage in front of more than 1,000 people at the rehearsal, she lit up as she presented a bouquet of roses to 30-year-old Juliana Paes, a top Brazilian actress who served as Viradouro’s dr um queen for five years. Once the beats from the drum corps erupted, Julia dove into her samba routine.

Beyond the question of appropriateness is whether a 1.2-m girl weighing about 25 kg can physically withstand the dancing during Viradouro’s parade. At the rehearsal, she was handed cups of water within 10 minutes of taking the stage and in 20 minutes started to look tired. Her father emphasized that several people would be watching after her during the parade, that she would be able to rest and that every precaution would be taken to safeguard her health.

Re g a rd l e s s , s o m e C a r n i v a l f a n s don’t see how Julia could be considered for the role. “She is way too young to be parading down the avenue,” said Jaquelene Oliveira, a 19-year-old college student. “The role of the drum corps queen is to inspire the drummers to play hard for 80 minutes. It is an innately sexual role and to put a child in that position is wrong.” — AP

Iraq militants abduct American contractor Continued from Page 1 involved in great suffering because of this incident.” A US intelligence official and an Iraqi defense official confirmed the man in the video is Salomi. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to release the information. Blackwater security contractors were protecting US diplomats when the guards opened fire in Nisoor Square, a crowded Baghdad intersection, on Sept 16, 2007. Seventeen people were killed, including women and children, in a shooting that inflamed antiAmerican sentiment in Iraq. There was no way to verify the authenticity of the video, but a high-ranking Iraqi defense official told AP that Salomi was the man in the video and that he was abducted by the militant group in the central Baghdad district of Karradah.

The official said Salomi is of Iraqi origin and that his abductors lured him to

Karradah under the pretense of visiting distant relatives. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

“We obviously hope for his safe return,” Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said. “We aren’t certain of the circumstances under which he disappeared.”

The Department of Defense said the missing contractor is from El Cajon, California.

Salomi’s family issued a statement, released through the FBI in San Diego, saying they were hoping for his safe retur n. The statement did not say whether Salomi was believed abducted.

“We are confident that everything is being done by the most capable people here and abroad to bring Issa home safely, and we all are anxiously awaiting his safe return,” the statement said.

The man in the video is seated in a chair and wearing what looks like a US military uniform. Behind him is the

black banner of the militant group, also known by its Arabic name, Asaib Ahl AlHaq. He says his captors were also demanding the immediate withdrawal of the US military from Iraq. The militant group’s website claimed the man in the video is an American officer.

The same group was believed to be behind the kidnapping of British computer consultant Peter Moore in May 2007 along with his four British bodyguards.

Moore was handed over to Iraqi authorities in late December. Three of the bodyguards were killed and the fourth is believed dead. The British government has said no deals were str uck for Moore’s release, though it coincided with the transfer of the head of the militant group from US to Iraqi custody. Qais Al-Khazali, along with his brother, were accused of organizing an attack on a local government headquarters in the city of Karbala that killed five US soldiers on Jan 20, 2007. — AP

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and a second with Ayalon, Russian academic Igor Yurgens and US Senator Joseph Lieberman.

Ayalon began his talk saying it appeared “a representative of a country with a lot of oil” had pressed the organisers to separate the panel because he “did not want to sit with us”. This showed a lack of mutual respect and tolerance, a failing at the heart of the region’s problems, he said.

In the subsequent question and answer session, Turki stood up in the audience and said it was not he who had objected and the splitting of the panel was probably due to Ayalon’s “boorish behaviour” with Turkey’s envoy to Israel.

This was a reference to a public dressing down Ayalon gave Ambassador Oguz Celikkol in January. Ayalon later conceded his behaviour toward the envoy had been inappropriate. Israel has apologised for the incident.

Ayalon responded to Turki saying Turki had called into question his integrity. He added: “If indeed it was not him who objected to my being here with him, I would welcome him to shake my outstretched hand.” Turki approached the podium, Ayalon descended from it and the men grasped hands.

Davutoglu could not immediately be reached for comment. Turkey, as a Muslim country, is an important ally of Israel and in the past has helped forge contacts between the Jewish state and the Arab world. But relations have deteriorated following criticism by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan of Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip last year. — Reuters

Controversial film acclaimed abroad but unseen by Syrians Continued from Page 1 The coming to power in Syria a decade ago of President Bashar Al-Assad following the death of his father, strongman Hafez Al-Assad, ushered in a brief period of freedom dubbed the “Damascus Spring”. But a crackdown and the arrest of 10 pro-democracy activists in the summer of 2001 brought that period to an end. US-based Human Rights Watch has said that Syria’s human rights record “remains very poor”, and has called on the Damascus

government to release political prisoners and ease media censorship.

Director Ali said he was given permission to shoot the film. “Of course we got authorisation for the screenplay, since in Syria you can’t film in secret,” he said. But Ali also said he had no idea whether “The Long Night” will ever be granted a licence so it can be screened in public. Hakki was more upbeat about its prospects. “The film is waiting to be shown,” he said. “It did not displease the censorship commission, and even pleased some people there.”

Hakki said that lower-ranking censorship officials may have been reluctant to authorise the film’s screening, because taking a wrong decision could have landed them in hot water. “The subject is sensitive. It is being touched upon for the first time, and consequently authorisation must come from the top,” Hakki said. “I am optimistic the problem will be solved.” For Ali, “it’s a film that takes a purely human interest approach, far from (political) slogans. It carefully tackles the problem” of political prisoners. — AFP

‘Snowmageddon’ slams US east coast, two dead Continued from Page 1 Andre Francis, pleading for patience as some customers were told the blackouts could last days. Some 200 National Guardsmen had been deployed across Maryland, while in Virginia police confirmed that a father and son were killed Friday when they stopped to help a stranded car. “Virginia state police are working numerous traffic crashes and responding to multiple disabled vehicles as the winter storm makes its way across” the state, the police said in a statement.

In the normally bustling capital, the streets had been transformed into a deserted winter wonderland Saturday as workers with snow-blowers struggled to clear the sidewalks. Some people were enjoying the city’s transformation. Alix Lawe, who works with the US Air Force, was out for a run in the snow, and told AFP: “It’s so fun. I’m from Florida, I’ve

never seen so much snow.” And a German woman, was also out exercising wearing snowshoes, after she failed to buy cross-country skis as they were all sold out. “I was being paranoid staying at home,” she said, casually sipping coffee.

Snow plows were out trying to keep emergency routes and main highways clear, but most officials said it would take days to reach the smaller streets, and warned of a difficult Monday morning commute. The National Weather Service (NWS) has put the WashingtonBaltimore metropolitan area under a rare 24-hour blizzard warning until 10:00 pm yesterday. All flights out of the capital’s Reagan National airport were canceled, along with most flights out of Dulles International Airport in Virginia, while there was a limited service at Baltimore.

A hangar roof collapsed at the Dulles Jet Center early yesterday according to Rob Yengling, Metropolitan Washington

Airports Authority spokesman. Five people spending the night inside to shelter from the storm escaped without injuries. The snowfall may shatter Washington’s 88-year-old record snowfall of 28 inches in the 1922 “Great Knickerbocker Stor m,” when the Knickerbocker Theatre collapsed killing nearly 100 people.

The capital’s subway system has shut down 40 above ground stations, meaning transport links between Washington and its heavily-populated suburbs were snapped with most major roads impassable, knocking out bus services. The governors of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware have declared states of emergency, a move that puts the National Guard on alert. While in Delaware all vehicles were ordered off the roads. But some people were preparing to enjoy the winter’s second biggest storm in the area, with plans for a mass snowball fight in central Washington shaping up. — AFP

Iran upbeat, West wary of nuke deal Continued from Page 1 A Chinese diplomat said the major powers should respond to comments from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who, in contrast to Mottaki, said on Tuesday Iran could send low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad before getting reactor fuel back.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov told reporters in Munich that any sanctions against Iran should focus on stopping nuclear proliferation rather than target its economy. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Iran had so far failed to dispel Western scepticism that it was prepared to make meaningful concessions over its nuclear program. “Our hand is still reaching out towards them. But so far it’s reaching out into nothingness,” he said. “And I’ve seen nothing since yesterday that makes me want to change that view.”

Gates said Iran’s response had been disappointing and suggested it was time to move ahead with more sanctions on Iran, which has already had three sets of United Nations sanctions imposed for its failure to halt uranium enrichment. “If they are prepared to take up the original proposal of the P-5 plus one of delivering 1,200 kg of their low enriched uranium, all at once to an agreed party, I think there would be a response to that,” he added, referring to the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany. “But...they have done nothing to reassure the international community that they are prepared to comply with the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) or stop their progress towards a nuclear weapon, and therefore I think various

nations need to think about whether the time has come for a different tack.”

Western powers see the fuel swap as a means to ensure Tehran does not further enrich its uranium for use in a nuclear weapon. Iran denies it wants to make atomic bombs, but some Tehran officials have expressed strong opposition to the deal. “In this connection you are after some kind of political fraud and intend to take away the enriched uranium material from the Iranians,” parliament speaker Ali Larijani said, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.

Some analysts interpret the mixed messages from Tehran as a sign of splits linked to political turmoil after Iran’s disputed June presidential election. Others see it as a delaying tactic. “It seems to be the old game. They are playing for time, while the international community is divided,” Stephan Bierling, political science professor at the University of Regensburg. US National Security Adviser James Jones said Iran’s “puzzling defiance” over its nuclear enrichment program compelled the United States and its allies to work on a “second track of increased pressure”, and said Iran could face wider sanctions or isolation.

Meanwhile, Iranian Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi opened two new missile production plants yesterday, just three days after Iran fired a rocket carrying live animals into space, state television reported. The plants will produce a ground-to-air missile dubbed the Qaem (Rising) and a surface-to-surface missile dubbed Toofan 5 (Storm), the broadcaster said. The Qaem is designed to target helicopters at low and medium altitudes, it

added. “Toofan 5 is one of the most advanced missiles. It has two warheads which can destroy tanks and other armoured vehicles,” Vahidi was quoted as saying by Fars news agency. He said the Qaem was a “missile which can destroy targets in the air travelling at low speed and at low altitude, especially assault helicopters”.

Iran unveiled the new plants as part of its celebrations for the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution later this month.

On Wednesday, it launched a capsule carrying turtles, rats and worms aboard a Kavoshgar 3 (Explorer) rocket in its first experiment in sending living creatures into space.

Iran’s missile and space programs have sparked mounting alarm in the West amid fears that a command of advanced ballistics technologies combined with the nuclear know-how acquired from its declared civilian program may enable it to produce an atomic weapon. Iran has also regularly boasted of having missiles that can target arch-foe Israel.

In December it tested the Sejil 2 (Lethal Stone) missile, describing it as a faster version of a medium-range missile that could allow it to strike arch-foe Israel. The United States and its regional ally Israel have not ruled out a military option to stop Tehran’s controversial nuclear drive. Tehran has in the past threatened to target US bases in the region and to block the strategic Gulf Strait of Hormuz waterway for oil tankers if its nuclear sites are attacked.

Iran is under three sets of UN sanctions for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment. —Agencies

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

15

NHL results/standings NHL results and standings on Friday.

New Jersey 4, Toronto 3; Washington 5, Atlanta 2; Carolina 4, Buffalo 3; Calgary 2, Florida 1; Phoenix 2, Chicago 1 (SO). (So Denotes Shootout Victory) Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF New Jersey 36 18 2 150 Pittsburgh 35 21 1 180 Philadelphia 28 24 3 163 NY Rangers 25 26 7 149 NY Islanders 23 26 8 145

GA 128 161 150 162 177

PTS 74 71 59 57 54

Buffalo Ottawa Montreal Boston Toronto

Northeast Division 32 17 7 158 33 21 4 164 27 25 6 149 23 22 10 133 18 29 11 155

140 160 156 143 201

71 70 60 56 47

Washington Tampa Bay Florida Atlanta Carolina

Southeast Division 40 12 6 229 24 21 11 145 24 24 9 150 24 24 8 168 20 30 7 152

157 165 163 181 187

86 59 57 56 47

Western Conference Central Division Chicago 37 15 5 183 Nashville 31 21 4 156 Detroit 27 20 10 147 St. Louis 25 23 9 148 Columbus 23 27 9 152

134 156 152 159 194

79 66 64 59 55

Northwest Division 34 20 2 181 31 19 6 164 29 21 8 149 28 25 4 159 18 32 6 144

138 149 147 169 190

70 68 66 60 42

Pacific Division 37 11 9 193 35 18 5 157 35 19 3 174 25 21 11 162 27 24 7 162

140 146 156 181 179

83 75 73 61 61

Vancouver Colorado Calgary Minnesota Edmonton

San Jose Phoenix Los Angeles Dallas Anaheim

Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

CHICAGO: Phoenix Coyotes’ Robert Lang (left) scores against Chicago Blackhawks goalie Cristobal Huet of France, during a shootout of an NHL hockey game. —AP

Coyotes down Blackhawks CHICAGO: The Phoenix Coyotes brought up their longest NHL winning streak for three years, beating the high-flying Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 after a penalty shootout Friday.

Robert Lang and defenseman Adrian Aucoin scored in the shootout to give Phoenix its season-high sixth straight victory — their best run since 2006-07 — and outright third place in the Western Conference standings.

Phoenix backup goalie Jason LaBarbera

made 28 saves to the end of overtime, then stopped two of three Blackhawks in the shootout. Radim Vrbata scored late in the second period for the Coyotes.

Colin Fraser netted for the Central Division-leading Blackhawks, who have lost three straight for the first time this season.

Capitals 5, Thrashers 2 In Washington, the hosts kept up their hot streak, notching their 13th consecutive win by downing Atlanta. The last time a

team had a longer streak was when Pittsburgh set the league record with 17 in a row in 1992-93.

Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 39th goal and had an assist, while Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin, Jason Chimera and Mike Green also netted for the Capitals. The Thrashers, playing a day after trading star Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey, got goals from Tobias Enstrom and Rich Peverley. The Capitals also matched the franchise record of 10 consecutive home vic-

tories in a half-empty Verizon Center. The game was announced as a sellout, but many fans stayed home as a snowstorm hit the nation’s capital.

Flames 2, Panthers 1 In Sunrise, Florida, Ales Kotalik and Mark Giordano scored to lift out-of-form Calgary to a win over Florida. Mikka Kiprusoff made 12 saves for the Flames, who ended a four-game road losing streak.

Dennis Seidenberg scored the sole goal for

the Panthers, who had a season-low 13 shots on goal.

Devils 4, Maple Leafs 3 In Newark, New Jersey, the hosts scored three times in the last three minutes to record a stunning win over Toronto.

Dean McAmmond, Travis Zajac and Jay Pandolfo scored in the wild finish to turn a disappointing debut for Ilya Kovalchuk into a celebration.Dainius Zubrus had a firstperiod goal for New Jersey. Tomas Kaberle, Lee Stempniak and Rickard Wallin

When BMW Oracle Racing issued its challenge in July 2007, it specified only a boat with a 90-foot load-waterline and a 90-foot beam, or width. Just in case the two sides couldn’t come up with a mutually agreed class rule — and they didn’t — the Americans weren’t going to make the same mistake New Zealander Michael Fay made in 1988.

Fay challenged Dennis Conner with a 90-foot monohull, and was routed by Conner’s smaller, much faster catamaran off San Diego in the only other Deed of Gift Match in modern times. So when the Americans specified a 90-by90-foot boat, everyone knew their intention was going to be a multihull. What kind was up to each team.

The Americans chose a trimaran, feeling a triple-hulled boat would be a good, all-around platform for light air and flat water, and would have been OK had the Swiss picked a port that had stronger wind and waves.

“Multihulls have been faster than monohulls since whenever the Tahitians strapped two logs together,” said New Zealander Mike Drummond, BMW Oracle Racing’s design director. “If it had been a Tahitian Empire instead of a British Empire, the world would have sailed multihulls.”

Alinghi chose a classic two-hulled boat based on a smaller catamaran Bertarelli had sailed on Lake Geneva. While USA’s middle hull is 90 feet long, its outer hulls are more than 100 feet long. Alinghi’s hulls are 110 feet long. But it’s the 90 feet of load-waterline that is the important length.

The mesh material that serves as Alinghi 5’s deck is twice as big as a tennis court. Its mast is as tall as a 20story building, and a crane is required to lift the 1,300pound mainsail off the boat each night. It takes 22 people to carry the 660-pound headsail onto shore.

USA already was a beast when the syndicate added a radical wing sail late last year. It looks just like the wing of an airplane, with eight flaps on the trailing edge. Trimmed by a hydraulic system powered by an engine, it is expected to allow USA to accelerate quicker and maneuver easier than with a traditional soft sail rig.

“Right from the beginning I knew that a wing was a possibility, not a probability,” Drummond said. “When there was some delay because of court action and so forth, we did realize we did have time to look at it seriously.”

Even the sailors can’t ignore the simple “wow” factor.

“To do it on this scale is something pretty amazing,” said BMW Oracle Racing’ skipper and CEO Russell Coutts, a three-time America’s Cup winner. “I don’t think we’ll see the same thing again in our lifetimes.”

Built on the shores of Lake Geneva, Alinghi 5 is so big it had to be slung under a helicopter and flown over the Alps to Genoa, Italy, for initial sea trials. USA was sent from its base in San Diego to Valencia on the deck of a cargo ship.

Baird, the helmsman for Alinghi’s victory over Team New Zealand in 2007, said he tells his Australian friends that Alinghi 5 couldn’t sail under the Sydney Harbour Bridge without breaking off the top of its mast.

“It’s just stunning,” Baird said. “The boats are as wide as container ships. They blast along, all the time, at 20 to 30 to 40 knots. I mean, they just go fast. And that’s in the most moderate conditions. It’s quite a different experience.”—AP

Hurricanes 4, Sabres 3 In Buffalo, New York, Jussi Jokinen snapped a third-period tie and added an assist to lift Carolina over Buffalo. Backup goalie Manny Legace made 28 saves for Carolina, while Eric Staal, Aaron Ward and Tom Kostopoulos also scored for the Hurricanes.

For the Sabres, Drew Stafford scored twice and Andrej Sekera had a goal and two assists. — AP

Flat Irish still good enough to trounce poor Italians

America’s Cup boats bring ‘wow’ factor to showdown VALENCIA: On a recent visit to his native Australia, America’s Cup helmsman Jimmy Spithill squeezed in the time to get his pilot’s license. It was an understandable decision for a man who will have his hands on the wheel of one of the most mind-blowing sailboats ever built when the 33rd America’s Cup begins tomorrow.

Spithill will steer USA, a 90-by-90-foot trimaran representing American challenger BMW Oracle Racing of San Francisco, which is owned by software magnate Larry Ellison.

It will try to wrest the oldest trophy in international sports away from two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland, whose equally massive catamaran, Alinghi 5, could be steered by syndicate boss Ernesto Bertarelli or American Ed Baird.

These catamarans are the fastest, most powerful boats in the 159-year history of the America’s Cup. When they hook into even the slightest breeze, their windward hulls fly off the water by up to 20 feet.

Capable of sailing at up to three times the speed of the wind, USA has flirted with 50 knots. Conventional America’s Cup yachts average 11 or 12 knots under good conditions. BMW Oracle Racing kept pushing the limits late last year when it added a radical wing sail, which towers 223 feet off the deck and is bigger than the wing of an Airbus A380, the world’s biggest passenger airliner.

The multihulls are the byproduct of a bitter, 2-1/2-year legal fight between Ellison and Bertarelli, two of the world’s wealthiest men. Though convoluted and contentious, the court case has brought the stodgy old America’s Cup decidedly into the 21st century.

“The real upside is that thing,” Spithill added, motioning toward the triple-hulled giant. “Whatever happens, this is always going to be something that’ll be really cool to be a part of. OK, two teams are going to go out, and we want to win, but the fact that this has been done, is a real milestone in the sport.”

If the best-of-three series is as spectacular as the participants think it can be, the boats might restore some dignity to a sport that has been sullied by a tit-for-tat squabble between the teams over rules, dates, the venue and practically everything else relating to the regatta. “Nobody is unhappy with what happened,” Alinghi principal designer Rolf Vrolijk said frankly while admiring his craft from a balcony at the team’s headquarters on Thursday.

“This is unique. It will never happen again.” The genesis of the nasty spat between Ellison, the CEO of Oracle Corp., and Bertarelli, a biotech tycoon, was each side’s interpretation of the Deed of Gift, the 1887 document that governs the America’s Cup. The America’s Cup normally is contested in sloops that are approximately 85 feet long, with several challengers competing for the right to face the defender. Because Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing couldn’t agree to rules for a conventional regatta, it defaulted to a rare head-to-head showdown.

According to the Deed of Gift, boats with one mast have one basic design limitation — they can’t be less than 44 feet or more than 90 feet on the waterline when the vessel is fully loaded.

scored in the second period for Toronto.

SPAIN: BMW Oracle Racing CEO and skipper Russell Coutts, from New Zealand, is seen in front of a photo of the BOR 90 boat in Valencia. The 33rd America’s Cup is scheduled to start tomorrow. —AP

DUBLIN: Ireland beat a woeful Italian outfit 29-11 at Croke Park here yesterday with an uninspiring performance as they opened their defence of the Six Nations title.

Veteran fly-half Ronan O’Gara, under pressure for his place from the emerging Jonathan Sexton, put in a peerless performance kicking 16 points before injury forced him off in the last quarter, while Italy’s defence was stout but their lineout shaky.

The hosts, though, did grab two first-half tries through Jamie Heaslip and scrum-half Tomas O’Leary, his first in the green shirt.

Man of the match David Wallace admitted that there would have to be a huge improvement for next Saturday’s match with France in Paris.

“However there is a sense of satisfaction as we had a job to do and we went out and did it and kept going for the whole 80 minutes,” said Wallace.

“There are things to improve on for next weekend.

However, we haven’t played a lot of rugby in the last six weeks so it is good to get that under our belts.

“Italy never gave up, their defence was really ferocious.

We would have liked to score more tries but credit to Italy.

“For France we need to improve in a lot of areas. We learnt a lot from this game.”

The Azzuri were expecting the set piece to prove their best platform, especially in the scrum, with the inexperienced Cian Healy packing down against the mighty Martin Castrogiovanni.

But the 22-year-old laid down a marker at the first scrum earning Ireland their first scoring chance when referee Romain Poite penalised the Leicester prop for collapsing.

O’Gara took the three points and the Irish scrum held up well throughout.

Ireland’s next score came from a superb passing movement created by Andrew

Trimble and Brian O’Driscoll, and finished by Heaslip giving the Number 8 his fourth Test try.

Eventually the visitors got on the scoreboard with a Craig Gower penalty after Ireland engaged too early at the scrum. But they then had the misfortune of seeing Gonzalo Garcia binned under the stricter rules on spear tackling.

It was one of the softest yellow cards imaginable. And the Italians had reason for grievance when the same level of enforcement was not applied to Leo Cullen for tackling in the air at the lineout early in the second half.

It got worse for the Azzuri after fine running from the Irish led to an Italian lineout five metres from their line.

The throw to the shortened line went straight into the arms of Leo Cullen who drove to within a metre of a try.

The cover was slow to arrive allowing O’Leary to flop over for five points. O’Gara added the extra two. The Italians concluded the half with a try by Kaine Robertson who blocked a poor clearance kick by Rob Kearney and collected over the try line to score. Mirco Bergamasco tried the conversion from the corner but missed.

The Italian winger was more accurate early in the second half with a penalty but O’Gara replied almost straight from the restart after another penalty for collapsing the scrum restored the 15-point margin.

Both teams resorted to a safety-first aerial game which suited the Italians who began to get their lineout together after Carlo Del Fava was replaced by Marco Bortolami at lock.

A Paddy Wallace penalty and a fine break engineered by the Bergamasco brothers in the last minute were the only incidents of note in the final quarter as a match that started with promise ultimately failed to deliver. —AFP

SPORTS

16

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Marbury returns to basketball, joins Brave Dragons TAIYUAN: Stephon Marbur y has returned to basketball - this time, playing in a parched, polluted city in China after making himself unwelcome in the NBA. The team is officially called Shanxi Fenjiu, named for a local grain alcohol, but is more commonly known as the Brave Dragons. Home court is a grimy 5,300seat arena with dragon decals peeling off the worn hardwood. The sports heroes whose posters hang on the baby blue walls outside the locker room are Chinese pingpong and badminton athletes.

How did “Starbury,” the brash New Yorker with a tattoo on the side of his head who’s lately become better known for his bizarre online stunts and run-ins with coaches and owners, end up in a provincial rustbelt city that’s home to the Coal Museum of China? “It was an opportunity to allow my brand to grow in a different distribution channel,” he said, referring to his Starbury line of lowpriced athletic shoes and clothing. “And I wanted to get back onto the basketball court.” The Marbury who’s been reincar-

nated in China for this roughly six-week gig is, by all accounts, affable and easygoing. There’s been no sign of the defiant personality that turned the former AllStar into an NBA pariah after feuding with coaches and skipping games, in the process alienating management, teammates and fans. Marbury has embraced a leadership role with the Brave Dragons after being here only about a week, giving pointers to young teammates through sign language and a translator who hovers along the sideline. Off the cour t, he

delights his many fans in this basketballcrazy countr y with one of the few Chinese phrases he’s learned, “Xin Nian Kuai Le,” or “Happy New Year.”

“People say this and that about him, but let me tell you, I had dinner with him last night and it was so simple, chicken fried rice. That’s it,” Brave Dragons coach Wu Qinglong said, expressing his approval of such low-key behavior. “He was happy. He said it was really good,” Wu added. “He didn’t even want anything to drink, just some bottled water.”

Marbury was dealing with a throng of fans and journalists as soon as he got off the plane and walked into the airport terminal in Taiyuan, 320 miles southwest of Beijing.

Staff at the Western restaurant in his luxury hotel say they’ve been busy shooing away reporters, including one who ran in after Marbury left to snap a photo of his unfinished meal. Of course, a positive image helps sell shoes, and Marbury knows his potential Chinese customers are watching. “You got over 300 million

kids that love basketball, so you can’t beat that,” he said. “I don’t think people are all aware of that in the United States.” The 32-year-old Marbury may be the highestprofile NBA player to join China’s professional basketball league so far, but he’s certainly not the first.

The Chinese Basketball Association depends heavily on foreign talent to raise the level of competition, though each team is only allowed to have two overseas athletes who play a combined six quarters per game. —AP

Nuggets pound Lakers LOS ANGELES: Chauncey Billups scored a career-high 39 points, including nine 3-pointers, as the Denver Nuggets beat Los Angeles 126-113 in the NBA on Friday, ending the Lakers’ eight-game home winning streak.

Billups was 12 of 20 from the floor, 9 of 13 from 3-point range and made 6 of 8 free throws to go with eight assists for the Nuggets, who beat the Western Conference leaders despite being without injured Carmelo Anthony for the seventh straight game.

Billups scored 21 points in the third quarter alone _ the most against the Lakers in one period since Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia had 23 in 1965-66. Kobe Bryant scored 33 points on his sprained left ankle, but the Lakers’ Western Conference lead was cut to 3-1/2 games.

Hawks 91, Bulls 81 In Atlanta, Josh Smith posted his second career triple-double as Atlanta defeated Chicago. Smith had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, while Joe Johnson added 18 points for the Hawks, who regrouped after trailing by six to open the fourth quarter. Luol Deng had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who lost their third straight.

Rockets 101, Grizzlies 83 In Memphis, Tennessee, Aaron Brooks had 19 points and eight rebounds to steer Houston past Memphis. Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry finished with 17 points apiece for the Rockets.

Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 17 points and eight rebounds.

LOS ANGELES: Denver Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo (left) blocks Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant’s route to the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game. —AP

NBA results/standings NBA results and standings on Friday.

Indiana 107, Detroit 83; Washington 92, Orlando 91; Boston 96, New Jersey 87; Milwaukee 114, NY Knicks 107; Atlanta 91, Chicago 81; Houston 101, Memphis 83; Philadelphia 101, New Orleans 94; Minnesota 117, Dallas 108; Phoenix 114, Sacramento 102; Denver 126, LA Lakers 113.

Boston Toronto NY Knicks Philadelphia New Jersey

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L 32 16 27 23 19 30 18 31 4 45

Cleveland Chicago Milwaukee Indiana Detroit

Central Division 40 11 23 25 22 26 18 32 16 32

.784 .479 .458 .360 .333

15.5 16.5 21.5 22.5

Orlando Atlanta Charlotte Miami Washington

Southeast Division 33 17 32 17 24 24 24 26 17 32

.660 .653 .500 .480 .347

.5 8 9 15.5

PCT .667 .540 .388 .367 .082

GB 6 13.5 14.5 28.5

Western Conference Northwest Division Denver 34 16 Utah 30 18 Portland 30 22 Oklahoma City 28 21 Minnesota 12 38

.680 .625 .577 .571 .240

3 5 5.5 22

LA Lakers Phoenix LA Clippers Sacramento Golden State

Pacific Division 38 13 31 21 21 28 16 33 13 35

.745 .596 .429 .327 .271

7.5 16 21 23.5

Dallas San Antonio Houston Memphis New Orleans

Southwest Division 31 19 28 20 27 22 26 23 26 24

.620 .583 .551 .531 .520

2 3.5 4.5 5

Cool Manning and Colts face passion of the Saints MIAMI:- The romantics are backing the New Orleans Saints but experience and quality points to the Indianapolis Colts as favorites in today’s Super Bowl.

Peyton Manning, the undisputed number one quarterback in the game, is looking for his second Super Bowl ring after he, along with 24 other members of the current team, won in Miami against the Chicago Bears at the end of the 2006 season.

The Saints, in contrast, are in their first Super Bowl and with their run coming less then five years after New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, they have won the hearts of most neutrals. Once mocked as ‘The Aints’, the story of the New Orleans club, 43 years old this year, has been one of miserable failure followed by mediocrity.

It took the team 20 lean years to get a winning record and a place in the playoffs, leading some fans to famously hide their faces behind paper bags.

New Orleans too have a masterful general in quarterback Drew Brees but if they are to produce an upset it is likely to come via their trio of running backs, who have dubbed themselves “The Three Headed Monster”, with the explosive pace of the unpredictable Reggie Bush a particular danger.

The expectation is, however, that

Manning produces yet another display of his passing genius to cement his status as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

In a curious twist in the plot, Manning is playing against his hometown and a team where his father Archie was a favorite in the 1970s.

The Colts move with devastating speed and efficiency down the field with Manning operating a no-huddle attack, making quick decisions, changing plays before the snap and delivering the precise passes that this season produced his NFL record 10th, 4,000-yard passing campaign.

“I think he has pretty much established himself as really one of the finest that has every played this game and he keeps getting better each and every year,” said Colts head coach Jim Caldwell.

Caldwell was an assistant to Tony Dungy when the Colts won three years ago and the modest and unassuming coach has wisely chosen continuity in his first year in charge.

His counterpart Sean Payton is a strikingly different character, confident and chatty off the field and on the sidelines he is one of the most animated coaches in the NFL. “When it gets to game day he feels like he is one of the players. He is fiery, yelling, shouting and ranting and you know his heart is really in the game,” said Saints defensive end

Will Smith.

Since taking over in 2006, Payton has carefully improved the roster and transformed the mentality of the team.

The Saints defensive co-ordinator Gregg Williams puts emphasis on “stripping the ball” to force a fumble and has also promised that Manning will receive some “remember-me hits”, prompting some to wonder whether New Orleans will overstep the mark in attacking the quarterback. Certainly Manning will have watched the film of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre being repeatedly hit in the NFC Championship game but the way in which Manning quickly releases the ball so early should limit the chances of painfully inflicted sacks.

“I expect a tough defense,” said Manning. “I expect it is going to be a challenge to try to move the ball against them. They have excellent players. They are very active.

“They know how to get their hands on the football. All those characteristics combined make it a tough defense, I think we are going to have our work cut out for us.” An estimated 100 million people, a third of the U.S. population, will tune in to watch the game while across the globe hardcore fans will stay up into the night or get up early to watch what should be a fascinating encounter. —AFP

Wizards 92, Magic 91 In Orlando, Florida, Caron Butler made a long jump shot with 0.5 seconds remaining to cap Washington’s comeback from a 21-point deficit and victory over Orlando. Butler finished with 31 points and nine rebounds, and Randy Foye had 22 points and seven assists for the Wizards, who snapped the Magic’s winning streak at four. Vince Carter scored 21 points to lead Orlando.

Suns 114, Kings 102 In Sacramento, California, Phoenix completed a perfect four-game road trip by sinking Sacramento. Steve Nash had 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, while Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points and had nine rebounds as the Suns completed a four-game road sweep for the first time in three seasons.

The Suns are on a season-long five-game winning streak. Donte Green scored a careerhigh 31 points for Sacramento.

76ers 101, Hornets 94 In New Orleans, Thaddeus Young made his first seven shots and finished with 19 points to lead Philadelphia over undermanned New Orleans.

Andre Iguodala scored 14 points for the 76ers, who stretched their winning streak to a season-high three games.

Peja Stojakovic had 23 points for New Orleans, which has without All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who had knee surgery on Thursday and will be out four-to-six weeks.

T’wolves 117, Mavericks 108 In Dallas, Minnesota finished the game on a 13-2 run to snap a 13-game losing streak against Dallas. Jonny Flynn scored 19 points for the Timberwolves, while Kevin Love had 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Timberwolves too notched their first threegame winning trot this season.

Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki did not start af ter he was late for the team’s shootaround before the game. The nine-time All-Star finished with 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

NAGPUR: South Africa’s Hashim Amla (right) bats as India’s S Badrinath jumps to avoid getting hit from the ball during the first day of their first cricket Test match. —AP

Magnificent Kallis puts South Africa in control NAGPUR: Jacques Kallis struck his third hundred in five tests and shared a double century stand with Hashim Alma to put South Africa in control of the first test against India yesterday.

Kallis crafted a magnificent 159 and added an unbroken 285 for the third wicket with Amla, who scored 115, to help the visitors reach 291 for two after winning the toss.

Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan dismissed openers Ashwell Prince for nought and skipper Graeme Smith for six in successive overs to reduce the tourists to six for two before Kallis orchestrated the recovery with his 34th test hundred.

Zaheer, who took 15 wickets in the 2-0 series win over Bangladesh last month, had left-hander Prince caught behind with a wicked bouncer, although television replays suggested the ball came off the batsman’s arm guard.

The Indian spearhead bowled Smith through the gate with a beauty, squaring up the left-hander with a delivery that came in sharply, but the hosts enjoyed no further success as Kallis took control. Kallis, one of only eight batsmen to score over 10,000 test runs, hit 13 fours and two sixes

as he joined India’s Sunil Gavaskar and West Indian Brian Lara in third place on the list of most test centuries.

Only India’s Sachin Tendulkar (45) and Australian Ricky Ponting (39) have scored more.

Kallis used his feet beautifully to the spinners and hit Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra for sixes, although it was his cover drive off mediumpacer Ishant Sharma that stood out for the sheer precision of the shot.

Amla batted conservatively before opening out to reach his eighth test hundred, giving the South Africans the perfect platform as they seek a rare series victory in India to reclaim the number one test ranking. Amla hit 11 fours in his steady knock, surviving a chance to Murali Vijay at slip on 61. India, already without experienced batsmen Rahul Dravid, Vangipurappu Laxman and Yuvraj Singh through injury, suffered a further blow when Rohit Sharma, called up as cover for Laxman, suffered an ankle injury in the warm-up.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha was handed an unexpected debut and will join another debutant batsman, Subramaniam Badrinath, in an inexperienced middle order. —Reuters

SCOREBOARD Scoreboard at the close on the opening day of the first test between India and South Africa at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur, India, yesterday.

South Africa won the toss Boucher, P. Harris, D. Steyn, M. Morkel, W. South Africa first innings Parnell.

G. Smith b Zaheer 6 Bowling: Zaheer 20-5-67-2 (nb-3), Ishant A. Prince c Dhoni b Zaheer 0 17-2-44-0, Harbhajan 21-0-81-0, Mishra 26H. Amla not out 115 2-71-0 (nb-2), Sehwag 7-1-22-0.

J. Kallis not out 159 India: V. Sehwag, G. Gambhir, M. Vijay, S. Extras (b-4 lb-2 nb-5) 11 Tendulkar, S. Badrinath, MS Dhoni, H. Total (two wickets; 91 overs) 291 Singh, Z. Khan, I. Sharma, A. Mishra, W. Fall of wickets: 1-5 2-6 To bat: AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, M. Saha.

Bucks 114, Knicks 107 In New York, Brandon Jennings scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half to steer Milwaukee to victory over New York.

Reserve Ersan Ilyasova — who replaced migraine-stricken starting center Andrew Bogut in the first quarter — added a careerhigh 25 for the Bucks. David Lee had a season-high 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Knicks.

Celtics 96, Nets 87 In Boston, Eddie House scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, helping Boston overcome a slow start and pull away from New Jersey.

The Nets led 73-72 through three quarters as the Celtics, playing lackadaisical defense, seemed in danger of losing to a team that had won just four games all season. House missed all four of his shots in the first three quarters and his first attempt in the fourth. But then he sank four of five baskets, including a pair of 3pointers, to give the Celtics an 84-77 lead.

Ray Allen scored 26 points and Rajon Rondo added 17 as Boston won its third straight game. Brook Lopez scored 19 points for New Jersey, which fell to its fifth straight loss.

Pacers 107, Pistons 83 In Indianapolis, Indiana fell just short of its biggest ever win over Detroit. Danny Granger scored 25 points and Brandon Rush added 16 for the Pacers, who looked like tying the franchise record of a 26-point margin over the Pistons, until a last second layup cut it to 24.

Ben Gordon scored 26 points for Detroit. —AP

TKS cricket team

TKS Cricket Tournament KUWAIT: Telugu Kala Samithi, Kuwait has organized TKS Cricket Tournament at Abbassiya ground in which 10 teams are participating.

The second match of the tournament was played yesterday between TKS Cricket Club (captained by Rammohan Reddy) and Phoenix Cricketers (captained by Siju Varghese).

President Hari Prasad and Vice President

Malepati Suresh Babu Naidu in their respective address thanked all those gathered and also pledged to organize more of such tournaments in the future.

Organizer Mulakala Subbarayudu in his speech thanked all those who made this event possible. Also present at the event was Joint Secretary Udaya Prakash, Sports Coordinator Samba Siva Rao and EC Member R Rama Chandra Naidu.

SPORTS

Sunday, February 7, 2010

17

Johnson and Stricker lead soggy Northern Trust Open Mickelson moves into contention

Burgan Bank team

Gulf Bank team

IBK team

KBC League: Gulf Bank tops standings after fourth week KUWAIT: The Gulf Bank’s team finished the 4th week of the Banks Football League, which is organized by the Kuwait Banks Club, on top of the standings ahead of the Burgan Bank in goals difference, after both teams managed to get a total of 10 points by the end of the 4th round. The National Bank of

Kuwait came in third place with 9 points, followed by the Industrial Bank of Kuwait with 7 points. The Gulf bank got the top spot after defeating the Industrial Bank with a 5-0 score, while the Burgan Bank also emerged victorious in the match that betted them against the Kuwait and

Middle East Bank 3-0, further increasing the latter’s woes who are still looking for their first point in the tournament.

Meanwhile, the National Bank defeated the Boubyan Bank 3-2, stopping the latter’s points total at five, while the match between the International Bank and the

Kuwait Finance House ended in a goalless draw, giving the former a 7 points total at the end of the week, and the latter a 4 points total.

In other results, Al-Ahli bank defeated the Commercial Bank 4-2, to finish with 4 points at the end of the 4th week while the other team remains with no points.

Kirk, Herman lead Crown Prince praised Moonah Classic FINGAL: American Chris Kirk shot a 7-under-par 65 to pull into a share of the third-round lead with countryman Jim Herman after yesterday’s third round of the Moonah Classic. Herman, who led after the first two rounds, including a course-record 62 in the first round, had a 75 yesterday at the Moonah Links course designed by five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson. Kirk and Herman had a 54-hole total of 9under 207 in the tournament jointly sanctioned by the US Nationwide and Australasian PGA tours.

They had a four-stroke lead over four golfers tied for third - Australians Andrew Dodt (68), Jarrod Lyle (72), Alistair Presnell (70) and American Scott Gutschewski (71). Kirk began his third round tied for 27th, 10 strokes off Herman. But four birdies in five holes on the front nine saw him move quickly up the leaderboard in windy conditions. “I was lucky to have a real good feel for it all day, how much the wind was going to affect it and hit a lot of solid shots,” Kirk said. “The key for me (is) I always try to tell myself when it’s a really windy day like that is to never hit one hard.” — AP

KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry Undersecretary and chairman of the higher organizing committee of the first international police shooting championship Lt General Ahmad AlRujaib said, the patronage of HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is an honor for all athletes. Al-Rujaib told the media after a meeting by the committee. He said Interior Minister Lt General (Ret) Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid has ordered that all facilities should be made available to guarantee the success of the championship.

Al-Rujaib added that the delegations should be received in a manner that suits Kuwait, and they should be made comfortable.

Al-Rujaib expressed satisfaction at the choice of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic shooting ranges complex to carry out the championship activities. He said he is also satisfied with the preparations for the holding of the interna-

Lt General Ahmad A AlRujaib tional polices sports union assembly, to be opened under the patronage of interior minister during the championships. — KUNA

PACIFIC PALISADES: Dustin Johnson hit a hole-in-one in pouring rain to upstage fellow American Steve Stricker’s green-side theatrics and hold a share of the second-round lead at the Northern Trust Open on Friday. Both were tied at 10under par after play was halted at the sodden Riviera Country Club, where failing light left 41 of the field unable to complete their rounds.

Overnight leader Johnson was three-under par with two holes to play, while Stricker made the most of his early start to shoot a six-under 65.

Argentina’s Andres Romero finished three strokes behind the leaders at one-under with three to play. Johnson, whose putter lit up the greens to carve a one-stroke lead on Thursday, conjured some magic with his eight-iron on the sixth. His 152-yard tee-shot in pouring rain landed four feet behind the hole then spun the ball back into the cup. “It was probably my best shot of the day,” Johnson said. “I hit eight-iron and made it, so that always helps the round a little bit.”

Johnson had the outright lead until he made his first bogey of the tournament on No 15. He failed to reach the par 4 in two shots and could not get up and down to save his par. “It was just kind of a funky stance beside the bunker and chunked it a little short of the green,” Johnson said. “I didn’t get it up and down.” Stricker lamented the damp conditions, despite handling them with aplomb, and felt lucky to get out early to finish with the day’s best round. “It was pretty miserable out there,” the American said.

“It never really let up.

Conditions probably even got a little worse as the day went on.”

Stricker started his round from the back nine in style, sinking a 21-foot putt from off the green to save par. He then chipped in from greenside rough for a birdie on the 18th, his third for the tournament.

He came close to emulating Johnson with his own ace on the fourth, where his tee shot, using a utility club, lipped out to rest less than two feet from the cup. “A lot of good things happened,” he added. “Some of the toughest holes on the course and I’m making birdies.

You know, you try to run with it and you’re like stealing shots when stuff like that happens.”

After a lackluster opening round of 72, Phil Mickelson stormed back into contention with a five-under 66, after finding form off the tee and on the greens. “I’ve got to go low (Saturday),” Mickelson said. “I know that, but it’s out there if you play well.” American Rocco Mediate and Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik withdrew from the tournament citing back injuries, while another American in Chris Couch pulled out after complaining of a shoulder injury. — Reuters

LOS ANGELES: Dustin Johnson chips from the rough to the 18th green during the rain-delayed second round of the Northern Trust Open golf tournament at Riviera Country Club in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles yesterday. Johnson sunk the chip for a birdie. — AP

Americans in command over French in Fed Cup LIEVIN: Bethanie MattekSands and Melanie Oudin pulled out singles wins yesterday to give the United States a dream start in their Fed Cup first round World Group match against hosts France. MattekSands, ranked 140th in the world, saw off 65th-ranked opponent Alice Cornet 7-6 (9/7), 7-5, to achieve her first Fed Cup match win before 53rdranked Oudin beat tournament debutante Pauline Parmentier, ranked 104, 6-4, 6-4. France were under the cosh after Cornet conceded her sixth Fed Cup defeat in six matches and she blamed nervousness for her demise.

“I was stressed - too much so, perhaps. And that cost me the match,” she lamented. “I wanted to do too well. My stomach was churning up. Right from the off it was just dreadful

Tennis - I felt stressed even from Thursday,” admitted the tearful Frenchwoman. Mattek-Sands was left to bask in the glow of her triumph with emotions that contrasted starkly with those of her rival. “It was tough coming and playing on play,” she explained, adding that the vociferous French crowd had been

quite intimidating at first. “A couple of points I had to pretend everyone was cheering for me,” she told Fed Cup radio.

“Alice is a great player and I knew I was going to have to grind the match out,” said the American, who said that captain Mary-Jo Fernandez had been urging her to keep her natural aggressively under control on a slow surface. “Me and Mary-Jo came to a happy medium,” Mattek-Sands laughed. With Oudin adding to the tally the Americans, 17 titles to date, now stand on the verge of victory unless the French, two-time champions, can belatedly find their form. — AFP

Four-way tie for lead in Dubai DUBAI: Overnight leader Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand was joined by Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alvaro Quiros and Lee Westwood of England in a four-way tie for the lead after yesterday’s third round of the Dubai Desert Classic. Seeking what would be the biggest win of his career in the Gulf region’s premier tournament, the 40-year-old former army paratrooper once again went bogey-free as he compiled a round of three-under 69 and at one stage pulled three shots clear of the field.

But as he parred his way steadily down the back nine, the big guns closed in with a barrage of birdies in the nearperfect playing conditions at the Emirates Golf Club. Defending champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland also stayed in contention with a 69 to stand at nine under, two shots off the pace with Edoardo Molinari of Italy (70) and Marcus Fraser of Australia (70) a further shot adrift.

Thongchai, who has found a new lease of life at 40 after overcoming severe back problems, led by one going into the third round and he moved into a three shot lead with birdies at the third, eighth and ninth. But he played conservatively after that with nine straight pars

challenging the others to come after him. Four men successfully took up the challenge. The big-hitting Quiros, tipped for the top by none other than Tom Watson, who played with him over the first two rounds, was first to reach the Thai ace at 11-under with four birdies down the back nine, including the last two holes, for a 67.

The Spaniard who is gearing up for his second tilt at the Masters in April, said that luck had played his part in his round. “To play golf well, you have to be

Golf lucky and today I was lucky,” he said.

“On 17, I was trying to hit the green. I miss-hit and I was in the heavy rough and had about a 10-metres putt. I holed it. This is luck for me.” European No 1 Westwood followed as he too went on the attack with birdies at 11, 13 and 15 for a 68. The Englishman, who has risen to No 4 in the world and is the highest ranking player here said that he expected “a birdie-fest” on Sunday if the overcast, calm conditions stay the same.

“There are lots of good players up there,” he said.

“There’s so many people within three or four shots of the lead. I’ve even come back from six, seven, eight back, so I know what’s possible.”

Finally Thongchai’s playing partner, cigarchomping Jimenez, made it a four-way tie, narrowly missing a 15-footer at the last that would have given him the outright lead. The Ryder Cup star settled for a 68. Patience had been the key, he said, refusing to panic when it looked as though Thongchai was about to run away with the tournament. “I told my caddie I have to keep my concentration, focus on the things that I am hitting well,” he said.

“Just wait for the birdies coming, they are coming. That puts me in contention with all of these new young guys for tomorrow,” said the just-turned 46-yearold. Thongchai was not too unhappy with having let slip a three-stroke advantage saying that he felt he actually played better on the back nine than on the front nine. Today’s finale would be a shoot-out between several players, he said, including himself. “Lee (Westwood) he is playing so strong now, he hits it so far. “But everybody has a good chance for tomorrow. “If I play well, if I hit the ball well, putt well, everything perfect I have a chance. — AFP

SPORTS

18

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Bayern notch 10th victory in a row

Rangers held at St Mirren

Bayern pull level with leaders Leverkusen

Dundee secure a 2-1 win over First Division rivals

BERLIN: Bayern Munich continued their winning run yesterday by beating fading champions VfL Wolfsburg 3-1 to draw level on points with Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga. The Bavarians raced into a 3-0 lead in less than an hour as they notched their 10th successive win in all competitions-a run which started on Nov 25 against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions Leagueand avenged last season’s 5-1 defeat at the same ground.

GLASGOW: Rangers and St Mirren will have to do it all again at Ibrox after the sides played out a drab goalless draw in their Scottish Cup fifth round tie yesterday. The cup holders showed signs of fatigue from their midweek exploits against St Johnstone and the nearest they came was a first-half header from Steven Davis. The home side had the majority of the chances as they dominated the second-half and Madjid Bougherra, making his first appearance since returning from African Cup of Nations duty with Algeria, twice made goal-line clearances from Michael Higdon.

The match also saw the return of Kris Boyd from a four-week injury lay-off as a second-half substitute but Scotland’s top-scorer never got near the goal as the Buddies looked the likeliest to score.

The sides, who will also meet in the League Cup final, will now meet on Wednesday, February 17 at Ibrox for the replay. “I thought a draw was a fair result in terms of overall play and number of opportunities,” Buddies assistant boss Andy Millen said.

“We are very pleased to have run Rangers as close as that.” Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist said it was a bonus still to be in the competition. “I don’t think we created anything like we normally do or should have but as the game went on I think it is safe to say we were pleased to get through it still in the cup,” McCoist said.

Gus MacPherson made no changes to the side which defeated Hearts in the League Cup semi-final while Rangers restored Allan McGregor in goals, John Fleck made way for Steven Naismith and Bougherra replaced David Weir. The Algerian defender was involved at both ends early on as his cross was headed well over by Lee McCulloch before he cleared the danger from Higdon’s header. Steven Thomson was inches away from connecting with Higdon’s knock on as St Mirren began to enjoy a period of possession.

Billy Mehmet was the first to test McGregor when he cut in from the left but the keeper dealt well with his powerful hit from just outside the box. Andy Dorman then teed up Higdon at the edge of the box

German League

Scottish Cup Roundup but he couldn’t steer his shot away from McGregor.

Rangers’ best passage of play came after 35 minutes when Davis headed Kirk Broadfoot’s cross goalwards but Paul Gallagher got down low to his right to scramble the ball round the post. Hugh Murray was nearly knocked off his feet as he bravely blocked a fiercely struck effort from Davis before Bougherra’s clever chipped pass found Naismith but Gallagher cleared the danger.

At the other end Thomson blasted high over the bar before Higdon was thwarted twice by Bougherra.

The striker first saw his close-range header blocked by the Algerian before the defender popped up on the line to clear after his lob over McGregor looked destined for the net. Mehmet sent his header straight at McGregor as Saints looked the likelier of the two sides to find a break through. Rangers brought on Boyd and Kenny Miller for Naismith and Kyle Lafferty as they looked for a winner but it was Kevin Thomson who came closest when he sent his low drive just wide of Gallagher’s post.

Craig Dargo replaced Higdon and he almost made an instant impression when he cut in from the left and fired in a shot that McGregor was forced to turn round the post. McGregor then had to tip Murray’s floated cross over after it looked like it was going to dip under the bar. The keeper then produced a fine stop from Mehmet as the big striker lashed a half-chance towards goal with minutes remaining. In yesterday’s later matches a goal five minutes into injury time spared Aberdeen’s blushes as Raith Rovers were on the verge of a Scottish Cup upset. Gary McDonald scored with virtually the last kick of the game after Iain Williamson had give the First Division side a firsthalf lead.

A goal from David Goodwillie was enough for Dundee United to claim a 1-0 win away to St Johnstone. Colin Nish got a double and Alan Gow scored on his debut as Hibernian strolled past Third Division Montrose 5-1. Dundee secured a 2-1 win over First Division rivals with on-loan Celtic striker Ben Hutchinson getting a goal. Ross County smashed an incredible nine goals past Stirling Albion without reply to progress to the quarter-finals. Liam Kelly scored twice as Kilmarnock won 3-0 against Terry Butcher’s Inverness Caledonian Thistle. —AFP

SINSHEIM: Hannover’s Arouna Kone (left) and Hoffenheim’s Maicosuel challenge for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga soccer match yesterday. —AP

Henry handball referee chosen for World Cup JOHANNESBURG: Swede Martin Hansson, who was at the centre of France’s controversial World Cup qualification, was named on Friday among the 30 referees for the finals in South Africa in June. Hansson failed to spot Thierry Henry’s handball in the playoff second leg against Ireland in Paris in November and was widely criticized after the incident led to the goal which allowed France to qualify.

He was however named after Friday’s meeting in Zurich of the refereeing com-

No place for Norwegian Ovrebo mittee of world football’s governing body FIFA. Among the other officials appointed were Englishman Howard Webb and Swiss referee Massimo Busacca, who have also grabbed headlines over the last year. Eight officials return from the 2006 finals in Germany where the refereeing was roundly condemned after a spate of controversies. It led to FIFA setting up a special ref-

eree’s assistance program to better train top officials for the 2010 finals.

ARCHUNDIA CHOSEN Among those returning is Benito Archundia of Mexico, who handled the 2006 semi-final between Germany and Italy, and Italian Roberto Rosetti, who also officiated the Euro 2008 final in Vienna.

Norwegian Tom Henning Ovrebo, who

turned down a raft of penalty appeals by Chelsea in last season’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona, was overlooked. The 30 referees are made up of 10 from Europe, six from South America, four from the Asian, African and CONCACAF confederations and two from New Zealand.

Each official has his team of two assis-

Shehata, 5 others shortlisted as WCup looms

English Premier League 16:30 19:00

Spanish League Real Madrid v Espanyol Aljazeera Sport +2 Malaga v Deportivo Aljazeera Sport +5 Athletic de Bilbao v Xerez Aljazeera Sport +7 Real Zaragoza v Sevilla Aljazeera Sport +2 Real Racing v Atletico Aljazeera Sport +2

0:00 19:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Italian League Bologna v AC Milan Aljazeera Sport +5 Genoa v Chievo Verona Aljazeera Sport +9 Siena v Sampdoria Aljazeera Sport +10 Udinese v Napoli Aljazeera Sport +7 Internazionale v Cagliari Aljazeera Sport +1 Fiorentina v AS Roma Aljazeera Sport +1 Aljazeera Sport +3

17:00 17:00 17:00 17:00 17:00 22:45

German League FSV Mainz 05 v Borussia Munchen 17:30 Premiere Sport 1 Premiere Start BV Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht 19:30 Premiere Sport 1

tants who have worked with him consistently over the last two years. Only one of the two Swedish linesmen from the match between France and Ireland made the selection. Stefan Wittberg was included but Fredrik Nilsson missed out.

Busacca was suspended last year after giving a middle-finger salute to supporters chanting verbal abuse in a Swiss Cup game while Webb changed his mind over a penalty decision in last year’s Confederations Cup. —Reuters

Nigeria fires coach

Todayʼs matches on TV Birmingham v Wolves ShowSports 2 Chelsea v Arsenal ShowSports 1 ShowSports 2

Leverkusen, unbeaten in the league, were held 1-1 at lowly VfL Bochum after surrendering a halftime lead. The two top teams have 45 points from 21 games but Leverkusen lead on goal difference.

Third-placed Schalke 04 were held to a goalless draw at Freiburg and Hamburg SV, in fourth, drew 3-3 at Cologne. On another freezing afternoon, Bayern needed only two minutes to go ahead at Wolfsburg when Bastian Schweinsteiger released Thomas Mueller down the left and he cut the ball back for Dutchman Arjen Robben to score with a first-time left-footer.

DIVING HEADER Bayern went further ahead in the 26th minute when defender Daniel van Buyten netted with a diving header at the far post after the defense failed to clear a corner. The third goal came when Robben’s pass left Mueller with only Andre Lenz to beat and, after the keeper parried, Ribery flicked the ball over him and into the net despite Wolfsburg defender Andrea Barzagli getting a touch.

Wolfsburg, without a win in 10 games, were thrown a lifeline in the 66th minute when Ribery tripped Sascha Riether inside the box but Grafite’s penalty was smothered by Bayern goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt. Grafite, who in the same fixture last year scored one of the most memorable goals of the season, grabbed a 90th-minute consolation for the champions who are 12th on 25 points.

Leverkusen, aiming for a fourth straight win since the winter break, went ahead through Switzerland striker Eren Derdiyok on the stroke of halftime.

Slovenia forward Zlatko Dedic equalized in the 68th minute with a cool finish after an incisive pass by Lewis Holtby. —Reuters

WARSAW: UEFA President Michel Platini gestures as he addresses the media for the Euro 2012 soccer championship qualifying draw in Warsaw yesterday. —AP

UEFA to keep ex-Soviet states apart in Euro draw WARSAW: The former Soviet Union states of Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will be kept apart in today’s qualifying round draw for the 2012 European Championship. FIFA president Michel Platini told a news conference yesterday the decision was taken in a bid to keep politics out of sport. Platini said the executive committee wanted to ensure there was no repeat of the situation that arose when Armenia and Azerbaijan were drawn in the same qualifying group for the Euro 2008 finals but refused to play against each other.

“The executive committee decided that Russia and Georgia should not be in the same group, or Armenia or Azerbaijan. So if that happens in the draw, we will draw again. “During the qualifiers

for Euro 2008 Armenia and Azerbaijan found themselves in the same group and these two matches were deleted as they decided not to play against each other.

“Now we have decided to avoid that possibility and not have the problems that would arise if they were in the same group.”

Asked if UEFA were creating a dangerous precedent by allowing politics to interfere in a sporting decision, he replied: “We took this decision because we don’t want sport to mix with politics.

“In this way we are avoiding any political problems regarding those countries. We don’t want to interfere in their politics and I believe the executive committee took the right decision.” Politically opposed countries have often played each other in

the past-and also refused to do so. North and South Korea have met in World Cup qualifiers and both have reached this year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

There have also been many examples of countries refusing to play against political adversaries. The former Soviet Union refused to play Chile in Santiago in a second leg playoff for a place in the 1974 World Cup finals in West Germany and were later banned by FIFA from the competition. Asian and Middle East countries opposed to Israel frequently boycotted matches against Israel which led to Israel eventually leaving the Asian Confederation and joining UEFA. The draw for the qualifying competition of Euro 2012 will take place today at 1100 GMT. —Reuters

ABUJA: Nigeria have sacked coach Shaibu Amodu following their third place finish at the African Nations Cup and have begun the search to replace him with the World Cup finals just four months away.

Amodu had been given official backing in Angola during the Nations Cup by the federation’s board as the pressure began to mount, but a stormy meeting in Abuja that went late into the night on Friday sealed his fate.

It is the second time Amodu has been removed from his post heading into a World Cup finals tournament. “The decision was taken during the board meeting,” said Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) media officer Idah Peterside. “The technical committee of the federation has been mandated to have a new man in place by the end of the month.” Dutchman Guus Hiddink is among those on a shortlist of preferred candidates to replace Amodu.

Others in the frame are former England caretaker manager Peter Taylor, Bruno Metsu, who coached Senegal to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals, and Ratomir Dujkovic, Ghana’s coach at the last World Cup in Germany. Amodu was also fired ahead of the 2002 World Cup finals after Nigeria again finished third at the African Nations Cup. Nigeria reached the semifinals at this year’s tournament but lost to an under-strength Ghana.

The Super Eagles were also beaten

by Egypt in their opening group game and needed penalties to overcome Zambia in the quarter-finals.

Amodu will take charge of Nigeria’s home-based players for the African Nations Champions tournament, a tournament recently introduced for players who play their club football on the continent, Peterside said. “He will be in charge of talent identification and finding players for the future.” Nigeria have drawn Argentina, Greece and South Korea in their World Cup group and play their first match of the tournament in South Africa against the Argentines in Johannesburg on June 12.

Meanwhile, NFF have added Egypt coach Hassan Shehata to a

CAIRO: Egypt’s coach Hassan Shehata gives a thumb-up as he sits in a bus upon the Egyptian team’s arrival in Cairo. —AFP shortlist of coaches to replace Shuaibu Amodu. “Yes, Shehata has been added to this shortlist, making him the sixth coach Nigeria are considering to lead the country to the World Cup in South Africa in June,” said NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire. Last week, Shehata led Egypt to an historic third successive Africa Cup of Nations crown in Angola. Shehata has also disclosed that he has been approached by Nigeria, but that the decision rested with his employers, the Egypt Football Association (EFA), who have extended his contract until 2014.

Other potential candidates are Russia coach Guus Hiddink; Bayern Munich trainer Louis van Gaal; Bruno Metsu, who led Senegal to the 2002 World Cup; Ratomir Djukovic, who guided Ghana to the 2006 World Cup and former England caretaker coach, Peter Taylor.

Nigeria plan to appoint a coach for the World Cup before the end of the month. —Agencies

SPORTS

Sunday, February 7, 2010

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Hull stun City to boost survival fight Hull 2

Man City 1

STOKE: Stoke City’s Danny Higginbottom (left) celebrates scoring with Matthew Etherington during their English Premier League soccer match against Blackburn Rovers at the Britannia stadium yesterday. — AFP

Stoke’s Pulis marks 300th game in style Stoke 3

Blackburn 0 STOKE-ON-TRENT: Stoke City manager Tony Pulis celebrated his 300th match in charge by watching his side beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 yesterday.

The win extends Stoke’s unbeaten run to four games and they leapfrog Blackburn to go 11th in the Premier League.

Rovers had plenty of chances but they could not find a way past Stoke’s Danish stopper Thomas Sorensen, who kept his place despite the arrival of Asmir Begovic from

Portsmouth last week. Stoke left-back Danny Higginbotham opened the scoring after nine minutes when he pounced on a botched clearance by Blackburn’s Steven Nzonzi to volley past Paul Robinson.

Blackburn should have equalized in the 21st minute when Morten Gamst Pedersen whipped in a tantalizing cross only for Franco Di Santo to head over from six yards.

The Norwegian international was at the centre of most of Blackburn’s best moves but despite their relentless pressure, Sam Allardyce’s side could not break down a resilient Stoke defense that is yet to concede a first-half goal this year.

The Potters snatched a second goal just before half-time when Malian striker Mamady Sidibe nodded in a Matthew

Etherington cross at the far post.

Blackburn’s frustration boiled over in the second half when defender Christopher Samba was sent off in the 59th minute for a second bookable offence after pulling back Ricardo Fuller. Stoke made the most of the extra man and Higginbotham could have scored a second in the 61st minute when he had a chance cleared off the line. But Etherington made it 3-0 just six minutes later, working a neat passing move with Liam Lawrence to score his fifth goal of the season from 10 yards.

Stoke defended deep for the last twenty minutes and Blackburn rarely looked like threatening Sorensen. The defeat ends Blackburn’s three-match unbeaten run. —AFP

BOLTON: Fulham’s Jonathan Greening (right) fouls Bolton Wanderers’ Fabrice Muamba (left) during the English Premier League match at the Reebok Stadium yesterday. —AP

Fulham deny Bolton a desperately-needed win Bolton 0

Fulham 0 BOLTON: Bolton were denied a desperately-needed win over Fulham when Kevin Davies’s lastminute header was disallowed in a dramatic finale to an otherwise uninspiring goalless draw at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton’s captain started to celebrate but his effort was quickly disallowed because of a push and Owen Coyle’s struggling side were left to rue substitute Johan Elmander’s failure to take an even better chance moments earlier.

Fulham’s preparations for the match were disrupted when Bobby Zamora went down sick, forcing Roy Hodgson to play Scandinavian pair Erik Nevland and David Elm up front. Kagisho

Dikgacoi also came in for Fulham while Bolton were forced to bring in Andy O’Brien for injured centrback Gary Cahill. Loan signings Vladimir Weiss and Jack Wilshere were on the bench.

Fulham were first to make a positive impression with Elm going close from a corner while Israeli midfielder Tamir Cohen lifted Bolton’s first chance over the bar after being set up by Mark Davies. The visitors goalkeeper, Mark Schwarzer, was called into action when Matt Taylor’s freekick found Sam Ricketts but the Australia goalkeeper was not perturbed by the resulting header.

With the two sides cancelling each other out, goalmouth incidents were few and far between, although things improved in the run-up to half-time.

Fabrice Muamba surged forward for Bolton and, after his shot was partly blocked, Mark Davies might have made more of the chance that resulted. He quickly made amends however. After

Kevin Davies knocked down Lee Chung Yong’s cross, Mark Davies unleashed a first-time shot that Schwarzer palmed onto the post.

Dikgacoi limped off ten minutes into the second half to be replaced

by Dickson Etuhu while Bolton went for broke by replacing Mark Davies with Swedish striker Elmander. Taylor and Kevin Davies both spurned chances to seriously test Schwarzer while Fulham failed to take advantage when Jussi Jaaskelainen dropped a Jonathan Greening cross. Bolton introduced Weiss with 20 minutes left and the Slovakian had an immediate impact, cutting in from the left to unleash a shot that was deflected for a corner. Bolton were looking the more likely winners and Elmander should have clinched all three points after being played in by Kevin Davies but contrived to fire wide from close range. Kevin Davies then headed in from a Lee corner but the referee had spotted a push by the Bolton captain. — AFP

HULL: Hull City claimed a 21 win over big-spending Manchester City as the Premier League strugglers shocked Roberto Mancini’s men at the KC Stadium yesterday.

Jozy Altidore put Hull ahead with his first Premier league goal on 30 minutes before George Boateng doubled the advantage on 54 minutes with his first goal for the club since joining them 18 months ago.

Emmanuel Adebayor pulled one back for the visitors just before the hour mark but it wasn’t enough to save them from their third defeat under Mancini to cap a miserable return to action for Wayne Bridge and blow a huge hole in his side’s hopes of securing Champions League qualification.

While City licked their wounds, Hull celebrated a result that lifted Phil Brown’s team out of the relegation zone.

Mancini recalled Bridge for his first game in two months following a knee injury and his first outing since the shock claims that England team-mate John Terry has had an affair with his former girlfriend. There was still no start for Patrick Vieira, though, with the French World Cup winner having to settle for a place on the substitutes bench alongside deadline day signing Adam Johnson.

Brown had the rare luxury of naming an unchanged side after deciding to keep faith with those who secured a hard-fought draw with Premier League leaders Chelsea in midweek.

Hull took the confidence from that result into the game against Mancini’s side and made a bright start which could have seen them take a surprise lead. Craig Fagan latched onto Stephen Hunt’s deep cross inside the third minute but went for goal instead of finding a waiting a team mate and his effort failed to hit the target.

Less than a minute later Altidore charged through the City defense forcing Kolo Toure to bring him down with a cynical foul which earned the defender a booking. Mancini’s men were sluggish to get into their stride and it was the home team which continued to dominate.

It took City almost 20 minutes to threaten the Hull goal when Carloz Tevez sent Bellamy racing down the left flank but the Welshman’s cross was poor. The better chances were falling to Brown’s men and never more so than on 20 minutes when Steven Mouyokolo’s header dropped invitingly to Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink but his angled shot flew inches wide when he should have at least hit the target.

Three minutes later Vennegoor of Hesselink turned provider to set up Boateng but the midfield veteran flashed his volley just over the crossbar.

Yet City had failed to heed the warning signs and fell behind on 30 minutes when Boateng and Hesselink combined well to allow Altidore to pick his spot and curl a delightful shot beyond Given. City could hardly muster a shot at Boaz Myhill’s goal and Hull doubled their lead on 54 minutes when Toure’s header fell to Boateng, who blazed an unstoppable volley back past Shay Given to leave the visitors stunned.

City, who threw on Johnson and Vieira, pulled one back through Adebayor within five minutes. But an equalizer failed to materialize as Hull held on to secure their first league win in 11 attempts. —AFP

HUMBERSIDE: Hull City’s Dutch midfielder George Boateng (right) vies with Manchester City’s Argentinean striker Carlos Tevez (left) during the English Premier League football match between Hull City and Manchester City at the KC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull. —AFP

Laws claims first victory Burnley 2

West Ham 1 BURNLEY: Brian Laws claimed his first win as Burnley manager as the Clarets defeated fellow strugglers West Ham 2-1 in a relegation dogfight at Turf Moor yesterday. Goals from David Nugent and Danny Fox gave the Clarets three points which allowed them to leapfrog their opponents, while former Sheffield Wednesday boss Laws could enjoy a victory in his fifth game since succeeding Owen Coyle.

Just one point separated the

teams before kick-off, with Burnley in the drop zone and the Hammers hovering precariously just above the relegation places.

Now it is Gianfranco Zola’s Hammers occupying a relegation spot following their fifth game without a win. Burnley dominated the early stages and were rewarded with a Nugent goal in the 15th minute.

The on-loan striker capitalized on dreadful defending by England international centreback Matthew Upson to nip and lob the ball over stranded Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green and into the net. Zola’s men were stung into action and debutant South Africa forward Benni McCarthy had three glorious opportunities to restore parity.

Friedel the hero as Villa frustrate Spurs Tottenham 0

Villa 0 LONDON: American goalkeeper Brad Friedel inspired Aston Villa’s determined defensive performance as the visitors secured a gritty 0-0 draw against Tottenham yesterday. Friedel pulled off a series of impressive saves to keep Harry Redknapp’s side at bay at White Hart Lane, with his first half effort to deny Ledley King the pick of the bunch. Spurs were left frustrated after dominating possession and will consider this to be two points dropped as they missed out on the chance to return to fourth spot in the Premier League.

Redknapp claimed before this game that his side’s ambitions were not merely restricted to scraping into the top four - they were eyeing the third place spot currently occupied by north London rivals Arsenal. That, however, remained a longer term target and Spurs’ immediate priority was to reclaim fourth after being pushed out of the Champions League places following Liverpool’s victory over Everton a couple of hours earlier. That certainly appeared to provide Spurs with added motivation as they dominated the opening stages of the game and should have used their territorial advantage to establish an early lead.

That they didn’t was due to a combination of poor finishing, excellent defending and an outstanding reaction save from Friedel. Spurs’ first real opening came after just 14 minutes when David Bentley directed a corner towards the unmarked King, who headed straight at Friedel. Three minutes later Peter Crouch won yet another header, knocking the ball down to Luka Modric whose

return ball sent the forward clear inside the area and it took a lastditch tackle by Villa skipper Richard Dunne to divert Crouch’s shot wide.

Villa suffered an early blow when England striker Emile Heskey was forced off with an injury in the 21st minute. But even that didn’t explain why the visitors’ attacking moves lacked conviction and Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes was forced into just one meaningful first half save to push away James Milner’s powerful right foot drive. At the other end Friedel was being kept far busier and the former Blackburn man reacted smartly to beat away Tom Huddlestone’s long range effort. Despite controlling the game, Spurs were finding it difficult to gain a clear sight of Freidel’s goal. And when they did work a clear-cut opening, the Villa number one produced an outstanding save from King to ensure the two sides reached halftime on level terms. King connected from close range after Crouch headed down from Bentley’s inswinging free kick and Freidel showed superb reactions to protect his goal before Jermain Defoe scooped the rebound over the bar. Villa’s first half performance had been effective, if uninspiring. But O’Neill’s side showed a much more positive approach after the break when they finally exerted a period of sustained pressure, although they rarely looked like breaking the deadlock. Gabriel Agbonlahor’s pace caught out King and the defender was forced into a clumsy foul, conceding a free-kick in a dangerous area. England midfielder Stewart Downing, however, was unable to punish the Tottenham skipper his dead-ball effort over the bar. Tottenham appeared to have lost their way until they staged a late flurry and almost nicked the win through an instinctive free kick from Crouch.

But Friedel was never likely to be beaten in this mood.—AFP

Firstly, the former Blackburn man received the ball from Carlton Cole’s diagonal ball but skewed his left foot finish wide of the post.

The former Porto striker had an opportunity to redeem himself moments later but passed into no-man’s land when presented with a clear opening.

If McCarthy was to blame for the first two misses, a superb last ditch clearance by centrehalf Leon Cort was responsible for keeping out his third effort.

A driving run by Scott Parker resulted in the midfielder releasing McCarthy who rounded Brian Jensen in the Clarets goal and stroked the ball goalwards, but was thwarted by Cort’s heroic defending.

The home team rubbed salt into the Hammers’ wounds in

the 55th minute as full-back Fox doubled the lead.

The Clarets were awarded a soft free-kick on the edge of the box which the former Celtic defender, making his debut, struck sweetly into the top corner of Green’s goal.

Parker nearly hit back immediately but his goalbound shot from the edge of the penalty area was turned wide by Jensen’s fantastic save. Ilan, a free transfer signing from French First Division side St Etienne during the transfer window, gave West Ham hope with ten minutes to go, taking advantage of Mido’s robust forward play to claim his first West Ham goal. But Burnley’s back-four somehow resisted a late onslaught from the Hammers to secure the vital win.—AFP

Wigan held in Sunderland Sunderland 1

Wigan 1 SUNDERLAND: Sunderland’s quest for a first win since November goes on but Kenwyne Jones at least prevented another defeat with the big striker’s second half header securing a 1-1 draw with Wigan.

Mohamed Diame’s powerful drive had given the visitors a deserved first-half lead and Craig Gordon made an important save from James McCarthy before Jones came to Sunderland’s rescue.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce handed loan signing Alan Hutton a first start with the Tottenham right-back replacing the injured John Mensah. Wigan were looking to bounce back from their midweek FA Cup embarrassment by League Two’s Notts County and Chris Kirkland, Hendry Thomas, Charles N’Zogbia, Hugo Rodallega and James McCarthy all returned to Roberto Martinez’s line-up.

It was Sunderland however who started as if they had a point to prove and Hutton was quickly looking like an astute signing, picking out Darren Bent with a ball into the box that the England striker might have made more of, Kirkland saving his shot comfortably.

Wigan should have taken the lead with 12 minutes on the clock but Paul Scharner completely missed his kick with just Gordon to beat after being teed up by McCarthy. The Latics went close again when Maynor Figueroa’s 30-yard drive whistled inches over Gordon’s crossbar and minutes later they claimed the lead.

Rodallega dispossessed Sunderland skipper Lorik Cana

and when the ball broke to Diame the midfielder hammered an unstoppable shot past Gordon. Sunderland remained on the back foot with only a solo run and shot by Kenwyne Jones relieving the pressure. The Trinidad and Tobago striker’s effort was deflected off Figueroa and shaved the post.

Wigan twice went close to adding to their score in the runup to half-time. Gordon pulled off a fine save to touch Lee Cattermole’s 25-yard drive over the bar and also had to be alert to keep out an overhead kick from Colombian striker Rodallega three minutes before the break.

Sunderland were significantly better after the restart and it required a fine defensive header from Gary Caldwell to prevent Bent from reaching Andy Reid’s cross. Bent then had a 55thminute strike correctly ruled out for offside as Sunderland began to increase the pressure.

The home side did have a major escape three minutes later when Gordon saved with his legs from McCarthy. But they should have equalized soon afterwards, defender Michael Turner heading Jordan Henderson’s cross across the goalmouth from an unmarked position.

N’Zogbia was equally wasteful at the other end but Sunderland’s pressure finally yielded an equalizer in the 65th minute. Hutton started the move by releasing Henderson down the right and the midfielder delivered a perfect cross which Jones met with a textbook header to leave Kirkland helpless. Henderson was soon to depart, on a stretcher with what looked like a serious ankle injury, and both sides appeared happy to settle for a draw before Bent secured a sight of goal deep into stoppage time.

The striker’s shot was on target but struck Jones and bounced clear. — AFP

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Five-star Utd go top Stylish United demolish Portsmouth 5-0 Man Utd 5

Portsmouth 0 MANCHESTER: Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League in emphatic fashion as the champions crushed Portsmouth 5-0 at Old Trafford yesterday. Wayne Rooney put United in front with his 23rd goal of the season and Anthony Vanden Borre’s own goal gave Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a comfortable lead at the interval. Michael Carrick’s shot looped up off Richard Hughes and beat David James, before Berbatov added a fourth and Marc Wilson volleyed into his own net to complete the rout.

The win was a major boost for United’s goal difference and they are now one point clear of Chelsea, who face Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, while Portsmouth remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

United’s form against teams from the bottom half of the table remains imperious and their 2-2 draw with Sunderland in October remain the only points they have dropped against bottom 10 teams this season.

New England captain Rio Ferdinand was stuck in the directors’ box as he served the second match of his four-game ban. But United dominated from the start. Their best early chance came when Gary Neville clipped in a cross from the right and Jonny Evans guided a header just past the post. Avram Grant’s side were briefly able to give the hosts a scare. when

MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher jumps to control the ball during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Portsmouth at Old Trafford yesterday. — AFP Danny Webber broke into the United box and squared for Vanden Borre, who hit a drive bound for the top corner that

was pushed away by Edwin Van der Sar. Webber sent Vanden Borre through and he passed left for

Jamie O’Hara to help the ball on to Nadir Belhadj, whose drive was hacked off the line by United defender Evans. And 10

minutes before the interval, Berbatov passed up a great opportunity when Neville tore into the area and sent over a low cross that the Bulgarian turned around the post from five yards out. But United finally got their breakthrough in the 40th minute and of course it was inform Rooney that provided the killer blow.

A short corner was knocked back to Darren Fletcher and he sent over a cross that Rooney headed in from three yards for his seventh goal in four appearances. And the points looked to be in the bag on the stroke of half time when Nani again fooled Vanden Borre and his cross flicked off the Belgian and past James. Berbatov finally showed some class when he lifted a pass over the Portsmouth defense to send Valencia through but the Ecuador winger’s drive was somehow kept out by James.

But just before the hour, United made the game safe with a strike of real quality. Rooney laid the ball off and England midfielder Carrick hit a shot that flicked up off Hughes and bounced in off the underside of the bar. Berbatov finally grabbed one for himself and showed some coolness to score.

The Bulgarian was picked out by a long ball and after finding his route to goal blocked, came out of the area again and found the corner of the net with a low shot. Then Evra sent in a whipped cross from the left that was thumped into his own net

by Wilson. United substitute Mame Biram Diouf should have helped himself to a goal in the closing stages, but the Senegal striker failed to keep his shot down after he was played through by Valencia. —AFP

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher (left) and Daniel Agger vie for the ball against Everton’s Yakubu Ayegbeni (center) during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield yesterday. — AP

10-man Liverpool beat Everton in feisty derby Liverpool 1

Everton 0 LONDON: Liverpool overcame the early sending-off of defender Sotiros Kyrgiakos to beat city rivals Everton 1-0 in a fiercely-contested Premier League Merseyside derby at Anfield yesterday. Kyrgiakos was red-carded for a challenge on Marouane Fellaini after 34 minutes but Liverpool won the game with a Dirk Kuyt header early in the second half. In-form Everton rarely threatened an equalizer and also ended with 10 men after midfielder Steven Pienaar was sent off for a second yellow card in stoppage time.

Everton were unbeaten in nine league games since losing at home to Liverpool in November but the home side were also on a good run

as they seek to claw their way back into the top four. There was little in the way of good football on show from either side, however, as the game was fiery from the start with tackles flying in from both sides.

“That’s what derbies are all about.

That’s what the fans pay good money for, to come and see passion, commitment and fight,” Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard told Sky Sports. It boiled over after 34 minutes when Fellaini and Kyrgiakos launched studs-up tackles at each other contesting a loose ball. Like a double-knockout in boxing both men collapsed with shin injuries and both could have been sent off.

However, it was the Greek international defender who saw red while Fellaini was carried off and took no further part. He was replaced by Mikel Arteta, edging his way back to fitness after a lengthy absence following surgery on a knee injury.

First-half stoppage time produced the two best chances of the half as Steven Gerrard hit the bar with a free kick for Liverpool and Tim

Cahill sent a diving header over the bar from close range. Liverpool made the breakthrough 10 minutes into the second half when Kuyt headed in a Gerrard corner right under the nose of Everton keeper Tim Howard. “It was a great cross.

When you’re with 10 men you won’t get many chances, so you have to take everything from the set pieces,” Kuyt said. Liverpool, who had conceded only one goal in their last six league games, then sat deep to protect their lead. They proved able to do it without too many scares as Everton, despite the promptings of Arteta, rarely threatened in a disappointing display. The temperature lifted again seven minutes from time when Gerrard caught Pienaar, leading to a mass shoving match and a couple more yellow cards. Pienaar earned a second yellow and a sending off when his arm caught Gerrard’s face, the 10th red card in 11 league games between the two teams. The win took Liverpool to 44 points and into fourth place for the first time since October.— Reuters

BAE reaches settlement deal with US, UK

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Spanish economy contracts further

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Mixed jobless report shows slow stabilization

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

www.kuwaittimes.net

New accidents add to Toyota Prius doubts TOKYO: Japan’s government has confirmed five new accidents involving possible brake malfunction in Toyota Prius hybrids and will urge the troubled carmaker to investigate, national media reported yesterday. The transport ministry has received about 80 complaints this month about malfunctions in the brake system of the latest model of the flagship Prius, the Tokyo Shimbun and Fuji Televison Network reported, without quoting sources.

Five of the complaints relate to crashes in which, according to the drivers, the brakes malfunctioned, the news reports said, adding that the ministry would urge the company to launch an investigation.

Toyota has separately received over 100 complaints since the crisis broke, Fuji said, adding that the company planned to announce details of its safety measures, including recalls of the Prius, as early as next week.

It was not possible to immediately confirm the reports. Toyota said Friday that it was still considering whether to recall the Prius, a day after confirming the fuel-sipping car had a design flaw. The company said it had redesigned the anti-lock braking system designed to prevent skidding-for the latest version of its Prius produced since last month and would soon announce steps for those already on the road. Major Japanese newspapers lashed out at Toyota’s slow response to safety problems with its cars and warned the fiasco could hurt the country’s hard-won reputation for trustworthy technology.

Company president Akio Toyoda

Apologetic Toyota looking to outside quality input

TOKYO: This undated handout photo provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows an example of an unsecured driver-side floor mat trapping the accelerator pedal in a 2007 Lexus ES350.

(Inset) 2010 model Toyota Prius cars fill a lot at a dealership in Seattle. —AP

European debt woes to add urgency to Arctic G7 IQALUIT: Finance chiefs from the world’s rich powers opened an icy summit on Friday mulling how to prevent worry about deepening southern European debt from derailing an already fragile global recovery.

Fresh off a run on a dogsled near the remote northern capital of a Canadian territory called Nunavut, host Finance Minister Jim Flaherty acknowledged that even before all Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers arrived Europe’s debt problems were front and center. “We already had preliminary discussions on that subject,” a parka-clad Flaherty told reporters even before a formal opening dinner that featured native delicacies like caribou and Arctic char.

“The European (Central) Bank, of course, is here and there are concerns about Greece.” The G7 includes three key European economies-Germany, France and Italy-that made it a natural forum for talks with the United States, Britain, Japan and

Canada. Stock markets tumbled over the past week on fears that a bailout might be needed and the euro currency weakened as concern about fiscal problems in Greece, Spain and Portugal shot higher on investors’ shifting list of worries.

Immediately after arriving in Iqaluit, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble tried to tamp down speculation the 16-nation euro currency faced serious trouble but made clear the European Union was mindful of risks and determined to deal with them. “The EU has imposed heavy measures on Greece, like an austerity and savings program, and it will watch closely that Greece acts according to that,” Schaeuble said. The attention to European issues came as something of a surprise, given prior indications that financial-sector reform, Asian currency values and the role of the G7 itself might be enough to consider on Friday night and Saturday.

Flaherty said Greece’s problems were a

reminder of the financial crisis the world is trying to put behind it, much of it blamed on risky behavior and reckless lending by banks that G7 members still cannot agree how to put under firmer control. “I think we have to be very mindful of the potential failure of domestic economies and of the persistence of some toxic assets in some banks,” Flaherty told reporters before the meeting got under way. No communique will be issued at the conclusion of the G7 gathering, though there will be a closing joint news conference and some ministers will hold separate briefings afterward.

Flaherty said he wants the Arctic G7 to return to a “fireside chat” model as it originally was designed to be in the mid-1970s.

In fact, it has been surpassed as the key forum for global policy discussions by the larger G20 that includes China and other key emerging-market countries and this could be the last G7 session outside the ambit of G20 gatherings. — Reuters

JPMorgan’s chief reaps $16m bonus WASHINGTON: Jamie Dimon, chief executive and chairman of Wall Street investment giant JPMorgan Chase, reaped a 2009 bonus of about 16 million dollars in shares and options on shares, a bank spokesman said. “All of his bonus is in deferred equity, there is no cash,” said spokesman Joe Evangelisti. News about Dimon’s hefty bonus comes amid a public furor over big bonuses that some blame for the excessive risk taking that fueled the global financial crisis. Goldman Sachs chairman and CEO Lloyd Blankfein was also awarded a nine million dollar bonus for 2009, but in restricted stock that he must hold for five years, the company said.

The 58,381 in shares, which will convert into Goldman’s common stock in thirds over the next three years, is a fraction of the figures rumored in the media in recent weeks. The compensation was made under a new policy aimed at ending a furor over the company’s soaring compensation, the company disclosed Friday. Last year, JPMorgan Chase repaid the US Treasury for an injection of 25 billion dollars in capital under the taxpayer-funded Troubled Asset Relief Program set up to prevent the collapse of the financial system. The TARP repayment freed the bank from government-imposed compensation restrictions.

Dimon led JPMorgan Chase, the second-largest US bank by assets, to huge

profits in 2009 as the financial sector recovered, benefiting from a rebound in equities. The New York-based financial giant last month said it had quadrupled its fourth-quarter net earnings to 3.27 billion dollars and doubled its profits for the full year to 11.7 billion dollars. In 2007 Dimon

NEW YORK: James Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co, speaks at a Crain’s New York Business forum in this photo. — AP

received 28 million dollars in bonuses; he declined to take any compensation other than his salary in 2008. Evangelisti said that other top executives at JPMorgan Chase received at least 75 percent of their 2009 bonus in stocks and options on stocks.

Bonuses on average were 41 percent smaller than those awarded for 2007, before the financial crisis accelerated, he noted. Evangelisti also said that Dimon had exercised his options on shares awarded 10 years ago that were set to expire, receiving almost 10 million dollars. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, Dimon, who has a million-dollar salary, said he had received nearly eight million dollars in JPMorgan Chase shares for 2009, with options on an additional 563,000 shares.

According to the document, Dimon received 195,704 shares Tuesday, half of which cannot be sold before January 2012 and the other half by January 2013.

Goldman Sachs, which along with JPMorgan Chase apparently best-survived the financial crisis, also posted huge 2009 profits but moved to deflect criticism about bonuses to be paid from 16 billion dollars reserved for compensation. A recent Wall Street Journal analysis found Wall Street banks and securities firms were on track to pay employees 145 billion dollars for 2009, a record amount. — AFP

said Friday he was “deeply sorry” for the string of quality issues that has tarnished the group’s reputation and triggered a class action lawsuit in the United States. Toyoda also said he would head a new task force, including outside experts, within the company to raise standards and “verify the causes that led to the recalls”. But the Nikkei business daily said in an editorial: “Words alone cannot settle the situation.

Toyota represents Japan and its shaking could lead to a loss of trust for the entire Japan brand.”

The Asahi Shimbun decried Toyota’s response to the troubles as “utterly slow”, adding: “The world is watching how Toyota will show its humility by using the series of troubles as lessons for the production of safe cars.” The Yomiuri Shimbun said: “There is no denying Toyota was over-confident about its models’ high-tech equipment and treated users’ complaints lightly.

“Failure to deal properly with the current fiasco could deal a blow to the international trust in Japan’s manufacturing technology,” the best-selling daily said in an editorial.

“We hope Toyota humbly accepts the criticism leveled against it and will do all it can to ensure the safety and high quality of its vehicles.”

Toyota, staring at a two-billion-dollar bill from the recall of more than eight million vehicles around the world, was facing “a moment of crisis,” admitted Toyoda, grandson of the company’s founder. Toyota, which dethroned General Motors in 2008 as the world’s biggest automaker, is reeling from a series of complaints about problems ranging from unintended acceleration to

brake failure.

Meanwhile the Toyota president said the automaker would bring in outside experts to review quality controls, a highly unusual action for a company that has epitomized world-beating industrial standards.

“I would like to take this opportunity to apologize from the bottom of my heart for causing many of our customers concern after the recalls across several models in several regions,” Akio Toyoda, the grandson of Toyota’s founder, told a news conference in Nagoya, Japan.

Toyoda’s comments were his most extensive since the latest recall began in January. Toyota has issued two recalls since last November. Investors were relieved that Toyota finally announced concrete steps to deal with the quality crisis. The company’s shares, which have taken a beating recently, ended 4.1 percent higher at $74.71 on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. Since Jan. 21, Toyota has lost $30 billion or a fifth of its market value.

But in a sign the carmaker still faces serious problems, credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s put Toyota and some of its suppliers on watch for a possible downgrade.

S&P cited “increased concern over the potential negative impact on Toyota’s business profile of unfolding developments related to recent quality issues.”

Toyoda apologized for safety problems that have left the Japanese carmaker “in crisis”. He said Toyota would strengthen its inspection process, respond faster to customer complaints and seek input from outside experts.— Agencies

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

BAE reaches $450 million settlement with US, UK Europe’s biggest military contractor agrees to pay fines LONDON: BAE Systems Plc, Europe’s biggest military contractor, will pay around $450 million in fines in the United States and Britain, settling longrunning corruption investigations on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, BAE, the Pentagon’s fifth largest supplier by sales, will plead guilty to

one charge of conspiring to make false statements to the US government. The company will also pay $400 million in fines, one of the largest penalties against a defense contractor and comparable to the $402 million KBR Inc agreed to pay in February 2009 in a Nigerian bribery case.

BARROW-IN-FURNESS: Photo shows a nuclear submarine at the BAE Systems production plant in Barrow-in-Furness, north west England. — AFP

Dexia to shrink under EU deal BRUSSELS: Dexia SA, the world’s biggest lender to local authorities, will shrink by over a third under a deal reached with the European Commission over billions of euros in state help from the French and Belgian governments, the bank said yesterday. European Union regulators have ordered cutbacks at many European banks that have received billions of euros from their governments, saying this is essential to counter the unfair advantage they gain over rivals.

Dexia says it will sell off Spanish, Italian and Slovenian banking units and a Turkish insurance business over the next three

years as it reduces its balance sheet by 35 percent by 2014.

The bank has already sold off a 20-percent stake in French lender Credit du Nord to Societe Generale and has agreed to sell its life insurance business Dexia Epargne Pension to BNP Paribas Assurance. It has also agreed to restrictions on dividends and hybrid debt and will refrain from acquisitions until the end of 2011. Dexia says this will all allow it to exit state guarantees earlier than planned, by June 30. It also says it is in a good position to focus on its core business in France and Belgium and on expanding in Turkey.

The French-Belgian bank is the biggest lender to French local governments and also lends widely to cities from Spain to the US. Dexia confirmed a target of 15 percent in cost reductions, or §600 million under a plan that will also shed 602 staff. It employs 35,500.

Dexia ran up huge losses at a US bond insurance unit, forcing it to seek a §6.4 billion capital injection from France, Belgium and Luxembourg in 2008. It sold off the American unit, FSA Inc., in July. The French government is now the bank’s largest shareholder with a 25 percent stake. — AP

Behbehani Motors honored with prestigious ‘Superbrand 2010’ KUWAIT: Behbehani Motors Company, the exclusive agent for Volkswagen cars in Kuwait announced that it has been voted as “Superbrand for 2010” in recognition of its ongoing strategy to remain at the forefront of the automotive industry. This certificate is awarded to the strongest brands in different sectors after scrutinizing over 3,000 brands in Kuwait and their achievements in 2009/2010.

The “Superbrands” Council in each country, which comprises of individuals who have shown exceptional aptitude in business and have a thorough knowledge of markets, along with over 1,300 marketing professionals are asked to score brands from a list provided by qualified researchers. The scoring is tabulated and the top scoring brands are being awarded with the “Superbrands” status.

The Superbrand status is given only to the companies that have undertaken focused and consistent activities and have increased their customer satisfaction and loyalty over the year.

With this achievement Volkswagen Kuwait proved it is beyond par excellence and popularity in the Kuwaiti car sector. The certificate is a reward for maintaining top quality standards and for following the guidelines of quality management systems. Volkswagen Kuwait will receive the Superbrand certificate at the official high profile premier marketing Superbrands Tribute event in

Abdullah Ali September 2010. This is the third certificate of excellence Kuwait receives after being awarded ISO 9001:2008 certificate and becoming the No 1 Volkswagen partner in the Middle East for achieving the highest increase in sales in the region in 2009.

Volkswagen Brand Manager, Abdullah Ali said: “We, at Behbehani Motors Company are committed to quality and customer service. Therefore, we

are proud and honored to have received this prestigious and renowned award that recognizes our ongoing efforts to provide our customers and Volkswagen enthusiasts with the best service and top quality standards.

The award’s endorsement of our brand amongst the top brands in Kuwait will be cherished for many years to come and will motivate us even further in our quest to provide all Volkswagen fans with an outstanding experience.”

According to a criminal charge filed in the US District Court in Washington, BAE had gains of more than $200 million on the business related to the false statements, including deals in Saudia Arabia. BAE will also plead guilty in Britain to one charge of breach of duty in relation to records of payments made in Tanzania. It will pay 30 million pounds ($48 million), the largest penalty imposed by Britain’s Serious Fraud Office.

“While it’s a substantial figure, it’s less than the worst case scenario,” said analyst Tina Cook at brokerage Charles Stanley, noting initial media reports had suggested a figure of up to 1 billion pounds from the SFO alone, later revised down to between 200 million and 300 million. A statement by the SFO said its decision ended its investigations into BAE’s defense contracts. US Department of Justice officials, however, said their investigations were ongoing. They declined to elaborate.

BAE Chairman Dick Olver said in a statement: “The company very much regrets and accepts full responsibility for these past shortcomings. These settlements enable the company to deal finally with significant legacy issues.”

The US court filing outlined a number of BAE’s dealings, including the sale of fighter aircraft and other defense material to Saudi Arabia and the lease by the Swedish government of fighter aircraft to the Czech Republic and Hungary. Because the leased jets contained US-controlled defense components, Sweden needed to secure an arms export license from the US Department of State.

“BAES did not subject these payments and benefits to the type of internal scrutiny and review that BAES had represented it would subject them to” in previous undertakings to the US government,” the court document said. A previous investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into reports BAE paid about 1 billion pounds over a decade ago to Prince Bandar bin Sultan in connection with the Saudi AlYamamah arms deal had been halted in 2006 by former Prime Minister Tony Blair after the probe angered Saudi Arabia.

The US court filing alleged the company “provided substantial benefits” to a Saudi official “in a position of influence” and to the official’s associates. But the filing did not identify the individual. In connection with the Saudi fighter deals, BAE agreed to transfer 10 million pounds and more than $9 million to a bank account controlled by an intermediary, according to the complaint. BAE “was aware that there was a high probability that the intermediary would transfer part of these payments to the KSA official,” the complaint states.

US UNIT NOT ACCUSED BAE’s US subsidiary, BAE Systems Inc, was not accused of wrongdoing by the Justice Department. As a result, it may escape suspension or debarment from doing business with the US government. The company supplies products and services to the Defense Department, US intelligence and Homeland Security.

The US accounts for more than half of BAE’s sales.

The settlement BAE reached with the SFO of Britain relates to the sale of an air traffic control system in Tanzania, a contract worth 30 million pounds, according to an SFO spokesman. Part of the 30 million pound penalty will be a fine, to be decided by a court, with the remainder as a charity payment. After the settlement was announced, the SFO said it had withdrawn a corruption charge it filed on Jan. 29 against Count Alfons Mensdorff-Pouilly, a BAE agent involved with BAE contracts in Eastern and Central Europe. In London, BAE shares closed up 1.6 percent, as the market welcomed news of the settlement.

In a conference call with reporters on Friday, BAE Systems Chairman Dick Olver said the activities addressed by the settlement were “all legacy issues.” “We are now seen as a company of good standing and a responsible company to do business,” he added.

He added that the settlement amounts were non-tax deductible and would be included in BAE’s 2009 results. —Reuters

MADRID: Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero pauses during a news conference at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, after a meeting with Trade Union and business federation leaders. — AP

Spanish recession-plagued economy contracts further MADRID: Spain’s recession-plagued economy contracted for a sixth consecutive quarter in the last three months of 2009, although the rate of decline is easing, the Bank of Spain said. The 0.1 percent drop in gross domestic product is a blow to government predictions that the country would climb out of technical recession at the end of 2009, as other major European economies have.

Late Friday the government announced its latest proposals to try and stimulate the jobs market. After a meeting with representatives of the country’s leading business federation and trade unions, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said his government would focus on creating employment for the young.

Zapatero said agreements should be arrived at with employers whereby workers could downshift to part-time work as well as making it easier to relocate people who had lost their jobs.

However, Zapatero said his government did not intend to reduce benefits employers must pay in case of unemployment which stand at 45 days pay for each year worked. The Spanish economy shrank 0.3 percent in the third quarter compared to the second, according to the government data. For all of 2009, the bank estimated that Spain’s economy contracted 3.6 per-

cent, in line with government forecasts. The Bank of Spain’s figures are separate from the official figures published by the government, due out in the next few days.

Spain’s once-buoyant economy has wracked up six straight quarters of decline since third quarter of 2008 as a boom fueled by real estate construction and consumer spending collapsed.

Unemployment now stands at nearly 20 percent. The government’s ballooning deficit is an acute source of worry for investors and markets fretting over whether Spain could be in line for a debt crisis like the one in Greece.

The government had been hit by more bad news Thursday from a poll which said opposition conservatives would win if elections were held now. Zapatero has been in power since 2004.

The Popular Party now has a 3.8-point lead over his Socialists, up from 3.3 points in October, in the survey by the state-run Center for Sociological Research. A record 82.7 percent of those polled now feel that unemployment, as opposed to violent Basque separatism or other issues, are Spain’s biggest problem, the poll said. A total of 2,500 people took part and the margin of error was 2 percentage points.— AP

Bond yields remain lower on Europe debt concerns CHARLOTTE: Interest rates fell in the bond market Friday as investors remained focused on debt problems at several weak European governments.

Mixed news from the US on monthly employment also led investors to cut back on risky investments in favor of Treasurys and other safe harbor assets like the dollar.

Bond prices rose, sending their yields lower, as the Dow Jones industrial average surprised investors by gaining 10 points. The market pulled off its lows in the last hour of trading as the dollar came off its highs.

The Labor Department reported the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell in January to 9.7 percent from 10 percent, even though analysts expected an uptick.

At the same time, however, employers cut 20,000 jobs, more than the 5,000 economists expected, according to

Thomson Reuters. The two numbers are calculated from different surveys. US trading was affected by European stock markets again, which tumbled on concerns about how well Greece, Spain and Portugal will be able to service their mounting loads of debt.

In Portugal, opposition parties defeated a government austerity plan Friday and passed its own bill that lets the country’s autonomous regions rack up even more debt.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note that matures in November 2019 fell to 3.57 percent from 3.61 percent late Thursday. Its price jumped 10/32 to 98 12/32. That yield is a widely used benchmark for consumer loans including mortgages. Josh Stiles, a bond strategist at IDEAGlobal.com, said Treasurys will get tested next week as auctions of three-year and 10-year notes and 30-year bonds take place.

“It’s a measure for what the latest risk appetite is following all the fears of the sovereign debt problems in Europe,” Stiles said.

The yield on the two-year note maturing in January 2012 fell to 0.78 percent from 0.81 percent. Its price rose 2/32 to 100 6/32. The yield of the 30year bond that matures in November 2039 fell to 4.53 percent from 4.55 percent, while its price rose 16/32 to 97 17/32.

The yield on the threemonth T-bill that matures May 6 fell to 0.08 percent from 0.08 percent. Its discount rate was 0.09 percent. The cost of borrowing between banks fell fractionally.

The British Bankers’ Association said the rate on the three-month loans in dollars - the London Interbank Offered Rate, or Libor - rose to 0.24969 percent from 0.24875 percent.— AP

Thousands protest Portugal public sector wage freeze LISBON: Tens of thousands of Portuguese civil servants marched in the capital Lisbon on Friday in protest at a freeze on public sector wages aimed at reining in the spiraling public deficit. Some 50,000 people from across Portugal demonstrated in the city centre to demand a 4.5-percent wage increase across the public sector, unions said.

“This protest is about showing that workers are unhappy. These 50,000 people came to tell the government it has to change its right-wing policies,” said Ana Avoila of the Common Front union movement which staged the protest.

“The government doesn’t want to resolve the crisis-it just wants to use it as an excuse to penalize workers,” charged Jeronimo de Sousa, secretary-general of the Communist party.

The rising debt burdens of Spain and Portugal-whose deficit hit 9.3 percent last year, its highest since 1974 - have triggered concerns that they could follow in the shaky footsteps of Greece. The financial strains of the three euro-

zone members have weighed heavily on the European single currency, with the euro falling under 1.38 dollars for the first time in more than seven months on Thursday. Portugal last week announced it was freezing all public sector wages as part of the 2010 budget, while pursuing a policy of replacing one in two departing civil servants.

The Portuguese government slashed thousands of state jobs in a previous cost-cutting drive from 2005 to 2007, which temporarily brought the deficit down from 6.1 percent to 2.6 percent of gross domestic product.

Portugal’s public sector employed 675,000 people at the end of 2009, 73,000 fewer than in 2005, and it plans to further reduce the public workforce by 7.5 to 10 percent over the next four years.

The draft budget is to be put to a vote in parliament on March 12. The right-wing opposition has said it would abstain, meaning the legislation is sure to be adopted. — AFP

BUSINESS

Sunday, February 7, 2010

23

Australia’s Resourcehouse, China sign huge coal deal ‘Biggest-ever export contract’ SYDNEY: Australian miner Resourcehouse said yesterday it had signed a 60-billion-US-dollar coal deal with energy-hungry China, calling it the country’s “biggest-ever export contract”. Resourcehouse chairman Clive Palmer said the company had negotiated a 20-year agreement to supply

BEIJING: A two-year-old Chinese boy is chained to a lamp post by his father Chen Chuanliu, as he delivers goods at the Huaguan shopping mall in Beijing. Chuanliu, a pedicab driver, has since stopped chaining his son, says he is unable to afford to pay for childcare, chains his son up to prevent him from being abducted. — AFP

Chinese sales boosts luxury goods market PARIS: Despite the economic crisis, 2009 ended better than it began for the French luxury goods sector, thanks largely to China’s growing taste for high-end products, encouraging thoughts of a better 2010. Following the trend set by other global luxury brands, Hermes and LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) announced fourth quarter sales growth on Thursday and Friday, suggesting the worst of the crisis could be over for the sector.

After announcing that annual profits fell 13 percent to 1.7 billion euros (2.3 billion dollars), LVMH chief executive Bernard Arnault said he was pleased with “record” sales figures for December, which he said would “grow in January”.

Good news for the number one global luxury group after almost stagnant sales in the first three quarters, slowed by wholesale stock clearances, which particularly affected watches, jewelry and champagne. Thanks to Christmas sales, Hermeswhose 1.9 billion euro turnover is a fraction of LVMH’s 17.5 billion euros-said it achieved its target of annual turnover growth of 8.5 percent. At LVMH, champagne was behind an 80 percent fall in the turnover of the company’s wines and spirits division.

The division head Christophe Navarre said bubbly was always the worst-affected product in an economic downturn, but December had been a good month. Luxury firms are cautious about the future and reluctant to make forecasts, but they plan to continue their disciplined management approach. LVMH and Hermes have both under-

lined their resilience in the world financial crisis, but Arnault observed that this was in large part due to “emerging markets supporting growth in 2009 and compensating for a fall in business in other markets”.

Put another way, China’s growing appetite for luxury goods offset the fall in sales in the United States and Europe, the areas worst affected by the recession, and Japan which was hurt by the falling yen. To illustrate the point, China’s consumption of LVMH goods rose by 15 percent in 2009 and now represents six percent of all company sales.

For two of LVMH’s leading brands the figures are more striking-China is now the world’s top consumer of Hennessy cognac and the second biggest Louis Vuitton buyer. Over at Hermes, sales jumped 32 percent in Asia in 2009, excluding Japan, and it will open four new shops in China in 2010.

Louis Vuitton plans to open five including two in Shanghai, host city for the 2010 World Expo from May to October. “Between 70 and 100 million visitors are expected over the six months, most of them Chinese,” said Yves Carcelle, Louis Vuitton president. In 2010, “China will remain a motor of growth for the sector”, according to Catherine Rolland, analyst with Kepler Capital Markets. “An improvement in the trend in North America, which declined sharply in 2009, could also be a factor in improving the overall trend in the market,” she added. Hermes said its sales in North America, essentially the United States, rose by 11.8 percent in the final quarter of 2009. — AFP

Proclaim your love with Damas’ exotic diamond heart pendant Valentine’s Day diamond pendant!

KUWAIT: Make an unabashed display of love with Damas’ enchanting new Valentine’s Day diamond pendant!

Designed on a sea-based theme indicating the close bond shared between a marine creature and the sea, this heartshaped jewel romantically portrays the unique relationship between two people in love.

The lavishly designed 18k yellow gold pendant is crafted using natural components like leather, in cherry red color and is set with a central heart motif nestling pristine, natural pearls, outlined further by a row of sparkling white diamond brilliants, signifying your love as precious and eternal.

Strikingly attractive and eye catching, this riveting, limited edition creation by Damas, the world renowned jeweler based in Middle East, is one of the season’s most stunning and enthralling dedications to love and is priced at KD80. Teaming with rich, traditional colors much associated with love, such as cherry red and gold, it

presents an emotive offering designed to sweep your love off her feet!

Celebrated every year on 14th February, Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated not just for people in love but also for everyone who shares the bond of love. What’s more, this exotic and exclusive diamond pendant also makes the perfect jewel for the style conscious woman in search of that special adornment for a romantic dinner that will glisten in the candlelight and accent her attire.

Tamjid Abdullah, Deputy Managing Director Damas Jewelry said, “We at Damas are highly delighted to present a jewel celebrating the special bond between people in love, designed on a sea-based theme.

The use of the special Cherry Red material exemplifies the eternal bond of true love between them and is also symbolic of the closeness those in love share. This exclusive diamond heart pendant combines detailed craftsmanship and excellent finish to make a strik-

ingly attractive jewel that echoes the sentiments of this special day:’ Ajay Pandey - GM Category & Marketing Head, said, “Damas has always sought to present shoppers exciting new designs and the new Damas Valentine’s Day diamond heart pendant reveals its innovative touch and daring to come up with unusual themes by experimenting with new materials.

The rich, dramatic combination of colors makes this jewel one of the most eye catching ones of the season:’ Proclaim the special bond your share with that special someone this Valentine’s Day by presenting them Damas’ stunning tribute to love! An utterly feminine jewel, this grand diamond heart pendant unfurls several hearts carefully aligned one inside the other to make an emphatic and bold declaration of one’s love. This exclusive Valentine’s Day Damas diamond heart pendant is available at select Damas stores in Kuwait.

The latest in a string of major deals between China and resource-rich Australia, the project signals a thaw in diplomatic tensions surrounding the detention of Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu and fraught iron ore price talks. It also reflects China’s gradual turn from being a major coal exporter to increasingly importing the fuel from countries such as Indonesia and Australia. Palmer, Australia’s fifth-richest man, said he had awarded the engineering and construction management contract for the eightbillion-US-dollar thermal coal mine, named “China First,” to Metallurgical Corp of China (MCC).

“MCC will manage a syndicated group consisting of Sino Coal International Engineering Group, China Communications Construction Company (First Harbour) and China Railway Group Limited (CREC) to build Australia’s largest coal mine along with the required export infrastructure,” the billionaire magnate said. The ExportImport Bank of China had financed a 5.6 billion US dollar loan, Palmer said, but emphasized the project was 100 percent Australian-owned. “This is Australia’s largest single, non-syndicated, finance deal and the interest from China highlights the strength of the project and the benefits for Queensland and Australia in developing a new world-class coal region,” he said.

A spokesman said Palmer was likely to fund the outstanding two billion US dollars in construction costs. Executive director Phil McNamara said the “once-in-a-century project,” which is expected to begin construction later this year, would include open-cut and underground mines and a 495kilometre (308-mile) rail line.

Queensland premier Anna Bligh said the project would create tens of thousands of jobs, with annual royalties in excess of 605 million US dollars to flow to the state government from 2014.

CPI chairwoman Li Xiao Lin said the project was “opening up a massive new coal resource and the CPI Group of companies are pleased to be involved”. China, the world’s largest producer and user of coal, underpinned ten years of stellar growth for Australia’s economy until the global financial crisis.

Treasury chief Ken Henry in October predicted Chinese and Indian demand for resources would underpin a return to a decades-long commodities boom. Australia is already China’s largest source of coal imports, accounting for 43.9 million of the 125.8 million tons of coal imported by the Asian giant in 2009.

China was Australia’s thirdlargest investor in 2008, behind the United States and Britain. It accounted for 49 of the 153 deals involving Asian investors, mostly in mining acquisitions.

In August Australia inked a record 41.3 billion US dollar, 20year deal to supply liquefied natural gas to PetroChina from its massive Gorgon gas field.

Two-way business between the countries has soared, averaging 22.5 percent growth over the past five years, putting China on course to outstrip Japan as Australia’s top trading partner.

Chinese state-owned firms have made a series of bids for Australian resources, including the approval last October of Yanzhou Coal’s 3.2-billion-USdollar takeover of miner Felix.

Palmer plans to float Resourcehouse on the Hong Kong stock exchange next month in a bid to raise up to three billion dollars for coal, iron ore and oil and gas projects in Australia and oil and gas exploration in Papua New Guinea. A November research report prepared by Macquarie Group analysts said Resourcehouse had a strong relationship with the Chinese government and “it is expected that a large part of its projects will be debt funded out of China.” “Chinese corporate will also be heavily involved in the design and construction of major coal and iron ore projects,” the Macquarie report said. — AFP

China Power International Development (CPI) with 30 million tons of coal a year from a proposed mine in central Queensland. “This deal with CPI is Australia’s biggest ever export contract,” Palmer said in a statement.

i-Shares hosts roundtable in Kuwait

By Rawan Khalid KUWAIT: Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) dealer i-Shares hosted a roundtable on Thursday at the Sheraton hotel, with i-Shares’ Vice President Robert Broadwell providing the Kuwaiti press with an overview of ETFs. “We’ve seen a flurry of news in the GCC financial press about exchange-traded funds, but many people do not know what an ETF actually is, let alone how it is used.

Here we seek to demystify what is a relatively simple but powerful product category and how you can use it to augment your portfolio.” Broadwell said.

On the subject of using ETFs, Broadwell explained that these funds represent a simple proposition; an ETF is an investment vehicle which is constructed like a mutual fund but trades like an individual security on a stock exchange. Essentially, an ETF combines many of the benefits of traditional mutual funds, but are not to be confused with close-ended mutual funds that are

also traded on an exchange. ETF units can be created or redeemed by Authorized Participants as required and as ETFs are listed on stock exchanges just like a share, they can be traded whenever the exchange is open. Unlike many other types of funds, there is no fund manager picking the underlying stocks. Instead, the investor is given exposure to whichever companies make up the index that the ETF is tracking.

As with all investments the value of a holding in ETFs could go down as well as up and an investor may not get back the amount invested.

“Globally, ETFs have seen a tremendous uptake since they were first introduced to the market in 1993 with three products covering US$0.8 million assets under management (AUM). At the end of Q2 of 2009 the global ETF industry had 1,707 ETFs with 3,066 listings, assets of $789.04 billion, from 93 providers on 42 exchanges around the world with plans to launch an additional 777 new ETFs. Globally, i-Shares is the

largest ETF provider in terms of number of products, with 386 ETFs, and assets of US$380.23 billion, reflecting 48.2% market share.” Broadwell revealed.

“Generally, professional investors and wealth advisors view ETFs as liquid, transparent and low cost investment tools that help construct portfolios,” the company Vice President explained. “Accordingly, GCC-based investment professionals are using ETFs in multiple ways.”

On the uses of ETFs, Broadwell said, “One of the key uses for ETFs is combining different asset classes in the core of investment portfolios with actively managed funds or single stock selections. The result is a blend of active and passive management that can be tailored to best fit an optimal asset allocation and a client’s risk profile. GCC-based professional investors are also significant users of ETFs for tactical trading strategies, which typically include specific sector, single country or emerging market ETFs.”

Rio mulled $35bn iron ore tie-up with Chinalco: Report SYDNEY: Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto in 2008 considered selling stateowned Chinalco a 19.9 percent stake in its iron ore operations under a mammoth 40 billion dollar (35 billion US) tie-up, a report said yesterday. The deal was drafted just weeks before rival BHP Billiton dropped a hostile takeover bid due to the state of the global economy, The Weekend Australian newspaper said. Citing a draft memo from Rio Tinto Australia’s then-managing director Stephen Creese to the Foreign Investments Review Board (FIRB), the report said the deal

involved Rio spinning off its iron ore operations.

“As outlined at our meeting, Robert (Rio) is discussing with Colleen (Chinalco) a confidential proposal that would see Colleen acquire 19.9 percent of Robert’s demerged iron ore business and 40 to 45 percent of the remaining business,” read the memo, to FIRB member Patrick Colmer. Under the deal, which the report said was valued at up to 40 billion dollars, cash-strapped Rio would have demerged its iron ore operations into a separate company which would have been listed and headquartered in Australia.

Talks were well advanced when BHP dropped its hostile bid for Rio in November 2008, prompting Rio to withdraw its offer, the report said.

Creese’s memo to the FIRB was never sent. Chinalco went on to make a controversial 19.5-billion-US-dollar bid to increase its stake in Rio, which was last June scuttled by the AngloAustralian miner in favor of a 15.2 billion US dollar rights issue. Diplomatic relations between Australia and Beijing foundered following the collapsed deal, which would have been China’s biggest ever foreign investment. Australian pass-

port holder Stern Hu was last July detained in Shanghai with three of his Chinese colleagues on allegations of industrial espionage. His case is in now in the hands of prosecutors.

Rio last November signaled it remained interested in collaborating with Chinalco “on projects of mutual benefit” and called for “everdeepening cooperation” between the two countries.

The miner appointed a managing director for its China operations on Friday, a move which chief Tom Albanese said “underlines the importance the company places on enhancing its relationship with China.” — AFP

Istithmar sells SpiceJet stake for $35 million MUMBAI: Dubai World’s investment arm, Istithmar, has sold its entire holding in Indian budget airline SpiceJet, the airline’s spokeswoman said. Istithmar sold its stake in the airline via block deals to a couple of domestic mutual funds and a foreign institutional investor (FII), for $35.23 million, a source with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters.

“We have been informed that Istithmar World has sold its equity stake in SpiceJet. They remain invested in the company through FCCBs,” a spokeswoman for the airline said in New Delhi. Foreign currency convertible bonds, or FCCBs, are debt instruments with an option to convert into

equity shares at a later stage. Istithmar could not immediately be reached for a comment. Bank of America Merrill Lynch was the sole arranger of the Spicejet deal, the source said.

Dubai World is seeking to offload assets as part of a restructuring plan after the state-owned conglomerate rocked global markets last November when it asked for a delay on paying $26 billion in debt linked to its main property units. “The aviation sector is turning around in the last two quarters due to increased passenger traffic as well as improvement in the global economic front,” said Alex Mathews, head of research at Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services. “It could

be a better time to exit as Istithmar is trying to encash its assets. The stock has run up sharply after the company swung to profits this quarter,” Mathews said.

The block deals were struck at an average price of 52.12 rupees per share - a 46 percent increase over the price at the end of September. Though the Asian skies are getting crowded and doggedly competitive, squeezing budget airlines, India may be one of the regions bucking the trend. The shares fell over 5 percent immediately after the block deals, but had recovered to be down 1.65 percent in afternoon trade, when the Mumbai market slumped 2.6 percent. — Reuters

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BUSINESS

Sunday, February 7, 2010

KSE ends the past week in the green zone Kuwait Stock Exchange’s Weekly Activity KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) managed to end the past week in the green zone with gains that are mostly attributed to last Thursday’s recorded growth. The activity during the first four days of the week was a continuation of the market’s adopted pattern since the beginning of the year, as trades were dominated by speculations that were followed by quick profit reaping transactions.

Last week, however, was economically eventful, as the cabinet approved the annual development plan for the year 2010-2011, authorizing KD4.78 billion capital spending, which was then followed by the parliament’s approval of both the Development Plan and the Capital Market Authority bills in their second deliberation with minor opposition

from members.

In addition, last week witnessed the first results’ announcements for KSE listed banks, as both National Bank of Kuwait and Kuwait Finance House declared good results for the year 2009, bringing back blue-chips to the forefront after a somehow complete domination of small stock over the course of trading during the preceding weeks. Nevertheless, traders did not react to these events in the first trading sessions of the week as expected, due to their general uneasiness regarding the unannounced annual results of listed companies, and because of negative news surrounding leading listed companies.

On the other hand, trading activity continued to decline for the second consecutive

week, as average of daily turnover decreased by 7.43% to reach K.D. 58.80 million, whereas trading volume average amounted to 434.48 million shares, at a decline of 20.06% compared to previous week’s levels. By the end of the week, the price index closed at 7,064.6 points, up by 0.43% from the week before closing, whereas the weighted index registered a 1.09% weekly gain after closing at 379.98 points.

Sectors’ Indices All of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the green zone except for one sector. Last week’s highest gainer was the Banks sector, achieving 2.96% growth rate as its index closed at 8,307.6 points. Whereas, in the second place, the Food sector’s index closed at 4,397.5 points recording 0.95% increase.

The Insurance sector came in third as its index achieved 0.69% growth, ending the week at 2,833.5 points. The Investment sector was the least growing as its index closed at 5,408.1 points with a 0.10% increase. On the other hand, the Real Estate sector was last week’s only loser as its index declined by 0.50% to end the week’s activity at 2,800.3 points.

Sectors’ activity The Services sector dominated total trade volume during last week with 687.95 million shares changing hands, representing 31.67% of the total market trading volume.

The Investment sector was second in terms trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 25.84% of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of 561.42 million shares.

On the other hand, the Services sector’s stocks where the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of KD 89.06 million or 30.29% of last week’s total market trading value. The Investment sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover of KD 62.12 million represented 21.13% of the total market trading value.

Market capitalization KSE total market capitalization grew by 1.12% during last week to reach KD29.07 billion, as six of KSE’s sectors recorded an increase in their respective market capitalization, whereas the other two recorded declines. The Banks sector headed the growing sectors as its total market capitalization reached KD 10 billion, increasing by 3.88%. The Industry sector was the second

in terms of recorded growth with 0.54% increase after the total value of its listed companies reached KD2.60 billion.

The third place was for the Non-Kuwaiti companies sector, which total market capitalization reached KD3.04 billion by the end of the week, recording an increase of 0.54%.

The Investment sector was the least growing with 0.28% recorded growth after its market capitalization amounted to KD3.07 billion. On the other hand, the Services sector headed the decliners list as its total market capitalization decreased by 1.23% to reach, by the end of the week, KD7.34 billion. The Real Estate sector was second on this list, which market value of its listed companies declined by 0.12%, reaching KD1.99 billion.

BUSINESS

Sunday, February 7, 2010

25

Prospects for Kuwait’s budget remain buoyant KUWAIT: In its latest economic brief on the oil market and budget developments, NBK noted that, crude oil prices fell sharply in the second half of January, moving closer towards the $70 per barrel (pb) level. After reaching the $80 pb mark on January 11th, the price of Kuwait Export Crude (KEC) fell by $9 to $71 pb by the 26th.

Two factors seem to have been catalysts for the fall. First, rising risk aversion across global markets saw a flight to the US dollar, which traditionally puts a damper on crude prices.

Secondly, the announcement of new measures to stem the growth of credit in China raised concerns of slower oil demand; China has accounted for 40% of the growth in global oil demand in recent years. Yet despite the latest leg down, more bullish analysts still expect crude prices to remain range bound between $70-80 pb over coming weeks, before pushing higher as tighter crude market fundamentals (including rising demand and shrinking inventories) start to reassert themselves.

NBK oil market and budget developments The prices of global benchmark crudes enjoyed a slightly longer stay at above $80 pb during January, before dropping back to the low-$70s.

The price of Brent crude suffered a peak-to-trough fall of nearly $10, standing at $71.3 on January 27th, while the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) managed to sustain a small premium over other blends, falling to $73.6 on January 27th. The January averages for both crudes, however, look set to stand at least 75% above their averages for the same period in 2009 and futures markets are pricing in further modest rises over the months ahead.

It is worth noting, however, that the spread between spot and futures prices is now much more compressed (at around $5-10 pb) than during much of 2009, when spot prices were trading at a heavy discount to contracts dated 12-18 months ahead.

This seems to reflect the view that current price levels - despite some volatility - are essentially well sup-

ported, backed by a recovering world economy and commitment from OPEC to keep prices in the $70-80 pb range.

NBK noticed that, indeed, analysts’ forecasts for global oil demand this year are looking more and more upbeat. The Centre for Global Energy Studies (CGES) has revised up its forecast for incremental oil demand in 2010 for the second month in a row, this time to 1.2 million barrels per day (mbpd), at a 1.4% growth rate, from 1.0 mbpd a month earlier. This compares to its forecast of 0.7 mbpd in November.

The centre expects year-on-year growth in demand in every quarter this year, although decelerating as the year unfolds as the base effect from weak growth in 2009 recedes. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has retained its bullish forecast for growth in oil demand of around 1.4 mbpd (1.7%). Both institutions (and others) expect practically all of this year’s growth to come from countries

outside the OECD. The so-called BRIC countries - Brazil, Russia, India, and China - for example, could account for half of all the increase in global oil demand this year.

Crude output of the OPEC-11 (i.e. excluding Iraq) registered its ninth consecutive monthly increase in December, rising by 69,000 bpd to stand at 26.682 mbpd. This leaves its output some 1.8 mbpd, or 7%, above its official quota levels, and comes despite the fact that OPEC appeared to reiterate its commitment to its year-old targets last month. The main ‘overproducers’ were Iran, Nigeria and Venezuela, which together account for 1 mbpd of the cartel’s total overproduction.

Despite agreement amongst many analysts that market fundamentals will tighten this year, OPEC’s apparent tolerance for creeping production increases within its own ranks could be tested if the anticipated drawdown in high global stock levels - a somewhat puzzling partner of the run-up in

crude prices through 2009 - fails to materialize. It will also be wary of the potential market impact of its own rising production of Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs), which could add an extra 0.5 mbpd of supply to the market this year. Output of OPEC NGLs is not subject to quota agreements.

Furthermore NBK noted that the prospects for steady increases in both supply and demand this year provide support for those who expect oil prices to continue to trade within its current range in the short-term. Yet there remains a possibility that high inventories will affect a change in market sentiment at some stage, especially if OPEC is unwilling or unable to rein in its own crude output.

If oil demand in 2010 rises at the moderate rate of 1.2 mbpd projected by the CGES - with the larger year-onyear increases front-loaded towards the first half of the year - the failure to eliminate the stock overhang could cause prices to drift lower in 2H10.

Under this scenario, the price of KEC

averages $74 pb in 1H10, before sliding towards the low $60s in 1Q11.

Prices could drop further and faster if the world economic recovery falters, resulting in relatively weak growth in oil demand of 0.9 mbpd this year. Again, even with OPEC crude output unchanged, a rise in nonOPEC supply and OPEC NGLs could tip the market balance. In this case, the price of KEC would begin a fairly steep descent as early as 2Q10, falling as low as $47 by the start of 2011.

The upside risk to prices comes from stronger than expected global oil demand - perhaps the 1.4 mbpd envisaged by the IEA - and weaker than expected non-OPEC supply (as a result of maturing oldl fields). Under this scenario, the price of KEC would be testing the $100 pb mark by the start of next year. It should be noted that prices at this level may well eat into oil demand in 2011, ultimately helping to push prices back down.

Ten months in, oil prices for FY2009/10 look set to average $68-70

pb, almost guaranteeing another very large budget surplus for the Kuwaiti government. Revenues for the first ten months reached KD 12.9 billion, close to double the KD 6.7 billion (pro-rated) projected in the government’s budget, which is based upon an average oil price of $35 pb. If, as we expect, public expenditures come in at 5-10% below the budget plans, the government should record a surplus of between KD 5.7 and 6.9 billion, before allocating 10% of revenues to the Reserve Fund for Future Generations (RFFG).

Next year, of course, things are open to more possibilities. In our three scenarios above, the price of KEC averages between $54 and $89 pb in FY2010/11, resulting in revenues between 31% lower and 30% higher than our projections for the current year. Yet if local media reports of a planned 35% increase in government spending for next year prove accurate, this may not guarantee a budget surplus, though we expect a surplus in both our “base” and “high” case scenarios.

NBK launches Laki ‘Dine on us’ with Laki KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the leading bank in Kuwait and the highest rated in the Middle East, launched the Laki “Dine on Us “promotion on Thursday February 4th 2010. Laki rewarded its customers by inviting all the Laki Titanium MasterCard holders to dine at selected M H Alshaya Casual Dining restaurants on Thursday February 4th.

Diners at Ashas, Al Forno and Totally Fish will benefit from KD 10 off their bill. In addition they will receive 10% of the amount spent in the form of NBK Rewards points. Women enjoyed their time and felt lucky to have the Laki Titanium Master Card which gives them access to such offers and events.

“Laki continuously come up with promotions based on the customer’s need and life style demands. I would like to invite all our Laki customers to look out for our upcoming monthly promotions where a lot of benefits and surprises await them, we will be collaborating with a variety of their favorite stores and outlets where they get special offers when shopping or dining” Stated Ebtihaj Al Roomi Executive Manager Consumer Banking Group, she further advised “I encourage all the women who would like to benefit from these attractive monthly promotions to apply for the Laki Titanium MasterCard today and enjoy the many advantages that existing card holders are already enjoying”.

MUSCAT STOCK MARKET - WEEKLY REPORT MUSCAT: Last week the market opened at the 6511 point’s level and then rose to register a high of the week at the 6576 point’s level on the same day itself. It then declined to register a low of the week at the 6467 point’s level on Wednesday. It finally

closed at the 6531 points level. During the whole week the market moved in a narrow range of just 109 points.

Sentiment was mixed and on a week on week basis the index gained 19 points (0.30%) after having gained 106 points in the previous week. Will the

markets rise further?

OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY Technically, the charts are displaying strength and a further rise can be expected. Investors are advised to hold long positions.

20% off for NBK credit cardholders at Al-Essa

Abdulla Al-Najran

KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the leading bank in Kuwait and the highest rated in the Middle East, is giving its credit cardholders 20% off their dining experience at any of the various restaurants that are part of Al-Essa International Group. This offer is valid until 28 February 2010. “Al-Essa restaurants include the popular Casper & Gambini’s, Waterlemon, Cafe Blanc, The Shogun Lounge, Zaher El Laymoun, The Spice Club, and Living Colors” stated Abdulla Al Najran AGM Consumer Banking adding “ NBK cardholders will get an instant 10% off their bill and another 10% in the form of NBK Rewards Points.”

“These benefits are exclusive to NBK cardholders who earn never ending added value simply by paying their bills with NBK credit card” and since our partners list is extensive and very exclusive in nature it is highly recommended that you start using your credit card and earn more Rewards points on your purchases.” NBK credit cards accepted worldwide are the most rewarding way to pay for goods and services. Not only are they a great flexible payment option, but are free for the first year and also offer the best loyalty program in town NBK Rewards, the most significant point redemption and discount scheme in Kuwait.

BMW’s Premium Selection Program records 25% sales increase in 2009 KUWAIT: BMW Group, the world’s leading premium automotive manufacturer, has announced a 25% increase in sales in 2009 for its BMW Premium Selection, its industry-leading global used car program.

Overall, 1,888 BMW Premium Selection vehicles were sold across eight markets in the Middle East compared to 1,512 in 2008.

Top performing markets in 2009 include Bahrain which achieved an impressive 54% increase in sales, followed by Saudi Arabia which witnessed a 41% increase. Abu Dhabi also generated a strong increase in sales, up 16% with 359 cars sold in total, while Oman recorded an increase of 39%.

Dubai recorded the highest volume of sales with 501 Premium Selection vehicles sold during 2009 The BMW Premium Selection program was established in the Middle East in 2006 as a sub-brand of the BMW Group. The program is offered by select BMW importers across the region, including Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Kuwait. James Crichton, Sales and Marketing Director, BMW Group Middle East said: “Achieving a 25% sales increase is a testament to the merits of this program. Given the prevailing economic conditions that existed throughout

2009 we are very happy to achieve such positive results. This program appeals to customers now more than ever, because it gives access to a quality-assured luxury product at a more affordable price”.

The BMW Premium Selection program is reserved exclusively for used BMW vehicles that meet strict criteria. Vehicles need to be less than five years old, have a mileage under 100,000 km and have been serviced by authorized BMW importers to

qualify for the program. Vehicles pass a comprehensive 75-point technical check by trained BMW technicians before they are accepted and sold, ensuring high levels of quality, reliability and value to customers.

A 12 month warranty and road side assistance is given when purchasing a BMW Premium Selection vehicle ensuring buyers that they not only have the best offer available in the used car market, but they also have peace of mind.

Richard Quest speaks to Queen Rania at Davos Well I do feel that last year I think people were really in crisis mode, the financial crisis was still very new in people’s minds and people I think felt a little defeated, this year I felt people having reflected over the crisis are thinking more how can we fix things how can we move forward, how can we reset and redesign things so were talking more about a global redesign atmosphere.

Question- Within that global redesign what I have noticed is that the agenda has got wider we can no longer compartment business, government, enjoys, social wire what do you think?

Answer- Absolutely I think this kind of silent thinking is obsolete now it doesn’t apply to our world it’s all about linkages between the different sectors and having comprehensive solutions so more and more the business environment is realizing that they need to have more cohesion in the way they do business more linkages with the public with the private sector etc and one of the things that worth is very good at is trying to create those public private partnerships and bringing them to their many different issues so increasingly CEOs are realizing they can be generators of social profit not just financial profit.

Question- Now that brings me to the point now -as somebody that comes from this social side rather that the share holder side do you worry that companies pay lip service to this idea but in the final fruition never actually stump up with the goods?

Answer- The successful companies are the ones who really buy into it and make it part of their business model and not just a side note to their business plan you know because there is an empirical evidence that has really proven the case the business case for doing good so you really can do well by doing good companies who have adopted sustainability, corporate social responsibility and all those kind of values within their day to day business have actually generated more profit have a much healthier atmosphere within their companies a much healthier corporate culture so there is a business case for doing good not just a moral one.

Question- When a company comes to you or you have talks with a company and they start espousing the values, do you go with a certain amount of skepticism and cynicism, do you want to see what they mean and say before you put your name to it?

Answer- Absolutely but there is now reporting that can really clarify how serious a company is in their social endeavors I think there are some companies that think this is just about PR but there are a lot of companies out there that really believe in it and that are working on the ground and have demonstrated some great results and have a lot of benefits to society.

Question- I found this in my bedroom, a call to action, so tell me what I’ve got in here?

Answer- Well what this is about is well I really believe that education is one of the most important issues that we can tackle because if you look at all the world’s problems from poverty to hunger, disease, terrorism, climate change, not one of these problems can’t be resolved through education but the problem with education is that people don’t think is an emergency its something because the benefits are in the long term people don’t prioritize it we need 16 billion dollars to get the children of the developing world into primary school and that amount might sound like a lot but it is half of what the US spent in online shopping in the last holiday season, it is what the US spent on candy in 2008 so there is no excuse for us not to be sharing out that money.

When you increase education maternal mortality goes down, child death goes down, HIV, aids goes down you know if you want to deal with issues of terrorism and radicalization what better way to do it than through a quality education, so I really wanted to highlight this issue here at worth and you know I thought that instead of giving a gadget or something these are serious folk here, so I wanted something kind of fun to catch their attention You’ve given me something I can take my sandwiches to work in. Yes and there’s a snack in there and there’s a lot of information about education in there and how it’s so important to really prioritize it.— CNN

26

BUSINESS

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Europe crisis highlights fragile global recovery IQALUIT: A crisis in Europe over unsustainable government debts that sparked renewed global market turmoil leapt to the top of the agenda for global financial leaders meeting half a world away in the Canadian Arctic yesterday. Finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of Seven major industrial countries are also thrashing out differences on banking industry changes amid warnings that unilateral action like US President Barack Obama’s plan to break up big banks will further hamper the fledging economic recovery.

Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, the host of the gathering, is hoping that his choice of the remote

town of Iqaluit, population 7,000, where temperatures can hit well below zero in February, would concentrate officials on the task ahead.

The United States was represented

by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. The G-7 consists of the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada.

The discussions were focusing on developments in the global economy, banking reform and proposals to grant further debt relief for earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The meetings were scheduled to conclude with a joint news conference Saturday after-

noon. In a break from the usual routine, several of the international visitors ventured out on the ice for a dogsled ride immediately after flying in to the tiny outpost Friday. Flaherty planned to keep the tone of the rest of the gathering equally casual, telling reporters that more chats were planned for the fireside than around a formal table.

But in a contrast with the casual scene setting here, developments in Europe provided a sobering reminder that G-7 policymakers still face major hurdles repairing a broken global economy. The Portuguese parliament’s defeat of a government austerity plan triggered renewed con-

cerns that it and other countries like Greece and Spain were having trouble tightening budget controls to manage their budget deficits, a development that could threaten the economic recovery in Europe.

Stocks fell in Asia and Europe, while the Dow Jones industrial average clawed back to a small gain after suffering the largest single-day drop in seven months, on worries about the global economy. “I think we have to be very mindful of the failure or potential failure of domestic economies,” Flaherty told reporters before talks formally started with a working dinner on Friday. On the issue of banking reform, the other G-

7 countries were expected to press Geithner to explain the announcement by Obama last month that the United States would seek tougher rules to prevent risky actions by big banks from toppling the entire financial system.

British Treasury chief Alistair Darling has led calls for more coordinated action on reform, warning that the US proposal does not address the biggest threat of the links between banks that can quickly transmit loan troubles at one institution, like a virus, to the entire system. Flaherty was diplomatic when asked about the concerns over Obama’s unilateral move, but acknowledged finding

ways of working together was an issue facing the group. “Several countries have made banking sector proposals that are not entirely consistent, so it’s a good reason to gather, a good reason to talk about it,” he said.

Flaherty said that G-7 countries agreed on the need to continue with government stimulus programs to prevent the world from plunging back into recession. However, Germany and France have expressed concern about how long stimulus aid should be maintained. They worry about soaring budget deficits and the risk of inflation. Obama presented a budget plan Monday that would boost job-

creation efforts and raise the US budget deficit to a record $1.56 trillion this year.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is also stressing government stimulus even though critics point out that the country’s budget deficit as a share of its gross domestic product could reach 12 percent this year. In Japan, where the economy has struggled for two decades, the government unveiled more stimulus spending last week. Also planned for discussions was China’s refusal to allow its currency to rise in value against the dollar, which critics see as a blatant effort to manipulate trade by making Chinese goods cheaper. —AP

Obama urges Congress to back small business plan Republicans hit Obama’s budget WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama yesterday appealed to fellow Democrats and rival Republicans to back a plan to use $30 billion in bank bailout funds to help small businesses. Obama has faced opposition to the proposal from Republicans who want money paid back to the government by big banks returned to the US Treasury for deficit reduction.

The president used his weekly radio and Web address to promote his proposals to generate job growth in small businesses by using $30 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program fund for small business loans and offering a new tax credit for over 1 million small businesses that hire new workers or raise wages.

He spoke days before the US Congress begins considering a new multibillion-dollar jobs bill aimed at spurring job growth and bringing down the country’s 9.7 percent jobless rate. The political climate in Washington is fractured as lawmakers adjust to a new reality now that Democrats no longer have a 60-vote supermajority in the Senate after a Republican won a Senate seat in Massachusetts.

Pursuing a theme he began in his State of the Union address Jan 27, Obama called on both parties to come together where they can to address the weak economy. “I urge members of both parties: do not oppose good ideas just because it’s good politics to do so,” Obama said. “The proposals I’ve outlined are not Democratic or Republican; liberal or conservative.” “They are proNEW YORK: Diane Linehan of Bayonne, watches in the mirror as salon owner Cristiano Cora cuts her hair at business, they are prohis spa and salon in New York. The economy’s service sector grew slightly in January, while the pace of job loss- growth, and they are projob. Leaders in both parties es slowed, signaling a recovery still struggling to gain strength. —AP have supported similar ideas in the past. So let’s come together and pass these measures without delay.”

Republicans made clear NEW YORK: Bernard Madoff’s brother, legal or medical fees. It also requires them made by Picard. Martin Flumenbaum, an they are looking skeptically sons and a niece, accused in a lawsuit of to provide a monthly listing of all expens- attorney representing Mark and Andrew at any Democratic proposal using the family finance business like a es. Picard has accused the family mem- Madoff, has said the lawsuit’s claims are that increases the level of “piggy bank,” have agreed to an asset bers of using Madoff’s company “as if it baseless and that the brothers had no prior government spending, critifreeze, according to a document filed in were the family piggy bank.” He said they knowledge of their father’s crimes.

Bernard Madoff revealed his fraud to court Friday. The deal with court-appoint- frequently held themselves out to be busicizing Obama’s proposed ed trustee Irving Picard was described in a ness and securities regulatory compliance his sons in December 2008 and he was $3.8 trillion budget for fiscal arrested the following day after they document filed in US Bankruptcy Court in managers and principals at the company.

2011. “Americans are still “Yet the family members were com- reported it to authorities. He was senManhattan. Picard sued the family memasking, ‘where are the bers in November seeking nearly $200 pletely derelict in these duties and respon- tenced to 150 years in prison after admitjobs?’ but all they are getmillion that he said had enabled the family sibilities,” the lawsuit brought by Picard ting he caused thousands of investors to ting from Washington is members to live lavishly at the expense of said. “Simply put, if the family members lose billions of dollars through his fraud. more spending, more taxes, Madoff investors. The asset freeze affects had been doing their jobs - honestly and “By immediately turning him in, the brothMadoff’s brother, Peter, his sons, Mark faithfully - the Madoff pyramid scheme ers saved the victims of the fraud more more debt and more might never have succeeded, or continued than $170 million that their father was and Andrew, and a niece, Shana Madoff. bailouts,” Republican The consent order requires them to for so long.” In the court papers filed about to distribute,” Flumenbaum said.

Representative Jeb seek permission from Picard to spend Friday, the family members said they did Bernard Madoff is the only member of the Hensarling said in his party’s more than $1,000 unless the expense not want the consent order to be inter- family to have faced criminal charges in weekly address. —Reuters results from a list of exemptions such as preted as an admission of any of the claims the case thus far. —AP

Madoff brother, sons agree to asset freeze

WASHINGTON: Hal Scott, Nomura Professor of International Financial Systems, Harvard Law School (left) talks with Senate Banking Committee member Sen Jack Reed on Capitol Hill, prior to the committee’s hearing to examine implications of President Obama’s proposal to rein in big Wall Street banks. —AP

Washington slaps anti-dumping duties China, Taiwan on target WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday slapped preliminary anti-dumping duties ranging up to 231.4 percent on gift box and other types of narrow woven ribbons from China it said were unfairly priced. The US Commerce Department hit Taiwan, which exports far more ribbons to the United States, with much lower duties ranging up to 4.54 percent. The action came on the same day that Beijing announced heavy anti-dumping duties on US chicken parts, in the latest of a series of spats that have strained trade relations. But the case filed by Berwick Offray, a 65-year-old US company based in Berwick, Pennsylvania that claims to be the world’s largest manu-

facturer and distributor of decorative ribbons and bows, has been in the works for months.

US companies have filed dozens of trade cases against their Chinese competitors in recent years, complaining of unfair trade practices and below-market pricing. Berwick was joined in the case by its wholly owned subsidiary, Lion Ribbon Co, a 110-year-old firm. Imports of the narrow woven ribbons totaled $68.1 million in value from Taiwan and $32.7 million from China in 2007. But shipments fell dramatically in 2008, when the financial crisis battered US consumer demands.

Imports totaled $32.4 million from Taiwan and $12.1 million from China in first 11

months of 2009.

The US Commerce Department said one Chinese firm, Yama Ribbons and Bows Co, would not be hit with any duties. But it imposed a preliminary rate of 115.7 percent on 13 other producers or exporters and a China-wide rate of 231.40 percent on other firms.

Taiwan companies Dear Year Brothers Mfg Co Ltd, Shienq Huong Enterprise Co, Hsien Chan Enterprise Co and Novelty Handicrafts Co were also spared any duties. All other Taiwanese producers or exporters were hit with a preliminary duty of 4.54 percent. The Commerce Department will issue its final calculation of anti-dumping duties on both countries in June. —Reuters

Mixed jobless report shows slow stabilization

MIAMI: Job seekers line up to register at a City of Miami job fair in Miami. The outlook for jobs remains bleak despite January’s unexpected decline in the unemployment rate, which fell to 9.7 percent from 10 percent in December. —AP

WASHINGTON: The US labor market appeared to move in opposite directions in January, losing 20,000 jobs as the unemployment rate fell, but still suggests a slow return to growth, analysts say. Friday’s Labor Department report, seen as one of the best indicators of economic momentum, puzzled analysts since the two surveys used offered a vastly different picture of the critical employment sector.

The report showed the national jobless rate eased to 9.7 percent from 10.0 percent in December, based on a household survey that appeared to contradict the payrolls data. The payrolls data meanwhile fell short of expectations for a gain of jobs that would have been a clear sign of a turnaround in the troubled labor market and overall economy after a massive stimulus effort by the government.

January’s loss followed a revised loss of 150,000 jobs in December and a revised gain of 64,000 in November. “The job market remains very tough, but headed in the right direction,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody’s Economy.com. “Job growth should resume this spring.” Ian Pollick, economics strategist at TD Securities, agreed, and argued that the underlying details were stronger than the headline figures. “This was one of those reports where the ‘negative’ column was offset with the ‘positive’ column, leaving us to maintain our view that the US labor market remains on the slow path to recovery,”

he said.

The divergent paths for payrolls and unemployment stem from the use of two separate surveys that often provide conflicting results. The payrolls figures, often seen as a more reliable indicator of hiring, comes from a survey of 140,000 businesses, while the jobless rate is calculated from a survey of 60,000 households. Some analysts said the differences made it hard to interpret the data. “The drop in the unemployment rate was particularly surprising, as it was predicated on households reporting an increase in employment,” said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial.

“This could be capturing the selfemployed doing slightly better than they had been, but it is still puzzling.” Swonk said the economic recovery that began in mid-2009 is continuing “and we will soon reap some benefits in terms of jobs. That said, the jobs recovery is expected to remain muted and the economic recovery is still subdued.” Brookings Institution senior fellow Gary Burtless said the drop in the jobless rate was “heartening news” and “cannot be explained by a rise in the number of discouraged workers.”

But Burtless added that the payroll number is the employment indicator most closely watched by investors and that “it will be seen, correctly, as one more sign of the hesitating response of employers to increased demand for US goods and ser-

vices.” The January report showed a loss of 60,000 jobs in the goods-producing sector-a hefty decline of 75,000 construction jobs offset a gain of 11,000 in manufacturing and 4,000 in mining. The services sectors added 48,000 jobs including 42,000 in retail and 44,000 in financial activities that offset losses in other segments.

The report showed the average workweek, sometimes seen as a proxy for economic activity, rose slightly to 33.3 hours from 33.2 hours. Average hourly earnings rose 0.3 percent. “This was a mediocre report,” said Dana Johnson, chief economist at Comerica Bank. Still, Johnson said there were encouraging signs in the data including a rise in the workweek, increased income and more temporary workers hired. “I would be surprised if we didn’t see privatesector job growth in February and March that will show a sustainable expansion. It’s just not visible yet,” Johnson said.

Wells Fargo economist Eugenio Aleman said the significant drop in the unemployment rate, which was better than expected, is a positive factor. “It’s a very strong drop,” Aleman said. “It’s good news but I don’t know if it is sustainable.” Aleman said that although the figures reflected little change in the number of people working, the drop in the jobless rate “is good for the psychological aspect of the recovery.” “This can improve consumer confidence, and maybe allow consumers to spend more” to boost overall economic activity. —AFP

27

About Bangladesh

Ambassador’s Message

Kuwait has been a strong partner for Bangladesh er Excellency Sheikh Hasina, Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh is visiting the State of Kuwait from today till Feb 9, 2010 on being invited by His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad AlSabah, the Honorable Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait. This will be her first visit to Kuwait since May 2000.

Kuwait recognized Bangladesh in November 1973 and Bangladesh opened her embassy in Kuwait in April 1974.

Kuwait is the country that negotiated Bangladesh’s participation at the OIC Summit in Lahore in 1974 under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangabandhu paid an official visit to Kuwait in November 1974 as Prime Minister. Bangladesh enjoys a very sound, cordial and warm relations with Kuwait, which has once again been exhibited by His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait sending his special aircraft for our beloved Prime Minister and her entourage to travel to and from Kuwait.

Kuwait has been a very strong

H

Syed Shahed Reza development partner for Bangladesh.

Kuwait provided millions of dollars for implementing dozens of projects in communication and power sectors.

Bangladesh imports most of her fuel requirement from Kuwait. Kuwait has also supported Bangladesh strongly

during all disasters.

Kuwait has been the residence and workplace of around two hundred thousand Bangladeshis. Besides, more than 4,000 members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces are presently working in the Bangladesh Military Contingent in Kuwait. The expatriate community in Kuwait sends the third highest amount of remittance. They sent remittance amounting to US$ 875 million in 2008 while US$ 970 million in 2009. Although the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers has been virtually stopped since 2006, the remittance continues to increase.

We salute our countrymen in Kuwait for their dedication and patriotism. May Allah bless them with good health, peace and prosperity.

I congratulate all Bangladeshis living in Kuwait on the occasion of the official visit of the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladeshi.

Long live Kuwait-Bangladesh friendship.

Syed Shahed Reza Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Kuwait

Bangabandhu: A true hero for all seasons

By Helal Uddin Ahmed hroughout his long political career as the champion of the downtrodden and later as the Founder-President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had all along been vocal and outspoken against

T

have framed a constitution based on four state principles. Some people say that rights of the government employees have been curtailed. Let them look at the constitutions of other countries. The government employees are not another nation. They are our brothers and fathers. Neither do they belong to another class. They were

Founder-President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the corruption and maladministration existing in society. As a leader of the masses, he created public opinion against corruption and malfunctions of the state machinery. As head of the government, he tried to bring about sweeping reforms in the structures and functions of bureaucracy for ensuring good governance. Significantly, just when he was on the verge of overhauling the colonial administrative system in the country, the conspirators became active and ultimately brought about his downfall.

The following is a chronological presentation of the public utterances of Bangabandhu on the theme of good governance, quoted from various speeches delivered by him following Bangladesh’s independence. Referring to the prevalent administrative structure in his address to the nation on March 26, 1972, Bangabandhu said, “We inherited a provincial administrative setup which is unfit for an independent nation. Some of the bureaucrats can not yet shake off their colonial mentality. We are advising them to comprehend the real meaning of an independent nation. We hope their past orientation will change for the better. My government will reorganize the state machinery in line with a new country and a new society. In the proposed structure, attempts will be made to bring the government servants closer to the people. We have also chalked out plans to upgrade all the subdivisions into districts”.

During the session of the constituent assembly convened to approve the constitution, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said on November 4, 1972, “We

given excessive protection during British and Pakistani rule. We have struck at that bureaucratic bastion, but nothing more. We do not want to maintain any distinctive class, because we seek to establish an exploitation-free classless society”.

During the biennial council session of Bangladesh Awami League held on January 18, 1974, Bangabandhu came out forcefully against corruption. “Why are some people mad about money? Their only preoccupation seems to be how to make money. But the peasants of Bengal, the unfortunate lot, they are not corrupt. Who indulges in black marketing? It is them who have some education. Who smuggles? Those who are more educated. Who hijacks? It is the educated ones. They engage in international smuggling and keep money in foreign soil.

Even medicines are adulterated by us - the educated and clever ones who make other people drink even poisonous materials.

Definitely, the village-people don’t do it.

Definitely my peasant brothers don’t do it.

Certainly my worker brothers don’t do it”.

In his address to the nation on December 15, 1974, over radio and television on the eve of Victory Day, Bangabandhu declared in unequivocal term, “In our new war of resistance, the latest and the principal enemies are smugglers, black marketers, profiteers and bribe-takers. These beasts smuggle out the food of the unfortunate Bengalees even when people die of hunger. They pile up mountains of profit by hoarding goods brought through foreign aid and the resources of Bengal. I seek your co-operation and help in the elimination of these beasts.”

While addressing the cadets at the Military Academy in Comilla on January 11, 1975, Bangabandhu said, “Sometimes we become inhuman. We won our freedom at the expense of so much blood, yet our character has not changed. The corrupt bribe-takers and black-marketers have made the life of our suffering people miserable. For years I have appealed to them and warned them of dire consequences.

But the thief does not listen to religion. So no more appeals or warnings; this time the people of Bangladesh must be saved.”

While addressing the police at Rajarbag Police Line on the occasion of Police Week on January 15, 1975, Bangabandhu said, “We should remember that life is short.

We can not take anything with us after death. Then why will you exploit the people and cause misery to them? You will have to explain to Allah any act of torture or repression. I ask all government servants including you to serve those masses properly by whose money we run our families. Deal ruthlessly with those who commit crime. But be careful; do not torture a single innocent person. If you do that, even I shall have to answer to Allah for that. I am your Prime Minister, so my colleagues and me are ultimately responsible for all your deeds”.

Critical of the stagnation in Bangladesh’s judiciary, Bangabandhu said in his address to the parliament on January 25, 1975, “If a case is filed in a civil court, its resolution in even twenty years is uncertain. When a father dies, he passes the case on to his son. And the lawyer passes it on to his son-in-law. And when there is a criminal case, there is no justice in the lower courts and judges courts.

Justice delayed is justice denied; we have to bring about a complete change. The system has to be changed so that people get justice instantaneously. There is need for radical change. The country can not be run by colonial powers and laws.”

While announcing the programs of the second revolution in his last address at a public meeting in historic Suhrawardy Udyan on March 26, 1975, Bangabandhu said, “Without people’s support, corruption can not be eliminated by merely framing rules. Today I have a request to make. I told you in the past to undertake jihad by building fortresses at every home to fight the enemy. Today I shall ask the people of Bengal to eliminate the corrupt from the soil of Bangladesh. I seek your help. How can I do it alone? I shall apply the law and forgive none.

Those who will be caught shall not be spared. You have to undertake one thinga mass movement. I shall go to the villages and wage such a movement that the bribe-takers, profiteers and smugglers will be boycotted socially. We should keep this in mind. By organising meetings in villages, we shall have to identify the thieves, the black-marketers and the bribe-takers. Don’t be afraid, I am with you. By Allah’s grace, I shall not allow any repression on you. But you will have to wage movements in the villages.

Who can do it? The student brothers, the youth brothers, the intellectual brothers; you organize yourselves. You will have to build fortresses in each home. Those fortresses will annihilate the corrupt and lessen the sorrow of our people. If you can finish these corrupt ones, 25 to 30 percent misery of the people of Bangladesh will be gone”.

The speeches quoted in the above article have been taken from the book ‘Bangabandhu’s Bhashon’ edited by Mizanur Rahman Mizan, which have been rendered into English in an edited form by Helal Uddin Ahmed.

angladesh is a sub-Himalayan country situated in the north-eastern part of South Asia. The country is bordered by India on the east, west and the north and by the Bay of Bengal in the south and a small border strip with Myanmar on the south-east.

Bangladesh, located on the eastern fringe of South Asia, is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Myanmar to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south. The name Bangladesh means ‘Country of Bengal’ in the official Bengali language.

The borders of present-day Bangladesh were established with the partition of Bengal and India in 1947, when the region became the eastern wing of the newly formed Pakistan.

However, it was separated from the western wing by 1,600 km (994 miles) across India. Political and linguistic discrimination as well as economic neglect led to popular agitations against West Pakistan, first for recognition of linguistic and cultural identity, then for autonomy and ultimately for statehood.

Bangladesh straddles the fertile Ganges-Brahmaputra delta and is the seventh most populous country and is among the most densely populated countries in the world. The country is subject to annual monsoon floods and cyclones.

Bangladesh has made significant progress in human development in the areas of literacy, gender parity in schooling and reduction of population growth.

Bangladesh attained independence on March 26, 1971 as the culmination of decades of struggle for freedom and statehood under the inspiring and resolute leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Father of the Nation. At his call, the Bengali people rose in resistance against the army of Pakistan and waged an epic war for the liberation of this land. The nine-month long war culminated in victory for the Bengalis over Pakistan Army on

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December 16, 1971.

The country has a land area of about 147,570 square kilometers (56,977 square miles). Its alluvial plains provide fertile agricultural lands. The land-mass is largely a deltaic formation of three mighty rivers - the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna, with a network of numerous rivers and canals. Vast green fields are bounded by sub-Himalayan table Land in the north-west, and folds of low hills in the north-east and the south-east, with an average elevation of 244 and 610 meters respectively. The highest point is located in the south-eastern Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Capital city of Dhaka is the principal metropolis and is 400 years old. The other major cities and administrative centers are Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulria, Barisal and Syihet which, together with Dhaka, are the six Divisional headquarters. There are 64 administrative districts and 481 upazilas (sub districts).

The principal resources of the country are the people of Bangladesh, whose unity, resilience and entrepreneurial creativity have engined the nation’s growth and forward march.

The population currently stands at around 145 million with a density of 977 per square kilometer. Around 75 percent of the population lives in the rural areas and 50 percent depend on agriculture for their livelihood.

Social life in Bangladesh is marked by communal peace and harmony. The four major faiths practiced in Bangladesh are Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. Muslims constitute about 89.2% of the population and the Hindus 9.2%. The rest comprise of Buddhists, Christians and animists. The constitution guarantees religious and cultural freedom to all citizens of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon climate. Its six calendar seasons are climatically characterized by roughly

four periods in a year: cool (DecemberFebruary), hot (March-May), monsoon (June-September) and mild (OctoberNovember). The average temperature across the country usually ranges between 11ºC and 29ºC in cold months and between 21ºC and 34ºC during warmer months. Annual rainfall varies from 160 cm to 200 cm in the west, 200 cm to 400 cm in the south-east and 250 cm to 400 cm in the north-east.

Per-capita (inflation adjusted) GDP has more than doubled since 1975, and the poverty rate has fatten by 20% since the early 1990s. The country is listed among the ‘Next Eleven’ economies. Dhaka, the capital, and other urban centers have been the driving force behind this growth.

The national flag of the republic consists of a circle colored red resting on a rectangular background of 5ottle green. The emblem of the republic is the national flower Shapla (Water Lily, nymphoea nouchali) resting on water having on each side a sheaf of paddy surmounted by three connected leaves of jute with two stars on each side of the leaves.

The state has three basic organs, viz. the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The President is the Head of State and is elected by the members of parliament. The executive power of the republic is exercised by or on the advice of the Prime Minister, who commands the support of majority members of parliament. The parliament or Jatiya Sangsad has 345 members, of whom 300 are elected directly while 45 seats reserved for women are elected by the MPs themselves. The Supreme Court sits at the apex of the country’s judiciary and consists of the Appellate and High Court Divisions.

The judiciary has now been completely separated from the executive in accordance with the Constitutional provisions. The elected leaders govern Bangladesh with the aid of a permanent bureaucracy.

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The year in retrospect Government’s focus on diplomacy and foreign relations evident in long list of achievements he present government assumed office for running the statecraft on January 6, 2009 after getting a huge mandate from the people in the general election held on 29 December 2008. The list of achievements is quite long when we consider the first year of the government - re-establishing the values of independence, completion of Bangabandhu Murder Case, commencement of the trial-process of war-criminals, powerful initiatives in the education sector, and so on; the success of the government in crisis management is also quite well-known. However, it would not be an exaggeration to claim that the government’s intense focus on diplomacy and foreign relations and the success emanating from it are probably more significant compared to other achievements.

The perspective of sovereignty of an independent country has two dimensions - internal and external. Foreign policy is the principal foundation for the expression and assertion of a sovereign state-entity. The state remains forever active to influence the happenings in the outside world and relevant interactive and controlling entities through diplomatic initiatives. For Bangladesh, these activities broadly include upholding and expanding our interests in the international arena, improving bilateral ties, intensifying regional cooperation, and above all consolidation and strengthening of Bangladesh’s image as a responsible state in the global perspective through active participation in multilateral initiatives including those by the United Nations.

If we speak from the very beginning, then our loyalty to the United Nations Charter and our pledge to discharge responsibility as a member of the world community were clearly spelt out in our Declaration of Independence framed on 10 April 1971 immediately after Bangladesh’s birth. Later, the main context of our foreign policy was incorporated in the Bangladesh Constitution. The preamble of the Constitution expressed the intention of making “our full contribution towards international peace and cooperation in keeping with the progressive aspirations of mankind”. The activities conducted in the field of foreign policy and external relations

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during the past one year have been based on this basic foundation. In spite of that, some fundamental facets are noticeable in the conduct of foreign policy by the present government during the past one year.

On the one hand, Bangladesh’s identity as a responsible nation capable of making qualitative contributions in the international sphere has been noticeable in many dimensions. On the other hand, rather than reacting to events, visible initiatives have been taken to influence occurrences in the outside world in a proactive manner. Just as it occurred with respect to bilateral relations, it was similarly visible in regional, inter-regional and global contexts. The honourable Prime Minister herself remained involved with international initiatives related to climate change throughout the second half of the year and has been accorded recognition as one of the few statesmen active in the area.

Let us now focus on various initiatives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in various international forums. She led the Bangladesh delegation to the 64th session of UN General Assembly. Outside that, she joined the meeting on climate change of selected heads of states and governments of 25 countries organised by the United Nations Secretary-General. She also participated in the meeting of leaders of top ten troop contributing countries of the UN Peacekeeping Operations after being invited by the UN Secretary-General. Besides, she joined the high-level meeting on food-security as a panellist. Bangladesh was visible through her presence in all these events.

The Prime Minister remained active in forging world opinion on the worrisome impact of climate change, especially in severely affected countries like Bangladesh. Apart from joining meetings and conferences, she exchanged views with the UN Secretary-General, the Mexican President and the Prime Ministers of Australia, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, Norway and Ethiopia. The preferential treatment for countries like Bangladesh, who are most affected due to climate change could be established due to her active involvements.

She has succeeded in obtaining special prior-

Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina ity in any global solution for the disaster-prone countries affected by climate change by maintaining a strong position on behalf of these countries. As a result, Bangladesh and her Prime Minister became the focal point during the conference. Sheikh Hasina participated in the World Conference on Climate Change held in Copenhagen and chaired its high-level plenary session. She also attended the 60th Summit of Commonwealth Heads of States and Governments held in Trinidad and Tobago made effective contributions toward reaching a consensus on climate change in Port-of-Spain.

She again highlighted the damages incurred

by Bangladesh due to global climate change at the function organised by Sweden on the occasion of European Union Day. She also led the Bangladesh delegation to the summit on global food security held in the Italian capital Rome.

The subject of food security got special importance in her presentation and she could relate climate change to food security during the deliberations.

If we take stock of the past one year, we see that the confidence reposed on Bangladesh by

the international community could be gauged from the results of elections to UN and international bodies. Bangladesh was re-elected to the UN Human Rights Commission for the period 2009-12, UN Commission on the Status of Women for 2010-12, Executive Committee of UNESCO for 2009-13, ECOSOC for 2010-12, ASOSAI for 2009-12 and member of International Maritime Organization for 2010-11 period.

After assuming office, Sheikh Hasina went to Saudi Arabia on her first trip abroad. She met the Saudi King and discussed with him matters which concerned Bangladesh’s interests.

Alongside improvement of relations with Saudi Arabia due to the visit, the Saudi King pledged to resolve the complexities centring on transfer of ‘Iqama’ of Bangladeshis working there. A decision was also taken to annul the existing quota system for Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia. Apart from Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Hasina also visited Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in the Middle-east. Pledges of assistance were obtained from Qatar for dredging of rivers, setting up of community clinics, extraction and dis-

tribution of gas and oil, construction of flood and cyclone shelters in the coastal region and technical training for raising the skill of workers going abroad.

Even the President was involved in the diplomatic efforts of Bangladesh last year. He attended the inauguration ceremony of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology at the invitation of the Saudi King. He also visited Turkey and discussed issues of mutual interests with the Turkish President.

After Saudi Arabia, the next significant bilateral trip that Sheikh Hasina undertook was to our South Asian neighbour Bhutan. Bangladesh was able to convey some highly effective signals through this visit. Bhutan and India were the first two countries to recognise Bangladesh during our liberation war. The Bangladesh Prime Minister decided to undertake this trip by recalling that historic debt. Through this, we could demonstrate our commitment to history on the one hand and accorded recognition to that spontaneous friendship during difficult times on the other. Shared values were also relevant here.

Bhutan has embraced a democratic order spontaneously. At a time when democracy has been restored in our country under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, her visit to Bhutan as the head of an elected government is also indicative of our value-centric foreign policy. Subjects discussed during the visit included regional connectivity, expansion of trade and joint harnessing of power. The talks were held in the backdrop of concerns raised regarding the impact of global warming on Bhutan’s glaciers, just as the global talks on climate change were heading towards a climax.

Based on the outcome of this visit, avenue has been opened up for establishing regional connectivity by involving India, Nepal and Myanmar.

This connectivity can pass through Myanmar and other Southeast Asian nations and extend up to China in the north. Besides, the possibility of coordinated water management of regional rivers and water-bodies has also been explored.

The then Foreign Minister of India had visited Bangladesh immediately after the formation

of government by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He informed Bangladesh that the Indian government was attaching top priority to existing friendly relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit India soon to reinforce this friendly relationship.

The door will open up for resolving longstanding unresolved issues through this visit. Our two countries are therefore standing on the door of new possibilities of cooperation with much enthusiasm and hope at the start of a new year.

We have also observed signs of qualitative improvement in our relations with Myanmar.

The Foreign Ministry has taken concerted initiatives on the issue of maritime borders and relevant matters. Bangladesh has started the process of international arbitration on the subject while continuing dialogue with India and Myanmar for swift resolution of the issue. There is consensus among all quarters that resolution of this issue will be expedited as a consequence.

It is quite noticeable that despite her busy schedules, the Prime Minister’s participation and global presence in diplomatic initiatives of the Foreign Ministry brought about many successes. We observed intense diplomatic activities especially in the second half of the year.

The endeavours of the Prime Minister have been accorded recognition on the global plane, especially in the area of climate change.

Let us now dwell on the theme of visibility.

Compared to any other time in the past, the activities of the foreign ministry have now become more acceptable and transparent to the common people. The unique style of the foreign minister has encouraged openness in the ministry’s operations. Everybody will concede that the clarity of her speech has facilitated establishment of an easy and credible bridge with the mass media. It can undoubtedly be claimed that the ministry’s regular interactions with the media are bringing the people closer to it. Initiatives are now being taken this year to equip the ministry both structurally and strategically in the light of newer dimensions and horizons which are being constantly added to the global domain of diplomacy in the 21st century.

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By Dr Atiur Rahman Governor, Bangladesh Bank he present government came to power with a pledge to materialise ‘Vision2021’. The people had installed this government in power through a revolution of ballots with the hope of achieving economic emancipation and a just society. The government assumed office at a time when the world was in the grip of a deep recession.

The new government has handled this challenging period most efficiently. As a result, Bangladesh has been one of the few countries who successfully overcame this economic crisis. It could happen due to the spirit of the 1971 liberation war, an invincible strength to turn around in adverse circumstances and above all prudent monetary policy of the central bank.

Alongside providing necessary support to the export sectors affected by weak global demand, the new government extended budgetary assistance to small, medium and large-scale initiatives in the productive sector, including agriculture, in order to strengthen internal demand and production.

The coverage of social safety network for the poor has been widened. The Bangladesh Bank also adopted a supportive monetary policy for facilitating productive and investment pursuits.

The economic base of the country has been strengthened due to timely incentive packages for the export sector, effective assistance rendered by the central bank especially in the expansion of agricultural, small and medium enterprises, adoption of an export-friendly foreign exchange policy for the exporters and sustained flow of remittances sent by the hardworking expatriate youths. As a consequence, Bangladesh is walking on the path of a 6 percent growth rate alongside modest inflation despite a global recession.

The principal characteristic of the global recession this time has been a liquidity crisis in banks. No such liquidity crisis was observed in Bangladesh due to a disciplined banking sector. Today, the Bangladesh economy stands on top of sufficient liquidity and a foreign exchange reserve of over 10 billion US dollar. The private sector credit flow including those in agriculture, SME and large industries has already increased by 15.4% compared to last year. The amount of refinancing has been enhanced substantially leading to the flourishing of small and medium enterprises and the creation of additional opportunities for participation of women entrepreneurs in the SME sector. A separate

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Disciplined banking sector overpowers economic crisis

division has recently been opened in Bangladesh Bank for expansion and supervision of SME Loan Programme. Open loan distribution programme is being implemented throughout the country with the objective of disbursing highest ever Taka 11,500 crore credit annually in the agriculture sector. The disbursement of agricultural credit during the first five months (July-November 2009) of the financial year has been Taka 4249.69 crore. Besides, a Taka 500 crore refinancing scheme for sharecroppers has been undertaken for the first time by Bangladesh Bank.

The country’s exports-imports and investment position have shown promising improvements in the backdrop of fresh

dynamism infused in the economy of the developed world in recent days. Although exports showed a negative trend during the first quarter of the current fiscal year (200910), it bounced back to a positive trend from October 2009. The export-receipts have increased by 18 percent compared to the same period in October last year. On the other hand, the growth in letters of credit for imports increased by 17 percent up to December this year compared to the same period last year. The downward trend in import of capital machinery has been checked and it is now showing an upward trend since October 2009. It indicates dynamism in the country’s investment sce-

nario.

Foreign investment has risen by 111 million US dollar during the first three months of the current fiscal year compared to the previous year. Besides, domestic investment rose by 20.2% during January-October 2009.

An initiative has been taken for introducing sovereign credit rating in Bangladesh in order to bring investment funds from external sources at a concessionary rate.

Infusing dynamism in revenue collection is essential for achieving high economic growth rate. Necessary reforms in tax administration have already been brought about alongside ensuring technology-based infrastructure for its smooth functioning. As

a result, revenue collection has increased by 14 percent during the first four months of the current fiscal year (July-October 2009) compared to the same period last year. It would be helpful in achieving desired progress in the implementation of the government’s budgetary proposals.

The remittances sent home by the expatriates have marked an increase of 22.4 percent during the first five months of the fiscal year (July-November) compared to the same period last year. Simplification of procedure for foreign exchange transactions, use of mobile phones in collection and distribution of remittances, involvement of NGOs and the postal service for the purpose, providing

investment opportunities to expatriate Bangladeshis by offering attractive interest rates (such as introduction of US dollar investment bond, premium bond, wage earners’ development bond), and according CIP status to Bangladeshi businessmen have played a significant role in this advancement.

The Bangladesh Bank has already introduced technology-based, environmentfriendly and humane banking approach.

Initiatives have been taken to introduce ebanking, automated clearing house, e-commerce, online CIB and e-tendering in order to reach banking services to the doorsteps of the common people. Bangladesh Bank has launched a Taka 200 crore refinancing scheme from its own fund for installing solar panels, bio-gas and waste-treatment plants under the newly introduced ‘green banking’ programme with the objective of encouraging use of solar and alternative energy for meeting deficits in power and gas supply.

The banks have been directed to gear up their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities under the humane banking programme. The banks have been already advised to place an official as focal point in each bank-branch for providing banking services to the handicapped.

According to the findings of a recent study titled ‘Long-term Outlook for the BRIC and N-11 Post-crisis’ conducted by the US investment bank ‘Goldman Sachs’, Bangladesh is a notable nation among those who have proved their adeptness in facing the global recession; furthermore, Bangladesh is one of the 11 promising countries of the 21st century. Among these 11 nations, Bangladesh is the only country where all microeconomic indicators have shown sufficient improvement. The economy of the country also stands on a strong footing based on macroeconomic indicators. It would not take long for Bangladesh to prove the accuracy of Goldman Sachs’ study if proper coordination is established between the financial and revenue sectors for achieving success in the domestic emerging sectors through agriculture, SME, external economic sectors and financial intermediation.

Overall, the dynamism of Bangladesh economy during 2009 has created the foundation for achieving higher economic growth, stability and poverty alleviation. The challenge for 2010 would be wider inclusion of the country’s mass-people in economic activities and expediting growth and poverty alleviation by incorporating environment-friendly attributes. I believe that we shall definitely be able to confront these challenges through united endeavour.

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Setting a lead for others to follow

By Syed Muazzem Ali t is a matter of great national pride and honor that ‘Amar Ekushey’ is also observed as the ‘International Mother Language Day’ all over the world.

A resolution to that effect, tabled

by Bangladesh, was unanimously adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on November 17, 1999. Earlier, on November 12, 1999, as Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UNESCO, I had the privilege to formally introduce the draft resolution on behalf of Bangladesh at the Conference, and pilot its unanimous adoption.

The triumph at UNESCO is a befitting tribute to our Shaheeds

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International Mother Language Day: How this national honor was achieved at UNESCO and a historic achievement for the nation. Since this historic national honor was achieved due to bold action of our Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the succeeding BNP government tried to minimize its importance and even tried to give the impression that this honor was achieved due to the initiative of an expatriate group in Canada with the cooperation of the UNESCO Secretariat.

They awarded Ekushey Padak to members of the private body and even the UNESCO Secretariat to take away the credit.

However, the reality is that

only member states can table, adopt or reject resolutions at the UNESCO, and not individual groups or people, and certainly the UNESCO Secretariat does not have any role on such matters.

Surely, a Canada-based multilingual group called ‘Mother Language Lovers of the World’ had initially submitted a proposal for the proclamation of February 21 as the International Mother Language Day and they deserve our commendation. But the UN and the UNESCO are inter-governmental bodies and they cannot accept proposal from a private

body/individual and hence the Group was directed to approach a member country. Accordingly, members of the Group had contacted us in Paris and we had advised them as to how they should approach our government.

When they approached our government, the proposal was processed and it was our Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who took the bold decision and authorized us to submit it as our official proposal. From then on all initiatives and negotiations were conducted at the government level.

The UNESCO Secretariat had initially raised objections on our draft on both budgetary and procedural grounds. We had to convince them and allay their concern.

Finally the proposal was put up for Second Commission’s consideration. Colin Power, the then UNESCO Deputy Director General, helped us immensely in overcoming the initial obstacles.

On the substantive question, our draft resolution, which had highlighted the need for preservation of mother languages, should not apparently pose any problem to any member-country.

But in reality, many of the European and other countries, some of which are the main contributors to UNESCO’s budget, have multilingual societies, and the issue of mother language is a highly sensitive issue in their countries. Their underlying concern was that the proclamation of the Mother Language Day might trigger off new unrest in their own countries. I personally met the Permanent Representatives of those countries and explained to them that the main objective of our effort is to preserve all languages. We also highlighted the historic fact that linguistic differences do not cause wars, intolerance does, and that respect for each other’s mother languages would only strengthen national and international solidarity.

Our vigorous diplomatic efforts in Paris were successful and we were able to enlist cosponsorship and support of some 28 countries from different continents, but one could still feel the underlying concern of some multilingual European member countries. Finally, on November 12, I was given the opportunity to introduce the draft resolution at the Second Commission. In our broad-based statement, I underlined the primary role of UNESCO in the preservation of languages, expressed concern at the fast disappearances of mother languages, and emphasized the need to proclaim an International Mother Language Day to create greater awareness.

With regard to earmarking February 21 as the day, I recalled the supreme sacrifice that our martyrs had made on that day in 1952 for the preservation of our mother language Bangla - an unprecedented event in contemporary history. Here I also drew a parallel to the proclamation of May Day as the International Labor day to commemorate the shooting and killing of striking labor of ‘8-hour working day movement’ in Chicago in 1886.

Fortunately, our persistent behind-the-scene lobbying worked. A good number of our

co-sponsors made statements supporting our resolution.

Consequently, the multilingual European delegations could not oppose our draft resolution and it was unanimously adopted at the Second Commission. To someone who was not directly involved in the lobbying process or familiar with multilateral diplomacy, this might have seemed easy sailing, but for those of us, who had been pursuing the matter tirelessly, this brought a great sense of achievement and relief.

Finally, as noted earlier, on November 17, the Plenary of the General Conference formally adopted our draft resolution proclaiming ‘Amar Ekushey’ as the International Mother Language Day. Subsequently, the then Director-General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsura formally launched the Day at the UNESCO headquarters on February 21, 2000, amid speeches, a Bangla musical program and display of books on languages.

In March 2001, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation of an International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka in the presence of the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Unfortunately, the succeeding government took very little interest in the project. As a part of our international commitment, it should be our national endeavor to complete the project soonest possible to protect and preserve all languages. That would be a befitting tribute to our Shaheeds.

— Syed Muazzem Ali, a retired Foreign Secretary and a former Permanent Representative to the UNESCO, had introduced the Mother Language Day Resolution and also piloted its unanimous adoption at the UNESCO General Conference in 1999.

Facts and statistics Capital: Dhaka Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India Climate: Tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October) Population: 144,319,628 (July 2005 est.)

Ethnic make-up: Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims Languages in Bangladesh The official language is Bangla, also known as Bengali. It is the first language of more than 98 percent of the population. It is written in its own script, derived from that of Sanskrit. Many people in Bangladesh also speak English and Urdu.

Bangla vocabulary shows many influences. These include a strong Islamic influence seen in the greetings of “Salaam aleykum” (Peace be unto you) and “Khoda hafez” (God Bless you) and nouns from the Arab world such as “Dokan” (shop), “Tarikh”(date), “Kolom”(pen) and “Bonduk” (gun). In West Bengal the Hindu influence is greater with the use of the Hindu greeting “Namashkar”.

English has also had an influence on Bangla. During the days of the Raj many words of English origin such as “tebil” (table), “tiffin” (archaic in modern day English meaning snack box) entered Bangla.

In more recent time the ever rising global nature of English has lead to words such as “television”, “telephone”, “video” and “radio” being adopted by Bangla. However, unlike India, there has never been the need for English as a lingua franca and thus Bangla is the state language of Bangladesh.

• • • • • • • •

Meeting and greeting Greetings usually take place between members of the same sex.

Women will only really be met within business contexts and even so, it is best to wait to see if a hand is extended before doing so.

The traditional greeting for Muslims is Asalamu alaikum to which the response is Waalaikum salam.

Naming conventions are very much based on the hierarchical nature of Bangladeshi society.

Bangladeshis will append a suffix to a person’s name to denote respect and the level of closeness between the two people.

In general, age dictates how people are addressed.

If people are of the same age, they use first names.

If the person being addressed is older than the speaker, the person is called by their first name and a suffix that denotes the family relationship.

— www.kwintessential.co.uk

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Taking Public Private Partnership to the next level

By Nazrul Islam ublic Private Partnership (PPP) is a new phrase in our country’s development dynamics although the partnership between the government and the private entrepreneurs goes a long way back. The present government has socio-economic development of the country on their agenda.

Finance Minister AMA Muhit incorporated the PPP in the budget of 2009-2010. But the initiative saw inertia when there was no visible effort in undertaking any project under the plan during the last five months till mid November since its public announcement in the budget speech of the Finance Minister.

However, a ray of hope appears to be visible as an initiative is underway to construct an expressway in the capital under PPP. The Communication Ministry is going to implement the project, the first of its kind in the country.

Actually, in the present day world of open market economy, private entrepreneurs are the key players in development activities of any country and providing services to the people. In our country also, the private sector is at the driving seat in steering the country’s economy. The entire consumer businesses, agriculture, industry, housing, construction, healthcare, road communications, telecommunications etc are run by the private sector.

Public-private partnership is a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies. In the developed countries many big projects of

P

public utility services are implemented through PPP. Some of the unique examples of PPP are Airport Link, the Cross City Tunnel, and the Sydney Harbor Tunnel in Australia. In British Columbia, Canada Public-private partnerships have become significant in both social and infrastructure development. PPP’s exist in a variety of forms including the Canada Line rapid transit, the Abbotsford Hospital and Cancer Centre and run of river hydroelectric projects in Toba River.

In its election manifesto the present government has set an 8 percent GDP growth by the year 2013 and 10 percent by the year 2017, which would be sustained until 2021. To attain this higher growth, huge investment is needed in the infrastructure development, especially in power and energy, ports, communication, supply of drinking water and waste management, education and health sector. An investment of US$ 28 billion will be required

by FY 2013-14 to achieve the projected growth as per the preliminary estimates.

The government alone cannot provide such huge amount of resources. It would be difficult to maintain macroeconomic stability if the government has to finance such huge investment by borrowing from domestic sources. Again, it will not be possible to obtain such funds as concessionary loans from the development partners.

Furthermore, it is difficult to ensure economic use of public resources and the quality of service delivery when government is involved in infrastructure development and maintenance as its involvement is not determined through a competitive market process. At the same time, direct involvement

Heavy investments made in power and energy sectors of the government in project execution process takes away the focus from its basic obligation to provide social and other important services. So, it is imperative to channel fund in

the development projects from private sector domestic or foreign entrepreneurs.

The present government which assumes responsibility with unprecedented people’s

mandate will have to eliminate the nagging problem of traffic congestion for keeping the economic activities on the right track as well as for its own survival. The city people are ready

to pay extra money if they are given relief of the traffic congestion.

I can cite an example of people’s readiness to pay extra for their smooth journey.

About a decade ago, some direct bus services were introduced in the city with higher fare than that of the normal services. Many people were skeptic about their viability.

Ultimately, it was seen that a lot of people were commuting by buses just to save some time.

Similarly, people want electricity. PPP can be an ideal tool for production of electricity to meet their growing demand.

Although, electricity is being produced under the IPP Policy of 1996, there is a lot of scope to widen the area for making the country self-sufficient in electricity by the year 2013.

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eflecting the long history of the region, Bangladesh has a culture that encompasses elements both old and new. Bengali (Bangla) is the official language of Bangladesh. English is widely used in education and business.

Bengali is spoken now by around 300 million people throughout the world.

The Bengali language boasts a rich literary heritage, which Bangladesh shares with the Indian state of West Bengal.

The earliest literary text in Bengali is the 8th century Charyapada. Medieval Bengali literature was often either religious or adapted from other languages.

Bengali literature reached its full expression in the 19th century, with its great icon being poet Rabindranath Tagore. Bangladesh also has a long tradition in folk literature, for example Maimansingha Gitika, Thakurmar.

R

Drama and theatre is an old tradition that is very popular in Bangladesh. More than a dozen theater groups in Dhaka City have been regularly staging locally written plays for hundreds of years.

Many have also started adopted some plays from European writers. Baily Road in Dhaka is known as “Natak Para” and this is one location where drama shows are regularly held. Many shows are also held at the Dhaka University.

Woman will traditionally wear their hair in a twisted bun, which is called the “Beni style”. Hindus will traditionally wear Dhuty for religious purposes. These days most men of Bangladesh wear shirts and pants.

Media Around 200 daily newspapers are published in Bangladesh, along with more than 1,800 periodicals. Bangladeshis lis-

century. The area’s early history featured a succession of Indian empires, internal squabbling, and a tussle between Hinduism and Buddhism for dominance.

All of this was just a prelude to the unstoppable tide of Islam which washed over northern India at the end of the 12th century. Mohammed Bakhtiar Khalzhi from Turkistan captured Bengal in 1199 with only 20 men.

Under the Mughal viceroys, art and

effectively ruling Bengal when one of the impetuous nawabs attacked the thriving British enclave in Calcutta and stuffed those unlucky enough not to escape in an underground cellar. Clive retook Calcutta a year later and the British Government replaced the East India Company following the Indian Mutiny in 1857.

The Britons established an organizational and social structure unparalleled in Bengal, and Calcutta became one of the

Nationalism Inequalities between the two regions i.e. East and West Pakistan soon stirred up a sense of Bengali nationalism that had not been reckoned with during the push for Muslim independence. When the Pakistan government declared that `Urdu and only Urdu’ would be the national language, the Bangla-speaking Bengalis decided it was time to assert their cultural identity. The drive to reinstate the Bangla language metamorphosed into a push for self-government and when the Awami League, a nationalistic party, won a majority in the 1971 national elections, the president of Pakistan, faced with this unacceptable result, postponed opening the National Assembly. Riots and strikes broke out in East Pakistan, the independent state of Bangladesh was unilaterally announced, and Pakistan sent troops to quell the rebellion.

The ensuing war was one of the shortest and bloodiest of modern times, with the Pakistan army occupying all major towns, using napalm against villages, and slaughtering and raping villagers. Bangladeshis refer to Pakistan’s brutal tactics as attempted genocide. Border clashes between Pakistan and India increased as Indian-trained Bangladeshi guerrillas crossed the border. When the Pakistani air force made a pre-emptive attack on Indian forces, open warfare ensued. Indian troops crossed the border and the Pakistani army found itself being attacked from the east by the Indian army, the north and east by guerrillas and from all quarters by the civilian population. In 11 days it was all over and Bangladesh, the world’s 139th country, officially came into existence.

Sheikh Mujib, one of the founders of the Awami League, became the country’s first prime minister in January 1972 ; he was assassinated in 1975 during a period of crisis.

The ruined and decimated new country experienced famine in 197374, followed by martial law, successive military coups and political assassinations. In 1979, Bangladesh began a short-lived experiment with democracy led by the overwhelmingly popular President Zia, who established good relationships with the West and the oil-rich Islamic countries. His assassination in 1981 ultimately returned the country to a military government that periodically made vague announcements that elections would be held ‘soon’. While these announcements were rapturously greeted by the local press as proof that Bangladesh was indeed a democracy, nothing came of them until 1991. That year the military dictator General Ershad was forced to resign by an unprecedented popular movement led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Awami League.

Music Music in Bangladesh can be divided into three distinct categories - classical, folk and modern. Classical music - both vocal and instrumental, is rooted in the sub-continental tradition refined during early Turkic rule in the sub-Himalayan region. Folk music, nurtured through the ages by village-poets and mendicants are rich in devotional mysticism and love-lore. Modern Bengali music has blended Western and Middle-eastern traits with traditional forms.

Contemporary music and orchestration has a marked influence of the West.

Institutions like Shilpakala Academy, Nazrul Academy and the Chhayanaut have played prominent roles in the practice and popularization of various musical genres in the country.

The musical tradition of Bangladesh is lyrics-based, with minimal instrumental accompaniment. The Baul tradition is a unique heritage of Bengali folk music, and there are numerous other musical traditions in Bangladesh, varying from one region to region. Gombhira, Bhatiati, Bhawaiya are a few of the better-known musical forms. Folk music of Bengal is often accompanied by the ektara, an instrument with only one string. Other instruments include the dotara, dhol, flute, and tabta. Similarly, Bangladesh dance forms draw from folk traditions, especially those of the tribal groups, as well as the broader Indian dance tradition, such as Bharat Natyam, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri etc.

The traditional music of Bangladesh is very much the same as that of the Indian sub-continent. Both vocal and instrumental classical music is enjoyed in Bangladesh. Ustad Ayet Ali Khan and Ustad Alauddin are two famous classical instrumental players that are internationally known. Modern music is becoming more popular and is practiced widely. Contemporary, pop songs and bands are also enjoying more widespread fame, but are mainly popular in the regions of Dhaka City.

Performing arts Bangladesh has a rich tradition of visual arts. Specimens of ancient terracotta and pottery show remarkable artistry. Modern painting was pioneered by artists like Zainut Abedin, Kamrul Hasan, S M Sultan and Shafiuddin Ahmed. Alongside painting, sculpture, tapestry and engravings have also attracted attention of art connoisseurs in recent years.

Theatre is an old tradition of Bangladesh. Open air rural operetta known as ‘Jatra’, depicting mythological episodes, love-lore and acts of heroism is an old form that is staged mostly in the villages. Modern theatre, which had their beginning in the British period have become popular with group theatres providing serious entertainment, especially in urban centers.

It was not until 1956 that the first full-length feature film was produced in Bangladesh. At present the industry is capable of producing around 80 feature films per year. The films of Bangladesh display an entertainment pattern similar to those of other countries of the sub-continent. The themes range from social and historical ones to fantasies and thrillers. There have also been many ventures in the area of artfilms. Of late there has been an abundance of short experimental feature films and documentaries.

Tribal dances are very popular among the Bangalees. The countryside girls are in the habit of dancing to popular folk music. Their dances require no regulations as such, just a small amount of courage and a big amount of rhythm. Popular songs like Shari and Jari are presented with the accompanying dance of both male and female performers.

realizing any agreement between the Muslims and Hindus was impossible, decided to partition the subcontinent.

That Bengal and Punjab, the two overwhelmingly Muslim regions, lay on opposite sides of India was only one stumbling block. The situation was complicated in Bengal where the major cash crop, jute, was produced in the Muslim-dominated east, but processed and shipped from the Hindu-dominated city of Calcutta in the west.

Democracy

Bangladesh has a rich, diverse culture.

Its deeply rooted heritage is thoroughly reflected in its architecture, dance, literature, music, painting and clothing. The three primary religions of Bangladesh (Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam) have had a great influence on its culture and history.

Clothing Another important aspect of the culture of Bangladesh is clothing.

Bangladeshi woman usually wear saris, made of the world famous and expensive, finely embroidered quilted patchwork cloth produced by the village woman.

ten to a variety of local and national radio programs from Bangladesh Betar, as well as four private FM radio channels which are popular. Also, there are the Bengali services of radio from the BBC and Voice of America. The main television channel is the state-owned Bangladesh Television, but in the last few years, privately owned channels have developed considerably.

A brief history Bangladesh came to today’s shape through a long history of political evolution. Bengal was probably the wealthiest part of the subcontinent up till the 16th

literature flourished, overland trade expanded and Bengal was opened to world maritime trade - the latter marking the death knell of Mughal power as Europeans began to establish themselves in the region. The Portuguese arrived as early as the 15th century but were ousted in 1633 by local opposition. The East India Company negotiated terms to establish a fortified trading post in Calcutta in 1690.

The decline of Mughal power led to greater provincial autonomy, heralding the rise of the independent dynasty of the nawabs of Bengal. Humble East India Company clerk Robert Clive ended up

most important centers for commerce, education and culture in the subcontinent.

However, many Bangladeshi historians blame the British dictatorial agricultural policies and promotion of the semi-feudal zamindar system for draining the region of its wealth and damaging its social fabric.

At the closure of World War II it was clear that European colonialism had run its course and Indian independence was inevitable. Independence was attained in 1947 but the struggle was bitter and divisive, especially in Bengal where the fight for self-government was complicated by internal religious conflict. The British,

Democracy was re-established and the economy ticked along at a 4.5% growth rate, which hardly made it an ‘Asian tiger’ but was at least respectable. Political dog-fighting between the BNP and the Awami League became acrimonious in the run up to national elections in February 1996 leaving the country strike-ridden and rudderless. The election was marred by violence and boycotted by the three main opposition parties, resulting in a BNP shoo-in. However, low voter turnout and reports of ballot-box stuffing by polling officials raised serious questions about the government’s legitimacy and in April 1996 Prime Minister Begum Khaleda agreed to stand down and appointed an interim caretaker administration, pending new elections scheduled for 12 June 1996.In the elections Awami League got the largest number of seats. Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the leader of the Awami League, was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh government. www.bangla2000.com/ www.bangladesh.com

TECHNOLOGY

Sunday, February 7, 2010

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Cambodia rebukes Google over disputed Thai border map PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has accused Internet giant Google of being “professionally irresponsible” over its map of an ancient temple at the centre of a border dispute with Thailand, a letter seen by AFP yesterday showed.

The Google map “places almost half of the Khmer (Preah Vihear) temple in Thailand and is not an internationally recognised map,” said the letter written by the secretary of state of the Cambodian Council of Ministers, Svay Sitha.

He described the map as “radically misleading”.

“We, therefore, request that you withdraw the already disseminated, very wrong and not internationally recognised map and replace it,” Svay Sitha wrote.

The complaint was made as Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen was Saturday

making his first visit to the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodia and Thailand have been at loggerheads over their border for decades.

Nationalist tensions spilled over into violence in July 2008, when the Preah Vihear temple was granted UNESCO World Heritage status.

Four soldiers were killed in clashes in the temple area in 2008 and three more in a gunbattle last April. Smaller flare-ups continue to be reported between troops in the area, with the most recent exchange of fire on January 29.

The border has never been fully demarcated, partly because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.

Relations between the neighbouring countries deteriorated further in

November after Hun Sen appointed ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who lives abroad to escape a jail term for corruption, as an economic adviser.

The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, although the

main entrance lies at the foot of a mountain in Thailand. The exact boundary through the surrounding grounds remains in dispute.

Meanwhile, Google went techno-chic on Friday, debuting fashion designs

inspired by the Internet giant.

An “old-fashioned magnifying glass pendant” priced at 200 dollars was for sale online at googlestore.com along with a 300dollar knit scarf in the firm’s trademark colors and “peace” T-shirts for 85 dollars each.

The pieces were the work of emerging designers who last year were asked to come up with “one-of-a-kind” items inspired in some way by Google, whether it be the firm’s colors, technology or mission.

The designs resulted from an annual fund-raising event by fashion magazine Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

“Last October, we transformed 10 of the finalists’ designs into iGoogle Artists themes,” Google product marketing manager Michaela Prescott said in a blog post,

referring to the iGoogle personalized homepage that users can manipulate or design to their liking.

“While we loved seeing fashion meet iGoogle, we wanted to see these pieces in person-and wear them!”

Google had its favorite designs customized for “a broader audience” and will have them available for purchase “for a limited time,” according to Prescott. Proceeds will go to the Vogue/CFDA fund for nascent designers.

“Search is at the heart of everything Google does,” Waris Ahulwalia said of his inspiration for the sterling silver magnifying glass pendant.

He crafted a “1” into the clasp of the pendant chain of 100 zero-shaped links to represent the “Googol” number on which the search engine’s name is based. — AFP

Removes Microsoft banner ads from site

Facebook takes full control of display ads business SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook is taking full control of display ads on the world’s No. 1 social networking website, cutting short an exclusive deal that had allowed Microsoft Corp to manage part of that business.

However, Microsoft-the exclusive provider of Web search on Facebook-

An executive holding an X2’s iTablet

X2’s iTablet running Windows 7 LONDON: An established iTablet supplier has just announced a new iTablet from one of its existing sources... which wouldn’t normally get any coverage, but the Apple iPad has changed all that. An iTablet computer - just not the main one in X2’s press release Britain’s X2 Computing got a lot of publicity today by putting out a press release about the new iTablet that it said it would be releasing in April. Which is fair enough, though it did reveal the ignorance of much of the blogosphere.

The iTablet as described does sound like a reasonable machine, and it’s clearly an improvement on the version shown at CeBIT in 2007. It

has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 512MB to 2GB of memory, and a 10.2inch XGA (1024 x 600 pixel) screen. The dimensions are 252 x 192m and the thickness runs from 28mm to 35mm. It weighs 1.18kg (2.6 pounds).

There’s a choice of operating system: Windows 7, Windows XP Tablet Edition or Linux.

This particular model is the AMtek iTablet T10L, which I expect will be shown at Embedded World 2010 and the CeBIT exhibition in Germany. It’s similar to the Atom-powered X210L that X2 announced last year.

However, it’s not the one in the widely-reproduced press release photo (above), which looks more like an AMtek iTablet T201. Still, an

X2 spokesman says the company is one of AMtek’s international partners and it will supply both machines.

X2 wouldn’t normally get much in the way of press coverage because it’s one of the companies that has been quietly supplying tablet PCs to the industrial and commercial markets, where they have many uses in retail, healthcare, logistics etc.

Now it’s “looking to extend the brand”. Tablets like this have been around for a decade or so, but the hype around the unveiling of Apple’s iPad might enable some suppliers to reach beyond their traditional markets. Helped, perhaps, by people whose knowledge of tablet PCs doesn’t extend very far beyond the iPad.

No jail for sexy texts BEIJING: Chinese authorities are trying to reassure amorous couples that sexy text messages will not land them in jail amid a crackdown against pornography on the Internet and mobile phones.

Two high-ranking justice officials, quoted Saturday in Beijing News, made a point of giving precise details of the anti-pornography law a few days after an explanation of the text by the country’s Supreme Court and the supreme public prosecutor’s department. “If a friend feels offended (by a pornographic message), then it is possible there is an offence, but if this friend likes it and both exchange messages, then surely there does not have to be an offence,” said Hu Yunteng, an official in charge of research at the Supreme Court, as quoted by the newspaper.

“So for friends or colleagues who exchange vulgar content or make fun between themselves by messages, at this

level the full weight of the legal apparatus will not be brought to bear against the vulgarity of such people,” he added.

The legal authorities explained that they were targeting only criminals responsible for the mass diffusion of pornographic messages.

Under China’s law, police can place anyone who transmits pornographic or insulting messages in administrative detention for five to 10 days, the newspaper said.

According to Chinese media, in 2009 the authorities arrested nearly 5,400 people during a nationwide crackdown against pornography on the Internet and closed thousands of websites. Faced with “yellow,” or pornographic, messages, authorities are fighting back with “red” messages of their own which transmit revolutionary values, the official Xinhua news agency reported yesterday. — AFP

Microsoft also said it will further integrate its Bing search engine into Facebook while expanding its reach beyond the United States.

Facebook, which counts nearly 400 million users, said its own display ads feature interactive aspects and can target viewers based on their personal information, making them better suited to its social networking service than Microsoft’s standard Web banner ads.

“Ad formats that feature social actions perform better and provide a better user experience since they are more consistent with the look and feel of Facebook,” the company said in a statement.

“This combination of targeting and social relevance is the primary driver behind the shift in strategy.”

Facebook said it stopped displaying Microsoft banner ads in some international markets recently, and following additional talks with Microsoft, has agreed to stop running the banner ads across all of Facebook. The change will take place over the next 30 days.

Facebook has long sold its own display ads on users’ profile pages and other parts of the site, but the company allowed Microsoft to sell banner ads in certain sections of its website in 2006. The deal, which was extended in 2007, was supposed to run until 2011.

A Facebook spokesperson would not provide details on whether the advertising deal with Microsoft entailed any revenue sharing agreement, or whether Facebook would pay Microsoft a fee for altering the deal early.

The news comes as Facebook has increased its focus on its financial performance. In September, Facebook said it had become free cash flow positive-meaning that the company makes enough money to cover the costs associated with running the service-ahead of schedule.

Microsoft said on its corporate blog on Friday that Web searches within Facebook will bring up information from Bing beyond just links to websites.

Microsoft’s search technology will be available on Facebook worldwide, instead of just the United States, it added.

Facebook, which lets users connect and share information with friends online, has emerged as one of the Internet’s most popular destinations and is increasingly challenging the Web’s established powerhouses like Yahoo Inc and Google Inc. Microsoft invested $240 million in Facebook for a 1.6 percent stake in the company in October 2007.

On Thursday, Facebook said it expected to reach 400 million active users of its site within the week, representing a gain of 50 million new users since December. The company also announced a new design to its homepage. Microsoft shares finished Friday’s regular trading session up 18 cents at $28.02. — Reuters

will continue to sell text-based search ads on the website as the partners extended the arrangement beyond 2011, when it had been due to expire.

A Facebook spokesman declined to say how long the deal has been extended.

Fraud fears as scientists crack ‘anonymous’ datasets NEW YORK: Computer scientists in the US have discovered ways to “re-identify” the names of people included in supposedly anonymous datasets.

In one example, a movie rental company released an anonymous list of film-ratings taken from its 500,000 subscribers. Using a statistical “deanonymisation” technique, the academics were able to identify individuals and their film preferences.

The discovery raises concerns about how safe it is to release personal information such as medical records or mobile phone data - even if details such as names or nation-

al insurance numbers have been removed. There are fears the information could be accessed by criminals.

The discovery has led British researchers to raise the issue in a report they are writing for the European commission. Dr Ian Brown, of the Oxford Internet Institute and a co-author, said the example of the film list was relatively trivial. “But this raises concerns for more sensitive data such as medical records.

Epidemiologists say they could do interesting research if they had access to more anonymous data. This shows it is difficult to do that in a way that can’t be

reversed.” One concern is that criminals could identify individuals through mobile phone data and use the information to track people’s movements and find out when they are away from home. “That is one worry. Other people who you might worry about accessing that information include employers, insurers or the government. There are a whole range of potential users,” Brown said. Experts say the discovery that lists can be “de-anonymised” needs to be included in the debate about how information is released and where to draw the line.

But they also highlight the

benefits of letting researchers and others access large datasets.

Last week Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web, launched a new website - data.gov.uk - on which members of the public will be able to access information on crime rates, exam results, house prices and more. “They are talking about non-personal data,” said Brown. “But another thing they are looking at releasing is crime reports down to street level. You have to think about how people might be able to link that back to individuals.” — Guardian

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Sunday,

Arctic melt to cost up to $24 trillion by 2050 WASHINGTON: Arctic ice melting could cost global agriculture, real estate and insurance anywhere from $2.4 trillion to $24 trillion by 2050 in damage from rising sea levels, floods and heat waves, according to a report released on Friday.

“Everybody around the world is going to bear these costs,” said Eban Goodstein, a resource economist at Bard College in New York state who co-authored the report, called “Arctic Treasure, Global Assets Melting Away.”

He said the report, reviewed by more than a dozen scientists and economists and funded by the Pew Environment Group, an arm of the Pew Charitable Trusts, provides a first attempt to monetize the cost of the loss of one of the world’s great weather makers.

“The Arctic is the planet’s air conditioner and it’s starting to break down,” he said.

The loss of Arctic Sea ice and snow cover is already costing the world about

$61 billion to $371 billion annually from costs associated with heat waves, flooding and other factors, the report said.

The losses could grow as a warmer Arctic unlocks vast stores of methane in the permafrost. The gas has about 21 times the global warming impact of carbon dioxide.

Melting of Arctic sea ice is already triggering a feedback of more warming as dark water revealed by the receding ice absorbs more of the sun’s energy, he said.

That could lead to more melting of glaciers on land and raise global sea levels.

While much of Europe and the United States has suffered heavy snowstorms and unusually low temperatures this winter, evidence has built that the Arctic is at risk from warming.

Greenhouse gases generated by tailpipes and smokestacks have pushed Arctic temperatures in the last decade to the highest levels in at least 2,000 years, reversing a natural cooling trend, an inter-

national team of researchers reported the journal Science in September.

Arctic emissions of methane h jumped 30 percent in recent years, sci tists said last month.

Thin ice over the Arctic Sea this w ter could mean a powerful ice-melt n summer, a top U.S. climate scientist s this week.

And early findings from a ma research project in Canada involving m than 370 scientists from 27 countr

US cases declining since late October

Is the US swine flu epidemic over?

ATLANTA: If the US swine flu epidemic isn’t over, it certainly looks as if it’s on its last legs. While federal health officials are not ready to declare the threat has passed and the outbreak has run its course, they did report Friday that for the fourth week in a row, no states had

widespread flu activity. US cases have been declining since late October. One US expert said the epidemic has “one foot in the grave,” and there are many reasons to believe there won’t be another wave later in the year.

For one thing, the virus has shown no signs of mutating. The vaccine against it is effective. And roughly half the people in the US probably have some immunity because they were infected with it or got vaccinated. The World Health Organization is witnessing an international decline as well, and is discussing criteria for declaring the pandemic over. Britain this week shut down its swine flu hot line, which was set up to diagnose cases and give out Tamiflu.

“Clearly, the last four weeks have been one of the quietest January flu seasons I can remember in my career,” said Michael Osterholm, a prominent expert on global flu outbreaks with the University of Minnesota. Since its emergence last April, swine flu has caused an estimated 15,200 deaths worldwide, mostly in the US — a much lower number than initially feared. The positive outcome is primarily because the virus didn’t mutate into a deadlier form.

Even so, experts have praised the actions of the US and Mexican governments and scientists who quickly developed an effective vaccine, even though there were months of delays in the production of the vaccine. fessors to get a novel microbicide product There are some more big microbicide Whether it will stay quiet they have dreamed up “onto the doorstep trials underway, using an Aids drug called of clinical trials” as one of them, Oliver tenofovir. Scientists are hopeful - but for the rest of the winter is Hartley, told me on the phone. using an antiretroviral even in gel form on hard to say, but some experts What makes them think they can do it a regular basis could cause side-effects are beginning to lean that when every attempt so far has gone pear- and may lead to resistance. Maybe way. shaped? Hartley says they are better pre- Mintaka is on to something. The “If it’s not dead, it’s weakpared.

Wellcome Trust seems to think it’s worth ening fast. It’s got one foot in “The substances tested before were a shot. the grave,” said Dr. William put into the clinic rather quickly because Meanwhile the Lancet today has a go Schaffner, a flu authority at the situation is so desperate, without hav- at obstetricians who promote caesarean Vanderbilt University. ing been fully scientifically validated,” he sections. Read it here. A quarter of caeA poll released Friday by said. sareans in China, where nearly half the the Harvard School of Public “Unlike those other substances our births (46.2%) take place in the operating Health found that 44 percent material is very, very potent indeed and theatre, are medically unnecessary. of Americans believe the outcan fully protect female macaque monIt seems that 62% of hospitals have break is over. keys. We’re in much, much better shape financial incentives for doing them. In The Centers for Disease than anything before.” other east Asian countries with high Control and Prevention Their microbicide is a protein. Most rates, doctors are in favour of operating released numbers Friday proteins are fragile and have to be refrig- even though women are generally not. erated. Theirs can be boiled. They can Yet caesarean sections for no medical showing most states continmake it using brewer’s yeast, so it’s low reason are life-threatening, say the ued to have only occasional tech and cheap for African countries, they authors, two Singapore-based obstetriflu activity last week.

New hope for women against HIV? DURBAN: Unhappy fact about Aids in Africa. A lot of women are exposed to HIV by philandering husbands and can’t do a thing about protecting themselves. The men won’t wear condoms. In fact, the women don’t even dare ask them to. So there’s been huge enthusiasm for the idea of a microbicide - a virus-killing gel women could use before sex. Women especially - like Claire Short, when she was Britain’s international development secretary - threw their weight behind it.

But in December a big trial in four African countries of a promising microbicide collapsed. The wonderful Professor Gita Ramjee, who has run five different big microbicide trials at her centre in Durban, was quite distraught. This is where I wrote about it.

So I was quite surprised to hear that the Wellcome Trust has just given £2.7 million to the Mintaka Foundation for medical research, a philanthropic outfit in

Images from an fMRI machine showe specific question and told to respond in brain lit up as in a healthy person. — G

Brain-injure thoughts ‘read CAMBRIDGE: For seven years the man lay in a hospital bed, showing no signs of consciousness since sustaining a traumatic brain injury in a car accident. His doctors were convinced he was in a vegetative state. Until now.

To the astonishment of his medical team, the patient has been able to communicate with the outside world after scientists worked out, in effect, a way to read his thoughts.

They devised a technique to enable the man, now 29, to answer yes and no to simple questions through the use of a hi-tech scanner, monitoring his brain activity.

To answer yes, he was told to think of playing tennis, a motor activity. To answer no, he was told to think of wandering from room to room in his home, visualising everything he would expect to see there, creating activity in the part of the brain governing spatial awareness.

His doctors were amazed when the patient gave the correct answers to a series of questions about his family. The experiment will fuel the controversy of when a patient should have life support removed.

It also raises the prospect of some form of communication with those who have been shut off from life, perhaps for years.

“We were astonished when we saw the results of the patient’s scan and that he was able to correctly answer the questions that were asked by simply changing his thoughts,” said Dr Adrian Owen, assistant director of the Medical Research Council’s cognition and brain sciences unit at Cambridge University.

“Not only did these scans tell us that the patient was not in a vegetative state but, more importantly, for the first time in five years it provided the patient with a way of communicating his thoughts to the outside world.”

Dr Steven Laureys, from the University of

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

Briton takes off for space station as Nasa faces funding crisis FLORIDA: As a schoolboy in Yorkshire watching the first moon landings on television, Nicholas Patrick could only dream of following the pioneers of Apollo into space.

Inspired by their achievements, he moved to America to achieve his childhood ambition of becoming an astronaut. On Sunday, when the shuttle Endeavour blasts off from the Kennedy Space Centre in

Florida, Patrick will embark on one of the greatest adventures ever undertaken by one of the handful of Britons to reach orbit in an American spacecraft.

His five-million-mile journey to the international space station, where he will perform three ambitious and risky space walks, comes at a traumatic time for Nasa, following US president Barack Obama’s decision this week to pull the plug

on America’s plans to return to the moon.

But Patrick, one of only three British fliers in the US space agency, is not among those worrying about job security after the shuttle fleet retires this year, leaving Nasa with no definitive programme for manned spaceflight for the first time in its 50-year history.

“I know that when I’ve landed I’ll have more time to reflect,” said

Patrick, who is set to lift off at 9.39am GMT with six crewmates.

“But it is important that we move on to new and different challenges.”

Until his selection for this mission, Patrick, an engineering graduate of Cambridge University, was working to develop the flight deck for Orion, the next-generation spaceship that was to have replaced the ageing shuttle.

But Obama’s cancellation of the $81bn Constellation programme, of which Orion was part, leaves the US relying on Russian Soyuz rockets or planned commercial space “taxis” to ferry its astronauts to the space station. It also means Nasa’s vision to put astronauts back on the moon by 2020, almost half a century after the final Apollo mission in 1972, has disappeared.

Patrick, 45, said it was essential

that Nasa had a future role that inspired children to pursue careers in science. “The space programme helps show kids that the purpose of all the science and technology is to achieve great and monumental things,” he said.

Endeavour will dock with the space station on Tuesday, day three of its 13-day mission to help complete construction of the orbiting laboratory. Patrick and fellow astro-

naut Bob Behnken will make the spacewalks to install the station’s final living-working component, the 75 sq m Tranquility node, and a domed observation room called the Cupola that will give astronauts an unprecedented 360-degree view of the universe and serve as a control room for future flights.

Patrick will be sending live updates from space on Twitter as @Astro_Nicholas. —Guardian

Start running and watch your brain grow

Aerobic exercise triggers new cell growth: Study

Nasa astronaunt Nicholas Patrick

Vietnam robot maker seeks splash at Toy Fair NUREMBERG: Posters for a ping-pong-playing robot occupy pride of place at the entrances to the Nuremberg Toy Fair this week, urging trade buyers to visit the booth of an upstart Vietnamese company with big ambitions.

On closer examination, it emerges that the life-sized white android wearing dark glasses is not a toy, nor is it for sale.

It is a prototype only, and not agile enough to join a human ping-pong team.

But the machine, codenamed Topio, has certainly drawn attention to Tosy Robotics, one of four Vietnamese firms renting space at the world’s top toy show, which continues in Germany till February 9.

Marketing manager Ho Quynh Nga described Topio as the company’s “technology ambassador.”

Among Tosy’s other ambitions is to complete a radio-controlled “football” which rolls itself along the ground, even uphill, changes direction and stops, thanks to a motor hidden inside.

But hopes of releasing that toy in time for the World Cup football tournament this June look slim.

Vo Lan Anh, a Tosy manager, said at the Toy Fair, “The biggest difficulty is making it robust enough to conform with European Union safety standards.”

She said Tosy had not yet submitted the ball to testers who could certify if it meets

EU safety standards.

She said Tosy did not expect the football to be shockproof enough to actually kick, nor was it meant to fly through the air.

However Tosy’s sole working toy at the fair does fly.

It is a plastic whirlybird: a flying disc which lifts off its launcher when a child pulls a cord to start the rotor spinning.

Whirlybirds are hardly new: even old folk remember them fondly from childhood. Those from Tosy and various Chinese competitors at the Toy Fair have lights built into the rims, powered by a capacitor in the hub, to create a spooky effect when it flies at night.

Tosy calls its product the “UFO Returning” because it can be made to come back to where it took off.

It takes courage to bring just one product and unproven ideas to the Nuremberg Toy Fair, a trade-only event where experienced manufacturers with thousands of products coldly discuss clever ways to invoke the collecting urges of little kids and hook their money.

Staff of Tosy explained that the plastic rotor was a bread-and-butter product to create income, which can then feed the Hanoi company’s plans to enter the industrial robot business.

They said the rotor was already selling well in Australia.

Industrial robots do not have the same glamour as Topio the android: they look more like machine tools and electric tweezers.

The company, which was set in 2004 by young university graduates and is backed by a Vietnamese investment fund, also plans to beat its drum at Automatica, a robotics trade fair in the German city of Munich in June.

The Vietnamese government supports projects that help move Vietnam out of low-value manufacturing into fields needing brain skills.

“Industrial robots are very expensive at the moment,” explained Ho. “So if we were to produce high-performance robots at low cost, any factory could afford to employ them,” she said. The key would be to manufacture all the robot components at low cost inside Vietnam.

Tosy aims to keep a connection to the toy industry with a baby version of Topio aimed at rich Asian buyers fascinated with robotics.

That projected product, Topio Tiny, will not attempt to play ping-pong. Topio Tiny’s mission is to walk and to balance on one leg.

With the free leg, Topio Tiny will be able to execute an Asian martial-arts kick.

But carefully.

“He might fall down,” said Ho with a smile. “But he’ll have the capability to stand up again afterwards.” —dpa

CAMBRIDGE: The health benefits of a regular run have long been known, grow fresh grey matter and it has a big impact on mental ability. A few days but scientists have never understood the curious ability of exercise to boost of running led to the growth of hundreds of thousands of new brain cells that brain power. Now researchers think they have the answer. Neuroscientists improved the ability to recall memories without confusing them, a skill that at Cambridge University have shown that running stimulates the brain to is crucial for learning and other cognitive tasks, researchers said.

The new brain cells appeared in a region that is linked to the formation and recollection of memories.

The work reveals why jogging and other aerobic exercise can improve memory and learning, and potentially slow down the deterioration of mental ability that happens with old age.

“We know exercise can be good for healthy brain function, but this work provides us with a mechanism for the effect,” said Timothy Bussey, a behavioural neuroscientist at Cambridge and a senior author on the study.

The research builds on a growing body of work that suggests exercise plays a vital role in keeping the brain healthy by encouraging the growth of fresh brain cells.

Previous studies have shown that “neurogenesis” is limited in people with depression, but that their symptoms can improve if they exercise regularly.

Some antidepressant drugs work by encouraging the The television newsreader Emily Maitlis is out jogging after taking her children to school. Research on mice growth of new brain cells. shows that running and other aerobic exercise stimulate the growth of new brain cells, leading to enhanced memScientists are unsure why exercise triggers the growth ory recall. —Guardian of grey matter, but it may be group. In a brief training This part of the experiment two squares were so close to wrongfoot the mice by linked to increased blood session, the mice were put was designed to test how they nearly touched, accord- switching the square that flow or higher levels of hor- in front of a computer screen good the mice were at sepa- ing to a report in the produced a food reward. The mones that are released that displayed two identical rating two very similar Proceedings of the National running mice were quicker The human Academy of Sciences. to catch on when scientists while exercising. Exercise squares side by side. If they memories.

“At this stage of the changed them around. might also reduce stress, nudged the one on the left equivalent could be rememBrain tissue taken from which inhibits new brain with their nose they bering what a person had for experiment, the two memocells through a hormone received a sugar pellet dinner yesterday and the day ries the mice are forming of the rodents showed that the reward. If they nudged the before, or where they the squares are very similar. running mice had grown called cortisol.

The Cambridge one on the right, they got parked on different trips to It is when they have to dis- fresh grey matter during the the supermarket. tinguish between the two experiment. Tissue samples researchers joined forces nothing.

After training the mice The running mice clocked that these new brain cells from the dentate gyrus part with colleagues at the US National Institute on Ageing went on to do the memory up an average of 15 miles really make a difference,” of the brain revealed on average 6,000 new brain in Maryland to investigate test. The more they nudged (24km) a day. Their scores Bussey said. the correct square, the bet- in the memory test were The sedentary mice got cells in every cubic millimethe effect of running.

They studied two groups ter they scored. At the start nearly twice as high as those steadily worse at the test tre. The dentate gyrus is of mice, one of which had of the test, the squares were of the control group. The because their memories part of the hippocampus, one unlimited access to a run- 30cm apart, but got closer greatest improvement was became too similar to sepa- of the few regions of the adult brain that can grow ning wheel throughout. The and closer together until seen in the later stages of rate.

The scientists also tried fresh brain cells. —Guardian other mice formed a control they were almost touching. the experiment, when the

Violent deaths of children ‘down 40%’ WALES: The number of violent deaths among children in England and Wales has fallen by almost 40% in the past 30 years, according to a report by researchers from Bournemouth University.

Between 1974 and 2006, the number of children aged 14 and under who are killed annually fell from 136 to 84, says the study, which was shown to the BBC ahead of publication later this year.

As a proportion of the child population, the death rate nearly halved from 32 to 17

per million children.

Prof Colin Pritchard, from the university’s school of health and social care, told the BBC: “Thirty years ago England and Wales were the third or fourth highest child killers in the western world, but we’re now fourth lowest.

“There’s been a gradual decline in these terrible events.”

The study examined nine other developed countries, with most showing similar reductions.

Spain had the lowest vio-

lent death rate, at four deaths per million children, with Italy on five.

The US figure was highest at 47 deaths per million, with Germany second highest at 21.

Pritchard said improvements in social care systems, along with a greater focus on child poverty, had helped lower the death rate.

“When these things go wrong, it is very often because the usual good working together has actually broken down,” he said. —Guardian

A crowd gathers to watch Abagnale, the sea lion found entangled in fishing line last month, return to the Pacific Ocean at Rodeo Beach on Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 in Sausalito, Calif. —AP

INFORMATION

Thursday, February 4, 2010

37 FIRE BRIGADE Operation Room 777 Al-Madena 22418714 Al-Shohada始a 22545171 Al-Shuwaikh 24810598 Al-Nuzha 22545171 Sabhan 24742838 Al-Helaly 22434853 Al-Fayhaa 22545051 Al-Farwaniya 24711433 Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983 Al-Fahaheel 23927002 Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983 Ahmadi 23980088 Al-Mangaf 23711183 Al-Shuaiba 23262845 Al-Jahra 25610011 Al-Salmiya 25616368

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THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988 AIRLINES

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PHONE 23915883 23715414 23726558

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PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists: Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea Dr. Masoma Habeeb Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy Dr. Mohsen Abel Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly

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38

WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Sunday, February 7, 2010

British Council music project New British Council music project kicks off in Kuwait tomorrow

T

The English Playgroup and Primary School students visit Kuwait Times The English Playgroup and Primary School of Year 2 students visited Kuwait Times offices along with their teachers Brian McLaughlin, Aseel Sohail Maarouf, Fariba Reyhani and Dana Waleed Al-Qaddumi on Thursday. They were briefed about the newpaper, the designing and the printing process by IT manager Islam Sharaa. —Photos by Joseph Shagra

he British Council has developed a new music project which will bring together musicians from the UK and the Arabian Peninsula here in Kuwait on February 8-16 for a creative collaboration.

In a press release issued Thursday, the British Council said that the project provides a unique opportunity for talented musicians from five countries to learn from each others’ cultures and musical traditions, and explore the potential to generate something new and thought-provoking.

Working in partnership with the Arabian Heritage Project at the American University of Kuwait (AUK), Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyya, and Movenpick Hotel and Resorts Al-Bida, participants will meet together for the first time next week and will spend five days together creating work for two performances in Kuwait on February 14 and 15.

According to the press release, the project focuses on conserving local music traditions from all participating countries, while also appealing to younger generations.

In recent years the UK has witnessed a success story in the folk sector with practitioners, artists, and all parts of the industry working together to celebrate the traditional music of the British Isles, whilst giving space to fresh interpretations and support to emerging talent.

Assistant Director of the British Council Kuwait, Denise Waddingham, said, “The UK now enjoys a revitalised and vibrant folk scene through the engagement of younger artists embracing older musical forms in new and dynamic ways, and artists such as Bellowhead, Laura Marling, Jim Moray, and Tunng have been at the forefront of this.

“We are delighted that Andy Mellon, trumpet player from Bellowhead, is our Musical Director for the project and he will be bringing four other members of Bellowhead to Kuwait for the collaboration.

“Andy has facilitated the artist selection process, working with Dr. Amer Jaafar from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training in Kuwait, who is the project’s regional music consultant.” Meanwhile, Director of the Arabian Heritage Project at AUK, Dr. Lisa Urkevich, added, “Uniting such different types of musicians through performance provides a wonderful opportunity for the community as well as our students to witness cultural collaboration at its finest. The British Council deserves a great deal of credit for spiriting this complex and rewarding endeavor.” Performances are open to the general public and will be February 14 at Al-Maidan Cultural Centre at 7:00 p.m. and on February 15 at the AUK

Announcements FEB 6 Animal Friends Yard Sale: Huge Yard Sale — antiques, collectibles, book worms treasure trove, gently used infant clothing and toys, gently used adult clothes and shoes, Indonesian teak furniture, home wares, gourmet kitchen gadgets, dishes, pots and pans and so much more. Come on over and rummage through the goods and you might find a treasure. All funds will go to support Animal Friends. When: Saturday 6 February, 2010, 10:00am to 3 pm Where: Call 6700 1622 or e-mail info@animalfriendskuwait.org for address.

KGL Holding holds blood donation drive

K

GL Holding in association with the Central Blood Bank of Kuwait organized a Blood Donation Drive on February 3 at the KGL Holding Headquarters in Shuwaikh. The event under the theme “Donate blood to save a life” was in line with the company’s commitment to giving back to society which is part of its social responsi-

bility program to help those who are in need.

Employees from various KGL Holding business units participated in the event and donated their blood for a noble cause.

A medical team from the Central Blood Bank of Kuwait supervised the blood-letting event to ensure that proper medical procedures were adopted.

Moreover, participants were also asked to fill up some forms to ascertain their medical history to guarantee that they would be healthy blood donors.

The Blood Donation Drive is organized by KGL Holding regularly to encourage humanitarian values among its employees and at the same time, promote a healthy lifestyle.

The outpouring support from employees of various KGL Holding business units was commendable.

It sounded off a strong humanitarian message that people can do their own share in their own small way by doing good deeds for their fellowmen. KGL Holding thanked all those who participated in the event for their support.

Annual day celebration at IIS Nature is infinite in her bounty.

Nature, like a kind and smiling mother, Lends herself to our dreams and cherishes our fancies.

Integrated Indian School (IIS) in collaboration with Kalka Group of Institutions celebrated their Annual Day with the theme ‘Lets Commune With Nature’ on 24th & 25th Jan 10. The occasion was graced by V.K.

Mahajan — First Secretary (Information and Education, Indian Embassy Jaber Al Anezi, Jaber Mosier Al Anezi, Krishnan and Dr. Raj Raghupati from Shanti Association, the Director Mrs Onika Mehrotra welcomed the guests and presented mementoes to the guests as a token of love and appreciation. The students welcomed the guests with

a classical fusion dance and this was followed by a mirage of colorful performances. The African, Egyptian, Western, Jai Ho, Malayalam Dance, Rajasthani and Bangla dance performed by the students put the arena in a spell bound. The orchestra enthralled the audience with their melodies Ragas.

Prizes were awarded to the achievers for academic

excellence and 100% attendance during the session 2008-2009. On the occasion the Principal Mrs. Ritu Mathur presented the school report. The vibrant and peppy Bhangra performed by the boys made the gathering tap their feet by the joy & excitement. The programme came to an end with the vote of thanks by Mrs. Shali Sam.

MARCH 26 CRYcket 2010: the 13th annual crycket tournament is scheduled to be held on Friday, 26th March 2010 at the KOC Hockey Grounds, Ahmadi. This tournament is organized by FOCC (Friends of Cry Club).

Friends of CRY Club (FOCC) is associated with CRY (Child Rights and You), India and its main objectives are to create awareness of the underprivileged Indian children, help restore their basic rights, strive to provide support in personal development of the Indian children in Kuwait and bring out the qualities of social commitment in them.

FOCC has been organizing CRY awareness programmes for children through its two annual events - CRYcket (Cricket match for children below 14 years organized annually since 1997) and CRY chess tournament (for children of all ages organized annually since 2005) - and ‘Brain Bang’ programme which is an ongoing bi-weekly Accelerated Learning activity. CRYcket will be played by 24 teams of children and about 500 spectators are expected for this special one-day event. The deadline to receive the registration forms is 18th March 2010, however registration may be close earlier if the available slots of 12 teams in each category are filled. A colourful souvenir will be released to mark the 13th year of FOCC’s activities in Kuwait. For details how to become a sponsor and/or to advertise in the Souvenir or to volunteer as a FOCC member, pls visit www.focckwt.org or email focckwt@yahoo.com April 16 Friends of Kannur holds drama competition: Friends of Kannur Expatriates Association (FOKE) is arranging a drama competition for their forthcoming fifth anniversary celebration. Competition will be held on April 16th at Daiya Auditorium.

Applications are invited from all art lovers in Kuwait to participate in this drama competition. Drama should be in Malayalam language and should be less than 40 minutes duration. All those who wish to participate in this competition are requested to submit their application along with a copy of their script before February 15th 2010. For further details you may contact 65071434, 99860832.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

39

WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Embassy information EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya is happy to inform the general public and visitors to Kenya of a reduction in the cost of tourist visas by 50%, continuing through all of 2010. Additionally, in recognition of the family travel segment, Kenya is giving a complete waiver of visit fees to children aged 16 years and below.

Visitors are urged to take this opportunity and experience unique Kenyan beach holidays on palm fringed, sandy beaches, safaris in the country’s famous national parks, and activity based tourism. For more information contact the Kenya Embassy located at Surra, block 6, Street 9, Villa No.3. Tel. 25353314/ 25353362 or visit the Mission’s websites www.kenyaembkuwait.com & www.magicalkenya.com.

Official timings are 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Sundays through Thursdays.

BSK students making a difference

A

caring and committed group of students from The British School of Kuwait have been taking time from their already busy schedule to make a real difference by becoming volunteers at PAWS, the protecting animal welfare society near Wafrah. Our dedicated students have been working hard to provide care for stray, unwanted, abused and neglected animals. A day at the centre involves a

whole range of activities, from walking often overexcited dogs, nurturing and socializing animals throughout their rehabilitation, preparing them for adoption, the centre operates a policy of never putting a healthy animal down but sometimes an animal comes into the centre that has been so badly treated it requires mental rehabilitation, out students have been patiently showing these animals

kindness and affection, spending time cuddling and stroking them so that they can eventually be released to good homes. Throughout their interactions with peers. family and the community BSK students have become an active part of the animal welfare cause. Taking on the responsibility alongside workers at the centre to promote responsible pet ownership which in turn will improve the quality of

life for the animals and people in our community.

Many of the students had very little or no previous experience with animals but what counted was their willingness to get involved, over the months that BSK have been volunteering at PAWS the confidence of the students has grown significantly and all agree that although the work is tiring, and often messy, it really is rewarding.

Third annual programme of BVB’s drivers, bus guardians celebrated

A

get-together party of Drivers and Bus Guardians was held on Thursday, the 28th January 2010 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School, Abbasiya, Kuwait.

The Chairman of the School Ramachandran, Vice Principal Ms Shaila Naik, Transport Managers Sami.P.Venkat and Fazly and the guest Chelladurai, jointly inaugurat-

ed the function by lighting the traditional lamp.

The programme included many interesting games for the attendees like Candle lighting competition, Bingo, Musical Chair etc. Another interesting game Deal or No Deal was the highlight of the programme. Attractive prizes were given away to the winners of the games.

With an attendance of more than 150 participants, the entire function was conducted very successfully.

All the invitees thoroughly enjoyed the entire programmes as well the dinner served by Jayabalan of Udayam Restaurant.

The entire function was ably organized by Sami.P.Venkat and Fazly alongwith their team of volunteers.

Future Eye Theatre Kuwait launched

I

ndian national film award director Priyanandanan inaugurated Future Eye Theatre Kuwait, an open arena for theatre lovers on Thursday at Central School, Abbasiya.

“The future of drama is only fruitful with theatre attempts like that of Future Eye sowing seeds of folk art, music and culture”, Priyanandanan said.

President Sajeev K Peter hoped, in his address, ‘with a team of true lovers of drama it is possible to go beyond what

has been taught integrating various forms of art’. Joy C Joseph, Adv John Thomas, PNJ Kumar, Biju Samuel and Praveen Aduthila gave felicitation speeches. Future Eye general convener PD Paulose welcomed the audience and secretary KV Pratheeshkumar gave the vote of thanks. Classical fusion dance by Rhythm Kuwait, Mohiniyattam by Ardra Anil and a drama song by Anvar Sarang added color to the inaugural function. A 40 minute play

by Future Eye Theatre was also performed on Thursday evening.

Future Eye also conducted a daylong workshop on drama on Friday at United Indian School, Abbasiya attended by many theatre lovers in Kuwait. Director Priyanandanan who led the workshop explained the intricacies of histrionics. The participants were challenged to enact a short story and poem dramatization of which gave new insights on drama.

Bhavans topped the toppers

B

haratiya Vidya Bhavan, IES Kuwait has come out again on top in the Gulf Mathematics Olympiad organized by Our Own English High School, UAE on 14 January

2010. 29 student prodigies out of a total of 50 participants from this school secured merit certificates. When Aranya Raj Singh (XA) secured the third rank, Anirudh Ajay Agarwal (XA) and

Hema Selvin (XB) have secured the sixth position. This school has presented the maximum number of candidates for the examination and reaped this prodigious harvest.

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE The Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait informs about the second voting of the Presidential elections in Ukraine, which is scheduled to be held on February 7, 2010. The voting will take place on the territory of the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait (address: Hawalli, Jabriya, bl.10, str.6, house 5) from 08:00 am till 20:00 pm. In this connection, please refer to the Embassy to check your personal data in the electoral register or call: 25318507 ext.106 EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India has further revamped and improved its Legal Advice Clinic at the Indian Workers Welfare Center, and made the free service available to Indian nationals on all five working days, i.e. from Sunday to Thursday every week. Kuwaiti lawyers would be available at the Legal Advice Clinic daily from Monday to Thursday, while Indian lawyers would be available on Sundays.

Following are the free welfare services provided at the Indian Workers Welfare Center located at the Embassy of India: [i] 24x7 Helpline for Domestic Workers: Accessible by toll free telephone no.

25674163 from anywhere in Kuwait, it provides information and advice exclusively to Indian domestic sector workers (Visa No. 20) as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. [ii] Help Desk: It offers guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal, and other issues (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iii) Labour Complaints Desk: It registers labor complaints and provides grievance redressal service to Indian workers (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iv) Shelters: For female and male domestic workers in distress; (v) Legal Advice Clinic: Provides free legal advice to Indian nationals (Embassy premises; Kuwaiti lawyers 3 PM to 5 PM, Monday to Thursday; Indian lawyers 2 PM to 4 PM on Sunday); and (vi) Attestation of Work Contracts: Private sector worker (Visa No. 18) contracts are accepted at the Embassy; 9 AM to 1 PM; Sunday to Thursday; Domestic sector worker (Visa No. 20) contracts are accepted at Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO), Hawally, Al-Othman Street, Kurd Roundabout, Al-Abraj Complex, Office No 9, Mezzanine Floor; 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday to Thursday; 5 PM to 9 PM on Friday.

EMBASSY OF PHILIPPINES The Embassy of the Philippines wishes to inform the Filipino community in the State of Kuwait, that the recent supreme court decision to extend the registration of voter’s applies only in local registration in the Philippines under Republic Act no.

8189 and does not apply to overseas voters which is governed by Republic Act no. 9189, hence it has no impact on the plans and preparations on the conduct of overseas absentee voting. The overseas absentee voting for presidential elections will start on 10 April 2010 and will continue uninterrupted until 10 May 2010 daily at the Philippine Embassy.

Registered overseas absentee voters are advised to schedule their days off in advance to avoid complications in their schedules. Qualified voters are encouraged to get out and vote.

Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

SPECTRUM

40 CROSSWORD 893

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Calvin Aries (March 21-April 19) A community program

may call for your ability to negotiate. Others enjoy being around you and you know just what to say and how to help. If you want to have some time for yourself today, you may have to walk away. You and a friend may find some time to enjoy a nearby gym. Of course, exercise of this sort can help your stamina. An instinctive urge to get serious about taking care of yourself at many levels is emphasized now.

You have a good routine of diet, exercise, and work. You want to feel good about yourself and the way you do things. This evening is a good time to write letters and make phone calls. It may get warmer before it gets cold again but for now . . . heat up that fire place, warm up a cup of hot cider and enjoy your loved one/s.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may find yourself

working by choice today, but it is likely to be inside your home. If you negotiate, you could only be on the phone. If you create proposals or make sales, you will probably be using some high tech equipment.

Ambitious schemes and the pursuit of success take on high priority. This brings a focus on the practical, the successful, the pragmatic—whatever it takes to get you ahead. The meek may inherit the earth, but the shrewd will collect the rent. Any financial gain today would be best set aside for a rainy day at the end of this year. Rain, cold, snow and all sorts of reasons to stay inside could create friction if too many people share the same space. Take an opportunity to socialize and play games, go to a movie, share cooking secrets, etc.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. A set of two similar things considered as a unit.

5. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite.

7. A rare chronic progressive encephalitis caused by the measles virus and occurring primarily in children and young adults.

11. An officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer.

12. A silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group.

13. Harsh or corrosive in tone.

14. (informal) Exceptionally good.

15. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

16. An unofficial association of people or groups.

17. A very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms.

18. A unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns.

23. A dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain.

25. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders.

29. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots.

31. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

34. Jordan's port.

40. A room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter.

41. An informal term for a father.

45. A benevolent aspect of Devi.

46. How long something has existed.

48. The bill in a restaurant.

49. Tag the base runner to get him out.

50. The face of a timepiece.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You may be alone most of this day—people just seem to drain your energies.

You may find yourself shopping but, not necessarily to purchase items—perhaps to investigate the new technical items on the market. Later this afternoon, you will feel more like being with others and perhaps, talking about all those new high-tech products you saw this morning. Ideas and technologies that change the way people live are a major new focus in your life. Uphold any obligations today—promises, errands, chores, etc.

Someone is really depending on you to come through with your promises. Although your finances will look better later this year, it would be a good idea to tread lightly when it comes to any financial questions.

Non Sequitur

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You find ways to show others just how much you appreciate them. If you need to have an up-close-and-personal conversation with a loved one-any time today is the right time. You may be pleasantly surprised at the results of your efforts to revise an old friendship. You also seem prepared for just about any unexpected event that might happen. This is a time when your path of expression becomes more positive and firm. The new, the futuristic, the high-tech are the hallmarks of your lifestyle as this cycle gets underway. You may become fascinated with the weather system trends and could be encouraged to learn or follow future storm systems. Controlling the weather is something of a curiosity. It may become a happening in the future.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Seeking employment, taking a vacation or obtaining a loan are the activities most favorable to this weekend. You can make anything happen that you set your mind to today. You may decide to clean up or finish things left undone from yesterday. Friends are best friends when they encourage you to stay focused. Later, they will want you to go with them to a play or movie. You and your friends often enjoy some form of exercise for a fun get-together; a game of hockey, racket ball, line skating, wall climbing, etc. Proper gear for these sports activities is very important and will guarantee you the enjoyment of many safe and fun times.

Family members may vote for your attention this evening. Keep the young people around you busy.

Zits DOWN 1. A metabolic acid found in yeast and liver cells.

2. Affected manners intended to impress others.

3. An agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank.

4. Popular music originating in the West Indies.

5. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

6. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

7. American dwarf fan palms.

8. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

9. Similar to the natural color of pinks.

10. Tropical starchy tuberous root.

19. Having undesirable or negative qualities.

20. The federal agency that insures residential mortgages.

21. A very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk.

22. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

24. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

26. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

27. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

28. A unit of information equal to 1024 bytes.

30. A port city in southwestern Iran.

32. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

33. A logarithmic unit of sound intensity.

35. God of love and erotic desire.

36. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa.

37. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

38. A small cake leavened with yeast.

39. part of the peritoneum attached to the stomach and to the colon and covering the intestines.

42. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

43. A young woman making her debut into society.

44. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan.

47. A bachelor's degree in religion.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) A change of residence is possible soon—perhaps a long-distance relocation.

Educational plans may need changing: you now realize that they do not suit you as well as you would like. Anything connected with publishing, advertising or broadcasting requires re-examination just now. A change of plans or perspectives gives you the upper hand. This February will be full of opportunities for you to fulfill your wishes and to gain that focus you have wanted to achieve. A successful adventure today may include a camping trip, a special date, being included in a party, travel, etc. Today is the first day of some exciting changes. The only warning just now is to know that it would be easy to overindulge. Good feelings come from friends and family.

Libra (September 23-October 22) An urge to be independent could find you moving off in a different direction. Your unusual behavior could provoke others; easy-does-it. Look at the way you view others. It could just be difficult to stretch your imagination when the elements outside keep you captive inside—relax. This may be a good time to trade reading material, organize a closet in a new style or play board games. The quality of your energies is upbeat this afternoon—an attitude of gratitude takes hold. Near death experiences, educational or spiritual journeys would not be too unusual a subject for discussion this day. You may teach or learn about tools that predict the future, such as astrology, tealeaves, tarot, the I Ching, etc. This would be a good time to order a personal forecast.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Learning what makes

people tick is fun for you. Your instinctive orientation at this time is toward getting down to the basics and starting over from scratch. However, trying to figure things out when it comes to romance just now may be a bit premature. You may want answers, but the universe and perhaps the gal or guy in question, may not be ready to give up the answers. Keep your mind busy on those hobbies you wanted to organize. Of course, until the weather clears . . . this is certainly a good time to do the tax report. It is best to stay within your own little world today—tomorrow will be a better day to understand the people around you—including that special love relationship. Some kind of healing process is at work in your life now.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Climbing up to fix something that needs repair today, you may discover that it is time to repair your own body. You may have discovered that you are either out of shape, out of breath or some other function that needs caretaking. Many people find that an exercise routine helps them become more energetic and improves their outlook on life in general. Check with your doctor before making any drastic changes.

Obtaining and exchanging information takes on importance. You may become more involved with neighbors or siblings at this time.

Communicating feelings becomes important. A lover or child who is bright and articulate plays a big role in your life. If you are not babysitting tonight, you could be tutoring a young person.

Yesterday’s Solution

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Your

yester

Yesterday’s Solution

to

INTERNATIONAL CALLS Kuwait Qatar Abu Dhabi Dubai Raas Al Khayma Al-Shareqa Muscat Jordan Bahrain Riyadh Makkah - Jeddah Cairo Alexandria Beirut Damascus Allepo

00965 00974 009712 009714 009717 009716 00968 009626 00973 009661 009662 00202 00203 009611 0096311 0096321

Tunisia Rabat Washington New York Paris London Madrid Zurich Geneva Monaco Rome Bangkok Hong Kong Pakistan Taiwan Bonn

0021610 002127 001212 001718 00331 004471 00341 00411 004122 0033 00396 00662 00852 0092 00886 0049228

Word Sleuth Solution

desires are strong—you want to enjoy yourself and relax today. Spending lots of money can be a probability today as well, however. There is a basic drive to appreciate and taste life. You may become more concerned with how you are investing. Remember, it takes lots of energy to pay back the expenditures. Anything that increases its worth with age may be where your attention gravitates. Another path you may negotiate is to go organic with your landscape and trees this year. If you are driving to an appointment, activity or event today, leave early—do not rush. You may receive a new pet or take care of a friend’s pet today—enjoy. This new pet could be unusually entertaining.

Company this evening will enjoy their visit.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) A do-it-yourself project has your attention this morning. It could be a friend has put this project together. You are the one to pitch in and enjoy the process putting this project together. This could be a chair, a clock, or any sort of needy project. This is also the time of the year when much of the world is under a blanket of drizzle in one form or another—snow, sleet, rain, etc. Family and security are things that get your attention. If you are not repairing something or tending to chores this afternoon, you may find yourself just naturally slow moving. Let yourself dream. These days do not come too often—do not ignore this opportunity to let your imagination loose.

Writing, reading, planning your next vacation—what fun!

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Restlessness today may have you exercising out-of-doors. You have too much eagerness to stay indoors. Neighbors and friends that visit early are included in early afternoon activities. You may enjoy some form of group competition. Speak less and listen more, all the way through this day—you will learn things about your friends that you did not know before. Connections with people on a grand scale play a big part in your life now; chatting over the Internet, writing articles, etc. Education, advertising and travel could also play a part in this. Law and philosophy and/or religion have much potential to affect your lifestyle. You may feel that you are in touch and in harmony with others—the lines of communication are open.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

41 ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for decent Indian bachelor (non-smoking and non-alcoholic) at Abbassiya near German Clinic with Keralite bachelor in CA/C building new flat. Contact: 94942964. (C 20293) 7-2-2010 Sharing accommodation available in a C-A/C flat near Indian Community school & Caesars Travel Co, Salmiya Amman street for family or working ladies.

Contact: 97122268.

(C 20288)

HP printer, aluminium ladders, leather bag, leather table mat etc. Contact: 66977639. (C 20282)

Friday holiday. For English working adults with pets in Salwa. Tel: 97611015.

(C 20286) 4-2-2010

MATRIMONIAL SITUATION WANTED

Sharing accommodation available for a Keralite couple in a central A/C 2 bedroom flat with Keralite family in Teenage building Abbassiya from March 1st onwards.

Contact: 66037905, 66091212.

(C 20287) Sharing accommodation available with a Keralite family in a 2 bedroom C-AC flat near Integrated Indian school Abbassiya. We prefer Keralite couples only.

Contact: 99255235.

(C 20290) 6-2-2010 Spacious room with attached bath available for an executive bachelor/ spinster in Hawally close to Tunis street. Centrally located. Contact: 97563283/ 66705749. (C 20276) 3-2-2010

FOR SALE Two bedroom flat furniture, sofa set, beds, cupboards, dressing tables etc in Sharq. Contact: 66479253.

(C 20292) 7-2-2010 Toyota Jeep Prado, model 2008, white color, V6 cylinder engine, alloy rim, CD, fog lamp, wooden interior, excellent condition, cash price KD 7,650 (installment possible).

Contact: 66507741. (C 20284) Toyota Camry XLI, 4 cylinders, model 2006, white color, done 47,000 km, excellent condition, price KD 3,150. Contact: 97213518.

(C 20281) 2007 Pajero, black, sunroof, full options, done 29,000 km, excellent condition, KD 5,500. Contact: 97454416. (C 20285) Mazda Zoom 3, 2008 model, silver color, 58,000 kms, single owner, dealer maintained, excellent condition, KD 2,850. Call: 97915262.

(C 20280) Big office wooden drawer, office leather visitors chair,

Invited for Keralite RC boy, 30/170/BA/DME, working KRH Kuwait from professionally qualified girls.

Email: abilashdk@gmail.com / abilashkaranath@yahoo.com (C 20238) 4-2-2010

CHANGE OF NAME I, Manija Elizabeth Mathaikutty, holder of Indian Passport A-8183425, hereby change my name to Manija Elizabeth Vinod.

(C 20277) I, Abbas Hajji Ali Shahab Shahida wife of Abbas Hajji Ali Shahab, born on 2nd September 1966, holding Indian Passport Number F8462504, shall henceforth be known as Shahida Abbas Hajji Ali Shahab Shahida. (C 20271) 1-2-2010

TRANSPORT Transport available 24 hours for hospitals, schools.

We have bus coasters model 2004. For any more details please contact: 99589409. (C 20275) 2-2-2010

Indian male, B.Com, MBA (finance) having four years Kuwait experience in accounting and investment seeking part-time job after 4:00 pm, fluent in English Arabic and Hindi with typing skill, proficient in MS-Office & Tally. Contact: 55492163, email: tvnasir@yahoo.co.in (C 20291) A Srilankan looking for work as messenger or driver. 11 years in Kuwait, fluent in English, Hindi and Arabic, good relationship with 40 embassies prefer embassies intl. companies.

Contact: 55198931.

(C 20289) 7-2-2010 Indian female (MBA in HR), 10 years experience in HR/Administration, specializing in recruitments, PMS, MIS reports & Admin functions. Well versed in computer applications. Contact: 66634322. (C 20283) 6-2-2010 An experienced Engineering Manager with a vast experience in the Middle East in the fields of Fire Protection, Safety, Project management, sales and maintenance seeks suitable placement. Contact email: apslgbl@gmail.com (C 20266)

No: 14633 LOST Policy No. 630001571 Habib Ur Rehman Awan, Policy No. 630001523 Amanat Ali, Policy No. 633002284 Amar, have been lost. Anyone finding within one month report to State Life Kuwait. Phone: 22452208. (C 20273) 2-2-2010 SITUATION VACANT

Part-time maid required for an Indian family in Farwaniya, near fire station.

Time from 1:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Please call 66267690.

(C 20279) Full-time English speaking maid with own residency.

Flight Schedule Arrival Flights on Sunday 07/02/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0263 Beirut Tunis Air 327 Tunis/Dubai Wataniya Airways 2011 Sharm El Sheikh Royal Jordanian 802 Amman Wataniya Airways 2103 Beirut Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Kuwait 544 Cairo Jazeera 0513 Sharm El Sheikh Turkish A/L 1172 Istanbul DHL 370 Bahrain Jazeera 0241 Amman Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 0305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 0138 Doha Ethiopian 622 Addis Ababa/Bahrain Air France 6770 Paris Jazeera 0503 Luxor Jazeera 0527 Alexandria Kuwait 416 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur Jazeera 0529 Assiut Jazeera 0481 Sabiha British 0157 London Kuwait 206 Islamabad Kuwait 352 Cochin Jazeera 0161 Dubai Kuwait 302 Mumbai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 362 Colombo Emirates 855 Dubai Kuwait 286 Chittagong Arabia 0121 Sharjah Qatari 0132 Doha Etihad 0301 Abu Dhabi Wataniya Airways 1121 Bahrain Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Jazeera 0447 Doha Jazeera 0165 Dubai Jazeera 0425 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1021 Dubai Jazeera 0113 Abu Dhabi Iran Air 619 Lar Middle East 404 Beirut Yemenia 825 Sanaa Pakistan 239 Sialkot Egypt Air 610 Cairo Jazeera 0171 Dubai Kuwait 672 Dubai Wataniya Airways 2301 Damascus Jazeera 0525 Alexandria Jazeera 0257 Beirut Wataniya Airways 2001 Cairo Kuwait 552 Damascus Kuwait 744 Dammam Jazeera 0457 Damascus Qatari 0134 Doha Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 546 Alexandria Royal Jordanian 800 Amman Jazeera 0173 Dubai Emirates 857 Dubai Gulf Air 215 Bahrain Etihad 0303 Abu Dhabi Saudi Arabian A/L 510 Riyadh Jazeera 0239 Amman Arabia 0125 Sharjah Jazeera 0367 Deirezzor Wataniya Airways 2101 Beirut Jazeera 0497 Riyadh Sri Lankan 227 Colombo/Dubai United A/L 982 Washington DC Dulles Jazeera 0427 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 2003 Cairo DHL 473 Baghdad Wataniya Airways 1025 Dubai Kuwait 542 Cairo Kuwait 618 Doha Kuwait 674 Dubai Kuwait 166 Paris/Rome Jazeera 0177 Dubai Kuwait 614 Bahrain Kuwait 774 Riyadh Indian 575 Chennai/Goa Kuwait 102 New York/London Kuwait 562 Amman Jet A/W 572 Mumbai Wataniya Airways 1201 Jeddah Oman Air 0647 Muscat Saudi Arabian A/L 506 Jeddah Jazeera 0459 Damascus Gulf Air 217 Bahrain Kuwait 786 Jeddah Middle East 402 Beirut Qatari 0136 Doha Emirates 859 Dubai Kuwait 502 Beirut Jazeera 0449 Doha Jazeera 0429 Bahrain Global 081 Baghdad Jazeera 0117 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 0185 Dubai Egypt Air 612 Cairo Egypt Air 606 Luxor Shaheen Air 441 Lahore/Karachi Lufthansa 636 Frankfurt Wataniya Airways 2201 Amman Wataniya Airways 1029 Dubai Wataniya Airways 1129 Bahrain Pakistan 215 Karachi

Time 00:05 00:10 00:15 00:35 00:50 01:05 01:15 01:25 02:15 02:15 02:30 02:35 03:00 03:25 03:30 04:35 05:35 06:10 06:25 06:30 06:35 06:40 07:40 07:40 07:45 07:55 08:10 08:20 08:30 08:35 08:55 09:00 09:35 10:45 10:45 11:00 11:05 11:10 11:20 11:20 11:50 11:55 12:35 12:50 12:55 13:05 13:25 13:35 14:05 14:10 14:20 14:35 14:40 14:45 15:00 15:10 15:30 15:40 16:05 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 18:00 18:05 18:15 18:15 18:20 18:30 18:40 18:50 18:55 18:55 19:00 19:05 19:20 19:30 19:30 19:35 19:40 20:05 20:15 20:20 20:35 20:40 21:05 21:10 21:20 21:35 22:00 22:00 22:10 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:05 23:30 23:40 23:45 23:55 23:55

Departure Flights on Sunday 07/02/2010 Airlines Flt Route Egypt Air 607 Luxor Jazeera 0528 Assiut India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode United A/L 981 Washington DC Dulles Tunis Air 328 Tunis Indian 982 Ahmedabad/Chennai Pakistan 206 Lahore Bangladesh 044 Dhaka Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt Safi A/W 216 Kabul Kuwait 283 Dhaka DHL 371 Bahrain Turkish A/L 1173 Istanbul Emirates 854 Dubai Etihad 0306 Abu Dhabi Ethiopian 622 Addis Ababa Qatari 0139 Doha Air France 6770 Dubai/Hong Kong Jazeera 0164 Dubai Wataniya Airways 1020 Dubai Royal Jordanian 803 Amman Jazeera 0524 Alexandria Wataniya Airways 2000 Cairo Jazeera 0112 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 0446 Doha Gulf Air 212 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1120 Bahrain Jazeera 0422 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 2300 Damascus Kuwait 545 Alexandria Jazeera 0256 Beirut British 0156 London Jazeera 0170 Dubai Kuwait 671 Dubai Kuwait 551 Damascus Jazeera 0456 Damascus Arabia 0122 Sharjah Emirates 856 Dubai Kuwait 117 New York Qatari 0133 Doha Etihad 0302 Abu Dhabi Kuwait 173 Frankfurt/Geneva Wataniya Airways 2002 Cairo Gulf Air 214 Bahrain Kuwait 743 Dammam Kuwait 541 Cairo Jazeera 0172 Dubai Wataniya Airways 2100 Beirut Jazeera 0366 Deirezzor Jazeera 0238 Amman Kuwait 103 London Iran Air 618 Lar Middle East 405 Beirut Yemenia 825 Doha/Sanaa Pakistan 240 Sialkot Egypt Air 611 Cairo Wataniya Airways 1024 Dubai Kuwait 673 Dubai Kuwait 561 Amman Jazeera 0496 Riyadh Jazeera 0176 Dubai Wataniya Airways 1200 Jeddah Jazeera 0426 Bahrain Jazeera 0458 Damascus Kuwait 617 Doha Kuwait 785 Jeddah Kuwait 501 Beirut Kuwait 773 Riyadh Kuwait 613 Bahrain Royal Jordanian 801 Amman Qatari 0135 Doha Gulf Air 216 Bahrain Etihad 0304 Abu Dhabi Emirates 858 Dubai Air Arabia 0126 Sharjah Jazeera 0262 Beirut Saudi Arabian A/L 511 Riyadh Jazeera 0184 Dubai Jazeera 0116 Abu Dhabi Wataniya Airways 2200 Amman Global 082 Baghdad Jazeera 0448 Doha Jazeera 0428 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 2102 Beirut Sri Lankan 228 Dubai/Colombo Wataniya Airways 1028 Dubai Kuwait 361 Colombo Kuwait 343 Chennai Wataniya Airways 1128 Bahrain Jet A/W 571 Mumbai Oman Air 0648 Muscat Kuwait 331 Trivandrum Saudi Arabian A/L 507 Jeddah Gulf Air 218 Bahrain DHL 171 Bahrain Kuwait 675 Dubai Middle East 403 Beirut Jazeera 0188 Dubai Kuwait 203 Lahore Qatari 0137 Doha Kuwait 301 Mumbai Emirates 860 Dubai Jazeera 0636 Aleppo Jazeera 0526 Alexandria Egypt Air 613 Cairo Jazeera 0502 Luxor Kuwait 411 Bangkok/Manila

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

Time 00:01 00:05 00:30 00:40 01:00 01:05 01:10 01:15 01:20 02:30 02:55 03:15 03:15 03:50 04:10 04:15 05:00 06:20 07:00 07:00 07:05 07:20 07:30 07:35 07:40 07:45 07:50 07:55 08:10 08:30 08:35 08:55 09:00 09:00 09:10 09:25 09:35 09:40 10:00 10:00 10:20 10:20 11:30 11:40 11:55 12:00 12:00 12:05 12:20 12:25 12:30 12:50 12:55 13:35 13:40 13:55 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:40 15:05 15:10 15:25 15:30 15:35 15:45 16:10 16:10 16:20 16:25 16:30 17:55 18:00 18:10 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:40 18:50 18:50 19:00 19:05 19:15 19:30 20:20 20:50 21:00 21:10 21:20 21:25 21:55 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:20 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 23:10 23:20 23:25 23:45 23:50 23:55

TV PROGRAMS

42

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Orbit listings / Show listings AMERICA PLUS 00:00 Doctor Who 01:00 Life on Mars 02:00 Knight Rider 03:00 Dawsons Creek 04:00 Life on Mars 05:00 Inside the Actors Studio 06:00 Heroes 07:00 Doctor Who 08:00 Hotel Babylon 09:00 Saving Grace 10:00 Knight Rider 11:00 Dawsons Creek 12:00 Heroes 13:00 Inside the Actors Studio 14:00 Knight Rider 15:00 Life on Mars 16:00 Hotel Babylon 17:00 Saving Grace 18:00 Doctor Who 19:00 Heroes 20:00 Criminal Minds 21:00 Cold Case 22:00 One Tree Hill 23:00 Rescue Me ANIMAL PLANET 00:50 I’m Alive 01:45 Night 02:40 Untamed & Uncut 04:30 Animal Cops Miami 05:25 I’m Alive 06:20 Animal Cops South Africa 07:10 Aussie Animal Rescue 07:35 Vet on the Loose 08:00 Lemur Street 08:25 Pet Rescue 08:50 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 09:45 Animal Precinct 10:40 Aussie Animal Rescue 11:05 Miami Animal Police 11:55 Animal Cops South Africa 12:50 Vet on the Loose 13:15 Pet Rescue 13:45 Animals Like Us 14:40 Planet Earth 15:35 RSPCA: On the Frontline 16:30 Big Cat Diary 17:25 Living with Wolves 18:20 Into the Pride 19:15 Max’s Big Tracks 20:10 Escape to Chimp Eden 21:10 Planet Earth 22:05 Untamed & Uncut 23:55 Animal Cops Miami

11:30 12:00 12:10 12:30 13:00 13:10 13:30 14:00 14:10 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:15 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:10 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:10 21:30 22:00 22:15 22:30 23:00 23:10 23:30

Dateline London - U Bbc World News - U World Features - U Saudi Goes To Market - U Bbc World News - U World Features - U Newsnight - U Bbc World News - U World Features - U Bbc World News - U Bbc World News - U Click - U Bbc World News - U Sport Today - U Extra Time - U Bbc World News - U Kill Or Cure? - U Bbc World News - U The World Debate - U Bbc World News - U India Business Report - U Bbc World News - U Our World - U Bbc World News - U World Features - U Bbc World News - U Bbc World News - U Sport Today - U Click - U Bbc World News - U World Features - U Spirit Of Yachting - U

BLOOMBERG 00:00 Taking Stock 01:00 For The Record 01:30 Venture 02:00 For The Record 02:30 Venture 03:00 Taking Stock 04:00 Political Capital with Al Hunt 04:30 For The Record 05:00 Taking Stock 06:00 For The Record 06:30 Venture 07:00 Taking Stock 08:00 For The Record 08:30 Venture 09:00 For The Record 09:30 Political Capital with Al Hunt

11:30 12:25 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:05 14:30 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 17:00 17:20 17:45 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:20 20:45 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:40

Tom & Jerry Hour Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Top Cat The Flintstones The Jetsons Mike, Lu & Og Tex Avery King Arthur’s Disasters The Scooby Doo Show Hong Kong Phooey Popeye Classics Johnny Bravo Dexter’s Laboratory Tom & Jerry Top Cat Wacky Races Dastardly And Muttley The Scooby Doo Show Popeye The Perils of Penelope Pitstop King Arthur’s Disasters The Jetsons The Garfield Show Looney Tunes Tom & Jerry The Scooby Doo Show Hong Kong Phooey Duck Dodgers

CARTOON NETWORK 00:15 Out of Jimmy’s Head 00:40 Chop Socky Chooks 01:05 Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends 01:30 Cramp Twins 01:55 George of the Jungle 02:20 Adrenalini Brothers 02:45 Gadget Boy 03:10 Ed, Edd n Eddy 03:35 Class of 3000 04:00 The Powerpuff Girls 04:15 Robotboy 04:40 The Secret Saturdays 05:05 Chowder 05:30 Ben 10 05:55 Best Ed 06:20 Samurai Jack 06:45 Cramp Twins

BBC ENTERTAINMENT 00:05 Carrie & Barry 00:35 Jack Dee: Live At The Apollo 01:20 The Fast Show 02:20 Little Britain 02:50 Green Green Grass 03:20 Massive 03:50 Carrie & Barry 04:20 Jack Dee: Live At The Apollo 05:05 The Fast Show 06:05 Canterbury Tales 06:55 Cash In The Attic 07:20 Balamory 07:40 Tweenies 08:00 Fimbles 08:20 Teletubbies 08:45 Yoho Ahoy 08:50 Tommy Zoom 09:00 Balamory 09:20 Tweenies 09:40 Fimbles 10:00 Teletubbies 10:25 Yoho Ahoy 10:30 Tommy Zoom 10:40 Balamory 11:00 Cash In The Attic 12:00 Doctors 14:30 A Year At Kew 15:30 The Life Of Mammals 16:20 Sensitive Skin 17:20 Doctor Who 18:15 The Weakest Link 19:00 Casualty 19:50 Casualty 20:40 A Year At Kew 21:40 The Life Of Mammals 22:40 The Whistleblowers 23:30 Goldplated BBC LIFESTYLE 00:10 Come Dine With Me 00:35 New British Kitchen 01:30 Saturday Kitchen 02:30 Living In The Sun 03:15 Coleen’s Real Women 04:00 10 Years Younger 04:50 The Clothes Show 05:30 Hidden Potential 06:00 Living In The Sun 06:45 Come Dine With Me 08:00 Antiques Roadshow 08:50 Antiques Roadshow 09:45 Saturday Kitchen 10:15 Saturday Kitchen 10:45 Coleen’s Real Women 11:30 10 Years Younger 12:20 The Clothes Show 13:00 Saturday Kitchen 13:30 Saturday Kitchen 14:00 Living In The Sun 14:45 Coleen’s Real Women 15:30 10 Years Younger 16:20 The Clothes Show 17:05 It’s Not Easy Being Green 17:30 Come Dine With Me 19:40 New British Kitchen 20:30 The Naked Chef 22:30 The Restaurant Uk BBC WORLD 00:00 Bbc World News - U 00:30 Dateline London - U 01:00 Bbc World News - U 01:10 The World Debate - U 02:00 Bbc World News - U 02:30 Newsnight - U 03:00 Bbc World News - U 03:10 World Features - U 03:30 Spirit Of Yachting - U 04:00 Bbc World News - U 04:30 Dateline London - U 05:00 Bbc World News - U 05:10 The World Debate - U 06:00 Bbc World News - U 06:30 Our World - U 07:00 Bbc World News - U 07:30 Newsnight - U 08:00 Bbc World News - U 08:30 India Business Report - U 09:00 Bbc World News - U 09:10 World Features - U 09:30 Fast Track - U 10:00 Bbc World News - U 10:30 Spirit Of Yachting - U 11:00 Bbc World News - U 11:10 World Features - U

05:00 Land Of Plenty - PG 15 07:00 O Casamento De Romeu E Julieta - PG 09:00 An American Rhapsody - PG 11:00 Meet Joe Black - PG 15 14:00 Max And Co. - PG 15:30 Grateful Dawg - PG 17:00 Almost Famous - PG 15 19:00 Heights - PG 15 21:00 Pavilion Of Women - 18 23:00 Ce Soir Je Dors Chez Toi - 18 CNN INTERNATIONAL 00:00 Living Golf 00:30 Talk Asia 01:00 BackStory 01:30 World Sport 02:00 World Report 02:30 My City_My Life 02:45 The Screening Room Xtra 03:00 World Report 03:30 Inside Africa 04:00 World Business Today 04:15 CNN Marketplace Middle East 04:30 World Sport 05:00 Larry King 06:00 The Situation Room 07:00 Living Golf 07:30 World Sport 08:00 World Report 08:30 Best of BackStory 09:00 World Report 09:30 Inside the Middle East 10:00 World Report 10:30 World Sport 11:00 World Report 11:15 CNN Marketplace Middle East 11:30 Living Golf 12:00 Political Mann 12:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Global Edition 13:00 Larry King 14:00 World Report 14:30 World Sport 15:00 News Special 15:30 Inside Africa 16:00 Fareed Zakaria GPS 17:00 State of the Union with John King 18:00 World Report 18:30 My City_My Life 18:45 The Screening Room Xtra 19:00 Living Golf 19:30 World Sport 20:00 Prism 20:45 CNN Marketplace Middle East 21:00 African Voices 21:30 Inside the Middle East 22:00 World Report 22:30 News Special 23:00 Amanpour DISCOVERY CHANNEL 00:00 Time Warp 01:00 Mythbusters 02:00 Dirty Jobs 02:55 Brainiac 03:50 Smash Lab 04:45 How Stuff Works 05:10 River Monsters: Killer Catfish 06:05 Mythbusters 07:00 Wheeler Dealers 07:30 Wheeler Dealers 07:55 Street Customs 08:50 Biker Build-Off 09:45 How Stuff Works 10:10 Eyewitness 10:40 Eyewitness 11:05 River Monsters: Killer Catfish 12:00 Untamed & Uncut 17:30 How Stuff Works 18:00 Brainiac 19:00 Smash Lab 20:00 Dirty Jobs 21:00 Mythbusters 22:00 Storm Chasers 23:00 Ross Kemp on Gangs

Shake Hands With The Devil on Show Movies 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:30

Taking Stock Venture For The Record Venture Political Capital with Al Hunt Taking Stock For The Record Venture Taking Stock For The Record Venture Political Capital with Al Hunt Venture For The Record Political Capital with Al Hunt Venture For The Record Taking Stock Venture Political Capital with Al Hunt Taking Stock For The Record Venture

BOOMERANG 00:00 Top Cat 00:25 Wacky Races 00:50 Dexter’s Laboratory 01:15 Johnny Bravo 01:40 Dastardly And Muttley 02:05 King Arthur’s Disasters 02:30 Popeye 02:55 Scooby Doo Where Are You! 03:20 Help! It’s the Hair Bear Bunch 03:45 Mike, Lu & Og 04:10 Time Squad 04:35 Sheep In The Big City 05:00 The Perils of Penelope Pitstop 05:25 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo 05:50 Johnny Bravo 06:15 Dexter’s Laboratory 06:40 Popeye 07:05 The Jetsons 07:30 The Flintstones 08:00 Droopy: Master Detective 08:25 Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo 08:55 Looney Tunes 09:20 Tom & Jerry 09:45 Duck Dodgers 10:10 Dexter’s Laboratory 10:35 Johnny Bravo 11:00 The Garfield Show

07:10 Eliot Kid 07:35 The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack 08:00 George of the Jungle 08:25 Chop Socky Chooks 08:50 Chowder 09:15 Ben 10: Alien Force 09:40 Bakugan: New Vestroia 10:05 Batman: The Brave and The Bold 10:30 Fantastic 60 11:30 The Secret Saturdays 11:55 Best Ed 12:20 Eliot Kid 12:45 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes 13:10 Megas XLR 13:35 Samurai Jack 14:00 Ben 10 14:25 Codename 14:50 The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack 15:15 The Life & Times of Juniper Lee 15:40 George of the Jungle 16:05 Skunk Fu! 16:35 Chop Socky Chooks 17:00 Robotboy 17:25 Squirrel Boy 17:50 Batman: The Brave and The Bold 18:15 The Secret Saturdays 18:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 19:05 Bakugan: New Vestroia 19:30 The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack 20:00 Megas XLR 20:25 Samurai Jack 20:50 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 21:05 Ed, Edd n Eddy 21:30 Skunk Fu! 21:45 The Secret Saturdays 22:10 Ben 10: Alien Force 22:35 The Life & Times of Juniper Lee 23:00 Camp Lazlo 23:25 Samurai Jack 23:50 Megas XLR CINEMA CITY 01:30 The Locusts - PG 15 03:30 Kiss Of Life - PG 15

DISCOVERY SCIENCE 00:40 Sci-Trek 01:30 Mighty Ships 02:20 NASA’s Greatest Missions 03:10 Human Body: Ultimate Machine 04:00 Sci-Trek 04:50 Mighty Ships 05:45 Weird Connections 06:40 Test Case 07:10 Download: The True Story of the Internet 08:00 Junkyard Mega-Wars 09:00 Sci-Fi Science 10:00 Robocar 10:55 Mean Green Machines 13:40 Green Wheels 16:25 How Does That Work?

16:55 Human Body: Ultimate Machine 17:50 Discovery Project Earth 18:45 Engineered 19:40 How It’s Made 20:30 Fantastic Food Factories 21:20 Sci-Trek 22:10 Mighty Ships 23:00 Future Weapons DISNEY CHANNEL 00:00 Jonas 00:20 Wizards Of Waverly Place 00:45 Suite Life On Deck 01:10 Fairly Odd Parents 01:35 Replacements 02:00 Phineas & Ferb 02:25 Little Einsteins 02:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 03:10 Handy Manny 03:35 Lazytown 04:00 Jonas 04:25 Suite Life On Deck 04:50 Wizards Of Waverly Place 05:15 Hannah Montana 05:40 Sonny With A Chance 06:00 Little Einsteins 06:25 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 06:45 Handy Manny 07:10 Lazytown 07:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 08:00 Fairly Odd Parents 08:25 Suite Life On Deck 08:50 Wizards Of Waverly Place 09:15 Jonas 09:40 Hannah Montana 10:00 Sonny With A Chance 10:30 Aladdin & The King Of Thieves 12:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place 13:40 Hannah Montana 14:00 Jonas 14:20 Wizards Of Waverly Place 14:45 Suite Life On Deck

15:10 15:35 16:00 16:25 16:45 17:00 17:25 17:50 18:10 18:35 19:00 20:35 21:00 21:50 22:00 23:40

Fairly Odd Parents Replacements Phineas & Ferb Famous Five Fairly Odd Parents Jonas Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Cheetah Girls Hannah Montana The Suite Life of Zack & Cody The Replacements Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana

E! ENTERTAINMENT 00:15 Wildest TV Show Moments 00:40 THS 02:20 Sexiest 03:15 THS 05:05 Dr 90210 06:00 15 Remarkable Celebrity Body Bouncebacks 07:45 Extreme Hollywood 08:35 E! News 09:25 THS Investigates 11:05 Dr 90210 12:00 E! News 12:50 Dr 90210 13:40 E!es 14:30 Dr 90210 15:25 E!es 16:15 E!es 17:10 Behind The Scenes 18:00 E! News 18:50 Dr 90210 19:40 20 Best And Worst Celebrity Plastic...

21:20 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 21:45 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 22:35 E!es 23:00 E!es 23:25 Kendra 23:50 Wildest TV Show Moments EXTREME SPORTS 00:00 Strikeforce 01:00 Strikeforce 02:00 Fim World Motocross Championships 2009 03:00 FIM World Motorcross MX3 Championships 2009 04:00 FIM World Supermoto 2008 05:00 F.I.A European Drag Racing 07:00 FIM World Supermoto 2008 08:00 F.I.A European Drag Racing 10:00 FIM World Motorcross MX3 Championships 2009 10:30 FIM World Motorcross MX3 Championships 2009 11:00 FIM World Supermoto 2008 12:00 X Games 15 2009 13:00 Asian X Games 2009 Highlights Show 14:00 Winter X Games 12 15:00 Winter X Games 16:00 X Games 14 17:00 X Games 15 2009 18:00 FIM World Motorcross MX3 Championships 2009 19:00 Asian X Games 2009 Highlights Show 20:00 Winter X Games 12 21:00 Winter X Games 22:00 X Games 14 23:00 X Games 15 2009 FOOD NETWORK 00:00 Chopped 05:00 Teleshopping 08:00 30 Minute Meals 08:50 Giada At Home 09:40 Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger 10:05 Rescue Chef with Danny Boome 11:00 Barefoot Contessa 13:00 Nigella Express 14:00 30 Minute Meals 15:00 Rescue Chef with Danny Boome 16:00 Chopped 19:00 Nigella Express 20:00 Best Thing I Ever Ate 21:00 Barefoot Contessa 22:00 Chopped FOX SPORTS 00:00 Game of the Week: Wisconsin at Michigan 02:00 2010 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships Compulsory Dance Spokane, WA 03:30 Golf Central International 04:00 The Golf Channel 06:30 Pac-10 Men’s Basketball Arizona St. at Washington 08:30 NFL Game Day 09:00 NHL: Vancouver Canucks at Boston Bruins 12:00 European Tour Omega Dubai Desert Classic Final Rd. 16:00 Figure Skating 2009: Skating and Gymnastics Spectacular 17:00 Everton TV 20:00 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Iowa Hawkeyes v Ohio State Buckeyes 22:00 ACC Sunday Night Hoops North Carolina v Maryland FRANCE 24 00:00 News And Magazines 21:00 The France 24 Debate 21:30 News And Magazines MGM 01:00 Gothic 02:25 Love Chronicles 03:55 The Setup 05:25 Exposed 07:05 A Doll’s House 08:40 Mr. Accident 10:10 Babes In Toyland 11:45 The Heavenly Kid 13:15 Arena 14:50 Marie: A True Story 16:40 Hennessy 18:25 Miracle Beach 19:50 Nicholas Nickleby 22:00 Mr. North (goldwyn) 23:30 Howling Ii: Your Sister Is A Werewolf NAT GEO WILD HD 00:00 Monster Crocs 01:00 Quest For The Megafish Of

15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

The Watch - 18 D- War - PG 15 Kings Of South Beach - 18 The Blob - 18 Shadows In Paradise - PG 15

SHOW MOVIES COMEDY 00:00 Dream For An Insomniac - 18 02:00 Still Crazy - 18 04:00 Class Act - PG 06:00 Twins - PG 08:00 Pretty In Pink - PG 15 10:00 Scrooged - PG 12:00 Be Kind Rewind - PG 15 14:00 Americanizing Shelly - PG 16:00 Dream For An Insomniac - 18 18:00 Miss Conception - 18 20:00 Run Fat Boy Run - PG 15 22:00 How The Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer - 18

Lovely Still on Super Movies Amazon 02:00 Secrets Of The King Cobra 03:00 Hippos: Africa’s River Beast 04:00 Hippo Hell 05:00 Alaskan Killer Shark 06:00 Monster Fish 07:00 World’s Deadliest Animals 08:00 Guardians Of Nature 09:00 Predator Csi 10:00 Prehistoric Predators 11:00 Bizarre Dinos 12:00 Cheetah Blood Brothers 13:00 Cheetah: Against All Odds 14:00 Mysteries Of The Moose 15:00 Superfish 16:00 Rhino Rescue 17:00 Hippo Hell 18:00 Mysteries Of The Moose 19:00 Superfish 20:00 Rhino Rescue 21:00 Hippo Hell 22:00 Penguin Death Zone 23:00 Hunter Hunted ORBIT NEWS 1 00:00 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 01:00 MSNBC Hardball weekend 01:30 ABC Nightline 02:00 ABC World News Live 02:30 NBC Nightly News Live 03:00 ABC World News (Sat) 03:30 NBC Nightly News (Sat) 04:00 NBC Saturday Today Show 06:00 ABC 20/20 (Sat) 07:00 ABC World News (Sat) 07:30 NBC Nightly News (Sat) 08:00 ABC World News (Sat) 08:30 NBC Nightly News (Sat) 09:00 NBC Dateline 10:00 ABC World News (Sat) 10:30 NBC Nightly News (Sat) 11:00 MSNBC Hardball 12:00 MSNBC News The Ed Show 13:00 MSNBC (Fri) Dr. Nancy 14:00 ABC 20/20 (library) 15:00 NBC Dateline (library) 16:00 NBC Sunday Today Show Live 17:00 NBC Meet The Press Live 18:00 ABC This Week 19:00 MSNBC Hardball weekend 19:30 MSNBC Your Business 20:00 NBC Meet The Press (Sun) 21:00 ABC This week (Sun) 22:00 MSNBC News The Ed Show 23:00 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show ORBIT NEWS 2 00:00 MSNBC (As Live) Investigates 01:00 MSNBC (As Live) Investigates 04:00 Newshour with Jim Lehrer (Sat) 05:00 ABC Now Good Money (Fri) 05:30 ABC Now Nightline on ANN & Newsmakers (Fri) 06:00 ABC NOW Nightline Twitter (Mon) 06:30 ABC Now Daily Download + Now you Know (Fri) 07:00 Newshour with Jim Lehrer (Sat) 08:00 ABC Now Good Money (Fri) 08:30 ABC Now Nightline on ANN & Newsmakers (Fri) 09:00 ABC NOW Nightline Twitter (Mon) 09:30 ABC Now Daily Download + Now you Know (Fri) 10:00 MSNBC Hardball Weekend 10:30 MSNBC Your Business 11:00 ABC Now Good Money (Fri) 11:30 ABC Now Nightline on ANN & Newsmakers (Fri) 12:00 ABC NOW Nightline Twitter (Mon) 12:30 ABC Now Daily Download + Now you Know (Fri) 13:00 MSNBC (As Live) Investigates 15:00 MSNBC Hardball Weekend (as live) 15:30 MSNBC Your Business (as Live) 16:00 MSNBC Live 20:00 MSNBC OSN COMEDY 00:00 How I met you mother 00:30 Gary Unmarried 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 The Tonight Show With Conan OBrien

03:00 Bored to Death 03:30 Entourage 04:00 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 05:00 How I met you mother 05:30 The Tonight Show With Conan OBrien 06:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 07:00 Home Improvement 07:30 Note from the underbelly 08:00 Coach 08:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (subtitled omnibus) 09:00 The Colbert Report 09:30 George Lopez 10:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Seinfeld 11:30 After You’ve Gone 12:00 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 13:00 Gary Unmarried 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 14:00 Home Improvement 14:30 The Simpsons 15:00 Coach 15:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Drew Carey Show 17:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:30 Frasier 18:00 Eight Simple Rules 18:30 All of us 19:00 Better Off Ted 19:30 Will and Grace 20:00 Best of Late night with Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Saturday Night Live 23:30 Sit Down & Shut Up PLAYHOUSE DISNEY 08:00 Special Agent Oso 08:25 Handy Manny 08:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 09:15 Imagination Movers 09:40 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 10:05 Special Agent Oso 10:20 Chuggington 10:55 Happy Monster Band 11:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 11:25 Handy Manny 11:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 12:15 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 12:40 Lazytown 13:05 Special Agent Oso 13:30 Imagination Movers 13:55 Little Einsteins 14:20 Lazytown 14:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 15:05 Handy Manny 15:15 Special Agent Oso 15:50 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 16:15 Little Einsteins 16:40 Imagination Movers 17:05 Happy Monster Band 17:10 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 17:35 Handy Manny 18:00 Chuggington 18:10 Chuggington 18:20 Imagination Movers 18:45 Special Agent Oso 19:00 Imagination Movers 19:25 Chuggington 19:35 Handy Manny 20:00 Special Agent Oso 20:15 Little Einsteins 20:40 Handy Manny 20:50 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 21:00 End Of Programming SHOW MOVIES 00:00 Shake Hands With The Devil PG 15 02:00 Rec - R 04:00 For One More Day - PG 15 06:00 Call Of The North - PG 08:00 The Mist - PG 15 10:30 The Fox And The Child - FAM 12:30 Brideshead Revisited - U 15:30 The Mist - PG 15 18:00 Bottle Shock - PG 15 20:00 Rush Hour 3 - PG 15 22:00 The Hunting Party - PG 15 SHOW MOVIES ACTION 01:00 On The Doll - 18 03:00 The Cook - 18 05:00 Battle Of Wits - PG 15 07:15 Circus - PG 15 09:00 The Watch - 18 11:00 Solo - PG 15 13:00 Ming Ming - PG 15

SHOW MOVIES KIDS 00:00 Barbie And The Three Musketeers - PG 02:00 Zeus And Roxanne - PG 04:00 White Tuft: The Little Beaver FAM 06:00 Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who! - FAM 08:00 Flintstones: I Yabba Dabba Do! - FAM 10:00 White Tuft: The Little Beaver FAM 12:00 Christopher’s Dream - FAM 14:00 Zeus And Roxanne - PG 16:00 Hoot - FAM 18:00 Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacati - FAM 20:00 Olsen Twins: Our Lips Are Sealed - FAM 22:00 Christopher’s Dream - FAM 10:00 Ally Mcbeal 11:00 Law & Order 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 13:30 My Name is Earl 14:00 Life 15:00 Law & Order: Criminal Intent 16:00 Law & Order 17:00 24 18:00 Emmerdale 18:30 Coronation Street 19:00 Law & Order 20:00 The Ex-list 21:00 C.S.I: Miami 22:00 C.S.I 23:00 Sex and the City 23:30 Sex and the City SHOW SPORTS 1 01:00 Premier League 15:00 Premier League Classics 15:30 Futbol Mundial 16:00 Live Toshiba Super Sunday 16:30 Live Premier League 18:30 Live Toshiba Super Sunday 19:00 Live Premier League 21:00 Premier League 23:00 Live Portuguese Liga SHOW SPORTS 2 01:00 Premier League 03:00 Premier League 05:00 Premier League World 05:30 Futbol Mundial 06:00 Gillette World Sport 06:30 Live One Day International Cricket 14:30 World Sport 15:00 Premier League World 15:30 Premier League Classics 16:00 Live Toshiba Super Sunday 16:30 Live Premier League 18:30 Live Toshiba Super Sunday 19:00 Live Premier League 21:00 PGA European Tour SHOW SPORTS 3 03:30 Super League 05:30 European Tour Weekly 06:00 Premier League World 06:30 World Sport 07:00 Premier League 09:00 Super League 11:00 Futbol Mundial 11:30 European Tour Weekly 12:00 Live PGA European Tour 16:00 ODI Cricket SHOW SPORTS 4 00:00 WWE ECW 01:00 WWE SmackDown 03:00 WWE Bottom Line 04:00 UFC All Access 04:30 UFC 109 Countdown 05:30 Live UFC 109 Countdown 06:00 Live UFC 109 09:15 WWE ECW 10:00 WWE SmackDown 12:00 NCAA Basketball 14:00 NCAA Basketball 16:00 NFL Gameday 16:30 WWE Vintage Collection 17:30 NCAA Basketball 19:30 NFL Gameday 20:00 UFC 109 23:00 NFL Gameday 23:30 NFL Pro Bowl SUPER MOVIES 01:00 The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas - PG 15 03:00 Dancing Trees - PG 05:00 Lovely Still - PG 07:00 Georgia Rule - PG 15 09:00 Take The Lead - PG 11:00 Wall-e - FAM 13:00 The Moon And The Stars - PG 15:00 Production Office - PG 15 17:00 Take The Lead - PG 19:00 Meet Dave - PG 21:00 Will You Kill For Me - PG 23:00 Rocknrolla - 18 TCM 01:35 03:35 05:00 07:30 08:00 09:40 11:30 14:55 15:35 17:20 19:25 21:05

A Hole in the Head Strictly Business Where Eagles Dare The Screening Room Blackboard Jungle The Glass Bottom Boat The Alamo The Screening Room Hot Millions A Hole in the Head Elvis: That’s the Way It Is Mogambo

Star Listings (UAE Timings) Star Movies 20:45 Solar Destruction 22:15 Hollywoodland 00:20 Soul Food 02:10 Goal Ii: Living The Dream 04:05 Solar Destruction 05:35 The Comebacks 07:00 Soul Food 08:55 Street Kings 10:40 Hollywoodland 12:45 Do You Know Me? 14:15 Deadly Game 15:50 The Ramen Girl 17:30 The Preacher’s Wife 19:35 Dark Skies STAR 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00

World American Idol Kyle XY [V] Tunes [V] Tunes Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?

[V] Tunes 7th Heaven The Simpsons The King Of Queens According To Jim

04:30 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:25 16:50 17:00 17:50 18:00 18:50 19:00 19:50

According To Jim East West Bones Asia Uncut Australia’s Next Top Model How I Met Your Mother The Bold And The Beautiful 7th Heaven Bones [V] Tunes 7th Heaven The Simpsons The King Of Queens According To Jim According To Jim Scrubs Scrubs Jackie Chan Adventures Ugly Betty Charlie’s Angels Ghost Whisperer Starsky & Hutch Ghost Hunters International Jackie Chan Adventures

Garanada TV 20:45 Britain’s Youngest Boozers

22:00 23:00 00:00 01:00 02:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00

Revenge TV Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 1) The Colour Of Money Don’t Try This At Home (Series 2) Prime Drama: Prime Suspect (Series 6) Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 1) Vroom Vroom (Series 2) Coronation Street WEEKEND OMNIBUS Airline (Series 5) Art Crime Neighbourhoods From Hell Neighbours From Hell (Series 3) Motoring Madness Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 1) The Westlife Show Live Parkinson (Series 6) Big Bad World (Series 1) All About George (Series 1) Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 1) The Westlife Show Live Parkinson (Series 6) Big Bad World (Series 1)

Channel [V] 22:00 [V] Plug 00:30 Double Shot 01:00 Loop

02:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00

[V] Tunes Backtracks [V] Special [V] Countdown The Playlist Double Shot [V] Special The List Keys To The VIP Double Bill Parental Control Double Bill Backtracks [V] Tunes [V] Plug The Playlist Loop [V] Special

Fox News 00:00 FORBES on FOX 00:30 Cashin’ In 01:00 America’s News HQ Host host Brian Wilson 02:00 America’s News HQ Hosts Kelly Wright and Jamie Colby 03:00 The Journal Editorial Report 03:30 Fox News Watch 04:00 Glenn Beck with Glenn Beck 05:00 America’s News HQ hosts Gregg Jarrett and

Uma Pemmaraju 07:00 America’s News HQ hosts Rick Folbaum and Juliet Huddy 08:00 FOX Report Saturday host Jamie Colby 09:00 Huckabee with Mike Huckabee 10:00 Glenn Beck with Glenn Beck 11:00 Geraldo At Large with Geraldo Rivera 12:00 The Journal Editorial Report 12:30 Fox News Watch 13:00 FOX Report Saturday 14:00 Geraldo At Large with Geraldo Rivera 15:00 Huckabee with Mike Huckabee 16:00 FOX Report Saturday host Julie Banderas 17:00 Geraldo At Large with Geraldo Rivera 18:00 Glenn Beck with Glenn Beck 19:00 The Journal Editorial Report 19:30 Fox News Watch 20:00 FOX and Friends Sunday 23:00 America’s News HQ National Geographic Channel 20:00 Adventure Wanted -Bullriding S1-2 21:00 Helicopter Wars -Taliban Gambit 22:00 Ground War -Warrior Weapons 23:00 History’s Secrets -The Last Days Of The Romanovs 00:00 Theme Week -Secret History of Diamonds

01:00 Theme Week -Secrets of The Taj Mahal 02:00 Theme Week -Naked Science : Super Diamonds 03:00 Nat Geo Junior -Monkey Thieves : Heroes & Villains 12 03:30 Nat Geo Junior -Hayden Turner’s Wildlife Chall : Grey Whales 1 04:00 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet -Cocktail Artists 20 04:30 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet -Coming To Italy 15 05:00 Bavaria’s Alpine Kingdom 06:00 Built For The Kill -Coral Reef S1-2 07:00 Big Melt -The Living Edens : Glacier Bay: Alaska’s Wild Coast 08:00 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet -Baja California 7 08:30 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet -Catch Of The Day 12 09:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy -Australian Outback 10:00 Predator CSI -X-Bear 11:00 Somewhere In China -Beijing Boom 6 12:00 By Any Means -Ireland To Turkey 1 13:00 Theme Week -Secret History of Diamonds 14:00 Theme Week -Secrets of The Taj Mahal 15:00 Theme Week -Spider Deadly Love

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Oscar nomination

Lohan selling off her possessions

indsay Lohan is selling off her possessions for charity.

The ‘Mean Girls’ actress is gutting her home to help her “move forward” emotionally and will sell off the unwanted items to raise funds for good causes. Her mother Dina revealed: “Lindsay’s growing up and she’s been through a lot. She’s trying to move forward.

“We’re donating a lot of it to charity. Some of it will go on our Web site lohanhouse.com.” Dina says a lot of Lindsay’s possessions are designer items she has been given for free or exclusive items from showbiz events she has attended.

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The 47-year-old reality TV star added: “It’s not just stuff that she bought. A lot if it is gifted so it’s not necessarily stuff she buys. Like, a company will send five pairs of jeans. So we’re going to donate items like that.” Lindsay - who has an on/off relationship with Samantha Ronson - can’t wait to get rid of many of the items and start afresh. The 23-year-old actress said: “There are a lot of people that are there for the wrong reasons. I started to realize a lot more was being taken from me than was given. It became more draining than anything else. In this industry people build you up to knock you down. If everything is in its place then I will be able to breathe. “The biggest problem is that I have a lot of stuff. I finally have most of it in one place.” Video footage recorded

by US TV show ‘Clean House’ from inside Lindsay’s mansion shows rooms piled high with clothes, boxes of shoes stacked to the ceiling and discarded purchases lying unopened. Lindsay explained to the show’s presenter Neicy Nash: “This is my home. I just want to be much more serene in here and clear.”

Hathaway can’t kiss nne Hathaway can’t kiss as well as Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Garner. The ‘Alice in Wonderland’ actress admits she finds it “fun” locking lips with her hunky costars but fears she hasn’t mastered the sexy scenes as well as some of her peers, because she finds it hard to “get into” on-camera smooches. She said: “If you’re both unattached and you get along, of course kissing in a movie is fun. But you can never get truly down and into it. Well, I can’t. Jennifer Garner - now that girl can movie kiss. I gotta say, that girl can really give it

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some up there.” While she is one of the world’s highest-grossing actresses, Anne doesn’t have much confidence when it comes to “full-on movie kissing” - which she thinks is best reserved for Hollywood beauty Angelina. She added to Britain’s GQ magazine: “You have to understand.

There’s a technique for pretty movie kissing. There’s also full-on movie kissing - a totally different experience.

But really, you have to be like Angelina Jolie to pull that off and still look good.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I ain’t no Angie.” —Bang Showbiz

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enelope Cruz didn’t know she had been nominated for an Oscar. The actress - who is among the nominees for Best Supporting Actress at the forthcoming Academy Awards for her role in ‘Nine’ - didn’t find out she had received the nod for over an hour after everyone else because she recently changed her phone number. She is quoted as saying: “I had a new phone line installed and so almost no one had the new number of the house. Only my agent had it and she was in Australia. So they had to get a hold of her first so she could give them the number of the house, and I found out an hour later. “I had 19 missed calls and 120 emails and text messages. So for two hours I was returning calls.” Despite taking up so much of her time responding to messages, Penelope - who is believed to be engaged to Javier Bardem says it was a “beautiful” day.

She added: “It is beautiful to talk to all the people that love you and care for you and get excited for you about something like this. It was a beautiful day.” Penelope, 35, won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar last year for her performance in ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ and recently admitted she loves the gold statue so much, she even takes it on day trips.

She said: “My Oscar lives in my house, but it changes rooms all the time. I’m looking at it in different places to make the final decision. “I even took it to the beach one day. It’s like being five when you finally get a toy you’ve been asking for.”

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Gallagher’s new band name

iam Gallagher’s new band won’t be called Oasis because it’s a “s**t name”. The rocker has been busy working on a new album with his fellow former Oasis bandmates - Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Chris Sharrock - but won’t be reprising the name because he hates it. He said: “It’s not Oasis. That was a s**t name anyway. I’m glad to see the back of it. There’s one that we’re digging at the moment, but we’re going to get on with the music and see how it goes. If we haven’t got a better one by then, we’ll go with the one we’re into.” Liam - whose brother Noel Gallagher quit Oasis last August after a huge bust-up with his rock ‘n’ roll sibling - also revealed he plans to return to the stage in 2010.

The ‘Songbird’ singer added: “We’ll be on stage this year, without a doubt. We’re halfway through the record - the demos, that is. “We’re in the studio this April to see if this producer works out. If he does, we’ll crack on with the album through June and July.” Liam’s live announcement comes just days after it was revealed Noel will be playing two solo shows as part of this year’s Teenage Cancer Trust charity concerts in March.

They will be his first performances since quitting Oasis.

Minogue doesnʼt want twins

Penelope Cruzʼs

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Damonʼs South African accent

att Damon took six months to learn a South African accent. The actor, who plays rugby player Francois Pienaar in new film ‘Invictus’, struggled to get to grips with the dialect and was amazed at how hard he found it. Matt told BANG Showbiz: “The accent took about six months. It took a lot to get it. They talk real different down there.” Despite his difficulties, the 39-year-old American star admitted he enjoyed working with the South African rugby star in order to get his portrayal as accurate as possible.

He said: “It’s a big responsibility. It didn’t help that I liked Francois so much. I really wanted him to like the film. “It’s such an incredible moment in South Africa’s history. I think everybody felt it who worked on the movie. It was different to other movies.” ‘Invictus’ tells the story of how Nelson Mandela played by Morgan Freeman - and Francois joined forces to lead the South African rugby team to an unlikely 1995 World Cup victory over the All Blacks and unify the racially fragmented country following the end of apartheid.

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annii Minogue is thankful she’s not having twins. The 38-year-old singer - who is pregnant with her first child to her former England rugby playing boyfriend Kris Smith - hasn’t found out the sex of the baby but is relieved that medical checks have ruled out a multiple birth. She said: “I don’t know if we’ll find out what we’re having, we haven’t had a chance to think.

We know it’s not twins - the doctor said this morning that there’s only one in there and Kris and I both sighed with relief! I’m so tiny, I’m not big enough to fit twins in there - I wouldn’t be able to stand up!” Despite being happy with her pregnancy, Dannii admits she took “some convincing” about starting a family with Kris because her own parents did such a good job raising their children.

She told Britain’s Glamour magazine: “I have two loving parents who formed a family around me and

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I have it in my mind that I want it to be like that. I would only do it if I was able to recreate that and up until now, I’ve never been in a relationship where I was 100 per cent confident and had those feelings. “Kris was ready from the word go and couldn’t wait to start a family. I’ve taken some convincing, but we’ve taken the leap together and it feels right. Kris is The One.” Although Dannii who was previously married to actor Julian McMahon - is content in her relationship, she is terrified of walking down the aisle again because her divorce affected her so badly. She said: “Marriage really scares me. I wouldn’t rule it out, but my divorce was really emotional for me. My weight plummeted - I was skeletal and it wasn’t pretty or healthy but I couldn’t control it. When something is wrapped up in all these bad memories, you don’t want to go hurtling back there.”

Parton’s 3am makeover

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olly Parton gets up at 3am to put her make-up on. The country singer - who has had a number of cosmetic surgery procedures, including having her breasts enlarged to a 40DD cup - still takes a great deal of pride in her appearance at 64 and likes to look perfect for her husband Carl Dean when he wakes up. Dolly - who has been wed to Carl for 44 years - said: “I usually get up at 3am. I don’t require a lot of sleep and if I get tired, I’ll take a powernap during the day. “When my Carl is awake, I’ll put on my make-up and roll my hair a

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little, because I don’t want to look bad for him, do I?” Dolly also insists she never had sex with anyone to further her career when she was starting out in the tough, male dominated country music industry. She said in an interview with the Daily Mail newspaper: “When starting out, I looked easy and people didn’t take me seriously. I always looked like I could be had and I still do! But the truth was, I couldn’t. “I’d be offered jobs and then before the deal was done, they’d say, ‘Would you like to come up to my room?’ “I’d say, ‘I don’t need the job that

bad, and I’ll never do that to get ahead.’ “People still thought I was cheap and though it was painful at times, I knew that that talk would be short-lived.” Dolly also rubbished rumors of affairs with any of her handsome film co-stars, which include Burt Reynolds and Sylvester Stallone, saying she could never love anyone other than the reclusive Carl, a former construction worker. She added: “When I met Carl, I wasn’t a star - I was just dreaming of being one, so I know he doesn’t love me because I’m famous.”

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44 Fashion

New styles let women transition to office without breaking a sweat n Sara Walther’s closet, only one pair of jeans comes anywhere close to getting as much wear as her yoga pants from Lululemon and Athleta. “I have suits, and I look at them, and I wish I could get my money back for them,” said Walther, 35, who converts much of her early morning yoga attire to daylong office wear. “My black Lulus, I wear them at least two times a week,” sometimes with a yoga tank to class and then to work with a J Crew cardigan and scarf, or a piece of jewelry and Brazilian leather riding boots.

Fitness brands are acknowledging the delicate workout/life balance.

More than ever, yoga attire, in particular, is cross-training with fashion to gain flexibility. It’s the next step in the evolution of workout-apparelas-weekend-wear-it’s also becoming weekday worthy and night-out ready. It helps if you don’t sweat profusely.

“There are some people who are dripping after class, and they have to-I hope to God they do-take a shower,” said Walther, who has been practicing yoga for 15 years. “Unless it’s Bikram yoga, where they have it up to 108 degrees, I’m OK with myself after my workout. There’s no way I could go home from the studio, shower and change. I have a very demanding job.” Walther serves as financial controller for the Carbon War Room, a Washington, DC -based nonprofit working to raise awareness about industrial carbon and climate change. “I’m in a very entrepreneurial setting,” an office culture where Walther feels comfortable dressing less formally most days. If she still worked for a private equity firm, her suits would be in business. “This is the setting”and the clothing-”I prefer,” she said.

through the midsection to support core muscles. lucy.com * Though known for its flattering yoga wear in its Luon fabric, Lululemon Athletica is spreading the word about its running line, complete with the brand’s usual functional details such as “zipper garages” that keep zippers from scratching the chin, “cuffins” with thumbholes to warm hands, mp3 pockets in tops and bottoms, and ponytail holes in hoods. lululemon.com * Adidas by Stella McCartney is adding triathlon and cycling apparel to its lineup this spring, including a Tri Performance Swimsuit for women and a zebra-print graphic Cycling Performance Zip Tee at shopadidas.com. * Fila has launched a looser-fitting capri yoga pant with subtle knee padding you can find them at fila.com

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A step beyond This season Lululemon Athletica’s popular Wunder Under workout leggings are available with limited-edition embellishments like rushing, ruffles or nonchafing zip-up sides, which pair equally well with ballet flats and yoga mats. These aren’t the flare-leg pants traditionally associated with yoga. The tighter legs make them easier to layer with street clothes. For yoga, the closer

Yoga devotee Sara Walther wears a pair of Lululemon yoga pants with an Athleta convertible top to practice yoga at Moksha Yoga Center in Chicago, Illinois. —MCT fit prevents toes from catching in hems, Walther notes. Liz Miersch, Self magazine’s fitness editor, calls these hybrid leggings “apres-gym leggings.”

“Right now I’m wearing my Zobha yoga workout leggings with a dress I wore to work today,” she said from New York during a recent weekday phone interview. “On Saturdays, I’ll put on leggings, a sports bra and top, and I’ll be doing errands, and when I can sneak out to the gym I’m ready. The boot/legging thing, thank God that’s in style.

That’s an easy way to disguise your workout wear.”

Zobha yoga and fitness apparel released a survey last year in which about two-thirds of the 1,000 women surveyed had scaled back financially in their workout routines (exercising at home or outside instead of at a gym, for example). But nearly all who currently exercised said they would continue. Seventy-five percent of women surveyed said they

are more likely to work out if they are already wearing fitness clothes; 32 percent choose fitness apparel as their primary casual day outfit.

Conversion costs Prices for premium yoga apparel might take your breath away at first glance. “You walk into a Lululemon store, and you’re like, ‘Maybe not,’” Walther said. “But my Lulus, I bet they’re at least 4 years old.

And the nice thing is they have free hemming. One pair I had used to be long, and I took them in and had them made into capris and wore them for another year and a half.

Once you get sick of them, you can change them.”

One of her yoga tops from Athleta converts to a strapless tube top. “I’ve gone to a wine bar after yoga, and I threw on this skirt and took the straps off the top, and you could not tell that it was yoga attire,” Walther said. “And it’s amazing for yoga. You can actually

do a backbend-it stayed up without the straps.”

The bottom line * 75 percent of the 1,000 women surveyed by Zobha yoga and fitness apparel said they are more likely to work out if they are already wearing fitness clothes. * Nike re-engineered its women’s pant fits after a two-year study in which it scanned more than 80,000 bodies. Each pair now has a wider, 2.75-inch waistband to distribute pressure for a flatter look across the stomach. A V shape at the back improves the rear view.

Side seams moved forward by 2.5 inches to slim the hips. nike.com * The brand Lucy, known for offering several rises, cuts, lengths and fabrics, just introduced several of its most popular pant styles in its maximum-compression Powermax fabric. It will launch its Perfect Core Pants at the end of February, featuring mesh paneling

New yoga looks If you’re on track with your 2010 fitness resolutions, consider rewarding yourself with fashionconscious gear to go the distance. * Lululemon Athletica’s bestselling women’s pants are the Groove (a reversible flare leg), Wunder Under (a tight leg) and Still pants (a wide leg popular for travel and pregnancy). For men, the wide-leg Kung Fu is the hottest seller. * In February, Zobha is introducing a trendy harem pant style and is launching loungewear. * New for spring, Athleta’s convertible Rain Forest top has a shirred empire waist and removable halter straps for different looks. An internal double-layer shelf bra offers low-impact support for A-C cups. * The brand Beyond Yoga is true to its name with versatile styles such as the organic cotton scarf jacket-with scarf built in so you never leave it behind. * Bebe has launched PH8 — pronounced “fate”-its activeinspired sportswear collection with a hint of Bebe’s sexiness. Designed to extend beyond the gym, the clothing, bags, shoes and jewelry range from $19 to $139. —MCT

Sri Lankan fashion show

Sri Lankan models display local designs at a fashion show sponsored by global banking giant HSBC in Colombo. Banking giant HSBC will open a branch in Sri Lanka’s former war zone of Jaffna next week, becoming the first foreign bank to do so since the end of the country’s long ethnic conflict, the central bank said. —AFP

Sunday, February 7, 2010

SPECTRUM

Sunday, February 7, 2010

45

Fashion

A young designer getting noticed

he fabrics Katie Ermilio used in her spring 2010 collection are so soft the pieces appear limp on a rack of hangers in the family’s Haverford, Pa, showroom. But don’t let the languid pieces fool you. She shows the same meticulous attention to detail as her dad, Bob, an internationally renowned fixture in the world of equestrian tailoring. For example, a tomato red, silk-faille Katie Ermilio pencil skirt features a 7-inch, ruffled hem. The matching top is equally exquisite with a seductive open back Ermilio trimmed with the wavy ruffle.

It’s the personal dedication to classic couture that has helped Ermilio begin to gain notice among New York fashion editors and on the red carpet. She’s also turning into a darling of women on Philadelphia’s Main Line who spend big and take their fashion seriously. This kind of fashion is a completely different art form,” Ermilio said from her father’s Haverford studio recently. She’s just 24, but as the fourth generation of a family steeped in fashion, she is sartorially wise beyond

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Washington Post fashion columnist Robin Givhan chose this sketch by designer Katie Ermilio of a sleeveless forest-green gown as the winner of the paper’s competition for Michelle Obama’s Inaugural gown. —MCT photos her years. “I want to translate it as best as I can to pret-aporter (ready-to-wear) garments.”

In the post-recession fashion world, boutiques and specialty department stores are slow to stock sales floors with work by young designers. But because of that, it’s an important time for them to continue to build their foundation.

Ermilio is doing just that. In October, she secured a coveted editorial mention in Women’s Wear Daily. Her Spring 2010 presentation-a private showing in her New York studio/apartment in September-was attended by fashion editors from Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour and Vogue magazines. Next month during Fashion Week, she’ll show her fall 2010 collection there as well.

Two of Ermilio’s dresses were photographed on the red carpet during the 2008 awards season: a backless coral sheath for actress Autumn Reeser and a smart cocktail dress donned by Julianne Hough of “Dancing With the Stars.” Last January, Washington Post fashion columnist Robin Givhan chose Ermilio’s sketch of a sleeveless forest-green gown as the winner of the paper’s competition for Michelle Obama’s Inaugural gown. “The silhouette flatters a curvy figure,” Givhan wrote “And the style is both youthful and grand. But it’s the color that makes me

applaud.”

But, most importantly, it’s Ermilio’s clean, architectural look and couture flourishes that have won over the women who can afford to spend thousands of dollars a season on their wardrobe.

These women, most of whom define their sense of style as conservative with a twist, are more than stealth shoppers; they have the power to create a mystique around a clothier powerful enough to launch a career-as long as you get their express permission to mention names.

“Her designs are one-of-akind, and that’s really great when you want to go to an event and stand out,” said client Paula Yudenfriend Green of Haverford. At last count, Ermilio had about 50 clients in New York, Connecticut and Florida, with about 20 in the Philadelphia area. She spent most of the holiday season completing fittings and sketching ballgowns for the crowd. Ermilio, who originally wanted to be a journalist, can’t deny that fashion is in her blood.

Her great-grandfather Anthony Ermilio ran a bustling tailor shop in Center City Philadelphia from the late 1800s through the 1920s. He was known for his use of European fabrics. The shop moved to the Main Line after World War II. In the 1950s, her grandfather Arthur Ermilio designed the first Masters golf tournament jacket, creating the iconic green.

He also designed President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s World War II bomber jacket and Princess Grace Kelly’s riding pants. Both Arthur Ermilio and Katie’s father, Bob, dressed former President Gerald Ford.

“They never talk about who they dressed,” Ermilio said. “The only reason we know (my grandfather) designed the Masters jacket is because of a handwritten letter. It just wasn’t polite. We come from a long line of that tradition.” It’s late December and Ermilio is fitting a shrunken jacket with a Peter Pan collar on Debra Guezlo.

Guezlo’s husband, Allen, is a noted historian and the head of the Civil War Department at Gettysburg College.

After the fitting, Ermilio, wearing Phillip Lim trousers, sips a family favorite-Earl Grey tea-and tells her story.

She spent her Saturdays in the family’s Haverford and Paoli, Pa., locations. As a child, she dabbled in design. The first dress she made for herself was a charmeuse babydoll dress in sea-foam green that she wore to her eighthgrade dance.

In 2006, she snagged an internship with fashion designer Tracy Reese. She landed a marketing internship at Women’s Wear Daily, and, the following year, she designed a cream wool-crepe sheath with a low-scooped back that she wore to an interview for an internship with Vogue magazine. She got the job.

She worked for Vogue for a year, all the while designing on the side. In 2008, she graduated from New York University with a degree in visual culture and landed a job as a public-relations assistant in Teen Vogue. Her father sold her designs from his store and connected her with clients.

After working the equivalent of two full-time jobs for over a year, she decided to open her own business with a financial boost from her parents. Katie Ermilio was born. —MCT

ʻWedding Foliesʼ fair

Designer Katie Ermilio, right, works on the Boucle wool jacket that she has designed for Debra Guelzo.

A man takes pictures of models displaying creations by Saudi fashion designer Amina al-Jassim during the ‘Wedding Folies’ fair in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

—AFP

Models display creations

by Saudi fashion designer Amina al-Jassim.

SPECTRUM

46 Review

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Music

ARTIST: MASSIVE ATTACK ALBUM: HELIGOLAND

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ARTIST: ALLISON MOORER ALBUM: CROWS rying to pigeonhole the restlessly creative Allison Moorer remains as gratifyingly fruitless as ever.

Her latest release (and Ryko debut), “Crows,” finds the erstwhile Nashville fixture moving further away from country music and the roots rock she explored on her two albums for Sugar Hill Records.

Embracing an approach presaged on “Mockingbird,” her 2008 covers album, “Crows” opts for a mostly stripped-down acoustic sound that provides the perfect setting for Moorer’s marvelous, R&B-inflected voice.

With the compositions on “Crows” alternating in tone between hopeful and foreboding, she explores themes of regret, loss and new beginnings with a deft hand and some of the best singing of her career. Highlights include “It’s Gonna Feel Good (When It Stops Hurting),” the lovely title track and the affecting piano ballad “Easy in the Summertime,” a reflection on her Alabama childhood.

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ARTIST: DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER ELEANORA FAGAN (1915-1959): TO BILLIE WITH LOVE FROM DEE DEE o stranger to musical experimentation, Dee Dee Bridgewater mixed jazz with West African rhythms on her 2007 multicultural expedition “Red Earth: A Malian Journey.”

She brings the same noholds-barred approach to her latest project, “Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee,” a tribute to jazz pioneer Billie Holiday. But this is more than just a covers album.

Bridgewater digs beneath the darkness and pain associated with Holiday’s music, delivering a joyful take on- and deep respect for-her predecessor’s strengths as a vocalist and songwriter. The usual and not-so-usual suspects from Holiday’s legacy are here (including “Good Morning Heartache” and “God Bless the Child”). But they’re infused with new arrangements (courtesy of Bridgewater’s longtime bandmate Edsel Gomez) that shed a modern light on Holiday’s work. “Lady Sings the Blues” swings to life through its fusion of African polyrhythms; “Lover Man” shines with a sexy, sassy sheen; and “Miss Brown to You” gets a feisty makeover. Pulling it all together are Bridgewater’s expressive, unrestricted vocals- especially riveting on the sparsely arranged “Strange Fruit.”

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ARTIST: JOSH TURNER ALBUM: HAYWIRE osh Turner’s 2004 breakthrough hit, “Long Black Train,” reminded country fans how rare and celebrated such thrilling, deep-baritone voices have been throughout the genre’s history.

And while Turner is a worthy heir to such barrel-chested baritones as Don Williams, Randy Travis and Trace Adkins, his fourth album, “Haywire,” is a study in inconsistent use of his vocal gift. On the single “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Turner avoids over singing, instead letting his voice communicate through the song’s message, resulting in one of the album’s best tracks. Conversely, on the remake of Williams’ 1987 hit ballad “I Wouldn’t Be a Man,” Turner overuses his low register, when a more restrained approach would‘ve improved the take. Trite and sometimes awkward lyrics diminish some tracks that contain great instrumentals. The album’s finest moment is the choir-backed spiritual “The Answer,” where Turner sings, “If you’re lookin’ for somebody you can talk to/When the heartache and the troubles overcome you/There’s a man you can count on.”

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Egyptian singer Amr Diab holds the trophy of the African Cup of Nations as he is joined by players of the Egyptian national football team, recently crowned champions, during a benefit concert in Cairo for the victims of recent floods in southern Egypt and the Sinai late on February 5, 2010.

—AFP

Leonard Cohen delays Europe tour after back injury C

anadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has postponed an upcoming European tour by six months after hurting his lower back while exercising, his representatives said on Friday. A statement said his doctors advised the 75-year-old to follow the same four- to six-month regimen of physical therapy as athletes do with similar

injuries. A spokeswoman declined to specify what Cohen was doing when he hurt himself. He appeared fairly nimble on Saturday when he accepted a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in Los Angeles and recited his wry poem “Tower of Song” to the audience.

The nine-date tour, set to begin on March 1 in the French

city of Caen, will now begin on Sept 15, with shows scheduled through Oct 7 in Moscow.

Cohen has played 191 shows around the world since returning to the concert trail in May 2008 after a 15-year absence.

During his hiatus he became a Zen Buddhist monk at a mountain hideaway near Los Angeles. His comeback was necessitated by a former man-

Cyrus to perform in Spain for first time festival, Cyrus will not perform any other concert in Spain this year.

Although she has never performed in Spain, Cyrus has a huge youth following here, and event organizer Roberto Medina announced her performance at a Madrid college in front of cheering and screaming children as well as TV cameras. Cyrus’ new film, “The Last Song,” will premiere in Spain in May. Rock in Rio was founded in Rio de Janeiro in January 1985, and subsequent events in Lisbon and Madrid have been arranged by Brazilian founder Medina. This will be the second Rock in Rio Madrid. The first, in 2008, was attended by 290,000 fans. —Reuters

iley Cyrus is to play her first concert in Spain, at the Rock in Rio Madrid 2010 festival on June 6. A week ago, Bon Jovi (June 4), Shakira and Rihanna (both June 5) were the first performers confirmed for this year’s Rock in Rio Madrid. Cyrus was added to the list Friday, with the news that June 6 will be a family day, with tens of thousands of children expected. Rock in Rio Madrid will take place over two weekends- June 4-6, and two unconfirmed days of the following weekend- at Rock City, a 200,000square-meter (50-acre) area in Arganda del Rel, 17 km (10 miles) from Madrid.

As a condition for playing the

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Alkaline Trio returns to its indie roots or their seventh album, “This Addiction” (due Feb 23), the members of Alkaline Trio decided to make big changes, starting with the way their music was released. The altpunk group departed Epic Records in May to form its own imprint, Heart & Skull, in a joint venture with Epitaph Records. Singer/guitarist Matt Skiba acknowledges the risk involved with starting a new label, but he says the move hasn’t fazed the band at this point in its decade-long career.

“We already took the biggest leap a long time ago, when we quit our jobs to pursue this band,” he says. “After doing that, starting our own label really isn’t that scary.” Alkaline Trio established

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itself on Vagrant Records before signing to Epic for 2008’s “Agony & Irony” and netting a careerbest No. 13 debut on the Billboard 200. After personnel changes at Epic left the band members feeling disconnected from the label, the group requested and received a release.

The split was amicable, but Skiba says the band wanted to start recording music on its own terms. “We just thought, ‘Wow, we’re never going to get in a situation where we might get stuck somewhere,”“ he says. Epitaph owner and Skiba’s friend Brett Gurewitz soon reached out and formed a partnership that gave the band full control over its album and access to Epitaph’s marketing team. —Reuters

ARTIST: YEASAYER ALBUM: ODD BLOOD rooklyn-based rock act Yeasayer gained acclaim with its 2007 debut, “All Hour Cymbals,” by achieving an impressive balance between world-influenced, experimental noise and disciplined, memorable pop-rock. For its sophomore effort, “Odd Blood,” Yeasayer has maintained its standards of hybrid artistry. But like a number of its indierock contemporaries, the outfit has turned to synthesizers for soundscape inspiration. The single “Ambling Alp” is a dynamically percussive new wave self-respect anthem, while “I Remember” has all the melodic flourish and vocal loveliness of an early Erasure aria. —Reuters

Leonard Cohen

hroughout the ‘90s, “trip-hop” was the best anyone could do to describe Massive Attack and the head-nodding family of talents it inspired, like Portishead and Tricky. But following the recent paths of those acts, Massive Attack’s first effort in seven years pushes farther beyond its comfort zone. “Heligoland” pulls in guitars, pianos and more singers than MCs, often settling into a sound that’s purposefully lo-fi. But the production duo of Robert Del Naja (3D) and Grand Marshall (Daddy G) hasn’t lost its cinematic scope.

“Paradise Circus” (featuring ‘90s ingenue Hope Sandoval) builds from hand claps and keyboards into a swell of sampled strings, and the shuffling drum pads on “Pray for Rain” (with TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe) provide the tense background for a down-the-rabbit-hole bridge with club-trance keys. It warms the blood to hear those trip-hop synths roll on the slow-burning “Flat of the Blade” (with acid loops thrown in for good measure), but Massive Attack’s arsenal has expanded, and the resulting onslaught is nothing short of brilliant.

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Actor, song writer, and pop musician Justin Timberlake, center, is honored as the Hasty Pudding Man of the Year as Harvard University students Alec Brown, left, and Tyler G Hall, right, present the award on the Harvard University campus, in Cambridge, Mass, Friday. Timberlake, a Grammy and Emmy award winner, received the pudding pot from the nation’s oldest undergraduate drama troupe during a roast Friday. —AP

Wentz says Fall Out Boy not completely done ete Wentz says talk of Fall Out Boy’s demise has been blown out of proportion-but he isn’t sure when the rock band will performing together again. Earlier this week, lead singer Patrick Stump told Spin.com that the group was done after Wentz tweeted that he didn’t see a future for the platinum band. But on Friday, Wentz said band members are just doing things apart and it’s not clear where their future lies. “We just haven’t had the time to say anything. All I have been able to do is say, ‘Man, I miss doing Fall Out Boy,’ and I got to a better place hanging out with my son,” the bassist said of his infant son Bronx.

“Now I’m OK if Fall Out Boy comes back or doesn’t come back. Like, if it’s fun for everyone to do again, we’re going to do it ... I just want it to be authentic when we come back,” said Wentz, in town for Super Bowl festivities. Though he was at a Venus Williams rooftop party to DJ on Friday afternoon, he said he couldn’t see himself doing music seriously on his own: “I don’t know that I’m really cut out to be a solo artist. It’s never really been an aspiration of mine.”

Wentz said he has e-mailed Stump and the two are still cool with each other. “We just wanted to talk about how blown out of proportion it’s gotten. It’s to the point where we’re gonna make ‘I Quit Fall Out Boy’ T-shirts, just goofing around about it,” he said. “We don’t want any animosity about it at all.”—AP

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ager’s mishandling of his finances. Cohen, who is known to take years to craft a new song, has just finished writing a tune called “Different Sides,” his musical collaborator, Sharon Robinson, told Reuters at the Grammy event. It was not known when the song would be released. Cohen released his last studio album in 2004. —Reuters

Michael Jackson doctor to be charged tomorrow ichael Jackson’s doctor will be charged in connection with the pop star’s death tomorrow, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office confirmed Friday. A statement said unspecified charges would be filed on Monday followed by an arraignment. A law enforcement source speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed to AFP that Murray would be charged with involuntary manslaughter. The announcement followed days of speculation about the possibility of criminal charges being filed against Murray, the Houstonbased physician who was with Jackson shortly before the pop icon died suddenly last June.

Murray had initially been expected to surrender to custody on Friday ahead of a court hearing, but charges were delayed amid reports of a disagreement between prosecutors and the Los Angeles Police Department. Local prosecutors had been negotiating with defense lawyers for Murray to surrender voluntarily in the early hours of Friday, before appearing in court without handcuffs or shackles. Police were reportedly opposed to the plan, seeking to have Murray arrested, booked and handcuffed in plain view.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck denied there was any conflict about the terms of the doctor’s surrender or that the department was insisting on a “photo op” showing Murray in handcuffs. “We’re not looking for that kind of photo op; that’s not what we do,” Beck said in an interview on KTLA television. Reports of Murray’s looming manslaughter case followed a painstaking and prolonged police investigation. Under California law, involuntary manslaughter-unintentionally causing death through negligence, carelessness or a misdemeanor-is punishable by up to four years in prison. Murray, 56, has acknowledged that he administered the powerful anesthetic propofol to Jackson only after trying many other medications to help him sleep following the singer’s “repeated demands/requests” for the drug.

Propofol is a powerful anesthetic used to render patients unconscious before major surgery.

Medical experts say it should only be used and administered by trained staff under hospital conditions. Unsealed court documents that included a review of toxicology results found that Jackson died from “lethal levels of propofol.” —AFP

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

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Movies

(Left) A tow truck operator inspects actor Charlie Sheen’s Mercedes after it was towed out of a ravine, found overturned hundreds of feet down a cliff near his home early Friday in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles. (Center) Sheen’s Mercedes is towed out of a ravine. (Right) Los Angeles police officers investigate the Mercedes.

Sheen vehicle stolen, crashed in ravine Mercedes that actor Charlie Sheen reported stolen from his home was found overturned down a nearby cliff early Friday, but there’s no evidence anyone was in the car when it went into the ravine, police said. Police got an emergency call around 4 am from an OnStar-style alert system that calls emergency officials when there is a problem with the vehicle that may require assistance, Officer Wendy Reyes said.

At about the same time, Sheen called police to say his four-door MercedesBenz had been stolen from his home in

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Sherman Oaks, Officer Bruce Borihanh said. Police and firefighters found the car 300 to 400 feet (90 to 120 meters) down a cliff, upside-down in the brushy ravine. They searched the area on foot and with an infrared-equipped helicopter but found nobody in or around the car, Borihanh said.

“They’ve looked all around the hillside. There’s nobody in the car, nobody around (and no) evidence of anybody being around at the moment of impact,” he said. Sheen was not believed to have been in the car because he would have been badly injured in the accident and “I

Sandra Bullock speaks with film critic Pete Hammond.

Sandra Bullock honored at Santa Barbara Festival andra Bullock, the star of the year-end sleeper hit The Blind Side, received the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s American Riviera Award on Friday.

Among Bullock’s credits are Love Potion No 9, While You

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Actress Sandra Bullock is seen at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival where Bullock received the festival’s American Riviera Award.

Were Sleeping, Practical Magic, Miss Congeniality, The Net, A Time to Kill, 28 Days, Murder By Numbers, The L ake House, the Academy Award winner Crash, the recent hit The Proposal, and the recent flop All About Steve.

As per the SBFF’s website, the American Riviera Award, sponsored by Chopin Vodka, “was established to recognize an actor who has had a strong influence on American Cinema.” Past recipients include: Mickey Rourke , Tommy Lee Jones , Forest Whitaker, Philip Seymour Hoffman ,Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane.

Probably not coincidentally, most honorees were tapped for the award at a time when they were being tapped for Oscar consideration as well. It’s Bullock’s turn now, though her performance in The Blind Side will more likely land her only a Golden Globe nod.

Even so, an Oscar nomination isn’t really out of reach, if only for sentimental reasons. After all, Bullock has never even been nominated.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival runs February 4-14, 2010.

—www.altfg.com

Actor Forrest Whitaker and his wife Keisha at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. — AP photos

don’t know how he would have gotten back up” the cliff, Borihanh said. “It’s being treated as an auto theft investigation,” he said. The car was later hauled back up the hillside and probably would be impounded while the investigation continues, Officer April Harding said.

Sheen’s publicist, Stan Rosenfield, confirmed that Sheen’s car was reported stolen but said he had no details.

“Charlie is fine, and the police are investigating,” he wrote in an e-mail. Yale Galanter, an attorney for his wife, Brooke Sheen, said he could not comment on the crash because it was under investigation.

Sheen, 42, the star of the CBS television comedy “Two and a Half Men,” was arrested after a Christmas Day domestic disturbance at his Aspen, Colorado, home. A police officer’s arrest affidavit quoted his wife as saying the actor pinned her on a bed while holding a knife to her throat. Sheen denies threatening his wife. He’s scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow in Aspen on domestic violence charges. He and his wife also are seeking modification of an order that prevents them from communicating with each other. She has said they love each other and want to reconcile. Brooke Sheen spent a

week in a Los Angeles hospital last month, including several days in intensive care due to an infection and lifethreatening pneumonia that developed after oral surgery. Her attorney has said she delayed having oral surgery because of scheduled court hearings in the domestic violence case.

Los Angeles police say another car has been found over the side of a road where actor Charlie Sheen’s Mercedes was earlier pulled from a steep ravine.

Sheen reported that his Mercedes-Benz sedan was stolen from his gated community at about 4 am Friday in Sherman

Oaks. Around the same time, the vehicle was found upside down hundreds of feet down a ravine off Mulholland Drive near Sheen’s home. Nobody was in the car.

Police spokesman Richard French says a photographer who was in the area reported a second vehicle, a Bentley, in the ravine shortly after 1:30 pm.

French says nobody was in that car, which apparently was taken from a neighborhood adjoining Sheen’s. French says three other cars in the area were broken into overnight, but investigators aren’t sure if there’s a connection. No arrests have been made. —AP

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, surrounded by security personnel, gestures to fans outside the Chatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai, India, yesterday.

Khan has been under attack from the Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena party for his views on the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers for the forthcoming Indian Premier League. —AP

Bridges is John Travolta brilliant in ‘Crazy Heart’ talks about his son Review:

n some not too far-fetched parallel universe, Jeff Bridges really might be living the life of a boozy country singer. Bridges seems like the real thing in “Crazy Heart,” rasping out songs in the comfortable remnants of a whiskey-and-tobacco-seared voice that you might swear you have heard on a hundred jukeboxes in a hundred anonymous roadhouses.

It is not a great singing voice, but it is a soulful one, and Bridges matches it with one of the finest performances of his career, just playing the hell out of this guy whose self-abuse has carried him to a precipice where he either leaps into the pit or turns back and cleans up.

Academy Awards buzz is swirling around Bridges, nominated four times previously without a win. “Crazy Heart” feels like a potential Oscar winner for Bridges, who has a nice good-luck charm tagging along in co-star Robert Duvall, the 1983 bestactor winner for that year’s “Tender Mercies,” another story of a downtrodden country singer.

Adapted by first-time director Scott Cooper from Thomas Cobb’s novel, the film casts Bridges as Bad Blake, an apt name for this wreck of a musician who has spoiled his many marriages, his career, his liver and lungs, pretty much everything a man can ruin.

He is not black-hearted bad — he actually is quite a charmer and very funny when he does not let his ornery side overwhelm things. But he is bad, bad for himself and bad for others, and life has handed him more than his share of bad breaks.

Bad is still chugging through the heartland in his behemoth of a 1970s sport utility vehicle, playing in dive bars and bowling alleys with pickup bands from town to town. His audiences are small but adoring, even when he is so drunk he has to dart offstage to throw up in a trash can in a back alley, leaving the backup musicians to perform the song he has just dedicated to a wide-eyed fan. The man has had a taste of success, but nothing like the superstardom of his old protege Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell), who has scored mega-hits recording some of the tunes Bad has written.

Accustomed to one-night stands, Bad finds himself in a family frame of mind when he falls for Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a single mom and small-town journalist who interviews him while he

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is on the road. Despite their age difference, Bridges and Gyllenhaal ease into romance naturally and believably, the relationship sparkling in the good times and truly agonizing in the bad. Like Bridges’ Dude in “The Big Lebowski,” Bad abides, his resilience his second strongest suit next to his sheer devotion to making music. With a little help from his bar owner pal Wayne (Duvall), Bad takes some first steps at getting clean and sober.

Bridges is so good that you love this guy even when he is bad, even when he messes up. You are not sure he will make it, but you befriend him from the start, and all you can do is root for him and hope things turn out well. The story has its little cliches, yet it never succumbs to them, maintaining a sense of the unexpected and uncertain in the reclamation project Bad is making of his life. Cooper, who has appeared in several films with Duvall, makes an assured film-making debut, doing what good actorsturned-directors do: staying out of the way of their performers and letting them run. —AP

fter a year of insurmountable grief, John Travolta has returned to work. He took most of last year off to mourn the death of his 16-year-old son Jett, who died Jan 2, 2009, of a seizure while vacationing in the Bahamas. Now, the actor has returned to film in “From Paris With Love,” a fastpaced spy movie filled with action, stunts and comedy, costarring Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The movie opens Friday.

Travolta recently talked about his son and the movie.

AP: So many people felt pain for you-even people who have never met you. What does that say about the kindness of strangers?

Travolta: Oh, I’ve never seen anything like it. ... My son had such an enormous effect on the world and the kindness of fans and people of all types and sorts around the world have been amazing.

I’ve never felt more of a flow of support and love as I have in the past year and we needed it. ... You’re kind of a sinking ship and you need all the kings horses and all the kings men to keep your head afloat.

And we had it.

AP: And you’re doing OK? Travolta: It’s been hard.

We’ve worked every day on it

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as a family and as individuals.

It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to me-bar none. But I think the help is helping us.” AP: John, you recently flew a plane of supplies to Haiti to help earthquake victims. Does helping others with loss help ease some of your own pain?

Travolta: Absolutely. I think help is probably the biggest button on the planet.

People need to help each other. They want to feel like they can help and when you have the opportunity I think most people do help and I had this rare, rare privilege to have this big, empty plane in my backyard and I filled it with supplies and doctors and it was an awesome opportunity.

AP: John: you did much of your own stunt work in the film. Does your dancing background help?

Travolta: Yes. ... If you have athletic background like I do or a dance background it does help in action movies and stunts. It helped me in the John Woo movies (“Face/Off,” “Broken Arrow”). It helped me in this movie ... because you’re not afraid of any movement.

AP: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, your character spends a number of scenes carrying a vase around filled with cocaine. What was that like?

Rhys Meyers: When I first thought about the vase, I thought, “It’s going to be a nightmare. I have this vase all the time. ... What am I going to do? I’m paralyzed.” And then (director Pierre Morel) said something to me, “Think of it kind of almost like another character.” So now I’m not paralyzed. Now I’m carrying a child. ... So then it became a teddy bear. A blankie.

Something that would protect me. ... I mean the trouble is endless!”

Travolta: That’s my wife’s (actress Kelly Preston) favorite part of the movie. ... I mean it looks so peculiar, you know?”—AP

www.kuwaittimes.net

India’s book restorers: Saving the past for the future n the basement of the University of Mumbai’s Fort Campus library, a towering Gothic-style cathedral to knowledge built by the British in the mid-19th century, half-adozen people are hard at work.

Some are hunched over computers and a state-of-the-art scanner. Others busy themselves in an air-conditioned laboratory, surrounded by fumigation units, bell jars of chemicals, trays of clear liquids and metal drying racks. This is the institution’s rare books restoration project, which aims to return ancient and hard-to-find works to their former glory, so the scholars of the future can learn from those of the past.

Everyone involved shares the same enthusiasm for the task-making damaged books fit for another 100 years. “Future generations should know what our history is,” said Kirti Joshi, an assistant conservator, wiping her hands on a white apron.

“To do so we have to preserve it.” The 2.5 million rupee (55,000 dollar) project began early last year and is nearing completion. So far 100,000 pages-or around 300 bookshave been digitized to UNESCO standards and 88,000 pages cut, cleaned, laminated with chemical-free Japanese tissue paper and rebound in red leather covers with goldembossed lettering.

Those involved want to extend the project, hoping that if money is found, 500,000 books from the university’s 800,000-strong collection can be saved. Amol Divkar, an academic whose private archival science firm is undertaking the restoration work, says it has been a labor of love, with the funding just about covering the cost of materials and labor. But he said it has a wider significance-to set a precedent for other institutions around the country.

“We are determined to show that despite all the constraints, we can do a wonderfully positive project,” the historical researcher told AFP. India is one of world’s oldest civilizations, home throughout the years to pre-historic settlements, Mughal invaders, British colonialists and modern-day freedom fighters. But bar a few exceptions, the upkeep of the nation’s heritage is often lacking. Mumbai’s Anglican cathedral, St Thomas’s, for example, has birth records dating back to the 17th century, which could be a boon for family history enthusiasts and historians, said Divkar.

But the piles of hand-written ledgers are gathering dust, mould and decay. Like many areas of life, funding is a problem, he said, and getting government help involves a painfully slow process of ten-

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An Indian conservator works on an old and rare book at a laboratory in the Mumbai University campus, in Mumbai.—AFP photos

An Indian conservator works on an old and rare book at a laboratory. ders and red tape. Trained book preservation specialists like Joshi and her colleagues are in short supply, with some of their work correcting that of wellmeaning individuals who have previously attempted emergency repairs.

“People do preservation but they don’t have the right kind of knowledge about how books should be treated,” said assistant librarian Anjali Kale, holding up one tome restored with greaseproof paper. “See, its pages are curled. That’s to do with the heat.”

With a lack of will, capacity or knowledge, it’s left to passionate individuals like Tilaka Joseph, the former assistant librarian who initiated the project, to stubbornly look for alternatives. She convinced Tata Consultancy Services, India’s largest software exporter, to provide funding.

The giant Tata Group conglomerate is also involved in helping the prestigious Asiatic Society of Mumbai restore its 200,000-strong collection.

Some 3,200 books have been restored there, including a manuscript of Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, a copy of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” and delicate illustrated Buddhist palm leaf manuscripts dating from the 13th century. An adopt-a-book scheme has been running at the 195-year-old institution since

1991 for individuals to donate cash towards the cost of restoration.

Galileo’s 1632 work “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems”, one of the many volumes gathering dust in the society’s dark, musty basement, is to be restored with finance from local Italian business people.

“The main thing is getting donors to adopt books or boosting the coffers to allow us to restore the books,” said the organization’s president Aroon Tikekar. Without consistent funding, Tikekar and Divkar fear for the disappearance of India’s heritage as misuse, overuse and the damaging effects of tropical temperatures, monsoon humidity and insect infestation eat away at old pages.

“It’s important that this information or knowledge is disseminated to all,” Divkar said. “Some of the best pieces of information in the world from the 17th century are available in Mumbai. Very few people are aware of it.

“If this is not made available for future researchers, it crumbles to powder and is lost to posterity. Valuable knowledge will also be lost.

“We have what we have because of what our ancestors have done and produced for us.

If we can’t preserve it, we will have failed.”—AFP

Seoul launches ʻfloating islandʼ giant steel float that will be part of a “floating island” in Seoul boasting offshore entertainment facilities began a snails-paced trip towards the city’s Han River yesterday. The football-field-sized structure, resembling the hull of a cargo ship, moved at a barely noticeable speed over rows of giant rubber airbags from a riverside assembly site to the water just 60 meters (198 feet) away.

Linked by huge iron chains to giant winches, the buoy weighing 2,000 tons was not due to reach the water until Sunday. The three-meter high float, 85 meters long and 49 meters wide,

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will be part of Viva, one of three artificial islets to be built near the southern end of Banpo Bridge.

Along with two other artificial islets, Vista and Tera, to be launched by the end of April, the cluster of man-made floating islets will be used for conventions, water sports, restaurants, performances and exhibitions. The project will be completed and open to the public in August.

“We hope that the floating island will serve as Seoul’s new landmark,” a Seoul city government spokeswoman said.—AFP

A giant steel float that will be part of a ‘floating island’ floats in the Han river in Seoul on February 6, 2010.—AFP