11 May

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

40 PAGES

TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2010

‘Shock and awe’ euro rescue lifts global markets

Obama nominates Kagan for Supreme Court PAGE 9

KPC eyes private sector oil role by 2020 and gas output to 4 billion cubic feet per day (cfd) by 2030. The state relies on oil exports for over 90 percent of state revenues. Its oil production capacity is 3.1 million bpd. Last month, Rushaid said at an oil conference Kuwait would invest around KD 3 billion in upstream developments over the next five years.

KUNA quoted another oil official, Hashim Al-Rifai, managing director for planning at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), as saying the parent company was seeking private sector partners in ownership and management of some oil activities. He did not elaborate.

The oil sector is dominated by the state firms.

Continued on Page 14

NO: 14725

Pakistan knock South Africa out of World

PAGE 40

PAGE 20

Long way to go on human rights in Kuwait

By Khaled Abdullah KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti human rights watchdog drew a bleak picture of the human rights situation in the country, saying that freedoms in general have retreated with the continued presence of violations that have been committed against certain segments including expatriate workers, bedoons (stateless Arabs), media figures and parliamentary candidates.

In its report for 2009, a copy of which obtained by Kuwait Times, the Kuwait Society for Human Rights (KSHR) said efforts by the society and other NGOs to find a proper substi-

tute for the kafeel (sponsor) system were unsuccessful. It added that several expat labor groups, particularly cleaning workers, security guards and power meter readers continued to press for wages and benefits stipulated in their contracts.

“The society has received several worker complaints against employers for delaying payment of salaries, in some cases up to nine months - an indication of continued violations against the rights of expatriate workers in the country,” KSHR said in its report, adding that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor was incapable of providing the proper mechanism to

Netanyahu

economic architecture,” OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said in a statement. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development coordinates economic policy among the leading industrialised nations, and its membership roster represents an unofficial list of the most developed countries.

Palestinian groups had argued that letting Israel join would be a breach of the OECD’s commitment to human rights because of the Jewish state’s occupation of the West Bank and its treatment of Palestinians. Protestors staged a demonstration outside the OECD headquarters in Paris after Secretary General Gurria held a press conference to formally announce the invitation to the new countries.

“Israel today joined the club of the world’s elite economies,” Israeli Prime Continued on Page 14

increasing demand from households. It called on the relevant authorities to lay down the necessary regulations to protect this segment from violations and to prevent human trafficking.

The society lauded the new labor law, but said it lacked a definition of minimum wages and did not provide the legal cover for domestic helpers. It urged members of the parliamentary legal and legislative committee to approve the domestic helpers’ bill this year. The report also highlighted improvement in the maids’ situation, including the establishment of shelters for runaway maids.

Continued on Page 14

Kuwaitis had been linked to Qaeda

LONDON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown addresses the media outside 10 Downing Street in central London yesterday. — AFP

Brown to step down Lib Dems, Labour talk • Tories make ‘final offer’ LONDON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said yesterday he would step down this year, sacrificing himself to give his Labour Party a chance of forming a government with the smaller Liberal Democrats. The Lib Dems are already being courted by the Conservatives, who won most seats in a parliamentary election

Aquino set for landslide win MANILA: Benigno Aquino was poised for a landslide win in the Philippine presidential race after a historic election yesterday that saw millions of Filipinos embrace his promise to fight endemic graft. The senator’s emphatic early lead in the vote count came after an automated polling system used for the first time appeared to be a success despite some technical glitches, although 10 people were killed in political violence.

Aquino, son of the Southeast Asian nation’s most revered democracy heroes, established a huge lead over former president Joseph Estrada with just over 57 percent of the vote counted late on Monday night, the election commission said. Aquino secured 40.58 percent of the votes counted, with Estrada on 25.72 percent and business titan Manny Villar in third place with 13.85 percent, Commission on Election chair Jose Melo told reporters. The commission needed to count more votes before declaring a winner but, with more than half the votes counted, it appeared Aquino could achieve the biggest win in Philippine election history.

Aquino deftly tapped into popular sentiment for his parents by pledging a new style of clean government following nearly 10 years of rule under President Gloria Arroyo, whose reign has been tainted by allegations of massive graft.

“Corruption is the single biggest threat to our democracy,” Aquino, a 50-year-old bachelor who spent the past 11 years as low-key congressman and senator, said on his official website. His mother, Corazon Aquino, led the “people power” revolution that overthrew dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and then served as president.

Continued on Page 14

ensure that employers are fulfilling their obligations toward workers. “Despite of sincere efforts exerted by officials at the ministry to serve justice for expat workers, the ministry has failed to penalize violating employers to avert damage to the country’s image.”

The report added that domestic helpers continue to suffer from several problems, mainly the absence of a legal umbrella which preserves this segment rights and the compliance of employers to fulfilling these rights. It estimated the domestic helpers’ population in Kuwait at nearly 600,000, adding that the number of maids will continue to increase in the future with the

8 Arifjan ‘plotters’ acquitted

Israel admitted to OECD club PARIS: The OECD said yesterday it had invited Israel to join the exclusive club of prominent world economies, despite Palestinian objections to the inclusion of the Jewish state. Israel, Slovenia and Estonia “will contribute to a more plural and open OECD that is playing an increasingly important role in the global

150 FILS

Violence and censorship define Middle East movie output

PAGE 21

Kuwait to plough $24bn in projects KUWAIT: The Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) plans to spend up to KD 7 billion ($24.31 billion) in the next five years on development projects, state news agency KUNA reported yesterday.

KUNA quoted Sami AlRushaid, the state firm’s chairman and managing director, as saying the funds, between KD 5 to 7 billion, would go to a number of development projects including early production facilities, drilling wells, pipelines, and gas booster stations. Rushaid said the projects will also include building a hospital and buying tug boats for oil tankers.

Kuwait, the world’s fourthlargest oil exporter, is looking to boost oil output capacity to 4 million barrels a day (bpd)

JAMADA ALAWAL 27, 1431 AH

last week but fell short of a majority. The Conservatives shot back after Brown’s statement with their own “final offer” to the Lib Dems, an invitation to include them in a formal coalition and the promise of a referendum on a limited reform of the voting system.

Continued on Page 14

KUWAIT: A criminal court yesterday acquitted eight Kuwaitis allegedly linked to Al-Qaeda of plotting to attack a key US military base in the state, their lawyer said.

“Judge Hisham Abdullah issued the verdict to acquit the six defendants of all charges. They will be released from detention today,” Mohammad AlKandari told AFP of suspects who had appeared in court.

Five of the men were arrested in August last year while the sixth suspect is already serving a life term in jail for a 2002 attack on the US military in Kuwait that killed an American soldier.

They were charged with plotting to attack the Continued on Page 14

102 killed in Legally, bikinis a Iraq violence

no-no in Lebanon

TARLAC, Philippines: Presidential candidate Sen Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III smiles as he holds his ballot in the country’s first ever automated presidential elections yesterday in Hacienda Luisita. — AP

KUWAIT: Mohammad Al-Kandari, the lawyer of eight Kuwaitis allegedly linked to Al-Qaeda, speaks on the phone at his office yesterday after a criminal court acquitted the suspects. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

BEIRUT: The thousands of women parading along Lebanon’s sunny beaches this summer in skimpy bikinis or strolling the city’s pavements in miniskirts or shorts will all technically be breaking the law. More than 60 years after the tiny Mediterranean country gained independence from France, its penal code is still bogged down with archaic laws, some of which date back to the Ottoman Empire.

“Some laws have not been amended for decades,” Judge John Azzi, an advocate for women’s rights, told AFP. “It is as though nothing has changed” since Ottoman and French rule over Lebanon, when the country’s laws were passed, Azzi added.

One 1941 law, for example, still prohibits women from donning a two-piece and hitting the beach. Their punishment? A fine of 250 Lebanese-Syrian pounds - a currency that no longer exists. While such laws may prompt laughter among some people, others say they could also be viewed as appropriate among conservative societies in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Continued on Page 14

HILLA, Iraq: Three car bombs at a factory, followed by a fourth targeting emergency workers, and coordinated blasts against security forces killed 102 people yesterday in Iraq’s bloodiest day this year. Nearly 350 people were wounded in around two dozen attacks, a surge in violence that came as the country moved closer to forming a government two months after a general election seen as crucial to US combat troops leaving Iraq by Aug 31. The United States led internation-

al condemnation of the violence, which it described as “senseless,” while French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Paris “strongly condemned” the attacks.

The deadliest attack saw two suicide car bombs detonate simultaneously in the car park of a textiles factory in the central city of Hilla, as workers boarded buses to go home, followed minutes later by a third car bomb, police Captain Ali Al-Shimmari told AFP. About an Continued on Page 14

Arab world to remain global energy source

BEIRUT: A Lebanese woman jogs on the promenade on April 28, 2010. — AFP

DOHA: Arab countries will remain the world’s main energy supplier for decades to come, with more than half of proven global oil reserves, speakers at an Arab energy conference in Doha said yesterday. Arab countries hold 681 billion barrels of crude oil, representing 58 percent of proven global reserves, oil exploration and production expert at the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries Torki Hemsh told delegates, citing 2009 figures.

The Arab world also holds close to 300 billion barrels of potential, “undiscovered” crude reserves, Hemsh said on the second day of the ninth Arab Energy Conference.

Speaking earlier, Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi also emphasised the Arab region’s guaranteed role in the industry.

“These massive reserves... mean that this region will continue to occupy special significance in the global oil industry and trade Continued on Page 14

NATIONAL

2

Amir to visit Lebanon BEIRUT: Lebanese figures stressed here yesterday the importance of the upcoming visit of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Lebanon next week.

The Lebanese dignitaries expressed pride in the Kuwaiti-Lebanese relations at the official and popular levels, hoping that the visit of His Highness the Amir would strengthen those ties. Lebanese Minister of State Adnan Sayed Hussain said that his country was proud on receiving His Highness the Amir of Kuwait.

Sheikh Sabah will have talks with Lebanese officials, including President Michel Suleiman and will discuss Arab issues and developing relations between Kuwait and Lebanon, he pointed out.

The Kuwaiti-Lebanese relations are idle and should be an example for other Arab countries, he emphasized.

On his part, Member of Parliament (MP) Sameer Al-Jisr hailed the Kuwaiti support rendered to Lebanon and the Arab world and Kuwait’s efforts in supporting Arab causes in international

bodies. He also praised the role of His Highness the Amir in strengthening relations among Arab countries.

The Lebanese people will not forget the central role of Kuwait in ending the civil war in Lebanon when His Highness Sheikh Sabah was foreign minister at the time, he said. He expressed hope that the upcoming visit would increase cooperation, especially regarding joint investment projects, between the two countries.

MP Ammar Houri described the visit as “historic,” saying it would express the respect and appreciation of Kuwait to Lebanon. Kuwait and Lebanon have many similarities including freedom, democracy, challenges, and their small areas, he said.

He said that Lebanese people hold profound appreciation to Kuwait’s Amir, government, and people, adding that the Kuwaiti support to Lebanon will not be forgotten. Kuwait not only supported Lebanon financially, but also morally in regional and international events, he said. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Slovakian ambassador to Kuwait recently held a reception on the occasion of his country’s National Day. —Photos by Joseph Shagra

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Cabinet expresses optimism

Consultative summit to bolster progress in GCC countries KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti government expressed optimism on Sunday that today’s GCC Consultative Summit will further bolster progress in the GCC bloc in the best interests of the Arab Gulf people. The cabinet is hopeful that the summit, being held in Riyadh, will support the GCC’s continuing advancement, said the Kuwaiti Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Roudhan AlRoudhan. In a statement issued following the weekly cabinet meeting, which was chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammed The premier also briefed the cabinet about his recent visits to the US and Morocco, including his meetings with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and National Security Advisor General James Jones during which talks focused on a number of subjects, including ways of expediting the return of Kuwaiti detainees still being held in Guantanamo. Other subjects of discussion during the highlevel meetings included the introduction of peaceful nuclear energy cooperation, the Palestinian cause and ways of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, said Al-Roudhan.

Sheikh Mohammed also briefed the cabinet about his meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions related to Kuwait and Iraq, as well as UN efforts in pushing for peace in the region.

In Morocco, the Kuwaiti premier met with King Mohammad VI and discussed bilateral relations and the Palestinian cause, as well as backing endeavors to ensure peace and stability in the region based on the relevant UN resolutions.

Also during Sunday’s cabinet meeting, the Director General of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Dr. Salah Al-Moudhi briefed the council of ministers about the extended closure of factories in the Shuhaiba Industrial Zone which have not complied with environmental regulations.

Al-Moudhi also told the cab-

Al-Sabah, the minister said that HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah would head the Kuwaiti delegation to the summit, accompanied by the Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Sabah, Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Housing and Minister of State for Development Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah, Head of the National Security body Sheikh Mohammad Khaled Al-Sabah, Minister of Finance Mustafa Jassem Al-Shimali and other senior officials.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attends the International Islamic Charity Organization’s 25th anniversary and general assembly works at the organization’s headquarters in South Surra. —KUNA inet members that the EPA has ordered some factories to use the most advanced technology and equipment to protect the environment, as well as emphasizing the EPA’s recommendation to close factories at night.

Al-Roudhan further revealed that the cabinet has approved a draft decree to extend the Public Authority for Compensation’s mandate for another year.

His Highness the Amir’s

chairmanship of the 12th consultative meeting of leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries will unquestionably ensure the success of this critically important meeting of Gulf nations’ leaders, said a Kuwaiti diplomat in Riyadh yesterday.

Kuwait’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Sabah, said that HH the Amir has the experience to develop cooperation amongst

GCC, Arab, and Muslim states, adding that the Kuwaiti monarch’s experience would also add another dimension to the event. Along with the other members of the GCC, Kuwait will be working to bolster the economic, monetary, commercial, and financial ties amongst them, said the official, explaining that the event will mainly focus on subjects related to these fields, in addition to political events in the region. GCC

Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah told the press earlier that there would be no previously prepared agenda at the one-day meeting, which will see discussion of earlier GCC resolutions and review their contents to help in further bolstering development in the region. The GCC chief added that regional and global events would also possibly be discussed during the meeting. —KUNA

local spotlight

Qatar wins Harrods!

By Muna Al-Fuzai Egyptian billionaire Mohamed AlFayed has sold Harrods to Qatari royals for a whopping $2.2 billion! I was glad to read that Qatar took such a smart step.

I never doubted the talents of the Qatari when it comes to conducting good business and inking deals. I saw them take this great move, that is part of British history, not luxury shops that are recognized worldwide!

Al-Fayed will now enter into retirement and he expressed hope that Qatar Holding would continue to promote Harrods as one of the world’s leading brands. Qatar Holding, is the main arm of strategic, direct investments made by the state of Qatar.

I believe that Harrods has a magical glamour that attracts visitors to it.

This is the main quality which he

reserved over the years to all kinds of good British products. People from the Gulf region fell in love with this fancy shop many years ago.

The British consider Harrods as their country’s national treasure. So, now that Qatar is part of that heritage, I feel proud that the country is wise enough to make such investments thanks to the excellent relations shared between Qatar and UK. Business will flourish even more. Well done Qatar!

Qatar Prime Minister, and Chairman of Qatar Holding Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani stated to reporters that Qatar Holding would do its best to refurbish the iconic landmark, to make it better for tourism and the British.

Also, he said that this step would create a ‘road map’ to upgrade Harrods in the next few months! This is evident in how the Qataris think - not only about their country’s welfare, but also about what successful investment and business partnership or deal should go in order to ensure great out-

comes. I was thinking about Kuwait and how long ago we had set up different offices in London, Spain. This is in order to make investments on how much we lost in deals that did not return any yields! We should learn from Qataris who crossed all lines to bring their country to the forefont and create a special place on the world map!

Although Kuwait was an advanced country once upon a time when compared to Qatar, we have been placed far behind and have lost track of records.

The focus on business now is on when and how to act. We spend much of our time hesitating over whether we should or should not take a decision!

The decision is not only about making the right investment but about when to take it and who will take it!

Qatar had moved out of that dark tunnel. Their vision is clear about what they want and when to move.

This is what I call pure talent. Well done, Qatar. muna@kuwaittimes.net

GCC must criminalize culture of hatred KUWAIT: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) should remain free of sectarianism and should criminalize the culture of hatred, according to GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah.

“I do not support the concept of Sunnis or Shiites; we are all Arab and Muslim brothers and we shall all remain Muslims,” Al-Atiyyah told local daily AlQabas in a brief interview published yesterday. “The most significant thing is that we preserve our Arab Gulf society with all its Islamic sects and religious observation and safeguard it against sectarianism.”

All anti-sectarianism movements and campaigns in the Gulf are supported by the GCC, he said.

“There is a need to maintain loyalty and political allegiances in the GCC countries and to criminalize any attempt to spread hatred. National unity

should be paramount and should not be restricted.”

The GCC chief reiterated a call issued by the six member states to Iran to use diplomacy in addressing its crisis with the West over its controversial nuclear programme.

“We have always stated that we support a peaceful dialogue to find a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. We in the GCC have strong peaceful orientations. We and Iran are neighbours and have a common history and share the same religion,” Al-Atiyyah asserted.

On the recent legal row over reparations between Kuwait City and Baghdad, Al-Atiyyah said that the GCC countries fully support Kuwait in its position towards Iraq over compensation issues.

“We have clearly stated that Iraq has to comply with all international resolutions on the case with Kuwait.”—KUNA

3

NATIONAL

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Low turnout in Kuwait

Overseas Filipinos cast vote in ‘historic’ presidential elections

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Filipinos thronged to the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait yesterday to cast their votes, concluding a month-long overseas absentee voting (also known as OAV) process. Filipinos here were allowed to cast their votes until 2 pm yesterday, corresponding to 7pm in Manila, a time synchronized with

KUWAIT: One of the voters casting his ballot casting vote at the embassy.

KUWAIT: Some thrilled voters filling ballot forms at one of the polling booths set up at the embassy.

kuwait digest

Let’s change mindset! f you tell anyone in Kuwait that there is a technical institution that provides Kuwaiti students with education free of charge, while providing them with a $1,500 monthly grant during their studies, and giving them job security for the rest of their lives at salaries not less than $4,000 a month, they might believe that you are making it up, writes Ahmad Al-Sarraf in AlQabas.

However, this is a reality, with the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training’s nursing school providing these privileges for the 30 years since its establishment.

Despite all these privileges, however, this institute had failed to attract sufficient number of female students, who continue to refuse to work in this profession after their education and culture put them off working in this significant and noble profession.

Regardless of the opinions which argue against Kuwaiti women working as nurses due to the nature of this work which includes mixing with male patients, it’s important to note that spending billions on development projects while local manpower continue to be very selective about what professions they will consider, will significantly hurt any chances for real development to take place.

While the focus on the country’s development increases, we can find the shelves of the Manpower and Government Structuring Program (MGRP) offices contain hundreds of applications from Kuwaiti jobseekers who prefer to stay at home and wait to be given an office job rather than taking a manual labor job that pays nearly $3,000 per month, while at the same time their maids work hard throughout the day for less than $200 per month!

This social and moral flaw through which citizens are deterred by the idea of manual labor will only result in a disaster as the privatization and development plans will create hundreds of job opportunities which Kuwaiti citizens refuse to take, forcing the recruitment of more expatriate workers and resulting ultimately in more negative consequences for society.

While I don’t object to the privatization law, I still believe that in its current form it is futile. Instead of transferring the power over public services from the government to other firms, the government should focus first on changing citizens’ ideologies, and give this priority over all other aspects of development.

I

Performance-related bonuses for MoJ staff

By A Saleh KUWAIT: The Ministry of Justice has completed all the necessary official procedures regarding the payment of performance-related bonuses for its best staff at all levels, according a senior ministry official.

MoJ Undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs Abdulaziz Al-Majid said that the Acting Undersecretary Dr. Mohammad Al-Ansari has approved the list of those to be awarded bonuses, with the funds to be transferred to their bank accounts shortly. Al-Majid revealed that a total of 2,955 justice ministry staff are in line for performance-related bonuses, including 220 engineering and accounting specialists employed there.

This is the first time that non-Kuwaiti MoJ staff have been eligible for the rewards, added the assistant undersecretary, with 638 expatriate personnel receiving these payments this year, as well as 2,097 Kuwaiti citizens.

The decision to include non-Kuwaiti staff as recipients was taken by senior officials to demonstrate the gratitude of senior staff at the MoJ and Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs for their efforts.

“Based on our records, we garnered 5,258 Filipinos who officially participated in the overseas absentee voting in Kuwait. We are happy at this turnout. This is fine since this trend was not unique to Kuwait but shared by different overseas Philippine population,” he asserted.

According to Guinomla, the low turnout could be blamed mostly on the fact that many registered voters have already returned home to the Philippines for good, although he added, “It could also be that employers won’t permit their workers to leave their jobs.”

Filipinos overseas were allowed to vote for their choice of president, vice president, 12 senators and a party list representative. Guinomla thanked all the Philippines Embassy officials and Filipinos in Kuwait for their cooperation and enthusiasm demonstrated during the month-long voting period.

“It’s a long procedure, but we managed to conclude voting without hassles,” he said.

“There were some glitches like for some who came and were denied the opportunity to cast their votes because their names were not included in the official list of voters.”

Guinomla admitted that thousands of names were deliberately omitted from the official list of voters by the Comelec, after those individuals failed to vote for two consecutive OAVs. “We started the OAV in 2004, but we conducted nation-

the end of the Philippine Election Day. Filipino Administrative Officer Taja Guinomla, the Chairman of the Board of Election Inspectors, which was tasked with overseeing the overall election process in Kuwait reported a 26 percent turnout, from the total 20,256 registered voters. In the Philippines, the Commission on Election (Comelec), an election state agency, predicted an 85 percent turnout.

KUWAIT: Philippine Embassy officials assisting voters yesterday. — Photos by Ben Garcia al elections in 2007,” he explained. “If you failed to vote in two elections, the Comelec will automatically erase your name from the list of absentee voters.” Canvassing or counting of votes started immediately after the closure of the five precincts (based at the Philippine Embassy) in

Kuwait. The canvassing of vote is expected to be concluded by early this morning, May 11.

Nine candidates are vying for the highest position in the nation, with Binigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino Jr. apparently winning the hearts and votes of many Filipinos in Kuwait based on a partial and unofficial tally

relayed to the Kuwait Times

by Guinomla as of 6pm last night. Villanueva came second, with former president Joseph Estrada and administration candidate Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro coming third and fourth respectively. (The official result of absentee voting in Kuwait will be published

tomorrow).

This year’s Philippine Election has been a historic event, allowing voting via an automated system for the first time in the country’s history. The election result for the national positions will be announced two days after the voting closed, promised the state election body.

Umm Al-Haiman pollution remains a hot issue

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The Umm Al-Haiman pollution issue is still being hotly debated.

The issue has caused political turmoil and is no longer an environmental problem. Some MPs intend to grill the Prime Minister.

The Environment Public Authority (EPA) has not taken any active solutions to put an end to the crisis for residents of this area, “Appointing unqualified people to the posts occupied in EPA causes mismanagement and improper treatment of the country’s environmen-

tal situation. This has resulted aggravated Umm Al-Haiman’s pollution problem, and other environmental issues,” stated environmental activist and the President of the Green Line Group, Khalid Al-Hajiri.

Al-Hajiri also stressed that the Group possesses certain information and witnesses that the new management of EPA has withheld, especially from government officials. “Failure to joining specialists of EPA in treating the problem, caused government to create a negative environmental and political situation,” he noted.

According to Al-Hajiri, the only solution is to save the children of Umm AlHaiman from the pollution that is destroying their health. “The suffering caused by pollution can be resolved only by relocating residents of Umm AlHaiman to new residential areas, and to make a deal by paying suitable compensation,” he explained.

A meeting was recently held between Al-Hajiri and MP Khalid AlTahous, in which Al-Hajiri explained his point of view on the environmental disaster. “The Green Line will cooperate with any honest Member of Parliament

who aims to protect the children of Kuwait suffering from an infringement of their environmental rights and the systematic harm on their health by the government,” he noted.

“The planned grilling to be presented

by MP Khalid Al-Tahous to the Prime Minister is the first of its kind in the Middle East. Many international organizations are following this issue with great excitement,” said Al-Hajiri.

In his announcement, Al-Hajiri accused MPs of the fifth constituency of ‘selling’ the neglected children of Umm Al-Haiman. Factories are the main

cause of pollution. This is not the right and definite solution to tackle environmental disaster. “This problem has garnered international attention. Many world organizations are interested in and have called us to demand more information,” he further said.

The strike conducted by residents of Umm Al-Haiman and the absence of students from their schools was the first of its kind. “It shocked international organizations, especially since the Kuwaiti government is one of the richest in the world, and has the ability to solve the problem in a day,” Al-Hajiri concluded.

4

NATIONAL

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Bodies of two Asians found

Three dead, eight hurt in traffic accidents

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: The car accident on Gulf Road near the National Assembly yesterday.

— Photo by Hanan Al-Saadoun

NBK University honors AUB high fliers KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the leading bank in Kuwait and the highest rated in the Middle East, recently celebrated the graduation of the first batch of participants from the prestigious ‘High Fliers’ leadership program, delivered by NBK University in partnership with the American University of Beirut. The event was organized under the personal sponsorship and in the presence of NBK Group Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim S. Dabdoub, NBK Deputy CEO Shaikha Al Bahar, NBK Capital CEO Salah Al Fulaij and NBK General Manager, Human Resources Group, Adel Hechme.

Commenting on the success of the program, Group CEO Ibrahim Dabdoub said: “The next generation of leaders is the future of NBK. We are committed to identifying and developing our talented people so that in time they can become those who will guide the bank to even greater success”.

Dabdoub congratulated the first batch of graduates and called them to exert more efforts in order to continue the path of professional excellence, adding that “This program marks the start of what will be continuing process to nurture and grow our young talent. I am delighted with the outcome of this first NBK University program and look forward to seeing a number of the participants moving into key leadership roles as a result”. On his part, NBK General Manager, Human Resources Group, Adel Hechme said that NBK management has a deep commitment that Investing in Bank Talent is viewed as a strategic rather than an opera-

KUWAIT: Ibrahim Dabdoub addressing the ceremony. tional activity which will be translated in several ways, one of which is an integrated talent management program starting with the high fliers program.

The ‘High Fliers’ leadership program, delivered by the first-of-its-kind initiative “NBK University”, is designed to provide NBK’s leaders of the future with a solid introduction to a wide range of leadership disciplines. The program, which commenced in May 2009, covered topics such as finance, risk and people management skills and included classroom discussion,

case studies and assignments.

As one of the largest employers of Kuwaiti nationals, NBK maintains its commitment to development of its Kuwaiti workforce and the creation of new job opportunities for Kuwait’s younger generation. To meet the new higher targets introduced by the government for the nationalization of the workforce, NBK recruited 460 new Kuwaiti staff in 2009. Currently, NBK’s ratio of nationals among its staff exceeds 60% among the highest of all Kuwaiti banks.

KUWAIT: A five-vehicle pile-up resulted in the death of a Kuwaiti woman and the injury of two of her children, who were both rushed to hospital. The woman’s body was removed for autopsy. In a separate case, a young Kuwaiti woman died in an accident on King Fahad Road when a large lorry over-

turned on top of her vehicle, crushing it. An investigation is underway into the cause of the accident. In another fatal incident, an unidentified man died, while two Egyptian men, a 12year-old Kuwaiti boy and an unidentified child sustained various injuries in a collision between a vehicle and a truck on King Fahad Road. The injured were rushed to the hospital, while the body of the dead man was removed for autopsy.

In a separate accident, a motorist who lost control of his jeep on Gulf Road was driving so fast that the car uprooted a palm tree and did not come to a stop until it hit a car parked in the parking lot in Al-Iraqda Square across from the National Assembly building. Police took the driver into custody for questioning about his dangerously fast driving in an area with an 80 kilometers per hour speed limit.

Meanwhile, three Kuwaitis, two aged 16 and one aged 23, were taken to Adan Hospital after being injured in a car accident between Mubarak AlKabeer and Eqaila.

Electrical fire Eight Indian men aged between 28 and 45 suffered burns to their hands, backs and legs when fire broke out in an electricity substation near the Liberation Tower. All were rushed to the Amiri and Sabah Hospitals.

Bullet wound A 16-year-old Kuwaiti boy was taken to Adan Hospital after suffering a bullet wound to his back in the Adan area.

Nasty fall A 15-year-old Kuwaiti boy was taken to Mubarak Hospital after suffering a gash to the head when he fell from the Jabriya Cooperative building.

underway after the body of a fatally wounded 44-year-old Filipina woman was discovered behind the Kuwait Theater in Salmiya.

Police found several stab wounds on the dead woman’s body, which was removed for autopsy.

KUWAIT: Bomb squad officers rushed to a Hawally bilingual school following a bomb threat there yesterday. The caller apparently instructed school staff to evacuate all the teaching staff and pupils as quickly as possible since a bomb was set to explode shortly. The bomb squad officers searched the school thoroughly before concluding that the call had been a sick hoax. An investigation is underway to trace the hoaxer. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh Don’t drink that!

A three-year-old Kuwaiti toddler was rushed to Adan Hospital after mistakenly ingesting cleaning liquid.

Two murders A murder investigation is

In a separate case, another investigation has been launched after the body of a 53-year-old Bangladeshi man was discovered in Khaitan. Police suspect foul play in the man’s death. The body was removed for autopsy.

in the news Female beggars KUWAIT: Police in Ahmadi and Hawally recently arrested 15 female beggars in a crackdown at local markets. Eight of the women arrested in the campaign are Arab expatriates, while all those detained had come to Kuwait on family visit visas.

A police insider revealed that all the arrested women will be deported, with a report to be submitted to the immigration department recommending that the necessary action be taken against their sponsors. In a separate incident, a young man flagged down patrol officers in Khaitan, telling them that another motorist was chasing him and threatening to kill him following an argument between them, reported Al-Anba. The other man was quickly stopped and arrested, with police recovering a knife from his possession. He quickly admitted that he had intended to kill the other man following a fight between them at a local diwaniya.

Wedding gunfire KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti man had to dive for shelter after stray bullets whizzed past him as he was driving down a street in Andalus. The gunfire apparently emanated from an overenthusiastic wedding guest nearby who was celebrating a friend’s nuptials by firing off a gun.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, reported Al-Watan. The motorist immediately drove to the area police station and lodged a complaint about the incident, with an investigation being launched to find the gunman.

Fraudulent companies KUWAIT: The Public Prosecution Office (PPO) will summon 12 employees from the Farwaniya Labor Department to testify about the case where the files of 70 companies were manipulated. The source said that the administrative investigation conducted by Social Affairs Department would be temporarily halted until the prosecution concludes its investigations that began yesterday with two employees, reported Al-Jarida.

One of the workers is from Farwaniya and the other from the minister’s office.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

NATIONAL

5

Personal agendas suspected

Politicians, workforce, students speak against privatization

By Hussain Al-Qatari KUWAIT: With posters, banners, chants and speeches, members of the public expressed on their dissatisfaction on Sunday evening on the government’s plan to privatize government sectors. The protestors claimed Commenting on the criticism of several politicians towards this protest, MP Mubarak Al-Walaan said that supporting the people is part and parcel of being their representatives in the National Assembly. “We hold this position now because we were voted by the people.

Taking part in an event like this with the people is an honor,” he said.

Dhaifallah Buramia lauded the protestors’ attendance and urged them to attend the discussion sessions in the National Assembly. “The Cabinet knows the amount of people who are against this policy. You must speak up and show this failed government that you will always speak against all injustices, and this pri-

vatization policy they are eager to accomplish is an injustice,” he said. Buramia explained that when the government gave an allowance to encourage people to work in the private sector, it did not give them any guarantees.

“Many people have lost their jobs in the private sector when the financial crisis hit the country. If all ministries are privatized, imagine that the crisis will multiply,” noted Buramia.

Representatives of worker unions also spoke against this policy. Lawyer Thegul Al-Ajmi said in his speech that the law the government wants to pass for privatizing government sectors is flawed.

“It proves that the government is unable

that such a step would lead to the total destruction of social equality, something that the government should try to accomplish in the country.

By implementing such a policy, argued protestors, the society will be split into wealthy business owners who own everything (plutocracy), and employees are have-nots. to take responsibility for its failures; they are running away from the backwardness they have caused the country by pushing for privatization,” he said.

The Head of the Kuwait Workers Union Abdulrahman Al-Sumait said during the event that many politicians who are promoting this law are trying to show it in a positive light, which makes their intentions questionable. “We, at the Kuwait Workers Union, demand that the Parliament exerts all its effort to curb the government’s decision to go ahead with this proposed law; it is going to drive the country’s wealth to bankruptcy. Kuwait is not ready for privatization at this time,” he said noting that in the future,

there might be a possibility for privatization, when and if the environment allows for it to happen.

Former Minister of Information Dr Saad Al-Ajmi said that the government’s strong, incessant support to apply the privatization policy suggests that they have personal agendas in this matter.

“This unprecedented, incessant demand for privatization is an attempt to accomplish something else, a personal interest,” he said.

He urged the audience to push for this policy to be changed: “You make the law, not the Parliament because you, the people, are the ones who elected the Parliament,” said Al-Ajmi.

West Hadiya housing project canceled

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of the Russian Federation Alexander Kinshchak hosted a reception on Sunday evening to celebrate the 65th anniversary of victory in the great patriotic war. —Photos by Joseph Shagra

Minor fire at airport KUWAIT: A minor fire that started in an office of a Kuwaiti airline company in Kuwait International Airport early yesterday caused damage, but no casualties.

Director of the operations department of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Isam AlZamil said that the fire only caused damage in the

company’s office whose area is not more than 15 square meters.

The airport’s fire department is conducting investigations on the incident, he added.

Al-Zamil said that the operations department’s employees immediately dealt with the fire before the arrival of the fire team. — KUNA

Increase in number of Kuwaiti tourists in Syria DAMASCUS: The number of Kuwaiti tourists who visited Syria increased 15 percent in 2009, said a Syrian official.

Promotion director at the Syrian Tourism Ministry Dr Ahmad Al-Yousef said Saudi tourists increased about 18 percent and UAE and Bahrainis 15 percent. The number of foreign tourists ranged between 11 percent and 31 percent, he said.

Most foreign tourists came from Turkey, Iran, Malaysia, Italy, France, Britain, Germany, Spain, Netherland and Sweden, he added.

Al-Yousef pointed out that the ministry completed preparations for the marketing campaign that will include street and television ads in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, as well as ads on the Internet. According to a report issued by the Syrian Tourism

Ministry, it is expected that tourists who will visit Syria in 2014 will be about 12 million.

The official said that Syria will take part in several travel exhibitions including events in Kuwait, Dubai, Riyadh, Bahrain and Tunisia. Each market requires a different message, he said, adding that the Italian market, for example, likes religious tourism, while the Germans are interested in culture.

The ministry announced that the number of tourists who visited Syria in 2009 increased 12 percent compared to 2008. The number of Gulf tourists increased 16 percent, Turkish tourists went up 32 percent, and Europeans increased 25 percent. The total number of tourists was 6.091 million, increasing 661,000 from the 5.430 million in the previous year. —KUNA

40 cabbies arrested KUWAIT: Hawally traffic police recently arrested 40 drivers of roaming cabs for failing to meet the conditions regulating taxi work. The crackdown was launched on the orders of Assistant Ministry of Interior (MoI) Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs Lieutenant Mahmoud Al-Dossari, with a number of police checkpoints

being set up, as well as police vehicles stopping random taxis to check their drivers’ papers.

Police issued a number of citations for various violations, including using a private driving license rather than a taxi driver’s one for public transportation, reported Al-Watan. All the drivers were taken into custody for questioning.

KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has issued a decision to cancel a housing project after failing to reach a resolution with the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

For a period of four years, futile meetings and discussions were held between the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) and the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) on the proposed project to allocate 4,000 housing units for citizens in west Hadiya.

According to suggestions the KOC would have to surrender a plot of land for the project.

During a decisive meeting held between the two firms to discuss the issue, the KOC reiterated its commitment to keep the disputed plot of land, refusing to surrender any parts, as it explained its need for a location be used to execute housing projects that follow the Ahmadi petroleum residence.

The KOC representatives further explained how it was impossible that the location could be handed over to another body due to the fact that oil pipelines are located beneath it, reported AlWatan.

The meeting’s minute was referred to Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, State Minister for Housing and Development Affairs.

ISTANBUL: The Kuwait National Assembly delegation pictured in Istanbul yesterday.—KUNA

Parliamentary delegations meet in Turkey ISTANBUL: Kuwait’s National Assembly (parliament) Speaker Jassem AlKharafi arrived in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Sunday to participate in a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC member states (PUOICM), which will tackle issues regarding Israeli violations in the occupied city of Jerusalem.

Upon arrival, Al-Kharafi expressed to reporters his admiration to Turkey’s role in hosting such meeting, to start tomorrow, which reflected its keenness to participate and arrange for PUOICM meeting, noting that the issue of Jerusalem city required a united Islamic stance that would force Israel to accept responsibility of its action amid the continuous violations there.

The Speaker expressed hope that the outcome of such meeting contribute to boosting support for the Palestinian issue, in addition to confront Israeli policy and practices of Judaizing the occupied city of Jerusalem.

“Such meetings should help the process of integration among Islamic countries in the international arenas, which would serve its just causes, and not only settle with issuing statements and deliver speeches,” Al-Kharafi said, calling for a unified Islamic

position in international parliamentary forums and the likes.

The Speaker added that the issue of Jerusalem came up during the recent international parliamentary union meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, which stressed on the importance of achieving an Islamic solidarity to help confront the violations in Jerusalem, and in turn today’s meeting was the answer.

The main item on the agenda is “Israeli practices and violations of rights in occupied Jerusalem and Judaizing

attempts and continued settlement expansion.”

The one-day extraordinary meeting is to be chaired by Turkish Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin, and President Recep Erdogan is expected to address the meeting as well.

Kuwait is taking part alongside representatives from 28 Islamic countries.

The Kuwaiti delegation is presided

by Speaker Al-Khorafi and includes MP Walid AlTabtabaei and officials at the Kuwaiti Parliament Secretariat. —KUNA

6

NATIONAL

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Fire erupts in school

Two bedoon classmates rape boy in Farwaniya KUWAIT: An 11-year-old Kuwaiti schoolboy has accused two bedoon (stateless) classmates of raping him several times in a restroom at their school in Farwaniya, reported Al-Watan. The boy immediately told his father about the incident, with the father calling police who arrested one of the two accused boys shortly after, while the hunt for his accomplice continues.

Call for new vision on biodiversity GENEVA: There is a need to focus the interests of the Arab public opinion on biodiversity, which is important for many environmental problems in the region including desertification, rising temperatures, changing rates of humidity and ecological imbalance, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ahmed Djoghlaf, said yesterday. “Keeping biodiversity and saving the environment is not a luxury but is a religious duty urged in Islam for centuries,” he said.

“The relationship between human beings and Nature and environment changed in the last few decades due to the continuous migration from the rural regions to the urban areas, and the relationship is weakening as computers and mobile phones play the main role in the communication between peoples and in their lives,” he said.

“Many in the new generations do not know much about plants or animals, as they spend more time with the TV and computer games than outdoors,” he added.

Ahmed Djoghlaf provided a commentary to the third edition of Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-3), launched yesterday by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The publication confirms that the world has failed to meet its target to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biodi-

versity by 2010.

“Natural systems that support economies, lives, and livelihoods across the planet are at risk of rapid degradation and collapse, unless there is swift, radical, and creative action to conserve and sustainably use the variety of life on Earth.”

That is a principal conclusion of a major new assessment of the current state of biodiversity and the implications of its continued loss for human well-being.

The Outlook argues, however, that such outcomes are avoidable if effective and coordinated action is taken to reduce the multiple pressures being imposed on biodiversity. For example, urgent action is needed to reduce land-based pollution and destructive fishing practices that weaken coral reefs and make them more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification.

The document notes that the linked challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change must be addressed by policymakers with equal priority and in close coordination, if the most severe impacts of each are to be avoided.

Conserving biodiversity and the ecosystems it underpins can help to store more carbon, reducing further build-up of greenhouse gases; and people will be better able to adapt to unavoidable climate change if ecosystems are made more resilient with

the easing of other pressures.

The Outlook outlines a possible new strategy for reducing biodiversity loss, learning the lessons from the failure to meet the 2010 target.

It includes addressing the underlying causes or indirect drivers of biodiversity loss, such as patterns of consumption, the impacts of increased trade and demographic change. Ending harmful subsidies would also be an important step.

GBO-3 concludes that we can no longer see the continued loss of biodiversity as an issue separate from the core concerns of society. Realizing objectives such as tackling poverty and improving the health, wealth, and security of present and future generations will be greatly strengthened if we finally give biodiversity the priority it deserves.

The Outlook points out that for a fraction of the money summoned up instantly by the world’s governments in 2008-9 to avoid economic meltdown, we can avoid a much more serious and fundamental breakdown in the Earth’s life support systems.

In his foreword to GBO-3, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon writes; “To tackle the root causes of biodiversity loss, we must give it higher priority in all areas of decision making and in all economic sectors.” — KUNA

Unhappy families A police investigation has been launched after a 34-yearold Kuwaiti man stormed into his mother and stepfather’s home brandishing a gun and ordering his stepfather to leave for unknown reasons. After complying with his demands, Al-Rai reported, the stepfather immediately went to the local police station where he filed a case against the young man, who has been summoned for questioning.

In a separate case, an Asian woman and her son were abducted by her two brothers after they stormed into her home in Nugra while her husband, also Asian, was out of the country, forcing their sister and the child to leave with them.

The men also assaulted the woman’s father-in-law when he attempted to stop them, reported Al-Watan. After they had left, he immediately contacted police and reported the incident, which it is believed took place following an earlier dispute between the two families.

Meanwhile, a bedoon woman recently stabbed her 16-year-old daughter in the hand before throwing her out of the family home in Jahra follow-

ing a family dispute. A female neighbor found the teenager crying in a stairwell and took the girl into her own home, calling police after the girl told her what had taken place, reported Al-Watan. The girl was taken into custody and an investigation is underway into the incident.

Phone death threat A Kuwaiti man has filed a case at Fahaheel police station after an anonymous male caller phoned him, threatening to kill him over statements he had made on a TV program.

Investigators are attempting to trace the cowardly caller through his phone number, reported Al-Watan.

School fire A 13-year-old Kuwaiti boy and a 20-year-old woman, also Kuwaiti, had to be hospitalized after suffering the effects of smoke inhalation when they were trapped by a fire which broke out at a Farwaniya school. Emergency personnel were quickly at the scene, with firefighters quickly putting the blaze out, while first aid was administered to the two individuals before they were taken

to hospital, reported Al-Watan.

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.

Drugs bust Two bedoon drug dealers were arrested following an operation by border security officials and police. After receiving a tip-off about the men’s activities, police covertly staked out the location where the dealers were due to meet to conduct a transaction. After the two men arrived and were seen exchanging articles, they were caught red-handed, with officers discovering that the bags being handed over contained 70,000 narcotic tablets. On being taken into custody and questioned, the dealers told police that they were conducting the transaction on behalf of another drug dealer who one of them works for, reported AlWatan. Both men are being held for further questioning and a search is underway for the third man.

Ex trouble A Kuwaiti man recently attempted to break down the door of his ex-wife’s home in Jahra in order to regain custody

of his son. The terrified woman immediately called police who were quickly at the scene, with the ex-husband immediately fleeing when he realized they were approaching, reported AlRai. The woman has filed three charges against her former husband, of attempted break-in, attempted abduction and property damage, and a search is underway for the accused man.

Fraudulent employee The manager of a major telecommunications firm’s Fahaheel store has filed a case at the local police station accusing the shop’s Lebanese accountant of stealing KD 19,000 worth of cash intended for employees’ salaries which was stored in the safe there.

The shop manager contacted police to report the incident after the accountant went missing, with CCTV footage proving that he had indeed stolen the money before leaving, reported Al-Anba. A subsequent police investigation showed that the missing man had fled to his home country, Lebanon and local Interpol officers are coordinating with their Lebanese counterparts to bring him to justice.

Kuwaiti scholar wins ABEGS award for 2010

KUWAIT: A work team was organized by the Public Authority for Youth and Sports to discuss organizational and financial regulations for the Abdullah Al-Salem Leaders Training Center. Several meetings were recently held under the supervision of team leader Dr Bodoor Al-Mutawa, in association with commissioners of sports associations in the country. Dr Al-Mutawa said that the meeting has been very productive, as it discussed issues pertinent with training courses that will be held at the center to qualify head coaches and assistant coaches for various sports. This aims at improving efficiency in all sports associations.

RIYADH: Dr. Zainab Al-Jaber, of the College of Education of Kuwait University, won yesterday the sixth annual award of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS).

The 2010 award-giving ceremony was held here in the presence of Saudi Minister of Education Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Mohammad AlSaud and ABEGS DirectorGeneral Dr. Ali Al-Karni.

Speaking to KUNA after the ceremony, Dr. Al-Jaber said she dedicated the award to the State of Kuwait whose successive governments attributed great importance to education, science and scientific research.

“The state always sets aside a big part of its budget to the improvement of educational services and the encouragement of scientific creativity,” she pointed out.

Dr. Al-Jaber noted that she had the honor of receiving the ABEGS for 1997. She praised the role of the Riyadh-based ABEGS in promoting cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science, information and documentation among its member states.

During the ceremony Prince Faisal announced a decision to double the value of ABEGS award from 100,000 to 200,000 Saudi riyals as from the coming seventh session.

Founded in 1975 as an intergovernmental regional organization, ABEGS groups seven member states namely, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Yemen, Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman and Qatar. — KUNA

Discussions on labor issues ADDIS ABABA: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Ahmad Salem Al-Wuhaib yesterday met for talks with Ethiopian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Hassan Abdallah on strengthening bilateral relations and issues related to domestic labor.

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs has praised Ethiopian workers’ treatment in Kuwait, affirming that the Ethiopian nationals face no problems in the Gulf country.

Abdallah, moreover, expressed appreciation for the Kuwaiti government for its facilities and approval of increasing the number of the Ethiopian employees and workers in the Gulf state.

Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives plans to endorse, soon, an accord with Kuwait for the exchange of labor, signed by the two countries during a visit by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the Afircan nation in the past year, he noted. — KUNA

INTERNATIONAL

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

7

Iranian missiles could target West Europe by 2014: IISS LONDON: Iran could target western Europe with missiles by 2014, although it would take at least twice as long before they could hit the United States, experts said in a report published yesterday. Tehran is more than a decade away from developing a missile capable of reaching the US east coast, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said in a report on Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities.

The London-based group said Iran was making “robust strides” in developing ballistic missiles “in tandem” with its efforts to

expand its nuclear capabilities. “The two programs appear to be connected, with the aim of giving Iran the capability to deliver nuclear warheads well beyond its borders,” it said.

Iran’s ballistic missiles could be used to wage a terror campaign in the Middle East, it added, although its missiles are at present too inaccurate to shut down another country’s critical military activities.

While Iran has been alongside North Korea in developing missile capabilities, Tehran has now surpassed Pyongyang in

terms of technical ability, the IISS experts said. The United States and Europe have long accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian nuclear energy program, a charge Tehran denies.

“Flight test programs for solid-propellant missiles historically take on average more than four years,” the report said. “To achieve a reasonable measure of reliability and confidence, a dozen or more test flights should be conducted. “Therefore, Iran is not likely to field a liquid-fuelled missile capable

of targeting western Europe before 2014 or 2015.”

The “worst-case scenario” projected at the turn of the century about Iran being able to strike the United States within five years has not materialized, the study said.

However, “logic and the history of Iran’s evolutionary missile and space-launcher development efforts suggest that Tehran would develop and field an intermediaterange missile before embarking on a program to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the

American east coast, 9,000 kilometers away.

“It is thus reasonable to conclude that a notional ICBM... is more than a decade away in development.” Iran’s space program launches have been “proof-of-principle demonstrations”, offering no immediate strategic value beyond symbolism, said the report. The IISS estimated that Iran has around 200 to 300 Shahab-1 and 2 missiles capable of reaching targets in neighboring countries.

“Iran’s ballistic missiles could be used as a political weapon to wage a terror campaign

against adversary cities,” primarily in the Middle East, the report said. “While such attacks might trigger fear, the expected casualties would be low-probably less than a few hundred, even assuming Iran unleashed its entire ballistic missile arsenal and that a majority of the warheads penetrated missile defenses.

“The military utility of Iran’s ballistic missiles is severely limited because of their very poor accuracy. “The missiles would probably be incapable of shutting down critical military activities.”—AFP

2 Israeli Arabs suspected of spying for Hezbollah Gag order on the case partially lifted JERUSALEM: Israel has arrested two Israeli Arabs suspected of spying for Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, police and security services said yesterday, partially lifting a gag order on the case. Websites flouted the gag order and

GAZA STRIP: A Palestinian woman holds a picture of a prisoner jailed in Israel, during a demonstration calling for the release of prisoners near Erez crossing, northern Gaza Strip yesterday. —AP

Israeli plan for east Jerusalem clouds talks JERUSALEM: Israel said yesterday it will press forward with construction of new housing for Jews in east Jerusalem, drawing Palestinian accusations that the plans could undermine newly relaunched peace talks.

Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser’s statement illustrated the balancing act that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces as he conducts peace talks in the coming months.

His hawkish government wants construction in east Jerusalem, the section of the holy city claimed by the Palestinians, to continue. But American mediators and the Palestinians want the building halted. “Building is expected to begin soon in Har Homa ... and Neve Yaakov, where (construction) bids have been issued,” Hauser told Army Radio, referring to two east Jerusalem neighborhoods. “Building in Jerusalem is continuing according to its regular pace.” US Mideast envoy George Mitchell left the region Sunday after completing the first round of indirect peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians , who resumed negotiations last week after at 17-month hiatus. The US praised both sides on Sunday for taking small steps to create a positive atmosphere, including an Israeli pledge not to build a major housing project for two years. The planned construction of 1,600 new apartments in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood had caused a serious rift with Washington.

Hauser said it would have taken a couple of years anyway before the Ramat Shlomo project would begin, and in the meantime, construction in other east Jerusalem neighborhoods would proceed. He gave no timetable for the building in Har Homa and Neve Yaakov and did not say how many new apartments are planned there.

Despite Hauser’s claim, Israeli construction in east Jerusalem has been held back, though not halted, since the dispute over Ramat Shlomo erupted in March. Israel has not approved any new housing plans, but construction on hundreds of apartments that were previously approved has proceeded.

On Sunday, the anti-settlement watchdog group Peace Now said Jewish settlers had begun work on a 14-unit apartment building in an abandoned police station in Ras al-Amud, an Arab neighborhood in east Jerusalem. The building is owned by a Jewish group, and the project does not require any government approval unless the residents want to expand the building, Peace Now said. Nonetheless, Palestinians said the project violated the terms

of the new peace talks, in which Israel has promised not to take any provocative actions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would address his concerns with the Americans.

“The Americans said some words to us, and they said some words to the Israelis, and now it’s up to the US administration to answer such things,” Abbas told reporters. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Israeli position undermined trust-building as the US tries to get the indirect negotiations, or proximity talks, moving. “The whole concept of proximity talks is to give Senator George Mitchell and US President Barack Obama the chance they deserve,” Erekat said. “If they begin doing this (building), I think they will take down the proximity talks.” Israeli Cabinet Minister Dan Meridor said Israel could not accept a “discriminatory” policy that barred Jews from living in certain parts of the city. But he said “the policy of the government will try to be wise.”

Sovereignty over Jerusalem is the most emotionally charged issue dividing Israel and the Palestinians. The eastern sector is home to a disputed hilltop compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, known as Temple Mount to Jews and Noble Sanctuary to Muslims. It is Judaism’s holiest site and Islam’s third-most sacred shrine. Meridor said any future arrangement in Jerusalem would guarantee free access for all religions to worship. But he added: “To take the Old City and cut it to pieces I think is not only not right but not realistic.” Israel annexed east Jerusalem immediately after capturing it from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war, and Netanyahu, hardening the positions of his immediate predecessors, says he won’t share it with the Palestinians.

The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as capital of a future state and see continued Israeli construction there as undermining their claim. The international community does not recognize the annexation.

The Obama administration’s vocal opposition to Jewish construction in east Jerusalem , unprecedented in US politics , has forced Israel to recognize that the world equates Jewish building there with settlement construction in the West Bank. Israel’s refusal to bow to Palestinian calls for a total settlement freeze has forced the two sides into an awkward arrangement of negotiating through Mitchell , a step backward after 16 years of face-to-face negotiations.—AP

Report: Families to visit Americans jailed in Iran TEHRAN: An Iranian state television channel said yesterday that the families of three Americans arrested along the Iraqi border in July will be allowed to visit them in a Tehran prison. Iran’s English-language Press TV did not say how it obtained the information, adding only that a date for the visit had not yet been set. The Americans’ families have been told before that they would be granted visas to visit Iran only to find that they did not have the permission. Iran has accused Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal of illegal border crossing, espionage and having

links to US intelligence.

Their relatives and the US government have denied the spying accusations.

The families of the three graduates of the University of California at Berkeley say they were hiking in the scenic Kurdistan region of northern Iraq and that if they did cross the border with Iran they did so unintentionally.

Bauer’s mother, Cindy Hickey, and the sister of Fattal, Alex Fattal, said yesterday that they heard through an established channel of communication that the Iranian government has issued visas for several family members. Hickey would not

elaborate on exactly who told them that they had been issued the visas.

Hickey said, however, that it is the third time the families have heard that in recent weeks “only to not get visas put in our hands.” Hickey said the families will not solidify travel plans until they take possession of visas and are given a window of time for their trip. But, she said, she and other family members all have suitcases packed and are ready to go at a moment’s notice.

“We’re very cautious about our optimism,” Hickey said.

“Emotionally I know I have to be really careful.”— AP

Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency said in a statement that the men were arrested for “severe security offenses including contacting a Hezbollah agent.” Additional details of the case are still subject to the gag order, the statement said. The two men have not been charged. In recent years, several Israeli Arabs have been arrested for spying for Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israel suspected of involvement in bloody attacks against Jews outside the region as well. In 2006, Hezbollah and Israel fought a monthlong war, and Israel’s president recently accused the militants of obtaining Scud missiles from Syria.

Makhoul, brother of a former member of Israel’s parliament, was arrested last week. Makhoul heads Ittijah, a network for Arab organizations in Israel. Makhoul is a political activist known for expressing proPalestinian views, but he is not known to have advocated violence.

Ittijah said Makhoul was arrested in a pre-dawn raid on his house in the northern city of Haifa on Thursday.

The other suspect in the case, Omar Sayid, was arrested April 24.

Adalah, an Arab legal center in Israel, is representing both suspects.

“This is an effort to criminalize open political and social activity of political activists,” Abeer Baker, an

made the arrest of political activist Amir Makhoul into a rallying cry for critics of Israel’s treatment of its Arab minority. Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the gag order was imposed to avoid harming the investigation.

JERUSALEM: In this May 9, 2006 photo made available yesterday, Israeli Arab Amir Makhoul, director of an Arab NGO and the brother of a former member of Israel’s parliament is seen. —AP

Adalah lawyer involved in the case, told The Associated Press.

“If I have coffee with someone and he has certain political activities, it’s as if I met him because I want to harm state security,” she said. Baker said Makhoul has not been allowed to meet a lawyer, and Sayid rejected the accusations.

“He clearly said that he denies all the charges and clarified to investigators that, yes, he has relations that are legal and not hidden, and that he doesn’t belong to any cell or organization or anything like it,” Baker said.

Arabs make up about 20 percent of Israel’s 7.5 million citizens.

They enjoy full rights but complain of decades of discrimination. Their communities are far below average economically and educationally.

Israeli Arabs have always had an uncomfortable position in a largely Jewish state. Most have relatives among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, including many who fled or were driven out during the war that followed Israel’s creation in 1948 and became refugees.

During the past 15 years, marked by long periods of intense IsraeliPalestinian violence, many Israeli Arabs have become radicalized, backing Palestinian demands for a state and criticizing Israeli moves against Palestinians.—AP

Gaza tunnelers use torches to cut Egypt’s steel wall GAZA: Palestinian tunnel-diggers are using welding torches to cut through a steel wall Egypt is building to block the smuggling of goods and weapons into the Gaza Strip, a tunnel operator said yesterday.

“Even if the Egyptians installed 10 walls, we would find ways to cut through

them,” said tunnel builder Abu Nimer.

Under US and Israeli pressure to stem subterranean smuggling into the Gaza Strip, Egypt has been hammering a steel wall into the ground along its border with the enclave, which is under Hamas Islamist rule and an Israeli-led barricade.

Abu Nimer told Reuters it took the opera-

Egypt opposition to protest emergency law extension CAIRO: Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition groups are due to protest today against the expected extension of emergency law, the head of the Brotherhood’s parliamentary bloc told AFP. “There will be a demonstration tomorrow outside parliament against the extension of the emergency law. Several opposition groups will join,” Hamdy Hassan said yesterday.

Egypt’s decades-old emergency law which gives police extended powers of arrest, suspends constitutional rights and curbs non-governmental political activity, has been extended every three years since 1981. One parliamentary source told AFP the law could be extended today after a speech by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif who will ask parliament for a renewal.

“It could be tomorrow, the day after. It could be anytime before this parliamentary session ends on May 31,” Hassan said.

“The government has already made clear its intention to extend the state of emergency.” “Even as parliamentarians, we don’t know ahead of time when we will be asked to vote on the extension of the emergency law. We find out as it is about to happen,” Hassan said.

“But this time, we will not let it pass easily,” he said. Last month, Egyptian police beat up demonstrators demanding an end to the emergency lawin place since the 1981 assassination of president Anwar Sadat-and dozens were arrested. Egypt has repeatedly come under international criticism for maintaining the status quo.—AFP

tor of an oxy-acetylene torch, a commonly-used industrial welding and cutting tool, a day to carve out a hole 1.5 metres in diameter.

After shoring up the breach, tunnellers resumed their work and “business is going well”, Abu Nimer said. Besides a wide variety of consumer goods ordered

by Palestinian merchants, weapons are also smuggled through the tunnels to Hamas and other militant factions. Abu Nimer said several hundred tunnels were operational, down from about 3,000 that were open before Israel launched a threeweek offensive in the Gaza Strip in December 2008. — Reuters

8

INTERNATIONAL Bennett could have faced death penalty

Judge acquits top aide to Zimbabwe prime minister

HARARE: Roy Bennet, right, leaves the High Court in Harare yesterday after he was acquitted of terrorism charges in Zimbabwe. —AP

Air France may have turned before crash PARIS: An Air France jet going from Rio de Janeiro to Paris may have turned around before it crashed last year, killing all 228 people aboard, officials said yesterday. The head of the French accident investigation agency said the plane could be found by tomorrow. Pinging signals from the plane’s flight recorders detected in the Atlantic depths last year were analyzed last week with the aid of new technology that helped narrow down the search zone to what turned out to be an unexpected location.

Lead investigator Alain Bouillard said that if the plane is found in the zone where

signals came from, then that would suggest that it turned around after reaching the position that it last reported to air traffic controllers. “It’s a probable hypothesis,” he said. “The question is why?” The head of the French accident investigation agency BEA, Jean-Paul Troadec, said that sonar specialists from French company Thales continued to study the data from the initial search efforts, when the black box recorders were still emitting pings.

Using the newly analyzed information, search efforts are concentrated on a zone 10 kilometers by 20 kilometers, two thirds

of which has been explored. Troadec said investigators will first try to find remains of the plane, and then look for the black boxes, without which the cause of the crash may never be known. Submarine drones are scouring the area, he said. “It’s a relief and gives us hope in the search for truth,” said Robert Soulas, who lost his daughter and son-in-law on Flight 447 and is part of an association that represents victims’ family members. But both Troadec and Soulas said they were being “prudent” and not jumping to any conclusions. — AP

HARARE: A judge acquitted top prime minister’s aide Roy Bennett of all charges yesterday in a terrorism case that had strained Zimbabwe’s struggling coalition government since it was forged more than a year ago. Bennett had faced weapons and insurgency charges that could have carried the death penalty stemming from an alleged plot to topple longtime President Robert Mugabe.

Bennett’s supporters including Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai maintained the charges were baseless and aimed at undermining the coalition.

“We are fortified and strengthened to continue our fight for real change for the people of Zimbabwe,” said Bennett, who was surrounded by jubilant supporters.

Bennett was Tsvangirai’s choice for deputy minister of agriculture in the coalition government, but Bennett was arrested on Feb. 13, 2009, the day the unity Cabinet was sworn in. Mugabe had refused to swear in Bennett until the trial was over.

Tsvangirai praised Bennett’s acquittal during an appearance in Washington with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. “Well it’s good news, it’s very positive,” he said. “As I’ve always said, he’s not being prosecuted, he’s being persecuted. I hope that the persecution has ended.” He added that more steps need to be taken to restore confidence in the unity government.

Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the prime minister’s party, said they would press for Bennett to take up his designated post as deputy minister of agriculture. No comment was immediately available from Mugabe’s office.

Judge Chinembiri Bhunu ruled yesterday that the prosecution had failed to prove that Bennett and arms dealer Peter Michael Hitschmann “connived to unlawfully depose the government” between 2002 and 2006 while amassing a weapons cache.

Bhunu said the most important evidence presented by prosecutors was inadmissible _ a confession Hitschmann said he was tortured into making.

The judge also ruled that prosecutors had failed to prove that e-mails allegedly linking Bennett to Hitschmann were genuine. And the state could not produce bank statements to back allegations Bennett paid $5,000 for weapons into Hitschmann’s account in neighboring Mozambique.

Hitschmann was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing unlicensed weapons but later was freed after a ruling that his confession was made under torture. Bennett, who is white and a former farmer is eastern Zimbabwe, forfeited his land during the often violent seizures of thousands of commercial farms that began in 2000.

A fluent speaker of the local Shona language, Bennett’s political activism angered Mugabe’s party. Bennett was seen as symbolizing defiance against land seizures that Mugabe insisted were needed to correct colonial-era imbalances in land ownership.

The seizures disrupted the agriculture-based economy and led to acute food shortages and world record inflation. Mugabe insists Western sanctions caused the economic collapse.

Deep divisions still remain in Zimbabwe’s government, which was forged as a compromise after disputed national elections in 2008.

Tsvangirai’s party blames Mugabe for reneging on key provisions of the power-sharing deal that allow for democratic and media reform, and an end to lawlessness after years of political and economic turmoil.

Mugabe alleges Tsvangirai’s party has failed to win concessions from its Western allies to remove targeted sanctions against Mugabe loyalists that include an assets freeze and travel bans. The coalition deal calls for fresh elections next year under a new constitution, but efforts to rewrite the nation’s supreme law have stalled over bickering and lack of funds for a countrywide public outreach program.—AP

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Mass grave of Kosovo victims found in Serbia BELGRADE: Acting on tips from witnesses, Serbian war crimes prosecutors have discovered a mass grave believed to contain the bodies of 250 Albanians who were killed in Kosovo during the 1998-99 war there, then transported to Serbia and secretly buried to hide the atrocities, officials said yesterday.

The burial site, hidden beneath a small building and a newly built parking lot, is the fourth mass grave of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo that has been found in Serbia since 2001. Two others were discovered in Kosovo. In each case, most of the bodies were those of civilians, including women and children.

The latest discovery is another example of the mass atrocities that were committed during the bloody Serb crackdown on the Kosovo separatists that killed at least 10,000 people and left nearly a million displaced. Hundreds of bodies of slain ethnic Albanians have been exhumed in Serbia and returned to Kosovo since Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic was ousted from power in a popular revolt in 2000. The previously discovered mass graves in Serbia represented the bulk of genocide charges filed against Milosevic at a U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Netherlands, where he died of a heart attack during his trial in 2006.

Serbia has since tried to deal with its wartime past as it seeks European Union membership, which requires the prosecution of those who committed atrocities during the wars in the Balkans in the 1990s. Milosevic’s policies still have strong support among ultranationalists in Serbia.

“According to witness testimonies, there are 250 bodies of Kosovo Albanians inside” the newly discovered grave, Serbia’s war crimes prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic said at a news conference yesterday in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital. He said exhumations would begin soon at the site, which was discovered based on witness accounts and in cooperation with a European Union mission in Kosovo. Serbia’s war crimes prosecutor’s office said the grave is located in a hilly, rural area of Rudnica, near the town of Raska, 180 kilometers (108 miles) south of Belgrade. Aerial photos of the site showed a house and a small parking lot near a road nestled between the hills. Vukcevic’s deputy, Bruno Vekaric, said the mass grave is believed to be located beneath the building and the parking lot.

Officials did not say when the grave was discovered. During the Kosovo war, the bodies of Kosovo victims were brought to Serbia by Milosevic’s regime in an attempt to cover up the atrocities against civilians. Some 1,860 ethnic Albanians are still missing from the Kosovo war, many believed to have been buried by Serb

BELGRADE: Serbia’s war crimes prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic speaks during a news conference in Belgrade, Serbia yesterday. —AP forces in similar mass graves in Serbia. “Serbia has the democratic capacity to face what happened,” Vukcevic said. “It is our obligation to the victims who have the right to bury the dead.” The brutality of Serbia’s crackdown in Kosovo prompted NATO to bomb the country in 1999, forcing Milosevic to pull out his troops.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Belgrade refuses to recognize it. In Kosovo yesterday, officials urged Serbia to face up to its past and overcome its troubled relations with Kosovo Albanians.

Kosovo deputy Prime Minister, Rame Manaj, claimed the discovery was a result of pressure from the EU. “This comes too late, but this pressure from the international community is welcome as it is the only force that can move things from point zero,” Manaj said of the discovery of the bodies. “It is painful news,” said Xhavit Beqiri, the spokesman for Kosovo’s president.“We suspect there are more Kosovo victims in other such mass graves around Serbia which Belgrade has always known about, but has selectively unearthed them to reduce the scope of the crimes committed in Kosovo,” Beqiri said. Vukcevic urged Kosovo’s authorities to investigate the fate of about 500 Kosovo Serbs who he said remain unaccounted for since the 1998-99 war after revenge attacks by ethnic Albanians.—AP

Turkey’s opposition leader resigns over sex scandal ANKARA: Turkey’s main opposition leader Deniz Baykal resigned yesterday after an Internet video exposed an alleged extra-marital affair, which he slammed as a “conspiracy” by the government. “This is not a sex tape, this is a conspiracy.... Those behind this conspiracy did it for political aims,” Baykal, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), told a news conference.

“I am resigning from the CHP chairmanship.

But my resignation does not mean that I am giving in or running away from this conspiracy. On the contrary, it is a challenge,” he added. The short video, posted on the Internet late Thursday, showed intimate bedroom images, shot with a hidden camera, allegedly of the 71year-old leader and a woman lawmaker from the CHP. Baykal did not openly admit to or deny the affair, but charged that the images could not have been shot without the knowledge of the Islamistrooted government.

He said the video’s aim was to weaken the CHP’s efforts to prevent the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) from implementing its alleged agenda to introduce religious rule in Turkey. “The target of this conspiracy is not just one person, but the struggle of the CHP... to uphold the republic, democracy and the rule of

law,” charged Baykal, a vocal critic of the government. Prime Mininster Recep Tayyip Erdogan angrily denied the allegations, branding them as “inappropriate and ugly”.

He called Baykal’s statement “political defamation. It is a perverse slander to try to put the responsibility on the government,” Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. “Shooting footage with a hidden camera and posting the images on the Internet is not something we accept or tolerate,” he added. Baykal’s resignation comes just two weeks before a party congress when he was expected to seek a fresh mandate as the CHP leader. CHP spokesman Mustafa Ozyurek told reporters that Baykal had told party members he would not attend the May 22-23 congress. The party’s executive committee met shortly after Baykal’s resignation to try and choose an interim leader, the Anatolia news agency said.

Prosecutors launched a probe into the video Friday, imposing a ban on disseminating the images, which triggered outrage in the Turkish media for exposing private lives. Wire-tapping and secretly shot images have become a frequent instrument of political warfare in Turkey in recent years, targeting mostly government opponents.—AFP

Critics say UN envoy to Somalia should resign NAIROBI: Since Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah became the UN envoy for Somalia three years ago, fighting in the capital has killed thousands of civilians, and extremists have carried out public stonings and amputations as they solidify their hold. Critics say the envoy has failed and must resign, but OuldAbdallah maintains peace and stability can return to the lawless Horn of Africa nation and that he has a “magic wand” that can solve the problems.

“Somalia’s human tragedy must and should be solved,” he said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “I don’t believe it is unsolvable.”

Earlier this month, though, more than 300 members of parliament issued a statement accusing him of being “the central perpetrator responsible for the serious and unfortunate legal and political crisis” within Somalia’s government. Not only is the alQaida-linked group al-Shabab turning increasingly violent and expanding its reach across the country, Somali pirates also continue to attack international shipping vessels.

“Everything has deteriorated since he took office,” said Abdikadir Haji Mohamud Dhakane, who was a state minister for the office of the prime minister between 2005 and late 2006, when he quit the government and joined an opposition group when Ethiopia invaded Somalia. Ould-Abdallah’s mandate from the UN is to “advance the cause of peace and reconciliation through contacts with Somali leaders, civic organizations and the states and organizations concerned.” Other critics say Ould-Abdallah is not seeking consensus or inclusiveness, and instead sides with a weak administration that has little traction among the public. “He cannot be an honest bro-

ker,” said Ahmed Hashi, the former Somali ambassador to the UN from 2001 to 2005. Hashi is a member of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, whose aim was to end Ethiopia’s two-year occupation.

“If you are an honest broker you will talk to all parties to the conflict. But Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah does not want to speak to opposition groups,” Hashi said. The UN , Western-backed government is holed up in a few blocks of the Somali capital Mogadishu, while the rest of southern and central parts of the country are ruled by Islamist groups trying to topple it. No ministry is fully functional and the parliament is in a state of deadlock over the length of term of the speaker. Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991 when warlords overthrew longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each other, plunging the country into chaos and anarchy. Critics say that Ould-Abdallah divided opposition groups in 2008, and that he micromanages peace initiatives and tries to advance foreign agendas. OuldAbdallah rebuffs the allegations.

“Somali politicians, the elite I mean, are not ready to face the truth and compromise for the sake of their country, religion, children and dignity,” he said. “These people are at war. Their children are dying. They are living on charities under makeshift shelters, so I can’t accept to have cocktail parties.”

Like in other conflicts in Africa, Ould-Abdallah said war profiteers _ both foreign and Somali _ are taking advantage of the country’s chaos for profit. In 2007, Somalia was suffering near-daily violence between Ethiopian forces and insurgents who wanted to drive them out. —AP

INTERNATIONAL

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

9

Planning for peace ‘jirga’ and Kabul meeting

Karzai, Obama seek to mend caustic ties in visit WASHINGTON: Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Washington yesterday, seeking to show a united front with the United States during a pivotal time in the nine-year war. Karzai will get the red-carpet treatment during his

LOUISIANA: An oil soaked bird struggles against the side of the HOS an Iron Horse supply vessel at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana, Sunday. —AP

BP, US govt search for solution in oil spill NEW ORLEANS: BP officials desperately searched yesterday for a new way to stop an enormous Gulf of Mexico oil spill after efforts to cap a gushing leak with a containment dome hit a snag.

British energy giant BP, which owns the lion’s share of the leaking oil and has accepted responsibility for the clean-up, was facing the possibility that, failing a swift fix with the containment dome, the crisis could spiral into an even worse environmental calamity. The White House also was scrambling to contain fallout from the disaster threatening to take a toll on President Barack Obama’s political and energy agenda.

In Washington Obama yesterday would meet with Cabinet members and senior staff “to review BP efforts to stop the oil leak, as well as to decide on next steps to ensure all is being done to contain the spread, mitigate the environmental impact and provide assistance to affected states,” a White House statement said.

The Minerals Management Service also said it “continues to work with BP to explore all options that could stop or mitigate oil leaks from the damaged well.” The BP-leased Deepwater Horizon rig sank some 80 km (50 miles) southeast of Venice, Louisiana, on April 22, two days after an explosion that killed 11 workers. The riser pipe that had connected the rig to the wellhead lies fractured on the seabed a mile below, spewing out oil at a rate at some 5,000 barrels, or 210,000 gallons, a day.

Sheen from the leading edge of the slick has surrounded island nature reserves off the coast of Louisiana and tar balls have reached as far as the Alabama coast, threatening tourist beaches further east. Sea life has been affected in a low-lying region that contains vital spawning grounds for fish, shrimp and crabs and is a major migratory stop for many species of rare birds. The 2.4-billion-dollar Louisiana fishing industry has been slapped with a temporary ban in certain areas due to health concerns about polluted fish.

BP, facing a barrage of lawsuits and clean-up costs soaring above 10 million dollars a day, had pinned its hopes on a 98-ton concrete and steel containment box that it successfully lowered

5,000 feet (1,500 meters) down over the main leak. But the contraption lay idle on the seabed as engineers furiously tried to figure out how to stop it clogging with ice crystals.

BP officials were said to be considering using a smaller container that might be less prone to clogging. Capping the leak with a smaller box would ensure the oil and seawater mixture inside the container is warm enough to prevent the formation of a slush that had clogged the larger container, according to geochemist David Valentine of the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Untold damage is already being done by the 3.5 million gallons estimated to be in the sea so far, but the extent of that harm will rise exponentially if the only solution is a relief well that takes months to drill.

Admiral Thad Allen, head of the US Coast Guard, suggested a “junk shot” was being considered to plug the main leak. “They’re actually going to take a bunch of debris, shredded up tires, golf balls and things like that and under very high pressure shoot it into the preventer itself and see if they can clog it up and stop the leak,” Allen, who is leading the US government’s response, told CBS television. But experts have warned that excessive tinkering with the blowout preventer-a huge 450-ton valve system that should have shut off the oil-could see crude shoot out unchecked at 12 times the current rate.

There are also fears the slick, which covers an area of about 2,000 square miles (5,200 square kilometers), could be carried around the Florida peninsula if it spreads far enough south to be picked up by a special Gulf current. “You are talking about massive economic loss to our tourism, our beaches, to our fisheries, very possibly disruption of our military testing and training, which is in the Gulf of Mexico,” Florida Senator Bill Nelson told CNN. BP began drilling a first relief well one week ago, but that will take up to three months to drillby which time some 20 million gallons of crude could have streamed into the sea and ruined the fragile ecology of the Gulf. —AFP

Canadian women’s groups feel threatened over abortion policies MONTREAL: Canadian women’s groups say they feel threatened by abortion policies advocated at home and abroad by the Conservative government. “It’s a threat we’ve been feeling for months,” said Patricia LaRue, executive director for Canadians for Choice, a pro-choice group based in Ottawa. “We feel that sexual and reproductive health is not really a priority (for the government),” LaRue told AFP. At issue are several private member bills dealing with abortion in Canada. One bill introduced last month would make it a criminal offence to “coerce” a woman into having an abortion.

The proposed legislation was introduced by pro-life Conservative MP Rod Bruinooge, after a man in Winnipeg tried to force his girlfriend, Roxanne Fernando, into having an abortion in 2007.

When she refused, her boyfriend murdered her. The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC) said the problem of coercion does not occur on a grand scale, and that bill C510 “should be scuttled in favour of a bill prohibiting the much more common practice of coercing a women into childbirth.”

Another bill, C-484, which was approved in April in a second parliamentary reading, makes it a criminal offense for someone to attack a woman with the intent of killing her unborn child. Proponents say the bill is designed to close a gap in the criminal code, but opponents say it is another attempt to give legal status to the fetus, recriminalize abortions, and open the door to restricting access to the procedure.

“There have been five bills since the Conservatives have

come to power, which call into question, either directly or indirectly, the right to abortion in Canada,” said Alexa Conradi, president of the Quebec Women’s Federation.

“Abortion is more threatened than ever before in Canada,” Conradi added. Christine Pelchat, president of Quebec’s Council on the Status of Women, called the recent legislative moves a “hypocritical (attempt) to recriminalize abortion and take away this right from women.”

The abortion debate has remained largely dormant for years in Canada, which is one of only a few nations with no legal restrictions on abortion.

Regulations and accessibility vary between provinces. But the debate was recently reignited when Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper introduced his G8 maternal health initiative, which aims to strengthen nutrition and health care systems in the developing world but would not include funding for abortions in those countries.

Women’s groups, opposition MPs and aid organizations have roundly slammed Harper for the initiative, accusing him of hypocrisy and pandering to a conservative agenda. Last week, Conservative Senator Nancy Ruth told a group of aid advocates and women’s rights groups in Ottawa that they should “shut the f..k up on this issue.” “We’ve got five weeks or whatever left until the G8 starts. Said Ruth, who touched off a firestorm.

“If you push it, there’ll be more backlash. This is now a political football. This is not about women’s health in this country.” The Conservative senator went on to say that Canada was “still a country with free and accessible abor-

tion. Leave it there. Don’t make this an election issue.”

Within days of Ruth’s comments, opposition Liberal MPs said the Conservative government had cut federal funding to more than a dozen women’s groups because they dared to criticize government policies.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said the moves amounted to a “campaign of intimidation.” Patrice Powers, a director with the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, said Harper was in no position to revisit abortion law in Canada but wanted to push his ideology abroad-on safer territorythrough his G8 maternal health initiative.

“We know that Harper is afraid of pro-choice forces in Canada,” said Powers. “He doesn’t want to do anything in his own country. He wants to send a message to the electorate.” —AFP

In private, however, the message from Obama is expected to be firm-that Washington wants to start pulling out US troops from Afghanistan in July 2011 and Karzai must do a better job on governance issues and tackling corruption. The White House concedes there have been ups and downs in the relationship, referring to recent testy exchanges with Karzai following anti-Western comments he made, including putting much of the blame for corruption on foreign donors.

But experts said it was important to show recent tensions were behind them as both sides need each other and US public opinion flags ahead of November congressional elections. “I am confident both presidents have it within them to take that deep breath and to use this visit to move forward as partners,” said former US Ambassador to Pakistan and Iraq Ryan Crocker.

A new Washington Post and ABC News poll on Sunday showed a little more than half of Americans did not think it was a war worth fighting, with 52 percent critical of the war effort. In an editorial in The Washington Post on Sunday, Karzai also said there had been “our share of disagreements” but sought to set a positive tone for his visit. “What has kept us together is an overriding strategic vision of an Afghanistan whose peace and stability can guarantee the safety of the Afghan and the American peoples,” Karzai wrote.

Karzai, who arrived at Andrews Air Force base early yesterday and was greeting by special representative Richard Holbrooke, also said good governance and rooting out corruption were among his top priorities, promising to “do more”-a demand lawmakers will press when he visits Capitol Hill. His first official function was a dinner hosted by Secretary of State Clinton at Blair House yesterday, followed by a day of meetings at the State Department today.

Karzai is expected to push for more help training security forces, raise the issue of civilian casualties as well as a growing worry among many Afghans that US commitment to the country will wane quickly once it starts withdrawing troops. Nearly all of Karzai’s Cabinet is in Washington for the four days of meetingsemulating the strategic dialogue held in March with Pakistan that was aimed at showing deeper, long-term ties between the two countries. Karzai’s visit comes at an important juncture in the war, with 30,000 additional US troops expected there by the end of August and an upcoming military offensive to take full control of Kandahar, the spiritual hub of the Taliban in the South. More immediately, there will be a so-called grand council of Afghans, or peace “jirga,” planned in Kabul starting May 29 to discuss how to make peace with the insurgents and Obama is looking for more details on how that will pan out.

The United States has made clear that only those senior Taliban leaders who renounce violence and ties to al Qaeda should be brought in and would prefer for there to be more gains on the battlefield before then. — Reuters

four-day visit, including a Rose Garden news conference with President Barack Obama tomorrow when the two are expected to exchange smiles and warm handshakes.

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama introduces Solicitor General Elena Kagan as his choice for Supreme Court Justice in the East Room of the White House in Washington yesterday. —AP

Kagan chosen by Obama for US Supreme Court WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court yesterday, positioning the United States to have three women justices on its top court for the first time. At 50, she is relatively young for the lifetime post and could help shape the high court’s decisions for decades. Supreme Court justices wield enormous power over the daily life of Americans. Any one of them can cast the deciding vote on matters of life and death, individual freedoms and government power.

Kagan “is widely regarded as one of the nation’s foremost legal minds,” Obama said, introducing the former Harvard Law School dean in the White House East Room.

Kagan, who represents the Obama administration in cases that come before the Supreme Court, said she was “humbled by this nomination.” She called it “the honor of a lifetime.” Obama cited what he called

Kagan’s “openness to a broad array of viewpoints” and her “fair mindedness.” In a statement issued before Kagan had completed her remarks, the lawmaker who will preside over her confirmation hearing, Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy said the Senate should confirm Kagan by early September. “Our constituents deserve a civil and thoughtful debate on this nomination, followed by an up-or-down vote,” he said.

The Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell said his party would make sure there was a “thorough process, not a rush to judgment” on the nomination. Obama began with high praise for the retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, a leader of the court’s liberals, calling him “a giant in the law,” impartial and having respect for legal precedence.

“While we can’t presume to replace Justice Stevens’ wisdom or experience, I have selected a nominee who I believe

embodies that same excellence, independence, integrity and passion for the law, and who can ultimately provide that same kind of leadership on the court,” Obama said of his nominee.

While couched as a compliment for a retiring justice, it was a remark that underscored what aides have described as the president’s desire to appoint a replacement who could match Chief Justice John Roberts’ intellectual firepower. “She’s an acclaimed legal scholar with a rich understanding of constitutional law. She is a former White House aide, with a lifelong commitment to public service and a firm grasp of the nexus and boundaries between our three branches of government,” Obama said. Kagan served in the Clinton White House.

Obama noted that neither Kagan’s mother nor father “lived to see this day, but I think her mother would relish this moment. — AP

10

INTERNATIONAL

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Japan sticks to US base deadline as ratings slip

BANGKOK: ‘Red shirt’ anti-government protesters cheer and celebrate as they react to announcements made by their leaders on the main stage inside the ‘Red shirt’ fortified camp in Bangkok yesterday.—AFP

Demonstrations to continue until PM, deputy face criminal charges

TOKYO: Japan stood by an end-of-May deadline yesterday for resolving a row over a US Marine base, denying an earlier report that it would delay a decision amid falling voter support for the ruling party. Dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s handling of the dispute has been one of the triggers for evaporating voter support in the run-up to an upper house election expected in July, which his ruling party must win to avoid policy deadlock.

Kyodo news agency had said, without citing sources, that the government had given up on Hatoyama’s self-imposed deadline on finding a relocation site for the Futenma airbase on Japan’s southern Okinawa island. But Hatoyama, under speculation that he may have to resign if he cannot resolve the dispute, said he still hoped for an agreement by the end of the month.

He told reporters he was sticking to the promise he had made to all those involved, including Okinawa residents and US officials, to agree to a “direction” on resolving the issue. “We will create an environment in which this agreement can be reached.”

Hatoyama’s top aide, however, said it could be hard to complete a detailed plan by the end of month.

“It will be very tough to decide on all the technical issues and other details on what will happen,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano told a news conference. “But we need to set a clear direction for our thinking and on other issues, or otherwise we won’t be able to say we’ve resolved this.” Disillusioned by funding scandals in the ruling party and Hatoyama’s perceived inability to take hard decisions, less than a fifth of Japanese plan to vote for the Democratic Party in the upper house election, a newspaper poll showed yesterday.

The Democrats’ receding chances of winning a majority in the election have raised the possibility of policy deadlock as the country struggles to maintain a fragile economic recovery and control ballooning public debt. “There is no way to raise support, so the Democrats are going into damage control mode,” said Tsuneo Watanabe, senior fellow at thinktank the Tokyo Foundation. That could include blaming Hatoyama personally so as to deflect criticism from the party, he said.

About a quarter of respondents to the Yomiuri poll said they supported Hatoyama and his cabinet, down on 33 percent in a poll last month and compared with 67 percent who said they did not.

About half respondents to the Yomiuri poll said Hatoyama should resign if he misses the end-May deadline. In another worrying sign for Hatoyama, a poll by TV Asahi showed voter support for his ruling Democratic Party had slipped to below that of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party.

The chances of a deal on Futenma had already seemed remote after residents of both Okinawa and the tiny island of Tokunoshima about 150 km (90 miles) away reacted angrily to Hatoyama’s suggestion that they share the burden of the airbase. That idea was a modification of a 2006 deal, still favoured by the United States, which would move the Futenma base from a city centre to a remoter part of Okinawa.

But Hatoyama raised hopes during last year’s election campaign it could be moved off the island altogether. Members of Hatoyama’s cabinet have blurred the definition of what he has promised and some analysts say the best that can be expected is for talks to continue with the aim of reaching a deal before President Barack Obama visits in November. Japan and the United States are set to hold the second round of working-level talks on Futenma in Washington on Wednesday.— Reuters

Thai protesters OK poll date but set new demands BANGKOK: Thai anti-government protesters said yesterday they would continue their crippling demonstration in central Bangkok until the prime minister and his deputy face criminal charges for deadly street violence. Although a key Red Shirt leader said they accepted Prime Abhisit Vejjajiva’s timetable for Nov 14 elections, the protesters’ latest demand is likely to dash government hopes of ending the two-month standoff soon. Nattawut Saikua blamed Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban for violence during the protests that has left 29 dead and hundreds injured. Suthep played a key role in the government’s security response to

the protests.

“The day Suthep turns himself in to police is the day we the Red Shirts go home,” Nattawut told cheering crowds in an announcement at the protest stage.

Another protest leader, Jatuporn Prompan, said Prime Abhisit Vejjajiva should also be prosecuted.

The announcement came after Abhisit had pleaded over the weekend for an end to two months of street protests that have paralyzed parts of the capital and for an acceptance of his reconciliation plan that offers new elections a year ahead of schedule.

Nattawut began his announcement by

saying protesters “unconditionally accept” Abhisit’s offer to dissolve Parliament in late September ahead of November elections. He then went on to list a number of demands, including that Suthep face charges for a deadly April 10 clash between soldiers and protesters.

Nattawut also demanded that the Red Shirts’ TV channel be allowed back on air before they end their protests. The government has shut down the channel’s satellite link and dozens of Web sites that it says have incited hatred in the country.

Despite hopes that the prolonged protests would end without further bloodshed, two attacks Friday night killed two

policemen and wounded 13 people. The violence occurred just outside the protest occupation zone in Bangkok’s prime commercial district, where upscale shopping centers and hotels have been shuttered for weeks. The Red Shirts include the rural and urban poor as well as prodemocracy advocates. Many are supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a populist leader who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and charged with corruption and abuse of power. The protesters say Abhisit’s coalition government came to power illegitimately through manipulation of the courts and the backing of the powerful military.— AP

China sentences 20 to prison for CCTV fire

BISHKEK: Kyrgyz guard of honor lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in central Bishkek marking the 65th anniversary of victory on World War II. Along with troops from the NATO members states, some 70 soldiers apiece from ex-Soviet Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine will march on Moscow’s Red Square for the first time. — AFP

BEIJING: A Beijing court sentenced 20 people to up to seven years in prison yesterday over last year’s deadly fire at state broadcaster CCTV’s iconic headquarters. Xu Wei, the station’s former construction chief, received the harshest sentence after he pleaded guilty last month to ordering an illegal fireworks display that triggered the blaze, CCTV and the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Nineteen others were given sentences ranging from three to six-and-a-half years for procuring industrial-grade fireworks and setting them off without the proper safety permits, Xinhua said, citing a statement from the Beijing No 2 Intermediate People’s Court.

The Feb 9, 2009, fire was a huge embarrassment for the government and CCTV, which has been forced to delay moving to the futuristic complex in downtown Beijing that symbolized its hopes of becoming a powerful international media presence. Premier Wen Jiabao publicly ordered a Cabinet-level investigation into the disaster after rejecting a hastily prepared initial study. The blaze engulfed parts of the complex, leaving one firefighter dead and eight others injured. The 520-foot (159-meter) Mandarin Oriental hotel in the compound, only weeks away from opening, was gutted. The 5 billion yuan ($731 million) complex also houses the network’s headquarters, a pair of enormous, leaning buildings of black glass and steel that were not damaged in the fire.

The others convicted and sentenced included CCTV staffers as well as employees from two construction companies that were responsible for fire prevention and security during the fireworks display. — AP

S Korea confirms explosive traces on ship wreckage SEOUL: South Korea’s defense minister confirmed yesterday that traces of high explosive were found on the wreckage of a warship sunk by a mystery blast, indicating it was probably hit by a torpedo. The 1,200-tonne corvette was split in two near the tense Yellow Sea border with North Korea on March 26.

Suspicion has fallen on the North. Defense Minister Kim TaeYoung, confirming earlier media reports that had been denied by his ministry, said investigators had found traces of RDX explosive, which is widely used in torpedoes.

The discovery means a torpedo was the likeliest cause of the disaster, Kim said without specifying who may have launched it. But “it is too early yet” to draw a clear conclusion, he added. His ministry said the traces were found in the ship’s funnel and in sand collected from the seabed. Kim also said investigators had found metal fragments that did not appear to come from the ship.

Results of a multinational investigation into the sinking, which killed 46 sailors, are due next week, local media reports say. The South is pondering ways to respond if the North’s involvement is proved. A defense ministry official told AFP the South could resume its anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, for the first time in almost six years.

The two Koreas in June 2004 suspended the broadcasts as part of peace efforts under Seoul’s then-liberal government.

Relations deteriorated when conservative President Lee Myung-Bak took office in 2008 and adopted a tougher line on

cross-border relations. Lee hinted last Tuesday North Korea was involved in the sinking and promised a “resolute” response when the cause is established. The North has denied responsibility.

The South has not publicly ruled out a military response but said it would probably take the issue to the United Nations Security Council, which is empowered to impose punitive sanctions. Local media reports said Seoul may also cut down on inter-Korean trade, especially items that could finance the North’s military, and might block the North’s freighters from using the Jeju Strait off South Korea’s south coast.

Investigators have said an underwater external explosion sank the ship. But Scott Snyder, a senior analyst with the Asia Foundation, said firm proof that it came from a North Korean torpedo was unlikely to emerge. “The biggest challenge in mounting an effective response... is that as long as the case is circumstantial, there will be a surfeit of conspiracy theories, but no solid basis upon which to take retaliatory action,” he wrote in a weblog for the US Council on Foreign Relations.

Seoul’s defense ministry, in a briefing paper, debunked what it called a “false controversy” especially in cyberspace about the cause of the tragedy. It said the Cheonan was on regular patrol at the time and claims of a grounding and a subsequent collision with a US warship “are completely baseless”.

A joint US-South Korean naval exercise at the time was more than 160 kilometres (100 miles) away from the scene of the sinking, the ministry said.— AFP

Death toll rises to 24 from Tajikistan’s floods DUSHANBE: The death toll from mudslides and floods that devastated southern Tajikistan late last week has risen to 24 and could increase further, emergency and local residents said yesterday. Flash floods are an annual spring occurrence in this mountainous and poor Central Asian nation, but the scale of this year’s disaster caught authorities by surprise.

The Emergency Situations Commission said the floods have caused tens of millions of dollars in damage, destroying 10 schools, seven hospitals, 27 bridges and 112 miles (187 kilometers) of highway. At least 20 people are still missing.

Local residents say the number of casualties from the floods may be higher than the official tally as many have buried by relatives who didn’t tell authorities. Thousands of hectares (acres) of grain and cotton fields have been ravaged by the flow of debris, which is a crushing blow for a country whose economy is heavily dependent on agriculture. More than 1,000 head of livestock were drowned.

President Emomali Rakhmon visited the worst-affected region, Kulob, over the weekend to inspect the scale of the damage and has

YANGON: In this image made available by the United States Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar’s detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, center, meets with US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, right, at Seinlekhanthar, a government guest house, in Yangon, Myanmar yesterday. —AP

US envoy warns Myanmar over North Korea arms links YANGON: A top US official visiting Myanmar issued a strong warning yesterday against its military regime buying arms from North Korea in defiance of a UN embargo, and also said that Washington believes that its election plans lack legitimacy.

Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, read a statement to the press as he prepared to leave Myanmar after holding nearly two hours of closed-door talks with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party was disbanded last week as a result of its refusal to register for the polls, slated for sometime this year. He did not reveal details of their talks, but praised her nonviolent struggle for democracy.

“She has demonstrated compassion and tolerance for her captors in the face of repeated indignities,” he said. “It is simply tragic that Burma’s generals have rebuffed her countless appeals to work together to find a peaceable solution for a more prosperous future.” Burma is another name for Myanmar.

Campbell earlier held talks with several Cabinet ministers. The US envoy issued what appeared to be Washington’s strongest warning to date concerning Myanmar’s arms purchases from North Korea, which some analysts suspect includes nuclear technology. A UN Security Council resolution bans all North Korean arms exports, authorizes member states to inspect North Korean sea, air and land cargo and requires them to seize and destroy any goods transported in violation of the sanctions.

Campbell said that Myanmar leadership had agree to abide by the UN resolution, but that “recent developments” called into question its commitment. He said he sought the junta’s agreement to “a transparent process to assure the international community that Burma is abiding by its international commitments.” “Without such a process, the United States maintains the right to take independent action within the relevant frameworks established by the international community,” said Campbell.

He did not explain what the new developments were or what action the US might take, though it has in the past threatened to stop and search ships carrying suspicious cargo from Pyongyang.

Campbell said that in talks with senior officials, the US side had also outlined a proposal “for a credible dialogue” for all concerned parties to agree on how to conduct upcoming polls, the first since 1990. But the junta had instead moved forward unilaterally without consulting opposition and independent voices.

“As a direct result, what we have seen to date leads us to believe that these elections will lack international legitimacy,” he said. “We urge the

regime to take immediate steps to open the process in the time remaining before the elections.” The exact date for the polls has not yet been set. Campbell’s visit, his second in six months, came just days after the dissolution of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party, or NLD, which won the 1990 election but was never allowed to take power.

The party considers newly enacted election laws unfair and undemocratic , as Suu Kyi and other political prisoners would be barred from taking part in the vote , and so declined to reregister as required, which meant it was automatically disbanded last week.

Suu Kyi was driven from her home in a threecar police motorcade to the nearby government guesthouse for the talks with Campbell. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been detained, mostly under house arrest, for 14 of the past 20 years. Her freedom has been a long-standing demand of the United States and much of the world community, including the United Nations.

Campbell also voiced concern about the increasing tensions between the government and ethnic minorities that have long been striving for greater autonomy, but face sometime severe repression.

“Burma cannot move forward while the government itself persists in launching attacks against its own people to force compliance with a proposal its ethnic groups cannot accept,” he said.

“The very stability the regime seeks will continue to be elusive until a peaceable solution can be found through dialogue.” Campbell arrived Sunday and met with senior junta officials in the remote administrative capital of Naypyitaw before flying yesterday to Yangon, the biggest city.

Among the officials he met were Foreign Minister Nyan Win, Information Minister Kyaw San and Science and Technology Minister U Thaung, Myanmar’s former envoy in Washington, who is the point person for the US -Myanmar engagement.

Relations between Myanmar, also known as Burma, and the US have been strained since its military crushed pro-democracy protests in 1988, killing hundreds, possibly thousands, of demonstrators. Since then, Washington has been Myanmar’s strongest critic, applying political and economic sanctions against the junta for its poor human rights record and failure to hand over power to a democratically elected government.

Campbell, however, said he would continue a dialogue with all sides in Myanmar as part of a new Washington policy of engagement rather than isolation of the ruling generals. Last year President Barack Obama reversed the Bush administration’s isolation of Myanmar in favor of dialogue with the junta. —AP

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

INTERNATIONAL

11

Man arrested over Afghan plane attack

BAGHLAN: An Afghan man sets a pipe to take the water from the compound of his home after a flood in Baghlan province, north of Kabul, Afghanistan yesterday. Heavy rain sent floodwaters tearing through villages in the province, destroying hundreds of homes, police said yesterday. —AP

Afghanistan floods kill ten, destroy hundreds of homes KABUL: Heavy rain sent floodwaters tearing through villages in northeast Afghanistan, killing at least 10 people and destroying hundreds of homes, police said yesterday. The floods overnight and early yesterday tore down homes that were built into the sides of mountains in Pul-e-Khumri district in Baghlan province, about 150 kilometers (95 miles) north of the capital, Kabul, police said in a statement.

Also yesterday, a roadside bomb struck a car in southeastern Afghanistan, killing two civilians a day after an insurgent rocket killed four other civilians, authorities said. yesterday’s bombing happened in Zabul province, said Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar, a spokesman for the provincial governor. On Sunday, an insurgent rocket , apparently fired at a NATO convoy, missed its target and hit a civilian vehicle in southern Helmand province, killing four people, provincial government spokesman Daoud Ahmadi said. The civilian deaths, a highly sensitive issue in Afghanistan,

come as President Hamid Karzai meets with American officials in Washington, with violence and insecurity high on the agenda. Karzai’s trip comes after months of rocky relations with the Obama administration.

At least 2,412 Afghan civilians were killed in fighting last year, up 14 percent from 2008, according to the United Nations. About twothirds of the civilian deaths were a result of actions initiated by the insurgents. The percentage of civilian deaths attributed to NATO and Afghan government forces had dropped. NATO said yesterday that one of its service members died in an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan. The alliance gave no further details of the attack that happened Sunday. The death brings to 12 the number of NATO forces killed this month in Afghanistan. The Interior Ministry also reported that a roadside bomb struck a police vehicle in Helmand Sunday, killing four officers.—AP

SRINAGAR: An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard on a deserted street during a strike in Srinagar, India yesterday. Shops, businesses and schools stayed shut in India’s portion of Kashmir yesterday. —AP

Security lockdown, strike shuts Kashmir SRINAGAR: security lockdown and general strike called by lawyers in Indian-ruled Kashmir yesterday shut shops, schools and offices in the revolt-hit region. The one-day strike backed by all the separatist factions came as the state administration made its annual move from Jammu to its summer capital Srinagar. “The strike is to protest against collapse of the state judicial system,” said Mian Qayoom, the leader of the lawyers, referring to the detention of separatists even after courts ordered their freedom.

Top separatists like Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan, Masarat Alam and Ashraf Sehrai have remained in custody despite courts orders for their release. Authorities sealed off neighborhoods in most parts of Srinagar, and deployed

thousands of police and paramilitary forces to prevent protests. The civil secretariat in Jammu, which serves as the winter capital between November and April, closed down at the end of last month.

The secretariat in Srinagar has been attacked with rockets and grenades by Muslim militants in the past. It takes nearly 10 days to make the move to Srinagar, with paperwork shipped 300 kilometers (200 miles) by truck under tight security. The insurgency against Indian rule has left more than 47,000 people dead since it erupted in 1989, according to an official count. Violence dropped after India and Pakistan launched a peace process in 2004 but 2010 has again seen an escalation in rebel attacks.—AFP

8 India soldiers accused of selling arms to rebels LUCKNOW: Eight Indian paramilitary soldiers and police officers have been arrested on charges they sold arms and ammunition to Maoist rebels after stealing them from a state armory, police said yesterday.

Police allegedly recovered several AK-47 assault rifles, more than 5,000 live cartridges, 16 rifle magazines and 540 pounds (245 kilograms) of empty bullet shells from the eight men. The armaments had been removed from paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force headquarters in Rampur in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, said Brij Lal, the second-highest officer of the state police. The arms and ammunition were to be sent to Maoist camps in the central Indian state of Chhatisgarh, Lal told The Associated Press.

Inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, the rebels have been fighting the central government for more than four decades, demanding land and jobs for tenant farmers and the poor. About 2,000 people , including police, militants and civilians , have been killed in the past few years.

Maoist rebels are often called Naxalites after the Naxalbari area in neighboring West Bengal state where the movement first emerged in the late 1960s. State authorities launched an investigation after Maoist rebels in a major attack killed 76 paramilitary soldiers in Dantewada district in Chhatisgarh state last month. Some of the empty shells recovered from area bore markings of the ammunition stored in the CRPF headquarters in Rampur, he said.

“There was a big question as how these Maoist organizations were arming themselves. Now we have got the answer.— AP

KABUL: A knife-wielding Afghan man has been arrested after he broke an emergency window mid-flight on an Ariana Afghan Airlines passenger plane, but the motives behind the incident were unclear, the interior ministry said yesterday.

The incident happened on Sunday on an Ariana plane flying from Kabul to the Iranian city of Mashad via the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.

The man was subdued and was being questioned in Kandahar by security officials, the ministry said. “One of the passengers had a knife and while the plane was flying midflight he wanted to commit a destructive action on the plane,” interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary told Reuters.

“But before that could happen, security personnel and passengers inside the plane identified the passenger and arrested this suspect ... we’re questioning the man to find out what was his motive.”

Lutfullah Tasleem, deputy head for Ariana Airlines, told Reuters the passenger stood up

from his seat and kicked a round window next to it.

“We do not know the motive of the person and do not know if he was mentally disordered or not,” Tasleem said. While there was no confirmation the incident was linked to any militant attack, the arrest comes as the Taliban announced an offensive against foreign troops, Afghan government officials and diplomats said yesterday.

Thousands of Western and Afghan troops are gearing up to launch a military campaign against the Taliban in their spiritual stronghold in Kandahar next month. “We have 72 hours to question him and we will soon let you know for what reason he wanted to do this, whether this (was) a hijack or another destructive plan to bring the plane down,” the official said. The man was from a northern province of Afghanistan. In 2000, an Ariana plane was hijacked in Kabul and flown to London where the siege ended peacefully after four days. That hijack was linked to a group of Afghans claiming asylum. — Reuters

KANDAHAR: A US soldier from 3rd platoon Bravo company 5/2 ID Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) 1-17 infantry battalion performs a retinal scan on an Afghan man during a patrol in Shahwali Kot district of Kandahar yesterday. — AFP

Deadliest clash since two-month operation against Taleban began

Nine Pakistani soldiers killed in battle: Military PESHAWAR: Pakistani military officials said nine soldiers were killed yesterday in the deadliest battle to date for security forces in a nearly two-month operation against the Taleban in the tribal belt.

Military officials described the battle near Daburi in Orakzai district as “fierce” and said two officers were among the nine who died. They also told AFP that 37 militants were “reportedly” killed and many injured.

Orakzai is the latest district in the northwest tribal area where Pakistan has launched an operation to evict Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP) militants, under US pressure to eradicate the scourge of Islamist extremism. Yesterday’s losses were announced after the United States stepped up pressure on Pakistan to crack down on Islamist extremists operating in safe havens in the semiautonomous tribal belt along the border with Afghanistan.

The TTP, a key architect in a bombing campaign that has killed around 3,300 people across Pakistan in three years, has now grabbed the global spotlight after a failed car bomb plot in the heart of New York. The US administration, initially dismissive of a TTP claim that it was behind the Times Square plot, says it had evidence that the group was involved.

Pakistani military officials described Daburi as an important town in Orakzai and a TTP stronghold set in mountains and thick forest. Troops advanced on the area to clear out militants but came under attack from dozens of fighters armed with rocket launchers and guns, the official added.

They returned fire with artillery and helicopter gun-

ships.

Despite death tolls released by military officials, it is impossible to confirm casualty statistics independently in what is a closed military zone inaccessible to aid workers and journalists. Security forces opened the new front in Orakzai on March 24 in a bid to flush out Taleban who escaped a major assault last

year on South Waziristan, which the TTP leadership turned into the faction’s headquarters. Washington says Pakistan’s tribal belt, which lies outside direct government control, is an Al-Qaeda headquarters and stronghold for militants plotting attacks on US-led troops fighting against the Taleban in Afghanistan.

After the botched New York

bomb plot, General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Afghanistan, reportedly urged Pakistan’s army chief to launch an operation in North Waziristan, a fortress of Al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters.

Pakistani military officials have not ruled out an offensive in North Waziristan, but argue that gains elsewhere need to

be consolidated otherwise troops would be stretched too thin. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned of “very severe consequences” if an attack against the United States were traced back to Pakistan. Clinton said there had been a “sea change” in cooperation by Pakistani authorities but she added, “We want more”.— AFP

OPINION

12

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher

YOUSUF S. ALYAN Editor-in-Chief

ABD AL-RAHMAN ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24835619 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait.

E MAIL :info@kuwaittimes.net Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

issues

Afghans wary of US endgame

By Alistair Scrutton

A

way from all the probable pomp, ceremony and firm handshakes in President Hamid Karzai’s trip to Washington, many Afghans will be seeking a strong signal that the US will not cut and run from its 9year-old war. More than anything, US President Barack Obama’s deadline to start withdrawing troops by July 2011 after a surge this year has reminded many Afghans of how Washington effectively abandoned the country in 1989-90 after the Soviet army were forced to retreat.

That feeling has been exacerbated by a public spat between Obama and Karzai this year, troubles in a stepped-up US-led offensive against the Taleban, as well as mutterings from the US ambassador that the Afghan leader is not a reliable partner.

It is a sentiment that some say could further pressure Karzai to reach early peace deals with the Taleban, something that worries the United States as its prepares an offensive involving at least 23,000 NATO and Afghan troops in Kandahar. “We have to have a commitment to ensuring strategic partnership,” said Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak. “There should be no faltering. This is exactly what the enemy expects - that the interest of the international community will wane.”

Washington has played down any deadline, saying they would withdraw troops only if conditions were right.

Some Afghan experts see the deadline just as a way of Washington pressurising Karzai to get his act together.

But the perception among Afghans is different. “When you start talking about exit strategies, these deadlines, these are interpreted by Afghans in another way and encourage the other side.

Enemies expect a repeat performance. It makes Afghans remind themselves of ‘89, ‘90,” Wardak added.

Karzai had helped provoke a rift with Washington after a string of anti-Western statements, including accusing the international community of corrupting the presidential election.

Washington, on the other hand, is increasingly critical of corruption in the Afghan government and the ability of authorities to help implement billions of dollars of aid. Karzai knows he still needs the Americans, analysts say, if only to speed up a transition to fuller sovereignty and appease Afghans critical of US forces after they mistakenly killed scores of civilians in recent years.

“The quicker we get enablers, the quicker the transition,” Wardak said, referring to NATO help for the Afghan

national army ranging from transport to reconnaissance capabilities. “But the transition cannot be premature.” At the same time, Obama wants to stop Afghanistan from becoming a political obstacle ahead of congressional elections in November when voter anxiety over high unemployment and a fragile economy is already expected to take a toll.

“One of his achievements from Washington would be to buy time with the United States,” said Daoud Sultanzoy, a lawmaker. “Afghanistan is becoming an increasingly hard sell. The US government may be patient for now, but what about the US people, the European people?”

There is evidence that regional neighbours like India and Pakistan have already taken an endgame for granted, and are juggling diplomatically to ensure influence in a post US world. Afghans too believe this will eventually happen. “If Americans or NATO see that they can’t defeat the Taleban, they will run away as the Americans abandoned us after the Soviets departed and left us a legacy of war and bloodshed,” said Noor Mohammad, a government worker in Kandahar.

Hashmat Ghani Ahmadzai, an Afghan analyst and politician, said Afghans were already preparing for an end game. “On the local, mosque, village level, people are reaching out to the Taleban because they eventually believe the Americans will leave,” Ghani said. “And that is filtering up to the government.” Karzai may be in for a hard time in Washington, especially among members of Congress. Little has been done, many observers say, to show improvements in governance as billions of dollars in aid flow. US officials say the meet will focus on corruption.

Despite this, the Afghan leader hopes a good meeting will allow him to return home stronger politically to push for talks with the Taleban at a national peace assembly “jirga” planned from May 29.

The Taleban has so far dismissed Karzai’s efforts. The US administration remains wary of such overtures to the Taleban leadership. If anything is done at all, they would like it from a position of strength after the Kandahar offensive. But Karzai may see it as insurance for his political future.

“There is a danger Karzai will reach out prematurely to the Taleban,” said Sultanzoy.

So, many Afghan policy makers hope Washington will send out a strong message of support. “We want him (Obama) to prove the partnership. If again they want to repeat the same mistake, next time they will pay triple,” said Shukria Barakzai, an independent lawmaker. — 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.

The use and abuse of religion

By Dr James J Zogby

B

ack in the 1960’s Americans were deeply divided on matters of war and race. While Reverend Martin Luther King Jr and religious leaders associated with his Southern Christian Leadership Conference led protests and committed acts of civil disobedience demanding civil rights, they were countered by white Christian preachers in the south who warned of the dangers of violating God’s will by ignoring the punishment God had meted out to the “sons of Ham”. And while New York’s Cardinal Francis Spellman had traveled to Vietnam to bless US troops as they battled “godless Communism”, a Jesuit priest Daniel Berrigan led fellow clergymen and women in protests against the warn, often resulting in their arrest and imprisonment (in one case, for burning the Selective Service files of young men who were to be drafted to serve in the military).

During this entire period I do not recall Christianity being described as a warlike or racist faith. Nor do I recall King and Berrigan being referred to “Christian protesters”. We did not engage in drawn out theological debates in an effort to determine which interpretation of Christianity was correct. Rather we defined these individuals by what they did. There were either “segregationists” and “civil rights leaders” or they were “supporters of the war” and “peace activists”.

What we may have understood, at least implicitly, was that because a person or institution used religious language to define or validate certain behaviors that did not make that behavior “religious”. Nor did this define, by itself, the religion to which they adhered. This is something that many in the West still understand, at least when it comes to Christianity. Because

President George W Bush, in some speeches, described the Iraq war as America carrying out God’s will, we knew not to refer to that conflict as a “Christian” war. Our discussion of Islam is a different matter.

For reasons beyond the scope of this short piece, when dealing with Islam, political leaders, media commentators and ordinary folk here in the West, appear intent on using religious language to describe every aspect of life and all forms of behavior, both good and bad, as “Muslim”. In doing so, we create confusion for ourselves and others, leading, at times, to incoherence and some very strange policies.

For example, faced with the threat of individuals and groups using religious language to validate their acts of terror, we refer to them as “Muslim terrorists”. But then because we recognize that they represent only a tiny fraction of Muslims, we maintain that they “don’t speak for Islam”. This then leads us down the tortuous path of attempting to define what is “good” Islam versus “bad” Islam - creating a kind of “state sanctioned” interpretation of a faith - something we understood not to do when it involved Christianity.

Another example: a colleague, for whom I have the greatest respect, recently wrote a book in which he first correctly debunks the notion of “Muslim terrorists”, but then goes on to write about “Muslim oil” - by which he means oil coming from Gulf and Central Asian and some African countries. To which I respond: Does that make U.S. and Canadian oil “Christian” or “secular democratic” oil? Or is Venezuelan oil “Bolivarian” oil or whatever?

And finally, the White House recently sponsored a summit for Muslim entrepreneurs - described in some of the literature as focusing on

entrepreneurs from “Muslim majority countries and Muslim communities around the world”. Aside from troubling questions about what message this sends to business people from the Arab World or Indonesia or elsewhere

who may not be Muslim, or what local sectarian tensions such an effort may exacerbate, what exactly is a “Muslim entrepreneur”? Or, for that matter, what is a “Christian entrepreneur” or “Hindu entrepreneur? At the end of the

day, there are terrorists, there is oil and there are people who start up and run businesses.

NOTE: Dr James J Zogby is the President of the Arab American Institute.

New Kyrgyz window of opportunity

By Kelima Yakupova

A

fter resigning in the wake of bloody anti-government protests that left 86 dead and more than 1,500 wounded, the exiled former President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev told reporters in Belarus last month that he was still the country’s legitimate leader. The United Nations, United States, Russia, Kazakhstan and European countries, however, have brokered a deal for Bakiyev’s resignation, recognising an interim government chaired by Kyrgyz opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva in the hopes of returning Kyrgyzstan to a democratic course.

Kyrgyzstan, a majority-Muslim, central Asian republic, has endured two coup d’Ètats in the last five years. The first, the Tulip Revolution in March 2005, led to the downfall of the country’s first post-Soviet president, Askar Akayev, whose 15 years in power ended amidst charges of corruption, nepotism and cronyism, and brought Bakiyev to power. During the past several years, Bakiyev took the regime in an increasingly authoritarian direction, and on 7 April Scarlet Revolution protesters in Bishkek and several other cities rose up to drive yet another head of state from power.

Though lasting change eluded Kyrgyzstan in 2005, the Kyrgyz people now have an opportunity to ensure that history does not repeat itself. The head of the interim government, Otunbayeva, has been active in Kyrgyz politics since 1981, serving as the USSR’s emissary to UNESCO and ambassador to Malaysia, the United Kingdom and the United States. In keeping with their promises to restore democracy in Kyrgyzstan, the three major opposition parties have reached a consensus to build a parliamentary state without the domination of any one individual. With Bakiyev out, and support from the major international powers, they have a unique opportunity to lead the country to economic recovery and representative government.

But the provisional government and its elected successor will have to work hard to earn back the trust of the Kyrgyz peo-

ple. Thanks in part to the Internet, which has made it easier for young Kyrgyz to form civil associations and keep one another informed, the Kyrgyz people have become more aware of government corruption. They watched as Bakiyev appointed members of his family to significant political positions and enjoyed the lion’s share of US government largesse in exchange for the use of the air base at Manas, a vital resupply point in the war in Afghanistan.

Several times in the past two months, thousands have taken to the streets of major Kyrgyz cities to demand the release of political prisoners and an end to the government’s harassment of the media: more than 60 journalists have been attacked since 2006, and at least two murdered. After electricity fees increased by 200 per cent, and heat by 400 per cent over the winter, protesters demanded reductions in utility costs and called for Bakiyev’s son, Maksim - accused of embezzling at least $35 million from a Russian loan - to leave the country.

Political activism does not come naturally to the Kyrgyz.

Even after gaining their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, they had a lingering fear of repression, little independent media, limited political speech and, above all, a lack of faith that citizen participation could bring about significant reforms.

However, recent events have encouraged dissatisfied citizens that public dissent is necessary and could be effective in the current climate. The Kyrgyz people must continue to press the provisional government to appoint public officials transparently and restart key institutions, including the constitutional court.

To address the country’s most pressing challenges, the new government will have to develop a commitment to protect freedom of speech and an independent media, as well as a longterm plan to jumpstart the economy, alleviate poverty and create new employment opportunities, which would provide a constructive opportunity for frustrated and unemployed youth.

NOTE: Kelima Yakupova is a Kyrgyz national and Junior Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace — CGNews

Parties aplenty, but can any challenge junta?

By Martin Petty

A

lthough dismissed by many as a sham to entrench five decades of military rule, Myanmar’s upcoming election is being taken seriously at home, with dozens of political parties queuing up to take part. But what remains to be seen is whether any real force will emerge to challenge the iron-fisted rule of a military that seems determined to cling on to power. The party seen as Myanmar’s only real hope for a democratic future was effectively disbanded as of Friday when Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) opted not to register for what it said were “unjust” polls - a move that angered many of its supporters.

A breakaway NLD faction announced just hours after the deadline that it would enter the election under a new political entity called the National Democratic Force (NDF) -

assuming the army-appointed Election Commission agrees to allow it. But if the NDF or any other pro-democracy parties emerge, their leaders will have big shoes to fill now the charismatic, long-detained Suu Kyi, the icon of Myanmar’s democracy struggle, has clearly stated her opposition to the long-awaited polls.

The NLD won the last election, in 1990, by a landslide but was denied the chance to rule by a junta that used unexplained constitutional technicalities to keep the NLD out of office. Many experts and people on the ground believe the window of opportunity for an opposing force to win the support of Myanmar’s people and replicate the NLD’s 1990 feat is fast closing.

The break-up of the NLD could lead to a fractious and divisive opposition, with those intending to challenge the military and its proxies more likely

to face off with each other.

“We’ll have to wait and see how well the real, genuine prodemocracy parties can work together,” said Aung Naing Oo, a Harvard-educated Burmese academic based in Thailand.

“The problem is the NLD wasn’t strategically deconstructed.

The hardliners and moderates who have been through thick and thin might undermine each other. Some may go underground and that’s a recipe for confrontation.”

The prospect of a clumsilyformed and bickering opposition plays right into the hands of the generals, who unlike 1990, appear to have hatched a clever plan to retain control of the country at all levels. The armed forces drafted a constitution in 2008 and ensured it passed a referendum, granting its commander-in-chief more power than an elected president and allocating control of key ministries, like justice, defence and interior, to the military.

And it looks as if it will get its

hands on the “civilian” side of the new democratic Myanmar too. At least 20 ministers from the junta, including Prime Minister Thein Sein, resigned from the military last week to become civilian politicians, although as is typical with Myanmar, their parties remain a mystery.

A party known as the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) has attracted wide attention on state-controlled television, prompting accusations the junta has hijacked a social development organisation to use as its vehicle for parliamentary politics. The USDA appears to be modeled on Indonesia’s powerful Golkar Party and claims to have 24 million members - about half of Myanmar’s population.

A total of 30 groups have applied to become political parties and more may join before the June 6 deadline for new parties to register for the election, a date for which has yet to be set. Only four of 10 existing par-

ties have applied to run, three, including the National Unity Party (NUP) — the runner-up to the NLD in 1990 - comprise former members of the Socialist Programme Party, the political arm of the military junta that seized power in a 1962 coup before its dissolution in 1998.

Regardless of who wins, most analysts believe parliamentary politics will be a sideshow given the military’s ministerial and budgetary powers and its allocation of 25 percent of the national assembly and a third of senate seats to serving generals. “The generals don’t want a repeat of the 1990 election and its clear they won’t share power with anyone,” said Aung Zaw, editor of the Thailand-based Irrawaddy magazine. “Any idea that this election can change the political landscape is wishful thinking.

Members of parliament won’t have the power or numbers to go against these military dinosaurs.” — Reuters

ANALYSIS

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

13

Brown doomed whatever happens

By Michael Thurston

P

rime Minister Gordon Brown is clinging to office after elections left Britain politically deadlocked, but his future as premier appears doomed three years after he succeeded Tony Blair, experts say. The beleaguered Labour Party leader’s hopes of retaining power were further called into question by a Sunday newspaper poll indicating nearly two thirds of Britons think Brown should already have stood down.

Brown offered to share power with the third-placed Liberal Democrats after last week’s general election - but Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has spurned him in favour of the main opposition Conservatives. And even if the Lib Dem-Tory talks fail and Clegg turned to Labour, many doubt Brown would remain in office, with fevered speculation about who would succeed him as Labour leader.

“It really is a matter of time,” said Professor Steven Fielding of Nottingham University, as talks continued between David Cameron’s

Conservatives first - and even if those negotiations fail, Labour’s hopes of producing a viable coalition seem slim.

The Conservatives have 306 seats 20 seats short of an absolute majority of 326 seats in the new 650-member House of Commons - against 258 for Labour and 57 for the Lib Dems.

Labour and the Lib Dems together would still be 11 seats short, triggering speculation that they may seek a deal with smaller parties such as Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionists, plus the Scottish and Welsh nationalists.

However, “it would collapse under its own weight. it would be a nightmare,” said Victoria Honeyman of Leeds University, describing it as a “coalition of the losers”. “Possibly in the short term he might be able to cobble something together. But I don’t imagine it would last very long ... It depends how desperate he actually is,” she told AFP. Then there is Clegg’s expected refusal to deal with Brown as Labour leader. “I can’t see Clegg agreeing to go into coalition with Labour with Brown at the head,” said Professor Paul Whiteley of Essex University, cit-

Conservatives and the Liberals, after polls produced Britain’s first hung parliament for 36 years. “If the talks between the Lib Dems and the Tories break down, and Nick Clegg goes back to the Labour Party, he’s already said that he can’t agree to anything if Gordon Brown remains leader,” he told AFP. He was referring to comments Clegg made last month which have fuelled talk of Brown handing the Labour reins to someone else Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Home Secretary Alan Johnson are among the most cited.

“Whichever scenario you look at, Gordon Brown will be tendering his resignation, either to make way for another Labour prime minister or just to make way for David Cameron,” he said. Brown, who succeeded Blair in June 2007, has remained in office despite his party coming second because, under Britain’s idiosyncratic election conventions, he in theory gets first go at trying to form a viable government in a hung parliament. But the Lib Dems chose to talk to the

ing Miliband as frontrunner to succeed Brown as Labour leader. Brown could yet surprise everyone, he admitted.

“But I rate his chances very low... He’s a great survivor but I just don’t see it this time, I think things have caught up with him,” he added.

Public support for Brown is distinctly lacking: a new newspaper poll, published as the Conservatives and Liberals pressed ahead with weekend talks, indicated that almost two-thirds of voters think he should concede defeat. Sixty-two percent of those asked thought Brown should have accepted defeat on Friday after it became clear that Labour was no longer the largest party, according to the YouGov survey for The Sunday Times.

In another blow, one Labour lawmaker called openly Saturday for Brown to go.

“Gordon Brown has had a good run, and whilst he was an excellent chancellor he has been seen as a poor prime minister who is out of touch and aloof,” said John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw in England’s east Midlands. “He needs to go, and he needs to go fairly quickly,” he said. — AFP

West acquiesces as Kremlin wins back states

By Michael Stott

V

ladimir Putin has long bemoaned the fall of the Soviet Union. Now he appears to be having some success in winning parts of it back. Analysts and diplomats name Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia as former Soviet republics where Russia has succeeded recently in rolling back Western influence. Belarus, which flirted last year with the West, is tracking back towards Moscow and has agreed, together with Central Asian powerhouse Kazakhstan, to join Moscow in a customs union.

The West, preoccupied with financial crisis and keen to keep Russia as an ally in tackling problems such as nuclear proliferation and Iran’s military ambitions, has acquiesced. “It’s extremely important to Putin to reassert Russian influence in the (former Soviet Union),” said Maria Lipman, editor of the Pro et Contra journal at the Moscow Carnegie Centre. “Europe can’t compete with that.”

In Ukraine, newly elected leader Viktor Yanukovich scrapped plans by his predecessor to pursue NATO membership and did a deal extending the lease of a Russian naval base in Ukraine by 25 years in return for a 30 percent cut in gas prices. Emboldened by his success, Putin suggested last Friday that Kiev should merge its state gas company Naftogaz - which owns the pipelines taking Russian gas across Ukraine to the West - with Russia’s state-controlled giant Gazprom.

Georgia’s Western allies have largely deserted President Mikheil Saakashvili after his disastrous attempt in 2008 to retake the rebel province of South Ossetia triggered a war with Russia and a crushing military defeat.

Saakashvili has lost public support too over the affair and Georgian opposition politicians, some of whom favour less confrontational policies with Russia, have already travelled to Moscow for exploratory talks with Putin. In the poor Central Asia republic of Kyrgyzstan, former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev blamed his fall in a popular uprising on Moscow, saying the

Kremlin was dissatisfied that he had backtracked on a promise to close a key U.S. military base.

These developments mean all three of the “colour” revolutions, in which mass protests swept pro-Western governments to power in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, have been reversed or seriously compromised. “The collapse of the “Orange” administrations in all countries except Georgia, which is now isolated, the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the re-booting of relations with the United States and the new strategic pact with Ukraine together create ... ideal foreign political conditions,” said Gleb Pavlovsky, a political analyst with close ties to the Kremlin, in comments on his website kreml.org.

Two years ago, the situation looked very different. Then, US President George W Bush was aggressively pursuing the expansion of NATO to include Ukraine and Georgia, US antimissile systems were planned for Central Europe and the Kremlin howled about Western plots to encircle Russia. But the election of Obama and the global financial crisis brought different priorities to Washington. Moscow became a key player which needed to be won over to an agenda of global diplomacy rather than a Cold War-era foe to be contained. Publicly, US officials bridle at the idea that they are acquiescing in a renaissance of Kremlin power.

But privately, those advancing the Obama agenda describe the Bush-era policies of confrontation with Russia as misguided. Such sentiments chime with a mood on continental Europe which favours pragmatism with Russia, allowing Europeans to exploit lucrative business opportunities unhindered by sour political grapes over human rights or democracy. “There is a growing feeling in most of Europe that the time is right to seek a new consensus with Russia which is not based on the old adversarial lines of NATO and human rights, but along a common agenda for co-operation,” one European ambassador said.

The rapid changes in the ex-Soviet Union should not have come as a surprise - the Kremlin was never shy

about its agenda. President Dmitry Medvedev, Putin’s junior partner in the ruling “tandem”, told Western journalists and academics in September 2008 that “we will work to extend our contacts with those nations with which we have traditionally been close...If that doesn’t please everyone, what can I do about it?”. The US Republicans and some eastern European nations are indeed not pleased, but not everyone shares that view.

Proponents of Ukraine’s deals with Moscow say that Russia agreed to gas price discounts worth up to $40 billion to secure the naval base - a godsend for Kiev’s struggling finances. Although the opposition attacked the deal, a poll by the Gorshenin Institute showed 56 percent of Ukrainians backed it. US diplomats hail a new START treaty with Russia cutting nuclear arms, deals to allow supplies for NATO troops in Afghanistan to cross Russia, and signs

Moscow may back sanctions against Iran as fruits of the new, better relationship.

“It was gradually realised in the West that provoking Russia does not yield positive results,” the Carnegie Centre’s Lipman said. “We can benefit from being on better terms with Russia.” “Iran, Afghanistan and START are higher on Obama’s list than an American mission to spread democracy all over the world.” — Reuters

NY hotel market faces supply boom

By Deepa Seetharaman

I

t took nearly three months to find the perfect hue of slate blue for the bathroom towels at the InterContinental New York Times Square hotel. The hotel’s general manager, Drew Schlesinger, held each sample against the bathroom tiles to see how well the colors meshed. He dimmed the lights to see how that would alter the tones. He sent the towels back seven times to be redyed until they finally came up with the perfect shade.

“Details are extremely important,” he said, just before a walk-through of the hallways of the InterContinental, which is still under construction. “You get enough people to have that ‘Aha!’ moment and it’s a home run.”

It is gospel in the hospitality industry that the small stuff matters. The curve of the door knob, the heft of a closet hanger and a coffee mug that’s just the right size can go a long way in convincing a hotel guest to become a regular customer. This is particularly true in New York City, a place hotel experts call one of the world’s most important markets because of its visibility and constant traffic from wellheeled business travelers and tourists alike.

The already-fierce competition is set to heat up even more as a new wave of hotels opens in New York this year, just as the lodging industry is recovering from what has been the worst slump for the sector since the Great Depression. The number of new hotel rooms will increase 9.1 percent in New York’s five boroughs and neighboring Rockland and Westchester counties, the most since at least 2002, according to PKF Consulting.

In Manhattan alone, the number of new hotel rooms is expected to jump nearly 10 percent, according to the Lodging Development Group, a research provider. “That is a number of more rooms that need to be sold that didn’t need to be sold last year or last month,” said Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Woronka. Woronka and other analysts said the increased supply this year is unlikely to hobble the recovery seen in the New York market because demand has been so strong, particularly among luxury hotels. For 2011 and 2012, experts are projecting a modest rise in room sup-

ply, which would help hotels raise room rates as the economy continues to strengthen.

But hotels could struggle to prop up rates in the shoulder seasons of late spring and early fall, periods of typically weaker demand. “The bigger question - is this lift in demand sustainable, or is it what some people refer to as ‘pent-up’ demand?” Woronka said. “New York is kind of the poster child for that answer.” At 607 rooms, the InterContinental Times Square will be the largest to open this year. Other notable new properties include the luxury Trump SoHo New York hotel, which opened in April, and The Setai New York.

These properties are coming online at a time when major hotel operators like Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Host Hotels & Resorts are reporting a greater consumer appetite for luxury offerings. The definition of luxury, some hotel experts say, has shifted over the course of the last few years. Luxury at one point meant something ostentatious but the emphasis has now shifted to quality, said Ivanka Trump, executive vice president of development and acquisitions for the Trump Organization. “Luxury should mean quality,” she said. “Luxury stands the test of time.”

Trump said she takes pages of notes when she stays at hotels around the world, delineating the touches she liked or did not. She pored over the details of the Trump SoHo, where each room has custom furniture from Fendi Casa and the bathrooms walls of a steel gray Turkish marble. Also slated for a late-2010 opening is the five-star Setai. The hotel hybrid, which boasts it has no check-in or check-out time, is run by Capella Hotels & Resorts. This year, New York City expects 46.7 million visitors, up 3.2 percent from 2009, according to NYC & Co, New York’s official tourism organization. The group projects there will be 6,700 new hotel rooms this year. In February, revenue per available room in New York rose for the first time since September 2008, buoyed by higher occupancy. In March, this metric rose nearly 17 percent, outpacing revPAR in the United States by a wide margin. “New York is always resilient,” Ivanka Trump said. “There’s a level of bounceback that other states haven’t experienced yet.” — Reuters

Russia’s Black Sea navy is burden for Ukraine

By Richard Balmforth

R

ussia’s Black Sea fleet might not carry much weight in strict military terms but its presence in the port of Sevastopol will burden Ukraine’s future for generations to come, critics of the move say.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich argues his country will save billions of dollars from the trade-off involving the extension of the fleet’s lease to 2042 in exchange for cheaper gas, vital for the economy. But his critics, who see the Russian navy’s presence as an affront to Ukrainian independence, say Yanukovich has made a fatal error for the nation and handed the political opposition a stick with which to beat him for the rest of his time in power.

The issue sparked riots in parliament and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, around whom the opposition has marshalled forces, is promising street demonstrations in the capital Kiev today. The problem touches on the wider issue of Ukraine’s often muddled sense of national identity since independence in 1991 and the dangers, as some critics see it, of allowing a tooclose relationship with its old Soviet master. Apart from arousing the indignation of Yanukovich’s opponents who represent the Ukrainian-speaking regions of the west and the centre, down in Sevastopol and other parts of Crimea the issue has only

Russian Navy seamen on leave pose on the seafront in front of a Russian Navy vessel in the bay of the Ukrainian city of Sevastopol, the main base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, on May 7, 2010. – AFP hardened pro-Russian sentiment.

In Victory Day celebrations on Sunday, people spoke unashamedly of Sevastopolfounded by Russia in the 18th century but gifted by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to then Soviet Ukraine in the 1950s being Russian. “Sevastopol is frankly speaking a Russian city.

Perhaps at one time it seemed that Russia had dumped us, but now I am really pleased we are getting closer,” said Marina, 39, a

manager of a private company.

People who have visited Crimea regularly over the years say that feeling is now voiced more and more openly by local people.

Many are simply proud of their city’s history and traditions, but critics say the presence of the fleet, and of the many Russian navy servicemen who have settled in Sevastopol after retirement, has confused national allegiances. The Dzerkalo Tyzhdnya weekly said in a critical editorial

that Russian intelligence agents operating from the fleet had often whipped up sentiment in rallies against NATO and American ship visits. “Sevastopol is the pass key for the extension of Russian political and economic interests in Crimea and Ukraine in general,” it wrote. “For another third of a century we will have on our territory the military base of a state whose highest leadership and whose population regard the existence of independent, sovereign

Ukraine as a historical misunderstanding,” it said.

Most people, critics and supporters alike, agree that the fleet, which Ukrainian defence expert Serhiy Zhurets described as a collection of “rusty tin-cans”, has no real strategic significance, and by geography, its range of activity is limited. There are only three powerful fighting ships - the rocket cruiser Moskva, a patrol ship Smetlivy and a big anti-submarine vessel, Kerch. Its only submarine has been at Russia’s Novorossiisk naval yard for repairs for some time and other ships have been a long time in dock, their sea worthiness questionable. Its oldest vessel, the rescue ship Kommuna, entered into service in 1915, two years before the Bolshevik Revolution.

But Russia did deploy the Moskva to blockade the Georgian port of Poti in its brief war against Georgia in Aug 2008 to the embarrassment of the then proWestern Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. Many critics of the Kharkiv accords of April 21, at which Yanukovich agreed the gas-for-fleet deal with Kremlin leader Dmitry Medvedev, see a danger of Ukraine being dragged into Russia’s conflicts in the future.

“Russia is at war in the Caucasus and any military man will tell you that when you want to destroy an enemy you go after his base first. If that base is in Sevastopol then that blow will be

delivered here,” said Bohdan Moroz of the Congress of Ukrainians of Sevastopol, a local non-governmental organisation.

“Since the first day of Ukraine’s independence, the presence of the Russian Black Sea fleet has been not only an instrument of influence in Crimea but on the internal situation in Ukraine as a whole. It goes without saying that Russia cannot let a serious level of influence over our country go,” said the Dzerkalo Tyzhdnya editorial.

Defence experts calculate it would have cost Russia several billion dollars to expand the Novorossiisk base, 330 km down the coast, to re-house the Black Sea fleet there. But even an ardent supporter of the fleet’s presence would admit the issue is not about money but the psychological shock for Russia.

“Sevastopol for Russians is a sacred concept. It is a Russian city. It’s their ‘cherry orchard’,” said Dzerkalo Tyzhden, referring to the treasured family orchard that is chopped down at the end of Anton Chekhov’s play.

Defence expert Zhurets says the simple extension of the lease has done nothing to solve a myriad of property rights problems stemming from the Black Sea fleet’s presence which ensuing generations will now have to confront. These relate to lighthouses, Russian military camps on land, ownership of quaysides and much other infrastructure. —Reuters

focus

Angola makes limited transparency moves

By Cecile de Comarmond

R

ecent signs of openess by Angola’s famously opaque government have been welcomed by political analysts, but the oil-rich country must now turn the transparency talk into action, the same experts say.

Four Angolan ministers and the central bank governor gave an unprecedented press conference for local and international journalists last week, broadcast live on radio and television in a country not used to government openess.

Carlos Feijo, state minister for civil affairs, told journalists that transparency and good governance will be highlights of longtime President Jose Eduardo dos Santos’ government under a new constitution adopted in February.

Analysts say the conference was the first of its kind in Angola.

“The conference was transmitted live on radio and television, with a variety of questions from the journalists. It’s a sign that the new government is going to be closer to people,” said Moises Sachipangue of Angola’s stateowned TV network.

“It is a positive sign. This is something that never happened before,” said Elias Isaac of the Open Society Institute. “We have been used, for decades in the country, to have government officials who run away from the press, who don’t speak to the public, and who don’t engage with the citizens.” Dos Santos, Angola’s president for the past 30 years, could extend his grip on power for another decade under the new constitution, which allows him to run for two more five-year terms.

The one-time Marxist clung to power through a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002, but has faced a presidential election just once, in a 1992 poll that was cut short by renewed fighting. Dos Santos stepped away from his secretive style to hit the cam-

paign trail in 2008 for Angola’s first legislative elections in 16 years, swept by his ruling MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola). In November, he called on MPLA members to increase transparency and declared a “zero tolerance” policy on corruption. “We should not condone corruption or the misappropriation of resources from public or party,” he said.

Angola rivals Nigeria for the title of Africa’s top oil producer, yet two-thirds of its population lives on less than two dollars a day. The country recently fell in watchdog group Transparency International’s corruption index, moving from 158th place in 2008 to 162nd in 2009, out of a total of 180 countries. Human Rights Watch in April praised Angola for improving public access to its oil revenue figures. But, the organisation said, “If the Angolan government is serious about transparency and reform, it should rigorously investigate government officials, publish audits of its expenditures, and act on President dos Santos’ pledge of zero tolerance.’”

Isaac said improving transparency in the long term will mean increasing media freedom in a country where information is largely filtered through the staterun press. “Democracy is synonymous to access to information. And one of the biggest challenges in this country is that public officials detain public information as their private property,” he said. And sociologist Vicente Pinto de Andrade said the press conference was merely an imagebuilding exercise at a time when the government is in trouble with the construction sector over late debt repayments. “Angola needs debates, on radio and television, in which government will be confronted by the opposition, by civil society and also by academics,” he said. “For the moment, I see none of that.” — AFP

Loss hands Merkel world of problems

By Jeff Black and Helen Maguire

T

he old adage is that all politics are local. But when a bomb drops, like Sunday’s rout of Angela Merkel’s centre-right allies in a key west-German state, it sends shockwaves. The blast from Sunday’s defeat of the Christian Democrat (CDU)Free Democrat (FDP) coalition government in North RhineWestphalia has left the federal government in Berlin - also a CDU-FDP duo - licking its wounds. The two parties are asking themselves what caused the collapse, and what comes next.

Most commentators have interpreted the slap for the CDU - which lost over 10 percentage points in the state - as a clear rejection of Chancellor Merkel’s handling of the Greek and euro debt crises. The vote came days after Merkel’s government pushed through an unpopular multi-billion-euro loan to Greece, after weeks of controversy. Critics accused her of worsening the debt crisis by attempting - unsuccessfully to delay a decision until after Sunday’s election.

In her defence, Merkel says time was needed to prepare a solid savings plan for Greece before cash could be released.

But the result in fact mostly appeared to reflect voter upset at local issues in the state itself.

A survey carried out by pollsters Forschungsgruppe Wahlen indicated that the majority of voters cared primarily about regional issues, such as state finances in the former industrial hub, where unemployment is over 10 per cent.

Local councils, faced with huge budget deficits, have had to cut back heavily on services, placing the electorate at odds with the centre-right government’s pledges to cut taxes.

North Rhine-Westphalia is also embroiled in a debate over school reform - an issue that topped the Greek crisis for most voters, according to the survey. But regardless of why the voters in the state voted the way they did, it has clearly weakened the national government.

In Berlin, the results were seen as a damning response to the infighting and procrastination of the CDU-FDP since they

entered coalition government together last year. A visibly chastened FDP leader Guido Westerwelle said at a press conference yesterday that there now “needed to be more team spirit.” But whether a new collegiate atmosphere blooms in the cabinet sessions or not, this coalition will be limping for the foreseeable future, experts say.

“The situation for the federal government has just become much worse,” Professor Nils Diederich of the Otto Suhr Institut in Berlin told dpa. This is because the government has now lost its majority in the Bundesrat, or upper house of parliament, where the 16 states are represented. The government used to have a slim fivevote majority in the Bundesrat, which itself began to wobble in December when the state of Schleswig-Holstein withheld its support for a tax-cut plan until the last moment.

Now, as the six-vote bloc from North Rhine-Westphalia can no longer be assumed, the government is in a fix.

Controversial legislation which includes a lot of what the FDP in particular promised in their election manifesto - will have to be agreed with the opposition. Merkel immediately told the FDP that they must give up on their cherished goal of some Ä16 billion ($20.6 billion) in tax cuts. “We have to set our priorities clearly now. Tax cuts are not workable in the foreseeable future,” Merkel told a press conference in Berlin on Monday morning.

Aside from the record public debt, Merkel’s own captains in other states were balking at the thought of more reductions in their budgets. A further doubt is whether the FDP will now be able to push through another plank of their election platform, a broadening of charges to patients for health insurance.

Inevitably, the coalition’s troubles have called into question Merkel’s own leadership, as the Chancellor appeared to have been held captive by both public opinion and her obstreperous coalition partners. “For a great deal of voters, Merkel’s performance is a thorough disappointment,” Diederich said. “The voters believed in her qualities as a negotiator, as someone who made clear decisions. But now that is manifestly not the case.” — dpa

NEWS

14

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Legally, bikinis a no-no in Lebanon Continued from Page1 “If you ask the opinion of more conservative people, these laws are not at all shocking,” said MP Ghassan Mokhayber, who sits on parliament’s administration and justice committee.

However, some laws are outdated by any standards. Lebanon has not yet introduced into its legal system words such as “Alzheimer’s”, “Parkinson’s”, or even “coma”. Instead, judges use the words “insane” or “fool” for the person in question - as did their predecessors in the days of Ottoman rule over Lebanon from 1513 to 1918. “How can these terms still be

used today in the 21st century? It’s incompatible with the evolution of science,” Azzi said. “An archaic law is like expired medicine: after the expiration date it becomes harmful. The law becomes unjust.”

A rapist, for example, is let off the hook if he marries his victim, and the perpetrators of “crimes of honour” may benefit from “extenuating circumstances”.

Mokhayber said legislators have shown no interest in changing the outdated laws and that they are largely to blame for maintaining the status quo. “Parliament is just not that dynamic,” he told AFP. “There must always be some sort of pres-

sure, generally political, to get things moving.”

Legal experts are especially critical of laws on personal status in Lebanon, which are still micro-managed by the courts of the country’s 18 religious communities and which in some cases draw on the 1917 Ottoman family laws. “Another completely absurd law is one which recognises civil marriage while prohibiting the actual ceremony on Lebanese soil,” Azzi said. “It’s both tragic and comic when a judge can divorce such couples ‘in the name of the Lebanese people’ but ‘under the law of Sweden, France, Cyprus’,” he added.

A 1925 law still forbids women who marry foreigners from passing citizenship on to their children or spouses. Another can land women in prison for two years for adultery - even without being “caught in the act”, a prerequisite for adulterous men to be indicted. Perhaps more troubling is the way the law is sometimes applied. “A judge once punished a group of people who did not have identity cards on them while they walked along the beach,” said lawyer Paul Morcos, who

Continued from Page 1 for many decades to come,” he said.

Arab countries currently produce 21.5 million barrels per day of oil, more than one third of which comes from Saudi Arabia alone, with total Arab oil production down from 23 million bpd in 2006 due to the global financial crisis and the drop in demand.

Arab countries also sit on nearly 30 percent of the world’s proven natural gas reserves, Hemsh said, with stocks of 54.1 trillion cu m and the potential to add more than 40 trillion cu m in the future. Qatar Petroleum’s Director of Oil and Gas Ventures Saad Al-Kaabi said Arab countries currently supply 13 percent of the world’s gas production and account for eight percent of global gas consumption.

OPEC secretary general Abdullah ElBadri said the Arab world has the potential to help meet rising global oil and gas

demand. “The Arab world will continue to play a leading role in supplying the world with energy needs far into the future,” Badri told the conference. But the OPEC official warned that uncertainty and price volatility in the oil market have negatively impacted on the investment needed in the energy sector to boost production. Badri said OPEC and the oil-exporting Arab countries were looking for security of demand to justify raising output.

By 2020, the oil cartel’s estimated production ranges between 29 million bpd and 36 million bpd “which has an uncertainty gap of 250 billion dollars of investment,” Badri said. OPEC’s current actual production, including Iraq, hovers around 29 million bpd. The International Energy Agency forecasts that oil demand will increase from 85 million bpd now to 105 million bpd by 2030.

“At least 11 million bpd of that increase will be (met by) OPEC,” most of

it coming from Arab countries, said IEA chief Nabuo Tanaka, adding that massive increases in natural gas consumption are also predicted. Tanaka said rising global oil and gas consumption will come at a much higher price because “the age for cheap energy is simply over.” The head of the Paris-based energy watchdog questioned whether OPEC will be able to invest sufficiently to meet the expected rise in global demand. “In (the IEA’s) calculation, a major portion of demand increase should be met by Gulf states, Iraq and Iran,” Tanaka said.

But Hemsh dismissed concerns about the Arab world’s ability to ramp up production. He said that the current spare production capacity of Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and the expected increase in Iraq and Libya’s output, will be sufficient to meet global demand increase by 2020, when it is due to hit 95 million bpd. — AFP

US military base at Arifjan, 70 km south of Kuwait City. They have categorically denied the charges and claimed their confessions were extracted through torture.

Two other Kuwaitis who were being tried in absentia were also acquitted by the criminal court, Kandari said. The two are Mohsen Al-Fadhli, who has been wanted

by Kuwaiti security forces for the past five years, and Mohammad Al-Dossari who is on trial in Lebanon in connection with terror charges, he added.

“It was an expected ruling,” said Kandari, who along with other defence lawyers argued during the trial that the public prosecution and investigators had failed to provide the court any material evi-

dence. When Kuwaiti authorities announced the arrests in August, a security official told Reuters the group also planned to attack the country’s Shuaiba oil refinery. However, the court did not charge them on any counts related to that facility.

At the start of the trial in December, the public prosecution dropped the key conspiracy charge but pressed other accusations of planning to manufacture explosives and the illegal possession of firearms.

In February, however, a secret service officer told the court that the six defendants plotted to attack the US base in Arifjan in collaboration with the other two suspects. A US defence department spokesman said last year US forces in Kuwait had been targeted but that it was unclear if the suspects were linked to Al-

hour later, according to Shimmari, a fourth explosives-packed vehicle exploded, engulfing the area as emergency workers treated victims at the scene.

“When I heard the explosions, I rushed outside and saw the massive damage there were bodies everywhere, people were crying and screaming,” said Haidar Ali, 35, who had by chance stayed in the factory to speak to a colleague. “It’s the fault of the government and the company.

They care only about their own personal safety, and they left the workers without any security. They were very easy targets.”

Dr Ihab Al-Dhabhawi, a doctor at Hilla’s hospital, said the explosions, the first of which struck the State Company for Textile Industries at around 1:30 pm (1030 GMT), killed 50 people. A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said security forces had received intelligence of car bombs targeting the city, 95 km south of Baghdad, and had searched different parts of it before the explosions.

And in the southern port city of Basra,

three car bombs at two markets killed 20 people, police said. The first blast struck in a busy market in the centre of the city, 450 km south of Baghdad, at around 6:00 pm (1500 GMT), while two other blasts hit another market in central Basra an hour later.

Earlier yesterday, the capital Baghdad was hit by a spate of shootings with automatic weapons against six police or army checkpoints in the east and west of the city, which left seven dead, the interior ministry official said. Two other policemen died in three bombings in south and west Baghdad, he added. “The attacks started at 6:30 am (0330 GMT) and ended around 8:00 am (0500 GMT),” the official said, noting that nearly all of the wounded were security personnel.

A double bomb attack near the mosque in Suwayrah, 60 km southeast of the capital, meanwhile, killed 11 people and wounded 70, a police lieutenant told AFP. Twelve other people were killed in separate attacks around the former Sunni insurgent bastion of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, the northern city of Mosul, in Iskandiriyah, south of Baghdad, and near

Tarmiyah, north of the Iraqi capital.

Yesterday’s death toll was the highest since Dec 8, when 127 people were killed in five massive vehicle-borne bombs across the capital. There were more than 20 attacks in total yesterday, which Major General Qassim Atta, a security forces spokesman in Baghdad, said appeared to be a coordinated assault on security and civilian targets. Although violence has dropped in the past two years, the latest unrest will be seen as evidence that insurgents remain capable of wreaking carnage on a grand scale, two months after elections in which no clear winner emerged.

Electoral officials said on Sunday that results from the March 7 vote were nearly finalised, with totals from all but one province sent for ratification. A recount in the lone exception, Baghdad, is more than half complete. Yesterday’s violence came after figures showed the number of Iraqis killed in violence in April fell slightly month on month but was almost unchanged from 12 months ago - 328 people died as a result of attacks last month. — AFP

Aquino set for landslide win

8 Arifjan ‘plotters’ acquitted Continued from Page 1

Lebanese to have their religion removed from their civil records.

As for shorts and bikinis, these are unlikely to disappear any time soon, archaic laws or not. “You have women who are half naked in nightclubs and on the street and we’re talking about shorts here,” said Roula Nehme, 31, a manager at a Beirut restaurant. “If anything, women are showing more and more flesh and nothing will stop them from doing so.”— AFP

102 killed in Iraq violence Continued from Page 1

Arab world to remain global energy source

heads the private consultancy firm Justicia.

But the authorities have gradually begun to make changes, with women being recently allowed to open bank accounts on behalf of their children.

Another improvement in personal status records is the decision to remove the word “bastard” from the identity cards of children born out of wedlock. And last year, in an unprecedented move in sectarian Lebanon, the interior ministry allowed

Continued from Page 1 Qaeda or planned to strike Camp Arifjan.

About 15,000 US soldiers are stationed in Kuwait, which is also used as a transit point for thousands of US soldiers going to and from neighbouring Iraq.

The prosecution can still appeal the verdict, and generally does appeal in cases linked to Islamist militancy. The ruling by a criminal court was issued without immediate explanation. “This is good news, there was no evidence against them,” liberal analyst Shamlan Al-Eissa said. He said the government should concentrate more on fighting the culture of religious extremism in Kuwait, which he said was at the root of militancy. “Fighting terrorism should be by spreading freedoms, encouraging arts and artists, the theatre and music,” he said. — Agencies

His father, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, was shot dead in 1983 as he attempted to return from US exile to lead the democracy movement against Marcos.

The bespectacled Aquino was a latecomer to the presidential race, declaring his candidacy only after his mother’s death from cancer last August plunged the country into mourning and demonstrated the power of the family name. About 75 percent of the 50 million eligible voters turned up at polling stations yesterday, reflecting Filipinos’ deep commitment to democracy.

But the violence that always plagues Philippine politics inevitably flared. More than 17,000 positions were at stake - from president down to municipal council seats - and local politicians who are infamous for using their “private armies” to elimi-

nate rivals or intimidate voters were out in force. Ten people were killed on polling day, bringing the death toll from electionrelated violence over the past four months to at least 40, according to police statistics. Two of the fatalities occurred as gun battles raged in the flashpoint southern province of Maguindanao, where 57 people were killed in an election-linked massacre late last year.

Technological problems also emerged immediately after polls opened with some machines breaking down, and the election commission was forced to extend the voting period by one hour as long queues formed. Nevertheless, the election commission and security chiefs insisted the country’s first effort at automated polling was a huge success. “The... elections will go down in our nation’s history as probably the most peaceful and orderly political exercise ever held in our land,” national

police director general Jesus Verzosa said.

The automation undoubtedly brought about quick results for Filipinos, who often had to wait weeks for the winner to be known under the old manual system of vote counting. Many colourful characters contested the elections, including world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, 31, who ran for a seat in the lower house.

Another candidate for the lower house was Imelda Marcos, 80, who gained global notoriety when thousands of her shoes were found in the presidential palace after her late husband overthrow in 1986.

Estrada enjoyed the most emphatic win in Philippine electoral history in 1998 when he received 39 percent of the vote, but was then kicked out of power in a bloodless coup three years later over corruption. The winner of Philippine presidential elections is decided by a single round of voting. — AFP

Conservatives and Lib Dems and will not relish the prospect of further delays as parallel talks take place between the Lib Dems and Labour.

As the bidding war between the two major parties for Lib Dem support intensified, Conservative negotiator George Osborne announced that his party had made a “final offer” to Clegg. “In good faith, we are making an offer to the Liberal Democrats on a strong, stable government with a considerable parliamentary majority, in coalition, and a referendum on the alternative voting system,” Osborne told reporters.

The Lib Dems want a change to a more proportional voting system than the current one, which they say is biased in favour of the two big parties and leaves them under-represented in parliament and with no chance of winning office. The alternative voting system mentioned by Osborne falls short of the Lib Dem demand. In essence, it would mean members of parliament could no longer be elected with less than 50 percent of the votes in their constituencies, but it would not in itself be a more proportional system.

Speaking after Brown’s announcement but before Osborne’s comments, Clegg said Brown’s decision to throw in the towel “is an important element which could help ensure a smooth transition to the stable government that everyone

deserves”. Clegg called negotiations with the Conservatives “very constructive” but said that in the absence of an agreement, it was in the national interest for the Lib Dems to talk to Labour as well, in parallel with the talks with the Conservatives.

Either choice is fraught with difficulties for Clegg. The election gave the Conservatives a more convincing mandate than Labour’s, but the Lib Dems and the Conservatives are far apart on many key issues. On the other hand, keeping Labour in power after its poor election result would be awkward for the Lib Dems. Even combined, the two parties would still fall short of a majority and would require support from small nationalist parties.

“This twist is disappointing for markets which want a quick resolution to this uncertainty,” said David Owen, chief European financial economist at Jefferies securities and investment banking group.

“Markets were keener on the idea of a Tory (Conservative) government with Lib Dem support, largely because there is a perception they would cut the deficit sooner.” Britain’s budget deficit is running at over 11 percent of national output, raising fears that the country could lose its top-notch credit rating and get into debt difficulties. The markets want to see quick and aggressive action on the deficit. — Reuters

Long way to go on human rights in Kuwait Continued from Page 1 On the bedoons issue, the society said: “Despite many officials and ministers’ statements about job opportunities for bedoons as teachers or MOH nurses, the bedoons issue remained unsolved and nothing tangible was actually achieved to provide them with jobs to secure decent means of living.

Bedoon children’s right to get birth certificates have also remained controversial.

Getting marriage or divorce certificates can also become a nightmare that, in most cases, requires going to court and going through unaffordable financial and psychological burdens.” KSHR stressed that basic living demands needed for bedoons and their civil and legal rights, as per international human right standards, were not achieved in 2009.

“The issue however, has gained more momentum and attracted the attention of more parliamentarians who have already filed many bills on solving bedoon issues to the parliamentary legislative and the bedoons’ affairs committees.” The KSHR highlighted a bill that was filed on Dec 8, 2009 comprising demands to grant bedoons legal and civil rights. The bill was referred to the National Assembly’s secretariat to be discussed on a special session on Dec 10, 2009 but the session was not held due to lack of quorum.

The bill demanded granting bedoons permanent residency and free health services.

The bill also stipulated that disabled bedoons are to be treated equally to their Kuwaiti peers. The bill also called on the government to grant them birth and death certificates, as well as issuing and documenting marriage, divorce and other personal affairs documents. It also stated that bedoons should be granted job opportunities in the public, private and oil sectors.

“Passing such a bill in parliament will not, of course, be easy because large segments of citizens refuse to be equally treated as bedoons. However, a few more amendments might be needed to reach a compromise and win a reasonable majority,” added the KSHR report.

As for Kuwaiti women, the report said that Kuwaiti women remarkably managed to achieve a lot in 2009 and four of them won parliamentary seats in the elections held in may to partake in political decision-making after 47 years of parliamentary life in Kuwait. “Nevertheless, some conservative activists rejected such results and sued Rola Dashti and Aseel Al-Awadhi for not wearing hijab in parliament, which was refuted by the constitutional court,” the reported stated.

The KSHR said the constitutional court has approved women’s right to issue a passport without their spouse’s approval, which ended the sufferings of many of them. “In violation of the constitution and international anti gender-discrimination treaties, a female law graduate’s (Shrouq Al-Failakawi) application to work as a district attorney was rejected for gender reasons,” the report added.

The society said that women are still being deprived of many rights such as the right of granting a Kuwaiti women’s children with a non-Kuwaiti father citizenship, which is a clear violation of article 29 of the constitution that bans gender-based discrimination. “Women are also deprived of the right to receive housing care and demands are persistent to amend housing laws to grant Kuwaiti wives of nonKuwaitis, female widows or divorcees the right for a house.”

The reported said that Kuwait still have a long way to go before female Kuwaitis were equally treated as male ones and make the dreams of those interested in enhancing

women role in development come true, particularly with the growing number of female university and post-secondary graduates.

The KSHR urged the political leadership to appoint more women as ministers, undersecretaries and directors in both public and private sectors.

On freedoms, in general, the report said that in 2009 Kuwait experienced a freedom of expression crisis when a number of parliamentary election candidates, such as Khaled Al-Tahous and Dhaifallah Buramia, were unjustifiably arrested in May in connection to statements on campaign rallies, which is a violation of the constitution and democracy rules. “Writer Mohammed Abdul Qadir Al-Jassim was also arrested by the end of the year because of a law suit filed against him by the premier, on grounds that he refused to pay a bail just before a verdict was made, which is a sheer violation of media freedom of expression,” said the report.

The society recalled the Cabinet decision in Aug 2009 when it ordered the prosecuting of the producer/s of programs or drama works attacking or criticizing statesmen.

Accordingly, the information minister decided to suspend a TV show on Scope TV channel, while other satellite TV channels, such as Al-Sour which is owned by Mohammed Al-Juwaihel, were targeted for criticizing some MPs and questioning the loyalty of some citizens.

“More strict penalties were suggested by the minister of information to be added as amendments of the Audiovisual and Publications law, which reveals undemocratic freedom-restricting intentions, which is a violation of the 1962 constitution.” AlJuwaihel was arrested upon a State Security order while he should, instead, be referred to the public prosecution according to the audiovisual law.

Kuwait to plough $24bn in projects Continued from Page 1 Meanwhile, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said yesterday it was seeking to involve the private sector in the ownership and management of some oil activities so that it could be more focused on its core task. Addressing the 9th conference on the role of the private sector in development and infrastructure projects, KPC Managing Director for Planning Sector and Chairman of the Oil Development Company Hashim Al-Refai said the program of involving the private sector in oil activities mainly aims to reactivate the sector’s role in oil development.

The program is also intended to expand the participation of the private sector and individuals in the ownership and development of oil industry, and to boost the KPC’s efficiency and capability to work on a commercial basis, he said. The KPC’s

plan for 2013-2014 includes several aspects purposed to allow the private sector to join oil operations, to boost its contribution to oil industry and to create fresh investment openings, Al-Refai added.

The KPC’s vision is meant to reach a pioneering world position in the oil and gas field by means of forming a safe and guaranteed source for hydrocarbons and running oil operations as per health, safety, security and environmental criteria, he noted. It also wants to achieve a high level of performance and profitability, and to be an integrated oil company, Al-Refai remarked. The vision further aims to boost Kuwaiti oil and natural reserves and refining and petrochemical activities inside and outside Kuwait, he added.

Separately, Kuwaiti workers on strike at the country’s 460,000 barrels per day (bpd) Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery will step up their protest, a top union official said yesterday.

The protests, which started on Sunday, have not yet affected production but they will, said Mohammad Al-Hamlan, deputy president of the Kuwait National Petroleum Company workers union. “God willing, tomorrow morning, 68 tank farm workers will join the strike,” he told Reuters.

Thirty two workers at the refinery’s utility unit walked out on Sunday to protest a company decision to cut the number of workers assigned to the refinery’s utility unit. The union official said the utility unit was “the heart” of the refinery because it provides it with utilities like electricity and water. Hamlan said output had not yet been affected by the strike so far, but it will be when more workers join the protest. KNPC officials could not be reached for comment. OPEC member Kuwait has two other refineries.

The combined capacity of the three facilities is 930,000 bpd. — Reuters

Brown to step down Continued from Page 1 Labour, in power since 1997, came second in the election and the Liberal Democrats, led by Nick Clegg, a distant third. It is the first time since 1974 that a British election has put no party in overall control. In a solemn statement in front of the official prime ministerial residence at 10 Downing Street, Brown said the Lib Dems now wanted to talk to Labour in parallel to their ongoing negotiations with the Conservatives. “I have no desire to stay in my position longer than is needed,” Brown said. “As leader of my party I must accept that that (the election result) is a judgment on me. I therefore intend to ask the Labour Party to set in train the processes needed for its own leadership election,” he said.

His announcement could make it easier for Labour to lure the Lib Dems away from the Conservatives, since Clegg had signalled strongly during the election campaign that he did not wish to keep the unpopular Brown, 59, in office. Hours after Brown spoke, a Labour spokesman said negotiations with the Lib Dems had begun.

Brown did not give a precise time frame for his departure but said he hoped a new Labour leader would be in place by the time of the annual party conference at the end of September. Britain’s sterling currency fell and government bonds plunged after Brown’s comments. Markets had been hoping for a quick deal between the

Israel admitted to OECD club Continued from Page 1 Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a news conference in his Jerusalem office.

“Israel joining the OECD has strategic importance.” Netanyahu said that Israel was often seen abroad only in the context of its conflict with the Palestinians but thanks to the OECD would now also be recognised for its economic and technological achievements. “Israel’s status is seen only through the prism of the peace process, which may stop or move ahead according to the will of the Palestinians, “ he said.

Palestinians and their supporters were angered that Israel had included in the economic data it submitted to the OECD figures that include the output of farms and businesses from Jewish businesses on occupied Arab land. Gurria said that this issue had been dealt with in discussions with Israel and that OECD documents would make clear that the inclusion of such figures did not represent any judgment on the territories’ legal status. A footnote to this effect will be appended to OECD documents and Israel has undertaken to begin a process to “disaggregate” economic data from the West Bank, east Jerusalem and

the Golan Heights.

Diplomatic sources said that the 31 existing OECD members had approved Israel’s candidacy “by consensus” and France formally welcomed the news. ProPalestinian groups were less impressed.

“The OECD decision today is ... an astounding setback for legal accountability and respect for human rights,” Omar Barghouti, of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee, told AFP. “This vote can only be seen by Palestinians, Arabs and indeed all peace loving people around the world as an entrenchment of official complicity in maintaining and protecting Israel’s occupation, colonisation and apartheid.”

Mohammed Ishtayah, head of the semiofficial Palestinian development agency PECDAR, called yesterday’s decision “unfortunate”, and said the OECD had prematurely rewarded Israel. “I think it is a misjudgment on behalf of the organization. I think this will encourage Israel not to go along with the peace process,” he said.

The OECD statement said that all three new members would contribute to the group work in a variety of ways. “Estonia is an acknowledged world leader in innovative e-government and e-commerce initiatives.

Israel’s scientific and technological policies have produced outstanding outcomes on a world scale,” it said. Meanwhile, Slovenia “has led the way in making public sector information available to all.” The OECD said it would welcome the three future members to the club at a ceremony on 27 May in Paris. When founded in 1961, OECD membership represented 75 percent of global wealth. Today it accounts for 60 percent and efforts are being made to enlarge its membership to incorporate rapidly growing economic powers.

The US ambassador to the OECD, Karen Kornbluh, called yesterday “a truly historic day” for the body, whose activities include compiling statistics and monitoring members’ actions in areas from fighting corruption to tax havens and fiscal policy.

She said Israel boosted its candidacy by reforming laws to conform with OECD’s anti-bribery rules and boost investor access to the financial services sector. She said Israel also agreed to a peer review by other OECD members of social policies toward minorities. “The US believes it is crucial for the OECD to engage strategically with the wider world,” she said. “We believe that Israel has much to offer the OECD.”— Agencies

SPORTS

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

15

MLB results/standings Major League Baseball results on Sunday.

Cleveland 7, Detroit 4; San Francisco 6, NY Mets 5; Cincinnati 5, Chicago Cubs 3; Washington 3, Florida 2; Philadelphia 5, Atlanta 3; St. Louis 11, Pittsburgh 4; Houston 4, San Diego 3 (11 innings); Toronto 9, Chicago White Sox 7; Minnesota 6, Baltimore 0; Texas 6, Kansas City 4; Oakland 4, Tampa Bay 0; Seattle 8, LA Angels 1; Milwaukee 6, Arizona 1; LA Dodgers 2, Colorado 0; Boston 9, NY Yankees 3.

American League Eastern Division W L 22 9 21 9 19 14 16 16 9 23

PCT .710 .700 .576 .500 .281

GB 0.5 4 6.5 13.5

Central Division Minnesota 21 11 Detroit 17 14 Chicago White Sox 13 19 Cleveland 11 18 Kansas City 11 21

.656 .548 .406 .379 .344

3.5 8 8.5 10

Texas Oakland LA Angels Seattle

Western Division 18 14 .563 17 15 .531 14 19 .424 12 19 .387

1 4.5 5.5

Philadelphia NY Mets Washington Florida Atlanta

National League Eastern Division 19 12 17 14 17 14 14 17 13 18

.613 .548 .548 .452 .419

2 2 5 6

St. Louis Cincinnati Milwaukee Pittsburgh Chicago Cubs Houston

Central Division 20 12 16 15 15 16 14 17 14 18 10 21

.625 .516 .484 .452 .438 .323

3.5 4.5 5.5 6 9.5

San Diego San Francisco Colorado LA Dodgers Arizona

Western Division 19 12 .613 18 12 .600 15 16 .484 14 17 .452 14 18 .438

0.5 4 5 5.5

Tampa Bay NY Yankees Toronto Boston Baltimore

OAKLAND: Athletics’ Ryan Sweeney (21) drives in a run with a single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning of a baseball game.—AP

Athletics dazzle Rays, Red Sox halt Yankees OAKLAND: Dallas Braden pitched the 19th perfect game in major league history, a dazzling performance for the Athletics in a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

When Gabe Kapler grounded out to shortstop for the final out, Braden had completed the majors’ first perfect game since Mark Buehrle did it for the White Sox against the Rays on July 23, and the second no-hitter this season after Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez pulled it off in Atlanta on April 17.

Braden pitched the A’s first perfect game since Hall of Famer Jim “Catfish” Hunter on May 8, 1968, against the Minnesota Twins.

Braden (4-2) threw two-strike changeups and got quick outs against a Rays team

that lost on the road for just the third time this year. He struck out six in the 109-pitch performance, throwing 77 strikes in his 53rd career start.

Red Sox 9, Yankees 3 At Boston, Jon Lester pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy Hermida homered and drove in three runs to help the Red Sox end the Yankees six-game winning streak. Lester (3-2) entered the game having allowed just one earned run over his previous 20 2-3 innings and won his third consecutive start. AJ Burnett (41) worked 4 1-3 innings and gave up nine runs. Alex Rodriguez equaled Hall of Famer Frank Robinson for seventh place with 586 career homers when he hit a solo

shot off Lester in the fourth.

Talbot (4-2) allowed four runs over five innings for his fourth win in five starts.

Indians 7, Tigers 4 At Cleveland, Andy Marte drove in three runs, Mark Grudzielanek had three hits and two RBIs and the Indians ended a 10-game losing streak to Detroit. Magglio Ordonez had two hits and two RBIs for Detroit, which couldn’t overcome another rough outing by Max Scherzer.

Austin Jackson had two hits and scored twice. Grudzielanek hit a tiebreaking RBI single off Max Scherzer (1-3) in the fifth and singled in another run in the seventh to make it 6-4. Marte added a sacrifice fly for the final run.

Chris Perez, the Indians’ fifth pitcher, worked the ninth for his fifth save. Mitch

Blue Jays 9, White Sox 7 At Chicago, Fred Lewis hit a three-run homer off Bobby Jenks as the Blue Jays rallied to win, getting homers from Vernon Wells and Adam Lind along the way. Jenks (1-1) failed to retire any of the four batters he faced. Travis Snider doubled and John Buck singled before Lewis drove a 3-1 pitch into the right-field seats to give the Blue Jays an 8-7 lead. It was Lewis’ second homer of the season. Jason Frasor (2-1) allowed Carlos Quentin’s RBI double in the eighth but got the win when Toronto rallied. Kevin Gregg pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances.

Twins 6, Orioles 0 At Minneapolis, Nick Blackburn threw seven strong innings, Denard Span had his third three-hit game of the month and the Twins earned a split of the four-game series.

Brendan Harris and Alexi Casilla twice started three-run innings for Minnesota.

Brian Matusz (2-3) allowed six earned runs on nine hits in 3 2-3 innings for Baltimore. He has lost three straight.

Blackburn (3-1), who pitched a complete game Tuesday, allowed just four hits.

Rangers 6, Royals 4 At Arlington, David Murphy had three hits and drove in two runs as the Rangers completed a four-game sweep . Doug Mathis (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the

Phillies win, Giants advance PHILADELPHIA: Placido Polanco, Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino homered and Cole Hamels survived a shaky start as the Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen hung on to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Sunday.

Hamels (3-2) allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out five. Chad Durbin relieved Hamels and pitched two innings, striking out four of the six batters he faced. Jose Contreras got three outs and Brad Lidge threw a perfect ninth for the save.

Troy Glaus had two hits and two RBIs for the Braves.

Kenshin Kawakami (0-6) surrendered five runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Giants 6, Mets 5 At New York, Aaron Rowand hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning after the Giants blew a two-run lead for Tim Lincecum as San Francisco ended the Mets’ nine-game home winning streak.

New York — which won the first two games of the series with game-ending homers — lost for the first time at home since April 21.

Lincecum left after six innings with a 4-2 lead but the Giants fell apart in the seventh.

Jason Bay’s wind-aided two-run single off Dan Runzler tied it and David Wright gave New York its first lead with a sacrifice fly.

Rowand homered to rightcenter after Jenrry Meija (0-2) issued the Mets’ 10th of 11 walks to retake the lead, and Brian Wilson prevented the Mets from making it three last at-bat wins in a row. He got all five of his outs by strikeout for his seventh save. Sergio Romo (1-3) got two outs for the win.

At Los Angeles, Clayton Kershaw struck out nine, walked three and fanned fivetime All-Star Todd Helton his first three times up to guide the Dodgers to victory. Russell Martin homered with two out in the eighth against Matt Daley and Jonathan Broxton allowed two hits in the ninth before picking up his third save in five attempts. Ubaldo Jimenez (6-1) gave up one run and two hits in seven innings for Colorado.

Reds 5, Cubs 3

Nationals 3, Marlins 2 At Washington, Josh Willingham homered in the eighth inning and reliever Tyler Clippard earned his sixth win of the season. Willingham hit a 1-1 changeup from Clay Hensley (11) into the left-field bullpen for his sixth homer, after Florida’s Jorge Cantu had leveled it in the top half with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Clippard (6-0) has two more relief victories than any Washington starter. He entered in the eighth inning and allowed

Mariners 8, Angels 1 At Seattle, Josh Wilson and Michael Saunders hit back-to-back home runs in Seattle’s four-run fourth inning on the same day hitting coach Alan Cockrell was fired.

Mariners starter Jason Vargas (3-2) continued with his strong performances of late, pitching 7 1-3 innings, scattering four hits and one unearned run. Wilson and Saunders both came through with two outs, the first multi-homer game this season for Seattle.

Wilson hit a three-run shot just inside the left-field foul pole off Ervin Santana (1-3), while Saunders clubbed his first major league homer to right-center.—AP

No wiggle room in whereabouts rule

Dodgers 2, Rockies 0

At Cincinnati, Joey Votto hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning to help Mike Leake and the Reds get the win. The two-out drive was Votto’s seventh of the season and handed the decision to Leake (3-0), who didn’t allow a hit until the sixth and finished with seven solid innings.

Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 12 opportunities as the Reds capped a 4-2 homestand with their third win in four games.

Tyler Colvin hit a two-run homer in the seventh to give Chicago a 3-2 lead, but the Cubs still stumbled to their fourth loss in five games. Dempster (23) gave up five runs and six hits in seven innings.

victory. Neftali Feliz got three outs for his third save in the series and ninth overall.

NEW YORK: San Francisco Giants center fielder Andres Torres (56) comes up short on Jason Bay’s sixth-inning two-run single during the Giants baseball game against the New York Mets.—AP only Cantu’s fly ball while escaping a bases-loaded, no-out jam. Matt Capps got the final three outs for his major leagueleading 13th save.

Hanley Ramirez homered for the Marlins, who have lost five of six.

advantage of three walks by Paul Maholm (2-3) while sending 10 batters to the plate during a four-run third inning.

They put it away by sending 11 to the plate during a five-run sixth.

Cardinals 11, Pirates 4

At Phoenix, Chris Narveson gave up three hits pitching into the sixth inning and drove in a run, helping Milwaukee complete a three-game sweep.

The Brewers, who routed Arizona 17-3 on Saturday night, got homers from Prince Fielder,

Casey McGehee and Gregg Zaun to win for the fifth time in six games. Narveson (3-0), a left-hander making his third start since replacing Jeff Suppan in the rotation, allowed one run, struck out eight and walked two in 5 2-3 innings.

Brewers 6, D’backs 1 At Pittsburgh, Yadier Molina drove in three runs and St. Louis twice batted around during big innings.

Adam Wainwright (5-1) gave up two runs and five hits over six innings. The Cardinals took

Astros 4, Padres 3 At Houston, Hunter Pence drove in Lance Berkman with a double in the 11th inning as Houston ended a three-game losing streak.

Pence and Carlos Lee hit back-to-back homers off Edward

Mujica in the sixth and Pedro Feliz drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly off closer Heath Bell in the ninth. Ryan Webb (01) relieved in the 10th, and Jeff Keppinger led off the 11th by beating out a bouncer that third baseman Chase Headley couldn’t handle. Berkman singled to left, but Keppinger was thrown out at third on Jason Michaels’ bunt. Pence then drove a 1-0 pitch to left-center to give Houston its second win in 13 games. Brandon Lyon (21) pitched a perfect 11th for the victory.—AP

MONTREAL: The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Sunday it will distribute more user-friendly guidelines for drug-testing under its whereabouts rule but stressed there would be no easing of the controversial policy.

The whereabouts rule, which requires athletes to give three months’ notice of where they will be for an hour each day, has become a major source of tension between the doping agency and international sports federations, including soccer’s world governing body FIFA. “The rules aren’t going to change, there is no suggestion that there is a need to change those rules,” WADA president John Fahey told reporters after weekend meetings with the agency’s executive committee and foundation board.

“Maybe we could have been better with our guidelines ...

There has been some evidence of some strange interpretations.”

WADA promised a review of the rule after one year and found it to be an important weapon in the fight against doping.

But the anti-doping agency also admitted it could have done a better job explaining the rule and said a motion was endorsed this weekend to circulate more user-friendly guidelines as soon as possible.

“A review was undertaken, that review was reported back to us this weekend and again it showed there was a successful implementation of the program,” said Fahey. “But there were different interpretations by different sports, different countries that clearer guidelines might assist.”

A report delivered by the international police agency Interpol also provided WADA with a sobering wake-up call. While WADA has focused on testing and catching drug cheats, Interpol warned the front line in the war had shifted to supply and trafficking of performance enhancing drugs.

According to Fahey, evidence from Interpol suggests there is almost as much money, if not more, coming out of performance enhancing drugs as there is in the the illegal drug trade.

“There is a problem of mammoth proportions out there,” warned Fahey. “If we were of the view that the problem was going away that was not the advice we were given by Interpol.

“I don’t think it was shocking but sometimes when we’re all working as hard as we can on the particular issue of getting rid of the cheats in sport you don’t stop to take stock what the proportions of the problem are.”—Reuters

SPORTS

16

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

New Tiger looks nothing like the old one FLORIDA: Even at his worst, Tiger Woods has never looked this bad. It was only a month ago that Woods returned to golf with a performance that satisfied everyone but him. He finished in a share of fourth place in the Masters, his first competition in five months.

And while his personal life was a mess, it appeared his golf game wasn’t about to suffer. So much has changed in such a short time. Woods looked lost on the golf course in missing the cut at Quail Hollow last week with the highest 36-hole score of his career.

He looked even more distant as he sat in front of his locker Sunday at the TPC Sawgrass with his head bowed, elbows resting on his knees. He failed to finish another tournament, this time because of a sore neck that forced him to withdraw after six holes. “It’s early,” Paul Goydos said.

“What he’s going through is unprece-

dented. We don’t know what’s going on. At some point, his life will normalize, as normal as Tiger’s life ever gets. And then we’ll see.” When he looked up to take a few questions on Sunday, Woods leaned against his locker with his eyes closed as if he were not listening. At one point, he slammed his shoe to the floor.

Three months ago in the same clubhouse at the TPC Sawgrass — down the hallway and up a flight of stairs — Woods appeared in public for the first time to read a statement about the extramarital affairs that shattered his public image and fractured his family. He wore a dark suit then.

This time, he was in his Sunday red shirt.

In both cases, his aura of invincibility was missing. It is too early to judge how Woods will recover from this scandal, and it doesn’t help that Woods is no more forthcoming about his game or his health than he was even in good times.

Only at the Masters did he reveal he

had a torn Achilles’ during 2009. And while he said Friday that his rebuilt left knee was 100 percent, he never said anything about his sore neck until Sunday, when he mentioned that it had been bothering him since before the Masters. Who knew?

He has received warm receptions, though the praise is not universal. One woman in Charlotte, North Carolina, gave a thumbs-down when Woods walked by on his way to the tee. The low point might have come Saturday, when a young boy with an autograph from Phil Mickelson yelled out to Woods, “Tiger, say so long to No. 1. Kiss it goodbye.”

Mickelson, who could have replaced Woods at No. 1 with a victory Sunday, was standing only a few feet away. “He got heckled by a 7-year-old,” Goydos said with wonder. “That’s brutal. He’s got to get used to that. He’s got a lot on his head and the game is hard. And it’s hard for every-

body. He made it look so easy, so when he’s not making it look easy, we wonder what’s wrong.

He’s going through a tough patch. If he has 80 percent of the people completely idolizing him, that’s still a big drop. “He’s never been under a microscope like this before.” Woods bristled at the media for making a big deal about hitting five balls in the water during nine holes of practice Tuesday.

He said he was working on his swing, not overly concerned with the results when he wasn’t keeping score. But when the tournament began, there were shots that didn’t belong to the No. 1 player - or any PGA Tour player. Woods twice popped up a tee shot so badly that he had to hit 5-wood for his second shot into a par. Another went 45 degrees to the right and landed in the pond on an adjacent hole.

Even the shots that stayed inside the gallery looked ordinary. This hardly

looked like the guy who collected his 82nd title worldwide when he played in Melbourne, Australia six months ago, or who has 14 majors going into a year in which he is expected to resume his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus.

The US Open next month is at Pebble Beach, where Woods won by 15 shots.

Then comes the British Open at St. Andrews, where he already has won twice by a combined 13 shots.

“His history is particularly good at those golf courses, “Goydos said. “If he goes through all those places and is not competitive, then you can ask questions.”

So many questions still remain.

Woods will not delve into family matters, although a divorce seems imminent.

He spent some of his time at The Players Championship denying speculation that he is about to leave Hank Haney, his swing coach since 2004.

Haney said he had been paid last week

for work in the next quarter. Woods followed by confirming that he was still working with Haney, although he didn’t go into specifics and spoke throughout the week about changes to his swing.

Meanwhile, it already is May and Woods is No. 122 on the PGA Tour money list. He is equal 147th in the FedEx Cup standings. He will stay No. 1 in the world for the next two weeks, at least until Mickelson next plays at the Colonial and gets another shot at him. Above all, he does not look like the same Tiger — and he’s certainly not playing like him.

“Tiger is facing his greatest challenge,” Hal Sutton said earlier in the week. “Tiger meets every challenge with his head held high and knowing that he will overcome.

He’s had better control of his mind than almost any player I’ve ever watched play the game. “You know, I’m sure Tiger will figure that out. He’s figured everything else out.”—AP

Clark ends US title drought

Al-Thunaiyan poses with the team coach, Mohammad Bu Abbas.

Gulf Bank team honored KUWAIT: The Gulf Bank’s board of directors recently held an event to honor the achievement made by the bank’s football team in winning both the league and cup championships organized by the Kuwait Banks Club this season, which was held at the Radisson SAS Hotel.

Team members as well as its coaching staff received financial awards for their achievement during the event, which were handed to them by the Bank’s Human Resources Manager, Surour AlSamara’ei.

Gulf Bank CEO Ali Al-Badr acknowledged as part of the event the great performance shown by the team throughout the tournaments.

On his part, the bank’s CEO affairs manager, Fawzi Al-Thunaiyan, acknowledged the KBC’s efforts in holding these tournaments.

Ali Al-Badr

A group photo of bank officials and the team members.

Canucks beat Blackhawks CHICAGO: Kevin Bieksa scored two goals and Roberto Luongo made 29 saves Sunday as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 to stay alive in the Western Conference semifinals.

Chicago leads the series 3-2 and now it heads back to Vancouver for Game 6 on Tuesday night. Vancouver, which gave up four power-play goals in a 7-4 loss in Game 4 on Friday night, played a more disciplined game based on speed. And the Canucks got the kind of performance they needed from Olympic gold

medalist Luongo following three straight losses to the Blackhawks. Christian Ehrhoff opened the scoring for the Canucks just 59 seconds into the game, quickly quieting the crowd at the United Center who had hoped to see the Blackhawks make the conference finals for a second straight season.

Chicago finally scored with just more than 7 minutes left when Jonathan Toews tipped in a long shot from between the circles by Duncan Keith. Alex Burrows added an empty-netter for the Canucks with 44.6 seconds left. —AP

FLORIDA: South African Tim Clark finally ended eight frustrating years of close calls on the PGA Tour by charging past overnight leader Lee Westwood to win his maiden title at the Players Championship on Sunday.

An electrifying run of five birdies in six holes around the turn put Clark a stroke in front of the chasing pack on a treacherous day for scoring at the TPC Sawgrass.

He coolly parred the last six holes for a flawless five-under-par 67 and a 16-under total of 272 to triumph by one shot in the tournament widely considered the “fifth major” by the players.

Australian Robert Allenby birdied two of the last five holes for a 70 to finish second while world number four Westwood had to settle for a tie for fourth at 12under after dumping his tee shot into water at the 17th en route to a 74.

US Open champion Lucas Glover covered the back nine in a scintillating five-under for a closing 70 and third place at 14-under.

Clark, a perennial bridesmaid on the US circuit who had finished runner-up eight times in 205 career starts, fired the day’s lowest round for his long-awaited breakthrough.

“It has been a long time on this tour ... I just hoped it would happen one day,” the 34-year-old South African told reporters with a broad smile. “I came out today and showed what I can do on the golf course.

“That’s as good as I could have played. The course is that demanding that I just couldn’t let up and I had to concentrate on every shot.”

For much of a sun-splashed afternoon with the greens running fast and firm, Westwood and Allenby appeared to be duelling for the tournament in the final pairing.

The Australian, who spectacularly eagled the par-five second when he chipped in from greenside rough, twice edged ahead before the Englishman regained control with an outward nine of one-under 35.

Clark, who had started the final round three strokes behind Westwood, was meanwhile steadily chipping away at the lead.

He launched his sizzling birdie run by knocking in a 10-footer at the seventh and then coaxed in an 18-footer at the ninth to trail by two.

The South African, a threetimes winner on the European Tour, picked up further shots at the 10th and 11th before draining another 18-footer at the 12th, where he dropped to his knees in relief, to take the outright lead for the first time.

Although he narrowly missed a five-foot birdie putt at the parfive 16th for a three-shot cushion, he kept his cool and nervelessly sank an eight-footer to save par on the 18th.

Westwood slipped further back with a bogey at the 14th after he missed the fairway well right off the tee. His title bid effectively ended when his tee shot at the par-three 17th ended up in water just short of the island green.

“I didn’t play very good over the weekend,” said Westwood, who had been seeking his first PGA Tour victory in 12 years.

“As the course toughened up, I wasn’t striking the ball solidly enough and didn’t really get many chances.”

Phil Mickelson, who would have replaced Tiger Woods with victory on Sunday, began the day five strokes off the pace and ended it nine adrift after battling to a topsy-turvy 74.

“The course conditions were very difficult, exactly what I needed to be able to try to make a run at the leaders,” said the American left-hander, champion here in 2007. “Unfortunately I didn’t take advantage of it.” —Reuters

FLORIDA: Tim Clark of South Africa holds The Players Championship trophy in Ponte Vedra Beach. —AP

Interior Ministry wins T-T Tourney KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry’s team was recently crowned the winner of the ministries’ table tennis tournament held at the Ardiya Youth Club by the Public Authority for Youth and Sports, after emerging victorious in singles, doubles

and team competitions.

At the end of the tournament, the winning teams were awarded with their trophies and rewards by the head of the tournament’s technical committee, Adel AFuraij, as well as the head of the Ardiya

The interior ministry’s team.

Youth Club, and representatives from the Kuwait Table Tennis Association.

Al-Furaij further acknowledged PAYS for their successful organizing and the high level of competition shown in the tournament.

Team member receives his award.

The winning team poses with the organizers and guests.

17

SPORTS

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Schumacher quick again but Red Bull faster BARCELONA: Michael Schumacher was smiling again after Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix but it was nothing compared to the grins at Red Bull after another dominant display.

Jubilant Australian Mark Webber beat Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso by 24 seconds at the Circuit de Catalunya and finished more than a minute ahead of Schumacher’s fourth-placed Mercedes. Red Bull also notched up five poles in five races.

The timesheets made sobering reading for rivals who had hoped to close the speed gap on their return to Europe but, unlike the volcanic ash cloud still hanging over the continent, ended up blown further away than ever. Despite that, Schumacher turned his

back on a dismal performance in China and enjoyed his best race since the seven-times champion decided to return to Formula One this season after three years out. “The sparkle is back,” declared Mercedes team chief executive Nick Fry. “Right from the beginning on Friday he was on it. Listening on the radio to Michael, there’s the confidence back in his voice and he knows exactly what he wanted from the car and I think he got all that was to be had.”

Schumacher was under scrutiny after finishing 10th in Shanghai, scoring just two points in his previous three races and being beaten 4-0 by young team mate Nico Rosberg. He had spent time after China talking through the problems with the team,

going cycling with his race engineers and returning to the racetrack refreshed and encouraged.

But a return to the chassis he had used in pre-season testing, a longer wheelbase and aerodynamic improvements made the real difference.

“We could see there were areas where Michael’s car was simply not performing,” team principal Ross Brawn said of China.

“There was fairly considerable chassis damage on the underside where Michael had hit some kerbs. “We thought we’d repaired it properly between Malaysia and Shanghai and perhaps we hadn’t. Now I see a more normal situation between the two drivers,” added the Briton, the tactical mas-

termind who guided Schumacher to all his titles at Benetton and Ferrari.

“I think he and Nico will be trading places all year. What we have to do is make sure they are trading places nearer the front of the grid than they are at the moment.”

Brawn said it had always been unrealistic, with testing banned and different tyres, to expect Schumacher to be on the pace as soon as he stepped into the car.

“He made good progress in the first three races and Shanghai was a glitch,” declared the man whose Brawn team won both titles last year before they were taken over by Mercedes. “You see that during a season with every team and every driver.

It’s just it came at a point where people

seemed to focus in on it.” Rosberg, on the podium in China and Malaysia, was for once unable to set up the car to his liking. He struggled with understeer, tried to push through it and ended up simply damaging the tyres.

Brawn and Fry both said there was still plenty more performance to unlock.

Monaco, with its tight corners and twisty streets, will inevitably see more changes this weekend. Schumacher has won five times in the past at Monaco but whether he can close the gap to the Red Bulls at a circuit that favours mechanical grip over outright speed remains to be seen.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have won the last two races there

and will be fancying their chances. “When you finish a minute behind it’s incredibly disappointing,” said Fry. “Frankly we wouldn’t expect the Red Bull to have such an advantage on other circuits, I think this one particularly suited it.

“But even if it hasn’t got that level of advantage, it’s certainly got half a second on us and that’s a lot to make up.”

The puzzle for rivals is figuring out where the Red Bull is getting its advantage.

On some corners in Barcelona, the difference between them and the rest was 20 kph.

“You do the maths on the amount of energy you need in terms of downforce to do that and it’s not one device that accounts for it,” said Fry. —Reuters

Barcelona beat Olympiakos 86-68 to clinch Euroleague

NETHERLANDS: Belgian cyclist Wouter Weylandt of team QuickStep (center) crosses the finish line to victory in the 3rd stage of the 93rd Giro d’Italia. —AFP

Weylandt grabs third stage MIDDELBURG: Veteran Alexandre Vinokourov, riding for Astana, took the overall leader’s pink jersey following yesterday’s third stage of the Tour of Italy, the day’s honours going to Wouter Weylandt of Quick Step.

Vinokourov bagged the pink jersey from Australian Cadel Evans, whose chain came adrift some ten kilometres out from the line - though the second Aussie to wear the pink jersey at least twice after Bradley McGee managed to limit the damage to some 45sec after the 224km ride from Amsterdam to

Middelburg.

Belgian Weylandt came in ahead of another racer from Down Under Rabobank’s Graeme Brown - and German Robert Foerster after another strongly favored German sprinter, Andre Greipel, slid just out of contention going into the final bend.

Weylandt clung on in the melee and nudged over the line to win in 5hr 00min 06sec as German Danilo Hondo of Lampre and Briton Adam Blyth of Omega Pharma Lotto brought up the rear while Saxo Bank’s Australian Baden Cooke and Briton David

Millar of Garmin were also in the mix.

“I’m very satisfied to be in the pink,” said Vinokourov as the race completed its opening Dutch trio of segments. “This allows us to go off last in (Wednesday’s) team time-trial.That’s perfect!

“The team did excellent work. I saw Greipel was in front of us and I thought he’d take the jersey if he won. But he didn’t win and now we can really go for it in the time trial. The team will be more motivated than ever.” Today is a rest day which sees the peloton transfer to Italy. —AFP

Serena scrapes past Vera MADRID: Struggling Serena Williams needed almost threeand-a-half hours to avoid an upset defeat by Vera Dushevina, with the top seed scratching out a 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5) victory to reach the third round of the Madrid Masters here yesterday.

Williams, playing only her second event since winning the Australian Open more than three months ago, went off court for a lengthy injury treatment session in the final set. The interruption didn’t appear to bother the 43rdranked Dushevina, who promptly came back from a break in the sixth game and made up a 2-4 gap with a break of the patchy Williams for 4-5.

The set went into a deciding tiebreaker, with Williams coming back from 0-3 down. Closing out the contest was still agony, with the American badly blowing a first match point and screaming as if she had won a grand slam when she finally clinched the win. Both women broke five times from 14 opportunities, with Williams making a difference with nine aces. Williams was playing for the first time since losing in last week’s Rome semi-finals to Jelena Jankovic. seventh seed this week at the Caja Magica.

Chinese results were mixed on a cloudy day with the threat of rain. Peng Shuai had only a brief outing as tenth-seeded secondround opponent Victora Azarenka of Belarus retired trailing 3-0.

Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues, who lost to Peng last week on clay in Estoril, defeated China’s Zheng Jie 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Li Na, seeded 13th, advanced easily over outclassed Spanish qualifier Beatriz Garcia Vidagany 6-0, 6-2. Italian 14th seed Flavia Pennetta defeated Romanian Sorona Cirstea 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 while Russian 16th seed Nadia Petrova put out countrywoman Elena Vesnina 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. —AFP

Kuwaiti National team lift trophy KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti National Cricket Team bagged the first ever Private Schools Trophy.

The team was sponsored by Wataniya telecommunication company who extended full support to the game of cricket.

The final matches were held at the Shuwaikh University Stadium on May 1. Several prominent sports personalities witnessed the team in action. Ex-member of Parliament Abdul Aziz Al-Mutawa was all praise of the Kuwaitis playing the game of cricket.

The final match played last month against DPS school had reached the finals as well but it was a bag of misfortunes for the DPS when they received the biggest blow when their opener was given plumb LBW in the first ball off Tariq Beidas. Soon Jassem took an excellent catch at point and DPS were in deep trouble as runs

were hard to come by. Finally DPS were bundled for 117 in 20 overs.

In reply, Kuwaiti Nationals opened with Mahmood Abdulla and AR. Kandari both started well when Al Kandari was caught at the mid-off position which resulted in Mahmood Bastaki stepping on to the crease with both experienced batsman the score kept ticking.

Mahmood Abdulla was run out and Tariq stepped in to give concrete support to the already settled Bastaki Both saw the team towards an easy victory resulting in a valuable partnership of 90 runs achieving the target in the 18th over. The tournament concluded with awards ceremony and each team members receiving a memorable plaques by the guest of honor Abdulaziz Al-Mutawa.

PARIS: Former NBA player Juan Carlos Navarro scored 21 points to lead FC Barcelona to its second Euroleague title and first in seven years with an 86-68 victory Sunday over Olympiakos.

Navarro, who played for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2007-08, was 6 for 13 from the floor, including 4 of 9 from 3-point range, and earned MVP honors for the Final Four.

The Spanish club frustrated Olympiakos’ offense, with center Fran Vazquez making four blocks in eight minutes. Olympiakos forward Linas Kleiza, who led the league in scoring this season, was limited to just three points at halftime.

“Defense and controlling the rebounds were the keys to this game,” Barcelona forward Erazem Lorbek said. “We forced them to take some difficult shots and we managed to make them.”

Olympiakos could not stop Barcelona’s fast game, and American forward Pete Mickeal scored 10 points in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Navarro hit a 3-pointer to make it 46-32, Barcelona’s biggest firsthalf lead. It took the experience of veteran Greek guard Theodoros Papaloukas to help Olympiakos stay in the game by going 4-for-4 from the field in the first half. Ioannis Bourousis cut it to 47-36 at halftime with a dunk.

But Olympiakos ran into trouble when Serbian guard Milos Teodosic, who was hit by a stomach virus on Saturday, committed his third foul at the end of the second quarter.

Olympiakos put more pressure on Barcelona’s offense in the third quarter, and turnovers from Ricky Rubio and Navarro pulled Olympiakos within 52-47 in the 26th. But a long-range shot from Victor Sada and five points from Boniface Ndong in two minutes helped Barcelona restore its 14-point lead.

“They moved the ball better than us today,” Kleiza said. “We came back after the break and cut the margin to five, but then they hit some big shots and it was very difficult to us to recover from that.”

Terence Morris knocked down a 3-pointer to put the result beyond doubt at 71-52 with just six minutes left. Olympiakos tried to stage a comeback and cut it to 76-65, but Kleiza fouled out with 1:23 left and Barcelona held on to add to its 2003 Euroleague title. Navarro is the only player on the current Barcelona squad from the 2003 title-winning team.

“My first Euroleague title was special because it was the first for the club,” the former Memphis Grizzlies guard said, “But being a more important player this time, this is just as special, too.”

Mickeal finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Rubio added 9 points for Barcelona.

American forward Josh Childress led Olympiakos with 15 points, contributing 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Kleiza had 13 points and Papaloukas 12 points.

Barcelona outmatched Olympiakos in the passing game with 18 assists to 10.

Earlier Sunday, Trajan Langdon scored a game-high 32 points to give CSKA Moscow a 90-88 overtime win against Partizan Belgrade and help the Russian club finish third in the Final Four.

“Trajan is the best shooter in Europe in the last few years,” CSKA coach Evgeny Pashutin said. “If you allow him to shoot, nobody can stop him.

Trailing 82-86 after Partizan’s Petar Bozic sank a three-pointer, CSKA hit back through a pair of free throws from Landgon and a layup from Viktor Khryapa before guard J.R. Holden fired a longrange shot with 2.4 seconds remaining to win the game. — AP

FRANCE: Regal Barcelona’s players celebrate with their trophy after winning the Euroleague basketball final match against Olympiakos. —AFP

Suns sweep Spurs, Celtics roll SAN ANTONIO: Steve Nash scored 20 points and played with a right eye that was swollen shut as Phoenix completed a 4-0 sweep over San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals with a 107-101 win Sunday night.

Nash’s right eye needed six stitches after taking an errant elbow from Tim Duncan.

Amare Stoudemire led the way with 29 points to help the Suns get past the Spurs in the playoffs for the first time in five attempts. It continued one of the more remarkable stories of the playoffs.

Three months after Phoenix was on the brink of trading Stoudemire and calling

it a season, the Suns are returning to the West finals for the first time since 2006.

Celtics 97, Cavaliers 87 At Boston, Rajon Rondo had 29 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists as the Celtics beat Cleveland to level their Eastern Conference semifinals series at two games apiece. Rondo had a playoff career high in rebounds and matched his best scoring night in his fourth postseason tripledouble.

He played 47 minutes with some of his bigger-name teammates in foul trouble.

Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett scored 18 apiece for the

Celtics, who rebounded from the worst home playoff loss in franchise history and ensured they’ll get at least one more game at home.

Game 5 is tonight in Cleveland before the series returns to Boston on Thursday night.

LeBron James scored 22 points — only one more than he had in the first quarter of Game 3 — and seemed frustrated during a seventurnover performance.

Shaquille O’Neal added 17 points, his high for this postseason, but was on the bench when the Celtics blew by the Cavaliers in the fourth quarter. —AP

SAN ANTONIO: Spurs’ Richard Jefferson (left) is grabbed by Phoenix Suns’ Jared Dudley as he drives to the basket during the fourth quarter of Game 4 of a Western Conference semifinals NBA basketball series. —AP

18

SPORTS

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Ferguson questions where United’s season went wrong MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s failure to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title has Alex Ferguson questioning whether his squad was strong enough following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, or if tactical mistakes were made during the season.

United’s three-year reign as champion ended on Sunday despite beating Stoke 4-0, as Chelsea remained a point ahead with an 8-0 thrashing of Wigan. All Ferguson has to show for his 24th season in charge is the League Cup — won in March by beating Aston Villa — after losing to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals and being stunned by third-tier club Leeds in the FA Cup in January.

“Did I always make the right team selections with the appropriate tactics? Do we have a strong enough squad?” Ferguson

asked in a rare moment of introspection. “I have to weigh up whether to move into the transfer market, considering our own youth development and the players we have.

“It’s an assessment that has to be set against injuries, bad luck and of course the fact that there is a harder competitive edge in the Premier League these days. It’s a tough old league, very unforgiving, and a lot of the teams at the top have lost games they expected to win.” One of the most costly of United’s seven league losses was its third match at Burnley, which survived just one season in the top flight competition.

Ferguson is still angry about the 1-0 loss at Chelsea in November, when John Terry headed home from a free kick which the United manger still argues shouldn’t

have been awarded. “That’s maybe swung the whole title around if you think about it,” Ferguson said.

United managed to finish second despite reinvesting barely a quarter of the 80 million pounds ($118 million) Real Madrid paid for Ronaldo last June, while neighbor Manchester City finished fifth despite splurging more than 200 million pounds.

Winger Antonio Valencia was the only recruit to play consistently well for United, with Michael Owen enduring an injuryrestricted campaign after signing on a free transfer and winger Gabriel Obertan still yet to fully develop. “I always knew we would miss Cristiano Ronaldo,” Ferguson said.

But the 68-year-old Scot has never regretted selling Carlos Tevez despite the Argentina striker scoring 29 goals since

defecting to Man City in the offseason.

That was 17 more than United’s record signing Dimitar Berbatov scored, with the languid Bulgarian failing to shine in his second season at Old Trafford.

Berbatov had to share second place on United’s goalscoring leaderboard with “own-goals.” And the 12th of those came Sunday, with Stoke’s Danny Higginbotham turning the ball into his own net. Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs and Park Ji-sung scored the rest for the home side.

There was an over-reliance on Wayne Rooney — top scorer with 34 — who thrived in a more central role following Ronaldo’s exit but was plagued by injuries toward the end of the season.

“The way Wayne stepped up, not only to fill the gap but to demonstrates that he has taken his game to a new level, has been

thrilling,” Ferguson said. “Certainly his contribution has been one of the upsides of our year.”

Amid the despondency, Ferguson reminded fans to put United’s hat trick of titles in context. When he arrived in 1986, the team hadn’t won the title in 20 years — a woeful run that ended in 1993 and was followed by another 10 titles.

“We have to measure the success against the disappointments and, taking everything into account, I think we are on the credit side,” Ferguson said. “It’s not complacency, just common sense to conclude that we have had a good season that has not been without its rewards. It could have been better, but overall we are finishing in good shape.”

But some fans, whose protests against the owning Glazer family have provided the

backdrop of the second half of the season, fear that the club’s debt of 709 million pounds will diminish Ferguson’s ability to compete in the transfer market.

Fans bellowed anti-Glazer chants as they twirled their green-and-gold protest scarves before Ferguson took to the pitch after Sunday’s match to tell them that the Premier League trophy will return next year. The signings of Fulham defender Chris Smalling, 20, and Mexico striker Javier Hernandez, 21, from Chivas have already been agreed and there could be more arrivals.

“We’ve worked hard over the years at bringing in young players and developing them at our club very well,” Ferguson said after a lap of the pitch. “We’ll have to assess all that and maybe do one or two things.” —AP

Fulham aim for final fling against Atletico

LONDON: Fulham’s USA player Clint Dempsey (right) during the English Premier League football match in this file photo. — AFP

Carlo Ancelotti brings back Chelsea swagger LONDON: Chelsea has the statistical proof that its third Premier League title in six years was fully deserved, scoring a record 103 times for a goal difference of 71 and winning all six games against its big three traditional rivals.

Chelsea finished the season with an 8-0 thrashing of Wigan on Sunday to become the first Premier League team to score a century of goals and the first in topflight football since Tottenham in 1963. And behind those figures was the impressive way Chelsea did it.

While Jose Mourinho’s two title-winning teams, in 2005 and ‘06, were pragmatic rather than stylish, Carlo Ancelotti marked his first season in English football by creating a Chelsea team that blew away many of its opponents with a swagger — even if it only edged Manchester United by one point in the championship standings.

Since Mourinho guided Chelsea to its first league title for half a century, Chelsea has had a succession of coaches to try and wrest the title back from Manchester United, which had won it three seasons in a row. It looked as if the balance of Premier League power had swung back to Old Trafford.

But Chelsea, from a fashionable part of West London, is now hot favorite to complete the rare league and cup double. Chelsea faces the Premier League’s last-place team, Portsmouth, in next weekend’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

Until it began winning titles on a regular basis from 1997, Chelsea was taunted by its rivals for having little history — just one league championship, one FA Cup, one League Cup and one European Cup Winners’ Cup to show for a club formed in 1905.

Chelsea would play football with panache but little depth and was considered something of a lightweight in the race for trophies. How that has changed.

“We can win a double and, if we do, it will be a very good achievement, a first for the club and a piece of history,” Ancelotti said. “It won’t make people forget Jose Mourinho, because he won two (league) titles here and did a fantastic job. But it’s important to keep making history.” If Chelsea adds the FA Cup to its third Premier League triumph, the club will have won 11 domestic trophies from 1997 onward.

In his first season in English football, it would have been easy for Ancelotti to become distracted by the mind games played by rival coaches, notably Manchester United’s vastly experienced Alex Ferguson.

But the man who led AC Milan to two Champions League titles lifted the pressure off himself and his players by making as few changes as possible from the squad he had inherited from the previous men in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Rather than plunder his old club for players he knew well, Ancelotti trusted those already at Chelsea. He also refused to look too far ahead. Even when the championship was within sight, he would only concentrate on the next game, never allowing himself to think about winning the league and cup double, one of the most sought-after achievements in one of the toughest leagues in the world.

Ancelotti managed to harness the talents of strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, two players known to

have fragile temperaments, and they have rewarded him with plenty of goals.

With three against Wigan, Drogba finished as the top Premier League scorer with 29. Frank Lampard scored 22 league goals from midfield. Chelsea also hit seven goals in games against Sunderland, Aston Villa and Stoke, and 17 without reply in consecutive league and cup matches against Atletico Madrid (4-0), Blackburn (50) and Bolton (4-0 and 4-0).

Ancelotti didn’t panic when Chelsea went into a dip midway through the season, with only one win in seven games. His team hit back with six consecutive wins to ensure it stayed in the title race.

In a season where the premiership has been closely fought from start to finish, Chelsea has had to shrug off allegations in the media about the private lives of leading players John Terry and Ashley Cole, who were both reported to have had affairs.— AP

LONDON: Chelsea’s Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti gestures during the English Premier League football match in this file photo. — AFP

LONDON: Fulham and Atletico Madrid, two proud clubs living in the shadow of more illustrious city rivals, take centre stage tomorrow in Hamburg when they meet in the Europa League final.

Two years after saving their Premier League skins on the final day of the season, homely Fulham are hoping to complete a remarkable journey under much-travelled manager Roy Hodgson by beating the ninetimes Spanish champions.

Midfielder Simon Davies described Fulham’s sensible, well-organised style as “not very exciting” at the club’s training ground last week but their path to the showpiece in the German port city has been pure fantasy.

After starting in the qualifying competition against Lithuanian side FK Vetra on July 30 last year, Fulham made it out of a tough first round group containing AS Roma, CSKA Sofia and Basel, and then began toppling some of Europe’s big guns in the knockout rounds.

First, holders Shakhtar Donetsk were felled, then Juventus and they followed that by beating German champions Wolfsburg before breaking SV Hamburg’s hearts in the semis.

“Since staying up on the last day at Portsmouth the transformation has been film-like really,” midfielder Danny Murphy, a UEFA Cup winner with Liverpool, told reporters.

“If you had written it as a book, you would laugh at the speed of it and the surrealness of it and that’s all credit to Roy and the staff.”

“I was suspended for the Juventus game and when they scored I felt like going home. But after that fightback we all started to believe it could a special year. We thought, we’ve beaten Juve, so we can beat anybody.”

Englishman Hodgson, the former Inter Milan coach, has done a remarkable job moulding a bunch of players that were bitpart players at former clubs into a tight-knit unit that has proved formidable at their Craven Cottage ground beside the Thames.

Bobby Zamora, a striker who had mixed success at Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, has bagged eight goals in the competition although he is struggling with an Achilles injury.

Zoltan Gera, the Hungarian midfielder signed from West Bromwich Albion, has chipped in with six, including two on an incredible night in March when Fulham came back from the dead against Juventus, overturning a 4-1 aggregate deficit.

Ireland’s Damien Duff and American Clint Dempsey have also been vital cogs as has Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer who is hoping to make up for losing to Sevilla in the UEFA Cup final when playing for Middlesbrough.

“It’s been a remarkable achievement to reach the final but I for one will be telling the boys that this opportunity might not come round again,” Schwarzer said. “I’ve been lucky and this is my second and I want a positive conclusion.”

Unlike Fulham, Atletico have a rich European pedigree but have not appeared in a continental final since the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup in 1986.

Often regarded as the scruffy relations in the Spanish capital where Real reign, they are seeking their first trophy since their league and cup double in 1996, ending years of inferiority for the fans appropriately known as “los sufridores” (the sufferers).

In Diego Forlan, Antonio Reyes and Sergio Aguero, they have a formidable looking strike-force and will start as favourites but they have hardly blazed a trail in Europe this season.

They began it in the Champions League where they failed to win a group game and after dropping into the Europa League they won three of their four ties on away goals, including the semi-final victory over Liverpool courtesy of Forlan’s late effort.

However, like Fulham, they have prospered under a new coach. Quique Sanchez Flores was appointed in October with the club in the relegation mire and he could end it with two trophies, first the Europa League and then the Copa del Rey next week when they play Sevilla.

“We have to be on our best form. We respect Fulham,” he told reporters.

“When a team gets to a final having knocked out some very strong opposition that shows they have some tools they use very well. We should not underestimate them.”— Reuters

ITALY: Ronaldinho of Brazil gestures in this file photo. — AFP

Ronaldinho to learn his World Cup fate today RIO DE JANEIRO: Former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho will learn today whether or not his impressive season with AC Milan will be enough to earn him a place at his third World Cup. Brazilians will also discover whether coach Dunga is prepared to gamble on Santos youngsters Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso, who have this year shown the sort of flair which was missing in goalless World Cup qualifying draws at home to Bolivia, Colombia and Venezuela.

Dunga is required only to name a provisional 30-man squad today but the gruff former World Cup captain has decided to name his definitive 23 to avoid the speculation which would inevitably follow over who gets dropped.

“I’m ready to go to the World Cup,” Ronaldinho, who has scored 13 Serie A goals this season and created another 17, said in a television interview at the weekend. “I know that I’m just one of Dunga’s options, but I’m ready.”

The ever-grinning Ronaldinho has not played for Brazil since the World Cup qualifier against Peru in

April last year. At the time, he was barely figuring for his club and, after some lacklustre performances for his country, Dunga took the difficult step of dropping him.

Ronaldinho also disappointed at the Beijing Olympics the year before when he was included as an over-age player in the under-23 competition, which saw Brazil lose 3-0 to arch-rivals Argentina in the semi-finals.

Dunga, who has made hard work and commitment his watchwords since taking over after the 2006 World Cup, appeared less than enthusiastic when commenting on Ronaldinho’s prospects after a 2-0 win over Ireland in a friendly in March.

“He’s had his chance for Brazil, now it’s up to the coaching staff to make the decision,” said the former World Cup captain.

Ronaldinho was one of Brazil’s biggest let-downs in 2006, when the five-times champions were knocked out in the quarter-finals

by France, although many felt he was played out of position.

“Last time we spoke, he told me

that he wasn’t going to pick me and then put me on the bench, and he told me to get in shape,” said Ronaldinho, FIFA’s Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. “Now, I’m in shape.”

Dunga’s Brazil have proved deadly when playing a counterattacking game but many feel that Ronaldinho’s inclusion would give them extra options when they have to break down a packed defence, something they have struggled to do.

The inclusion of forward Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso, an elegant playmaker, would also give the team an alternative to raw physical power.

Santos coach Dorival Junior said on Saturday that the pair were good enough for Brazil, although he was not sure they would be picked.

“It’s not pessimism, it’s realism,” he said. “The fact that they haven’t been selected before and that Dunga can’t watch them at first hand, could weigh against them.”

But he added: “I wouldn’t hesitate in telling Dunga that they are ready to play for Brazil.”— Reuters

Ruling on Ribery ban appeal GENEVA: International sport’s top court said yesterday that it aimed to rule by May 18 on an appeal filed by Bayern Munich and its French playmaker Franck Ribery against UEFA’s threematch ban on the French player.

The Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) said in a statement that Bayern had asked for the ban to be cut to one match. That would allow Ribery to take part in the Champions League final against Inter Milan on May 22 if the CAS panel of arbitrators rules in his favour.

European football’s governing body rejected a first appeal by Ribery against the three match ban last week, but Bayern decided to exercise its right to take the case to the CAS. “The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has initiated an arbitration procedure following the appeal filed by Bayern Munich and Franck Ribery against the decision taken by the UEFA Appeals Body on 5 May 2010,” the court statement said.

“The CAS should be in a position to issue a final decision on 18 May 2010,” it added.

UEFA’s disciplinary committee imposed the suspension after Ribery was sent off for a foul in the semi-final first leg clash with Lyon. He has already served one match by being sidelined from the second leg in Lyon on April 27.

Bayern has argued that Ribery had committed “foul play or a gross foul” and did not merit the three match suspension invoked for a serious offence. However UEFA officials believe his tackle on Lyon striker Lisandro Lopez was dangerous. — AFP

Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

SPORTS

19

Rooney, Barry injuries give Capello WCup headache LONDON: England coach Fabio Capello was awaiting an update on Wayne Rooney’s latest injury problem yesterday, one day before he has to send his provisional World Cup squad to FIFA. Rooney limped off the field toward the end of Manchester United’s final Premier League game against Stoke on Sunday.

United manager Alex Ferguson said it was a recurrence of the groin injury the striker hurt in training on April 22 although he said he believed Rooney would still make it to the World Cup. The problem for Capello, however, is that he has several more players either injured, in danger of breaking down at any

time, or only recently back from long-term problems just as the manager begins the long buildup to the June 11-July 11 World Cup in South Africa.

The Italian has placed great importance on the team winning its opening game against its main group rival United States on day two of the championship and that is why all these injury woes could upset his preparations. “To get a result in the first game is so important,” he said.

“If you win the first game and get the three points it is really good for the team psychologically and also for the group table.” Capello has until midnight Tuesday to send his provisional squad of 30 to FIFA

and then has to trim that to a final 23 players for the World Cup by June 1.

The England manager spent much of Monday attending events at Wembley and the London Stock Exchange and is due to hold a briefing with reporters on Tuesday to discuss his squad and injury headaches.

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry, who appeared to be a certainty to go to the championship before his injury in last week’s game against Tottenham, has been ruled out for three more weeks with ankle ligament damage.

That means he will miss World Cup warmup games against Mexico and Japan and training camps at altitude in Austria.

World Cup veterans David Beckham and Michael Owen were ruled out several weeks ago because of injuries and — in Owen’s case — a lack of form.

Rio Ferdinand, who is set to be England’s captain at the World Cup, has a problem with his lower back which flares up repeatedly and has caused him to miss many of Man United’s games this season.

Ledley King, a likely backup for Ferdinand, has such problems with his knees that he barely trains and usually misses every other game for Tottenham.

That would make him a liability at the World Cup where teams play every five days.

Joleon Lescott has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since March but there is good news for Capello that Ashley Cole is back after breaking his ankle and scored in the last game of the season in Chelsea’s 80 demolition of Wigan which clinched the Premier League title.

Wayne Bridge, who was expected to be Cole’s backup, has ruled himself out, however, deciding to quit playing for England after reports that teammate John Terry had an affair with his ex-girlfriend. It was the massive publicity that followed those allegations that prompted Capello to take the captaincy away from Terry. With so many defensive problems to solve, Capello may

even consider recalling Jamie Carragher at the age of 32, with reports suggesting that the Liverpool defender is now willing to end his three-year international retirement.

Aaron Lennon is fully fit after another long spell out with a groin injury and Capello has the luxury of choosing from several players on the right of midfield despite the absence of Los Angeles Galaxy star Beckham. By contrast, he is struggling to find a consistent goalkeeper and the right strike partner for Rooney, while the likes of Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey and Theo Walcott have struggled to find any form in the last few weeks of the season. —AP

Japan to be pest at the World Cup

MEXICO: Pumas’ Ismael Iniguez (front) fights for the ball with Santos’ Juan Pablo Santiago during a Mexican soccer league quarterfinal match. Santos won 2-1 on aggregate. —AP

Argentinos close in on first title in 25 years MEXICO CITY: Argentinos Juniors are on the verge of winning their first Argentine league title in 25 years, which could come next weekend in the last round of the Argentina Clausura tournament.

Argentinos Juniors jumped to the top of the standings with Sunday’s 4-3 come-frombehind victory over Independiente. The victory coupled with Estudiantes’ 0-0 draw with Rosario Central left Argentinos Juniors with 38 points, one ahead of Estudiantes.

Argentinos, the first club of Diego Maradona, last won a league title in 1984-85.

Argentinos play at Huracan in their last match on Sunday with Estudiantes at Colon.

All 10 leagues games are Sunday.

Trailing 3-1, Argentinos Nicolas Pavlovich made it 3-2 in the 74th and Juan Sabia equalized in the final minute of regular time, setting the stage for Matias Caruzzo’s winner in the third minute of injury time.

“We won because we put in a lot of fight, a lot of attitude,” Caruzzo said. “There’s still some way to go though and we’ve got to stay calm, manage the anxiety. We’ve got 90 tough minutes to go against Huracan.” The result was bad news for Estudiantes, which could have clinched the title Sunday if it had

won and Argentinos hadn’t beaten Independiente.

Estudiantes struggled when Juan Sebastian Veron was sent off after 30 minutes for elbowing an opponent. “A player as experienced as Sebastian is difficult to replace,” Estudiantes coach Alejandro Sabella said. League play kicked off in Brazil on Saturday and Sunday, just a week after traditional state championships were settled.

The most interesting matchup resulted in a 3-3 draw between Botafogo and Santos. The match pitted the winners of the Rio de Janeiro state championship _ Botafogo _ against Santos, the Sao Paulo state winner.

Antonio Carlos scored twice for Botafogo and Argentine German Herrera scored the equalizer in the final minutes on Saturday.

Neymar, Ze Eduardo and Andre scored for Santos. Flamengo and Sao Paulo rested some leading players in the 1-1 draw to prepare for this week’s Copa Libertadores firstleg quarterfinals. Adriano was one of the key players rested by Flamengo.

In another match between teams still playing in the Copa Libertadores, Cruzerio beat Internacional of Porto Alegre 2-1.

Kleber scored twice for Cruzeiro and Taison

got Inter’s lone goal.

In Copa Libertadores first-leg quarterfinals this week, it’s Mexican club Guadalajara Chivas playing at home Tuesday against Libertad of Paraguay. On Wednesday, Cruzeiro is home against fellow Brazilian club Sao Paulo, and Flamengo hosts Chilean club Universidad de Chile.

The last quarterfinal is Thursday with defending champion Estudiantes playing at Brazil side Internacional from Porto Alegre.

The return legs are next week. In Mexico, four clubs are into the semifinals in the Clausura playoffs: Toluca, Santos, Pachuca and Morelia. Gone are the two best teams from the regular season, Chivas and defending champion Monterrey.

Toluca will face Pachuca in the homeand-away semifinals series and Santos faces Morelia. The matches are Wednesday and Saturday. In Chile, Colo Colo defeated Cobresal 5-2 to keep the league lead. Colo Colo leads Universidad de Chile by four points after its 2-1 loss to Universidad Catolica. In Paraguay, Cerro Porteno beat Sol de America 1-0 to reach 41 points, four better than second-place Guarani. Guarani drew 2-2 with Nacional. —AP

Unnoticed Silva says, dribbling not my style RIO DE JANEIRO: Gilberto Silva may not have the eye-catching flamboyance of some of his team mates but still believes his role in Brazil’s midfield is crucial for the five-times world champions, even if it goes unnoticed.

The former Arsenal player is set to play at his third World Cup, yet after 91 appearances is still trying to convince Brazil’s demanding critics that he is worthy of the famous gold shirt.

“I’m not the type of player who dribbles, scores goals and does anything eyecatching,” the defensive midfielder told Reuters in an interview.

“My job goes unnoticed by a lot of people, but it doesn’t worry me because I know that my work is in the team’s interest.” “It’s a job that somebody has to do, given the characteristics of the Brazilian team.”

At times, Gilberto-who has managed

three goals for his country-almost plays as a third central defender as the two full backs push up to join the attack.

Gilberto was ever-present at the 2002 World Cup, having won his place in the team at the last minute when first-choice Emerson was forced out through injury.

Four years later, he was a substitute but has since forced his way back into the side under coach Dunga. He attributes his Brazil revival partly to his move from Arsenal, where he had fallen out of favour, to Panathinaikos two years ago.

“The move to Greece was a gamble on my part in relation to the national team,” he said. “My last season at Arsenal was not the way I wanted. I played very little and this certainly damaged my performances for Brazil because I didn’t have match rhythm.”

“Now, I can say that I’m back to my best,” added Gilberto, who helped his club

to a Greek league and cup double this season.

Gilberto, who alongside Lucio is one of only two survivors from the 2002 World Cup team still playing regularly for Brazil, said the squad would not repeat the mistakes of the last World Cup, when an alleged over-confidence among both the team and media appeared to undermine their challenge.

“We’ve learned the lessons from 2006.

It’s true that there was a festive atmosphere around the national team and we lost concentration at an important moment,” he said. “There may have been over-confidence and we know we let people down, including ourselves.

“The squad we have now, and especially the players who were present in 2006 such as myself, Lucio and Kaka, want to bounce back after what we went through.”—Reuters

TOKYO: Pest control could be the best method to combat Japan at the World Cup, coach Takeshi Okada said after naming his final 23-man squad yesterday.

The 53-year-old stuck largely to the script with his selection and promised his Blue Samurai would get under the skin of their group rivals in South Africa.

“Japan are like a swarm of feasting flies,” Okada told reporters, adding that the tournament would be his swan song as national coach.

“It is work rate and organisation that symbolises my team.

For Japan to win games at the World Cup we need to be tenacious and aggressive.”

The only real surprise was a recall for veteran goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, who has recovered from a serious leg injury in time to make his fourth World Cup squad.

“Kawaguchi brings experience as an ex-captain and his presence and leadership will be a boost,” said Okada, who drew gasps when he read out the keeper’s name.

He rejected the latest opportunity to back away from his target of a semi-final place in South Africa and said that he was unlikely to carry on as coach after the tournament.

“I’m not changing my objectives,” said a stone-faced Okada, despite facing ridicule for not retracting his bold public target following some abject recent performances.

“I believe these 23 players can achieve those goals. This is a squad selected with that in mind.

“There probably will not be a job for me after the World Cup but right now all I am focused on is the tournament.”

There were no major bombshells from Okada despite concerns over the form of playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura since his return to the J-League from Spain earlier this year.

Japan play Cameroon, the Netherlands and Denmark in Group E at the World Cup, which begins on June 11. One of the quickest to name their squad, the Japanese are widely expected to be one of the earliest teams booking flights home, for all of Okada’s bluster.

European-based midfielders Keisuke Honda, Makoto Hasebe and Daisuke Matsui carry much of the burden for Japan, who have never won a World Cup game on foreign soil. “Honda is a big weapon for us,” said Okada, who was Japan coach when the country made their first World Cup appearance- and lost all three games-in 1998. “He scores goals and creates lots of scoring chances for us. He’s become a very important player.” Okada added: “Step one is to beat Cameroon. We all know Holland are one of the world’s top sides but we believe we can take points off them too.”

Japan squad Goalkeepers - Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus), Eiji Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale), Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata) Defenders - Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F-Marinos), Tulio (Nagoya Grampus), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Kashima Antlers) Midfielders - Shunsuke Nakamura (Yokohama FMarinos), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Junichi Inamoto (Kawasaki Frontale), Yuki Abe (Urawa Reds), Makoto Hasebe (VfL Wolfsburg), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble) Forwards - Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse), Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus), Yoshito Okubo (Vissel Kobe), Takayuki Morimoto (Catania), Kisho Yano (Albirex Niigata)—Reuters

TOKYO: Japan’s national soccer team coach Takeshi Okada speaks during a press conference in which he announced the 23-member Japanese squad for the Soccer World Cup 2010. —AP

Top Spanish clubs to create own division MADRID: Spain’s top-flight clubs are poised to set up their own division separate from the second tier in a bid to remain competitive with European peers, the professional soccer league (LFP) said yesterday.

The move by Real Madrid, Barcelona and their rivals has been prompted by a spat with some smaller clubs over revenue from audiovisual rights, a key income stream.

After a meeting in Madrid, the LFP, which currently oversees Spain’s top two divisions, said agreement had been reached to discuss how to create a separate first division similar to the Premier League or Italy’s Serie A. “The new system of organisation and development will allow a much more attractive and better-run competition than the current one,” they said in a statement. It was unclear if the LFP will have any role in the proposed new first division.

In Spain, clubs negotiate deals with TV companies individually, unlike in rival European leagues, such as the English Premier League, the German Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1, where collective deals are struck and revenue shared. Real and Barca, the world’s two richest clubs, rake in half the available cash, with deals

worth about 150 million euros ($201 million) a season, leaving the rest, some of whom are in dire financial trouble, to fight over the scraps.

Mechanisms would be established to control club finances and ensure ways of helping clubs in lower divisions if they were relegated and got into difficulties, the statement said.

“A series of working meetings will start from June 21 to study the best way of putting (the plan) into practice,” the LFP said, adding that the goal was to reach an accord before the start of next season.

As sports daily reported on Monday that the clubs in the new first division would share TV cash, with each getting a fixed amount, a figure based on audience share and a further sum according to their final league position.

However, Real and Barca have repeatedly said they are unwilling to accept a system of collective bargaining, arguing that it will hurt their competitiveness in European competition.

The current standings in La Liga underscore their dominance over TV revenue, which allows them to buy the top players and pay the highest wages. Barca lead on 96 points, Real are second on 95 and Valencia trail by 27 points in third on 68. —Reuters

SEOUL: South Korea’s national soccer team player Cha Du-ri of German club Freiburg (right) works out with coach Chung Hae-soung during the team’s first official training for the 2010 World Cup. —AP

www.kuwaittimes.net

Twenty20 brings the rhythm back to Caribbean cricket BRIDGETOWN: The horns have been blaring, the drink has been flowing and the debates raging-Caribbean cricket, written off after the World Cup three years ago, has returned at the Twenty20 World Cup and it has a big smile on its face.

Petty rules and regulations and ticket prices that excluded many local fans led to thousands of empty seats at the 50 overs World Cup in 2007 but organisers have learnt their lessons.

In Guyana, St. Lucia and Barbados, attendances have been good and the atmosphere even better. The tournament, entering its third and final week, has received the thumbs up from fans from near and far.

“You are allowed to bring your conch shells, keep your noise and have fun like back in the day,” said Barbadian Kerwin Beckles, carrying a cooler packed with food and drink into the stadium before Sunday’s West Indies v India game.

“Things have improved, you can see how big the gathering is. The game brings people together, it is wonderful that it is here in Barbados-I’m actually proud to be a West Indian,” he added. Ticket prices have been as low as $5, the most expensive for Sunday’s final only $40.

Organisers even went as far as making ‘Gravy’, the region’s most famous fan who used to parade grounds in garish clothing —

on one occasion even a wedding dress-into the official face of their ‘Bring It’ marketing campaign.

“I think the prices were the main thing three years ago, it was disappointing, we still had a good time but this is a million times better.

The locals and the atmosphere is what makes it, that’s what you are looking for when you come over here,” said Geoff Scott from Newport, Wales.

Underneath the Greenidge and Haynes stand, named after former Barbados and West Indies opening batsmen Gordon and Desmond, cooks spice up the chicken and the beef stew, while fans from all over the

cricketing world share a beer.

“The noise is fantastic. It’s totally different from Australia, you can walk into this ground carrying anything you like, when you go in the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) you can’t take anything in. They’d strip you naked if they could at the MCG,” said Australian supporter Peter Mulgrove.

Three years ago, local officials were stressed and harassed by complaining fans, while former players bemoaned a missed opportunity to give West Indies cricket a much needed boost.

But former opening bowler Joel Garner, president of the Barbados Cricket Association and West Indies team manager,

can now afford to enjoy the event.

“I think people are more relaxed and they are enjoying the cricket more because you don’t have as many restrictions,” he told Reuters.

“Anyone who knows anything about cricket in this region will know that we are very relaxed, noisy but peaceful and a lot of the things that were restrictive caused some bad feeling.

“Gradually the fans, the patrons are coming back because of the atmosphere that is unique to the West Indies.” Garner has no doubt that Twenty20 is here to stay and that it can continue to lure Caribbean fans back to cricket grounds.

“The patrons want exciting cricket and results and you have to adjust to the times otherwise you are going to die,” he said.

But like supporters the world over, there is nothing that pleases West Indies fans more than success.

Sunday’s victory over India, including a 98 from big-hitting captain Chris Gayle, was played in front of packed and vibrant stands with the players celebrating wickets and pumping fists in rarely seen enthusiasm.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had support like that,” said Gayle, “The support has really been tremendous. “We move onto St Lucia now and people really love their cricket there as well”.—Reuters

Pakistan knock S Africa out of World Twenty20

GROS ISLET: Pakistani Kamran Akmal dives to catch a ball and deny a run from South African batsman Jacques Kallis during the ICC World Twenty20 Super Eight match.—AFP

SCOREBOARD GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: Final scoreboard in the World Twenty20 Super Eights match between Pakistan and South Africa at the Beausejour Stadium here yesterday: Pakistan South Africa H. Gibbs c Misbah-ul-Haq b Razzaq 3 Kamran Akmal c Gibbs b van der Merwe 37 G. Smith c Afrid b Rehman 13 Salman Butt c Smith b Steyn 2 J. Kallis c U Akmal b Ajmal 22 Khalid Latif c Steyn b Kallis 7 AB de Villiers c K Akmal b Ajmal 53 Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Langeveldt 1 JP Duminy c Latif b Rehman 3 Umar Akmal c Gibbs b Langeveldt 51 M. Boucher lbw b Ajmal 12 Shahid Afridi b Langeveldt 30 A. Morkel not out 7 Abdul Razzaq not out 11 J. Botha st K Akmal b Ajmal 19 Misbah-ul-Haq c de Villiers b Langeveldt 3 R. van der Merwe not out 2 Abdur Rehman not out 2 Extras (lb1, w2) 3 Extras (lb1, w3) 4 Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) 137 Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) 148 Did not bat: D Steyn, C Langeveldt Did not bat: Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Gibbs), 2-23 (Smith), 3-56 Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Butt), 2-14 (Latif), 3-18 (Hafeez), (Kallis), 4-68 (Duminy), 5-101 (de Villiers), 6-113 4-69 (K Akmal), 5-130 (U Akmal), 6-132 (Afridi), 7-143 (Boucher), 7-135 (Botha) (Misbah) Bowling: Razzaq 3-0-16-1; Aamer 4-0-33-0; Rehman 4Bowling: A Morkel 4-0-28-0; Steyn 4-0-26-1 (1w); 0-35-2 (2w); Hafeez 1-0-5-0; Afridi 4-0-21-0; Ajmal 4-0Langeveldt 4-0-19-4; Kallis 4-0-28-1; Botha 2-0-13-0 26-4 (2w); Van der Merwe 2-0-33-1 Man-of-the-match: Umar Akmal (PAK)

GROS ISLET: South African bowler Jacques Kallis delivers a ball during the ICC World Twenty20 Super Eight match against Pakistan.—AFP

GROS ISLET: Defending champions Pakistan beat South Africa by 11 runs to knock the Proteas out of the World Twenty20 and keep their own semi-final hopes alive here yesterday.

In a must-win game for both sides, Pakistan were in dire straits at 18 for three but made 148 for seven thanks mainly to man-of-the-match Umar Akmal’s 51.

South Africa, chasing a relatively modest target, were then held to 137 for seven with spin, primarily off-break bowler Saeed Ajmal (four wickets for 26 runs), proving their undoing.

The Proteas slumped to 68 for four and, despite a fifty from AB de Villiers, couldn’t break the Pakistan slow bowlers’ stranglehold.

“We are very, very disappointed,” said South Africa captain Graeme Smith. “We struggled with the bat. We lacked the fluency and positivity... it has been the story of the tournament.

“This team is too talented to be playing this way.”

Now Pakistan must hope England, already through to the semi-finals following this result, beat New Zealand later here yesterday to allow the title-holders through to the last four on superior net run-rate. Victory for New Zealand would secure their semifinal spot.

Delighted Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi said: “The boys really performed very well. “I have already started praying that England should win the next game!”

Man-of-the-match Umar Akmal added: “There was no pressure on me. I just played my positive game. The wicket was good and the ball went where I wanted it to go.”

Pakistan had an early wicket when Herschelle Gibbs (three) was caught at mid-on by Misbahul-Haq off all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.

It looked as if the batsman was early on the shot, undone by the slower pace of a Beausejour pitch slower than the one South Africa had grown used to in Barbados.

South Africa were now 12 for one and that became 23 for two when left-handed opener Smith chipped spinner Abdur Rehman to Afridi at mid-off.

Jacques Kallis was caught in the deep off Ajmal for 22 and Rehman struck again to get rid of JP Duminy after Umar Akmal, running in from long-on, took a fine catch. De Villiers though was still there.

But his 53 off 41 balls came to an end when he tried to play an audacious scoop shot off Ajmal and skied a simple catch to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal to leave the Proteas 101 for five.

South Africa, who needed 51 off the last five overs, then saw the experienced Mark Boucher lbw to Ajmal for 12. They eventually got the target down to 17 off the last over, from Ajmal.

Three singles followed before Johan Botha was stumped and that left South Africa needing an impossible 14 runs off two balls.

Earlier, a stand of 51 in six overs between Umar Akmal and brother Kamran (37) revived the innings. Umar then put on 61 with Afridi (30), who’d won the toss.

Fast-medium bowler Charl Langeveldt, maintaining an admirable line, took a career-best four wickets for just 19 runs from his maximum four overs. South Africa’s seamers had early success but the Akmal brothers got the innings going again, Kamran slog-sweeping Roelof van der Merwe and Umar playing a similar stroke for six against the leftarm spinner.—AFP

GROS ISLET: New Zealand’s batsman Ross Taylor plays a shot at a Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match with England in Gros Islet.—AP

England see off New Zealand GROS ISLET: England proved there was more to their batting than Kevin Pietersen as they knocked New Zealand out of the World Twenty20 with a three-wicket win here yesterday.

Eoin Morgan starred with 40 after England, chasing 150 for victory, had slumped to 66 for four at the Beausejour Stadium.

But, together with Luke Wright, who made 24, the former Ireland left-hander swung the game back England’s way in a stand of 52 in just more than six overs.

Morgan got out just before the finish but man-of-thematch Tim Bresnan, unbeaten on 23 after taking one wicket for 20, finished the contest with five balls to spare when he pulled Kyle Mills for four.

England, already through to the semi-finals before this final Group E match even started, after defending champions Pakistan beat South Africa earlier in the day, ended the Super Eights with a perfect played three won three record. They will now face the runners-up in Group F in the first semi-final here on Thursday.

England’s victory also meant Pakistan went through as the second qualifier out of the group for the semi-finals as they edged New Zealand on superior run-rate.

England had won their previous matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the back of Pietersen fifties. But they had to do without their star batsman after Pietersen, who expects to be back for the semi-finals, was given temporary leave to attend the birth of his first child, a boy, which took place in London yesterday.

England made a rousing start to their run chase with Craig Kieswetter, like Pietersen and Michael Lumb born in South Africa, launching Nathan McCullum’s offspin for a four and a huge six in successive balls as 13 runs came off the first over.

SCOREBOARD Scoreboard at the end of the World Twenty20 Super Eight Group E match between New Zealand and England in Gros Islet, St Lucia yesterday: England won by three wickets.

New Zealand innings

England innings

McCullum c Lumb b Swann 33 Ryder b Bresnan 9 Redmond c Broad b Swann 16 Taylor c Bresnan b Sidebottom 44 Styris c Wright b Broad 31 Hopkins b Broad 1 McCullum not out 3 Vettori not out 4 Extras: (lb-5, w-2, nb-1) 8 Total: (for six wickets; 20 overs) 149 Fall of wickets: 1-30 2-59 3-65 4-127 5-133 6-141 Bowling: Bresnan 4-0-20-1, Sidebottom 4-0-35-1 (1w), Broad 4-0-33-2 (1nb, 1w), Swann 4-0-31-2, Yardy 4-025-0 Did not bat: I. Butler, S. Bond, K. Mills.

Kieswetter c N McCullum b Mills 15 Lumb lbw b Vettori 32 Bopara c Taylor b Styris 9 Collingwood c B McCullum b Styris 3 Morgan c Vettori b Bond 40 Wright c Mills b Bond 24 Bresnan not out 23 Yardy c Butler b N McCullum 0 Swann not out 1 Extras: (lb-5, w-1) 6 Total: (seven wickets; 19.1 overs) 153 Fall of wickets: 1-24 2-60 3-60 4-66 5-118 6-142 7-146 Bowling: N.McCullum 4-0-37-1, Bond 4-0-29-2, Mills 3.1-0-32-1, Vettori 4-0-24-1 (1w), Styris 3-0-16-2, Butler 1-0-10-0 Did not bat: S.Broad, R.Sidebottom.

But England then lost Kieswetter when the wicketkeeper struck Kyle Mills hard but straight to Nathan McCullum at cover-point.

Lumb on drove the express pace of Shane Bond for a huge six and twice swept the leftarm spin of New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori for four.

Ravi Bopara, Pietersen’s stand-in, made just nine before he was well caught in the covers by Ross Taylor off allrounder Scott Styris for nine.

The 60 for two became 60 for three when Lumb was plumb lbw for 32, made off 21 balls with a six and four fours, after he missed a sweep against Vettori.

England’s collapse continued to 66 for four when captain Paul Collingwood managed just three before he was deceived by a Styris slower ball and clipped straight to Brendon McCullum at midwicket.

However, Morgan struck

an amazing one-handed six off Styris and Wright crashed a couple of boundaries off fast bowler Ian Butler.

Morgan’s 34-ball innings ended when he pulled Bond and Vettori took a fine diving catch but it was too little too late for New Zealand.

Earlier Ross Taylor topscored for New Zealand with 44 and put on 62 for the fourth wicket with Styris (31) after the Black Caps slumped to 65 for three.—AFP

Results/standings Twenty20 World Cup Super Eight results and standings yesterday (* denotes qualified for semi-finals).

Group E Pakistan beat South Africa by 11 runs England beat New Zealand by three wickets

GROS ISLET: England’s Tim Bresnan bowls during a Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match against New Zealand. —AP

Group E P W L T NR PTS England* 3 3 0 0 0 6 Pakistan* 3 1 2 0 0 2 New Zealand 3 1 2 0 0 2 South Africa 3 1 2 0 0 2 Group F Australia 2 2 0 0 0 4 Sri Lanka 2 1 1 0 0 2 West Indies 2 1 1 0 0 2 India 2 0 2 0 0 0 Next fixtures: Playing today (GMT) Group F India v Sri Lanka, Gros Islet (1700) West Indies v Australia, Gros Islet (2100)

LG unveils world’s first complete LED 3D TV

23

BoE freezes rates amid political cloud

Merkel under fire after ‘double debacle’ defeat

25

26

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

www.kuwaittimes.net

‘Shock and awe’ rescue lifts markets BRUSSELS: A $1 trillion global emergency package to stabilise the euro unleashed a spectacular rally in world stocks yesterday but analysts said EU leaders had only bought time to tackle deepseated fiscal problems. The “shock and awe” rescue plan-the biggest since G20 leaders threw money at the global economy following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 — triggered the biggest one-day rise in European shares in 17 months after panic selling last week.

Wall Street also surged as confidence returned, at least temporarily. The Dow Jones Industrial average jumped 3.63 percent and the narrower Standard & Poor’s financial share index was up 4.7 percent amid relief among banks. The package of standby funds and loan guarantees that could be tapped by euro zone governments shut out of credit markets, plus central bank liquidity measures and bond purchases to steady markets impressed financial analysts by its sheer scale.

Senior IMF official Marek Belka said the emergency package was “morphine” for the markets but should not be regarded as a long-term solution. The euro rose as much as 3 percent after weeks of draining confidence but shed half its gains later in the day. European bank shares were among the biggest gainers, along with the bonds of Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain, pejoratively nicknamed the PIGS by traders.

For the first time in six months of a deepening debt crisis that began in Greece, European leaders appeared to have got ahead of the curve with decisive action, analysts said. “The euro zone is certainly regaining confidence,” European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told reporters hours after EU finance ministers clinched agreement early yesterday as Asian markets opened.

“This morning’s agreement will ensure that any attempt to weaken the stability of the euro will fail,” Barroso said. But the deal left many longer-term questions about whether Europe’s weakest economies can manage their debt and how the European Union can develop more coherent economic and fiscal policies to underpin the single currency.

The European Central Bank immediately began implementing its part of a deal that involved EU finance ministers, central bankers and the IMF, with euro zone central banks buying government bonds in the open market. ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet denied the bank had acted under pressure from euro zone leaders, whom he met at a summit on Friday evening as interbank lending began to freeze up in an ominous reminder of the 2008 Lehman crisis. Only the day before, Trichet had said the bank was not even discussing the option of buying government bonds.

Concerted action The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares surged 6.71 percent by 1500 GMT, after falling 8.9 percent last week to a seven-month low on Friday. Risk premiums on peripheral euro zone sovereign bonds plummeted, as did the price of insuring them against default on the volatile credit default swap market, while German bund futures tumbled by a two full percentage points as investors sold safe-haven debt.

“The EU has taken a decisive action to stamp out the speculative attack against the euro and this should be sufficient to bring some calm into the market,” said Klaus Wiener, head of research at Generali Investments. The deal won global endorsement from the Group of Eight and G20 major economies. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Beijing would support actions to help Greece overcome its sovereign debt crisis, state media reported.

Germany and the Netherlands, sticklers for budget discipline, insisted the rescue programme was linked to the same kind of draconian austerity measures already imposed on Greece. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who for months resisted pressure to aid Athens over a debt crisis that sent market tremors around the globe, said the measures were necessary to guarantee the future of the euro.

“This package serves to strengthen and protect our common currency,” she told reporters in Berlin. “We are protecting people’s money in Germany.” Merkel consented to the massive plan after her centre-right coalition lost a regional election on Sunday and US President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy telephoned her to ensure Europe would take the necessary steps to support the euro and keep global liquidity flowing.

A German government spokesman stressed the EU was not turning into a “fiscal transfer union” and it was possible that not all member states would take part in bilateral aid. Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager told parliament Spain and Portugal had made a commitment to cut their budgets substantially in 2010 and 2011 as a condition for the safety net. Spain said it had no intention of drawing on the funds.

Britain, which is not in the euro and has a caretaker government after an inconclusive general election last week, said it would not participate in the rescue or loan guarantees.

Concerted action In concerted action, the US Federal Reserve reopened currency swap lines with several central banks to try to assure markets of dollar liquidity and the ECB said it would buy government debt to steady investor nerves. That decision, urgently sought by anxious European banks, reversed a long-standing reluctance to use what many economists call the “nuclear option”.

Skeptics questioned whether the euro zone could hold together over the long term and buttress a fragile currency union with stronger political and fiscal instruments. — Reuters

Euro zone puts 500bn euros on table, IMF 250bn

BRUSSELS: European Council President Herman Van Rompuy (center) speaks during a session ‘The European Union: Managing the Crisis’, at the World Economic Forum yesterday. — AP

Kuwaiti KIPCO profit down 49% KUWAIT: Kuwait Projects Co (KIPCO), the country’s largest investment firm, reported a 49 percent fall in first-quarter net profit, and said it sees a meaningful recovery by the end of the year. KIPCO made net profit of 4.7 million dinars ($16.3 million) in the three months to March 31, down from 9.2 million dinars in the previous year.

“There are signs of improvements in some of our business

sectors. However, we remain cautious and will continue to be conservative until these early signs of recovery translate into sustained growth, which we expect by year end,” chief operating officer Samer Khanachet said yesterday.

Khanachet said the first-quarter results were encouraging given continuing uncertainty in the local and global economies. Last month, vice chairman Faisal AlAyyar said growth in 2010 would

be 7-10 percent higher than last year. “In general, some big firms and financial institutions have survived the initial effects of the crisis but are now facing some weaknesses in their business operations,” said analyst Naser AlNafisi, general manager of AlJoman Center for Economic Consultancy in Kuwait.

Earnings per share in the first quarter for KIPCO, which owns stakes in 50 companies and oper-

ates in 21 countries, was 4.2 fils per share, compared with 8.3 fils per share a year earlier. There are 1,000 fils in a dinar.

Total assets rose 1.9 percent to 5.4 billion dinars in the first three months of 2010, while shareholders equity fell 2.5 percent to 540 million dinars, it said in the statement. KIPCO’s shares closed flat at 410 fils yesterday. The results were released after the market closed. — Reuters

UAE officials assure on banks, Dubai debt woes ABU DHABI: UAE officials offered assurances that talks on a $24.8 billion Dubai debt deal were going well and that no more major corporate restructurings were expected after Dubai, helping to send financial shares higher.

Central Bank Governor Sultan Nasser Al-Suweidi said the country’s banks were healthy and well capitalized and that he saw no impact on the UAE economy from the Greek debt crisis.

European leaders and the IMF unveiled a $1 trillion emergency facility designed to cauterize the eurozone wound. Dubai, the second largest member of the UAE federation after Abu Dhabi, is wrestling with a debt burden estimated at $101 billion, of which authorities are attempting to restructure nearly $25 billion under the Dubai World holding umbrella.

Concerns persist that other Dubai-related entities, namely Dubai Holding, could struggle with their debt burdens. Dubai Holding is one of the Gulf Arab emirate’s three conglomerates along with Investment Corporation of Dubai and Dubai World which is in talks to restructure nearly $25 billion in debt.

Finance ministry undersecretary Younis Al-Khouri moved to soothe concerns about the state of the country’s financial sector, which faces heavy losses from Dubairelated writedowns.

“All the banks are well capitalized,” Khouri told journalists.

Markets welcomed a weekend Greek rescue plan and the official UAE reassurances, helping Dubai’s index close up 1.6 percent with its first gain in four sessions, in line with a rally in global stocks.

Abu Dhabi banks led the UAE capital’s index to end up 1.56 percent, with National Bank of Abu Dhabi — the country’s largest lender by market capitalizationrising 2.53 percent and rival Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank closing 4.5 percent higher.

“Short-term, (the package) is a

shot in the arm for sentiment in European and global markets-they priced in concerns (about a European debt crisis), so it’s only logical to price in improved sentiment,” said Ali Khan, managing director and head of brokerage at Arqaam Capital. Suweidi said the UAE central bank does not expect to see more large-scale corporate restructuring similar to Dubai’s debt woes.

The Financial Times yesterday reported three companies within Dubai Holding, a state-controlled conglomerate like Dubai World, have engaged advisers ahead of a potential plan to restructure billions in debt. Asked whether there would be any further large scale corporate restructuring in the UAE, Suweidi said: “No, these are the largest.”

Analysts said another restructuring would not come as a surprise and Dubai Holding, in particular, would not have the same negative effect as Dubai World’s restructuring. “Dubai Holding issued securities that had longer term maturities coming due in 2013 and 2014,” said Khuram Maqsood, managing director at Emirates Capital. “The refinancing obligations are farther down the road. The company is doing the right thing in taking steps to better position in advance of its obligations coming due.”

Debt law In addition, Suweidi said Greece’s debt woes will not affect the UAE. “There’s no link between Greece and the GCC countries. Greece is on the one continent and the GCC is on another continent. There is no link in terms of financial flows, no strong links, nor strong economic relations,” he said.

Separately, the UAE confirmed plans to issue a comprehensive law governing the issuance of public debt and establish a debt management office this year, before considering any issues of sovereign bonds, the minister of state for finance said. — Reuters

BP says oil spill costs $350m so far Stock hits six-month low LONDON: Oil major BP Plc said the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico had cost it $350 million so far, suggesting the final bill could be much higher than many analysts predicted and sending its shares to a sixmonth low. BP said yesterday the sum referred to the cost of spill response, containment efforts, relief well drilling, payments to the Gulf Coast States to speed up their response plans, some compensation claims and federal costs.

The London-based group-which until the leak was Britain’s largest company by market value-declined to give a further breakdown, such as what types of compensation payments had been made, or were still pending. BP shares fell 0.8 percent at 1430 GMT, lagging a 4.1 percent rise in the STOXX Europe 600 Oil and Gas index. The stock dropped as low as 540.7p, its lowest since November 2009.

The stock has lost around 15 percent since the Deepwater Horizon rig caught fire with the loss of 11 lives, wiping around $30 billion from BP’s market value. Analysts have offered forecasts for spill clean-up costs and compensation that range from a few hundred million dollars

to over $12 billion. BP’s latest figures show the smaller estimates to be wildly optimistic, but Neil McMahon, oil analyst at brokerage Bernstein, which had offered the highest and most detailed forecast seen by Reuters, said yesterday he was sticking with his prediction that costs could be up to $12.7 billion. However, on top of this, McMahon said BP’s operating costs in the United States could rise 10 percent due to increased regulatory oversight and reviews of the safety of its operations.

Possible options Until the end of last week, BP said the clean up effort was costing $6 million a day. Over the weekend, BP suspended operations on a plan to cap the leak with a metal dome, due to problems with gas coming from the well. The company said it was investigating other possible options to cap the leak, while continuing to drill another well that it said was certain to stem the flow but which could take three months to complete.

“BP appears to be turning to more adventurous, and potentially more expensive, solutions,” analysts at BOA Merrill

Lynch said in a research note. The final bill is likely to be much higher than the $350 million figure announced yesterday as the well which caused the leak is still pumping at least 5,000 barrels per day of crude into the sea and the spill has yet to hit land.

Only traces of oil have been reported on Gulf beaches so far and clean-up costs will accelerate when major landfall occurs.

Fishing has been impacted, prompting fishermen’s groups to lodge lawsuits for damages, while others, including people in the tourism industry, have complained of losses due to the spill.

Fishing and tourism damages could run into several billions of dollars, analysts said. The spill is expected to next head westward, suggesting important shipping channels off the central Louisiana coast, west of the Mississippi Delta could be impacted. BP has said it would cover all legitimate claims for compensation. BP owns 65 percent of the well. Anadarko Petroleum owns 25 percent and Japan’s Mitsui owns 10 percent.

All are liable for costs on a proportionate basis. — Reuters

LAFOURCHE PARISH: Louisiana National Guard use a bulldozer to create an earthen barrier as they try to protect an estuary from the massive oil spill yesterday. — AFP

LISBON: A passenger sleeps on the floor by the check-in counters at Lisbon’s international Portela Airport yesterday. — AP

Ash clears over Europe; airports work normally BRUSSELS: Flights across Europe were operating normally yesterday after a plume of volcanic ash that disrupted air traffic and forced some airports to close over the weekend dispersed, aviation officials said. But delays on trans-Atlantic flights were expected because another band in mid-ocean was still blocking the air routes between Europe and North America, the European air traffic agency Eurocontrol said.

“While most of these flights are operating, many are having to make significant re-routings to avoid the area of ash cloud coverage, resulting in delays,” according to a statement from the agency. Air traffic charts showed that airliners on both the westward and eastward tracks across the Atlantic were being diverted far to the north, over Greenland, to avoid the danger zone around the Icelandic volcano whose eruptions forced a five-day suspension of air traffic in Europe last month.

The resulting travel chaos saw the cancellation of more than 100,000 flights - stranding passengers around the world and causing airlines direct losses of more than §1 billion ($1.3 billion). The Association of European Airlines said the losses caused by this weekend’s disruptions, which affected less than 2 percent of scheduled flights, were likely to be negligible.

“In terms of airspace closures, there were bits and pieces here and there, but these were relatively short term,” said David Henderson, a spokesman for the group. “Trans-Atlantic traffic has also not been severe-

ly disrupted, but there has been lengthy re-routings which affected fuel burn, and also led to knock-on disruptions and delays,” he said. “Those are the kind of losses that it will be much harder to put figures to.” Air France KLM reported a 15.9 percent slump in traffic in April because of airport closures brought about by the ash.

The disruptions cost Air France KLM §35 million ($46 million) per day in operating income for all suspended operations, the company said yesterday. Air France KLM said the affect on cargo traffic was minimal, with a drop of just 2 percent in April, since most goods were stocked until flights resumed. Eurocontrol said all airports in Europe were operating normally yesterday, including those in Spain. Up to 20 Spanish airports, including international hub Barcelona, had closed over the weekend. Lisbon airport also reopened after being forced to close Sunday.

But Eurocontrol warned that a finger of oceanic ash was still threatening parts of the Iberian peninsula.

“During the afternoon, areas of higher ash concentration are predicted to move in a northeasterly direction from Portuguese airspace towards the center of Spain with the potential of airport closures during the afternoon and evening,” spokeswoman Kyla Evans said.

Eurocontrol says it expects approximately 28,500 flights to take place within Europe - slightly below the average for this time of year. — AP

BUSINESS

22

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

KAMCO MARKET RESEARCH

Influential factors in Kuwait’s realty market Demographics and population trends Population trends are considered to be one of the major factors affecting the real estate sector growth in Kuwait, specifically the dominance of the expatriate population that accounts for 68 percent of the total population according to the latest information from the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) published for 2009. The largest age demographic according to its foot print is the 20-39 age group, which represents almost half the total population followed by the group of under 15 years representing 27 percent, both statistics are indicators of a very young population which leads to a greater potential demand for real estate in the future.

Rental and land rates Rental rates of offices and apartments are expected to fall during 2010 due to several reasons, one of which is the current oversupply in the market.

Furthermore, market supply is expected to increase once some of the projects that are in the construction phase are completed, in addition to the current lack in demand due to the financial crisis. Additionally, there are expectations that the expatriate population will see slower growth rates in the short term.

Land rates for private housing have been following a downward trend since the beginning of the crisis in September 2008 due to a retraction in demand while a lot of private developers delay plans for building or purchasing new homes. Another big factor influencing the decline in rates is the government issuance of Laws No 8 & 9, which came into effect during the first quarter of 2008, as they placed added pressure on companies to dispose their residential real estate investments within a specified time frame.

The current financial crisis and the issuance of the laws led to a decline in real estate prices, particularly the prices of investment lands. Observing the rates in the following chart gives a clear picture of the overvaluation that was present in the market before both of these factors went into effect.

Currently, lower cost per meter squared is expected to be a catalyst for growth in the investment real estate segment once demand starts increasing in time with the expected economic recovery.

An increase in demand during the real estate boom was present due to an increase in

ing and increasing business activity levels in the local market.

Even though interest rates peaked in Jul-06 and remained unchanged until Jan-08, the contribution of funds dispersed by local banks to the real estate sector and construction sectors represented an average of 31 percent of total loans by local banks during the past five years (2005-2009). As a result, the rise in oil prices, superior stock market returns and abundant liquidity levels counteracted the negative effects associated with rising interest rates.

rental rates, which in turn increased yields on such properties. The average rate in commercial properties witnessed a sharp drop between Q2 and Q3 of 2007 of about 61.0 percent, followed by an increase for the following two quarters. Starting the second quarter of 2008, a downward trend was evident in the market to record another big drop of 25.6 percent in Q109. Nevertheless, demand in this segment is expected to increase with new projects planned for the next few years, which will hopefully start lining up once institutional confidence has been restored with the recovery.

Kuwait’s economy and oil market Kuwait’s economy is dominated by the oil sector, which accounted for almost 60 percent of its GDP during 2008. The country’s economy has moved forward by achieving strength, building budget and trade surpluses, and foreign reserves on the back of the robust global oil market demand for the last 5 years to late 2008. Yet a decline in oil revenues is expected in fiscal year 2009/2010 due to lower oil prices and production levels.

For the period 2004-2008 nominal GDP witnessed continuous growth at an increasing rate, to stand at KD 39.8 billion up from KD 32.6 billion in 2007, thereby registering a growth rate of 22 percent. According to KAMCO estimates, nominal GDP of Kuwait is estimated to register a decline of 24 percent in 2009 and recover again in 2010 to grow by 21 percent.

The majority of large real estate and infrastructure projects still depend on government funding as private sector participation is limited, particularly participation within the residential real estate segment, due to the delay in passing of a

privatization law which has gotten a first round approval from the National Assembly in April 2010 despite wide opposition.

As a result, with a contracting GDP in Kuwait during 2009, the start of most infrastructure and government funded projects were delayed while others may likely not even get materialized, consequently causing an adverse effect on market liquidity with added downward pressure on the real estate market performance.

Moreover, soaring oil prices in Kuwait over the past 5 years led nominal GDP to grow by a CAGR of 22.8 percent. This rally in oil prices played a major role in boosting the country’s overall growth due to the rise in oil revenues, which ultimately boosted growth in real estate and construction activities. In tandem with the real estate sector’s growth, credit facilities extended to the real estate segment by local banks increased primarily due to the rise in construction activity levels.

Inflation As Kuwait pegs the dinar to a basket of currencies, with the greenback weighing more than half, a sliding dollar is destined to spur inflation.

Due to the increase in food and commodity prices, combined with high oil prices, US dollar depreciation and higher bill for imports, the CPI index went up by 10.6 percent during 2008. Forecasts by the International Monetary Fund expect that a slight strengthening of the greenback and gradually falling commodity prices will bring the average inflation down to 4.6 percent for 2009 and 4.4 percent in 2010.

In normal economic times, inflation works in favor of the real estate market, boosting demand for hard assets as a hedge against a weakening currency and increasing corporate

revenues. These factors fuel rent growth, which in turn boosts real estate cash flow and property values. However, inflation rates in 2007 and 2008 peaked in Kuwait fuelled by an increase in the money supply, a rise in lending which led to ample liquidity levels, the enhanced performance of the Kuwait Stock Exchange, and increases witnessed in prices of real estate, rentals, and raw materials. During 2008, inflation rose to a record 10.6 percent up from 5.5 percent in 2007. This rise in inflation, particularly the rise in real estate and rental prices was primarily due to the shortage of supply in the market coupled with an increase in demand for real estate which in turn was due to the rise in the expatriate population.

Furthermore, the decline in oil prices, a weakening stock market, and issuance of new laws eventually led to a drop in prices among the real estate sector. Additionally, as companies in the real estate sector try to dispose their residential real estate investments (in compliance with Law no. 9) and improve their positions by selling some of their already distressed assets, lower prices in the market will force companies to book losses on the sale of their assets. Consequently further depressing the performance of the sector.

Interest rates After reaching a high of 6.25 percent in July 2006 followed by a cut of 50 bps in January 2008, the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) discount rate has been slashed continuously since the intensification of the global financial turmoil by a total of 325 bps. Furthermore, the CBK has recently reduced its discount rate to 2.5 percent in February10 keeping room for further cuts in case required. This cut was aimed to stimulating bank lend-

Credit facilities Following to the upward trend witnessed over the past 5 years and triggered by the liquidity squeeze in the local market and deterioration of asset prices, total credit facilities extended by local banks experienced a drop in its annual growth rate from a record of 34.9 percent in 2007 to 20 percent in 2008 and 6.1 percent during 2009. This decline has been a direct result of banks’ implementation of conservative and stricter policies in extending additional loans, with the lack of investment opportunities in the market. Loans to real estate and construction, the second major component of credit facilities, also showed a growth rate of 10.3 percent during 2009 compared to the 17.2 percent growth rate in 2008.

Prices of raw material As Kuwait and the rest of the GCC region are trying to diversify their oil based economies, a very strong boom in construction is taking place, and despite the challenging period that the capital and property markets are currently going through, the long term prospects are promising. The cost of raw material is one of the major challenges facing the real estate industry today and an important factor to its development in the region.

A hike in the price of raw materials used in construction was witnessed in the ninemonth period between February and October of 2008 due mainly to three reasons. First, a new and strong demand for cement and steel was born in the GCC region, led strongly by Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the race for new towers and skyscrapers was taking place. Second, a large increase in the price of oil that took its toll on the cost of production and freight. The third reason being an estimated two fold increase in the prices of steels’ raw material.

(From left to right): KGL Car Rental General Manager Robert Boustani, KGL Holding Vice Chairman Yaqoub Al-Wazzan and KIA Brand Manager Salem Al-Mutawa.

NAG delivers first batch of KIA SUVs KUWAIT: KGL Car Rental (KGL CR) and National Agencies Group (NAG), a division of Abdulaziz Al-Ali Al-Mutawa Group of Companies & the exclusive dealer of KIA Motors in Kuwait celebrated the delivery of the first batch of KIA SUVs on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at Kuwait and Gulf Link Holding Company headquarters in Shuwaikh Industrial area. This batch of 125 vehicles is the first of 500 KIA Mohave SUVs to be delivered by National Agencies Group to KGL CR as part of its support to KGL CR which has won recently a KD 9.7 million contract from the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) to lease 1,100 vehicles.

KGL Car Rental General Manager Robert Boustani and KIA Brand Manager Salem AlMutawa celebrated the event in the presence of executives from NAG & KGL. “We are very pleased to provide KGL Car Rental with the KIA Mohave SUV 2011 Model which is known for its quality and outstanding performance,” stated Al-Mutawa during the delivery ceremony as he congratulated KGL CR for winning the KOC contract. “KIA Motors is now the fastest growing automotive manufacturer in the world.

It is becoming famous for the quality, performance and great value for money its vehicles offer to customers,” he disclosed.

He cited that Abdulaziz Al-Ali Al-Mutawa Group of Companies has been doing business with KGL since 1980 through its main Company, Al-Qurain Automotive Trading. He added that the group has been a major supplier to KGL, first selling it equipment for its waste collection operations, then about 1,200 Volvo trucks for its logistics, and supply chain services and a variety of buses for its local transport operations.

On the other hand, Boustani thanked AlMutawa for the strong business ties between the two companies as KGL Car Rental embarks on another milestone executing its contract with KOC to lease vehicles including all vehicle services and maintenance for a period of 30 months with effect from June 1, 2010. This is the third consecutive time that KGL Car Rental wins such a contract from the KOC. “With your support, we can reach greater heights in our operations,” pointed out Boustani.

KGL Car Rental is one of the subsidiaries of Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Co and its core business includes the renting and leasing of vehicles to commercial, corporate and government clients within the State of Kuwait. KGL CR prides itself as the sole representative of National Car Rental within the country.

VIVA Kuwait finalizes $270m deal with Huawei Technologies KUWAIT: VIVA Kuwait recently signed a financing agreement with Huawei Technologies, which complies with the provisions of Islamic Sharia. Huawei is one of the largest global corporations operating in the Middle East in terms of systems and communications technology provider of infrastructure service. The financing deal totals $270 million dollars over a fiveyear period.

VIVA Kuwait aims to finance the completion of its network with the latest technologies in the communications field, as well as to diversify sources of funding for its work and expansion with this deal.

Huawei aims to increase its market share in the Middle East and Kuwait in particular through this agreement.

This union reflects the confidence Huawei Technologies has in VIVA Kuwait, and to the status enjoyed by the parent company STC, largest Telecommunications Company in the Middle East among the global supplier of communications system and infrastructure.

Present at the deal signing from VIVA Kuwait was CEO Najeeb Al-Awadhi, Chief Financial Officer Abdul Aziz AlQatie, Chief Technology officer

KUWAIT: VIVA Kuwait and Huawei Technologies officials sign the agreement.

Salman Al-Badran and representing Huawei Technologies was Vice President for Middle East operations, Gordon Wu, Director General for Operations Kuwait, Shaw and other high level officials from the two companies.

VIVA Kuwait is the latest player to communication technology services in Kuwait, offering a range of integrated communication solutions to mobile.

Since its entry into the Kuwaiti market in December 2008, acquired VIVA a prominent place in the telecommunications market by obtaining a market share estimated at 16 percent and customer base of more than

600,000 clients, and seek VIVA that makes communication easier by the provision of information communication technology and the transfer of information and entertainment in the framework aims to positively influence the life of the customer.

Approach is essential to success, and be the first brand in Kuwait through transparency, energetic, fulfilling and engaging.

And it accounts for an increasing proportion of clients by providing an innovative portfolio of value added services. VIVA Kuwait also offers mobile Internet service at speeds of up to 21.6 MB per second.

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

.2840000 .4270000 .3700000 .2590000 .2780000 .2580000 .0045000 .0020000 .0782620 .7624810 .4020000 .0750000 .7490330 .0045000 .0500000

.2940000 .4360000 .3790000 .2670000 .2860000 .2650000 .0075000 .0035000 .0790480 .7701450 .4170000 .0790000 .7565610 .0072000 .0580000

US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2889000 .4313610 .3770800 .2633050 .2817310 .0506540 .0389920 .2614640 .0370610 .2095420 .0030890 .0064420 .0025450 .0034260 .0041900 .0785310 .7651030 .4077320 .0769180 .7492010 .0064060

US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals

TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2904000 .4344070 .2651700 .0774090

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES Japanese Yen Indian Rupees

3.124 6.450

.2904000 .4344070 .3797430 .2651700 .2837260 .0510130 .0392680 .2633100 .0373230 .2110260 .0031100 .0064870 .0025630 .0034500 .0042200 .0790320 .7699810 .4106200 .0774090 .7539770 .0064510

Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.435 2.543 4.036 210.920 37.240 4.179 6.443 8.974 0.301 0.292 GCC COUNTRIES

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

77.270 79.600 752.700 769.500 78.900 ARAB COUNTRIES

Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound Yemen Riyal Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

54.250 51.773 1.285 201.110 409.200 194.400 6.258 34.232

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 289.600 Euro 380.100 Sterling Pound 434.700 Canadian dollar 284.340 Turkish lire 186.740 Swiss Franc 265.700 Australian dollar 261.000 US Dollar Buying 287.500 GOLD 20 Gram 235.000 10 Gram 119.000 5 Gram 60.000

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash

SELL CASH 265.600 769.980 4.400 285.500 568.600 15.800 50.500 167.800 54.500 379.600

SELL DRAFT 264.100 769.980 4.180 284.000

211.600 51.786 378.100

Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

37.980 37.840 6.690 6.440 0.035 0.295 0.256 3.260 411.000 409.270 0.196 0.195 92.310 92.310 47.200 4.250 4.040 213.000 211.500 1.973 47.600 752.120 751.940 3.530 3.450 6.720 6.345 80.080 79.650 77.310 77.310 211.610 211.610 40.680 40.680 2.744 2.545 435.500 433.500 38.800 266.700 265.200 6.400 9.330 9.150 217.900 79.000 78.900 289.900 289.500 1.330

GOLD 10 Tola

1,303.710

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE Sterling Pound US Dollar

433.500 289.500

2.539 4.186 6.366 3.121 8.927 6.314 4.021

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

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

288.400 3.430 6.340 2.540 4.175 6.350 78.695 77.195 767.500 52.765 440.300 0.00003195 3.980 1.550 410.200 5.750 401.200 290.900

Al Mulla Exchange

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Cyprus Pound Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees

Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees

Selling Rate 289.450 282.083 431.111 376.237 261.996 709.462 766.143 78.786 79.484 77.155 408.454 51.757 6.441 3.442

Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer rate 289.200 379.600 435.000 284.000 3.125 6.450 51.750 2.548 4.187 6.345 3.455 769.000 78.800 77.180

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

23

BUSINESS

Wataniya Palestine announces new CEO Wataniya sponsors World Cup shopping fest

LG unveils world’s first complete LED 3D TV KUWAIT: LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in the flat panel display and audio-video devices market, announced the launch of the LX9500, the world’s first full LED 3D TV yesterday. Delivering a picture of outstanding clarity and brightness on LG’s innovative Infinia design, the LX9500 - a two-time award winner at this year’s CES and a winner of the reddot design award 2010 invites viewers into an entirely new world of 3D TV viewing. For the ultimate in 3D home viewing, the LX9500 employs shutter glasses-type technology, with glasses that add depth to an image by blocking one lens then the other in sync with the screen’s refresh rate. The LX9500 is also the only 3D TV with dual IR-emitting sensors, which send signals syncing the lenses with the TV. Having dual sensors ensures a wider and longer viewing angle for the TV’s 3D pictures, creating a spectacular home theater experience for the whole family.

As the world’s first full LED 3D TV, the LX9500 uses an innovative backlight structure to deliver its remarkable picture. Illuminated by panels of LEDs directly behind the screen, the Full LED display provides images of exceptional brightness and clarity, as well as a localized Spot Control for the ultimate in picture quality. With TruMotion 400Hz reducing image cross-talk and a picture further enriched by a 10,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, the LX9500’s mesmerizing 3D transports viewers right to the heart of the action.

As with all its features, the LX9500’s award-winning Infinia design is geared toward creating the ultimate 3D experience. Slim and sleek, the LX9500 boasts a depth of just 22.3mm, and a 16mm supernarrow bezel that allows for a more expansive picture and 3D images that practically burst out of the screen. In recognition of its unparalleled design, the LX9500 this year won a reddot design award, one of the world’s top three design awards and a globally

accepted standard for the very best in product design. “Thanks to its superb picture quality, the LX9500 offers a 3D experience like no other, where instead of just watching scenes, you can actually be part of them,” said H S Paik, President of LG Electronics Gulf FZE. “Through advanced features such as Full LED and INFINIA design, LG is already pushing the technological boundaries for 3D. Along with our 3D Blu-ray disk player and 3D home projector, LG is well placed to become a true global leader in 3D home entertainment.”

Speaking from the launch of LG’s LX9500 at the Westin Hotel Dubai, event speaker and President of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai, Dr Mustafa AG Abushagur, PhD added; “Technology is moving at a faster pace now than it ever has and 3D is transforming the digital entertainment and education landscape.

“This new technology is creating visual experiences that offer new opportunities and challenges for educators, manufacturers and consumers alike. With its tendency towards early-adoption of new technology, the Middle East is on the cusp of widespread changes in technological development.”

Delivering unbeatable levels of entertainment, the LX9500 also displays regular programming and content in the very best, high-definition 2D. In addition, the TV is seamlessly connected to home AV devices thanks to a Wireless AV Link, while its NetCast(tm) function delivers instant streaming, via a broadband connection, of virtually limitless online content, including videos, movies and web albums.

In another first for the industry, the LX9500 supports the Multi Picture Format (MPF) which enables user-created 3D content to be enjoyed onscreen without the need of a PC. The ultimate platform for 3D viewing, LG’s LX9500 was officially launched yesterday and will retail at AED 17,999 (55”) and AED 12,999 (47”).

KUWAIT: Building on the successful recent launch of its mobile telephone service, Wataniya Palestine is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Bassam Hannoun as its new Chief Executive Officer. Dr Hannoun w ill be a ssum ing this role follow ing a short tra nsition p eriod. Dr Moha m m a d Mustafa, Chairman of the Board of Wataniya Mobile and President of the Dr Hannoun brings to this role strong regional and international experience. He is currently CEO of Jordan’s leading WiMAX operator, wi-tribe Jordan, a subsidiary of the Qtel Group. Dr Hannoun’s experience in the mobile industry cuts across 2G and 3G systems, both in technical and commercial capacities. He was previously Chief Sales Officer for Orange Jordan. In Europe, Dr Hannoun was responsible for the planning and optimization of GSM networks across several different countries. Dr Hannoun has a PhD in telecommunications engineering and holds a Masters of Business Administration with a focus on strategic marketing.

Meanwhile, Wataniya Telecom is also sponsoring the World Cup shopping festival taking place for the first time in Kuwait giving the chance for everybody to be part of the global event, FIFA 2010. The World Cup shopping festival will include a number of participating outlets in Kuwait who are offering their customers a voucher upon their KD 10 purchase in which they will fill in their personal information to enter weekly draw and win valuable prizes.

The same voucher will have a part where customers can predict the qualified teams for the final game and their respective scores. The customer will predict those teams and scores and submit the voucher for a draw to take place on August 14, 2010. Customers who predicted the right teams and scores for the final game will be reimbursed in cash at the original purchase by the end of the festival on August 14.

“This is one of the most exciting events to take place in Kuwait related to the World Cup 2010. Wataniya is constantly keen in sponsoring and supporting sports events and especially those that add value and excitement to the consumer’s experience. Being the main sponsor of the first World Cup shopping festival in Kuwait makes us proud and eager to accomplish more.”

Abdul Aziz Al-Balool PR Manager at Wataniya expressed. The valuable prizes that will be given to customers include Honda cars, 103-inch plasma screens, 58-inch plasma screens, 50-inch plasma screens, 42-inch plasma screens, digital cameras, camcorders, DVD/home theaters and Blue Ray DVDs. It is your chance to be a lucky winner!.

listed the three campaign finalists before the public was invited to vote for the one most outstanding woman. In an overwhelming display of support and enthusiasm, a total of 6,294 unique votes were recorded during the one month voting period.

“The ardent support and interest that was received from both the media and especially the public have exceeded our expectations, and have given us grounds to make the campaign bigger and better next year. The campaign next year will be extended to all countries in the GCC and we look forward to the participation of many more outstanding women from around region”, said Najeeb Hasany, Marketing Director, Kraft Foods GCC. The idea for the ‘Spread Some Inspiration’ campaign by Philadelphia was conceived out of the observation that there were many inspiring women in the Gulf who have achieved something extraordinary or touched the lives of others in positive ways and yet their efforts often went unnoticed. As such the campaign aimed to honor the many unsung female heroes in the region by bringing their stories of triumphs and successes to a wider audience.

The spectacular evening was charged with the excitement and enthusiasm of the campaign participants and their families, many of whom came from Kuwait and Qatar to witness the exciting finale.

Amidst the moving and inspirational speeches by the campaign judges and finalists, guests were also treated to spellbinding series of performances, which included the award-winning harpist Shelley Frost, an aerial show and a surprise vocal performance by one of the campaign nominees, Gayathri Krishnan from Dubai. Philadelphia ‘Spread Some Inspiration’ 2011 will return in October 2010 this year and will extend beyond UAE, Kuwait and Qatar to include all other GCC countries.

PR Manager Abdul Aziz Al-Balool

Audi Kuwait displays DTM Safety Car replica

Gala dinner honors Gulf women achievers DUBAI: The Philadelphia gala dinner at Raffles Dubai last night witnessed a stunning culmination of the widely talked about ‘Spread Some Inspiration’ campaign, which aspired to celebrate the achievements of inspiring women across the Gulf. Saher Shaikh, who received the highest number of votes from the public, was announced as the Philadelphia Inspiring Woman of the Year 2010 for her extraordinary work with Dubai’s labor camps. She was also presented with $10,000, which she pledged to use to support the various volunteer projects. Runners-Up Noof Al-Sulaiti from Qatar and Dina Al-Jiran from Kuwait were both rewarded with $5,000 each to further their passions.

“This campaign has been a tremendous opportunity for women around Gulf to share their stories and achievements. I am so grateful to have met so many wonderful women through this campaign, which makes this win all the more special to me. I would like to thank everyone who supported me. Most importantly I would like to thank Philadelphia from Kraft Foods for awarding me with this prize money, which will go a long way in helping to support my volunteer projects with the labor camps”, said an ecstatic Shaikh.

The three-month long Philadelphia ‘Spread Some Inspiration’ campaign, which was launched in February 2010 in conjunction with International Women’s Day on March 8, saw the participation of 48 women from across UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. The campaign was an open forum for women to either submit their own stories or nominate other women who have inspired or touched their lives. Headlined by three remarkable women who themselves embody the spirit of inspiring, high-achieving women in the region, Judges Sarah Belhasa of UAE, Shurooq Amin of Kuwait, and Wejdan Al-Malki of Qatar, short-

Palestinian Investment Fund said, “We are very thankful for the leadership of Alla n R icha rdson, w ho led the successful prepa ra tion a nd la unch of Wataniya’s mobile service. We are equally pleased w ith the appointment of Dr Hannoun, w ho has the talent and experience to lead Wataniya Palestine to the next level of serving customers in Palestine.”

Maliha Al-Ayar

Burgan Bank staff ‘most productive’ among banks KUWAIT: A study conducted

by Al-Qabas newspaper and published recently showed that Burgan Bank employees are the most productive among all local banks.

Commenting on the news, Maliha Al-Ayar, Chief Human Resources and Development Officer in Burgan Bank said “While we look at these results as recognition of all our staff for their hard work and dedication, we consider these results fair and accurate depicting the banks’ heavy investment in human resources. This investment aims at raising efficiency and productivity of all our staff.

Al-Ayar added “We do not only attract the skills and talents of promising people through a process of training and employment, but we give them the skills, resources and tools necessary to improve their performance to assist them in adhering to the international standards that we have adopted at Burgan Bank. These results reflect our serious commitment to the bank’s social responsibility.”

Being the youngest and

most dynamic commercial bank in the State of Kuwait, Burgan Bank has been applying for the past several years the State’s policy of Kuwaitization in the banking sector. A policy supported by the bank as it potentially has a positive impact on Kuwaiti human resources. In this regard, Burgan Bank has succeeded in raising the percentage of Kuwaitis to 64 percent of the total number of its staff. This policy has positively reflected on the quality of services provided and the productivity at the bank.

These results underscore the wise policy adopted by Burgan Bank Board of Directors in relation to staff development. The evaluation system, salaries and bonuses granted by Burgan Bank to its staff have shown the greatest positive impact on the quality and productivity at the bank.

This is coupled with the more than adequate work environment assisted by state of the art technologies intended to better serve the clients and allow uninterrupted communication with them.

KUWAIT: Audi Kuwait, represented by Fouad Alghanim & Sons Automotive Company, unveils their exclusive replica of the infamous DTM Safety Car as an in initiative to celebrate the start of the 2010 DTM season. The particular vehicle on display in the Audi Kuwait showroom in Shuwaikh is a reproduction of the vehicle used in the 2009 DTM series and is available for viewing by the public during the showroom’s regular operating hours.

Lee Boyle, Dealer Principal of Audi Kuwait, states “It is not an exact copy, especially as we couldn’t get the original lights after the start of the season, but everyone is so excited about the upcoming races, that we want to share the experience with our customers.”

The series’ abbreviation, which once stood for “Deutsche Tourenwagen-Meisterschaft,” represents the most popular international touring car racing series. The series makes six starts in front of German fans, three times in front of the European public in Great Britain, the Netherlands and Spain and for the first time in six years the series will include Shanghai, China.

The role of the Safety Car in motorsport is to limit the speed of the competing cars during any given race in the case of a caution period such as an obstruction or accident on the track.

Audi is one of the most successful brands in

DTM history with six championship titles, 48 wins, 47 pole positions and 36 fastest race laps to its name. Whether V8 quattro, the TT-R from Abt-Audi or the A4 - every Audi model that has competed in the DTM to date has won the prestigious title at least once. After its debut in 1990 Audi temporarily withdrew from the series in 1992. Between 2000 and 2003 Team Abt Sportsline fielded a compact CoupÈ based on the Audi TT. Audi returned as factory to the race series in 2004 with the Audi A4 DTM. Audi has won consecutive first place finishes for the last three years drivers Mattias and Timo Scheider in the A4 DTM, making the manufacturer the most successful brand in recent DTM history.

With its high-performance sports car, the R8, Audi immediately took a prime position in the most demanding automobile market segment.

The 309 kW (420 hp) V8 FSI engine, Quattro permanent all-wheel drive and the body built according to the Audi Space Frame principle secured the R8 an outstanding position. Its fascinating personality is rounded off by a high level of suitability for day-to-day driving and the perfection in materials and workmanship for which Audi is renowned. Audi is the most progressive and rapidly evolving brand in the Kuwaiti premium sector with a strong reputation built on quality, design and technological innovation.

The replica of the DTM Safety Car

India’s festival shines with World Gold Council DUBAI: (From left to right) Sarah Belhasa, one of the juries from UAE, Saher Shaikh, Philadelphia Most Inspiring Woman 2010 winner, Vishal Tikku, Managing Director, Kraft Foods, Saudi Arabia, and Shurooq Amin, Philadelphia Most Inspiring Woman 2010 jury from Kuwait.

DUBAI: (From left to right) Dina Al-Jiran, Philadelphia Most Inspiring Woman 2010 runner-up, Saher Shaikh, Philadelphia Most Inspiring Woman 2010 winner, and Noof Al Sulaiti, Philadelphia Most Inspiring Woman 2010 runner-up.

DUBAI: In celebration of the UAE’s diverse ethnic backgrounds, World Gold Council is contributing to creating cultural awareness in the region by spreading the spirit of one of India’s most auspicious festivals, Akshaya Tritiya. As part of the festivities, World Gold Council’s trade partners are introducing their very own special-edition gold jewelry collections, as well as organizing a selection of interactive competitions in honor of the occasion.

Akshaya Tritiya - a holy day for Hindus - is believed to herald good luck and success, and represents an important part of India’s rich heritage and culture. The buying of gold is an ancient tradition on this day as it is believed that any venture or investments initiated on Akshaya Tritiya will continue to grow and bring prosperity, including buying long-term assets such as gold. There are a high number of Asian expatriates in the Middle East who observe Akshaya Tritiya every year in order to keep this traditional festival alive within their local communities.

“This region is renowned all over the world for its multi-cultural environment, where people from a number of nations and cultures live

in harmony, therefore offering people the unique opportunity to appreciate different cultures and their practices. Indians are some of the world’s largest consumers of gold jewelry, and incidentally form one of the largest populations residing here in the UAE. It is therefore interesting to enliven an Indian festival such as Akshaya Tritiya here in the region which is dedicated to gold-buying. We are very pleased to announce our commitment to creating awareness about this festival - which is a very important event for the Asian community - and outlining the cultural significance of investing in gold for people on this day,” commented Yogaani Bhatia, Country Manager UAE, World Gold Council.

The special-edition ‘Divine’ collection for Akshaya Tritiya has been created in order to emphasize the importance of keeping this ancient heritage alive and will be available at Malabar Gold stores. As part of their efforts to create further awareness around Akshaya Tritiya, Malabar Gold and WGC are also launching interactive radio and print competitions in order to spur interest and encourage engagement in the festival throughout the region.

24

BUSINESS

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

KSE compensates for losses Saudi to keep June oil supplies steady

Global Daily Market Report KUWAIT: The Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) made up losses incurred on Sunday’s session.

Major and sectoral indices also rose during yesterday’s session, following the rises that accompanied in the global markets.

The EU announced a bailout plan worth around EUR 750 billion to stabilize its financial and economic system. The plan would consist of EUR 440 billion of loans from Euro-zone governments, EUR 60 billion from an EU emergency fund, and EUR 250 billion from the IMF. Market indices Global General Index (GGI) added 3.65 points (- 1.83 percent) during yesterday’s session to reach 203.73 points.

Furthermore, the KSE Price Index increased by 117.10 points (+ 1.68 percent) yesterday and closed at 7,093.20 points. Market capitalization was up KD 603.08 million yesterday to reach KD 33.65 billion.

Market breadth During yesterday’s session, 126 companies were traded.

Market breadth was skewed towards gainers as 103 equities advanced versus 13 that retreated. A total of 95 stocks remained unchanged during yesterday’s trading session.

Daily trading activity Trading activities ended on a positive note yesterday as volume of shares traded on the exchange increased by 65.69 percent to reach 234.25 million shares. Furthermore, value of shares traded gained by 17.27 percent to stand at KD 44.28 million. The investment sector was the volume leader yesterday, accounting for 30.94 percent of total market volume.

The services sector was the value leader, with 37.73 percent of total market value. Kuwait Real Estate Company was the volume leader yesterday, with a total traded volume of 27.32 mil-

Operational tolerance policy kept intact TOKYO: Saudi Arabia will supply full volumes to at least seven Asian clients in June, steady from May, sources said yesterday, as oil held within the kingdom’s preferred range and Asia was expected to lead demand growth. A major oil company with a global refining system was also expecting its June allocation to be steady with that for May, an industry source said. Sources at two customers in Europe said they would receive stable volumes. “It looks like they’ve decided to stop supply cuts to Asia for good,” said one source at a term buyer who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Outside Asia, refineries and oil majors have consistently received less oil than decreed by their full contracts as OPEC’s biggest exporter Saudi Arabia has implemented greater output discipline than some of its colleagues. An industry source told Reuters at least one oil major would receive steady supplies in June compared with in May. Sources at two European oil refineries said their Saudi crude supplies in June were also steady from May and that they were only receiving Arab Light crude.

“No change. They have been giving us the same volume for quite some time,” one of the European

customers said.

Many European oil refiners have stopped buying Saudi Arabia’s medium and heavy crude and are buying other grades after supplies were cut in line with OPEC output curbs in 2008. OPEC announced record output cuts in December 2008 in response to an oil market crash, but output has been creeping higher over the last year as the oil price has recovered from a low of just above $30 a barrel in December 2008 to around $78 yesterday.

Saudi Arabia has said it considers prices in the $70-$80 range to be fair for producers and consumers. On Sunday, the kingdom’s Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi said supply and demand were balanced and predicted Asian oil consumption would rise.

OPEC’s Secretary General Abdullah Al-Badri, however, said markets were oversupplied.

Asian refining sources also said Saudi Arabia made no changes to the operational tolerance level in the supply allocations, meaning buyers have the option of asking for cargoes to be loaded with up to 10 percent more or less crude than contracted volumes. One source said he did not intend to take up that option. — Reuters

Saudi Electric raises $1.9bn from sukuk

lion. In terms of value, Zain took the top spot with a total traded value of KD 4.71 million.

Top gainers and biggest decliners In terms of top gainers, AlQurain Holding Company took the top spot for the day, adding 11.63 percent and closed at KD 0.024. On the other hand, Hilal Cement Company shed 8.33 percent and closed at KD 0.275, making it the biggest decliner in the market.

Sectors wise Regarding Global’s sectoral indices, they all ended the day on a positive note with Global

Food Index being the top gainer. The index posted a gain of 3.38 percent during yesterday’s trading session backed by heavyweight Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana). The scrip ended the day up 4.29 percent and closed at KD 1.460. Furthermore, Danah AlSafat Foodstuff Company, the only other gainer in the sector, ended the day up 1.19 percent and closed at KD 0.170.

Global Investment Index was the second biggest gainer, up 2.65 percent backed by National Investment Company ending the day up 5.71 percent

and closed at KD 0.370. In addition, KIPCO Asset Management (KAMCO) also contributed to the index’s gain by posting an increase of 6.06 percent and closed at KD 0.350. Global’s special indices also ended the day in the green, with Global High Yield Index being the top gainers.

The index ended the day up 2.16 percent backed by heavyweight Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana).

Oil news The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $76.41 a barrel on Friday, com-

pared with $78.52 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Market news United For Petrochemicals was established as a closed shareholding company with a capital of KD 2 million distributed over 20 million shares, each with a value of 100 fils.

The company is specialized in the production of materials used in plastic production after the approval of the Public Authority for Industry and the Interior Ministry, the official gazette of Al-Kuwait Al-Yaum reported yesterday.

RIYADH: Saudi Electricity Co has raised 7 billion riyals ($1.87 billion) from a 7-year Islamic bond, or sukuk, at 95 basis points above Saudi Interbank Offered Rate (Sibor), sources familiar with the matter said yesterday. The yield on the issue is also below the 160 bps above Sibor at which the Gulf’s largest power utility priced its previous sukuk issue of the same size, underscoring an easing in credit conditions in Saudi Arabia after a tough 2009.

The sources, who asked not to be identified, said the state-controlled power utility’s bonds would start trading on the Saudi bond market before May 24. “The new Islamic bond will start trading within a couple of days, either this week or the coming week at worst,” one source said.

Saudi Electricity raised the tenor of the bond to seven years, up from the five year notes it issued in its previous two sukuks, the sources said.

Being a utility company, Saudi Electricity wanted to go for longer tenors in previous issues but markets were volatile back then, according to the sources. “The situation now has changed in the local market ... But in the case of Saudi

Electricity, this is a utility that keeps the lights one, one that the government would want to keep afloat,” one of the two sources said.

About 95 percent of the demand for the issue came from Saudi institutions with only 5 percent coming from non-Saudi investors, the source said. Saudi Electricity’s Chief Executive Ali Saleh Al-Barrak said last month the group would raise between 5 billion riyals and 7 billion from this issue, its third since 2007. In addition to the 7 billion riyals SEC raised last year, the company took another 7 billion from a maiden issue in 2007.

HSBC and Samba Financial Group are joint lead managers on the offer. Saudi firms are leading a gradual recovery in regional debt markets after Dubai’s government in March unveiled a $9.5 billion support plan for conglomerate Dubai World, which rattled markets in November with news it would ask for a standstill on some of its debt. As a result, Gulf Arab fixed-income markets remained largely shut for months, but are now slowly reopening with a series of issues led mainly by Saudi firms. — Reuters

BUSINESS

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

25

Peabody drops proposal for Macarthur over mining tax SYDNEY: United States energy firm Peabody yesterday cut its offer for Australian coal miner Macarthur, just over a week after Canberra outlined plans for a “super tax” on resources profits. The news was followed by an announcement from European energy firm Xstrata that it had suspended a 30 million dollar (27 million US) copper exploration project in the country until the new tax regime had been finalized.

And it also came on a day that a survey showed public support for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had fallen as a result of his proposals and as BHP Billiton warned they could hurt foreign investment in the country. Peabody dropped its bid for Macarthur Coal Limited from 4.07 billion dollars (3.67 billion US) to 3.82 billion dollars after the proposed 40 percent levy on mining firms’ “super

profits” and following due diligence.

“The definitive proposal delivers a clear, compelling and significant premium for Macarthur shareholders, and follows Peabody’s due diligence as well as the introduction of the Australian resources profit tax proposal,” it said. Macarthur’s share price, along with that of other mining companies, has dived since the government announced the tax plan on May 2 — from 15.28 dollars in mid-April to reach 13.38 dollars yesterday.

Peabody’s first bid, which was rejected, was for 13.00 dollars per share. It later made two further offers of 14.00 dollars and 16.00 dollars to take over the company amid competing offers from Australian miner New Hope.

The revised offer is for 15.00 dollars. Patersons

Securities analyst Andrew Harrington said it was rare for a company to lower its highest offer in this way. “I can’t think of any big company examples where someone has come in, increased their bid a couple of times, then made a new bid at a lower level,” Harrington told Australian news agency AAP. Macarthur is the world’s top producer of a type of coal used to make steel, a building block for the mass industrialization projects under way in Asian countries such as China. Macarthur’s board has rejected bids from Peabody and Australia’s New Hope in favour of its own takeover of Gloucester Coal, but the acquisition was snubbed by a key Gloucester shareholder last month.

The government is facing a backlash from the industry-which accounts for more than 40 percent of

Australia’s exports and earned 127.5 billion dollars in 2008-2009 — over the profits tax plan. Anglo-Swiss mining giant Xstrata yesterday halted a three-year exploration project in Queensland “until there is greater certainty on the fiscal regime for future mining developments,” Xstrata Copper North Queensland chief operating officer Steve de Kruijff said. He said the proposal would impact the relative economics of the projects compared with exploration programs elsewhere in the world and could seriously hurt the sustainability of Xstrata’s operations in the state.

And the world’s biggest miner, BHP Billiton, Sunday warned the proposal could not only drive investment overseas but affect expansion at its Olympic Dam mine. The Queensland Resources

Council said billions of dollars worth of planned projects faced similar uncertainty, putting thousands of jobs at risk. “The super profits tax is not good news for the best part of 100 billion dollars worth of resource projects that are on the books here in Queensland,” the council chief executive Michael Roche said. The centre-left Labor government has defended its decision to tax the so-called “super profits” of the mining companies reaping the benefits of an Asian-driven commodities boom. In another worry for Rudd, who faces elections this year, a poll by Fairfax newspapers put his approval rating at 45 percent, 14 percentage points lower than a month earlier. Disapproval rose 13 points to 49 percent. Support for the tax plan was 44 percent, with 47 percent opposed. — AFP

Merkel under fire after ‘double debacle’ defeat Merkel rules out tax cuts ‘in foreseeable future’ BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel faced stinging attacks on her leadership yesterday after voters, furious over a colossal bail-out for Greece, handed her coalition a disastrous defeat in a state poll. J ust tw o days after

TOKYO: A man uses a mobile phone in front of a securities firm yesterday. — AP

Euro surges in Asia over Greek aid TOKYO: The euro surged yesterday after Europe and the International Monetary Fund agreed a 750-billioneuro aid package for Greece and its eurozone neighbors to stem a crisis that threatened the global recovery. The deal consists of 440 billion euros from eurozone countries and 60 billion euros of loan funds from the European Commission, while Spanish finance minister Elena Salgado said the IMF would offer a 250-billioneuro facility.

Following the announcement the US Federal Reserve and central banks in Japan, Europe, Britain, Canada and Switzerland said they would intervene to ensure that dollar shortages did not occur in European markets. “This package serves to strengthen and protect the common currency,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters, hours after the announcement.

And IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn called it “a big step forward”, adding: “I think we have to wait a little more, but I think all this is rather encouraging.” The single currency shot higher to 1.2929 dollars, up from 1.2755 dollars in New York Friday, while the traditionally safe-haven yen slid against its peers as risk appetite returned to the markets. The euro fell to a 14-month low against the greenback last week.

“There’s a sense of security in the currency market for now with concern of Greek debt contagion spreading elsewhere in Europe receding,” Jun Kato, senior manager of investment at Shinkin Asset Management, told Dow Jones Newswires. But he warned that “any negative news about the debt problems may easily push the euro down.” The huge bailout “proves that we shall defend the euro whatever it takes,” the European Union’s commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, Olli Rehn, told a press conference after 11 hours of talks in Brussels.

The European Central Bank will also implement exceptional measures in support of the bailout package,

Rehn said. The breakthrough followed urgent telephone calls Sunday between US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The European Central Bank said in a statement that the moves by the central banks “are designed to help improve liquidity conditions in US dollar funding markets and to prevent the spread of strains to other markets and other financial centers.”

The Bank of Japan separately offered two trillion yen (21.6 billion dollars) in liquidity to financial institutions for a second trading day in a row to calm markets rattled

by Greece’s debt woes. Asian markets shot higher.

Tokyo’s Nikkei jumped 1.60 percent, or 166.11 points, to close at 1,0530.70 and Sydney ended 2.66 percent, or 119.10 points, higher at 4,599.8, its biggest one day gain in more than five months. Hong Kong soared 2.54 percent to close up 506.35 points higher at 20,426.64.

And markets in Europe soared on opening, with London up 2.95 percent, Frankfurt 3.27 percent higher and Paris 5.59 percent stronger. Lisbon gained 7.51 percent and Spain rocketed 10.9 percent-both countries have been the focus of concern over possible debt crises similar to Greece. Asian markets were closely watching the eurozone after US markets Friday shrugged off upbeat employment data showing that 290,000 jobs were created in April in the world’s largest economy.

Markets last week saw a sell-off amid uncertainty over whether Greece could implement deeply unpopular austerity measures and stave off bankruptcy. Fears that a possible debt default by Greece could hit the world’s financial system in the same way the collapse of Lehman Brothers did two years ago sent shares and the euro plunging. Concerns had also mounted that the Greek rescue deal would fail to shield Spain and Portugal from crippling market pressures, sending the euro down at one point last week to 1.2523, its lowest since March 2009. —AFP

China auto sales growth slows in April SHANGHAI: The surge in China’s auto sales has begun to falter with growth in passenger car sales for April easing to just over half the previous month’s increase. There were 1.11 million passenger cars sold in April, up 34 percent from a year earlier, the stateaffiliated China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said yesterday. Sales had jumped 63 percent in March from a year earlier. The slowing in demand was expected after a shift into overdrive last year thanks to an aggressive government subsidy and tax cut plan to help revive the industry from a slump that hit in late 2008.

April’s car sales were down 12 percent from the 1.26 million sold in March, Total sales growth for the year is forecast at between 15 percent and 17 percent, according to most industry experts. CAAM said sales of all vehicles totaled 1.56 million, while sales in January-April climbed 61 percent from the same period of 2009 to 6.2 million. First quarter sales had risen at an annual rate of 72 percent. “Sales growth will certainly slow down in the rest of this year, fluctuating around 20 percent, thanks to continued stimulus policies,” said Wei Chenggang, an auto analyst at Shanghai Securities, in Shanghai.

Feeble sales in the United States and a surge in car buying by newly affluent Chinese helped make China the world’s largest auto market last year, when total sales jumped 45 percent over 2008 to 13.6 million vehicles. American car sales are recovering but cannot keep pace with the growth in China, where many families have rushed to take advantage of the subsidies for purchases of small, energy-efficient cars, while others have traded up to bigger vehicles.

US sales rose 20 percent over a year earlier in

April, with most major automakers posting doubledigit gains, according to AutoData Corp. But sales slipped 8 percent from March, when Toyota launched record-high incentives after a spate of safety recalls.

China’s auto industry does not release comparable monthly sales data adjusted for annual rates.

Automakers recognize that last year’s “blowout” was out of the ordinary, said the state-run newspaper Global Times in an article yesterday.

“It’s impossible for people to buy autos like they buy radishes or cabbages, and for most people autos are still precious goods requiring careful calculations and budgeting,” it said. China has kept many of its stimulus measures in place, despite the economy’s return to solid double digit-growth, which hit nearly 12 percent in the first quarter. “To meet its targets for economic growth, the government will keep the positive policies for the auto sector, especially since the real estate industry has taken a heavy hit,” Wei said, referring to efforts by regulators to cool the overheated property market.

The majority of car sales in China are by joint ventures with big global automakers, although domestic car markets are swiftly increasing market share.

General Motors Co and its joint ventures earlier reported their sales jumped 41 percent in April from the year before to 213,115 vehicles, the 16th consecutive month of record sales.

GM’s sales at its venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, or SAIC, surged 62 percent to 89,562 vehicles in April, while SAIC-GMWuling reported sales climbed 19 percent to 113,633 units. Cadillac and Chevrolet brands saw sales more than double from a year earlier, GM said. —AP

The poll drubbing robs Merkel’s coalition of its dominance both in the state legislature and the Bundesrat upper house of parliament at a moment in which the 16-nation eurozone, and Germany as its top economy, face a historic crisis. North Rhine-Westphalia, with its 13.5 million voters, is ruled by the same centre-right tie-up Merkel has in Berlin, making the poll a damaging referendum on her government in its first electoral test since she was re-elected in September.

The centre-left daily Tagesspiegel said Merkel had dithered as the eurozone struggles to regain stability after the Greek debt turmoil, and paid the price at the polls. “Never before has a federal government’s fear of a state election had such a disastrous impact on the EU and the stability of the euro. Merkel played tactical games for weeks before having to make promises after all, and what is the end result? Black-yellow bankruptcy in North Rhine-Westphalia and a crisis for Europe,” it said, referring to the colours of the centreright coalition.

“The chancellor, the great tactician, lacks the self-confidence and courage to follow her instincts in a crisis.” The timing of the election could hardly have been worse for Merkel’s centreright alliance, which has ruled North Rhine-Westphalia since 2005. Germans strongly oppose the 22.4 billion euros (28.6 billion dollars) in loans over three years to debt-wracked Athens approved Friday as part of an EU-IMF rescue as Berlin struggles with its own parlous public finances.

And on Sunday, the European Union announced an emergency trillion-dollar rescue package for crisis-hit eurozone countries to which Germany will also make a major contribution. Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) drew just 34.6 percent-their worst result ever in the state-with allies the Free Democrats (FDP) at 6.7 percent, depriving them of their majority in the state legislature.

The opposition centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) scored 34.5 percent, failing to profit from the conservatives’ misery, with the ecologist Greens at a strong 12.1 percent and the far-left Die Linke on 5.6 percent.

With no clear winner, the results mean that the two strongest parties will scramble to cobble together a ruling alliance, or perhaps link up to form a “grand coalition”. But the impact for national politics was clearly calamitous, with Merkel’s alliance sacrificing its majority in the Bundesrat. This will hobble the government in pushing through its tax and health care reform agenda. “The results show deep anxiety of voters with their government,” political scientist Barbara Riedmueller of Berlin’s Free University told AFP. Conservative NRW premier Juergen Ruettgers blamed headwinds from Berlin, where the governing coalition has been marred by squabbling since it took power in October, for his “bitter” defeat. “It had to do with the government in Berlin’s start but also the difficult situation in Greece,” he said. FDP leader Guido Westerwelle, Merkel’s vice-chancellor and foreign minister, called the poll result a “warning shot” from voters that would have clear national consequences. — AFP

parliament approved the huge Greek rescue package, the w estern state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous, gave Merkel’s centreright alliance Sunday w hat the press called a “double debacle”.

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel poses with Juergen Ruettgers, State Premier of the western federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and top candidate of Merkel’s conservative CDU for regional elections yesterday, prior to a session with the CDU’s leadership. — AFP

BoJ injects cash for second trading day TOKYO: The Bank of Japan yesterday offered two trillion yen (21.6 billion dollars) in liquidity to financial institutions for a second trading day in a row to calm markets rattled by Greece’s debt woes. The central bank offered to provide the cash in sameday operations to banks and brokerages against their collateral pooled at the BoJ. The two trillion yen cash injection-the bank’s second since Friday-aims to support Japanese stocks by curbing the yen’s rise and making available ample funds for financial markets.

Tokyo stocks rebounded yesterday on relief over a deal to help the crisis-hit eurozone with a huge aid package from Europe and the International Monetary Fund, and as the yen eased against the dollar and euro.

The Nikkei stock index ended up 1.60 percent yesterday. The single currency shot higher to 1.3037 dollars in London morning trade, up from 1.2755 dollars in New York Friday. It also bought 121.80 yen, sharply up from 116.80 yen in New York.

Finance Minister Naoto Kan said he expected the “major response” by Europe and the IMF and a pledge of support from the Group of Seven industrialized nations to help stabilize global financial and currency markets. “With the G7 now fully backing these efforts, I expect and hope that will help stabilize global stock markets, the euro and other currencies,” he said. Kan said Japan was not thinking of taking any unilateral steps over Europe’s debt problems, but that it was contributing to global support through the IMF. The Bank of Japan yesterday also joined the central banks of Europe, the United States, Britain, Canada and Switzerland to support financial markets by preventing dollar shortages during the Greek debt crisis. The BoJ joined the other banks in reestablishing so-called dollar liquidity swap facilities with the US Federal Reserve, revitalizing emergency measures that were applied when the global financial crisis erupted in 2008. —AFP

TOKYO: Suzuki Motor Corporation Chairman Osamu Suzuki gestures as he answers questions during a press conference to announce its annual earnings report yesterday. Japanese carmaker Suzuki eked out a profit in the fiscal year that ended in March as robust sales in India and China offset sluggish demand in Western markets and Japan. — AFP

India car sales growth at 10-year high MUMBAI: India’s car sales rose 39.5 percent in April over last year - the biggest jump in a decade but headwinds from rising costs are starting to drag on India’s auto boom. April car sales hit 143,976, up from 103,227 vehicles a year earlier, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group, said yesterday. Overall passenger and commercial vehicle sales were 231,267 in April, up 39.4 percent from 165,868 vehicles a year earlier.

India’s sustained auto boom has attracted auto majors from around the world, including Ford, Nissan and General Motors, who are all trying to build smaller, more affordable vehicles to tap growing appetite for cars in Asia’s third-biggest economy. Despite impressive annualized gains, 13.2 percent fewer vehicles were sold in April than in March, when sales hit 266,471 vehicles.

“There should not be euphoria,” said Vishnu Mathur, the new director general of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. “We are seeing an initial process of moderation of growth rates. You cannot sustain such high growth rates forever.” For one thing, auto sales last April were unusually low, thanks to the global recession. For another, commodity prices are likely to continue to rise as the global economy recovers, despite efforts by the Indian government to contain costs, Mathur said.

“We expect double digit growth happening, but in more moderate quantities,” he said. Most Indian auto majors have passed higher costs - from commodities used in manufacturing, a change in emissions norms and a tax hike - on to consumers, Vaishali Jajoo, an analyst at Mumbai’s Angel Broking, said in a research note. Despite higher costs, strong consumer confidence, available credit and new vehicle launches like the Manza sedan from Tata Motors and the Eeco van from Maruti Suzuki - helped sales, analysts said.

Maruti again dominated car sales, accounting for 47.7 percent of all cars sold in India in April. Tata, India’s largest commercial vehicle maker, reported 52.5 percent total volume growth, driven by a 63.1 percent surge in medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales. Overall commercial vehicle sales jumped 64.5 percent in April to 49,086 vehicles, a reflection of India’s rebounding economy and priority spending on infrastructure. Vehicle exports rose 34.2 percent to 41,781, data from the trade group showed. — AP

BUSINESS

26

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Eurozone central banks buy govt bonds to fight crisis

FRANKFURT: In this file picture the Euro sculpture is seen in front of the European Central Bank (ECB). — AP

BASEL: Euro zone central banks have begun buying government bonds to help support fractured markets, marking a reversal of ECB resistance to full-scale asset purchases to contain Greece’s debt crisis. The central banks of Germany and Finland confirmed yesterday that central banks had wasted no time playing their part in a $1 trillion emergency rescue package to stabilise the euro and prevent a sovereign debt crisis spreading across Europe. “All euro system central banks will be involved in carrying out the purchases,” a Bank of Finland spokesman said.

An Italian banking source said the focus was on purchasing bonds of countries in greatest difficulty. The ECB said in a statement early yesterday that the step, dubbed the ‘nuclear option’ by many economists, was justified because of government promises to meet strict budget targets and step up consolidation efforts. Only last Thursday, after the central bank’s monthly meeting, ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet

said policymakers had not discussed buying government bonds.

Boosting its firepower further, the ECB said it would also re-start dollar lending operations and bring back some of the emergency liquidity measures it had started to phase out. “The European Central Bank decided on several measures to address the severe tensions in certain market segments which are hampering the monetary policy transmission mechanism and thereby the effective conduct of monetary policy,” it said in a statement after European Union finance ministers announced a euro crisis package that with IMF support could reach 750 billion euros.

The scope of the bond purchases is yet to be determined, but the ECB said they would be offset by liquidity-absorbing operations so that the stance of monetary policy is unaffected. Under the plan, agreed late on Sunday, the ECB will buy and sell both government and private bonds on the secondary market. The euro rallied above $1.30 and European

shares shot up six percent, while the premium investors demand to hold Greek government bonds plummeted by nearly 600 basis points after the rescue package was announced.

“This truly is overwhelming force, and should be more than sufficient to stabilize markets in the near term, prevent panic and contain the risk of contagion,” Marco Annunziata from UniCredit Group in London said of the overall deal. “Not only is the headline number stunning, but the ECB’s decision to intervene in the secondary market should offset concerns about the time it will take to deploy the stabilization funds.”

The fact that the bond purchases will be offset by liquidity absorbing operations means they will not have the same potential impact on inflation as straight purchases, such as those undertaken by the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England.

International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said market reaction to the “bold steps” was heartening. “I think we have to wait a little more, but I think all this is

rather encouraging,” he said.

Liquidity hose In its early-morning statement, the ECB said it would hold its next two three-month liquidity operations at a fixed interest rate, rather than the planned competitive tenders. It will return to six-month loans, offering banks all the money they ask for on May 12 at a fixed interest rate linked to the main refinancing rate.

European laws prevent the ECB from buying debt directly from governments in the way the U.S. and British central banks have done during the financial crisis, but not on the secondary market.

The ECB announced a 60 billion program to buy covered bonds last year but this will be its first foray into buying government debt. Greece’s debt crisis has driven the cost of its sovereign debt and its insurance to record levels. The problems have also started to push up debt costs for other euro zone members with strained public finances such as Portugal, Spain and Ireland. — Reuters

World stocks, euro soar on gigantic EU bailout London’s FTSE 100 index surges 5.0 pct LONDON: Stock markets and the euro rocketed yesterday after the EU and IMF agreed a rescue package of nearly a trillion dollars for the eurozone, stemming a crisis that threatened to derail global economic recovery.

Frankfurt’s DAX 30 meanwhile rallied 4.3 percent and the Paris CAC 40 soared 8.3 percent after Europe yesterday announced a rescue package running to 750 billion euros. “There can be no doubt, eurozone policymakers surprised probably even the most optimistic observers by presenting a quick and forceful, unprecedented crisis package,” said ING financial markets analyst Carsten Brzeski.

He said the deal was “an unprecedented effort to get ahead of markets and to safeguard the stability of the eurozone”. The euro rebounded to 1.3019 dollars from 1.2755 dollars late in New York on Friday, while the traditionally safe-haven yen slid against its peers as risk appetite returned to the markets. Markets had last week suffered huge sell-offs amid uncertainty over whether Greece could implement deeply unpopular austerity measures and stave off bankruptcy.

Fears that a possible debt default by Greece could hit the world’s financial system in the same way the collapse of Lehman Brothers did two years ago had sent shares and the euro plunging last week.

Concerns had also mounted that the Greek rescue deal would fail to shield Spain and Portugal from crippling market pressures, sending the euro down at one point to 1.2523 in New York, its lowest since March

Follow ing strong gains for Asian stocks, London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index surged 5.0 percent in morning deals, led by banks and miners, as investors also reacted to signs of progress on forming a new British government.

2009. However, “given the package, default risks for Spain and Portugal have eased,” said Satoru Ogasawara, a foreign exchange strategist at Credit Suisse.

But “it is yet to be seen if Greece, Spain or Portugal can reduce fiscal debts. For the euro’s (fullyfledged) upturn, the eurozone economy needs to be on a track of sustainable growth.” Critical bond market borrowing costs for all three countries eased yesterday. The interest rate Greece would pay to raise new money via a 10-year sovereign bond fell to 6.573 percent from a punishing 12.171 percent on Friday.

In stock market trade, Madrid’s main index soared 11.9 percent, Athens surged 9.6 percent, Lisbon won 9.2 percent and Milan rallied 9.1 percent.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) head Dominique Strauss-Kahn hailed the EU aid package as a “big step forward.” “I think we have to wait a little more, but I think all this is rather encouraging,” said StraussKahn. Asian markets also hailed the EU deal, with Tokyo stocks closing up 1.60 percent, Hong Kong jumping 2.54 percent and Sydney rising 2.66 percent.

“The news provided a shot in the arm for the local (Australian) market with the beaten up materials, financial and energy sectors seeing the biggest per-

centage gains,” said IG Markets analyst Ben Potter.

The euro’s rise against the dollar boosted the British pound, which recovered from recent 13-month lows against the US currency to stand above 1.5 dollars. On Friday, the pound had tumbled to 1.4476 dollars-its lowest level since April 2009 — as the Conservatives failed to clinch a decisive victory against the ruling Labour Party in Britain’s general election. “While euro area policymakers took decisive steps over the weekend to tackle the sovereign crisis, the UK remains mired in political uncertainty,” said Barclays Capital analyst Adarsh Sinha.

However Britain’s main opposition parties voiced hope yesterday they could soon strike a deal on forming a new government to break a four-day deadlock after last week’s general election produced no clear winner. The centre-right Conservatives led by David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s centrist Liberal Democrats were locked in talks on a possible surprise alliance which would allow a new government led by Cameron to take power. But they were facing growing pressure from Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Labor, which is still running the country despite dropping to second in the polls, either to announce a deal or admit they have failed. — AFP

Lonmin swings to first-half profit

LONDON: An elephany sculpture is seen in detail outside the Bank of England (building at centre background) yesterday. — AP

BoE freezes rates amid political cloud LONDON: The Bank of England froze British interest rates yesterday, opting for a “wait and see” policy after last week’s general election left Britain with no outright winner. The BoE’s monetary policy committee (MPC) has voted to keep its key lending rate at a record-low 0.50 percent for the fourteenth month in a row, the central bank said in a statement. The interest rate decision, framed also against the backdrop of eurozone financial troubles, was delayed by the’s general election, which failed to produce a decisive result.

“The BoE’s monetary policy committee today voted to maintain the official bank rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.50 percent,” the bank said, as opposition politicians continued talks aimed at forming a new government. Financial markets remain on edge over the election result amid fears that a new administration may face problems in slashing the nation’s record deficit. “The MPC unsurprisingly judged that now is not the time to be raising interest rates as the downside risks to still fragile UK economic recovery are magnified by current major political uncertainty,” said IHS Global Insight economist Howard Archer.

He added that those risks were also magnified by “the recent heightened market turmoil resulting from the Greek crisis and contagion effects on other eurozone countries.” BoE policymakers also sought to balance unexpectedly high inflation with the need to support a fragile British economy which grew by just 0.2 percent in the first quarter of the year. “The current recovery does not appear to have enough legs to sustain itself without ultra-low rates for the time being,” said Investec economist Philip Shaw.

“Uncertainties over the path of UK fiscal policy, plus the recent round of market pressures related to the Greek crisis, also reinforce a stance of wait-and-see.” The bank

added that it will not alter its so-called quantitative easing policy, under which it had pumped 200 billion pounds (230 billion euros, 300 billion dollars) of new money into the economy.

The main opposition Conservatives had failed to clinch a clear victory against the ruling Labor Party in the election last Thursday, when the BoE had originally scheduled its latest decision. Opposition politicians voiced hopes yesterday they could soon strike a deal on forming a new government to break a four-day deadlock. The centre-right Conservatives led by David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s centrist Liberal Democrats were locked in talks on a possible surprise alliance which would allow a new government led by Cameron to take power.

Analysts argue that Britain’s debt concerns have been stoked by the Greek financial crisis, which sparked financial markets chaos last week due to contagion fears.

However, global stock markets and the euro rocketed on Monday after the EU and IMF agreed a trillion-dollar rescue package for the eurozone, stemming a crisis that threatened to derail global economic recovery. Back in March 2009, the Bank of England cut interest rates to a record low 0.50 percent in an attempt to breath life into the battered economy.

The bank also decided that month to launch quantitative easing, whereby it buys bonds from commercial institutions in a bid to help boost lending. The BoE froze the radical QE policy in February but has not ruled out an extension to the scheme. Later this week, tomorrow, the BoE will release its quarterly economic forecasts for growth and inflation. Britain’s record public deficit has ballooned in the wake of the banking-sector bailout and a deep recession that ravaged taxation revenues and lifted state spending. — AFP

LONDON: Lonmin swung to a first-half profit after metal prices rebounded and costs fell, helping to soften reaction to a dilutive share issue to raise funds to help meet black empowerment rules in South Africa. Lonmin, the No 3 platinum producer, did not declare an interim dividend yesterday, but said it hoped to pay out a final dividend following a rebound in the auto sector, which needs platinum for car catalysts that clean exhaust fumes.

Most investors welcomed the results, largely shrugging off dilution from issuing shares and focusing on good news after years of disappointing results and missed targets. “The big restructuring they went through last year is starting to pay off.

This is a vastly different business from the one we were looking at two years ago, all for the positive,” said analyst Rebecca O’Dwyer at Investec Securities.

“From a financial perspective it was a strong set of results. They came in well ahead of what we were forecasting. The cost control in the half has been good.” Other analysts said they were surprised that Lonmin went back to equity markets to raise money only a year after it raised $457 million in a rights issue. “We view the production as a miss, the earnings as a hit and the placing as a disappointment,” said analyst Paul Galloway at Bernstein Research. Lonmin shares rose 5.5 percent to 1779 pence by 1103 GMT, underperforming a 7.7 percent gain in the UK mining index.

Profit beats consensus Normalized earnings per share for the six months to the end of March were 22.8 cents after a restated loss of 47.9 cents in the previous year.

This was slightly higher than a consensus forecast of 20 cents compiled by the company from six analysts. Lonmin was upbeat about the future and the potential of resuming dividends.

“The board is... optimistic that it will be possible to declare a final dividend for the 2010 financial year provided current trading conditions persist,” a statement said. Chief Executive Ian Farmer told a presentation that the platinum market was tightening up after healthy demand from its top customer, the auto sector, and investors buying up the metal in new exchange traded funds (ETFs).

“Demand is increasing more rapidly than anticipated... we therefore anticipate that supply will struggle to keep up with demand from this year onwards.” The price of platinum surged by nearly 50 percent during Lonmin’s fiscal year. The company, which has operations in South Africa, cut the group’s unit costs by 6 percent to 6,535 rand per ounce. It also reiterated its sales target of 700,000 ounces of platinum for the fiscal year, despite a smelter problem. —Reuters

OUAHIGOUYA: A starving cow is seen north of Burkina Faso, on May 9, 2010. The government of Burkina Faso implemented food sales in April, in the northern part of the country, to fight against a food crisis and drought.

Food was sold at preferential prices in the most vulnerable regions of the country. — AFP

US farmers: Immigration reform needed for staff MONTPELIER: Even during the recession, foreign workers harvested vegetables, milked cows and picked apples on many US farms, doing work that farmers say Americans don’t want to do. Most Americans shy away from jobs such as hand-picking tomatoes or cutting cabbage because the work is seasonal, physically tough, out in the elements and often in remote areas, farmers say. To get the jobs done, many farmers hire foreign workers, including some who are illegal, and they say a crackdown on illegal immigration combined with changes to a visa program for temporary workers could make it even harder for them to find reliable employees.

Farmers want Congress to pass an “AgJobs” bill that would enable those who have worked in US agriculture for at least 150 days in the previous two years to get some kind of legal status. They also say the visa program for temporary workers needs to be simplified. Without those changes, some farmers say they may have to cut back production because of a shortage of reliable labor. Jim Bittner, who relies largely on migrant workers originally from Mexico, said he cut down a quarter of his cherry and peach trees at Singer Farms in Appleton, New York, in recent years because of competition from cheap fruit imports and a lack of workers to hand-pick the fruit.

“We can find tractor drivers, people who apply pesticide and truck drivers, but we can’t find people to do the harvest,” Bittner said.

California’s Imperial Valley used to be a big asparagus producer, but the area planted with asparagus dropped from 786 acres in 2006 to 373 acres in 2008 partly because farms couldn’t get enough workers to cut, sort and pack the vegetable - all of which must be done by hand, said Ayron Moiola, the executive director of the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association. “Asparagus in the Imperial Valley is an indicator as to what happens with crops that are labor intensive and what happens when labor

becomes unfeasible economically and also just hard to find,” she said.

The recession stemmed a flow of workers from farms to construction and other jobs. In 2006, before the economy collapsed, Washington state and its apple growers tried to recruit pickers to fill 1,700 jobs. They set up orientation and training sessions in six towns in eastern Washington and advertised them in newspapers and on the radio, but only 40 people showed up, and just 10 applied for jobs and were hired.

Washington officials say they seem to have enough workers this year, but as the job market slowly recovers, no one expects farmers’ hiring to get easier. “Nobody who is informed on this issue seriously contends that somehow some great societal shift is going to cause a whole bunch of Americans to go back into these jobs,” said Craig Regelbrugge, vice president for government relations with the American Nursery and Landscape Association and co-chair of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform.

More than half of the crop workers hired in the US between 2005 and 2007 were in the country illegally, according to the federal government’s National Agricultural Worker Survey. Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for tougher immigration laws, thinks the problem is that farmers have become addicted to cheap, foreign labor and haven’t been forced to raise wages to attract other workers or consider mechanization. “No one has really thought about how to change the equation to try to break the cycle of what the growers say is need and what some economists say is really more want,” she said. Jake Guest employs about 20 local workers at his organic vegetable farm in Vermont, but he still relies on two Jamaican farmworkers to spend hours picking strawberries and weeding. —AP

S African rail and port workers in national strike JOHANNESBURG: Thousands of South African transport workers began a strike yesterday at logistics group Transnet, threatening to cripple rail, fuel pipelines and port operations in Africa’s biggest economy after failed wage talks. The strike-the latest in a series of public protests ahead of next month’s soccer World Cup-could paralyze coal and iron ore exports, fuel distribution, and interrupt shipping.

Power utility Eskom said however the strike would have no impact on the transport of coal used to power its plants, as only small amounts of coal were carried by rail, with the rest supplied by conveyor belts directly from mines. Transnet, along with coal, iron ore, ferrochrome and fuel producers, said they had put contingency plans in place in anticipation of the strike to mitigate some interruptions.

“The strike will not have a material immediate impact on our exports. In anticipation of a planned 10day shutdown period scheduled by (Transnet Freight Rail) we had built up stocks at (Richards Bay Coal Terminal),” said Pranill Ramchander, spokesman for Anglo American.

The group’s thermal coal unit is the country’s biggest coal exporter. South Africa exports most of its coal to power stations in Europe, but increasingly to Asia as well. Kumba Iron Ore, also an Anglo unit, said the company had sufficient stocks at Saldanha port to keep loading vessels for at least seven days. If the

strike is prolonged, it could also have a serious impact on the country’s ferrochrome export industry, the world’s largest, which is slowly recovering from recession.

“This strike can have a serious impact if it goes on for more than two or three weeks. We rely on Transnet for transporting 75 percent of our material,” said Tetsu Kotaki, Chief Executive of Gernic Ferrochrome, a unit of Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation.

Fresh fruit Fuel suppliers said they were able to deliver products to customers for now. The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) began the strike with the early shift yesterday, said policy research officer Jane Barrett, with all of its 20,000 members expected to participate. Most producers were able to build up their stocks ahead of the strike, but this was not an option for Freshgold SA Exports, which ships fresh produce out of the country.

“The strike has physically halted our container loadings from this morning ... if it’s a week the impact will be quite severe,” said Freshgold Managing Director Pieter von Maltitz. Two unions representing workers in the sector want a 15 percent pay increase.

Transnet had originally offered an 8 percent raise but then increased the offer to 11 percent. —Reuters

27

TECHNOLOGY

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

US approval allows first-run movies to TV sets WASHINGTON: Hollywood’s major studios won regulatory approval Friday for the limited use of anti-piracy technology that will allow the showing of first-run theatrical movies on television.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved a 2008 petition from the Motion Picture Association of America

seeking to disable the out-put functions on TV sets and copying capabilities of video recorders linked to on demand premier films.

Essentially, consumers will be able to watch first-run feature films before the DVD release, but will not be able to record them.

Companies can use the blocking technology

for 90 days once the on-demand movie is offered or until the release of the DVD, whichever comes first.

The approval applies to high definition movies transmitted in digital signal from satellite and cable providers to set-top boxes already capable of using the technology. MPAA filed the petition on behalf of

Viacom Inc’s Paramount Pictures Corp, Sony Corp’sSony Pictures EntertainmentInc, News Corp’sTwentieth Century Fox Film Corp, General Electric Co unit Universal City Studios, Walt Disney Co’sWalt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Warner Bros Entertainment Inc, a Time Warner Inc unit.

Consumers would not have to attach any additional hardware to their television sets or video recording devices.

Independent studios and others seeking to do the same can file a letter of notification with the FCC. Public Knowledge, a public interest group, criticized the approval, saying it

would allow the big companies to take control for the first time of a consumer’s TV set or set-top box, blocking viewing of a TV program or motion picture.

The biggest cable providers are Comcast Corp, Time Warner Cable Inc, Cablevision Systems Corp Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T Inc. — Reuters

Software shows you can drive a vehicle solely with eye movements

In future you can let your eyes do steering HAMBURG: German scientists have put new meaning to the old adage, “Keep your eyes on the road,” by demonstrating revolutionary software which allows drivers to steer a car with their eyes. The researchers at Berlin’s Free

The name of Germany’s iPad rival changed to WeTab

WePad renamed WeTab BERLIN: Germany’s heavily publicized answer to the Apple iPad changed its name to the WeTab, with weeks to go before the touchscreen tablet computer goes on the market.

The device had originally been dubbed the WePad, a play of words on Apple’s model name involving the English pronouns I and we.

Neofonie said the distribution company would be renamed WePad as well with immediate effect “to more clearly distinguish the product on the international market for tablet computers.” It did not say who prompted the change.

The Germany-based parent company has said that it will sell the Asian-manufactured device for 449 to 569 euros (610 to 770 dollars) starting this summer.

The WePad can be used to read digital newspapers, magazines and books, as well as to watch films in colour. Unlike the iPad, it will play Adobe Flash videos. Hopes in technology-loving Germany that a local company could mount a chal-

lenge to US computer giant Apple were dampened in April, when journalists showed up for the public launch of the device in Berlin and found no WePads there.

The company explained that the prototype had been held up by a customs examination, prompting bloggers to speculate it was fiction.

A hand-picked group of journalists were allowed to test a WePad a week later. Some said it worked, but lacked the verve of an iPad. Critics say Apple’s iPad is nothing more than a phone with a big screen, but fans say its intuitive and foolproof operation justified the sale of 1 million within days after its US launch.

Some media outlets hope tablet computers will provide a cheap new way to distribute magazines and newspapers.

Apple has come under fire from some media providers in Germany because it bans soft pornography from its iPhone and iPad. dpa jbp amh Author: Jean-Baptiste Piggin — dpa

No flash, plenty of substance Optimize your website MUNICH: Starting a website is like opening a cafe just off the beaten path. Either could be great, but neither is going to develop a following without some kind of advertising.

For website operators, that means building up some kind of web presence that interacts well with search engines like Google and Bing. There’s no background in programming required, just a feel for content and the way it is presented.

Structure is key. Text has to be structured in a clear fashion.

“You can look to a typical newspaper article,” says Frank Fuchs, who is responsible for Bing’s operations with Microsoft’s Germany division. That means, follow up the headline with a quick summary before getting down to details.

When you get right down to it, search engines love text.

Thus, websites should have lots of it. “At least 300 words,” recommends Mario Fischer, a professor of commercial information technology at the technical college of the southern German city of Wuerzburg.

That doesn’t sound like much and it isn’t. But plenty of online stores don’t hit that mark ? which is one of the reasons a lot of search engines don’t find these stores, according to experts.

Word choice also plays its part. For example, someone who wants to sell sneakers at their online store needs to consider which keywords potential customers might type into a search engine, like “sporting shoes” or “running shoes.”

Those keywords have to appear again and again on the website. “Two of three times per paragraph,” is a rule of thumb says Daniel Koch, a web designer and author.

Forgetting a basic keyword isn’t a disaster. Search engines will try to work around such errors by looking for similar words, explains Fuchs. But sites lose some cachet with the search engines if there isn’t a high correlation between words entered by a searcher and those on a site.

Experts describe the number of keywords in an entire text as keyword density, a factor that can be measured with special

programmes. Fischer says the figure should lie between 3 and 4 per cent. Anything higher is seen as manipulation by some engines, meaning points are deducted from search scores.

The ranking list for keywords is even more important. Our sneakers salesman will scarcely benefit if he gets 4-per-cent word density for “sports shoe” or “sneaker,” but those terms rank behind “bicycle.” Because then, for the search engine, it will appear this is a site primarily about bicycles.

Domain names - i.e. the name of the website, not to be confused with the title - are also important. They have to be related to the content, says Koch. For example, the logical domain name for a painting service in Hamburg would read painter-xyhamburg.de.

The source code - or the programme language that runs the test - also needs to be optimized for the various search engines. Meta-tags, or keywords, need to be included in the header of the source code, providing hints about the content of the site. The “Title” meta-tag is especially important. That’s what the browser will show for a page title. It’s wise to include five to seven words related to the contents.

Next, designers should describe the site in one or two short sentences for the “Description” meta-tag. Google will often show these in its search results.

But search engines don’t just care if keywords appear in the text of a site. After all, that doesn’t say anything about the quality of the site in relation to the search request. That means further criteria are considered.

Google considers about 200 factors.

Links from other sites play a decisive role in assigning search rankings, the idea being that internet users only set up links when they find other good sites.

But how to get those links?

Forums and blogs with comment boxes provide the option of leaving a link yourself. But since some people abuse that privilege, a lot of webmasters have blocked that function.

Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites are also great for creating links.

But, as elsewhere, people are advised not to overdo it and to match useful comments to the links. Search engines also aren’t impressed with glitzy extras like Flash animations.

“The simpler the site, the better,” says Fischer, who is also an adviser on search engine questions. Content and design need to be neatly separated. That’s why Koch advises against counting on pictures to serve as internal links.

“Search engines can’t see what’s behind those.” In the end, it’s the content that matters, says Fischer. Interesting comments bring in visitors and ensure that they come back.

And some of those people might leave a link in turn on their own sites.

Fischer recommends putting up new material at least once a week. It can be frustrating, since it will still take a while to build up a following. “But it’s about persistence,” he said. — dpa

On the site of the former airport, the head of the project, Dr Raul Rojas, and his team from the Artificial Intelligence Group demonstrated how they can steer the vehicle that is equipped with complex electronics just by eye. More than 60 journalists from around the world were there to watch. A video, photos, and other information can be viewed in the online magazine of Freie Universitaet, campus.leben.

The “eyeDriver” software is a prototype application for steering a prototype research vehicle called the Spirit of Berlin using eye movements.

The software was designed by computer scientists at the university in collaboration with the company SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI).

The eye movements of the driver are collected and converted into control signals for the steering wheel. The speed is controlled separately and is not included in eyeDriver.

“The software shows that you can drive a vehicle solely with eye movements,” said Rojas.

The HED4 solution by SMI is used for detecting and tracking the eye movements.

It is a converted bicycle helmet equipped with two cameras and an infrared LED, as well as a laptop computer with special software.

One of the cameras is pointed to the front in the same direction as the person wearing the helmet, while the other camera films one eye of the wearer. The infrared light supports the eye camera and is pointed to the eye under observation. A transparent mirror that reflects only the infrared light is used to allow a reasonable viewing angle for the eye camera, without limiting the wearer’s ability to see.

After a brief calibration the software on the laptop of the

University say the technology tracks a driver’s eye movement and, in turn, steers the car in whatever direction they’re looking. The team showed off the technology at Berlin’s historic former Tempelhof Airport recently.

Results of the study showed that, in all drivers, sleep deprivation adversely affected their ability to coordinate eye movements when steering. There were instances of both acute and chronic reductions in the degree of coordination and in the time lead of eye movements over steering. — iStockphoto HED4 is not only able to capture the position of the pupil in the eye camera, but can also calculate the position in the scene camera that the wearer is looking at.

These coordinates in the image of the scene camera (viewing position) are transmitted via an ordinary LAN to the onboard computer in the prototype vehicle.

The eyeDriver software in the onboard computer in the vehicle receives the viewing positions at regular intervals over the LAN and uses it to control the steering wheel.

The driver can choose between two modes: “free ride” and “routing.”

In the “free ride” mode the

viewing positions are linked directly with the steering wheel motor. That means that the x-coordinates of the viewing position are used to calculate the desired position of the steering wheel.

The further the driver looks to the left or right, the further the steering wheel is turned in that direction. The speed of the vehicle is set in advance and kept constant, as long as the position of the gaze is recognized.

If it is not possible to detect which direction the driver is looking in, for example, if the driver’s eyes are closed, the vehicle brakes automatically, thus eliminating the risk

that the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

In the “routing” mode, the car steers autonomously most of the time. Only where there is a fork in the road, or an intersection, the car stops and asks the driver to select the next route.

This requires the wearer of the helmet to look to the left or right for three seconds. If the driver’s gaze lingers long enough in one direction, the eyeDriver software confirms acoustically that the choice has been accepted. The decision is communicated to the planner in the vehicle. Then the artificial intelligence in the Spirit of Berlin vehicle can plan the

route accordingly and continue to run independently.Rojas is a professor of artificial intelligence at the Institute of Computer Science at Berlin’s Free University. He first drew attention through international success with his soccer robots, the FU-Fighters.

They were world champions twice in the small-size league. Since 2006 Rojas and his team have been designing technologies related to autonomous vehicles. As part of this project, they developed the research vehicle Spirit of Berlin, making it to the semifinals in the DARPA Urban Challenge in California in 2007. — dpa

Chavez beefs up Twitter moves with state funds CARACAS: Just days after his new Twitter account became a must-read in Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez said yesterday he was setting up a special office with 200 staff and public funds to handle requests supporters Tweet him.

“I’ve created my own Chavezcandanga mission to answer (the messages) and we’re even going to create a fund for the mission to provide

many things that are now missing and that are urgent,” Chavez said late Saturday during a televised cabinet meeting.

He said the public fund will be used to make the most needed improvements in the country that his followers bring to his attention, such as in the health care and housing sectors.

Chavez late last month opened his Twitter account and it quickly took top

billing in the South American country with an estimated 248,000 followers.

Chavez’s profile name combines his own name with the word “Candanga,” which in Venezuela is used to refer to someone naughty or wild.

The president warned, however, that he is not always readily available to tweet.

“Sometimes four hours go by without me tweeting because when I’m in

meetings like this one, how can I tweet,” he said.

“So don’t get used to me, because I’ve got a lot of work to do and can go an entire day” without a new post on the popular microblogging service, he said.

Twitter, which limits its users to posts of no more than 140 characters, has more than 105 million registered users worlwide. -—AFP

YIWU: This combo shows sign displayed outside a classroom from where students run an online Taobao shop at the Industrial and Commercial College in Yiwu on October 21, 2009 and a model holding a “Yahoo! Digital Camera” jointly developed by Japan’s toy maker Tomy and Yahoo! Japan at a Tokyo hotel on 14 July 2000. China’s largest retail website Taobao and Yahoo! Japan yesterday announced a new partnership aimed at increasing online shopping options for consumers in the world’s number two and three economies. — AFP

HEALTH & SCIENCE

28

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

EPA, Shanghai launch real-time air quality monitor SHANGHAI: The United States’ Environmental Protection Agency has teamed up with a Chinese environmental bureau to provide real-time air quality monitoring from the site of the World Expo in Shanghai. EPA officials said yesterday the move will help the city as it works with other areas in the region to clear its often thick blanket of smog.

The online system, dubbed AIRNow International, links technology developed by the EPA with the existing air quality monitoring network in Shanghai, a city of

about 20 million.

Existing air quality monitoring systems in the region report day-before readings, which are little use in forecasting conditions for people whose health can be adversely affected by pollution.

“There’s a real power in real-time data.

Once you make data available hourly, you can forecast and people start paying attention,” said Jeff Clark of the EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.

“People start to buy into concern for air pollution,” he said.

The EPA’s AIRNow national index for reporting daily air quality was launched 11 years ago and provides information for nearly 400 US cities.

The agency provided technical help to Shanghai’s Environmental Protection Bureau. The two sides also are collaborating on reducing emissions from vehicles and power plants, and on climate change, water pollution and other environmental concerns.

Shanghai, China’s commercial and industrial hub, staged a massive cleanup for

the World Expo, which began May 1 and is expected to draw up to 70 million people. It razed old steel mills and shipyards to make way for the Expo along the banks of the Huangpu River and closed down heavily polluting factories, or moved them to distant suburbs.

The city also has sought to reduce car emissions by raising standards required of vehicles that travel into the city’s center.

But cleaning up the city is only half the battle, since Shanghai lies downwind of heavily industrialized regions further

inland. At times, farm fields in neighboring provinces are burned to clear stubble, leaving the city enveloped in a mucky haze.

“One key thing that has changed is the understanding that pollution is not a cityspecific problem.

They are reaching out to surrounding provinces to share data, similar to what we did in the United States,” said EPA official Dale Evarts.

In Beijing, which struggled to clear its own smoggy skies for the 2008 Olympics, the US Embassy has set up an air monitor-

ing station that sends out hourly tweets on air quality in the capital.

Beijing’s own official air monitors only measure relatively coarse particulate matter, PM 10. The U.S.-backed system monitors smaller, deadlier dust particles, PM 2.5. The Expo-based monitoring system in Shanghai monitors PM10, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

Yesterday was a cool but clear spring day, Shanghai’s air conditions were reported as “good” and “excellent,” following rains on Sunday. — AP

Studies ongoing into many causes of cancer

Scientists find gene links to breast cancer LONDON: British scientists have found five common genetic factors linked to the risk of developing breast cancer, giving researchers a better understanding of its causes and clues for developing more treatments. Douglas

Easton from Britain’s University of Cambridge led the largest genome-wide analysis of breast cancer patients to date, scanning the gene maps of 16,536 patients, and found five new common gene variations.

KANSAS: Mary and Joe Thompson stand with their kids Sarah, age 16, center, Andrew, age 13, right, and Emily, age 10, front, at their home in Overland Park, Kansas. Health insurance cuts a dividing line right through the Thompson family. Parents Mary and Joe have coverage, as does older daughter Sarah.

But siblings Andrew and Emily have been turned down due to medical conditions even though both lead fairly normal and active lives. — AP

Sweden pushes condom use STOCKHOLM: Only 56 percent of young Swedes always use a condom when having casual sex, a study published yesterday showed, as health authorities launched a campaign to promote condom use in an attempt to halve new HIV infections.

The study by the National Board of Health and Welfare-based on an online poll of 4,714 Swedes aged 15 to 24 — also showed that 40 percent could not accurately say how HIV was transmitted, and only seven percent believed there was a high risk of contracting the virus that causes AIDS. “In many ways, we have in our country all the necessary information to live a healthy life with low risk of disease,” Health Minister Maria Larsson and Christer Wennerholm, who heads the National

Council for Coordination of HIV Prevention, said in an open letter to the Dagens Nyheter daily.

“But there is often a gap between what we know and what we do, and the gap is big when it applies to the risk of sexually transmitted infections,” they wrote.

A total of 468 people contracted HIV in Sweden in 2009 and almost 38,000 were infected with chlamydia, according to the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control. Referring to the study published yesterday, Larsson and Wennerholm pointed out that young Swedes “in principle” had a positive attitude to condoms, but did not always put the theory into practice.

“Only 51 percent of girls and 56 percent of guys aged 15 to 19 consider it obvious to use a condom with a casual partner,” they

said, referencing the study.

The fact that 26 percent of men aged 20 to 24 told online pollsters “they would rather risk contracting a sexually transmitted disease than abstain from sex when they don’t have a condom,” indicates Sweden has a long way to go before achieving truly healthy attitudes to condom use, they said.

“The question is how many will get HIV and how many young people will become infertile (as a result of a chlamydia infection) before condom use becomes obvious with new partners,” Larsson and Wennerholm said, adding “we have to start working on attitudes.”

The objective of the newly launched national campaign, the first in seven years, is to halve the spread on HIV in Sweden by 2016. — AFP

Rare rhino shot HANOI: A Javan rhino, one of the world’s rarest large mammals, has been found shot dead with its horn chopped off in a national park in southern Vietnam, a suspected victim of poachers, conservationists said yesterday. A team of rangers found the rhino’s carcass April 29 inside Cat Tien National Park in Dong Nai province, said park official Bach Thanh Hai. It had already fully decayed, and authorities believe it could have died more than three months ago, he said.

Hai said the animal had been shot one time through the front leg and its horn — considered a valuable ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine — had been removed. “It’s very sad news for our rhino conservation,” Hai said.

Authorities suspect that there are only three to five Javan rhinos left in Vietnam, Hai said. The animal was first caught on camera at

the park in 1999. The only other population is found in Java, Indonesia, where some 40 to 60 of the rhinos survive, according to the international conservation group WWF. There are none in captivity.

“It’s a devastating blow to rhino conservation, a devastating blow to Vietnam’s cultural heritage and their legacy,” said Nicole Frisina, a spokeswoman for WWF’s Greater Mekong region program. “It’s a small population, and it’s critically endangered. Of course, finding one dead is devastating to the species.”

She said a population survey was recently completed using sniffer dogs from the US to locate rhino dung. Samples were sent to labs in London and Canada for DNA and hormonal analysis to try to determine the number and gender of the remaining animals. — AP

BEIJING: In this Nov. 29, 2006 file photo, Wan Yanhai speaks to the media at his office in Beijing, China. Wan, a prominent Chinese AIDS activist said yesterday, he has left China for the United States with his wife and 4-year-old daughter after authorities increasingly harassed him and his organization. — AP

The findings add to 13 other common genetic variants for breast cancer and will help explain around 8 percent of the risk of getting the disease, Easton and colleagues wrote in a study published in the journal Nature Genetics on Sunday.

A few, high-risk gene variants that occur much more rarely account for another 20 percent of breast cancer risk.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in rich nations. It kills around half a million people worldwide each year.

Family history is a wellestablished risk factor. Having a close relative with breast cancer approximately doubles a woman’s risk for the disease.

Meanwhile, a cancer report that concludes Americans are under constant assault from carcinogenic agents has heartened activists, who hope that finally government and policymakers will pay attention to their concerns.

But the report from the President’s Cancer Panel on Thursday has underwhelmed most mainstream cancer experts and drawn only a puzzled response from the White House. Even members of Congress who usually are eager to show they are fighting to protect the public have been mostly silent.

Cancer experts say for the most part that we already know what causes most cases of cancer and it’s not pollution or chemicals lurking in our water bottles. It’s tobacco use and other unhealthy behaviors, says Dr. Graham Colditz of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

“The lack of physical activity, weight gain, obesity clearly account for 20 percent or more of cancer in the United States today,” Colditz said in a telephone interview.

The report, he said, gives people an excuse to ignore the risk factors most in their control. “The damage is that it distracts us, as a society, from actually acting on the things that are already in our grasp. I can take tobacco as the best example,” said Colditz, noting that more than 20 percent of Americans still smoke despite nearly 50 years of cancer warnings.

And no state has even come close to banning smoking, although limits are going into place to restrict smoking in public. “We know that alcohol causes 4 percent (of cancers) and we deal with that to too little extent, as well,” said Colditz, an expert in the epidemiology of cancer. Red meat is a known cause of colon cancer, he adds. “We don’t run out and ban all beef just because beef is a cause of colon cancer.”

So it worries Colditz to see the two-member cancer panelDr. LaSalle Leffall, professor of surgery at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, and Margaret Kripke, an emeritus professor at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center-recommend sweeping policy changes to focus on potential environmental causes of cancer. “Maybe up to 4 percent of cancer in the western world is caused by contaminants and pollution and yet we are chasing new, unknown causes rather that focusing on acting on what we know,” he said. “Things like this report are making it harder to move the nation to a healthier lifestyle.” —Reuters

BERLIN: Lisa (R) and a medical student “operate” on a stuffed animal yesterday at the so-called “Teddy Bear Hospital” of the Virchow Clinical Centre (Charite) in Berlin. The “Teddy Bear Hospital” is an initiative organised by students for children of preschool age, aiming to alleviate their fear of doctors and hospitals. — AFP

Czech gorilla-mania helps animals in Cameroon PRAGUE: Gorillas in Cameroon are finding an unlikely source of help-a wave of interest in the Czech Republic fed by a primate reality show and a zoo’s fundraising drive using recycled mobile phones.

The birth of a baby gorilla at Prague Zoo was broadcast live in April on an Internet radio show starring the animals, which has proved a huge hit among the Czech public since it was launched in 2007.

The tiny ape’s arrival coincided with the launch of the zoo’s new project to raise money for a UNESCO-listed gorilla-breeding reserve in the western African nation of Cameroon with cash raised from used mobiles.

“Our class has brought 30 phones altogether. I had old phones at home so I brought five,” said Maximilian Kovacs, 11, a school pupil who was among several hundred invited to visit the zoo for just one koruna (four euro cents) each, on condition that every class brings at least 20 cell phones.

“I asked my mum to ask her colleagues at work if they had old cell phones. She brought me two,” his classmate Tereza Jileckova added.

Filling plastic tubes at the zoo entrance with old mobiles is just a game for the children.

But for the zoo, the goal is to “make the kids sensitive to the need to protect the gorillas but also to recycle products which contain dangerous waste,” said Miroslav Bobek, director of the Prague zoo.

The zoo gets 10 korunas (about 40 euro cents) for each phone from a recycling company and the money goes towards buying equipment for guards at the Dja gorilla reserve in Cameroon.

The equipment includes shoes, tents and binoculars.

He said there were around 60 “eco-guards” working day and night to protect the precious ecosystem in the tropical rain forest, which covers over half-a-million hectares in south-eastern Cameroon.

“These men are fighting a real war. Risking their lives and without adequate equipment, they fight against illegal exploitation of the forest and against poachers to protect gorillas, elephants and other animals,” Bobek said.

“We are also planning to buy satellite phones for them so that they could call an ambulance if they are wounded by a bullet-something which

has already happened,” he added.

The reserve, on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, is home to a number of protected species including gorillas, which are emblematic for Prague Zoo in particular.

The zoo’s prominence rose in 2005 when public broadcaster Czech Radio launched an alternative reality show featuring gorillas as an antidote to Big Brother-style shows on commercial television.

What started as a spoof evolved into a unique project that sparked interest in the animals among the Czech public and helped raise money for the protection of gorillas in Africa through sales of books, DVDs and souvenirs.

In May 2007 people across the Czech Republic watched the birth of boy gorilla Tatu, a month after another baby gorilla was born dead in the zoo.

The latest gorilla birth in April this year was broadcast live on the website of DNES, one of the most widely read Czech dailies (www.idnes.cz), which took the show over from Czech Radio in April this year.

“On the site, people can watch non-stop what’s happening in the gorilla pavilion owing to four cameras,” said Petr Pravda, DNES deputy editorin-chief.

The website also offers news about gorillas in the wild and other zoos worldwide and allows readers to send donations via text message.

The birth came as a welcome publicity boost for the start of the mobile recycling campaign, the first phase of which will last until August 31, with a possible second phase involving other Czech zoos, Bobek said.

He said that as well as raising money for the reserve in Cameroon the scheme had a second aim-restricting the mining of coltan or columbitetantalite, a metallic ore used in the production of electronics, especially mobile phones.

The world’s biggest coltan deposits are in central Africa where mining threatens gorilla populations, which are already hit by hunting for meat or for trophies despite laws protecting them as endangered species.

“As old phones are often resold, especially in third-world countries, we are giving a 100-percent guarantee that they (phones handed in at the zoo) will be recycled,” said Bobek. — AFP

WHO sees good progress on UN health goals for poor LONDON: Far fewer children are dying and rates of malnutrition, HIV and tuberculosis are declining thanks to good progress on health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday.

In its annual health report for 2010, the UN body said some countries had made impressive gains, although others may struggle to meet some of the 2015 targets.

“With five years remaining to the MDG deadline in 2015 there are some striking improvements,” said the report, which is based on data collected from WHO’s 193 member states. Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and Rwanda had made progress on child mortality despite facing difficulties, WHO said.

However the group said global results mask inequalities between countries, and some

nations’ progress had been slowed by conflict, poor governance or humanitarian and economic crises.

The Millennium Development Goals were set in 2000 by 189 heads of state seeking to drive global policy to tackle poverty, hunger, ill-health and lack of access to clean water, among other things.

The key findings of WHO’s report were that: Fewer children are dying, with annual global deaths of children under five falling to 8.8 million in 2008 — down by 30 percent since 1990; The estimated percentage of underweight children under five has dropped from 25 percent in 1990 to 16 percent in 2010; The proportion of births attended by a skilled health worker has increased globally, but in the Africa and southeast Asia fewer than 50 percent of all births were attended; New HIV infections have

declined by 16 percent globally from 2001 to 2008. In 2008, 2.7 million people contracted the human immunodeficiency virus which causes AIDS, and there were 2 million HIV/AIDS-related deaths; Existing cases of tuberculosis are declining, along with deaths among HIV-negative tuberculosis cases; The world is on track to achieve the MDG target on access to safe drinking water, but more needs to be done to achieve the sanitation target.

The water and sanitation goals call for the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation to be halved by 2015 from levels in 2000.

The WHO report found that the percentage of the world’s population with access to safe drinking water had increased from 77 percent to 87 percent, a rate of improvement it said would hit the MDG target if it keeps up. — Reuters

HEALTH

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

29

A ‘face-book’ to measure pain in mice PARIS: Scientists have for the first time created a sliding scale of pain for mice based on facial expressions, according to study published Sunday.

The so-called “mouse grimace scale” will speed up the development of new analgesics for humans, and could help reduce unnecessary suffering of mice and other animals in biomedical research, the researchers said.

“There are also serious implications for the improvement of veterinary care,” said Jeffrey Mogil, a professor at McGill University in Montreal and the main architect of the study.

Research on pain and how to relieve it depends heavily on the use of rodents as stand-ins for humans, so accurate measurement of pain intensity in lab mice is crucial.

Up to now, however, it was not known whether degrees of discomfort and suffering in mice correspond to spontaneous facial responses, as is the case for people.

Doctors and nurses routinely use such scales to assess pain in individuals unable to communicate verbally, such as infants and the cognitively impaired.

Line drawings of faces showing different levels of discomfort are also used to help manage chronic pain in children asked to match what they feel with the appropriate images.

To find out whether rodents grimace when it hurts, Mogil and colleagues monitored and recorded facial movements before and during the injection of a substance known to cause painful inflammation.

The mice showed discomfort

through facial expressions in a way similar to humans.

When pain was more intense, for example, the eyes narrowed, the bridge of the nose and cheeks bulged, the ears moved down and back, and the whiskers either bunched up or flattened out against the face.

Using an in tensity scale based on changes in these five facial features, persons trained to “read” pain in expressions correctly assessed discomfort levels in the mice, based on photographs, with 80 percent accuracy.

Looking at high-resolution video images, accuracy rates went up to 97 percent.

In another set of experiments, the researchers created a so-called “knock-in” mouse with a genetic mutation known to cause migraine headaches in

humans. As expected, the mice displayed the same telltale grimaces as seen in the animals who had been injected with an inflammatory substance.

When pain-relieving drugs were administered, facial expression returned to normal.

The study, published in the journal Nature Methods, also bolsters Charles Darwin’s belief that non-human animals express emotion-including pain-through facial expression, and that such displays emerged from the process of natural selection.

In evolutionary terms, the ability to communicate pain experience to others may benefit both the sender and receiver, such that help might be offered or a warning signal heeded.

The fact that three of the facial pain cues in mice are found in humans-nar rowing

eyes, along with bulging nose and cheeks-also suppor t Darwin’s century-old prediction that facial expressions have

deep evolutionary roots.

Following up on these findings, the researchers are currently investigating whether the

scale works equally well in other species, and if mice can respond to facial pain cues in each other. —AFP

No sign of Haiti diphtheria spike PORT-AU-PRINCE: A 15-year-old boy has died of diphtheria in Haiti, but there is no evidence the bacterial disease is spreading in the earthquake-ravaged country, UN health officials said Sunday. The boy, a survivor of the Jan. 12 earthquake, died last week despite receiving antitoxin treatments, said Anshu Banerjee, an official with the World Health Organization.

The case sparked fears of an outbreak after CNN reported the death during an interview with actor Sean Penn, who is helping manage a tarp-and-tent camp in the capital, Port-au-Prince. A caption accompanying a story on CNN’s website said: “Diphtheria epidemic threatens Haiti.” But Banerjee said the case was isolated, antibiotics were distributed to the boy’s neighbors and no other cases of the contagious respiratory disease had been

diagnosed. “So far as we see it, this is just an isolated case and there are no other cases,” said Banerjee, coordinator for a committee of international organizations and Haitian officials overseeing health issues in the quake zone. But he added that concerns about the threat of infectious diseases breaking out across quake-ravaged areas are wellfounded. Many of the 1.3 million people displaced by the magnitude-7 quake are living in squalid camps where infection can spread easily.

A total of 900,000 people in quake-affected areas were vaccinated against diphtheria and other diseases in a campaign that ended last month. Another mass campaign is planned for June.

Officials are especially concerned about widespread diarrhea, which can be fatal for children, and increased levels of mosquito-borne malaria. — AP

30

WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

onoured guest, Lulwa Al Mulla, graced a glittering prize-givng ceremony for Kuwait English School students, held at the Courtyard Marriott’s Arraya Ballroom last Wednesday evening. KES Vice Chairman, Madam Naela Al Saddah, School High Management Team, colleagues, parents, students and local media representatives attended the prestigious event.

“You have achieved real success and this has been gained by your hard work and your sincerity. You are also fortunate because you attend the best school in Kuwait - and you are making the most of your good fortune,” said Janet Carew in her address, enclosed inside the programme. Janet Carew, Senior High School Principal, was unable to attend her 22nd and final Prize giving due to the sudden illness of her husband John.

Mrs Carew is currently in England where her husband

H

is receiving treatment.

KES students achieved superb results again this year, with 98 per cent of students obtaining passes ranging from A* to E at IGCSE/GCSE level, with 89.4 % obtaining grades from A* to C, 98% of students taking GCE AS/A level exams obtained pass rates between A and E, and 87 % from A to C. “These are truly magnificent results which can hardly be surpassed and I congratulate the students unreservedly for such splendid achievements” Mrs Carews address read. “I hope they feel the same pride in themselves as I feel for them”.

“Besides all the activities and events, the academic side of the school is of course the most important aspect. All of the subject departments work tirelessly to ensure that all the students achieve their potential”.

Mrs Carew said there is so much more to the students at KES than the academic or the extracurricular activities. The students at KES are talented, diligent, respectful of each other and of others, polite and most of all an absolute delight to know.

Mrs Carew said students do not just happen to be like this, but become like this because of the way their parents have raised them, and secondly because of their teachers. “The teachers genuinely care about the students and - looking at the whole person - academically and socially. The students become such well rounded individuals because of the dedication of the staff team who deal with them on a daily basis”, Mrs Carew added.

Mrs Carew thanked the Year heads for their care, guidance and leadership to both staff and students.

Ishfaf H Jaefri

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Heads of Department were thanked for their care and leadership, as were all teachers and ancilliary staff for ensuring KES students are the best and have the best opportunities. Mrs Carew attributed much of the success of the school to Chairman, Mohammed Jassim Al Saddah.

“Without his foresight, and his provision of the facilities and resources we have, there would be no Kuwait English School. I believe KES is the number 1 foreign school in Kuwait and it is because of the Chairman that we have been able to maintain this lofty position” she added.

Mrs Carew thanked Madam Naela for her support at school and personally. “I enjoy immensely our formal and informal discussions and I have come to really appreciate your sense of humour. thank you so much

Charge d’ affaires Sajjad Sahar

for the trust you put in me, and for all that you do.”

Mrs Carew thanked Madam Rula Al Saddah, Financial Manager, for facilitating the running of the school. “I really do appreciate all you do”.

Mrs Crew thanked Mr Muhmood, School Manager, for his thought provoking banter and ever present smile. Sherwood and Price, Assistant Principals, and Lynskey, Senior Teacher, were thanked for friendship that Mrs Carew hopes will continue. “Our camaraderie and unity of purpose spurs me on in so many ways” Mrs Carew said to Mrs Gurnett, Primary Head Teacher, and Mrs Searle, KG and Prep Head Teacher.

“Those who succeed are those who think they can” Mrs Carew said, wishing the students very successful futures.

Essa Biloch

Dr Amir Zeid with the AUK winning team.

By Mohammad Omar akistan Taraqi Pasand Forum Kuwait” organized a program to inaugurate the Urdu book “Silsila Toota Nahi Hai” written

by Ishfaq Hussain Jaefri. Charge-de-affairs Pakistan Embassy Sajjad Ahmad Sahar was the chief guest while Javaid Ahmad President Kuwait Asian Journalists Association (KAJA) presided the ceremony. The program was especially arranged on the International Labour Day to pay tributes to the martyrs of Chicago. At the start there was one minute silence for these martyrs. The proceeding was conducted by the famous local poetess Shahein Rizwi. The International anthem of the workers was also played on this occasion.

The famous labour leaders and active member of “Taraqi Pasand Forum” was the first debater who offered great tributes to the martyrs of Chicago. He said it is because of their sacrifices, eight hours working time came into force. After this Charge-dí-Affaires formally inaugurated the book. Another active member Taraqi Pasand Forum Yasser Butt expressed his views about the book and progressive movement. The famous writer and principal of Integrated Pakistan School Ghazala Banu read her article about the book which was appreciated by all.

Shahid Hinai also presented a beautiful article. The famous writer and critic Munir Fraz also presented an interesting and thoughtful article and got a big applause from the audience. Mohammad Omar was the last person who read an article. After this author of the book Ishfaq Hussain Jaefri thanked all the audience. He said, he was always interested in the historical books. He has written about his heroes, he made research about those characters. He thanked all companions especially Javaid Ahmad who guided him on every step.

He finished the speech with his new poem.

Sajjad Ahmad Sahar thanked the organizers and audience for all their support. He congratulated Ishfaq Jaefri on the inauguration of his first book. He also thanked Kuwait Times on publishing a special supplement in Urdu on the International Labour Day. He paid tributes to those workers who are working hard for the progress and development of Kuwait and Pakistan.

Javaid Ahmad in his presidential speech thanked all the audience.

“P

hey want they do” was the final statement of the AUK team as they concluded their presentation before they were announced as the Gulf Microsoft Imagine Cup Champions in Dubai on May 3.

Imagine Cup is the world’s premier competition for technology students. It is different in nature from other technology competitions as it focuses on creative solutions that tackle current world issues like poverty, healthcare, education and environment.

The Imagine Cup is one way Microsoft is encouraging young people to apply their imagination, their passion, and their creativity to technology innovations that can help make a difference in the world.

In an intense competition atmosphere between 10 teams from Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE, the AUK - all-women team brought victory to Kuwait and made it through to the world finals to take place in Warsaw, Poland from July 3-8.

AUK’s Mariam Al-Najdi, Aisha Al-Rouwaished and Abrar Amin are the first Kuwaiti team to win the Imagine Cup regional competition of software design.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Amir Zeid, Program Lead of

“T

Computer Science at AUK, they created a software solution (They Want They Do TWTD) that allows physically handicapped students to use computers for educational purposes. Their project was a winning idea for the value it adds to supporting the disabled and eliminating barriers to their education.

One of the other key factors that made TWTD stand out was its relatively low cost and ease of use in comparison to expensive software and hardware that currently exists for the physically challenged.

AUK has also won the “Mobile Application Development” category of the Gulf Imagine Cup competition last year, with a different team participating under the mentorship of Dr. Zeid.

“We are very proud of our students and excited to represent the university and the Gulf at the world finals in July,” said the team’s mentor, advisor and coach Dr. Amir Zeid. “We believe Imagine Cup is an excellent platform to provide an outlet for students to explore technological and artistic interests outside the classroom. We commend Microsoft for giving them an opportunity to demonstrate their talents and help them to realize their potential.”

Javaid Ahmad

Munir Faraz

Shaheen Rizwi

6th annual AUK Career Fair he 6th annual AUK Career Fair will be one of the largest private university career events in Kuwait!

Students will meet representatives from banks, finance and accounting firms, retail companies, media/journalism, investment companies, energy companies, IT companies, consulting firms, and many more! We are expecting around 30 companies to participate in this event.

AUK students will have the opportunity to meet recruiters and learn about the employment opportunities available to them in the local and international market.

Date: Today at 10 am (Cutting of the ribbon by the Platinum Sponsor and words from the AUK President).

Location: Liberal Arts Auditorium, the American University of Kuwait, Salmiya. For more information call 22248399 Ext. 306.

T

Shahid Hinai

He said the book was a major gift for him in those days when he was on bed because of leg injury. He said, praise is not enough for the author, positive and fruitful criticism is also beneficial for the open hearted writers. He mentioned some repetition and grammatical mistakes and hoped they will not be repeated in his next book. He criticized extremist and said extremism in Pakistan was introduced by the military dictator Zia-ul-Haq. He said peace, love, justice and prosperity is the mission of Taraqi Pasand movement.

We should convey the message of Sofi’s poet like Bhulla Shah, Khush Khal Khan Khattak, Hazrat Farid, Shahlatif and Masttowakli.

Their message was peace and love that never made any distinction between Muslims and non Muslims. After the presidential speech there was a poetry recital in which famous local poets Shakil Poonvi, Essa Biloch, Afroz Alam, Tariq Mehmood, Madam Tajwar Sultana, Safdar Ali Safdar, Sarwar Jan and Jasbir presented their Urdu and Punjabi poems and received great applause from the audience.

Finally Akhtar Ali Pirzada thanked the audience and invited them for the dinner.

Shakil Poonvi

Mohammad Omar

Tajwar Sultan

Ghazala Banu

Safdar Ali

Server Jan

Yasser Butt

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

31

WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Embassy information EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to invite all Nigerians residing in Kuwait to come and register with the Embassy. The registration is compulsory for all Nigerians residing /visiting Kuwait. Kindly bring the following documents along with you: • A photocopy of the Nigerian passport • One passport photograph • Copy of the civil identification card or visa For additional information please call: 25620278 or visit the Embassy at Block, 4, Malik Bin Anas Street, Avenue 44, House 31, Along Al-Aqsa Road, Rumaithiya. The Consular Section opens Sunday - Thursday from 9 am - 3 pm Your prompt response is highly solicited. erala Art Lovers Association (Kala Kuwait) had organized a picnic at Ahmadi Garden last week. More than 300 members were participated the picnic. Kala’s President J. Albert was inaugurated the gathering. Johnson George, Sunny Syjessh, P.R Kiran, S. Anilkumar,

K

Shanta R. Nair, R. Naganathan, Noby Antony, K.P. Paulose, K. Vinod, Princeton Thampan, Bini Rani Albert, Prekashan and Rajagopalan Nair were led the function.

Prize distribution for the winners of the various games was done by

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.

Cinemagic program Thursday, May 13 at 07:00 PM “Winner for Best Director, Cannes 2008” Three Monkeys, Turkey 2008 Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan Genre: Drama | 109 min | English Subtitle Rated: PG 15 ear the Bosporus, Ey¸p and Hacer live in a modest flat with their son Ismail, in his twenties, who’s doing poorly in his studies. Few words pass between them, and a past family tragedy brings sorrow daily. On a rainy night, Ey¸p’s boss Servet, a wealthy businessman who’s entering politics, hits a pedestrian on a lonely road. He drives off and offers money to Ey¸p if Ey¸p will take the fall - probably a six-month sentence. Ey¸p agrees, and while he’s in prison, Ismail wants his mother to ask Servet for enough money to buy a car.

Servet, in turn, desires Hacer. How can this play out?

N

Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

The prize distribution of BEC Exchange’s Mega Raffle 2010 was held last week at the Mangaf Branch of the company. The mega prize winner Iqbal received the 5,000 US Dollars in cash from E.D. Titus, Director of BEC Exchange. Also other prizes were distributed to the winners in the presence of BEC officials & customers.

he 12th CBSE Kuwait cluster Girls Table Tennis Tournament was held on the 27th and 28th of April 2010 at Carmel School - Kuwait. 64 girls from 9 schools of the Under 19, Under 16 and Under 14 Categories took part in the competition. The Principal, Sr Maria Lytta declared the tournament open. In a series of thrilling matches, FAIPS and ICSK emerged the Winners and Runners-up respectively in the Under 19 and Under 16 category while ICSK and IPS were the Winners in the

T

Disney comes to Kuwait

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE The Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait informs that it has started updating the information about Ukrainian citizens, who live and work in Kuwait. In this connection, we are asking you to refer to the Embassy and update your file in consular register in order not to be excluded from it. For additional information please call: 25318507 ext.106 or visit the embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait (address: Hawalli, Jabriya, bl.10, str.6, house 5).

The consular section of the Embassy open every day from 09:30 till 14:30 except Friday and Saturday.

R. Ramesh and J. Albert. The welcome speech was done by Kala’s general secretary J. Saji and vote of thanks was rendered by the vice president T.R Sudhakaran. One day long gathering scheduled with various games and musical events was joyful.

Yousef Al Nasser playing the part of Lumiere the Candlestick welcomes young and old to the magical BAIA production of Beauty and the Beast at the BSK campus from Thursday, May 13 to Saturday, May 15.

Under 14 category. The students displayed a keen spirit of sportsmanship in a tournament which was well conducted by the host school supported by the active participation of the other officials Mr. Manpreet Singh (ICS) Mr.Dileep (FAIPS)Mrs.Suja (ICSK) Mr.Joseph (ICSK) and Mr.Suresh (CSK).

The Management, Staff and students of Carmel School wishes the Winners Best of Luck in the upcoming National Level Table - Tennis Tournament.

Study in Dartmouth-AUK music recital Holland T

n cooperation with the Student Association of Gulf University of Science & technology (GUST) and the Netherlands Institute for Academic Studies in Damascus (NIASD), the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kuwait organizes a presentation on “Study in Holland”.

Educational advisor Martijn Leeftink will give a general overview in English and Arabic on the Dutch higher education system and the available Bachelor and Master programmes in English. Mr. Leeftink will present as well the available scholarships and PhD opportunities, with information brochures and CD-ROMS about all universities of Holland.

The presentation will be held at Gulf University of Science and Technology on Monday 10th May 2010 at 10 am.

For further information about the presentation you may kindly contact the Embassy’s educational section at kwe@minbuza.nl, or fax number 25326334.

Invitation open for all.

I

he Music Program of the American University of Kuwait (AUK) and Dartmouth College, one of the premiere Ivy League universities in the USA, will be presenting a collaborative music recital at 6 pm on Sunday May 16 in the AUK Auditorium Liberal Arts Building, Salmiya Campus.

Advanced student musicians from both distinguished institutions, accompanied by faculty, will perform vocal and instrumental solo and chamber works, demonstrating the great potential for continued cultural collaboration between Dartmouth and AUK. Encouraged by the success of the inaugural Dartmouth-AUK recital last fall, this concert will feature a variety of vocal duets and ensemble pieces, including violin, flute, and piano, featuring the compositions of Mozart, Liszt, Chopin, and Berlioz, among others.

Professionals Anna Karadimitrova and Elena

Tsenkova and gifted students from AUK— Faisal Al-Bahairi, Ali Atesh, Sabeeka Al-Fuzai, Zaina Al-Yaseen, Sara Soliman, and Salem AlMathkour—will perform alongside the Dartmouth musicians Nicholas Knezek and Larry Bowman.

Nick, a singer and Dartmouth intern at AUK said, “Coming to Kuwait has taught me so much about the region. The people of Kuwait are incredibly friendly and it has been a pleasure to be able to work with them to create this concert.” Dr. Lisa Urkevich, the Director of the AUK Music Program added, “Hopefully this musical collaboration between our universities will become an established tradition. It is not just the final product that is important, but the interaction that these students and faculty have throughout the process that is crucial for cultural acceptance and understanding.” The recital is free and open to the public.

Indian classical dance and music festival postponed ue to unavoidable technical reasons, Dr. KTB Menon memorial Indian classical dance and music festival, scheduled for May 14, 2010 at AIS, Maidan Hawally, has been postponed to June 18 at the same Venue. We regret

D

the inconvenience caused in this regard and request your presence on this occasion. For further details contact bhasmakuwait@yahoo.co.uk., menon_krishnadas@hotmail.com, Contact number: 97204538.

TV PROGRAMS

32

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Orbit / Showtime Listings

00:15 Streets of Hollywood 00:40 E!ES 01:30 25 Most Stylish 02:20 Sexiest 03:15 E! Investigates 05:05 Dr 90210 06:00 THS 07:45 Style Star 08:10 Style Star 08:35 E! News 09:00 The Daily 10 09:25 Pretty Wild 09:50 Pretty Wild 10:15 THS 11:30 THS 12:00 E! News 12:25 The Daily 10 12:50 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 13:15 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 13:40 Dr 90210 14:30 THS 16:15 Behind the Scenes 16:40 Behind the Scenes 17:10 Kendra 17:35 Kendra 18:00 E! News 18:25 The Daily 10 18:50 Streets of Hollywood 19:15 Battle of the Hollywood Hotties 19:40 E!ES 20:30 E!ES 20:55 E!ES 21:20 Kendra 21:45 Kendra 22:10 E! News 22:35 The Daily 10 23:00 Dr 90210

00:00 Burn Notice 01:00 Dawson’s Creek 02:00 Life on Mars 03:00 ER 04:00 Dawson’s Creek 05:00 Supernatural 06:00 CSI New York 07:00 Burn Notice 08:00 My Own Worst Enemy 09:00 Saving Grace 10:00 Life on Mars 11:00 ER 12:00 CSI New York 13:00 Supernatural 14:00 Life on Mars 15:00 The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency 16:00 My Own Worst Enemy 17:00 Saving Grace 18:00 Burn Notice 19:00 CSI New York 20:00 Dollhouse 21:00 FlashForward 22:00 CSI Miami 23:00 Rescue Me

00:15 Dark Days in Monkey City 00:45 Animal Cops Houston 01:40 Untamed & Uncut 02:35 Human Prey 03:30 Animal Cops Houston 04:25 Animal Precinct 05:20 Animal Battlegrounds 05:45 Monkey Business 06:10 E-Vets: The Interns 06:35 SSPCA: On the Wildside 07:00 Wildlife SOS 07:25 Pet Rescue 07:50 Orangutan Island 08:15 Dark Days in Monkey City 08:45 Austin Stevens: Most Dangerous...

09:40 Monkey Business 10:05 All New Planet’s Funniest Animals 10:30 All New Planet’s Funniest Animals 10:55 Monkey Life 11:20 SSPCA: On the Wildside 11:50 Animal Precinct 12:45 E-Vets: The Interns 13:10 Pet Rescue 13:40 Animal Cops Houston 14:35 Wildlife SOS 15:00 SSPCA: On the Wildside 15:30 Orangutan Island 15:55 Dark Days in Monkey City 16:25 All New Planet’s Funniest Animals 16:50 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 17:20 Monkey Business 17:45 Monkey Life 18:15 Cell Dogs 19:10 Orangutan Island 19:40 Dark Days in Monkey City 20:10 Animal Cops Houston 21:05 Untamed & Uncut

00:45 New Tricks 01:45 The Weakest Link 02:30 Last of the Summer Wine 03:05 Teletubbies 03:30 Me Too 03:50 Fimbles 04:10 Teletubbies 04:35 Me Too 04:55 Fimbles 05:15 Teletubbies 05:40 Me Too 06:00 Fimbles 06:20 Teletubbies 06:45 Me Too 07:05 Fimbles 07:25 Teletubbies 07:50 Me Too 08:10 Fimbles 08:30 Teletubbies 08:55 Me Too 09:15 Fimbles 09:40 Bargain Hunt 10:25 Space Race 11:15 2 Point 4 Children 11:45 Last of the Summer Wine 12:15 The Weakest Link 13:00 Eastenders 13:30 Doctors 14:00 Cash In The Attic 14:30 Bargain Hunt 15:15 Last of the Summer Wine 15:45 Last of the Summer Wine 16:15 The Weakest Link 17:00 Doctors 17:30 Eastenders 18:00 Holby City 19:00 Holby City 20:00 The Weakest Link 20:45 Doctors 21:15 Eastenders 21:45 Silent Witness 22:45 The Only Boy For Me

00:25 Saturday Kitchen 00:50 Saturday Kitchen 01:20 Cash In The Attic 02:05 How To Find A Husband 02:55 Come Dine With Me 03:45 Daily Cooks Challenge 04:15 Cash In The Attic USA 04:45 Hidden Potential 05:10 How To Find A Husband 06:00 MasterChef Goes Large 06:25 MasterChef Goes Large 07:00 Cash In The Attic USA 07:20 Bargain Hunt 08:05 Antiques Roadshow 08:55 Antiques Roadshow 09:45 Cash In The Attic USA 10:10 Hidden Potential 10:35 Saturday Kitchen 11:00 Saturday Kitchen

Over Her Dead Body Ion Super Movies 11:30 Cash In The Attic 12:15 Coleen’s Real Women 13:15 Come Dine With Me 14:05 Bargain Hunt 14:50 Antiques Roadshow 15:40 Cash In The Attic USA 16:00 Hidden Potential 16:25 Saturday Kitchen 16:50 Saturday Kitchen 17:20 Cash In The Attic 18:05 Antiques Roadshow 18:55 Come Dine With Me 19:45 MasterChef Goes Large

02:00 Holly-R 04:00 The Baader Meinhof Complex-18 06:45 Chariots Of Fire-PG 09:00 Teknolust-PG15 11:00 It Might Get Loud-PG15 13:00 CJ7-PG 15:00 Chasing The Horizon-PG15 17:00 Save The Last Dance-PG 19:00 Land Of Plenty-PG15 21:00 Elegy-18 23:00 Rosemary’s Baby-PG15

00:00 Border Security 00:30 Destroyed in Seconds 01:00 Miami Ink 02:00 Overhaulin’ 02:55 Huge Moves 03:50 Extreme Engineering 04:45 Mythbusters 05:40 How Does it Work?

06:05 Dirty Jobs 07:00 Extreme Engineering 07:55 Mean Machines 08:20 Overhaulin’ 09:15 Mythbusters 10:10 Ultimate Survival 11:05 Huge Moves 12:00 Border Security 12:30 How It’s Made 12:55 How Does it Work?

13:20 American Chopper 14:15 Miami Ink 15:10 Mythbusters 16:05 Dirty Jobs 17:00 Deadliest Catch 18:00 Border Security 18:30 Overhaulin’ 19:30 Destroyed in Seconds 20:00 How It’s Made 20:30 How Does it Work?

21:00 Mighty Ships 22:00 Mega Builders 23:00 Extreme Explosions

00:30 Nextworld 01:20 Da Vinci’s Machines 02:10 Kings of Construction 03:00 Beyond Tomorrow 03:50 Scrapheap Challenge 04:45 How Does That Work?

05:10 Weird Connections 05:40 Sci-Fi Science 06:10 Nextworld 07:00 Scrapheap Challenge 08:00 Science of Star Wars 09:00 Da Vinci’s Machines 09:55 Stunt Junkies 10:20 Weird Connections 10:50 Nextworld 11:45 How Stuff’s Made 12:15 Building the Biggest 13:10 Sci-Fi Science 13:35 Da Vinci’s Machines 14:30 Mighty Ships 15:25 How Does That Work?

15:55 Science of Star Wars 16:50 Brainiac 17:45 Building the Biggest 18:40 Ultimate Power Builders 19:30 Mean Green Machines 19:55 Mean Green Machines 20:20 How It’s Made 20:45 How It’s Made 21:10 Mythbusters

00:00 M1 Challenge 01:00 M1 Challenge 02:00 Ride Guide MTB 2008 02:30 Ride Guide MTB 2008 03:00 M1 Challenge 04:00 M1 Challenge 05:00 Odyssey: Driving Around the World 05:30 Odyssey: Driving Around the World 06:00 Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 2007 06:30 Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 2007 07:00 Quattro Events 2009 07:30 Quattro Events 2009 08:00 Summer Dew Tour 2009 09:00 X Games 15 2009 10:00 Fantasy Factory 10:30 Untracked 11:00 Ticket To Ride 2009-10 11:30 Ticket To Ride 2009-10 12:00 Pro Bull Riders 13:00 Fantasy Factory 13:30 Untracked 14:00 Summer Dew Tour 2009 15:00 X Games 15 2009 16:00 Fantasy Factory 16:30 Untracked 17:00 Summer Dew Tour 2009 18:00 X Games 15 2009 19:00 Ticket To Ride 2009-10 19:30 Ticket To Ride 2009-10 20:00 Fantasy Factory 20:30 Untracked 21:00 Pro Bull Riders 22:00 Ride Guide MTB 2008 22:30 Ride Guide MTB 2008 23:00 X Games 15 2009

00:00 Jungle Junction 00:20 Special Agent Oso 00:45 Handy Manny 01:10 Imagination Movers 01:35 Jungle Junction 02:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 02:25 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 02:50 Handy Manny 03:10 Jungle Junction 03:20 Special Agent Oso 03:35 Fairly Odd Parents 04:00 Phineas & Ferb 04:25 Suite Life On Deck 04:45 Wizards Of Waverly Place 05:10 Hannah Montana 05:35 Jonas 06:00 Handy Manny 06:10 Jungle Junction 06:35 Special Agent Oso 07:00 Handy Manny 07:20 Imagination Movers 07:45 Jungle Junction 08:10 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 08:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 09:00 Handy Manny 09:20 Jungle Junction 09:35 Special Agent Oso 09:45 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 10:10 Fairly Odd Parents 10:35 A Kind Of Magic 11:00 I Got A Rocket 11:25 Wizards Of Waverly Place 11:45 Phineas & Ferb 12:10 Suite Life On Deck 12:35 Replacements 12:55 Hannah Montana 13:20 Kim Possible 13:40 I Got A Rocket 14:05 Fairly Odd Parents 14:30 Phineas & Ferb 14:55 Replacements 15:15 A Kind Of Magic 15:40 Wizards Of Waverly Place 16:00 Hannah Montana 16:25 Sonny With A Chance 16:45 Fairly Odd Parents 17:10 Phineas & Ferb 17:35 Suite Life On Deck 18:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place 18:25 Hannah Montana 18:45 The Replacements 19:00 Jonas 19:25 Suite Life On Deck 19:50 Sonny With A Chance 20:15 Hannah Montana

06:00 American Dragon 06:25 Kid vs Kat 06:50 Phineas & Ferb 07:15 Phineas & Ferb 07:40 Phineas & Ferb 08:05 American Dragon 08:30 Pokemon DP: Battle Dimension 09:00 Phineas & Ferb 09:30 Zeke & Luther 10:00 Phil Of The Future 10:30 Suite Life On Deck 11:00 Kid vs Kat 11:30 Iron Man: Armoured Adventures 12:00 Aaron Stone 12:30 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 13:00 Pokemon DP: Battle Dimension 13:30 Phineas & Ferb 14:00 Zeke & Luther 14:25 NEXT X WINTER SHORTS 14:30 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 15:00 American Dragon 15:30 Kid vs Kat 16:00 Phineas & Ferb 16:30 K9 ADVENTURES 17:00 Suite Life On Deck 17:30 Aaron Stone 18:00 Iron Man: Armoured Adventures 18:25 Kid vs Kat 19:00 Zeke & Luther 19:25 NEXT X WINTER SHORTS 19:30 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 20:00 American Dragon 20:30 K9 ADVENTURES 21:00 Phil Of The Future 21:25 Iron Man: Armoured Adventures

00:30 A Haunting 01:20 FBI Files 02:10 FBI Case Files 03:05 I Escaped Death 04:00 Forensic Detectives 04:55 Crime Scene Psychics 05:20 Dr G: Medical Examiner 06:10 Ghosthunters 06:35 Ghosthunters 07:00 Forensic Detectives 07:50 FBI Files 08:40 Disappeared 09:30 Diagnosis: Unknown 10:20 Forensic Detectives 11:10 FBI Files 12:00 Guilty Or Innocent?

12:50 Diagnosis: Unknown 13:40 Fugitive Strike Force 14:30 Forensic Detectives 15:20 FBI Files 16:10 Disappeared 17:00 Diagnosis: Unknown 17:50 Forensic Detectives 18:40 FBI Files 19:30 Guilty Or Innocent?

20:20 Diagnosis: Unknown 21:10 Fugitive Strike Force 22:00 Deadly Women 22:50 Deadly Women 23:40 Dr G: Medical Examiner

00:00 Bondi Rescue 00:30 Lonely Planet 01:30 Departures 02:30 Which Way To...

03:30 Jailed Abroad 04:30 Odyssey:Driving Around The Wor 05:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 05:30 Word Travels:The Truth Behind 06:00 Bondi Rescue 06:30 Lonely Planet 07:30 Departures 08:30 Which Way To...

09:30 Jailed Abroad 10:30 Odyssey:Driving Around The Wor 11:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 11:30 Word Travels:The Truth Behind 12:00 Bondi Rescue 12:30 Lonely Planet 13:30 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 14:00 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 14:30 Cruise Ship Diaries

15:30 Jailed Abroad 16:30 Odyssey:Driving Around The Wor 17:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 17:30 Word Travels:The Truth Behind 18:00 Bondi Rescue 18:30 Lonely Planet 19:30 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 20:00 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 20:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 21:30 Jailed Abroad 22:30 Odyssey:Driving Around The Wor

01:35 Hi Mom 03:05 Golden Gate 04:35 Coming Home 06:40 Trade Off 08:15 Hair 10:15 The Pride And The Passion 12:25 Babes In Toyland (Orion) 14:00 Juggernaut 15:50 Modern Girls 17:15 From Noon Till Three 18:50 Women Vs. Men 20:20 The Hillside Strangler 22:00 Betrayed

00:00 Billable Hours 00:30 The Office 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Friends 02:30 Friends 03:00 Monday night Stand Up 04:30 South park 05:00 Billable Hours 05:30 Friends 06:00 Friends 06:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 07:00 Just Shoot me!

07:30 Malcolm in the Middle 08:00 Frasier 08:30 Yes dear 09:00 Married with Children 09:30 Drew Carey 10:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30 Just Shoot me!

11:00 Frasier 11:30 Hope & Faith 12:00 Best of Late night with Jimmy Fallon 13:00 The Office 13:30 Yes dear 14:00 Married with Children 14:30 Simpsons 15:00 Billable Hours 15:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Drew Carey 17:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:30 Frasier 18:00 Hope & Faith 18:30 Just Shoot me!

19:00 Scrubs 19:30 The Office 20:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report

00:00 Killer Bean Forever-PG15 01:30 I’m Not Rappaport-PG15 04:00 Short Track-PG 06:00 Down To Earth-PG15 08:00 The Clique-PG15 10:00 Heartbreakers-PG15 12:00 The Scout-PG15 14:00 Ping Pong Playa-PG15 16:00 Killer Bean Forever-PG15 18:00 The Lonely Guy-PG15 20:00 Sydney White And The 7 DorksPG15

00:00 Barney’s Great Adventure-FAM 02:00 Superman: Doomsday-FAM 04:00 My Favorite Martian-PG 06:00 Patoruzito-FAM 08:00 Taina II-PG 10:00 My Favorite Martian-PG 12:00 Just For Kicks-PG 14:00 Superman: Doomsday-FAM 16:00 Bugs Bunny 1001 Rabbit TalesFAM 18:00 Wall-E-FAM 20:00 Dark Crystal-PG 22:00 Just For Kicks-PG

00:00 Ugly Betty 01:00 Desperate Housewives 02:00 Spooks 03:00 Saving Grace 04:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 04:30 Home Improvement 05:00 Repear 06:00 Emmerdale 06:30 Coronation Street 07:00 Spooks 08:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 08:30 Home Improvement 09:00 Saving Grace 10:00 Repear 11:00 Spooks 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 13:30 Home Improvement 14:00 Ugly Betty 15:00 Desperate Housewives 16:00 Repear 17:00 Saving Grace 18:00 Emmerdale 18:30 Coronation Street 19:00 Lost 20:00 Lost 21:00 Spooks 22:00 Beauty and the Geek 23:00 Saving Grace

00:30 Barclays Premier League Review 02:30 Premier League 00:00 The Martha Stewart Show 01:00 Eat Yourself Sexy 01:30 Turn Back Your Body Clock 02:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 03:00 Moms Get Real / Now you know / Amplified 04:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Best Of) 05:00 GMA (repeat) 07:00 Parenting 07:30 Popcorn 08:00 The Martha Stewart Show 09:00 Eat Yourself Sexy 09:30 10 Years Younger 10:00 The Best of Jimmy Kimmel 11:00 The View (repeat) 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 The Martha Stewart Show 14:00 GMA Live 16:00 GMA Health 16:30 What’s the Buzz 17:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Best Of) 18:00 Eat Yourself Sexy 18:30 10 Years Younger 19:00 The View 20:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 21:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live!

22:00 The Tonight show with Jay Leno 23:00 The Monique Show

00:45 Adulthood-18 02:30 The Clan-PG15 04:30 For One More Day-PG15 06:00 All She Wants For Christmas-PG15 08:00 A Previous Engagement-PG15 10:00 Igor-PG 12:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua-PG 14:00 Gracie-PG15 16:00 A Previous Engagement-PG15 18:00 The Brothers Bloom-PG15 20:00 Cutting Edge 3-PG15 22:00 The Tale Of Despereaux-PG

01:00 Black Hawk Down-18 03:30 Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life-PG15 05:30 H.I.T.-PG15 07:00 Street Fighter Alpha-PG 09:00 Midnight Bayou-PG15 11:00 Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead-18 13:00 Prisoner-PG 15:00 Midnight Bayou-PG15 17:00 Along Came A Spider-PG15 19:00 One Missed Call-PG15 21:00 The Tournament-18 23:00 Tailor Of Panama-18

00:30 Premier League Season Review 02:30 Premier League 04:30 Premier League 06:30 Futbol Mundial 07:00 Barclays Premier League Review 09:00 Premier League 11:00 Premier League 13:00 Barclays Premier League Review 15:00 Premier League 17:00 Premier League 19:00 Futbol Mundial 19:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 20:00 Portu-Gol 20:30 Brazilian League Highlights 21:00 Barclays Premier League Review 23:00 Goals Goals Goals 23:30 Premier League

01:00 Code 01:04 Rnb 10 01:45 Playlist 02:00 Urban Hit 02:45 Playlist 05:00 Code 05:04 Guest Star 05:18 Playlist 08:00 Code 08:04 New 08:45 Playlist 13:00 Code 13:04 Urban Hit 13:50 Playlist 16:00 Code 16:04 Hit Us 17:00 Playlist 18:00 Urban Hit 18:45 Playlist 20:00 Code 20:04 Latina 10 20:45 Playlist 21:00 Focus 22:00 Playlist

01:30 The Screening Room 01:55 Elvis On Tour 03:30 The Screening Room 04:00 Cimarron 06:30 The Screening Room 07:00 The Big Sleep 08:50 Crazy In Love 10:25 The Sunshine Boys 12:15 Butterflies Are Free 14:05 Boys’ Night Out 15:55 The Comedians 18:25 Little Women 20:25 Elvis On Tour 22:00 December 23:30 Sweet Bird Of Youth

00:30 Deep Sea Detectives 01:20 Battlefield Detectives 02:10 Decoding the Past 03:00 Modern Marvels 03:55 Mega Movers 04:50 Battle Stations 05:40 Dogfights 06:30 Deep Sea Detectives 07:20 Battlefield Detectives 08:10 Decoding the Past 09:00 Modern Marvels 09:55 Mega Movers 10:50 Battle Stations 11:40 Dogfights 12:30 Deep Sea Detectives 13:20 Battlefield Detectives 14:10 Decoding the Past 15:00 Modern Marvels 15:55 Mega Movers 16:50 Battle Stations 17:40 Dogfights 18:30 Deep Sea Detectives 19:20 Battlefield Detectives 20:10 Decoding the Past 21:00 World War II: Lost Films 21:55 Dead Men’s Secrets 22:50 Desperate Crossing: The Mayflower 23:40 Battles B.C.

00:00 Dr 90210 01:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 01:30 Dallas Divas & Daughters 02:00 Split Ends 03:00 How Do I Look?

04:00 Dr 90210 05:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 05:30 Area 06:00 How Do I Look?

07:00 Style Star 07:30 Style Her Famous 08:00 My Celebrity Home 09:00 Style Star 09:30 Dress My Nest 10:00 Whose Wedding Is it Anyway?

11:00 How Do I Look?

12:00 Ruby 12:30 Giuliana & Bill 13:00 Clean House 14:00 Clean House Comes Clean 14:30 Dress My Nest 15:00 Dude, Where’s Your Style?

16:00 Whose Wedding Is it Anyway?

17:00 How Do I Look?

18:00 Jerseylicious 19:00 Split Ends 20:00 Clean House 21:00 Clean House Comes Clean 21:30 Dress My Nest 22:00 Peter Perfect

23:00 Ruby TRACE

00:00 Angry Planet 00:30 The Thirsty Traveler 01:00 Planet Food 02:00 Sophie Grigson In The Orient 02:30 Travel Today 03:00 Culture Shock 03:30 Essential 04:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 Planet Food 06:00 The Thirsty Traveler 06:30 Angry Planet 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Essential 08:30 Distant Shores 09:00 Sophie Grigson In The Orient 09:30 48 Hours In 10:00 Planet Food 11:00 The Thirsty Traveler 11:30 Angry Planet 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 Chef Abroad 13:30 The Thirsty Traveler 14:00 Journey Into Wine-Spain & Portugal 14:30 Entrada 15:00 Sophie Grigson In The Orient 15:30 48 Hours In 16:00 Globe Trekker 17:00 Essential 17:30 Chef Abroad 18:00 Planet Food

00:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson 01:00 Backstory 01:30 World Sport 02:00 The Situation Room 03:00 World Report 04:00 World Business Today 04:30 World Sport 05:00 World Report 06:00 Anderson Cooper 360 07:00 World Report 07:30 Inside Africa 08:00 World Report 08:30 Backstory 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Report 10:30 World Sport 11:00 World Report 11:30 World Business Today 12:00 World Report 12:30 Inside Africa 13:00 Larry King Live 14:00 World Report 14:30 World Sport 15:00 World Report 16:00 Amanpour.

16:30 World’s Untold Stories 17:00 World Business Today 18:00 International Desk 19:00 The Brief 19:30 World Sport 20:00 Prism

01:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 02:00 World Sport 02:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 04:30 Premier League 06:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 07:00 Premier League Season Review 09:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 09:30 Super 14 11:30 European PGA Tour Highlights 12:30 World Hockey 13:00 NRL Full Time 13:30 Premier League Season Review 15:30 NRL Premiership 17:30 NRL Full Time 18:00 International Rugby League 20:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 21:00 Futbol Mundial 21:30 Brazil League Highlights 22:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 23:00 NRL Premiership

01:30 Choke-18 03:00 Over Her Dead Body-PG15 05:00 A Shine Of Rainbows-PG15 07:00 Barack Obama: The Man And His Journey-PG 09:00 Living Proof-PG 11:00 Kit Kittredge: An American Girl-PG 13:00 Impact 1-PG15 15:00 Christmas In Wonderland-PG 17:00 Living Proof-PG 19:00 Mama I Want To Sing-PG 21:00 Crossing Over-PG15 23:00 Silk-R

My Favorite Martian on Show Movies Kids

Star Listings (UAE Timings) STAR Movies 20:55 Total Eclipse 22:20 Solar Destruction 23:50 Species Ii 01:15 Little Man Tate 02:55 Life With Mikey 04:25 Total Eclipse 05:50 Breaking And Entering 07:45 Species Ii 09:10 Joshua 10:55 Little Man Tate 12:35 Dark Is Rising, The 14:15 Highlander: Endgame 15:55 Pandemic 17:30 Invincible 19:15 Safehouse STAR World 20:00 Reaper 20:50 Charlie’s Angels 21:00 Stone Undercover 21:50 Who’s The Boss?

22:00 October Road 23:00 [V] Tunes 00:00 [V] Tunes 01:00 [V] Tunes 02:00 Kyle XY 03:00 Scrubs 03:30 Scrubs 04:00 The King Of Queens

04:30 05:00 05:50 06:00 06:50 07:00 07:50 08:00 08:50 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:50 11:00 11:50 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 17:50 18:00 18:50 19:00

According To Jim Criminal Minds Jackie Chan Adventures Grey’s Anatomy Charlie’s Angels October Road Who’s The Boss?

Reaper Jackie Chan Adventures The King Of Queens The Bold and the Beautiful Kyle XY Charlie’s Angels Grey’s Anatomy Who’s The Boss?

[V] Tunes Criminal Minds Scrubs Scrubs The King Of Queens According To Jim American Idol Australia’s Next Top Model Charlie’s Angels BOSTON LEGAL Who’s The Boss?

American Idol

Granada TV 20:00 Piers Morgan’s Life Stories (Series 2)

21:00 22:00 22:30 23:00 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:30

The World’s Best Diets Emmerdale Coronation Street The World’s Best Diets Teen Fat Camp The Paul O’Grady Show Mystery Tuesday: Eleventh Hour Airline (Series 6) Warzone Emmerdale Coronation Street Teen Fat Camp Mystery Tuesday: Eleventh Hour Airline (Series 6) The Paul O’Grady Show Warzone Emmerdale Coronation Street The Chopping Block (Series 1) Mystery Tuesday: Eleventh Hour Airline (Series 6) The Paul O’Grady Show Emmerdale Coronation Street The Chopping Block (Series 1) Mystery Tuesday: Eleventh Hour Airline (Series 6)

Channel [V] 21:00 [V] Countdown

23:00 23:30 00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30

Backtracks Double Shot Loop [V] Tunes [V] Plug Loop Backtracks XO [V] Tunes [V] Plug The Playlist [V] Countdown Backtracks Double Shot Loop [V] Tunes [V] Plug Loop Backtracks XO [V] Tunes [V] Plug The Playlist Parental Control Double Bill [V] Tunes Amp Around Asia Backtracks Double Shot Loop [V] Tunes

17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30

[V] Plug Loop Backtracks XO [V] Tunes [V] Plug The Playlist

Fox News 20:00 Happening Now 21:00 The Live Desk 23:00 Studio B with Shepard Smith Live 00:00 Your World with Neil Cavuto 01:00 Glenn Beck with Glenn Beck 02:00 Special Report with Bret Baier 03:00 The FOX Report with Shepard Smith 04:00 The O’Reilly Factor 05:00 Hannity 06:00 On the Record with Greta Van Susteren 07:00 The O’Reilly Factor 08:00 Hannity 09:00 On the Record with Greta Van Susteren 10:00 Glenn Beck with Glenn Beck 11:00 Fox Report 12:00 Special Report with Bret Baier 13:00 The O’Reilly Factor 14:00 FOX & Friends First Live 15:00 FOX & Friends Live 17:00 America’s Newsroom 18:00 America’s Newsroom

19:00 Happening Now National Geographic Channel 20:00 Inside -FARC Hostage Rescue 21:00 Generals At War -The Battle Of Singapore 22:00 Mega Factories -Apache Helicopter 23:00 Theme Week -Fight Masters : Special Forces 00:00 Air Crash Investigation -Crash Course 01:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Gerbil Plague 02:00 Amazing Moments -Close Encounters 03:00 Animals Like Us -Tool Use 04:00 Rescue Ink -Rebels With A Cause 1 05:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Gerbil Plague 06:00 Locked Up Abroad -Jamaican Getaway 07:00 Guardians Of Nature -Norway 08:00 Amazing Moments -Close Encounters 09:00 What Would Happen If... -2 09:30 Storm Stories -Boscastle Flood S2-2 10:00 Theme Week -Fight Masters : Self Defense 11:00 Air Crash Investigation -Crash Course 12:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Gerbil Plague 13:00 Dive Detectives -Ghost Ship 14:00 4Real -Yawanawa 14:30 4Real -City of God 15:00 Theme Week -Fight Masters : Self Defense 16:00 Inside -US Border Wars 17:00 Air Crash Investigation -Crash Course 18:00 Dive Detectives -Ghost Ship 19:00 4Real -Yawanawa 19:30 4Real -City of God

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

33 Flight Schedule Arrival Flights on Tuesday 11-05-2010 Airlines Flt Route Royal Jordanian 802 Amman Jazeera 263 Beirut Wataniya Airways 188 Bahrain Kuwait 544 Cairo Wataniya Airways 306 Cairo Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Turkish A/L 772 Istanbul Ethiopian 620 Addis Ababa DHL 370 Bahrain Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 305 Abu Dhabi Pakistan 239 Sialkot Air France 6782 Paris Qatari 138 Doha Jazeera 503 Luxor Jazeera 527 Alexandria Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok British 157 London Kuwait 416 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur Falcon 201 Bahrain Kuwait 206 Islamabad Kuwait 382 Delhi Kuwait 302 Mumbai Kuwait 332 Trivandrum Fly Dubai 053 Dubai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 284 Dhaka Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 121 Sharjah Iran Air 605 Isfahan Qatari 132 Doha Etihad 301 Abu Dhabi Iran Air 619 Lar Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 182 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 102 Dubai Jazeera 165 Dubai Jazeera 447 Doha Jazeera 497 Riyadh Egypt Air 610 Cairo Kuwait 672 Dubai United A/L 982 Washington Dc Dulles Royal Jordanian 800 Amman Wataniya Airways 432 Damascus Wataniya Airways 422 Amman Kuwait 562 Amman Saudi Arabian A/L 500 Jeddah Kuwait 744 Dammam Syrian Arab A/L 341 Damascus Qatari 134 Doha Kuwait 546 Alexandria Mihin Lanka 403 Colombo/Dubai Etihad 303 Abu Dhabi Emirates 857 Dubai Wataniya Airways 402 Beirut Gulf Air 215 Bahrain Saudi Arabian A/L 510 Riyadh Jazeera 493 Jeddah Jazeera 367 Deirezzor Arabia 125 Sharjah Jazeera 239 Amman Srilankan 227 Colombo/Dubai Wataniya Airways 304 Cairo Kuwait 104 London Kuwait 166 Paris/Rome Wataniya Airways 106 Dubai Kuwait 502 Beirut Kuwait 542 Cairo Kuwait 786 Jeddah Kuwait 618 Doha Jazeera 177 Dubai Kuwait 614 Bahrain Kuwait 674 Dubai Singapore A/L 458 Singapore/Abu Dhabi Kuwait 774 Riyadh Kuwait 552 Damascus Kuwait 512 Tehran Rovos 093 Kandahar/Dubai Fly Dubai 061 Dubai Indian 993 Chennai/Mumbai Oman Air 647 Muscat Wataniya Airways 612 Sabiha Middle East 402 Beirut Jet A/W 572 Mumbai Egypt Air 618 Alexandria KLM 0443 Amsterdam Wataniya Airways 404 Beirut Jazeera 459 Damascus DHL 372 Bahrain Gulf Air 217 Bahrain Emirates 859 Dubai Rovos 091 Baghdad Qatari 136 Doha United A/L 981 Bahrain Jazeera 449 Doha Lufthansa 636 Frankfurt Jazeera 117 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 185 Dubai Jazeera 429 Bahrain India Express 389 Kozhikode/Mangalore Pakistan 205 Lahore/Peshawar Wataniya Airways 108 Dubai

Time 00:05 00:10 00:30 00:50 00:50 01:05 01:15 01:45 02:15 02:25 02:55 02:55 03:25 03:25 05:30 06:10 06:15 06:30 06:35 07:00 07:15 07:20 07:50 07:55 07:55 08:00 08:10 08:25 08:40 08:55 09:00 09:25 10:40 10:45 10:45 11:05 11:15 11:20 11:35 12:55 13:15 13:35 13:35 13:35 14:10 14:20 14:30 14:40 14:45 15:05 15:30 16:40 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:15 17:20 17:35 17:40 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:35 18:35 18:40 18:45 18:50 18:50 18:55 18:55 19:05 19:20 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:40 19:45 20:00 20:05 20:15 20:15 20:20 20:20 20:30 20:35 20:40 20:50 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:55 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:10 23:55 23:55

Departure Flights on Tuesday 11/05/2010 Airlines Flt Route Time Tunis Air 328 Dubai/Tunis 00:25 Indian 576 Goa/Chennai 00:50 Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt 01:15 Turkish A/L 773 Istanbul 02:15 Ethiop 620 Bahrain/Addis Ababa 02:30 DHL 371 Bahrain 03:15 Pakistan 240 Sialkot 03:45 Emirates 854 Dubai 03:45 Etihad 306 Abu Dhabi 04:00 Qatari 139 Doha 05:00 Air France 6782 Dubai/Hong Kong 05:15 Wataniya Airways 101 Dubai 06:50 Jazeera 164 Dubai 07:00 Royal Jordanian 803 Amman 07:00 Jazeera 446 Doha 07:40 Gulf Air 212 Bahrain 07:45 Wataniya Airways 181 Bahrain 07:50 Rovos 094 Dubai/Kandahar 08:00 Wataniya Airways 431 Damascus 08:10 British 156 London 08:25 Jazeera 496 Riyadh 08:30 Kuwait 545 Alexandria 08:35 Fly Dubai 054 Dubai 08:40 Kuwait 671 Dubai 09:00 Wataniya Airways 421 Amman 09:10 Kuwait 561 Amman 09:15 Arabia 122 Sharjah 09:20 Kuwait 101 London/New York 09:30 Emirates 856 Dubai 09:40 Iran Air 604 Isfahan 09:55 Qatari 133 Doha 10:00 Etihad 302 Abu Dhabi 10:10 Gulf Air 214 Bahrain 11:35 Wataniya Airways 401 Beirut 11:35 Iran Air 618 Lar 11:40 Kuwait 165 Rome/Paris 11:45 Wataniya Airways 303 Cairo 11:50 Kuwait 743 Dammam 11:55 Kuwait 541 Cairo 12:00 Wataniya Airways 611 Sabiha 12:05 Jazeera 492 Jeddah 12:15 Jazeera 366 Deirezzor 12:20 Jazeera 238 Amman 12:25 Kuwait 501 Beirut 13:00 Kuwait 785 Jeddah 13:30 Egypt Air 611 Cairo 13:55 Kuwait 551 Damascus 14:20 Wataniya Airways 105 Dubai 14:30 Royal Jordanian 801 Amman 14:30 United A/L 982 Bahrain 14:50 Jazeera 176 Dubai 14:55 Wataniya Airways 403 Beirut 15:10 Kuwait 673 Dubai 15:10 Kuwait 617 Doha 15:35 Kuwait 511 Tehran 15:40 Saudi Arabian A/L 501 Jeddah 15:45 Syrian Arab A/L 342 Damascus 15:45 Jazeera 458 Damascus 15:50 Kuwait 773 Riyadh 16:05 Qatari 135 Doha 16:20 Kuwait 613 Bahrain 16:20 Etihad 304 Abu Dhabi 17:35 Mihin Lanka 404 Dubai/Colombo 17:40 Gulf Air 216 Bahrain 18:05 Wataniya Airways 305 Cairo 18:05 Emirates 858 Dubai 18:05 Rovos 092 Baghdad 18:15 Arabia 126 Sharjah 18:20 Jazeera 262 Beirut 18:20 Saudi Arabian A/L 511 Riyadh 18:35 Jazeera 184 Dubai 18:35 Jazeera 116 Abu Dhabi 18:40 Jazeera 448 Doha 18:50 Srilankan 228 Dubai/Colombo 19:10 Wataniya Airways 107 Dubai 19:40 Jazeera 428 Bahrain 19:55 Kuwait 283 Dhaka 20:00 Kuwait 361 Colombo 20:20 Fly Dubai 062 Dubai 20:50 Singapore A/L 457 Abu Dhabi/Singapore 20:55 Kuwait 343 Chennai 21:00 Kuwait 351 Cochin 21:05 Oman Air 648 Muscat 21:15 Middle East 403 Beirut 21:20 Jet A/W 571 Mumbai 21:30 Egypt Air 619 Alexandria 21:35 Wataniya Airways 187 Bahrain 21:35 KLM 0443 Bahrain/Amsterdam 21:40 Gulf Air 218 Bahrain 21:55 DHL 373 Bahrain 22:00 Kuwait 801 Cairo 22:00 Kuwait 675 Dubai 22:10 Emirates 860 Dubai 22:25 Falcon 102 Bahrain 22:30 Kuwait 381 Delhi 22:30 Qatari 137 Doha 22:35 Kuwait 301 Mumbai 22:45 Jazeera 526 Alexandria 23:20 Jazeera 502 Luxor 23:30 Kuwait 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:40 United A/L 981 Washington Dc Dulles 23:40

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

ACCOMMODATION A decent Pakistani bachelor looking for a room with Indian or Pakistani Muslim family, work timings: 8 am to 10 pm. Please contact: 55088901.

(C 2245) Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya, building, family or decent bachelors.

Phone: 66720969, 97284369.

(C 2246) 11-5-2010 Sharing accommodation available for bachelors with an Indian family near Mecca street, Fahaheel. Contact: 23927458.

(C 2235) Sharing accommodation available for 1 bachelor to share with another bachelor in a 2 bedroom flat in Abbassiya near Unique store no. 2 opp Uduppi palace from May/June 2010, kitchen facilities available. Contact: 66110593 or after 3 pm on 24313908.

(C 2241) Sharing accommodation in Jabriya Mulhaq separate room near Al Hadi hospital, phone and kitchen facilities, rent KD 65, bachelor only.

Contact: 99546413.

(C 2237) 10-5-2010 Sharing accommodation available for a decent Christian or Hindu family/bachelor in Abbassiya. Call 97980907.

(C 2230) Sharing accommodation available for decent executive bachelor/couples to share with Keralite Christian family in a 2 BHK CA/C flat, near Shifa Al-Jazeera medical center, opp. Farwaniya police station, from May last or 1st June onwards. Contact: 55958189.

(C 2231) 9-5-2010 Decent accommodation available in Salmiya near Bestow supermarket from May 20 to July 2. Please contact 25620547 or 66737466.

(C 2228) 8-5-2010 In the double room flat one fully furnished bedroom with separate bathroom and kitchen facilities available with Keralite family at Abbassiya. For couple, lady or ladies from May onwards, interested contact 24310332/97841925.

(C 2222) 6-5-2010 Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya behind Caesars bakery one room and separate bathroom only Keralite Christian bachelors. Call 66452684.

(C 2216)

FOR SALE Mitsubishi Jeep Nativa, model 2008, 6 cylinder engine, alloy rim, 4x4 excellent condition. Price KD 2,850. Contact: 66211779.

(C 2244) 10-5-2010 Pathfinder 2001, price KD 1400, Pajero 2001, KD 1600, red color, good condition.

Tel: 99537769, 99439512.

(C 2236) Ford 1998 model, price KD 400, insurance until March 2011. Contact: 99554160.

(C 2238) Hummer H2, 2003, bronze color, full option, very good condition, price KD 5250.

Tel: 97487676.

(C 2240) Cooking oven - medium, freezer - medium. Call: 99554160.

(C 2239) 10-5-2010 Toyota Corolla XLi 1.6, model 2009, excellent condition, silver color, km 43,500 done. Contact: 55107856. (C 2224) Laptop IBM Intel Centrino, Ram 512, HD 30 GB, Wifi bluetooth, DVD + CD - WR, price KD 65, & IBM PC P4, Intel 2.8, Ram 256, HD 40 GB with Dell LCD complete price KD 55, all in excellent condition, call 99322585.

(C 2223) 8-5-2010 Toyota Corolla, 2000 model, run 1,30,000 km, excellent condition.

Call: 66876539, 24895197.

Toyota Camry Grande, model 2005, 6 cylinders, done 62,000 kms only, white color, excellent condition, cash price KD 2,850. Contact: 60083759.

(C 2220) 6-5-2010 Hummer H2, 2003, bronze color, very good condition, Price KD 5,250. Call: 97487676.

(C 2217) Honda Accord, 2004 model, 4 doors, full options, 12,000 km, golden color.

Call: 55522942.

(C 2215) Pentium 4, Intel, 30 GB HDD, 256 MB RAM, CD ROM, 56K modem, sound card, speakers, 17� CRT monitor, ready for Inernet KD 25. P III, with 17� CRT monitor KD 15. Contact: 66244192.

(C 2214) 5-5-2010

SITUATION VACANT

Required live-in maid for Keralite family. Please contact: 99509436.

(C 2234) 9-5-2010 Required a parttime maid from 2 pm to 7 pm to work for a small family in Farwaniya. Accommodation in Farwaniya is preferred.

Salary KD 30. Please call: 66931621.

8-5-2010

No: 14725

SITUATION WANTED

Indian female (MBA in HR), 10 years experience in HR/ administration, specializing in recruitments, PMS, MIS reports & overall Admin functions, Proficient in MS Office. Good communication skills, Please contact: 66634322.

(C 2226) 10-5-2010 Indian male, 41 years, BA (economics) diploma in HRD management, fluent in English, Arabic, Hindu, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Urdu, can bring all categories of human resource from India, needs any official job. Tel: 94986733 email: weaverscompany@gmail.com (C 2229) 9-5-2010 Young male, first class degree holder in mechanical engineering, eagerly waiting for employment opportunities, excellent communication skills, Autocad proficient, visa transferable. Tel: 99972119, email: justin.thomas501@gmail.com (C 2221) 6-5-2010

MATRIMONIAL Proposals are invited for a 25-year-old Catholic girl from TVM with B.Tech, MBA, currently working as HR in Technopark TVM, B/B in Kuwait, having Kuwait residence, preference for highly qualified persons doctors, engineers, working in Kuwait. Catholics, Orthodox, Marthomites acceptable.

Email: mimarriagein@gmail.com / cvarghese@rediffmail.com (C 2247) 11-5-2010 Tamil/Urdu Sunny Muslim 27/163/ BE.ECE seeks (BE/ B.Tech/ MCA/ BCA, MBA) suitable groom from only Tamilnadu base. Contact: email: jkn_majeed@yahoo.com (C 2243) 10-5-2010

Inviting proposals for RC girl working as a staff nurse in MOH Kuwait, height 167 cm, age 28 years, from Changanassery, going for vacation on middle of November preference for male nurse. Email: bobybabuji@hotmail.com (C 2227) 8-5-2010 Proposals are invited for Nair girl, 24 years, BSc nurse, Mavelikara Taluk, Alleppey dist, presently working as a staff nurse in Amrutha hospital Cochin.

Interested well educated Nair boys may respond with complete profile to email: t-pillai10@yahoo.com (C 2219) 6-5-2010

CHANGE OF NAME I, Fatenus Fazal Khan, holder Pakistani Passport No. KG 245598, hereby change my name to Yunus Khan Fazal Khan.

(C 2242) 10-5-2010 I, Maru Thappan Murugan holder of Indian Passport No: B5516428, have embraced Islam and hereby change my name to Mubarak.

(C 2209) 3-5-2010

MISCELLANEOUS Coaching available for BBA/MBA/EMBA, Preston University Islamabad.

Admissions open: May 15, 2010. Examination center: Kuwait.

Contact: 67656460/66078041. Email: prestonq8@yahoo.com (C 2233) Teaching Knowledge Test, classes available for TKT. Duration: May 14 - June 19, 2010, 3 days a week.

Instructor: Native speaker.

Course ends with a certificate from Cambridge University.

Call: 67656460/66078041. Email: prestonq8@yahoo.com (C 2232) 5-9-2010

SPECTRUM

34 CROSSWORD 985

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Calvin Aries (March 21-April 19) Your career can end up at right angles to your own inner sensitivities and need for growth and change. Emotional material welling up from within you may challenge and threaten the current path you travel, causing you to stop and consider it with care. If you think that you might lose your mind under the current mental pressure, probably not. However, you will be intensely examining ideas, thoughts and concepts with an eye to getting rid of unwanted ideas.

Searching, research and detective work. You are in a planning mood and are very clearheaded. Go ahead and make those decisions. You can see the road ahead and will make the right choices. You may find yourself serving to guide someone younger than you in matters of importance.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may be very forceful in what you say and think at this time. With all of this passion, you could speak to a crowd or simply communicate very well. Proud; you have an inner need to express feelings and emotions to others. You can be self-centered and are driven to leadership positions by a sense of your own inner worth. However, you have compassion and perhaps you are a good listener to those that are in need. You have the mental drive to get much accomplished and the amount of interruptions is few this day. Heed a warning you may hear today from an older person do not take roads that go nowhere just for the ride. Pay attention to your dreams you could have real insight and vision into some successful future event.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. A fatal disease of cattle that affects the central nervous system.

4. Medium-sized tree having glossy lanceolate leaves.

8. A state of southwestern India.

11. Any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all.

12. A United Nations agency created to assist developing nations by loans guaranteed by member governments.

13. A drug combination found in some over-the-counter headache remedies (Aspirin and Phenacetin and Caffeine).

14. A police officer who investigates crimes.

15. The lower house of the parliament of the Republic of Ireland.

16. A crystalline rock that can be cut and polished for jewelry.

17. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

19. Mar or spoil the appearance of.

23. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

24. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

26. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

30. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

33. A master's degree in business.

34. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

35. A member of the Finno-Ugric-speaking people living in eastern European Russia.

40. A light strong brittle gray toxic bivalent metallic element.

43. A unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters.

44. An amino acid that is found in the central nervous system.

47. Water frozen in the solid state.

48. A benevolent aspect of Devi.

50. (British) Your grandmother.

51. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

52. The basic unit of money in Iran.

DOWN 1. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

2. A detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work.

3. An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members.

4. Mild form of diabetes mellitus that develops gradually in adults.

5. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

6. A system of high tension cables by which electrical power is distributed throughout a region.

7. Person who does no work.

8. Mentally or physically infirm with age.

9. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

10. The highest level or degree attainable.

18. The jurisdiction or office of an abbot.

20. Extremely pleasing.

21. A light touch or stroke.

22. A state in north central United States.

25. A very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses.

27. The basic unit of electric current adopted under the System International d'Unites.

28. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

29. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

31. A small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB gun.

32. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

36. Predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin.

37. Being of the age 13 through 19.

38. Largest known toad species.

39. God of love and erotic desire.

40. (usually followed by `of') Released from something onerous (especially an obligation or duty).

41. A small cake leavened with yeast.

42. part of the peritoneum attached to the stomach and to the colon and covering the intestines.

45. A room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter.

46. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan.

47. An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members.

49. A nonmetallic largely pentavalent heavy volatile corrosive dark brown liquid element belonging to the halogens.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) This is the perfect time to take risks and dare to be a little unconventional. A seemingly magical talent will have everyone enthralled.

You enjoy interactions that involve anything progressive, inventive and independent with regard to viewpoints. If you are around people that are involved with an original and creative idea, you are appropriately attentive. Events make it easy for you to have breakthroughs and find new solutions to old problems. You may find yourself able to implement your ideas and put them into practice. This afternoon is a good time for surrounding yourself with friends and young people and for having a good time. You appreciate your particular situation and enjoy the support of loved ones.

Non Sequitur

Cancer (June 21-July 22) In the work place you could expand your thinking and share your ideas. If you are not working, you will be celebrating the love of family, fresh air and beautiful surroundings. You enjoy a bit of game playing and may enjoy partaking in some guidance for organizing children and children’s games in the community. Competition is fun wherever you decided to involve your energies, your energies match the challenges. Put your visions and dreams to work. You can be intense, passionate and very personal. Your imagination drives you to make your dreams and inner vision a reality. Your desires are strong and you will want to enjoy yourself. Family, creativity and the ability to interact and understand each other well is very important.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Career choices, decisions that should be made, may appear to go against or challenge your current sense of security and home environment.

The easy way out may not be beneficial to your health and general well-being. Weigh alternatives with care. Your career and path to success may run counter to your need for change and selfgrowth. Job requirements may stifle your sensitivity and hold you back from growing. Tread this one with care. Positive results happen when you consider the present job as a stepping-stone to your future professional possibilities.

You find yourself communicating easily and thinking of the time when you will be working in the field of science, medicine, adventurous occupations, acting, cashiering, fire fighting or news reporting.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You should take advantage of furthering your professional aims. You are at your most appealing and can have the greatest impact on those at work who pass out the raises and promotions. If you have been out of work, try particularly hard during this time to find the kind of job you really want. You have fluency in communication, your intellect is sharp. You will be curious, talkative and adapt at problem solving and productive conversations just now. This afternoon you may want to keep in touch with a friend or family member you have not communicated with lately. There is ardent passion that manifests itself in art and a physical desire for the opposite sex. This evening is a good time for planning a future social event.

Libra (September 23-October 22) Perhaps this is a good time to think and study, you have a real appreciation for ideas and thoughts. You may find yourself enjoying a long conversation, writing a letter, or making a special phone call. Others value you for your ability to make practical decisions concerning group issues. Sales, lectures, presentations of all sorts can be successfully experienced. Clear decisions affecting others could be made now. This evening you could be especially witty and eccentric. You may have insights or breakthroughs in regard to your living situation or life circumstances and find yourself communicating these ideas to others. Others value you for your independence and unique qualities.

This is a time when you can expect a little recognition.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Good eye-hand coordination and a sustained effort make almost any task run well. These are the days you may feel more like ignoring responsibilities and doing some social visiting. Realities may creep in and bring your attention back to the responsibilities for the day. If you are at home today, interruptions can make it difficult to concentrate on your project. Agree to visit or be with the family in the afternoon if they will allow you the morning to accomplish some needed work you will have better cooperation. You could find that you are appreciated or valued for your feelings or your ability to act and get things done. You may feel like getting outside this afternoon. A friend or relative that has been estranged will soon become re-acquainted.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You are at your most practical when it comes to dealing and working with others. You know just what to do and can act without haste and emotion. You are called on to make decisions pertaining to customer satisfaction today. You are able to make good use of your natural abilities and common sense. A need to be respected is an emotionally charged issue in your life at this time. You develop a sense of ambition and practicality and may strive for achievement.

There is also a need to communicate and experience the exchange of ideas.

Contact with others in the home today brings feelings of security. A landline will work well but a cell phone can be used from every room. You may find yourself shopping in a bookstore later this evening.

Yesterday’s Solution

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Pleasant attitudes are created in the home or the workplace.

Communal activities that take place at this time should be both well attended and successful. A need for emotional security is accented and you should not pressure a partner into doing things just to please you.

You have an increased tendency to partake in working partnerships or group activities. Mental stimulation is the key for you right now and it is a good idea to make every effort to cooperate and compromise with others. Any project begun today should be very successful. This is a time where you might find a deepening of a love relationship. If you have no love relationship, this could be a time in which you will meet that special person. 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

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You are happiest when your goals for the day are understood. People that are honest and straightforward have a special place in your heart. It is easiest to work under a boss that has clear expectations and makes clear demands. Revising or reassessing your work responsibilities and scheduling may take up most of the day. You could be helping to change several procedures just now. Indepth discussions and inquisitive conversations find you at your rational best.

Your investigative abilities are at a high point. Everything conspires to reveal you at your most elegant, particularly in social situations this evening. You will have a grasp for abstract and spiritual ideas and the ability to present or communicate these to others.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) This day is full of interesting dialogues. There is recognition in your career.

You may be too concerned with making your own point, but in listening to the views of others, you will open the door for others to listen to you. Fortunately, any dispute you find today will cause little delay in the art of problem solving. This could be a mentally draining day. You are more open-minded and creative in your thinking at this time. You have many things going in your favor and that includes positive thinking, mental stability, good feelings, relaxation and opportunity. This is a good time to make long-range plans, take advantage of further education, take a long-distance trip, or take up philosophy or religious studies. It is a mentally stimulating time.

INFORMATION

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

35 FIRE BRIGADE Operation Room 112 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

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 HOSPITALS Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha始a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

24874330/9 CLINICS

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

4892674

Al-Omariya

4719048

N.Kheitan

4710044

Rabiya

4732263

Fintas

3900322

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988 AIRLINES

PHARMACIES ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE Ahmadi

PHARMACY Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

ADDRESS Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

PHONE 23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Hawally

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554

EMERGENCY 112

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists: Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea Dr. Masoma Habeeb Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy Dr. Mohsen Abel Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly

25622444 25752222 25321171 25739999 25757700 25732223 25732223

Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT): Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners: Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists: Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Plastic Surgeons: Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari Dr. Abdel Quttainah

22617700 25625030/60

Family Doctor: Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581

Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.

Zahra Qabazard Sohail Qamar Snaa Maaroof Pradip Gujare Zacharias Mathew

25710444 22621099 25713514 23713100 24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians: Dr Adrian Harbe 23729596/23729581 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 General Surgeons: Dr. Abidallah Behbahani 25717111 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148

Paediatricians: Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290

(2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535 Dentists:

Dr Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Neurologists:

Internist, Chest & Heart: DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Tel: 25339667 Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Consultant Cardiologist Tel: 2611555-2622555 Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

Internists, Chest & Heart: Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3

Physiotherapists & VD: Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Endocrinologist: Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari

25658888

Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr

25329924

Psychologists/Psychotherapists Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677 William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Kuwait Airways Wataniya Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines

22433377 24379900 177 22477631 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22425566 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/2433141 22456700 22412284/5 22453820/1

INTERNATIONAL CALLS Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK)

0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345 00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044

Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Holland (Netherlands) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Ibiza (Spain) Iceland India Indian Ocean Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia

00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689 00241 00220 00995 0049 00233 00350 0030 00299 001473 00590 001671 00502 00224 00592 00509 0031 00504 00852 0036 0034 00354 0091 00873 0062 0098 00964 00353 0039 00225 001876 0081 00962 007 00254 00686 00965 00996 00856 00371 00961 00231 00218 00370 00352 00853 00389

36

SPECTRUM

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Fashion expert:

enelope Cruz has been named the world’s most beautiful woman. The 36-year-old beauty beat supermodel Claudia Schiffer, 39, and 49-year-old actress Kristin Scott Thomas to top the chart, which was compiled by fashion expert Sally Allen. Sally spent a year looking at press coverage to compile the list, which also included Dame Helen Mirren, 64, and 75-year-old Sophia Loren. She said: “Our top ten women are often the subject of spontaneous and unexpected press exposure yet always manage, somehow, to look great. Sometimes they are caught without their make-up, on bad hair days, or in less than flattering poses, but their natural beauty always seems to shine through. “There is no question in my mind that Penelope Cruz is a worthy winner. She was

P

an undoubtedly pretty girl when she started her acting career at 16 but, 20 years later, she has matured into a particularly beautiful woman and a fine actress.” The youngest entrant was 34-year-old Charlize Theron and Sally believes the reason older females were included is because they get better with age. She said: “As someone once said, the difference between pretty and beautiful is that pretty is temporal, whereas beautiful is eternal.” The list was compiled for clothing firm Wizard Jeans, with spokesman Anthony Edwards saying: “Women like Beyonce Knowles and Cheryl Cole are sexy and pretty but real beauty is something that comes from within and usually requires maturity.

The days when women were considered past it at 40 are long gone.”

Rihanna is the face of a new burlesque nightclub ay-Z wants Rihanna be the sexy face and body of a new burlesque nightclub chain. The ‘Rude Boy’ singer’s mentor thinks the sexy venture would be perfect for her because she is so well known for her curvaceous body and racy stage outfits. A source told the Daily Star newspaper: “All the top people think she’s smoking hot.

They’re desperate to make her the face and body of a new burlesque club.

Jay sees it as a great business opportunity.”

Rihanna’s style has already inspired one fellow pop star her new friend

J

he Girls Aloud singer has been in a relationship with Triple 8 singer Justin Scott for six years and although she admits they think about tying the knot, she doesn’t feel under any pressure to wed. When quizzed on wedding plans, she said: “It is headed that way, but to be honest we feel quite young still. There’s this pressure all the time to do the next thing - get engaged, get married, have a baby. It’s just because the media want something new to say, but now I feel like if we announce it, everyone will just be like, ‘Oh, right, yeah, what took you so long?’ “ Although they are unsure when they will make the final commitment to one another, Kimberley insists she and Justin are happier than ever. The 28year-old pop star’s mother Diane Walsh thinks she knows the secret to the couple’s blissful relationship. Kimberley said in an interview with the June issue of

T

Britain’s Cosmopolitan magazine: “My mum once said, ‘He’s got a very gentle nature, hasn’t he?’ And she’s right, he has. He’s very supportive and is a good person. He’s been well brought up, he’s got good values. He had a little girl when he was very young and took on all the responsibility of that, which I think has made him what he’s like now.” Kimberley helps Justin raise his daughter, but insists she is more of a “friend” than a stepmother to her. She explained: “His daughter has her mum and dad and I don’t want to intrude, so I’m like a cousin, or a friend.

It must weird for her she gets bugged about getting stuff signed, but she doesn’t seem that bothered by it. In fact, I don’t think she’s that interested.”

olin Hanks - who recently starred alongside his father in ‘The Great Buck Howard’ - tied the knot with publicist Samantha Bryant at the London West Hollywood hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday. According to website E! Online, around 300 guests - including director Steven Spielberg - were in attendance for the nuptials at the rooftop pool area of the hotel. Guests staying at the complex had been asked to leave the pool at 3pm on Friday, but were offered free drinks to make up for the inconvenience. Colin whose mother Susan Lewes, Tom’s first wife, died of cancer in 2002 - got engaged to Samantha last June after several years together. Speaking about their union, the ‘Orange County’ star said last year: “We had the same group of friends and knew of each other, but never paid attention to it.”

Colin’s stepmother Rita Wilson was so pleased when the couple got engaged, she gave Samantha a $10,000 designer handbag to congratulate her.

Seyfried doesn?t own a hairdryer

he ‘Mamma Mia!’ actress is often voted as one of the world’s most stylish women but admits she’s very low maintenance and rarely spends time on her appearance. The blonde beauty said: “I don’t even have a blow dryer because I don’t dry my hair. I probably flat iron my hair once every six months.” The 24-year-old star has only just recently discovered the benefits of wearing make-up in her everyday life, saying: “I just started wearing blusher and realize how much more alive I look with it on.” As well as being a newfound cosmetic fan, Amanda who is dating her ‘Mamma Mia!’ co-star Dominic Cooper - loves to show off her lovely legs by

T

C

Eva Mendes ‘loves’ therapy

T

1 - Penelope Cruz 2 - Claudia Schiffer 3 - Kristin Scott Thomas 4 - Queen Rania of Jordan 5 - Catherine Deneuve 6 - Dame Helen Mirren 7 - Charlize Theron 8 - Kate Beckinsale 9 - Natascha McElhone 10 - Sophia Loren

Pixie Lott. The pair have become inseparable as Pixie supports Rihanna on the European leg of her ‘Last Girl on Earth’ tour, and have been swapping fashion tips backstage some of which Pixie wants to incorporate into her Lipsy fashion range. A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “All Pixie and Rihanna talk about backstage is fashion. Pixie loves Rihanna’s style and would love to incorporate it into her designs.”

Rihanna is set for a busy year, with a book deal in the pipeline and a new fragrance, Route 22, scheduled to come out in the summer.

Tom Hanks’ son has got married

he ‘Bad Lieutenant’ actress - who spent time in rehab in 2008 for an undisclosed condition - thinks it is important for her to always find them time to discuss her problems with a professional, and will even arrange telephone appointments if she can’t make a session in person because of working commitments. She said: “I love therapy. There is nothing like going into a room and sitting down and talking to someone who has no emotional investment in your life. Having that person who is only committed to helping you be better, I just love it. “I go once a week and, if not, then every two weeks. And if I’m away I phone in. It’s so necessary, especially in my business.” The 36-year-old star believes it is important to always face her fears and confront

Top ten of the world?s most beautiful women

difficult situations - even risking drowning because she was so determined to learn to swim. She told You magazine: “Fight them head on. Just be honest with yourself and face it. That’s everything in life for me. I didn’t know how to swim, so I asked my friend to throw me off a boat. I know it’s crazy, but I did it and I survived.” Eva has been dating filmmaker George Gargurevich for eight years but admits she is still unsure if she wants to marry or have children. She said: “If I were to get married I’d probably do it in my basement. As for starting a family, I’m honestly not there yet, but who knows? I’m not a planner - so if it happens, it happens. I have seven nephews and nieces and they keep me happy on that front.”— Bang Showbiz

donning a pair of high heels. She told InStyle Hair magazine: “I wear heels, my legs are long and they’re the one part of my body I really like. Though I never wear heels on the weekend.” Amanda recently revealed she gets fashion advice from Dominic because of her casual attitude to fashion.

She said: “I love Stella McCartney and Alexander Wang.

But I’m more likely to buy leggings than an elaborate low-cut piece. They both make casual clothes that have something extra going on, which is what I want. I also like Calvin Klein and I love Prada bags. Actually, Dominic bought me a gorgeous bag. He knows a lot about fashion. He’s very stylish.”

Mel Gibson allegedly cheated on ex-girlfriend ibson allegedly cheated on ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva while she was pregnant with their daughter. Porn producer Violet Kowal claims to have had a three month fling with the ‘Mad Max’ star last year, with the reported romps happening at his Malibu home and office in Santa Monica. The 26-year-old Polish filmmaker told National Enquirer magazine: “Mel’s break-up with Oksana doesn’t surprise me at all. Clearly, Mel can’t commit to just one woman.” Violet was also very impressed with 54-year-old Mel’s skills in the bedroom department, saying: “Mel’s great in bed! It was the best sex I’ve ever had!” Although Mel’s lawyer has branded the story “an absurd fabrication”, Violet is said to have passed a lie detector test. Oksana gave birth to Lucia last November but she and Mel announced their split just five months later. While she has refused to give the real reasons behind the break-up, the Russian musician has previously hinted there would be some shocking revelations. She said: “I can tell you that we have split up, suddenly and recently.

Unfortunately, I cannot give you the reason.

But you will find out everything quite soon.

“Here is the official version - we split up by mutual consent and we will raise our daughter together. She is currently with my mother in my Los Angeles home.” Despite initial reports insisting they are still on good terms,

G

it was recently claimed Mel ended their relationship following a huge row after Oksana accused him of cheating. Mel has seven children with estranged wife Robyn, who filed for divorce last May. Following the legal proceedings, it emerged the couple had been separated for some time and the actor was in a relationship with Oksana, who has 12-yearold son Alexander with ex-boyfriend Timothy Dalton.

SPECTRUM

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

37

Travel

Wataniya Airways ‘Extending operations to European destinations’

By Ahmad Saeid or me, it was the first time I had flown from the Sheikh Saad Terminal, and my first experience of flying with Wataniya Airways. For the airline itself, this was its first flight ever to Istanbul, the glamorous city in western Turkey. I thought I’d need to leave home early since I wasn’t sure of the terminal’s exact location, but discovered as I drove from the Sixth Ring

F

gate, where the Turkish ambassador and the Wataniya chairman wished them a pleasurable flight. Small shuttle buses drove us to the plane nearby.

A view of the Bosphorus Bridge, which connects Asia with Europe.

The plane The first impression you feel after the warm welcoming smile of the staff greets you at the plane door is that you are one of the first people ever to travel aboard this jet. The new airline has a new fleet of five

in the back for maximum engagement in the game without distractions.

The only possible distraction though is the abundant choice of freshly cooked, delicious meals, with all the dishes

If you don’t believe me, or even if you do for that matter, I suggest you fly to Istanbul and see for yourself. One of the

as it taxied to a stop at Sabiha Gokcen Airport, a recently renovated facility approximately 50 kilometers to the east of Istanbul. Wataniya Airways officials explained that the airline had chosen

Wataniya Airways - it’s a pleasure.

—Photos

by Ahmad Saeid.

The cabin staff who manned the first flight to Istanbul pictured during the inauguration ceremony.

Road, that street signs directed me right to it.

The Sheikh Saad Terminal is a modern building with all the required facilities, from valet parking, to cafes and gift shops. Although it’s a relatively small building, the terminal currently serves all Wataniya Airways passengers, and the numerous check-in counters for both first and economy class passengers guarantee a fast and easy check-in.

When I arrived, a celebration was taking place in the airport on the occasion of inaugurating the first flight to Istanbul.

The Turkish Ambassador to Kuwait Helmi Dada Oglu, and Wataniya’s Chairman and Managing Director Abdulsalam Al-Bahr addressed the gathering, talking about the importance of this new route in further advancing the deep-rooted relations between Kuwait and Turkey.

The Turkish music continued to play as the delegation of journalists headed towards the

A320 aircraft, equipped with the latest technology available in international aviation to provide the maximum in-flight comfort for passengers.

The OnAir system allows passengers to stay connected, and enjoy using their mobile phones throughout most of the flight. The Economy Class section is equipped with TV screens showing recent entertainment programs or movies, as well as flight information.

The First Class individual entertainment system, meanwhile, offers a variety of movies, as well as sitcom episodes, news bulletins, lifestyle shows and documentaries, in addition to a large collection of Western and Eastern classical and contemporary music.

Internet-lovers have to wait for the service to be activated, but might still find comfort in the numerous games offered by the entertainment system.

For that purpose the personal remote control is prepared with a ‘Nintendo-like’ joystick

cheapest, and best ways to get there is to book with Wataniya Airways, with this newest Kuwaiti carrier currently running three weekly flights to

The throne room, with the Sultan’s throne at the back.

Istanbul - a city to adore!

Those who have visited the capital of the Ottoman Empire know that it is extremely difficult to even begin describing the city. Perhaps the most accurate description is Napoleon Bonaparte’s memorable phrase: “If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.” The city has been deservedly chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2010, as it features all kinds of fusions, and contrasts. Istanbul extends over two continents, Asia and Europe, divided by the Bosphorus Strait, which connects two seas, the Black Sea and Marmara Sea. The city is a huge living museum of Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Modern history and art, with beautiful historical establishments built to achieve the maximum harmony with the location’s natural beauty. The colorful collection of sights in the city satisfies all tastes:

from cafes offering Turkish coffee and shisha, to old mosques and churches, and from historical bazaars with traditional Turkish goods, to modern shopping malls, the city offers more beauty and variety than humans have the capacity to absorb.

Among the city’s most beautiful spots are the Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofia, and the Blue Mosque, located above the Golden Horn on the European side of the city. The Chore Museum is another popular destination, while the Grand Bazaar is always filled with tourists haggling over gifts and souvenirs to remember their visit to one of the most attractive destinations in the world.

One last thing you should know about the city; everything is delicious in Istanbul.

As you walk past the city’s many glamorous locations, you will be simply unable to resist the temptation to indulge yourself with roasted chestnuts, or

A mosaic inside the Chore museum illustrates the journey of Mariah to Egypt, and the process of visitors’ registration in ancient Egypt. freshly baked sweets, or the unforgettable Turkish icecream.

Leaving the city, I was reminded once again that it is by far the most beautiful metropolis I have ever visited.

Istanbul, and planning to add three more destinations to its repertoire, by launching services to Alexandria, Vienna, and Rome, extending the pleasure from Europe to Kuwait, throughout the journey.

The worldrenowned Aya Sofia museum.

Inside the Grand Bazaar

Inside Chore Museum

served piping hot, and all the cuisine designed to satisfy all tastes, especially those in favor of traditional Kuwaiti cuisine.

The flight attendants continued to ply the passengers with drinks, and sweets until the plane was greeted with an overhead arch for med by water cannons on either side

this airport in order to have more flexibility in deciding on the flight times. They explained that the crowded Ataturk Airpor t could only offer a 2:00 AM arrival time, compared to 15:45 PM in Sabiha Gokcen, enabling passengers to enjoy the scenery while driving to the city.

SPECTRUM

38

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Travel

Savor the slow life of

British Columbia’s Mayne Island

By Brian J Cantwell t was the first day of spring, so naturally we were watching Mayne Island volunteers remove Christmas lights from a big tree in the park. That’s what you call “island time.” No strict deadlines. No rushing about.

And almost everything is do-it-yourself out here on Mayne, one of the lesser-visited of British Columbia’s Gulf Islands. It’s nine square miles of lazily winding roads with no traffic lights and only about 1,100 year-round residents-a count that triples in summer.

“The whole island runs on volunteers!” volunteer Joanna Weeks told us earlier as she jotted down prices and added up our purchasetwo previously owned wine glasses (50 cents each) and a souvenir Seattle World’s Fair teaspoon-at the island’s lovably ragtag Thrift Store.

When open-from 10 am to 1 pm Saturdaythe store seemed the center of the island’s offseason social life. Cars lined the road out front.

A sign inside noted that all proceeds go to island causes, ranging from a new floor for the Ag Hall, to those aforementioned holiday lights.

Weeks, a longtime resident, lamented that “it’s getting harder and harder because fewer people want to volunteer. We have so many snowbirds!” But the independent air of these islanders is plain, and that’s part of the draw.

That and the quiet beauty of this isolated place, where residents honor an interesting history.

Hiking trails abound. Our expectations were happily met by natural wonders along a half-mile walk to the tip of Campbell Point, part

If you go:

I

Getting there: Getting to the Gulf Islands can take some time-and money.

(It’s why the place isn’t so crowded.)

Expect a hefty fare (about $120 roundtrip for auto and two adults) on BC’s privatized ferry system.

BC Ferries sails from Tsawwassen, south of Vancouver, BC, with a limited schedule to Mayne Island.

TRAVELER’S TIPS: * Pick up a brochure with an island map

Artist Jim McKenzie works with an airbrush in his studio on Mayne Island. —MCT photos

boat on Sundays, he to this church, she to the one on Galiano. If it’s rough weather, they might just fax over the sermon and someone reads it.”

Mayne is an interesting mixture of oldtimers, well-off and not, juxtaposed with newcomers who’ve achieved success elsewhere and can afford to live where they choose. “We have some really amazing and talented people here,” said Dawne Cressman, whose cozy, wood-heated cottage we rented at Bennett Bay. She came from Vancouver 22 years ago, a single mother looking for a good place to raise a teenage son.

“Raffi used to live here, but now he’s on Salt Spring,” she said, referring to the well-

of the multi-island Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, established in 2003. Through towering firs and myriad gnarled madronas-they call them arbutus here-we looked out at the wide Strait of Georgia, backed by snow-capped peaks and the distant Vancouver skyline. The tin-horn “whee, whee” call of nuthatches echoed, and wood ducks dove among offshore rocks shared with harbor seals and red-billed oystercatchers.

On the far side of the island, we found something we didn’t expect: the island’s Japanese Garden, dedicated to a past little known beyond the island’s shores.

The manicured acre of formal garden, complete with reflective pond, bridges and torii gates, opened in 2002. Island volunteers built it as a memorial to the Japanese immigrants who farmed the island starting around the early 1900s. Japanese Canadians were one-third of the island population by World War II, when, as in the United States, they were sent to internment camps-most not to return.

“It was a black mark in Canadian history,” said Jerry Betker, an island old-timer we met as he tended the garden, built on a site where the Adachi family once farmed. The Adachis and other Japanese immigrants raised strawberries, orchard fruit and hothouse tomatoesthe main supply of tomatoes to Vancouver in the early 20th century.

“They were very much the economic engine of the island,” we heard from Alan Guy, another garden volunteer. The garden has not gone unnoticed by those it honors. The Adachi family plans a reunion there this summer, with more than 100 expected from Japan and across Canada.

In a tribute to native culture, islanders last summer recognized the contributions of a local First Nations couple, Emma and Felix Jack, with the placement at a prominent crossroads of a 20-foot-tall wood carving with outstretched arms, “The Honouring Figure,” based on a traditional Coast Salish welcome figure. Mayne is not a big island. That was brought home to us when my wife, Barbara, and I stopped to peek inside its historic church, the 1897 Church of St. Mary Magdalene, nestled among trees on a knoll next to the island’s old cemetery.

known children’s musician and Mayne’s larger, more-discovered neighbor island. An animalrescue group on Mayne is led in part by David Scearce, who wrote the screenplay for the recent Colin Firth movie, “A Single Man.” Politically, island clout has shifted in recent years from the old guard to newcomers who have brought yoga studios, a health-food store and new ideas. “The new recycling people and tree-huggers and people into this modern stuff pretty much have the influence now,” said island artist Jim McKenzie, who came from

This distinctive lighthouse marks the entrance to Active Pass on the Strait of Georgia at Georgina Point on Mayne.

US national monuments are family-friendly vacation spots

A dock at the Mayne Island Resort juts into Bennett Bay on Mayne Island.

Vancouver in the 1980s “because it was the cool artist thing to do.” He accepts changes with equanimity, though: “You have to accept the differences in people or you just won’t have any friends.”

Said Cressman of the newbies, “I’ve appreciated how they have brought new things like a folk club and the market”-a summertime Saturday farmers market outside the 100-yearold Agricultural Hall, which is also the site of an annual August agricultural fair.

If anything on Mayne Island seems too newfangled, just take a walk down to the Miners Bay waterfront and sit for a while on the octagonal bench that was built to commemorate the occasion when King George VI and

The Japanese Garden serves as a memorial to those forced into internment camps during World War II on Mayne Island.

Joanna Weeks had told us of the unique baptismal font, a large wind-sculpted sandstone boulder brought years ago by rowboat from nearby Saturna Island. (“They were tough in those days!”) A bustling church helper, Janet Guy, let us in, showed us about, even let us pull a rope to ring the church bell (“You always wanted to do that, didn’t you?”). She invited us to Sunday services, which are Anglican.

“The church ministers are a couple who live on Pender (Island), where they have an organic farm. They come over in their own

crowds.

Visitors in 2009: 3.83 million More info: www.nps.gov/STLI

ere’s a list of the nation’s historical hot spots-the five most- and least-visited monuments in 2009 — from National Park Service data, and all of these familyfriendly trips keep you firmly grounded in the US With ancient petroglyphs and eerie cave dwellings, war-scarred memorials and islands reachable only by boat-and, let’s not forget the iconic Statue of Liberty-travelers get a taste of our rich past.

H

World War II Valor in the Pacific, Hawaii The survivors at the somber USS Arizona Memorial in Honolulu are living history of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, which preceded the United States’ entrance into World War II. The reverent memorial educates visitors through survivors’ firsthand accounts, museum exhibits and the opportunity to reflect on the underwater remains of the USS Arizona. The Arizona is accessible only by boat.

Visitors in 2009: 1.28 million More info: www.nps.gov/valr

MOST VISITED: Castle Clinton, NY The fort, originally built as defense in the War of 1812, is named after New York’s former mayor and governor, DeWitt Clinton. After it closed as an immigration station in 1890, it reopened as the popular New York City Aquarium. It is now a museum with ranger-guided tours and a ticket office for the Statue of Liberty ferry.

Castle Clinton is in Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan.

Visitors in 2009: 4.08 million More info: www.nps.gov/cacl Statue of Liberty, NY, NJ Perhaps the most recognized symbol of freedom and democracy in the world, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most-visited monuments in the nation. In July 2009, visitors were again permitted to visit the statue’s crown, which had been closed to the public since Sept 11, 2001. Reserve tickets online for all visits, and be prepared for long ferry lines and large

on the ferry, or print one from the Web: www.mayneislandchamber.ca/pdf/map.pdf. * An excellent guide and map to the island’s many hiking trails is available at many visitor sites, including Georgina Point Lighthouse, a heritage site marking the entrance to Active Pass. * There is no bank on Mayne Island, but you’ll find ATMs in Miners Bay markets.

Most shops happily accept US dollars at par. * The island has one gas station, in Miners Bay. —MCT

Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, New York had nearly 4 million visitors in 2003.

Canyon de Chelly, Ariz.

The ruins of indigenous Anasazi and Navajo tribes sit among distinct rock formations in Canyon de Chelly in Chinle, about 250 miles from Flagstaff. The national monument is unique: It’s entirely on Navajo Tribal Trust Land and sustains a community of Navajo. The taller spire of the 800foot Spider Rock is believed to be the home of Spider Grandmother, the creator of the world, according to traditional Navajo beliefs. The elevation at the park ranges from 5,500 at the visitor center to more than 7,000 feet.

Be prepared for sudden weather changes.

Visitors in 2009: 826,425 More info: www.nps.gov/cach

Ft Matanzas, Fla Matanzas, Spanish for “slaughters” or “killings,” is an appropriate name for the river on the east coast of Florida where the Spanish massacred French soldiers in 1565 during efforts to colonize the area. Ft Matanzas is 15 miles south of St Augustine, about midway between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach. A ferry ride takes visitors to the fort, where they can explore a boardwalk forest trail, fish on the riverbank and walk along the beach. The best time to travel to Ft Matanzas is in the temperate fall and spring.

Visitors in 2009: 793,253 More info: www.nps.gov/foma LEAST VISITED: Devils Tower National Monument, Wyo. The first of all the national monuments, Devils Tower was created by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. Its name comes from the 1,267-foot-tall rock formation that was a sacred site for many Native American tribes. Today the park attracts mountain climbers from around the world who try to scale the tower’s vertical walls as well as to enjoy the park’s woodlands, grasslands and pine forests.

Visitors in 2009: 391,023 More info: www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Ariz.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is named for the long, thin cactuses that dot this desert landscape.

Queen Elizabeth (the late Queen Mum) sailed past on their way between Victoria and Vancouver in 1939. Sailed past. Didn’t stop.

Yet islanders built a memorial bench, still marked with a battered brass plaque, which continues to accommodate those yearning for a peaceful water view more than 70 years later. Maybe that’s another example of island time. This remains a quaint place, a 90-minute ferry ride from the harried modern world, looking back with dignity to its varied cultural roots. —MCT

But within the park, visitors will find more than two dozen species of cactus and animals such as the mountain lion and kangaroo rat that have adapted to the harsh habitat. This park is probably best visited in the winter when temperatures are in the 50s and 60s. Summer temperatures often soar above 100.

Visitors in 2009: 330,064 More info: www.nps.gov/orpi/index.htm Governors Island National Monument, N.Y. In New York harbor just a few hundred yards from lower Manhattan, Governors Island served as a military base for 200 years and was home to the U.S. Army and Coast Guard. It was shuttered in 1996 and became a national monument in 2003. Today, the island offers biking, tours of historic buildings and art exhibits and performances. The park is still under development.

Visitors in 2009: 325,840 More info: www.nps.gov/gois/index.htm Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Mont.

Little Bighorn Battlefield is where Gen George A Custer and 263 members of the US Army’s 7th Cavalry died while fighting several thousand Cheyenne, Sioux and Arapaho warriors in the famous battle of 1876. Although the park was conceived as a memorial to the American soldiers, today both the 7th Calvary and the Native American warriors who gave their lives in this conflict are honored. —MCT

SPECTRUM

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

39

Travel

Sheila Mosey, from Port Austin, dishes out ice cream at the Grindstone General Store, which in the summer has lines out the door. adonna is from these parts, but these parts don’t take much pride in that. “She said she’s from a stinky town or something,” a gray-haired pipe fitter said at Trapper John’s bar one Friday afternoon while getting an early start on Friday night.

Actually, what the pop starlet said back in the mid-1980s was that nearby Bay City, where she was born, was a “smelly little town.” She tried clarifying by saying she was referring specifically to a chemical plant. Too late.

“There’s a lot of people here who don’t care for her now because of that,” said Dean Hartman, 41, a school maintenance man and Unionville’s town board president. “I mean, it wasn’t very nice.”

Certainly not, and certainly not as nice as Michigan’s “thumb” actually is.

To become acquainted with the area, hold your left hand in front of your face, palm facing away, fingers together.

There you have Michigan, minus the Upper Peninsula. Cresting atop your left thumb is Michigan Highway 25, the road that skirts the coast below Lake Huron.

On one side it is an unspoiled stretch rolling past miles of gray-green lake and bay, docks and boats, and rustic beaches.

On the other, it’s verdant enough to make Detroit and Flint seem a world away. When a town pops up, its low brick buildings are usually trapped in the 1950s.

To be sure, the thumb is not a jet-set-

M

ting getaway-perhaps the source of Madonna’s distaste-and it gets grittier the farther east you travel. On the eastern shore, the beaches even turn rocky, not that it dampens local ardor.

“Everyone goes to western Michigan because of all the sand, and that makes the thumb a nice little secret,” said Renee Hunsanger, 52, owner of the bright purple Rocky Shores Par ty Shoppe in Harbor Beach. “We might have some rocky shores over here, but we just put tennis shoes on and go in the water. It’s still so relaxing.”

Before ending with a thud amid gas stations and strip malls in Port Huron, Michigan 25 and the thumb are largely down-home Midwestern remnants of the old days: a barn where “THINK USA” had been painted on the side, a teenager worked a far mers market in an “I (Heart) Gramma” T-shirt, and Arlene Roshy, 83, sold raspberries from a cooler in front of her brick Port Arthur home.

Even during a drizzle, the retired seamstress was camped beneath a massive green and white umbrella, selling berries plucked from her backyard for $2.50 a pint.

“I take the proceeds to Florida with me for the winter,” Roshy said. “It’s my play money.”

Which raises a good point: For most of us, winter is no time to be here. Come in the summer, when breezes are gentle, the beaches are worth your entire day,

and you alone can decide what is more exciting: Bay Por t’s Fish Sandwich Festival or Caseville’s Cheeseburger Festival.

Patti Kler, a restaurant cook whose entry includes onions sauteed in bourbon, blue cheese and bacon, of course, votes for the Cheeseburger Festival.

Unfortunately when I arrived, it was still a few weeks away.

“That’s like our Mardi Gras,” she said. “It gets jam packed.” Most interesting about a drive on Michigan 25 is that it shows the thumb is not just one thing. Harbor Beach, idyllic as it might sound, has a blue-collar edge-bars, militar y veterans and plenty of laid-off autoworkers. Port Austin, 25 miles away, has defined itself as ready-made for tourism. There visitors can rent kayaks for a spin on the lake, eat a down-home version of a gourmet meal and visit a farmers market that explodes with color, freshness and character.

The character includes Raymond Griggs, 56, of Millington, Mich, a stout, retired truck driver. He sported a long, white beard and overalls with no shirt, exposing the faded tattoos up and down his arms. Since retirement, Griggs has sold beautifully rustic birdhouses made from reclaimed wood and metal.

“The fact is, this place is as friendly as it gets, and it doesn’t change,” he said. “It’s the same as it was 20 or 30 years ago. And you go 20 or 30 miles

If you go: Staying there: Camping in Albert E. Sleeper State Park is popular, but if you prefer something cozier, try Lake Vista Resort Motel & Cottages (168 W Spring St, Port Austin; 989-7388612; lakevistaresort.com), a collection of white-sided abodes on Saginaw Bay. Summer rates range from $108 to $178, depending on day of the week and size of room. Also, the Garfield Inn (8544 Lake St., Port Huron; 800373-5254; thegarfieldinn.com) is a slice of Victorian comfort. Summer rates range from $65 to $155, including continental breakfast Monday through Saturday and full breakfast on Sunday.

Eating there: First-class baked goods await at Vienna Pastry (205 Columbus Ave., Bay City; 989-8910203). The bakery is best known for its Mexican Hat Cookie, a not-toosweet chocolate cookie base with a decadent chocolate frosting top. But the rest of the cookies, doughnuts and pies are worth it, too. The Bank 1884 Food and Spirits (8646 Lake St, Port Austin; 989-738-5353) has barely changed its menu since opening in

1984 (a century after the building’s 1884 debut as a bank), but its take on beef, chicken and fish remains solid, if a bit expensive. A better bet is The Farm Restaurant (699 Port Crescent Road, west of Port Austin; 989-8745700; thefarmrestaurant.com), which delights with its sprightly take on comfort food.

If you camp at the thumb’s tip and plan to barbecue, don’t bring meat.

Buy a ready-to-cook mushroom and smoked gouda burger or an Italian pinwheel (flank steak stuffed with baby spinach, ham and provolone) at Walt’s Meat Market (3189 Port Austin Road; 989-738-7020), east of Port Austin, and the cooler is full of beer too. The Grindstone General Store (989-7386410; 3206 Copeland Road, outside Port Austin) has 24 rich ice cream flavors.

Things to do: The main goal should be taking your time along Michigan 25, enjoying small discoveries along the way. If you’re feeling adventurous, try sea kayaking with a rental from Port Austin Kayak Rental (989-5506651; thumbkayak.com).

south, people aren’t as friendly.” West of Port Austin, I had stopped at Albert E. Sleeper State Park, which is split by Michigan 25: On the water side is beach where families pound volleyballs back and forth and lounge in the sand. The other side of the road is where those families sleep, in RVs or sprawling tent complexes among the thick trees.

“As we were driving up here, we kept saying that it feels like we’re up north,” said Ed LeBlanc, 39, from suburban Detroit, who came up with his wife and three kids, and by “up north,” he meant the wilds of northern Michigan. “It’s strange that it’s so close.”

About then the clouds began turning a steely gray and a storm blew in. I swore I could smell the earth and the dirt and the worms. Up the road, Port Crescent State Park sits right about where Lake Huron becomes Saginaw Bay. By the time I got there, it was raining, and hard, as winds whipped across the tall, swaying grass.

Right then the strangest thing happened. Even as the rain continued, the sun burst through the clouds, and a rainbow formed right before me. The end of a rainbow. It soared high in the sky, but the end plummeted into the pavement seemingly 50 yards ahead. I’d never seen such a sight before and haven’t since. So now we know the answer to an age-old question. The rainbow ends at Michigan’s thumb. —MCT

Theme park travel tips

The Frugal Traveler: ven without a watch, it’s easy to tell time at Disney World. The character parade marches down Main Street in the early afternoon and the temper tantrums typically arrive by twilight when too much fun leads to expensive meltdowns.

This time clock has been tested for accuracy during several family trips to the Magic Kingdom and other theme parks. By respecting our inner

E

grounds and picnic tables. A measured pace with strategic breaks can help you outlast long lines, overstimulation and theme park crowds.

Membership perks: Our annual passes to the Kennedy Space Center allow reduced ticket prices for up to six guests, discounts on food concessions and savings opportunities on souvenirs. Other attractions offer different benefit packages, including recipro-

cal admission at other theme parks, hotel discounts and other deals.

Perspective: Theme park visits usually include children with a differing perspective from adult traveling companions. Relaxed animal encounters, romp time and hands-on activities such as those found at the Astronaut Hall of Fame near Cape Canaveral or The Scientific Center in Kuwait provide stress-free enjoyment

An animal attraction in Tampa, Florida, with its cheetahs.

An African safari exhibit at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo gives kids a chance to feed giraffes and rhinos and offers a more relaxed visit than the nearby theme parks. —MCT photos

An animal attraction in Tampa, with its white tiger exhibit.

clocks, we have learned to get the most from our theme park dollars. Here’s our strategy for finding thrills and saving money in theme parks.

Time limits: Watching the clock is the key to theme park fun. Be mindful of deadlines for meals, snacks and rest times.

Growling stomachs and overtired kids (of all ages) can sabotage theme park fun. Most parks have quiet spots designed for relaxation, including gardens, old school play-

An animal attraction in Tampa, Florida, with its primate exhibits.

for the whole family. Water activities are also a huge hit.

Aqua Park, also in Kuwait, and Tampa’s Busch Gardens each provide numerous splash zones.

Freebies: Tampa’s Busch Gardens and the Kennedy Space Center in greater Orlando each provide free parking for both you and your pet, with complimentary kennels on site. Free concerts, shows and demonstrations are bundled into the entertainment package options at Disney and Universal theme parks. Epcot

also offers free soft drinks with Coca-Cola formulas from different countries at a display in the Innovations Pavilion.

BYOB: Refillable water bottles are useful park accessories. The bottles can be refilled repeatedly at water fountains to provide a healthy and frugal alternative to expensive soft drinks offered by park vendors. Some parks also have an open-door policy for DIY snacks and lunches. We’ve saved money by packing our own treats and meals. Rules vary by park. —MCT

A tour bus takes people around Kennedy Space Center where people with season passes can purchase lower-priced tickets for their guests.

www.kuwaittimes.net

Lebanese filmmakers

struggle to shake off embattled past

A file picture shows Lebanese directorPhilippe Aractinji giving instructions during the shooting of his first feature film ‘Bosta’ (Bus) which was produced and shot in Lebanon during 2005. —AFP photos

A file picture dated May 7, 2009 shows Iranian film director Bahman Ghobadi and scriptwriter Hossein Mortezaian Abkenar (L), whose film “Nobody Knows About The Persian Cats” was shown at the Cannes Film Festival, standing at their office in Tehran.

By Natacha Yazbeck rmed with their cameras, determination and a painful past, Lebanese filmmakers and their tales of war have caught the attention of audiences worldwide after taking off at festivals such as Cannes. “Movies aren’t just from Hollywood, or Europe. Cinema is a global art, film is a living thing,” said festival director Thierry Fremaux ahead of the May 1223 event. Dogged by censorship, unrest and funding issues, the Middle East will be represented only by Iran and Israel this year.

Yet Ziad Doueiry’s “West Beirut,” Josef Fares’ “Zozo” and Philippe Aractinji’s “Under the Bombs” are a few examples of films that have resonated with audiences from Cannes to Toronto.

Lebanon, which prides itself on being

A

Morocco festival rejects ban appeal against Elton John ritish singer Elton John will perform as planned at a festival in Morocco this month despite calls from the country’s main Islamic party for the gay star to be banned, organizers said yesterday. Artistic director Aziz Daki told AFP that cancelling the concert on the grounds of John’s homosexuality would “undermine the respect of privacy” and “breach certain values that the international Mawazine festival is based on.” Morocco’s main opposition Islamist Justice and Development Party had called Friday for the singer to be banned from the festival in Rabat, arguing his appearance would pose “a risk of encouraging homosexuality in Morocco.” “At the Mawazine festival we invite artists on the basis of the quality of their performance on stage and according to their artistic career”, Daki said, adding that John is “one of the world’s top pop singers and composers.”

He has “many fans in Morocco”, the artistic director added, and “his private life is none of our business.” The Mawazine music festival takes place in the Moroccan capital from May 21 to 29. Other artists due to appear include Julio Iglesias, BB King and Carlos Santana. —AFP

B

more liberal than its neighbors in the largely conservative Middle East, has produced movies that explore topics ranging from exile to gender and sexuality. But the most popular topic for Lebanese films remains the country’s bloody 1975-1990 civil war, which killed more than 150,000 people and left countless others maimed, displaced and scarred for life.

“It’s not that we only want to talk about the war,” said Aractinji, whose docudrama “Under the Bombs” was shot on location in the wake of a devastating 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. “However, the war, reality, always comes back,” he told AFP from Paris, where he is based. “It comes back to haunt you.” But Lebanon’s filmmakers insist their country harbors stories that extend beyond the war era.

Aractinji made Lebanon’s first post-war

File picture dated May 20, 2007 shows Lebanese director Nadine Labaki (4th L) posing with the cast of her film ‘Caramel’ during a photocall at the 60th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, southern France.

A picture dated August 26, 2006 shows Lebanese actress Nada Abu Farhat in the southern Lebanese town of Sidiqin, during the shooting of ‘Summer Rain’ by Director Philippe Aractinji.

A file handout picture from Ad Vitam distribution company shows actor Shahir Qabaha, 25, acting a scene from the film ‘Ajami’. —AFP

An undated handout file picture released by Paper and Pen Films shows Jordanian-born British actor Nadim Sawalha (3rd L) sitting on a wall with his young co-stars as they shoot a scene of the Jordanian film ‘Captain Abu Raed’, on location at the historic Citadel that overlooks the capital Amman. —AFP

musical, “Bosta,” which came out in 2005 and tells the story of a dance troupe that is reunited after the war and tours Lebanon, bringing music and dance to rural villages.

Nadine Labaki’s 2007 film “Caramel,” too, showcased another side of a country long associated with violence-and landed in the Cannes Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight along the way. The film, which Labaki co-wrote, directed and starred in, follows four women in a beauty salon in Beirut through their daily struggles with gender, age, sexuality and religion. “The idea people had of Lebanon is different from what they saw in ‘Caramel’,” Labaki told AFP at her home in Beirut.

“They discovered the warm, colorful people of a sunny country,” said the director, who finished filming only nine days before the outbreak of the 2006 war. “On any given sunny day, we do have problems other than

the war, which is what I focused on.”

Lebanese filmmakers have also caught the eye of US production house Disney, which has tapped one of them to create its first Arabic-language feature film.

“The Last of the Storytellers,” written and directed by Chadi Zeneddine, pays tribute to the Middle Eastern tradition of folkloric storytelling and is set to wrap up shooting in 2010. But the 31-year-old director is tight-lipped on the details, preferring to keep the content a surprise. “It deals with our own traditions, our storytellers,” Zeneddine told AFP in a telephone interview from Paris, where he is based.

“I don’t believe in Arab audiences, or Lebanese audiences,” he added. “I believe in the film. There is a story that has to be told and if you tell it well, it will strike a chord with people everywhere.” Zeneddine,

Violence and censorship define Middle East movie output

By Hiedeh Farmani ewer than usual movies from the Middle East are in the front line at Cannes 2010, but the industry is nonetheless booming despite censorship, security and funding concerns in a region constantly grappling with instability. Iran, which can claim one of the region’s most distinguished filmmaking traditions, is represented at Cannes this year by its celebrated director and 1997 Palme d’Or winner Abbas Kiarostami with “Copie Conforme” (Certified Copy), shot in Italy and starring Juliette Binoche. Israel, which has made a strong show at international festivals in recent years with movies that tackle decades of conflict with its northern neighbor Lebanon, also landed a spot in the Directors’ Fortnight with Avishai Sivan’s debut feature “The Wanderer”.

It is the latest in a string of internationally-acclaimed films to come out of Israel, which include “Ajami,” nominated for Best Foreign Language film at this year’s Oscars. Offering a rare look at the country’s Arab minority, Ajami is the third Israeli production to be nominated for an Academy Award in as many years after “Beaufort” (2007) and “Waltz With Bashir” (2008) both of which deal with Israel’s 18-year occupation of south Lebanon that ended in 2000.

But Palestinian film makers too have made waves recently at Cannes, including Arab Israeli Elia Suleiman last year with “The Time That Remains” and in the previous year, Gaza-born Rashid Masharawi with “Laila’s Birthday” and

F

Bethlehem-born Annemarie Jacir for “Salt of This Sea”.

Iran’s 2010 Cannes entry is emblematic of the censorship, security and funding concerns facing film-makers in the region. Kiarostami, whose script shows an English writer hitting it off with a French art dealer, has shot only one feature in Iran since 2003.

That movie, “Shirin”, which was shot in 2008, has not been screened in Iran, although it is unclear whether the director made any attempts to have it shown.

Despite several Iranian movies winning awards at prestigious international festivals since 2005, when hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power, movie makers complain about increased pressure and censorship.

Even under the reformist government of Mohammad Khatami, when artists enjoyed relative liberty, Kiarostami’s last two feature films “Ten” (2002) and “The Wind Will Carry Us” (1999) were banned from Iranian theatres.

Cannes has encouraged other independent Iranian directors in the past, screening the black and white “Persepolis” animation about coming of age in the Islamic republic, which won an award in 2007, and “Nobody Knows About The Persian Cats” last year. But both films prompted angry condemnation from Iran’s hardline authorities, and the French film festival appears to have distanced itself from productions officially pitched to the organizers Cannes has also become a springboard for films from other countries in the region, notably from Lebanon, which

has produced movies exploring topics from exile to gender and sexuality.

Films like Ziad Doueiry’s “West Beirut” (1998), Josef Fares’ “Zozo” (2005), Philippe Aractinji’s “Under the Bombs” (2006) and Nadine Labaki’s “Caramel” (2007) have resonated with audiences from Cannes to Toronto in recent years. “Caramel” showcased the other side of a country long associated with violence-and landed at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight along the way.

“The idea people had of Lebanon is different from what they saw in ‘Caramel’,” Labaki told AFP at her home in Beirut. “They discovered the warm, colourful people of a sunny country.” But the topic of choice for Lebanese films remains the country’s bloody 1975-1990 civil war, which killed more than 150,000 people and left countless others maimed, displaced and scarred for life. War has also proved to be an inspiration and an obstacle for Iraq’s film industry. Although never a major filmmaker in the region, the collapse of security in the aftermath of the US-led invasion in 2003 has made it extremely dangerous to shoot movies.

But a couple of Iraqi films have reached wider audiences more recently as security has improved, most notably “Son of Babylon,” directed by Mohamed Al-Daradji, about a boy and his grandmother travelling across the country to search for his father in the wake of the invasion. The film won two awards at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, the Amnesty International Film Award and the Peace Film Award.—AFP

who was born in Gabon and did not witness civil war first-hand, came to international attention two years ago with a movie he says was a rite of passage. His 2008 feature film “Falling from Earth,” screened in Paris, New York and soon in Beirut, follows four people grappling with the aftermath of the civil war, including an old man who collects photographs of happy people and a woman who waits-and waits-for her husband to come home.

“I felt guilty. I felt I would never be accepted as a Lebanese unless I shared the pain of war with them,” he said. “My film is not about the physical damages of the war.

It’s about the trauma that you carry, how people breathe differently after the war,” Zeneddine explained. “We’re not the same people anymore-war changes you.” But while nearby countries like Syria and Israel

increasingly provide their filmmakers with government support, Lebanese directors are left to their own devices.

“Our potential is enormous,” Aractinji explained. “We have stories, a history, the know-how, but we don’t have any organized means for us to tell these stories. In terms of production, we’re falling behind the rest of the region,” Aractinji said. “It is completely absurd for me to be a filmmaker telling the stories of my country and to have to live in another country in order to find funds.” And although Disney beckons for the moment, Zeneddine — like Aractinji — hopes to return to Lebanon soon for a new project.

“The big problem in Lebanon is that nobody won or lost the war,” he said. “In a sense, there was no closure. To many, the war is not over yet.” Aractanji agrees: “We make these films to overcome the war.” —AFP

Entertainer Lena Horne dies at 92 E

ntertainer Lena Horne, a show-stopping then, black women had usually been cast as beauty who battled racism in a frustrat- servants or prostitutes-roles that Horne did ing effort to become Hollywood’s first not want. Many of her movie appearances in black leading lady, has died at age 92, according the 1940s and ‘50s were relegated to songs to media reports yesterday. The New York that had no bearing on the plot and could easily Times, quoting her son-in-law, Kevin Buckley, be edited out for showings in the South, where white audiences might said Horne died on Sunday protest the appearance of a night at New Yorkblack actress.

Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Her first substantial movie Medical Center in New York. role did not come until 1969 Hospital officials were not when she was a brothel immediately available for madam and Richard comment.

Widmark’s lover in “Death of Horne went to Hollywood a Gunfighter.” Her only other in the late 1930s and while movie role after that was as she never became a major Glinda the Good Witch in movie star, she is credited “The Wiz,” an all-black adapwith breaking the ground for tation of “The Wizard of Oz.” black actresses to get bigger “I really hated Hollywood and roles in Hollywood. Horne I was very lonely,” Horne had a stage persona that was said in a Time magazine mysterious, elegant, haughty interview. “The black stars and sexy and it helped her felt uncomfortable out there.” become an enchanting nightWon two Grammys club performer who made She moved back to her “Stormy Weather” her signanative New York and became ture song. Known as the In an April 30, 1981 “Negro Cinderella” early in file photo singer Lena a singing star in nightclubs and theaters and on televiher career, she was as comHorne is shown in a sion. She won two Grammys. plex as she was beautiful. She had a reputation for coldness Broadway production Gavin, author of the 2009 book “Stormy Weather: The and insecurity and her career ‘Lena Horne: The frustrations led to bitterness.

Lady and Her Music’ Life of Lena Horne,” said Horne was especially sensiWith her big bright eyes, in New York. —AP tive to rejection. “Every perbrilliant smile and light comceived or real slight, she plexion, biographer James Gavin said Hollywood considered Horne “as recoiled from it in a violent way,” Gavin told the Negro beautiful enough-in a Caucasian the Los Angeles Times. “This does not make fashion-for white Americans to accept.” Until for a happy lady. She was angry.” —Reuters